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COMMEMORATIVE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


OF  THE  COUNTIES  OF 


Huron  and  Lorain,  Ohio, 


CONTAINING 


Diogpaphical  BketchE?  oT  Ppon^inEnt  ai^d  I^EpFESEi^tativE  GitizEi^g, 
ai^d  oT  raany  ol  i\[z  Sarly  BEtlled  Fan^iliB?. 

IliLiUSTt^flTED. 


CHICAGO: 

J.   H.  BEERS  &  CO. 

1894. 


r  7 


BARLOW-SINCL^IR   PRINTING  CO 
CHICAQO. 


^I^BPAGE. 


THE  importance  of  placing  in  book  form  biographical  history  of  representative 
citizens — botli  for  its  immediate  worth  and  for  its  value  to  coming  generations — 
is  admitted  by  all  thinking  people;  and  within  the  past  decade  there  has  been  a 
growing  interest  in  this  commendable  means  of  perpetuating    biography  and 
family  genealogy. 

That  the  public  is  entitled  to  the  privileges  aflorded  by  a  work  of  this  nature  needs 
no  assertion  at  our  hands;  for  one  of  our  greatest  Americans  has  said  that  the  liistory 
of  any  country  resolves  itself  into  the  biographies  of  its  stout,  earnest  and  representative 
citizens.  This  medium,  then,  serves  more  than  a  single  purpose:  while  it  perpetuates 
biography  and  family  genealogy,  it  records  history,  much  of  which  would  be  preserved 
in  no  other  way. 

In  presenting  the  Commemorativk  I'iograi'hical  Record  to  its  patrons,  the  pub- 
lishers have  to  acknowledge,  with  gratitude,  the  encouragement  and  support  their 
enterprise  has  received,  and  the  willing  assistance  rendered  in  enabling  them  to  sur- 
mount the  many  unforeseen  obstacles  to  be  met  with  in  the  production  of  a  work  of 
this  character.  In  nearly  every  instance  the  material  composing  the  sketches  was 
gathered  from  those  immediately  interested,  and  then  submitted  in  type-written  form 
for  correction  and  revision.  The  volume,  which  is  one  of  generous  amplitude',  is 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  public  with  the  belief  that  it  will  be  found  a  valuable  addi- 
tion to  the  library,  as  well  as  an  invaluable  contribution  to  the  historical  literature  of 
northern  Ohio,  fHB  PUBLISHERS, 


^-</W>^ 


HUROI 


OHIO. 


JOHN   GARDINER, 

NORWALK,    OHIO. 


LOHN  GARDINER  was 
born  September  15, 
1816,  at  Gardiner's 
Point  (formerly  known 
as  "  Millstone  Point  "), 
New  London  Co.,  Conn., 
where  he  spent  his  boy- 
hood days.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Sir  Thomas 
Gardiner,  Knight,  of  the 
county  of  Kent,  England, 
whose  youngest  son,  Jos- 
eph Gardiner,  came  to  this 
country  with  the  early  set- 
tlers, and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  colony  of 
Rhode  Island.  Sir  Joseph 
was  born  in  the  county  of  Kent,  England, 
A.  D.  1601,  and  died  in  Kings  county, 
Rhode  Island,  in  1679,  aged  seventy-eight 
years,  leaving  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Beroni  Gardiner,  the  oldest  son  of  Jo- 
seph, was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  died 
in  1731,  aged  one  hundred  and  four  years, 
leaving  live  sons,  of  whom  William,  the 
eldest,  was  born  in  1671  and  died  at  the 
homestead  at  Boston  Neck,  Rhode  Island, 
December  14,  1732,  aged  sixty-one  years. 
William  Gardiner  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  John  was    the    eldest.     John    was 


born  in  1696,  and  for  his  first  wife  married 
a  Miss  Hill,  and,  for  his  second,  a  Miss 
Taylor.  By  his  first  wife,  Mary  Hill,  he 
had  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  died 
July  6,  1770,  aged  seventy-four  years. 
His  eldest  son,  Col.  Thomas  Gardiner,  was 
born  in  1724,  and  married  Martha  Gard- 
ner (different  family),  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.," of  Block  Island. 
He  died  on  Plum  Island  May  21,  1786, 
and  was  buried  there.  His  wife  was  born 
July  20, 1731,  and  died  at  Millstone  Point 
February  21,  1793,  at  the  home  of  her 
son,  Benajah  Gardiner.  Col.  Thomas 
Gardiner  had  six  sons  and  one  daughter, 
of  whom  Benajah,  the  second  son,  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island  March  8,  1754. 
Benajah  married,  April  10,  1783,  Miss 
Charlotte  Raymond,  of  Montville,  Conn., 
born  October  14,  1762,  a  daughter  of 
Joshua  Raymond,  and  who  was  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Elias  Hyde. 

Benajah  Gardiner,  with  his  father.  Col. 
Thomas  Gardiner,  and  his  wife,  moved 
from  Rhode  Island  to  Plum  Island,  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Long  Island  Sound,  where 
he  remained  a  few  years,  and,  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  removed  in  the  year 
1787,  with  his  family,  to  Millstone  Point. 
Millstone    Point,    which    is    situated   five 


8 


iiURoy  COUNTY,  onio. 


miles  west  of  New  London,  Conn.,  is 
washed  by  the  waters  of  Loner  Island  Sound 
on  two  sides  and  front,  and  steamers  and 
sailing  vessels  continnally  pass  each  waj 
to  and  from  New  York.  '1  he  farm  pur- 
chased hy  Benajali  Gardiner  consisted  of 
about  three  hundred  acres  of  good  tillable 
land,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the  point  extending  into  the  sound 
contained  very  choice  granite  stone,  and  at 
the  time  of  the  purchase  was  considered 
almost  worthless  except  as  a  sheep  pasture, 
but  about  the  time  of  his  deatii  the  quarry 
was  opened,  and  has  now  been  worked  for 
over  sixty  years,  and  but  little  impression 
has  been  made  in  the  quantity  of  stone, 
whicli  may  be  said  to  bo  almost  inexhaus- 
tible; the  quarry  affords  a  large  annual 
income  to  Henry  (iardiner,  the  present 
owner,  who  is  a  second  cousin  to  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  a  gentleman  of  leisure, 
an  artist  by  profession,  and  the  only  male 
descendant  from  the  other  branch  of  five 
sons  and  four  daughters  of  I'enajah  Gardi- 
ner, the  original  purchaser  of  the  Gardiner 
homestead  in  Connecticut.  [The  name  of 
"Millstone  Point"  was  derived  from  the 
fact  that  millstones  were  quarried  there  at 
an  early  day  from  granite  blocks,  and 
transported  to  other  points  for  grinding 
wheat,  corn,  etc.,  before  the  French  Burr 
stones  came  into  use,  the  granite  being  of 
superior  quality  for  that  purpose.]  Ben- 
ajah  Gardiner,  Esq.,  died  at  Millstone 
Point  June  10,  1S28,  aged  seventy-four 
years,  and  his  wife  died  at  the  same  place 
April  26,  1854,  aged  ninety-one  years. 
They  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of 
whom  Capt.  Lebbeus  W.  Gardiner  was  the 
oldest.  Capt.  T^ebbeus  was  born  on  Plum 
Island  April  30,  1785,  and  married,  March 
31,  1813,  Eunice  Latimer,  a  daughter  of 
Pickett  Latimer,  of  New  London,  and  who 
died  September  21,  1819,  aged  twenty- 
seven  years,  leaving  three  children,  viz.: 
Charlotte  E.,  borir  February  20.  1814; 
John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Julia 
A.,  born  July  28,  1819.  Charlotte  E. 
Gardiner    married    October    13,  1837,  at 


Millstone  Point,  Jairus  Kennan,  Esq.,  an 
attorney  at  law  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  making 
their  residence  in  that  city.  Mr.  Kennan 
died  June  16,  1872,  aged  fifty-nine  years; 
Charlotte  E.,  his  wife,^died  May  13,'l888, 
aged  seventy-four  years,  and  was  buried  in 
Woodlawn  cemetery  beside  her  husband. 
They  had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Julia  A.  in  1849  married  Henry  L. 
Kellogg,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  died  at 
Newington  Junction,  near  Hartford,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1804,  leaving  one  son,  Henry  L. 
Kellogg,  who  is  still   living  at  said  place. 

On  the  death  of  their  mother,  in  1819, 
the  children  of  Capt.  Lebbeus  W.  Gardi- 
ner separated,  John  and  Julia  living  with 
their  grandparents  at  Millstone  Point,  and 
(Charlotte  E.  with  her  grandparents,  the 
Latimers,  north  of  New  London,  the 
father,  Capt.  L.  W.  Gardiner,  following 
the  sea  as  captain  of  clipper  schooners, 
which  he  owned  at  difierent  times,  sailing 
from  New  London  to  Baltimore,  Wil- 
mington, New  Orleans  and  South  Amer- 
ica in  the  coastwise  trade.  He  died  at 
Norwalk,  March  9,  1862,  aged  seventy-six 
years  and  ten  months,  and  was  buried  in 
Woodlawn  cemetery. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Gardiner  was  old  enouffh, 
he  attended  a  district  school  at  Dnrfee 
Hill,  which  was  about  a  mile  from  his 
home,  across  lots,  and  which  was  kept 
about  six  months  in  the  year,  the  teacher 
boarding  around  with  the  families  who 
furnished  the  scholai-s.  When  not  attend- 
ing school  he  worked  on  the  farm  sum- 
mers, going  fishing  occasionally  with  the 
fishermen  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  and 
made  fishing  their  business  for  the  sup- 
port of  their  families.  In  1831  Mr. 
(iardiner  went  to  school  at  Bacon  Acad- 
emy, in  Colchester,  Conn.,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year,  making  navigation  his 
principal  study,  with  the  intention  of  fol- 
lowing the  sea,  as  New  London  was  at 
that  time  prosperously  engaged  in  the 
whale  fishery  and  West  India  trade,  send- 
ing a  fleet  of  ships  annually  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean  for  whale  oil,  and  to  the  North  Sea 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


9 


for  whale  and  seal.  At.  Bacon  Academy 
Mr.  Gardiner  forined  the  acquaintance  of 
M.  R.  Waite,  afterward  chief  justice  of  the 
United  States;  the  Hon.  John  T.  Waite, 
afterward  member  of  Congress  from  New 
London;  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull,  who  was 
afterward  a  United  States  senator  from 
Illinois,  and  Mr.  Rogers,  afterward  com- 
modore in  the  United  States  navy,  and  who 
were  then  preparing  for  college. 

Ill  the  fall  of  1832  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
persuaded  bj  his  uncle,  John  M.  Latiujer, 
Esq.,  to  visit  Oiiio,  which  in  the  end 
chancred  his  whole  course  of  life.  About 
three  thousand  acres  of  land  near  Belle vue, 
in  Huron  county,  had  been  given  by  the 
State  of  Connecticut  to  Pickett  Latimer, 
the  grandfather,  for  losses  sustained  by 
fire,  when  New  London  was  burned  by  the 
British  during  the  Revolution,  which 
grant  had  already  brought  Pickett  Latimer, 
an  uncle,  to  Huron  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pnrsuits  at  Nor- 
walk.  Leaving  New  London_  by  steamer 
early  in  December,  1832,  before  the  days 
of  railroads,  Mr.  Gardiner  journeyed  west 
to  Albany,  where  he  took  stage  as  far  as 
Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  dur- 
ing the  winter,  and  attended  school  at 
Hamilton  Academy.  In  the  early  spring 
of  1833  he  left  Utica  by  canal  boat  for  the 
West.  Arriving  at  Buffalo  the  last  days 
of  April,  he  embarked  on  the  steamer 
"  Uncle  Sara,"  the  first  boat  to  leave  Buf- 
falo that  spring  for  Detroit  and  interme- 
diate ports.  At  that  time  nearly  the  whole 
south  shore  of  Lake  Erie  was  skirted 
with  primeval  forests,  and  only  occasional 
glimpses  of  light  were  discernible  in  the 
evening  from  the  log  cabins  of  the  settlers 
along  the  line  of  shore,  while  the  city  of 
Cleveland  contained  only  some  two  thou- 
sand inhabitants,  living  mostly  below  the 
public  sqnare,  and  was  without  street  im- 
provements and  sidewalks.  Scrub  oaks 
were  then  growing  on  the  present  public 
square,  and  Superior  street  was  a  sand 
bod.  On  the  first  of  May  the  steamer 
arrived  at  the  port  of  Huron,  which  was 


then  quite  a  shipping  point,  and  a  hack 
driven  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  Sweat 
carried  Mr.  Gardiner  to  the  place  of  his 
future  home.  Noi'walk  at  that,  time  con- 
tained about  four  hundred  inhabitants,  but 
not  a  person  or  animal  was  visible  in  the 
streets  on  his  arrival,  and  the  village  wa^ 
entirely  surrounded  by  forests,  except 
where  the  roads  were  cut  through.  Wild 
deer  frequently  crossed  the  road  at  each 
end  of  the  village,  and  the  county  was 
dotted  over  with  the  log  cabins  of  the 
early  settlers,  while  the  roads  were  almost 
impassable  during  the  winter  and  early 
spring. 

Mr.  Gardiner  immediately  commenced 
clerking  in  the  store  of  P.  &  J.  M.  Lati- 
mer (who  were  doing  a  large  business  in 
general  merchandise  and  produce,  which 
latter  found  a  ready  sale  in  Detroit  to 
supply  the  early  settlers  of  Michigan),  at 
a  salary  of  seventy-tive  dollars  a  year  and 
board,  which  a  young  man  of  seventeen,  at 
the  present  day,  would  think  a  very  small 
compensation  for  his  valuable  services. 
In  the  spring  of  1834  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
solicited  to  take  a  clerkship  in  the  Bank  of 
Norwalk,  an  institution  which  had  com- 
m.enced  business  in  1833  with  a  special 
charter  from  the  State  of  Ohio,  with  the 
Hon.  Ebenezer  Lane,  president,  who  was 
one  of  the  supreme  judges  of  the  State, 
and  Martin  Bentley,  cashier.  During  the 
summerof  1834  the  cashier  died  very  sud- 
denly, leaving  Mr.  Gardiner,  then  hardly 
eighteen  years  of  age,  in  charge  of  the 
bank  for  nearly  two  months,  when  George 
Mygatt,  Esq.,  was  appointed  to  the  va- 
cancy. At  this  early  day  this  was  the  only 
bank  in  northwestern  Ohio,  and  its  busi- 
ness extended  south  to  Mount  Vernon, 
Mansfield,  Marion  and  Bucyrus,  west  to 
Fremont,  Toledo,  and  Perrysburgh,  and 
north  to  Milan,  Huron,  and  Sandusky, 
bringing  Mr.  Gardiner  in  contact  and 
acquaintance  with  all  the  leading  business 
men  of  that  region  of  the  State,  who  then 
came  to  Norwalk  for  their  bank  accommo- 
dations.    The  bank  went  through  success- 


10 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


fully  the  panic  of  1837,  and  was  one  of  the 

tirst  institutions  of  the  kind  in  Ohio  to  re- 
sume coin  payments,  after  the  failure  of 
tiie  Government  deposit  banks,  and  the 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  and  finally 
closed  up,  paying  back  nearly  all  its  capi- 
tal stock  to  its  original  shareholders,  and 
selling  its  franchise  to  Burr  Higgins  and 
liis  associates. 

In  1835  and  1886  emigration  was  push- 
ing itself  west  by  every  leading  road,  and 
long  lines  of  emigrant  wagons  were  daily 
passing  westward,  the  occupants  in  pur- 
suit of  new  homes,  and  the  western  land 
fever  had  seized  upon  nearly  all  classes  of 
citizens.  Mr.  Gardiner,  not  yet  of  age, 
proceeded  to  the  western  counties  of  Ohio, 
and  the  eastern  counties  of  Indiana,  on 
horseback,  over  muddy  roads  and  trails 
through  the  forest,  and  purchased  some 
tracts  of  Government  land.  But  as  the 
panic  came  upon  the  country  in  1837, 
sweeping  all  speculation  before  it,  pros- 
trating banks  and  business  men,  it  took 
over  fifteen  years  for  Mr.  Gardiner  to 
close  out  his  investment  in  land,  and  then 
without  much  profit,  after  paying  taxes 
and  interest.  The  whole  western  country 
after  the  collapse  of  1837  was  land-poor. 
Mr.  Gardiner,  having  finally  been  ap- 
pointed cashier  of  the  bank,  witii  John  R. 
Finn,  president,  and  the  bank,  owing  to 
adverse  legislation,  about  closing  its  busi- 
ness, resigned  the  office  of  cashier  in  Sep- 
tember, 1840,  and  commenced  the  business 
of  merchandising  at  No.  1,  Brick  Block, 
keeping  a  general  stock  of  merchandise, 
and  dealing  very  largely  in  produce;  so 
much    so   that   his   combined   business  in 

1844  had  reached  over  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  per  annum.     In  the  spring  of 

1845  Mr.  Gardiner  took  into  business  with 
him  Kicliard  I).  Joslin,  his  brother-in-law, 
and  leaving  hiin  in  charge  of  the  business 
went  to  New  York,  with  the  intention  of 
engaging  in  the  wholesale  dry-goods  trade 
the  following  January.  But  after  spend- 
ing the  summer  in  the  city  with  a  dry- 
goods  firm,  and  not   being  satisfied  with 


the  prospects  of  the  trade,  he  returned  to 
Norwalk  in  November,  and  continued  the 
mercantile  business  with  his  partner  until 
the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Joslin,  and  with  some 
friends  established  the  Norwalk  Branch  of 
the  State  Bank  of  Ohio,  with  a  capital  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  afterward 
increased  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  This  bank  commenced 
business  in  May,  1847,  with  Mr.  Gardiner 
as  cashier  and  manager,  and  for  eighteen 
years  did  a  prosperous  and  successful 
business,  and  notwithstanding  large  losses 
consequent  upon  the  panic  of  1856,  and 
failure  of  the  Ohio  Life  Insurance  and 
Trust  Company,  the  bank's  New  York 
agent  and  depository,  and  the  general  sus- 
pension of  the  banks  in  the  United  States, 
the  bank  closed  up  its  business  in  1865, 
returning  its  capital  to  its  shareholders, 
after  having  paid  in  dividends  over  two 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars. 
In  March,  1865,  Mr.  Gardiner  with  some 
other  friends  organized  the  Norwalk 
National  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  which  succeeded  to 
the  business  of  the  Norwalk  Branch  of  the 
State  Bank,  and  has  up  to  this  period 
(1893)  done  a  successful  business  with 
Mr.  Gardiner,  president,  and  Charles  W. 
Millen,  cashier,  having  paid  in  dividends 
two  hundred  and  fifty-one  thousand  dollars, 
and  having  over  forty  thousand  dollars  of 
undivided  profitson  hand.  Mr.  Gardiner, 
in  1847,  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  control  of  the  State  Bank  of  Ohio, 
that  distinguished  body  consistino-  of  some 
of  the  most  prominent  lawyers,  bankers 
and  business  men  in  the  State,  and  contin- 
ued a  member  thereof  until  1865,  when 
the  State  Bank  finally  closed  its  business 
and  was  superseded  by  tiie  national  banks. 
While  banking  has  been  Mr.  Gardiner's 
principal  occupation,  and  in  which  he  has 
lieen  actively  engaged  for  over  half  a  cen- 
tury, probably  longer  than  any  other  man 
now  actively  engaged  in  the"  business  in 
the  State,  he  has  not  omitted  other  enter- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


11 


prises  connected  with  the  improvement 
and  development  of  the  conntry.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  to  move  in  obtaining 
the  charter  of  the  Toledo,  Norwalk  & 
Cleveland  Railroad  Company,  granted 
by  the  Legislature  in  1850,  and  was  one 
of  the  original  incorporators  of  the  com- 
pany. After  the  road  was  constructed 
and  in  operation,  it  was,  in  1853,  con- 
solidated with  the  Junction  Railroad 
Company,  forming  the  Cleveland  & 
Toledo  Railroad  Company,  of  which 
company  Mr.  Gardiner  was  elected  a 
director  in  1856,  and  president  in  No- 
vember, 1860.  At  this  latter  date  the 
company  was  carrying  a  large  floating 
debt,  and  its  securities  were  very  much 
depressed  ;  so  much  so  that  its  stock  was 
selling  at  twenty  cents  on  the  dollar.  But 
under  Mr.  Gardiner's  supervision,  and  con- 
sequent upon  the  war  and  the  large  issue 
of  paper  money  by  the  Government,  and 
large  increase  of  business,  the  floating 
debt  was  paid  off,  dividends  resumed,  the 
earnings  of  the  company  more  than 
doubled,  and  the  stock  advanced  in  the 
market  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  cents  on 
the  dollar.  In  1865,  the  capital  stock  hav- 
ing changed  hands,  Mr.  Gardiner  was  su- 
perseded in  the  presidency,  though  he 
remained  a  director  until  the  road  was  con- 
solidated in  1869  with  the  Lake  Shore  & 
Michigan  Southern  Railway  Company. 
The  Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark  Rail- 
road was  one  of  the  first  roads  of  which 
construction  was  commenced  in  the  State, 
and  was  intended  for  the  transfer  of  pas- 
sengers and  freight  to  and  from  the  inte- 
rior towns,  in  connection  with  the  lake,  and 
struo'sjled  through  financial  difficulties  un- 
til  1863,  when  Charles  L.  Boalt,  Esq.,  was 
elected  president,  and  Mr.  Gardiner  one  of 
its  directors.  They  proceeded  to  form  a 
line  for  traffic  from  Sandusky  to  Balti- 
more and  Washington  by  the  Central  Ohio 
and  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroads, 
which  arrangement  met  with  such  success 
that  they  were  enabled,  in  1869,  to  lease 
the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark  Rail- 


road to  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
Company,  since  which  time  it  has  done  a 
successful  business  as  a  part  of  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  line  to  the  lake  at  Sandusky, 
and  to  Chicago,  in  connection  with  its 
Chicago  division.  On  the  death  of  C.  L. 
Boalt,  Esq.,  in  1870,  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
elected  president  of  the  Sandusky,  Mans- 
field &  Newark-  Railroad  Company,  and 
is  still  its  president,  having  served  in 
that  capacity  for  twenty-three  years.  Mr. 
Gardiner,  in  1863,  was  elected  a  di- 
rector of  the  Columbus  &  Indianapolis 
Railroad  Company,  which  road  was  in- 
tended, when  completed,  to  form  a  line 
between  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  Indianapo- 
lis, Ind.,  and  after  being  completed  and 
consolidating  with  various  lines,  finally 
embraced  about  600  miles  of  road  under 
the  name  of  the  Columbus,  Chicago  &  In- 
diana Central  Railway  Company.  In  the 
winter  of  1868  Mr.  Gardiner  and  ex- 
Governor  William  Dennison,  with  the 
president,  B.  E.  Smith,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  negotiate  a  lease  of  the  road 
to  the  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad  Company  and  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company,  which  lease,  after  much 
negotiating,  was  made  on  the  22d  day  of 
January,  1869,  and  duly  ratified  by  the 
companies;  though  it  was  amended  one 
year  after,  it  was  continued  until  finally  a 
consolidation  of  the  lines  west  of  Pitts- 
burgh was  eflPected,  and  it  is  now  operated 
as  one  line.  In  Mr.  Gardiner's  railroad 
connections  he  became  acquainted  with 
most  of  the  leading  railroad  magnates  of 
the  day — including  Commodore  Vander- 
bilt,  of  the  New  York  Central;  J.  Edgar 
Thompson  and  Thomas  A.  Scott,  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Central,  and  John  W.  Gar- 
rett, of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad — 
for  many  of  whom  he  still  entertains  a 
high  appreciation  for  their  energy  and 
great  ability  in  managing  the  large  enter- 
prises committed  to  their  charge. 

In  1879  Mr.  Gardiner  purchased  at 
Sheriff's  sale  the  XX  Furnace  property  in 
Perry    county,    Ohio,    comprising    about 


12 


HUBOy  COUN^TY,  OHIO- 


800  acres  of  coal  land  and  a  blast  furnace, 
and  organized  tlie  Sliawnee  6z  Sandusky 
Coal  and  Iron  Company,  associating  with 
himself  Mr.  Francis  Palms,  of  Detroit, 
and  A.  II.  and  J.  O.  Moss,  ot  Sandusky. 
Mr.  Gardiner  was  president  of  the  com- 
pany. The  Furnace  commenced  making 
pig  iron  in  tlie  spring  of  1880,  but  as  iron 
ruled  low  in  price,  and  the  business  did 
not  prove  as  profitable  as  was  anticipated, 
in  July,  1881,  Mr.  Gardiner  sold  the  prop- 
erty to  a  Boston  syndicate  at  a  good  profit, 
and  closed  up  tlie  concern.  In  188(j  Mr. 
(iardiner  erected  in  IS'orwalk  tiie  "Gardi- 
ner Block,"  a  building  one  hundred  feet 
scjuare,  with  a  front  of  cut  stone  and 
pressed  brick,  three  stories  higli,  with  four 
stores  on  the  ground  Hoor,  offices  iti  the 
second  story  and  a  large  Music  Hall  in 
the  third.  The  Music  Hall  is  equipped 
with  a  stage  and  fine  scenery,  is  seated 
with  opera  chairs,  and  is  handsomely  fres- 
coed and  fitted  up  as  a  place  of  amuse- 
ment and  recreation,  more,  as  Mr.  (irardi- 
ner  intended,  for  the  gratification  of  the 
people  of  Norwalk  than  for  profit  to  him- 
self. Mr.  Gardiner's  business  enterprises 
have  generally  been  successful,  particuhirly 
when  under  his  own  personal  management 
and  direction.  By  industry,  integrity  and 
perseverance  he  has  accumulated  a  hand- 
some fortune,  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
laud  owners  in  Huron  county,  having  four 
farms  under  good  cultivation  and  embrac- 
ing about  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land. 
Mr.  Gardiner  was  married  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  on  the  31st  day  of  July,  1843,  to 
Miss  Frances  Mary  .losliii,  who  was  born 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  on  the  13th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1817.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  A.  and  Frances  C.  (Davis)  Jos- 
lin,  the  latter  of  vvhoni  was  a  daughter  of 
Richard  Davis,  Jr.  Mary  Geer,  the 
great-grandmother  of  Francis  C.  Davis, 
was  one  of  the  settlers  at  "Wyoming,  Penn., 
and  escaped  from  the  massacre,  July  3, 
1776,  by  secreting  herself  and  children  in 
the  woods,  while  her  house  was  burned 
and    her  husband    killed  by  savages;  and 


after  the  massacre  she  made  her  way 
through  the  woods  to  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.  Four  children  were  the  offspring  of 
Mr.  Gardiner's  marriage,  viz.:  Edmund 
G.  Gardiner,  born  August  23,  18-4-1:;  Jolin 
Gardiner,  Jr.,  born  February  28,  1847; 
Lucy  Jane  Gardiner,  born  June  4,  1848, 
and  died  April  12,  1854,  and  William  L. 
Gardiner,  born  June  24,  1857.  Of  these 
Edmund  G.  Gardiner  married  Miss  Susie 
J.  Barnes,  at  Norwalk,  June  13,  1872,  and 
has  four  children:  Charles  Barnes  Gard- 
iner, born  December  26,  1874;  Frances 
Mary  Gardiner,  born  October  27,  1879; 
Annie  Helene  Gardiner,  boru  May  11, 
1885,  and  Lucy  Agnes  Gardiner,  born 
September  17,  1886.  John  Gardiner,  Jr., 
married  Miss  Louise  Woodward,  of  Belle- 
vue,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  October  3,  1877, 
and  has  three  children:  Amos  W.  Gard- 
iner, born  at  Bellevue  September  12,  1879, 
John  Joslin  Gardiner,  born  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  September  12,  1881,  and  Douglas 
Latimer  Gardiner,  born  at  Norwalk,  De- 
cember 28,  1887.  William  L.  Gardiner 
married  Miss  Sarah  Alice  Althouse  in 
New  York,  February  4,  1880,  and  has  no 
children  living.  The  Gardiner  mansion 
on  AVest  Main  street,  in  Norwalk,  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Gardiner  in  1848,  and 
was  occupied  by  his  family  March  20  of 
that  year.  He  has  added  to  the  buildings 
from  time  to  time,  and  increased  the  quan- 
tity of  land,  until  he  now  owns  a  farm  of 
160  acres,  almost  wholly  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city. 

During  nearly  half  a  century  that  Mr. 
Gardiner  has  occupied  his  home,  a  gener- 
ous hospitality  has  always  been  extended 
to  his  friends,  and  all  made  welcome  by 
his  genial  wife,  and  during  this  period 
many  distinguished  statesmen  have  en- 
joyed their  hospitality,  amongst  whom  he 
mentions,  with  great  pleasure,  the  Hon. 
John  Sherman,  senator  of  the  United 
States  from  Ohio,  and  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  during  Mr.  Hayes'  acfministra- 
tion;  Hon.  Salmon  P.  Chase,  Governor  of 
Ohio,  Secretary  of   the  Treasury  during 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


13 


Mr.  Lincoln's  administration,  and  Chief 
Justice  of  the  United  States;  Hon.  James 
G.  Blaine,  M.  C,  United  States  senator, 
and  Secretary  of  State  nnder  President 
Harrison;  Hon.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
Governor  of  Ohio,  and  President  of  the 
United  States;  Hon.  James  A.  GarHeld, 
M.  C,  and  President  of  the  United  States; 
Hon.  M.  R.  Waite,  Chief  Jnstice  of  tiie 
United  States;  Hon.  Charles  Foster,  Gov- 
ernor of  (Jhio,  Member  of  Congress,  and 
Secretary  of  tlie  Treasury  under  President 
Harrison ;  besides  many  other  public  men  of 
the  Republican  party,  in  whose  successful 
career  and  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the 
country  Mr.  Gardiner  has  always  felt  a 
just  pride.  Politically,  he  was  an  original 
Henry  Clay  Whig,  but  when  the  Whig 
party  merged  into  the  Republican  Mr. 
Gardiner  went  with  his  party,  has  always 
remained  a  Republican,  and  contributed 
with  his  influence  and  means  to  its  suc- 
cess, but  without  ever  seeking  an  office,  or 
soliciting  the  votes  of  his  friends  or  party 
for  political  preferment  or  position.  He 
was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  City  Water 
Works  in  1870,  and  remained  a  trustee  for 
three  years,  during  the  construction  of  the 
works,  and  contributed  to  their  success  by 
advancing  the  city  means  until  it  could 
dispose  of  its  bonds  on  favorable  terms. 
Mr.  Gardiner  also  served  on  the  board  of 
education  of  the  city  some  fourteen  years, 
during  which  time  the  schools  reached  a 
high  state  of  proficiency.  For  many  years 
Mr.  Gardiner  has  been  a  vestryman  in  St. 
Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his 
wife  has  been  a  lifelong  member,  though 
he  has  only  belonged  to  the  paying  side, 
and  this  church  seems  better  adapted  to 
his  liberal  views  of  church  matters  than 
any  other  denomination. 

Self-reliance  is  one  of  the  strong  char- 
acteristics of  Mr.  Gardiner,  and  in  his 
business  enterprises  he  has  always  relied 
upon  his  own  judgment  for  results  rather 
than  upon  the  opinion  and  advice  of 
others;  and  when  his  opinion  has  been 
once  formed,  he  is  never  afraid  to  express 


it,  without  waiting  for  the  views  of  others. 
Mr.  Gardiner  has  lived  in  Norwalk 
sixty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  ap- 
plied liimself  to  business  pursuits,  without 
wavering  or  faltering  in  his  onward 
course,  or  ever  failing  to  discharge  his  pe- 
cuniary obligations,  and  without  a  blemish 
on  his  business  character  or  integrity,  and 
during  which  time  great  changes  have 
taken  place.  The  early  pioneers  of  the 
county,  men  of  sterling  integrity,  with 
nearly  all  of  whom  he  was  acquainted, 
have  gone  to  their  long  homes,  having 
stamped  their  principles  of  industry,  in- 
tegrity and  perseverance  upon  their  chil- 
di-en  and  successors.  The  business  and 
leading  men  of  that  day  are  nearly  all 
dead,  but  have  left  behind  pleasant  recol- 
lections of  their  honesty  and  fair  dealing 
in  their  business  transactions.  The  log 
cabins  of  the  early  settlers,  in  whose  homes 
all  received  a  hearty  welcome,  have  disap- 
peared from  the  country,  and  good  farm 
houses  have  taken  their  places,  occupied 
by  as  thrifty  and  intelligent  a  class  of  peo- 
ple as  are  to  be  found  in  any  other  section 
of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Gardiner  grate- 
fully remembers  many  acts  of  kindness  of 
these  early  settlers  and  friends,  who  oc- 
cupied positions  which  enabled  them  to 
assist  him  in  his  early  business  career,  and 
who  were  ever  ready  to  lend  him  aid  in 
carrying  forward  his  business  enterprises, 
and  to  whose  generous  support,  friendship 
and  assistance  he  attributes  much  of  his 
ultimate  success. 

TIMOTHY  R.  STRONG,  a  leading 
criminal  lawyer  of  Norwalk,  pos- 
sesses a  strong  individuality  which 
has  proved  most  effective  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  born  April  7, 
1817,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
William  and  Lura  Strong,  and  received  his 
education  at  a  seminary  in  Onondaga 
county  and  at  Fredonia  Academy,  Chau- 
tauqua county,  same  State. 

After  reading  law  for  some  time  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1843,  and  began  a 


14 


HURON  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


general  practice  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  He 
has  conducted  many  extensive  and  difficult 
cases  of  a  civil  nature,  but  is  especially  emi- 
nent in  criminal  law.  Possessing  an  in- 
exhaustible fund  of  dry  humor  and  keen 
sarcasm,  combined  with  a  wonderful  power 
of  moving  his  audience  at  will,  to  laughter 
or  tears,  he  is  in  great  request  as  a  pleader. 
He  is  undeniably  the  shrewdest  and  most 
vivacious  lawyer  of  the  Norwalk  bar,  hav- 
ing won  success  by  native  acumen,  inde- 
fatigable application  and  characteristic 
genius. 

Mr.  Strong  was  married  April  3,  1845, 
to  Ann  Eliza  Smith,  a  native  of  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  whose  parents  were  born 
and  married  in  AlbaTiy,  X.  Y.,  and  to  this 
union  four  children  have  been  born  as  fol- 
lows: William  H.,  a  railroad  man;  Clara, 
wife  of  Dr.  D.  1.  McGuire,  Alice,  and 
Charlotte.  Mr.  Strong  in  his  political 
predilections  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


d JUDGE  FREDERICK  WICKHAM, 
Norwalk,  one  of  the  editors  and  pro- 
)  prietors  of  the  Norwalk  Befertor, 
may  be  classed  as  one  of  the  oldest 
newspaper  men  in  the  State  in  active  life, 
and  is  to  be  found  at  his  desk  and  at  the 
case  daily.  Ue  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  March  11,  1812,  a  son  of  William 
and  Catharine  (Christian)  Wickham,  of 
English  descent. 

In  the  veins  of  the  Wickham  family  is 
mingled  the  blood  of  the  Winthrops, 
Wantons  and  Saltonstalls,  some  of  the 
illustrious  of  the  New  Englanders  of  Co- 
lonial times.  William  Wickham,  above 
named,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Wickham, 
whose  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wanton.  Will- 
iam was  born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  in  1778, 
and  being  of  a  race  of  adventurous  sea- 
men he  was  before  the  mast  in  1796,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen.  In  the  year  1800  he 
sailed  from  rhiladelphia  as  master  of  a 
ship;  at  one  time  he  was  0!i  board  a  gov- 
ernment vessel,  and  late  in  life  he  received 
a  land  warrant  for  his  services,  which  he 


located  on  land  in  Kansas.  At  one  time 
he  was  a  pro.^perous  AVest  India  merchant, 
of  the  firm  of  William  &  Thomas  Wick- 
ham, of  New  York,  engaged  in  the  India 
trade,  and  gathered  great  wealth  for  those 
days.  Wlien  the  embargo  was  laid,  they 
had  ships  loaded  with  molasses,  either  in 
Havana  or  on  the  way  home,  which  were 
seized,  and  ships  and  cargoes  confiscated. 
His  fortune  wrecked,  he  was  persuaded  to 
go  West,  in  the  hope  of  retrieving  a  por- 
tion of  it.  Gathering  up  the  remnants, 
with  his  family  he  went  to  western  New 
York,  and  stopped  at  Great  Sodus,  on  Lake 
Ontario,  now  in  Wayne  county,  and  which 
was  then  the  most  promising  point  on  the 
southern  shores  of  the  lake.  Soon  after 
he  had  settled  there,  in  1812,  the  war  of 
that  year  having  broken  out,  the  English 
landed  a  force  and  burned  his  store  and 
residence,  with  all  outbuildings.  Again 
everything  he  had  in  the  world  was  de- 
stroyed, and  becoming  advanced  in  life  he 
was  left  to  his  fate.  To  the  shame  of  our 
Government,  that  boasts  the  largest  pen- 
sion roll  the  world  ever  saw,  it  has  persist- 
ently refused  to  recompense  this  old-time 
patriot. 

William  Wickham  married  Catharine, 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth 
(Hodgkinson)  Christian.  Her  ancestors 
were  from  Scotland,  the  name  being  oricr- 
inally  Erskine,  changed  to  Hodgkinson, 
and  of  this  family  was  the  Earl  of  Mar. 
William  and  Catharine  "Wickham  had 
seven  children:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Alden  S. 
Baker),  John,  William,  Thomas,  Samuel 
Christian,  Frederick  (subject)  and  Samuel. 

The  Wanton  family  are  pretty  well 
written  of  in  Dean's  "  History  of  Scituate," 
published  in  1881.  Further  particulars 
are  gained  from  a  manuscript  book  in  the 
possession  of  Judge  Wickham,  which  was 
examined  by  the  writer.  Edward  Wanton, 
gentleman,  as  the  records  show,  was  in 
Boston  in  1G58,  having  come  from 
London,  where,  so  tradition  informs  us, 
his  father  died  of  injuries  received  at  the 
great  London  fire.     Edward  Wanton  be- 


/X  A/. 


/o^Vt^-<-^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


17 


came  an  officer  in  Massachusetts,  and  had 
to  witness  the  execution  of  tlie  Quakers  in 
1661,  and  tlie  horrors  of  the  persecutions 
made  a  Qna]<er  of  him.  Of  the  sons  of 
Edward  Wanton  were  William  and  John. 
William  Wanton  married  Ruth  Brj'ant; 
became  a  distinguished  soldier,  and  was 
elected  governor  of  Rhode  Island  in  1732, 
re-elected  in  1733,  and  died  at  the  end  of 
his  term  of  office.  His  successor  in  the 
gnbernatorial  chair  was  his  brother,  John, 
elected  in  1734,  and  re-elected  six  times. 
In  1769,  Joseph  Wanton,  son  of  William, 
was  elected  governor;  he  was  re-elected 
seven  times.  Governor  Joseph  Wanton 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Gov.  John 
Winthrop.  His  daughter,  Anne,  married 
Winthrop  Saltonstall;  his  daughter  Eliza- 
beth married  Thomas  Wickham.  Another 
daughter  married  William  Browne,  gov- 
ernor of  the  Bermudas.  This  is  a  record 
for  a  family  furnishing  governors,  and 
their  frequent  elections,  that  is  unparalleled 
in  our  history. 

Frederick  Wickham,  when  a  boy,  pur- 
sued a  variety  of  occupations,  clerking  in 
stores  and  working  on  a  farm  in  Wayne 
county,  N.  Y.,  whither  his  parents  moved 
from  New  York  City.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  associated  himself  with  a 
brother  who.  had  a  stock  of  goods  in  a  store 
in  New  York,  and  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Norwalk,  Huron  county.  Here  they 
opened  out  a  commercial  business,  and 
about  a  year  afterward  Frederick  went  on 
the  lakes  in  the  capacity  of  second  mate 
from  which  he  was  soon  promoted  to  mas- 
ter, the  brother  taking  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness  during  his  absence.  Meanwhile  our 
subject  was  married,  January  15,  1835,  to 
Miss  Lucy  Bancroft  Preston,  a  native  of 
ISashua,  N.  H.,  born  March  27,  1814. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Preston,  one 
of  the  originators  and  proprietors  of  the 
Huron,  Refl.ector,  published  at  Norwalk; 
and  lie  concluded,  being  so  prevailed  on 
by  his  young  wife,  to  abandon  his  roving 
sort  of  life  on  the  lakes,  and  settle  down 
to  one  of  comparative  domesticity.    About 


the  winter  of  1840-41  Mr.  Wickham  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  Reflector,  then 
owned  by  Samuel  and  Charles  A.  Preston, 
his  father-in-law  and  brother-in-law,  re- 
spectively, and  here  he  has  ever  since  re- 
mained, rising  step  by  step  from  "devil" 
to  editor  and  proprietor,  having  on  the 
death  of  his  father-in-law  in  1852  bought 
the  establishment.  The  style  of  the  paper 
has  been  changed  to  Norwall'  Reflector, 
and  in  recent  years  a  regular  daily  issue 
has  been  published  from  the  office,  entitled 
Norwalk  Daily  Reflector.  The  judge 
now  (as  he  has  for  years)  sits  at  his 
case,  and,  without  any  previous  writing 
or  preparation,  sets  up  from  a  column 
to  a  column  and  a  half  of  editorial 
matter  for  his  paper,  a  feat  which  but  few 
men  are  capable  of  performing,  and  a  most 
remarkable  one  for  a  person  who  has 
reached  and  j^assed  the  advanced  age  of 
four  score  years.  His  brain  is  as  active 
as  it  ever  has  been,  and  his  physical  con- 
dition as  strong  and  vigorous  as  with  most 
men  at  sixty.  During  all  these  years  of 
his  useful  life  in  Norwalk,  Judge  Wick- 
ham has  been  universally  honored  and  re- 
spected. All  his  life  he  has  been  an 
indefatigable  worker,  both  in  his  business 
and  in  the  political  arena,  and  in  all  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow-men  he  has  main- 
tained the  strictest  integrity,  and  has  been 
the  soul  of  honor. 

As  a  Whig  and  Republican  the  Judge 
has  been  a  leader  and  a  worker  in  his  own 
party,  no  one  having  done  more  hard  and 
constant  lal)or  for  the  success  of  his  party 
principles  than  he.  During  his  residence 
in  Norwalk  he  has  held  with  characteristic 
care  and  ability  several  public  positions  of 
trust  and  honor.  He  was  first  elected 
town  constable  of  Norwalk  and  village  re- 
corder; served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  the 
county  two  terms;  was  appointed  associate 
judge  of  the  common  pleas  court,  and 
served  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  peo- 
ple. In  the  latter  years  of  the  Civil  war 
he  represented  iiis  District  in  the  Ohio 
Senate     A   few   years  ago,  after   he    was 


18 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


seventy  years  of  age,  lie  was  elected  mayor 
of  Nor  walk,  and  made  so  good  an  officer 
that  lie  had  to  jjereniptorily  decline  a  re- 
noiiiiriatioii. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Wickham  have  had 
thirteen  children,  forty  grandchildren,  and 
nine  great-grandchildren,  all  living  but 
six  who  (lied  in  their  infancy.  Their 
twelve  living;  children  are  as  follows: 
Charles  Preston  Wickham,  e.x-judge  of 
the  common  pleas  court  and  ex-Congress- 
man; Katherine  (widow  of  Thomas  Chris- 
tian); AV.  S.  Wickham;  Frederick  C.  and 
John  T.,  twins  (the  latter  deceased);  Mary 
E.  (wife  of  Lieut. -Col.  E.  K.  Kellogg,  of 
IT.  S.  A.);  Sarah  L.;  Lucy  P.  (Mrs.  A.  J. 
Minard);  Albert  W. ;  Carrie  (Mrs.  James 
G.  Gil)l)s);  Emma  W.  Peters;  Jessie  (Mrs. 
C.  L.  Merry),  and  Frank  1).  Wickham. 
The  family  is  the  largest  and  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  city.  Mrs.  Frederick  Wick- 
ham. beloved,  honored  and  respected,  has 
lived  in  Xorwalk  seventy-two  years;  and, 
from  a  wilderness  inhabited  and  trodden 
by  savages  and  but  a  few  white  men,  has 
seen  tlie  place  grow  into  a  handsome  and 
thriving  city  of  nearly  ten  thousand  souls. 


jri(  LONZO  L.  SIMMONS,  one  of  the 
Lj^    wealthiest  as    well    as    one    of    the 
Ir\^   most    highly    respected  citizens  of 
■^J  Fairfield  township,  is  a  great-grand- 

stin  of. Edward  Simmons,  who  was 
a  miller  in  Uehoboth,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  tlie  Revolutionary 
war,  serving  as  captain  in  the  Continental 
line  of  Massachusetts  until  the  linal  vic- 
tory at  Yorktown  insnred  both  peace  and 
liberty  to  the  Colonists.  Eetnrning  with 
the  honors  of  a  veteran,  he  found  that  the 
enemy  had  destroyed  his  mill  and  home; 
but  unmindful  of  the  financial  loss,  he 
again  went  bravely  to  work,  and  reared  his 
family  in  comfort.  Of  his  children,  Ed- 
ward settled  in  New.  Hampshire  and  be- 
came a  Judge;  Noble  was  a  blacksmith 
and  settled  in  New  York  State,  where  he 


died;  Eliphalet  B.  is  referred  to  below; 
William  died  in  Massachusetts. 

Elifihalet  B.Simmons  was  born  in  1773 
in  Bristol  county,  Mass.,  and  passed  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  there.  In  1804 
he  moved  to  Delaware  county,  N.  Y., 
where  for  thirteen  years  he  carried  on  the 
lumber  business  with  quite  a  degree  of 
success.  Durincr  his  residence  here  be 
married  Esther,  daughter  of  Capt.  Charles 
Brown,  of  New  London,  Conn.  In  1817 
he  started  for  the  "  Firelands  "  of  Ohio, 
making  the  journey  to  Huron  county  by 
wagon,  and  arriving  July  12.  He  pur- 
chased land  in  the  second  section  of  Green- 
field township,  and  took  up  his  residence 
on  Lot  No.  22,  where  his  grandson,  John 
N.  Simmons,  now  resides,  and  became  a 
pioneer  in  the  wilderness.  He  vvas  a  man 
of  great  industry,  coupled  with  honesty  of 
purpose,  and  good  practical  judgment,  and 
eventually  acquired  a  large  pi'operty.  His 
selections  of  real  estate  made  in  that  early 
(lay  in  Greenfield  and  Fairfield  townships 
have  stood  the  tests  of  time,  and  stand  ap- 
proved as  the  best  individual  farms  to  this 
day.  He  was  twice  married,  and  had  a 
family  of  four  children,  viz.:  Harlon  E., 
Charles  B.,  Albert  and  Washington  L. 
Eliphalet  B.  Simmons  died  at  his  home  in 
Greenfield  January  26,  1836,  in  the  sixty- 
third  year  of  his  age.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  took  an  active  interest  in 
party  matters.  In  religion  he  was  a  Bap- 
tist. Of  his  children  two  are  still  living, 
viz.:  Charles  B.,  at  North  Fairfield,  Ohio, 
and  Washington  L.,  a  resident  of   Kansas. 

Harlon  E.,  son  of  Eliphalet  B.  Simmons, 
was  born  December  14,  1798,  in  Eeho- 
both,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.  His  youth  was 
passed  there,  and  like  most  boys  of  that 
period  his  time  was  divided  between  school 
and  farm;  for  youths  then  were  treated 
mostly  to  one-third  school  and  two-thirds 
farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he 
determined  to  make  a  home  for  himself  in 
the  then  far-away  West,  and  as  his  father 
and  the  balance  of  the  family  had  miorated 
to  the   "Firelands"    in    Ohio    some    two 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


19 


years  previous,  that  locality  at  once  became 
his  objective  point.  Thus  in  October, 
1819,  with  the  accmnnlations  of  eight 
years  work  by  the  month,  one  horse  and  an 
open  wagon,  he  started  from  Massachusetts 
alone  to  make  the  journey,  arriving  at  his 
father's  residence  in  Greenfield  township 
in  December  following,  thus  making  the 
trip  in  about  six  weeks.  He  purchased 
land  adjacent  to  his  father's  home,  and 
located  on  Lot  No.  21,  and  in  time  added 
Lots  Nos.  17  and  20,  and  parts  of  Lots 
Nos.  16  and  28  to  the  home  farm.  In 
1827  he  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  on 
July  17  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ann 
Ide,  daughter  of  Joseph  Ide,  of  Attleboro, 
Bristol  county,  and  she  accompanied  him 
to  their  new  home  in  Ohio.  To  this  nnion 
si.x  children  were  born,  viz.:  Kufus  A., 
Abby  N.,  L.  Curtis,  Alonzo  L.,  Emily  and 
Ann,  of  whom  Rufus  A.,  Emily  and  Ann 
are  deceased;  Abby  N.,  now  wife  of  G.  T. 
Stewart,  resides  at  Norwalk,  Ohio;  L.  Cur- 
tis, at  Hastings,  Minn.;  Alonzo  L.,  at 
North  Fairfield,  Ohio.  Mr.  Simmons 
came  to  the  "  Firelands  "  as  a  pioneer,  and 
brought,  as  did  many  of  those  early 
settlers,  sterling  qualities,  and  with  the 
helpfulness  of  wife  and  family  a  beautiful 
home  was  developed  on  what  was  in  1819 
a  wilderness,  in  which  he  lived  about  fifty- 
five  years,  and  where  he  died  March  21, 
1875,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  Had  his 
life  been  spai-ed  a  few  months  he  would 
have  reached  the  forty-eighth  mile  post  in 
wedded  life.  He  was  universally  esteemed 
for  his  integrity  of  character,  and  virt.nes, 
in  all  the  relations  of  life.  In  business  he 
was  successful,  and  as  his  children  settled 
in  life  he  was  able  to  present  each  with  a 
purse  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
without  encumbering  the  home.  We  are 
told  that  the  first  singing  school,  as  well 
as  choir,  in  the  township,  was  organized 
under  his  leadership,  and  in  after  years  the 
home  life  was  full  of  music,  containing  as 
it  did  a  quartet  of  both  instrumental  and 
vocal  (members  of  the  family),  and  led  by 
him.     From  the  discourse  of  Doctor   H. 


L.  Canfield  at  his  funeral  we  quote  the  fol- 
lowing appropriate  tribute  to  liis  memory: 
"  For  more  than  fifty-five  years  he  lived 
in  this  township,  and  you  who  have  known 
him  best  know  how  much  his  strong  arm 
and  tireless  industry  have  done  toward  the 
removal  of  the  primitive  forests,  and  the 
development  of  the  material  prosperity  of 
this  region.  But  never  in  his  devotion  to 
material  things  did  he  forget  the  higher 
interests  of  life.  Whatever  tended  to  pro- 
mote moral  or  intellectual  culture,  or 
social  reform,  found  in  him  a  warm  friend 
and  ready  helper.  He  was  always  to  be 
found  on  the  side  of  whatsoever  things 
were  true  and  honest;  whatsoever  things 
were  ju.%t  and  pure;  whatsoever  things 
were  lovely  and  of  good  report.  Well  may 
the  thread  of  such  a  life  run  evenly,  and 
hope  be  its  constant  inspiration."  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Simmons  was  in  early  life  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat,  but  in  1856  swung  into 
the  Republican  ranks,  and  kept  pace  with 
its  progressive   movements. 

The  companion  that  had  left  her  New 
England  home  and  friends  sotne  fifty  years 
before,  and  added  her  efforts  to  his  in 
building  this  earthly  home,  survived  bin: 
a  little  over  two  years,  and  on  May  30, 
1877,  she,  as  we  trust,  again  joined  him 
and  the  multitudes  that  have  gone  before, 
to  agttin  add  her  efforts  to  theirs  in  the 
work  beyond.  As  regards  religious  views 
we  may  as  well  speak  in  the  plural,  as  their 
hopes  were  practically  the  same.  They 
cherished  the  broader  views,  ever  believ- 
ing that  to  be  a  Christian  was  to  become 
Christ-like.  That  a  true  religion  is  always 
a  practical  religion,  and  shows  itself  in  all 
that  its  possessor  does. 

Alonzo  L.  Simmons,  youngest  son  of 
Harlon  E.  and  Ann  I.  Simmons,  was  born 
in  Greenfield  township,  December  6.  1835, 
and  like  most  boys  of  his  time,  whose 
lives  as  men  have  been  helpful  in  the 
community  in  which  they  have  lived; 
helpful  in  creating  higher  public  senti- 
ment; helpful  that  they  have  made  the 
community   in  which  they  have  lived  the 


20 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


better  for  their  having  lived,  his  youth 
like  theirs  was  passed  on  the  farm,  guided 
by  good  parental  care,  with  plenty  of  work 
to  teacli  the  important  lessons  of  care  tak- 
ing in  early  life,  relieved  in  winter  by  a 
term  at  the  district  school.  Thus  the 
routine  went  on,  varied  by  one  term  in 
graded  school  at  North  Fairfield,  and  one 
at  the  hii;h  school  at  Xorwalk.  In  1854 
he  changed  from  attendant  to  teacher,  and 
the  new  order  continued  some  seven 
winters,  first  in  the  district  and  later  in 
the  graded  schools.  In  the  sprino;  of  1855 
his  father  placed  him  in  charge  of  an  out- 
lying farm  of  KiU  acres,  which  position  he 
filled  until  the  spring  of  1859.  when,  by 
request  of  his  parents,  he  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  and  bought  200  acres  of  the 
same,  receiving  a  receipt  for  four  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  in  part  payment.  The 
house  on  the  home  farm  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  March,  1858,  and  no  permanent 
one  rebuilt  until  the  summer  of  1861, 
when  a  larrfe  double  brick  residence  was 
constructed  by  the  joint  efforts  of  his  par- 
ents and  himself. 

On  April  24,  1862,  Mr.  Simmons  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  M., 
daughter  of  John  E.  and  Lydia  F.  Meiiges, 
then  residents  of  Greenfield,  and  in  due 
time  the  double  residence  had  double  occu- 
pants; and  thus  the  two  families  dwelt 
peacefully  side  by  side  until  the  lieaper 
came  in  1875  and  called  the  father  home. 

In  1871  Mr.  Simmons  bought  an  inter- 
est in  the  Phoenix  mill,  became  interested 
in  that  business,  and  still  retains  his  inter- 
est in  it.  After  the  father's  death  he 
bought  his  mother's  and  two  brothers' 
interests  in  the  old  home,  and  at  that 
time,  without  doubt,  expected  to  pass  the 
balance  of  his  life  there,  amidst  its  familiar 
scenes.  But  in  the  spring  of  1883,  begin- 
ning to  realize  that  so  large  a  farm  home 
must  in  time  become  burdensome  to  him- 
self as  well  as  Mrs.  Simmons  (they  two 
comprising  his  family),  and  having  au 
available  opportunity  to  sell  the  home, 
wisely  as  it  would  seem,  did  so,  and  re- 


purchased another  equally  pleasant,  though 
smaller,  near  the  village  of  North  Fair- 
field, where  they  now  reside.  Mr.  Sim- 
tnons  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
JSIorwalk  Savings  Bank,  and  is  a  stock- 
holder and  member  of  its  board  of  direct- 
ors. His  life  work,  however,  has  been 
that  of  a  practical  farmer,  one  who  has 
found  pleasure  in  the  performance  of  his 
labor,  and  in  leading  a  wholesome,  inde- 
pendent life.  Ever  holding  to  the  theory 
that  whatsoever  is  worth  doing  at  all  is 
worth  doing  well,  he  has  aimed  to  put  its 
principle  into  practical  effect,  and  in  a 
broad  sense  has  carried  out  this  principle; 
and  as  a  result,  success,  not  only  in  ma- 
terial things  but  in  the  higher  walks  of 
life  as  well,  has  crowned  his  efforts.  Suc- 
cess comes  to  no  one  by  the  mere  revolu- 
tion of  the  wheel  of  fortune;  to  be  obtained 
it  must  be  coveted,  striven  for,  and  won. 
None  may  wear  her  laurels  save  those  who 
have  a  strong  earnest  desire.  But  desire 
alone  will  never  win;  an  aim  that  is  high 
and  honorable,  a  will  and  purpose  that  are 
unbending,  an  uncompromising  integrity 
with  untiring  industry  and  economy — • 
these  with  other  characteristics  must  unite 
with  desire  to  win  the  trophies  of  success. 
Mr.  Simmons  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
substantially  worthy  men  of  his  section, 
kind  to  all,  generous  to  those  in  need,  and 
honorable  in  all  things;  a  man  of  strong 
convictions  of  right  and  wrong,  and  fear- 
less to  speak  or  act  his  convictions  when 
duty  requires.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, coming  upon  the  stage  of  action 
as  he  did  when  bleeding  Kansas  was  the 
bone  of  contention  between  the  then  two 
leading  parties,  he  cast  his  lot  in  the  ranks 
of  that  party,  and  has  ever  been  loyal  to 
its  principles. 

Any  account  of  Mr.  Simmons'  life  to 
those  who  have  known  him  so  long  and 
heard  him  so  oft,  would  be  incomplete,  if 
its  musical  features  were  omitted.  Like 
the  father,  his  home  life  has  always  found 
relief  from  its  routine  of  duties  in  litera- 
ture and  music,  and  for  upwards  of  forty 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


21 


years  his  voice  has  been  heard  in  song  at 
the  majority  of  the  social,  festival, 
church  and  funeral  gatherings  in  his 
locality. 


/ 


CHARLES  B.  STICKNEY  was  born 
at  Moira,  Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan- 
uary 20,  1810,  the  eldest  of  twelve 
children — six  sons  and  six  daughters 
— of  Charles  and  Betsey  Stickney. 

Cant.  Charles  Stickney,  father  of  sub- 
■ject,  was  born  at  Cornwall,  Addison  Co., 
Vt.,  May  17,  1785,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Pierce,  at  JStew  Salem, 
Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  April  11,  1790. 
They  were  married  in  the  town  of  Dickin- 
son, Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  11,  1809. 
Both  are  noAv  dead.  They  were  of  English 
descent.  His  father's  earliest  ancestor  in 
America  was  William  Stickney,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  1637  from  Hull, 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  settled  with  his 
family  at  Rowley,  Mass.  From  him  it  is 
believed  that  all  bearing  the  name  of 
Stickney  in  America  are  descended. 

Mr.  Stickney's  early  years  were  required 
by  his  father  on  his  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  twenty-lirst  year,  en- 
gaged in  hard  work,  and  receiving  only  a 
district-school  education,  when  he  was 
given  his  time,  live  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
in  money,  and  the  blessing  of  his  kind 
parents  with  which  he  started  forth  to 
seek  his  fortune.  He  entered  the  academy 
at  Potsdam,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  then 
in  charge  of  Rev.  Asa  Brainard,  and  here 
he  remained  nearly  four  years,  supporting 
himself  in  the  meantime  by  teaching 
school  winters. 

His  health  having  become  impaired  from 
close  application,  he  reluctantly  left  the 
academy  and  came  to  Ohio.  He  reached 
Ashtabula  county,  where  he  was  taken 
sick  at  the  house  of  his  maternal  uncle, 
Jesse  Pierce,  in  the  town  of  Saybrook,  his 
sickness  continuing  for  nearly  six  months. 
Recovering  his  health  somewhat,  he 
adopted  the  teaching  of  penmanship  as  a 


means  of  livelihood,  and  taught  in  differ- 
ent places  in  western  Pennsylvania,  Vir- 
ginia, and  southern  Ohio.  On  his  arriving 
at  Wheeling,  AV.  Va.,  in  1835,  Judge 
Stickney  was  by  its  directors  elected 
principal  of  an  academy  there,  conducted 
on  the  Pestolozian  system  of  education, 
which  he  managed  with  credit  to  himself, 
and  to  the  approval  of  its  patrons  for 
about  two  years. 

In  1841  he  visited  his  brother,  Hon.  E. 
T.  Stickney,  at  Scipio,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  meeting  with  a  former  fellow-student 
of  Potsdam  Academy,  the  late  Jairus 
Kennan,  Esq.,  who  was  then  practicing 
law  at  Norwalk,  he  was  induced  to  enter 
his  othce,  and  commence  the  study  of  law. 
He  arrived  at  Norwalk  November  13, 
1841,  and  pursued  his  studies  with  Mr. 
Kennan;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  August 
1,  1844,  and  subsequently  to  practice  in 
the  Federal  courts,  at  Cleveland,  April  12, 
1860.  During  his  term  of  study  he  was 
associated  with  the  late  Ezra  M.  Stone  in 
the  preparation  of  a  large  number  of 
cases  in  bankruptcy,  under  the  then  exist- 
ing bankrupt  law  of  the  United  States. 
After  he  commenced  practice  he  was  sev- 
eral times  a  candidate  for  prosecuting 
attorney,  always  running  ahead  of  his 
ticket,  but  not  being  able  to  overcome  the 
party  odds  against  him.  The  new  consti- 
tution of  Ohio  created  the  Court  of  Pro- 
bate, and  upon  its  going  into  operation, 
in  1851,  Mr.  Stickney  was  nominated  on 
the  Democratic  ticket  for  the  new  office  of 
judge  of  said  court,  and  was  elected  over 
his  competitor,  Hon.  F.  Wickhatn,  by 
thirty-one  majority,  having  run  ahead  of 
his  ticket  about  five  hundred  votes.  He 
performed  the  duties  of  his  office  faith- 
fully and  satisfactorily  to  all  for  the  term 
of  three  years,  and  was  again  nominated 
in  1854.  The  newly-formed  Republican 
and  Know-Nothing  parties  swept  the  field, 
the  general  majority  of  the  party  in 
Huron  county  being  about  sixteen  hun- 
dred, but  the  majority  for  his  competitor, 
Hon.  F.    Sears,  was    cut  down    to    about 


22 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


eight  hundred.  Mr.  Stickney  has  served 
several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  common 
council,  and  in  April,  1874,  was  elected 
mayor  of  Norvvalk,  in  which  office  he 
served  two  years,  being  an  acceptable  and 
popular  officer,  lie  was  for  several  years 
school  examiner  for  Huron  county,  and  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  of  the 
Union  school  for  four  years,  during  wliich 
time  he  was  clerk  of  the  board,  lie  has 
at  all  times  taken  a  deep  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters.  lie  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Whittlesey  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  of  which  he  has  been  president. 

On  Aj)ril  30.  1845,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber, by  initiation,  of  Huron  Lodge  Xo. 
37,  I.  O.  ().  F.,  and  has  been  a  prominent 
and  respected  member  of  the  Order,  hold- 
ing man}'  of  its  important  offices.  On 
February  20,  1856,  he  was  elected  most 
worthy  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  (Jliio,  serving  one  term  with  distin- 
guished ability.  For  his  faithful  and 
efficient  services  in  this  office  he  received 
from  the  (irand  Lodge  its  beautiful  and 
costly  medal. 

In  1858  Judge  Stickney  was  apjjointed 
assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant-colonel,  on  the  staff  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  James  A.  Jones,  Seventeenth  Divi- 
sion Ohio  Volunteer  Militia,  and  was  com- 
missioned by  Gov.  Chase.  He  also  acted 
as  Inspector-general  of  Division.  On 
coming  to  Norwalk  he  became  a  boarder 
at  the  "Mansion  House,"'  then  kept  by 
Obadiah  Jenney,  Esq.,  and,  to  the  surprise 
of  all,  has  remained  unmarried,  and  a 
constant  boarder  at  public  hotels  there 
now  over  fifty- two  years.  Though  not  a 
communicant,  the  Judire  has  long  been  an 
attendant  at  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church, 
Norwalk,  and  has  served  several  years  as 
vestryman  and  clerk  of  the  vestry,  jet 
cl)arital)le  and  liberal  in  his  reliirious 
views  toward  all  church  organizations. 

Judge  Stickney  has  always  had  an  ex- 
tensive law  practice,  and  been  especially 
successful  as  a  collection  lawyer,  and,  in 
the  settlement  of  estates  and  matters  of 


guardianship,  he  has  been,  through  his 
professional  life,  regarded  as  an  upright 
man.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  taste  and 
culture,  kind  and  benevolent,  esteemed  by 
all  who  know  him,  and  is  an  eminently 
popular  member  of  society.  He  is  now 
one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Norwalk. 
His  name  is  a  household  oracle  here.  He 
is  perhaps  the  only  living  man  in  northern 
Ohio  who  has  shaken  hands  with  Daniel 
Webster.  Henry  Clay  and  Andrew  Jack- 
son. He  is  as  already  stated  still  a  bache- 
lor, and  in  spite  of  liis  age  feels  young. 
Of  him  the  Norwalk  Reflednr  of  March 
2,  1892,  said:  "  What  an  interesting  tale 
could  be  written  of  Judge  Stickney's  social 
life  in  this  city.  His  name  and  face  are 
indelibly  and  pleasantly  connected  with  all 
our  homes  where  sociability  and  good 
cheer  abound.  The  genial  Judge  is  a 
necessary  part  of  all  the  social  gatherings 
in  our  city,  and  he  is  as  young  and  frisky 
as  ever.     Long  live  the  Judge!" 


LIVER  RANSOM  was  born  at 
Lyme,  Conn.,  November  3,  1800, 
or  near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
centuiy.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  place,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
wedded  Rachel  Hollister,  who  was  fifteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time.  They  commenced 
housekeeping  at  Bolton,  Conn.,  the  bride's 
home,  and  here  two  of  their  children  were 
born. 

In  1822  the  still  youthful  couple  pio- 
neered westward,  and  li.xed  their  wilderness 
home  at  Warrensville,  Ohio,  a  little  east 
of  Cleveland.  They  made  the  trip  in  a 
lumber-wagon  with  o.xen,  and  were  forty 
days  on  the  lonesome  way,  bivouacking 
after  their  arrival  until  he  could  build 
their  little  pole  cabin.  Here  the  last  seven 
of  their  children  were  born.  AVhen  their 
labors  had  opened  a  fine  farm  of  400  acres, 
the  American  spirit  that  ever  has  carried 
the  star  of  empire  westward  induced  them 
to  sell,  and  go  to  Elkhart,  Ind.,  where  they 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


23 


made  investments  that  would  have  soon 
made  them  wealthy.  Mr.  Kansom's  health, 
however,  became  so  seriously  impaired, 
that  they  felt  it  imperative  to  sell  at  a 
sacrifice  and  return ;  and  they  purchased  a 
farm  near  Berlin  Heights,  in  Erie  county. 
Except  the  three  years  in  Indiana,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ransom  lived  on  their  farm  at 
Warrensville  thirty-two  years,  and  at  Ber- 
lin Heights  twenty-one  years.  In  the  year 
1877,  both  feeliuii  that  their  business  af- 
fairs  were  such  they  could  well  afford  to 
retire  from  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agri- 
cultural life,  they  came  to  Xorwalk  and 
purchased  their  pleasant  residence  on 
Whittlesey  avenue,  which  has  since  been 
the  family  home.  They  parted  with  the 
title  of  their  fine  farm  of  400  acres  in  Ber- 
lin Heights,  one  of  the  best  improved  in 
the  county.  Mr.  Ransom  had  then  reached 
the  age  of  seventy-seven,  while  Mrs.  Ran- 
som was  seventy-three;  neither  one  in  the 
"sere  and  yellow  leaf,"  but  rather  in  the 
serene  afternoon  of  their  days,  when  was 
numbered  fifty-eight  years  of  their  mar- 
ried life,  both  I)lessing  and  beina;  blessed. 
This  family  brought  to  Norwalk  the  frank 
and  sincere  friendship  of  a  host  of  friends; 
and  not  only  found  in  their  new  place  of 
residence  a  comfortable  home,  but  drew 
new  friends,  new  circles  of  pleasant  asso- 
ciations, and  new  ties  of  life  such  as  only 
reward  the  broad  and  generous  natures  of 
those  who  make  this  world  both  good  and 
wholesome.  Mr.  Ransom  departed  this 
life  March  3,  1891,  at  the  unusual  acre  of 
nearly  ninety-one  years;  which  year  was 
the  seventy-second  mile  post  of  their  mar- 
ried life.  Suppose  the  youthful  couple, 
when  they  plighted  their  lives  on  the  mar- 
I'iage  altar,  had  been  permitted  a  perspec- 
tive view  of  the  seventy-two  years  that  at 
that  moment  was  opening  before  them!  A 
span  of  life  so  rich  in  the  world's  history, 
so  infinitely  richer  in  the  unwritten  joys 
of  "two  souls  with  but  a  single  thought, 
two  hearts  that  beat  as  one!"  The  vener- 
able husband  and  father  was  followed  to 
the  grave  by  the  love  of  family  and  friends, 


as  well  as  the  highest  respect  from  all  in 
the  community.  A  man  of  long  life  and 
strong  character;  whose  death  at  the  ripe 
age  of  nearly  a  century  came  to  all  in  the 
community  much  as  a  personal  loss. 

The  brave  little  gii-1  who  at  fifteen  had 
stood  at  the  boy-husband's  side  and 
plighted  her  love  and  her  life,  never  fal- 
tered, never  in  the  hour  of  severest  pioneer 
life  knew  a  twinge  of  doubt  or  despair,  l)ut 
was  the  real  heroine,  comforting,  encour- 
aging, sustaining,  with  a  faith  and  work 
sublime,  both  husband  and  children.  The 
accounts  of  pioneer  life,  of  the  days  that 
tried  men's  souls,  are  brightened  and  hal- 
lowed by  the  far  more  tragic  and  sublime 
stories  of  the  true,  brave  and  loyal  wives 
and  mothers,  whose  unfalterincr  courao-e 
were  the  shield  and  anchor  of  the  physi- 
cally stronger  men. 

Rachel  (HoUister)  Ransom  was  born  in 
Bolton,  Conn.,  November  14,  1804;  mar- 
ried September  13,  1819;  died  December 
9,  1893;  in  faith  a  Methodist,  and  all  her 
life  an  exemplary  professor  thereof.  Up 
to  about  the  time  of  her  death  her  mind 
was  unimpaired,  her  memory  as  clear  and 
quick  as  if  yet  below  the  half-century  mark 
of  life.  She  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  nine  grew  to  maturity,  as  follows: 
Lucina  (Mrs.  Asa  Dunham)  had  two  chil- 
dren, Ludd  and  Lloyd;  Lovisa  (Mrs.  Hervy 
N.  Addison),  of  Michigan,  had  six  children, 
Rachel,  William,  Isola,  Nina,  Bertha  and 
Mary;  Cornelia  (Mrs.  John  Perkins)  has 
three  sons,  Floyd,  George  and  Earl; 
Weltha  first  married  Andrew  Taylor,  and 
by  him  had  one  child,  Marion,  and  after- 
ward married  Erastus  Ives,  by  whom  she 
had  one  child,  Maud;  Philura  (Mrs.  Will- 
iam Gleason)  had  five  children,  William, 
Mary,  Nora,  Anna  and  Eddie;  Mary  (Mrs. 
Charles  Lane)  bad  two  sons,  Gerdon  and 
Morrill;  Gerdon  married  Anna  Jenkins, 
and  had  six  children,  Sarah,  Emma,  Elgie, 
Ella,  Lucy  and  Myrtie;  Sylvester  (deceased) 
married  Clarissa  Allen,  and  left  no  chil- 
dren; Miss  Eunice  A.  is  unmarried. 

Miss  Eunice  A.  Ransom,   the  youngest 


24 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


child,  was  compelled  to  take  much  of  the 
burdens  of  financial  affairs  from  her  father's 
shoulders  for  ten  years  preceding  his  death, 
and  in  tliis  respect  she  became  the  head  of 
the  house.  She  was  the  companion  and 
aid  to  her  father  from  her  early  girlhood 
times,  and  through  thus  growing  into 
strong  healthy  business  ideas  she  was  soon 
able  to  relieve  him  of  all  cares.  Her 
father  must  have  detected  the  bent  of  the 
girl'.*  talents,  and  he  gave  her  the  com- 
panionship and  fatherly  training  which  he 
hoped  would  some  day  fit  her  to  take  up 
his  work;  and  he  lived  to  see  his  fondest 
hopes  in  this  respect  fully  realized. 


IfffON.   GIDEON    TABOR    STE'PT- 
r5^     ART.     The  law  gives  us   one    of 
I     !_     the    learned     professions,    and     in 
•^  many    respects    it  is  calculated  to 

best  equip  the  young  man  for  dis- 
tinction in  social,  business  and  public  life. 
Lawyer  Stewart  may  be  named  as  "the 
father"'  of  the  Huron  county  bar.  He 
takes  this  place  by  virtue  of  his  age  and 
his  long  and  successful  practice  liere,  as 
well  as  by  his  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
subtleties  of  the  law.  These  are  not  the 
mere  idle  words  of  a  panegyrist,  but  they 
are  verified  by  the  general  judgment  of 
his  cotemporaries;  a  man  holding  an  en- 
viable place  among  the  distinguished 
members  of  the  bar  of  northern  Ohio. 
During  the  last  twenty  five  years  he  has 
been  employed  in  more  cases  from  the 
"Firelands,"  in  the  District,  Circuit  and 
Supreme  courts,  than  any  other  lawyer. 
Some  who  studied  law  in  his  office  have 
become  eminent  in  the  profession.  Hon. 
S.  W.  Owen,  who  was  judge  of  the  Su- 
preme court,  studied  law  with  Mr.  Stew- 
art. To  excel,  even  in  the  ordinary  vo- 
cations of  life,  is  a  proud  distinction,  but 
in  the  abstruse  mazes  of  the  law  it  marks 
a  mental  equipment  of  rarest  excellence. 
Thoroughly  grounded  in  the  fundamentals 
of  the  law,  he  tries  every  case  before  he 
enters  the   court-room,   and    this  careful 


preparation  is  backed  by  a  tenacity  of  pur- 
pose that  will  brook  no  hint  of  ultimate 
defeat.  In  many  positions  of  life  rare 
genius  may  carry  all  before  it,  but  pre- 
eminence at  the  bar  must  add  to  even  un- 
usual gifts,  those  patient  tasks  of  "the 
slave  of  the  lamp,"  which  bring  the  "  pale 
cast  of  thought"  to  the  devotee. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  Mr.  Stewart 
came  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  origin- 
ally from  Scotland.  On  both  sides  his 
people  were  of  the  cultured  classes.  His 
paternal  grandmother  was  a  noted  educator 
and  scholar  of  her  day,  having  taught  the 
first  school  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and 
founded  the  first  academy  of  that  place,  a 
famed  school,  that  was  in  time  succeeded 
by  Union  College.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  the  eminent  divine,  Rev. 
Nicholas  Hill,  Sr.,  who  was  father  of  the 
distinguished  lawyer,  Nicholas  Hill,  Jr., 
of  Albany,  head  of  the  eminent  law  firm 
of  Hill,  Cagger  &  Porter,  and  who  at  his 
death,  which  occurred  just  before  the 
Civil  war,  was  pronounce'd  by  the  New 
York  World  "  the  greatest  lawyer  of 
America."  Another  of  his  mother's 
brothers,  John  L.  Hill,  is  a  leading  law- 
yer of  New  York,  and  was  a  prominent 
counsel  in  the  famed  Beecher-Tilton  trial. 
His  brother  James  F.  Stewart,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  esteemed  members  of  the 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  bar,  died  on  Novem- 
ber 17,  1893.  His  eldest  brother,  Merwin 
Hill  Stewart,  graduated  at  Union  College 
with  the  highest  honors,  but  died  when  he 
was  about  entering  on  the  legal  profession. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  in  Johnstown, 
now  in  Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  August  7, 
1824,  and  was  named  from  Gideon  Tabor, 
a  judge  of  the  courts  there.  When  about 
eleven  years  old,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  a  student  in  that  college  ex- 
cept a  year  in  the  Elyria  Institute.  He 
began  the  study  of  law  at  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
in  the  spring  of  1842,  but  the  next  year 
he  went  to  live  with  his  brother,  Alex- 
ander A.  Stewart,  a  merchant  at  Columbus, 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


27 


and  tlicre  entered  the  law  office  of  Swayne 
&  Bates,  of  which  hrin  Hon.  Noah  H. 
Swayne  afterward  became  a  justice  of  the 
United  States  Supreme  court.  WhilQ 
there,  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  wrote 
a  poem  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  ex- 
President  Joim  Qnincy  Adams  to  Ohio,  in 
November,  1843,  to  lay  the  corner-stone 
of  the  Cincinnati  Observatory,  which  poem 
was  published  in  the  Ohio  State  Journal, 
entitled  "  Ohio's  Welcome  to  John  Qu'ucy 
Adams,"  and  with  some  other  poems  from 
his  pen  was  favorably  received  by  the 
public.  Tiie  next  year  he  entered  actively 
into  politics,  was  chairman  of  the  "  Young 
Men's  Henry  Clay  Club,"  and  published  a 
campaign  paper  at  Columbus  in  aid  of  the 
Whig  party.  In  the  fall  of  1844,  being 
in  ill  iiealth,  he  went  to  Quincy,  Fla.,  and 
spent  about  eighteen  months  with  his 
brother  Nicholas  Hill  Stewart,  who  was  a 
lawyer  and  an  eminent  teacher  at  tiie  head 
of  the  Quincy  Academy,  the  leading  edu- 
cational institution  in  the  territory.  In 
tiie  following  year,  1845,  Florida  was 
admitted  into  the  Union,  and,  having 
become  of  age,  he  cast  his  first  vote 
at  the  first  election  held  in  that  State. 
He  had  strong  inducements  to  remain  with 
his  brother  and  go  into  business  there, 
but  he  could  not  consent  to  become  a 
slaveholder;  and,  returning  to  Oliio'in 
the  summer  of  1846,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Ohio,  on  the  18th  day  of  Aug- 
ust, 1846,  and  began  the  practice  of  law 
at  Norwalk.  He  was  also  editor  of  the 
Refiecto7\  the  Whig  organ,  for  about  three 
years,  and  in  1850  he  was  elected,  by 
the  Whigs,  county  auditor,  to  which  of- 
fice he  was  re-elected  in  1852  and  1854, 
the  last  time  on  tiie  same  ticket  with 
Hon.  John  Sherman,  who  then  for  the 
first  time  was  elected  to  Congress.  He 
purclm-ed  half  of  the  Toledo  Blade  in 
1856,  but  remained  in  the  law  practice 
at  Norwalk,  and  in  about  three  years 
sold  his  interest  in  the  Blade.  He  went 
to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1861,  where  he 
bought   the    Daily  Times,  the  onlyUnion 


Republican  paper  then  in  the  north  half 
of  that  State,  and  published  it  until  near 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  spent  a  winter 
at  Washington  in  law  business,  and  then 
became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Toledo  Daily  Coinmercial,  of  which  he 
took  the  business  management  for  the 
greater  jjart  of  the  year;  then  selling  at  a 
profit,  returned  to  Norwalk  and  i-esumed 
his  law  practice  at  that  place.  On  Janu- 
ary 26,  1866,  he  was,  on  motion  of  Hon. 
Caleb  Gushing,  admitted  as  an  attorney 
and  counsellor  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States. 

Aside  from  twelve  years  spent  in  the 
auditor's  office  and  on  the  press,  Mr.  Stew- 
art has  been  in  law  practice  over  thirty- 
five  years.  A  long  time  to  devote  to  ac- 
tive professional  work,  a  prolonged  period 
of  trials  and  triiimpiis,  vicissitudes  and 
victories;  labors  ranging  from  the  sacred 
claims  of  home,  or  the  exactions  of  a  pro- 
fession, to  the  occult  problems  upon  whose 
just  solution  hangs  the  permanent  weal  or 
woe  of  the  human  race.  So  methodical  in 
his  mental  movements  was  he  that  lie 
found  rest  and  recreation  from  the  exact- 
ing duties  of  his  profession  in  the  ec|itoria\ 
chair,  and  in  discussing  from  the  hustings 
the  absorbing  questions  of  civil  govern- 
ment. In  1855  Mr.  Stewart  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  State  convention  which  organ- 
ized the  Republican  party  in  Ohio,  and 
there  took  an  active  part.  While  he  was 
from  early  life  well  grounded  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  anti-slavery  reform,  yet  he  was 
broad  enough  in  his  views  to  see  there 
were  other  evils  in  society  appalling  to 
contemplate,  one  of  them  the  grim  and 
hideous  Gorgon  of  intemperance.  In  1851 
and  1853  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
anti-license  and  Maine-law  campaigns  of 
those  years.  In  1857  a  State  convention 
met  at  the  capital  of  Ohio  to  organize  a 
Prohibition  party,  and  Mr.  Stewart  was 
made  president  of  the  convention.  The 
machinery  of  a  new  party  was  framed; 
every  step  was  taken  and  work  set  afoot, 
when   the     Kansas    anti-slavery    troubles 


28 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


earae  and  Civil  war  became  the  supreme 
(piestion  of  the  hour.  Salmon  P.  Chase 
was  up  for  election  as  governor,  and  he  in- 
terviewed the  Prohibition  State  committee, 
before  whom  he  urged  the  perilous  condi- 
tion of  the  country,  pledging  himself  that 
if  elected,  he  would  in  his  message  recom- 
mend to  the  Legislature  a  Prohibitory  law 
against  the  liquor  drink  traffic.  His  prom- 
ises were  accepted  (which  he  afterward 
fulfilled),  the  new  jiartj  juovement  was 
postponed,  and  thus  he  was  elected  by  a 
small  plurality.  The  Kansas- Nebraska 
troubles  were  soon  followed  by  the  dread 
throes  of  war,  convulsing  our  nation  and 
unhinging  the  order  of  society  from  cen- 
ter to  circumference;  when  men,  like 
storm-tossed  mariners,  advantaged  the  first 
calm  to  take  their  bearings  anew.  The 
temperance  cause,  for  the  time  suspended, 
was  renewed  in  politics.  Mr.  Stewart  was 
three  times  the  standard  bearer  of  the 
Prohibition  party  for  governor  in  Ohio; 
eight  times  its  candidate  for  supreme 
judge;  was  its  representative  on  the  Na- 
tional ticket  for  vice-president  in  1876; 
many  times  its  nominee  for  Congress  and 
also  for  circuit  and  common  pleas  judge, 
and  often  in  local,  county,  State  and  Na- 
tional conventions  he  has  been  a  repre- 
sentative delegate  of  that  party. 

He  was  present  and  a  delegate  to  the 
convention  in  1869,  M'hich  organized  the 
National  Prohibition  party,  and  was  made 
a  member  of  the  National  committee,  of 
which  he  was  chairman  four  years  and  a 
leading  member  fifteen  years,  serving  un- 
til 1884,  when  he  retired,  feeling  it  neces- 
sary to  give  his  unrestricted  time  to  his 
profession.  In  1876,  1880  and  1884  the 
Prohibition  State  convention  of  Ohio  unan- 
imously instructed  the  Ohio  delegates  to 
present  him  in  the  National  conventions 
of  those  years  as  their  choice  for  Presiden- 
tial candidate,  but  each  time  he  refused  to 
hare  his  name  offered.  At  the  National 
convention  of  1892  it  was  presented  by 
the  Ohio  delegates  in  his  absence,  at  which 
time  he  received  next  to  the  highest  vote 


on  the  first  ballot,  and  he  would  have  been 
nominated  if  there  had  been  a  second  bal- 
lot. Each  time  that  he  was  a  candidate 
for  governor  he  campaigned  the  State,  vis- 
iting, in  one  season,  forty  counties,  and 
addressing  meetings  in  all  of  them.  His 
voice  was  heard  in  the  hustings,  and  his 
vigorous  pen  found  a  prominent  place  in 
the  literature  of  the  day.  He  was  grand 
worthy  chief-templar  of  the  Order  of 
Good  Templars  three  terms.  As  long 
ago  as  1847  he  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Norwalk  Division,  No.  227,  of 
the  Sons  of  Temperance,  which  still  exists, 
there  being  now  but  one  older  division  in 
the  State.  His  numerous  nominations  by 
the  Prohibition  party  were  unsought,  and 
were  accepted  by  him  only  as  symbols  of 
sacrifice,  not  of  selfish  aspiration.  He  re- 
gards public  office  as  a  public  trust,  and 
that  the  man  who  solicits  it  is  unworthy 
of  it.  Hence  he  was  never  an  applicant 
to  Government  for  office,  and  never  asked 
the  personal  support  of  a  delegate  or  a 
voter.  He  has  been  identified  with  other 
reforms,  moral,  social  and  political.  He 
was  several  years  president  of  the  Ohio 
Woman  Suffrage  Association,  and  drafted 
its  first  platform  of  resolutions,  adopted 
at  its  first  State  convention,  held  at  Co- 
lumbus in   1870. 

He  has  long  been  a  public  advocate  of 
civil  service,  industrial  and  educational 
reform,  of  prison  reform,  and  the 
abolition  of  capital  punishment.  Many 
of  his  speeches  and  writings  on  re- 
form topics  have  been  published  and 
widely  disseminated.  He  was  in  1856  one 
of  the  founders  of  tlie  "  Firelands  Histori- 
cal Society,"  one  of  the  oldest  historical 
local  Societies  in  the  Northwest;  he  was  one 
of  its  officers  at  its  founding,  a  life  mem- 
ber, and  is  now  its  president.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  foundei's  and  first  offi- 
cers of  "The  Whittlesey  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences,"  which  gave  Nor- 
walk the  well-known  "  Whittlesey  Hall," 
for  many  years  the  common  meeting- 
place    and    foster-mother     of     the    city's 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


29 


growth  in  schools,  the  arts,  science  and 
eenenil  literature,  and  from  this  came 
many  courses  of  public  lectures  and  the 
present  public  library,  with  its  6,000  se- 
lected volumes.  Of  these  enterprises  Mr. 
Stewart  has  been  one  of  the  active  authors 
and  promoters,  and  he  has  been  busily 
interested  in  various  other  public  move- 
ments. He  spent  much  of  his  time  and 
over  three  thousand  dollars  of  his  means, 
without  compensation,  through  ten  jears 
of  doubtful  struggle,  to  secure  the  con- 
struction of  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie 
Eailroad,  and  was  one  of  its  early  stock- 
holders and  directors.  He  and  his  wife 
are  life  members  of  the  American  Bible 
Society.  He  is  a  pioneer  member  of  the 
Scotch-Irish  Society  of  America,  a  tri;s- 
tee  of  the  Western  Reserve  Society  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and 
president  of  the  Huron  County  Law  Li- 
brary Association. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  of  a  race  of  men  and 
women  of  prominence  and  of  intellectual 
and  moral  progress,  and  has  so  outlined 
his  own  life  and  reared  a  family  that  has 
added  thereto,  rather  than,  as  we  so  often 
find,  detracted  therefrom.  Pliysically  he 
is  a  little  below  the  medium  in  stature  and 
weight,  with  a  personal  toilet  clean  and 
careful  as  has  ever  been  the  garniture  of 
his  mental  operations.  He  looks  the  man  of 
books,  the  student  of  man  who  communes 
much  with  his  own  thoughts.  Just  such 
a  man  whom  you  would  readily  know  had 
sacrificed  for  half  a  century  his  time  and 
toil  in  behalf  of  his  fellows,  and  for  all  his 
services  in  public  reform  lias  never  ac- 
cepted the  least  financial  compensation. 
Such,  briefly,  are  the  outlines  of  a  life 
that  may  well  be  honored  of  men,  respected 
abroad  and  beloved  at  home — a  blessing 
to  the  one,  a  benefaction  to  all. 

On  March  30,  1857,  Gideon  T.  Stewart 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Abby 
Newell  Simmons,  of  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  county,  daughter  of  Harlon  L. 
Simmons  and  niece  of  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Simmons    (former    State    Representative), 


of  that  place,  both  prominent  pioneers  of 
the  "  Firelands,"  and  e.xtensive  farmers. 
Of  this  happy  union  there  were  born  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  viz. :  Charles  Hill ; 
Harlon  Lincoln,  at  present  the  youngest 
member  of  the  Ohio  State  Senate;  George 
Swayne,  of  the  ISTorwalk  bar;  and  Mai-y 
Stewart.  In  the  literary  and  temperance 
work  of  the  father,  the  daughter  with  her 
graceful  pen  has  been  his  valuable  assist- 
ant. In  the  polite  and  benevolent  circles 
of  the  city  she  has  a  wide  and  appreciative 
circle  of  friends. 

The  mother  was  born  and  reared  on  her 
father's  farm,  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
beautiful  in  the  county;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  for  twelve  years 
she  has  been  afflicted  with  paralysis,  de^ 
priving  her  of  the  power  to  walk,  she  has 
continued  to  own  and  operate  her  valuable 
farm  near  the  city  of  Norwalk,  though 
living  in  the  city,  and  has  educated  her 
three  sons  to  practical  agriculture.  She  is 
very  fond  of  reading,  and  well  informed  in 
history,  current  literature  and  public  af- 
fairs. She  is  social,  sympathetic,  kind 
and  charitable,  and  is  warmly  esteemed  by 
all  who  have  known  her  from  childhood  to 
old  age.  She  was  active  in  the  famous 
Woman's  Temperance  Crusade,  and  has 
been  so  in  its  outgrowth,  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  which  now 
extends  its  grand  organization  around  the 
world.  Through  many  years  the  Nor- 
walk LTnion  has  held  its  regular  meetings 
in  her  parlors. 


EORGE     SWAYNE      STEWART 

,  was  born  March  25,  1866,  in  Du- 
buque, Iowa,  the  youngest  in  the 
family  of  four  children  of  Gideon 
T.  and  Abby  N.  (Simmons)  Stewart. 
Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  whither,  when  he  was  but 
an  infant,  his  parents  had  removed.  He 
was  educated  in  the  graded  schools  of  the 
city,  and  graduated  from    the  high  school 


30 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  1884.  Leaving  the  high  school,  he 
pursued  a  special  course  of  studies  at 
Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  after  which  he 
took  up  tlie  study  of  law  in  his  father's  of- 
fice, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  March  8, 
1888,  being  then  hut  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  then  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  law  with  his  father,  continuing  in  the 
same  for  about  two  years,  when  he  gare 
up  his  profession  for  the  more  active  tield 
of  business  life  to  which  he  seemed 
naturally  inclined.  He  inherited  a  taste 
for  agriculture  from  his  mother,  and  on 
her  farm  near  Norwalk  his  vacations  were 
spent  in  early  school  life,  and  here  his  first 
business  instincts  were  cultivated.  From 
working  a  small  area  on  shares,  he  grew 
to  be  manager  of  the  farm,  establishing  a 
dairy  and  maintaining  his  interest  in  farm- 
ing matters  to  the  time  of  this  sketch. 

In  1890  he  became  interested  in  the 
C.  W.  Smith  Co.,  manufacturers  of  hard- 
wood and  furniture  specialties,  and  as 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  company 
helped  to  build  it  up  into  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  substantial  business  enterprises 
of  the  city,  affording  employment  to  nearly 
one  hundred  people.  In  addition  to  his 
manut'aeturing  business,  Mr.  Stewart  is 
also  associated  with  W.  H.  Price,  presi- 
dent of  the  Norwalk  Savings  Bank,  in  the 
manufacture  of  building  brick,  under  the 
style  of  The  Norwalk  Brick  Co.,  and,  as- 
sociated with  other  young  men,  is  a  dealer 
and  contractor  in  stone  and  fire-brick,  and 
has  constructed  extensive  street-paving  im- 
provements in  Sandusky,  Elyria.  Bellevue, 
Norwalk  and  other  cities.  Mr.  Stewart  is 
also  director  and  stockholder  in  the  Nor- 
walk Savings  Bank,  and  stockholder  in  the 
Arcade  Savings  Bank  of  Cleveland. 

Politically  Mr.  Stewart  has  never  been 
identified  with  any  party,  but  is  indepen- 
dent, and,  aside  from  being  interested 
with  his  friends  regardless  of  party,  he 
takes  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  has 
abandoned  the  practice  of  law,  his  atten- 
tion being  given  to  the  many  enterprises 
with  which  he  is  identified. 


On  January  10,  1893,  Mr.  Stewart  was 
married  to  Cora  lsal)el  Taber,  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  B.  C.  Taber,  of  that 
city.  They  had  enjoyed  an  extended  wed- 
ding tour  in  Europe,  and  were  comfortably 
settled  in  their  pleasant  home  in  Norwalk, 
with  all  the  prospects  of  a  happy  married 
life  before  them,  when  the  Angel  of  Death 
spread  his  somber  wings  over  their  happy 
home  and  took  from  it  its  chiefest  bless- 
ing. Mrs.  Stewart  died  September  28,  in 
the  year  of  her  marriage,  from  the  recur- 
rence of  a  previous  severe  attack  of  peri- 
tonitis. She  was  of  the  purest  type  of 
Christian  character,  and  a  member  of  St. 
Paul's  Episcopal  Church  of  Norwalk,  to 
which  Mr.  Stewart  was  also  admitted  to 
membership  shortly  after  her  death. 


LEANDER  L.   DOUD,   secretary    of 
I    the  A.  B.  Chase  Co.,  of  Norwalk,  is 
\  a  native  of  Huron  county,  Ohio,  born 

May  20,  1838.  He  is  the  eldest  in 
the  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
Samuel  and  Philura  (Niles)  Doud,  only 
two  of  whom  are  now  survivinor:  Maria 
(Mrs.  Stoner,  of  New  Loudon,  Ohio)  and 
Leander  L. 

The  elementary  educational  advantages 
enjoyed  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were 
such  as  were  common  to  farmer  boys  in 
the  early  days  of  this  section  of  the  country. 
At  the  age  of  five  years  he  might  have 
been  seen,  daily,  walking  a  mile  and  a  half 
through  the  woods  to  reach  the  school- 
house  which  was  situated  in  the  midst  of  a 
dense  forest,  with  no  other  evidence  of  civi- 
lization insight;  but  so  faithfully  did  heim- 
prove  these  opportunities,  that  for  the  first 
two  years  he  lost  only  altogether  eight  days, 
and  at  the  age  of  seven  was  the  champion 
speller  of  that  section  of  the  country.  As 
the  forests  were  cleared  up,  the  log  school- 
house  gave  place  to  something  more  pre- 
tentious; as  the  children  grew  up.  the 
spelling  school  was  superseded  by  the 
literary  society,   and    the  Nineveh  school- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO.    > 


31 


honse  became  the  center  of  moral  and  in- 
tellectual culture  for  miles  around.  Many 
who  received  their  first  lessons  in  forensic 
and  literary  work  there  have  occupied 
prominent  positions  in  Church   and   State. 

Amist  such  influences. did  young  Lean- 
der  grow  to  manhood.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  commenced  teaching  district 
school,  winters,  "  boarding  round  "  among 
the  scholars,  as  was  then  the  almost  uni- 
versal custom.  His  summers  were  spent 
at  some  institution  of  learning — either  at 
Savannah  Academy,  Ohio  Wesieyan  Uni- 
versity, Delaware,  or  at  Baldwin  Uni- 
versity, Berea — frequently  boai'dinghimself 
to  save  expense.  This  "  hit  or  miss " 
kind  of  school  life,  while  not  specially 
conducive  to  intellectual  strength  in  any 
one  direction,  was  more  of  the  practical 
order,  developing  in  our  subject  an  apti- 
tude for  making  the  best  of  opportunities 
offered,  and  aiding  him  in  making  life  a 
success.  A  commercial  course  of  study, 
completed  during  this  time  in  Baldwin 
University,  served  him  to  good  purpose, 
later,  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  A. 
B.  Chase  Company. 

Dropping  educational  matters  for  a 
time,  Mr.  Doud,  in  1860,  commenced  his 
more  active  business  life.  For  three  years 
he  was  engaged  extensively  and  success- 
fully in  sheep  husbandry.  Three  years  he 
spent  in  general  farming  in  Greenwich 
township,  and  eight  years  in  various  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  New  London.  In  1875 
he  moved  to  Norwalk,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  organization  of  the  A.  B.  Chase 
Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  musical  in- 
struments. He  was  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer,  which  dnal  position  he  held  for 
ovei-  sixteen  years,  and  is  still  (1893) 
secretary  of  the  concern,  having  relin- 
quished tiie  treasurersliip  January  1,  this 
year.  Mr.  Doud  has  seen  the  institution 
grow  from  its  inception  until  it  has  become 
one  of  the  leading  factories  of  the  kind  of 
America.  He  always  attended  to  the  office 
work,  was  a  potent  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  industry,  and  n,ot  a  little  of  its 


success  has  been  due  to  his  intelligent  and 
unceasing  efforts. 

In  1863  Leander  L.  Doud  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  B.  Eberiy, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children,  two 
of  whom — Louie'  N.  and  Harry  L. — are 
still  living,  the  others  having  died  in  in- 
fancy.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  Mr.  Doud 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  everytiiing  pertaining  to  the 
Church  and  Society.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  Siinday-school  superintendent,  dis- 
trict steward,  and  secretary  of  the  official 
board  of  the  M.  E.  Church;  president  of 
the  Huron  County  Bible  Society;  secretary 
of  the  Huron  County  Sunday-school  As- 
sociation, and  a  trustee  of  Baldwin  Uni- 
versity. 

Samuel  Doud,  father  of  subject,  was  one 
of  the  "  Fireland"  pioneers,  and  of  him 
the  F'm'eland  Pioneer  of  June,  1892,  says: 

Samuel  Doud  was  bora  at  Seinpronius,  N.  Y., 
May  3D,  1813,  and  died  near  New  London,  Ohio, 
December  11,  1880.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  his 
father,  Solomon  Doud,  came  to  Ohio,  cleared  off 
a  small  piece  of  ground,  and  built  the  first  house 
ever  erected  at  the  center  of  GreSnwich  township, 
and  returned  during  the  winter  to  the  State  of 
New  York,  on  foot,  it  is  said,  walking  the  entire 
distance,  three  hundred  miles,  in  six  days.  The 
following  spring  he  brought  his  family  to  Ohio, 
and  they  settled  in  their  new  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness. 

Samuel  was  at  this  time  ten  years  of  age,  and 
with  the  exception  of  a  single  year  spent  in  Berea, 
Ohio,  he  never  lost  a  residence  in  Huron  county 
from  that  time  until  the  day  of  bis  death.  The  in- 
cidents of  the  journey  to  Ohio;  the  nine  days 
voyage  from  Buffalo  to  Sandusky  City ;  the  journey 
from  there  to  Greenwich  with  an  ox-team  and  a 
wagon,  across  the  unbroken  prairie  and  unbroken 
forest;  their  trials,  privations,  hardships  and  dan- 
gers from  hunger,  fierce  animals  and  wild  Indians 
were  the  common  lot  of  all  new-comers  in  this 
county,  and  furnished  a  fund  of  incidents  that  all 
pioneers  have  to  relate  and  enjoy  listening  to. 

The  educational  advantages  of  those  early  years 
in  this  new  country  were  very  meager  indeed,  and 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  enjoyed  but  a  few 
months  of  school  life;  but  he  learned  to  read,  write 
a  little  and  cipher  to  some  extent,  This,  supple- 
mented with  close  observation,  and  quiet  reading 
through  life,  enabled  him  to  pass  as  a  man  of  fair 
education.  In  habits  of  economy,  industry  and 
expedients  to  inake  a  living,  he  was  decidedly 
well-educated.  His  schooling  in  this  direction  was 
not  neglected  nor  unimproved.  He  could  wield 
the  axe,  or  scythe,  could  graft  fruit-trees,  buy   and 


32 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sell  cattle,  bogs,  sbeep,  or  tuin  bis  band  to  any- 
thing else  Willi  satislactioD  to  otbers  and  profit  to 
hioii-elf.  Witb  bis  axe  be  hoiigbt  bini  a  farm  of 
over  one  bundred  acres  in  tbe  soulbeast  corner  of 
Greenwich  township;  cutaway  tbe  limber,  built  a 
house,  and  in  l^aO  marrieil  Philura  Niles,  and  set- 
tled in  his  own  house.  Here  be  lived  twenty- 
eight  years,  raising  a  family  of  six  children.  In 
1864  he  sold  bis  home  to  move  to  Berea,  to  edu- 
cate his  children.  But  bis  active  nature  could  not 
endure  the  dull  life  of  a  college  town,  and  after  a 
year's  trial  he  moved  l)acl<  to  Huron  county  and 
purchased  the  James  Washburn  farm,  just  south 
of  New  London,  in  ISUIi.  Here  he  lived  until 
death  called  bim  away.  Always  active  in  anything 
that  pertained  to  the  jiublic  good,  he  never  sought 
official  promotion,  nor  accepted  political  preler- 
ment.  Eminently  social  in  his  tendencies,  a  good 
judge  of  human  nature,  a  judgment  clear,  prompt 
and  decided  on  all  malters  coming  before  it,  an  ex- 
tended acquaintance  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
he  was  olten  imporluned  to  accept  posilions  of  po. 
litical  power,  but  steadily  refused.  His  word  was 
as  sacred  as  his  bond  ;  he  never  promised  a  man 
his  money  but  he  received  it  the  day  it  was  due. 
He  carried  out  tbe  apostolic  injunction.  "Diligent 
in  business,  lervent  in  spirit,  serving  tbe  Lord." 

Soon  after  he  was  first  married,  recognizing 
the  claims  of  tbe  Christian  religion  upon  his 
life,  be  gave  his  heart  to  Christ,  and  joined 
tbe  M.  E.  Church  with  his  wife,  who  had  for 
years  been  a  devoted  Christian  lady.  Their 
home  then  became  tbe  borne  of  the  early 
itinerant  preachers,  and  their  house  or  barn  fre- 
quent preaching  places.  He  subsequently  received 
a  license  as  a  local  preacher,  and  continued  to 
preach  as  occasion  offered,  with  great  acceptability 
where  be  was  best  known  up  to  tbe  time  of  bis 
death.  A  great  lover  of  children,  he  was  always 
active  in  Sabbath-school  work,  and  took  a  special 
interest  in  looking  after  tbe  neglected  and  desti- 
tute children  of  the  neighborhood.  His  religion, 
while  partaking  of  the  true  spirit  and  devotional 
tj'pe,  was  eminently  practical.  Very  few  ever 
found  a  home  in  bis  family  for  any  length  of  time 
who  were  not  led  to  Christ.  His  obligations  to  bis 
Church  were  as  sacred  to  him  as  his  duties  to  bis 
family,  yet  they  were  never  allowed  to  conflict.  If 
money  or  time  was  needed  for  either  it  was  given 
freely  and  without  question.  One  of  the  hardest 
years  of  labor  in  his  life  was  given  toward  the 
building  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  New  London,  and 
tbe  success  of  the  enterprise  was  very  largely  de- 
pendent upon  bis  energy,  ability  and  personal  de- 
votion to  the  work.  In  fact,  he  felt  it  to  be  tbe 
closing  work  of  his  life;  be  bad  frequently  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  live  to  see  it  comideted  and  paid 
for,  and  beyond  that  had  no  care  how  soon  the 
JIaster  called  him.  He  saw  the  Church  completed 
and  dedicated,  out  of  debt,  within  one  year  from  the 
time  the  first  subscription  was  taken;  and  within 
three  months  from  the  time  tbe  last  subscription 
Was  taken  be  was  stricken  down  witb  heart  disease. 
He  rallied  for  a  few  days,  but  frequently  said  it  was 
only  temporary;  that  bis  work  was  done,  and  he 
would  soon  enter  into  rest;  ail  was  peace— sweet 
peace.    *     *     *     He  entered  into  rest  the  evening 


of  December  11,  1880.  He  was  buried,  at  his  re- 
quest, in  tbe  East  Greenwich  burying-ground,  in 
the  midst  of  bis  family  who  bad  gone  belore,  in  sight 
ot  tbe  church  be  had  helped  to  build  years  ago, 
and  among  bis  friends  and  neighbors  he  had  lived 
and  labored  with  in  early  life. 


El  THAN  ALLEN  PRAY,  Esquire. 
This  gentleman  is  entitled  to  high 
I   rank  among   the   many    intelligent 

atid  public-spirited  citizens  of  Nor- 
walk,  for  iiis  energy  and  enterprise  have 
been  of  the  kind  that  tend  to  enrich  any 
eection  of  country  in  which  such  as  he  is 
to  be  found. 

He  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born 
January  15,  1813,  in  the  town  of  Kil- 
lingly,  county  of  Windham,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Jemima  (Bowen)  Pray,  both  natives 
of  near  Providence,  R.  L,  the  former  of 
whom  was,  in  boyhood,  a  cotton -factory 
operative,  but  in  later  life  was  a  farmer. 
They  died,  the  naother  in  1874,  the  father 
in  1881,  the  parents  of  eight  chikiren,  of 
whom  Ethan  A.  is  the  eldest,  and  thought 
to  be  tlie  only  one  yet  living.  His  ]iaternal 
grandfather,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  who 
was  a  miller  and  horse  breaker  and  trainer 
by  occupation,  was  over  eighty  years  of 
acre  when  he  died:  he  married  a  Miss 
Carpenter,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children.  Lowe  Carpenter,  father 
of  grandmother  Pray,  was  a  sea  captain 
and  slave  dealer.  Our  subject's  great- 
grandfather was  Jonathan  Pray  (or  Preigh, 
the  original  spelling  of  the  name  in  Eng- 
land). On  the  mother's  side.  Squire  Pray 
comes  of  Welsh  ancestry. 

When  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was 
four  years  old,  his  father  moved  with  his 
family  into  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  mak- 
ing a  permanent  settletnent  there,  Ethan  A. 
remaining  until  he  was  in  his  twenty-si.xth 
year.  He  received  a  liberal  education  at 
common  and  normal  schools,  also  at 
Skaneateles  Academy,  in  Onondaga 
county,  and  on  completion  of  his  studies 
commenced  teaching  school,  gradually 
raising  by  merit,  until,   when  he   was   but 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


33 


twenty-one  years  old,  he  was  appointed  in- 
spector of  the  common  schools  of  Scott 
townsliip,  Cortland  county.  While  teach- 
ing there  he  was  visited  by  Gov.  Seward 
of  New  York,  with  whom  he  was  well  ac- 
quainted, and  accompanying  Mr.  Seward 
was  Joshua  Sanders,  author  of  the  spelling 
book  bearing  his  name. 

lu  1839,  Mr.  Pray  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  locating  first  at  Fairlield, 
where  lie  tarried  some  six  months,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  moved  to  Fitchville, 
in  the  same  county,  remaining  there  till 
the  spring  of  1855,  when  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Huron  County  In- 
firmary, an  incumbency  he  filled  six  years, 
or  till  the  spring  of  1861.  He  was  then 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  Norwalk 
township,  in  winch  capacity  he  served 
with  characteristio  ability  twelve  years,  or 
up  to  April  1,  1873.  During  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  he  was  captain  of  a  company 
of  National  Guards  from  the  time  of  its 
organization,  and  in  tiie  spring  of  1864 
they  were  sent  to  Cleveland,  where  they 
spent  one  month  in  camp.  While  the 
fratricidal  struggle  was  going  on  between 
the  North  and  South,  Squire  Pray  acted 
as  mayor  of  the  city  of  Norwalk,  and  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  the  township,  serv- 
ing in  the  first  mentioned  capacity  six 
consecutive  years,  besides  two  years  subse- 
quently. During  his  mayorship,  he 
materially  assisted  in  laying  out  many  of 
tlie  streets  in  Norwalk.  He  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873 — • 
somewhat  late  in  life — with  no  special  in- 
tention of  practicing  law,  but  rather  to 
prove  his  ability  to  his  opponents.  For 
two  years  he  held  the  office  of  city  solicitor, 
and  he  then  practiced  law,  chiefly  in  the 
way  of  making  collections,  etc.,  and  he 
built  up  considerable  business  for  himself 
in  the  probate  court,  to  which  he  was  not 
restricted,  for  he  practiced  in  all  the  courts. 

In  1837  Squire  Pray  was  married  to 
Miss  Amanda  C.  Clieney,  a  native  of  Ovid, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  was  at  one  time 
his  assistant    teacher    in  Cayuga   county. 


Five  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
viz.:  Frank  E.,  M.  D.,  practicing  medicine 
at  Dayton,  Ohio;  Cecilia  A.,  married  to 
James  L.  VanDusen,  superintendent  of 
Huron  County  Infirmary;  Adelia  E.,  wife 
of  George  W.  Cole,  machinist  in  tlie 
Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad  shops  at 
Norwalk;  Sarah,  wife  of  Frank  L.  Bates, 
of  Sacramento,  Cal.,  and  Lydia  M.,  wife  of 
Joseph  Gasper.  Politically  Squire  Pray 
was  originally  a  Whig,  favoring  the  Free- 
soil  party,  and  on  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  he  enrolled  himself  under 
its  banner,  becoming  what  w^as  known  as 
an  "  Anti-saloon  Republican."  In  1836 
and  1840  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
votes  for  William  H.  Harrison,  whom  he 
remembers  seeing,  and  also  Henry  Clay 
and  Gen.  La  Fayette.  At  this  present 
writing  (November  30,  1893)  he  is  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  township  trustee  of 
Norwalk  township,  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
He  is  actively  engaged  in  the  Masonic 
Orders  in  Norwalk,  holding  at  present 
the  following  offices,  to  wit:  Chaplain  of 
Mount  Vernon  Lodge,  No.  64,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Secretary  of  Huron  Royal  Arch  Chapter, 
No.  7,  R.  A.  M.;  Recorder  of  Norwalk 
Council,  No.  24,  R.  &  S.  M.;  Treasurer  of 
Norwalk  Commandery,  No.  18,  K.  T. 


M.  CLEVELAND.    Among  all  the 


I  w  eminent  and  deservedly  popular 
\1  business  men  of  Huron  county, 
^11  there  is  and  has  been  none  whose 
name  ranks  above  that  of  this  gen- 
tleman, because  none  is  more  thoroughly 
identified  and  honorably  connected  with 
the  business  interests  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Cleveland  was  born  in  tlie  State  of 
New  York  January  11,  1816,  a  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Lucretia  (Bonney)  Cleve- 
land, the  former  of  whom  was  a  native 
of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  born  in  1769,  the 
latter  of  Daubury,  Conn.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  G.  M. 
is  the  youngest,  and    the    only    survivor; 


34 


IIUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


two  died  when  over  eiglity  years  of  age; 
one  when  seventy-nine  and  the  fourth 
when  eixtj-eight,  and  all  the  deceased  sons 
died  ill  the  order  of  their  birth.  The  first 
ancestor  in  this  country  came  from  Eng- 
land in  1635  and  settled  in  Woburn, 
Mass.,  where  some  of  his  descendants  are 
yet  living.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  lived,  married 
and  died  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  the  lat- 
ter has  in  his  possession  a  copy  of  his 
grandfather's  will  dated  1777.  He  was  a 
merchant  and  farmer,  his  pioneer  lite  be- 
ing a  busy  one.  Benjamin  Cleveland,  the 
father,  practiced  inedicine  for  some  years, 
and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  physi- 
cian of  considerable  ability,  but  he  ulti- 
mately retired  from  medicine  to  embark  in 
the  lumber  business.  He  died  August  10, 
1840,  in  Seneca  countj',  Ohio,  whither  he 
had  moved  in  1829.  He  was  a  Whig  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life,  and  in 
Church  connection  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 
G.  M.  Cleveland  received  a  liberal  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  and  when  thirteen  years 
of  age  moved  with  his  father  to  Seneca 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  maturity. 
The  first  business  we  find  him  engaged  in 
was  the  manufacturing  of  fanning  mills, 
which  he  carried  on  some  years  in  Savan- 
nali,  Ohio,  prior  to  coming  to  Huron 
county  in  1844.  Here  he  embarked  in 
the  milling  business  at  Norwalk,  buying, 
in  1866,  the  Maple  City  Mills,  which  he 
remodeled  and  improved,  changing  it  into  a 
a  roller    mill   in    1881.     He  does  a  larcfe 

o 

amount  of  custom  work,  and  the  mill  now 
manufactures  from  thirty  to  forty  thousand 
bushels  of  wheat  per  annum  into  the  very 
best  flour  to  be  found  in  any  market. 

On  April  14,  1842,  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
united  in  marriage  in  what  is  now  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Sarah  Mefford, 
and  three  children  were  born  tothem,  viz. : 
Helen  (wife  of  George  W.  Knapp),  D. 
Pitt  and  Dwiglit.  Mr.  Cleveland  in  poli- 
tics was  originally  a  Whig,  and,  on  the 
organization    of    the    Republican    party. 


enrolled  himself  under  its  banner.  His 
first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  W.  H. 
Harrison.  In  November,  1857,  our  sub- 
ject was  elected  to  tlie  office  of  county 
sheriff  and  re-elected  in  1859,  being  the 
full  time  allowed  under  the  Constitution. 
D.  Pitt  Cleveland  was  born,  in  1844,  in 
Clarksfield,  Ohio,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools.  In  1874  he 
was  married  to  Celia  Wright,  of  Des- 
Moines,  Iowa,  daughter  of  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  that  State,  and 
two  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Edna  and  George  Wright.  On  January 
13,  1887,  D.  Pitt  Cleveland  was  called 
from  earth.  His  widow  is  a  woman  of 
rare  executive  ability,  and  transacts  much 
of  the  business  connected  with  the  Maple 
City  Mills.  Belbre  his  death  her  husband 
was  partner  with  his  father,  and  she  re- 
tains an  interest  in  the  business,  attending 
to  it  in  a  masterly  manner. 


THEODORE  WILLIAMS.     In  after 
years,  a  history  of  the  growtli  and 


spreat 
Norw, 


alk  could  not  well  be  written 
without  containing  considerable  ac- 
count of  the  enterprises,  as  well  as  the 
public  improvements,  with  which  the  name 
of  this  gentleman  has  for  so  many  years 
been  identified. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  native  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  born  on  the  third  day  of  January, 
1820.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
Matilda  (Hunt)  Williams,  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  where  they  were  married,  and 
whence  in  1816  they  catne  west,  making 
tlieir  new  home  in  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
His  father  was  a  lawyer  of  prominence, 
ranking  in  liis  professional  standing  with 
tlie  ablest  members  of  the  bar  at  a  time 
when  many  able  jurists  from  all  parts  of 
the  State  were  pitted  against  each  other  in 
our  local  courts  in  legal  combat,  and  was 
for  several  years  the  Prosecuting  Attorney 
of  the  county.     Ill  health  compelled  him 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


37 


to  retire  from  the  practice  in  tlie  later 
years  of  his  life,  and  he  devoted  much  of 
his  time  and  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  died  October  4,  1869,  in  the 
home  he  had  so  long  occupied.  Politically 
he  was  a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention  held 
at  Baltimore  in  1832,  that  nominated  Clay 
for  President,  performing  the  long  journey 
to  that  city  at  that  early  day  on  liorseback. 

Mr.  Williams'  maternal  grandfather, 
Major  David  Hunt,  was  an  othcer  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  one 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  ai'e  still  living,  was  born  in  the 
early  years  of  the  existence  of  his  native 
town,  which  then  consisted  of  a  few  scat- 
tered dwellings  surrounded  by  a  dense  for- 
est. His  elementary  education  was  ob- 
tained at  the  district  and  private  schools 
of  that  early  day,  and  was  completed  by 
a  thorough  course  of  instruction  in  the 
"  Norwalk  Seminary,"  nnder  the  superin- 
tendence of  Prof.  Jonathan  E.  Chaplin, 
than  whom  few  abler  instructors  have  ever 
occupied  a  like  position. 

In  1834  Mr.  AVilliams  commenced  clerk- 
ing in  tlie  store  of  P.  &  J.  M.  Latimer,  in 
Korwalk,  where  he  remained  over  a  year, 
when  he  again  resumed  his  school;  in 
1887  he  again  entered  upon  a  clerkship,  in 
the  store  of  Milton  W.  Goodnow,  suc- 
ceeded in  a  short  time  by  the  firm  of 
Goodnow  &  Edwards,  in  Norwalk,  where 
he  remained  until  the  firm  dissolved  in 
1842,  when  Mr.  Edwards  removed  to 
northern  New  York,  and  Mr.  Goodnow 
continued  the  business  here.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Goodnow  offered  Mr.  Williams  an 
equal  partnership  in  the  business,  though 
Mr.  Williams  was  without  capital;  but 
knowing  that  the  responsibilities  of  the 
business  must  devolve  largely  upon  him, 
owing  to  Mr.  Goodnow's  declining  health, 
he  preferred  remaining  another  year  as 
clerk.  The  following  year,  however,  upon 
a  renewal  of  the  proposition  from  Mr. 
Goodnow,  he  accepted  the  partnership,  and 


in  September,  1843,  became  an  equal  part- 
ner, and  made  his  first  visit  to  New  York 
to  purchase  goods.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued until  January,  1851,  when  by  the 
death  of  Mr.  Goodnow  it  terminated,  and 
Mr.  Williams  purchased  Mr.  Goodnow's 
entire  interest  in  the  business,  taking  it  at 
the  full  appraisal,  and  agreeing  to  pay  for 
it  in  four  years  with  interest;  on  tlie  day 
tire  four  years  expired  he  paid  the  entire 
sum,  as  the  result  of  his  business  industry 
and  energy. 

Mr.  Williams  continued  in  the  business 
of  merchandising  until  1885,  a  period  of 
forty-two  years,  diligently  at  his  counter 
and  desk,  and  with  constantly  increasing 
financial  success.  His  business  relations 
over  a  wide  range  of  country  had  made 
him  acquainted  not  only  with  the  people 
of  his  own  county,  but  with  many  in  the 
adjoining  counties;  and  wherever  he  was 
known  his  high  character  for  integrity, 
and  business  honor  and  responsibility, 
were  clearly  recognized;  and  his  ability 
and  clear-sighted  judgment  in  all  his  many 
business  transactions  have  given  him  a 
prominence  amongst  his  fellowmen  of  the 
county,  at  once  flattering  to  his  manhood 
and  marking  him  as  one  of  her  representa- 
tive meti. 

Upon  Mr.  Williams  retiring  from  mer- 
chandising, he  found  himself  the  owner  of 
two  merchant  flouring  mills — one  located 
in  Norwalk,  the  other  near  Toledo — and 
these,  together  with  the  management  of 
his  several  farms,  and  of  his  other  financial 
interests,  occupied  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention. In  1882  he  was  elected  President 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Norwalk, 
remaining  in  that  position  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  stockholders  for  eight  years, 
and  was  again  unanimously  elected  to  that 
position,  but  declined  serving,  as  the  de- 
mands upon  his  time  in  the  management 
of  his  own  business  made  it  impracticable 
to  serve  longer. 

In  September  of  1861  Mr.  Williams  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Isa- 
bella Goodnow,  a  native  of  Vermont,  but 


38 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


residing  at  the  time  in  Henry  ville,  Canada 
East,  by  which  union  six  children — one 
daughter  and  five  sons — were  burn,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Louesa  died  at  tiie  age  of  eight  years;  Ed- 
ward T..  the  eldest  son,  was  educated  at 
the  public  schools  in  Norwalk  and  at 
Kenyon  College,  Gambler,  Ohio,  and  is 
now  engaged  with  his  father  in  business; 
James  H.,  the  second  son,  after  attending 
the  public  schools  of  Norwalk  for  many 
years,  entered  "Riverview  Military  Acad- 
emy" at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  from  which 
school,  on  graduating,  he  entered  Harvard 
University,  where  he  now  is;  Charles  G., 
the  third  son,  also  went  from  the  public 
schools  of  Norwalk  to  "  Riverview  Military 
Academy,"  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1891,  and  then  entered  the  Massachusetts 
School  of  Technology  in  Boston,  where  he 
is  still  a  student;  Theodore  Williams,  Jr., 
the  fourth  son,  after  leaving  the  public 
schools  of  Norwalk,  also  entered  tiie 
"  Riverview  Military  Academy,"  but  has 
not  yet  completed  iiis  course;  Walter  R., 
the  fifth  son,  is  still  attending  the  public 
schools  of  Norwalk. 

Mrs.  Williams,  the  mother  of  this  family, 
departed  this  life  on  November  21,  1877 
(at  which  time  the  youngest  son,  Walter 
R.,  was  an  infant),  leaving  the  entire 
charge  of  rearing  this  family  upon  Mr. 
Williams;  and  how  well  and  faithfully  he 
has  acquitted  himself  of  this  great  re- 
sponsibility, his  neighbors  and  friends  bear 
ample  testimony. 

Mr.  Williams  in  his  political  predilec 
tions  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  taken 
considerable  interest  in  all  public  matters, 
but  has  declined  political  office,  excepting 
perhaps  in  a  few  exceptional  instances.  In 
1870  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  Sen- 
atorial District  in  the  State  Board  of 
Equalization,  and  has  for  several  years 
held  the  position  of  "Chief  Deputy"  of 
the  State  Board  of  Elections  for  Huron 
county.  For  seventeen  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the 
Public  Schools  of  Norwalk,  during  a  large 


part  of  which  time  he  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  President  of  the  Board,  and  it  was 
during  his  occu])ancy  of  this  position  that 
the  beautiful  High  School  building,  in 
which  the  citizens  of  Norwalk  take  so 
much  pride,  was  erected,  and  for  the  erec- 
tion of  which  they  award  him  a  full  share 
of  the  merit. 

For  thirteen  years  past — from  1881  to 
1894 — he  has  been  President,  Secretary, 
Treasurer  and  Superintendent  of  the  beau- 
tiful "Woodlawn  Cemetery,"  embracing 
129  acres  of  land  admirably  adapted  to  the 
purpose,  and  has  so  managed  its  finances 
as  to  accumulate  a  fund  in  perpetuity — 
guaranteeing  its  continuous  care  and  atten- 
tion when  the  present  and  succeeding  gen- 
erations shall  have  passed  away. 

In  church  connection  Mr.  Williams' 
affiliations  are  with  the  Episcopal  Church; 
he  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  its  support, 
and  has  for  many  years  been  a  member  of 
its  vestry. 

Mr.  Williams  stands  prominently  among 
the  able  financiers  of  Huron  county,  and 
the  several  institutions  and  departments 
of  business  that  have  been  under  his 
management  attest  his  eminent  qualities 
in  this  respect,  in  their  unbroken  line  of 
successes. 


J|OSEPH  SMITH,  one  of  the  most  eu- 
I    terprising  and   prosperous  of  Huron 
'    county's  native-horn  citizens,  is  sen- 
ior   member    of    the    widely-known 
extensive  lumber  firm   in  Norwalk,  Smith 
&  Himberger. 

John  Smith,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
one  of  the  oldest  German  pioneers  of 
Huron  county.  He  was  born  November 
19,  1803,  in  Berns,  a  little  village  in  the 
Rhine  Province  of  the  Kingdom  of  Prus- 
sia, then  known  as  the  Department  of  the 
Rhine,  of  Napoleon  I  French  Empire. 
He  received  a  common  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  village,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  commenced  his  apprentice- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


39 


ship  as  a  tailor.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  was  drafted  to  served  his  time  in  the 
Prussian  army.  On  March  6,  1832,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Maria  Glas- 
ner,  of  the  same  village,  born  October  20, 
1808.  In  the  spring  of  1833  they  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  their  destina- 
tion being  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  where  they 
remained  two  years.  In  1835  they  moved 
farther  west,  and  located  in  Bronson  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Smith  made 
the  acquaintance  of  some  of  tlie  early 
settlers.  Being  a  man  without  much 
means,  he  experienced  some  very  severe 
struggles,  and  was  forced  to  seek  employ- 
ment of  liis  neighbors.  In  two  years  he 
was  enabled  to  buy  ten  acres  of  woodland. 
His  time  now  was  devoted  to  working  for 
neighboring  farmers,  clearing  his  land  and 
building  a  log  hut  for  himself  and  family; 
later  on  he  bought  fourteen  acres  more  of 
land,  and  replaced  the  log  hut  with  a  larger 
and  better  one,  which  was  replaced  in  about 
1846  with  a  frame  building  which  stands 
now,  and  in  which  he  died,  December  9, 
1893,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety 
years,  after  enjoying  a  long,  healthful  life, 
which  was  only  darkened  the  last  five  years 
by  total  blindness.  His  wife  preceded 
him  to  the  grave  by  a  little  over  eleven 
years,  her  death  occurring  February  13, 
1882;  if  she  had  lived  two  weeks  longer, 
they  could  have  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding.  Their  married  life  was  blessed 
with  ten  children — live  girls  and  five  boys, 
viz.:  Margurite(I),  John,  Joseph,  Margurite 
(II),  Maria,  Louise  Minnie,  Katharine, 
Alphonse,  Peter  and  Nick. 

Of  this  family  of  children  the  following 
is  a  brief  record:  Margurite  (I)  was  born 
in  Berns,  Prussia,  February  1,  1833,  and 
died  August  15,  1835,  in  Schenectady,  N. 
Y.  John,  born  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y ., 
March  22,  1835,  learned  blacksmithiiig; 
he  served  through  the  entire  Civil  war  as 
a  volunteer  in  the  Twenty-Fourth  O.  V'.  I., 
receiving  an  honorable  discharije;  he 
made  Memphis,  Tenn.,  his  home;  Nov- 
ember 6,1865,  he  married  Katharine  Greh, 


in  Memphis,  and  one  child    was  born   to 
them;  John  died  July  10,  1877,  after  two 
day's  illness.    Joseph  is  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  and  special  mention  of  him 
will  presently   be    made.     Margurite    (II) 
was  born  December  30,  1838,  in  Norwalk 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  Au- 
gust 18,  1844.  Maria,  born  July  10,  1840, 
in  Norwalk  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  is 
the  wife  of  George  Whitmill,  in  Michigan. 
Louise  Minnie,  born  January  16,  1842,  in 
Norwalk    township,    Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  Wetzstine,  residing   in 
Norwalk,  Ohio.     Katharine,  born  Decem- 
ber   18,    1844,    is    the  widow    of    Henry 
Brown,  and   is    living  in    Peru    township, 
Huron  Co.,   Ohio.     Alphonse,    born   Au- 
gust 15,  1846,  in  Norwalk  township,  Ohio, 
is  a  carpenter  by  trade;  he  served  through 
the  entire  Civil  war  in   the  Fifty-Fifth  O. 
V.    I.     under    Capt.   "Wickham;    married 
Sarah    Bechler,  of   Sandusky,  Ohio,   June 
18,  1871,  and  is  living  in  Norwalk,  Ohio. 
Peter,    born    July   13,  1848,  in    Norwalk 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  is  a  farmer  in 
Norwalk  township;  on  November  7,  1871, 
he  married  Katharine  Zippfel.    Nick,  born 
March    17,  1851,    in    Norwalk    township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  is  a  carpenter  by  trade; 
he  served  in  the  regular   army  live  years, 
and  shortly  after  his  discharge  he  married, 
August  10,  1879,  Dora  Naner,  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio;  he  is  now  residing  in  Norwalk. 
Joseph    Smith,  whose   name   introduces 
this  sketch,  was   born    December  4,  1837, 
in    Bronson    township,   Huron   Co.,  Ohio. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  com- 
mon  schools  of   the   home    neighborhood, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of  house 
carpenter,    later   on    also    that   of  cabinet 
making.     On  May  5,  1863,  he  was  united 
in  marriage   witli    Katharine  Riinal,  who 
was    born    in    Hildenhausen,    in    the  then 
French  Province  of  Lorraine,  and  had  im- 
migrated to  this  country   with  her  parents 
at  the  age  of  live  years.     Six  sons  and  one 
daughter   were   born    to    this   union,   viz.: 
Frank  J.,  born   March    11,    1864;   Louise 
K.,  born  October   19,   1865;   William  P., 


40 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


born  October  2, 1867;  Otto  J.,  born  March 
25,  1872;  Charles  T..  born  February  10, 
1877;  Edward,  born  February  14,  1880; 
Albert  R.,  born  September  6,  1884.  Of 
these,  Louise  and  Otto  died,  the  former 
from  sickness,  the  latter  from  an  injury 
he  received  through  a  wagon  running  over 
him. 

In  1873  Mr.  Smith  started  in  business 
with  P.  D.  Wiiloughby,  the  firm  name 
being  Willoughbj  kt  Smith,  manufac- 
turers of  sash,  doors,  blinds  and  mouldings, 
the  style  being  later  changed  to  Smith  & 
Co.  In  1880  Mr.  AV.  Himberger  entered 
as  partner,  the  firm  name  becoming  Smith, 
Himberger  &  Co.  In  1886  Mr.  Wil- 
loughby  retired,  since  when  the  style  of 
the  firm  has  been  Smith  &  Himberger. 
In  connection  with  the  manufacturing  of 
sash,  doors,  blinds  and  mouldings,  the  firm 
have  a  convenient  lumber  yard. 


TfJfON.   JOHN    A.    WILLIAMSON, 
IpH     son  of  the  late  James  Williamson 
I     1|    and  Fhebe  Williamson,  and,  on  the 
•JJ  maternal  side,  grandson  of  Abizah 

(Iriftin,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Greenwich  township,  was  born  September 
25,  1842,  in  the  township  of  New  London, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  the  Empire  State,  having  been 
born  and  reared  in  Hunter,  (jreene  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and,  removing  to  Ohio  at  a  com- 
paratively early  day.  were  here  married  in 
the  year  1839.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  at  the  family  homestead, 
upon  which  the  Williamsons  originally 
settled,  and  which  lies  in  the  townships  of 
New  London  and  Fitchville. 

Mr.  Williamson's  youth  was  passed  in  a 
manner  of  life  similar  to  that  of  many 
farmer  boys,  but,  possessing  a  more  than 
usually  vigorous  constitution,  together 
with  bright  and  acute  intellectual  qualities, 
he  began  early  in  life  to  manifest  those 
traits   of   mind    and    character    which,   in 


their  mature  development,  have  rendered 
him  enjinent,  professionally  and  politically. 
His  was  naturally  an  ambitious  nature, 
and  so  it  happened  that  he  could  not  be 
satistied  with  the  education  gained  in  the 
common  schools,  but,  when  he  had  passed 
through  their  course  of  study,  chose  to 
avail  himself  of  further  opportunities  and 
fit  himself  for  the  occupation  of  higher 
positions  in  life  than  he  could  attain  to 
without  so  doing. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
upon  a  course  in  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  Oberlin  College,  and  two  years 
later  he  became  a  member  of  the  Fresh- 
man class  of  that  institution  of  learning. 
He  remained  until  the  completion  of  the 
Sophomore  year  (1862),  when  that  one  ot 
many  exciting  war  alarms,  the  news  that 
tlie  Confederate  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  was 
about  to  make  a  raid  on  Cincinnati,  was 
flashed  through  the  loyal  North,  and  a  call 
was  made  for  the  Minute-men  of  the  State 
to  rally  to  the  protection  of  its  chief  city. 
Mr.  Williamson,  being  a  strong  supporter 
of  the  Union  sentiment,  and  feeling  that 
he  should  do  anything  that  lay  within  his 
means  to  assist  the  overthrow  of  the  power 
which  menaced  our  free  soil,  notwithstand- 
ing the  reluctance  of  parental  solicitude  for 
the  safety  of  an  only  child,  went  out  as 
one  of  that  hastily-summoned  and  quickly- 
prepared  body  of  men,  as  did  also  many  of 
his  class. 

After  returning  from  the  service  of  that 
brief  campaign  (which  by  no  means,  how- 
ever, promised  to  be  short),  he  asked  for 
and  received  an  honorable  dismissal  from 
Oberlin,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Junior  class  at  Yale,  from  which  college 
he  graduated  with  honors  in  the  year  1864. 
Immediately  after  finishing  his  academic 
course  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law 
in  the  Law  School  of  the  University  of 
New  York,  at  Albany,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1865.  The  time  intervening 
between  this  date  and  1867  was  spent  in  a 
law  office  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  traveling 
and  general  reading. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


41 


On  February  9,  1867,  he  became  deputy 
clerk  of  courts  in  Huron  county,  under  A. 
B.  Gritfiu,  Es<[.,  clerk,  which  position  lie 
held  until  his  resignation,  in  1868,  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  into  a  partnership  for 
the  practice  of  law  with  Hon.  S.  W.  Ten- 
nant,  at  East  Saginaw,  Mich.  In  1869  he 
removed  from  East  iSaginaw  to  Toledo, 
where  he  resided  until  tlie  spring  of  1871, 
when  he  removed  to  Norwalk,  in  his  na- 
tive county.  He  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  and  followed  it  assidu- 
ously and  uninterruptedly  until  1877,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  as  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
from  Huron  county.  Politically  Mr.  Will- 
iamson is  a  Republican — an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  the  men  and  measures  of  that 
party.  He  has  been  a  worker  for  the  suc- 
cess of  principles  and  of  the  best  men  in 
the  party,  rather  than  a  seeker  of  political 
preferment  for  himself.  He  has  not 
sought  place,  and  in  accepting  it  has  only 
done  so  in  response  to  the  clearly  ex- 
pressed will  of  his  friends,  and  the  sutfrage 
of  the  people. 

In  1879  he  was  re-elected  to  a  second 
term  in  the  Legislature;  was  chosen 
speaker  jpro  tern,  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives upon  its  organization  in  1880, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  during  the  Sixty- 
fourth  (xeneral  Assembly.  He  ha.s  since 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  became  interested  in  the  busi- 
nes.^i,  particularly  banking,  in  Huron  and 
adjoining  counties.  He  is  vice-president 
of  the  Huron  County  Banking  Company 
of  Norwalk,  and  is  now,  by  appointment 
of  Gov.  McKinley,  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Ohio  Institution  for  the 
educfition  of  feeble-minded  youth.  In 
1888  he  made  a  European  tour,  spending 
the  entire  summer  abroad. 

On  January  19,  1869,  Mr.  Williamson 
was  married  to  Miss  CelestiaM.  Tennant, 
of  Camden,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  who  died  in 
1880.  In  1882  he  wedded  Mrs.  Sallie  R. 
Manahan,  daughter  of  the  late  Jeremiah 
Rundell,  a  prominent  citizen    of  Bronson 


township,  Huron  county.  They  have  one 
child,  JNellie  V.,  now  (1893)  seven  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Williamson  is  a  man  of  line  as  well 
as  forcible  intellectual  qualities,  an  exten- 
sive reader  and  close  thinker,  of  a  remark- 
ably practical  cast  of  mind,  and  yet,  withal, 
alive  to  whatever  there  is  of  beauty  in  the 
many  refinements  of  surroundings  and  of 
being.  He  is  cautions  but  firm  in  his 
judgment,  and  reliable.  In  manner  he  is 
social  and  friendly,  and  possesses  qual- 
ities that  readily  win  admiration  and 
respect,  whether  from  his  political  com- 
peers, or  his  private  companions  and 
acquaintances.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
active  moneyed  men  of  Norwalk,  and 
is  interested  chieHy  in  handlinghis  capital. 
[In  part  taken  from  AYilliams'  "History 
of  Huron  and  Erie  Counties." 


LMON  B.  COE.  In  1634  tiiere 
immigrated  to  America  from  Eng- 
^  land  one  Robert  Coo  (as  the  name 
was  then  spelled),  whose  grand- 
father suffered  martyrdom  during 
the  reign  of  Queen  Mary.  A  piece  of 
furniture  (a  sideboard)  which  once  belonged 
to  him  is  now  owned  by  Julius  Coe,  who 
for  nine  years  was  postmaster  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  and  now  resides  in  New  York  City. 
.Robert  Coe,  Jr.,  came  to  America, 
bringing  with  him  his  family,  consisting 
of  wife  and  three  sons — Robert,  John  and 
Benjamin — and  from  these  are  descended 
the  numerous  family  of  Coe  in  America. 

Israel  Coe,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  July  22,  1756,  at 
Granville,  Mass.,  and  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, a  vocation  he  followed  tii rough  life. 
He  prospered,  owned  a  large  tract  uf  land 
and  a  sawmill,  and  several  years  before  his 
death  gave  to  each  of  his  children  a  good 
farm.  In  1809  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Portage  county,  on  land  located  in 
Rootstown.  He  married  Miss  Artemesia 
Wright,  who    bore    him    six    children    as 


42 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


follows:  Samuel;  Harvey,  who  became  a 
promitieiit  iniuibter  of  the  Congregational 
Church;  Betsey,  Mrs.  Hall;  Fannj,  Mrs. 
Chancy  Newberry;  Bela,  father  of  sub- 
ject; and  Israel  D.,  all  now  deceased. 
The  father  of  these  died  in  18  21,  the 
the  mother  in  1813.  He  was  a  very  large 
man,  standing  six  feet,  two  inches  in 
height,  and  well  proportioned,  but  at  the 
age  of  sixty  was  unfortunate  enougii  to 
lose  one  of  his  limbs  in  a  sawmill.  When 
he  came  over  the  mountains  from  Massa- 
chusetts to  Ohio,  he  brought  with  him 
four  oxen  and  four  horses,  with  wagons. 

Bela  Coe,  father  of  Almon  B.,  was  born 
April  24,  1795,  in  Granville,  Mass., 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  When 
the  family  crossed  the  AUeghanies  into 
Ohio,  he  drove  one  of  the  ox-teams,  young 
as  he  was.  He  was  reared  a  farmer,  and 
having  received  a  very  fair  education  for 
those  early  times,  taught  school.  At 
Eootstown,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  he  married 
April  24,  1819,  Miss  Maria  Hill,  born 
March  30,  1795,  in  Middlebury,  Conn.,  a 
dausxhter  of  Isaac  Hill.  She  came  to  Ohio 
M'ith  her  parent.s  in  1818,  and  they  located 
in  Portage  county,  where  her  father,  who 
was  a  blacksmith,  foUo'ved  his  trade;  the 
later  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  AV^ake- 
man,  Huron  connty,  he  dying  there  in 
September,  1860,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years;  his  father  reached  the  ])a- 
triarchal  age  of  ninety-nine  years,  sjx 
months.  Bela  Coe  and  his  wife  came  to 
Wakeman,  Huron  county,  in  February, 
1827,  and  he  here  bought  a  tract  of  land 
covered  with  a  dense  forest  and  thicket, 
which  after  years  of  labor  he  succeeded  in 
clearing.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bela  Coe  had  but 
one  child,  Almon  B.  The  father  died 
October  5,  1850,  at  the  age  of  fifty-tive 
years,  the  mother  on  October  25,  1866, 
aged  seventy-two  years,  and  both  are 
buried  in  Wakeman  cemetery.  They  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
the  father  from  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
He  was  of  Puritan  stock,  a  man  of  sterling 
honesty    and    the    loftiest    integrity.     In 


his  political  leanirtgs  he  was  a  Whig,  no 
office  holder,  however,  although  a  very 
popular  man,  one  of  sound  judgment;  but 
it  is  said  of  him  that  a  certain  justice  of 
the  peace  always  consulted  with  him  in 
difficult  and  complex  cases  that  came  be- 
fore him. 

Almon  B.  Coe,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  November  6,  1820, 
in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  was  six  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  brought  him  to 
Wakeman  township,  Huron  county,  where 
he  has  ever  since  had  his  home,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year  he  lived  in  Illinois. 
His  education  was  as  thorough  as  the 
earlier  schools  of  Huron  county  would 
permit,  but  owing  to  failing  health  his 
studies  were  prematurely  brought  to  a 
close;  being  a  great  reader,  howevei',  and 
possessed  of  a  remarkable  memory,  he 
amply  made  amends  for  any  shortcomings 
in  school  lore.  In  his  youth  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  cooper,  at  which  he  has 
worked;  has  also  taught  school  a  number 
of  terms.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army, 
but  was  rejected  on  account  of  physical 
disability,  which  was  a  great  disappoint- 
ment to  him,  as  he  was  most  anxious  to 
serve  his  country. 

On  June  1,  1843,  in  Edinburgh,  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  Mr.  Coe  married.  Miss  Mariette 
M.'  Bostwick,  born  in  that  county  Au- 
gust 7,  1820,  a  daughter  of  Edmund  Bost- 
wick. Children,  as  follows,  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coe:  William  H.,  born 
July  3,  1844,  died  July  26,  1850;  Edwin 
W.,  born  January  31,  1849,  now  cashier 
of  the  Los  Angeles  (Cal.)  National  Bank; 
Justin  B.,  born  August  26,  1851,  now  a 
merchant  of  Florence,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio; 
Arthur  B.,  born  July  14,  1854,  died 
February  9,  1873;  Aurilla  M.,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1857,  now  Mrs.  A.  11.  Rice,  of 
Wakeman;  and  Alice  M.,  born  July  14, 
1862,  died  September  15,  1866.  The 
mother  of  these  departed  this  life  De- 
cember 15,  1865,  and  is  buried  at  Wake- 
man;    her    death    occurred    in    Illinois, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


43 


whither  Mr.  Coe  had  moved  his  family  in 
that  year.  She  was  a  most  estimable  lady, 
one  of  whom  it  can  truly  be  said:  "To 
know  her  was  to  love  her."  On  August 
13,  1868,  our  subject  married  Miss  Nancy 
A.  Russell,  daughter  of  Isaac  Russell,  a 
native  of  Bristol  county,  Mass.,  who 
moved  to  Ripley  township,  Huron  county, 
in  1834,  and  in  1847  came  to  Wakeman, 
where  he  died  May  1,  1890,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  The  children  of  this 
union  were  five  in  nun)ber,  as  follows: 
Mary  A.,  born  Aiigilst  13,  1869,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  M.  Kenyen,  residing  at  Florence, 
Erie  Co.,  Ohio;  Frances  O.,  born  June  3, 
.  1871,  living  at  home;  George  A.,  born  De- 
cember 15,  1874,  operator  on  the  Lake 
Shore  &  Michicran  Southern  Railroad; 
Harriet  E.,  born  October  24,  1875,  died 
May  15,  1886;  and  Alida,  born  March  18, 
1878,  residing  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Coe  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  in  his  political  preferences  he 
is  a  stanch  Republican. 


JOHN  WILSON,  importer  and  grower 
of  fruit,  while  a  citizen  of  Nor  walk  is 
yet  one  whose  enterprise  and   busi- 
ness intelligence  is    hardly   circum- 
scribed by  a  continent. 

His  place  of  nativity  is  Derbyshire, 
England,  where  he  was  born  August  27, 
1832,  and  when  aged  eighteen  he  came  to 
America,  in  the  search  of  broader  fields 
for  his  strong  and  active  nature.  He  is  a 
son  of  James  and  Lydia  (Jackson)  Wilson, 
a  family  of  that  sturdy  English  stock  who 
make  a  splendid  graft  on  the  restless 
American  civilization.  The  young  man 
stopped  about  one  year  in  New  York  State. 
Working  along,  but  taking  in  a  very  broad 
view  of  the  situation,  he  went  to  Central 
America,  where  during  the  next  twenty- 
three  years  he  was  engaged  on  the  Panama 
Railroad  as  commissary  of  supplies,  and 
tlien  was  a  contractor  in  Costa  Rica,  build- 
ing a  portion  of  the  railroad  from  Limon 


to  San  Jose,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Wilson  &  Keith.  During  the  progress  of 
his  railroad  work,  he  commenced  merchan- 
dising at  Limon,  and  this  branch  of  his 
business  suddenly  grew  to  great  success, 
so  much  so  that  he  soon  saw  that  his  whole 
attention  should  be  given  to  his  new  line  of 
trade,  and  he  withdrew  from  the  contract- 
ing concern.  He  then  opened  a  branch 
house,  dealing  in  fruits  at  Bocas  Del  Toro, 
Republic  of  Colombia,  and  the  new  mer- 
cantile firm  became  the  "John  Wilson 
Company,"  which  is  in  prtisperous  exist- 
ence at  the  present  time;  there  is  another 
branch  house  at  Bluelield,  Nicaragua.  The 
other  houses  are  mostly  in  the  line  of 
fruits,  shipments  being  made  to  all  points, 
but  largely  to  New  Orleans,  where  is 
another  house  of  the  firm;  and  this  is  now 
the  headquarters  of  Mr.  Wilson,  who  con- 
stantly travels  between  that  city  and  Cen- 
tral America,  besides  often  attending  to 
the  firm's  affairs  in  New  York,  (^f  its 
kind,  this  is  one  of  the  largest  concerns  in 
the  United  States.  The  firm  in  their  busi- 
ness charter  several  fast  steamboats,  and 
recently  one  of  their  steamers,  named  the 
"John  Wilson,"  landed  at  New  Orleans 
22,000  bunches  of  bananas. 

John  Wilson  and  Miss  Virginia  Law- 
rence  were  intermarried  at  Zanesviile, 
Ohio,  January  22,  1876;  she  is  the  eldest 
of  ten  children  born  to  Rufus  and  Mary 
Ann  (Sharpe)  Lawrence,  the  former  of 
whom  died  in  1881.  The  mother,  who  is 
yet  living,  for  a  time  passed  her  widow- 
hood in  Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
Wilson  purchased  an  extensive  and  ele- 
gant stock  farm,  which  he  still  operates; 
although  in  the  seekiiig  for  a  more  congen- 
ial family  home,  good  schools,  society  and 
all  the  advantages  for  his  children,  he  se- 
lected Norwalk  for  his  place  of  residence. 
Here  he  purchased  an  elegant  home  on 
West  Main  street,  where  are  domiciled  his 
happy  household. 

Mr.  Wilson  has  been  twice  married,  the 
children  by  his  first  wife  being  Nellie  E. 
and  James.     The  family  of  children  by  his 


44 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


present  wife  are  as  follows:  Minor  Keitli, 
Russell  Iloadley.  Frederick  AVesson,  Lydia 
J.,  Marion,  Margnerita  and  Don  Rufus 
Lawrence.  There  is  little  of  the  hiinidrnm 
of  ordinary  life  in  the  record  of  John  Wil- 
son. His  is  a  mind  to  conceive  and  expand 
with  two  continents,  backed  by  a  strong 
physical  nature  that  could  defy  the  rapid 
changes  from  the  temperate  north  to  the 
torrid  tropics.  He  is  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune,  as  well  as  the  avant  courier 
of  that  intercommunion  and  knowledge  of 
foreign  nations  that  is  the  pledge  and  glory 
of  every  civilization. 


LBERT  N.  READ,  M.  D.,  the  old- 
est and  one  of  the  most  prominent 
physicians  of  Huron  county,  was 
born  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass., 
September  16,  1815.  His  parents, 
Ira  and  Mary  (Smith)  Read,  were  also 
born  in  Berkshire  county. 

The  father,  Ira  Read,  was  a  typical  pio- 
neer of  his  day,  removing  from  his  home 
in  Massachusetts  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  a  year  old,  with  a  colony  of  his 
neighbors  and  relatives,  to  Asthabula 
county,  Ohio.  Their  first  point  of  desti- 
nation was  Williamsiield,  their  route  tlie 
old  military  road  made  by  Gen.  Harrison, 
and  such  was  its  condition  that  at  one 
period  of  the  long  journey  tiiey  were  three 
days  making  the  distance  of  nine  miles. 
On  the  third  night,  the  year-old  baity 
being  threatened  with  croup,  it  was  with 
its  mother  taken  forward  to  an  old  de- 
serted log  hut,  for  better  protection  than 
the  wagons  afforded.  Ira  Read,  then  a 
vigorous,  powerfully-built  young  man,  six 
feet  tall,  was  accompanied  by  his  parents, 
Nathaniel  Read  and  wife,  the  former  of 
whom  was  also  a  native  of  Berkshire 
county,  Ma.ss.,  by  trade  a  blacksmith,  and 
widely  known  as  an  honorable  and  uprigiit 
citizen;  his  wife  was  of  the  well-known 
Sedgwick  family  of  New  England. 

After  more  than  four  weeks  wearisome 


journey,  they  reached  Williamsfield.  their 
destination.  In  this  new  iiome,  amid 
rough  pioneer  surroundings,  Albert  spent 
his  early  years,  learning  practical  lessons 
in  farming  in  out-door  association  witli  his 
thorouglily  practical  father;  and  within 
the  home  from  his  creritle  mother,  those 
lessons  which  a  woman  of  a  deeply  relig- 
ious nature,  a  cultivated  mind  and  heart, 
will  teach  consciously  and  unconscionsly 
to  those  in  the  intimate  associations  of 
home  life.  From  her  the  boy  learned  not 
only  to  be  thorough  in  acquiring  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  studies  within  his  reach,  but 
to  love  the  work  of  acquiring  for  its  own 
sake;  to  form  those  habits  of  thought,  of 
studying  into  the  relations  of  things,  both 
in  nature  and  in  daily  life,  which  tended 
to  make  him  the  student  he  continued  to 
be  in  mature  life;  and  led  his  professional 
brethren  to  rely  upon  him  for  thorough 
knowledge  of  his  profession,  and  good 
judgment  in  the  j^ractice  of  it.  That, 
meanwhile,  his  mother  did  not  neglect  the 
cultivation  of  his  spiritual  nature,  may  be 
inferred,  if  we  can  receive  one  of  the  tra- 
ditions of  his  childhood,  which  runs,  that 
when  he  was  five  years  old  he  recited,  in 
the  Sabbath-school,  the  entire  Shorter 
Catechism. 

His  early  education  was,  of  course,  lim- 
ited to  such  instruction  as  could  be 
obtained  by  attendance  during  the  brief 
term  of  log-house  school;  but  his  habits  of 
thoroughness  enabled  him  to  master  the 
foundation  studies  while  learning  to  plow 
and  plant,  and  harvest;  he  raised  and 
handled  stock  at  a  much  younger  age  than 
most  boys  even  of  that  period.  Among 
his  earliest  recollections  of  that  primitive 
life  is  an  incident  that  he  refers  to  as  the 
first  "  bear  movement  in  pork."  A  huge 
bear  visited  in  the  night  his  father's  pig- 
pen, and  carried  off  its  one  inmate,  the 
household's  anticipated  pork  for  the  com- 
ing winter.  The  dismay  may  be  partly 
appreciated  as  we  learn  that  pork  that  year 
was  held  at  thirty  dollars  per  barrel,  and 
that  other    necessary  of   life,   wheat,  was 


IIUROJr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


47 


three  dollars  per  busliel.  But  while  food 
for  the  body,  from  its  scarcity,  commanded 
fabulous  prices,  not  so  food  for  the  intel- 
lectual powers;  as  we  learn  from  anotlier 
of  the  Doctor's  reminiscences.  lie  was 
sent  on  a  horse,  riding  a  side-saddle,  to 
fetch  to  the  district  the  teacher,  a  sister  of 
the  well-known  Judge  Caldwell,  of  Cleve- 
land, wliich  lady  tiiught  a  very  good  school, 
for  the  princely  salary  of  seventy-five  cents 
a  week,  one  half  of  which  was  to  be  paid 
in  flax,  a  kind  of  silver  certificate  of  that 
day.  The  prevalenceof  high  prices  for  wheat 
led  the  fatlier  to  hire  a  man  at  twelve 
dollars  a  month  and  board,  to  help  clear 
off  ten  acres  of  land  and  sow  it  with  wheat. 
A  fair  crop  was  raised,  but  could  not  be 
sold  for  cash.  He  said  in  after  years  that 
the  payment  of  the  wages  of  that  hired 
man  was  the  hardest  job  of  his  life.  There 
was  plenty  of  work  to  be  found  in  the 
country,  but  no  money  in  circulation.  To 
receive  a  letter,  and  pay  the  twenty-tive 
cents  postage,  was  a  serious  family  affair. 
But  all  these  unpromising  circumstances 
did  not  dishearten  the  boy,  Albert — his 
aim  was  an  education  and  a  profession; 
and  at  length,  after  instruction  in  the  best 
academy  and  select  schools,  supplemented 
by  private  tuition  in  a  clergyman's  family, 
he  began  to  read  medicine  in  the  office  of 
Dr.  Peter  Allen,  at  Kinsman,  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio.  After  four  years  of  study  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
continued  four  years  with  more  than  the 
usual  success;  then  feeling  dissatisfied 
with  his  qualifications,  heattended  a  course 
of  lectures  at  Willoughby  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  1841.  Taking  up  his,  abode 
in  Andover,  he  there  practiced  other  four 
years,  after  which  he  attended  another 
conrse  in  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Phila- 
delpliia,  where  he  graduated,  and  then  re- 
turned once  more  to  Andover.  In  1851 
he  looked  about  for  a  wider  field — cou- 
sit^ered  the  plan  of  joining  a  colony  to  St. 
Paul,  then  only  the  beginning  of  a  town — 
hut  the  plan  was  abandoned,  and  by  the 
advice  of  President  Pierce  of  the  Western 

3 


Reserve  College,  he  went  Norwalk,  where 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Moses 
C.  Sanders,  at  that  time  a  leading  physi- 
cian of  the  State.  This  co-partnersliip 
continued  during  the  life  of  Dr.  Sanders, 
and  afterward  with  his  son,  Dr.  John  C. 
Sanders,  until  the  latter  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, and  the  present  firm  of  Drs.  Read  & 
Ford  was  formed. 

Dr.  Read  has  been  twice  married,  first 
time  to  Janet  Beman,  of  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  who  died  in  Norwalk,  leaving  two 
children — a  son  and  daughter.  The  Doctor 
afterward  married  Elizabeth  Cook,  of  New 
York  State. 

During  the  summer  of  1861,  the  Civil 
war  having  broken  out,  Dr.  Read,  in  com- 
mon with  all  loyal  citizens,  desiring  to 
serve  his  country  in  her  need,  considered 
the  question  of  joining  the  army  as  sur- 
geon; but  while  still  undecided,  he  was 
called  to  attend  his  father,  in  what  proved 
his  last  illness,  and  the  day  after  his  return 
to  his  home,  he  was  called  to  the  service 
in  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission, 
under  the  management  of  Dr.  Newberry, 
of  Cleveland.  He  spent  that  winter  mainly 
in  Kentucky,  with  headquarters  at  Louis- 
ville, following  with  his  assistance  our 
army  under  Gen.  Buell,  ministering  to  the 
sick  and  wounded  after  the  terrible  battles 
that  interrupted  its  march  to  take  posses- 
sion of  Nashville.  To  indicate  somewhat 
the  work  he  and  his  helpers  were  doing, 
durincr  those  dreary  months  of  suff'ering 
to  so  many  of  the  dear  boys  of  our  land, 
he  recalls  an  incident  that  occurred  at 
Elizabethtown.  The  army  liad  moved  on, 
leaving  many  sick,  greatly  needing  care, 
with  neither  beds  nor  suitable  food.  From 
the  stores  hurried  on  from  Louisville,  tliey 
were  speedily  placed  in  comfortable  beds, 
and  fed  with  the  delicacies  sent  by  the 
home  friends.  One  boy,  delirious  from 
fever,  taken  from  the  floor  and  placed  upon 
the  clean  cot,  soon  fell  into  quiet  sleep, 
from  which  he  awakened  rational,  and 
looking  about  him  said:  "Where  am  I? 
It  seems  as  if  mother  had  been  here."   The 


48 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Doctor  says  that  incident  was  an  inspira- 
tion in  much  of  his  after  work.  After  the 
occupation  of  Nasliville,  in  the  spring  of 
1862,  Dr.  Head  was  made  inspector-in- 
chief  of  the  Department  of  Cumberland, 
with  a  corps  of  assistants,  and  headquar- 
ters in  Nashville,  which  position  he  tilled 
nntil  the  close  of  the  war.  He  regards  his 
work  for  the  soldiers  during  those  four 
years  as  the  greatest  work  of  his  life:  es- 
tablishing soldiers  homes,  beginning  in 
Louisville,  afterward  at  Nashville,  then  all 
along  our  army  lines,  fitting  up  hospital 
cars,  wherein  the  sick  and  wounded  might 
be  conveyed  with  the  least  possible  dis- 
comfort; givino'  out,  thrf)Ugh  his  numer- 
ons  assistants,  the  abundant  stores  so  freely 
provided  by  the  home  people  of  the  North 
for  their  suffering  dear  ones.  Soon  after 
the  close  of  the  war  Dr.  Read  returned  to 
liis  professional  duties. 

Early  in  his  professional  life  the  Doctor 
was  made  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  and  also  of  the  State 
Medical  Society  of  Ohio.  In  1858  he  was 
prominent  in  originating  the  Delamater 
Medical  Association  or  Norwalk  and 
vicinity,  which  Society  had  an  active  ex- 
istence of  thirty  years.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  or  Presby- 
terian Church  since  his  student  days. 


L 


E  ROY  HOYT,  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  pioneer  families  of  Connecti- 
cut, is  a  great-grandson  of  Eliphalet 
Hoyt,  M'ho  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1773.  He  was  the  son  of  one  of  two 
brothers — Walter  and  Simeon — who  came 
from  Germany  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century  and  found  a  home  in  the  '•  Nut- 
meg State."  In  his  youth  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Lois  Starr,  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  and 
Some  time  later  moved  to  Saratoga  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a 
number  of  years.  Subsequently  the  family 
moved   to  Owasco   township,  Cayuga  Co., 


N.  Y.,  where  a  farm  was  purchased  and 
improved  by  the  fatiier.  This  property 
he  lost  through  signing  a  two-years'  limit 
bond  for  a  merchant.  The  merchant  fled, 
and  the  bond  becoming  forfeit  the  young 
farmer  had  to  surrender  his  property  to 
satisfy  it.  In  182G  the  family  moved  to 
Ohio  and  located  on  rented  land  in  Fair- 
field township,  Huron  county,  where  the 
father  died  in  1831.  His  five  children 
were  Sally,  Almira,  Lois,  Silas  (who  died 
in  youth)  and  Walter.  In  politics  Eli- 
phalet Hoyt  was  a  Democrat. 

Walter  Hoyt  was  born  in  1802,  in  Cay- 
uga county,  N.  Y.  Reared  like  other  pio- 
neer boys  of  that  time  and  place,  he  grew 
to  manhood  there  and  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1826.  He  was  nomi- 
nally the  head  of  the  family,  all  the  prop- 
erty being  in  his  name.  The  same  year 
he  married  Caroline  M.  Benson,  a  daughter 
of  Abijali  Benson,  a  tanner  of  Skaneateles, 
N.  Y.,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  captain  of  a  company  in  the 
United  States  service. 

After  coming  to  Ohio  Walter  Hoyt  en- 
gaged in  agriculture  and  became  the 
owner  of  593  acres.  His  wife  died  liere 
in  1838,  and  in  1841  he  married  Betsy, 
daughter  of  Doniinick  Cole,  a  millwi'io-ht. 
To  the  first  marriage  were  born  three 
children,  of  whom  Ichabod,  Elmon  and 
Mercy  grew  to  maturity.  To  the  second 
marriage  were  born  three  children:  Brad- 
ley, Alma  and  Charles.  To  each  of  his 
sons  he  gave  a  farm,  and  when  he  died,  in 
1862.  he  left  personal  property  valued  at 
ten  thousand  dollars  to  be  divided  among 
the  heirs.  In  political  opinion  lie  was  a 
stanch  Democrat.  He  was  a  most  indus- 
trious citizen,  and  a  man  who  would  earn 
and  hold  property  in  any  place  and  under 
any  circumstance. 

Elmon  Hoyt,  the  second  son  of  Walter 
and  Caroline  Hoyt,  was  born  August  29, 
1829,  in  Fairfield  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  His  father  being  a  lifelono-  acri- 
culturist,  taught  his  sons  by  actual  exper- 
ience   in     that    avocation.       The    lessons 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


49 


taxiglit  him  in  boyhood  and  early  man- 
hood of  stfict  obedience  to  duty  and  labor 
have  followed  him  throui^h  his  successful 
life.  When  about  to  embark  in  life  for 
himself  he  cleared  a  space  in  the  then 
dense  forest  for  a  place  to  build  a  home; 
then  realizing  the  need  of  a  helpmate  he 
married  October  24, 1854:,  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Phineas  and  Rachel  (Terry) 
Guthrie.  As  a  result  of  this  marriage 
live  children  were  born:  Wilber,  Harry 
H.,  Le  Roy,  Ralph  and  Clayton,  all  of 
whom  are  still  living. 

While  Mr.  Hoyt  has  always  given  per- 
sonal attention  to  his  business  at  home,  he 
has  always  been  ready  to  promote  any  en- 
terprise for  the  good  of  his  town  or  com- 
munity. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  having  toiled 
together  for  nearly  forty  years  now  realize 
together  that,  toil  and  energy  have  their 
rewards.  Feeling  that  something  ought 
to  be  done  to  relieve  the  monotony  and 
isolation  of  the  farmer,  and  being  ready  ' 
to  do  anything  they  could  to  promote  a 
social  and  intellectual  advancement  among 
the  agricultural  class,  they  signed  an  ap- 
plication for  a  charter  for  the  organization 
of  The  C-irange  in  1874,  and  became  char- 
ter members  of  that  oraanization.  To  this 
Society  they  have  always  been  active  mem- 
bers, going  up  with  the  different  degrees 
of  the  Order,  and  often  being  delegated  to 
represent  their  Grange  at  the  State  meet- 
ings. In  March,  1878,  The  Huron  County 
Mutual  In -surance  Company  was  organized, 
Mr.  Hoyt  becoming  one  of  its  early  mem- 
bers, and  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the 
Company,  to  which  otHjce  he  has  been  re- 
elected every  year  since,  and  still  performs 
the  duties  of  that  ofiice. 

To  his  son,s  he  has  been  a  great  help  in 
starting  them  successfully  in  business. 
For  thd  eldest  one  (Wilber,  who  chose 
agriculture),  he  had  a  farm  for  him,  upon 
which  Wilber  has  succeeded  well.  With 
his  second  son  Harry  (who  chose  mer- 
cantile business),  Mr.  Hoyt  became  in- 
terested in  business  in  North  Fairfield,  there 
building  the  large  brick  store  room,  where 


an  extensive  business  was  very  success- 
fully conducted.  In  a  few  years,  Mr. 
Harry  Hoyt,  wishing  to  engage  more  ex- 
tensively in  business,  he  proposed  to  start 
a  store  in  Norwalk.  Mr.  Elmon  Hoyt 
saw  in  this  two  favorable  features,  viz.: 
That  it  would  give  Harry  an  opportuTiity 
to  extend  his  business  qualifications  and 
also  place  LeRoy,  his  third  son,  in  charge 
of  the  North  Fairdeld  store,  and  Mr. 
Hoyt  became  interested  in  both  stores. 
The  two  younger  sons  remain  on  the  home 
farm.  Thus  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  have 
lived  a  useful  and  successful  life. 

LeRoy  Hoyt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  third  son  of  Elmon  and  Elizabeth 
Hoyt,  and  was  born  October  6,  1862.  His 
youth  was  passed  on  the  fartn  with  his 
parents,  and  his  time  divided  between 
duties  at  home  and  attendance  at  the  union 
school  in  the  village  of  North  Fairtield. 

He  then  devoted  two  years  of  study  in 
Oberlin  College,  and  during  this  time  ac- 
quired a  liberal  educatioti,  after  which  he 
entered  liis  father's  store  as  clerk,  remain- 
ing there  two  years.  Then  he  was  given 
full  management  of  a  branch  store  at  Peru, 
Ohio,  which  he  conducted  successfully  for 
two  years,  when  the  branch  was  sold,  as 
his  atteutiot)  was  required  at  the  North 
Fairfield  store,  which  he  again  entered, 
becoming  its  personal  manager,  and,  later, 
equal  partner  with  his  father  in  the  mer- 
cantile business. 

On  January  6,  1886,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Anna  F.,  daughter  of  Maj. 
William  B.  Sturges,  of  Fairfield,  a  sketch 
of  whom  immediately  follows  this,  and  in 
this  union  one  child,  Nelka,  has  been 
l)orn.  As  a  business  man  Mr.  Hoyt  has 
been  most  successful,  and  to-day  carries 
one  of  the  finest  general  stores  in  this  sec- 
tion. That  he  merits  this  success,  his 
social,  moral  and  business  standing  in  his 
native  county  are  the  best  evidences. 

Politically  he  is  an  earnest,  active  Re- 
publican. In  1891  he  was  member  of  the 
County  Executive  Committee,  and  person- 
ally secured  and  presided  over  one  of  the 


50 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


largest  meetings  ever  held  in  the  county. 
He  made  the  welcoming  speech,  and  in- 
troduced the  present  governor  of  the  State, 
William  McKinlej',  to  the  people.  So 
perfect  was  the  success  of  this  meeting 
that  Mr.  Hoyt  wished  to  repeat  it.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  ne.vt  year  he  visited  Senator 
John  Sherman  at  his  home  in  Manstield, 
and  secured  him  to  come  to  North  Fair- 
lield  and  deliver  a  speech  to  a  very  large 
audience.  Mr.  Hoyt  was  recognized  as 
the  principal  promoter  of  his  political 
faith,  and  was  chosen  chairman  of  this 
me'itiug.  He  has  served  his  township  as 
postmaster  for  four  years  well  and  faith- 
fully, and  secured  at  its  close  a  reward  of 
the  higiiest  grade  by  the  United  States 
inspector. 

He  wields  a  strong  political,  social  and 
commercial  influence  not  otdy  in  Fairfield 
township,  but  throughout  the  county  as 
well;  and  while  he  is  yet  young  to  furnish 
a  history  for  publication,  he  lacks  only 
time  and  opportunity  to  convince  all  that 
he  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  men  of 
his  time.  He  is  one  to  whom  the  hand  of 
deserving  charity  was  never  presented 
without  receiving,  the  recipient  going 
away  with  a  lighter  heart  and  a  fuller 
hand.  In  whatever  tends  to  build  up,  to 
elevate  humanity,  be  it  in  the  material, 
social,  moral  or  educational,  in  him  is 
found  a  ready  helper.  In  religious  faitii 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple  Church, 
and  lives,  in  harmony  with  his  profession, 
a  helpful  life. 


-fj 


IV/ffAJOR  WILLIAM  B.  STURGES 
^\  was  born  October  12,  1828,  in 
1|  New  York  City,  grandson  of 
Josiah  Sturges,  who  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  of  English  descent. 
The  latter  married  Kebecca  Cooper,  and  to 
their  union  were  born  the  following  named 
children:  Jonathan,  Josiah  J.,  Ann 
Eliza,  Mary,  Julia,  Arabella,  Deborah, 
Joseph  and    Henry  A.  C.  Mr.  Sturges  first 


conducted  a  packet  line  running  between 
Savannah  (Ga.)  and  New  York,  and  for 
Some  time  resided  in  Savannah,  subse- 
quently removing  to  New  York,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
there  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  Thomas  C.  Butler  and  a  Mr.  Harris, 
and  fi)r  some  years  was  inspector  of  cus- 
toms at  the  port  of  New  York.  In  reli- 
gious faith  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Moravian  Church,  and  his  children  were 
all  educated  at  Bethlehem  (Penn.)  and 
Nazareth  (the  latter  being  the  school  for 
boys). 

Henry  A.  C.  Sturges  passed  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  in  New  \  ork,  and  was  edu- 
cated to  business  life,  afterward  working 
in  his  father's  store.  He  was  united  in 
marriaije  with  Jane,  daughter  of  David 
and  S.  Cargill,  of  New  York  (yrho  were  of 
Scotch  ancestry),  and  to  this  union  were 
born  children  as  follows:  William  B.; 
Anna  F.,  Mrs.  Lyman  Spencer;  David  G., 
who  was  for  nearly  thirty  years  an  ap- 
praiser of  customs  at  New  York;  Caroline; 
Harry  C;  John  G.,  and  Thomas.  In 
1835  Mr.  Sturges  and  his  family  came 
westward  to  Ohio,  going  by  river  to 
Albany,  thence  by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal 
to  Buffalo,  and  from  the  latter  place  by 
lake  to  Sandusky,  Ohio.  He  came  first  to 
Norwalk,  shortly  afterward  settling  in 
Greenfield  township,  Huron  county,  where 
he  became  a  leading  farmer,  and  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  In  political 
opinion  he  was  a  Whig. 

William  B.  Sturges  passed  his  youth 
on  the  home  farm,  and  received  his 
education  at  the  Seminary  at  Nor- 
walk. On  June  5,  1851,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Josephine,  daughter  of  Elias 
Thomas,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
children  as  follows:  Wilson  N.,  now  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Flora  C,  Mrs. 
K.  B.  Kellogg;  Jay,  a  ranchman  of  Gunni- 
son county,  Colo.;  Napier,  of  Fairfield 
township,  Huron  county;  Jessie  M.;  Guy 
S.,  in  Colorado  with  his  brother  Jay,  and 
Anna  F.,  Mrs.  Le  Eoy  Hoyt.    Mr.  Sturges 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


51 


enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  conflict,  and  on  April  28,  1861,  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany A,  Twenty-Fourtli  O.  Y.  I.  With 
the  exception  of  a  three  weeks'  leave  of 
absence  he  was  in  continuous  service 
throughout  the  war,  tigiiting  with  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated 
in  tlie  battles  at  Shiloli,  Stone  Itiver, 
Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  also 
in  many  minor  engagements,  and  during 
all  this  time  was  wounded  but  once,  in 
1861,  when  his  horse  fell,  severely  injur- 
ing his  right  knee.  He  was  on  the  staff 
of  various  generals,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Gen.  Palmer  and  Gen.  Stanley, 
and  during  his  service  was  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant,  then  to  captain  (in  whicli 
capacity  he  had  command  of  his  company 
for  the  last  six  months  of  the  war),  linallj 
rising  to  the  rank  of  major. 

In  1865  he  engao-ed  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man,  carrying  a  line  of  tobacco,  etc.,  in 
which  he  continued  for  twenty-six  years. 
In  1883  he  removed  to  his  present  resi- 
dence, where  he  is  now  living  a  retired 
life.  Politically  he  has  been  a  lifelong 
Republican. 


I[  EDUARD  ERF.  The  Erf  family 
k.  I  are  of  Dutch  origin,  and  many  years 
\^)  ago  settled  in  Germany,  whence  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to 
America  and  settled  in  Huron  county. 
There  he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  and  lived 
up  to  tlie  time  of  his  death  in  1889.  Of 
liis  children  only  two  sons  survive,  and 
they  are  now  living  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county. 

J.  Eduard  Erf  is  the  eldest  son  of  An- 
thony Erf,  and  was  born  in  Lyme  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  in  December,  1861. 
His  early  life  was  spent  like  that  of  all 
farmers'  sons,  namely  in  going  to  school 
and  working  on  the  farm,  only  with  this 
difference  that  while  the  sons  of  too  many 


spent  most  of  their  time  in  working  on 
the  farm,  and  a  short  time  only  in  going  to 
school,  it  was  his  fortune  to  spend  most  of 
his  years  in  school,  and  only  in  vacations 
doing  farm  work.  It  is  fortunate,  too, 
that  his  father  took  a  great  deal  of  interest 

o 

in  educational  matters,  and  through  his 
efforts  was  not  a  little  due  the  fact  that  the 
school  where  he  attended  was  of  a  higher 
grade  than  that  of  many  other  country 
schools.  He  can  well  remember  that, 
while  in  some  districts  school  was  taught 
only  three  or  four  months  in  the  year,  at 
the  place  where  he  attended  not  less  than 
nine  months  was  the  usual  limit  of  the 
school  year,  and  the  best  of  country  teachers 
were  employed.  At  an  early  age  lie  en- 
tered the  high  school  of  the  neighboring 
town  of  Monroeville,  and  a  number  of 
years  later  prepared  himself  for  college, 
afterward  attending  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  a  western  college  that  has  re- 
ceived great  prominence  among  the  State 
institutions  of  higher  learning.  Both  at 
the  academy  and  at  the  university  he  won 
several  prizes  in  oratory,  and  in  the  Fresh- 
man year  won  the  first  prize  at  the  ora- 
torical contest,  also  taking  second  rank  at 
the  State  contest. 

As  with  many  other  young  men,  it  was 
a  question  with  him  whether  he  should 
study  for  the  ministry  or  for  the  bar. 
Finally  deciding  for  the  latter,  he  began 
the  study  of  law  with  Russell  &  Rice,  of 
Cleveland,  and  later  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Blandan,  of  the  same  place.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1891.  Where  to  locate 
he  had  not  decided  upon,  although  for  the 
time  being  he  remained  in  Cleveland,  and 
launched  out  for  himself.  Finding  after 
the  first  month's  experience  that  his  outlay 
was  largely  disproportioned  to  his  income, 
he  decided  to  change  his  location,  and 
finally  concluded  to  settle  in  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
the  seat  of  the  county  of  his  birth.  While 
making  preparations  to  locate,  in  a  con- 
versation with  Senator  Harlon  Stewart  the 
idea  was  suggested  to  him  that  he  siiould 
assume  the  editorship   of  the    Oermania, 


52 


HLFBON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  only  German  paper  printed  in  Huron 
county.  Having  bad  some  experience  as 
a  newspaper  writer  and  manager,  and  also 
Laving  a  practical  knowledge  of  tlie  German, 
as  he  iiad  niade  that  language  one  of  his 
specialties  at  college,  he  looked  favorably 
upon  the  proposition.  At  second  thought  it 
was  suggested  to  liini  that  if  he  was  to  be- 
come an  editor  of  a  paper  for  some  one  else, 
why  not  become  the  editor  of  his  own  paper? 
Immediately  negotiations  were  entered  into 
for  the  sale  of  the  weekly,  which,  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  he  purchased  in 
May,  1891.  Working  with  energy  and 
entliusiasra,  the  circulation  of  the  paper 
was  doubled  within  four  months.  In  ad- 
dition, also,  the  advertising  was  largely  in- 
creased, bringing  tlie  paper  a  very  good 
income,  and  placing  it  upon  a  sure  financial 
footing.  In  the  winter  of  1892,  the 
brothers,  having  resolved  to  take  up  the 
job  pi-inting  business,  purchased  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  plant,  including  a 
large  cylinder  press  for  the  publication  of 
their  paper,  which  heretofore  had  been 
pi'inted  by  the  Experiment- News. 

When  the  Norwalk  Press  was  launched, 
Mr.  Erf  was  asked  to  assume  the  position 
of  editor  of  that  paper,  and  also  to  take 
an  interest  in  the  enterprise.  This  he  did, 
and  with  Mr.  James  Mullin  began  the 
publication  of  the  Norwalk  Press  in 
March,  1893.  Later  on  a  corporation  was 
formed  under  the  name  of  The  Erf  Bros. 
Publishing  Co.,  witli  J.  E.  Erf,  Gustavus 
Erf,  James  Mullin  and  others  as  stock- 
holders, which  company  now  publishes  the 
Norivalh  J'ress  and  the  Gerinania,  besides 
doing  a  general  job  and  publishing  business. 
From  a  small  l)eginning,  occupying  in 
May,  1891,  a  small  room  10  x  15,  and  em- 
ploying one  man,  their  business  has  in- 
creased so  that  to-day  they  occupy  three 
floors  of  the  Stewart  block,  employing 
from  sixteen  to  eighteen  persons.  Mr. 
Erf's  duties  as  editor  are  of  such  a  nature 
and  so  laborious  that  he  has  had  very  lit- 
tle time  while  in  Norwalk  to  practice  his 
profession.      In  fact  the  journalistic  work 


seems  to  hold  so  much  in  store  for  him, 
that  both  circumstances  and  his  own  in- 
clination for  literary  work  incline  him  in 
that  direction  rather  than  toward  tiie  bar. 
In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Democrat, 
and  has  always  defended,  both  by  speech 
and  writing,  the  Democratic  faith.  He  is 
a  Democrat  from  principle,  believing 
tlioroughly  in  the  fuijdamental  principles 
of  that  party.  A  short  time  after  locating 
in  Norwalk  he  w'as  placed  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  for  the  office  of  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Huron  county.  He  made  an 
active  canvass  of  the  county,  speaking  in 
almost  every  township,  and  although  de- 
feated ran  ahead  of  iiis  ticket  by  three 
hundred  votes.  Practically  in  active  busi- 
ness and  the  professions  only  a  few  years, 
he  is  well  liked,  has  made  many  friends, 
and  is  making  for  himself  a  place  in  the 
community  as  an  honorable  and  public- 
spirited  n:an. 


QUSTAVUS  ERF.  The  subject  of 
,  this  sketch,  one  of  tiie  junior  mem- 
bers of  The  Erf  Uros.  Publishitig 
,  L  Co.,  and  a  brother  of  J.  Eduard 
Erf,  was  born  in  Lyme  township, 
Huron  county,  in  1805,  the  third  son  of 
Anthony  Erf.  Like  his  brother,  he  spent 
his  early  life  in  going  to  school  and  work- 
ing on  the  farm.  After  having  completed 
his  studies  in  the  district  school,  he  at- 
tended, the  Monroeville  high  school,  and 
later  on-  went  to  Cleveland,  where  he  did 
some  work  on  a  mechanical  journal  as 
solicitor.  Coming  to  Norwalk,  he,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  bought  the 
Norwalk  Germanla,  which  they  continued 
to  publish.  Later  on  a  job  office  was 
opened.  When  the  firm  of  Erf  Bros,  was 
lately  consolidated  and  merged  into  The 
Erf  Bros.  Publishing  Co.  he  became  .^ 
prominent  stockholder.  Mr.  Erf  is  esr- 
pecially  connected  with  the  business  man- 
agement of  the  concern,  in  which  he  takes 
an  active  interest. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


53 


In  1892  our  subject  was  married  to 
Miss  llosa  Frenz,  who  presides  over  his 
pleasant  home  on  Olive  street.  Though 
young  he  is  active  and  energetic,  well 
liked  by  his  business  associates,  and  lie 
has  before  him  a  prosperous  and  bright 
career. 


JF.  BEELMAN,  editor  and  proprietor 
of    the    Plymouth    Advertiser,    was 
born    July   31,    1847,    in    Richland 
county,     Ohio.       His    ancestors     in 
America,  both  paternal  and  maternal,  may 
be  traced  back  to  the  early  Colonial  days  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Andrew  Beelman,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Penn.,  where 
he  grew  into  manhood  and  married 
Christiana  Cain,  a  native  of  the  same 
county.  He  learned  the  cabinet  maker's 
trade  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  183-,  when 
he  removed  to  Plymouth,  Richland  Co., 
Ohio,  he  found  sufficient  work  in  this 
trade  to  occupy  his  attention  until  liis 
death  in  1867.  He  was  a  Whig  until  the 
orcranization  of  the  Republicans,  when 
he  joined  the  new  party  and  gave  it  his 
un(jnalified  support.  Though  his  convic- 
tions were  firmly  fi.xed,  he  was  not  active 
in  public  affairs,  his  disposition  being  to 
attend  to  his  own  trade  and  let  others 
attend  to  their  business. 

J.  F.  Beelinan  is  the  fourth  in  a  family 
of  four  sons  and  one  daughter  born  to  An- 
drew and  Christiana  Beelman.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  at  Ply- 
mouth, and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
entered  a  more  practical  school,  as  ap- 
prentice in  the  office  of  the  Plymouth  Ad- 
vertiser, where  he  served  three  and  a  half 
years.  After  this  long  term  in  learning 
the  "art  preservative,"  he  entered  the  dry- 
goods  establishment  of  S.  M.  Roltinson, 
where  for  four  years  he  was  employed  as 
salesman.  In  1869,  in  partnership  with 
M.  Webber,  he  purchased  a  book  and  no- 
tion store  at  Plymouth.      In  1872   he  dis- 


posed of  his  interest  in  that  store,  and  as- 
sociated himself  with  his  brother  J.  M. 
Beelman,  in  the  office  of  the  Plymouth 
Advertiser.  In  December,  1876,  he  be- 
came sole  owner  of  the  office,  to  which  he 
has  since  given  close,  personal  attention. 

The  Plymouth  Advertiser  was  founded 
in  1852  by  a  Mr.  Sanford;  later  D.  R. 
Locke,  better  known  as  "Petroleum  V. 
Nasby,"  became  proprietor,  and  in  its 
pages  began  to  build  up  his  reputation  as 
a  humorous  political  writer.  This  journal 
has  always  been  and  is  now  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  Plymouth  and  vicinity  with- 
out regard  to  politics.  It  is  well  edited 
and  printed,  and  enjoys  a  heavy  advertis- 
ing patronage  as  well  as  a  large  circula- 
tion. The  office  is  equipped  with  job  and 
cylinder  presses,  steam  power  is  used,  and 
altogether,  the  paper  reflects  tiie  progress- 
ive spirit  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Beelman  was  married,  on  October 
8,  1874,  to  Miss  Fraidv  Gipson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  H.  B.  Gipson,  of  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Grace  W.  Our  subject  ranks  among  the 
leading  and  influential  men  of  this  division 
of  the  State,  and,  in  his  relations  to  the 
people  as  a  newspaper  man  and  citizen,  is 
recocrnized  as  one  who  has  contributed 
largely  to  the  material  and  social  advance- 
ment of  Plymouth  and  tributary  district. 
For  eighteen  years  he  served  as  secretary 
of  the  Plymouth  Agricultural  Society,  and 
has  filled  various  local  offices.  In  Church 
connection  he  is  a  Lutheran,  and  he  is  a' 
gentleman  of  strong  moral  convictions. 


GH.  GOVE,  of  the  C.  H.  Gove  &  Co. 
foundry,  Norwalk,  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  born 
August  24,  1828.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Onondaga  county,  same 
State,  after  two  years  of  age  attending  the 
public  schools  there,  subsequently  taking 
a  course  in  the  academy.  His  parents, 
David    and    Mary  (Burbank)    Gove,   were 


54 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


descendants  of  colonists  who  came  to 
America  from  London  in  1G40,  locating  in 
Deerfield,  Connecticut. 

David  Gove  was  born  in  1794,  in  Wil- 
mot,  Merrimack  Co.,  N.  H.,  became  a 
fanner,  and  died  in  Onondaga  county,  N. 
Y.,  at  the  age  of  forty-live  years.  He  was 
a  man  of  strong  character,  and  in  politics 
was  a  Jackson  Democrat.  His  wife,  Mary 
(Hurbank),  w^as  born  in  1797  in  Salisbury, 
N.  H.;  she  became  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  were  by  her  last 
husband,  David  Gove;  two  of  her  sons  and 
two  daughters  are  yet  living.  David  Gove's 
father,  Nathan  Gove,  was  born  on  the  old 
farm  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Nathan's 
father  was  born  in  Concord,  Connecticut. 

C.  H.  Gove,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  commenced  taking  his  lessons  in 
the  foundry  business  in  1846  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.  After  learning  the  trade  he  came, 
in  1850,  to  Huron  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  molding  business,  and  was 
for  fifteen  years  in  managing  charge  of  a 
foundry.  He  had  charge  of  the  Bay  City- 
Foundries  at  Sandusky  two  years,  and  of 
the  Lake  Shore  Foundry  at  Elkhart,  Ind., 
for  some  time.  He  then  returned  to  Nor- 
walk,  and  took  charge  of  the  foundry  here. 
In  1887,  in  company  witli  his  son,  Ernest 
D.  Gove,  he  established  his  present 
foundry,  and  now  carries  on  a  prosperous 
business,  doing  the  exclusive  casting  for 
the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad.  In 
187(3-77  he  was  a  member  of  the  Norwalk 
city  council. 

On  July  14,  1851,  C.  H.  Gove  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  L.  McGor- 
gan,  who  was  born  May  11,  1833,  in  Sen- 
eca county,  Ohio.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Charles  E.,  at  present  superin- 
tendent of  the  Vermillion  (Ohio)  schools; 
Enimett  P.,  a  machinist;  Ernest  D.,  with 
his  father  in  the  foundry;  Otis  G.,  a 
moulder  by  trade;  Frederick  W. ;  Frank; 
Mary  B.  (deceased);  Ida  B.;  Nellie,  and 
Sadie.  The  Gove  family  is  widely  respected 
inthecityand  county.  |Siiicethe  above  was 
written    C.    H.    Gove    &    Co.    sold   their 


foundry  business  April  1,  1893,  to  Otis 
G.  Gove  and  David  Higgins,  and  Mr.  Gove 
settled  upon  a  farm  at  Kipton,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  expects  to  pass  the  remain- 
der of  his  days.J  Mr.  C.  II.  Gove  desires 
to  have  here  recorded  the  following: 

MY  LAST  REQUEST. 
When  in  the  grave  my  friends  have  laid  me, 

And  lovini;  lips  have  breathed  adieu, 
Let  DO  one  dare  to  upbraid  me, 

Or  draw  my  frailties  forth  to  view. 

But  lay  my  faults  in  the  grave  beside  me, 

Then  let  the  clods  upon  me  fall ; 
And  as  they  from  the  cold  worldhide  me, 

Let  them  hide  my  faults  and  all. 

Let  there  be  joy  instead  of  weeping. 
That  rest  is  found  for  heart  and  head  ; 

Then  leave  me  to  my  Savior's  keeping. 
For  if  He  lives  I  can't  be  dead. 

Oiily  dead  to  sin  and  strife 

And  Soon  shall  wake  to  endless  life. 

C.  H.  Gove. 


y/ 


jJfON.  CHARLES  PRESTON 
''H  W I  C  K  H  A  M,  attorney  at  law,  was 
1  born  in  Norwalk,  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  September  15,  1836,  the 
eldest  of  thirteen  sons  and  daugh- 
ters born  to  Judge  Frederick  and  Lucy 
(Preston)  Wickham,  both  descendants  of 
New  England  Puritan  stock,  and  of  his 
paternal  ancestors  can  be  enumerated  Gov. 
Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts.  The  family 
even  remotely  come  of  a  strong  and  sturdy 
race,  tnen  and  women  of  that  rugged  na- 
ture that  was  fitted  to  the  often  cruel  exi- 
gencies in  the  transplanting  of  civilization 
from    the  Old    World   to  the   New. 

The  jiioneer  into  the  wilderness  from  the 
New  England  coast  was  William  Wickham, 
a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  grandfather  of 
Charles  Preston  Wickham.  He  naturally 
made  his  way  to  the  regions  of  the  lakes, 
impelled  by  that  strong  instinct  for  the 
sea  that  ran  through  generations,  and  he 
settled  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Ontario,  at 
Sodus  Point.  His  three  sous,  John,  Fred- 
erick and  Samuel,  nurtured  within  sight 
and  hearing  of  the  blue,  dashing  waters  of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


57 


the  great  lake,  in  their  westward  journey- 
ings  could  not  leave  the  sea  forever  behind 
thein,  and  so  took  up  their  dwelling  place 
at  Huron,  one  of  Lake  Erie's  natural 
harbors.  The  youngest  brother,  Samuel, 
sailed  the  lakes,  and  died  while  still  en- 
gaged in  pursuing  his  chosen  vocation. 
John,  the  eldest,  engaged  in  lake  com- 
merce, and  at  one  time  owned  one  of  the 
largest  tish-packlng  establishments  on 
Lake  Erie;  while  Frederick,  though  never 
forgetting  his  lakeside  birthplace,  located 
at  Korwalk,  his  present  home,  and  became 
the  proprietor  of  the  Norwalk  Iteflsctor, 
established  as  the  Ilw'on  Reflector  by 
Samuel  Preston,  whose  daughter,  Lucy, 
became  his  wife.  In  the  great  old- 
fashioned  house  in  the  center  of  the  town, 
whose  upper  floor  served  as  a  printing 
office  in  the  olden  days,  were  born  their 
thirteen  children — six  sons  and  seven 
daughters — twelve  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture life.  Sons  and  daughters  alike  were 
taught  the  printer's  art,  serving  a  good 
apprenticeship. 

Charles,  inheriting  from  both  father 
and  mother  a  taste  for  books  and  love  of 
learning,  took  advantage  of  all  that  the 
then  meager  public  schools  and  the  excel- 
lent Norwalk  Academy  could  afford.  He 
longed  for  a  college  education,  but  the 
many  younger  brothers  and  sisters  made 
the  fulfillment  of  the  desire  impossible. 
He  was  permitted,  however,  to  attend  the 
Cincinnati  law  school,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  April,  1858,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  by  the  district  court  of 
Hamilton  county  in  the  same  month. 
Full  of  hope  and  enthusiasm  in  his  chosen 
profession,  he  located  in  Norwalk  and 
opened  his  law  office.  In  August,  1860, 
he  was  united  in  the  sacred  bonds  of  wed- 
lock with  Emma  J.  Wildman,  daughter  of 
Frederick  A.  and  Mariett  (Patch)  Wild- 
man,  both  natives  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  who 
had  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  at  Clarks- 
field,  but  afterward  coming  to  Norwalk. 
In  April  following  this  happy  marriage 
came  the  tocsin  of  war,  thrilling  the  civil- 


ized world,  and  blasting  many  youthful 
prospects,  and  bringing  a  long  and  sad  in- 
terruption to  thousands  of  others.  Full 
of  patriotic  courage,  and  upheld  in  his 
purpose  by  his  young  wife,  Charles  P. 
Wickhain  enlisted,  in  Septeml)er,  1861,  in 
the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and  a 
short  time  after  bade  farewell  to  home 
and  the  few  months-old  babe  he  was 
never  to  see  again,  and  with  his  command 
marched  to  the  front.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding four  years  the  young  soldier  en- 
dured all  the  hardships  and  dangersof  piti- 
less war,  ever  at  the  post  of  duty,  and  with 
eager  intelligence  heeding  the  commands 
of  his  superiors.  As  brave  as  he  was  dis- 
creet, his  devotion  to  his  country's  cause 
could  not  but  attract  the  attention  of  those 
in  authority,  and  the  dashing  young  pri- 
vate soon  received  the  well-merited  pro- 
motion to  first  lieutenant,  then  successively 
to  captain,  major,  and  lieutenant-colonel  of 
his  regiment;  the  further  promotion 
while  he  was  major  coming  direct  from  the 
hands  of  the  President,  as  lieutenant-col- 
onel of  volunteers  by  brevet,  for  "  gallant 
and  meritorious  service  in  the  Carolinas." 
The  unbroken  severity  of  his  service  is  to 
some  little  extent  manifest  in  the  skeleton 
record  of  the  marches,  battles  and  sieges 
that  follow  the  name  of  Charles  Preston 
AVickham  on  the  country's  war  records. 
Among  others  in  which  he  participated 
were  the  battles  of  Second  Bull  Run,  Chan- 
celiorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mission  Ridge,  the 
battles  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  in- 
cluding Resaca,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Siege 
of  Atlanta,  March  to  the  Sea,  Averysboro 
and  Bentonville.  These  are  briefly  the 
main  battles,  and  only  to  the  veteran  does 
the  enumeration  convey  any  true  idea  of 
the  four  years  of  hardships,  exposures, 
trials  and  sufferings  of  an  active  soldier's 
life.  Of  the  millions  who  in  the  heyday 
of  young  life  entered  their  country's  serv- 
ice, but  few  equaled  and  none  surpassed 
this  one  in  the  tented  field,  where  are  made 
such  heavy  drafts  upon  tiie  moral  and  phy- 
sical courage  of  those  who  do  their  duty. 


58 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  all  his  long  service  in  the  army  he  es- 
caped the  demoralization,  so  common  to  all 
large  aggreojations  of  men,  by  the  upright 
tenor  of  his  bearing  and  the  rectitude  of 
his  conduct. 

Four  years,  and  grim-visaged  war  had 
smoothed  his  wrinkled  front;  and  when 
the  angel  of  mercy  and  peace  had  spread 
her  white  wings  across  the  land,  and  the 
army,  having  saved  the  Union,  was  being 
mustered  out  to  return  home.  Col.  Wick- 
ham's  command  was  ordered  to  Cleveland, 
and  July  19,  1865,  the  ragged,  sun-burned 
veterans,  but  fire-tried  heroes  all,  were 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service. 
And  now  came  the  crucial  test  of  the  Ameri- 
can character,  namely,  that  of  suddenly 
turning  a  great  army  into  free  inhabitants, 
from  destroyers  to  builders  up;  from  sub- 
jects of  the  law  as  thundered  from  the  can- 
non's mouth,  to  the  upholders  of  peace  and 
the  civil  law.  The  storm  of  blood  was 
spent,  and  the  birds  built  their  nests  in 
the  cannon's  cold  lips.  And  here  the  vet- 
eran's record  is  one  of  ever  added  new 
laurel  wreaths  to  the  trophies  of  war. 

At  the  close  of  the  service  Col.  Wick- 
ham  returned  to  his  iiome  in  Norwalk,  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  for  Huron 
county  in  1866;  re-elected  in  1868,  and 
after  the  end  of  his  terra  was  called  by  the 
suffrage  of  his  people  to  the  office  of  judge 
of  the  comtnon  pleas  court,  of  the  Fourth 
Judicial  District,  in  1880;  served  a  term 
and  was  re  elected  in  1885;  resigned  in 
October,  1886,  to  become  the  standard- 
bearer  of  his  party  as  a  candidate  for  Con- 
gress from  the  Fourteenth  District;  was 
triumphantly  elected  and  served  with  dis- 
tinguished eminence;  re-elected  in  1888. 
This  is  something  of  the  record  of  a  citi- 
zen of  Huron  county,  distinguished  in 
peace  as  in  war.  A  bright  ])aragraph  in 
history,  a  more  precious  legacy  to  poster- 
ity than  the  wealth  of  the  whole  world. 

Col.  Wickham  is  in  height  about  live 
feet  nine  inches;  of  fair  complexion,  erect 
carriage  and   fine   presence.     In    manner, 


though  ever  dignified,  reserved  and  un- 
demonstrative, he  is  courteous,  gentle  and 
sympathetic,  and  possesses  the  most  perfect 
control  over  a  naturally  quick  and  high 
temper.  The  prime  impulse  of  his  life 
has  ever  been  devotion  to  duty  and  the 
furtherance  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  A 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  from 
early  manhood,  he  has  been  an  elder 
since  about  the  year  1866,  and  no  press  of 
business  or  public  duties,  nor  the  impaired 
health  which  is  his  as  a  reminder  of  the 
war,  have  ever  deterred  him  from  regular 
attendance  upon  divine  service,  or  checked 
his  activity  in  and  devotion  to  all  branches 
of  Christian  work.  The  dearest  wish  of 
his  life  is  that  the  six  living  children  of 
the  nine  born  to  him  may  become  well- 
equipped  Christian  men  and  women. 
Upon  the  integrity  of  his  private  life,  his 
warmest  political  enemies  have  never  even 
held  a  question.  A  devoted  son  and 
brother,  he  is  the  pride  and  stay  of  his 
parents    and    the    friend    and    adviser    of 

brothers  and  sisters — a  lovinor  and    tender 

^  CD 

husband,  a  lather  whose  love  knows  no 
limit  in  self-sacritice.  His  children  have 
never  heard  from  his  lips  a  harsh  or  un- 
kind word,  and  hold  him  in  their  hearts  as 
their  ideal  of  a  noble  manhood.  His  ten- 
der heart  can  never  hear  unheeded  a  cry 
from  the  needy  or  unfortunate,  and, 
though  one  of  that  profession  supposed  by 
some  to  be  nearly  pitiless,  his  conscience 
has  never  allowed  him  to  exact  more  than 
his  just  dues  in  lawyer's  fees. 

The  unsatisfied  longing  of  his  boyhood 
days  for  a  college  education  has  made  him 
unwearying  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge, 
and  while  devoting  himself  with  untiring 
industry  to  the  study  and  practice  of  the 
law,  he  has  found  time  for  wide  general 
reading  and  for  travel,  that  best  of  all  edu- 
cations, in  all  parts  of  his  country.  He  and 
his  wife — his  helpmeet,  adviser  and  aid  in 
every  project — were  the  ones  to  suggest 
and  plan  for  the  public  library  of  his  na- 
tive town.  He  is  an  enthusiast  on  the 
subject  of  education,  and  is  the  guide  and 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


59 


inspiration  to  his  children  in  their  studies. 
In  all  walks  of  life  he  has  won  the  admi- 
ration of  his  fellows  for  his  abilitj^,  indus- 
try and  the  conscientiousness  which  never 
allows  him  to  neijlect  the  least  of  his  du- 
ties.  Noted  in  the  army  for  chivalrous 
bravery  that  was  only  equaled  by  his 
ever-tender  regard  for  the  welfare  of  those 
in  his  charge.  His  walk  in  the  mazes  of 
the  law  has  been  along  the  higher  paths 
of  the  profession,  where  there  is  always 
room  and  to  spare  for  the  inspiration  of 
genius.  A  large  and  lucrative  pi-active 
has  been  his  from  the  first.  An  ardent 
advocate  of  temperance,  he  has  ever  had 
the  courage  of  his  convictions  on  this 
question,  and  in  his  private  walks  and  in 
his  official  life  has  never  spared  the  de- 
stroyers of  the  home.  Upon  the  bench  he 
was  the  wise  and  just  judge,  eminent  for 
his  .  impartiality,  dignity  and  courteous- 
uess,  carrying  with  him  the  respect  of 
the  bar  and  contidence  of  the  people. 
This  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  in  his 
second  election  to  tiie  bench,  though  op- 
posed by  his  able  predecessor,  and  that, 
too,  in  a  strongly  Democratic  district,  yet 
he  was  easily  elected.  Nothing  can  add 
to  tlie  strength  of  this  statement  as  to  the 
man's  standing  with  his  people.  His  po- 
litical affiliations  have  been  with  the  Re- 
publican part^',  to  which,  while  never 
offensive  to  the  opposition,  he  has  been 
ever  standi  and  true.  He  has  investi- 
gated deeply  the  economic  questions  of 
government,  and  the  public  weal  has  been 
the  loadstar  A  his  political  life.  As  a 
speaker  he  is  clear,  earnest  and  logical, 
possessing  that  rare  trait  of  holding  the 
attention  of  an  audience  by  the  importance 
of  what  is  being  said  and  the  forcible 
manner  of  its  expression.  Powerful  and 
convincing  in  argument,  he  has  made  him- 
self felt  at  the  bar  and  won  respect  in  the 
halls  of  Congress.  And  though  for  years 
accustomed  to  public  speaking,  he  lias 
never  been  able  to  conquer  a  natural  diffi- 
dence and  modesty,  which  makes  him 
dread      anew     each     public     appearance. 


While  pre-eminently  successful  in  the 
political  field,  yet  he  has  none  of 
the  equipments  of  the  successful  poli- 
tician. Rather  than  having  been  hon- 
ored by  the  offices  he  has  tilled,  he  has 
shed  luster  upon  them,  controlled  by  the 
high  purpose  of  bequeathing  to  liis  chil- 
dren and  posterity  that  richest  of  all  lega- 
cies, a  name  honored  and  unstained.  [The 
foregoing  is,  with  a  few  immaterial  addi- 
tions, from  the  graceful  pen  of  an  affec- 
tionate daughter,  Mrs.  Grace  W.  W.  Cur- 
ran. — Editor. 


TfJfON.   F.    R.  LOOMIS,  editor     and 
f  ^     proprietor  of  the  Norwalk  Chroni- 
I     11    c^e, was  born  in  Lodi, Ohio,  Septem- 
•fj  ber  3,  1841.    The  lineal  descendant 

of  the  Loomis  family  is  from  one 
Joseph  Loomis,  who  came  from  Braintree, 
England,  to  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1632. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  sixth 
in  the  order  of  birth  of  eight  children 
born  to  Milo  and  Lucy  A.  (Greenly) 
Loomis,  both  natives  of  Jefferson  county, 
N.  Y.,  people  of  prominence  and  wealtli, 
who  came  to  Ohio  in  1832,  making  their 
home  in  Medina  county,  where  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Our  subject 
resided  in  his  native  place  until  his  nine- 
teenth year,  when  he  entered  the  Union 
army,  in  which  he  served  faithfully  three 
and   one  half   years  at  the  front, 


ment  being   the 


Eighth 


O.  V.  I.  He 


his  regi- 
was 


promoted  consecutively  to  first  sergeant, 
second  lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  staff  of  Gen.  S.  S. 
Carroll.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Autietam,  and  again  at  Gettys- 
burg. On  his  return  home  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
his  native  town,  Lodi,  an  incumbency  he 
filled  ten  consecutive  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  resigned  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion of  member  of  the  State  Legislature, 
to  which  the  suffrages  of  the  Republicans 
of  his  county  had  called  him.  lie  served 
his      term     acceptably,    and     declined     a 


60 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


renoinination.  In  1876  he  pnrcliased  a 
lialf  interest  in  the  Medina  Gazette,  and 
was  one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors 
thereof  until  1870,  when  he  sold  his  in- 
terest in  that  paper  and  purchased  the 
Norwalk  Chronicle,  of  which  he  is  now 
sole  proprietor  and  editor. 

Mr.  Looinis  is  an  ardent  Tieptibliean,  a 
prominent  and  respected  leader  in  that 
organization,  and  has  been  called  frequentlv 
to  the  councils  and  posts  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility in  its  interests.  In  religious 
faith  he  is  a  Congregationalist,  in  the 
church  of  which  denomination  he  has  been 
an  honored  member  for  many  years,  and 
as  delegate  has  represented  it  at  important 
State  meetings;  he  was  Moderator  of  the 
North  Ohio  Conference  for  a  term;  was 
president  of  the  Huron  County  Bible  So- 
ciety several  years;  was  for  some  years  pres- 
ident of  the  Huron  County  Sunday-school 
Association  ;  was  also  president  of  the  Ohio 
State  Sunday-school  Association  two  years; 
and  was  secretary  of  the  Third  Inter- 
national Sunday-school  Convention,  held 
at  Atlanta,  Ga.  Socially  he  is  past  cona- 
Hiander  of  M.  F.  Wooster  Post,  JMo.  34, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Norwalk;  he  was  three  times 
elected  colonel  of  F.  H.  Boalt  Comtiiand 
No.  17,  Union  Veterans  Union,  of  Nor- 
walk; was  elected  department  commander 
of  Ohio  Command  of  the  Union  Veterans 
Union,  serving  one  year;  declining  a  re- 
election as  commander,  he  was  elected 
chaplain  of  the  Department.  For  several 
years  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  the  National  Command 
of  the  Union  Veterans  Union.  He  is  a 
director  and  trustee  and  a  prominent 
member  of  the  FirelaTids  Historical  So- 
ciety, and  has  been  its  biographer  for 
several  years. 

While  Mr.  Loomis  is  a  strong,  earnest 
and  ever-active  party  man,  he  never  for  a 
moment  has  foi'gotten  that  correct  prin- 
ciples are  stronger  and  more  important 
than  party  claims. 

On  January  10,  1865,  F.  R.  Loomis 
was  united  in  uiarriage  with  Catherine  C. 


Kilmer,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  to  tiiem 
was  given  one  son,  whose  young  life 
brought  to  liis  fond  parents'  hearts  the 
light  and  joy  of  the  sunshine.  Clare  R. 
Loomis  was  born  March  16,  1871;  reared 
in  the  atmosphere  of  a  refined  and  loving 
CJhristian  hotne,  he  developed  those  ami- 
able, bright  and  strong  (jnalities  of  soul 
and  mind  that  marked  him  most  eminently 
and  wove  the  golden  chain  that  endeared 
him  to  a  wide  circle  of  admiring  friends. 
He  had  a  brilliant  promise  of  life  when  he 
left  his  father's  home  to  accept  a  responsible 
position  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  Chi- 
cago Inter  Ocean,  but  the  hand  of  disease 
was  suddenly  laid  upon  his  bright  and 
noble  young  life,  and  he  died  of  typhoid 
fever  at  his  home  in  Norwalk,  Fel)ruary 
9,  1892,  leaving  desolate  the  now  childless 
parents,  and  creating  a  void  in  their  hearts 
which  can  never  be  tilled. 

Among  the  the  temperance  advocates  of 
Ohio,  Hon.  F.  R.  Loomis  stands  forth 
prominently.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  his  con- 
victions are  strong,  but  are  always  equaled 
by  his  courage  in  the  expression  of  them. 
His  paper  is  the  reflex  of  the  man,  battling 
ever  for  the  supremacy  of  principle,  for 
the  right  though  the  heavens  fall,  and  in 
this  regard  it  is  the  reflex  of  its  editor's  life. 


IfRVING  J.  BROOKS,  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Greenwich  Enterprise, 
_[  son  of  Franklin  and  Ann  Eliza  (Ken- 
nedy) Brooks,  natives  of  Huron  county, 
was  born  April  15,  1857,  in  Bronson 
township.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  his  paternal  grand- 
mother of  New  York  State.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  maternal  grandmother  a  native  of 
Scotland,  belonging  to  the  well-known 
McPherson  family  and  a  cousin  to  Gen. 
McPherson.  They  were  pioneers  of  Bron- 
son township,  where  the  first  named  re- 
sided for  forty  years,  dying  in  1872,  and 
the  last  named  died  in  1844. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


61 


The  name  was  originally  spelled  Brooke, 
and  the  family  of  that  name  in  America 
are  descended  from  Englisli  ancestry. 
The  historical  Say-Brooke  fort,  built  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river  in  1635, 
was  named  after  Lords  Say  and  Brooke, 
who  were  the  proprietors,  and,  in  company 
with  others,  held  the  grant  of  the  territory 
of  Connecticut.  Lemuel  Brooke,  youngest 
Son  of  William  and  Esther  Brooke,  was 
born  at  Entield,  Conn.,  February  20, 
1748.  His  father,  William  Brooke,  who 
owned  and  controlled  the  Enfield  ferry, 
was  a  great-grandson  of  Lord  Brooke,  of 
England.  He  (William)  taught  in  different 
schools  and  colleges  thirty-three  years; 
served  four  years  in  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution, acting  in  the  capacity  of  quarter- 
master. He  was  employed  by  the  United 
States  Government  to  survey,  on  the 
Western  Reserve,  a  tract  of  land  in  north- 
eastern Ohio  set  apart  by  the  Government 
for  the  people  whose  homes  were  destroyed 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  surveys  were 
made  in  Lorain  and  Cuyahoga  counties. 

RetnrniiiD-  to  Vermont  he  emigrated 
with  his  family  in  1817,  traveling  the 
whole  distance  with  an  ox-teara,  and  settled 
in  Greenfield,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Owing 
to  the  scarcity  of  steel  at  that  time  in  this 
new  country,  his  sword  was  made  into 
butcher  knives;  his  regimentals,  etc.,  to- 
gether with  most  of  the  family  records, 
including  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Brooke 
family,  a  silver  helmet,  buckler,  etc.,  were 
destroyed  by  fire  at  Greenfield,  Ohio,  in 
1838.  William  Brooke  married  Keziah 
Haskill  January  5,  1775,  and  seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Lemuel, 
Melicinda,  Kezia,  Aurelia,  Homer,  Selma, 
Virgil.  Of  these,  Lemuel,  born  August 
7,  1776,  was  twice  married,  and  by  his 
second  wife,  Esther  Sprague,  whom  he 
wedded  February  13,  1806,  he  had  eight 
children,  to  wit:  Lemuel  Sprague,  Har- 
rietta  Esther,  William,  Philo,  Celia,  Ne- 
liemiah,  Irena  and  Jertisha.  The  father 
of  these  died  in  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1831. 


Lemuel  Sprague  Brooke  was  born  in 
Marlboro,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  October  29, 
1806.  When  ten  years  of  age  he  rescued 
his  brother  Nehemiah  from  a  well,  and 
was  all  his  grown  life  a  man  of  superior 
muscular  power.  In  1888  he  married 
Almira  Adams,  of  North  Fairfield,  Ohio, 
and  to  them  two  children  were  born — 
Franklin  (father  of  the  suljject  proper  of 
this  sketch)  and  Esther.  He  died  in  June, 
1838,  from  cancer  in  the  face,  and  was 
preparing  himself  for  the  ministry  at  the 
time  of  his  illness. 

Franklin  Brooke  was  born  January  13, 
1834,  in  Greenfield  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio;  was  married  November  1,  1855,  to 
Ann  Eliza  Kennedy,  of  Bronson  township, 
Huron  county,  by  whom  there  were  four 
children,  named  as  follows:  Irving  J., 
Gardiner  A.,  Frank  Alexander  and  Anna 
Elmira. 

Irving  J.  Brooks  passed  his  boyhood  in 
New  Haven  township,  and  received  a  pri- 
mary education  in  the  district  school. 
Subsequently  he  studied  in  the  Normal 
schools  at  Lebanon  and  Ada,  Ohio,  and 
after  obtaining  a  practical  literary  train- 
ing taught  school  several  terms,  and  en- 
tered the  Clu'oiiicle  office  at  Norvvalk  in 
1881.  Subsequently  lie  worked  in  the 
offices  of  the  Da'ihj  Wews.  at  Norwalk; 
was  assistant  foreman  of  the  Dalhj  Jour- 
nal, at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.;  foreman  of 
the  Enterprise,  at  Cherokee,  Iowa,  and 
foreman  of  the  Journal,  at  Mankato, 
Minn.  Returning  to  Huron  county  in 
November,  1888,  he  purchased  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  Greenwich  Enterprise,  and 
in  February,  1891,  became  sole  proprietor. 
This  newspaper  is  an  independent  journal, 
presents  a  good  typographical  appearance, 
has  a  large  local  circulation,  and  is  a  good 
advertising  medium.  To  the  editorial  and 
news  columns  of  the  Enterprise  he  gives 
close,  personal  attention,  and  by  his  in- 
dustry has  made  the  office  profitable  and 
the  paper  useful.  On  April  15,  1886,  Mr. 
Brooks  was  united  in  marriage,  at  Chero- 
kee, Iowa,  with  Miss  Lydia  R.   Ruggles, 


62 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


who  was  born  in  Waverly,  Van  Buren 
Co.,  Mich.,  August  21,  1865,  a  daugliter 
of  Charles  D.  and  Henrietta  C.  (Hobart) 
Kuggles.  Her  father's  people  pride  them- 
selves in  their  blood,  they  being  an  old 
family.  Her  mother  is  of  Puritan  descent, 
tracing  a  direct  line  of  ancestry  to  John 
Alden  and  his  wife  Priscilla. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  J.  Brooks  are  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic,  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
National  Union  Lodges  of  Greenwich;  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason  of  New  London  Chap- 
ter; a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance 
of  Norwalk,  and  also  of  the  International 
Typographical  Union  of  Toledo. 


EN.  FRANKLIN  SAWYER  (de- 
ceased) was  born  in  Auburn,  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Ohio,  July  13,  1825,  a 
Al  son  of  Erastus  and  Sally  Sawyer, 
natives  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
His  father's  ancestors  emigrated  to  this 
country  from  Lancashire,  England,  and 
his  mother's  (whose  maiden  name  was 
Snider)  from  Holland.  His  parents  were 
pioneers  in  that  then  wilderness  country. 
He  had  one  brother,  Albanus,  older,  and 
one  sister,  Mrs.  Lucy  Kellogg,  younger, 
than  himself. 

Upon  his  father's  farm  he  remained 
until  his  seventeenth  year,  employed  in 
the  hard  work  of  the  new  country,  and  at- 
tending the  common  school  of  the  neigh- 
borhood when  there  happened  to  be  one. 
In  1843  he  was  a  student  at  Norwalk 
Seminai-y,  and  the  next  year  at  Granville 
College,  supporting  himself  during  this 
time,  and  while  studying  law,  by  teaching 
school  winters.  In  1845  he  commenced 
the  study  of  the  law  at  Norwalk,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1847,  and  soon  found 
himself  in  a  respectable  practice.  In  1850 
he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney,  which 
office  he  held  two  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  successful  in  breaking  up  a 
noted  gang  of  horse  thieves,  counterfeiters 


and  professional  witnesses  who  infested 
the  county.  In  1854  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  George  H.  Safford,  which 
continued  until  both  threw  up  the  profes- 
sion to  enter  the  army. 

In  1860,  at  the  instance  of  Gov.  Denni- 
son,  Mr.  Sawyer  organized  a  military  com- 
pany known  as  the  Norwalk  Light  Guards, 
and  on  xVpril  16,  1861,  was  ordered  into 
service  for  three  months,  and  reported 
with  his  company  at  Camp  Dennison  as 
Company  D,  Eighth  Ohio  Volunteers. 
The  regiment  soon  re-organized  for  three 
years;  he  was  promoted  to  major,  and 
soon  after  to  lieutenant-colonel.  In  July 
the  regiment  went  to  Western  Virginia, 
and  participated  in  the  campaign  of  that 
summer.  S.  S.  Carroll,  of  the  U.  S.  A., 
was  appointed  colonel,  and  took  the  regi- 
ment into  the  valley  in  the  spring  of  1861, 
where  it  fonght  conspicuously  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester.  Col.  Carroll  was 
there  given  the  command  of  the  brigade, 
and  from  this  time  the  regiment  was  in 
command  of  Col.  Sawyer.  It  was  then 
ordered  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  be- 
came part  of  the  Second  Corps.  He  com- 
manded the  regiment  in  the  battles  of 
Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Morton's 
Ford,  the  Wilderness,  and  Spottsylvania, 
and  in  innumerable  skirmishes.  In  most 
of  these  battles  he  was  assigned  to  diffi- 
cult positions,  and  in  every  instance  was 
complimented  by  his  superior  officers  for 
his  gallant  conduct.  At  Gettysburg,  he 
was  ordereii  to  drive  out  a  rebel  force 
posted  in  an  important  position  in  front 
of  Hancock's  battle-line,  which  was  hand- 
somely done  with  the  bavonet,  though  at 
a  heavy  loss.  This  position  he  maintained 
for  two  days  unsupported,  and  far  in  ad- 
vance of  the  line,  although  three  times  at- 
tacked by  superior  force;  and  finally, 
charging  an  advancing  column  of  rebels, 
took  a  number  of  prisoners  and  three  bat- 
tle-flags. In  this  battle,  and  also  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  over  one-half  of  his 
men    engaged    were    killed    or    wounded. 


HURON  COUNTY,   OHIO. 


63 


His  horse  was  shot  from  under  him  at 
Antietain,  Chaneellorsville,  and  Locust 
Grove.  He  was  severely  wounded  at 
Gettysburg,  Morton's  Ford,  and  Spottsyl- 
vania,  at  the  latter  place  the  wouud  dis- 
abliiicr  him  from  further  service  and 
partially  paralyzing  the  left  side.  During 
the  draft-riots  he  was  sent  to  the  city  of 
New  York  with  his  regiment,  and  occu- 
pied a  position  on  Brooklyn  Heights  until 
the  consummation  of  the  draft. 

Promotion  was  several  times  tendered 
him,  but  he  preferred  to  remain  with  his 
"gallant  old  Eighth."  His  popularity 
with  his  men  was  unbounded,  his  ability 
as  an  officer  was  conceded,  and  his  absolute 
bravery  in  battle  unquestioned.  Tlie  rank 
of  brevet  brigadier-general  was  conferred 
for  meritorious  conduct  during  the  war. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  vLsited  the  Ohio 
troops  on  the  line  of  the  Mississippi,  New 
Orleans,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Northern 
Alabama,  and  Geoi'gia,  on  a  special  com- 
mission from  Gov.  Brough.  He  then 
acted  as  assistant  judge  advocate  in  the  of- 
fice of  Judge  Advocate  Gen.  Holt,  at 
Washington,  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  the  triumphal  return  of  the  Union 
army  to  Washington,  in  June,  1865. 

Ill  1865  he  was  elected  representative 
to  the  Legislature  for  Huron  county  on 
the  Repuhlican  ticket,  and  served  two  ses- 
sions. Was  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  linaiice,  schools,  and  the  agricultural 
college  fund.  The  Cleveland  Leader,  in 
a  review  of  this  Legislature,  said  of  him: 
"Few  men  in  the  State  achieved  alirighter 
reputation  in  the  recent  war  than  Gen. 
Sawyer,  the  member  for  Huron.  As  a 
legislator  he  is  chiefly  distinguislied  for 
his  ability  in  presenting  his  case  and 
'dumbfounding'  his  adversary,  if  anybody 
has  the  temerity  to  oppose  hini.  For  real 
humor,  as  well  as  solid  argument,  he  has 
few  superiors.  Sometimes  his  rare  blend- 
ing of  humor  and  argument  would  con- 
vulse with  laughter  the  entire  house,  and 
upset  the  gravity  of  everybody  within 
hearing." 


In  May,  1867,  he  was  appointed  one  of 
tlie  registers  in  bankruptcy  for  the  North- 
ern District  of  Ohio,  which  office  he  held 
during  the  existence  of  the  act,  a  period  of 
over  twelve  years,  being  regarded  as  a 
careful  and  impartial  officer.  He  also  dur- 
ing tliis  period  continued  successfully  in 
his  law  practice.  Gen.  Sawyer  always 
took  a  lively  interest  in  the  prosperity  of 
Norwalk.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Nor- 
walk  Institute  for  several  years,  and  until 
it  was  discontinued  on  account  of  the  non- 
popular  public-school  system,  and  was 
then  for  fifteen  years  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  tlie  union  schools. 
As  a  lawyer  he  occupied  a  prominent  posi- 
tion at  the  bar,  and  was  regarded  as  a  man 
of  strict  integrity;  he  was  an  interesting 
speaker  and  ready  debater,  and  a  thorough 
student  of  literature  and  history. 

Gen.  Sawyer  was  married  January  30, 
1848,  to  Luciuda  M.  Lathrop.  who  died 
June  12,  1854.  On  November  29,  1855, 
he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  B.  Bostwick, 
of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  who  died 
January  6,  1878.  He  has  one  son,  Frank. 
The  General  died  of  paralysis  in  1893,  at 
the  residence  of  his  son  in  Norwalk,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  [Compiled 
from  Williams'  "  History  of  Huron  and 
Lorain  Counties." 


dlOHN  A.  RYNN.  Among  the  most 
popular  citizens  of  Norwalk  is  this 
)  genial  representativeof  the  Hibernian 
race.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Burns)  Rynn,  were  both  born  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  where  they  were  married, 
soon  afterward  emigrating  to  America. 
The  father  died  when  his  son  John  A. 
was  a  little  over  two  years  of  age,  having 
been  killed  in  a  railway  accident,  and  the 
mother  then  married  John  Mullen.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  her  second 
marriage,  vi^:  James,  Bernard,  Sarah 
and  Owen. 


64 


IIUJIOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


John  A.  Rynn  was  born  April  6,  1853, 
in  Norwaik,  Huron  Co.,  Oiiio,  and  at- 
tended tiie  public  schools.  He  then  took 
a  course  at  the  Spencerian  Commercial 
College  of  Cleveland,  and  after  finishing 
his  education  entered  the  employ  of  a 
wholesale  grocer  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  The 
following  autumn  he  returned  to  Huron 
county,  and  in  September,  1873,  estab- 
lished his  present  grocery  tmsiness,  which 
has  grown  to  extensive  proportions.  In 
1890  he  became  a  member  of  the  city 
council  and  in  1891  was  elected  president 
of  that  body.  He  is  county  delegate  of 
the  Hibernian  Society  of  Huron  county, 
and  in  April,  1892,  was  sent  to  Xew  Or- 
leans as  a  representative  of  the  local  organ- 
ization. Mr.  Rynn  is  no  less  prepossess- 
ing in  personal  appearance  than  in  his 
genial  manners,  and  wins  hosts  of  friends 
among  all  classes. 


DOCTOR  AMOS  WOODWARD,  of 
Bellevue,  Ohio,  was  born  February 
^'   11,  1824,  on  what  is  known  as  the 

"Woodward  farm,"  near  Bellevue. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Gnrdon  and 
Mary  S.  Woodward. 

His  father  in  the  spring  of  1817  located 
his  farm  in  Lyme  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  built  a  log  cabin,  and  be- 
ing  a  man  of  unusual  physical  strength, 
coupled  with  indomitable  energy,  he  soon 
cleared  off  the  heavy  timber  and  opened 
up  the  farm  for  cultivation.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  married  Miss 
Mary  Savage,  one  of  the  brightest  and  best 
of  Utica's  daughters,  who  came  to  their 
new  home  in  the  West  to  adorn  it  with 
her  graceful  charms  of  head  and  heart. 
The  home  was  widely  known  as  "  Wood- 
lawn,"  and  for  many  years  was  noted  for 
its  generous  hospitality. 

There  were  three  brothers  by  the  name 
of  Woodward,  who  came  from  England  at 
an  early  day,  one  settling  iij  Connecticut, 
one  in  Pennsylvania  and  one  in  Virginia — 


men  of  strong  distinct  characteristics,  and 
prominent  citizens  where  they  lived. 

Abishai  Woodward,  the  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
1749.  He  was  an  architect  and  leadino- 
contractor  in  New  London,  Conn.,  then 
one  of  the  tionrishing  cities  of  New  Eng- 
land.  A  prominent  and  highly  esteemed 
citizen,  he  was  for  many  years  an  alderman 
of  his  native  village;  he  died  in  1809.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Mary  Spicer,  a  lady  belong- 
ing to  one  of  the  best  families  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  their  family  consisted  of  five  sons 
and  six  daughters.  Two  of  the  sons,  Abi- 
shai  and  Eben,  settled  in  Louisiana,  and 
three  in  Ohio — Gurdon  and  William  in 
1817,  and  Amos  in  1820 — locating  in 
Lyme  township,  Huron  county,  on  what 
is  known  as  the  "  Firelands,"  a  tract  of 
land  which  was  given  by  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut to  sufferers  by  tire  at  New  Lon- 
don during  the  Revolution,  when  Benedict 
Arnold  with  the  British  soldiers  captured 
and  burned  the  city,  and  massacred  the 
gai-rison  after  its  surrender  at  Fort  Gris- 
wold. 

When  a  boy,  Dr.  Woodward  went  to 
live  with  his  Uncle  Amos  and  Aunt 
Rachel  Woodward,  who  havina;  no  sons  of 
their  own  urged  his  parents  to  let  them 
have  the  boy.  As  their  farms  joined,  they 
consented,  and  there  he  spent  his  boyhood 
days,  attending  school  winters,  and  help- 
incr  on  the  farm  summers,  until  1841,  when 
on  the  death  of  his  uncle,  he  bid  adieu  to 
farm  life  and  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  vfith  Dr.  Lathrop,  of  Bellevue, 
one  of  the  leading  physicia'is  of  the  county. 
Being  of  an  active  and  observant  mind,  he 
made  rapid  progress  with  his  studies,  and 
after  attending  lectures  two  winters  at  the 
Medical  College  in  Cleveland,  <TiMduated 
in  1849.  He  immediately  commenced 
practicing  medicine  with  Dr.  Lathrop  at 
Bellevue,  and  from  the  commencement 
had  a  large  and  extensive  practice  in  the 
town  and  adjoining  counties.  Possessing 
the  qualities  of  tenderness  ami  sympathy 
in   an    eminent    degree,    and    gifted    with 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


07 


quick  perceptions,  a  good  judge  of  human 
nature,  and  prompt  in  diagnosis,  lie  was 
called  in  all  important  cases,  especially  in 
consnltation  with  other  physicians,  and 
had  he  continued  in  his  profession  would 
doubtless  have  been  at  the  head  of  the  pro- 
fession in  nprthern  Ohio.  His  love  for 
his  profession  was  unusual,  and  long  after 
he  gave  up  the  practice,  even  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  was  ever  ready  to  be 
consulted  with  and  to  j^ive  advice,  and 
many  of  his  old  patients  would  come  to 
him,  having  such  confidence  in  his  skill, 
that  they  thought  no  other  physician 
could  prescribe  for  their  ailments. 

Dr.  Woodward  was  married  on  June  25, 
1851,  to  Miss  Arabella  Chapman,  eldest 
daughter  of  Judge  Frederick  Chapman,  of 
Belle^'ue,  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  and  of  a 
vei-y  prominent  family,  socially  and  other- 
wise. Judge  Chapman,  at  the  time,  was 
a  large  landowner,  extensively  engaged  in 
business  pursuits  in  Bellevue  and  vicinity, 
and  required  just  such  a  practical  man  as 
Dr.  Woodward  to  assist  him  in  his  busi- 
ness. Finally,  in  the  year  1857,  he  per- 
suaded him  to  take  an  interest  in  his 
business,  which  was  thereafter  carried  on 
in  the  Hr.ii  name  of  Chapman  &  Wood- 
ward, with  great  success  and  profit  until 
the  death  of  Judge  Chapman,  April  26, 
1861.  Alter  that  date  the  settling  up  of 
the  estate  of  Judge  Chapman,  and  closing 
up  the  business  of  the  firm  devolved  upon 
Dr.  Wooiward,  in  which  position  he 
brought  to  bear  his  good  judgment  and 
usual  energy  and  ability,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  all  parties,  leaving  a  handsome 
property  for  the  heirs  of  Judge  Chapman. 
Dr.  Woodward,  as  surviving  partner,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  business  of  the  firm,  and 
with  his  energy  and  perseverance  was 
successful  in  acquiring  a  large  and  valu- 
able property  in  and  around  Bellevue,  in 
real  and  personal  property.  Fie  was  one  of 
the  original  stockholders  of  the  Norwalk 
National  Bank,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  a 
director  of  the  same  from  its  organization, 
in  March,  1865,  until  his  death,  during  all 


of  which   time  he  aided  said    institution 
with   his  sound   advice,    sterling   integrity 
and   good  judgment.     He    was  also    con- 
nected with   tlie  First  National  Bank,  of 
Bellevue,  Ohio,   from  its  organization    in 
September,  1875,  until  his  death.    He  was 
elected  cashier  of  this  bank  June  22,  1883, 
and  under  his  management  the  institution 
was   eminently    successful,    doing   a  large 
and  prosperous  business,  having  the  confi- 
dence  and    patronage   of    the   community 
to    a    high    degree,    and    making    regular 
semi-annual  dividends.     In  this  position, 
also,     his     friends     appreciated     his     ex- 
traordinary   business    ability.      It    was    a 
prominent  trait  in  his  character  that  what- 
ever he  undertook  to  do,  he  did  well,  and 
was  untiring  in  his  efforts  until  the  desired 
result  was  accomplished.     He   was  also  a 
close   observer   of    things    and    their   sur- 
roundings, and  after  a  trip  across  the  coun- 
try, it  was   very  interesting   to   hear  him 
describe  the  incidents  of  the  journe}',  the 
soil,   climate   and    general   appearance   of 
things  at  every  point.      With  a  well-culti- 
vated mind  he  taught  for  himself,  and  ex- 
pressed  his  own   opinions.     True    to    his 
friends,  true  to  his  principles,  and  unyield- 
ing in  his  defense  of  right  and  justice,  his 
high  character  and  integrity  were  appre- 
ciated by  all  who  knew  him  or  had  any 
business  relations  with  him,  and  he  stands 
prominent  as  one  of  the  best  examples  of 
American  citizenship. 

Dr.  Woodward  left  two  daughters. 
Louise,  the  elder,  married  John  Gardiner, 
Jr.,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  October  3,  1877, 
and  has  three  sons,  viz.:  Amos  Woodward 
Gardiner,  born  September  12,  1879;  John 
Joslin  Gardiner,  born  December  6,  1881, 
and  Douglass  Latimer  Gardiner,  born  De- 
cem'oer  28,  1887,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Norwalk,  Ohio.  Belle  Woodward,  the 
second  daughter,  married,  October  27, 
1880,  William  C.  Asay,  a  lawyer  of  Chi- 
cago, III.,  and  has  two  daughters,  viz.: 
Marguerite  Louise,  born  December  19, 
1884,  and  Pauline  Clemence,  born  De 
cember    17,     1886.     As    a    husband  and 


68 


HUBOy  rorXTY.  OHIO. 


father  Dr.  Woodward  \sas  always  kind  and 
indulgent,  providing  ample  means  to  pro- 
mote the  happiness  of  the  family  circle. 
The  residence  of  the  family  was  purchased 
of  J.  Ij.  Highee  in  1871,  and  was  greatly 
improved,  the  grounds  and  lawns  hand- 
somely laid  out  and  the  house  elegantly 
furnished.  His  widow  still  resides  there 
with  all  the  pleasant  surroundings  and 
comforts  requisite  to  make  life  hapjjy  on 
earth,  with  one  missing  in  the  family  circle 
whom  nothing  can  replace. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  was  a  Democrat. 
In  relio'ious  views,  he  was  attached  to  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  creation  of  a 
house  of  woi'ship  in  Believue.  He  was 
alwaj's  a  cheerful  giver  to  its  financial  sup- 
port, though  his  giving  was  not  confined 
to  the  Episcopal  Church,  but,  with  his 
liberal  views  on  the  subject,  his  hand  was 
ever  ready  to  assist  other  organizations; 
and  as  he  disliked  outward  show,  he  gave 
quietly  and  without  display  or  ostentation. 

After  a  lingering  illness,  which  he  bore 
with  manly  patience,  continuing  to  attend 
to  business  up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he 
departed  this  life  September  23,  1S91,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  seven  months 
and  twelve  days,  and  as  the  words  "He  is 
dead  "  passed  from  lip  to  lip,  the  whole 
community  was  filled  with  genuine  grief, 
that  one  of  its  leading  citizens — wliose  ac- 
tive life  had  aided  in  building  up  the  vil- 
lage, who  had  spent  his  whole  life  with 
his  townsmen,  and  who  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  progress  and  improvement 
of  the  county — had  gone  to  his  final  rest. 
"Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  earth  as  it 
was,  and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto  God 
who  gave  it." 


GOL.  JAMES  II.  SPRAGUE,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Sprague  & 
French,  manufacturers  of  umbrellas, 
Norwalk,  is  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born   in    Cayuga   county,   February 
15,  1845.     lie    is    a    son    of    James    and 


Catherine  (Grosbeck)  Sprague,  the  latter 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  the  former  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  a  descendant  of  Gen. 
John  Sprague  of  the  same  State. 

Our  subject  was  privileged  by  his 
thoughtful  parents  to  have  given  him  ex- 
cellent educational  advantages,  and  after 
i-eceiving  a  solid  literary  substratum  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  place,  lie  at- 
tended Union  Academy,  Red  Creek,  where 
he  graduated  in  1857.  He  then,  in  186-, 
entered  Pulaski  Academy  in  Oswego  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  subsequently  taking  a  course  at 
the  Waterdown  University,  which  he  left, 
however,  in  order  to  respond  to  his  coun- 
try's call  for  loyal  men  to  preserve  the 
Union.  According  to  the  records  in  the 
adjutant-general's  office,  New  York,  and 
those  in  the  War  Department  at  Washing- 
ton, our  subject  entered  the  Sixteenth 
Regiment  New  York  Infantry  as  drum- 
major,  serving  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Kun,  and  all  through  the  campaign  of 
1861.  His  regiment  was  then  changed 
from  infantry  to  light  artillery,  and  he  was 
appointed  sergeant  of  Battery  F.  At  the 
storming  of  Fort  Wagner  he  volunteered  as 
leader  of  a  "forlorn  hope"  of  twenty  men, 
at  which  engagement  Col.  Shaw,  of  the 
Eleventh  New  York  Battery,  was  killed, 
and  Sergeant  Sprague  thereupon  received 
promotion  to  junior  second  lieutenant.  In 
that  capacity  he  took  charge  of  the  battery, 
and  commanded  at  Honey  Hill,  S.  C., 
besides  in  other  engwgements  leading  up 
to  the  capture  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  where 
he  also  commanded  a  battery,  and  was  the 
first  man  to  cross  the  bridge  into  the  city 
during  the  siece.  The  next  engagements 
in  which  he  participated  were  those  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Georgetown  raid  and 
the  battle  of  The  Cowpens,  after  which  his 
command  wasordered  back  to  Hilton  Head, 
where  he  was  mustered  out  after  having 
done  gallant  service  from  April,  1861,  to 
June,  1865. 

After  the  war  Col.  S[)rague  returned 
north  to  New  York,  and  was  thei'e  ap- 
pointed by  Gen.  John  A.  Greene,  adjutant- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


69 


general  of  the  State,  to  a  majority  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  New  York 
National  Guard,  in  which  capacity  lie 
served  some  three  years,  resigning  in  or- 
der to  accept  the  position  of  general  man- 
ager of  McLean's  circus.  In  18(38  he  ee- 
tired  from  the  last  named  incumbency,  and 
coming  to  Ohio  accepted  the  position  of 
traveling  salesman  for  the  house  of  Ber- 
nard  Courtwright,  whom  he  represented 
until  1872,  and  then  entered  the  employ 
of  F.  B.  Case,  of  Norwalk,  as  traveling 
salesman  for  his  tobacco  business  until 
187(').  In  that  year  he  took  charge  of  col- 
lections for  D.  M.  Osborne,  of  Auburn,  N. 
Y.,  manufacturers  of  harvesters  and  bind- 
ers, and  with  this  firm  remained  till  1882, 
at  which  time  he  accepted  a  position  with 
the  Piano  Manufacturinfi;  Company  of 
Chicago,  111.,  as  manager  of  their  business 
in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan,  remaining 
as  such  till  1884,  when  he  l)ecame  in- 
terested with  other  citizens  of  Norwalk  in 
the  '•  Hexagon  Postal  Box  Company." 
Subsequently  he  embarked  in  the  manu- 
factnrinii  of  advertising  novelties  in  the 
same  city,  an  enterprise  he  made  a  great 
success  of.  In  1886  Col.  Sprague,  with 
Mr.  C.  L.  French,  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  umbrellas,  the  well-known 
'•Tourist"  Ijelng  his  specialty,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  he  has  a  series  of  im- 
proved patents,  prominent  among  which  is 
his  unequalled  adjustable  handle  and  tip. 
In  a  brief  period  they  have  bnilt  up  this 
industry  from  comparatively  small  begin- 
nings to  its  present  mammoth  proportions. 
In  1887  they  bnilt  the  factory,  and  they 
now  employ  during  busy  tinges  of  the  year 
over  150  hands,  ten  traveling  salesmen 
being  constantly  kept  on  the  road,  to  push 
their  trade  into  every  corner  of  the  United 
States.  Col.  Sprague  has  also  manufac- 
tured machinery  for  making  umbrellas, 
and  in  all  of  his  undertakings  he  has 
proven  himself  a  representative  business 
man  and  true  American  "hustler." 

Col.  Sprague  was  married,   in   Norwalk, 
Huron  county,  to  Eliza    A.    Cunningham, 


of  that  city,  and  they  are  recognized  lead- 
ers in  Norwalk  society.  Politically  the 
Colonel  is  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Republican  party,  and,  though  retired 
from  the  army,  his  usefulness  in  military 
affairs  is  far  from  gone,  for  after  coming 
to  Ohio  he  was  inspector  of  artillery  on 
the  staff  of  (tov.  Charles  Foster  four  years. 
In  social  organizations  he  is  also  promi- 
nent. He  belongs  to  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Royal  Arch  and  Chapter, 
Norwalk  Council,  and  is  past  eminent 
commander  of  Norwalk  Commandery;  is 
member  of  all  the  branches  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum;  is  deputy 
department  commander  of  the  IL  Y.  U.  of 
Ohio,  and  past  commander  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Alcoran 
Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabian  Order  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


^'  EORGE  N.  SIMMONS.  This  well- 
known  citizen  traces  his  genealogy 
to  five  brothers  who  sailed  from 
Hamburg,  Germany,  to  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  years  ago.  Among  their  descen- 
dants is  mentioned  Senator  Simmons  of 
Rhode  Island,  a  cousin  of  Henry,  father  of 
George  N. 

Henry  Simmons  was  born  May  16,1791, 
in  Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  near 
Troy,  where  his  youth  was  passed.  He 
was  a  lifelong  farmer;  in  politics  a  Demo- 
crat until  Scott  ran  for  President,  when 
he  united  with  the  Whig  party,  afterward 
becoming  a  Republican.  Mr.  Simmons 
married  Mary  Ham,  daughter  of  Conrad 
Ham,  both  residents,  at  the  time,  of  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  and  the  children  of  this  union  were 
Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Sarah,  William  H., 
John  J.,  David  L.,  George  N.,  Mary  J., 
Emeline,  Frances  A.,  Clara,  and  Julia  A., 
all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age.  Mr.  Sim- 
mons  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
serving  with  Gen.  Eddy  at  the  battle  of 
Stillwater.  He  died  February  2,  1876; 
his  widow  on   March  9,  1889,  both  mem- 


70 


HURON^  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


bei's  of  the  Methodist  Church.     They  lie 
buried  in  the  liome  cemetery. 

George  N.  Si  in  in  on  s  was  born  July  12, 
1825,  in  Grafton  township,  near  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  Jn  1853  he  moved  to  Chicago, 
and  was  conductor  on  the  Lake  Siiore  & 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad  some  seven  or 
eight  years;  was  also  on  the  Ohio  &  Mis- 
sissippi Kailroad,  and  the  Cincinnati 
Southern.  In  1859,  accompanied  by  three 
other  men,  lie  crossed  the  Tlains,  and  was 
the  first  to  discover  gold  in  Colorado,  on 
what  is  known  as  the  "  Chicago  Bar."'  He 
then  returned  east,  took  in  two  partners, 
and  conveyed  the  first  quartz  mill,  ever 
used  in  Colorado,  across  the  Plains  on 
wagons,  there  being  at  that  time  no  rail- 
roads west  of  the  Missouri  river.  The  mine 
was  the  well-known  "Black  Hawk  Co." 
The  capital  of  the  company  being 
insiifiicient  to  carry  on  the  business,  Mr. 
Simmons  again  returned  to  secure  more 
funds,  but  the  war  breaking  out,  he 
entered  the  service  as  scout  in  the  Union 
army.  Meanwhile  his  partners,  to  whom 
he  had  given  power  of  attorney,  sold  the 
mine  and  disappeared  with  the  proceeds, 
of  which  Mr.  Simmons  never  received  one 
cent.  This  mine  was  afterward  sold  to 
an  eastern  company  for  seven  million  dol- 
lars, together  with  other  property  which 
Mr.  Simmons  and  his  partners  had  located. 
After  his  return  from  the  war  George  Sim- 
mons resumed  woi'k  on  the  railroad,  which 
he  followed  tor  several  years  on  both  north- 
ern and  southern  routes  of  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern.  After  resigning 
his  position  on  the  railroad,  he  went  into 
the  packing  business  in  Chicago,  on  Ran- 
dolph street.  He  had  goods  stored  in 
Underwood's  Provision  Store  House,  and 
all  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1872.  He 
then  abandoned  that  business,  and,  decid- 
ing to  begin  in  fresh  fields,  opened  a  real- 
estate  office  in  Chicago,  in  "  Parker's 
block,"  the  firm  being  Carter  &  Simmons. 
Prior  to  the  panic  of  1873  his  business 
was  worth  several   hundred   thousand   dol- 


lars, but  at  that  time  he  shared  the  com- 
mon fate,  and  after  amassing  three 
fortunes,  was  again  left  to  begin  the 
world  anew.  But  knowing  no  such  word 
as  "  fail  "  he  found  temporary  employment 
astconductor  on  the  railroad,  and  in  1879 
went  to  Leadville,  Colo.,  where  he  was 
one  of  the  locators  and  owners  of  the 
famous  "Col.  Sellers  Mine"  at  that  place. 
Some  of  the  mines  are  paying  fair  divi- 
dends, while  others  ot  equal  value  are 
closed  down  on  account  of  depreciation  in 
silver  currency.  Returning  east  in  Janu- 
ary, 1880,  Mr.  Simmons  has  since  resided 
in  Norwalk.  He  occasionally  travels  be- 
tween Colorado  and  the  East,  tratisacting 
business  in  relation  to  his  gold,  silver  and 
lead  mines,  some  of  which  are  leased  and 
yield  a  good  percentage. 

On  October  12,  1850,  Mr.  Simmons  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  Albany.  N.  Y., 
with  Miss  Mary  Barnes  Chester,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  children  as  follows  have  been 
born  to  them:  Lucretia  Josephine;  Nel- 
lie G.  (Mrs.  Roe),  now  a  resident  of  Milan, 
Ohio;  George  H.,  and  Fred  B.  Formerly 
a  Whig,  Mr.  Simmons  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican since  the  formation  of  that  party. 


IjOEL  BLACKMAN,  one  of  the  oldest 

^  I    citizens  of  northern  Ohio,  is  a  eon  of 

\j)   Josiah     Blackman,     whose     parents 

were    natives    of    New    England,    in 

after  years  coming  west  with  their  children. 

Josiah  Blackman  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  lived  in  New  York  for  some 
time,  coming  to  Erie  county,  Ohio,  Just 
after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  He- 
was  married  to  Tryphena  Smith,  who  died 
two  or  three  years  after  they  settled  in 
Ohio,  followed  by  her  husband  at  the  age 
of  about  seventy  years.  He  was  a  farmer 
all  his  life,  and  in  politics  voted  with  the 
Whig  party.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  viz.:  Clarissa,  Allen,  Ansel, 
Harvey,  Ira,  Chester,  Simeon,  Joel,  Hiram 
and  Sally.      Of  these,  eight  are  deceased; 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


71 


one  is  living  in  La  Porte  county,  Ind.,  and 
Joel  is  the  sniiject  of  this  sketch. 

Joel  Blackinan  was  born  March  13, 
1801,  in  New  York  State,  and  in  1815 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Florence  township,  Erie  county.  After 
his  business,  that  of  farmincr,  was  estab- 
lished on  a  firm  basis,  he  returned  to 
Connecticut,  and  on  September  12,  1880, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Welthy  Tilden. 
The  young  couple  began  wedded  life  on  the 
farm  in  Erie  county,  and  here  resided  in 
peaceful  prosperity  until  1867,  when  they 
came  to  the  present  home  in  Norwalk, 
Hunm  Co..  Ohio,  where  she  died  March 
19,  1879.  Joel  Blackman  is  known  as  a 
business  man  of  integrity  and  good  judg- 
ment. In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Whig, and  has  been  a  Republican  since  the 

religion   he 
Three 

children  were  born  to  him,  of  whom,  in 
the  order  of  their  birth,  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  Mrs.  R.  A.  Watros  was 
married  October  15,  1869,  and  April  14, 
1881,  and  is  now  living  with  and  carincr 
for  her  father;  she  has  one  child,  Grace 
M.  Packard.  William  Blackman  was  mar- 
ried June  10,  1862.  Maria  was  the  wife 
of  William  Kellogg,  and  died  July  28, 
1871,  leaving  four  children,  as  follows: 
Charles  C,  who  was  married  April  4, 
1891,  and  died  October  19,  1893;  Fred  B., 
who  was  married  June  12,  1888,  and  has 
two  children,  Mai-ia  and  Florence;  Will- 
iam G.,  married  February  15,  1891,  and 
Florence  W.  [Since  the  above  was  writ- 
ten Mr.  Joel  Blackman,  the  subject  of  the 
sketch,  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  R.  A.  Watros,  the  date  of  his  death 
being  November  20,  1893.— Ed. 


organization  of  that  party:   in 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 


FETER  HERMAN,  senior  member 
of  the  prosperous  firm  of  Herman 
&  Sons,  in  Inisiness  at  Norwalk  and 
Monroeville,  was  born  September 
12,  1835,  in  Peru  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.     He  is  a  son  of  F.  J.  Herman, 


whose  parents  were  natives  of  Baden, 
Germany,  where  the  grandfather  followed 
carpentry,  and  was  accidentally  killed  by 
tailing  from  a  building.  The  grand- 
parents were  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

F.  J.  Herman  was  born  in  1799,  in 
Baden,  Germany,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  followed  the  carpenter  trade. 
He  was  married  to  Waldabnrga  Barhle, 
and  in  1834  they  came  to  America,  lo- 
cating in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  The  mother  died  in  1850,  aged 
fifty-five  years,  leaving  seven  children,  of 
whom  Peter  is  the  only  one  now  living. 
For  his  second  wife  F.  J.  Herman  married 
Anastosea  Eidel,  a  widow  lady  who  had 
two  daughters  by  her  former  marriage, 
viz.:  Mary  and  Elizabeth  Eidel,  natives 
of  Huron  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Herman 
voted  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
religious  faith  was  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  He  died  in  1883,  followed 
by  his  wife  in  the  following  year. 

Peter  Herman  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio;  then  learned  the 
carpenter  trade  which  he  followed  fifteen 
years,  assisting  also  with  the  farm  work. 
He  and  his  step-sister  resided  under  the 
same  roof  from  1851  to  March  5,  1859, 
when  their  fraternal  affection  was  changed 
by  an  arrow  shot  from  Cupid's  quiver,  and 
the  young  couple  were  married.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  the  following  named 
children:  Theresa,  wife  of  L.  Meyers; 
Frank  J.,  in  partnership  with  his  father; 
Emma,  married  to  George  Meyer;  An- 
drew, employed  in  the  bottling  works  at 
Norwalk;  Tillie,  wife  of  J.  Greenfeller; 
Flora  J.,  living  at  home;  Charles,  a  ma- 
chinist employed  in  the  Leipsic  Machine 
Works;  Frederick,  Albert  and  Edward. 
The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church,  and  all  speak  the  German 
lantrnage.  The  sons  are  business  men, 
and  with  their  father  vote  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

Peter  Herman  first  began  his  present 
business    by    selling    agricultural    imple- 


72 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ments,  and  in  1875  opened  an  establish- 
ment at  Monroeville,  dealing  in  carriages, 
wagons,  buggies,  steam  engines,  threshing 
machines  and  otjier  agricultural  imple- 
ments. One  brancii  of  tliis  business  yet 
remains  in  Monroeville,  but  in  1892 
another  establishment  was  opened  at  Nor- 
waik,  which  will  be  the  future  central 
point,  and  he  also  conducts  his  farm  in 
Peru  township. 


^J 


'{\  ON.  O.  T.  MINAKD.  Descended 
'sH  on  liis  mother's  side  from  lievolu- 
1|  tionary  stock,  while  his  father  had 
been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  lias 
coursing  through  his  veins  true  patriotic 
American  blood,  originally,  as  the  family 
name  would  indicate,  coming  from  an  an- 
cestry of  "  La  Belle  France." 

Mr.  Minard  is  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  May  10,  1822,  a  son  of  Lynde  and 
Experience  (Miner)  Minard,  also  of  the 
"Nutmeg  State,"  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  June  30,  1793,  and  died  May 
10,  1878,  the  latter  born  May  9,  1793, 
came  to  Oliio  in  1831,  locating  in  Erie 
county,  and  died  October  8,  1862.  They 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children, 
nine  of  whom  attained  their  majority,  and 
three  are  yet  living.  O.  T.  Minard  had  so 
few  school  advantages  in  his  boyhood  and 
early  youtli,  that  after  he  was  old  enough 
to  vote  he  attended  for  a  time  the  old 
Norwalk  Academy.  His  first  business 
venture  was  merchandising  in  Birming- 
ham, Erie  county,  in  partnership  with  a 
l)rotber,  and  he  was  so  employed  seven 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  termi- 
nated his  interests  in  the  store,  and  re- 
moved to  Huron  township,  Erie  county, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  same  line  of 
business  till  1861,  in  which  year  he  came 
to  Norwalk  township  and  here  purchased 
land  where  he  has  since  had  his  home, 
carrying  on  farming  operations.  In  1888 
he    bought  his  elegant    residence    in    the 


suburbs  of  tlie  city  of  Norwalk,  and  has 
become  one  of  the  strong  real-estate 
owners  of  Huron  county. 

A  man  of  strong  likes,  suave  in  man- 
ner, fearless  in  his  advocacy  of  the  higher 
and  purer  privileges  of  Democracy,  Mr. 
Minard  has  drawn  about  him  a  strong 
Cordon  of  friends,  whose  partiality  in  his 
favor  is  told  by  their  electing  iiim,  in 
1880,  in  a  Republican  city,  mayor,  and  in 
re-electing  him  in  1882.  Tiiey  also  re- 
peatedly made  him,  by  tiieir  suffrages,  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education;  a 
member  of  the  water-works  board,  and  at 
times  placed  him  in  other  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility and  trust,  in  all  of  which 
incumbencies  he  more  than  met  the  antici- 
pations of  his  warmest  friends. 

On  October  31,  1850,  Mr.  Minard  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily 
Chandler,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Somersj  Chandler.  No  children  have 
been  born  of  this  union,  but  three  little 
ones  of  others  found  the  love  and  bless- 
ings of  the  good  home  whose  kindness 
and  hospitality  are  proverbial.  Two  of 
these  foster  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Minard — A.  J.  and  E.  S.  Minard  (nephews) 
— are  now  prominent  business  men  of 
Springfield,  Missouri. 

Tiiis  is  one  of  tiie  highly  respected  fami- 
lies of  Norwalk,  whose  circle  of  sincere 
friends  but  widens  as  the  fleeting  years 
roll  by.  Mrs.  Minard  is  a  consistent  and 
devout  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


/^ 


H[ARTWELL  R.  MOORE,  superin- 
I  tendent  of  the  A.  B.  Chase  Com- 
i  pany,  Norwalk,  is  a  son  of  George 
P.  Moore,  who  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  December  6,  1818,  and  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Hannah  Tennant, 
in  1843,  in  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Tennant,  born 
January  5,  1820,  in  Clinton  county,  N.  Y. 
Their  children  were  seven  in  number,  five 
of  whoH)  are  living:    Hartwell  R.,  Samuel, 


HUEON  COUNT r,  OHIO. 


73 


Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Albert  Mason),  H.  P. 
Moore,  and  Minnie.  When  George  P. 
Moore  was  but  ten  years  of  age,  he  with 
his  parents,  Samuel  H.  and  Clarissa 
(Morse)  Moore,  removed  to  New  York, 
where  he  orrew  to  manhood  and  met  and 
married  Miss  Tennant,  as  already  related. 

H.  R.  Moore  was  born  April  23,  1844, 
in  the  State  of  JN'ew  York,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Peru,  Clinton  county.  In 
18G1  he  left  home,  and  served  an  appren- 
ticeship to  the  piano  manufacturing  trade, 
in  the  case  department.  In  tlie  spring  of 
1863  he  went  to  work  at  his  trade  in  Chi- 
caffo,  and  in  1864  entered  the  organ  fac- 
tory of  Jacob  Estey  &  Co.,  remaining  in 
their  employ  until  the  great  lire  of  1871, 
although  the  property  had  changed  hands 
prior  to  that  disaster.  On  December  25, 
1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Catlierine  Andre,  daughter  of  the  eminent 
music  composer  of  that  name,  herself  an 
accomplished  musician.  She  died  May  19, 
1891,  leaving  the  following  children: 
Lillian  (Mrs.  Lampkin),  William  Andre 
(assisting  bis  father),  Jessie,  Grace,  Amee 
and  Eva.  On  July  18,  18U3,  Mr.  Moore 
married  Lucy  M.  Kennedy,  of  Holyoke, 
Massachusetts. 

After  the  Chicago  tire  H.  R.  Moore 
went  to  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  in  the  inter- 
ests of  Rilej  Burdett  &  Co.,  organ  manu- 
facturers, to  start  up  the  making  of  cases, 
cabinet  benches,  etc.  This  firm  afterward 
moved  their  ^^lant  to  Erie,  Penn.,  and  be- 
came widely  known  as  the  Burdett  Organ 
Company.  Mr.  Moore  was  with  this  com- 
pany until  1875,  when  he  came  to  Nor- 
walk,  at  the  time  of  the  first  organization 
of  the  A.  B.  ('base  Company,  in  order  to 
accept  his  present  position  as  superinten- 
dent. He  has  planned  and  erectetl  all  the 
extensive  factory  buildings  owned  by  the 
company,  also  superintended  the  construc- 
tion of  all  instruments  manufactured  by 
them,  besides  purchasing  the  necessary 
materials.  When  they  first  opened  busi- 
ness the  firm  hired  but  thirty  or  forty  men, 
and   now    over    two    hundred    hands    find 


regular  employment  in  their  factory.  Mr. 
Moore  has  been  a  stockholder  and  director 
since  the  business  was  first  incorporated, 
and  has  invented  a  large  number  of  im- 
provements for  both  pianos  and  organs. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  council  at  Nor- 
walk  for  four  years,  and  has  been  presi- 
dent of  that  body  one  year. 


EPHAS  TAYLOR,  a  well-known 
retired  citizen  of  Norwalk,  was  born 
December  28,  1822,  in  Sempronius, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sallie  (Potter)  Taylor,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  Immedi- 
ately after  marriage  the  parents  removed 
to  New  York,  thence  coming  to  the  West 
and  locating  in  North  Fairfield,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  days.  The  father  died  about 
1848,  aged  seventy-six  years;  the  mother 
died  about  1855,  at  almost  the  same  age 
as  her  departed  husbancl.  They  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  and  our  subject  is  next  to  the 
youngest  in  order  of  birth. 

Cephas  Taylor  came  west  in  1839,  locating 
in  North  Fairfield,  where  April  18,  1850, 
he  was  married  to  Eunice  Chei'ry,  a  native 
of  that  township,  who  died  in  Norwalk, 
June  5, 1887.  Mr.  Taylor's  second  mar- 
riage was  with  Mrs.  Roda  E.  Zeller.  He 
first  settled  on  a  farm  in  North  Fairfield, 
but  after  several  years  hard  work  there  his 
health  became  so  seriously  impaired  that 
he  retired  to  recuperate.  With  renewed 
health  he  went  to  Wood  county,  Ohio, 
and  again  went  to  work  on  his  farm,  re- 
maining there  until  the  Civil  war  broke 
out,  when  he  sold  his  farm  in  Wood  county 
and  returned  to  North  Fairfield.  In 
January,  1870,  he  went  to  Bledsoe  county 
Tenn.,  and  for  nearly  six  years  lived 
among  the  Cumberland  mountains,  where 
he  entirely  regained  his  health.  While  in 
Tennessee  he  engaged  chiefly  in  stock 
dealing.    On  his  return    to  Huron    cuunty 


74 


HUROX  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


in  1876,  lie  concluded  to  retire  from  active 
life,  and  in  1879  removed  to  ]S'orwalk, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  al- 
though spending  several  winters  in  the 
South.  Mr.  Taylor  now  recalls  with 
evident  pride,  the  fact  that  he  was  a  Re- 
publican long  before  that  party  was  or- 
ganized or  even  named,  never  failing  to 
vote  the  Free-soil  ticket  when  opportunity 
offered;  he  is  also  a  strong  Prohibitionist. 
Mr.  Taylor  is  of  English  descent,  both  his 
paternal  grandfather  and  grandmother 
having  been  natives  of  England.  In  re- 
ligions faith  he  is  a  Baptist. 


Iff  ON.  LEWIS  C.  LAYLIN,  £x- 
pH  Speaker  of  the  Ohio  House  of 
11  4i  Iit'presentatives.  It  is  conceded 
^  that  to  the  citizen  of  our  Republic, 

no  higher  honor  can  be  accorded 
than  that  conferred  by  his  constituency  in 
choosing  him  as  a  representative  in  State 
or  National  assemblies.  This  is  pre-emin- 
ently trne  when  election  is  the  result  of 
official  titness  to  hold  a  piiblic  trust. 

It  is  a  fact  gratifying  to  the  elector  that 
men  of  the  highest  character  are  exerting 
an  extended  influence  in  political  circles, 
and  are  constantly  being  called  from  their 
professions  to  till  public  offices.  An  illus- 
tration of  this  class — one  possessing  not 
the  slightest  taint  of  the  proverbial  word 
"politician"' — stands  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  sketch. 

Lewis  C.  Laylin,  a  son  of  John  Laylin, 
a  pioneer  of  the  "Firelauds,"  was  born  in 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  September  28,  1848.  He 
attended  school  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm,  alternately,  until  his  graduation 
from  the  Xorwalk  High  School  in  1867. 
Having  obtained  the  elements  of  an  Eng- 
lish education,  he  further  disciplined  him- 
self by  entering  the  profession  of  teaching. 
He  taught  two  years  in  the  country  schools, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  elected 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Bellevne,  Ohio,  and  was  unanimously  re- 


elected to  the  same  position  by  the  board 
of  education,  for  six  consecutive  years. 
Abandoning  school  work,  he  commenced 
tlie  study  of  the  law,  under  Judge  C.  E. 
Ponnewell,  now  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  March  13,  1876.  and 
it  is  at  this  period  that  his  career  proper 
commences.  The  public  seems  to  have 
recognized  in  him  trom  the  outset  a  safe 
man,  and  how  well  their  confidence  has 
been  placed  can  be  best  judged  by  the 
number  of  positions  wliich  he  has  filled, 
and  the  length  of  time  he  was  retained  in 
places  of  public  trust. 

He  was  elected  city  clerk  of  Xorwalk, 
and  served  two  years;  appointed  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  school  examiners, 
serving  twelve  years;  and  was  president  of 
the  Norwalk  board  of  city  examiners  three 
years.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Huron 
County  Agricultural  Society  three  years, 
and  has  always  been  actively  identified  with 
its  interests.  In  1879  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorneyof  Huron  county,  and  served 
three  terms — a  period  of  seven  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  county  Republi- 
can Executive  Committee  eleven  years,  its 
secretary  four  years,  and  its  chairman  three 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Republi- 
can Congressional  Committee  of  his  Dis- 
trict eight  years,  during  a  portion  of  which 
time  he  served  as  chairman  of  that  body; 
and  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Central  Comnjittee.  For  several  years  he 
has  been  secretary  of  the  Firelands  His- 
torical Society,  and  a  member  of  its  board 
of  trustees. 

Mr.  Laylin  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature  in  1887.  and  during  the  68th 
General  Assembly  he  was  a  member  of 
the  standing  committee  on  Judiciary,  was 
cliairman  of  the  committee  on  Institution 
for  the  Blind,  and  served  on  the  State 
Centennial  Committee.  He  was  unani- 
mously renominated  for  representative  in 
1889.  was  elected  a  member  of  the  69th 
General  Assembly,  and  was  chosen  as 
candidate  for  the  speakership  by  the  unani- 
mous action  of  the  Republican  minority. 


IlUllOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


77 


He  was  reappointed  a  member  of  tlie  com- 
mittee on  Judiciary,  also  a  member  of  tlie 
committee  on  Insurance,  and  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Rules. 

In  September,  1801,  he  was  again  nom- 
inated for  the  Legislature  by  the  unanimons 
vote  of  the  Republican  delegates  of  Huron 
county,  was  elected,  and  on  January  4, 
1892,  he  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  70th  General 
Assembly.  His  administration  as  the 
executive  officer  of  the  House  was  in  the 
highest  degree  creditable  to  him,  and  is 
commended  liy  both  Democrats  and  Re- 
publicans. He  is  an  excellent  parliamen- 
tarian, prompt  in  his  rulings,  and  clear  in 
his  reasonings.  During  his  entire  term 
as  Speaker  not  one  of  his  decisions  was  ap- 
pealed  from. 

In  his  characteristics  Mr.  Laylin  is  not 
possessed  of  that  bold  aggressiveness  which 
forms  so  large  a  part  in  the  characters  of 
many  of  our  public  men.  He  is  never  of- 
fensive, to  even  his  greatest  adversary. 
The  strong  elements  of  his  nature  which 
have  marked  hiin  as  a  party  leader  are  his 
deliberation  and  his  powers  of  organization. 
In  this  regard  he  is  essentially  a  harmon- 
izer  of  factions;  while  his  gentility,  his  in- 
tegrity and  well-known  moral  and  Chris- 
tian manhood  commend  him  to  the 
individual.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
he  has  been  almost  constantly  in  office  since 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  has  found 
time  to  build  up  a  lucrative  law  practice. 
As  an 'advocate  he  is  pointed,  logical  and 
forcible,  and  inanv  of  his  discourses,  both 
at  the  bar  and  before  public  assembly,  have 
been  complimented  as  master-pieces. 

Mr.  Laylin  was  married  Noveml)er  3, 
1880,  to  Miss  Frances  L.,  daughter  of 
John  F.  Dewey,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Huron  county,  and  three  children  have 
been  born  to  this  marriage,  viz.:  Clarence 
Dewey,  Robert  Weyl>urn  ana  Lewis  Fair- 
child.  Our  sul)ject  is  past  eminent  com- 
mander of  ISTorwalk  Commandery  K.  T. ; 
past  master  of  Norwalk  Lodge,  F.  &  A.M., 
and  past  master  of  Bellevue   Lodge  F.  & 


A.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Norwalk, 
and  of  the  official  board  of  same. 


J 


OHN  LAYLIN  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Penn.,  May  22, 
1791.  His  parents  removed  to 
Beaver,  Penn.,  in  1796.  In  March, 
1810,  his  father  sold  his  farm  and  started 
for  the  "  lake  country,"  taking  with  him 
all  his  family  except  John,  who  remained 
behind  until  June  of  the  same  year  to  re- 
ceive a  payment  for  the  farm,  which  be- 
came due  at  that  time. 

John  hired  out  during  the  summer  to  a 
farmer  at  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
month,  and  attended  school  during  the  fol- 
lowing winter.  In  the  spring  his  grand 
father,  Abraham  Powers,  and  Hanson  Reed 
decided  to  follow  John's  parents  to  the 
frontier.  Accordingly  they  started  over- 
land through  the  wilderness,  taking  with 
them  such  household  goods  and  other  prop- 
erty as  they  could  can-y.  John  accom- 
panied them,  assisting  in  driving  stock, 
and  in  other  ways  rendering  them  aid  dur- 
ing their  long,  tedious  journey.  The  party 
at  length  arrived  at  Cuyahoga  portage. 
They  then  learned  that  John's  father  and 
mother  had  stopped  there  the  previous 
spring,  on  their  way  to  the  frontier,  and 
raised  a  crop  of  corn,  and  in  the  fall  had 
removed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Black  river, 
on  the  lake  shore.  John  remained  with 
his  grandfather's  party  until  they  reached 
Greenfield,  Huron  county,  where  they 
settled.  He  remained  with  Hanson  Reed 
one  month,  to  assist  him  in  planting  corn. 
He  then  started  alone  and  on  foot,  by  In- 
dian trails,  to  join  his  father's  family,  near 
Black  river.  While  on  this  lonelv  journey, 
sleeping  on  the  bank  of  the  Vermillion 
river,  he  was  surrounded  by  wolves,  but,  by 
the  greatest  vigilance,  and  kindling  a  fire, 
he  kept  them  at  bay  until  morning.  In 
October,  1811,  the  family  removed  to  West 
Berlin,  Erie  coimty.  During  the  fol- 
lowing winter,  Mr.  Laylin  taught  school. 


78 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


receiving  his  board  and  one  dollar  and  a 
quarter  tuition  per  scliolar,a8 compensation. 

In  the  spring  of  1812  war  was  declared 
between  England  and  the  United  States. 
A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  that  and  the 
surrounding  counties  was  held  to  provide 
means  for  defense.  A  petition,  asking  for 
assistance  from  the  governor  of  Ohio,  was 
forwarded,  and  a  company  of  "  Minute 
men"  was  organized  for  home  defense. 
Mr.  Laylin  joined  the  company,  and  on  the 
next  day  it  marched  to  the  peninsula  otf 
Sandusky,  to  ascertain  if  there  were  any 
Indians  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Laylin  was 
prevented  joining  this  e.xpedition  by  severe 
sickness.  From  the  entire  company  of 
thirty,  only  four  or  five  survived  the  expe- 
dition. Notliing  was  heard  of  the  poor 
fellows  until  their  whitened  bones  were 
found  in  the  following  September  by  a  de- 
tachment of  Commodore  Perry's  victorious 
troops.  In  August,  Gen.  Hull  surrendered 
to  the  British,  wiiich  was  not  known  among 
the  settlers  until  a  small  British  fleet  ap- 
peared otf  Huron,  from  which  some  of  the 
prisoners  taken  were  sent  in  small  boats  to 
the  shore.  The  greatest  consternation  pre- 
vailed. In  the  panic  which  followed,  the 
family  fled  to  lEount  Vernon.  At  Mans- 
field, they  met  a  regiment  hastening  to  the 
protection  of  the  citizens  on  the  border, 
and  Mr.  Laylin  joined  these  troops. 

After  Ids  term  of  enlistment  had  ex- 
pired, he  rejoined  his  father's  family  at 
Mount  Vernon.  Here  he  learned  the  ma- 
son's trade.  He  was  fond  of  reading  and 
study  and,  not  being  confined  closely  at 
his  trade,  found  time  to  avail  himself  of 
the  advantages  of  a  public  library.  He 
became  a  great  student  of  ancient  and 
modern  history.  He  also  watched  with 
deep  interest  the  great  discoveries  in 
science  and  the  inventions  of  genius.  It 
was  during  this  time  tiiat  his  most  lasting 
political  and  religious  opinions  were 
formed.  In  the  meantime,  his  father's 
family  had  removed  to  Norwalk,  but  he 
remained  in  Mount  Vernon  until  1817, 
when  he  was  called  home  by  the  death  of 


his  father.  In  October,  1818,  he  married 
Olive  Clark,  wife  of  Daniel  Clark,  of 
Bronson.  Mr.  Laylin  then  settled  near 
Norwalk,  on  a  farm  which  he  had  pre- 
viously bought,  where  he  passed  the  most 
active  and  useful  portion  of  his  life.  Dur- 
ing the  years  that  followed  he  was  a  most 
zealous  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  having  made  that  the  church  of 
his  choice.  He  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  a  Sabbath-school  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, which  position  he  filled  for  a 
number  of  years.  During  the  year  1841 
he  was  sorely  bereaved  in  the  death  of  his 
wife  and  two  children.  There  remained 
of  the  family  six  children — two  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Six  years  afterward  Mr. 
Laylin  married  Mrs.  Mary  Weyburn 
States,  of  Hartland,  who  proved  an  excel- 
lent wife  and  mother.  In  the  strength  of 
her  affection  she  gathered  into  her  love  the 
remains  of  two  broken  families,  and  was  a 
true  mother  to  them  all.  Soon  after  his 
second  marriage  he  removed  to  a  residence 
on  Medina  street,  Norwalk,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death. 

His  faithful  wife  died  April  16,  1877, 
after  a  long,  painful  illness,  which  baffled 
skill,  love  and  care.  For  several  years  her 
husband's  infirmity,  and  his  desire  to  have 
her  by  him,  confined  iier  to  the  precincts  ol 
home.  She  was  its  light  and  strength. 
Her  worth  was  manifest  in  the  high  es- 
teem  and  reverence  in  which  she  was  held 
by  all  her  family.  Mr.  Laylin  survived  the 
death  of  his  wife  but  a  few  days.  He  died, 
peacefully,  April  26, 1877.  There  remain  of 
his  children:  Elvira,  Mrs.  Richard  Elliott; 
Celestine,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Hildreth;  Olive, 
Mrs.  M.  L.  Carr;  Marriette,  Mrs.  F.  Card; 
Marie,  Mrs.  Frank  Evans,  and  his  sons, 
Theodore  C.  and  Lewis  C,  residents  of 
Norwalk. 

Mr.  Laylin  was  a  man  of  untiring  en- 
ergy and  perseverance.  Favored  with  few 
early  advantages  for  mental  culture,  he 
availed  himself  to  the  utmost  of  what  he 
had.  Strength  and  definiteness  were  lead- 
ing characteristics  of  his  mind.      He  held 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


79 


decided  and  independent  jiidginents  on  all 
religious  and  political  (questions  that  from 
time  to  time  stirred  public  thought  during 
his  long  life. 


AMUEL  P.  DeWOLF  (deceased)  was 
a  descendant  of  an  oid  New  JEng- 
land  family.  He  was  born  October 
15,  1832,  in  Wellington  township, 
Loraiu  Co.,  Ohio,  and  resided  there  until 
1861,  when  he  located  near  the  village  of 
Clarksfield,  Huron  county. 

IHs  father,  AVhitman  DeWolf,  was  born 
January  22,  1802,  at  Otis,  Mass.,  where 
lie  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  married 
January  4,  1827,  to  Alice  Pelton,  also  a 
native  of  Otis,  born  April  9,  1798.  Her 
fatlier,  Samuel  Pelton,  was  born  May  9, 
1757,  at  Granville,  Conn.,  and  her  mother, 
Mary  Pelton,  was  born  January  21,  1761, 
at  Grotou,  Conn.  Seventeen  days  after 
their  marriage  they  started  for  the  "Far 
West,"  accompanied  by  Mathew  DeWolf, 
his  wife  Mary,  and  son  Homer,  then  a  lad 
of  twelve  years.  The  record  of  the  jour- 
ney, as  made  by  Mrs.  Alice  DeAVolf,  is 
given  as  follows  : 

On  January  12,  1837,  we,  a  little  New  England 
band  Irom  Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  left  our  native 
home  lor  Ohio,  the  "  Far  West;"  and  who  were  this 
choice  few?  Matthew  DeWolf  his  wife  and  son, 
my  husband  and  myself.  We  were  just  one  month 
on  the  road,  with  Scotch  plaids  and  camlets  belted 
around  us;  fur  capes  and  hoods,  muffs  and  tippets, 
and  Covered  sleighs.  Thus  we  all  started,  leaving 
dear  friends  behind.  We  were  brought  safely 
through;  found  kindness  in  every  stranger,  with 
the  lamiliar  salutation  "  Bound  for  Ohio." 

Whitman  DeWolf  purchased  lands  in 
Wellington  townsliip,  Lorain  county,  from 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  made  a  clearing 
and  erected  a  cabin  thereon,  one  mile  and 
a  half  west  of  the  village  of  Wellington. 
When  the  two  brothers  and  tlieir  families 
arrived  they  found  shelter  in  that  cabin, 
and  there  the  following  named  children 
came  to  Whitman  and  Alice  DeWolf: 
James  S.,  born  March  11,  1829,  a  resident 
of  Clarkstield;  Samuel   P.,  subject  of  this 


sketch,  and  Melville  W.,  born  September 
28, 1834,  now  connected  with  the  Erie  liail- 
road  in  the  office  in  New  York  City.  The 
father  died  September  3,  1850,  on  the 
farm  whicii  he  reclaimed  from  the  wilder- 
ness, and  was  buried  in  Wellington  ceme- 
tery. His  life  of  twenty-three  years  in 
Ohio  was  a  successful  one,  not  only  as  a 
farmer,  but  also  as  a  stock-dealer  and 
trader,  in  all  of  whicli  he  exhibited  un- 
usual business  ability,  and  won  success. 
His  widow,  who  resided  with  her  son 
Samuel,  died  September  18,  1871,  and  was 
buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

Samuel  P.  DeWolf  passed  his  youth 
after  the  fashion  of  boys  of  the  period,  at- 
tending the  winter  school  and  working  on 
the  farm.  While  yet  a  lad  lie  would  ac- 
company his  father  on  trips  to  the  West 
to  purchase  live  stock,  and  thus  he  became 
himself  an  acknowledged  judge  of  cattle. 
His  health,  however,  opposed  an  active 
agricultural  life,  and  consequently  he 
entered  the  hardware  store  of  J.  S.  Reed, 
at  Wellington,  where  he  was  employed 
about  one  year.  The  following  year  he 
worked  for  iiis  cousin,  Samuel  Jones,  then 
conducting  a  general  store  at  Brighton, 
Lorain  county.  After  this  insight  into 
mercantile  life,  he  returned  to  the  home 
farm,  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs,  and  began  a  successful  agricultural 
career,  continuing  therein  until  1861, 
when  he  removed  to  the  larger  tract  which 
he  purchased  just  south  of  Clarksfield 
village.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
July  20,  1872,  with  Sarah  Fo.x,  who  was 
born  February  4,  1847,  in  Hopewell  town- 
ship, Seneca  Co.,  Ohio.  Her  parents, 
David  and  Jane  (Johnson)  Fox,  who  were 
married  in  Seneca  county,  moved  to  Wis- 
consin, thence  to  Iowa,  and  returning  to 
Ohio  in  1861  settled  in  Clarkstield  town- 
ship, Huron  county.  The  children  born 
to  Samuel  P.  and  Sarah  DeWolf  are  Alice 
Mae,  Mrs.  Willis  Yiets,  of  Clarksfield 
township;  Jessie  L.  (Mrs.  H.  E.  Seeley,  of 
Clarksfield  township),  born  November  10, 
1875,  and    Bessie  M.,  born    January    16, 


80 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1883,  residing  at  liome.  The  father  of 
this  tainily  died  April  2. 1889,  in  his  home 
near  Ciarketield,  and  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  the  neighboring  village. 

He  was  a  very  extensive  stock  dealer, 
and  the  owner  of  a  beautiful  farm  of  260 
acres,  besides  other  real  estate,  including 
two  store  buildings.  Politicallv  he  was  a 
Republican,  and  gave  to  the  party  a  loyal 
support.  He  was  not  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  being  an  office  seeker,  but  one 
who  favored  safe  principles  and  good  offi- 
cials. Well  known  and  highly  esteemed, 
his  death  was  mourned  by  a  large  number 
of  sincere  friends.  Mrs.  Sarah  DeWolf 
has  managed  the  estate  with  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  proving  that  woman  pos- 
sesses e-xecutive  and  business  tact,  when 
circumstances  or  necessity  call  for  their  ex- 
ercise. Slie  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  popular  in  social  cir- 
cles in  the  township. 


yllLLIAM  HENRY  MITCHELL. 
'   In    the    publication   of  the  biotc- 
raphy  of  W.  H.JJCitchell,  we  will 
revert  briefly  to  the  personality  of 
his  grandparents. 

Jethro  Mitchell  was  born  on  the  island 
of  Nantucket,  Mass.,  January  27,  1784. 
Mercy  Green  was  born  in  Rhode  Island, 
January  31,  1785,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Green,  wiio  subsequently  moved 
to  Nantucket.  Jethro  Mitchell  and  Mercy 
Green  were  married  to  each  other  at  Nan- 
tucket, October  5,  1805.  As  the  result  of 
this  marriage  twelve  children  were  born  — 
six  boys  and  six  girls — one  dying  in  in- 
fancy, and  the  others  all  living  to  manhood 
and  womanhood.  All  but  the  youngest, 
Mary,  were  born  at  Nantucket,  she  being 
a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  The  tenth 
child  was  Walter,  who  was  born  November 
14,  1819,  and  who  is  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 


When  Walter  was  but  four  years  of  age 
his  parents  and  family  moved  to  New 
York  City,thence,jafter  a  year,  to  Brooklyn, 
and  tlience.  after  eight  years,  to  Cincinnati, 
where  Walter  continued  to  live  for  a  period 
of  seventeen  years.  From  1845  to  1848 
he  was  a  student  at  Lane  Theological 
Seminary,  Walnut  Hills,  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
graduating  in  the  latter  year.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Dayton  in  a  meeting  held  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
April  6,  1847.  He  has  preached  succes- 
sively at  Greenville,  Ohio,  at  Bedford  and 
Boonville,  liid.,  at  Moscow,  New  Rich- 
mond, Hebron,  Marysville,  Gallipolis, 
Russellville,  and  Wilmington,  Ohio,  in  all 
a  period  of  over  forty-four  years.  On  Oc- 
tober 31,  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Eliza  Evens,  at  the  home  of  her 
father,  Piatt  Evens,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Piatt  Evens  was  born  in  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.,  June  13, 1792,  and  was  mar- 
ried March  30,  1816,  to  Miss  Eliza  Ann 
Murray,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  latter  was 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  born  at  Rut- 
land, October  24,  1798.  In  1817  Piatt 
Evens  and  wife  moved  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  both 
were  removed  by  death.  Three  children 
were  born  to  them,  the  third  of  whom  was 
Mary  Eliza,  who  became  the  wife  of  Wal- 
ter Mitchell,  and  the  mother  of  Walter 
Piatt,  Theodore  Jethro,  William  Henry 
and  Anna  Louisa,  the  third  of  whom, 
William  Henry,  was  born  in  Boonville, 
Warrick  Co.,  Ind.,  August  3,  1853,  and 
all  of  whom  are  still  living,  except  Anna 
Louisa,  whose  death  occurred  June  19, 
1869,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  The 
family  is  distinguished  for  health  and 
longevity.  Jethro  Mitchell's  death  at 
forty-eight  years  of  age  was  the  result  of 
an  accident,  a  fall  through  an  elevator 
shaft  of  a  building  in  Cincinnati  in  which 
he  was  doing  business.  His  wife,  Mercy 
Mitchell,  lived  to  be  seventy-four.  Piatt 
Evens  lived  to  be  eighty-one.  and  his  wife, 
Eliza  Ann  Evens,  was  upward  of  eighty  at 
the  time  of  her  death.     Walter  Mitchell 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHTO. 


81 


and  Mary  Eliza  Mitcliell  are  still  living, 
and  bid  fair  to  equal  if  not  exceed  the 
limit  of  life  attained  by  their  parents. 

AVilliain  Henry  Mitchell  continued  to 
live  wiih  his  parents  until  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when,  having  completed  his  high- 
echool  course  at  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  he  en- 
tered Marietta  College,  at  Marietta,  Ohio, 
in  September,  1870,  and  four  years  later, 
in  July  of  1874,  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  graduated  fi'om  the  classical 
course  of  that  thorough  institution  with 
the  degree  of  A.  E.,  and  three  years  later 
received  therefrom  the  degi'ee  of  A.  M. 
Following  his  graduation  Mr.  Mitchell  en- 
tered at  once  upon  the  work  of  teaching, 
and  although  he  located  at  Gallipolis,  Ohio, 
the  home  of  his  boyhood,  he  was  soon 
elected  to  the  Principalship  of  Gallia 
Academy,  an  institution  then  of  thirty 
years  standing,  and  chartered  with  full 
college  privileges,  even  to  the  conferring 
of  degrees.  Mr.  Mitchell's  success  in  the 
inanacrement  and  control  of  the  affairs  of 
this  school,  together  with  his  otherwise 
recognized  ability,  secured  for  him,  in 
1876,  appointments  to  membership  on 
both  the  Gallia  County  and  the  Gallipolis 
City  Boards  of  School  Examiners,  in  the 
orcranization  of  each  of  which  he  was 
elected  to  the  clerkship,  and  all  of  which 
honorable  and  imp<irtant  positions  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  until  he  became  ineligible 
by  non-residence,  in  1883.  In  1878  W. 
H.  Mitchell  bought  of  the  Hon.  S.  Y. 
Wasson,  at  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  a  book  and 
stationery  store,  which  he  continued  to 
operate  as  the  sole  proprietor,  doing  a 
large  and  lucrative  business  until  1888, 
wlieii  he  disposed  of  the  same  at  private 
sale,  that  he  might  again  give  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  teaching,  the  profes- 
sion of  his  choice. 

In  1871:),  after  the  requisite  five  years  of 
successful  experience  in  teaching  had  i)een 
served,  Mr.  Mitchell  received,  upon  appli- 
cation, at  the  hands  of  the  Ohio  State 
Board  of  School  Examiners,  a  strictly  first- 
class    teacher's    certificate,    good  for   life. 


and  80  comprehensive  in  character  that  he 
is  empowered  thereby  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  any  public-school  position  in  the 
great  Commonwealth  of  Ohio. 

On  May  1,  1879,  W.  H.  Mitchell  was 
married  to  Clara  Cooley,  youngest  daugh- 
ter and  child  of  the  late  William  Henry 
and  Caroline  Miller  Langley,  of  Gallipolis, 
Ohio,  the  former  being  widely  and  promi- 
nently known  as  the  first  president  of  what 
is  now  the  Columbus,  Hocking  Valley  & 
Toledo  Railway.  Clara  Cooley  Langley 
was  the  eighth  child  of  her  parents,  and 
was  born  April  20,  1857.  A  fact  worthy 
of  note  here  is  that  her  second  sister, 
Mary  Frances,  born  July  16,  1851,  is  the 
wife  of  Theodore  Jethro,  her  husband's 
second  brother.  To  William  H.  and  Clara 
L.  Mitcliell  have  been  born  two  children — 
a  daughter  and  a  son.  The  first,  Caroline 
Langley,  was  born  April  25,  1885,  and  the 
second,  Walter  Evens,  December  3,  1888, 
and  at  this  writing  both  of  these  are  men- 
tally and  physically  strong,  heilthful  chil- 
dren, with  every  prospect  of  long  and  use- 
ful lives. 

In  June  of  1883,  Mr.  Mitchell,  being 
desirous  for  a  change  from  the  scenes  and 
surroundings  which  had  been  familiar  to 
him  for  fifteen  years,  and  to  his  wife  from 
her  l)irth,  sought  and  secured  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Monroeville,  Huron  Co  ,  Ohio,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  has  continued  to 
discharge  the  responsible  duties  of  that 
important  trust.  He  has  also  served  as 
the  principal  of  the  High  School,  and  for 
nine  years  as  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion with  which  he  has  been  associated, 
and  is  still  the  incumbent  in  all  of  these 
capacities.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Probate  Court  a  member  of  the  Huron 
County  Board  of  School  Examiners,  a  little 
later  was  elected  clerk  of  that  body,  and 
is  thus  officially  still  serving  Huron  county. 

Educationally  in  his  county  and  section 
Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  recognized  leader,  hav- 
ing repeatedly  served  as  president  of 
Teachers'  Associations,  and  having   again 


82 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


been  the  past  year  president  of  the  lu- 
Btitute.  As  a  siuniner  school  and  institute 
worker  his  services  are  sought  and  ever 
appreciated.  He  has  filled  positions  on 
the  programme  of  State  and  National 
Teacliers'  Associations;  has  contributed 
liberally  to  the  public  prints,  and  is  con- 
ceded to  be  a  fluent  and  forceful  speaker, 
an  active  and  earnest  educational  worker, 
and  a  facile  and  finished  writer  upon 
themes  educational  and  ethical. 

Masonically,  our  subject  has  likewise 
achieved  distinction  and  honor,  having  had 
conferred  upon  him  all  the  degrees  of  the 
blue  lodge,  chapter,  council,  and  com- 
mandery,  and  having  in  these  bodies  filled 
numerous  ofiicial  stations.  At  this  writ- 
ing he  has  entered  upon  his  third  term  as 
Worshipful  Master  of  Roby  Lodge,  No. 
534,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  MonroeviUe.  01iio,and 
is  thereby  the  hicrhe.st  ofiicial  and  the 
acknowledged  head  of  the  order  in  his 
home  town.  Politically  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  in  politics  as  in  all  things  else  is 
active  and  energetic,  though  sufficiently 
conservative  iis  not  to  be  offensively  par- 
tisan. His  voice  is  heard  in  the  conven- 
tions of  his  party,  and  in  the  Huron 
G<innty  Convention  of  1892,  the  largest 
and  most  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the 
county,  he  was  both  the  temporary  and 
permanent  chairman;  and  a  prominent 
Cleveland  daily,  in  giving  an  account 
thereof,  published  his  portrait  and  biogra- 
phy, and  added  the  comment  that,  "witii 
malice  toward  none,  and  charity  for  all, 
we  will  venture  the  assertion  that  the 
Huron  county  perspiring  patriots,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  could  not  have  selected 
from  all  their  hosts  a  more  competent 
man  than  Sup't.  W.  H.  Mitchell,  of  Mon- 
roeville,  to  preside  over  their  deliberations." 
Religiously,  W.  H.  Mitchell  is  a  Presby- 
terian, having  in  mature  mauliood  been 
received  into  that  church  by  his  father, 
and  having  later  transferred  his  member- 
ship to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mon- 
roeville.  He  is  president  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  church  of  his   choice,  and 


is  an  active   and    useful    member    in    the 
management  of  all  of  its  affairs. 

As  an  educator,  Mason,  citizen  and 
Christian,  William  Henry  Mitchell  may 
be  recorded  as  a  manly  man.  An  honor 
to  his  profession,  an  example  to  bis  fra- 
ternity, a  credit  to  his  community,  a  sup- 
port to  his  church,  and  withal  a  dutiful 
son,  affectionate  husband,  and  kind  and 
indulgent  father. 


lILLIS  H.  PETERS,  than  whom 
there  is  no  more  enterprising  and 
popular  citizen  in  the  fair  city  of 
Norwalk,  is  a  native  of  the  place, 
born  September  1,  1853,  a  son  of  Eli  and 
Mary  Jane  (Weed)  Peters. 

Eli  Peters  was  born  of  pure  Holland- 
Dutch  descent,  in  Union  county,  Penn., 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In 
1853  became  to  Norwalk, and  at  once  em- 
barked in  the  clothing  business,  which  he 
followed  during  life,  and  died  December 
12,  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 
His  parents  having  died  wlien  he  was  yet  a 
boy,  he  had  to  shift  for  himself;  and  his 
remarkable  success  in  life,  considei'inir  his 
advantages,  was  entirely  due  to  his  plod- 
ding perseverance,  sound  judgment  in  all 
business  transactions,  and  unquestioned 
integrity.  It  has  truly  been  said  of  him 
that  his  character  was  without  blemish, 
and  his  lienor  pure  and  unsullied.  On 
December  15.  1852,  at  Wooster,  Wayne 
county,  lie  was  mai-ried  to  Mary  Jane 
Weed,  a  native  of  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  relative  of  Thurlow  Weed,  by  which 
union  there  were  born  two  children.  Mr. 
Peters  was  a  member  and  senior  warden 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Norivalk  for 
many  years,  and  in  his  political  sympathies 
he  was  a  Republican. 

Willis  II.  Peters,  of  whom  this  bio- 
graphical sketch  is  written,  was  educated 
at  the  public  schools  of  Norwalk,  and 
afterward  took  a  course  at  the  Speiicerian 
Commercial  College,  Cleveland.     When  of 


imiWy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


83 


proper  age  lie  was  taken  into  his  fatlier's 
store,  serving  at  lirst  as  clerk,  and  later, 
in  1877,  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  tlie 
style  of  the  tirm  being  E.  Peters  &  Son 
for  over  ten  years.  At  the  death  of  his 
father  he  succeeded  to  the  business,  and 
has  since  carried  it  on  with  tlie  same  de- 
gree of  care,  attention  and  scrupulous 
dealing  which  characterized  it  during  his 
father's  lifetime.  The  Peters  Clothing 
Company  is  the  largest  house  in  that  line  in 
'Norwalk,  and  gives  steady  employment  to 
some  twenty-seven  assistants,  the  stock 
consisting  of  gents'  furnishings,  clothing, 
bats,  caps,  etc.,  in  addition  to  which 
merchant  tailoring  is  a  specialty.  Mr. 
Peters  is  a  member  of  a  syndicate  of 
twenty-nine  merchants  combined  for  the 
better  purchasing  of  clothing. 

On  May  17,  1892,  Willis  H.  Peters 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Corinne  Barrett,  of  Santa  Anna,  Cal.,  who 
for  many  years  was  principal  of  a  school 
at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr.  Peters  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  poli- 
tics is  a  stanch  Republican.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  (in  which 
he  has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree), 
of  the  Ancient  Scottish  Rite,  also  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  and  of  the  Order  of  Elks. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  much  esteemed,  and  his 
popularity  is  unbounded. 


E 


-DGAR   MARTIN,  M.   D.,  the 

eighth  child   of  Gilbert  and   Ilan- 

j   nah    (Washburn)   Martin,  was  born 

in    Fitch ville,    Huron     Co.,     Ohio, 

October  10,  1826.      In    1851   he  came   to 

Townsend,  and  commenced  the  practice  of 

medicine. 

In  1853  Dr.  Martin  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  Chapman,  of  Townsend,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  viz.:  Marie,  Fred 
D.,  May,  Clarence  E.,  Mary  E.  and  Edgar 
G.,  of  whom  are  living  Marie,  May  and  Ed- 
gar G.;  Clarence  E.  died  at  the  age  of  five 


years,  Mary  E.  when  aged  nine  months, 
and  Fred  D.  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven 
years.  Marie  married  T.  JI.  Bain,  and 
lives  in  Topeka,  Ivans,  (they  had  one 
daughter,  now  dead);  Fred  D.  married 
Bessie  Kellogg,  and  died  July  8,  1893  (he 
practiced  medicine,  his  sjiecialty  being  the 
eye,  ear  and  throat);  May  married  Charles 
A.  Smith,  and  lives  in  Spokane  Falls, 
Wash,  (they  had  one  daughter);  Edgar  G. 
is  attending  college. 

Dr.  Edgar  Martin  took  his  degree  from 
the  Cleveland  Medical  College  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  in  the  year  1856,  after  five 
years  of  practice.  lie  practiced  medicine 
from  1851  up  to  1883,  in  Townsend  and 
adjoining  townships.  In  1859  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  held 
the  office  for  thirty  years — twenty-four 
years  in  Townsend  and  six  in  Norwalk, 
and  is  enjoying  his  third  term  in  that 
town.  In  the  early  part  of  the  Civil  war 
he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Reg- 
iment O.  V.  I.,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  a 
captaincy  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
sixth  Regiment  0.  Y.  I.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Lejjislature,  serving 
therein  two  years.  In  early  life  Dr.  E. 
Martin  was  an  Abolitionist,  and  in  1852 
voted  for  John  P.  Hale,  for  President. 
He  has  been  a  stanch  Republican  since 
the  organization  of  the  party. 

The  Doctor  sprung  from  a  Quaker  an- 
cestry, which  will  explain  to  some  extent, 
at  least,  his  pronounced  anti-slavery  con- 
viction in  his  early  manhood.  To  prop- 
erly estimate  such  a  character  we  must 
bear  in  mind  that  the  church  society  and 
the  two  great  political  parties  were  in- 
tensely pro-slavery,  and  all  alike  ready  to 
rend  the  man  who  had  the  temerity  to 
stand  and  talk  and  vote  for  human  rights. 
To  remember  those  in  bonds,  as  bound 
with  them,  created  the  bitterest  antagon- 
isms as  well  as  social  ostracism,  and  was 
considered  sufficient  cause  for  personal 
abuse  and  cruel  persecution  in  many  cases, 
both  in  the  church   and   out  of   it.     This 


84 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


fact  will  add  a  special  lustre  to  the  early 
maidio(jd  of  Dr.  E.  Martin.  Socially  he 
IB  a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  East  Townsend. 


\ILLIAM  H.  PKICE.  The  true 
standard  by  which  to  judge  a 
community  is  the  character  of  its 
prominent  citizens.  Progress  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  the  result  of  chance,  but 
always  the  execution  of  well-laid  plans 
l)ased  on  a  thorough  comprehension  of  the 
laws  of  l)usiness.  It  is  only  by  keeping 
in  view  the  lives  of  men  who  are  ever  as- 
sociated in  the  busy  marts  of  commerce 
that  we  can  .I'udge  of  the  importance  of  de- 
velopment, and  the  possil)ilities  of  progress. 
Thus  it  is,  that  from  the  commercial,  more 
than  the  literary  or  political  side,  the  most 
valuable  lessons  of  life  are  to  be  extracted. 
In  this  connection,  as  a  gentleman  whose 
bu^ines8  qualifications  are  of  the  best,  as 
indicated  by  tlie  numerous  enterprises 
which  he  has  brought  to  a  successful  issue, 
a  brief  biographical  sketch  is  given  of 
William  H.  Price,  president  of  the  Nor- 
walk  Savings  Bank  (V>mpany. 

He  WHS  born  in  Herefordshire,  England, 
in  1845,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
(Harris]  Price,  the  former  of  whom  is  a 
farmer  of  Herefordshire,  and  both  the 
Prices  and  Harrisses  are  of  Welsh  descent, 
comincr  from  the  line  of  ancient  Britons. 
Samuel  Price,  the  father  of  the  Henry 
Price  above  mentioned,  and  also  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of   this   sketch, 

Grenow,  were   both   born   at  the  old 

family  English  home,  in  Herefordshire, 
which  is  still  in  the  family  possession. 
The  Prices  were  stock  dealers  and  farmers, 
while  the  maternal  branch  of  the  family 
were  seafaring  men  and  miners;  two  of 
them  were  sea-captains,  sailing  from  Swan- 
sea. The  venerable  parents  of  subject  are 
still  happily  residing  on  the  old  hoinestead 

—  the  beloved  father  and  mother  of  seven 
living  children. 


W.   H.  Price  reached    his   manhood    in 
his   parental    home,    receiving   but   a   fair 
business  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  vicinity,  after  which  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  droving  and  slaughter- 
ing   business.      At  the  age  of  twetity-one 
he   came   to    America   with    Mr.   William 
Prowbert,  of  the  firm  of  William   Prow- 
bert  &  Co.,  Cleveland,  who  was  a  friend  of 
his  father,  and   who  in  his  day  was  one  of 
the    leading    business    men    of    that    city. 
Mr.  Price  was  associated   with   Mr.  Prow- 
bert two  years,  having  charge  of  much  of 
the  firm's   business,  especially  the  buying 
of  stock  for  slaughtering  purposes;  after 
two  years'  service  in   this  capacity  he  be- 
came manager  of  the  firm   of    E.  Cadle  & 
Co.   in  a  similar  line  of  business.     Con- 
tinuing four   years   with  this  company  as 
manager,  he  organized   the  firm  of  W.  H. 
Price  &  Co.,  closing   with   the  old    firm. 
During  the  next  six   years  the  new  firm 
did  a  leading  wholesale  and   retail  slaugh- 
ter  business    in   Cleveland,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  Mr.  Price  again   sold  and  re- 
tired, on  account  of  failing  health,  caused 
by  his  over-zealous  attention    to  their  ex- 
tended affairs.      He  sailed   for  Europe  in 
the  early  part  of  1878,  and  again   visited 
the  familiar  scenes  of  childhood,  and  those 
of  the  dear  old  parental  home.   This  change 
and  total  relaxation  of  all  care  continued 
through  the  season,  and   brought  a  happy 
restoration  of  health  and  strength.      It  is 
proper  enough   to    her5  say  that  this  was 
his  second  severe  sickness  in  this  country. 
Soon  after  he  first  came  to  America,  and 
when  he  had  only  been  fairly  launched   in 
business,   an    unfortunate    accident    liefell 
him  that  finally  sent   him  to  th>;    hospital 
for  a  long   terra,   and    where    be    had    to 
undergo  a  dangerous    surgical    operation, 
from  which   he  barely  emerged   with   life. 
The  young  man  had  come  with  but  a  lim- 
ited capital,  and  his  sickness  had  exhausted 
this  and  all  his  earnings,  leaving  him  more 
than  one   hundred    dollars   in  debt — mis- 
fortunes that  would  have  quite  vanquished 
many  a  young  man,  especially'  if  far  from 


V  /.  /  ^^d^ 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


87 


home  and  family  friends.   While  the  jouncr 
man's  energy  ontran    his    physical   natnre, 
yet  he  haJ  resolute  will — a  soul  undaunted 
and   a  i)urpose  high,   he   moved  ever  for- 
ward.     On  his  return  from   Europe  he  or- 
ganized   the   tirm    of    Price    &    Chandler, 
which  did  an  exclusively  wholesale  and  re- 
tail business,  furnishing  meat  to  the  retail 
dealers,  and    many  of   the    public   institu- 
tions   of    Cleveland,     Mr.    Price    visitinj^ 
Chicago   and     St.    Louis,    purchasing    the 
stock  of  the  firm.    His  solicitude  and  con- 
stantly   painstaking     labor,     in     whatever 
capacity    he    acted,    again    told    upon    his 
health;  and    after    the   lirni    had    enjoyed 
three  years  of  very  prosperous  business  he 
found    it  necessary   to    retire   from    active 
life  in  order  to  allow    his  energies    to    re- 
cuperate.      With  this  view  he  sold  out  his 
interest  in  the  firm  and  removed  to  a  farm 
in  the  suburbs  of    Norwalk,  where   after 
two  years  of  quiet  and  outdoor  exercise  he 
found  much  of  his  former  vigor  regained, 
and  soon  again  plunged  into  business.     In 
1884  he  was  associated  with  C.  H.  Stewart 
in  a  real-estate  partnership,  and  during  the 
five  years  they  were  actively  thus  engaged 
they  laid    off   four  additions  to   Norwalk, 
and  the   rapid   growth    of  the   place  then 
commenced,  as  they  sold    more   lots   and 
built  more  houses  than  i^U  the  other  deal- 
ers  in    the   place,  helping  many  workmen 
to  buy  homes,  as  they  would   sell  to  them 
on  the  installment  plan.     The  period  from 
1884  to  1889  was  marked  as  the  improve- 
ment era  of  Norwalk,  and   much  of  this 
was  due  to  the  energy,  foresight  and  liber- 
ality of  this  firm. 

In  1889,  in  connection  with  C,  H. 
Stewart  and  W.  O.  Monett,  Mr.  Price 
organized  the  Norws^lk  Savings  Bank,  a 
copartnership  concern  until  1891,  when  it 
was  reorganized  and  was  chartered  as  a 
joint-stock  company.  Mr.  Price  has  been 
president  of  both  organizations,  and  this 
is  now  01(6  of  the  most  successful  financial 
institutions  in  this  part  of  Ohio,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars.     Mr.  Price  is  a  stockholder  in  the 

5 


First  National  Bank  of  Norwalk.     In  the 
early  part  of   1892  the   people  of  Norwalk 
became  deeply    interested  in    the  question 
of    electric    motive    power   for   street   and 
road  ti-ansportation.      As  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  the  use  of  electricity  as  the  hand- 
maiden of  man,  street  railroads  became  a 
leading  question,   and    a   road   connecting 
Sandusky,  Milan  and  Norwalk  was  mooted. 
This  called  out   people   of  greatest  enter- 
prise.     A  company  was   soon   formed,  the 
project  put  on   its  feet,  and   was    rapidly 
pushed    to    completion.       Mr.    Price  is   a 
prominent   stockholder    and  director,   and 
was  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  owners 
called  to  the  most  important  place  in  di- 
recting its   movements,   the    conipany   all 
feeling  that   with   him   at   the    helm   there 
was  ample   guarantee   of  assured    success. 
Another  enterprise  of  moment  to  the  city 
was  also  launched    in    1892,  when   a   com- 
pany was    formed    to    build    the    Norwalk 
Foundry  and  Machine  Works,  now  a  suc- 
cessful   plant,    and  again   Mr.    Price  was 
called   by    his  fellow    stockholders   to  the 
leading  place  of  president.     In  the  organ- 
ization of   the   Arcade  Savings  Bank  Com- 
pany, of  Cleveland,  he  was  a  prime  mover 
and  is  a  stockholder;  was  active  in  estab- 
lishing   the  Garfield    Banking    Company, 
whose  place  of  business  is  located  in  Cleve- 
land and  owned  by  Price  &  Stewart;   he  is 
a  stockholder  in   the   Dime   Savings   Bank 
of   Cleveland,  president    of   the    Norwalk 
Nursery   Company,   and   president   of  the 
Norwalk  Brick  Company,  two  of  the   im- 
portant industries  of  tlie  city,  whicii   may 
well  look  to  him  as  their  foster-father,  as 
they  received  the  benefit  of  his  intelligent 
judgment  and  financial   resources.       He  is 
vice-president  of  the  Smith  Specialty  Com- 
pany,  one  of  the  flourishing  factories  of 
the  place;   stockholder  and  director  of  the 
Norwalk    Metal   Spinning    and   Stamping 
Company,  and  stockholder  of  the  Lake  Erie 
Tobacco  Company,  of  Norwalk.   As  stated, 
he  has  opened  four  additions  to  the  city  of 
Norwalk,  on  whicli  he  lias  bnilt  over  150 
houses,  and  in   addition    to     these    many 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


important  interests  Mr.  Price  operates  two 
farms;  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  it  is 
said  of  him  that  he  is  one  of  the  busiest  of 
busy  men. 

The  chief  elements  of  Mr.  Price's  success 
lie  in  his  competency  to  plan,  coupled 
with  his  executive  ability  and  shrewd  fore- 
sight. His  mind  is  never  easy  except 
wjien  the  channels  of  each  enterprise  with 
which  he  is  connected  are  clearly  defined. 
It  is  in  the  fog  that  the  ship  strikes  upon  the 
shoal  or  rock,  and  is  wrecked.  Business 
natures  have  their  misty  days,  and  it  is 
then  that  a  hand  at  the  helm,  familiar  with 
the  way,  saves  from  collapse.  It  may 
well  be  said  that  no  enterprise  with  which 
Mr.  Price  has  been  associated  has  ever 
proven  a  failure.  He  gives  personal 
supervision  to  every  detail  of  his  business, 
and  tiie  wonder  is  that  he  succeeds  in  doing 
so,  considering  the  extent  and  variety  of 
his  occupations.  In  person  he  is  of  strong 
frame  and  medium  stature.  During  his 
youth  he  was  quite  an  athlete,  and  met 
few  men  his  equal  in  physical  strength, 
but  on  just  entering  into  his  business 
career  a  severe  spell  of  sickness  left  results 
that  have  impaired  his  physical  vigor.  He 
has  since  been  forced  to  guage  his  accom- 
plishments to  his  strength.  In  reviewing 
his  life  and  early  associations,  and  recall- 
ing many  who  started  equal  in  the  race 
with  him,  but  whose  lives  have  fallen  short 
of  success,  he  has  been  prone  to  speculate 
as  to  whether  his  physical  disability  has 
not  been  a  main  cause  of  his  keeping  him- 
self aloof  from  the  entanglements  and  dis- 
sipations which  have  proven  destructive 
to  many  others.  Yet  it  may  be  safely  held 
that  men  of  Mr.  Price's  stamp,  who  have 
a  definite  aim  in  life,  are  hard  to  swerve 
from  their  course.  They  go  straight  to 
the  end,  surmounting  obstacles  as  if  driven 
by  the  hand  of  destiny.  However,  after 
having  made  life  a  inarked  success,  it  may 
be  well  said  of  him  that  he  has  achieved 
all  under  adverse  circumstances. 

William  H.  Price  and  Catharine  A. 
Wheaton,  daughter  of  Daniel  and   Anna 


(Meyhew)  Wheaton,  natives  of  Cambridge, 
England,  were  joined  in  wedlock  May  15, 
1872.  Mrs.  Price  was  born  in  the  old 
English  home,  and  came  to  America  with 
her  people  when  but  three  years  of  age, 
the  family  locating  in  Norwalk,  where  they 
made  their  home.  Mrs.  Wheaton  died  in 
1878.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  were  born 
six  children,  as  follows:  Harris  Wheaton 
Price,  born  April  25,  1874,  now  teller  in 
his  father's  bank;  Bessie  M.  (deceased); 
Anna  Meyhew;  Bessie  Louise;  Wesley 
Hildreth,  and  Olive  Edna.  The  family  is 
Protestant  in  faith,  and  Mr.  Price,  while 
he  may  be  classed  as  affiliating  with  the 
Democratic  party,  has  always  been  in  fact 
independent  in  his  voting,  preferring  the 
best  men  and  public  weal  to  mere  party 
claims. 


11  Il-J\ILLIAM  SANDMEISTEE, 

V/\V/    ^^'  ^■'  ^  pop'ilfii'  and  rising  young 

V/ly     physician  of  BelJevue,  is  a  son  of 

Dr.  Charles  Sandmeister,  who  was 

for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent 

members  of    the    medical    profession    ia 

Huron  county.    John  George  Sandmeister, 

the  grandfather  of  subject,  was  a  native  of 

Hersfeld,   Hessen-Cassel,  Germany,  was  a 

merchant    in    that    city,    and     died    there 

in  1853. 

Dr.  Charles  Sandmeister  was  born  Febru- 
ary 22,  1831,  in  Hersfeld,  Hessen-Cassel, 
Germany,  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1851,  and  studied  medicine  at  Tiifin, 
Ohio.  In  1855  he  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  the  profession,  and  in  1864  gradu- 
ated from  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute 
of  Cincinnati.  On  October  22,  1860,  he 
was  married  to  Lena  Wygant,  of  Sandusky 
City,  and  to  this  union  five  children  were 
born,  two  sons — of  whom,  Charles,  yet  liv- 
ing, has  graduated  in  pharmacy  at  Chicago 
College  of  Pharmacy — and  three  daughters, 
one  being  deceased.  Dr.  Charles  Sand- 
meister died  in  1888.  He  was  a  member 
of  three   medical    Societies,  the  National, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


89 


the  State  and  the  Northwestern  Eclectic 
Medical  Associations.  In  1877  the  Doc- 
tor visited  Germany,  and  brought  his 
mother  to  this  country,  where  she  died  in 
April,  1882.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  237  acres  of  line  land  in  Thompson 
township,  Seneca  county,  and  had  a  large 
income  from  his  practice,  for  he  was 
recognized  as  a  most  competent  phj'sician 
and  surgeon,  and  one  of  liberal  professional 
views.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat; 
in  reliaious  faith,  a  Lutheran. 

Dr.  William  Sandmei?ter  was  born 
January  23,  1865,  at  Belleviie,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  and  received  his  elementary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city,  afterward  attending  the  Capital  Uni- 
versity, Columbus,  Ohio,  whence  he  gradu- 
ated in  1886.  Next  entering  Western 
Reserve  College,  Cleveland,  he  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1889, 
in  which  year  he  established  himself 
in    practice   at    Bellevue.      In    September, 

1891,  he  visited  Europe,  took  a  general 
course  in  medicine  in  the  great  hospitals 
of    Vienna,    Austria,    returned    in     June, 

1892,  and  resumed  practice,  in  which  he 
has  since  been  continuously  engaged. 
Though  young  in  years,  he  is  already 
thoroughly  experienced  in  the  profession. 
The  teachings  of  his  lather,  no  less  than 
his  father's  high  reputation,  have  made  his 
journey  to  professional  success  compara- 
tively easy.  His  thorough  studies  of 
medicine  both  in  this  and  foreign  lands, 
together  with  his  industry,  qualify  him  to 
take  the  place  in  professional  and  popu- 
lar estimation  held  by  the  late  Dr.  Charles 
Sandnieisler. 


If    ff    E.  HILL.  This  representative  pros- 

fsH      perons  citizen,  and  leading  business 

I     1|    man  of  Monroeville,  is  a  native  of 

■fj  Ohio,  born  in  Berlin  Heights,   Erie 

county,  December  11,  1840. 

Noah  Hill,  his  grandfather,  who  was  of 

English   descent,  came   from    Connecticut 

to  Ohio  in  1817,  bringing  his  wife  and  live 


children.  They  were  veritable  pioneers  of 
Erie  county,  where  Noah,  who  iiad  been  a 
cloth  dresser  in  the  East,  ftdlowed  the 
trade  of  ship  carpenter,  becoming  a  master 
builder  and  a  very  expert  workman.  He 
was  also  a  well-to-do  farmer,  owning  at 
one  time  over  400  acres  of  land,  all  ac- 
cumulated by  hard  work,  and  for  part  of 
which  he  remained  in  debt  some  forty-live 
years,  but  eventually  succeeded  in  paying 
off  the  last  penny.  In  1850  he  disposed 
of  his  property  and  retired,  making  his 
final  home  in  Berlin  Heights,  where  he 
died  in  1864.  He  was  a  large,  well-built 
man;  a  Republican  in  politics,  formerly  a 
Whig,  and  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
By  his  wife,  Snkey  (Butler),  he  had  chiU 
dren,  as  follows:  Horace  L.,  Edwin  I., 
Elihu  P.,  Benjamin  L.,  Henrietta,  Mary 
Ann,  Hester,  Sarah,  Greorge  S.,  Sterling 
and  Noah. 

Edwin  I.  Hill,  father  of  subject,  was 
one  of  the  live  children  of  Noah  Hill  who 
became  pioneers  of  Erie  county.  He  was 
born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1S09,  and  con- 
sequently was  eight  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Ohio.  He  learned  the  cooper's  trade, 
which  he  followed  as  long  as  it  was  profit- 
able, and  then  took  up  farming,  in  which 
he  continued  many  years.  He  was  thrice 
married,  first  time  to  Lucy  A.  Tenant, 
who  bore  him  children  as  follows:  Horace 
C,  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864, 
while  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Third  O.  V.  I.  (his  brother  H.  E.  was  also 
in  the  same  battle,  totally  ignorant  of 
Horace  being  also  there,  as  he  had  not  seen 
him  since  enlistment;  the  interment  of 
Horace  took  place  before  H.  E.  knew  of  his 
death);  Benjamin  I.,  a  farmer,  of  near 
Berlin  Heights;  Alpha  A.,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Tillinghast,  of  Berlin  Heights; 
and  H.  E.  The  mother  of  these  dying 
x\ugust  31,  1842,  Edwin  I.  Hill  mar- 
ried, in  1844,  Miss  Catherine  Wen- 
dail,  by  which  union  was  born  one 
child,  Lucy,  who  died  young.  This  wife 
passed  away  in  1855,  and  for  liis  third 
spouse  Mr.  Hill  wedded  Miss  Sallie  Pea- 


90 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


body,  by  whom  there  are  two  children: 
Sterling  L.,  superintendent  of  schools  at 
Berlin  Heights,  Erie  county,  and  Louise, 
at  present  attending  Oberlin  College. 
Edwin  I.  Hill  departed  this  life  January 
24,  1888,  and  was  buried  at  Berlin 
Heights,  Erie  county.  In  his  political 
sympathies  he  was  first  a  AVhig,  afterward 
a  Ilepuldican,  and  was  well  read  on  all 
public  issues. 

H.  E.  Hill,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  his  primary  education  at 
tiie  cummoi)  schools  of  his  native  place, 
later  attending  a  seminary  at  Berlin 
Heights,  in  those  days  an  educational  in- 
stitution considerably  in  advance  of  others 
in  northern  Ohio.  He  was  but  eighteen 
Tiiontlis  old  when  he  lost  his  mother,  hut 
he  was  adopted  by  an  aunt,  Mrs.  Horace 
L.  Hill,  who  reai'ed  him,  and  was  as  kind 
to  him  as  the  kindest  mother  could  be;  her 
husband  also  treated  him  with  great  kind- 
ness, and  took  inucli  interest  in  him.  On 
April  20,  1859,  his  foster-father  having 
given  him  two  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  our 
subject  set  out,  in  company  with  five 
others,  for  Pike's  Peak,  taking  rail  to  St. 
Louis,  thence  boat  to  Leavenworth,  Kans., 
where  they  secured  their  outfit,  including 
provisions,  three  yoke  of  o,\eii,  wagons,  etc. 
In  tifty-one  days  they  reached  Denver, 
Colo.,  at  that  time  a  ragged  collection  of 
rude  huts,  the  route  of  the  party  being 
across  prairies  where  they  saw  vast  herds 
of  buffalo,  some  of  which  fell  to  their  rifles, 
thus  supplying  them  with  plenty  of  fresh 
meat.  The  summer  the  party  j-pent  in  the 
mountains,  and  in  the  fall  they  made  their 
return  trip  homeward. 

At  Huron,  Ohio,  April  19,  1861,  Mr. 
Hill  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Seventh  O. 
V.  I.,  three  months  service,  and  from  San- 
dusky they  proceeded  to  Cleveland,  where 
was  completed  the  organization  of  the 
regiment,  whicli  then  moved  to  Camp 
Dentiison,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  About 
the  middle  of  June,  1861,  the  three  months 
term  having  expired,  Mr.  Hill,  along  with 
the    majority    of   the    old    members,   re- 


enlisted  into  the  Seventh.  The  regiment, 
which  was  attached  to  the  army  of  tlie 
Potomac,  being  ordered  Soutli,  crossed  the 
Ohio  river  at  Bellaire  into  West  Virginia, 
where  at  Cross  Lanes  it  experienced  its 
first  general  engagement  with  the  eriemy. 
The  next  campaign  was  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  in  which,  owing  to  illness,  Mr. 
Hill  was  unable  to  participate.  He  was 
sent  to  the  convalescent  camp  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  for  a  few  weeks,  and  on  his 
recovery  he  rejoined  his  regiment.  He 
■was  present  at  the  battles  of  Culpeper 
Courthouse,  Cedar  Mountain  and  Antie- 
tain;  thence  marched  to  Fredericksburg, 
after  which  came  the  two-days'  battle  of 
Chancellorsville.  From  there  the  regi- 
ment  proceeded  to  Gettysburg,  where  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  third  day  of  the 
memorable  battle  there  he  was  wounded 
in  the  left  arm.  After  lying  ten  days  in 
the  field  hospital,  he  was  removed  to 
Philadelphia.  In  January,  1864,  he  once 
moie  joined  his  regiment,  in  time  to  take 
part  in  the  battles  of  Dallas  and  Resaca, 
from  which  latter  locality  the  command 
was  ordered  to  ChattaiiDOga,  where  it  re- 
mained till  the  end  of  June,  1864,  and 
July  6,  following,  our  subject  received  an 
honorable  discharge  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
returning  to  Berlin  Heights,  having  served 
three  years  and  three  months.  He  was 
promoted  to  sergeant,  and  at  Gettysburg, 
Cedar  Mountain  and  Chancellorsville  he 
is  reported  as  having  "  served  with  valor." 
Havinir  now  resumed  the  vocations  of 
peace,  Mr.  Hill  took  a  course  at  the  East- 
man Business  college,  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.,  and  April  3,  1865,  he  made  his 
residence  in  Monroeville,  where  he  entered 
the  freight  ofiice  of  the  Lake  Shore  & 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  as  clerk,  re- 
maining as  such  until  August  1,  1873. 
On  January  1,  1874,  Mr.  Hill  embarked 
in  the  grain  elevator  business,  becoming 
associated  with  Mr.  Fish,  his  present 
partner;  but  some  time  afterward  he 
abandoned  this  industry  and  commenced 
in  mercantile  trade  at  Berlin  Heights,  in 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


91 


partnership  with  Mr.  Webster,  under  the 
iinn  name  of  IIill&  Webster.  In  the  fall 
of  1878  he  once  more  removed  to  Monroe- 
ville,  where  he  opened  up  an  extensive 
grain  trade,  and  July,  1881,  havinji;  again 
become  associated  with  Mr.  Fish,  bought 
the  present  flourishing  business,  the  firm 
becoming  on  the  first  day  of  the  following 
September,  Skilton,  Fish  ife  Hill;  in  1886 
it  was  changed  to  Fish  &  Hill,  its  present 
style  —  a  firm  of  high  standing. 
'^^On  December  10,  1878,  Mr.  Hill  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  B.  Harter,  born  in  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Harter, 
and  the  children  of  this  union  are  Horace 
C,  Ruth  T.,  Marcus  H.  and  Anna  L. 
Mrs.  Hill  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr. 
Hill  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  matters 
tending  to  the  welfare  of  his  country. 
State,  county  and  town;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  village  council,  aTid  while  a  resident 
of  Erie  county  served  his  township  as 
treasurer.  He  is  a  past  master  of  Robv 
Lodge  No.  534,  F.  &  A.  M. 


/George  E.  wood,  editor  and  pub- 
I  w.  lisher  of  The  Bellevue  Ne^os,  w^as 
\J^  born  in  Walworth  county.  Wis., 
^^  August  3,  1860.  His  parents,  J. 
G.  and  Almira  (Mills)  Wood,  were 
born  in  New  York,  and  at  an  early  date 
settled  in  the  West. 

After  an  extended  residence  in  Wiscon- 
sin, they  again  looked  westward  for  a 
home,  and  in  1867  located  at  Monticello, 
Jones  Co.,  Iowa,  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  to  manhood.  In  1890  they 
removed  to  Bellevue,  Ohio,  and  took  up 
their  abode  with  their  son  George.  J.  G. 
AVood  died  at  Bellevue  June  28, 1892;  his 
widow  is  still  living. 

George  Elmer  Wood  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  the  State  Agricultural  College, 
at  Ames,  Iowa,  and  for  some  time  after 
leaving  engaged  in  school  teaching.  Later 
he  entered   upon    the  study  of  law,    and 


while  so  engaged  was  chosen  justice  of  the 
peace  and  re-elected.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Iowa  in  1884  before  the  State 
Supreme  Court,  but  soon  relinquished  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  to  move 
to  Anamosa,  the  county  seat,  and  till  the 
position  of  acting  county  recorder,  to 
which  he  was  appointed.  For  fourteen 
months  he  served  in  that  capacity,  and  then 
resigned  in  1885,  to  accept  the  position  of 
county  superintendent  of  schools,  to  which 
he  had  in  the  meantime  been  elected.  In 
April,  188S,  Mr.  Wood  came  to  Bellevue, 
purchased  the  Local  News  office,  improved 
the  appearance  of  the  paper,  built  up  a 
really  local  newspaper,  extended  the  cir- 
culation, abolished  the  old  naiue,  and  in 
1890  adopted  the  present  title.  The  Belle- 
vue News.  The  paper  has  a  local  circula- 
tion among  1,300  subscribers,  and  is  a 
first-class  advertising  medium.  It  was 
established  in  1875,  without  political 
affiliations,  and  has  continued  independent 
to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  young 
man,  energetic  and  ambitious,  and  by  well- 
directed  industry  has  widened  the  influ- 
ence of  his  journal,  and  succeeded  where 
others  failed. 

Our  subject  was  united  in  marriage 
August  29,  1888,  with  Miss  Jessie  Deni- 
son,  a  native  of  Anamosa,  Iowa,  and 
daughter  of  A.  M.  and  Liicy  A.  (Roberts) 
Denison,  both  natives  of  the  State  of 
New  York. 


HARLES  W.  ARNOLD,  M.  D.,  who 

for  the  past  several  years  has  con- 
ducted a  eeneral  mercantile  business 
at  Townsend  Center,  was  born  Au- 
gust 11,  1825,  in  Oxford,  Chenango  Co., 
N.  Y.,  the  eldest  of  two  children  born  to 
James  and  Emily  (Cook)  Arnold,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  the  latter  of  Dutchess  county,  N. 
Y.     Both  were  of  English  descent. 

James  Arnold  received  in  his  youth  but 
a  limited  school  training,  but  in  after 
years  he  succeeded  by  his  own  exertions  in 


92 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


acquiring  a  good  practical  English  edu- 
cation, and  a  wide  and  varied  stock  of  gen- 
eral information.  He  was  all  his  life  a 
close  reader,  and  was  well  posted,  not  only 
on  current  topics,  but  also  on  general  his- 
tory— ancient  and  modern — and  the  vari- 
ous sciences.  His  character  was  formed  in 
the  practical  school  of  experience,  and  this 
rendered  him  broad  and  liberal  in  all  his 
views.  In  early  life  he  learned  carriage- 
making  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  with  a  man  named 
Lloyd,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  some 
three  years,  after  which  he  followed  the 
trade  for  a  time  as  a  journeyman.  On 
November  14,  1824,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  North  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss 
Emily  Cook,  and  in  1831  migrated  west- 
ward to  Ohio,  coming  via  the  Erie  Canal 
to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  thence  on  a  lake- 
boat,  the  ''Sheldon  Thompson,"  one  of  tlie 
earliest  on  the  lakes,  to  Sandusky  (then 
Portland).  On  the  same  boat  was  a  com- 
pany of  Wyandot  chiefs,  who  were  return- 
ing from  a  trip  to  Washington  City. 

Mr.  Arnold  located  at  Milan,  Erie 
county,  where  he  opened  a  carriage  and 
wagon  shop,  and  continued  to  follow  his 
trade  for  Some  three  or  four  years,  wlien  he 
removed  to  Townsend,  Huron  county. 
Here  he  purchased  wild  land,  and  cleared 
and  improved  a  farm,  and  was  for  sev- 
eral years  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits; then,  in  1849.  lie  bought  a  slightly 
improved  farm  near  Townsend  Center,  on 
which  stood  an  old  blockhouse.  He  built 
the  first  frame  house  in  Townsend  Center 
(where  he  subsequently  engaged  in  general 
merchandising),  and  also  the  first  sawmill, 
which  lie  sold  to  William  and  Dudley  S. 
Humphrey.  For  many  years  he  was  post- 
master at  East  Townsend.  For  several 
years  he  was  in  partnership,  in  the  general 
mercantile  business,  with  his  younger  son, 
who  later  bought  out  his  father's  interest 
■in  the  store,  and  removed  the  business  to 
New  York,  after  which  Mr.  Arnold  led  a 
retired  life  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  26,  1882.  He  was  one  of  the  old- 
est   Masons  in   the  county,  having  for  a 


number  of  years  been  a  member  of  Mt. 
A'"ernon  Lodge  No.  64,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Nor- 
walk,  and  afterward  a  charter  member  of 
East  Townsend  Lodge  No.  322,  and  he 
was  buried  with  Masonic  ceremonies.  His 
father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Kevolutionary 
war,  rendering  gallant  service  throughout 
the  entire  struggle,  and  at  the  battle  of 
New  London,  Conn.,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  confined  in  the  famous  sucfar-ware- 
house  prison  in  New  York.  By  profession 
he  was  a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Arnold  family  were 
among  the  hardy  and  patriotic  pioneers  of 
the  old  Hartland  colony,  and  took  an  ac- 
tive and  honoral)le  pai't  in  the  affairs  of  the 
comtnouwealth  during  Colonial  days.  Mrs. 
Emily  (Cook)  Arnold  died  January  20, 
1885,  an  ardent,  lifehmg  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Her  fatlier,  Joseph  Cook, 
who  was  born  in  1751,  was  also  a  soldier  in 
the  Continental  army,  having  entered  the 
service  at  an  early  age.  He  participated  in 
the  engagement  at  Flattsbnrg  and  many 
other  battles. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Arnold,  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch,  received  in  his  early 
years  a  fair  common-school  education,  and 
was  employed  on  the  home  farm  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  He  then  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Prof.  B.  L.  Hill,  of  Berlin  Heights, 
Ohio,  completing  his  professional  educa- 
tion at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  Cin- 
cinnati, whence  he  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1850.  Entering  upon  the  duties 
of  his  profession  at  Townsend  Center,  his 
old  home,  he  remained  there  several  years, 
and  then  practiced  in  the  vicinity  of  Cold- 
water,  Mich.,  for  six  or  eight  years.  From 
there  he  removed  to  Athens,  Calhoun  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  continued  to  practice 
about  three  years,  after  which,  in  1874,  he 
abandoned  his  profession  and  returned  to 
Townsend  Center,  to  care  for  his  parents, 
who  were  becoming  aged  and  feeble.  Sub- 
sequentto  theirdeath,in  1886, he  embarked 
in  his  present  business,  wliich  he  has  since 
successfully    carried    on.     In    September, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


93 


1845,  Dr.  Arnold  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Jane  Proctor,  who  was  born  in  Ohio; 
her  parents  were  natives,  respectively,  of 
England  and  Vermont.  To  this  union 
came  two  children:  Horace  S.,  who  at  the 
at;e  of  eii^hteen,  in  1863,  enlisted  in  Loomis' 
Battery,  from  Coldwater,  Mich,  (he  died 
April  4,  1864,  at  Huntsville,  Ala.),  and 
Ida  G.,  who  died  June  10,  1854,  when 
aged  four  years.  Mrs.  Eliza  Arnold  died 
June  4,  1854,  a  Universalist  in  religious 
faith,  and  on  October  17,  1873,  our  sub- 
ject wedded,  for  his  second  wife,  Miss 
Jennie  L.  Howard,  wJio  was  a  native  of 
Michigan  and  of  English-Germau  extrac- 
tion. In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat, 
and  served  for  several  years  as  postmaster 
at  East  Townseud.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  East  Townsend 
Lodge  No.  322,  and  also  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Subordinate  Lodge  and  Encampment. 


\ILLIAM  M.  HUSTED,  Norwalk. 
Edward  E.  Husted,  father  of  this 
gentleman,  was  born  in  Danburj, 
Conn.,  December  27,  1805,  and 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  in  1810.  Samuel  Husted, 
father  of  Edward  E.,  was  the  first  settler 
of  Clearfield  township,  in  that  county,  and 
died  there  during  the  Civil  war,  at  the  age 
of  eighty- two  years. 

Edward  E.  Husted  grew  to  tnanhood  in 
Huron  county,  and  was  married  in  1832  to 
Miss  Debora  Gray,  a  native  of  Danbnry, 
Conn.,  by  which  union  were  born  children 
as  follows:  Edwin  G.,  machinist  in  rail- 
road shops;  Elmer  E.,  postmaster  at  Well- 
ington, Ohio;  J.  Frank,  w^ho  died  in  1890, 
aged  fifty  years;  Edward  L.,  bookkeeper 
for  G.  M.  S.  Sanborn,  coal  dealer,  Nor- 
walk;  Emma  G.,  Mrs.  Abner  Baker;  Will- 
iam M.,  and  Ella  J.,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Husted,  of 
Chicago,  111.  The  mother  departed  this 
life  September  26,  1884,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  an  active.  Christian  woman, 
and  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 


prominent  in  its  affairs.  Her  brother, 
Erastus  Gray,  opened  a  shoe  store  in  Nor- 
walk,  in  1832,  and  afterward  became  a 
partner  of  Edward  E.  Husted,  the  style  of 
the  firm  being  Husted  &  Gray,  which  was 
afterward  changed  to  Gray  &  Husted,  and 
finally  to  Husted  &  Son.  Mr.  Gray,  who 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Norwalk,  reached  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years.  Edward  E.  Husted 
died  December  25,  1878.  He  was  an  up- 
right, intelligent  and  valuable  citizen,  and 
a  merchant  of  wide  repute,  keeping  a  shoe 
store  in  Norwalk  until  1857,  which  was 
established  by  Husted  &  Gray,  as  already 
related.  He  was  first  elected  sheriff  of 
Huron  county  in  1840,  at  which  time  he 
moved  from  his  fine  farm  to  Norwalk,  and 
served  his  term,  not  only  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  Democratic  friends  who  had  elected 
him,  but  of  the  entire  community,  and  was 
re-elected.  Afterward  he  was  elected,  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  two  terms  as  county 
treasurer,  and  in  this  office  was  equally 
successful  in  pleasing  his  constituents.  He 
was  an  Abolitionist,  and  is  said  to  have 
kept  a  "station"  on  the  "Underground 
Railroad."  For  many  years  he  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


IfSAAC  HARRISON  CHANDLER,  of 
Norwalk  township,  was  born  Decem- 
J  ber  2,  1830,  in  Madison  county,  N.  Y., 
a  son  of  Ebenezer  Chandler,  who  was  a 
son  of  Simeon,  who  was  a  son  of  Benjamin. 
Benjamin  Chandler,  great-grandfather 
of  subject,  came  to  America  with  Gen.  La- 
Fayette,  in  the  French  army,  in  which  he 
was  serving  as  captain.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  Revolutionary  war  until  its 
close,  and  afterward  settled  near  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  he  foUowed  farming.  He 
had  three  children. 

Simeon  Chandler,  son  of  Benjamin,  was 
born  in  Connecticut.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  he  fell  on  the  ice,  injuring  his 
knee  so  badly  as   to  cripple   him   for  life, 


94 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  this  accident  may  be  said  to  have  ma- 
terially govei-ned  his  future  life.  He  be- 
came a  shoemaker,  and  learning  the  violin 
became  a  player  of  no  small  repute.  He 
married  Miss  Louise  .Benjamin,  a  lady  of 
Welsh  descent,  and  seven  children  were 
born  to  them,  all  growing  to  maturity, 
viz.:  Simeon,  Benjamin,  Rebecca,  Fannie, 
Louise,  Parmelia  antl  Ebenezer. 

Of  these  Ebenezer  was  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in 
1800,  in  Connecticut,  and  there  received 
buta  limited  education,  as  he  had  to  remain 
at  Jiome  in  order  to  assist  his  widowed 
mother,  besides  working  out  at  whatever 
he  could  find  to  do.  At  the  age  of  eight- 
een years  he  left  his  native  State  for  New 
York  State,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Per- 
ryville  Falls,  Madison  county,  where  he 
engaijed  in  agriculture.  He  was  there 
married  in  1822  to  Miss  Lydia  Post,  a 
daughter  of  Isaiah  Post,  a  farmer  of  that 
locality.  In  1836  they  came  to  Ilartlaud, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm, 
where  he  died  in  1877.  He  was  originally 
a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  and  held  nu- 
merous township  offices.  His  wife  died  in 
1891.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, viz.:  One  that  died  in  infancy;  Luret- 
ta,  deceased;  Dolly,  now  Mrs.  Truman,  of 
Clarkstield,  Huron  county;  Cornelia,  de- 
ceased; Isaac  H.,  our  subject;  Ebenezer, 
in  Erie  county,  Ohio;  Joseph  E.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Fitchville,  Huron  county;  Amelia, 
deceased;  and  Arvilla,  now  Mrs.  R.  Bar- 
rett, of  New  London,  Huron  county,  and 
Frank  B.,  of  Colorado. 

Isaac  H.  Chandler,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  was  six  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  father  to  Huron  county, 
where  he  attended  the  common  schools  and 
was  reared  to  farming  pursuits.  The 
country  was  yet  very  wild,  abounding  in 
deer  and  turkeys,  many  wolves  yet  roam- 
ing about  in  search  of  prey.  He  com- 
menced business  life  as  a  lumberman, 
spending  some  time  in  the  lumber  re- 
gions of  Michigan,  whei-e  he  met  with  suc- 
cess.     Returning   to    Huron    county,   he 


l>ought  a  sawmill  at  Hartland,  and  later, 
in  1868,  a  second  one  on  what  is  now  the 
Fries  farm,  in  Norwalk  township.  This 
he  operated  till  1874,  when  the  boiler 
burst,  killing  his  eldest  son,  then  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  our  subject  him- 
self liaving  a  narrow  escape.  In  1876  he 
rebuilt  the  mill,  and  has  kept  it  in  partial 
operation  since.  In  1863  he  hitd  bougiit 
the  faim  of  sixty  acres  on  which  he  lives, 
and  in  1866  moved  thereto. 

In  1853  Mr.  Chandler  was  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  D.  Rumsey,  daughter  of 
George  Rumsey,  of  New  London,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  seven  children  were  born  to 
them,  as  follows:  Homer,  who  was  killed 
in  the  sawmill;  Charles  H.,  a  bookkeeper 
in  Cleveland;  Lewis,  a  farmer  of  Fitch- 
ville township;  Frank,  deceased  in  in- 
fancy; F.  H.,  who  lives  on  a  farm  adjoin- 
ing his  father's;  Clarence  C,  married,  re- 
siding with  his  father;  and  Clara  May, 
deceased  when  four  months  old.  In  his 
political  preferences  Mr.  Chandler  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  he  has  held  various 
township  offices. 


^J 


HENRY  P.  STENTZ,  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Monroe- 
ville.  This  gentleman  is  prominent 
in  the  array  of  leading  financiers 
and  capitalists  of  the  State,  and 
one  of  the  most  widely-known,  respected 
and  prosperous  of  her  citizens.  In  Mon- 
roeville,  and  indeed  in  the  whole  county 
of  Huron,  there  is  no  name  that  ranks 
higher  than  tliat  of  Henry  P.  Stentz,  in 
all  those  qualities  which  constitute  good 
citizenship;  and  there  is  none  more  de- 
serving of  an  exhaustive  biographical 
record  in  the  pages  of  this  volume. 

Mr.  Stentz  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Penn.,  February  26, 1838,  and  is  descended 
from  sturdy,  honest  German  stock,  from 
wliich  be  inherits  in  a  marked  degree  the 
characteristic  energy,  good  judgment  and 
other  biisiness  qualities  that  have  made 
him  the  successful  financier  he  is.     He  is 


^^f^^^^    ■fe> 


IIUEON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


97 


a  son  of  Peter  and  Catherine  (Keller) 
Stentz,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  re- 
moved to  Huron  county,  Oliio,  in  1840, 
thence,  after  a  brief  stay,  proceeding  to 
Plymouth,  Richland  county;  but  the 
greater  part  of  their  lives  was  afterward 
passed  at  Gallon,  in  Crawford  county, 
whither  they  removed  in  1853. 

Receiving  his  education  at  the  Union 
schools  of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  Mr.  Stentz 
at  an  early  age  entered  the  employ  of  Mr. 
A.  Atwood,  a  mercliant  and  banker  in 
that  town;  and  true  to  his  nature  as  evi- 
denced in  all  his  business  career,  young 
Stentz  put  his  whole  soul  into  the  business, 
his  remuneration  at  tirst  being  but  eight 
dollars  per  month.  His  close  attention  to 
business,  and  devotion  to  every  detail  of 
his  employer's  affairs,  soon  gained  for 
him  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  Mr. 
Atwood,  who  did  not  fail  to  give  substan- 
tial recognition. 

Mr.  Stentz  remained  in  this  connection 
until  during  the  Civil  war,  when  he 
severed  iiimself  from  it,  and  launched  out 
on  his  own  responsibility,  speculating  in 
various  articles  of  merchandise,  such  as 
cotton,  hemp,  sugar  and  molasses.  This 
necessarily  involved  a  good  deal  of  travel- 
ing in  the  South,  and  business  of  this  kind 
and  magnitude,  requiring  as  it  does  tlie 
application  of  shrewd  finessing,  cool 
judgment,  and  bold,  fearless  push  and 
action,  Mr.  Stentz  found  himself  well 
adapted  to  by  nature. 

But  in  these  commercial  enterprises  he 
does  not  claim  to  have  made  any  fortune, 
no  doubt  for  the  reason  that  in  tliose 
feverish,  unsettled  times  the  markets  were 
too  capricious;  yet  it  was  in  this  exper- 
ience that  he  added  capital  to  his  already 
no  small  stock  of  business  tact  and  acumen. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  retired  from  the 
field  of  speculation,  and  in  1866  came  to 
Monroeviile  to  fill  the  position  of  cashier 
of  the  Exchange  Bank  of  that  town,  as 
successor  to  Mr.  S.  V.  Harkness.  In 
1879,  this  bank  was  organized  as  the 
"  First   National  Bank   of    Monroeviile," 


with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
and  Mr.  Stentz  continued  as  cashier  of 
same  until  1889,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
the  presidency.  Mr.  Stentz,  during  the 
time  of  his  wide  commercial  relations, 
organized  the  First  JSJational  Bank  of 
Gallon,  Ohio,  one  of  the  first  institutions 
v{  the  kind  established  in  Ohio  under  the 
new  regime,  and  he  subsequently  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  National  Bank 
of  Plymouth.  In  addition  to  his  banking 
business,  and  aside  from  it,  he  is  largely 
interested  in  real  estate,  owning  some 
one  thousand  five  hundred  acres  of  tine 
farming  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Monroe- 
viile. He  has  never  married.  Though 
not  a  professor  of  religion  he  is  an  ad- 
herent and  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Monroeviile. 

Henry  P.  Stentz  furnishes  a  striking 
illustration  of  a  conservative  and  success- 
ful business  man.  Assuming  the  respon- 
sible duties  of  cashier  of  the  Monroeviile 
Exchange  Bank  when  a  young  man  of 
twenty-eight  summers,  he,  by  close  atten- 
tion to  every  known  duty  connected  with 
that  institution,  and  making  himself 
thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  details 
of  its  working  system;  by  strict  and  honor- 
able dealing  and  by  careful  and  wise 
management;  by  all  these  and  more,  Mr. 
Stentz  succeeded  in  elevating  it  to  the 
highest  point  of  excellence  attained  by  any 
institution  of  the  kind  in  Huron  county. 
And  since,  in  order  that  its  interests 
might  be  extended,  the  Exchange  Bank 
was,  through  his  efforts,  organized  into 
a  National  Bank,  he  has  brought  it  to 
such  perfection  as  a  financial  institution 
that  it  now  ranks  among  the  soundest  and 
best  managed  banks  in  northern  Ohio,  his 
name  being  identified  with  it  as  a  leading 
capitalist  and  business  man.  It  has  now 
an  annual  deposit  account  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  and  paj's 
a  dividend  of  five  per  cent,  semi-annuallj'. 
From  a  recent  issue  of  the  Monroeviile 
Weekli/  Spectator  we  quote  some  portions 
of  an  article  written  during  the  wild  panic 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  the  sninmer  of  1893:  "During  a  com- 
mercial crisis  like  that  through  which  we 
are  now  passing,  when  doubt  and  distrust 
are  apparent  on  every  hand,  there  is  sweet 
consolation  in  the  thought  that  the  solvency 
of  onr  own  home  hank  is  unquestioned. 
While  hundreds  of  similar  institutions 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land  are  being  forced  into  suspension  or 
failure,  because  of  the  existing  lack  of  con- 
tidence,  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mon- 
roeville  stands  and  will  stand  a  monument 
to  the  integrity,  judgtnent  and  fidelity  of 
the  efficient  manairement  it  has  ever  en- 
joyed,  and  which  to-day  is  identical 
with  that  under  which  it  began  its  career 
oyer  twenty-seven  years  ago.  *  *  * 
The  present  crisis  finds  it  in  better 
eonditidU  than  ever  before  to  cope  witli 
panical  problems,  and  it  will  speedily  and 
satisfactorily  solve  all  that  are  presented, 
provided  they  legitimately  come  within 
the  sphere  of  its  action.  *  *  *  Mr.  Stentz 
has  been  the  moving  spirit,  the  power  be- 
hind the  throne,  the  manager  from  the  or- 
ganization to  the  present  time,  and  to  his 
efforts  are  chiefly  attributable  thelongcon- 
tiniied  prosperity  and  substantial  growth 
that  have  characterized  the  bank's  career, 
and  the  enviable  reputation,  standing  and 
confidence  which  it  now  enjoys." 

Mr.  Stentz  has  not  accumulated  his  capi- 
tal by  speculation — far  from  it — but 
tiirough  the  well-recrulated  conservative 
rules  of  legitimate  business.  His  marked 
success  in,  comparatively  speaking,  so  un- 
pretentious a  town  as  Monroeville,.  is  a 
lesson  for  every  young  man  setting  out  in 
life  on  a  business  career,  with  naught  to  aid 
him  save  honesty  of  heart,  integrity  of  pur- 
pose, a  good  courage  and,  withal,  a  willing 
pair  of  hands  and  a  level  head. 


GHAELES  HILL  STEWAET,  attor- 
ney at  law,  Norwalk,  is  a  native  of 
the  place,  born    November   6,  1859, 
H  son  of  Hon.  Gideon   T.  and   Abby 
(Simmons)  Stewart. 


Our  subject  was  reared  amid  generous 
and  pleasant  surroundings,  and  while  he 
was  born  with  no  doubt  the  averaae  allot- 
meut  of  youthful  barbarism,  yet  the  civiliz- 
ing precepts  and  examples  of  a  refined 
home,  the  lessons  of  the  school  and  the 
ever-vigilant  eye  of  the  community,  with 
its  searchlight  thrown  upon  the  conduct 
and  bearing  of  the  young,  were  enough  to 
bear  bim  successfully  to  that  time  of  life 
when  the  youtii  becomes  the  father  to  tiie 
man.  The  boy  went  the  rounds  of  the 
public  schools  with  success,  mixing  in  the 
days  with  the  usual  riot  of  a  vigorous  boy's 
life,  as  well  as  a  turn  as  printing  office 
boy,  hunting  "  the  type-louse,"  or  on  an 
errand  for  the  "  devil's  shooting-stick." 
Like  a  sensible  man,  he  regards  his  time 
ill  the  print ing-oflice  as  days  of  his  life  not 
ill-spent —barring  a  sigh  of  regret  at  the 
way,  boy-like,  he  would  go  down  the  stair- 
way at  about  two  steps,  always  bringing 
the  frightened  occupant  of  the  lower  floor 
out  to  see  if  any  one  was  killed.  These 
perilous  but  happy  times  were  not  entirely 
ended  by  his  transfer  to  the  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  well  along  in  his  junior 
year.  Returning  to  his  home  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  his  father's 
office,  and  on  June  6, 1882,  he  was  licensed 
to  appear  in  the  courts  as  attorney.  While 
reading  law  he  took  his  recreation  in  edit- 
ing and  publishing  the  Dally  ifews  of 
Norwalk,  a  vigorous  and  spicy  paper,  in- 
dependent politically.  This  he  sold  to 
his  brother,  and  it  is  now  part  of 
the  Experiment- Nexos.  Graduating  out 
of  the  publishing  business  into  the  law, 
he  then  spent  a  year  seeing  with  his 
own  eyes  something  of  the  wild  life 
of  the  West,  a  large  part  of  tlie  time 
in  the  Dakotas  and  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory. Of  all  his  years  of  schooling  this 
was  perhaps  the  necessary  sand -papering — 
a  polishing  process  of  incalculable  value. 

On  his  return  to  Norwalk,  he  opened  his 
law  ofiice  and  set  about  the  real  business 
of  life,  which  was   crowned  from  the  start 


HUHON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


99 


with  more  than  tlie  average  professional 
success.  Soon  he  was  operating  in  real 
estate,  and  in  this  line  his  record  is  re- 
markable for  its  brilliant  achievements. 
It  is  proper  to  explain  that  his  operations 
in  real  estate  were  commenced  soon  after 
his  marriage,  his  first  venture  being  the 
purchase  of  a  plot  and  laying  it  off  in  lots, 
which  he  sold  on  the  installment  plan — • 
introducing  in  Norwalk  the  favorable 
scheme  of  helping  the  poor  man  to  own 
his  home.  Disposing  of  this,  he  next  laid 
out  an  addition  on  Harris  avenue  and 
Olive  street,  followed  by  another  on  Grand 
avenue  and  Spring  street,  another  on 
Courtland  street,  and  still  another  on  Carey 
place.  During  all  these  years  he  has  built 
from  five  to  twenty-five  houses  each  sum- 
mer, selling  many  on  the  installment  plan, 
and  retaining  many,  until  he  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  landlords  of  Norwalk.  Of 
itself  this  tells  iis  of  the  importance  this 
young  man  has  been  to  the  city's  develop- 
ment. In  other  lines,  however,  he  has 
been  still  more  active  and  efficient.  He 
was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  "  Home 
Savings  &  Loan  Company,"  and  its  attor- 
ney and  appraiser.  Resigning  his  official 
connection  with  this  company,  he  helped 
to  organize  the  "Ohio  Loan,  Savings  & 
Investment  Company,"  of  which  he  is  a 
stockholder,  director  and  attorney;  he  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Norwalk  Sav- 
ings Bank,  of  which  he  is  vice-president; 
is  president  of  tlie  Norwalk  Gaslight 
Company;  was  one  of  the  active  organizers 
of  the  C.  W.  Smith  Company,  of  which 
he  is  director  and  treasurer;  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Lake  Erie  Tobacco  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  director  and  treasurer; 
helped  to  organize  the  Norwalk  Metal 
Stamping  &  Spinning  Company,  of  which 
he  is  manager  and  director;  is  treasurer 
and  director  and  owner  of  one-half  of  the 
Bellevue  Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.;  also 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Norwalk 
Foundry  &  Machine  Company,  of  which 
he  is  a  director;  established  with  others 
the  Norwalk  Brick  Company,  of  which  he 


owns  one-third,  and  is  one  of'the  manag- 
ing  operators;  also  owns  one-third  of  the 
C.  H.  Whitney  Nursery  Company,  of 
which  he  is  director  and   one  of  the  man- 


agement. 


Mr.  Stewart  has  been  associated  with 
Mr.  William  11.  Price  as  his  partner  in 
most  of  his  real-estate  operations,  and  in 
several  of  the  companies  named.  While 
they  have  been"  actively  engaged  in  real- 
estate  deals  in  Norwalk  and  Huron  county, 
they  have  carried  on  their  real-estate  busi- 
ness in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  owning  busi- 
ness blocks  on  Euclid  avenue,  Sheriff 
street,  and  other  property  in  that  city. 
They  also  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Arcade  Savings  Bank  of  Cleveland,  and 
are  directors. 

Combined  with  his  dealings  in  real 
estate,  here  is  a  record  of  which  our  oldest 
and  most  successful  business  men  need  not 
feel  ashamed,  but  "Charley" — that  is  the 
term  used  by  everyone,  with  a  kindly  ac- 
cent of  tone — is  yet  but  at  the  threshold 
of  life;  the  future  is  before  him  radiant 
of  promise. 

Charles  H.  Stewart  and  Miss  Mayme 
Carey,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  the  daughter  of 
Gen.  Man.  M.  G.  Carey,  of  the  Wabash 
Railroad,  were  united  in  wedlock,  Nov- 
vember  26,  1884.  This  happy  marriage 
was  the  outcome  of  the  young  lady's  visits  to 
herrelatives  andfriendsin  Norwalk,  and  the 
whilom  ti'ans-Mississippi  school-girl  pre- 
sides with  rare  accomplishments  over  their 
pleasant  Norwalk  home,  where  were  born 
their  four  children  as  follows:  Olive,  De- 
cember 19,  1885;  Carey,  September  18, 
1887 ;  Abby,  September  7, 1889;  and  Mary, 
January  26,  1891. 

Mr.  Stewart  served  as  captain  of 
Company  G,  Fifteenth  Regiment  Ohio 
National  Guard,  but  ])ressare  of  business 
matters  compelled  him  to  resign.  He  has 
been  a  working  Republican  for  many 
years,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics. He  served  for  several  years  as  presi- 
dent of  The  Young  Men's  Republican  Club 
of  Norwalk;  has  acted  many  times  as  dele- 


100 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIQ. 


gate  to  State  and  District  conventions,  and 
to  State  and  National  conventions  of  the 
National  League  of  Republican  Clubs  (in 
which  he  takes  a  warm  interest).  He  is 
now  a  member  of  the  Congressional  C!om- 
niittee  in  his  District,  and  at  the  last  con- 
vention nominating  a  common  pleas  judge 
in  liis  District,  was  the  choice  of  liis 
county  for  the  position,  l)ut  at  his  request 
his  name  was  not  presented  to  the  conven- 
tion, lie  says  lie  is  too  busy  to  accept 
office  for  himself,  but  is  always  ready  to 
assist  his  friends. 


f(J[  ON.  HARLON  LINCOLN  STEW- 

r!!^     ART.      This      gentleman's     name 

I     1|    cannot  escape  becoming  a   perma- 

■^  nent   part  of   the   history  of    Nor- 

walk,  of  which  beautiful  little  city 

he  is  a  native. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  December  12, 
1861,  a  son  of  Hon.  G.  T.  and  Abbj 
(Simmons)  Stewart,  and  was  reared  in  the 
pleasant  social  atmosphere  of  a  refined 
home,  and  the  cultured  circle  of  the  city  of 
his  birth.  He  passed  tiirough  the  public 
schools,  afterward  taking  a  special  course 
in  tiie  State  University  at  Columbus,  and 
when  he  had  gained  the  necessary  mental 
discipline  to  engage  in  the  preliminary 
reading  of  a  professional  life,  he  became  a 
law  student  in  his  father's  office.  A  touch 
of  his  active  nature,  however,  soon  found 
him  at  the  genial  pastime  of  founding,  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  a  daily  paper 
— The  News,  a  bright  and  newsy  journal 
— which  was  carried  on  a  year  by  the 
founders.  After  a  successful  year's  ex- 
istence, it  was  sold,  and  the  young  news- 
paper man  resumed  the  reading  of  the  law 
in  his  father's  office.  But  the  pleasant 
aroma  of  the  editorial  tripod  lingered,  ami 
" Blackstone's  Commentaries"  soon  dulled 
in  interest;  so  another  paper  was  launched 
on  the  uncertain  sea  of  journalism — the 
Sunday  J^ews — which  became  an  inde- 
pendent supporter  of  Grover  Cleveland  in 


the  Presidential  campaign  of  1884.  In  a 
little  while  this  was  consolidated  with  The 
Experiment,  the  veteran  Democratic  paper 
of  Huron  county,  established  in  1835,  and 
named  after  President  Jackson's  famous 
campaign  against  State  banks,  and  his  ad- 
vocacy of  a  new  system  which  he  called  his 
"experiment."  The  consolidated  paper, 
which  was  named  the  E xperi ment-y ews, 
was  a  weekly  until  1889,  when  was  added 
a  daily  edition,  which  in  18'J3  was  sold 
and  continued  as  the  Daily  Press. 

The  Experiment- News,  greatly  im- 
proved,, was  continued  as  a  weekly,  re- 
ceiving Mr.  Stewart's  entire  attention. 
At  all  times  the  strong  and  facile  pen  of 
the  editor  attracted  wide  attention,  while 
on  the  stump  his  voice  was  heard,  and 
everywhere  his  earnestness  of  purpose  and 
convincing  logic  were  part  of  the  supreme 
work  that  contributed  much  to  the  steady 
gains  of  his  party  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
The  young  editor  and  orator  soon  forged 
his  way  to  a  pronounced  leadership  in  his 
party,  his  sudden  celebrity  coming  to  him 
in  1888,  when  in  company  with  Hon.  D. 
H.  Wadsworth  he  participated  in  the  first 
systematic  speaking  campaign  in  behalf  of 
Democracy  that  was  ever  made  in  Huron 
county.  In  1891  he  was  chosen  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  Executive  Central  Com- 
mittee of  that  county.  In  the  campaign 
of  1892  he  was  nominated  on  his  party 
ticket,  in  the  face  of  a  strong  list  of  as- 
pirants, as  standard  bearer  for  the  office  of 
State  senator  from  the  Thirtieth  District. 
He  was  elected,  and  served  through  the 
Seventieth  General  Assembly;  and,  al- 
though the  youngest  member  in  the  Sen- 
ate, was  a  recognized  leader.  In  1893  he 
was  prominently  mentioned  by  the  press, 
generally,  as  a  candidate  for  lieutenant- 
governor,  but  declined  to  permit  the  use 
of  his  name.  He  was  renominated  for 
senator,  receiving  the  unanimous  vote  of 
the  convention,  but  in  the  following  elec- 
tion, though  running  ahead  of  the  general 
ticket  in  all  parts  of  the  District,  he  was 
borne  down  in  the  overwhelming  tide  of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


101 


defeat  tliat  engulfed  his  party  in  the  elec- 
tion of  1893. 

Hon.  H.  L.  Stewart  and  Cora  Nile  Par- 
ker, one  of  the  accoinplislied  leaders  of  the 
best  social  circle  of  the  city  of  Norwalk, 
were  joined  in  wedlock  January  7,  1891. 


HARLES  B.  SIMMONS,  a  promi- 
nent retired  citizen  of  Fairfield  town- 
ship, is  a  direct  descendant  of  the 
family  who  emigrated,  it  is  sup- 
posed, from  Wales,  and  settled  in  an  early 
day  in  Bristol  county,  Massachusetts. 

Edward  Simmons,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  owned  large  flouring  mills  in 
Eehoboth,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.,  which  were 
burned  by  the  British  during  the  Kevolu- 
tion,  but  were  afterward  rebuilt.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  serv- 
ing as  captain  in  the  Continental  line,  and 
he  was  an  intliiential  figure  in  military 
matters.  Of  his  children,  Edward  settled 
in  New  Hampshire  and  became  a  judge; 
Noble,  who  was  a  blacksmith,  died  in 
New  York  State;  Eliphalet  B.  is  referred 
to  below;  William,  who  owned  the  mills, 
died  in  Massachusetts. 

Eliphalet  B.  Simmons  was  born,  in 
1773,  in  Bristol  county,  Mass.,  and  passed 
his  youth  and  early  manhood  there.  In 
1804  he  moved  to  Delaware  county,  N.  Y., 
where  for  thirteen  years  he  carried  on  the 
lumber  business,  meeting  with  quite  a  de- 
gree of  success.  During  his  residence 
here  he  married  Esther,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Charles  Brown,  of  New  London,  Conn. 
In  1817  he  started  for  the  "  Firelands  " 
of  Ohio,  making  the  journey  to  Huron 
c<iunty  by  wagon,  and  arriving  July  12. 
He  purchased  land  in  the  Second  section 
of  Greenfield  township,  and  took  up  his 
residence  on  Lot  No.  22,  where  his  grand- 
son, John  N.  Simmons,  now  resides,  and 
became  a  pioneer  in  the  wilderness.  He 
•was  a  man  of  great  industry,  coupled  with 
honesty  of  purpose,  as  well  as  good 
practical  judgment,  and  eventually  ac- 
quired a    large  property.      His  selections 


of  real  estate  made  in  that  early  day  have 
stood  the  tes-ts  of  time,  and  stand  approved 
as  the  best  individual  farms  to  this  day. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  had  a  family  of 
four  children,  namely:  Harlon  E.  (de- 
ceased), Charles  B.,  Albert  (deceased),  and 
Washington  L.  (a  resident  of  Kansas). 
Eliphalet  B.  Simmons  died  at  his  home  in 
Greenfield  January  26,  1836,  in  the  si.xty- 
third  year  of  his  age.  In  politics  lie  was  a 
Democrat,  and  took  an  active  interest  in 
party  matters.  In  religion  he  was  a  Bap- 
tist.    Mrs.  Simmons  died  in  1830. 

Charles  B.  Simmons  was  born  August 
2,  1806,  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  in  1817  came  with  his  father 
to  Huron  county,  where  he  worked  on  the 
home  farm.  On  July  5,  1829,  he  was 
married  to  Maria  P.  Hanchett,  a  native  of 
Wayne  county,  Peim.,  where  her  father, 
Reuben  Hanchett,  was  a  farmer,  and  for 
six  years  the  young  couple  lived  in  a  log 
house.  Mr.  Simmons  then  sold  his  farm, 
and  purchasing  the  home  place  removed 
thereon,  taking;  care  of  his  invalid  father. 
He  had  337  acres  of  tine  land,  among  the 
Ijest  in  this  section,  and  he  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  raising  Merino  sheep,  keeping 
as  many  as  400  at  one  time.  He  also 
reared  a  laro-e  number  of  iiorses. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simmons  had  nine  children, 
viz.:  Jeremiah  Cole,  a  farmer  of  Indiana; 
Esther,  who  died  young;  Lewis  C,  a  lum- 
ber merchant  of  Minnesota;  Volna  E.,  a 
merchant,  who  resided  in  Indiana,  de- 
ceased in  1879;  .lohn  N.,  who  owns  the 
old  farm  in  Greenfield  township,  and  a 
sketch  of  whom  immediately  follows; 
George  D.,  who  died  when  one  year  old; 
Emily  I.  and  Mary,  who  died  in  1849, 
and  Harlon,  a  resident  of  Kansas,  who  is 
in  the  railroad  business.  Mrs.  Maria 
Simmons  died  September  24,  1850,  and 
September  20,  1852,  our  suiiject  wedded 
Miss  Aura  K.  Palmer,  daughter  of  George 
Palmer,  who  at  one  time  was  a  farmer  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  later  resided 
in  Oberlin.     To  this  marriage  have  come 


102 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


two  children  viz.:  Fraiil^  P.,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Sherman  E.,  a  physician  of 
Norwalk.  Mr.  Simmons  in  his  political 
predilections  is  a  stanch  meaiber  of  the 
Republican  party,  has  held  every  ofhce  in 
the  gift  of  his  township,  justice  of  the 
peace,  etc.,  and  served  one  term,  1858-59, 
in  the  Legislature.  In  1876  he  retired 
from  active  life,  and  since  that  time  has 
made  his  home  in  North  Fairtield. 
Though  now  over  eighty-seven  years  of 
age,  he  is  still  active  and  vigorous,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  respected  men  in 
his  section. 


JOHN    N.    SIMMONS,    son    of    the 
above,  was  born  August  28,  1842,  in 
'    Greenfield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
of  which   locality  he  is  a  prominent 
farmer  and  stock  grower. 

His  education  was  received  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood,  his  at- 
tendance thereat  being  confined  to  a  few 
months  in  winter  time.  He  commenced 
farming  under  the  direction  of  his  father, 
on  the  same  farm  \vhich  he  now  owns  and 
resides  upon,  and  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  August  28,  1863,  when  he  en- 
listed, at  Sandu^ky,  in  Company  M, 
O.  V.  H.  A.,  joining  his  command  at 
Loudon,  Tenn.  He  served  through  Geor- 
gia, Tennessee  and  Alabama,  and  at  the 
close  of  tlie  war  returned  home  to  Huron 
connty,  where  he  commenced  agricultural 
pursuits  on  his  father's  farm  in  Greenfield 
township,  renting  same  for  ten  years.  On 
Septeml)er  30,  1868,  Mr.  John  N.  Sim- 
mons was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Richards,  who  was  born  in 
Norwich  township,  daughter  of  John 
Richards,  who  came  to  Huron  connty  with 
his  parents  in  1816.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simmons  has  come  one  child,  George  B., 
born  August  7,  1869,  who  resides  with  his 
father  on  the  home  farm. 

In  September,  1875,  Mr.  Simmons  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  where  he  has 
since  made  his   home,   following  general 


farming  and  stock  growing.  He  is  practi- 
cal and  systematic,  and  has  made  a  decided 
success  in  agriculture.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  his  ideas  have  consider- 
able weight  in  the  local  council  of  that 
party.  He  has  filled  various  township 
offices.  An  outspoken,  sincere  man,  he 
has  hosts  of  friends  who  know,  understand 
and  adnaire  him  for  his  many  sterling 
qualities.  He  does  not  affiliate  with  any 
religious  body,  but  takes  the  Golden  Rule 
for  his  guide. 


B.  KEEPER,  prominent  in  bank- 
ing and  business  circles  in  Chi- 
cago Junction,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 9,  1848,  in  Fairfield  township, 
Ilui-on  county.  His  great-grandfather, 
Walter  Keefer,  emigrated  from  Holland 
during  the  eighteentti  century,  and,  it  is 
supposed,  settled  in  New  Yjrk. 

Walter  Keefer,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1810,  in  Vermont,  a  son  of 
Walter  Keefer,  also  a  native  of  that  State, 
received  a  primary  education,  atid  was 
trained  to  farm  work.  In  1835  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Sandusky  county, 
Ohio,  and  afterward  resided  at  various 
places  in  the  State.  Some  time  in  the 
"forties"  he  located  iti  Huron  county, 
but  subsequently  moved  to  Erie  county, 
and  there  made  his  home  until  1853,  when 
he  located  in  New  Haven  township, 
Huron  county.  On  March  10,  1836,  he 
was  married  to  Lydia  Wiles,  and  to  them 
eight  children  were  born,  namely:  Mason 
S.,  Herman,  Frank  E.,  W.  B.,  Wilber, 
Mary  A.,  Homer  and  John  S.  Mason  S. 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  Hei-man  at 
thirteen,  and  Wilber  at  three;  five  aro  now 
living  and  residing  in  Huron  county.  In 
religious  faith  Mr.  Keefer  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  politics  a  Republican. 
W.  B.  Keefer  received  a  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  New  Haven.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was  crippled, 
and  seeing  that  this  militated  against  his 
engaging     in     manual    labor,     he    wisely 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


103 


directed  his  attention  to  a  preparation  for 
business.  He  attended  the  school  at  Nor- 
walk  for  one  session,  neglecting  no  oppor- 
tunity to  obtain  a  practical  education,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  he  taught 
school  for  one  term,  after  which  he  traveled 
one  year  for  a  sewing  machine  company. 
Subsequently  he  learned  telegraphy,  and 
was  appointed  yard  clerk  at  Chicago  Junc- 
tion for  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Kailroad 
Company.  "When  the  postoffice  was  es- 
tablished at  Chicago  Junction  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  and  held  tlie  ofhce  for 
thirteen  consecutive  years.  In  1877  lie 
opened  a  jewelry  store  at  Chicago  Junc- 
tion, which  he  carried  on  until  1888. 

In  August,  1888,  Mr.  Keefer  founded 
the  Commercial  Bank  of  Chicago  Junc- 
tion; this  is  a  private  banking  house,  and 
is  one  of  the  recognized  financial  institu- 
tions of  the.  county,  enjoying  as  it  merits 
the  confidence  of  the  citizens.  On  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1888,  Mr.  Keefer  was  married 
to  Miss  Eva  L.  Shepard,  of  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  one  son, 
Walter  Dale.  Mr.  Keefer  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  town  and 
township  political  affairs.  He  is  an  ideal 
self-made  man,  and  having  earned  the 
wealth  he  possesses,  understands  thor- 
oughly its  true  management  and  value. 


JOHN  G.  SHERMAN  was  born  in 
w  I  AVakeman  township,  Huron  Co., 
%^  Ohio,  November  11,  1830.  Ilis 
father,  Justin  Sherman,  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  Wakefield  county,  and 
adescen4ant,  in  direct  line,  of  Hon.  Samuel 
Shei'uian,  who  came  fr(jm  Dedham,  County 
of  Essex,  England,  in  1634. 

The  entire  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
on  the  farm  where  he  was  born.  His  early 
years  were  devoted  to  the  nsual  round  of 
duties  of  a  farmer  boy,  and  a  few  months 
each  year  spent  in  the  district  school  fur- 
nished him  ''ojood  enough"  education  for 
a  full-fledged  farmer.  In  the  spring  of 
1851  he  married  Miss  Julia  E.  Beecher, 


daughter  of  Cyrenius  Beecher,  an  early 
settler  of  Florence  township,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio,  and  began  farm  life  in  earnest. 
After  six  years  of  labor  together,  Mrs. 
Sherman  died  from  an  attack  of  dropsy, 
leaving  her  husband  and  one  daughter  to 
mourn  her  early  death.  In  1858  Mr. 
Sherman  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Miss  Elizabeth  I).  Miller,  daughter  of  John 
Miller,  a  substantial  farmer  in  New  Lon- 
don township,  Huron  county,  she  taking 
up  the  household  duties  and  the  care  of 
the  daughter  who  had  lost  a  mother's  de- 
votion. This  union  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  oue  son  and  two  daughters,  who,  with 
the  exception  of  one  daughter,  together 
with  Mrs.  Sherman  survive  Mr.  Sherman, 
who  died  May  27,  1893,  from  the  effects 
of  heart  disease. 

In  the  active  years  of  his  life  Mr.  Sher- 
man was  successful  as  a  farmer.  Crops 
well  cultivated;  stock  well  bred  and  cared 
for;  farm  implements  housed  when  not  in 
use — in  short  everything  done  in  season 
and  in  first-class  order — formed  the  ele- 
ments of  his  success.  He  was  a  close  ob- 
server, a  great  reader  of  farm  publications 
as  well  as  the  current  news,  and  endeavored 
to  keep  well  informed  on  all  matters  per- 
taining to  his  occupation  as  well  as  the 
political,  social  and  religious  news  of  the 
day.  He  gave  more  or  less  attention  to 
local  and  State  politics;  was  frequently  a 
delegate  to  conventions,  notably  to  the  Re- 
publican National  Convention  at  Philadel- 
phia in  1872,  to  renominate  President 
Grant.  Social  in  a  high  degree,  he  enjoyed 
the  esteem  of  a  large  acquaintance.  Re- 
ligious, with  a  deep  sense  of  duty,  the 
outgrowth  of  an  early  experience  and 
training,  he  was  for  years  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Wakeman,  and  one  of  its  deacons  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  For  years  he  took 
great  interest  in  its  Sunday-school,  and 
assisted  in  its  work  as  superintendent  and 
teacher,  ever  giving  it  liberal  support. 
During  all  his  years  of  farm  life,  with  its 
demands,  he  always  found  time  to  enter- 


104 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tain  friends  or  enjoy  a  clay  with  his  family 
at  Fecial  gatherings.  At  the  close  of  day, 
for  over  thirty-five  years,  he  recorded  in 
his  diary  his  failures  or  successes;  the 
condition  of  the  weather;  the  crops,  when 
in  season,  and  all  the  events  that  go  to 
make  up  a  family  history.  More  notable, 
possibly,  was  the  service  he  rendered  for 
over  filteen  years  as  newspaper  reporter. 
On  more  than  one  occasion  did  he  take 
down,  in  lon^  hand,  a  verbatim  report  of 
political  speech,  or  testimony  given  in 
court,  and  mail  to  paper  for  publication 
without  rewriting.  His  crop  and  weather 
reports  were  regularly  mailed  for  many 
seasons. 

In  domestic  life  Mr.  Sherman  was  a  de- 
voted husband  and  father — temperate, 
attentive  to  all  home  duties,  thorough  in 
his  undertakings,  economical,  yet  given  to 
acts  of  kindness  and  deeds  of  charity. 


0  EV.  T.    F.    HILDRETH,  A.    M., 

/  D.  D.,  is  a  native  of  Tompkins 
i^.  county,  N.  Y.,  born  November  29, 
1826,  the  third  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Susan  Hildreth,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Monmouth  county,  N. 
J.,  the  latter,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Colegrove.  born  in  Schoharie  county,  New 
York. 

The  parents  came  with  their  family  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  1883,  and  here 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  the 
father  dying  September  20,  1852,  in  his 
fifty  eighth  year,  tlie  mother  March  15, 
1855,  in  her  sixty-first  yeai'.  Tlie  family 
consisted  of  nine  children — four  girls  and 
five  boys — the  subject  of  this  sketch  being 
the  sixth  in  the  order  of  their  birth. 

Dr.  Hildreth  was  in  liis  seventh  year 
when  his  parents  settled  in  Huron  county, 
and  his  education  began  in  an  old  school- 
bouse  a  mile  and  a  half  from  home,  in  the 
summer  helping  what  he  could  in  clearing 
up  the  farm,  and  in  the  winters  attending 
the  district  school  till  his  nineteenth  year, 
when  he  took  two  terms  in   the  Old   Nor- 


walk  Seminary,  which  at  that  time  was 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Baptist 
Cliurch.  He  was  converted  when  but 
eleven  years  old,  but  did  not  unite  with 
the  Church  till  in  his  sixteenth  year.  As 
his  parents  were  Methodists,  lie  united 
with  the  same  Church,  and  from  the  date 
of  his  conversion  he  was  the  subject  of  deep 
convictions  regarding  his  duty  to  enter  the 
Christian  ministry.  However,  before  he 
had  fully  decided  as  to  his  life  work,  he 
entered  his  name  as  a  law  student  in  the 
office  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  T.  Wooster,  of 
Norwalk,  then  considered  one  of  the  ablest 
attorneys  in  the  State.  Before  he  had  com- 
pleted the  coui'se  of  study  necessary  to  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  he  had  been  licensed 
as  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  having  been  recommended  by  his 
Quarterly  Conference,  he  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  North  Ohio  Conference  at  its 
Session  held  in  Bellefontaine,  August  22, 
1851.  Dr.  Hildreth  occupied  several  of 
the  leading  appointments  in  his  Confer- 
ence till  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  New  York  Conference 
and  stationed  at  Trinity  M.  E.  Church  on 
Thirty-fourth  street.  During  his  pastorate 
in  New  York  his  health  became  so  im- 
paired that  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his 
charge,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  the  bounds  of  the  North 
Ohio  Conference.  After  a  year  of  rest, 
his  health  being  greatly  improved,  he  was 
given  charge  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  Nor- 
walk,  of  which  he  was  pastor  three  years, 
and  then  hy  special  request  of  the  church 
in  Ionia,  Mich.,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Michigan  Conference  and  stationed  at  that 
place. 

Tlie  Doctor  held  three  successive  appoint- 
ments of  three  years  each,  ami  then,  by 
reason  of  impaired  health,  returned  again 
to  his  home  in  Norwalk,  and  once  more 
took  his  relation  to  the  North  Ohio  Con- 
ference. When  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Mendenhall  expired,  by  the  request  of 
the  Norwalk  Church  Dr.  Hildreth  was 
again    appointed     its    pastor,    and    again 


j3^^t<f*^ffrr 


7      / 


//yyiC^<-^t^Z^ 


'A 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


107 


served  it  for  three  years.  At  the  close  of  his 
term  in  Norvvalk,  he  was  appointed  to  tlie 
Lorain  Street  M.  E.  Church  in  Cleve- 
hiiid,  Ohio,  but  at  the  end  of  one  year  lie 
severed  his  connection  with  the  North 
Ohio  Conference,  and  took  charge  of  the 
People's  Tabernacle  Church,  at  Music 
Hall,  an  nndenotninational  Society,  com- 
posed of  such  persons  of  the  various  churches 
as  desired  more  particularly  to  do  Gospel 
temperance  work.  In  this  field  the  Doc- 
tor remained  two  years,  and  upon  the 
death  of  its  founder  and  chief  patron,  Hon. 
W.  H.  Doan,  Dr.  Ilildreth  resigned  his 
position  and  returned  to  his  own  quiet 
home  in  Norwalk. 

In  1863  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University 
conferred  upon  the  Doctor  the   degree  of 
A.  M.,  and  in   1887  the   same  institution 
honored  him  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  Dr. 
Hildreth's  popularity  as  a  speaker  has  ever 
caused  him  to  be  much  sought  after  at  the 
dedication    of   churches,  believing,  as  the 
people  did,  that  he  was  always  eminently 
successful  in  securing  church  debts.      His 
sympathy  for  the  soldiers  caused  him  to  be 
frequently  called    upon   on    memorial    oc- 
casions, and  as  a  lecturer  few  have  excelled 
him  in  popularity  on    the   platform.     His 
style  is  purely  extemporaneous,  never  read- 
inj^  either  a  lecture  or  sermon,  and  seldom 
using  even  a  brief.    While  Dr.  Hildreth  is 
well  versed  in  metaphysics,  and  literature, 
his  ianguai^e  is  simple,  and  his  methods  of 
presenting     truth    easy    to    follow.       His 
imagination  is  often  brilliant,  and  at  times 
he  sways  his  audieiice.s  with   the  grandeur 
of  his    imagery.     I^e    has  written    many 
poems  of   merit,   and  some  of   them  have 
received  from  the  press  the  hiu;hest  com- 
mendations.    Thoujjh  not  now  the  regular 
pastor  of   any  church,  the   Doctor   is  con- 
stantly engaged  either  in  the   pulpit  or  on 
the  platform,  and  retains  in  a  high  decrree 
the  vigor  both  of  his  body  and  mind. 

In  184:9  Dr.  Hildreth  was  married  to  a 
most  estimable  lady.  Miss  Eudolphia  C. 
Cherry,  whose  quiet  unassuming  life  and 
sterHnj'  worth  have  ever  been  a   tower  of 


strength  to  him  all  through  their  years. 
They  are  spending  their  evening  twilight 
in  quietness  and  peace  in  their  own  cozy 
home,  surrounded  with  many  friends. 


TEPHEX  F.  CLARKE,  a  "success- 
ful fanner  of   Lyme   township,  has 
all  his  life  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and   is  to-day  prom- 
inently identified  among  the  progressive 
and  wide-awake  farmers  of  Huron  county. 
His  father,   John  Clarke,   was  born  in 
Ashelworth,      Gloucestershire,     England, 
July  19,   1794,  and   was  married   May  5, 
1823,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lloyd,  of  Tibber- 
ton,    Worcestershire,    England,    who    was 
born  January  26,    1801.     Of  this   union 
eleven  children  were  born  (seven  of  whom 
are   still    living),    namely:     Mary    Lloyd, 
born   September   17,   1824;   Catherine  L., 
born    October    18,    1825;    John   S.,   born 
February     17,     1827;     Christopher,    born 
August  30,  1828;  Frederick,  born  Decem- 
ber 28,  1829;  Elizabeth  E.,  born  April  15, 
1831;  Edwin,  born  July  22,  1832;   Lucy, 
born  October  15,  1833;  Philip,  born  April 
29,  1835;  Stephen  F.,  born  Decem,ber  19, 
1839;   and   Theodore  E.,  born    April    12, 
184^.     John   Clarke    was   a   farmer   from 
his  youth,  and  in   1836   moved  to  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  this  occupation,  ranking 
liigh  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors.      He 
was  a  great  Church  worker,   l)einur  one  of 
the  founders   of   Lyme   Trinity    Episcopal 
Church;  was  also  lay  reader  for  years  after 
the  church  was  first  organized,  and  during 
the  remainder  of  his   life    he   was  senior 
warden.     He  died  May  2,  1877;  his  wife 
passed  away  November  10,  1861. 

Stephen  F.  Clarke  was  born  on  Pipe 
creek,  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  and  was  five 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  the 
homestead,  where  he  now  resides.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  in  the  vicinity 
until  the  formation  of  the  union  school  in 
Bellevue,  where  he  continued  his  studies, 
afterward  completing  them  at  Oberlin,  and 


108 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


at  Heidelberg  Collej^e,  Tiffin,  Ohio.  At 
an  early  a^e  be  inaDifested  a  talent  for 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  bas  devoted  his 
time  exclusively  to  farming,  having  lived 
on  the  property  where  he  now  resides  since 
1845.  He  owns  eighty-five  acres  of  valu- 
able and  well-cultivated  land,  situated 
about  one  mile  from  Bellevue,  and  each 
year  adds  many  improvements,  in  the  way 
of  buildings,  new  farming  implements, and 
in  putting  into  execiition  new  methods  for 
carrying  on  his  work.  He  was  proficient 
in  music,  and  was  a  member  of  various 
bands  for  years,  playing  also  the  trombone 
in  church  at  Bellevue  several  years. 

On  September  9,  1868,  Stephen  F. 
Clarke  married  Sarah  Rosa  Stults,  daugh- 
ter of  Kalph  and  Ann  Stults,  who  lived 
on  a  farm  about  two  and  one  half 
miles  east  of  Bellevue.  She  was  an  active 
member  of  Lyme  Trinity  Episcopal 
Church  and  choir.  Her  life  was  cut  short 
hy  an  early  death  from  childbirth,  passing 
away  March  30,  1872,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years;  the  child,  Edith  R., 
was  born  March  2-1,  1872.  On  Septem- 
ber 4,  1878,  Mr.  Clarke  was  married  to 
Minnie  Louise  Anderson,  daughter  of 
James  Emory  and  E.  Louise  Anderson,  on 
both  sides  descendants  of  Scottish  ances- 
try. The  first  seven  years  of  her  life 
were  spent  on  her  father's  farm  (the  sec- 
ond one  from  where  she  now  lives),  after 
which  her  fathei'  sold  his  farm,  and  with 
his  wife  and  daughter  moved  into  the 
town  of  Bellevue,  where  he  ensased  in  the 
grocery  business.  He  is  now  manager  of  a 
large  orange  grove  in  Daytona,  Fla.  Mrs. 
Minnie  L.  Clarke  attended  a  select  school 
for  three  or  four  years,  and  then  entered 
the  public  scliool  at  Bellevue,  where  she 
completed  her  studies  with  the  class  of 
'78.  To  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Clarke 
have  been  born  three  children,  viz.:  John 
A.,  born  October  19,  1879;  M.  Louise, 
born  October  20,  1881,  and  A.  Bessie, 
born  May  16,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarke 
are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Bellevue,  of  which  they  are  liberal  sup- 


porters. Mrs.  Clarke  has  been  a  member 
of  the  choir  for  over  sixtpen  yeal'S,  not- 
withstanding her  many  family  cares. 

Alvin  Anderson,  grandlather  of  Mrs. 
Minnie  L.  Clarke,  was  born  July  28,  1800, 
in  New  York  State,  of  Scotch  descent,  his 
parents  having  come  from  the  land  of 
Scott  and  Burn.s  at  an  early  day.  In  1820 
he  married  Miss  Harriet  Baldwin,  who  was 
born  July  24,  1800,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Dr.  Baldwin,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  The 
young  couple  then  lived  on  a  farm  near 
Honeoye,  N.  Y.,  where  five  children  were 
born  to  them,  viz.,  Adeline,  September, 
1822;  Martha,  April  30,  1825;  Alvin 
Clark,  February  18,  1830;  Emily,  1833 
(deceased  in  infancy);  and  James  Emory, 
August  13,  1836.  "  In  1838  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Anderson,  with  their  young  cbildren,  left 
tbe  East  to  seek  their  fortune  in  tiie  West 
(as  Ohio  was  then  considered),  they  having 
to  drive  the  entire  distance,  as  in  tliose 
days  tiiere  were  no  railroads  through  these 
parts,  the  country  being  entirely  new,  and 
as  a  consequence  they  endured  many  hard- 
ships. Neighbors  were  poor  and  far  apart, 
and  the  dense  forest  teemed  with  wild  ani- 
mals, including  ferocious  wolves  that 
"  made  night  hideous  "  with  theif  bowl- 
ings. The  family  settled  on  a  tract  of  be- 
tween four  and  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
situated  one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  Belle- 
vue, toward  Strong's  Ridge.  This  was  in 
course  of  ti?ue  cleared  and  cultivated,  and 
sold  ofl'to  new  comers,  and  other  farms  and 
town  property  bought. 

One  by  one  the  children  married,  and 
had  homes  of  their  own,  the  father  giving 
each  a  share  until  the  youngest,  James 
Emory,  came  to  marry.  The  parents  then 
moved  into  their  town  "Cottage,"  giving 
James  Emory  the  homestead,  whither  he 
brought  his  handsome  and  accomplished 
bride — E.  Louise  (Pennell) — from  Hone- 
oye, Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  they  having  mar- 
ried January  27,  1859.  She  was  tbe  eld- 
est daughter  of  Dennis  Pennell,  an  exten- 
sive dealer  in  pianos,  organs,  etc.,  who 
gave  to  each   of   his  children  every  advau- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


109 


ta»e  money  could  procure  (wliicli  in  those 
days  was  considerable),  sending  three  of 
his  daughters  to  Music  Vale  Seminary, 
Salem,  Mass.,  where  they  graduated  in 
music  in  all  its  branches.  They  afterward 
became  teachers  for  over  thirty  years, 
their  duties  never  interfering^  with  family 
cares  and  society  work.  Two  children 
came  to  brighten  the  home  of  J.  Emory 
and  E.  Louise  Anderson,  viz.:  Miimie  L., 
born  May  26,  1860,  and  Ciiarles  E.,  born 
April  13,  1868,  now  on  the  "Nickel 
Plate"  Railroad,  his  home  being  in  Belle- 
vue.  On  May  24,  1891,  he  married  Pearl 
Jessie  Kline,  of  Flat  Rock,  Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alviu  Anderson  jour- 
neyed thi-ough  life  together  over  sixty-two 
years,  and  in  1870  they  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding.  In  1882  this  "  blessed, 
good,  kind  old  lady,  beloved  by  every  one" 
(as  affectionately  described  by  her  grand- 
daughter Mrs.  Clarke),  received  a  paralytic 
stroke,  the  second  one  in  her  old  age, 
from  the  effects  of  which  she  died  witliin 
a  few  days,  the  date  of  her  demise  being 
August  30.  For  the  first  five  years  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr-  Anderson  made 
his  home  with  his  son  J.  E.,  until  the  lat- 
ter moved  to  Daytona,  P^la.,  in  1887;  he 
then  lived  alternately  with  his  two  daugh- 
ters—  the  late  Mrs.  J.  B.  Higbee,  of  Belle- 
vue,  Ohio,  and  Mrs.  Basil  Meek,  of  Fre- 
mont. Mrs.  Meek  and  two  sons — J.  E., 
and  A.  C.  (of  New  Bremen,  Ohio) — sur- 
vive him. 

Alvin  Anderson  died  March  5,  1898,  at 
the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Meek, 
aged  ninety-two  years,  seven  months, 
seven  days.  He  was  possessed  of  much 
strength  of  mind,  a  wonderful  spirit  of 
endurance  inherited  from  his  Scotch  an- 
cestry, and  was  a  man  of  great  industry 
and  integrity.  Liberal  of  his  means,  he 
contributed  largely  to  the  support  of  the 
churches  with  which  he  was  connected,  as 
well  as  educational  institutions,  especially 
at  Lima,  New  York,  Berea,  and  Delaware, 
Ohio,  and  cheerfully  gave  his  children  the 
advantages  of  the  above  named  institutions. 


LTpon  arriving  at  his  new  lionae  in  Ohio, 
in  1839,  and  finding  no  Methodist  Church 
in  Bellevue,  and  only  two  or  three  mem- 
bers besides  his  parents  and  sister  of  his 
own  denomination,  he  gathered  them  to- 
gether, organizing  them  into  a  Methodist 
class,  which  became  the  nucleus  to  the 
present  Methodist  Church  in  the  town. 
He  was  a  loyal  Methodist,  but  liberal 
toward  all  other  denominations,  and  his 
honored  name  will  ever  be  held  in  grate- 
ful  remembrance. 


L 


O.  SIMMONS,  the  genial  mayor  of 
Monroeville,  also  editor  and  proprie- 
\  tor  of  the  Spectator,  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  popular  citizens 
of  the  place.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Mary  (Whaley)  Simmons,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  England,  and,  immigrating  to 
America  many  years  ago,  settled  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio.  Their  other  children  were 
Susie  C,  Mary,  Fannie,  Frank  and  Louis, 
livino-,  and  one  daughter — Belle — and  one 
son — George — -deceased.  The  father  died 
in  1873. 

L.  O.Simmons  was  born  September  16, 
1867,  in  Monroeville,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town,  afterward  the  high  school,  from 
which  he  graduated.  While  pursuing  his 
literary  work  during  regular  school  hours, 
the  ambitious  youth  also  devoted  every 
hour  of  spare  time  to  private  study,  and 
after  leaving  school  learned  the  printing 
business  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  April, 
1886,  he  purchased  the  Monroeville  Spec- 
tator, and  began  business  in  that  then  dull 
little  town,  which  owes  the  greater  portion 
of  its  present  prosperous  condition  to  the 
enertretic  efforts  and  enterprise  of  Mayor 
Simmons.  On  June  20,  1889,  L.  O.  Sim- 
mons, wisely  deciding  that  >'two  were  b&tter 
than  one,"  married  Miss  Margaret  Fan- 
nincr,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  daughter,  Viola  B. 

In  April,  1892,  Mr.  Simmons  was 
elected  mayor  of  Monroevillej  and  has  per- 


110 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


formed  the  several  duties  of  that  responsi- 
ble position  with  rare  judgment  and  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  liis  constituency.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  of  the 
Junior  Order  United  American  Mechanics. 
His  paper  is  independent  in  politics,  a 
spirited  exponent  of  its  editor's  principles. 


L 


E.  BARKER,  justice  of  the  peace, 
dealer  in  real  estate,  and  insurance 
agent,  of  Greenwich,  is  widely 
known  in  Huron  and  adjoining 
counties. 

He  was  born  in  1848  in  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  was  educated  in  this  county,  and  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  went  to  Michi- 
gan. He  remained  three  or  four  years  in 
that  State,  returned  to  his  native  county  in 
1872,  and  located  at  Greenwich,  where  he 
waS' connected  with  the  dry-goods  business 
until  1881.  In  1884  he  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business,  and  now  represents  no 
less  than  seven  leading  companies.  At 
the  same  time  he  established  as  a  real- 
estate  agent,  buying,  selling  and  trading 
lands,  town  lots  and  other  property  on 
commission.  Mr.  Barker  served  the 
municipality  of  Greenwich  as  clerk  for 
two  terms;  was  elected  mayor  of  Green- 
wich in  1889,  and  in  April,  1892,  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  on  December  16,  1875, 
with  Mary  Sypher,  a  native  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  daughter  of  Reuben  and 
Jennie  (Armour)  Sypher,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of 
Indiana.  Her  mother  died  sixteen  years 
after  marriage,  and  her  father  died  at 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  1879.  Their  daugh- 
ter, now  Mrs.  Barker,  was  sent  to  Oxford, 
Ohio,  when  seventeen  years  old,  to  attend 
school,  and  remained  there  for  two  years. 
To  her  marriage  two  children  were  born, 
namely:  Echo  Armour  and  Ethel  Adeline. 
Nelson  and  Adeline  (Hinkley)  Barker, 
parents  of  Justice  Barker,  were  born  in 
New  York  State,  the  former  in    1819,  the 


latter  in  1822,  and  are  now  residents  of 
Ripley  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Their 
parents  came  to  Huron  county  about  the 
year  1834,  and  here  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barker 
were  married,  and  live  children  were  born 
to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Dr. 
I.  N.,  H.  W.,  and  L.  E. 

Joseph  Barker,  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  of  English 
descent,  resided  here  from  his  coming  in 
the  "  thirties  "  until  his  death.  The  ma- 
ternal grandparents,  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  settled  in  Huron  county,  resided 
here  until  death  removed  them  from  the 
circle  of  old  settlers.  The  Hinkleys  are 
of  French  descent,  grandfather  Hinkley 
being  a  cousin  of  Salmon  P.  Chase;  his 
wife,  Laura,  was  Scotch-English.  The 
father  of  L.  E.  Barker,  "Nelson  Barker," 
died  July  81,  1893,  and  L.  E.  Barker's  only 
sister,  L.  Delia,  was  appointed  administra- 
trix of  the  estate  uf  Nelson  Barker,  was 
taken  sick  on  October  4,  1893,  and  died 
October  17  following  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years,  five  months,  twenty-five  days. 


OMMODORE  O.  H.  PERRY,  well- 
known  and  respected  in  Peru  town- 
ship, where  he  is  a  j)rosperou8 
agriculturist,  is  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  born  in  Cayuga  county  April 
12,  1829. 

Joseph  Perry,  father  of  sul>ject,  was 
born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1785, 
and  was  there  educated  and  reared.  Some 
time  after  marriage  he  was  induced  to  go 
to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1832,  when  he  came  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Peru  township,  Huron 
county.  The  journey  was  made  by  boat 
from  Buffalo  to  Sandusky,  and  from  there 
by  wagon  to  Peru,  where  Mr.  Perry  took 
up  wild  land  and  cleared  same.  In  New 
Jersey  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Seward,  a 
second  cousin  of  Gen.  Seward,  and  the 
children  born  to   this  union  were    Horace, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ill 


Emeline,  Catharine,  Daniel  S.,  Eliza, 
Julia.  Sally  A.,  Joseph  and  C.  O.  H.  The 
motlier  of  these  children  died  in  October, 
1861,  the  fatlier  on  May  31,  1859;  he  was 
a  hardy  pioneer  of  steriin*  worth,  much 
respected,  and  in  politics  he  was  first  an 
Old-line  Wilier,  later  a  Republican. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  was 
reared  to  farming  pursuits.  He  was  three 
years  old,  as  will  be  seen,  when  he  came 
to  Huron  county,  and  has  ever  since  lived 
on  the  home  place  in  Peru  township.  On 
June  27,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Frances  J.,  daughter  of  W.  H.  Sny- 
der, of  Peru  township,  Huron  county,  and 
the  children  born  to  them  were:  (1)  Fan- 
nie, married  to  J.  C.  Wheeler,  by  whom 
she  had  three  children.  Perry,  Alto  and 
Mary;  and  (2)  Oscar,  deceased  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  The  mother  of  these  being 
called  from  earth  on  May  31,  1892,  Mr. 
Perry  married  Miss  Mary  M.,  daughter 
of  S.  P.  Towne,  of  Norwalk,  Huron  county. 
A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Perry  has 
served  as  county  commissioner  six  years, 
commencing  in  1886.  He  was  a  most 
efficient  and  popular  officer.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Peru,  of  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for 
eleven  years  past. 

Prompt  and  decisive  in  action,  practi- 
cal and  steadfast  in  purpose,  industrious 
and  painstaking,  a  man  of  judgment  and 
probity,  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by 
his  neighbors  and  wide  acquaintance. 
Social  and  lively  in  temperament,  with  a 
keen  sense  of  the  humorous,  which  is  ap- 
parent in  many  a  droll  and  witty  re- 
mark, "  Uncle  Com,"  as  he  is  familiarly 
called,  is  welcomed  everywhere  as  "good 
company"  by  young  and  old.  His  hos- 
pitality is  unbounded.  He  is  a  model 
farmer  and  a  natural  mechanic,  and  has 
always  been  noted  for  his  fine  stock. 
Always  busy  himself,  he  has  no  sym- 
pathy for  the  shiftless  and  idle,  but  to 
the  unfortunate  he  is    a    kind   and  help- 


ful friend,  whose  sympflthy  is  shown  in 
acts  rather  than  words.  In  any  plan  for 
the  advancement  of  his  community,  iiis 
active  co-operation   is  relied   upon. 


DN.  CARPENTER,  the  popular 
mayor  of  Chicago  Junction,  was 
born  October  18,  1833,  near  Bell- 
ville,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Eunice  (Phelps)  Carpenter, 
natives  of  Genesee  county,  N".  Y.,  and 
Vermont,  respectively,  and  who  were 
early  settlers  of  Richland  county,  having 
come  hither  with  their  parents  in  youth. 
In  1847  Samuel  Carpenter  removed  to 
Richnjond  township,  Huron  county,  with 
his  family,  purchasing  a  corner  lot,  where 
he  resided  until  the  period  of  the  Civil 
war,  when  he  established  his  home  at  Defi- 
ance, Ohio,  and  there  remained  until  his 
death.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig  until 
1856,  when  he  became  a  Republican.  Of 
fourteen  children  born  to  Samuel  and 
Eunice  Carpenter,  eleven  grew  to  maturity, 
of  whom  five  sons  and  three  danghtei-s  are 
livincr.  Three  sons  and  one  daughter  re- 
side  in  Ohio;  another  daughter  in  Ten- 
nessee; one  in  Indiana;  and  a  son  in  Wis- 
consin, all  heads  of  families.  The  sons  are 
all  large  men,  D.  N.  Carpenter,  who  stands 
six  feet  in  his  stockings  and  weighs  170 
pounds,  being  the  smallest  of  all  in  stature. 
Our  subject  was  the  eldest  son  in  the 
family,  and  consequently  became  inured  to 
work  from  childhood,  continuing  on  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-two  years  of  age. 
But  little  attention  was  given  to  his  liter- 
ary education,  but  his  natural  intelligence 
more  than  compensated  for  the  lack  of 
school  knowledge.  On  December  10,  1854, 
Mr.  Carpenter  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  John  Smith, 
of  Seneca  county,  Ohio.  Immediately  af- 
terward he  purchased  a  sawmill  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  Richmond  township, 
Huron  county,  which  he  operated  for  ten 
years,  when  he  sold  the  property.  He  then 
commenced  work  for  Philip  Caruthers,  who 


112 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


paid  hiin  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents 
a  day  for  the  first  month,  two  dollars  a 
day  for  the  second  month,  two  dollars  and 
twenty-five  cents  a  day  for  the  third  and 
fourth  month,  and  so  on  until  he  finally  be- 
came a  partner,  and  they  worked  together 
two  years,  when  Mr.  Carpenter  retired 
from  the  business  to  give  attention  to  his 
contracting  and  building  interests.  In 
1880  he  settled  at  Chicago  Junction,  where 
he  has  erected  a  large  number  of  houses, 
including  some  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
the  town.  Politically  he  is  an  active  Re- 
publican, and  is  now  serving  his  fecond 
term  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Richmond 
township,  on  the  line  of  which  he  resides. 
In  the  spring  of  1893  he  completed  his 
second  term  as  mayor  of  Chicago  Junction. 
For  three  terms  before  movincj  to  town  he 
served  as  trustee  of  Richmond  township, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1892  he  was  candidate 
for  the  office  of  county  commissioner.  Mr. 
Car^ienter,  on  locating  at  Chicago  Junc- 
tion, purchased  a  house  and  two  vacant 
lots,  and  in  1885  he  built  a  commodious 
residence,  where  he  resides  with  his  family. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have  come 
children  as  follows:  J.  W..,  yard  engineer 
at  Chicago  Junction,  in  the  employ  of  the 
B.  ct  O.  Railroad  Company;  A.  A.,  a  car- 
penter, contractor  and  builder;  Mary,  wife 
of  I.  M.  Croninger,  a  contractor  and 
builder;  Lou,  wife  of  Dr.  Kauffman; 
Emma,  wife  of  B.  F.  Fink;  and  one  child 
that  died  young.  Mr.  Carpenter  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  He 
is  very  prominent  in  municipal  affairs,  is 
a  man  of  excellent  ability,  and  a  citizen 
who  is  worthy  of  the  name. 


/ 


MjAJOR  L.  B.  MESNARD,  sur- 
veyor, Norwalk,  was  born  in 
J  Huron  county,  Ohio,  December 
31,  1837,  a  son  of  Eri  and  Harriet 
(Baker)  Mesnard,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  October  16,  1797,  in  Nor- 
walk.  Conn.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 


Eri  Mesnard  received  his  education  at 
Ithaca,  and  became  a  practical  engineer. 
He  was  assistant  engineer  in  the  location 
and  construction  of  the  Ithaca  &  Owego 
Railroad,  one  of  the  first  railroads  built  in 
the  State  of  Kcw  York.  On  June  11, 1835, 
he  was  married  to  Harriet  Baker,  and  in 
1837  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  pur- 
chased a  tarm.  sold  it,  and  then  bought 
property  in  Korwalk  township,  on  which 
he  made  his  permanent  liome.  In  1850 
he  was  elected  county  surveyor  of  Huron 
county,  and  was  several  times  re-elected, 
holding  the  office  for  fourteen  consecutive 
years.  He  was  originally  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  but  in  1856  voted  for  Fremont, 
and  ever  after  remained  a  Republican. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
Huron  county,  higlily  honored  by  his 
neighbors  for  his  well-known  probity  and 
nobility  of  character.  In  religious  faith 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  died  January  29,  1879. 
Mr.  Mesnard  was  a  descendant  of  the 
French  Huguenots  who  left  Rochelle, 
France,  about  1700,  came  to  America  and 
settled  Xew  Rochelle,  near  Saratoga,  N.  Y. 
The  immigrant  Mesnard  married  a  dauo-h- 
ter  of  Judge  Hoyt,  who  was  a  judge  in  the 
Colonies  by  appointment  from  the  English 
crown.  Mrs.  Harriet  (Baker)  Mesnard, 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts.  She  was  married  in  New 
York,  and  bore  her  husband  three  daugh- 
ters and  one  son:  L.  B.  (subject  of  this 
memoir),  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Mead,  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Wood,  and  Celestia  H. 

L.  B.  Mesnard  grew  to  manhood  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  the  vicinity 
and  Norwalk  Seminary,  exhibiting  special 
aptness  in  mathematics.  He  aftei-ward 
became  his  father's  constant  companion, 
even  when  a  small  boy  attending  him  on 
many  of  his  surveying  expeditions;  and  he 
had  thus  many  advantages,  both  in  the 
line  of  mathematics  as  well  as  in  practical 
surveying,  etc.  Ending  his  school  days  in 
1859,  he  followed  the  profession  of  teacher 


IIURO]Sr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


113 


until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  enlisted,  in  September,  1861,  in 
the  Fifty-tifth  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  serving 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  taking  part 
in  rhe  battles  of  South  Mountain,  Second 
Bull  Kun,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  se- 
verely wounded.  He  subsequently  went 
west  with  the  Twentieth  Corps,  under 
Gen.  Hooker,  and  participated  in  the  en- 
gagements at  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  the  siege  of  Knoxville. 
He  then  received  a  veteran  furlough,  and 
while  at  home  raised,  at  Norwalk,  a  new 
company,  which  was  mustered  in  as  Com- 
pany B,  Twenty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  of  which 
lie  was  commissioned  captain.  He  went 
with  his  command  to  AVashington,  thence 
to  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  in  the  Coast  divis- 
ion, and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
at  which  time  they  were  at  Charleston,  S. 
C,  and  was  commissioned  major  of  the 
Twenty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  some  three  months 
previous  to  its  muster  out  of  service,  June 
18,  1866.  During  his  service  in  the  ranks 
at  the  front  he  carried  a  musket  3,500 
miles,  filling  the  important  position  of 
first  sergeant  of  his  company  for  a  year  or 
more,  and  during  his  long  service  in 
the  army  was  always  present  iov  duty 
except  when  absent,  wounded.  After  the 
war  he  engaged  in  farming  in  the  south 
part  of  Norwalk  township,  which  he  fol- 
lowed till  1880,  when  he  was  elected 
County  Surveyor,  in  which  office  he  is 
now  serving  his  fifth  term. 

Maj.  L.  B.  Mesnard  and  Hattie  Baker, 
of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  December,  1865.  Two  sons, 
Howard  W.  (now  at  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute  of  Troy,  N.  Y.)  and 
Ralph  E.  (a  senior  in  the  Norwalk  High 
School)  have  been  born  to  this  union. 


EV.  J.  M.  SEYMOUR,  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Nor- 
walk, is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  having  been  born  in  Portage 


county,  February  3,  1842,  a  son  of  Erastus 
and  Mary  A.  (Chapman)  Seymour,  natives 
of  Connecticut. 

The  family  are  of  English  descent,  those 
members  of  it,  under  immediate  consider- 
ation, being  descended  from  Richard  Sey- 
mour, who  made  his  first  trip  to  America 
before  the  "Mayflower's"  time,  locating 
in  Maine;  then  revisited  England,  and  re- 
turning to  America  finally  settled  in  Con- 
necticut. Our  subject's  paternal  grand- 
father came  in  1820  as  a  pioneer  to  Portage 
county.  Ohio,  bringing  his  family,  Erastns 
being  one  of  them,  and  the  journey  was 
made,  by  some  on  horseback,  by  others  in 
wagons,  in  which  were  also  stowed  their 
household  effects,  their  '■'■Lares  et  Penates." 
The  father  of  Rev.  Seymour  died  in  Port- 
age county  in  1883;  the  mother  in  1892. 
He  was  a  strong  Republican,  and  in  church 
connection  he  was  a  Congregationalist. 
Our  subject's  maternal  great-grandfather 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Seymour,  in  early  boyhood, 
and  before  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  had 
called  a  "magnificently  stern  array"  of 
troops  into  the  field,  attended  school  at 
Rootstown,  in  his  native  county,  and  at 
Mansfield,  also  Hiram  College,  of  which 
latter  James  A.  Garfield  was  president  at 
that  time.  On  the  breaking  out  of  hostil- 
ities, our  subject  enlisted  in  the  Forty- 
second  O.  V.  1.,  of  which  Garfield  was 
colonel,  and  served  in  Virginia,  Kentucky 
and  Mississippi,  participating  in  the  battles 
of  Middle  Creek  (Ky.),  Cumberland  Gap, 
Chickasaw  Bayou,  Port  Gibson,  Cham- 
pion's Hill,  Black  River  Bridge  and  the 
siege  of  Yicksburg,  besides  many  minor 
engagements.  In  1864  he  was  honorably 
discharged  as  sergeant,  and  returned  home 
to  the  more  congenial  pursuits  of  peace. 
For  some  time  he  now  applied  himself  to 
study  and  school  teaching,  after  which  he 
graduated  from  the  Western  Reserve  Col- 
lege, from  which  institution  he  went  to 
Andover  Theological  Seminary,  where  he 
also  graduated.  Having  now  received  a 
license    to    preach,    Rev.    Seymour   com- 


114 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


menced  liis  pastoral  labors  at  Brookiield, 
Mass.,  wliere  he  remained  two  years; 
thence  went  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  and 
from  there  after  filling  a  seven  years'  in- 
cninljency  came  in  1884  to  Norwalk,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  which  place  he 
has  since  been  pastor. 

On  October  1,  1877,  Mr.  Seymour  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Edna  Speaker, 
a  native  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  one 
child,  Emma  M.,  has  been  born  to  them. 
Extremely  popular  among  all  classes,  Mr. 
Seymour  is  admired  for  his  scholarly  at- 
tainments, ability  as  a  preacher  and  his 
hijjh  moral  standing.  He  is  far-famed  for 
his  powers  of  oratory,  purity  of  language 
and  deportment  as  a  Christian  gentleman, 
and  is  much  sought  after  to  grace  the 
platform  on  public  occasions  by  his  pres- 
ence and  elegant  addresses.  In  the  Church 
and  Sabbath-school  he  is  a  hard  worker, 
and  outside  these  duties  he  takes  an  es- 
pecially active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
indigent  old  soldiers,  widows  and  orphans. 
He  is  a  member  of  M.  F.  Wooster  Post, 
G.  A.  E. 


DW.  VAIL,  M.  D.,  Norwalk,  ( 
the  proinitient  and  influential 
zens  of  Huron  county,  of  wlii 


one  of 
tial  citi- 
I'liich  he 
is  a  native,  is  a  son  of  David  Vail,  a 
descendant  of  early  Puritan  stock. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
ISTew  York,  October  2,  1811,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Olena,  Huron  county,  a  prosperous 
farmer,  ripe  in  years  and  rich  in  the  re- 
spect and  conlidence  of  the  many  friends 
and  neighbors  among  whom  he  has  spent 
liis  life  since  coming;  to  Ohio  in  1837.  He 
was  united  in  wedlock  in  1845  with  Al- 
mira  Adams,  daughter  of  Peter  Adams,  of 
Connecticut  stock  who  came  to  Huron 
county  as  early  settlers  in  Fairfield  town- 
ship, and  of  this  union  were  in  the  order 
of  birth  the  following  children:  D.  W. 
Vail,  L.  A.  Vail,  J.  J.  Vail,  Alice  (Mrs. 
Eobert  Lambert)  and  C.  W.  Vail.  David 
Vail  reached  legal  age  at    the  time  when 


Andrew  Jackson  was  forging  his  way  to 
the  front  as  the  great  American  representa- 
tive Democrat,  and  became  one  ot  his  most 
earnest  adherents.  To  this  day  lie  has 
iriaintained,  as  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  the 
unflinching  courage  of  his  early  political 
convictions,  and  in  his  religious  views  he 
is  a  Baptist. 

In  the  list  of  the  family  of  children 
above  given,  it  will  be  noticed  that  the 
gentleman  whose  name  commences  this 
brief  notice  is  the  eldest.  He  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  was  born 
June  3,  1847,  and  received  the  rudiments 
of  an  English  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  place.  "When  prepared  he 
entered  Oberlin  College,  and,  completing 
his  literary  education,  began  the  study  of 
medicine  utider  Prof.  Thuyer  Cleveland,  at 
Western  Reserve  College.  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1869.  As  an  evidence  of  the  young  stu- 
dent's diligence,  it  may  be  here  stated  that 
he  was  fully  prepared  for  graduation  two 
years  before  he  attained  the  customary  age 
of  graduation  in  the  institution.  Im- 
mediately on  reaching  his  majority,  he 
opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  New  Haven,  in  Huron 
county,  where  be  was  employed  the  next 
fourteen  years,  a  period  of  professional 
success  and  eminence,  both  at  home  and 
abroad.  In  1883  he  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent place  of  residence,  Norwalk,  and  from 
that  time  to  the  present  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  important  business  affairs  that 
have  practically  withdrawn  liim  from  his 
profession.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
a  company  wliich  established  the  Post- 
office  Box  factory  at  Norwalk,  which  was 
being  successfully  operated  till  it  and  eon- 
tents,  with  several  other  buildings,  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  entailing  a  serious  loss; 
the  factory  has  never  been  rebuilt.  Dr. 
Vail  is  president  of  and  was  a  chief  factor 
in  the  erection  of  the  plant  of  the  Incan- 
descent Light  and  Power  Company,  that 
is  furnishing  and  lighting  the  city  of  Nor- 
walk, one  of  the  most  important  improve- 


^^^^y^^lXct^UL 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


117 


iiients  in  tlie  place.  It  was  established  in 
1891,  and  at  present  is  supplied  with  ma- 
chinery of  350  horse-puwer.  He  is  also 
president  of  the  Norwaik  Metal  Spinning 
and  Statnpincr  Company,  which  was  estab- 
lished in  1890,  the  goods  of  which  are  en- 
tirely of  nickel  and  copper.  Dr.  Vail  is 
also  president  of  the  C.  W.  Smith  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  Norwalk,  where  is 
made  wood  fabrics  of  great  variety.  This 
commenced  in  a  small  way,  making  mostly 
easels,  and  has  been  extended  to  include  a 
variety  of  products  until  at  present  it  is 
the  second  plant  of  importance  in  Huron 
county;  it  has  150  employees.  The  out- 
put the  first  year  amounted  to  twelve 
thousand  dollars;  second  year,  twenty- 
eight  thousand  dollars;  thii'd  year,  forty 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  present  year 
(1893),  eighty  thousand  dollars.  Bur- 
dened as  he  was  with  all  these  im- 
portant affairs,  the  Doctor  became  post- 
master at  Norwalk,  filling  all  its  duties 
thoroughly  four  years  and  one  month,  and 
during  his  term  became  one  of  the  co-pro- 
prietors and  editor  of  the  Daily  and 
Weekly  Experiment-News,  of  Norwalk, 
purchasing  a  half  interest  in  the  paper  in 
January,  1890,  and  was  with  the  publi- 
cation more  than  a  year. 

Dr.  Vail's  political  preferences  have 
been  Democratic.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  served  a  full  term ;  has  held  most  of 
the  township  offices  where  he  resided;  was 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  State  Central 
Committee;  was  a  candidate  on  the  Legis- 
lative ticket,  and  suffered  defeat  with  his 
party;  a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  by 
circumstances  was  cheated  out  of  the  nomi- 
nation; was  one  term  a  member  of  the 
Norwalk  City  Council;  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  School  Board;  in  1888  was 
appointed  postmaster  and  served  as  already 
stated. 

This  is  something  of  the  record  of  the 
professional,  business  and  political  career 
of  one  who  is  yet  a  young  man,  and  before 
whojii  is  still  the  promise  of  his  best  years. 


Doctor  Vail  and  Hannah  Southard  were 
united  in  wedlock  December  30,  1870; 
she  is  a  native  of  Tuckertown,  N.  J.,  and 
a  daughter  of  James  P.  and  Mary  (Stiles) 
Southard,  natives  of  New  Jersey.  She  is 
one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  all  resi- 
dents of  Ohio.  In  the  home  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Vail  is  one  child,  Harry. 


Q,  LIVER  W.  WILLIAMS.  Among 
the  prominent  citizens  of  Norwalk 
'  this  gentleman  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  most  deservedly  popular. 
His  thrilling  experiences  as  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war  form  a  theme  of  conversation 
which  fascinates  the  younger  men,  to  whom 
the  story  of  that  bloody  contest  is  a  ro- 
mance of  "  truth  stranger  than  fiction." 

Oliver  W.  Williams  was  born  February 
2,  1841,  in  Tiffin,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  a  son 
of  Richard  Williams,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, whose  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Richard  Williams  was  born 
in  1815,  and  when  a  young  man  married 
Miss  Eunice  Randall,  who  was  born  in 
1817,  in  Williamsport,  Penn.  In  1840 
the  young  couple  settled  in  Tiffin,  Seneca 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  law  and 
served  both  as  county  auditor  and  treas- 
urer. He  died  in  1852,  having  been  pre- 
ceded to  the  grave  by  his  wife  in  1841. 

Oliver  W.  Williams  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  and 
when  twenty  years  of  age  entered  the 
army.  On  June  18,  1801.  he  enlisted  at 
Camp  Chase,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  in  Com- 
pany G,  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  O.  V.  I., 
which  regiment,  of  which  he  was  appointed 
hospital  steward  in  November,  1861,  did 
gallant  service  from  tiie  time  of  its  organ- 
ization until  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
It  was  commanded  by  Col.  James  A. 
Jones,  and  Company  G  fought  under  Capt. 
Asa  Way.  On  July  29,  1861,  the  regi- 
ment entered  AVest  Virgina,  where  Com- 
pany G  assisted  in  guarding  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  Railroad  between  Wheeling 
and    Grafton.       They    left    the    railroad 


118 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


August  26,  and  after  reporting  to  Gen. 
Reynolds  at  Beverly  took  a  position  on  the 
summit  of  Cheat  Mountain.  As  cold 
weather  came  on,  it  found  many  of  the 
soldieis  without  overcoats,  shoes  or  blank- 
ets, at  the  mercy  of  tlie  freezing  sleet  and 
heavy  snow  storms.  On  September  12  a 
wagon  train  was  sent  into  the  valley  for 
provisions,  and  being  captured  on  the  way, 
two  companies  were  sent  to  overtake  the 
enemy.  They  drove  the  Confederates 
back  to  tlie  main  lines,  and  on  discovering 
that  Lee's  army  was  in  the  vicinity,  began 
hasty  preparations  for  defence.  But  about 
this  time  the  Union  troops  arrived  from 
tlie  valley  with  a  supply  of  provisions,  and 
the  Confederates  withdrew.  On  October  3, 
the  Twenty-fifth  marched  from  the  summit 
with  several  other  regiments  under  Gen, 
Reynolds,  to  attack  the  Confederates  at 
Greenbrier,  but  returned  without  impor- 
tant results,  the  Twenty-lifth  having  been 
the  last  regiment  to  leave  the  field.  In 
November  it  went  into  winter  quarters 
at  Huttonsville,  and  on  the  31st  of  De- 
cember went  to  Huntersville,  marching 
one  hundred  and  six  miles  in  five  days, 
and  destroying  a  vast  amount  of  Confed- 
erate stores.  This  was  one  of  the  famous 
raids  of  the  war,  and  resulted  in  valu- 
able aid  to  the  Union  forces.  In  April, 
1862,  the  Twenty-fifth  crossed  Ci)eat 
Mountain  and  the  Alleghanies,  arriving  at 
Monterey  after  marching  one  hundred  and 
twenty-tive  miles  through  an  unknown 
region.  They  were  attacked  by  Gen. 
Johnston,  who  was  repulsed  and  then  re- 
treated. The  Unionists  under  Gen.  Mil- 
roy  followed  the  enemy  to  McDowell, 
where  they  remained  until  confronted  by  a 
large  force  under  Johnston  and  Jackson. 
On  May  8,  the  battle  of  Bull-Pasture 
Mountain  was  opened  by  a  gallant  charge 
from  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment.  All  day 
the  contest  raged  fiercely,  and  as  darkness 
fell  the  light  from  ten  thousand  muskets 
illumed  the  night.  First  to  lead  the  van, 
the  Twenty-fifth  remained  till  all  others 
had   left  the  field,   then   covered  their  re- 


treat to  Franklin.  On  June  8,  they  fought 
in  the  battle  of  Cross  Keys,  and  August 
29  joined  Pope  in  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  then  went  into  winter  quarters 
at  Brooke's  Station.  The  Twenty-fifth 
was  transferred  April  27,  1863,  to  the 
Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Eleventh 
Corps  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  they  left 
Brooke's  Station  with  443  men,  and  ar- 
rived at  Chancellorsville  with  444.  They 
remained  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
until  after  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg,  in  which  they  were 
prominent  actors;  then  were  transferred 
to  South  Carolina  under  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gil- 
more,  moved  to  Morris  Island  and  assisted 
in  the  siege  of  Fort  Wasjner. 

Mr.  Williams  re-enlisted,  January  1, 
1864,  as  a  veteran,  at  Folly  Island,  where 
he  cast  his  first  vote  the  previous  October. 
He  received  his  discharge  as  hospital  stew- 
ard May  25,  1864,  in  order  to  accept  the 
position  of  second  lieutenant  of  Company 
C,  and  received  a  commission  as  first  lieu- 
tenant August  11,  1864,  being  mustered 
in  November  1,  same  year.  The  War  De- 
partment issued  a  special  order  "  No.  188," 
releasing  all  wounded  ofKcers  from  duty, 
and  having  been  wounded  at  Chancellors- 
ville, Honey  Hill  and  Deveaux  Neck, 
Oliver  W.  Williams  was  discharged,  April 
26,  1865,  untler  this  provision. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Williams  returned  to 
Plymouth  village,  Richland  and  Huron 
Cos.,  Ohio.  On  March  5,  1864,  during 
his  veteran  furlough,  he  was  united  in 
marriage,  at  Elk  Rapids,  Antrim  Co., 
Mich.,  with  Miss  Gertrude  Baker,  a  na- 
tive of  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  who  has  borne 
him  five  children,  namely:  Addie  J., 
Eliza  M.,  Henry  B.,  Eunice  H.  and  Roger 
O.  After  locating  in  Plymouth  Mr.  Will- 
iams served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
some  time,  then  entered  the  hardware 
business.  In  May,  1877,  he  was  nominated 
treasurer  of  Huron  county,  beitig  elected 
in  October  of  same  year.  He  served  four 
years  in  that  capacity,  and  in  April,  1883, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


119 


was  elected  city  clerk  of  Norwalk,  which 
office  he  filled  for  six  years,  during  which 
time  he  hecame  associated  with  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Home  Savings  &  Loan  Coui- 
pany  of  that  town,  Laving  been  its  first 
and  only  secretary.  He  attended  to  the 
clerical  and  general  work  of  the  Company 
until  1891,  since  which  time  the  loan 
business  has  increased  so  rapidly  as  to  de- 
mand his  entire  attention.  He  has  filled 
the  office  of  notary  public  since  1866.  Mr. 
Williams  is  grandson  of  a  soldier  of  1812, 
and  great-grandson  of  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution.  His  wife  is  the  daughter  of 
a  Union  soldier,  the  granddaughter  of  a 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 


FM.  SHEPHERD,  whose  name  is  as 
"familiar  as  household  words"  in 
^  the  agricultural  community  of  Wake- 
raan  township  and  surrounding 
country,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  July  4, 
1844,  in  Lorain  county,  near  Wellington, 
on  the  old  homestead  settled  by  his  father. 
Samuel  Shepherd  (grandfather  of  our 
subject)  and  his  wife  Rachel  (Taylor) 
caine  from  England  to  America  and  made 
a  new  home  in  what  is  now  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  being  among  the  first  set- 
tlers to  commence  farming  in  the  then 
wild  woods  of  the  "  Far  West,"  bears, 
deer,  panthers  and  other  wild  animals 
being  numerous.  They  reared  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  are  yet  living 
James,  in  Barry  county,  Mich.,  and  Marv, 
in  Hendrjsburg,  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio. 
Grandfather  Shepherd,  in  1822,  then  in 
his  fiftieth  year,  was  killed  by  a  falling 
tree  near  where  the  town  of  Piedmont, 
Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  now  stands.  He  was 
a  Whig  in  politics,  and  in  religious  faith  a 
Quaker,  as  was  also  his  wife. 

John  Sheplierd  (father  of  F.  M.)  eldest 
son  of  Samuel  Shepherd,  was  born  in 
April,  1812,  in  Brandywine,  Md.,  and 
when  a  twelve-year-old  boy  was  taught  the 


trade  of  shoemaker  in  Flushing,  Ohio,  fol- 
lowing  same  in  Hendrysburg,  same  State, 
several  years.  On  August  4,  1838,  he 
married  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio, 
Jemima  Organ,  and  for  about  four  years 
thereafter  they  remained  in  that  county, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  they  came  to 
Wellington  township,  Lorain  county,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  situated  four 
and  one  half  miles  southwest  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Wellington,  this  farm  being  paid 
for  out  of  savings  from  his  shoemaking 
business.  There  were  in  those  days  neither 
roads  nor  near  neighbors,  naught  but  ap- 
parently insurmountable  difficulties;  but 
bravely  did  these  pioneers  hew  out  a  home 
for  themselves  and  future  generations.  A. 
family  of  six  children  were  born  to  them 
in  this  wilderness,  nanjely:  Jessie,  Mary 
and  Emanuel,  all  three  now  deceased,  the 
first  named  dying  in  Tuscarawas  county, 
the  others  in  Wellington,  Ohio;  Lydia,  in 
Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio;  Manuel  W.,  now 
residing  on  the  old  homestead  in  Spen- 
cer township,  Medina  county,  and  F. 
M.  The  father  died  in  August,  1890,  the 
mother  in  1889.  John  Shepherd  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for 
twelve  years  in  early  life,  but  from  that 
time  to  the  day  of  his  death  was  associated 
with  the  United  Brethren  Society;  politi- 
cally he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a 
Republican. 

F.  M.  Shepherd,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  received  a  fair  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, and  assisted  on  his  father's  farm  un- 
til he  was  eighteen  years  old,  at  which 
time,  September  16,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth  0.  V.  L,  under  Capt.  Bullock,  of 
Elyria,  Col.  Oliver  H.  Payne  commanding 
the  regiment.  He  was  mustered  in  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  honorably  discharged 
July  9,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  after-  a 
service  of  nearly  three  years.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  engagements  at  Fort  Donel- 
son,  Chickainauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Buzzard's     Roost,     Kenesaw     Mountain, 


120 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Peach  Tree  Creek,  New  Hope  Church,  At- 
lanta, Jonesborough,  Franklin,  Nashville, 
and  many  skirmishes  between  Chicka- 
inauga  and  Atlanta,  terminating  with  the 
surrender  of  Hood's  army.  (Jur  subject 
was  wounded  in  the  fight  at  Dalton,  and 
was  reported  "  dead,"  but  after  three 
months  confinement  in  hospital  was  again 
reported,  this  time  "convalescent."  For 
services  at  that  battle  he  was  promoted 
from  private  to  sergeant.  On  his  return 
home  from  the  war  he  resumed  farm  life, 
buying  for  himself  a  place  of  forty-seven 
acres  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Wakeman 
township,  Huron  county,  to  which  he  af- 
terward added  twenty-seven  acres  lying  to 
the  west  of  it,  and  forty  acres  in  Clarks- 
field  township.  Here  he  has  since  been 
actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming,  dairying  and  stock  raising. 
He  has  cut  from  the  timber  on  his  farms 
4,(J00  cords  of  wood  for  the  railroad,  and 
made  300  pounds  of  sugar  from  the  iriaple 
trees  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
house.  He  has  also  made  many  substan- 
tial improvements  on  the  property,  and  in 
1881  built  a  comfortable  dwelling  and 
commodious  outbuildings. 

On  February  25,  1866,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Permelia  A.  Clifford, 
daughter  of  George  Clifford,  the  first  male 
white  child  born  in  Wellington  township, 
and  who  has  lived  his  entire  life  on  a 
portion  of  the  Clifford  farm.  Children  as 
follows  were  born  to  this  union:  Three  de- 
ceased in  infancy,  and  Edith  A.,  a  school 
teacher,  living  at  home.  In  his  political 
preferences  our  subject  is  a  Prohibition- 
Republican,  and  has  held  various  township 
offices.  Since  he  was  seventeen  years  old 
he  has  been  a  member  of  various  denomi- 
nations. 

M.  W.  Shepherd  is  now  living  on  the 
old  farm  near  where  the  subject  of  the 
sketch  was  born,  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  the  production  of  honey,  being 
the  possessor  of  a  large  number  of  colo- 
nies of  bees.  He  made  a  trip  to  California 
in  1891,  and  while  there  made  the  care  of 


bees  a  specialty,  and  upon  returning  home 
settled  down  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  days. 
The  maternal  grandfather  and  great- 
grandfather of  F.  M.  and  M.  W.  Shepherd 
were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
the  great-grandfather  giving  his  life  in 
defense  of  his  country  at  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  being  torn  to  pieces  by  a 
cannon  ball  while  standing  beside  his  son; 
the  last  words  he  uttered  were  "  God  bless 
my  country!"  The  paternal  grandfather 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  an 
uncle  was  one  of  Scott's  soldiers  during 
the  war  with  Me.xico;  he  was  badly 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Monterey;  was  at 
the  storming  of  the  City  of  Me.xico,  and 
was  paid  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for 
previously  entering  the  city  as  a  spy  for  the 
American  troops. 


^\ILL[AM  HUMPHREY  JOHN- 
\l  STON,  B.S.,  M.S.,  M.D.,  is  a  na- 
i(  tive  of  Townsend  Center,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  born  December  17, 
1866,  only  child  of  Hon.  Watson  D.  and 
Delia  (Humphrey)  Johnson. 

Hon.  Watson  D.  Johnston  was  born  in 
Allegheny  county,  Penn.,  May  21,  1844, 
the  eldest  in  the  family  of  five  children  of 
Pev.  John  W.  and  Sarah  (Murray)  John- 
ston, natives,  the  father  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  mother  of  New  York  State,  and  of 
Scotch-English  and  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
respectively. 

Rev.  John  W.  Johnston  received  a 
thorough  classical  education  at  Jeiferson 
College  and  the  Western  Theological  Sem- 
inary of  Allegheny,  graduating  from  both 
institutions  with  high  honors.  After  com- 
pleting his  theological  studies  he  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and  was  pastor  for  various 
congregations  in  the  western  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1842  he  was  married  in  his 
native  State  to  Miss  Sarah  Murray;  he 
died  in  March,  1882,  in  his  seventy-seventh 
year.      His  father,  Rev.  Robert  Johnston, 


HVEOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


121 


was  also  a  lifelong  Presbyterian  minister, 
^nii  was  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812, 
having  served  in  the  Pennsylvania  line. 
Tiie  ancestors  of  the  Johnston  family  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  western  Penn- 
sylvania, taking  an  active  and  honoral)le 
part  in  the  various  struggles  of  that  Com- 
monwealth in  the  old  Colonial  days.  The 
Murray  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  New  York,  the  old  family  home 
being  in   the  vicinity  of  Albany. 

Watson  D.  Johnston  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  place  of  birth,  at  an  academy  and  at 
Oberlin  College,  all  which  advantages  were 
secured  to  him  mainly  by  his  own  exer- 
tions. After  leaving  college  he  taught 
school  tor  about  two  years  in  Illinois, 
after  which  he  was  employed  in  the  office 
of  a  rolling  mill  at  Kirtanning,  one  year. 
He  then  came  to  Townsend  Center,  Huron 
county,  where  he  has  since  been  success- 
fully engaged  in  a  general  mercantile 
business,  and  has  been  postmaster  of  the 
village  for  several  years.  He  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  represented  the  county  in 
the  State  Legislatui-e  two  terms,  from 
1883  to  1887;  at  various  times  he  has 
been  clerk  and  treasurer  of  his  township, 
all  of  which  incumbencies  he  has  tilled 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  of 
liis  constituents.  On  March  15,  1860,  he 
was  married  in  Townsend  Center  to  Miss 
Delia  Humphrey,  a  native  of  Ohio,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sarah  (Bierce)  Hum- 
phrey, both  natives  of  Connecticut  and  of 
English  descent.  One  son  was  born  to 
this  union,  William  Humphrey,  subject  of 
sketch.  The  mother  died  in  June,  1869. 
and  ibr  his  second  wife  Mr.  Johnston  was 
wedded  in  June,  1872,  at  Bntler,  Penn., 
to  Miss  Caroline  Walker,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  April,  1844.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  five  children,  viz.:  Robert, 
Mame,  Thomas,  Emma  and  Maggie.  Mr. 
Johnston  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  No.  322,  F.  &  A.  M.,  East 
Townsend,  of  which  he  has  twice  been 
worshipful  master. 


William  Humphrey  Johnston,  after 
several  years  attendance  at  the  common 
schools  and  academy  of  his  native  town, 
entered  the  Scientitic  Department  of  the 
University  of  Notre  Dame,  near  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  from  which  institution  he 
subsequently  graduated  with  highest  hon- 
ors, in  June,  1885,  receiving  the  degree  of 
B.  S. ;  to  him  was  also  awarded  the  gold 
medal,  or  first  prize  for  English  Essays; 
the  gold  medal  for  original  work  in  the 
Biological  Laboratory,  and  the  gold  medal 
of  the  Scientific  Association.  During 
the  same  year,  1885,  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Society  of  Micro- 
scopy. After  graduating  he  taught  at 
the  University  in  the  department  of 
Natural  Science  for  some  two  years,  and 
at  the  same  time  took  a  medical  and  a 
special  or  post-graduate  course,  receiving 
the  degree  of  M.  S.  in  1887.  Dr.  Johnston 
then  pursued  his  medical  studies  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  Western 
Reserve  University,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
during  which  time  he  served  as  assistant 
professor  in  the  Departmentof  Microscopy, 
having  charge  and  principal  control  of  the 
laboratory,  and  he  was  also  first  assistant 
to  Prof.  C.  B.  Parker,  M.  R.  C.  S.,  pro- 
fessor of  surgery.  He  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  the  class  of  1889,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  home  of  his 
childhood,  where,  in  the  short  space  of 
three  years,  he  has  succeeded  in  building 
up  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice. 
Tlie  Doctor  is  fully  equipped  with  all  the 
latest  modern  appliances,  having  beyond 
a  doubt  the  largest  and  best  collection  of 
surgical  and  scientific  instruments  and  ap- 
paratus to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the 
State.  His  microscope,  with  its  various 
attachments,  is  one  of  the  most  complete 
known  to  the  profession.  Aside  from  his 
use  of  the  instrument  in  the  usual  lines, 
and  as  an  aid  to  medical  study  and  diag- 
nosis, he  has  devoted  much  time  to  the 
more  delicate  and  difficult  microscopical 
technique,  such  as  finds  its  application  in 
so-called    "expert-work."     In   addition  to 


12'2 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


his  professional  woriv,  he  also  takes  con- 
siderable interest  in  agriculture,  owning, 
in  the  iininediate  vicinity  of  Collins  and 
Townsend  Center,  a  well-improved  farm 
of  between  three  and  four  hundred  acres, 
which,  however,  is  mainly  operated  by 
tenants.  On  September  is,  1888,  Dr. 
Johnston  was  married  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Nellie  E.  DoUard,  daughter  of  James 
P.  Dullard.  She  was  born  in  Belleviie, 
Ohio,  August  12,  1868,  and  left  that  place 
at  about  the  age  of  four,  residing  first  at 
Collins,  Ohio,  afterward,  and  until  her 
marriage,  at  Xorwalk.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnston  have  one  child,  Donald  Hum- 
phrey, born  May  8,  1893.  Socially  Dr. 
Jonnston  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Frater- 
nity, being  a  member  of  East  Townsend 
Lodge  No.  3-22,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Hnron  Chap- 
ter No.  7,  E.  A.  M.,  Norwalk  Council  No. 
24,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  Norwalk  Commandery 
No.  18  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
S.  of  V".,  and  Tent  physician  of  the  Town- 
send  K.  O.  T.  M.  His  present  residence 
is  the  old  Wm.  Humphrey  homestead. 


ffJfON.  O.   A.   WHITE,    ex-mayor  of 

\^^     Norwalk,  of  which  city  he  is  a  most 

I     11    prominent,  highly  respected  citizen, 

■^  was    born    in   1820  in    New  York 

State.    His  parents,  Abel  and  Polly 

(Warren)  Wliite,  were  natives  of  Vermont, 

descended  from    pure  English  stock,    and 

were   farmers    by    occupation.       In    1849 

they  migrated  to  Ohio,  where  they  passed 

the  remainder  of   their  days.     Tlie  White 

family    were  originally    among   the   early 

pioneers  of  New  England. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in 
liis  native  State,  and  at  the  early  age  of 
seventeen  commenced  teaching  school, 
which  profession  he  followed  until  he  was 
elected  town  superintendent  of  schools  at 
Gerry,  N.  Y.,  and  then  commissioner  of 
the  county  schools  of  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.  He  served  in  the  latter  position 
for  a  term   of  three  years,  at  the  end   of 


which  time  became  west,  locating  in  Nor- 
walk,  Ohio,  with  the  intention  at  first  of 
going  into  the  manufacturing  business; 
but  being  urged,  he  accepted  the  position 
of  principal  of  the  grammar  scliool,  and 
served  the  city  of  Norwalk  in  that  capacity 
for  the  ne.\t  five  years,  when  in  1867  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  Norwalk;  was  re- 
elected in  1869,  and  again  in  1876.  He 
became  trustee  of  the  Water-works,  and 
built  the  Works;  has  been  civil  engineer 
for  many  of  the  public  improvements  in 
and  about  the  city,  and  has  at  all  times 
filled  a  prominent  place  in  advancing  every 
enterprise  of  importance  to  his  adopted  city. 


RAINAKD  W.  SALISBURY,  one 

of  the  representative  men  of  Mon- 
roeville,  influential,  progressive  and 
substantial,  is  a  native  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  born  in  the  town  of  Theresa, 
Jefferson   county,  May  17,  1846. 

Percival  B.  Salisbury,  father  of  subject, 
was  a  son  of  Lodowic  Salisbury,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  who  was  married  in  the 
town  of  Adams,  that  State,  to  Mary 
Phillips,  who  bore  him  eight  children — 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter — of  whom 
six  sons  lived  to  marry  and  have  families. 
Percival  B.,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in 
Henderson,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  27, 
1818.  His  elementary  education  was  re- 
ceived at  the  subscription  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  he  afterward  attended 
Watertown  (N.  Y.)  Institute,  where  he 
was  fitted  for  the  vocatioti  of  teacher,  which 
he  followed  for  some  years.  On  March  2, 
1842,  he  was  married  to  Stella  Willard,  of 
Adams,  N.  Y.  He  then  engage!  as  agent 
for  a  lumber  company,  whose  business  was 
in  a  wild  part  of  Jefferson  county,  about 
eight  miles  from  Theresa.  There  he  lived 
a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Theresa, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In 
October,  1854,  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  North  Monroeville,    Erie    county   just 


HUIiOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


123 


across  the  Huron  county  line,  and  for 
seventeen  years  he  was  postmaster  at  this 
place. 

In  Adains,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salis- 
bury had  one  child,  Newell,  born  June  6, 
1843.  This  son  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  0.  V.  I., 
aiid  was  twice  captured  by  the  Confeder- 
ates, each  time  at  Winchester,  Va.  ;his 
first  imprisonment  was  in  Belie  Isle,  and 
also  in  Libby  Prison.  In  October,  1863, 
he  was  exclianged.  In  September,  1864, 
he  was  wounded  at  Winchester,  and  again 
captured  by  the  enemy,  but  was  released 
at  the  time  Sheridan  retook  that  city, 
September  19,  1864.  He  died  just  twelve 
days  afterward,  and  lies  buried  in  the 
National  cemetery  at  that  place.  At 
Tiieresa,  N.  Y.,  two  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salisbury,  to  wit:  Brain- 
ard  W.,  subject  proper  of  sketch,  and 
Emma  A.  Cowles,  now  living  with  her 
widowed  mother  in  Monroeville,  Ohio. 
Percival  B.  Salisbury  died  March  14, 
18T9,  and  is  buried  in  Monroeville  ceme- 
tery. Politically  he  was  a  Kepnblican, 
and  for  year.s  served  as  township  clerk  of 
Oxford  township,  Erie  county;  was  also 
a  justice  of  the  peace  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  church  connection  he  was  a 
Congregatioualist. 

Brainard  W.  Salisbury,  as  will  be  seen, 
was  eight  years  old  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio.  He  attended  school 
in  North  Monroeville,  his  first  teacher 
being  Ellen  Young,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  left  the  common  school  to 
attend  a  mare  advanced  one  in  Belleville, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  took  a  business  course, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Ohio.  He 
clerked  for  a  time  in  various  stores,  and 
later  was  employed  in  the  Monroeville 
postoffice.  Some  time  afterward  lie  went 
into  the  insurance  business  with  A.  S. 
Skilton,  after  which  he  moved  to  Cleve- 
land, where  he  found  employment  as  book- 
keeper in  the  office  of  the  Howe  Machine 
Company.  Here,  however,  lie  remained  but 
a  few  months,  and  then  took  his  departure 


for  Collins.  Ohio,  to  take  charge  of  the 
books  of  the  Union  Bending  Works,  lo- 
cated at  that  place.  In  May,  1876,  he 
came  to  Monroeville,  where  he  was  in- 
stalled as  bookkeeper  for  the  Exchange 
Bank  (at  that  time  owned  by  Davis,  Crim 
&  Stentz).  On  the  reorganization  of  this 
institution  in  November,  1879,  it  became 
the  first  National  Bank  of  Monroeville, 
and  he  continued  in  the  same  incumbency 
until  1888,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
cashier,  a  position  he  lias  since  filled  with 
eminent  ability,  and  to  the  complete  satis- 
faction of  both  the  public  and  the 
directorate. 

On  October  4,  1876,  Mr.  Salisbury  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Jane  Todd,  of 
Port  Chester,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Todd,  by  which  union  there  is  one 
child,  Stella,  born  November  9,  1877,  now 
a  most  interesting  young  lady.  Politically 
our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held 
various  offices;  was  member  of  school 
board  six  years;  was  treasurer  of  Monroe- 
ville school  board  three  years,  and  treasurer 
of  Ridgetield  township,  one  term.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  Nachee  Lodge  No.  94, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Monroeville,  and  of  Maple 
City  Tent  No.  13,  K.  O.  T.  M.  In  re- 
ligious faith  he  and  his  wife  and  daughter 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  the  Sabbath-school  of  wliich  he  is 
superintendent,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  treasurer  of  the 
Church. 


F.  STEWART,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  Norwalk,  of  which  city  he  is 
a  native,  was  born  March  18,  1854. 
His  mother's  death,  when  lie  was 
but  six  months  old,  was  the  cause  of  his 
young  life  being  spent  in  a  family  of  the 
name  of  Rnggles,  on  a  farm,  where  as  a 
child  and  youth  he  remained  till  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  receiving  the  les- 
sons of  the  farmer  boy,  with  an  occasional 
attendance  at  the  common  schools. 


124 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  had  learned  to  work,  and  at  an  early 
age  evinced  a  marked  (piickness  in  me- 
chanics, with  a  handy  use  of  tools.  When 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  quitted 
the  farm  and  found  employment  with  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company,  and,  with- 
out any  other  experience  as  a  carpenter 
than  that  of  a  boy  on  the  farm,  he  went 
with  a  carpenter's  gang,  and  found  no 
ditHcnlty  in  competing  with  the  best  of 
them.  After  about  one  year  he  quitted 
this  ein])loy,  and  jiroliting  by  his  observa- 
tion of  the  wants  of  wood  workers,  com- 
Hienced  to  make  and  put  upon  the  market 
dowel  pins.  Keadily  seeing  that  turning 
these  out  by  tiie  slow  process  of  making  by 
hand  could  be  improvetl,  he  invented  his 
own  pattern  and  machinery  for  making 
them,  and  this  he  soon  had  in  its  present 
perfected  form.  He  then  opened  his  fac- 
tory, which  rapidly  grew  to  such  import- 
ance that  the  output  for  one  year  was 
7,000  barrels  of  pins,  which  were  readily 
taken  in  the  markets.  He  next  invented  a 
machine  to  split  the  wood,  and  thus  again 
facilitated  the  tnakino-  of  them,  while  it 
improved  and  cheapened  the  product.  So 
rapidly  did  this  new  industry  grow  and 
spread  that  in  July.  1890,  Mr.  Stewart  was 
jnstifie<l  in  changing  this  business  from 
making  the  pins  to  the  more  important  one 
of  manufacturing  the  machinery  for  the 
purpose,  in  which  he  is  now  engaged;  and 
lie  is  now  in  the  control  and  operating  of 
one  of  the  growincr  factories  of  the  citv. 

His  goods  find  no  competition  in  the 
market;  the  whole  industry  is  one  of  his 
e.vclusive  creation,  and  his  machines  have 
been  introduced  into  many  of  the  leadincr 
factories  of  the  country.  The  old  process 
was  for  each  workman  to  make  his  own 
pins  as  he  had  to  use  them,  much  as,  ori- 
ginally, all  nails  were  made  by  blacksmiths. 
A  distinguished  Englishman  has  said  that 
the  really  great  men  of  earth  are  the  dis- 
coverers of  new  truths  and  the  inventors  of 
new  and  useful  machinery.  To  tiiese  men 
alone  civilization  looks  in  all  its  advances 
onward  and  upward.     The  discoverers  and 


inventors  blaze  the  way — they  are  the 
children  of  the  immortals,  they  deserve  to 
live  forever. 

As  "all  work  and  no  play  makes  Jack  a 
dull  boy,"  Mr.  Stewart  adopted  the  manly 
sport  of  rifle  shooting  for  recreation,  and 
became  so  e.xpert  with  his  favorite  arm 
(The  Ballard  rifle)  that  he  easily  won  the 
honors  for  his  native  State  at  Toledo,  in 
competition  with  the  noted  crack  shots  of 
the  United  States.  The  next  year  he 
was  declared  "King  of  Sharpshooters"  at 
the  Detroit  (Mich.)  rifle  tournament,  for 
making  the  greatest  number  of  "  bullseyes" 
in  the  two  days'  competition.  This  feat 
he  repeated  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1888, 
where  nearly  one  thousand  riflemen  were 
striving  for  the  honor. 

In  1879  Mr.  Stewart  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Helen  I.  Manahan. 


CALEB  HATHAWAY  GALLUP. 
From  time  immemorial  the  tradition 
'  has  been  handed  down  by  members 
of  an  ancient  family  of  the  name  of 
Kolopp — residents  of  the  Province  of  Lor- 
raine, now  in  Germany — that  one  of  their 
number  went  to  western  Europe  as  a  fol- 
lower of  William,  Duke  of  Normandy,  and 
never  returned. 

As  corroborative  of  this  tradition,  an- 
other exists  in  the  Gallup  family  of 
America  to  the  effect  that  the  founder  of 
the  English  liranch  came  at  the  Ct)nquest 
into  England  from  France.  The  different 
spelling  of  the  name  by  the  two  families 
is  no  indicaticm  of  a  difference  in  origin. 
"  In  those  early  days  education  was  con- 
fined to  the  monasteries,  and  family  names 
were  perpetuated  by  the  medium  of  their 
children  more  than  by  written  records. 
Afterward,  as  education  became  more  gen- 
eral, and  men  learned  to  write  their  names, 
the  manner  of  spelling  them  was  arbitrary, 
depending  upon  the  sound,  or  the  fancy 
of  the  individual.  Kolopp  is  a  correct 
phonetic  spelling  of  the  German  pronun- 
ciation of  Gallup." 


C.  //.  Geillup. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


127 


In  the  year  1630  John  Gallup  came  over 
to  this  country  from  England,  and  made 
his  homo  in  Boston,  then  Ijut  an  infant 
settlement.  He  was  an  English  sailor,  who 
soon  became  a  Massachusetts  fisherman, 
and  with  his  little  fishing  smack  became 
historic  in  the  Indian  troubles  of  that 
time.   He  died  at  Boston  January  11,1650. 

Soon  after  the  settletnent  of  New  Lon- 
don, Conn.,  and  a.bout  1648,  his  son  John, 
who  married  at  Boston,  became  a  resident 
of  that  part  of  New  London  since  called 
Groton,  where  he  brought  up  his  three 
sons,  John,  Beuadam  and  William,  and 
probably  other  children.  In  1675  John 
received  warning;  from  a  friendly  Indian, 
of  the  trouble  soon  to  culminate  in  that  his- 
toric event  known  as  "  King  Philip's  War." 
That  warning  came  in  the  shape  of  the 
present  of  a  wampum  belt,  or,  rather,  a  belt 
made  out  of  the  long  coarse  hair  of  the 
black  bear,  ornamented  with  white  beads 
set  in  the  form  of  a  W.  This  indicated 
war.  He  raised  a  company  of  soldiers, 
and  took  them  into  that  "  direful  swamp 
light "  of  December  19,  1775.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  succinct  account  of  Gallup's 
fate,  as  related  in  Barbor's  "Connecticut 
Historical  Collections"  and  elsewhere: 
"  The  Legislature  of  the  colony,  in  a  rep- 
resentation of  the  services  they  had  per- 
formed in  the  war.  say:  'In  that  signal 
service,  the  fort  fight,  in  Karragansett,  as 
we  had  our  full  number  in  proportion  to 
the  other  confederates,  so  all  say  they  did 
their  full  proportion  of  service.  Three 
noble  soldiers — Seeley,  courageous  ]!i|ar- 
shall  and  bold  Gallup — died  in  the  bed  of 
honor;  and  valiant  Mason,  a  fourtl^  cap- 
tain, had  liis  death  wound.  There  died 
many  brave  officers  and  sentinels,  whose 
memory  is  blessed,  and  whose  death  re- 
deemed our  lives.'" 

Benadam  survived  the  war,  and  lived  to 
rear  a  large  family,  including  a  son  named 
Benadam  (2),  who  also  reared  a  large 
family  of  seven  sons  and  four  daughters. 
One  sor^,  named  William,  removed  from 
Groton,    Conn.,    to    Kingston,    Penn.,   in 

7 


October,  1774,  and  was  living  there  at  the 
time  of  the  Wyoming  Massacre  of  July  3, 
1778.  His  son  Hallet  was  in  the  fight,  and 
escaped  by  floating  down  the  Susquehanna 
river,  with  his  body  under  water  and  his 
face  protected  from  view  between  two  rails 
grasped  in  his  hands.  Two  twin  daughters 
— Sarah  and  Haimah,  born  March  4,  1773, 
at  Groton,  Conn.,  and  aged  about  five 
years — were  captured  and  carried  off  hy 
the  Indians,  painted  and  adopted  by  a 
squaw,  but  were  soon  after  ransomed. 
Hannah  was  the  Mrs.  Hannah  Jones 
who  died  at  Kingston,  Penn.,  about  1860. 
Sarah  was  the  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoyt,  who  died 
at  JSTorwalk,  Ohio,  in  1858.  She  first  mar- 
ried Peter  Grubb,  Jr.,  and  after  his  death 
became  the  wife  of  Agnr  Hoyt,  and  re- 
moved to  Danbnry,  Conn.,  whence,  in  1831, 
they  came  to  Norwalk,  Ohio.  She  was  the 
stepmother  of  the  late  Agur  B.  Hoyt,  of 
Norwalk,  and  mother  of  William  R.  Hoyt, 
now  of  Toledo,  Ohio.  Another  daughter, 
Mary,  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  James 
Divine,  of  Philadelphia.  He  went  to 
Kingston  to  visit  her,  and  was  one  of  the 
victims  of  July  3,  1778.  She  never 
married. 

William  Gallup  (2),  then  a  lad,  escaped 
the  massacre,  and  at  maturity  married 
Freelove  Hathaway,  sister  of  Capt.  Caleb 
Hathaway,  mariner, of  Philadelphia.  Their 
children  were  William  (3),  Hallet,  James 
Divine  and  Caleb  Hathaway. 

William  Gallup  (3)  came  to  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  in  1818,  and  May  2,  1819,  married 
Sally  Boalt,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Boalt 
(the  first  marriage  in  Norwalk),  and  their 
children  were:  William  (4),  lately  de- 
ceased in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Matilda  (Mrs. 
William  Bombarger),  now  of  Denver, 
Colo.;  Mary,  deceased;  Frances,  who  died 
in  Denver,  Colo.;  Ruth  Ann  (Mrs.  Lafay- 
ette S.  Lyttle),  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Eliza  (Mrs. 
Frederick  Hunt),  now  of  Ar^pen,  Colo.; 
George,  who  died  in  Tiffin,  Ohio:  Susan 
(Mrs.  Thomas  Thresher),  in  New  Mexico; 
Samuel  C,  now  of  Pueblo,  Colo.;  James 
Divine  (2), now  of  Denver,  Colo.;  John  (3), 


128 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


formerlyof  Boulder,  Colo.,  now  dead;  Rose 
(Mrs.  Albert  Niisley),  of  Sandusky  City, 
Ohio. 

Hallet  Gallup  (2)  was  born  in  Kingston, 
Penn.,  in  1796,  and  upon  his  birth  a  rela- 
tive at  Groton,  Conn.,  sent  on  to  hie  parents 
the  wampum  belt  (given  by  the  friendly 
Indian  to  Capt.  John  Gallup,  in  1775), 
with  the  request  to  name  the  child  John. 
That  belt,  still  in  almost  perfect  preserva- 
tion, is  in  the  possession  of  Carroll  Gallup, 
of  Norwalk,  Ohio.  In  1812  Hallet  (2) 
joined  Capt.  Thomas'  company  of  Peim- 
sylvania  volunteers,  and  served  in  the 
artillery  under  Harrison.  On  being  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  he,  in  1816,  moved  to  Bloomings- 
villa,  then  in  Huron  county,  and  in  1818 
came  to  Norwalk.  In  1819  he  was  ap- 
pointed collector  of  what  was  then  Huron 
county.  On  April  9,  1820,  he  married 
Clarissa,  daughter  of  Piatt  and  Sally  Bene- 
dict, and  died  July  11,  1877,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  in  his  eighty-second  year;  his  wife 
died  at  the  same  place  January  11,  1878, 
at  the  same  age.  Their  children  were: 
Catherine,  formerly  of  Norwalk,  now  de- 
ceased; Maria  (Mrs.  M.  A.  Dunton),  now 
living  in  San  Diego,  Cal.;  Lydia,  deceased 
in  childhood;  Carroll,  in  Norwalk;  Sarah 
(Mrs.  Henry  Brown),  also  in  Norwalk; 
Eliza,  deceased  in  infancy;  Caleb  Hatha- 
way (2),  and  Lizzie  Frances,  both  now  liv- 
ing in  JJorwalk. 

James  Divine  Gallup,  third  son  of  Will- 
iam (3),  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
98  a  mining  engineer,  in  the  then  just 
developing  coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  died  unmarried  at  Mauch  Chunk  in 
March,  1856,  aged  about  fifty-eight  years. 

Caleb  Hathaway  Gallup,  fourth  son  of 
William  (2),  was  born  at  Kingston,  Penn., 
in  1802;  came  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  in  1825, 
^nd  opened  a  cabinet  shop  on  the  lot  so 
long  occupied  by  the  late  John  H-  Foster. 
He  died  at  Norwalk,  September  20,  1827, 
un!narried. 

Caleb  Hathaway  Gallup  (2),  the  subject 
proper  of  these  lines,  son  of  Hallet  Gallup 


(2),  was  born  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  May  10, 
1834.  At  Madison  University,  Hamilton, 
N.  Y.,  he  graduated,  in  1856,  from  the 
Literary  and  Scientific  course,  and  was  the 
first  student  upon  wliom  that  institution 
conferred  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Phi- 
losophy.  In  1857  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law  with  AVorcester&Pennewell,  of  Nor- 
walk, and  in  April,  1858,  graduated  from 
the  Cincinnati  Law  School  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  shortly  afterward 
opening  an  othce  in  Norwalk.  In  1859 
he  removed  to  St.  John's,  Mich.,  and  July 
19,  same  year,  was  admitted  to  practice 
law  in  the  courts  of  that  State.  The  fol- 
lowing summer  he  removed  from  St. 
John's  to  Port  Austin,  Huron  Co.,  Mich., 
arriving  there  June  24,  1860.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  he  was  elected  the  first 
prosecuting  attorney  of  that  county,  to 
which  position  he  was  re-elected  for  four 
succeeding  terms,  holding  the  incumbency 
till  January  1,  1871,  a  period  of  ten  years. 
He  also  held  the  offices  of  circuit  court 
commissioner  and  injunction  master  dur- 
ing most  of  the  same  period,  as  well  as 
that  of  township  treasurer,  and  several 
other  minor  offices. 

During  the  war  of  the  Bebellion,  he 
acted  as  deputy  United  States  marshal  for 
the  western  district  of  Huron  county, 
Mich.,  was  himself  drafted,  and  instead  of 
being  sent  to  the  front,  was  ordered  back 
to  duty  as  deputy  marshal.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Michigan 
Legislature  for  two  years;  and  while  act- 
ing in  that  capacity  introduced  and  ob- 
tained the  passage  of  a  joint  resolution 
calling  on  Congress  to  provide  for  and 
construct  a  harbor  of  refuge  at  or  near 
Point  au  Barques,  Lake  Huron.  He  also 
had  printed  and  circulated,  at  the  different 
cities  bordering  the  great  chain  of  lakes, 
a  petition  to  the  same  end.  This  was  the 
first  step  ever  taken  to  obtain  such  a 
harbor,  and  did  not  meet  with  immediate 
success;  but  it  set  the  movement  on 
foot  that  eventually  culminated  in  the 
magnificent    harbor    of    refuge    at    Sand 


HURON  COUNTY,  Oil  JO. 


129 


Beach,  Huron  Co.,  Mich.  Hundreds  of  ves- 
sels, tliousands  of  sailors  and  millions  of 
dollars  wortli  of  property  now  find  safe 
shelter  there  from  the  terrible  storms  of 
Lake  Huron.  In  1867-68-69  he  made  re- 
peated efforts  to  obtain  an  extension  of 
the  Western  Union  telegraph  line  fi'oni 
Lexington  to  Port  Austin — seventy  miles 
— and  with  success. 

On  June  20,  1860,  Mr.  Gallup  married 
Miss  Kate  M.,  daughter  of  John  V.  and 
Mary  S.  Vredenbiirgh,  then  of  Peru, 
Huron  Ci>..  Ohio,  by  which  union  there 
is  one  son,  Ricliard  Carroll,  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1861,  at  the  Peru  farm.  His 
mother  was  called  from  earth  May  25, 
1863,  and  November  3,  1869,  Mr.  Gallup 
married  Miss  Helen  A.,  daughter  ofWill- 
iam  and  Mary  Glover,  of  Trenton,  N.  J., 
and  niece  of  Hon.  Joel  Parker,  of  Free- 
hold, same  State,  the  only  person  who  has 
twice  held  the  position  of  governor  of  that 
State.  She  died  April  8,  1872,  at  Port 
Austin,  Mich.,  aged  twenty-nine  years, 
and  is  buried  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  The 
issue  of  this  second  marriage  are  one 
daughter — Mabel  Parker,  born  September 
17,  1870 — and  one  son — Herbert  Alpheus, 
born  April  5,  1872,  both  born  at  Port 
Austin. 

On  July  9,  1872,  Mr.  Gallup  removed 
with  his  cliildren  back  to  Norwalk.  Ohio, 
his  pre.-ent  place  of  residence,  and  then 
abandoned  the  practice  of  law,  engaging 
in  general  business  as  well  as  public  enter- 
prises, and  taking  care  of  his  family  and 
the  family  estate.  He  has  been  identified 
with  nearly  every  public  enterprise  for  the 
good  of  his  city  and  of  the  community  at 
large,  that  has  been  set  on  foot.  He  was 
instrnmental  in  having  the  Lake  Erie  Rail- 
road run  through  Norwalk,  and  subse- 
quently visited  New  York  City  for  tlie 
purpose  of  advocating  the  locating  of  the 
Railroad  shops  here.  He  has  assisted  in 
securing  the  establishment  of  most  of  the 
factories,  etc.,  in  Norwalk.  In  1888  he 
with  others  organized  the  Home  Savings 
&  Loan  Company  in  Norwalk,  Mr.  Gallup 


beinor  its  first  president,  a  position  he 
still  fills;  and  it  may  be  said  tliat  it  is  due 
to  his  manatjement  that  this  institution 
has  grown  so  vastly  beyond  the  proportions 
estimated  by  even  the  most  sanguine.  Asa 
business  man,  Mr.  Gallup  is  recognized 
as  possessing  the  highest  ability,  and  is 
called  in  council  in  all  matters  of  pub- 
lic moment.  He  is  quiet  and  unobtru- 
sive in  his  manner,  but  pushes  all  his 
projects  with  characteristic  energy,  and 
shows  high  e.xecutive  power  in  the  adjust- 
ment of  business. 


FLATT     BENEDICT.       About    the 
year     1500,   William     Benedict,    of 
Nottinghamshire,  England,  had   an 
only    son    born    to    him   whom    he 
called    William;    this   William    (2) 
had  an  only  son  whom  he  called   William; 
and  this  William  (3)  had,  in  1617,  an  only 
son,  whom  he  called  Tliomas. 

In  1638  Thomas  Benedict  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  New  England;  and 
after  remaining  there  for  a  time  he  re- 
moved  to  Southhold,  on  Long  Island, 
where  were  born  to  him  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  whose  names  were  Thomas, 
John,  Samuel,  James,  Daniel,  Betty, 
Mary,  Sarah  and  Rebecca.  From  South- 
hold  the  family  removed  to  Hassamamac, 
from  there  to  Jamaica,  Long  Island  (where 
Thomas  was  married),  and  from  tliere  they 
finally  removed  to  Norwalk,  Fairfield  Co., 
Conn.,  where  all  the  remaining  children 
were  married. 

Daniel  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Marvin,  of  Norwalk;  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  "direful  swamp  fight,"  of  De- 
cember 19, 1675;  after  which,  at  a  Norwalk 
town  meeting,  January  12,  1676:  "The 
towne,  in  consideration  of  the  good  service 
that  the  soldiers  sent  out  of  the  towne  in- 
gaged  and  performed  by  them,  and  out 
of  respect  and  thankfulness  to  the  sayd 
soldiers,  doe  with  one  consent  and  freely 
give  and  grant  to  so  many  as  were  in  the 
direful  swamp  tight,  twelve  acors  of  land; 


130 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  eiVht  acors  of  land  to  so  many  as  were 
in  the  next  considerable  service."  Ac- 
cordingly, there  was  granted  by  the  plan- 
tation, as  a  gratuity  unto  Daniel  Benedict, 
"  being  a  souldier  in  the  Indian  warr, 
tweife  acors  of  land  and  lyeth  in  three  par- 
cels." In  1690  he  sold  his  Norwalk  prop- 
erty, and  removed  to  Danbury.  His  chil- 
dren were  Mary,  Daniel  (2),  Hannah  and 
Mercy. 

Daniel  Benedict  (2)  married  Bebecca, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Taylor,  one  of  the 
original  settlers  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  and 
their  children  were  Daniel  (3),  Matthew, 
Theophilus,  Bebecca,  Mary,  David,  Nathan 
and  Deborah. 

Captain  Daniel  Benedict  (3),  born  1705, 
married  Sarali  Hickok  1728,  and  died  No- 
vember 9,  1773;  their  children  were  Dan- 
iel (4),  Lemuel,  Noah,  Sarah,  Jonas,  Aaron, 
Ruth,  Mary  and  Amos.  Of  these,  Jonas 
was  born  September  21.  1742;  married 
January  14,  1767,  to  Mercy  Bougliton, 
and  died  October  30,  1820.  He  was  a 
memlier  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut in  1809.  Their  children  were 
Elizabeth,  Jonas  (2),  Piatt,  Sarah.  Daniel 
(5),  Mary  and  Eli. 

Piatt  Benedict,  the  sul)ject  of  this 
memoir,  was  born  at  Danbury,  Conn., 
March  18,  1775,  and  was  of  the  si.xth  gen- 
eration of  Benedicts  in  America.  He  mar- 
ried, November  12,  1795,  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Daniel  DeForest,  of  Wilton,  Conn.  She 
was  born  August  27,  1777,  and  died  June 
24,  1852,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  (1)  Clarissa,  born  September 
4,  1796;  married  Hallet  Gallup,  April  9, 
1820;  died  January  11,  1878,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  leaving  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, viz.:  (Catherine  (deceased),  Maria 
(wife  of  Marlin  A.  Duuton,  of  San  Diego, 
Cal.),  Carroll,  Sarah  (widow  of  Henry 
Brown),  Caleb  H.  and  Lizzie  F.,  of  Nor- 
walk. (2)  David  Mead,  born  August  17, 
1801;  married  September  24,  1833,  to 
Mary  Booth  Starr;  and  died  June  16,  1843, 
at  Danbury,  leaving  no  issue.  (3)  Daniel 
Bridgnm,  born  June  1, 1803;  died  unmar- 


ried September  9,  1827,  at  New  Orleans, 
La.  (4)  Jonas  Boughton,  born  March  23, 
1806;  married  October  8,  1829,  to  Fanny, 
daughter  of  Henry  Bnckinghatn;  and  died 
at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  July  29,  1851,  leaving 
one  son,  David  DeForest  (Dr.  Benedict, 
the  present  druggist  of  Norwalk,  Ohio), 
and  one  daughter,  Fanny  B.,  who  married 
Louis  H.  Severance,  of  Cleveland,  and  died 
August  1,  1874.  And  (5)  Eliza  Ann,  born 
October  27,1812;  married  William  Brew- 
ster, May  1,  1832,  and  died  August  17, 
1840,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  leaving  two  sons, 
both  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 

After  his  marriage  Piatt  Benedict  re- 
moved to  North  Salem.  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  his  daughter  Clarissa  was 
born:  from  there  he  removed  to  Randal's 
Island,  in  East  River,  where  he  engaged 
in  market  gardening;  in  a  few  years  he  re- 
moved back  to  Danbury.  and  was  appointed 
collector  of  that  town,  in  which  ca|iacity 
he  acted  in  1812-13.  In  September,  1815, 
he  first  came  to  Ohio  to  look  up  a  new 
home,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  in 
company  with  Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Maj. 
Frederick  Falley,  visited  and  examined  the 
present  site  of  Norwalk.  He  then  returned 
to  Danbury  and  negotiated  the  purchase 
of  about  one  thousand,  three  hundred  acres 
of  land  (now  the  site  of  Norwalk)  on  be- 
half of  Elisha  Whittlesey,  Matthew  B. 
Whittlesey,  E.  Moss  White  and  himself. 
In  January,  1817.  he  again  returned,  to 
take  charge  of  and  make  iniproveujents 
upon  the  new  purchase;  erected  a  log 
house  (which  was  the  first  Vmilding  con- 
structed by  white  men  within  the  present 
corporate  limits  of  the  village  of  Norwalk), 
commenced  a  clearing  upon  the  fiats  south 
of  his  new  house,  and  on  April  4  returned 
to  Danbury,  arriving  there  May  4. 

In  July,  1817,  he  left  Danbury  with  his 
family,  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn  by  one 
horse,  and  another  wagon  loaded  with 
household  goods,  provisions,  etc.,  drawn 
by  four  oxen;  also  one  saddle  horse.  After 
seven  weeks  of  fatiguing  travel  and  hard- 
ship,  they  arrived   at   the    house  of  David 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


131 


Gibbs  and  Henry  Lockwood  in  Norwalk 
on  September  9,  and  then  learned  that 
their  house,  built  that  spring,  was  burned 
down.  In  this  emergency,  tlie  open- 
handed  hospitality  of  frontier  life  was 
extended  to  them  by  tlie  families 
of  Gibbs  and  Lockwood,  and  there  they 
remained  until  a  new  house  was  erected. 
Of  the  erection  of  that  house,  destined  to 
be  the  avant-courier  of  so  many  noble 
structures  and  happy  homes,  Mr.  Benedict 
himself   says: 

On  hearing  of  my  house  being  burned,  we 
stopped  with  Messrs.  Gibbs  and  Locliwood,  who 
very  hospitably  entertained  us  until  I  got  my 
house  in  a  condition  to  move  in.  They  were  ac- 
commidating  Capt.  John  Boalt's  family,  nine  of 
whom  were  sick  with  the  ague.  We  stayed  there 
from  Monday  until  Friday,  when  we  went  iuto  our 
new  home,  a  log  pen  twenty  feet  square,  no  doors, 
windows,  fire-place,  and  no  furniture  except  some 
cooking  utensils  used  on  our  journey.  Built  a  Are 
aijainst  the  logs  on  one  side  of  the  shanty,  made  up 
our  beds  on  the  floor,  which  was  so  green  and 
damp  it  spoiled  the  under-beds,  which  induced  me 
to  fit  up  two  bedsteads,  one  for  myself  and  wife 
and  one  for  my  daughters,  placed  in  opposite  cor- 
ners of  the  shanty,  by  boring  holes  in  the  logs,  for 
the  sides  and  leet,  and  one  upright  post  put  into  a 
hole  in  the  floor,  and  fastened  at  the  top,  and  with 
basswood  bark,  made  matting  in  the  place  of  cord, 
and  when  completed  they  were  very  comfortable. 
I  cut  out  two  doors  and  two  windows.  The  sash  I 
boueht  but  could  get  no  glass,  in  place  of  which  1 
used  greased  paper.  Built  an  oven  in  one  corner, 
part  in  and  part  outside,  with  clay  and  sticks;  also 
a  slick  chimney  above  the  chamber  floor,  had  no 
jams.  After  burning  out  three  or  four  logs,  I  built 
up  the  back  part  of  the  chimney  of  muck  and 
sticks.  I  chinked  up  and  mudded  between  the 
logs,  which  made  it  very  comfortable.  For  a  few 
days  we  were  almost  without  provisions;  we  had 
green  corn,  turnips  and  milk. 

The  late  Seth  Jenning,  of  Milan,  says: 
I  commenced  splitting  clapboards  out  of  oak 
timber  to  make  the  roof  of.  Every  man  that  could 
work  was  on  hand  to  help  and  do  his  best  toward 
getting  up  the  house.  The  women  turned  out  and 
brought  up  our  dinners  that  day;  but  we  got  along 
80  well  with  the  house  that  the  next  morning  Mr. 
Benedict  moved  up,  and  Mrs.  Benedict  cooked  our 
dinners  that  day  by  a  log  near  the  house. 

In  "  Scattered  Sheaves,  by  Ruth,"  it  is 
stated: 

There  were    present    Levi   Cole  and   his  sons, 
Maj.  Underbill,  David  and  Jasper   Underbill,  his 

nephews,    Lott  Herrick,  Sanderson,    Daniel 

Clary.  Noah  P.  Ward,  Elihu  Potter,  Richard  Gardi- 
ner, Reuben  Pixley  and  his  son  Reuben,  Henrjr 
Lockwood,  David  Gibbs  and  others.     Says  David 


Underbill,  2d.,  "Asher  Cole,  Sanderson  and  myself, 
cut  logs  in  the  woods  near,  or  on  the  ground  now 
occupied  by  the  railroad  buildings,  and  the  water 
was  ankle  deep;  Lott  Herrick  drove  the  team. 
Mr.  Benedict  regaled  his  fellow  laborers  with 
Jamaica  rum  instead  of  whiskey,  which  was  usually 
furnished  on  such  occasions.  Mrs.  Underbill  fur- 
nished, cooked  the  dinner,  and  sent  it  to  us.  It  con- 
sisted mainly  of  pork,  potatoes,  turnips  and  bread." 

In  an  unpublished  narrative,  dictated  by 

Mrs.  Benedict  not  long  before  her  death, 

she  says: 

Two  miles  from  any  neighbor  our  little 
cabin  stood;  the  floor  of  logs  split  in  the  middle, 
not  smoothed  by  plane  or  chisel;  our  chairs 
made  in  the  same  rude  manner;  our  table 
was  of  pieces  of  boxes  in  which  our  goods  had 
been  packed,  and  "saplings"  fastened  together 
formed  our  bedsteads.  On  one  side  of  our  cabin 
was  a  large  fireplace,  on  the  east,  and  west  sides 
were  doors,  on  the  north  our  only  windows,  in 
which  to  supply  the  place  of  glass  we  pasted  pieces 
of  greased  paper.  And  many  pleasant  evenings 
we  spent  beside  that  large  fireplace,  cracking  nuts 
and  eating,  not  apples,  but  turnips.  You  need  not 
laugh,  I  tell  you  those  raw  turnips  tasted  good 
when  there  was  nothing  else  to  eat,  and  as  the 
flames  grew  bright,  our  merry  party  would  forget 
that  they  were  not  in  their  eastern  hcmie,  but  far 
away  in  the  wilds  of  Ohio.  We  heard  the  howl  of 
the  wolf  and  the  whoop  of  the  Indian  resounding 
through  the  forest,  for  a  favorite  hunting  ground  of 
these  wild  men  was  situated  near  our  cabin,  and 
often  would  the  Indians  assemble  and  renew  their 
noisy  sports,  little  dreaming  of  the  tide  of  immigra- 
tion which  should  finally  sweep  them  away.  One 
night  the  loud  barking  of  our  dog  attracted  our  at- 
tention, followed  by  a  knock  at  the  door;  on 
opening  which,  in  stalked  a  large  Indian,  dressed 
in  furs  and  blanket,  and  fully  armed.  The  children 
huddled  close  to  me  as  he  came  near  and  asked 
for  "daddy."  He  was  evidently  intoxicated,  and  I 
did  not  dare  to  let  him  know  that  "daddy  "  was  not 
at  home.  I  asked  him  to  sit  down,  but  he  pre- 
ferred to  stretch  himself  before  the  fire,  where  he 
soon  fell  asleep.  When  he  awoke  he  was  nearly 
sober,  and  quite  inclined  to  be  talkative.  He  told 
me  of  the  many  wrongs  the  Indian  had  sufl'ered; 
that  the  white  man  planted  corn  over  his  father's 
bones;  and  the  poor  old  Indian  wept.  Finally  he 
started  up,  exclaiming,  "daddy  no  come,  you  no 
sleep,  I  go  to  my  brothers;"  and  he  went  away: 
Sleep  was  a  stranger  to  our  eyes  that  night,  we 
kept  ourselves  in  readiness  for  flight,  for  we  ex- 
pected the  "red-face"  would  return  with  his  broth- 
ers to  murder  us  all.  The  riches  of  a  kingdom 
would  not  repay  us  for  another  such  night  of 
anxiety.  But  as  time  passed  on  we  gained  the 
friendship  of  these  denizens  of  the  forest,  and  they 
brought  us  many,  many  presents  in  their  own 
rude  way. 

From  the  date  of  Mr.  Benedict's  settle- 
ment to  that  of  his  death,  his  history  is  so 
completely    intertwined    with    tiiat  of  tlie 


132 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


growtli  and  prosperity  of  the  town,  that  to 
give  it  here  in  detail  would  only  be  a  repeti- 
tion of  a  large  part  of  the  history  of  Norwalk. 
On  June  17,  1856,  he  married,  as  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Mrs.  Lavina  P.  Benton,  of  Ke- 
public,  Ohio,  who  survived  him  and  died 
February  9,  1875. 

A  few  days  before  his  death  he  attended 
the  Grand  Encampment  of  Masons  at 
Toledo,  became  very  much  fatigued  by 
over  exertion,  was  attacked  by  bowel  com- 
plaint, but  so  great  were  his  physical 
powers,  and  so  determined  his  will,  that 
he  returned  to  Norwalk,  after  which  he 
rapidly  grew  worse;  yet,  so  remarkable 
was  his  vitality,  that  he  kept  up  and  around 
his  room  until  within  a  very  few  hours  of 
the  end.  One  of  his  last  acts  preceding  his 
death,  only  about  six  hours,  was  the  dicta- 
tion and  signing  a  very  salutary  codicil 
to  his  will  for  the  benefit  of  his  wife. 
With  all  Ills  faculties  of  mind  clear  and 
distinct  to  the  last,  he  quietly  passed 
away  October  25,  1866,  aged  ninety -one 
years,  seven  months  and  seven  days.  His 
funeral  took  place  on  the  following  Sab- 
bath, and  was  conducted  by  the  Knights 
Templar  from  various  parts  of  nortliern 
Ohio,  who  came  in  special  trains  run  from 
Cleveland  and  Toledo  for  that  purpose. 
His  cherished  and  aged  friend.  Rev. 
Samuel  Marks,  of  Huron,  Ohio,  officiated, 
and  at  the  grave,  in  the  presence  of  assem- 
bled thousands,  said:  "Venerable  man  ! 
May  thy  ashes  rest  in  peace,  and  the  clods 
fall  lightly  upon  thy  bosom  !  Thy  virtues 
will  be  embalmed  forever  in  our  heart  of 
hearts.     Fare  thee  well." 


Heii 


ROFESSOR  A.  D.  BEECHY,  Nor- 
walk, was  born  April  11, 1852.  He  is 
a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  hav- 
ing first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  the 
somewhat  historic  county  of  Holmes, 
the  fourth  son  of  David  and  Judith 


(\  oder)  Beechy,  who  came  to   Ohio  from 


Somerset  county.  Pa.,  where  the  Beechy 
family  is  now  quite  numerous.  His  an- 
cestors came  to  this  country  from  England 
about  1767,  and,  like  most  people  of  those 
times,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  mother  is  a  relative  of  ex-Congress- 
nian  Yoder,  of  Ohio.  Both  parents  are 
still  living  at  this  writing,  and  now  reside 
in  Sugar  Creek,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Beechy's  early  education  was  very 
limited,  as  in  boyhood  and  early  youth  he 
was  occupied  almost  entirely  in  laboring 
on  his  father's  farm,  attending  only  a 
short  winter  term  of  district  school  each 
year  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen years.  From  this  time  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  all  the  oppor- 
tunity he  had  for  pursuing  his  studies  was 
that  afforded  by  borne  instruction  during 
the  long  winter  evenings,  rainy  days,  etc. 
At  these  times  hediligentlyapplied  himself 
to  the  study  of  arithmetic  and  reading  of 
history.  In  this  way  he  worked  his  way 
through  several  old  arithmetics  without 
any  assistance  whatever.  Mathematics  has 
ever  since  remained  one  of  his  favorite 
studies,  partly  owing,  no  doubt,  to  this 
early  training  in  this  line  of  thourrht. 
While  progress  in  the  rudiments  of  an 
education  was  necessarily  slow  under 
these  circumstances,  the  lesson  of  self- 
dependence  thus  learned  stood  him  in 
good  stead  when  better  opportunities  of- 
fered later  in   life. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  attended  a 
term  of  seventy-three  days  of  country 
school,  before  the  end  of  which  he  passed 
an  examination  by  the  county  board  of 
examiners,  and  received  a  certificate  for 
twelve  months,  the  longest  issued  to  ap- 
plicants without  experience  in  teaching. 
The  following  year  he  commenced  teach- 
ing, in  which  profession  he  has  ever  since 
been  engaged  with  the  exception  of  about 
a  year.  After  teaching  two  six-months 
terms  of  country  school,  he  attended  two 
terms,  commencing  the  summer  of  1874, 
the  Hayesville  Academy,  then  under  the 
management  of  Dr.  Martin.     At  the  time 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


133 


it  was  a  preparatory  shool  for  Wooster 
University.  Soon  after  this  he  learned 
something  of  the  advantages  offered  to  self- 
dependent  young  men  b}'  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege, and  directed  liis  studies  with  a  view 
to  entering  this  institution,  which  he  did 
in  187(3,  and  from  which  he  graduated  in 
the  classical  course  in  1880.  During  each 
of  the  years  while  at  colleo-e,  he  taucrht  a 
term  of  scliool  of  four  or  five  months,  but 
kept  up  with  his  class  by  private  work  and 
taking  the  regular  examinations.  In 
mathematics  he  stood  first  in  his  class. 

During  the  following  year  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
Berlin,  Ohio.  In  December  of  this  year 
he  went  before  the  State  board  of  exam- 
iners, and  was  granted  a  life  certificate, 
being  the  youngest  applicant,  with  one  ex- 
ception, to  whom  such  a  certificate  had  then 
been  granted.  At  this  time  only  one  grade 
of  certificates  was  issued,  to  be  entitled  to 
which  one  had  to  pass  an  examination  in 
the  common  branches,  all  the  higher 
branches  taught  in  any  high  school  of  the 
State,  and  a  certain  number  of  additional 
higher  branches  selected  by  the  applicant. 
It  authorizes  the  holder  to  teach  any  branch 
in  any  school  in  the  State.  The  law  has 
since  been  amended  so  as  to  allow  two 
grades  of  certificates  to  be  issued — high 
scliool  and  common  scliool.  The  following 
year  he  was  elected  to  the  superintendency 
of  the  schools  of  Louisville,  Ohio,  which 
position  he  filled  for  four  years.  While 
in  this  place  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Theresa  Baumann,  of  Louisville,  on  De- 
cember 25,  1883.  One  child,  Ada  May, 
has  come  to  cheer  their  home. 

Prof.  Beechy  next  purchased  a  half  in- 
terest in  a  semi-weekly  and  weekly  news- 
paper, The  Alliance  Review.  In  less  than 
a  year's  experience,  however,  he  found 
some  of  the  work  connected  with  its  pub- 
lication and  management  quite  uncon- 
genial. Besides,  he  could  not  agree  with 
his  partner  in  some  matters  of  honor  and 
right,  as  well  as  the  political  policy  to  be 
pursued  by  the  paper.     He  therefore  sold 


his  interest  to  his  partner  for  what  seemed 
a  fair  consideration,  but  which  proved  to 
be  a  considerable  loss.  Determining  to 
return  to  the  profession  of  teaching,  he 
was  elected  superintendent  of  the  schools 
of  Elmore,  Ohio,  in  which  position  he  con- 
tinued his  work  four  years,  rendering  em- 
inently successful  services  to  these  schools. 
"While  in  this  place  he  also  conducted 
a  Normal  School  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Toledo  Business  College,  during  sev- 
eral summer  vacations.  In  1886  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  him  by 
Mt.  Union  College,  he  having  completed 
a  post-graduate  course  of  study  in  that  in 
stitution.  In  1889  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  elected  to  the  principalship  of 
the  Norwalk  Hio-h  Schools.  After  two 
years'  service  in  this  capacity  he  was 
elected  to  the  superintendency  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  in  the  same  place,  for  which 
position  his  ability  and  experience  pre- 
eminently qualify  him,  and  which  position 
he  holds  at  this  writing. 

The  Professor  is  a  strong  believer  in 
hard  work,  whether  it  concerns  pupils, 
teachers  or  himself.  He  owes  his  own 
success  almost  wholly  to  the  fact  that  he 
was  never  disposed  to  shirk  it.  For  the 
boy  or  girl  who  is  faithful  to  duty  he  has 
an  unlimited  amount  of  sympathy  and  en- 
couragement; but  in  truancy  and  idleness 
he  recognizes  two  of  the  greatest  evils  that 
afflict  the  young,  and  with  these  he  wages 
eternal  warfare.  Realizing  that  the  "  child 
is  father  to  the  man,"  he  insists  that,  in 
order  to  have  citizens  who  will  respect  the 
authority  of  the  State,  we  must  train  chil- 
dren to  respect  the  constituted  authority 
of  the  home  and  the  school.  Discipline  is 
therefore  insisted  on  in  the  schools  under 
his  management.  Although  giving  his 
best  thought  and  efforts  to  the  schools  of 
which  he  is  the  head,  Mr.  Beechy  has 
found  time  to  pursue  a  regular  course  of 
reading  and  study  in  the  post-graduate  de- 
partment of  Wooster  University.  He  has 
just  completed  a  very  comprehensive 
course    of    study  iu    social    and  political 


134 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


science,  and  received  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Philosophy. 

While  he  is  liberal  in  his  views  on  poli- 
tics and  other  subjects,  as  one  who  has  had 
his  extensive  reading  could  hardly  lielp 
but  he,  he  believes  that  on  nearly  all  the 
great  questions  of  national  interest  which 
have  divided  the  parties  of  this  country, 
the  Republican  party  has  been  in  the  right. 
In  politics,  therefore,  he  is  a  Republican. 
His  political  principles  were  undoubtedly 
intensified  by  the  impression  left  on  his 
mind  by  the  unpatriotic  actions  of  many 
of  the  adherents  of  the  other  party  in 
his  neighborhood  and  county  during  the 
Rebellion. 


djOIIN  A.  PITTSFORD,  superintend- 
ent   of    public    schools    at    Chicago 
i   Junction,  comes   of   Welsh   descent. 

His  grandparents,  David  and  Ann 
(Davis)  Pittsford,  were  natives  of  Wales, 
born  in  1762  and  1773,  respectively. 
They  were  married  in  their  native  land, 
and  coming  to  America  in  1798  (soon 
after  the  birth  of  their  eldest  child),  lo- 
cated in  Chester  county,  Penn.  They  re- 
sided on  a  farm  in  that  county  until  1816, 
then  came  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  purchased  one  hundred  acres,  other  land 
having  been  added  to  the  original  tract, 
and  the  old  farm  now  contains  160  acres. 
The  children  born  to  David  and  Ann  Pitts- 
ford  were  as  follows:  William,  who  moved 
to  Indiana;  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Price; 
Isaac,  who  moved  to  Indiana;  John,  whose 
sketch  follows;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Hughes,  and  James,  all  of  whom 
were  married  and  left  children. 

John  Pittsford  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Penn.,  October  2,  1802.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education, 
and  afterward,  in  1828  and  1829,  attended 
Kenyon  College,  near  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Philip 
Peters,  of  Baltimore,  Fairfield  Co.,  Ohio, 
who  resided  at  Baltimore.  After  his 
marriage  John   Pittsford    supervised    the 


repairs  of  a  large  portion  of  the  Ohio 
canal.  He  then  conducted  a  store  at 
Baltimore  for  two  years,  and  in  1842 
moved  upon  a  farm  in  Licking  county 
which  he  afterward  purchased  and  resided 
upon  until  his  death.  He  was  a  Radical 
Whig  in  politics,  and  in  religion  was  a 
member  ot  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
died  in  1847  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years; 
his  widow  is  yet  living  with  her  son  (John 
A.)  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Pittsford 
was  married  to  Myron  Merchant,  and  bore 
him  three  children.  He  died,  and  she 
then  made  a  third  choice  in  tbe  person  of 
Alfred  Hatch,  who  is  also  deceased.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  tlie  union  of  John 
and  Mary  (Peters)  Pittsford,  as  follows: 
Mary,  deceased  in  youth;  Martha,  wife  of 
Isaac  Finkbone,  living  in  Licking  county; 
George,  deceased  in  youth;  Hiram,  living 
in  Dayton,  Ohio;  Harriet,  deceased  in  in- 
fancy; Diana,  wife  of  John  Harritt,  of 
Findlay,  Ohio;  John  A.,  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch;  and  Timothy  H.,  who 
died  March  11,  1865,  in  the  hospital  at 
Chattanooga. 

John  A.  Pittsford  was  born  April  12, 
1844,  in  Licking  county,  Ohio.  When  he 
was  but  a  boy,  three  years  old,  he  lost  his 
father,  and  soon  after  his  mother's  second 
marriacre  he  went  to  live  with  an  aunt, 
Elizabeth  Hughes,  in  Morrow  county,  Oiiio, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  he  was  sev- 
enteen years  old.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  taught  a  three  months'  summer 
school,  and  when  in  his  seventeenth  year 
entered  Denison  University,  at  Granville, 
Ohio.  He  then  taught  and  attended  school 
alternately  until  1866,  when  he  entered 
the  National  Normal  University  at  Leb- 
anon. While  there  he  accepted  a  position 
in  a  school  near  Lebanon,  and  continued 
teaching  and  attending  school  about  two 
years.  In  1868  he  engaged  to  teach  in 
the  A.  Grammar  school  at  Findlay,  in  the 
meantime  continuing  his  private  studies, 
and  remained  there  three  years.  From 
September,  1871,  to  1873  he  was  superin- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


135 


tendeut  of  the  schools  of  Johnstown,  Lick- 
ing Co.,  Ohio.  In  1873  he  became 
superintendent  of  a  school  at  Mount 
Blanchard,  Hancock  Co.,  same  State, 
whicli  position  he  occupied  six  years,  when 
he  was  elected  superintendent  at  Forest, 
remaining  there  three  jears.  On  July  25, 
1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Josie  R.  Smith,  native  of  Mount  Blanchard, 
and  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Smith,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  a  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
In  1882  Prof.  Pittsford  accepted  tiie 
superintendency  of  the  schools  of  Carey, 
Wyandot  county,  where  he  remained  six 
years.  After  the  erection  of  the  new 
school  building  in  Chicago  Junction,  in 
1888,  he  was  elected  superintendent,  which 
position  he  still  holds,  having  been  recently 
re-elected  for  a  term  of  two  years,  making 
seven  in  all.  He  has  a  corps  of  ten  teachers. 
He  has  held  the  position  of  County  School 
Examiner  in  Hancock  and  Wyandot  coun- 
ties for  one  and  two  terms  each;  and  is 
likely  to  receive  the  same  appointment 
soon  in  Huron  county. 

When  but  two  years  of  age  Mr.  Pitts- 
ford  was  injured  by  a  fall,  his  hip  being 
dislocated,  which  crippled  him  for  life.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  realize  this 
fact  he  resolved  to  make  teaching  his  pro- 
fession, and  possessing  a  naturally  apt 
mind,  applied  himself  with  earnest  zeal  to 
preparation  for  his  chosen  calling.  The 
result  of  his  efforts  lias  been  evident  since 
the  day  that  the  crippled  lad  of  fifteen 
years  taught  his  first  school,  which  was 
the  beginning  of  an  unusuallj'  successful 
life.  He  had  no  advantages  save  those  of 
a  common-school  education  ;  but  the  neces- 
sity which  rendered  it  imperative  that  he 
should  teach  in  order  to  secure  an  educa- 
tion proved  of  valuable  training  to  him. 
He  thus  gained  industrial  habits  and  the 
self-reliant  ways  which  are  so  essential  in 
this  profession.  Few  men  are  as  well 
qualified  for  their  vocations  as  is  Prof. 
Pittsford,  and  through  his  untiring  efforts 
the  schools  of  Chicago  Junction  now  oc- 
cupy a    position    second    to    none  in  the 


county.  The  phenomenal  growth  in  num- 
ber has  been  fully  met  with  enlarged  and 
sufficient  facilities.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Huron  C'ounty  Teachers'  Associa- 
tion for  several  years.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  religious  matters  he 
has  been  an  active  member  of  and  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  since  that  denom- 
ination was  organized  at  Chicago  Junction. 
The  union  of  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Pittsford  was 
blessed  with  five  children,  viz.:  Ernest 
Cecil,  Clarice  Lelia,  Lulu  Grace,  Lois 
Mary  and  Bruce  Eugene,  the  latter  dying 
at  the  age  of  nine  months. 


M.  BEATTIE,  a  well-known  mem- 
ber of  the  Huron  county  bar,  was 
born  June  10,  1853,  in  Ashland 
county,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Isabel  (Thorn)  Beattie,  both  na- 
tives of  Scotland,  the  former  of  whom 
came  to  America  in  1836,  the  latter  in 
1837,  both  locating  in  Ashland  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  became  a  prominent  farmer 
of  his  day.  He  died  January  8,  1883,  in 
his  sixty-eighth  year;  his  widow  still  sur- 
vives, now  aged  sixty-six.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living,  our  subject  being  fifth  in 
the  order  of  birth. 

A.  M.  Beattie  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  the  vicinity 
of  his  birthplace,  afterward  taking  a  course 
in  a  Normal  school.  He  then  followed  the 
profession  of  school-teacher  for  some  years, 
and  in  the  meantime  commenced  a  system- 
atic coarse  of  study  of  the  law,  under  the 
tutelage  of  Judge  Curtiss,  of  Ashland.  He 
afterward  took  a  course  in  the  Law  Depart- 
ment of  the  State  University  of  Indiana, 
graduating  in  1877,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1878  opened  his  law  office  in  New  London, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  the  style  of  the  firm  be- 
ing Laning  &  Beattie.  The  partnership 
was  dissolved  in  1882,  and  Mr.  Beattie 
continued  alone  in  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession until   1884,  when  he  was  elected 


136 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


clerk  of  the  courts  of  Huron  county,  fill- 
inof  this  ofiice  for  the  next  six  years.  At 
the  end  of  his  otticial  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  in  which  lie  has  ranked 
from  the  very  first  as  one  of  the  leading, 
safe  members  of  tiie  bar  of  northern  Ohio, 
prominent  in  his  profession  and  widely 
known  as  a  leadin<r  influential  man.  Mr. 
Beattie  at  present  is  treasurer  of  the  board 
of  education;  lie  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Laning  Printing  Company  and  its  at- 
torney, and  attorney  for  the  Home  Savings 
and  Loan  Company  of  Norwaik,  Ohio. 

A.  M.  Beattie  and  Dora  Snllivan  were 
united  in  marriage  April  15,  1879,  and  to 
their  union  have  been  born  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  namely:  Blanche,  Anna, 
Walter  and  Homer.  Mrs.  Beattie  was  born 
February  3,  1854,  in  Peimsylvania,  and 
moved  with  her  parents  to  Ohio,  while 
quite  young,  making  her  home  in  Ashtabula 
county,  till  her  marriage.  Her  parents, 
Josiah  and  Phebe  A.  (Hopkins)  Sullivan, 
were  natives  of  Mew  York  State,  where 
they  were  both  born  in  1825. 


EV.  N".  C.  HELFPJCH,  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Churcli  of  Ply- 
mouth, was  born  February  9,  1837, 
in  Crawford  county,  Ohio.  Peter 
and  Margaret  (Burnett)  Helfrich, 
natives  of  Germany,  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  "twenties,"  and  finding  a  home 
in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  engaged  at 
once  in  agriculture.  Of  their  family  of 
five  children — three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters— the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
youngest.  Peter  Helfrich  was  an  officer 
in  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  army,  but  after 
settlin":  in  Ohio  he  gave  all  his  attention 
to  pastoral  pursuits. 

N.  C.  Helfrich  obtained  a  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place,  which  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
in  Iberia  (now  Central)  College.  He 
graduated  in  1868,  and  was  appointed  pro- 
fessor of    mathematics,  a  position  he  tilled 


most  satisfactorily  for  three  years.  In 
1868  he  entered  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary,  N.  Y.,  and  graduating  from  that  in- 
stitution in  1870  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
New  Concord,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
six  years.  From  1876  to  1889  he  served 
the  churches  at  Newton  Falls,  Hayesville 
and  Weston,  and  in  1889  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Plymouth  Church,  of  which  he  is 
regular  pastor,  as  he  also  was  over  his 
other  charges.  Mr.  Helfrich  is  a  close 
student  and  an  earnest  worker,  and  being 
endowed  with  a  strong  constitution,  he  is 
in  every  way  well  fitted  for  the  profession 
he  selected. 

His  marriage  with  Miss  Josephine  Gra- 
ham took  place  August  23,  1866,  at 
Gallon,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1873,  and  on 
August  26,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Carrie 
Marquis.  Their  home  is  the  center  of 
Presbyterian  unity  in  Columbus,  Ohio. 
He  accepted  a  call  to  the  West  Broad 
street  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city  in 
August,  1893. 


W.  GRAHAM.  The  subject  of 
this  biographical  memoir  is  a 
typical  American,  not  alone  by 
birth,  but  also  because  of  his 
characteristic  push,  energy  and  progress- 
iveness;  and  of  those  whose  names  will 
remain  permanently  associated  with  the 
development  of  enterprises  of  magnitude, 
there  is  none  deserving  of  more  promi- 
nence in  the  pages  of  this  volume. 

Mr.  Graham  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
W.  Y.,  in  1842,  a  son  of  Zachariah  and 
Lydia  (Carrier)  Graham,  the  former  of 
whom,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  was  born  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y., 
the  latter  being  a  native  of  New  York 
City.  The  father  died  in  1852,  at  tiie  aije 
of  fifty-four  years,  the  mother  in  1888, 
when  seventy-nine  years  old;  our  subject's 
paternal  grandparents  died  at  very  ad- 
vanced ages,  the  grandfather  when  ninety- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


137 


seven   years    old,    the   grandmother   when 
one  luiridred  and  four. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen,  W.  W.  Graham 
left  the  paternal  roof-tree,  and  turning  his 
face  toward  the  setting  sun,  boldly  ad- 
vanced westward  in  the  direction  of  the 
fertile  State  of  Illinois,  arriving  in  1859 
at  Urbana,  Champaign  county.  For 
twentj-two  years  he  resided  here,  engaged, 
the  greater  part  of  the  time,  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1861,  on  the  first  call  for 
troops  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  he 
offered  his  service  in  the  army  to  the 
Union  cause,  but  was  rejected  on  account 
of  his  youth;  however,  on  the  second  call 
for  troops.  May  1,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  Twenty-fifth  111.  V.  I.,  under 
Gen.  Sigel,  serving  in  the  army  of  the 
Southwest.  The  first  battle  in  which  he 
participated  was  Pea  Ridge,  and  afterward 
he  was  quartered  at  RoUa,  Mo.,  until  the 
following-  spring.  After  eighteen  month's 
service,  he  was  detailed  for  special  duty,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  while  his  regiment  was  stationed  at 
Vicksburg,  Miss.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Sedalia,  Mo.,  as  corporal,  and 
returned  to  his  home  in  Urbana,  111.  He 
was  there  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness until  1880,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
Ohio,  having  been  appointed  paymaster 
for  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad 
Company.  While  serving  in  that  capacity 
he  did  some  railroad  contracting,  and  as 
he  could  not  be  engaged  in  both  businesses 
at  the  same  time,  he  in  1884  resigned  his 
paymastership,  since  when  he  has  given 
his  almost  exclusive  attention  to  contract- 
ing. He  contracted  for  and  built  nearly 
all  the  bridges,  and  furnished  the  bulk  of 
the  ties,  for  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie 
Railroad;  and  within  the  past  eight  years 
the  amount  of  his  contracting  has  reached 
the  large  sum  of  one  and  one-halt'  million 
dollars.  During  the  four  years  he  served 
as  paytnaster  on  the  road,  he  paid  out  over 
three  and  one-half  million  dollars,  without 
ever  making  any  mistake  amounting  to  as 
much  as    fifty   dollars.     During  the  past 


year  he  built  seventy  miles  of  bridges  for 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  The  Lake 
Erie  Tobacco  Company  had  been  organized 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  on  account  of  ad- 
verse circumstances  of  some  nature  was 
about  to  go  into  insolvency.  This  concern 
Mr.  Grabam  and  others  bought  and  moved 
to  Norwalk,  where  they  placed  it  on  a  firm 
and  promising  basis,  and  it  is  now  in  a 
flourishing  condition. 

In  1864  W.  W.  Graham  was  united  in 
marriage,  at  Urbana,  111.,  with  Miss 
Nellie  M.  Griggs,  whose  father  was  general 
contractor  for  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie 
Railroad.  In  1887  Mrs.  Graham  was 
called  from  earth,  leaving  two  children. 
Maude  and  King.  In  1890  our  subject 
married  Miss  Carrie  M.  Rude,  of  Sandusky, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Graham  is  a  F.  &  A.  M., 
32nd  degree,  and  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Cleveland. 


^Tr^EV.  JOSEPH  BLASER,  pastor  of 

IJ^T^    St.  Alphonsus  Church,  Peru,  Ohio, 

I    \^  ^^®    born    November    8,  1846,  at 

J)  Schlier,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wur- 

temberg,  South  Germany,  a  son  of 

Anton  and  Crescentia  Blaser,  who  belonged 

to  the  agricultural  class. 

Their  parents  and  ancestors  for  genera- 
tions were  farmers,  perhaps  as  far  back  as 
the  time  when  tlie  bearded  and  pious 
Eberhard  V  was  created  Duke  of  Wur- 
temberg,  by  Maximilian  I,  in  1494.  The 
youth,  Joseph,  received  a  practical  educa- 
tion in  his  native  town  of  Schlier,  and 
when  fourteen  years  old  was  so  far  advanced 
in  study  as  to  warrant  his  parents  sending 
him  to  the  famous  Jesuit  College  at  Feld- 
kirch,  Austria.  There  he  completed  his 
study  of  the  classics,  and  thence  was  sent 
to  Eichstadt,  Bavaria,  to  study  philosophy 
and  theology.  In  1870,  when  he  was 
twenty-three  years  and  six  months  old,  he 
was  ordained  priest,  and  l)ecame  assistant 
pastor  at  Basel,  Switzerland.  Six  weeks 
after  he  was  appointed  pastor  at  Klein - 
lutzel,  Switzerland,  and   there  had  charge 


138 


HUIi02i  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  a  congregation  of  1,100  souls,  and 
was  director  of  three  schools.  For  two 
years  he  labored  at  Kleinlutzel,  and  here 
won  golden  opinions.  In  1874  Father 
Blaser  left  Europe,  then  in  a  much  dis- 
turbed condition,  called  Culturkanipf,  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  New  World,  and  com- 
ing to  Ohio,  found  a  resting  place  for  a 
time. 

Some  tin)e  after  his  arrival  at  Cleveland, 
he  was  appointed,  by  the  late  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  of  the  diocese,  pastor  of  the 
churches  at  Nordridge  and  Mud  Creek,  in 
Defiance  county.  At  Mud  C)'eek  he  built 
a  neat  frame  church,  and,  under  his  admin- 
istration of  three  years,  progress  was 
unmistakable.  Bishop  Gilmour  trans- 
ferred him  to  Millersville,  Sandusky 
county,  where  he  erected  an  elegant  resi- 
dence and  enlarged  and  restored  the  old 
church.  After  ten  years  and  eight  months 
of  pastoral  labor,  he  was  removed  from 
Millersville  and  appointed,  by  Bishop  Gil- 
mour, to  his  present  charge.  His  resto- 
ration and  enlargement  of  the  church 
building  here,  and  its  conversion  into  a 
modern  Gothic  house,  pronounce  him  a 
luan  of  culture  aud  taste. 


JOSEPH  ROE  Mcknight.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  whose  portrait  is 
seen  on  the  opposite  page,  would,  if 
called  upon,  disclaim  any  of  that  kind 
of  modesty  which  would  exclude  him  from 
these  pages;  not  that  he  is  so  egotistical 
as  to  believe  his  own  achievements  entitle 
him  to  public  notice;  but  because  he 
deems  it  honorable  and  just  to  associate 
liimself  at  all  opportune  times,  both  in 
name  and  person,  with  good  men  and  good 
deeds. 

His  ancestral  line,  both  paternal  and 
maternal,  runs  unbroken  to  what  is  known 
as  Scotch-Irish  people.  He  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
25th  day  of  Decemlier,  1853.  His  father's 
name  was  John  Beard  McKnight;  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Susanna  Lori- 


mor.  The  fifth  one  of  eight  children,  he 
is  the  only  member  of  his  father's  family 
living.  His  father  died  on  the  16th  day 
of  August,  1865;  his  mother  on  the  24th 
day  of  May,  1893.  His  youth  and  early 
manhood  were  spent  on  a  farm,  where  les- 
sons of  industry  are  practically  and  continu- 
ously taught.  His  educational  training  was 
obtained  at  a  country-district  school,  sup- 
plemented by  one  year  at  Ohio  Central 
College,  and  a  three- months'  terra  at  Iron 
City  College. 

Mr.  McKnight  was  married  to  Sarah 
Jeimette  McCullough,  on  the  14th  day  of 
April,  1874,  at  the  home  of  her  mother  in 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  they  immediately 
went  to  house-keeping  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  was  born.  Although  inured  to 
farm  life,  it  had  always  been  distasteful  to 
him,  which  caused  him  to  seek  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  change  his  business,  which 
opportunity  was  found  in  1880,  at  which 
time  he  engaged  in  the  'drug  business  in 
Shelby,  Ohio.  Having  conceived  a  very 
great  liking  for  the  law  as  a  profession,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  it  in  connection 
with  the  drug  business,  using  what  spare 
moments  he  couid  find,  without  neglecting 
his  other  interests, in  reading  law.  In  the 
summer  of  1886  he  disposed  of  his  inter- 
est in  thejdrug  business,  and  on  the  5th  day 
of  October,  in  same  year,  was  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law. 
On  "the  22nd  day  of  November,  of  the  same 
year,  in  partnership  with  George  T.  Thomas, 
he  opened  a  law  office  in  Norwalk,  Ohio.  At 
first  business  came  slowly,  but  an  increas- 
ing acquaintanceship  bi'ought  an  increase 
in  clientage,  and  it  was  not  long  until  he 
had  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  his 
choice  of  profession  and  location. 

No  careful  observer  can  well  doubt  that 
the  administration  of  the  county  prosecut- 
ing attorney's  office  exerts  a  co-ordinate 
influence  which  penetrates  and  inoculates 
the  sociology  of  its  own  and  surrounding 
counties,  making  it  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant offices  in  a  county.  In  1891  Mr.  Mc- 
Knight was  elected  to  this  office  in  Huron 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


141 


county,  Ohio.  Entering  upon  the  duties 
of  the  office  on  the  first  Monday  of  Janu- 
ary, 1892,  he  has,  witli  the  utmost  in- 
tegrity, faithfully  and  impartially  adminis- 
tered the  affairs  of  the  olKce.  Ilis  domes- 
tic relations  are  congenial;  he  and  his 
wife  have  three  children:  Edna  Ninetta, 
John  Eronsou,  and  Ethel  Bird. 


FEREY  TILLSON,  a  representative 
well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Norwalk 
township,  was  born  in  Peru,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  September  3,  1855,  on 
the  farm  where  his  grandfather, 
Thomas  Tillson,  had  settled  in  1816. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  the  late  Rufus 
Tillson,  who  was  born  in  Butternuts,  Mass., 
a  son  of  the  Thomas  Tillson  above  men- 
tiom.'d,  a  weaver  by  trade.  Thomas  mar- 
ried Martha  Stewart  in  his  native  State, 
and  in  1816  he  came  alone  on  foot  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio;  two  years  later  his 
wife  followed  him,  making  the  trip  on 
horseback,  carrying  in  her  arms  her  first 
born,  Rufns,  who  afterward  became  the 
fatherof  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Thomas 
Tillson  made  a  settlement  in  Peru  town- 
ship, where  were  born  the  rest  of  his 
family,  to  wit:  Stephen,  who  moved  to 
Chicago,  111.,  where  he  practiced  law  in  an 
early  day,  and  died  in  Iowa;  Harriet,  mar- 
ried to  Alba  0.  Turner,  and  died  in 
Wyandot  county,  Ohio;  and  Thomas,  de- 
ceased. The  father  of  this  family  passed 
tiie  rest  of  his  useful  life  in  Peru  town- 
ship, dying  in  1844,  the  owner  of  450 
acres  oi  land,  the  greater  part  of  which  he 
had  cleared  himself.  He  had  extensive 
farming  interests,  employing  a  large  num- 
ber of  hands;  and  beitig  a  o-ood  manao-er 
he  made  a  success.  His  first  dwelling  was 
the  traditional  log  cabin,  but  later  he 
erected  substantial  and  capacious  build- 
ings. He  also  conducted  a  tavern  tor  the 
benefit  of  wayfarers — in  those  days 
chiefly  "freighters"  and  persons  traveling 


from  the  lake  to  the  southern  part  of  the 
State.  In  politics  he  was  a  Wliig,  in  re- 
ligious faith  a  Universalist.  His  wifesur- 
vived  him  some  years,  and  they  lie  side  by 
side  in  Peru  cemetery. 

Rufus  Tillson,  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
Tillson,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  May 
19,  1818,  and  was,  as  has  already  been 
stated,  an  infant  when  brought  to  Peru 
township,  Huron  county.  He  received 
such  education  as  the  subscription  schools 
of  his  boyhood  days  afforded,  proving  an 
apt  student,  and,  compared  with  the  rest 
oi  the  scholars,  an  expert  mathematician 
and  good  penman.  He  was  i-eared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  continued  to  con- 
duct the  home  farm  till  1882,  after  which 
he  lived  a  retired  life  until  his  decease  in 
July,  1890;  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
in  Peru  cemetery.  First  a  Whig,  later  a 
Republican,  his  maiden  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  William  H.  Hari'ison.  He 
was  a  great  reader,  intelligent  above  the 
average,  most  unassuming  and  a  despisei- 
of  shams.  As  an  all-round  farmer  he  made 
a  success,  and  took  a  close  interest  in  the 
many  details  of  agriculture,  including  the 
care  of  stock.  Rufus  Tillson  was  twice 
married,  first  time,  in  1841,  to  Miss  Julia 
Perry,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Perry,  and  the  children  of  this 
union  are  as  follows:  Irving-  a  farmer  of 
Peru  township,  Huron  county;  Annette, 
now  wife  of  E.  P.  Snyder,  also  a  farmer  of 
Peru  township,  and  Perry,  the  subject 
proper  of  sketch.  The  mother  of  these 
died  in  1873,  and  for  his  second  wife 
Rufus  Tillson  married  Mrs.  A.  J.  Canfield. 

Perry  Tillson  passed  his  boyhood  in 
much  the  same  way  as  most  country  boys 
— working  on  the  farm  in  summer  and 
attending  in  winter  the  district  school, 
where  he  received  all  his  education,  except- 
ing what  he  gleaned  dnrinjj  a  few  terms  at 
the  normal  school  in  Milan,  Erie  county. 
He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  dai^s,  and 
after  marriage  he  and  his  wife  purchased 
the  property  where  they  now  reside  in 
Norwalk  township,  near  Norwalk,  known 


142 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


as  the  old  Lewis  farm,  it  having  been  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Lewis  in  1815,  and  was  the 
second  farm  settled  in  the  township. 

In  1881  Mr.  Tillson  was  married  to 
Grace  M.  Clapp,  daughter  of  Aro  Clapp, 
of  Norwalk  township,  where  she  was  born 
February  12,  1860.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  were:  Carl  Dean,  born  May  6, 
1884,  died  Febrnary  20,  1887;  Howard 
Clapp,  born  June  20,  1886,  and  Helen 
Lucile,  born  May  16,  1893.  Mr.  Tillson 
is  a  very  successful  farmer,  and  while  he 
raises  considerable  grain  and  potatoes, 
makes  a  specialty  of  dairying,  selling  milk 
to  the  milkmen  for  the  city  trade.  In  1889 
he  replaced  the  old  house  (built  about  the 
year  1830  by  Mr.  Lewis')  with  a  handsome 
residence,  and  in  1891  he  put  up  a  second 
house  for  the  use  of  his  hired  help.  These 
and  other  improvements,  together  with  the 
natural  fine  buildiog  s]jot  the  farm  affords, 
make  their  place  an  ideal  country  home. 
Politically  Mr.  Tillson  is  a  Republican, 
and,  although  not  a  member  of  any  Church, 
lie  attends  the  TJniversalist,  and  contributes 
to  its  support. 


ARDNER  roUXG.  The  rugged 
hills  of  New  England  have  seem- 
ingly imparted  a  strength  of  charac- 
<^  ter  to  those  born  and  bred  beneath 
their  shadow,  which  iiarmonizes  well 
with  the  aspect  of  Nature  in  the  Granite 
and  Green  Mountain  States.  Strong  men 
and  true  have  breathed  the  bracing  air  of 
New  England,  and  gone  forth  from  the 
borders  to  found  new  homes,  there  im- 
planting those  principles  of  honor  and  en- 
terprise characteristic  of  their  native  States. 
From  such  ancestors  is  descended  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Josiah  Young  was  born  February  25, 
1780,  in  New  Hampshire,  passing  his 
boyhood  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  1804 
was  there  married  to  Mary  Bardin,  a  native 
of  the  same  State,  born  in  1785.  They 
remained  in  New  Hampshire  until  about 
1812,   when    they   removed    to    Rochester, 


Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  On  May  2, 1836,  Josiah 
Young,  accompanied  by  his  son,  Gardner, 
set  out  on  an  exploring  expedition,  intend- 
ing to  find  a  home  in  the  then  "Far 
West."  Tiieir  route  was  from  Whitehall, 
N.  Y.,  to  Albany,  thence  via  the  Erie  Canal 
to  Buffalo,  from  there  sailing  on  Lake  Erie 
to  a  northern  Ohio  port,  then  proceeding 
to  Akron,  Ohio,  where  they  visited  friends. 
From  Akron  they  walked  to  De  Kalb 
county,  Ind.,  where  the  father  purchased 
land,  and,  leaving  liis  son  Gardner  in 
cliarge,  returned  to  Vermont  for  the  fam- 
ily. While  en  route  to  his  new  home, 
Josiah  Young  was  persuaded  by  some  rela- 
tives to  locate  in  Ohio,  and  consequently 
he  bouglit  117  acres  near  North  Monrue- 
ville  in  Ridgetield  township,  Huron  county, 
wliere  he  died  September  18,  1870,  wiien 
nearly  ninety-one  years  of  age.  He  was 
an  indulgent  husband  and  father,  finding 
his  chief  pleasures  in  domestic  life,  and  a 
zealous  member  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church 
of  Monroeville.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  that   Church,   and    in    addition   to 

liberal  contribution,  made  a  valuable  gift 

.... 
to  the  congregation.      In  political  opinion 

he 'was  formerly  a  Whig,  afterward  uniting 
with  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he 
was  an  enthusiastic  supporter.  Mrs.  Young 
was  laid  to  rest  February  10,  1880,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-four  years,  and  was  buried 
beside  her  husband  in  the  cemetery  at 
North  Monroeville.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  Reuben,  who  left  Vermont  and 
went  west,  wliere  all  trace  of  him  was  lost; 
Lorenzo,  first  married  in  Vermont  (he 
came  west  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  and 
was  married  to  Lena  Mackey;  he  died  in 
Monroe  county,  Mich.);  Orrilla,  widow  of 
Mahlon  Young,  is  living  in  Norwalk,  Ohio; 
Gardner,  whose  sketch  follows;  Sophronia, 
who  died  August  23, 1893,  while  in  Chica- 
go attending  the  World's  Fair  (she  was  tlie 
widow  of  Joel  P.  Brown,  of  Lenawee 
county,  Mich.);  Mary,  deceased  wife  of 
Lewis  Pearce;  Martha,  married  to  Isaac 
DeWitt,  of  Ridgetield  town^hip;  Joseph, 
deceased  farmer  of    Ridgetield   township; 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


143 


Ellen,  wife  of  Milton  Margatt,  of  Oakland, 
Cai.;  and  John,  a  resident  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio. 

Gardner  Youncr  was  born  Deceinber  23, 
1815,  in  Koeliester,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt., 
there  receiving  his  early  education.  After 
coming  to  Ohio  he  learned  the  cooper 
trade,  but  followed  it  only  a  short  time. 
On  September  6,  1847,  he  selected  a  life 
coitipanion  in  the  person  of  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Hannah  (Austin)  Warren, 
born  in  1822,  in  Vermont,  where  the  mar- 
riage took  place.  The  younuj  couple  im- 
mediately came  to  Ridgetield  township, 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he  had  pre- 
viously pui'chased  land.  In  1870  Mrs. 
Young  met  with  a  fatal  accident.  She 
was  returning  from  Mouroeville  in  a 
buggy  by  lierself,  when  her  horse  became 
frightened  at  a  hand-car  and  ran  away. 
After  running  with  iier  nearly  two  miles, 
8he  fell  from  the  buggy,  was  picked  up  in- 
sensible, and  lived  but  a  few  minutes. 
She  was  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Henry  J.,  a  farmer  of  Sumner 
county,  Kans.;  Clara  A.,  deceased  in  early 
youth;  Charles  S.,  a  real  estate  man  of 
San  Francisco,  Cal.;  Alice  L.  and  Albert 
W.  (twins),  the  former  a  school  teacher, 
the  latter  a  farmer  in  Colorado;  Jennie, 
who  died  in  1882;  Jessie,  living  at  iiome, 
and  Cora  B.,  a  resident  of  San  Francisco, 
California. 

In  1880  Mr.  Young  moved  to  his  present 
home  in  Monroeville,  where  he  lives  in 
semi-retirement,  simply  superintending  the 
care  of  his  property.  He  has  been  a  most 
successful  business  man.  In  politics  lie 
is  a  loading  Republican,  formerly  a  Whig, 
and  has  served  in  various  local  offices.  All 
of  his  children  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a 
college  education. 

I  A.  NICOLLS  was  born  May  12, 
k.  I  1827,  in  Lock.  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a 
}^)  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Peck)  Nicolls. 
William  Nicolls,  his  grandfather,  a 
native  of  New  York,  was  in  the  service  of 
his  country  during  the  entire   seven  years 


of  the  Kevolutionary  war.  The  father  of 
8ul)ject,  also  a  native  of  New  York,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  serving 
tliri)Ughout  that  conflict,  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  George  under  Gen.  Schuyler. 

In  1837  John  Nicolls  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Bronson  township,  Huron 
county,  and  cleared  off  a  farm,  becoming 
a  prominent  farmer  in  the  township,  where 
he  died  in  1845.  His  widow  was  after- 
ward granted  a  pension  for  his  services  in 
the  war;  she  died  in  1876,  aged  eio-hty- 
five  years.  Tiieir  children  were  seven  in 
number,  as  follows:  William,  who  died 
when  aged  twenty-five,  unmarried;  Lorina, 
Mrs.  Hagermann,  of  Bronson  township; 
Samantha;  Newell  Ray,  who  died  in  1865, 
aged  forty-five;  J.  A.,  subject  of  sketch; 
George,  of  Bronson  township,  and  one  de- 
ceased in  infancy. 

J.  A.  Nicolls  was  ten  years  of  age  when 
he  came  with  the  family  to  Ohio.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  that  period, 
the  days  of  the  primitive  log  schoolhouses, 
where  eauli  pupil  furnished  so  much  wood, 
as  well  as  paying  the  teacher.  When  he 
was  fifteen  years  old  he  commenced  to 
work  out  as  a  hired  man  at  six  dollars  per 
month,  which  money  all  went  to  help  sup- 
port the  family.  He  thus  labored  four 
years,  tilling  the  land  on  shares,  when  he 
went  into  debt  and  bought  a  farm.  By 
working  hard  and  saving  closely,  and  buy- 
ing other  land  on  credit,  in  the  end  he 
paid  off  all  the  accumulated  debts,  to  the 
sum  of  over  four  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars  (including  six  years  interest),  with 
several  lucky  years'  crops.  He  continued 
to  follow  farming  till  1877. 

On  August  24^  1870,  J.  A.  Nicolls  and 
Miss  Rosanna  Fisher  were  united  in  mar- 
riage by  Rev.  John  Hawker,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Ralph, 
Dean,  Jessie  and  John  A.  lu  1877  the 
family  removed  to  Norwalk,  and  made  ex- 
tensive investments  in  real  estate,  at  the 
same  time  farming  and  dealing  extensively 
in  stock.  Mr.  Nicolls  has  served  accept- 
ably  as   township    assessor   during  seven 


144 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


successive  terms;  he  was  also  township 
clei-k,  and  for  about  three  years  was  post- 
master at  Bronson,  having  his  appointtneiit 
(which  was  signed  by  President  Fillmore) 
still  in  his  possession.  One  of  his  Nor- 
walk  entei'prises  was  the  erection,  in  the 
fall  and  winter  of  1877,  of  the  elegant 
"NicoUs  Block,''  whieii  was  burned  in 
September,  1888;  but  he  rebuilt  it  at  once, 
and  still  owns  the  fine  property;  he  also 
owns  270  acres  of  land  in  Bronson  town- 
ship, and  the  elegant  grocery  house  build- 
ing on  Benedict  avenue,  in  Norwalk.  In 
1S76  he  built  his  elegant  residence  on 
Norwood  avenue,  where  the  fatnily  now 
resides,  the  grounds  around  which  include 
about  three  acies,  tastefully  laid  out  and 
highly  ornamented,  making,  altogether,  one 
of  the  finest  homes  in  the  city.  Mr.  Nicolls 
did  not  go  into  the  army  to  put  down  the 
rebellion,  having  an  aged  mother  and  aunt 
to  care  for;  but  he  gave  liberally  of  his 
means  to  those  that  did  enlist  for  their 
country's  protection.  Politically  he  is  an 
active  Prohibitionist,  having  enlisted  with 
the  party  at  its  commencement. 


CHARLES    M.    NIVER,    prominent 
among  the  most  prosperous  and  in- 
fluential of  the  farmers  of  Norwich 
township,  Huron  county,  is  a  native 
of  the  same,  born  in  1835. 

C.  B.  Niver,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  came  in  1833  from  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Norwdch  township, 
Huron  county,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm 
of  600  acres,  part  of  which  he  sold  to  his 
brothers,  owning  at  the  time  of  his  death 
250  acres  of  valuable  land  which  he  had 
cleared.  He  was  by  trade  a  wagon  maker, 
but  after  coming  to  Huron  county  devoted 
his  attention  exclusively  to  agriculture. 
He  married  Miss  Emily  Moore,  of  Seneca 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  four  children  were 
born  to  them,  viz.:  Laura  J.  and  John  M. 
(both  deceased),  Albert  E.  and  Charles  M. 
The  father  died  in  1886,  in  politics  a  solid 
Republican. 


Charles  M.  Niver,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  was  there  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, attetiding  during  the  winter  months 
the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  place  of  birth.  He  now  owns  151 
acres  of  prime  land,  where  he  successfully 
carries  on  general  farming.  Politically  he 
follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  being 
an  uncompromising  Republican. 


GALVIN  WHITNEY.  The  flexibil- 
ity of  American  genius — the  ability 
to  project  and  successfully  manipu- 
late the  details  of  a  new  business,  after 
having  for  a  protracted  period  conducted 
one,  perhaps  diametrically  different  in  its 
nature — is  one  of  its  distinguishing  char- 
acteristics. This  easy  transition  from  an 
old  to  a  new  vocation  may  be  said  to  lie 
at  the  bottom  of  nearly  all  great  material 
development  in  the  United  States. 

Capitalists,  who  for  the  most  part  are 
discreet  in  their  investments,  embark  in 
new  enterprises  only  when  tlie  way  has 
been  carefully  mapped  out  by  this  quality 
of  genius,  and  liberal  returns  are  insured; 
and,  as  a  consummation  of  plans  and  ven- 
tures of  men  of  this  type,  on  grass-covered 
prairies  have  sprung  up  towns  and  cities 
where  the  incessant  hum  and  roar  of  in- 
dustry in  all  its  phases  is  the  ^Eolian 
music  of  commerce  and  trade.  Thus  capi- 
talists, who  furnish  employment  to  the 
masses  by  the  establishment  of  such 
enterprises,  become  our  greatest  bene- 
factors— our  practical  philanthropists — 
to  whom  the  public  owe  no  less  a  debt  of 
gratitude  than  to  men  of  letters,  to  the 
statesmen,  or  to  the  soldier.  In  this  con- 
nection we  here  introduce  a  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  Mr.  Calvin  Whitney, 
president  of  the  A.  B.  Chase  Company, 
of  Norwalk,  one  of  the  leading  industries 
of  the  kind  in  the  country,  and  certainly 
the  leading  one  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


145 


The  Whitney  family  are  of  English 
origin,  Henry  Whitney,  grandsire  of  the 
branch  of  the  family  in  tliis  country,  hav- 
inor  been  born  in  the  "ti<xht  little  island'' 
about  the  year  1020.  Immigrating  to  this 
country,  he  became  a  pioneer  of  the,  then, 
New  England  Colonies,  and  the  family 
lived  for  successive  generations  in  and 
around  the  vicinity  of  Norwalk,  Conn., 
until  the  migrating  therefrom  of  Henry 
Whitney,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  as  will   be  presenlly  related. 

This  last  mentioned  Henry  Whitney 
was  born  in  1791,  in  Norvvalk,  Conn., 
where  lie  married  Miss  Lucy  Grumman, 
afterward  moving  to  the  western  border  of 
civilization,  and,  in  1819,  settling  in  what 
is  now  Shelby,  Kichland  Co.,  Ohio.  To 
this  honored  pioneer  couple  were  born 
eleven  children,  ten  of  whom  lived  till 
after  the  youngest  had  passed  the  fiftieth 
milestone  on  the  highway  of  life.  One  of 
these  children,  by  name  Charles,  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1812,  in  his  younger  days  fol- 
lowed blacksmithing  and  farming-,  and  he 
is  now  a  resident  of  North  Fairtield,  Ohio, 
a  hale  and  hearty  octogenarian.  He  mar- 
ried a  widow  lady  whose  maiden  name 
was  Koxanna  Palmer,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  si.x  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Palmer,  gave  every  promise  of  a 
bright  career,  but  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  O.  V.  1.,  and  after  a  gallant 
service  in  the  Federal  cause  was  mortally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloli;  Anne, 
the  second  child,  died  in  infancy;  Calvin, 
John  L.,  Richard  B.  and  Idalia  L.  are  yet 
living. 

Calvin  Whitney  was  born  in  Townsend, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September  25,  1846. 
As  a  boy  he  pursued  the  usual  vocations  of 
farm  life  during  the  summer  seasons,  in 
winter  time  attending  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  where  he  developed 
an  ambition  for  learning,  and  exhibited  a 
special  fondness  for  mathematics.  He 
proved  an  apt  and  diligent  scholar,  and  by 
close  study  at  home  by  the  cheerless  light 


of  a  tallow  candle,  and  daily  encouraged 
by  a  loving,  patient,  painstaking  mother, 
he  succeeded  in  mastering  the  elements  of 
an  English  education;  and  when  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  found  his  school  days  termi- 
nated, he  had  acquired  a  higher  mental 
discipline  than  many  whose  advantages  in 
that  respect  had  been  greater.  Something 
he  learned  also — the  greatest  lesson  of  life 
— to  think  for  himself. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  Mr.  Whitney 
began  business  for  his  own  account  by 
taking  a  farm  to  work  on  shares,  but  a  hail- 
storm came  and  destroyed  his  crops,  which 
disaster  he  interpreted  as  an  ill-omen, 
and  concluding  that  Providence  did  not 
design  him  for  a  farmer  (to  use  his  own 
words),  he  determined  to  change  his  voca- 
tion. Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  1865,  hus- 
banding his  means — some  four  hundred 
dollars — he  went  West  and  opened  out  a 
hardwood  lumber  business,  on  a  scale  such 
as  his  finances  admitted,  soon  established 
a  credit,  and  so  made  the  venture  a  success 
from  the  outset.  Under  his  care  the  busi- 
ness grew  rapidly,  and  for  several  years 
before  he  commenced  to  withdraw  his  at- 
tention from  it,  and  look  after  matters  of 
still  greater  magnitude,  the  lumber  sales 
aggregated  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
per  annum. 

But  notM'ithstanding  the  extensive  and 
remunerative  trade  in  this  line  of  industry 
which  he  had  built  up,  Mr.  Whitney  was 
ever  on  the  '' qiii  lu'tv,"  watching  for  pos- 
sibilities in  other  dii'ections.  In  the  fall 
of  1875  lie  assisted  in  organizing  the  A. 
B.  Chase  Organ  Company,  for  the  purpose 
of  manufacturing  reed  organs,  the  capital 
stock  of  the  concern  being  then  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars.  Of  this  company  he  was  a 
director  until  April,  1877,  when,  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  A.  B.  Chase,  he  was  unani- 
mously elected  president  of  the  same. 
Now,  after  fifteen  consecutive  years  of 
assiduous  duty,  he  still  occupies  the  re- 
sponsible position,  and  it  may  be  added 
that  since  his  administration,  the  business 


146 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


has  grown  extensively  in  its  proportions. 
The  following  excerpt  from  the  com- 
pany's latest  statistical  statement  speaks 
for  itself: 

September  1,  1875.  Charter  was  granted  and 
Company  organized  to  manufacture  Organs  and 
Pianos.  January  1,  1876.  First  factory  building 
erected,  40  x  100  feet,  three  stories,  frame.  July  1, 
1876.  The  first  organ  was  completed.  July  1, 
lyyO.  First  addition,  40  x  80  feet,  three  stories, 
completed.  September  1,  1880.  Entire  factory 
destroyed  by  fire.  Loss,  $05,000.  January  1,  1881. 
Brick  factory  erected,  40  x  200  feet,  three  storie?. 
July  1,  1S8:J.  Brick  addition,  56x150  feet,  three 
stories,  completed.  January  1,  1886.  Commenced 
the  manufacture  of  pianos.  July  1,  1890.  Second 
addition,  56  x  85  feet,  completed. 

STATISTICAL    RECORD. 

At  this  date,  January,  1892,  about  200  men  are 
employed  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  their 
goods,  25  dillerenl  styles  of  Pianos,  and  70  different 
styles  of  Organs  are  now  being  made;  200  Organs 
and  100  Pianos  are  turned  out  each  month.  30,- 
000  Pianos  and  Organs  have  been  made  and  sold 
by  this  Company  in  the  United  States  since  it 
was  organized.  $10,000  is  paid  out  by  them  each 
month  for  wages  alone  $1,250,000  has  been  paid 
for  labor  in  this  county  by  this  Co.  since  it  com- 
menced business.  $2,500,000  worth  of  instruments 
have  been  sold  by  them.  These  have  gone  into  all 
parts  of  the  world,  and  the  money  returned  to 
Norwalk,  where  a  large  proportion  of  it  has  been 
spent  for  labor  and  material.  ^ 

With  superior  business  tact  the  sale  of 
the  instruments  has  been  pushed  into  not 
only  the  rural  districts,  but  into  all  the 
great  business  centers,  in  the  metropolitan 
cities,  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
besides  a  considerable  export  trade  to  Can- 
ada, Australia  and  Europe.  Mr.  Whitney 
gradually  withdrew  from  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, and  for  the  past  three  years  has  given 
his  undivided  attention  to  the  manufactur- 
ing business  at  JS'orwalk. 

Calvin  Whitney  was  united  in  marriage, 
November  5,  18G8,  to  Miss  Marian,  daugh- 
ter of  Royal  Cady  and  Marian  (Smith) 
Dean,  of  Townsend,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  this  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children,  viz.:  Marian  Daisy,  Ruby  L., 
Ida  C.  and  Warren  C.  After  spending 
one  year  of  married  life  in  the  West,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wltitney  removed  to  Norwalk, 
where  they  now  live  in  a  comfortable  and 
commodious  residence  on  West  Main  street, 


surrounded  by  an  interesting  and  growing 
family,  and  an  abundance  of  everything 
that  can  make  life  worth  living. 

Although  so  natch  pressed  by  business 
cares,  Mr.  AVhitney  finds  time  to  attend 
to  social,  domestic  and  religious  matters. 
He  and  his  wife  united  with  the  First 
Methodist  Church  of  Norwalk  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1875,  and  he  is  a  prominent  lay- 
man in  that  Society.  In  1884  he  repre- 
sented the  laymen  of  Northern  Ohio  in 
the  general  'Conference  at  Philadelphia, 
Peiin,  and  assisted  in  the  electing  of  five 
bishops.  In  1888  he  attended  the  general 
Conference  at  New  York  in  similar  ca- 
pacity, and  assisted  in  the  election  of  six 
bishops.  Mr.  Whitney's  parents  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  over 
fifty  years,  and  have  imparted  much  of 
their  religious  zeal  to  their  son.  He  do- 
nated ten  thousand  dollars  to  the  Church 
Extension  Society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  for  the  purpose  of  building 
churches  in  the  Far  West;  and  in  honor  of 
his  beloved  wife,  this  is  known  as  the 
"Marian   Whitney  Fimd." 


John  W.  roorback,  for  over 
k.  I  sixty  years  a  resident  of  New  Lon- 
^J/  don  township,  where  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  both  as  a  loyal 
citizen  and  an  industrious  agriculturist,  is 
a  native  of  Orange  county,  Ind.,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1824. 

John  Roorback,  his  father,  born  in 
Adams  county,  Penn.,  in  1796.  married  Miss 
Ann  Spooner,  a  native  of  Yates  county,  N. 
Y.,  born  in  1800,  and  five  children  came 
to  them,  namely:  Martha  A.,  Mary  B., 
Frederick  S.,  John  W.  and  Jillizabeth,  the 
last  named  dying  at  the  age  of  two  years. 
In  1825  John  Roorback  and  his,  then, 
little  family,  moved  to  Yates  county,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1830  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
locating  in  New  London  township,  at  the 
time  when  there  were  but  eight  voters  be- 
sides himself  in  the  township.  The 
country  was  very  wild,  and  turkeys,  deer 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


147 


and  other  animals  were  numerous,  afford- 
ing plenty  of  sport  and  supplying  an  un- 
limited amount  of  food.  John  Roorback 
died  in  1S(!2,  his  wife  in  1879.  Martha  A., 
died  in  1892. 

John  W.  Roorback,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  attended  the  primitive 
subscription  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
of  his  new  home  in  Huron  county,  at  the 
same  time  assisting  his  father  in  the  clear- 
ing of  the  land.  In  1855  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  J.  JfcConnell,  and  one  child  was 
born  to  them — Annie,  wife  of  Reter  Rob- 
ertson, by  whom  she  has  three  children: 
Nellie  J.,  John  W.,  and  Gordon.  The 
mother  of  these  dying  in  1874,  Mr.  Roor- 
back married,  for  his  second  wife,  in  1878, 
Miss  Eva  Doty,  by  which  union  there  are 
two  cliildren:  Marie  and  Paul  J.  Our 
subject  in  his  political  sympathies  is  a 
straight  Democrat,  and  has  served  with 
great  credit  as  township  trustee.  He  is 
enterprising  and  public-spirited,  and  is 
ever  to  be  found  on  the  side  of  progres- 
slveness  and  good  government. 


f[J  ENRY   F.   BROWN,  dairy  farmer 
IpH     and  milk  dealer,  is  a  son  of  Frank 
I     1|    Brown,  whose  father   was   born  in 
•J)  Connecticut.     The  latter  afterward 

moved  to  New  York,  and  pur- 
purchased  300  acres  of  land  near  Bing- 
hamton,  where  he  died. 

Frank  Brown  was  born  iu  Counecticut, 
afterward  moving  with  his  parents  to 
Broome  county,  N.  Y^.,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  When  a  young  man 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Susan 
Rose,  whose  parents  were  of  English  de- 
scent. Frank  Brown  in  politics  was  a 
Henry  Clay  Whig,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  died  at 
about  the  age  of  fifty-five  years;  his  widow 
is  now  living  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  in  her 
seventy-first  year.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Henry  F.  is 
the  eldest. 


Henry  F.  Brown  was  born  August  24, 
1836,  in  Broome  county,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  schools  of 
Binghamtou.  About  the  year  1861  he 
came  to  and  settled  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and 
was  there  married,  in  February,  1865,  to 
Ellen  Brown,  a  native  of  Peru  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  of  which  locality  her 
parents  were  early  settlers.  Three  sons 
have  blessed  this  union, as  follows:  George, 
an  engineer  on  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie 
Railroad;  Hiram,  livingat  home, and  Lewis, 
attending  school.  After  locating  in  Nor- 
walk, Mr.  Brown  conducted  a  gristmill  for 
some  time;  then  devoted  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed in  various  localities.  For  the  past 
nineteen  years  he  has  resided  on  his  pleas- 
ant farm  containing  sixty-five  acres,  forty- 
three  of  which  are  included  within  the 
limits  of  Norwalk.  He  has  conducted  a 
milk  business  about  nine  years,  now  own- 
ing sixteen  cows,  and  sells  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars'  worth  of  milk  per 
month,  buying  milk  also  at  wholesale  to 
furnish  customers.  Politically  he  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  in  April,  1892,  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  from  the  Fourth 
Ward.  He  has  erected  a  pleasant  dwell- 
ing and  commodious  barn,  ample  evidence 
in  themselves  of  his  prosperity. 


ELSON  O.  ALLEN,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Martha  (I)evore)  Allen,  was 
born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in 
1858.  Joseph  Allen  was  a  native  of 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Virginia, 
and  is  a  descendant  of  the  pioneer  Aliens  of 
the  Valley  of  Virginia,  whose  names  are 
associated  with  agrarian  affairs  in  Ireland 
in  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centu- 
ries, and  with  the  Revolution  here,  in 
M-hich  many  of  them  served  their  adopted 
country.  Martha  (Devore)  Allen  is  a  na- 
tive of  liichland  township,  and  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
being  the  eldest. 


148 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Nelson  O.  Allen  grew  to  manhood  in 
Richland  county.  Less  than  a  decade  ago 
he  came  to  New  London,  and  was  engaged 
as  clerk  in  one  of  the  honses  there  nntil 
he  became  connected  with  tl)e  D.  J.  C. 
Arnold  mannfactnring  concern  when  it 
was  organized.  His  bnsiness  ability  was 
so  apparent  that  his  connection  with  this 
mannfacturing  enterprise  promised  snc- 
cess,  and  redeemed  the  promise.  His 
marriage  with  Josephine  Reich,  daughter 
of  Uriah  and  Mary  Reicli,  took  place  on 
the  eighth  day  of  January,  1880,  at  New 
London;  she  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Politically  Mr.  Allen  is  a  Republican,  one 
of  the  most  active  members  of  the  party 
in  Huron  county.  A  representative  of 
his  township  in  county  and  district  con- 
vention, and  chairman  of  the  New  London 
delegation  in  the  county  convention  of 
1891,  he  was  nominated  for  sheriff  on  the 
Republican  ticket  in  1892,  and  elected 
'  sheriff  in  1892. 

In  Society  affairs  our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  a  bright  and  progressive 
young  man,  who  can  fill  tlie  dual  role  of 
business  man  and  politician  with  ease  and 
success.  As  sheriff  of  Huron  county,  the 
administration  of  that  office  must  be  satis- 
factory to  all. 


RTHUR.  The  families  of  this  name 
in  Greenfield  township  are  de- 
scen<led  from  sturdy,  honest  Nortii- 
of-Ireland  people,  for  the  most  part 
tillers  of  the  spil. 
John  Arthur,  grandfather  of  Robert 
and  William  II.  Arthur,  of  Greenfield 
township,  was  a  native  of  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  where  his  son  John  was  boi-n 
February  18,  1795.  This  Joiin  received 
a  practical  education  at  the  schools  of  his 
native  place,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Martha  Easter,  also 
a  native  of  County  Tyrone,  and  to  this 
union  was  born,  in  Ireland,  one  child, 
Margaret.     In  1822  the  family  emigrated 


to  America,  pushed  westward  from  New 
York  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  a  tract  of  land  in  Greenfield  township. 
There  was  a  small  clearing  on  this  tract, 
which  was  an  extra  inducement  to  the 
stranger  to  purchase  it  for  two  dollars  and 
a  half  per  acre.  On  this  farm  the  other 
children  of  the  family  were  born,  namely: 
Ann  J.,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  James 
McPherson;  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas 
Irwin;  Robert  and  William  H.,  sketches 
of  whom  follow,  and  Catherine,  who  re- 
sides in  Greenfield  township.  Margaret, 
the  eldest  child,  married  Alexancler  Lewis, 
and  lived  to  be  sixty-two  years  of  age. 
Tiie  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1879. 
Joim  Arthur  was  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful pioneers  of  Greenfield  township.  His 
farm  grew  from  very  small  beginnings  to 
a  tract  of  700  acres,  and  wlien  lie  died,  in 
1888,  this  large  place  was  highly  improved 
from  end  to  end — the  result  of  bis  in- 
domitable energy  coupled  with  industry 
and  shrewdness.  In  political  affairs  he 
aftiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
held  various  township  offices,  in  which  he 
was  always  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  In  religious  matters  he  and  his 
wife  were  active  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  which  they  iielped  or- 
ganize, and  were  its  main  supporters  in 
this  district.  Mr.  Arthur  filled  several 
offices  in  this  church. 

Robert  Arthur,  eldest  son  of  these 
honored  pioneers,  was  born  March  4,  1829. 

lie  passed  his  lioyhood  in  the  manner 
common  to  pioneer  children — farm  work, 
in  one  form  or  another,  taking  first  place 
in  his  training.  On  December  27,  1867, 
he  married  Julia  E.  Cook,  who  was  born 
in  Peru  township,  Huron  county,  daughter 
of  Wyatt  Cook,  a  native  of  Mt.  Holly, 
Vt.,  who  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  in 
1818,  settling  in  Peru  township.  Here 
lie  was  married  to  Sophia  Root,  of  Noi'th 
Monroeville,  and  they  resided  in  Peru 
township  until  1870,  when  they  removed 
to  Fairfield  township,  where  he  died. 
Their  children  were  Sarah,  Mrs.  Spencer 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


149 


Sumerlin;  Chaimcey  C,  uow  in  Waterloo, 
Iowa;  Elma,  deceased;  Jay,  deceased; 
Anna  and  James,  in  Fairfield  township; 
and  Jnlia  E.  In  politics  Mr.  Cook  was 
originally  a  Whicr.  afterward  becoming  a 
Kepublican,  and  an  ardent  Abolitionist. 
In  religious  belief  he  was  from  his  youth 
a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church 
at  Greenfield.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eobert 
Arthur  the  following  named  children  were 
born:  Mattie  G.,  Clarence  C,  J.  Vinton, 
Laura  A.  and  Fred  K.  Immediately  after 
his  marriage  he  located  on  his  present 
farm.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  1,200 
acres  of  choice  land,  and  is  the  heaviest 
tax-payer  on  real  estate  in  his  township. 
In  addition  to  carrying  on  general  farm 
work,  he  is  also  engaged  in  stock  growing 
and  dealing  in  cattle.  While  he  inherited 
considerable  land,  he  is  personally  deserv- 
ing of  great  credit  for  the  progress  he  has 
made.  Other  young  men  could  and  would 
liave  dissipated  the  inheritance  in  a  little 
while;  but  over  it  and  around  it  he  has 
built  up  a  most  valuable  property,  and  has 
become,  if  not  the  largest  farmer  in  Huron 
county,  the  largest,  certainly,  in  Greenfield 
township.  Almost  two  square  miles  of 
land  tell  of  his  acquisitions  in  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  while  his  sheep  and  cattle  speak 
of  the  varied  directions  in  which  his  agri- 
cultural tastes  run.  A  heavy  wool-grower 
and  cattle  dealer  as  well  as  an  extensive 
farmer,  he  appears  to  have  developed  the 
very  best  principles  of  agriculture.  His 
residence  is  the  finest  in  the  township, 
elegantly  furnished  and  homelike. 

A  warm-hearted  neighbor,  and  a  most 
lenient  landlord,  Mr.  Arthur  walks  through 
life  unassumingly,  as  one  who  cannot 
realize  the  important  relation  which  he 
bears  to  the  community  or  the  very  high 
place  which  he  and  his  family  hold  in  the 
public  estimation.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  an  enthusiastic  supporter 
of  his  party.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church,  in 
which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  some 
years. 


William  H.  Arthur,  second  son  of 
John  and  Martha  (Eastei-)  Arthur,  was 
born  February  20,  1831. 

He  received  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  district,  and  snl)- 
sequently  labored  on  the  home  farm  until 
1867.  when  he  married  Jennie,  daughter 
of  William  H.  Armstrong,  of  the  same 
township.  To  this  marriage  was  born  one 
son,  wlio  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Arthur 
died  April  15,  1888,  and  was  buried  in 
Steuben  cemetery.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Arthur  located  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  but  for  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in 
farm  M'ork.  Beyond  the  business  of  loan- 
ing money  on  real  estate,  and  collecting 
rents  from  the  tenants  on  his  property, 
his  life  is  practically  a  retired  one,  so  far 
as  business  is  concerned.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party;  but  althougli  he  has  held 
various  township  ofhees  he  is  not  a  poli- 
tician, and  he  has  never  sought  office. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  for  several  years  was  a 
trustee  in  that  Society.  He  is  a  reader 
and  a  close  observer,  conversant  with  the 
times  and  manners,  and  well  posted  on 
American  public  affairs. 


ilLLIAM  W.  TWADDLE,  one  of 
the  most  successful  farmers  of 
Clarksfield  township,  was  born 
November  16,  1833,  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  the  fourth  son  and  twelfth 
child  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Ramage) 
Twaddle. 

William  Twaddle  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  Huron  county  (where 
his  family  settled  in  1836),  a  Miss  Starr 
being  his  first  teacher.  When  school  days 
were  over,  he  l)egan  work  as  a  farm  hand 
and  ox  driver  at  eighteen  pence  per  day, 
and  from  his  savings  he  was  enabled  to 
pay  the  shoemaker  (Hinman)  for  the  first 
pair  of  boots  he   wore.     On  October  30, 


150 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1856,  in  South  Milford,  Iiid.,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sahra  A.  Pixley,  who  was  horn  in 
October,  1838,  in  Clarksfield  township, 
daugliter  of  Eli  and  Czarina  (Blackmail) 
Pixley,  who  migrated  from  New  York 
State  to  La  Grange  county,  Ind.,  and  later 
moved    to    Minnesota,    where    they   died. 

The  following  children  came  to  the  inar- 
ch 

riage  of  AVilliam  W.  and  Sabra  A.  Twad- 
dle: Herbert  A.,  who  married  Sadie  A. 
Campbell,  and  lives  in  Clarkstield  town- 
ship; and  Posa  M.,  now  Mrs.  Xnland  Lee, 
of  Lorain,  Ohio.  For  about  a  year  after 
marriage  they  resided  in  an  old  log  house 
on  the  present  farm.  He  then  became 
owner  of  the  old  Alexander  Twaddle  farm, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  For  the  last 
two  decades  he  has  given  much  attention 
to  the  dairy  business,  which  he  has  carried 
on  in  conjunction  with  general  farming. 
Since  18G7  he  has  been  a  Prohibitionist, 
and  voted  that  ticket  when  there  were  but 
three  votes  cast  for  it  in  his  township. 
He  has  served  as  trustee  of  Clarksfield 
township,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
local  political  affairs.  His  wife  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  both  are  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Huron  county. 


D.OPtR  TWADDLE,  a  representative 
I   farmer  of  Huron  county,  was  horn 
,''   March    28,     1852,    in    Clarksfield 

township.  He  is  a  grandson  of 
Alexander  Twaddle,  and  a  son  of  John  J. 
Twaddle,  who  was  born  February  23, 1820, 
in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio. 

John  J.  Tvvaddle  passed  his  youth  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio  (where  the  family 
lived  from  1823  to  1836),  and  he  experi- 
enced all  the  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  the  life  of  a  pioneer  boy,  but  he 
was  never  found  wanting  in  fidelity  to  his 
parents  or  the  work  which  he  was  called 
upon  to  perform.  He  and  his  brother 
Alexander  purchased  land  in  Clarksfield 
township,  Huron  county,  in  1835.  Some 
time  after  locating  thereon  John  J.  Twad- 


dle married  Julia  A.  Palmer,  a  native  of 
Westchester  county,  JSf.  Y.,  who  came 
to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when  a  girl. 
After  marriage  the  young  couple  resided 
near  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  for 
Isaac  Underbill,  a  pioneer  of  that  region. 
While  employed  there  he  saved  sufficient 
money  to  pay  for  his  land  in  Clarkstield 
township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
December  28,  1885.  His  widow  died  No- 
vember 8,  188U,  and  both  lie  buried  in 
Clarkstield  cemetery.  Of  their  children 
the  following  record  is  made:  Frank  died 
in  infancy;  Ella  married  J.  T.  King,  and 
resides  in  her  native  township;  Dorr  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Charlotte  married 
Eugene  Fox,  of  Clarksfield  township; 
Leroy  and  Lillie  A.  (twins),  the  former  of 
whom  resides  here;  Lillie  A.,  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Judd,  lives  in  Marshall  county,  Kansas. 

Dorr  Twaddle  entered  industrial  life  on 
the  farm  at  a  very  early  age,  but  his  edu- 
cation was  not  overlooked,  for  he  attended 
the  school  taught  by  Miss  Delia  Dunham, 
who  was  his  first  teacher.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  ye&vi  he  set  out  for  Michigan,  and 
remained  in  that  State  three  years,  engaged 
in  various  businesses.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  he  began  learning  the  cheese- 
manfacturing  industry,  and  for  four  years 
worked  in  Parker,  Morgan  &  Hovey's 
factory.  Later  he  was  appointed  night 
superintendent  of  the  factory,  and  subse- 
quently was  given  charge  of  it.  Some 
time  after  the  last  promotion  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  concern,  also  taking  a  half 
interest  in  another  cheese  factory  located 
in  the  southern  part  of  Clarksfield  town- 
ship. For  seven  years  he  carried  on  that 
factory,  and  later  became  the  "  Co."  in  the 
firm  of  J.  C.  Kansom  tV:  Co.,  being  known 
to  the  cheese  manufacturers  as  a  most  suc- 
cessful operator. 

Mr.  Twaddle's  marriage  with  Celia 
Rowland  took  place  December  30,  1874. 
She  was  born  March  16,  1856,  in  Clarks- 
tield township,  to  Daniel  and  Harriet 
(Chaffee)  Rowland,  and  the  children  of 
this  union  are  Wanda  P.,  William  E.  and 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


151 


Jay  C,  all  residing  with  their  parents. 
In  1882  Mr.  Twaddle  took  up  his  resi- 
dence on  his  present  farm,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  general  farming;  he  also 
gives  some  attention  to  the  cheese  raanw- 
facturing  business.  Since  1882  he  has 
made  many  impi'overaents  on  this  farm; 
he  is  methodical  in  everything,  and  carries 
on  the  difi'erent  departments  of  his  busi- 
ness systematically.  Politically  a  Demo- 
crat, he  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party 
in  this  county. 


WASHINGTON  SANGER,  promi- 
nent  amoncp  the  well-to-do  asri- 
lL[     cnlturists  of  Wakeman  township, 
is  a  native  of  New   York  State, 
born  in  Oneida  county  October  7,  1821. 

Richard  Sanger,  father  of  subject,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  removed  to  New 
Hartford,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  during  the  rest  of 
his  life.  His  eldest  daughter  married 
Cyrus  Bntler,  and  moved  to  Birmingham, 
Ohio.  After  the  death  of  Richard  Sanger 
his  eldest  son  came  to  Ohio,  being  shortly 
afterward  followed  l)y  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily, including  our  subject,  who  was  then 
between  five  and  six  years  old.  At  the 
age  of  eleven  years  he  went  to  live  with 
John  Carter,  a  farmer,  in  a  part  of  Huron 
county  that  is  now  in  Erie  county,  and  re- 
mained with  him  until  1850,  in  which 
year  he  married  Miss  Gitty  J.  Stryker, 
sister  of  Judge  Stryker,  of  Birmingham, 
Ohio.  After  marriage  they  lived  on  a 
small  farm  in  Erie  county,  two  miles 
south  of  Birmingham,  a  couple  of  years, 
and  then,  in  1843,  Mr.  Sanger  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Wakeman 
township,  Huron  county,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  "Butler  road."  After  Mr. 
Sanger  had  paid  for  these  eighty  acres  at 
eight  dollars  per  acre,  he  bought  forty 
acres  more  near  his  former  residence,  at 
twenty-five  dollars  ])er  acre,  and  set  to 
work  to  clear  the  land;  but  he  experienced 


adversity  as  well  as  prosperity.  He  had 
eleven  acres  of  this  new  land  seeded  to 
wheat  just  after  clearing  it,  and  a  heavy 
June  frost  completely  killed  it.  In  addi- 
tion to  cereals  he  raised  sheep,  etc.,  and  in 
the  long  run  became  very  successful  in  all 
his  undertaking's.  Mr.  Sanger  has  had 
two  children,  viz.:  Watson  T.  and  Etta, 
who  died  in  1870.  His  wife  died  in  May, 
1883. 

In  1859  Mr.  Sanger  moved  to  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  there  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  until  1861,  when  he 
traded  his  stock  in  trade  for  a  farm ;  then 
carried  on  a  grocery  in  Oberlin  for  a  time 
(his  farm  being  in  the  meantime  conducted 
by  his  son),  after  which  he  returned  to 
Wakeman,  in  which  township  he  now 
owns  120  acres  of  land.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Republican. 


||)  RADLEY    HAYES,    a    prominent 
farmer  and    stock-raiser  of  AVake- 
man  township,  is  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut,   born    in    New   Fairfield, 
September  24,  1828. 

Sturgis  Hayes,  his  father,  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  same  locality,  and  taught  the 
trade  of  wagon-maker.  He  married  Anna 
Wakeman,  also  a  native  of  New  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  where  for  a  few  years  thereafter  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  saving  liis  earnings. 
Aljout  1830,  with  their  four  children  born 
in  Connecticut,  he  and  his  wife  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Clarksfield  township, 
Huron  county,  the  journey  being  made  via 
Buffalo  and  Cleveland.  Here  the  father 
bought  seventy-eight  acres  of  wild  land, 
which  he  cleared  and  transformed  into  one 
of  the  most  productive  farms  in  his  sec- 
tion. In  later  years  he  added  122  acres, 
and  in  his  success  he  was  loyally  assisted 
by  his  amiable  wife  and  stalwart  family  of 
cliildren,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Edward  died  in  Missouri;  Lewis 
is  a  farmer  in  Kansas;  Bradley  is  the  sub- 
ject of  sketch;  Eli  is  a  farmer  at  Hickory 
Grove,   Mo.;   Hanna  and    Phoebe  are  de- 


152 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ceased;  Maria  is  the  widow  of  Ezra  Stone, 
and  lives  in  Ciarksiield,  Huron  county; 
Harriet  is  tlie  wii^e  of  Abrain  Harris,  also 
of  Clarkstield;  Fi-ancis  is  deceased.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  in  186'J,  the 
mother  in  1880. 

Bradley  Hayes  was  two  years  old  when 
the  family  came  to  Ohio,  and  to  Huron 
county;  and  here  amid  the  dense  forest, 
still  haunted  by  wild  animals,  the  boy  was 
reared  and  educated.  Until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old  he  worked  for  his  father, 
and  then  commenced  for  hiujself,  laboring 
on  a  farm  for  three  years  on  day  wages  tor 
I.  Underbill  in  a  sawmill,  while  they  had 
water,  and  on  farm  the  rest  of  the  time. 
From  there  he  went  to  Branch  county, 
Mich.,  remaining  one  year,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  returned  to  Wakeman,  and 
for  the  following  six  years  worked  for  one 
Bissell.  While  in  Michigan  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  there. 

In  1857  Mr.  Hayes  married  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Hanford,  who  was  born  October  17, 
1828,  in  South  Britain,  Conn.,  a  daughter 
of  Justus  Wheeler.  To  this  inarriage  were 
born  Hinda  J.,  who  married  Caiiarus  V. 
Clawson,  and  is  now  residing  in  St.  Louis; 
Jess.  J.,  a  resident  of  Wakeman  township, 
married  to  Uoxy  C.  Koss;  and  Hattie  A., 
deceased.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hayes  was  two 
years  old  when  she  came  from  South 
Britain,  Conn.,  to  Wakeman,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  Mr.  Hayes  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  is  respected  by  all  as  a  useful,  loyal 
citizen. 


DAVID   FOX,  son  of  David  and  Bar- 
bara (Belts)  Fox,  was  born  July  I'.l, 
'    1817,  in  Columbia   county,   Penn., 

and  when  five    years    of    age  came 
to  Ohio  with  his  parents. 

David  Fox,  Sr.,  migrated  in  1822  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  settled  near 
Tiffin,  Seneca  county,  on  a  farm  where,  to 
use  a  pioneer  phrase,  "there  was  not  a 
stick  amiss."  At  that  time  the  family 
comprised  Isaac,  Peter,  William,  David, 


Jr.,  and  John.  In  Seneca  county  were 
born  Lizzie,  Jacob.  Margaret,  Charles  aiid 
George.  A  brief  record  of  this  family  is 
as  follows:  Isaac  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school  and  in  farming  until  bis  death, 
which  occurred  at  Madison,  Wis.;  Peter,  a 
bachelor,  opened  a  fishery  at  Marblehead, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  drowned;  William  is 
a  farmer  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio;  David  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  John  served  in 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  suffered 
much  from  fatigue  and  hardship  in  the 
service  (he  is  now  a  gardener  at  Muncie, 
Ind.);  Lizzie  married  Irviu  Bums,  and 
died  in  Seneca  county;  Jacob,  who  resides 
at  Columbia  City,  Ind.,  lost  an  eye  in  the 
service  dui'iiiij  the  Civil  war;  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  Isaiah  Hartley,  of  Seneca 
county;  Charles  died  in  infancy;  George  is 
a  farmer  of  Whitley  county,  Ind. 

David  Fox,  Sr.,  entered  the  Southeast 
quarter.  Section  Fifteen,  Township  One, 
Range  Fourteen,  now  Seneca  township, 
Seneca  A)unty,  on  June  3,  1823,  and  re- 
sided thereon  until  his  death  in  1830.  He 
was  in  poor  health  for  eleven  years  pre- 
vious to  his  decease,  and  came  to  Seneca 
county  with  the  hope  that  the  change 
would  check  the  consumption  which  was 
wasting  him  away.  His  widow  died  in 
July,  1851,  and  was  buried  beside  her  hus- 
band in  the  little  cemetery  on  Wolf  creek; 
he  was  the  first  person  interred  there,  and 
his  brother-in-law,  Peter  Wagner,  the  next. 
The  farm  was  cleared  by  his  sons,  who 
were  earnest  workers. 

David  Fox,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  reared  in  Seneca  county,  where  he  at- 
tended the  school  of  his  brother  Isaac, 
who  after  the  father's  death  was  appointed 
guardian  of  his  younger  brother.  Some 
time  afterward,  Isaac  was  married,  and  for 
some  reason  young  David  did  not  become 
a  favorite  with  his  sister-in-law.  The 
youth  left  his  brother's  home  and  went  to 
Franklin  county,  Ohio.  Isaac  provided  an- 
other guardian  for  the  boy  in  the  person 
of  Chi'istian  Mussetter,  and  for  awhile 
affairs  ran   along  nicely;   but  the  master 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


153 


soon  began  to  think  that  action  ratlier  than 
words  was  necessary  to  the  hoy's  welfare, 
and  the  "gad"  or  "birch"  appeared. 
David  resented  tliis,  and  in  1837  fled  to 
Canada,  where  he  joined  the  rebellion 
there  of  that  year,  serving  some  seven 
months,  and  participating  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  McCormick's  property'  (this  Mc- 
Corniick  set  fire  to  the  steamboat 
"Caroline,"  which  contained  provisions 
and  aininnnition  for  the  rebels,  and  cut- 
ting her  moorings  let  her  drift  down  the 
Niagara  river  and  over  the  Falls  of  Niag- 
ara). David  returned  to  Seneca  county, 
and  Mussetter,  glad  to  surrender  liis 
rights  as  guardian,  allowed  the  lad  to  go 
free. 

Our  subject  tlien  went  to  Bellevue,  Ohio, 
entered  the  brickyard  of  Barney  Kline, 
and  remained  in  his  employ  for  live  years, 
less  one  tnouth.  On  May  7,  1845,  he 
married  Louisa  J.  Johnson,  who  was  born 
July  20,  1827,  at  Freedom,  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Peter  and  Eliza  Ann  (Hose) 
Johnson.  Her  parents  went  in  1834  to 
Genesee  county,  N.  Y..  tiieu  to  Harbor  Creek 
•township,  Erie  Co.,  Penn.;  next  in  1844 
to  Noble  county,  Ind .  (where  the  fever  and 
ague  warned  them  off),  and  in  the  same  j'ear 
to  Sandusky  county,  Ohio.  The  children 
born  to  David  and  Louisa  Fox  are  Sarah, 
widow  of  Samuel  P.  DeWolf;  William  F., 
a  farmer  of  Gratiot  county,  Mich.;  George 
R.,  a  farmer  of  Clai-ksfield  township;  Alice, 
wife  of  Joiin  Kingsbury,  of  Hartland 
township;  Florence  L.,  Mrs.  Salmon 
Haynes,  and  Alvah  A.,  both  of  Clarks- 
field  township;  Clara  B.,  wife  of  L.  M. 
Kingsbury,  of  Hartland  township,  and 
Elsie  C,  wife  of  D.  L.  Justus,  of  Clarks- 
field. 

Mr.  Fox  received  fi'om  his  fatiier's  estate 
the  sum  of  sixty  dollars.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  located  on  the  home  farm  in 
Seneca  county,  purchased  the  interests  of 
five  of  the  eight  heirs,  and  made  his  home 
there  until  he  sold  the  place  and  removed 
to  Rock  county.  Wis.,  the  trip  from  Ohiooc- 
cupying  eighteen  days.     On  his  arrival  he 


purchased  eighty  acres,  resided  thereon 
for  three  or  four  years,  and  then  sold  the 
tract  and  bought  other  lands.  Later  he 
purchased  land  in  Delaware  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  also  resided  three  or  four  years, 
until  his  health  ur<red  him  to  retire  from 
farm  life.  Renting  the  farm  he  removed 
to  Clinton,  Wis.,  where  he  recovered  his 
health;  then  returning  to  Iowa  he  resided 
there  until  1861,  when  he  traded  his  320 
Iowa  acres  for  120  acres  in  Ciarksfield 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  betook 
up  his  residence.  In  twenty-one  years  he 
moved  eighteen  times,  making  a  profit  by 
each  move  and  improving  his  knowledge 
of  the  country.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  not  a  politician.  The  close  personal 
attention  which  he  gives  to  agriculture 
and  stock  growitig,  in  which  he  is  largely 
interested,  militates  against  his  political 
interests,  withdrawing  him  from  public 
circles.  Mrs.  Fox  and  the  family  liold  a 
high  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  commu- 
nity, while  Mr.  Fox  is  known  and  appre- 
ciated far  beyond  the  boundaries  of 
Ciarksfield  township. 


^J 


MAJOR  SMITH  (deceased)  was 
born  August  17,  1809,  in  On- 
ondaga   county,    N.    Y.,    son     of 

Elisha  and    Margaret  (Matthews) 

Smith. 

Elisha  Smith  was  born  in  1766  at 
Plymouth,  Conn.,  where  he  married  Mar- 
garet Matthews,  who  was  born  in  1776. 
Thej^  lived  at  Plymouth,  where  Elisha 
carried  on  his  trade  of  blacksmith,  until 
1805,  when  the  family  moved  to  a  point 
near  Syracuse,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  In 
1811  the  father,  mother,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter  set  out  from  their  New  York 
home  for  Ohio,  traveling  by  wagon  road 
via  Buffalo  (N.  Y.),  and  Erie  (Penn.), 
and  then  through  the  wilderness  to  the 
settlement  called  Beef,  on  the  Allegheny 
river.  There  the  father  purchased  a  boat, 
loaded  thereon  the  wagon  and  team,  and 
then    embarked  with   the   members  of   his 


154 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


family  for  a  voyage  to  Pittsburgh.  Ar- 
rived in  safety,  they  proceeded  to  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio  (then  a  small  place),  whence 
they  journeyed  by  wagon  road  to  Spring- 
field, Ohio,  where  they  rested  after  a  trip 
of.forty  days.  While  tliere  Elisha  Smith 
served*  in  the  war  of  1812  as  artificer  in 
Gen.  Harrison's  army,  shoeing  horses  and 
oxen,  and  performing  all  the  work  assigned 
to  him.  His  wife  died  in  Springfield  July 
28,  1814,  he  in  September  following,  after 
which  tiie  eldest  son,  Sherman,  assumed 
the  direction  of  the  family. 

Major  Smith  was  i-eared  in  the  manner 
of  boys  of  that  time  and  jjlace.  After  the 
death  of  his  parents,  whicli  occurred  when 
he  was  five  years  old,  he  was  cared  for  by 
his  brother  Sherman,  and  in  1815  accom- 
panied his  elder  brothers  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  The  journey  was  made  with  a 
wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  and  was  attended 
by  many  hardships  and  privations;  nor 
did  the  hardships  cease  with  their  settle- 
ment in  New  London  township,  for  the 
brothers  had  to  work  early  and  late  and 
under  circumstances  trying  even  to  pio- 
neers. Major  resided  with  his  brother 
Sherman  until  June  6,  1831,  when  he 
married  Eliza  Knapp,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  of  twenty  acres  in  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, which  liis  brother  Sherman  helped 
him  to  secure.  On  it  was  a  small  log 
house  in  a  small  clearing,  but  the  im- 
provements were  so  rude  that  its  change 
from  the  wilderness  to  a  cultivated  farm 
must  be  credited  to  Mr.  Smith,  as  also  the 
additions  to  the  original  farm.  On  May 
6,  18G6,  he  located  on  the  place  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  August  4,  18.85, 
and  it  is  now  the  property  of  his  widow. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Smith  was  born  March  16, 
1813,  at  Danbury,  Conn.,  to  Jolni  and 
Mindwell  (Wood)  Knapp.  John  Knapp 
died  at  Danbury,  and  his  widow  afterward 
married  Simeon  Hoyt,  with  whom  she 
came  to  Ohio  in  1816,  bringing  her  daugh- 
ter Eliza,  and  settling  in  the  southern 
part  of  Clarksfield  township.  Simeon 
Hoyt  was    the    son   of    Comfort    Hoyt,  a 


merchant  of  Danbury,  who  received  from 
Connecticut  a  large  grant  of  the  "  Fire- 
lands"  for  damages  his  business  interests 
sustained  during  the  Revolution  and  the 
war  of  1812.  He  sent  his  son  Simeon  to 
survey  the  tract  in  Huron  county,  and  the 
latter  made  his  home  here. 

Major  Smith  was  always  a  farmer,  and 
succeeded  in  biiilding  up  a  valuable  prop- 
erty by  his  own  labor  and  industry.  His 
illness  in  1881  prevented  the  celebration 
of  his  "golden  wedding,"  for  in  June  of 
that  year  was  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
his  marriage.  Politically  he  was  first  a 
Jacksonian  Democrat,  in  1840  a  Harrison 
Whig,  and  in  1884  a  Blaine  Kepublican. 
He  took  a  deep  interest  in  political  affairs, 
held  various  township  otfices,  and  was  es- 
teemed in  public  and  private  life.  The 
only  child  of  Major  and  Eliza  Smith  was 
Dolly  E.,  born  July  27,  1835,  who  mar- 
ried Wesley  Smith  (son  of  John  Smith),  a 
native  of  Clarksfield  township.  He  died 
November  12,  1863,  leaving  one  child,  H. 
A.  Smith,  who  resides  with  his  grand- 
mother on  the  Major  Smith  farm.  In 
1866  his  widow  married  W.  F.  Barnum, 
and  two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Charles  P.,  August  4,  1866,  and  Jay  M., 
August  29,  1870,  both  residing  at  Mica 
Bay,  Kootenai  Co.,  Idaho.  Their  mother 
died  April  11,  1875. 


El  LIAS   EASTER.     This    gentleman, 
who  is. now  living  a  retired  life  in 
I  the  city  of  Norwalk,  was  for  many 

years  a  leading,  progressive  agri- 
culturist of  Greenfield  township  where  he 
was  born  Septemlier  19,  1834. 

John  Easter,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  cloth  manu- 
facturer in  the  town  of  Berragh,  near 
Londonderry,  Ireland.  His  son,  Archi- 
bald, was  born  in  1783  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  and  received  a  very  good  common- 
school  education,  as  his  parents  were  in 
comfortable  circumstances.  When  yet  a 
young    man   lie   was  sent  to  America  on 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


155 


business  pertaining  to  some  real  estate 
which  they  (the  family  of  John  Easter) 
had  in  question,  and,  his  business  con- 
cluded, he  was  about  to  return  home  to 
Ireland,  when  he  was  prevented  from  so 
doing  by  the  "Embargo  Act"  in  force 
during  the  war  of  1812.  Being  familiar 
with  the  art  of  weaving,  he  obtained  a 
situation  in  some  mills  at  Chambersburg, 
Penn.,  where  he' remained  for  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  given  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman,  a  lucrative  and  responsible 
situation,  and  one  which,  notwithstanding 
his  youth,  lie  was  perfectly  capable  of  fill- 
ing. Returning  to  Ireland  he  stayed  at 
home  a  short  time,  and  then  again  came  to 
America,  landing  in  New  York  in  1817. 
He  came  westward  by  canal  and  lake  to 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  thence  proceeding  to  the 
center  of  the  State,  arid  locating  on  a  farm 
near  Columbus,  where  he  resided  for  some 
time;  this  farm  is  now  included  in  the  city 
of  Columbus.  Later  he  removed  to  Lower 
Sandusky  (now  Fremont),  Ohio,  where  he 
owned  some  land,  but  the  ague  being  very 
prevalent  in  that  vicinity  he  left  his  farm 
and  afterward  sold  it.  Before  purchasing 
the  tract  at  Lower  Sandusky,  Mr.  Easter 
rode  around  the  country  on  horseback  for 
many  months  in  search  of  land,  traveling 
throueh  nine  States,  but  the  bottom  lands 
of  the  Sandusky  river  seemed  so  inviting 
that  he  located  there,  as  already  related. 
In  1819  he  came  to  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  purchased  a  farm 
near  the  center  of  the  township  (which 
tract  is  now  occupied  by  Robert  Arthur), 
where  he  lived  for  several  years.  Here  he 
was  married,  in  1824,  to  Rebecca  Easter, 
who  was  born  in  1801,  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  daughter  of  James  Easter.  The 
minister  who  performeil  the  ceremony  was 
"  Elder  John  Wheeler,"  who,  in  observance 
of  a  custom  of  those  times,  stood  in  his 
shoes,  but  wore  no  stockings.  Al)ont  1820 
or  1821  there  came  from  Ireland  James 
Easter  (maternal  grandfather  of  subject) 
and  family,  John  Easter  (paternal  grand- 
father of  subject)  and   family,  and   along 


with  them  John  Arthur  and  his  family. 
The  latter  had  been  persuaded  to  emigrate, 
by  Archibald  Easter,  who  after  their  ar- 
rival took  considerable  interest  iu  their 
success,  and  aided  them  materially  during 
their  first  years  in  America. 

To  the  union  of  Archibald  and  Rebecca 
Easter  were  born  six  children,  as  follows: 
Two  sons  who  died  in  infancy;  Elias,  sul)- 
ject  of  this  memoir;  Sarah,  Mrs.  John 
McLane,  of  Greenfield  township,  Huron 
county;  Kezia,  Mrs.  Samuel  Arthur,  of 
Greenfield  township;  and  John,  who  was 
drowned  when  a  youth.  About  1830 
Archibald  Easter  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  and  continued  to  follow  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1860,  when  he  retired,  worn 
out  by  a  long  life  of  unceasing  industry. 
He  died  May  1,  1867,  and  his  wife  sur- 
vived him  until  June  6,  1884,  when  she 
too  passed  away,  and  w'as  buried  by  tiie 
side  of  her  husband  in  Steuben  cemetery. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  Politically  Mr.  Easter 
was  a  Republican,  originally  a  Whig,  and 
he  was  an  ardent  party  man,  well  posted 
in  politics,  in  which  he  took  considerable 
interest.  He  was  a  great  reader,  thor- 
oughly conversant  with  current  events, 
and  through  his  business  sagacity  and 
able  management  of  affairs  became  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  in  the  county  in  his 
day.  His  father,  John  Easter,  died  in 
Greenfield  township  at  an  advanced  age. 

Elias  Easter  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
township,  and  afterward  attended  select 
schools  at  various  places.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  and  resided  on  the  home  place 
with  his  parents  until  his  literary  educa- 
tion was  finished,  and  also  for  some  years 
afterward,  having  charge  of  the  farm  for 
several  years  prior  to  his  father's  decease. 
On  June  7,  1871,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Jennie  E.  McMorris,  a  native 
of  Greenfield  township,  daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  (Arthur)  McMorris,  who  had 
come  from  Ireland  in  an  early  day.     This 


156 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wife  died  November  25,  1876,  and  was  in- 
terred in  Steuben  cemetery.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children:  jNTancy,  who  died 
in  infancy,  and  Cliarles  A.,  now  a  well- 
educated  young  man.  On  June  14,  1888, 
Mr.  Easter  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Mrs.  Margery  (Chilcott)  Aiken  (widow  of 
James  A.  Aiken),  who  was  born  March 
30,  1846,  in  Union  township,  Huntingdon 
Co.,  Penn.,  daughter  of  Ilichard  Chilcott. 
Mr.  Easter  remained  on  the  farm  until 
May,  1892,  when  he  removed  to  Norwalk, 
where  lie  now  lives  a  retired  life,  engaged 
in  no  active  labor,  but  still  overseeing  the 
work  of  the  farm,  which  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  tenants.  In  politics  lie  is  a  life- 
long Republican,  and  has  served  in  various 
township  otiices,  tilling  the  positions  of 
trustee  and  justice  of  the  peace  with  much 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  all 
concerned.  Mr.  Easter  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Greenfield, 
in  which  he  has  held  office.  He  is  very 
fond  of  reading,  and  is  well  informed  on 
the  topics  of  the  day. 


M.  DAY,  a  well-known  farmer  citi- 
zen   of    Clarkstield    township,    is   a 
October  20, 
Day,    who 


IL^i   native  of   same,   born 

1842,  a  son  of  Ephraim 
was  born  May  26,  1804,  in  IJnderiiui, 
Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  a  son  of  Samuel 
Day,  a  farmer  and  "herb-doctor"  of  that 
place. 

When  Ephraim  was  eight  years  old  his 
mother  died,  the  family  circle  was  broken 
up,  and  he  was  obliged  to  begin  life  on 
his  own  account,  doing  such  work  as  a  boy 
of  his  age  could.  Whatever  education  he 
had  was  ac([uired  after  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age,  though  he  continued  to  work. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  migrated  to 
Ohio,  coming  from  Chenango  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  had  located  a  year  pre- 
vious. In  February,  1821,  four  In-others 
— John,  Josiah,  Ephi-aim  and  William — 
started    on    foot    for    Ohio,    with    twenty 


shillings  each  and  a  haversack  full  of  pro- 
visions, and  arrived  after  a  journey  of  six 
weeks,  having  traveled  over  700  miles. 
The  year  previous  Josiah  Day  had  come 
to  look  at  the  land,  and  had  made  arrange- 
ments for  coming,  he  and  his  brothers 
John  and  William  settling  in  New  London 
township,  Huron  county.  The  next  year 
the  father  of  these  boys,  Samuel,  came  to 
Ohio  with  the  remainder  of  the  family, 
which  originally  consisted  of  eighteen  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  gave  John,  Josiah  and  William 
their  time  before  they  reached  their  major- 
ity, but  Ephraim  was  obliged  to  remain 
on  the  home  farm  until  twenty-one.  Sam- 
uel Day  had  learned  much  from  an  old  In- 
dian about  the  use  of  herbs,  and  was 
known  as  "Dr.  Day."  He  ])assed  tiie  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  New  London  town- 
ship, where  he  died  in  1840. 

After  coming  of  age  E|)hraim  Day  pur- 
chased an  axe,  and  went  to  clearing  land, 
receiving  fifty  cents  an  acre,  which  took 
four  days  to  clear.  He  continued  in  this 
for  some  time,  and  then  with  his  hard- 
earned  savings  purchased  a  small  piece  of 
land  in  Clarkstield  township,  which  he  sub- 
sequently sold.  He  then  purchased  eighty- 
nine  acres  at  three  dollars  per  acre,  which  at 
the  time  was  all  timber-land.  On  Decem- 
ber 25,  1833,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  Parker,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 4,  1816,  in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Kuth  (Root)  Par- 
ker, who  came  to  Ohio  in  1817,  first  located 
in  Florence  townsliiji,  Erie  (then  Huron) 
county;  Mr.  Parker  was  a  "clothier  and 
dyer,"  and  would  dye  and  dress  up  the 
homespun.  After  residing  for  some  time 
in  Florence  township  he  went  to  Birming- 
ham, Erie  county,  where  he  conducted  a 
mill;  then  became  a  farmer  in  Clarkstield 
township,  Huron  county,  after  which  he 
followed  his  trade  in  Elyria,  Lorain  county; 
in  later  years  he  migrated  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  died. 

After  marriage  Ephraim  and  Sarah  Day 
settled  on  his    farm  in   Clarksfield  which 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


157 


he  cleared  and  improved,  and  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
children  born  to  their  union  were  as  fol- 
lows: George  M.,  born  October  4,  1835, 
died  Septeml)er  13,  1838;  Harriet  L.,  born 
May  6,  1838,  died  June  0,  1865;  Arriette 
E.,  born  August  18,  1840,  who  married 
J.  M.  Rogers,  and  died  in  Clarksfield 
township;  Edward  M.,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Elmer  P.,  born  August  29,  1844, 
died  iSepteniher  2,  1850;  and  Isabel,  born 
November  12,  1848,  died  September  6. 
1850.  The  father  of  this  family  certainly 
fought  well  against  adversity,  and  was  re- 
warded with  success.  Beyinnincr  with  a 
capital  of  determination,  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  left  to  his  wife  and  children 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the 
county,  which  at  the  time  of  his  decease 
comprised  300  acres.  He  passed  from  earth 
June  14,  1872,  and  was  buried  in  South 
Clarksfield  cemetery,  since  when  his  widow 
has  generally  made  her  home  with  her  son, 
Edward  M.  He  was  a  Jacksonian  Demo 
crat  until  1850,  when  he  cast  his  vote  for 
Fremont,  and  thereafter  was  faithful  to 
the  Republican  party  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  while  his  wife  has  always  been  a 
Methodist  Episcopalian. 

Edward  M.  Day  was  reared  in  Clarks- 
field township,  and  there  received  a  pri- 
mary education,  the  first  school  he  attended 
being  presided  over  by  Miss  Fannie  Bar- 
num,  and  held  in  his  father's  house.  He 
completed  his  education  in  Milan  Academy. 
From  boyhood  until  lS(i7  he  worked  on 
tlie  home  farm,  learning  practical  lessons 
in  agriculture  under  his  father.  His  mar- 
riage with  Cynthia  A.  Waugh  took  place 
March  29,  1867;  she  was  born  October 
13,  1846,  in  Camden  townshij),  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Rev.  Lansing  and 
Docia  (Minor)  Waugh.  Mr.  Waugh  was 
a  minister  of  tiie  Baptist  Church,  and  gave 
every  opportunity  to  his  daughter  to  be- 
come well  educated,  sending  her  to  the 
school  at  Nor  walk  and  the  colleffe  at  Ober- 
lin.     To  the  marriage  of  Edward  M.  and 


Cynthia  Day  came  the  following  named 
children:  Nora  M.,  born  Septeml)er  22, 
1869,  now  Mrs.  B.  E.  Meacham,  of  Clarks- 
field township,  and  Frank  L.,  born  April 
23, 1872,  died  November  20,  1893.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  settled  on 
their  present  farm,  known  as  "The  Upton 
Clark  Farm."  In  1882  he  erected  there 
one  of  the  finest  farm  residences  in  the 
township,  and  during  the  last  decade  has 
proved  himself  a  most  systematic  agricul- 
turist and  a  thoroughly  progressive  citizen. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Abi-aham  Lin- 
coln. For  twenty  years  he  was  recognized 
as  an  able  young  Republican,  but  in  1880 
he  joined  the  Prohibition  party,  and  has 
since  remained  in  their  ranks;  he  is  not  a 
politician  from  the  office-seeker's  point  of 
view.  In  religious  affairs  he  affiliates  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  is  a  trustee. 


L 


EVI  HALES,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in     Lorain    county,    September    24, 
1840,  is  a  prominent  and  progress- 
ive farmer  and   stock-raiser  of  New 
London  township,  Huron  county. 

Lie  is  a  son  of  William  and  Laura 
(Blackham)  Hales,  the  former  of  whom 
was  of  English  descent,  and  one  of  the 
famous  "Ludlow  heirs";  he  lived  to  the 
patriarchal  age  of  ninety  years,  and  died  a 
charter  member  uf  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Henrietta  Hill,  Lorain  county.  Eleven 
ciiildren  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hales, 
nameil  as  follows:  Lucy,  Harriet,  Levi, 
Simeon,  Ansel,  Mary,  Elon,  Leah,  Berton, 
Etta  and  Sarah.  Mr.  Hales  was  a  success- 
ful farmer,  owning  600  acres  before  re- 
tiring from  active  labor. 

Levi  Hales,  the  suliject  of  this  bio- 
graphical sketch,  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years.  In  1863  he  married  Miss  Cather- 
ine Haynes,  from  whom  at  the  end  of  a 
year  and  a  half  he  was  divorced,  and  he 
remained  single  four  and  a  half  years.    In 


158 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


18G9  he  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Miss 
Arabella  Lee,  daughter  of  James  Lee,  of 
New  London.  She  died  December  25, 
1880,  after  a  long  illness,  and  September 
24,  1891,  Mr.  Hales  married  his  pi-esent 
wife,  Miss  Carrie  Monger,  of  Oberlin, 
Ohio.  On  March  30,  1893,  was  born  to 
him  his  first  child,  a  daughter  named 
Laura  Elizabeth. 

In  1882  Mr.  Hales  made  a  trip  to  Cali- 
fornia, spending  a  year  in  traveling,  and 
on  his  return  he  took  up  his  home  in  New 
London,  embarkino;  in  his  present  business 
of  buying,  selling  and  breeding  fine  horses, 
at  the  same  time  carrying  on  his  farm.  Po- 
litically he  is  an  earnest  and  active  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  Mr.  Hales  is  a  thorough- 
going business  man,  and  enjoys  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  the  community  at  large. 


J'jILLIAM  DENMAN,  who  in  his 
lifetime  was  one  of  the  nnost 
prosperous,  wide-awake  agricul- 
turists of  Wakeman  township, 
was  born  August  10,  1822,  in  that  part  of 
the  old  county  that  is  now  included  in  Erie. 
AVilliam  Denman,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Kent,  England,  and 
when  he  came  to  America  was  a  farmer  in 
good  circumstances.  He  made  his  home 
not  far  from  Kingston,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Catskill 
Mountains.  He  had  married  in  England, 
and  was  blessed  with  a  family  of  uine 
children.  He  died  at  the  age  of  about 
ninety-eight  years,  after  a  life  of  active 
work.  In  England  for  eleven  years  he 
had  been  a  pastor  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
but  abandoned  the  ministry  under  the  con- 
viction that  he  had  never  produced  any 
good  results.  However,  in  this  country  he 
preached  the  Gospel  many  years  with 
marked  success. 

John   Denman,    father   of   subject,   was 
born  in  England,  and  was  si.x  years  old 


when  his  father  brought  him  to  America 
and  to  New  York  State.  LTntil  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  his  life  at  his  new  home 
was  spent  working  at  whatever  he  conld 
find  to  do — making  shingles,  chopping 
wood,  etc.,  and  only  attended  evening 
school  six  weeks.  When  he  had  been 
safely  piloted  past  the  interesting  age  of 
eighteen,  he  set  out  from  the  paternal 
home  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  "  wide, 
wide  world."  When  he  was  about  twenty- 
four  years  of  age  he  came  from  Sullivan 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  on 
foot,  carrying  on  his  back  aqnantity  of  apple 
seed,  weighing  about  thirty  pounds,  which, 
having  secured  and  cleared  a  piece  of  land 
in  Huron  county,  he  sowed,  and  this  was 
the  nucleus  to  the  first  nursery  in  Huron 
county.  He  then  bought  land;  worked  in 
the  salt  works  at  East  Liverpool,  and  from 
his  savings  purchased  oxen,  wagons,  and 
other  requisites  for  the  proper  conducting 
of  his  farm  and  nursery.  In  1819  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Miranda  Blackman,  whose  father 
was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  living  in 
Buffalo  at  the  time  that  city  was  burned 
by  the  British.  Fourteen  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  to  wit:  Edward, 
in  Wakeman  township,  Huron  county; 
William,  Bul)jectof  sketch;  Roxanna  (Mrs. 
White),  in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Ann,  deceased; 
Laura  (Mrs.  Joseph  Booth)  and  Charles 
(a  traveler)  both  in  Pueblo,  Colo.;  Amos, 
in  Valparaiso,  Neb. ;  Miranda,  who  died 
in  Hampton,  Iowa;  Henry,  in  Des  Moines, 
Iowa;  L.  B.,  in  Valparaiso,  Neb.;  John  J., 
of  Erie  county,  Ohio;  Mary  Fuller,  in  Nor- 
walk,  Ohio;  A.  B.,  in  Elyria,  Ohio;  and 
Martin,  in  Elyria,  Ohio.  The  father  of 
this  large  family  was  a  Whig  and  Repub- 
lican ;  a  member  and  earnest  supporter  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

William  Denman,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  district 
schools.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  then  moved  to  his  late  home  in  Wake- 
man township.     He  had  but  three  hundred 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


159 


dollars  when  he  first  commenced  for  him- 
self, and  at  the  time  of  his  deatli  owned 
183  aci'es  of  land  in  Huron  county, 
together  with  an  elegant  and  comfortable 
dwellino-and  commodious  outhouses. 

On  September  8,  1853,  Mr.  Denman 
was  married  to  Cordelia  Hough,  daughter 
of  John  Hough,  of  Clarksfield  township, 
Huron  county,  and  three  cluldren  were 
born  to  this  marriage,  viz.:  (1)  William, 
(2)  Nellie,  and  (3)  Ella  Ann.  Of  these 
(1)  William  was  in  the  real-estate  business 
in  various  places  in  the  West,  making  a 
great  success;  in  Kansas  alone  he  bought 
on  speculation  13,000  acres  of  land  which 
he  sold  at  a  great  protit;  he  owned  stores 
in  Pueblo,  Colo.,  and  Boise  City,  Idaho,  in 
which  latter  place  he  was  killed  by  a  fall 
from  a  horse,  when  he  was  thirty-four 
years  old.  (2)  Nellie  married  M.  L.  Dorr, 
of  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  and  (3)  Ella 
Ann  was  drowned  in  a  cistern  in  1858. 
The  mother  of  tliese  died  in  1868,  and  in 
1809  Mr.  Denman  married  Miss  Julia 
Partello,  daughter  of  W.  P.  Partello,  a 
farmer  of  near  St.  Louis,  Mich.  The 
children  by  this  last  union  are  Julia; 
Lester  C,  at  home;  and  Freddy  (now 
eleven  years  old)  at  school.  Of  these 
Julia  was  married  to  Harry  G.  Carter  Oc- 
tober 22,  1892,  and  lives  on  the  east  part 
of  farm.  The  father  died  December  12, 
1892.  Li  politics  he  was  a  Republican; 
in  religious  faith  he  had  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Wakeman  for 
many  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  decease 
was  tilling  tlie  ofKce  of  trustee. 


E 


DWIN    S.  PROSSER,  well  known 
in    Wakeman    township  as    a    pro- 
I  gressive   and    enterprising   agricul- 
turist, was  born  in  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  March  6,  1843,  a 
son  of  Daniel  Prosser. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
father's  farm.     At  the  commencement  of 


the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Third  O.  V.  C,  Capt.  O.  G.  Smith,  in 
which  he  served  over  a  year.  His  regi- 
ment was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  participated  in  many 
battles.  At  Shiloh  Mr.  Prosser  was  seized 
with  heart  disease,  but  continued  on  duty 
at  the  front  in  tlie  advance  on  Corinth 
until  its  evacuation.  On  May  30,  1862, 
he  was  taken  ill  of  a  violent  fever,  was 
sent  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  heart  disease,  re- 
turning home  vei-y  much  emaciated.  For 
some  years  thereafter  lie  moved  from  place 
to  place,  being  for  a  time  in  Iowa  and 
Minnesota. 

In  1871  he  returned  to  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  where  he  married 
Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Byron,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  T.  Barnes,  and  widow  of  John 
I'yron.  Mr.  Byron  was  a  member  of 
Company  H,  Seventy-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  and 
died  111  Georgia,  leaving  a  son,  Frank  J. 
Byron,  who  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
his  mother  married  Mr.  Prosser.  They 
moved  to  Minnesota  in  April,  1871, 
locating  on  a  farm  he  had  bought  some 
time  before  marriage.  Here  they  lived 
until  1872,  when  Mr.  Prosser  sold  out 
and  moved  to  Nebraska.  On  June  4, 
1873,  he  entered  a  homestead  of  160 
acres,  and  eighty  acres  under  the  timber 
culture  Act;  also,  as  guardian  of  F.  J. 
Byron,  he  entered  160  acres,  all  being 
prairie  lands,  and  all  adjoining,  in  Frank- 
lin county,  Neb.  While  residing  there 
thev  encraged  in  farming  and  the  raising: 
of  live-stock,  chiefly  cattle,  and  tliere  they 
remained  until  1882,  in  which  year  they 
sold  their  stock  and  returned  to  Clarks- 
field, Ohio,  in  July,  same  year.  On  Au- 
gust 8,  following,  Mr.  Prosser  and  Frank 
J.  Byron  entered  into  copartnership  and 
bought  a  farm  of  103  acres  in  Wakeman 
townshi]!.  In  1883,  owing  to  impaired 
health,  Mr.  Prosser  sold  his  land  in  Ne- 
braska, as  did  also  Mr.  Byron.  They  have 
since  added  170  acres  to  their  property  in 
Wakeman  township,  and  have  now  one  of 


160 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  finest  farms  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Here,  in  addition  to  genera!  agriculture, 
they  are  extensively  engaged  in  the  raising 
of  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  sheep,  and 
bestowintr  considerable  attention  to  fruit 
raising. 

Mr.  Prosser  has  one  child,  Guy  O.,  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Neb.,  October  14, 
1884.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  Demo- 
crat; socially,  he  lias  been  a  member  of 
the  F.  &  A.  M.  some  twenty-live  years. 


djAMES    L.    VAN    DITSEN,    one   of 
Huron    county's    best    known     and 
)    most   highly   respected    citizens,  was 

born  in  Constantia,  Oswego  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  January  27,  1835. 

His  father.  Judo  Van  Dusen,  and  his 
mother,  Anna  Van  Dusen,  are  now  both 
deceased.  By  occupation  they  were  farm- 
ers. In  1837  the  family  moved  to  Wayne 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently,  in  1849, 
tliey  removed  to  Ohio,  having  purchased 
a  farm  in  Fitchville  township,  Huron 
county.  Here,  during  the  summer  months, 
James  worked  on  his  fatlier's  farm,  attend- 
ing tiie  sessions  of  the  District  school 
during  the  winter  months.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  was  married  to  Cece- 
lia A.  Pray,  a  worthy  and  accomplished 
lady,  daughter  of  Ethan  A.  Pray,  Esq. 
The  young  couple  purchased  a  piece  of 
land  in  Henry  county,  Ohio,  a  portion  of 
whicii  land  is  now  occupied  by  the  village 
of  Liberty  Center.  Here  they  remained 
for  two  years,  succeeding  admirably,  not- 
withstanding the  many  trials  and  difficul- 
ties usually  incident  upon  a  settlement  in 
a  new  country. 

In  18G1  Mr.  Van  Dusen  was  tendered 
the  office  of  Superintendent  of  the  Huron 
County  Infirmary.  He  accepted  the  posi- 
tion, disposed  of  his  interests  in  Henry 
county,  and  returned  to  Huron  county  to 
un(k'rtake  the  discharge  of  his  new  duties. 
AVliile  at  all  times  and  in  all  respects 
these   duties   have  not  been  to  his  liking, 


he  has  nevertheless  in  their  discharge 
reaped  the  honors  and  enjoyed  the  pleas- 
ures of  a  noble  work  well  done.  For 
nearly  thirty-three  years  he  has  retained 
this  position  of  Infirmary  Superintendent. 
At  the  end  of  each  terra  his  re-appoint- 
ment has  come  unsought  by  him,  and  in  a 
manner  clearly  showing  the  unqualified 
endorsement  of  the  jieople  of  the  county. 
Under  his  management  the  Huron  County 
Infirmary  has  been  made  a  model  Institu- 
tion of  the  kind,  always  referred  to  with 
pride  by  local  and  State  authorities.  To 
the  accomplish]nent  of  this  end  he  has  at 
all  times  lent  his  untiring  energy  and 
splendid  business  and  executive  ability. 
Although  in  public  life  continuously  for 
so  long  a  time,  not  once  has  the  voice  of 
scandal,  criticism,  or  of  suspicion,  even, 
been  raised  against  him.  This  is  indeed 
a  marvelous  record — more  marvelous  be- 
cause true — more  worthy  of  mention  be- 
cause deserved. 

While  not  a  partisan  in  any  sense  of 
tile  word,  Mr.  Van  Dusen  has  always  been 
a  firm  supporter  of  the  Kepubliean  party. 
He  is  naturally  modest  and  unassuming, 
but  nevertheless  takes  a  decided  interest 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  public  or 
private  good,  and  never  hesitates  to  advo- 
cate and  to  do  what  he  considers  to  be  his 
duty.     His  habits  are  strictly  temperate. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago  he  united 
with  tiie  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  was  soon  after  elected 
one  of  the  Church's  Trustees.  He  served 
as  a  Trustee  for  three  years,  and  was  then 
elected  one  of  the  Elders,  wiiich  office  he 
now  holds,  by  virtue  of  several  re-elec- 
tions. He  is  a  faithful  contributor  to  the 
spiritual  and  material  welfare  of  his 
church. 

For  nearly  thirty  years  Mr.  Van  Dusen 
has  been  a  prominent  and  active  member 
of  the  Masonic  Fi-aternity,  being  a  member 
of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge,  No.  04,  F.  &  A.  M., 
Huron  Chapter,  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.,  Nor- 
walk Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  and  Norwalk 
Commandery,    No.    18,    K.    T.      He    has 


^/(  'i  ^  /y.^^^^ 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


163 


filled  several  offices  in  this  Order  with 
great  credit,  notal)ly  that  of  High  Priest 
of  the  Chapter  and  Eminent  Commander 
of  Norwalk  Comniandery. 

In  his  private  business  he  has  been  care- 
ful and  conservative,  but  has  acquired  a 
goodly  competence,  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  financially  sound  men  of  his  county. 
While  not  given  to  extravagance,  he  is 
generous,  and  is  liberal  to  his  family, 
affording  them  every  advan-tage.  Three 
children  of  the  five  born  to  him  are  now 
living:  Frank,  an  attorney,  and  now  city 
solicitor  of  Norwalk,  Ohio;  Wallace,  a 
student  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan;  and  Clara,  a 
member  of  the  senior  class  of  the  Norwalk 
High  School. 

No  biography  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Van  Dusen 
would  be  complete  which  failed  to  make 
mention  of  his  most  estimable  wife.  Side 
by  side,  mutually  encouraging  and  helpful, 
they  have  thus  far  journeyed  along  life's 
pathway — he  a  kind  busband  and  indul- 
gent father;  she  a  faithful  wife  and  loving 
mother.  Whatever  success  in  life  he  has 
attained,  with  her  must  the  credit  and  the 
honor  be  shared.'  A  countless  number  of 
friends  wish  this  worthy  couple  long  life 
and  continued  prosperity  and  lia])piness. 


FRANK  W.  VAN  DUSEN,  Attorney 
at  Law  and  (!ity  Solicitor,  was  born 
_  Feb.  15,  18t)2,  in  Norwalk,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  received  his  elemen- 
tary education  in  thepublicschools, graduat- 
ing from  the  Norwalk  Hiffh  School  in  1879. 
His  elementary  education  was  supple- 
mented by  a  four  years'  course  in  Adelbert 
College  of  Western  Reserve  University, 
from  which  institution  he  craduated  in 
1884  with  tlie  degree  of  B.  L.,  and  was 
subsequently  honored  by  his  Alma  Mater 
with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  In  college  he 
was  an  excellent  student,  popular  with  his 
fellows,  and  received  many  College  Hon- 
ors. He  was  a  member  of  the  well-known 
D.  K.  E.  College  Fraternity.     In  the  fall 


of  1884  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Stevenson  Burke,  of  Cleve- 
land, and  at  the  September  (1886)  term  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  after  passing  a  highly  satisfac- 
tory examination.  In  1887  he  opened  a 
law  office  in  Norwalk,  and  has  since  been 
in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession. 

On  August  22,  1888,  Mr.  Van  Dusen 
married  Miss  Kittie  B.  Thomas,  a  well- 
known  and  accomplished  lady.  In  the 
spring  of  1889  he  was  elected  to  the  City 
Council  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  from  the  then 
Third  Ward  of  that  city,  he  being  the  only 
Republican  councilman  elected  at  that 
election.  His  excellent  and  marked  serv- 
ices in  that  capacity  won  for  him,  in  the 
spring  of  1891,  the  nomination  for  the 
office  of  City  Solicitor,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  by  a  large  majority,  notwitli- 
standing  the  general  triumph  of  the  op- 
posing political  party  at  that  time.  In 
the  spring  of  1893  he  was  unanimously 
renominated  as  City  Solicitor,  and  was  re- 
elected by  a  majority  nearly  double  that 
received  two  years  before.  Mr.  Van- 
Dusen  is  universally  recognized  as  a  com- 
petent and  expert  lawyer.  As  City  Solici- 
tor of  Norwalk,  he  has  shown  marked 
ability,  and  has  given  general  satisfaction. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican;  socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
being  an  officer  of  Norwalk  Commandery, 
No.  18,  K.  T.  He  is  a  prominent  K.  of 
P.,  and  Captain  of  Norwalk  Division  of 
the  U.  R.  of  that  Order.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Order  of  Elks,  and  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  In  i-eligious  faith  he  is  a  Pres- 
byterian, being  a  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian   Church  of    Norwalk,   Ohio. 


\  EV.  FREDERICK  SCHULZ,  pas- 

J    tor  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  Church, 

V\   Sherman    township,    was    born    in 

Leisten,   Prussia,  March   17,  1860, 

a    member    of    an    old  and  highly 

esteemed  family,  and   is    the  only  one  of 

them  who  left  the  Fatherland. 


164 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  received  his  primary  education  in  his 
native  country,  and  after  reaching  Amer- 
ica, in  1876,  entered  a  college  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  from  which  he  graduated  with 
honors  fonr  years  later.  In  the  fall  of 
1880  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary, 
where  he  remained  until  Easter,  1883,  at 
which  time  he  moved  to  Kandolph  county, 
111.  He  took  charge  of  a  church  near 
Chester  in  that  county,  and  for  six  years 
labored  faithfully  for  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  congregation.  He 
then  took  ciiarge  of  a  church  in  Philo, 
same  State,  remaining  one  year,  and  in 
March,  1890,  came  to  Sherman  township, 
where  lie  has  since  been  pastor  of  St. 
Peter's  Church. 

Rev.  Schulz  is  a  gentleman  of  noble  im- 
piilses  and  religious  mind,  and  teaches 
much  of  morality  by  his  pious,  godly  life, 
and  by  the  deeds  of  charity  and  mercy  that 
characterize  his  actions.  He  is  beloved  by 
his  entire  congre£;ation,  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  the  citizens  of  Sherman  town- 
ship. He  is  also  instructor  in  the  paro- 
chial school  four  months  in  each  year. 

In  1889  Rev.  Schulz  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Martha  Sickmeyer,  daugh- 
ter of  E.  F.  Sickmeyer,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Bremen,  111.,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  daughter,  Hnlda,  and  one 
son,  Paul.  The  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical memoir  is  very  happy  in  his  domestic 
relations,  and  is  devoting  mnch  attention 
to  the  intellectual,  physical  and  spiritual 
development  of  his  children. 


D 


S.  WASHBURN.    This  gentleman, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  of  Huron 
^mJfJ   county's   prosperous  agriculturists, 
deserves     more     than     a     passing 
notice  in  the  pages  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Washburn  traces  his  ancestry  to 
James  Washburn,  who  was  born  about  the 
year  1760,  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  had 
his  early  home  at  Plainfield,  Conn.  As 
the  writer  understands  the   subject  matter 


by  data  and  traditions  (such  as  he  has  been 
able  to  obtain),  he  fully  believes  that 
James  Washimrn  is  a  direct  descendant 
from  John  Washburn,  who  came  over  in 
the  "  Mayflower,''  and  was  subsequently 
secretary  of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  He 
had  born  to  him  nine  children,  viz.:  Wal- 
ter, Joseph,  Robert,  Henry,  Phoebe, 
Betsy,  Hannah,  Rosanna,  and  Sally  Ann, 
all  long  since  gathered  to  their  rest,  and 
their  descendants  scattered  over  many 
States. 

The  eldest  son,  Walter,  grandfather  of 
subject,  was  born,  in  1790,  east  of  the 
Hudson  river,  in  A\'^estchestercounty,  N.  Y., 
whence  in  1805  he  moved  with  his  father 
to  Ulster  county,  same  State,  remaining 
there  till  1833,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
Fitchville  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
M'here  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying 
in  1865,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
He  was  a  lifelong  and  successful  farmer. 
In  1809  he  married  Miss  Nellie  Van  Ben- 
scoten,  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter 
of  Larry  Van  Benscoten,  and  they  had  six 
children,  viz.:  Julia  Ann,  Henry  G., 
Louisa  R.,  John,  Hannali  and  Maria. 
The  mother  of  these  died  in  1825,  and 
in  1827  Mr.  Washburn  wedded  Mrs. 
Polly  Van  Benscoten,  also  of  Ulster 
county,  N.  Y. 

D.  S.  Washburn,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  April  8,  1843,  in 
Greenwich  township),  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  was  reared  from  early  boyhood  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived at  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  of  his  place  of  birth,  and  at 
the  academy  in  Milan,  Erie  county,  after 
which  he  commenced  to  devote  his  entire 
attention  to  agricultural  pursnits. 

In  1867  Mr.  Washburn  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  McConilier, 
of  Ripley  township,  born  March  30, 1845, 
a  daughter  of  Egbert  McComber,  by  occu- 
pation a  farmer,  a  native  of  Westciiester 
county,  N.  Y.  From  his  younger  boyhood 
till  shortly  after  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  Benedict,  of  his  native  county,  he 


HUEOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


165 


had  his  residence  in  Cayuga  connty,  N.  Y., 
and  tiieii  moved  to  Ripley  township.  Here 
they  lived  until  1870,  in  which  year  they 
moved  to  Berlin  Heights,  Erie  county, 
where  he  died  October  5,  1888,  his  wife 
on  March  30,  1892.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Washburn  and  his  bride  moved  to  the 
farm  whereon  they  are  still  living,  and 
which  comprises  over  300  acres  of  prime 
land — -considered  one  of  the  best  in  Ripley 
township.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  our  subject  and  wife,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowino;  is  a  brief  record:  Anna  Maude, 
born  September  24,  1868,  is  now  Mrs. 
Oscar  Hills,  of  Lorain  county;  Earnest 
Linton,  born  Aug^ust  1,  1870,  ie  at  home 
with  his  father;  Inez,  born  August  1,  1871, 
is  now  Mrs.  Warren  O.  Smith,  of  Rich- 
land count}',  Ohio;  Wayne  was  born  No- 
vember 25,  1880,  and  Leo  on  August  6, 
1883.  Mr.  Washburn,  in  his  political 
afliliations,  has  always  been  active  as  a 
loyal  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
During  the  Civil  war  lie  served  in  the 
National  Guards. 


JOHN  McDonald,  a  leading  farmer 
of   Clarksfield    township,    was    born 
April   15,    1817,   in    Aberdeenshire, 
Scotland,    the    son     of    Charles    and 
Barbara  (Stratton)    McDonald,   both   also 
natives  nf  Aberdeenshire. 

Cliarles  McDonald  was  born  in  1783, 
and  grew  to  manhood  and  married  in  his 
native  county.  To  his  niarriage  were  born 
three  children,  viz.:  Margaret,  who  died 
in  Scotland  when  twenty-three  years  old; 
John,  and  Charles.  The  mother  of  these 
died  in  1820,  and  Mr.  McDonald  then 
took  up  his  residence  with  his  mother, 
John  (subject  of  this  sketch)  being  con- 
signed to  the  care  of  his  aunt  Margaret. 
In  1838  Charles  McDonald,  brint^iiig  his 
son  John  and  sister  Margaret,  sailed  from 
Aberdeen  on  the  schooner  "Nimrod," 
landing,  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks,  in 
New     York    City.      The    youngest    son, 


Charles,  had  emigrated  three  years  pre- 
viously; he  taught  school  in  Ashland, 
Richland  and  Wayne  counties,  Ohio, 
studied  law  at  Mansfield,  and  after  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  moved  to  Lexington, 
Ky.,  where  he  taught  school  until  his  re- 
moval to  Mississippi,  where  all  trace  of 
him  was  lost. 

Charles  McDonald,  Sr.,  traveled  from 
New  York  to  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  by  rail- 
I'oad,  boat  and  wagon,  the  latter  being  tiie 
vehicle  of  transportation  from  the  port  of 
Huron  to  Savannah,  Ashland  county,  then 
known  as  the  "Scotch  settlement."  Ow- 
ing to  the  poor  condition  of  his  health,  the 
support  of  the  family  devolved  upon  John, 
and  he  labored  for  all  until  death  relieved 
his  father,  February  12,  1843.  His  aunt 
Margaret  lived  with  him  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  February  19,  1859. 

John  McDonald  was  reared  in  the  man- 
ner then  common  to  farmer  boys  in  Scot- 
land, beginning  work  as  a  farm  hand  when 
nine  years  old,  and  during  the  winters  of 
Ills  youth  he  attended  the  school  of  his  na- 
tive place.  Onhisarrivaliii  Ashland  county, 
Ohio,  in  1838,  he  found  work  on  a  farm, 
and  was  later  employed  as  boss  and  time- 
keeper on  St.  Mary's  Reservoir  in  Mercer 
county,  Ohio.  Within  less  than  a  year  after 
his  arrival  in  the  United  States,  in  July, 
1838,  he  had  paid  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  of  the  three  hundred  and  twenty  he 
contracted  to  pay  for  a  tract  of  forty  acres 
of  land.  Before  the  close  of  1841  the 
debt  was  cleared  off,  and  a  fertile  farm  in 
Ashland  county  was  his  without  ijuestioa. 
To  accomplish  this,  he  accepted  various 
offers  of  work — farming,  cutting  wood  and 
laying  stone.  Strong  and  healthy,  his 
friends  held  for  him  work  too  heavy  for 
themselves,  and  paid  for  it  at  the  rates 
prevailing  at  the  time.  In  1847  he  moved 
to  Clarksfield  township,  Huron  county, 
where  he  became  owner  of  part  of  his 
present  farm,  received  in  exchange  for  the 
land  in  Ashland  county.  On  April  7, 
1855,  he  married  Sally  Phillips,  daughter 
of  James  Phillips,   of   New    York,   where 


166 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


she  was  born  June  26,  1836.  When  fif- 
teen years  old  she  accompanied  a  sister  to 
Huron  county,  and  liere  met  and  married 
Mr.  McDonald.  The  children  born  to 
them  are  as  follows:  Charles  M.,  bora 
July  10,  1856,  died  at  about  the  age  of 
twenty  years;  John,  born  August  5,  1858, 
a  farmer  of  Clarkstield  township;  George 
W.,  born  February  20,  1860,  residing  on 
the  homestead;  and  Jesse  K.,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1862,  a  farmer  of  Clarkslield 
township.  The  mother  of  these  cliildren 
died  February  23,  1SG5,  and  was  buried  in 
Clarkstield  cemetery.  On  September  30, 
1865,  he  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Mary  A.  Kingsbury,  who  was  born  in 
Genesee,  N.  Y.,  June  8,  1835,  daughter  of 
Lemuel  and  Jerusha  (Durbon)  Kingsbury; 
she  came  to  Ohio  in  1838.  To  this  mar- 
riage came  one  child,  Jamie,  born  June  4, 
1874,  who  died  July  21,  1876. 

Since  taking  up  his  residence  in  Clarks- 
field  township,  Mr.  McDonald  has  followed 
farming,  grsidually  adding  to  the  original 
place  in  Huron  county,  until  now  he  owns 
184  acres  of  fine  land.  This  property  has 
been  accumulated  by  his  own  efforts, 
showing  what  can  be  done  by  industry 
and  good  management.  Politically  he  is 
a  Ivepiiblican;  but  while  influential  in  the 
party,  he  never  took  from  his  business  a 
moment's  time  which  it  appeared  to  re- 
quire prior  to  his  retirement  from  active 
farm  life  in  1882.  For  forty  years  he  has 
suffered  from  rheumatism,  but  only  with- 
in the  last  decade  could  the  disease  make 
any  headway  against  liis  naturally  strong 
constitution.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Clarke- 
field,  and  both  are  highly  esteemed. 


diOHN  P.  LEE,  contractor  and  builder, 
of    Clarkstield    township,    was    born 
'    February  5,  1830,  in  Oswego  county, 
New  York. 
Thomas  Lee,  his  father,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 17, 1799,  in  Franklin  township,  Herki- 
mer Co.,  N.  Y.;  was  brought  up  there  in 


the  manner  common  to  farmers'  boys,  and, 
when  a  young  man,  obtained  the  position 
of  a  "boss"  on  the  Erie  Canal.  Subse- 
quently he  engaged  in  hauling  wood  to 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  still  later  worked  on  a 
canal  near  Richmond,  Va.  In  1827  he 
was  married,  in  Oswego  county,  to  Lucinda 
Waugh,  who  was  born  there  July  10, 
1811,  a  daughter  of  'Squire  Norman 
Waugh.  To  this  marriage  the  following 
named  children  were  born  in  Oswego 
county:  Truman  T.,  a  farmer  of  Rock 
county,  Wis.;  John  P.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Margaret,  who  married  Elan- 
son  Rose,  of  Camden  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Norwalk  in  1890. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  located 
on  a  farm  in  Oswego  county,  and  he  was 
engaged  in  agriculture  there  until  1833, 
when  with  their  three  children  they  mi- 
grated to  Camden  township,  Lorain  Co., 
(_)hio,  where  the  father  had  purchased,  in 
1832,  150  acres,  at  three  dollars  per  acre. 
On  the  Journey  to  Ohio,  the  Waughs  and 
Douglasses  accompanied  them,  and  the 
three  families  occupied  one  log  cabin  until 
Thomas  Lee  built  a  rude  shelter  on  his 
farm,  which  he  occupied  until  1S48,  when 
he  built  a  commodious  dwelling  house. 
During  the  first  spring  the  family  passed 
in  Ohio,  the  father  suffered  from  erysipe- 
las, the  disease  causing  him  the  loss  of  his 
left  hand.  He  died  in  1878,  and  was 
buried  in  Camden  township.  He  left  his 
widow  and  children  a  valuable  property, 
including  the  old  homestead,  on  which  she 
resided  since  coming  to  Ohio.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  her  in  Camden  township 
were  as  follows:  George  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Rock  county.  Wis.;  Philip  E.,  who  died 
at  Trinidad,  Col.,  where  lie  had  resided 
for  many  years;  Norman,  a  farmer  of 
Camden  township,  Lorain  county;  and  An- 
drew, who  is  also  a  farmer  of  Camden 
township. 

John  P.  Lee  was  a  lad  of  three  years 
when  he  settled  in  Ohio,  but  he  well  re- 
members the  cooking  of  the  first  breakfast 
in  Lorain  county.     Forked  sticks,  bearing 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


im 


a  pole,  frotn  wliicli  a  kettle  suspended  over 
the  tire,  tell  more  clearly  than  words  coijld 
of  his  primitive  surroundings.  He  received 
a  primary  education  in  Camden  township, 
his  first  school  teacher  being  Elxperience 
Gifford,  who  presided  over  a  few  pupils  in 
a  log  cabin  not  far  from  the  Lee  home- 
stead. At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
was  apprenticed  to  Edward  Gager,  with 
whom  be  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  his 
progress  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  same 
being  very  rapid.  On  January  23,  1856, 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Rood,  who  was 
born  JMarcli  1, 1838,  in  Washington  county, 
N.Y.  Iler  parents,  Lewis  and  Hulda  (Mo- 
sier)  Rood,  came  to  Stark  county,  Ohio,  in 
1841,  and  located  near  Masillon,  whence 
in  1847  they  removed  to  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  the  daughter 
met  her  husband.  The  children  born  to 
Joiin  P.  and  Sarah  J.  Lee  are  named  as 
follows:  Eva  C.  (Mrs.  E.  E.  Rowland),  of 
Clarksfield;  John  A.,  a  farmer  of  Clarks- 
.  field,  married  to  Sarah  E.Barnes;  El  ma 
(Mrs.  Almar  McChaflin),  of  Eaton  county, 
Mich.;  Nuland  W.,  a  mason  by  trade, 
married  to  Rose  M.  Twaddle;  and  Lillie 
K.  (Mrs.  Lewis  Johnson),  of  Clarkstield. 

For  three  years  after  marriage  Mr.  Lee 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Camden.  In  1859 
he  purciiased  a  farm  in  that  township,  and 
carried  on  agriculture  in  connection  with 
his  trade  until  1861,  when  he  lost  his  left 
hand.  He  had  just  signed  a  contract  for 
the  erection  of  a  dwelling  house,  and  was 
planing  lumber  for  the  window  frames, 
when  he  discovered  that  the  adjusting 
screw  of  the  planer  had  to  be  set.  While 
setting  it  his  thumb  was  drawn  into  the 
machine,  the  hand  receiving  such  injuries 
that  amputation  became  necessary.  In  the 
spring  of  1863  he  located  in  Clarkstield 
township,  Huron  county,  on  his  present 
farm,  and  gave  closer  attention  than  for- 
merly to  agricultnre,  but  later  resumed 
carpentry,  leaving  the  care  of  the  farm  to 
his  family.  Mr.  Lee  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful as  a  builder  and  contractor;  one  of 
the  largest  lime- kilns  at    Lakeside,  Ohio,  is 


the  result  of  his  work,  and  several  resi- 
dences and  barns,  as  well  as  the  leading 
cheese  factory  buildings  in  Huron  and  Lo- 
rain counties,  were  built  by  him.  He  is 
known  as  a  conscientious  contractor,  who 
will  carry  out  his  contracts  to  the  letter. 
A  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Lee  has 
held  the  office  of  assessor  for  quite  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  religious  connection  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


^ 


l\  iff  ARK  MYERS,  a  typical  German 
\l/\     — honest,  industrious  and  well-to- 
ll   do — is  a  native  of    Baden,   born 
April  14,  1820,   a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Agnes  Myers,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  hard-working  man  in  Baden, 
where  he  lived  many  years,  and,  like  most 
married  poor  men,  had  a  large  family. 

Joseph  Myers  was  twice  married,  and 
had  three  children  by  his  first  wife,  and 
ten  by  his  second.  In  1834,  with  his  wife 
and  ten  children  (the  others  being  yet  un- 
born), he  set  sail  for  the  United  States 
from  the  port  of  Havre  de  Grace,  France, 
and  after  a  stormy  passage  of  tifty-two 
days,  during  which  the  mainmast  was  car- 
ried away,  they  landed  at  New  York  on 
the  Fourth  of  July.  Hearing  the  firing 
of  cannon,  the  imraio-rants  were  somewhat 
dismayed,  imagining  that  war  must  have 
broken  out;  but  on  learning  that  it  was 
only  their  "American  cousins"  celebrating 
the  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, their  fears  were  at  once  dis- 
pelled. On  the  ocean  another  child  was 
born,  and  was  named  Frank.  From  New 
York  the  family  proceeded  to  Ohio,  via 
the  Hudson  river  and  Erie  Canal  to  San- 
dusky, thence  to  Monroeville,  Huron 
county.  In  Ridgefield  township  Joseph 
bought  seven  acres  of  land  at  six  dollars 
per  acre,  the  payment  of  which  exhausted 
all  his  savings,  as  the  expense  of  bringing 
his  family  was  very  heavy.  This  land  he 
bravely  set  to  work  to  clear  with  the 
assistance    of    his    sturdy  sons,    and    his 


168 


HURON  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


not  less  robust  and  industrious  wife  and 
daughters.  Soon  their  efforts  were  crowned 
with  success,  and  the  rugged  wildwood 
gave  place  to  green  fields  and  rich  pas- 
tures. Here  Joseph  JVIyers  was  gathered 
to  his  fathers,  dying  on  Easter  Sunday, 
1873,  and  was  buried  in  the  Underbill 
Cemetery.  Before  his  death  the  original 
little  homestead  of  seven  acres  had  been 
iucreased,  by  his  unceasing  dilligence  and 
perseverance,  to  150  acres  of  excellent 
farm  laud.  His  wife  was  called  from  earth 
in  18—. 

Mark  Myers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  a  fair  education  in  his  native  land, 
and  was  fourteen  years  old  when  he  came 
to  the  United  States  with  the  rest  of  the 
family.  In  Ridgetield  township,  Huron 
county,  he  found  employment  at  various 
occupations,  and  all  his  earnings  he  gave 
over  to  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  old.  During  part  of  this  time  he 
worked  on  the  Wabash  &  Erie  Canal  at 
twenty  dollars  per  month,  and  for  eight 
years  was  employed  in  a  distillery  at  Mon- 
i-oeville,  carefully  saving  his  earnings,  so 
that  by  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  had  a 
nice  snug  sum  laid  by.  In  1849  he  bought 
land  in  Sherman  township,  to  which  two 
years  later  he  and  his  wife  moved,  taking 
up  their  abode  in  a  rude  log  house  sur- 
rounded with  woods,  where  by  dint  of 
hard  work  they  effected  a  clearing  and  de- 
veloped a  farm.  From  this  compai'atively 
small  beginning  Mr.  Myers  kept  on  pros- 
pering until  his  original  small  farm  had 
grown  to  one  of  325  acres,  a  good  part  of 
which  he  has  given  to  his  sons,  all  of  whom 
he  assisted  in  their  stai't  in  life. 

On  October  12,  1847,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Harman,  who 
was  born  November  15,  1825,  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Harman,  and 
who  came  to  Huron  county  in  1835.  Thir- 
teen children  were  born  of  this  union, 
their  names  and  dates  of  birth  being  as 
follows:  Kate,  April  28,  1849;  Mary, 
December  23,  1850;  Frank,  December  30, 
1852;  Joseph,  September  8,  1854;  Gracie, 


July  10,  1856;  George,  May  20,  1858; 
Henry,  October  16,  1859;  Hannah,  March 
10,  1801:  Lena,  November  30,  1862; 
Mark  L.,  May  23,  1865;  Ida,  November 
18,  1867;  Mark  AV.,  January  20,  1869; 
and  Rosa  R:,  May  13,  1871.  Of  these, 
Mary  died  August  27,  1885,  and  Mark 
died  December  26,  1868. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Democrat, 
but  voted  for  Abrahani  Lincoln,  on  account 
of  his  views  on  the  slavery  question.  He 
has  held  various  oftices  of  trust  in  his 
township,  where  he  is  highly  respected, 
and  with  his  wife  is  a  wortliy  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 


'jT^j    H.  EMERSON,  a  resident  of  East 

L^^     Norwalk,  where  he  carries  on  a  lu- 

I    \^  crative   blacksmithing  business,   is 

•fj  a  native  of  Yerniont,  Ijorn  in  1827, 

a  son  of  Thomas  Einei'son,  also  a 

native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State. 

The  father  of  subject,  who  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  came  to  Ohio  in  1816, 
locatinii'  in  Seneca  euutity.  In  1826  ho 
married  Miss  Sarah  Glick,  and  then  moved 
to  Fremont,  same  State,  where  he  resided 
till  1839.  in  which  year  the  family  came 
to  Huron  county,  settling  on  a  farm  near 
Monroeville.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  JNIis.  Thomas  Emerson,  viz.: 
Thomas  E.,  Christian,  Anna,  Laurel,  and 
R.  H. 

In  Monroeville  our  subject  remained  till 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  Milan,  Erie  county,  same  State, 
and  after  two  and  one-half  years'  sojourn 
there  came  to  Norwalk  and  engaged  in 
blacksmithing,  a  trade  he  has  followed 
there  some  forty  years.  He  also  carries 
on  a  farm  of  twenty-five  acres.  In  1864 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred- 
and  Sixty-sixth  O.  V.  1.,  and  served  four 
months  and  nine  days,  on  guard  duty, 
after  which  he  returned  home,  and  for  five 
years  following  was  a  sergeant  in  the  State 
troops.     In    1850  Mr.   Emerson    married 


nUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


169 


Miss  Jane  Cortritflit,  of  Norwalk,  who  bore 
him  children  as  t'oliows:  Sarah,  wife  of 
Nelson  Bailey,  of  Townsend,  Ohio;  Lon- 
ella  Norman;  Lewis,  in  Michigan;  Lanra 
Trumbull,  in  East  Norwalk,  Ohio;  JMary 
Denman,  of  Townsend;  Anna  Sirls,  of 
Lakeside,  Ohio;  Lilly,  iu  Kansas;  and 
Melinda,  who  died,  in  1892,  in  Michigan. 
The  raotiier  of  these  died  iu  1878,  and  for 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Emerson  wedded  Mrs. 
Sarah  Bender,  of  Chicago  Junction,  by 
whom  tliere  is  no  issue.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Ciiurch. 


flOEL  ROSS.  This  well-known  influ- 
k.  I  ential  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of 
y^j  Wakeman  township  first  saw  the  light 
March  12,  1828,  the  locality  of  his 
birth  being  the  same  farm  where  his  father 
was  born  March  5,  1799,  in  Groveland 
township,  Livingston  county.  New  York. 

Joel  P.  and  Maria  (Ordaway)  Ross,  par- 
ents of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  liad  a 
family  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  are 
living  the  following:  Anna  (Mrs.  William 
Jeffries),  a  widow,  living  in  Hartland; 
Fannie  Jane,  wife  of  William  Harrison 
Fletcher,  living  in  Wakeman,  Ohio;  Ange- 
line,  wife  of  John  Moon,  and  Charity,  wife 
of  Melvin  Gunn,  both  residents  of  Brighton, 
Lorain  county;  and  William,  a  farmer  of 
Michigan.  When  our  subject  was  about 
eighteen  months  old  he  came  down  the 
Ohio  river  on  a  raft  with  his  parents,  and 
his  father  moved  to  Scioto  county,  Ohio, 
afterward  coming  to  Lorain  county,  dying 
in  Brighton,  March  9,  1881,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years;  for  some  time  prior  to 
his  death  he  had  resided  in  Florence 
township,  Erie  county.  He  was  a  lifelong 
farmer;  politically,  he  was  a  Republican, 
and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  as  is  also  his  widow,  who  is  yet 
living  in  Brighton,  Ohio,  now  in  her 
eighty-eighth  year. 

Joel  Ross,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
received     his    education    at    the    common 


schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  at  the 
same  time  assisting  his  parents  in  the 
work  of  cultivating  and  improving  the 
farm.  When  he  was  nineteen  years  old 
he  commenced  working  away  from  home 
by  the  month,  and,  saving  his  money,  paid 
for  fifty- thi-ee  acres  of  land  in  Brighton 
township,  Lorain  county.  After  live  years 
he  went  to  California,  where  for  four  and 
one-half  years  he  was  engaged  iu  mining, 
driving  team,  etc.,  saving  liis  money  with 
judicious  care.  Returning  to  Huron  county 
he  bought  150  acres  of  wild  land  in  Wake- 
man township,  and  leased  the  fifty-three 
acres  in  Brighton  to  his  father,  who  lived 
thereon  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Clear- 
ing the  land,  our  subject  sold  the  timber, 
built  himself  a  comfortable  log  house, 
barn,  etc.,  and  prospered.  He  now  owns 
150  acres,  and  successfully  carries  on  gen- 
eral agriculture,  including  stock-raising. 

On  November  25,  1858,  Mr.  Ross  mar- 
ried Miss  Ann  E.  Haines,  a  native  of 
Bronson  township,  Huron  county,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  Haines,  of  Clarksfield 
township,  same  county,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Anna  (Mrs. 
Hayes),  living  in  Wakeman;  Dennis,  mar- 
ried, and  living  near,  working  on  the  home 
farm ;  Ida,  married  to  Charles  Fletcher, 
and  living  in  Michigan;  and  Ella  (Mrs. 
Charles  Whitney),  residing  in  Clarkstield 
township.  In  his  political  associations 
our  subject  is  a  straight  Republican,  and 
has  served  his  township  as  school  director 
and  in  other  offices  of  trust. 


A.  McCULLOW  is  a  young  and 
progressive  business  man  of  Green- 
wicli,en2;a2ed  in  the  merchant  tailor- 
ing,  clothing  and  men's  furnishing 
trade.  He  is  a  native  of  Huron  county, 
born  in  1857,  was  educated  here,  and  since 
the  close  of  his  school  days  lias  been  en- 
gaged in  various  mercantile  enterprises. 
In  1880  he  and  a  Mr.  Thomas  estalilished 
the  present  business,  but  in  1882  Mr.  Mc- 


170 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cnllow  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  for  over  a  decade  has  carried  on  a  suc- 
cessful trade.  On  October  24,  1881,  he 
married  Miss  Lovezilla  liiblet,  of  Cleve- 
land, lioru  in  Galion,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio, 
adaugliterof  David  and  Caroline  (Mathias) 
Riblet,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, the  latter  of  Ohio.  To  this  union  one 
child,  Mable,  was  born.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 

J.  E.  and  Agnes  (Bartlett)  McCullow, 
parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  are 
old  settlers  of  Huron  county.  J.  E.  Mc- 
Cullow was  born  in  Xew  Jersey  State, 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  county  when 
a  child,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  retirement  from  active  life  a  few  years 
ago.  He  lives  at  Greenwich,  but  still 
owns  the  line  farm  near  that  town,  known 
as  the  McCullow  homestead.  He  was 
married  twice,  C.  A.  McCullow  being  the 
only  child  of  the  iirst  marriage,  while  to 
the  second  marriage  was  also  born  one  son. 

C.  A.  McCullow  devotes  two  Hoors  to 
his  business,  each  20  .x  52  feet  in  area. 
Here  a  large  assortment  of  domestic  and 
foreign  cloths  may  be  seen.  From  four  to 
six  journeyman  tailors  are  employed,  and 
an  air  of  business  pervades  the  whole 
establishment.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Union;  and  is  popular  in  the  com- 
mercial aud  social  circles  of  Greenwich. 


ILBERT    L.  JOHNSON,  a  promi- 

..   nent  representative  agriculturist  of 
Clarkstield  township,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1828,  in  the  town  of  Dan- 
by,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son   of 
Abraham    Johnson,     who    was    born     in 
Connecticut. 

Abraham  Johnson  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  there 
learned  the  two  great  branches  of  the 
building  trade,  becoming  a  stone  mason 
and  carpenter.  When  a  young  man  he 
migrated  to  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
located  in  Caroline  township,  where  he 
met   and    married    Sally   Walton,   also    a 


native  of  Connecticut,  who  came  to  Tomp- 
kins county,  N.  Y.,  when  a  girl,  and  re- 
sided there  until  184G,  when  the  family 
migrated  to  Ohio.  The  children  born  to 
Abraham  and  Sally  Johnson  are  as  follows: 
Ph(ul)e,  who  married  Abraham  Smith,  and 
died  in  Clarkstield  township;  Wesley,  a 
farmer  of  Crawford  county,  Penn. ;  George, 
who  resides  in  Branch  county,  Mich.;  Jane, 
who  married  Anthony  Shipman,  and  died 
in  Clarkstield  township;  Gilbert  L.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Emily,  wife  of 
Aaron  Thomas,  of  Henry  county,  Ohio; 
Lewis,  residing  in  Branch  county,  Mich., 
and  Amanda,  who  tirst  married  John  Wil- 
son, and  is  now  the  wife  of  Anson  Wheeler, 
of  Henry  county,  Ohio.  With  the  exception 
of  Wesley  the  wiiole  family  came  to  Ohio 
in  1846,  making  the  journey  with  a  wagon 
drawn  by  two  horses.  On  this  wagon  were 
packed  the  household  goods,  so  that  the 
adults  of  the  family  had,  practically,  to 
walk  over  rough  roads  from  their  old  home 
in  New  1  ork  to  their  new  one  in  Ohio. 
On  arriving  in  Clarkstield  township,  Huron 
county,  they  found  themselves  in  the  midst 
of  a  dense  forest,  but  a  space  for  a  cabin 
was  at  once  cleared  and  the  erection  of  a 
small  log  house  begun.  Before  the  structure 
was  completed  a  storm  swept  over  the  for- 
est, blew  down  the  trees  on  one  side  of 
the  little  clearing,  and  one,  falling  on  the 
house,  demolished  it.  Undeterred,  the  work 
of  building  was  resumed,  and  the  pioneers 
occupied  their  first  home  in  Ohio.  The 
clearing  away  of  the  forest  was  then  begun, 
and  there  was  soon  another  open  space  in 
the  wilderness.  Subsequently  the  father 
built  for  his  family  a  frame  house,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trades,  giving  much  more  atten- 
tion thereto  than  to  agriculture,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1866. 
He  was  buried  in  East  Creek  cemetery,  in 
New  London  township,  where  the  remains 
of  his  widow  were  interred  in  1872.  Po- 
litically he  was  originally  a  Whig,  having 
voted  for  William  Henry  Flarrison,  later 
became  an  Abolitionist,  a  Free-soiler,  and 
finally  a  Republican. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


171 


Gilbe;'t  L.  Jolinson  was  raised  in  the 
manner  common  to  boys  of  the  pioneer 
period,  attending  school  only  as  circum- 
stances permitted.  When  twelve  or  thir- 
teen years  old  he  assisted  his  father  in 
making  barrels,  for  the  latter  was  a  cooper 
as  well  as  a  stone  mason  and  carpenter. 
When  eighteen  years  old  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  at  once  went  to 
work  in  clearing  the  farm,  in  which  he 
was  engaged  until  1849,  when  he  com- 
inenced  to  work  for  himself.  He  found 
employment  at  eleven  dollars  per  month, 
cutting  cord  wood  near  Norwalk;  and 
having  a  knowledge  of  coopering,  also 
earned  money  at  that  trade,  and  steadily 
advanced.  Plis  marriage  with  lihoda  Cot- 
ton took  place  March  1,  1855.  She  was 
horn  May  9,  1829,  at  Truxton,  Cortland 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Polly  (Kingsley)  Cotton,  who  settled  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  where  Mr. 
Johnson  met  and  married  Miss  Cotton, 
while  he  was  an  employe  of  the  Cleveland, 
Tuscarawas  Valley  lV  Wlieeling  Railroad 
Company,  then  in  course  of  construction. 
Mrs.  Johnson  was  a  schoolteacher  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Johnson 
boarded  at  her  father's  house  while  work- 
ing on  the  railroad  in  that  section.  The 
children  born  to  this  marriage  were  as  fol- 
lows: Effie,  now  Mrs.  Reuben  Knapp,  of 
Huntington,  Lorain  county,  Walton,  who 
died  in  1864  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Lewis, 
who  married  Lillie  Lee,  and  resides  in 
Clarksfield;  and  Clara,  now  Mrs.  Earl 
Ketcham,  of  New  London,  Huron  county. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
moved  to  Cold  water,  Mich.,  where  he 
worked  at  the  trade  of  cooper  until  he 
learned  of  the  illness  of  his  wife's  parents, 
when  he  and  his  wife  returned  to  Wayne 
county  to  care  for  them.  For  four  years 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Milton 
township. 

In  1860  he  removed  to  Hui'on  county, 
purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Clarks- 
field township,  and  there  lived  until  1866, 
when   he  took   possession  of   his  present 


farm.  This  tract  contains  120  acres,  well 
improved,  with  a  substantial,  well-furnished 
house,  good  farm  buildings,  fences,  and 
large  orchard,  representing  his  savings 
since  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  Mr. 
Johnson  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  has  ever  since  been 
a  Republican.  He  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  political  affairs,  studies  current  subjects, 
and  is  well  posted  on  the  issues  of  the  d&y. 
He  and  his  wife  are  Free-will  Baptists,  and 
he  is  trustee  in  the  church. 


T  M.  HARKNESS,  leading  liveryman, 
k.  I  horse  dealer  and  transferraan,  of  Nor- 
}^))  walk,  is  descended  from  an  old  New 
England  family. 

His  father,  Abner  Harkness,  was  born 
in  Vermont,  and  became  a  pioneer  settler 
of  New  Haven  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  was  married  to  Nancy  Garrett,  a  na- 
tive of  Auburn,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
passed  the  later  portion  of  his  life  in  Nor- 
walk. He  purchased  the  first  sheep  brought 
to  Huron  county,  having  been  a  prominent 
agriculturist;  in  politics  he  was  originally 
a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  afterward  uniting 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  over  fifty 
years,  his  family  being  also  members  of 
the  same.  He  was  a  strong  man  in  earlv 
life,  but  had  poor  health  for  over  fifty 
years.  He  died  about  1870,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three,  his  widow  surviving  him 
until  1877,  when  she  passed  away  in  her 
eighty-third  year.  Of  the  children  born 
to  this  couple,  seven  grew  to  maturity  and 
five  are  yet  living. 

J.  M.  Harkness  was  born  April  1, 1837, 
in  Norwalk,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was 
educated  at  the  seminary  in  his  native 
place.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  tile 
making,  a  business  he  followed  till  he 
went  in  the  service,  as  follows:  He  en- 
listed for  three  months  in  Company  C, 
Eighty-eighth  O.  V.  L,  June  6,  1862,  at 
Norwalk,    Ohio;     mustered    in    at    Camp 


172 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Chase,  Ohio,  June  10,  1862;  appointed 
second  sergeant  June  12,  18f32;  promoted 
to  first  sergeant  June  27,  1862,  and  mus- 
tered out  with  tlie  company  as  such  at 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  September  26,  1862. 
Re-enlisted  as  private  in  Company  F, 
Tenth  Kegriment,  O.  V.  C,  on  the  1st 
day  ot  November,  1862,  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  mustered  in  U.  S.  service  for  the 
period  of  three  years  on  the  15th  day  of 
January,  1863,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio;  ap- 
pointed first  sergeant  January  15,  1863; 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  June  14, 
1864,  and  mustered  as  such  July  19, 1864, 
at  Cartersville,  Ga.,  to  date  June  25, 1864; 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  January  30, 
1865;  entered  on  duty  as  first  lieutenant 
and  adjutant  May  1,  1865,  and  mustered 
out  with  i-egiment  at  Lexington,  N.  C, 
July  24,  1865.  He  was  with  the  regi- 
ment in  all  its  engagements  from  start  to 
finish,  including  Sherman's  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Ilarkness  returned  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  embarked  in  the 
livery  business;  he  has  dealt  extensively 
in  carriage  horses,  and  also  carries  on  a 
transfer  business.  Politically  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  llepublican  party,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  jnovements  tending 
to  the  advancement  of  the  community. 
On  Aucrnst  18,  1856,  he  was  married  to 
Julia  I)uughtoii,  a  native  of  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  four 
children:  George  C,  J.  C,  Willie  and 
Katie,  the  only  idolized  daughter,  who 
died  in  February,  1891,  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years,  deeply  mourned  by  the  be- 
reaved parents  and  relatives. 


rE.  WILDMAN.     A  leading  repre- 
sentative   citizen     and     prosperous 
_^       merchant  of  West  Clarksfield,  this 
gentleman     deserves    more    than    a 
passing  notice  in  the  pages  of  this  volume. 
He  conies  of  old  Connecticut  stock,  the 
homestead  of  liis  great-grandfather,  Sam- 


uel Wildman,  being  now  a  part  of  the  town 
of  Danbury.  The  following  is  a  brief 
record  of  the  ciiildren  of  this  Samuel  Wild- 
man:  Esther,  born  in  1779,  married  Sam- 
uel Husted,  and  they  came  to  Clarksfield 
township,  being  pioneers  (she  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three);  Satnuel  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1842,  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  aged  eighty 
years;  Mary  married  Levi  Stone,  in  Dan- 
bury, and  later  moved  to  Kent,  Ohio, 
where  she  died  in  September,  1845,  when 
aged  eighty-six  years;  Grace  was  married 
in  Connecticut  to  Hezekiah  Rowland,  a 
Kevolntionary  soldier,  and  she  died  in 
Clarksfield,  Ohio,  in  May,  1846,  when 
aged  eighty-five  years;  Eli,  who  was  a 
farmer,  died  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  July  5, 
1849,  at  the  age  o£  eighty-four;  Ezra  was 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject;  he  had  a 
twin  brother  that  died  in  infancy. 

Ezra  Wildman,  grandfather  of  F.  E., 
was  born  April  20,  1775,  on  his  father's 
farm  near  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  learned 
the  hatter's  trade.  On  June  10,  1798,  he 
married  Anne  Hoyt,  who  was  born  April 
19,  1779,  near  Danbury,  a  daughter  of 
Comfort  aiid  Eunice  (Mallory)  Hoyt,  the 
former  of  whom  was  liorn  May  4,  1751 
(old  style),  the  latter  on  March  23,  1751 
(old  style).  After  marriage  Ezra  Wild- 
man  continued  his  trade  in  Danbui-y, 
where  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Mary  Ann,  born  January 
21,  1804,  who  married  Daniel  Stone  and 
moved  to  Clarksfield,  Huron  county, 
where  they  both  died;  Cornelia,  born 
November  14,  1806,  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years;  William  H.;  Freder- 
ick A.,  born  June  5,  1813,  ex-county 
clerk,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Nor- 
walk,  Huron  county;  and  Cornelia  E., 
born  June  18.  1816,  who  married  Alfred 
R.  Segar,  and  afterward  became  the  wife 
of  S.  G.  Wright  (she  died  in  Kansas  City). 
Comfort  Hoyt,  Mrs.  Ezra  AYildman's father, 
who  was  a  merchant  in  Danbury,  had  his 
store  and  contents  damaged  by  British 
soldiers  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
in  coinpensation  for  which   he  was  given, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


173 


by  the  Government  of  Connecticut,  a  tract 
of  land  in  what  was  tlien  known  as  the 
"  Western  Connecticut  Reserve,"  afterward 
becoming  the  State  of  Ohio.  This  land 
Comfort  Iloyt  divided  among  his  children, 
Anne's  portion  lying  in  what  is  nowClarks- 
field  township,  Huron  county,  the  same 
being  recorded  as  "Lot  10,  Section  3." 
Ezra  Wildman  made  several  trips  from  the 
East  to  inspect  this  land,  and  iiave  im- 
provements made  thereon.  In  May,  1828, 
he  and  his  son,  William  H.,  drove  to  Ohio, 
arrivin''  on  June  1  following,  and  here 
the  son  remained,  the  father,  after  a  brief 
sojourn,  returning  eastward.  In  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  Ezra  came  finally  witii 
his  enlii'e  family,  both  single  and  married, 
tiie  journey  being  made  by  canal  and  lake, 
the  party  arriving  in  Hnron  county  Octo- 
ber 21,  and  they  immediately  took  up  their 
residence  in  Clarksfield  township,  at  the 
home  prepared  for  them,  where  they  set 
to  work  to  clear  the  land  and  cultivate  the 
new  soil.  Grandfather  AVildman  died  here 
February  26, 1858,  his  wife  in  June,  1859, 
after  a  married  life  of  nearly  sixty  years. 
Their  remains  repose  in  Clarksfield  ceme- 
tery, east  of  Hollow.  Politically,  Ezra 
Wildman  was  originally  a  Federalist  of  the 
old  school,  then  a  Whig,  and  finally  a  Re- 
publican. 

William  H.  AVildman,  father  of  the 
subject  proper  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
July  23,  1810,  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  and 
was  there  educated,  first  attending  sub- 
scription  school,  afterward  select  school. 
Wiien  fifteen  years  old  he  commenced 
learning  the  hatter's  trade  with  his  father, 
and  was  eighteen  years  old  when,  as 
already  related,  he  came  to  Ohio,  where, 
in  Milan,  Erie  county,  he  worked  four 
years  at  his  trade  for  Henry  Lockwood. 
On  April  20,  1831,  in  Fitchville,  Huron 
county,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Seger, 
who  was  born  Feliruary  27,  181-f,  in  Con- 
necticut, a  daughter  of  Eli  Seger,  an  early 
settler  of  Clarksfield  township.  This  wife 
died  childless  July  29,  1834,  and  was 
buried  in  Clarksfield.    On  March  27, 1836, 


Mr.  AVildman  was  united  in  wedlock,  in 
Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  with  Miss  Fanny 
Knapp,  born  February  11,  1815,  in  Dan- 
bury,  Conn.,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  and 
Mercy  (Seger)  Knapp,  highly  respectable 
farming  people.  The  children  born  of  this 
union  were  as  follows:  Elbert  K.,  born  Au- 
gust 3,  1837,  died  when  three  years  and 
nine  months  old;  Alfred  R.,  born  August 
31,  1844,  now  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  an  at- 
tache of  the  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer;  and 
Frank  E..  the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch. 
Until  1880,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H. 
AVildman  resided  in  Clarksfield  township, 
on  their  farm,  which  was  a  part  of  the 
Connecticut  grant;  afterward  lived  two 
years  in  Oberlin,  then  seven  in  Wakeman, 
and  they  now  have  their  home  with  their 
son,  F.  E.,  in  West  Clarksfield,  respected 
and  honored   by  all  who  know  them. 

F.  E.  AVildman,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  September  24,  1846,  in 
Clarksfield  township,  Huron  county,  where 
he  received  a  liberal  education  in  part  at 
the  common  schools  and  in  part  at  select 
school.  In  early  manhood  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Bates  &  Gilbert,  millers  at  Xor- 
walk,  Huron  county,  as  a  helper;  later  went 
west,  and  at  Iowa  Falls,  Iowa,  was  engaged 
in  a  general  store  as  clerk.  Returning 
home,  he  resided  for  several  years  on  the 
farm  owned  by  his  father.  In  1880  he  re- 
moved to  Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  he  bought 
a  wholesale  notion  wagon,  and  carried  on  a 
wholesale  notion  business.  After  a  few 
years  he  bought  a  stock  of  goods  in  Kip- 
ton,  Ohio,  remaining  there  two  years;  then 
in  1889  he  removed  to  Clarksfield,  same 
State,  and  in  1891  to  West  Clarksfield, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
merchandising,  conducting  one  of  the 
largest  general  stores  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Wildman's  well-known  pleasantness  and 
courtesy,  together  with  his  thorough  busi- 
ness principles,  have  won  for  him  a  wide 
popularity. 

In  1872  Mr.  Wildman  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Akers,  who  was 
born  in  Bii-mingham,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  April 


174 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


2,  1850,  a  daughter  of  P.  G.  Akers,  a 
farmer  and  mechanic  of  that  town.  Two 
children  have  blessed  this  union:  William 
II.,  clerking  in  his  father's  store,  and  Mary 
Grace.  Mr.  AVildman  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  April  1, 1892,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  West  Clai-kslield ;  at  present 
with  characteristic  fidelity  and  ability  he 
is  tillino;  various  offices  of  trust.  An  active 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  he 
is  a  deacon  in  same,  and  for  several  years 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school. 


Ill  LBEIIT  GAGE,  an  influential  and 

iLW    progressive    citizen    of    Centerton, 

[r\i   Norwich     township,    is     a    son    of 

■^  George    Gage,    who    was    a  son   of 

James,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a 

descendant  of  the  family  of  which  Gen.  Gage 

was  a  member.     He,  James  Gage,  had  a 

family  of  eif;ht  sons — James,  Moses,  John, 

Georfre,  Muiison,  Rodman,  Theodore  and 

Judah — and     two    daughters — Anna    and 

Lucy. 

George  Gage,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  about  the  year  1802,  in  New  York, 
at  a  place  known  as  "  the  Grout,"  and  there 
his  boyhood  days  were  passed  on  a  farm, 
and  in  attending  the  subscription  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  of  his  boyhood  home. 
He  worked  for  a  time  in  a  salt  factory, 
and  in  1834  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Lake  county,  where  lie  continued  fanning 
pursuits  nntil  his  retirement  from  active 
life.  In  18 —  lie  married  Miss  Ph(ebe 
Hatch,  of  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  three  children,  Albert,  Adelia 
M.  and  Sarah  L. 

Albert  Gage,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born,  in  1825,  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
and  received  a  liberal  common-school  edu- 
cation. When  a  youth  he  went  on  the 
lakes  as  a  common  sailor,  and  was  wrecked 
several  times.  In  1850  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  taking  uj)  his  residence  in  Center- 
ton,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business.     The  Civil  war  hav- 


ing then  broken  out,  he  enlisted,  in  1861, 
in  the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  U.  Y.  I.,  par- 
ticipated in  the  l)attle  of  Cross  Keys,  and 
was  discharged  as  sergeant  in  1862  on  ac- 
count  of  disability.  On  his  return  home 
he  was  taken  sick,  and  was  invalided  till 
1864,  when  he  joined  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  as  orderly  ser- 
geant, remaining  at  the  front  one  hundred 
days.  On  his  return  once  more  to  the 
pursTiits  of  peace,  he  clerked  two  years  for 
Hester  it  Bank,  merchants  of  Centerton, 
Huron  county,  and  then  for  Crow  & 
Miller,  general  merchants  of  same  place, 
one  year,  and  after  the  death  of  Crow  he 
took  over  his  interest  by  purchase.  In 
1873  he  bought  out  Miller,  and  has  since 
been  found  at  the  same  stand,  doing  a 
flourishing  and  profitable  business. 

In  1854  Mr.  Gage  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Van  Horn,  of  Norwich  township, 
Huron  couTity,  and  five  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  viz.:  Henry  F.,  Eugene  W., 
Stanley,  Frederick  and  Bertha.  In  his 
political  proclivities  our  subject  has  been 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  various 
township  offices  witli  honor. 


d I  AMES  BELLAMY,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Townsend  township,  was 
_  1  born  August  12,  1839,  in  Hunting- 
don, England,  and  is  the  seventh 
child  in  a  family  of  ten  born  to  Samuel  and 
Susanna  (Ilighiam)  Bellamy,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Huntingdonshire, 
England,  and  the  latter  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland. 

Samuel  Bellamy  was  educated  and  mar- 
ried in  England,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  for  many  years,  in 
fact  most  of  his  life.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  very  limited  in  youth,  con- 
sequently such  literary  knowledge  as  he 
possessed  was  mainly  acquired  in  the 
practical  school  of  experience.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  he  emigrated  with  his  wife 
and  youngest  child  to  the  United  States, 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


175 


all  the  other  members  of  the  family  having 
preceded  them.  F'irst  stopping  with  their 
son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  Huron 
township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  they  remained 
until  the  following  spring  (1863)  and  then 
ren)0ved  to  P'ord  county.  111.,  where  Sam- 
uel Bellamy  died  August  3,  1863,  when 
in  his  sixty- third  year.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  consistent  members  of  the 
Church  of  England;  the  latter,  however, 
became  in  her  later  years  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  at  Townsend  Center,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio. 

William  Bellamy,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  lifelong  farmer  in  his  native 
England,  where  for  many  generations  the 
Bellamys  were  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  John  Highiam,  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  in  the  British  army,  all  his 
life  being  passed  in  the  military  service. 
He  was  born  at  a  military  post  (as  were 
also  all  his  own  ciiildren),  his  father  being 
a  lifelong  soldier,  as  was  also  his  grand- 
father, and  the  ancestors  of  the  family  for 
generations. 

James  Bellamy,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  but  meager  literary  ad- 
vantages in  youth,  never  having  attended 
school  more  than  two  or  three  weeks  in 
his  life,  and  that  in  England  before  reach- 
ing his  seventh  year.  He  has,  however, 
since  attaining  manhood's  years,  succeeded 
by  his  own  efforts  in  acquiring  a  very  fair 
business  education.  He  is  a  man  of  o-ood 
judgment,  quick  perceptions  aiul  a  close 
observer  of  everything  around  him;  and 
he  is  also  quite  a  reader,  well  informed  in 
current  literature  and  in  the  Scriptures 
and  Bible  literature  generally.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen,  in  1855,  he  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  landing  at  New  York  City 
on  Christmas  Day  of  that  year,  and  arriv- 
ing at  his  sister's  home  in  Berlin  town- 
ship, Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  on  January  1,  1856. 
He  immediately  went  to  work  by  the 
month  on  a  farm  in  that  neighborhood,  for 
a  Mr.  James  Oates,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained   until  the   following  spring.     He 


continued  working  out  by  the  month  or 
day,  occasionally  taking  a  job  of  chopping 
cordwood  or  ditching,  until  the  spring  of 
1873,  when  he  bought  wild  land  in  Town- 
send  township,  Huron  county.  There  were 
only  four  acres  cleared  on  the  place,  out  of 
which  he  has  since  improved  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides,  and  to  which 
he  has  added  other  lands,  now  owning  two 
well-improved  ])laces.  During  eight  or 
nine  winters  he  chopped  1,200  cords  of 
wood  for  Mr.  Frank  Pinney,  in  Townsend 
township.  Prior  to  his  settling  in  Huron 
county  Mr.  Bellamy  had  purchased  wild 
lands  in  Wood  county,  Ohio,  and  also  in 
Michigan,  as  a  speculation,  but  never  re- 
sided on  either  tract.  On  April  22,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Seventh  Regi- 
ment O.  V.  I.,  for  three  months,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Norwalk  on  August  22 
following. 

Mr.  Bellamy  was  married  December  14, 
1860,  to  Miss  Eliza  Coultrip,  who  was 
born  in  Kent,  England,  June  8,  1842,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Sophia  (Fulligar) 
Coultrip,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  Kent.  Two  sons  have  blessed  their 
union,  viz.:  John  Charles,  born  Marcii 
17,  1862,  and  William  Porter,  born  De- 
cember 12,  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bellamy 
are  devout  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  are  identified  with  the  the  class  at 
Townsend  Center.  Socially  he  is  a  charter 
member  of  Townsend  Post  No.  414,  G.  A. 
R.,  in  which  Post  he  has  several  tinies 
tilled  the  office  of  chaplain.  Mrs.  Bellamy 
is  an  active  memljer  of  Townsend  W.  R. 
C.  No.  142,  Auxiliary  to  Townsend  Post 
No.  414,  G.  A.  R.  In  politics  Mr.  Bel- 
lamy is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
enterprising,  successful  farmers  of  the 
neighboriiood,  as  well  as  one  of  her  most 
prominent  and  respected  citizens. 

Mr.  Bellamy's  brother,  William  Bellamy, 
in  company  with  wdiom  our  subject  immi- 
grated to  America,  was  employed,  like 
him,  in  working  by  the  month,  day  or  job 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  same  company  and 


176 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


regiment  with  our  subject,  and  on  the 
same  day.  Soon  after  his  discharge,  in 
September,  1861,  he  re-enlisted,  this  time 
in  Company  C,  Fiftytiith  O.  V.  I.,  and 
served  with  his  regiment  in  all  its  marches 
and  entjacrements  to  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  linn,  in  which  engagement  he  was 
killed  by  a  cannon  ball.  No  truer  patriot 
or  braver  soldier  ever  stood  upon  a  battle- 
field than  he.  He  was  always  ready  for 
duty,  never  hesitating  or  flinching  from 
any  post  assigned  him,  no  matter  how 
arduous  or  dangerous  the  work.  He  was 
color  bearer  of  his  regiment,  and  fell  while 
in  the  front  ranks.  He  left  a  widow,  hav- 
ing been  married  just  before  proceeding  to 
the  front. 

James  Coultrip,  father  of  Mrs.  James 
Bellamy,  was  a  shepherd  by  occupation, 
in  his  native  land.  In  1850  he  immigrated 
to  the  United  States,  first  haltincr  near  Al- 
liany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
chopping  wood  for  one  winter.  The  next 
spring,  1851,  he  removed  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  locating  near  Avon,  where 
he  was  employed  at  shearing  sheep  and  on 
a  large  ditch  contract,  until  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  when  he  took  a  contract  for 
grading  a  part  of  the  northern  division  of 
tiie  Lake  Shore  &  Micliigan  Southern  Rail- 
road in  Lorain  county.  He  completed  the 
same,  but  was  defrauded  of  the  fruits  of 
his  labor,  never  receiving  a  cent  of  pay. 
After  this  he  was  employed  at  any  thing 
which  promised  to  bring  him  an  honest 
dollar.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  sent  for  his 
wife  and  children,  whom  he  had  left  be- 
hind in  Old  England,  and  the  family, 
among  whom  was  Mrs.  Bellamy,  then  ten 
years  old,  arrived  in  New  York  in  No- 
vember, that  year,  and  came  thence  by 
rail  and  steamboat  to  Berlin  township, 
Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  There  they  rejoined  Mr. 
Coultrip,  who  for  several  years  afterward 
farmed  on  rented  lands  in  both  Erie  and 
Huron  counties.  In  about  1857  or  1858 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Townsend  township, 
Huron  county,  upon  which  lie  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1868,  when  he  sold  out 


and  bought  another  place  in  Berlin  town- 
ship, Erie  county.  After  a  few  years  he 
sold  this  place,  and  later  rented  in  various 
parts  of  Huron  county.  The  last  two 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  with  his  son- 
in-law,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  at  whose 
home  his  death  occurred  January  5,  1878, 
wiien  he  was  aged  sixty-three  years.  Dar- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  served  in  the  Nine- 
teenth O.  V.  I.,  from  October  3,  1864,  to 
June  8,  1865.  He  was  not  assicrned  to 
any  company,  and  for  a  time  did  duty  as 
a  cattle  guard,  and  afterward  as  nurse  in 
a  hospital  at  Moorehead  City,  N.  Carolina. 


FRANK  J.  RUFFING,  a  prominent 
agriculturist  of  Sherman  township, 
_^  is  a  native  of  same,  born  September 
13, 1859,  a  son  of  Joseph  Rutting,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  His  fatiier 
numbered  among  those  who  came  to  Ohio 
when  it  was  necessary  to  clear  in  the  forest 
a  place  on  which  to  build  a  log  hut,  and 
make  a  home  in  the  wilderness. 

Our  subject  passed  his  childhood  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  remained  there  until  he 
was  married.  He  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion school  of  his  neighborhood,  receiving 
such  education  as  was  furnished  in  those 
days,  when  the  schoolhouse  was  a  rude  log 
hut,  scarcely  protected  from  the  elements, 
and  furnished  with  benches  nailed  to  one 
side  of  the  wall,  and  where  the  teachers 
were  but  indifferently  prepared  to  impart 
information.  In  1884  Mr.  Rufling  mar- 
ried Miss  Victoria  Layman,  daughter  of 
Balsor  Layman,  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Sherman  township,  and  their  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children,  viz.:  Al- 
fred, I'ertha  and  Nora,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rutting  are  mem- 
bers  of  the  Catholic  Clhurch. 

Mr.  Rutting  is  singularly  fortunate  in 
his  domestic  relations,  his  children  being 
a  great  source  of  pride  to  him,  and  his  in- 
terest in  educational  matters  is  demon- 
strated by  the  manner  in  which  he  controls 


UURON^  COUNTY,  OniO. 


177 


and  directs  the  intellectual  necessities  of 
his  children.  He  is  public-spirited  and 
enterprising,  and  readily  endosres  any  pro- 
ject calculated  to  stimulate  the  develop- 
ment and  prosperity  of  the  township  and- 
county  in  which  he  resides.  He  is  gener- 
ous and  affable,  his  sympathies  expressing 
themselves  in  kindness  to  friends  and  in 
charities  when  they  are  merited.  It  may 
he  said  of  him,  that  in  all  the  relations  of 
life  in  which  he  is  called  upon  to  act,  he 
is  trustworthy,  constant  and  honest.  His 
habits  of  industry  and  application  have 
enabled  him  to  accumulate  a  handsome 
property,  and  he  owns  eighty-four  acres  of 
valuable  land,  devoted  to  general  agricul- 
ture, includinir  stock  raising.  He  is 
popular  in  political  circles,  and  has  served 
as  supervisor  for  several  years. 


T[  H.  McELHINNEY,  M.  D.,  a  mem- 
V.  I  ber  of  the  medical  firm  of  J.  H.  &  F. 
}^Jj  13.  McElHinney,  of  New  London,  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Ohio,  in 
1850,  a  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  M.  McElHinney, 
who  was  born  within  four  miles  of  the  city 
of  Londonderry,  Ireland. 

Brought  to  the  United  States  when  seven 

years  old,  the  father  of  our  subject  was 

educated  in  Ohio,  and    while  still  a  youth 

began    school    teaching,    presiding   over  a 

school  in  the  village  of  Newport,  Ohio,  for 

eight  years.      During  that  period  he  read 

medicine,  and,  enterinirthe  Eclectic  Medi- 
co 

cal  Institute  at  Cincinnati,  o-raduated, 
afterward  establishing  himself  in  practice 
at  Newport.  There  he  married  Miss  Ara- 
bella Hannold,  and  made  his  home.  He 
served  a  term  in  the  armv  in  1864,  as 
captain  of  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-eighth  O.  V.'  I. 

J.  H.  McElHinney,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  at  New- 
port, Ohio,  received  a  practical  education 
in  the  schools  there,  and  completed  his 
literary  course  in  Marietta  Colleire.  When 
not  at  school  he  assisted  his  father  in  office 


work.  School  days  over,  he  read  medicine 
under  the  direction  of  his  father,  and  as- 
sisted him  in  practice,  even  before  entering 
the  medical  college.  He  attended  lectures 
at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and,  graduating  from  that  institu- 
tion in  1873,  returned  home,  where  he 
remained  until  his  brother  Frank  won  a 
diploma.  From  that  time  until  1881  he 
practiced  at  Hills,  Washington  county; 
then  moving  to  Ruggles,  Ashland  county, 
and  from  there  to  New  London,  Ohio,  in 
1888,  established  himself  at  once  as  a  skill- 
ful physician. 

In  i877  Dr.  McElHinney  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Greene,  the  second  daughter  of 
Christopher  and  Mary  F.  (Wood)  Greene. 
Christopher  Greene  was  born  in  Newport, 
Ohio,  in  1809,  son  of  John  Greene,  one  of 
the  tirst  settlers  of  Newport,  which  was 
settled  soon  after  the  settling  of  Marietta, 
Ohio.  He  was  fond  of  hunting  in  his 
younger  days;  also  spent  considerable  time 
running  flat-boats  on  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi rivers,  in  the  capacity  of  pilot.  At 
tlie  age  of  Hfty-five  he  entered  tlie  United 
States  service  in  Company  G,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  under 
Capt.  J.  M.    McElHinney,   in  Gen.  Benj. 

F.  Butler's  corps  on  the  James  river,  near 
Petersburg,  Va.  He  is  still  (1894)  living 
at  Newpoi-t,  Ohio.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
H.  McElHinney  have  been  born  f(jur  chil- 
dren, namly:   Mary  A.,  Glenna  E.,  Bessie 

G.  and  Clare  B. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
Eclectic  Medical  Society,  and  is  now  the 
secretary;  was  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  I.  O.  G.  T.  for  ten  years,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  A  Pro- 
hibitionist in  politics,  he  is  a  consistent 
member  of  that  party.  He  is  recognized 
as  an  able  general  practitioner,  and  well 
known  as  a  most  successful  surgeon.  With 
the  exception  of  tlie  time  devoted  to  field 
sports,  he  gives  close  personal  attention  to 
professional  work.  During  certain  seasons 
he  seeks  out  some  good  hunting  and  tisli- 
ing  grounds,  and  passes  a  short  season  in 


178 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OniO. 


the  role  of  hunter  and  fisherman.  The 
trophies  in  his  office  speak  of  his  success 
as  a  [sportsnian.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
tlie  United  States  service  in  the  fail  of 
1864  when  not  quite  fourteen  years  old. 
He  still  has  a  fondness  for  target  shooting 
with  the  rifle,  at  which  he  is  quite  pro- 
ficient. 


F.  STARBIRD,  a  druggist  of  New 
London,  was  born  in  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  October  24, 1844.  His  father, 
Austin  Starbird.anativeof  Pennsyl- 
vania, studied  medicine  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  graduated  from  the  Medical  College  of 
that  city.  About  the  year  1850  he  located 
in  New  London,  and  soon  established  him- 
self as  a  physician  and  surgeon.  His  study 
did  not  at  all  cease  witli  graduation.  The 
responsibilities  of  practice  led  him  to 
deeper  studies  and  research,  so  that  the 
reputation  he  won,  in  the  profession,  was 
based  on  a  solid  foundation;  for  his  knowl- 
edge of  medicine  and  surgery,  in  both 
tlieory  and  practice,  was  wide.  He  died 
in  the  spring  of  1877,  his  widow,  Mary  J. 
(Fulton),  in  1891. 

B.  F.  Starbird  is  the  eldest  in  a  family 
of  five  children.  He  received  a  practical 
education  in  the  common  school  of  New 
London,  and  completed  a  commercial 
course  in  Oberlin  College.  When  he  was 
of  age  his  father  presented  him  and  brother 
with  a  fully  equipped  drug  store,  and  this 
business  he  has  carried  on  since  1867.  In 
the  spring  of  1890  he  purchased  his 
brotiier"s  interest  in  the  store,  at  whicii 
time  the  brother  was  appointed  postmaster 
at  New  London.  The  building  in  whicli 
his  business  is  carried  on  is  20  x  85  feet  in 
area,  two  stories  liigh,  with  basement. 
Throughout,  it  is  fully  stocked  with  drugs, 
paints  and  oils.  The  prescription  depart- 
ment receives  the  close  personal  attention 
of  the  owner,  wlio  gives  general  supervis- 
ion to  the  whole  establisliment. 

In  1878  Mr.  Starbird  married  Miss 
Alice  E.  Kilburn,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the 


pioneers  of  New  London,  where  she  was 
born.  To  this  marriage  the  followincj 
named  children  were  born:  Mary  Ella, 
Burton  Hoyte,  Frank  Kilburn  and  Mar- 
gurite  J.  With  the  exception  of  three 
years  passed  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  many 
days  in  school  at  Oberlin,  Mr.  Starbird  has 
been  a  resident  of  New  London  since  the 
family  moved  from  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
and  holds  a  high  position  in  the  social  as 
well  as  in  the  commercial  circle.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  township  clerk  for  over 
fifteen  years.  The  beginnings  of  the  fam- 
ily in  America  were  made  in  Maine,  from 
which  center  they  branched  out.  The 
grandfather  of  B.  F.  Starbird  migrated  to 
Stark  county,  and  carried  on  a  farm  there 
until  his  removal  to  Maumee,  Lucas  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age. 


rjflRAM    SMITH.     Ranking  among 
jp^i    the  first  and  best  of  the  early  fam- 
I     1|    ilies  of  Huron  county  is  the  Smith 
■^  family,   descended    from    the    New 

England    pioneer,    Erastus    Smith, 
and  his  wife,  Fannie  (Spencer)  Smith. 

Hiram  Smith,  although  still  superin- 
tending, and  not  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, is  one  of  Huron  county's  largest 
practical  farmers  and  landowners.  He 
was  born  in  Greenfield  township,  Huron 
county,  November  21,  1816.  His  father, 
Erastus  Smith,  was  united  in  wedlock  to 
Faimie  Spencer  on  the  19th  day  of  De- 
cember, 1805,  and  of  this  union  were  born 
seven  children,  viz.:  Martin,  Lydia,  Tru- 
man, Erastus,  Lester,  Hiram  and  Hen- 
rietta. At  the  time  of  the  arrival  in  this 
county  of  Erastus  and  Fannie  Smith  there 
was  i)ut  one  cal)in  in  Greenfield  township, 
and  in  this  Mrs.  Smith  stayed  while  her 
husband  built  their  log  cabin.  This  brave 
pioneer  woman  lived  to  the  great  age  of 
ninety-seven  years,  retaining  in  a  great 
measure  her  wonderful  mental  powers  up 
to  the  time  of  her  death.  Erastus  Smith 
died  July  10,  1820.     Hiram   Smith   and 


''c-^^^<^^Cp 


/l^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


181 


family  are  owners  of  800  acres  of  finely 
improved  land  in  Greenfield  township,  the 
development  of  which  is  almost  entirely 
the  result  of  Mr.  Smith's  personal  energy 
and  resolution  in  overcoming  all  obstacles. 

In  connection  with  his  farming  inter- 
ests he,  about  the  year  1850,  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Steuben.  In  this 
pursuit  the  results  of  his  business  sagacity 
were  as  apparent  as  in  iiis  farming  and 
stock  business.  "  Uncle  Hi,"  as  he  has 
tbi'  many  years  been  popularly  addressed, 
is  well  and  favorably  known  among  the 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Huron  county, 
as  his  wool  and  stock  buying  tended  to 
make  his  a  familiar  atid  welcome  figure 
where  his  business  called  him  in  these 
pursuits. 

Mr.  Smith  is  largely  a  self-educated 
man,  and  an  extensive  and  profound 
reader.  His  views  of  political  and  finan- 
cial affairs,  fiuently  and  lucidly  enunciated, 
are  eagerly  solicited  by  many  who  admire 
and  repose  confidence  in  his  well-demon- 
strated judgtnent  in  these  matters.  Among 
his  most  striking  characteristic  traits  is 
his  extreme  fondness  for  children,  his  resi- 
dence having  been  and  being  the  chosen 
and  favorite  resort  for  his  grandchildren; 
his  presence  and  ever-open  home  preferred 
by  them  to  that  of  all  others.  His  kind- 
ness and  genetosity,  extended  even  to 
those  past  the  privileges  of  childhood's 
claim,  is  proverbial. 

Except  as  a  matter  of  history,  it  is  need- 
less to  state  the  esteem  and  confidence  Mr. 
Smith  is  held  in,  in  a  business  way.  His 
honorable  career  has  no  blemish,  and  no 
man  can  or  does  regret  any  dealing  ever 
entered  into  with  him.  In  1887  Mr. 
Smith,  fully  justified  in  retiring  from 
active  life,  came  to  Norwalk,  pni-chasing 
his  present  residence  o,n  West  Main  street, 
a  quiet  but  luxurious  home  his  exemplary 
life  so  richly  deserves. 

Hiram  Sinith  and  Polly  Rockwell  were 
united  in  wedlock  December  31,  1840; 
she  was  the  daughter  of  Thaddeus  and 
Polly   Rockwell,  then   of  Greenfield,  but 

10 


formerly  of  New  York  State.  To  our 
subject  and  wife  were  born  six  children  (of 
whom  five  are  living),  as  follows:  Emma 
Fanette,  widow  of  Harry  C.  Sturges,  re- 
siding with  her  parents;  Hiram  J.,  in 
Steuben,  Ohio,  who  has  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living — three  daughters 
and  four  sons — having  lost  by  death  one 
son,  RoUin  J.;  Henry  Dayton,  a  resident 
of  Washington,  who  has  one  child,  a  son, 
H.  J.;  Sarah  Frances  (deceased);  George 
Rockwell,  of  Kansas,  who  has  three  chil- 
dren— one  son  and  two  daughters;  and 
Fannie  Eliza  (Mrs.  Frank  Lamkin),  living 
in  Norwalk,  who  has  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Finette.  Mr.  Smith's  imme- 
diate family  worship  at  the  Universalist 
Church,  and  are  esteemed  among  the  best 
of  Norwalk's  citizens. 


AMUEL  C.  TOUGH,  traveling  sales- 
man, in  the  agricultural  implement 
line,  with  residence  in  Townsend 
township,  is  a  native  of  Huron 
county,  born  November  11,  1845,  in 
Ridgefield  township.  He  is  the  eldest  of 
two  children  born  to  Seth  and  Eliza(Fisher) 
Tough,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Edinburgh,  Scotland,  the  latter  in  North- 
umberland county,  Penn.,  of  German  ex- 
traction. 

Seth  Tough  was  born  March  25,  1807, 
and  received  in  his  youth  a  very  good 
common-school  education  in  his  native 
country.  Soon  after  attaining  his  majority 
he  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Ridgefield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married 
October  3,  1844.  Here  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  10,  1853.  Mrs.  Eliza  Tough  was 
born  February  24, 1807,  and  was  a  devoted, 
lifelong  member  of  the  Baptist  Church; 
she  died  October  13,  1879.  Her  father, 
William  Fisher,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  received  a  fair  English  education  in 
his   native   State,   where  he   married    and 


182 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


engaged  in  farming  pursuite.  In  about 
1S55  he  removed  with  his  wife  and  family 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he  bouglit 
a  farm  and  successfully  engaged  in  agri- 
culture until  his  death.  He  was  an  earnesl 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Samuel  C.  Tough,  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  in  his  early  years  a  good 
common-school  and  academic  education, 
and  remained  on  the  old  homestead  until 
rtaching  his  majority.  He  then,  lor  the 
next  ten  or  twelve  years,  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  during  which  time  he 
also  followed  the  profession  of  teacher. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  employed  as  a 
traveling  salesman  in  the  agricultural  im- 
plement trade,  with  tlie  exception  of  two 
years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  the  local 
trade  at  Norwalk.  For  eight  years  he  was 
with  the  Bryan  Flow  Co.,  of  Fryan,  Ohio, 
and  for  the  past  thrte  years  has  repre- 
sented the  Genesee  Valley  Manufacturing 
Co.,  of  Mt.  Morris,  N.  Y.,  having  control 
of  northwestern  Ohio  and  the  whole  State 
of  Michigan. 

On  October  1,  1867,  Mr.  Tough  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Kile,  who  was  a  native  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Sarah  S. 
(Milkcs)  Kile,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  two  children,  viz.:  Percy  Washing- 
ton and  Sarah  Gladys.  Socially  Mr. 
Tough  is  a  popular  member  of  Mt.  Ver- 
non Lodge  No.  64,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Huron  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.,  both  of 
Norwalk,  Ohio. 


E 


UGENE  L.  McCAGUE,  a  promi- 
nent young  citizen  of  Bronson  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  Mc- 
Cagne,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas 
McCague,  whose  parents,  James  and  Janet 
(Cochran)  McCague,  came  to  the  United 
States  about  the  year  1784.  They  had  a 
family  of  four  sons  and   four  daughters. 

Thomas  McCague,  son  of  this  pioneer 
couple,  was  born,  in  1784,  near  Fhiladel- 
phia,    Fenn.      He    was    there    married    to 


Rosanna  Coyan,  daughter  of  Edward 
Coyan,  by  trade  a  weaver,  and  also  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  the  young  couple  soon  aft- 
erward (in  1819)  came  to  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio.  There  Thomas  McCague 
bought  land,  but  same  year  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Summit  county,  san:e  State)  which 
he  had  bought.  In  1839  they  moved  to 
Holmes  county,  same  State,  remaining 
there  eleven  years;  then  settled  in  Hart- 
land  township,  Hui'on  county,  where  lie 
died  in  1863  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics;  in 
religion  Mrs.  McCague  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  She  died  in 
1873,  the  mother  of  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  were  deceased  in  youth  and  three 
are  yet  living,  viz.:  Samuel,  living  on  the 
old  farm  in  Hartland  township;  Thomas 
J.,  and  Jane,  wife  of  R.  G.  Bishop,  of 
Akron,  Ohio. 

Thomas  J.  McCague  was  born  August 
14,  1826,  in  Summit  county,  Ohio,  and 
passed  his  youth  on  the  home  farm.  He 
received  a  subscription-school  education, 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  began  life 
for  himself  by  working  on  a  farm  for  eight 
dollars  per  month.  He  continued  to  fol- 
low farming  during  his  earlier  years,  and 
was  also  employed  in  the  sawmills.  In 
1850  he  passed  a  year  in  Olena,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  January  1,1851,  was  mar- 
I'ied  to  Adeline,  daughter  of  Bethuel  Cole, 
who  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer  Cole,  for  twenty 
years  justice  of  the  peace  in  Vermont;  his 
son  Bethuel  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county, 
N.  Y.  Thomas  J.  and  Adeline  (Cole) 
McCague  resided  as  tenants  on  a  farm  in 
liartland  township,  Huron  county,  for 
three  years  after  their  marriage.  In  the 
autumn  of  1854  they  moved  to  the  old 
Cole  homestead,  where  Bethuel  Cole  died 
in  1874,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  followed 
by  his  wife  in  189t),  who  was  ninety  years 
of  aire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCague  continued 
to  reside  on  the  place  after  the  death  of 
lier  parents.  The  farm  contains  one  hun- 
dred acres,  \vhcre  he  conducts  a  general 
agricultural  business.     Tliey  were  the  par- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


183 


ents  of  one  son,  Eugene  L.  Mrs.  Adeline 
(Cole)  McOagiie  died  October  8,  189d,  in 
her  sixty-eighth  year. 

Eugene  L.  McCagiie  was  born  August 
14,  1853,  in  Hartland  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  received  a  good  practical 
education  in  the  county  schools.  On  May 
23,  1877,  he  married  Mary  E.  Godfrey,  a 
native  of  Ruggles  township,  Ashland  Co., 
Ohio.  Between  the  year.s  1881  and  1885 
Eugene  L.  McCague  was  traveling  sales - 
man  for  dealers  in  agricultural  implements. 
He  then  learned  the  painting  business,  to 
which  he  has  since  devoted  s6me  attention 
in  connection  with  farming.  He  is  a 
proninent  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term 
as  township  trustee.  The  cliildren  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eugene  L.  McCajjue  are  Ida 
Vione,  born  January  14,  1880;  Carleton 
Eugene,  born  March  21,  1890;  and  Harold 
B.  Godfrey,  born  August  7,  1892. 


P.  CLTRTISS,  son  of  Charles  Cur- 
tiss,  and  grandson  on  the  maternal 
side  of  Ebenezer  Treat,  was  born 
in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  in  1841. 
Charles  Curtiss  was  born  in  New  York 
State,  but  passed  his  boyhood  in  Canada. 
About  the  year  183S  he  migrated  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Ashland  county,  and  erected 
i>ne  of  the  first  saw  and  grist  mills  in 
Ruggles  township.  Water  power  was  used; 
so  that,  as  the  country  was  cleared  and  the 
swamps  converted  into  fertile  fields,  the 
water  courses  dwindled  into  streamlets,  the 
water-wheel  became  of  little  use,  and  tne 
owner  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture. 
Charles  Curtiss  was  married  in  New  York 
State,  and  ten  children  were  born  to  him, 
of  whom  eight  grew  to  manhood  and  wo- 
manhood, two  being  now  residents  of 
Ohio.  The  father  of  this  familj'  died  in 
1865,  aged  seventy-three  years,  and  the 
mother,  Jemima  (Treat)  Curtiss,  died  in 
1872  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 
Charles  Curtiss  was  a  Democrat  down  to 


18P)0,  when  lie  cast  his   vote   for  Lincoln, 
being  a  stern  Union  man    during  the  war. 
W.  P.  Curtiss  is  an   experienced  manu- 
facturer and  employer.  Raised  on  the  farm 
in  Ruggles  township,  he  was  educated  in 
the  school  of  his  district  and   in   the  high 
school  at  Savannah.     At  an  early  age  he 
ventured  into  the  business  world  by  oper- 
ating a  stone  quarry   on   the  home    farm. 
Ill  1864  he  commenced   the  bondino-  busi- 
ness  at   New    London,    and   this    business 
was  carried  on   by   him   and   his    brother, 
Charles  L.  Curtiss,  for  two  years,  when  he 
bought   his  brother's  interest.      He    then 
associated  himself  with   W.  R.  Santley  for 
the  terra  of  three  years,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  Mr.  Curtiss  sold  his  interests  in 
the  bending  industry  to  his  partner,  and 
commenced    the    manufacture    of    cheese 
boxes,  a  business  he  carried  on  for  four  or 
five  years.     He  then  added  to  his  business 
the  inanufactui'e  of  butter  tubs,  and  ao-ain 
took  his  brother,  C.  L.  Curtiss,  as  a  part- 
ner.    This   firm    continued    the    business 
about  two  years,   when   they  organized  a 
joint-stock   company  for    the   purpose  of 
manufacturing  cheese  and  buttei-  packao-es, 
and    other   cooperage   stock    and    lu tuber. 
The  management  of  this  then  passed  into 
other  hands,   and    was   operated   by  them 
some  three  or  four  years  at  a  loss  to  the 
stockholders   of   nearly    the    whole  invest- 
ment of  which  Mr.  Curtiss  and  his  brother, 
C.  L.,  owned  a  large  amount.     Durincrtiie 
most  of  this  time  Mr.  Curtiss  was  at  work 
for  the  luml)er  firm  of  W.   R.   Santley  & 
Co.,    of    Wellington,    Ohio.      About    nine 
years  ago  he   purchased    the   old    concern, 
and  commenced  the  same  business  again, 
with    Mr.   O.  C.  Harvey   (his   nephew)  as 
partner,    under  the   name    of    Curtiss    & 
Harvey.   About  one  year  later  Mr.  Harvey 
died,   and   his    widow   (Mrs.  Harvey)    has 
retained  his  interest  with  Mr.  Curtiss  until 
the   present  time.      The    business  of  this 
firm  has  increased  to  four  or  five  times  its 
original  amount  within  the  past  five  years. 
The  buildings  now  devoted  to  this  industry 
comprise    one    two-story   34  x  88    feet   in 


184 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


area;  one  30x60  feet  two-story,  and  one 
28x30  feet;  one  large  steam- lieated  dry 
kiln,  and  two  sheds,  each  one  hundred  feet 
in  length;  one  seventy-five  horse-power 
engine  is  used  for  driving  the  machinery. 
This  is  without  doubt  the  most  extensive 
and  best  equipped  butter  tub  factory  in  the 
State  of  Ohio.  Several  of  the  machines 
used  in  this  factory  were  designed  espe- 
cially for  the  business  by  Mr.  (Jurtiss, 
some  of  which   he    has   several  patents  on. 

Being  located  in  a  section  of  the  coun- 
try where  there  is  an  abundant  amount  of 
white  ash  timber  of  the  very  best  quality 
for  butter  tubs,  tliis  concern  anticipates  a 
still  greater  increase  in  their  business  for 
the  next  few  years.  The  part  this  industry 
has  taken  and  now  takes  in  tlie  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  country  is  an 
important  one,  and  worthy  the  study  of 
the  economist. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gurtiss  with  Louisa 
M.  Fish,  a  native  of  New  York,  took  place 
October  17,  1871.  To  this  union  two 
children — Mattie  E.  and  William  Ray- 
mond— were  born.  William  Raymond 
died  in  December,  1882,  at  the  acre  of  one 
year  and  fifteen  days.  In  social  affairs  Mr. 
Cui-tiss  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  a 
member  of  the  National  Union.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  enterprising  and  progressive. 


FAUL  WILLIAM  PFRANKLIN, 
proprietor  of  meat  market,  Bellevue, 
was  born  at  Venice,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio, 
February  6,  1866,  son  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Reiser)  Pfrankliu.  The 
parents  were  born  in  "Baden,  Germany, 
whence  they  came  to  the  United  States, 
settling  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  the 
mother  still  resides.  The  father  died 
April  29,  1888,  aged  sixty  years.  Of  ten 
children  born  to  them,  seven  are  yet 
living. 

Paul  W.  Pfranklin  grew  to  manhood  in 
Sandusky,  and  received  a  practical  educa- 
tion  in    the  German    Catholic   schools  of 


that  city.  When  school  days  were  ended 
he  entered  a  meat  market,  and  there  learned 
all  the  details  of  the  butcher's  trade. 
About  two  years  ago  he  piirchased  a  half 
interest  in  a  meat  market,  later  bought  out 
his  partner's  interest,  and  is  now  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  house.  By  industry  and 
equitable  dealing  he  has  built  up  a  large 
trade,  and  is  unquestionably  the  leading 
dealer  in  fresh  and  cured  meats  at  Belle- 
vue. He  carries  in  stock  all  kinds  of  meat 
foods,  while  his  abattoir  furnishes  fresh 
meats  to  supply  the  daily  demand.  His 
enterprise  has  made  Mr.  Pfranklin  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  community. 


II.  PEASE.  This  gentleinan, 
who  by  his  own  individual  effoi'ts 
has  become  one  of  the  leading  suc- 
cessful citizens  of  Wakeman,  is 
a  son  of  Sylvester'  Pease,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio. 

Sylvester  Pease  was  a  hatter  by  trade, 
and  part  proprietor  of  the  first  hat  store 
opened  in  Cleveland,  the  firm  being  Dock- 
stater  &  Pease,  still  within  the  recollection 
of  the  older  business  houses  of  that  city. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  resident  of  Sum- 
mit county,  Ohio,  and  he  had  a  family  of 
two  sons  (of  whom  one  is  living)  and  two 
daughters  —  Mrs.  Jnlia  L'  Ilommedieu, 
living  at  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio,  and  Susie 
Case,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.  The  father 
of  Sylvester  Pease,  by  name  George  Pease, 
was  a  quartermaster  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  with  headquarters  at  Hudson,  Ohio. 
Ha  was  a  native  of  New  York  State. 

W.  II.  Pease,  the  subject  proper  of  tliis 
memoir,  was  born  in  January,  1839,  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  whence  when  six  years 
old  he  was  taken  to  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Sum- 
mit county,  where  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  enlisted  in  the  Nineteenth 
O.  V.  1.,  Capt.  Andi'ew  J.  Konkle's  com- 
pany, the  regimetit  being  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Beatty.  After  three  months' 
service  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  in 


HURON  COUNTY,  OIIip. 


185 


the  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  Battery  D, 
afterward  transferred  to  Battery  F  as  cap- 
tain, and  participated  in  all  the  engage- 
ments of  the  Tennessee  and  other  cam- 
paigns, among  which  may  be  mentioned 
Stone  River,  Mission  Ridge,  Knoxville 
and  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  where  he  was 
wounded  and  captured  by  the  Confeder- 
ates. He  was  confined  in  Libby  Prison 
for  several  weeks,  then  exchanged  and  re- 
turned to  his  battery.  On  resuming  the 
pursuits  of  peace,  Mr.  Pease  went  on  the 
road  as  a  traveling  salesman,  continuing  as 
such  nntil  1808,  when  he  went  to  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.,  where  for  two  years  he  was 
employed  in  the  telegraph  office.  From 
there  after  marriage  he  moved  to  Chicago, 
and  after  a  year's  residence  in  that  city 
came  to  Wakeman,  Huron  county,  where 
for  two  years  he  conducted  a  hotel.  We 
ne.xt  find  our  snbject  embarked  in  the  in- 
surance, furniture  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  is  still  prosperously 
engaged. 

On  November  17,  1870,  Mr.  Pease  was 
married  to  Miss  Josephine  Bright,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  Y.  and  Fanny  M.  B.  Bright,  and 
three  children,  as  follows,  came  to  their 
union:  James  S.,  born  in  May,  1874,  died 
January  14. 1881;  William  L.,  born  March 
12,  1885;  and  Joseph  B.,  born  April  12, 
1888,  died  April  9,  1891.  In  his  politi- 
cal predilections  Mr.  Pease  is  a  Republi- 
can, has  held  various  township  offices,  and 
for  twelve  years  has  been  a  notary  public. 


Peck,  a 
of  nine 
Ohio, 
Huron 
western 
The 
reared 


ARREN  M.  PECK,  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Wakeman  township,  is 
a  native  of  same,  born  September 
10,  1834.     His  father,  Henry  T. 

native  of  Vermont,  was  at  the  age 
years  brought   by   his   parents  to 

where,  in  Clarksfield  township, 
county,     they     made    their    first 

home. 

subject   of    this    brief    notice   was 

to   agricultural    pursuits,  and    re- 


mained on  his  father's  farm  till  he  was 
thirfy-three  years  old,  when  he  moved  to 
his  present  farm,  at  that  time  comprising 
ninety  acres,  now  141  acres  of  prime  land, 
where  he  has  since  successfully  followed 
general  farming,  including  stock  raising. 
His  father  aided  him  in  a  very  substantial 
manner  when  he  left  the  paternal  roof, 
giving  him  one  thousand  dollars  in  hard 
cash,  of  which  he  made  good  use,  for  he 
has  on  his  farm  some  as  tine  buildings  as 
can  be  seen  in  the  county.  In  1867  our 
subject  married  Miss  Millie  J.  Henry, 
daughter  of  Mendell  Henry,  of  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  who  was  killed  by  "bushwhackers" 
in  Kentucky,  during  the  Civil  war.  Two 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  to  wit: 
Clarence  W.  and  Harry  M.,  both  at  school. 
In  his  political  preferences  Mr.  Peck  is  a 
strong  Republican,  his  first  Presidential 
vote  being  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont.  He 
served  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  , 
O.  V.  I.,  N.  G.,  and  is  a  member  of  G. 
A.  R  Post  No.  559,  Wakeman.  Edward 
Peck,  a  brother,  was  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  O.  V.  I.,  having  enlisted  at 
the  commencement  of  the  Civil  war,  and 
was  killed  at  Pittsburgh  Landing  (Shiloh). 


IjOHN  HURST,  who  in   his  lifetime 

k.  Ii    was  a  well-known  and  generally  re- 

}^J   spected  farmer  of  Wakeman  township, 

was     a     native    of     Canada,      born 

August  29,  1828,  near  Toronto,  Ontario. 

His  father,  also  named  John,  was  born 
in  Lancashire,  England,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  enlisted  in  the  British  army  as 
artilleryman,  serving  in  all  twenty-six 
years,  six  months.  His  battery  being 
sent  to  America  during  the  Revolution,  it 
was  present  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg; 
and  at  the  conclusion  of  that  struggle  was 
ordered  to  Quebec,  whence  it  sailed  for 
Europe,  to  take  part  in  the  sanguinary 
Napoleonic  wars.  Under  Sir  Arthur 
Wellesley  (afterward  Duke  of  Wellington) 
he  served  in  the  Peninsular  war  (in  Spain 


186 


HURON  COUNTY,  OUIO. 


and  Portugal),  and  among  the  many  en- 
gagements in  wliicli  he  participated  may 
be  mentioned  tbe  battles  of  Salamanca, 
Albuera  and  Badajoz;  under  Sir  John 
Moore,  in  the  same  campaign,  he  was  in 
the  memorahle  six  weeks  retreat  of  the 
Britisli  army  to  the  seaboard,  the  rations 
served  out  to  the  men  for  four  weeks  being 
one-quarter  pound  of  biscuit  and  a  gill  of 
rum,  each,  pei'  day,  to  which  the  soldiers 
added  roasted  or  boiled  acorns  and  chest- 
nuts gathered  in  the  woods  as  they  passed 
along.  He  also  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Waterloo  a  few  years  later,  which  under 
Wellinirton  decided  the  liberties  of  Eu- 
rope.  On  his  discharge  from  the  army 
Mr.  Hurst  came  to  Canada,  where  be  mar- 
ried Margaret  Hislop,  a  native  of  Edin- 
i)urgli,  Scotland,  a  daughter  of  James 
Hislop,  a  stonemason  by  trade,  who  died 
in  Canada  at  the  age  of  over  seventy  years. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
as  follows:  Isabella  P.,  Ann,  Jennette, 
Mariai],  Sarah  Ellen,  two  daughters  that 
died  in  infancy,  John  (subject  of  sketch), 
James  (in  Vermont),  Thomas  (in  Town- 
send,  Huron  county),  and  George  (de- 
ceased in  1802);  four  of  tbe  daughters  are 
living  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  the  other 
in  Vermont. 

John  Hurst,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  passed  the  most  of  bis  boyhood 
days  about  forty  miles  from  Montueal, 
Canada,  also  in  New  York  State  and  Ver- 
mont. On  March  10,  1852,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Longeway,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Longeway,  a  native  of  Lower 
Canada,  whose  father,  John  Longeway, 
came  from  France;  Mrs.  Hurst's  mother 
was  also  horn  in  Canada,  of  Dutch  ances- 
try. To  our  subject  and  wife  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Elizabeth  Parmelia, 
Noble  G.,  Margaret  Hannah  and  Melvin 
John.  Of  these,  Elizabeth  P.  was  married 
February  11,  1871,  to  Charles  E.  AVeeks, 
who  died  January  19,  1878;  she  passed 
away  June  21,  1880,  leaving  four  orphan 
childi-en — three  boys  and  one  girl,  the  lat- 
ter   of    whom    diea    February    24,    1890. 


Noble  G.  was  married  November  29, 
1876,  to  Ida  A.  Pierce,  who  died  June  16, 
1883,  leaving  one  child,  Mabel  E.,  who 
was  taken  care  of  by  her  grandmother 
Hurst  until  she  was  about  two  vears  of 
age;  at  that  time  her  father  married  Miss 
Margaret  M.  Morgan,  of  Camden,  when 
he  moved  from  Wakeman  to  that  place, 
where  he  now  resides;  by  this  last  mar- 
riage there  is  one  child,  Edna  M.,  born 
July  23,  1887.  Margaret  II.  manied,  in 
May,  1879,  liobert  McKiidey,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Ashland  township,  Newaygo 
Co.,  Mich.,  to  which  union  were  born 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Luhi,  Perine- 
lia,  Robert,  John,  Estella,  Nolde  and 
Mary.  Melvin  J.  was  married  January  4, 
1890,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Beecher,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Horace  and  John. 
Melvin  now  resides  on  the  farm  his  father 
had  l)ought  in  Wakeman  township. 

In  1855  our  subject  and  family  set  out 
for  Ohio,  locating  in  Lorain  county,  near 
Kipton,  where  they  arrived  April  20. 
Here  he  rented  a  small  farm.  After  a  resi- 
dence here  of  six  years  he  bought  forty- 
two  acres,  and  then  in  Wakeman  township, 
Huron  county,  purchased  eighty-two  acres. 

In  1871  he  came  to  Wakeman,  where, 
having  sold  his  farm  in  Lorain  county,  be 
bought  fifty-eight  acres,  and  subsequently 
another  piece  of  land.  Here  Mr.  Hurst 
was  successful  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  died  October  21,  1892, 
a  member  (as  are  his  widow  and  daughters) 
of  the  Congregational  Church;  in  politics 
he  was  a  Pepublican.  In  1885  he  took  a 
trip  to  his  old  home  in  Canada. 


]  OBERT  SLY,  a  representative  agri- 
-^    culturist    of    Townsend    townsliip, 


was  born  August  24,  1829,  in 
Montgomery  county,  N.  Y.,  the 
second  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren of  John  and  Philena  (Titus)  Sly, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York 
State  and  of  English  descent. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


187 


John  Sly,  who  was  one  of  a  family  of 
four  brothers,  received  in  his  youth  but 
meager  educational  advantagres,  but  in  after 
years  acquired  an  ordinary  business  train- 
ing. He  was  married  in  his  native  town, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1831  removed,  with 
his  wife  and  faiuiiy,  to  what  was  tlien 
the  western  frontier,  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Here  lie  bought  wild  lands,  and  cleared 
and  improved  a  farm,  where  he  was  suc- 
cessfully and  extensively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  December  26,  1886,  when  he 
was  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  Mrs.  Sly, 
also  deceased,  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  Robert  Sly,  father  of  John, 
was  a  lifelonjr  farmer  of  eastern  New  York 
State,  where  he  died  in  1855  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year.  Both  the  Sly  and  Titus  fami- 
lies were  amontr  the  early  Eno'lish  settlers 
in  eastern  New  York  State,  and  several 
members  thereof  served  with  distinction 
in  the  Continental  army  during  the  Revo- 
lution. 

Robert  Sly,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  in  his  boyhood  days  a 
limited  education  in  the  primitive  frontier 
schools  of  western  New  York,  and  never 
attended  a  day  after  he  was  twelve  years  old. 
He  is  in  the  main  self-educated,  is  well- 
informed  on  cnrrent  topics  and  literature, 
and  has  all  his  life  been  a  careful  and  ex- 
tensive reader.  He  remained  with  his 
parents,  working  on  the  homestead  farm, 
until  1858,  when  he  came  to  northern 
Ohio  and  purchased  a  partially  improved 
farm  in  Townsend  township,  Huron  county, 
to  which  he  has  since  made  numerous  im- 
provements and  additions,  now  having  a 
line  farm  of  130  acres,  where  he  sucaess- 
fiiUy  follows  agricultural  pursuits.  On 
December  4,  1861,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  B.  Draper,  who  was  born 
January  25,  1837,  in  Bronson  toMmship, 
Huron  county,  daughter  of  Sheldon  and 
Clarissa  (Cole)  Draper,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  New  York  State — the  formei' 
of  Dutchess,  the  latter  of  Chenango  county 
— and  of    English  descent.     To   Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Sly  have  been  born  three  children, 
namely:  Clarissa  P.,  now  Mrs.  S.G.  Evarts; 
Arthur,  and  Nettie  L.,  Mrs.  A.  T.  Gam- 
ber.  Mrs.  Sly  is  an  ardent  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  Sly,  thougii  not 
a  church  member,  is  a  firm  believer  in 
practical  Christianity.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  stanch  and  uncompromising, 
and  is  recognized  generally  as  a  leading 
citizen  in  his  community.  In  his  early 
years  Mr.  Sly  was  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Home  Guards. 


JM.  STITLTZ,  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Huron  county,  was  born  there  on 
^  September  25,  1837,  a  son  of  Ralph 
and  Ann  (Faniung)  Stultz,  and  a 
member  of  an  old  and  highly  respected 
family.  His  grandfather,  Blodgett  Stultz, 
was  born  in  New  York,  but  came  to  Ohio 
at  an  early  date,  numbering  among  the 
pioneers  who  cleared  the  land  and  trans- 
forme  1  dense  woods  into  fertile  farms. 

Ralph  Stultz,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  1806  in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y. 
He  moved  to  Ohio  in  1833,  locating  in 
Huron  county,  where  he  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  manaffing  his  farm,  which  consisted 
of  150  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was 
married  in  New  York  to  Miss  Ann  Fan- 
ning, who  was  also  born  in  Ontario  county, 
and  their  union  was  blessed  with  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living, 
viz.:  B.  F.,  A.  J.  and  J.  M.  B.  F.  and 
J.  M.  served  one  hundred  days  in  the 
Civil  war.  Mr.  Stultz  was  trustee  of  Lyme 
township  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also 
served  as  assessor.  II is  family  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  always 
took  an  active  part  in  charitable  work. 
He  died  in  1856,  his  widow  in  December, 
1891. 

J.  M.  Stultz,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical memoir,  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood,  and  for  three  years  attended  school 
in  Granville,  Ohio,  but  before  completing 


188 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


his  studies  was  compelled  to  withdraw  on 
account  of  the  Civil  w^ar.  He  now  owns 
and  lives  upon  the  northern  part  of  the 
farm  formerly  owned  by  his  father,  and  is 
one  of  the  progressive  agriculturists  who 
realize  that  as  much  judgment,  study  and 
executive  ability  are  required  by  the  farmer 
as  by  any  professional  man,  and  each  year 
adds  some  improvement  to  his  estate.  On 
July  7,  1869,  Mr.  Stultz  married  Miss 
Ellen  Seymour,  daughter  of  John  Sey- 
mour, a  merchant  of  Huron  county,  and 
their  marriage  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children:  Sadie,  Bertha,  and  Ealph  and 
Minnie  (^twins),  the  last  of  whom  died  at 
an  early  age.  Mr.  Stultz  is  prominent  in 
business,  social  and  political  circles.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Jersey  cows 
and  line  road  horses.  He  iias  been  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  education,  also  school 
director  tor  a  number  of  years,  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  all  movements  that  have 
for  their  object  public  advancement. 


EiZRA    S.    JENNINGS,    a     retired 
farmer,   and    one   of   the    most    es- 
I   teemed  citizens  of  Fitchville  town- 
ship,   was    born    near    Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  August  21,  1827. 

Daniel  Jennings,  his  maternal  grand- 
father, was  born  October  14,  1770,  and 
died  March  14,  1840;  his  wife,  Pha3be 
Jenninsijs,  was  born  February  14,  1773, 
and  died  December  26, 1856.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Rhoda,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1802,  died  March  12,  1869; 
Eunice,  born  February  10, 1804,  died  April 
13,  1881;  Gregory,  born  May  7,  1805,  died 
October  12,  1805 ;  Ezra,  born  September 
1,  1806,  died  December  5,  1826;  Abigail, 
born  April  30,  1809,  died  November  5, 
1870;  Daniel,  born  May  4,  1811;  Gersham, 
born  May  29,  1813,  died  January  3,1887; 
Sarah,  born  August  31,  1815,  died  De- 
cember 27,  1856;  Esther,  born  May  24, 
1817,  died  September  27,  1873;  Alva, 
born  November  16,  1819,  died  February 
28,  1898. 


Walter  Jennings,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  May  31, 1798,  near  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
the  fittii  son  in  a  family  of  nine  sons  and 
two  daughters,  viz.:  James  (deceased  Jan- 
uary 28,  1846),  Isaac,  Nathan,  Albin, 
Walter,  Elijah,  Peter,  Barlow,  Nehemiah, 
Anna  and  Esther.  Educated  in  the  primi- 
tive schools  of  his  time  and  place,  Walter 
Jennings  saw  in  industry,  rather  than  in 
school,  a  way  to  succeed,  and,  at  tlie  same 
time,  win  an  education  in  the  practical 
work-a-day  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  his  inclinations  running  in 
this  direction,  he  made  rapid  progress  in 
acquiring  a  complete  knowledge  of  the 
trade.  In  1822  he  married  Rhoda  Jen- 
nings, eldest  child  of  Daniel  and  Phasbe 
Jennings,  as  above  recorded,  and  by  this 
union  were  children  as  follows:  Mary  A., 
born  November  1,  1824,  married  F.  C. 
Payne,  and  died  in  Ripley  township  De- 
cember 25,  1889;  Ezra  S.,  subject  of 
sketch;  Nelson  B.,  born  October  14, 1829, 
now  a  farmer  near  Buffalo,  Mo.;  Daniel 
G.,  born  May  4,  1832,  a  farmer  in  Fair- 
fiekl  township;  Sarah  M.  and  Elizabeth  S. 
(twins), born  April  1,  1834  (Sarah  M.  died 
May  21, 1885,  Elizabeth  S.  two  days  later); 
these  six  children  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, and  in  Ohio  was  born,  December 
27,  1836,  one  child,  Sarah  E.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  James  Young,  of  Chicago, 
Ohio.  The  father  of  this  family  died  I"el)- 
ruary  12,  1843,  the  mother  on  March  12, 
1809,  and  they  lie  side  by  side  in  Hinck- 
ley cemetery,  Fairfield  township. 

In  Connecticut  Walter  Jennings  was  a 
farmer,  using  his  knowledge  of  the  trades 
he  learned  in  improving  his  home  and 
farm  buildings  there.  From  his  brother, 
who  was  a  shoemaker,  he  learned  enough 
of  that  trade  to  make  shoes  for  himself 
and  family,  and  was  thus  possessed  of  a 
knowledge  of  three  useful  trades,  as  well 
as  of  farming.  With  confidence  in  him- 
self lie  set  out,  with  the  family,  for  Ohio 
in  1835.  Proceeding  by  wagon  to  Bridge- 
port, the  journey  was   continued    by    boat 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


189 


to  New  Yoi-k  and  Albany,  and  thence  by 
canal- boat  to  lUiffalo.  Here  they  re-em- 
barked for  Hnron,  Ohio,  but  owing  to 
gales  on  shallow  P^rie,  the  lake-boat  could 
not  approacli  the  shore,  so  had  to  continue 
on  her  way  to  Detroit.  The  sufferings  of 
the  passengers  during  the  storm,  and  the 
disappointments,  fears  and  fatigues  of  the 
journey  were  never  forgotten  by  the  pio- 
neers or  their  children.  The  twin  sisters, 
Sarah  M.  and  Elizal)eth  S.,  died  shortly 
after  the  landing  at  Detroit,  the  result  of 
exposure.  Wlien  the  storm  abated  its 
fury,  the  boat  returned  on  its  course  and 
landed  the  family  at  Huron,  whence  they 
proceeded  by  team  to  Fairfield  township, 
Huron  county.  There  they  passed  one 
night  at  the  home  of  John  VVakeman,  an 
old  friend  of  the  family  in  Connecticut, 
and  nextdayAV^alter  Jennings  began  active 
life  in  Ohio.  Purchasing  a  tract  of  eighty 
acres  at  sixteen  dollars  per  acre,  with  a  log 
cabin  thereon,  he  worked  hard  at  clearing 
the  tract  and  cultivating  the  new  land. 
8oon  he  built  abetter  log  house,  and  made 
many  substantial  improvements  prior  to 
1839,  when  the  hard  work  of  four  years  in 
the  wilderness  and  the  troubles  of  the 
journey  to  (.)hio  began  to  tell  on  his  con- 
stitution, and  brought  on  the  lingeriiia; 
illness  which  ended  with  his  death.  The 
early  taking  awav  of  the  father  left  the 
burden  of  completing  payment  for  the  farm 
on  the  widow  and  her  eldest  son.  How 
bravely  they  battled  to  linish  the  work, 
which  Walter  Jennings  set  going,  was 
known  and  appreciated  at  tlie  time,  and 
how  tiiey  succeeded  is  told  in  the  subse- 
quent history  of  the  family.  Walter  Jen- 
nings was  an  Old-line  Whig,  and  one  of 
the  voters  for  Harrison  in  1840.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Fairfield  Center. 

E.  S.  Jennings,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  an  elementary  educa- 
tion in  Connecticut,  aiul  even  after  the 
coming  of  the  family  to  Ohio  he  attended 
the  school  of  the  district  at  intervals  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  old.     Being  the  eld- 


est son,  many  duties  devolved  upon  him 
here.  Owing  to  the  failing  health  of  his 
father,  the  boy  was  compelled  to  play  the 
part  of  an  able  farm  hand,  and  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  was  really  one  of  the  most 
industrious  workers  in  his  section  of  the 
township.  Through  his  labors  the  farm 
was  paid  for,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  when  he  went  forth  to  work  for 
himself,  his  mother,  brotiiers  and  sisters 
were  left  in  possession  of  a  good  frame 
residence  and  a  well-improved  farm.  In 
1848  he  began  work  for  other  farmers,  and 
within  two  years  saved  enough  to  make  a 
start  in  life.  On  November  28,  1850,  he 
married  HaiTiet  K.  Godden,  born  at  Utica, 
N.  Y.,  October  23,  1829,  to  William  H. 
and  Lucina  (Butler)  Godden,  who  settled 
in  P'airfield  township,  Huron  county,  in 
1834. 

William  H.  Godden  was  born  August 
6,  1804,  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  at  tlie  age 
of  thirteen  he  went  by  raft  down  the  Ohio 
river  with  his  married  sister,  landing  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  with  her  and 
her  husband,  learning  the  trade  of  njason, 
and  he  became  a  stonemason,  plasterer  and 
brick  layer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
set  out  on  foot  from  Dayton  for  the  pur- 
pose of  visiting  his  parents  in  Albany, 
walking  as  far  as  Sandusky,  where  he  took 
vessel  for  Buffalo,  from  which  port  he 
traveled  by  canal  to  Albany.  In  1828  he 
married  Lucina  Butler,  who  was  born  June 
19,  1809,  in  the  town  of  Lee,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  they  lived  in  Utieaafew  years, 
where  were  born  to  them  two  children: 
Harriet  li.  (Mrs.  E.  S.  Jennings)  and 
Elizabeth  (born  May  25,  1832).  The 
family  then  moved  to  Buffalo,  where  the 
eldest  son,  John,  was  born  August  17, 
1834  (he  died  in  October,  1841),  after 
wliich  [\n  1834)  they  came  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Fairfield  township,  Huron  county. 
Here  the  remainder  of  the  children  were 
born,  to  wit:  Emory,  June  5,  1837  (died 
September  8,  1878);  Mary,  August  18, 
1839;  Jennie  and  Julia  (twins),  January 
17,  1845   (Jennie  died   March   10,   1887, 


190 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Julia  in  infancy);  Sarali.  March  21,  1848, 
and  Lucina,  February  14,  1850.  The 
father  of  these  died  November  2,  1856,  at 
the  age  of  tifty-two years;  the  mother,  now 
(189i3j  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  is  still  active,  retaining  all  her  fac- 
ulties. When  the  family  catue  to  Ohio 
the  country  was  nearly  all  covered  vrith 
forest,  there  being  but  few  clearings,  and 
Mr.  Godden  had  to  work  hard,  suffering 
many  privations  and  inconveniences.  He 
followed  his  trade  as  well  as  he  could  in  a 
sparsely  settled  district,  in  order  to  get 
money  to  support  his  family,  and  clear  up 
his  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  which  he 
had  taken  up.  He  would  walk  nine  miles 
in  the  morning  to  do  a  day's  work,  return- 
ing same  night,  and  following  morning 
walk  another  nine  miles  in  a  different  di- 
rection tor  a  similar  purpose.  In  those 
pioneer  days  mills  were  a  long  way  off,  and 
the  settlers  would  send  one  man  with  a 
load  of  their  wheat  to  be  ground;  on  one 
occasion  the  carrier  was  so  long  gone  that 
the  Godden  family  ran  out  of  flour,  so  that 
the  father  had  to  grind  some  wheat  in  the 
coffee  mill,  with  which  the  mother  made 
pancakes.  Indians  were  still  to  be  seen 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  there  was  an 
abundance  of  deer  and  great  droves  of 
wild  turkeys,  providing  ample  food  of  that 
description. 

Mrs.  Lucina  Godden,  mother  of  Mrs. 
Harriet  R.  Jennings,  is  a  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Lucina  (^Wright)  Butler,  the 
former  of  whoni  was  born  August  1, 1781, 
the  latter  on  December  2;-3,  1779.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Ezra,  born 
September  12,  1804;  Adin,  born  April  4, 
1806;  Lncina,  born  June  19,  1809;  Har- 
riet, born  December  24, 1813;  and  Edward, 
born  July  4,  1818. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezra 
S.  Jennings  the  following  named  children 
were  born:  Desseline,  who  died  when 
twelve  years  old;  Byron  E.,  a  fanner  of 
Fairfield  townsliio;  Edwin  K.,  a  farmer  of 
Fitchville  township;  Mary  L.,  Mrs.  George 
Pond,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio;   Edson   G.,  who 


was  drowned  when  two  years  old;  Herbert 
F.,  a  farmer  of  Fairfield  township;  Hattie 
M.,  residing  with  her  parents,  and  Lena 
R.,  who  died  in  infancy.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Jennings  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty 
acres  in  Fairfield  township,  leaving  part  of 
the  purchase  money  outstanding.  This 
tract  he  improved  and,  for  seventeen  years 
to  a  day,  made  his  home  thereon;  in  1876 
he  sold  it  to  his  sou  Byron  E.  In  18(J8 
he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  his  pres- 
ent home  is  located,  and  developed  both 
tracts  up  to  1890,  when  he  retired  from 
active  agricultural  life,  renting  his  la'ids 
to  tenants.  While  not  a  politician,  Mr. 
Jennings  takes  a  special  jiride  in  being  a 
stanch  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  were 
formerly  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  Socially  they  are  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  in  their  neighborhood — for 
their  individual  merits;  for  their  share  in 
the  development  of  Fitchville  township, 
and  for  the  example  of  progress  their  lives 
have  shown. 


E'LMER  E.  ROWLAND,  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  and  best  known 
I  young  farmers  of  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, was  born  there  in  1854,  on  the 
farm  which  he  now  lives  on  and  owns.  He  is 
a  grandson  of  the  old  pioneer,  Aaron  Row- 
land, who  came  in  1818  from  Danbury, 
Conn.,  to  Clarksfield  township,  and  was  for 
many  years  the  leading  miller  in  that  part 
of   the  country. 

Daniel  Rowland,  father  of  the  suljject, 
was  born  in  September,  1822,  in  Clarks- 
field township,  lluron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  in 
his  early  manhood  he  took  an  active  part 
in  the  felling  of  the  trees  and  making  the 
clearings  necessaiy  to  bring  about  the 
great  change  he  witnessed  in  his  lifetime 
— the  converting  of  the  grim  forests  into 
smiling  farms,  and  the  deep-tangled  wild 
wood  into  fruitful  orchards,  clover-clad 
fields  and  meadows  ripe  with  golden  grain. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rowland  and  his 
young   wife    commenced    housekeeping  a 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


I'Jl 


short  (iit^tanee  from  where  he  was  living  at 
tlie  time  of  his  death.  He  built  a  new 
house  on  the  same  spot  of  ground  on  which 
the  old  loo;  cabin  used  to  stand,  in  1877, 
where  lie  died  September  24,  1881,  at  the 
age  of  lifty-nine  years  and  twenty-four 
days,  his  end,  no  doubt,  being  hastened  by 
hard  work,  wliich  seemed  to  be  a  second 
nature  to  him.  He  was  first  a  Whig, 
afterward  a  Republican,  and  served  as 
township  trustee.  His  widow  followed 
him  to  the  grave  June  1,  1889,  and  they 
now  sleep  side  by  side  in  Clarkstield  cem- 
etery. 

On  November  9, 1843,  Daniel  Rowland 
and  Harriet  Chaffee  were  united  in  the 
bonds  of  matrimony.  She  was  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  born  at  the  foot  of 
tiie  Catskill  Mountains,  in  the  picturesque 
town  of  Hunter,  Greene  county,  a  daughter 
of  George  and  Furdy  (Richards)  Chaffee. 
Her  father  one  day  mysteriously  disap- 
peared, and  was  supposed  to  have  been 
murdered.  He  left  a  widow,  one  son  and 
four  daughters.  Some  time  later  Mrs. 
Chaffee  married  Ezra  B.  Gray,  who  after- 
ward came  with  the  family  to  Ohio,  land- 
ing at  Huron,  on  Lake  Erie,  where  Harriet 
found  employment  in  the  millinery  busi- 
ness, which  she  had  learned  in  New  York. 
The  children  horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Row- 
land were  as  follows:  Emma,  who  died 
March  30,  1853,  at  the  age  of  two  years 
and  seven  days;  Carrie  M.,  deceased  No- 
vember 18,  1870,  when  aged  eleven  years, 
ten  months,  and  twenty-four  days;  Elmer 
E.,  subject  of  tliis  memoir;  and  Celia, 
Mrs.  Dorr  Twaddle,  of  Clarkstield  town- 
ship. 

Elmer  E.  Rowland,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  biographical  notice,  received  liis 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  his 
boyhood  period,  and  was  reared  to  farming 
pursuits  under  the  preceptorship  of  his 
father,  with  whom  he  continued  to  live  up 
to  the  time  of  his  marriage.  In  addition 
to  his  literary  training  lie  took  a  course  in 
bookkeeping  at  Oberlin,  Oiiio.  On  Oc- 
tober 25,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Eva  (L 


Lee,  who  was  born,  in  1858,  in  Camden 
townsliip,  Lorain  county,  a  daughter  of 
John  P.  Lee,  and  two  children  have  come 
to  brighten  their  liome:  Ray  L.,  born 
November  7,  1879,  and  Ralph  D.,  born 
September  9,  1884.  After  marriage  our 
subject  and  wife  located  on  the  old  home- 
stead, of  which  since  his  father's  death  lie 
has  had  charge.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  Mr.  Rowland  gives  considerable 
attention  to  the  rearing  of  tine-bred  sheep. 
Politically  he  is  one  of  the  leading  Repub- 
licans of  his  township,  and  he  has  served 
as  trustee,  and  three  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  declining  to  serve  longer.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


M 


ARTIN  BEEBE,  M.  D.  (deceased), 
was  born  September  1, 183(>,  at  Do- 
ver, Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.     His  par- 
^}  ents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Beebe, 

migrated  from  Massachusetts  in  an 
early  day,  and  may  be  enumerated  among 
the  pioneersof  Michigan.  About  the  year 
1840  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled in  Norwich  township,  Huron  county. 
Martin  Beebe  may  be  said  to  have  been 
reared  in  Huron  county.  Brought  iiere 
when  a  child,  he  received  a  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  school  at  Norwich,  later 
attended  a  select  school  and  a  seminary  at 
Norwalk,  and  subsequently  taught  schools 
in  Fairfield  and  Norwich  townships.  In 
1863  he  entered  a  medical  college  at  Cleve- 
land, where  lie  attendeil  lectures,  and 
graduated  in  1866.  His  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  L.  Barrett  took  place  Decem- 
ber 27,  1865;  she  was  born  October  29, 
1843,  in  Clarkstield  township  to  Augustus 
and  Clarissa  (Cochran)  Barrett,  natives  of 
Monroe  county,  N.  Y.  To  this  union 
came  two  children:  Augustus  C,  born 
January  12,  1807,  a  farmer,  residing  on 
the  homestead,  and  George  P.,  born  Oc- 
tol)er  11,  1871,  also  residing  at  hi)me. 
Early  in  1866  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Beebe  located 
near  Wakeman  village,  but  within  a  short 


192 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


time  moved  to  Oberliii,  where  they  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1S09,  when  they 
came  to  reside  on  the  "Peter  Hoag;  Farm." 
During  his  residence  there  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  profession, 
while  liis  leisure  hours  were  given  to  the 
direction  of  farm  work.  Politically  a 
Democrat,  he  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the 
local  councils  of  that  party.  In  religious 
connection  he  affiliated  with  the  Disciple 
Ciuirch.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  man, 
whose  soul  was  in  his  profession.  As  a 
farmer,  too,  lie  was  most  successful,  and 
socially  he  made  many  friends  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  March  28,  1890.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
New  Loudon.  Since  her  husband's  death 
Mrs.  Mary  L.  Beebe  has  managed  the 
estate  with  singular  ability.  Her  home  is 
a  modern  house  in  its  furnishings,  and  her 
lands  are  as  well  cultivated  and  as  judi- 
ciously and  economically  managed  as  they 
would  be  under  the  direction  of  an  ex- 
perienced agriculturist. 


JOHN  JAMES  McGLONE,  well 
known  and  highly  respected  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives  in 
Wakeman  township,  is  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  born  in  Tyrone  in  1822. 
Mr.  McGlone  is  a  son  of  Patrick  Mc- 
Glone,  who  in  1833  brought  him  when  a 
boy  of  ten  summers  to  Reed  township, 
Seneca  Co.,  Ohio.  Leaving  home  after 
two  years  he  w'orked  on  tiie  canal  near 
Toledo,  Ohio,  at  twenty  cents  per  day,  re- 
ceiving a  portion  of  his  education  from  his 
employer's  wife,  after  which  he  attended 
regular  school.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  having  saved  a  little  money,  he  went 
to  school  one  winter,  and  boarded  with 
Judge  Lemon,  in  Attica,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio, 
after  which  he  worked  summers  for  Thomas 
Keed,  of  Norwich  township,  Huron  county, 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  attending 
school  in  winter  time.  In  1843  he  bought 
out  of  his  savings  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
Norwich    township,    Huron    Co.,    Ohio, 


which  he  resold  for  four  hundred  dollars. 
Two  years  after  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
he  was  carried  on  an  improvised  ambulance 
to  Berlin  Heights,  Erie  Co.,  Oliio,  whence 
he  was  conveyed  by  stage  to  Elyria,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  on  recovering  found  em- 
ployment in  Medina,  Ohio,  as  porter  in  a 
hotel,  his  pay  being  twelve  dollars  per 
month  and  board.  After  a  time  he  bought 
fifty  acres  of  laud  in  Litchfield  township, 
Medina  county,  about  seven  miles  from 
the  county  seat,  and  having  improved 
same  sold  it  for  seven  hundred  dollars. 
He  then  bought  a  four-year-old  horse,  and 
moved  to  Berlin  Heights,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio, 
wdiere  the  horse  was  attached  for  the  debt 
of  former  owner,  but  the  horse  being  taken 
sick,  a  lawsuit  ensued  which  resulted  in 
his  favor.  In  1849  Mr.  McGloue  pur- 
chased about  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Wake- 
man  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  which  he 
sold  in  1855,  and  bought  and  sold  several 
farms  until  1884,  when  he  bought  the 
farm  known  as  the  Cyrus  Strong  place, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

In  1848  Mr.  McGlone  married  Miss 
Catherine  Stryker,  of  New  York  State, 
and  children  as  follows  were  born  to  them: 
Isadore  (Mrs.  Jackson),  in  Norwalk,  Ohio; 
Mary  (Mrs.  Hall),  in  Wakeman;  John  L. 
(deceased  at  age  of  twenty-one  years);  and 
Florence  (deceased  at  the  age  of  nineteen). 
Mr.  McGlone  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  prime  land  in  Wakeman 
township,  on  which  he  has  made  many 
improvements.  Politically  he  was  at  one 
time  a  Republican,  having  cast  his  vote 
for  Lincoln,  but  is  now  a  Democrat. 


EiDWIN     L.    PERRY,   a   prominent 
and    well-to-do    farmer    and    stock 
I  raiser    of    Fairfield    township,    was 

born  November  13,  1841,  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio. 

Joseph  Perry,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  in 
1785,  and  was  there  educated  and  reared. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1<J3 


Some  time  after  marriage  he  was  induced 
to  go  to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
remained  until  1832,  when  he  came  to 
Oliio,  settling  in  Peru  township,  Huron 
county.  The  journey  was  made  by  boat 
from  liutl'alo  to  Sandusky,  and  from  there 
by  wagon  to  Peru,  where  Mr.  Perry  took 
up  wild  land  and  cleared  same.  Iti  JSew 
Jersey  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Seward,  a 
second  cousin  of  Gen.  Seward,  and  the 
children  born  to  tiiis  union  were  Horace, 
Emeline,  Catharine,  Daniel  S.,  Eliza,  Julia, 
Sarah  A.,  Joseph  and  C.  O.  H.  The 
mother  of  these  died  in  October,  1861,  the 
father  on  May  31,  1859;  he  was  a  hardy 
pioneer  of  sterling  worth,  much  respected, 
and  in  politics  he  was  first  an  Old-line 
Whig,  later  a  Republican. 

Daniel  Seward  Perry,  father  of  Edwin 
L.,  was  born,  in  1815,  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  y.,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  was  married  December  11, 
1840,  to  Elizabeth  Dowe  Tilson,  of  Peru 
township,  Huron  county,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Edwin  L., 
Charles  H.,  in  Nebraska;  Seward  N..  a 
farmer,  of  Kansas;  William  D.,  in  Ne- 
braska; Dorcas  A.,  Mrs.  Wilcox,  in  Peru 
township;  and  Annie  L.  and  Libbie  C. 
(both  deceased).  The  father  died  in  1866, 
the  mother  in  1886;  they  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Churcli,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a  straight  Republican.  He  was  a 
hard-working,  plodding  man,  and  not  only 
assisted  in  the  clearing  of  his  father's 
farm,  but  also  developed  his  own  from  the 
wild  woods. 

Edwin  L.  Perry,  tiie  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  educated  in  Peru  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  1876,  when  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  Fairfield  township,  settling 
on  the  farm  where  he  has  since  had  his 
residence.  In  November.  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  T. 
RiilTSles,  and  there  were  ten  children  born 
to  them,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Ralph,  Edith,  Irene,  Daisy,  Oiaddey, 
Branch    and   Thayer;    those  deceased  are: 


One  that  died  in  infancy,  Floyd,  and  Beth- 
beryl.  Mr.  Perry  owns  eighty-eight  acres 
of  land,  where  he  successfully  follows  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  Politically 
he  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and,  vvitii  his  wife 
and  family,  he  is  an  active  meujber  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


IfSRAEL  GREENLEAF,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Huron  county,  traces 
_[  his  ancestry  to  one  Dr.  Daniel  Green- 
leaf,  a  pioneer  of  Boston,  Mass.,  where 
his  son  was  born.  The  latter  was  twice 
married,  and  was  the  father  of  twenty-two 
children. 

Of  this  family  Tille  Greenleaf  was  born 
in  New  Hampshire,  and  there  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade.  He  was  married  to 
Mary  Sparford,  and  when  twenty-six  years 
of  age  moved  to  a  farm  in  Oneida  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  his  remaining  days  were 
passed.  Politically,  he  was  identitied  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  gave  a  liberal 
support  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
which  his  wife  was  a  member.  She  died 
in  her  forty-seventh  year,  the  mother  of 
seventeen  children  (of  whom  fifteen  grew 
to  maturity),  as  follows:  Anna,  William, 
Sophronia,  Betsey,  Lucinda,  Melinda. 
David,  Abel,  Emily,  Israel,  Mary,  Harriet, 
Maria,  Joseph,  Israel  (whose  name  opens 
this  sketch),  and  two  deceased  in  infancy. 
After  the  death  of  the  mother  the  father 
married  Elizabeth  Dickson,  who  bore  him 
two  children,  of  whom  Levi  is  a  physician 
of  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  The  father 
died  in  1850,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years. 

Israel  Greenleaf  was  born  June  8,  1813, 
in  Augusta,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  on 
New  Years  day,  1833,  lie  married  Emily 
Whitney,  who  was  born  October  16,  1810, 
in  New  York.  (Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Vermont,  and  she  was  one  of  twelve 
children).  They  resided  in  their  native 
State  two  years  after  marriage,  and  coming 
to  Ohio  in  1885  located  on  a  pioneer  farm 
near  Charleston,    Portage    connty.     They 


194 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


celebrated  their  golden  weddincr  on  New 
Year's  day,  1SS3,  and  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  ot  the  same  January  Mrs.  Greenleaf 
passed  away  after  fifty  years  and  twenty- 
eight  days  of  happy  wedded  life.  On  No- 
vember 6,  1883,  Israel  Greenleaf  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Piiilotlia 
(Sparks)  Movvrey,  who  died  February  7, 
1892,  leaving  the  bereaved  husband  alone 
and  childless.  Five  children  were  born  to 
his  tirst  marriage,  as  follows:  One  de- 
ceased  in  early  infancy;  John  Whitney; 
Sarah,  married  August  23,  1851,  to  A.  L. 
Curtis,  and  died  June  29,  1871;  Alcebe, 
born  August  7,  1840,  died  October  16, 
1866;  and  Harriet,  born  July  5,  1848, 
married  March  6,  1867,  and  died  in  1872. 
Of  these  children,  John  Whitney  was  born 
May  3,  1836,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
home  farm.  His  father  had  bouc/ht  but  a 
poor  farm  for  him,  which  John,  however, 
converted  into  valuable  property  by  dint 
of  assiduous  labor.  He  was  first  married 
to  Martha  Wadsworth,  who  l)ore  him  two 
children:  Sebe  and  Mark  Israel,  now  living 
in  the  AVest.  After  the  death  of  this  wife 
John  Whitney  Greenleaf  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Sarali  (Strong)  Mason,  which  union 
resulted  in  two  daughters:  Ethel,  born  in 
1864,  and  Mason,  born  March  5,  1881. 
The  father  died  December  2,  1887;  the 
mother  is  yet  living. 

The  life  of  Israel  Greenleaf  has  been 
shadowed  with  heavy  sorrows  which  none 
but  a  strong  and  noble  nature  could  have 
borne  so  bravely.  One  by  one  he  lias  seen 
his  loved  ones  fall  to  rest  by  the  way, 
leavinjr  him  alone,  though  in  the  midst  of 
friends — for  new  friends  cannot  replace 
the  old.  Although  he  appreciates  tlie 
kindly  deeds  of  those  who  would  cheer  his 
loneliness,  lie  is  eagerly  waiting  till  the 
white-robed  angel  comes,  and  ''over  the 
river,  the  silver  river,"  the  boat  will  drift 
to  the  loved  ones  on  the  other  side.  Home 
is  there  now;  and  with  the  poet  his  heart 
echoes  tliose  lines,  which  voice  the  grief 
of  evei'y  mourner:  "The  hand  of  death 
may  rend  asunder  our  dearest  earthly  ties, 


yet  faith  unveils  a  world  of  glory,  and 
there  we  long  to  rise."  His  loved  ones 
sleep  in  tlie  quiet  churchyard  of  Charles- 
ton, Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  In  addition  to 
his  domestic  troubles,  Mr.  Greenleaf  has 
suffered  several  serious  accidents,  liaving 
lost  his  teeth  by  a  tree  falling  upon  him, 
and  also  has  had  his  hip  broken.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
In  polities  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Jack- 
son; he  was  a  strong  Abolitionist,  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
from  the  time  of  its  organization.  After 
his  second  marriage,  in  1884,  he  retired  to 
his  present  home  in  Noi'walk,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  On  February  7,  1893,  Mr.  Green- 
leaf was  married  to  Miss  Wealthy  Watros, 
of  Carlisle,  Eaton  Co.,  Michigati. 


dlOHN  M  WHITON,  a  prosperous 
merchant  of  Wakeman,  Huron  coun- 
'  ty,  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
in  Berkshire  county,  in  1830. 
He  is  a  son  of  J.  M.  and  Sallie  (Brad- 
ley) Whiton,  also  of  Massachusetts,  re- 
spectively born  in  1781  and  1793,  and 
died  in  1833  and  1867.  The  father  was 
a  consistent  Christian;  the  mother  after 
his  death  joined  the  M.  E.  Church,  and 
was  a  devoted  member.  They  came  to 
what  was  then  known  as  the  ■'  Western 
Keserve,"  and  settled  in'  Huntington  when 
our  subject  was  a  one-year-old  child,  and 
he  here  received  three  months  schooling 
during  a  ^ew  winter  seasons,  at  the  same 
time  learning  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  For 
his  services  his  employer  was  to  give  him 
one  hundred  doUai's  and  two  suits  of 
clothes  when  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
one;  but  at  nineteen  he  left  for  California, 
in  various  parts  of  which  State  he  worked 
at  mining.  In  July,  1852,  having  retui'ued 
to  Ohio,  lie  commenced  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Huntington,  Lorain  county,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1855,  and  then 
moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  pre-em])ted  and 
bought    land    in    Hardin    county.      In  the 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


195 


spring  of  1856  he  helped  to  organize 
Pleasant  townsliip,  Hardin  Co.,  Iowa,  and 
the  winter  of  1856-57  he  passed  in  Platte- 
ville,  Wis.,  clerking  in  a  store.  Returning 
in  the  spring  of  1857  to  Ohio,  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  in  Brighton,  Lorain 
county,  till  the  spring  of  1872,  at  which 
time  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Wakeman 
township,  Huron  county,  carrying  same  on 
until  1880.  In  that  year  he  moved  into 
the  village  of  Wakeman,  and  opened  his 
|)refent  mercantile  business. 

In  1800  Mr.  Whiton  married  Miss  Sarah- 
Kimmel,  by  whom  he  has  two  children: 
Eva  and  William  W.  Politically  our  sub- 
ject was  a  Republican,  having  assisted  in 
forming  the  party;  and  wdien  the  Prohibi- 
tion party  was  organized  he  became  a 
strong  worker  in  their  ranks.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Cluircii,  is 
an  earnest  Sunday-school  worker  and  has 
served  many  years  as  sup  rintendent  of 
different  Sunday-schools.  lie  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Firelands  Historical  Society. 


rii     D.   STOTTS,    a    successful,    repre- 

/[\\    sentative    agriculturist    of    Huron 

Irl^   county,  was   born   in   1822   in    Bel- 

^J  mont  county,  Ohio,  and  has  been  a 

residentof  Huron  county  since  1823. 

Abram  Stotts,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Scotland,  and  when  a  young 
man  immigrated  to  the  United  States,  find- 
ing a  home  in  Maryland.  After  some 
years  he  became  owner  of  a  farm  in  that 
State,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Wine- 
burner,  a  native  of  same,  where  were  born 
to  them  eigiit  children,  of  whom  John,  the 
fatiier  of  xV.  I).  Stotts,  was  the  eldest. 

John  Stotts  was  born  in  1794,  and  when 
ten  years  old  left  Maryland  for  Ohio,  and 
located  in  Belmont  county.  He  never  at- 
tended school  and  never  learned  to  read  or 
write,  but  his  natural  aliility  conquered 
Bucli  disadvantages,  and  he  succeeded  on 
the  farm.  While  little  more  than  a  youth 
he  married  Miss  Eafy  Winters,  a  daughter 


of  Henry  Winters,  of  Marshall  county, 
W.  Va.  Her  father,  who  was  a  soldier 
and  officer  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  captured 
by  the  Hritish  and  Indians,  and  held  by 
them  for  five  years,  until  he  escaped  from 
them  near  Detroit.  Walking  from  Detroit 
to  West  Virginia,  he  resumed  farming,  be- 
came very  prominent,  and  died  about  1827. 
After  his  marriage  John  Stotts  resided  for 
a  short  time  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and 
then  settled  in  Ripley  township,  Huron 
county.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to 
them,  A.  D.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is 
a  native  of  Belmont  county;  while  Isaac, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Jacob,  Martin,  Daniel, 
Catherine  and  George  are  natives  of  Hu- 
ron county. 

As  has  been  stated,  our  subject  came  to 
Huron  county  with  his  parents  about  1823, 
and  he  had  no  opportunity  to  attend  school 
until  he  was  ten  years  old.  Huron  county 
was  then  a  veritable  wilderness;  deer  were 
as  common  as  sheep  are  now;  the  bear  was 
monarch  of  the  forest,  and  Indians  were 
regular  visitants.  In  his  youth  our  sub- 
ject acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  mathe- 
matics, geography  and  grammar,  studying 
mainly  without  a  teacher's  aid.  On  Octo- 
ber 23,  1850,  he  married  Miss  Maryette 
Bougliton,  daughter  of  John  Boughton,  of 
Fitchville  township,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  yet  resides.  He  in- 
iierited  from  his  father  about  one  thousand 
dollars,  and  has  added  to  his  real  property 
at  intervals,  until  now  he  owns  over  500 
acres  of  as  tine  land  as  can  be  found  in 
Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stotts  have  been  born 
four  children,  namely:  Flora,  who  married 
John  Hopkins,  of  Ripley  township;  Adilla, 
wdio  married  T.  A.  Hilton,  of  Coldwator, 
Mich.;  Clarence,  a  grain  merchant  of  Rip- 
ley; and  Elmer,  who  resides  on  the  home- 
stead. Mr.  Stotts  has  beeti  a  stanch 
Republican  since  the  organizarion  of  the 
party,  has  served  on  the  board  of  county 
commissioners  for  six  years,  and  fiileil 
many  town.ship  offices.  In  business  mat- 
ters, he  is  president  of  the  fluron  County 


196 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Faimers'  Insurance  Company,  and  lias  held 
that  position  since  the  organization  of  the 
company  in  187H.  In  religious  connection 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Fairfield,  and  is  one  of  the  best  supporters 
of  that  body.  While  Mr.  Stotts  inherited 
considerable  property,  he  may  be  consid- 
ered a  self-made  man,  one  who  by  intelli- 
gent industry  has  carved  a  fortune  out 
of  the  wilderness.  The  appearance  of  his 
home  testifies  to  his  energy,  for  it  is  a 
model  one.  In  every  branch  of  life  with 
which  he  is  associated  he  has  won  success, 
and  to-day  he  is  classed  with  the  represent- 
ative men  of  Huron  county. 


qEO 
, .   in 


EORGE  I).  FULLER  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Fuller,  who  was  born  in 
'rattleboro,  Vt.,  in  1793,  and  died 
1828.  Coming  to  Ohio  about 
the  year  1825,  Samuel  located  in 
Strongsville,  Cuyahoga  county,  where  lie 
bouglit  a  small  improved  farm  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  but  the  floods  were  so 
destructive  that  he  had  to  sell  out  and 
move  to  near  Cleveland,  where  he  took  up 
a  farm  on  which  a  few  improvements  had 
heen  made.  In  the  morning  of  the  day  he 
started  from  Vermont  for  Ohio  he  married 
Lorinda  Doty,  daughter  of  Ellis  W.  Doty, 
a  Revolutionai'y  soldier  who  enlisted  in 
the  patriot  army  at  the  age  of  si.xteen. 
Samuel  Fuller  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five,  a  lifelong  Whig,  his  wife  in  Middle- 
burgh,  Ohio,  when  tifty-eight  years  old. 

George  D.  Fuller,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  was  born  June  20,  1832,  in 
Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  the  elder  of  two 
cliildren  born  to  his  parents,  the  younger 
being  Henry  S.  As  will  be  seen,  our  sub- 
ject was  three  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  death,  and  an  uncle  then  took 
charge  of  the  farm  and  family.  This  uncle 
died  at  the  home  of  George  D.  some  years 
since.  The  latter  received  his  education 
at  the  subscription  schools  of  tiie  neigh- 
borhood  of  his   boyhood   home,  and  was 


reared  to  farming  pursuits.  He  remained 
on  the  old  liomestead  until  about  thirty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  then  in  1867  came 
to  Ilartland  township,  Huron  county,' 
where  he  now  owns  a  well-cultivated  farm 
of  167  acres.  In  1880  they  built  a  hand- 
some residence,  and  made  other  substan- 
tial improvenienfs  on  the  farm. 

In  1857  Mr.  Fuller  married  Miss  Lucy 
A.  Humiston,  daughter  of  Willis  Humis- 
ton,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  a 
pioneer  of  Summit  county,  Ohio,  who  lived 
in  Huron  county  twenty-four  years,  dying 
in  May,  1891.  Five  children,  as  follows, 
were  born  of  this  union:  Frank  H.,  an 
engineer  on  the  "Big  Four"  Railroad, 
living  in  Cleveland;  Hattie  L.,  married  to 
Marion  Hood,  of  Denver,  Colo.;  George 
S.,  in  Philadelphia,  a  veterinary  surgeon, 
and  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  College 
of  Veterinary  Surgery;  Carrie E.,  residing 
at  home;  and  William  W.  D.,  at  school  in 
Norwalk,  Ohio. 


GPIARLES   W.  MANAHAN.     This 
gentleman     was     born     in     Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  May   16,   1813,  a  son 
of   Thomas    and     Violetta    (Silcox) 
Manahan,    of    New    Jersey,    the    former 
born  in  1770,  the  latter  in  1780. 

His  grandfather  Manahan  was  a  school- 
teacher  in  Ireland  before  coming  to  Ame-r- 
ica;  the  Silcoxes  were  from  New  England, 
and  of  those  who  came  at  an  early  day. 
Thomas  Manahan  and  family  migrated 
from  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Nor- 
walk, Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1833,  and 
with  them  was  their  son  Charles,  twenty 
years  of  age  at  the  time.  They  were  plain 
farmer  people,  braving  the  severe  trials, 
dangers  and  the  long  self-denials  of  a 
frontier  life  with  heroic  fortitude.  Here 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  honor- 
able lives,  the  father  dying  in  1856,  aged 
eighty-six,  the  mother  in  1874,  at  the  ripe 
age  of  ninety-four  years.  The  family 
were  Methodists;   in  political  connection 


'pLeA.-f'-T___ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


199 


the  veneralAe  head  of  the  lionse  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat.  They  could  give  their 
children  but  the  meager  school  and  other 
advantau;es  as  the  day  aii<l  time  afforded. 
In  early  life  Charles  was  apprenticed  to 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  had  not  heen 
completed  fully  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Norwalk.  Here,  before  he  had 
reached  legal  age,  his  first  business  trans- 
action  was  to  jiurehase  fifty  acres  of  land 
near  the  town  of  xiorwalk.  at  the  price  of 
three  dollars  per  acre,  to  be  paid  as  he 
could  earn  the  money.  This  was  an  object 
lesson  in  the  youth's  life.  Stopping  one 
year  in  Norwalk  the  young  man  went  to 
Monroeville.  same  county,  then  a  mere 
hamlet,  and  here  made  his  home  for  a 
long  time.  Both  he  and  his  brother 
George  had  considerable  mechanical  in- 
ventiveness, and  as  early  as  1835,  working 
at  their  odd  hours,  and  with  the  scan  test 
means,  they  constructed  the  first  threshing 
machine  ever  built  in  Ohio — the  second  in 
the  United  States,  all  the  work  being  done 
by  hand,  not  even  having  a  lathe  to  aid 
them.  Such  was  their  prevision  that  they 
well  knew  the  world's  wants  in  this  re- 
gard, and  it  was  only  their  very  limited 
ca|)ital  that  prevented  them  from  starting 
a  great  factory. 

Charles  then  purchased  a  blacksmith 
shop,  building  a  wagon  shop  by  it,  and  in 
order  to  make  this  purchase  he  had  to  get 
a  couple  of  his  farmer  neighbors  to  go  his 
security  for  the  purchase  money.  As 
primitive  as  were  the  tools  he  liad,he  soon 
was  doing  quite  a  business;  but  everything 
had  to  be  "  booked,"  and  his  debts  were 
accruing,  and  his  credit  must  be  ir^ain- 
tained.  He  traded  his  book  accounts, 
notes  and  wagons  for  iiorses,  and  to  sell 
these  he  started  to  the  nearest  innrket, 
which  was  Detroit,  a  long  and  terrible 
journey  tiirough  the  "Black  Swamp,"  a 
trip  those  of  this  generation  can  have  no 
idea  of.  At  that  time  what  is  now  Kala- 
mazoo, Mich.,  was  "  Bronson's  Land  Of- 
fice," where  so  many  were  then  going 
through    the    "  Swamp "    to    enter    land. 


Without  stopping  to  describe  a  trip 
through  the  "  Black  Swamp,"  it  is  enough 
to  now  say  the  yonng  man  successfully 
made  his -way  there  and  sold  his  horses, 
and  after  a  three  weeks'  trip  returned 
iiorae  witii  money  enough  to  pay  every 
debt,  and  had  the  princely  sum  of  twenty- 
five  dollars  left.  His  first  financial  ven- 
ture was  to  purchase  land  on  credit. 
While  this  was  characteristic,  yet  this  sec- 
ond financial  transaction  was  quite  as 
prophetic  of  ids  future  life  as  was  the 
first.  All  his  debts  paid,  and  a  cash  capi- 
tal on  hand  of  no  mean  proportions  for 
that  day,  the  young  man  began  to  enlarge 
his  business  affairs,  and  we  soon  find  him 
also  farmino;  and  beginnino;  to  trade  in 
stock. 

The  year  1886  marked  the  flood  tide  of 
town  speculation  in  the  West,  and  througli- 
out  the  country  was  a  fever  to  go  West 
and  get  rich  at  a  stroke.  Milwaukee  be- 
ing the  strong  objective  point,  that  year  a 
number  of  young  men  from  this-  section 
had  gone  thither,  and  their  letters  back  to 
their  friends  raised  a  whirlwind  of  excite- 
ment in  the  minds  of  the  average  ambi- 
tious young  and  even  old  men.  "  Buying 
and  selling  city  lots^'  was  the  dream  of 
all.  During  the  winter  one  of  tlie  young 
men  had  returned  to  Monroeville,  and  his 
reports  completed  the  fever  of  excitement. 
And  all  believed  that,  like  the  valley  brook, 
this  would  "go  on  forever."  In  April, 
1837,  four  young  men,  including  Charles 
and  his  brother  Henry,  were  ready  and 
started  to  the  promised  land.  The  hour 
of  departure  was  a  "red  letter  day"  in 
Motiroeville — to  be  eclipsed  only  by  the 
arrival  of  a  circus.  Levi  Ashley  and 
James  Handford  were  the  other  two  young 
men  of  the  party  of  four  who  had  provided 
a  three-spring  wagon  and  a  pair  of  ciiest- 
nut  or  sorrel  horses;  and  thus  equipped 
they  sallied  forth  in  high  hopes,  leaving 
behind  a  sciire  of  young  men  sad  of  heart 
that  cruel  fate  compelled  them  to  stay  at 
home.  As  propitious  as  was  the  outset, 
they  soon  met  trouble  on  the  way.     When 


200 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


they  reached  Lower  Sandusky  (now  Fre- 
munt)  tliey  began  to  hear  of  the  awfnl 
road  throiigli  the  "Black  Swamp."  From 
Fremont  to  Perrysburg  is  thirty-one  miles, 
nearly  all  the  way  through  the  terrible 
"  Swamp,"  and  one  of  the  stories  of  the 
day  was  of  the  man  found  in  the  mud  to 
his  waist,  who,  when  help  was  offered, 
said,  "  Fve  a  good  horse  under  me,  and 
propose  to  go  tlirough."  They  took  two 
days  to  journey  from  Monroeville  to  Per- 
rysburg — fifty  miles  of  hard  traveling — 
and  strung  along  the  way  tbey  saw  sights 
of  others  that  were  both  laughable  and 
pathetic.  In  Michigan,  such  was  the 
scarcity  of  feed,  that  they  gave  their  horses 
wlieat  to  eat;  and  one  was  badly  foundered ; 
but  here  Charles  Manahan's  ready  re- 
sources and  knowledge  of  the  horse  enabled 
them  to  resume  their  journey  with  only 
the  loss  of  half  a  day. 

The  party  stopped  in  Michigan  City  one 
day,  and  traded  tiieir  team  and  wagon  for 
lots  in  Winnebago  City  (one  of  the 
"boom"  cities),  on  Winnebago  Lake,  and 
with  the  "boot"  money  the  young  men 
took  the  stage  for  Chicago.  The  stage 
driver  went  out  of  his  way  to  show  them 
a  remarkable  curiosity:  In  a  tree  some 
twelve  feet  from  tlie  ground  was  a  pair  of 
deer  antlejs  imbedded  and  nearly  grown 
over,  the  timber  being  all  smooth  and 
solid  around  them.  They  found  Chicago 
a  small,  muddy  and  forbidding  place,  and 
here  they  took  a  sail  vessel  for  Milwaukee, 
glad  to  get  away  from  the  future  "  Fair 
city,"  and  eager  to  reach  the  haven  where 
cities  grew  in  a  night.  At  the  "  Leiand 
Hotel,"  Milwi^ukee,  they  found  about 
eighty  millionaire  boarders — all  with  beau- 
tiful maps  showing  their  lots  for  sale — 
every  one  of  whom  seemed  to  own  one  or 
more  great  cities,  and  tiieir  wealth  was 
simply  incalculable,  yet  not  one  of  them 
could  pay  his  board  bill.  But  they  were 
happy  as  clams,  waiting  for  the  "spring 
run  "  of  "  suckers  "  to  buy  lots  and  get 
rich  quick.  The  landlord  was  waiting  for 
navigation    to   open,  praying   for  it  to  be 


early,  or  they  would  soon  have  to  eat 
million  dollar  lots,  instead  of  bread  and 
butter.  Happy  day!  a  boat  came  and 
among  others  landed  eighty  mechanics,  ail 
rich  in  hope  of  work  and  a  quick  fortune. 
By  tiiis  time  came  the  memorable  financial 
crash  of  1837,  and  tlie  speculative  bubble 
burst.  Li  less  than  ten  days  any  of  these 
arriving  mechanics  could  be  hired  for  less 
than  half  they  could  have  got  at  home,  and 
one  could  have  bought  the  erstwhile  mil- 
lionaires in  "job  lots"  for  a  "grub- 
stake" to  help  them  on  their  way  back  to 
where  they  came  from.  The  one  hundred 
dollars  "boot"  money  they  had  got  in 
their  trade  of  team  for  the  lots  in  the  end 
proved  to  be  their  good  fortune.  In  the 
scramble  to  get  from  under  the  financial 
ruins,  it  was  a  question  with  nearly  every 
one  how  to  save  enough  to  return  iiome 
with.  They  had  carefully  husbanded  the 
one  hundred  dollars,  and  by  so  doing  were 
enabled  to  return,  bringing  the  deeds  to  a 
lot  each  in  "  Winnebago  City,"  a  metropo- 
lis like  the  squal),  biggest  when  first 
hatched.  They  kept  laid  away  their  deeds 
which  stood  them  in  lieu  of  one  hundred 
dollars  each  paid  therefor,  and  in  time 
Henry  sold  his  for  an  overcoat,  while 
Charles  finally  traded  his  for  ten  dollars  to 
a  man  who  worked  on  his  farm. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1838,  with 
a  younger  brother,  Charles  and  Henry 
Manahan  determined  to  revisit  the  scenes 
of  their  birthplace.  In  order  to  pay  ex- 
penses of  the  trip  they  bought  on  credit, 
having  no  cash,  a  lot  of  work  oxen,  and 
were  successful  in  buying  twenty-four 
yoke  of  cattle.  They  borrowed  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  at  twenty  per  cent,  interest, 
to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  long  trip,  which 
they  made  with  forty-eight  cattle,  encoun- 
tering deep  snow,  and  occu}iying  four 
weeks  on  the  way.  When  they  reached 
and  crossed  Cayuga  bridge  their  funds 
were  nearly  exhausted,  but  their  hard  task 
was  about  accomplished.  After  they  had 
been  gone  a  few  weeks,  one  of  the  men  of 
whom  they  had  purchased  became  uneasy. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


201 


and  began  to  throw  doubts  on  their  ever 
payiiii^  for  tlie  cattle.  He  said  "  the 
Maiiaiian  lioys  had  bought  all  the  oxen  in 
the  couuty  on  credit."  This  was  said  in 
presence  of  Daniel  Williams,  who  assured 
the  man  he  need  not  fear,  that  the  boys 
would  pay  every  cent;  if  they  did  not  pay 
him  for  his  cattle  that  he,  Williams,  would. 
Their  trip  was  successful,  and  it  was  said 
they  brought  more  money  back  than  had 
been  paid  into  Campbell  A:  Latimer's  store 
during  the  season.  Tiie  two  trips  men- 
tioned give  ample  evidence  of  the  young 
men's  ability  and  shrewdness  as  stock 
traders. 

While  carrying  on  his  shop,  owing  to 
the  great  scarcity  of  money  in  the  country 
Charles  Manahan  would  exchange  wagons 
for  horses.  When  he  had  secured  six  head 
he  would,  alone,  ride  and  lead  them  back 
to  liis  old  home  and  sell  them,  and  in  this 
way  get  money  to  pay  on  his  land,  having 
sold  his  first  purchase  and  bought  200 
acres  near  Olena.  On  one  of  these  trips 
he  first  naet  Miss  Delana  13.  Wiieeler,  his 
future  wife.  When  he  broueht  his  school- 
girl  wife  to  his  home  it  was  not  the  inten- 
tion to  live  on  his  farm.  She  had  been 
tenderly  reared  on  her  father's  finely  im- 
proved farm,  with  every  comfort  of  the 
times.  They  rented  rooms  on  a  second 
floor  in  the  viliao-e  of  Monroeville.  He 
took  his  wife  to  show  her  the  farm,  and  it 
was  the  brave  little  woman  who  said: 
"Let  us  fix  up  this  old  cabin  and  live  in 
our  own  house."  This  squat  old  log  house 
was  where  Mr.  Manahan  had  often  kept 
his  horses  when  getting  ready  to  go  to 
market.  He  went  to  work,  cleaned  it  out, 
spread  abundant  ashes,  built  higher  the 
stick  chimney,  turned  the  '•  shakes," 
cliinked  and  daubed  the  walls,  and  then 
they  moved  into  their  own  house.  The 
careful  wife  put  down  her  new  self  made 
rag  carpet,  but  the  rains  descended  and 
the  house  leaked  like  a  riddle,  washed  the 
mud  from  the  walls  and  nearly  ruined  the 
carpet.  The  "  loft,"  whicii  was  reached 
by  a  ladder,  was  covered  with  loose  boards, 


one  of  which  was  quite  broad,  and  by  sit- 
ting under  this  when  it  rained,  if  the  rain 
was  not  too  hard,  they  could  keep  tolera- 
bly dry.  His  recollection  is  now  that  they 
had  to  raise  the  umbrella  but  on  one  or 
two  occasions.  Her  father  had  given  her 
one  hundred  dollars  to  buy  furniture,  but 
instead  of  so  spending  it,  the  young  hus- 
band went  into  the  woods,  cut  the  timber 
and  aaade  beech  blocks,  used  to  make  car- 
penter's planes,  which  he  exchanged  for  a 
bureau,  bedstead,  looking-glass  and  two 
chairs.  When  they  moved  into  their 
cabin,  he  made  their  second  bedstead — a 
one-legged  one,  attached  to  the  logs  on 
two  sides — and  altogether  they  got  to  be 
very  comfortable.  Here  were  passed  many 
of  the  happiest  days  of  their  lives.  In 
time  they  were  aware  that  they  were 
slowly  prospering,  and  Mr.  Manahan  set 
about  the  task  of  building  a  new  house, 
and  being  a  carpenter  commenced  with 
the  material  in  the  tree;  and,  except  the 
sawing  of  the  lumber,  with  his  own  hands 
built  a  nice  frame  cottao-e,  even  doiuir  his 
own  plastering,  laid  the  stone  wall  founda- 
ti(jn,  built  his  chimnies  and  did  his  own 
painting.  It  was  much  of  his  labor  for 
eighteen  months,  but  when  completed  they 
had  the  satisfaction  of  moving  from  the 
poorest  cabin  in  the  neighborhood  to  the 
best  frame  house. 

In  1849  they  left  the  farm  and  went  to 
Ciena,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing. With  the  view  of  providing  capital 
^  to  buy  good«,  he  had  purchased,  the  fall 
bef<ire,  300  sheep,  fed  them  during  the 
winter,  and  took  them  to  New  York  in 
open  cars,  three  days  and  two  nights  be- 
ing occupied  on  the  way,  sold  the  lot  and 
purchased  his  goods.  He  had  no  experi- 
ence in  the  business,  but  he  liad  faith  in 
himself,  that  self-reliance  that  is  the  crown 
and  glory  of  the  highest  type  of  true  edu- 
cation. The  old  gentleman  would  doubt- 
less tell  you  with  a  sigh,  that  he  had  not 
such  advantages  in  schooling  as  those  of 
this  favored  time.  Wliile  the  truth  is  of 
the  thousands  of  over- trained  and  misedu- 


202 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cated  of  to-day,  the  most  may  ever  regret 
that  they  were  deprived  of  nearly  all  the 
opportunities  of  real  education;  such  as 
the  circumstances  that  surrounded  the 
young  life  of  Mr.  Manahaii. 

The  most  active  part  of  his  career  was 
now  on;  his  .store,  farm  and  trading  in 
stock.  The  war  was  raging,  and  the  need 
of  the  Government  for  supplies  for  the 
army  was  urgent.  lie  filled  an  order  in  a 
brief  time  for  200,000  walnut  gun  stocks, 
the  material  loading  300  cars.  He  was 
appointed  to  inspect  the  horses  of  tlie  iirst 
•  company  of  cavalry  raised  in  Norwalk. 
He  contracted  to  furnish  cavalry  horses, 
and  supplied  between  1,200  and  1,300 
prime  animals,  shipping  to  New  York, 
Columbus  and  Washino-toii.  He  has  in 
his  possession  an  order,  dated  in  the  fall  of 
18G2,  from  John  Cooper,  of  New  York,  to 
furnish  "  si.xty  horses  delivered  at  New 
York  within  eighteen  days";  and  iri  that 
brief  time  the  order  was  satisfactorily 
filled. 

In  1862  Mr.  Manahau  was  elected  treas- 
urer of  Huron  county,  was  re-elected  at 
the  end  of  his  first  two  years'  term,  and 
served  four  years.  When  first  elected  he 
sold  out  in  Olena,  removing  to  Norwalk, 
and  in  1807  was  formed  the  partnership 
of  Parker,  Manahau  &  Tabor,  merchants 
of  Norwalk.  Tliis  was  successful  from 
the  start.  Mr.  Parker  retired  after  six 
years,  and  the  next  six  years  it  was  Mana- 
han  &  Tabor,  when  Mr.  Manalian  sold  and 
retired  from  mercantile  life.  About  this 
time  he  platted  and  laid  off  an  addition  to 
the  city  of  Norwalk,  which  is  now  finely 
built  up,  he  owning  the  improvements, 
and  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  tlje 
towii  is  '>  Manahan  avenue." 

On  February  18,  1841,  Charles  W. 
Manahan  and  Delana  B.  Wheeler  were 
united  in  marriage,  in  the  place  of  his 
birth — Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  She  was 
born  at  Fall  River,  Mass.,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Cyrenus  and  Thursa  (Evans) 
Wheeler.  Her  father  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety- live;   he  was  the  brother  of  Dexter 


Wheeler,  who  made  the  first  iron  shovel 
in  the  United  States,  at  Lowell,  Mass. 
Cyrenus  Wheeler,  Jr.,  invented  tli£  first 
two-wheeled  mowing  machine.  After 
years  of  litigation  he  fully  vindicated  his 
right  to  that  important  invention,  and  sold 
his  ])atents  for  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Manahan  were  as  fol- 
lows: Charles  W.  Manahan,  born  March 
12,  1844;  Jeroline,  born  May  30,  1847; 
William  Kendall  IManahan,  born  October 
6,  1857.  Mrs.  Delana  15.  Manahan  died 
Marcli  29, 1887.  William  Kendall  Mana- 
han died  April  23,  18U1. 


Tp^DWARD  DENMAN,  prominent 
■  Ip  among  the  progressive  farmers  of 
JL^i  Huron  county,  was  born,  in  1820, 
in  that  part  of  the  old  county  that 
is  now  included  in  Erie,  his  father,  John 
Denman,  having  migrated  thither  in  1814. 
His  early  training  was  that  of  a  pioneer 
farmer  boy;  hard  and  rugged  work,  in 
clearing  the  land,  his  lot  from  sunrise  to 
sunset.  His  education  was  necessarily 
very  meager,  as  the  schools  were  of  the 
most  primitive  kind,  and  his  opportunities 
of  attending  them  were  but  few.  Until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  old  he  worked 
for  his  father,  and  the  latter  tlien  crave 
him  a  start  in  life  by  presenting  him  with 
a  small  piece  of  land  to  cultivate  for  his 
own  account;  and  also  allowed  him  wages 
for  whatever  work  he  might  do  on  the  old 
homestead.  Industriously  he  plodded  along, 
until  at  the  end  of  about  three  years  he 
liad  saved  some  eight  hundred  dollars.  He 
then  rented  160  acres  of  his  father  for  three 
years,  and  stocked  it  with  400  sheep;  then 
bought  183  acres  of  land  in  the  wc)ods  of 
Wakeman  township,  for  eight  dollars  per 
acre.  In  the  course  of  time  he  cleared 
this  and  sowed  it  to  wheat,  his  first  crop 
yielding  575  bushels,  which  he  hauled  to 
Milan,  Erie  county,  distant  about  twenty 
miles.     Thus  he  continued-  to  prosppr  until 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


203 


lie  found  kimself  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  Wakeman  township,  one 
hundred  acres  of  which  are  of  the  highest 
fertility.  He  has  tliereoii  a  productive 
orchard,  grown  from  apple  seeds  planted 
while  working  for  his  father  on  the  old 
homestead.  In  1866  our  suhject  built  a 
handsome  residence,  and  the  entire  sur- 
roundings testify  to  tiie  industry  and  judg- 
ment of  the  owner. 

On  October  13,  1847,  Mr.  Denman  was 
married  to  Jane  Archer,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Archer,  of  New  York  City,  and  seven 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  a 
son  died  in  infancy.  Their  eldest  son, 
Joseph,  resides  in  Wakeman;  Addie,  the 
wife  of  Stanley  Pierce,  also  resides  in 
Wakeman;  John  E.  resides  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio;  Anna  Belie,  wife  of  Elmer  Pierce, 
is  also  a  resident  of  AVakeman  ;  two  daugh- 
ters, Jennie  and  Louise,  are  living  at  home 
with  their  parents.  The  family  are  all 
well  educated,  the  sons  having  attended 
school  at  Berea  and  Oberlin. 

Politically,  Mr.  Denman  was  originally 
a  Whig,  later,  on  the  organization  of  the 
party,  becoming  a  Republican.  He  has 
served  as  school  director  and  in  other 
offices  of  trust  with  commendable  zeal,  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  community. 


'jT^)   HAENSLER,  a  well-known    mer- 
p^    chant    of    Bellevue,    was    born,   in 
If  ^   1854,    in    Baden,    Germany.     His 
■/)  parents,  Frank  and  Francesca  (Egle) 

Haensler,  were  also  natives  of  Ba- 
den, where  the  former  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occuri'ed  in  the 
eighty-second  year  of  his  age.  The  mother 
died  November  24,  1893. 

R.  Haensler  received  the  ordinary  pub- 
lic-school education  in  Baden,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  immigrated  to  the 
United  States.  Arriving  at  Monroeville, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  he  found  work  on  a 
farm,  and  for  the  succeeding  five  years  was 
engaged   in  agriculture.     Subsecpiently  he 


worked  in  the  grocery  store  at  Hunt's  Cor- 
ners, and  in  1880  embarked  in  business 
for  himselfat  Bellevue.  In  1881  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Urlan,  a  native  of 
Bellevue,  was  celebrated  at  Monroeville. 
Five  children  have  blessed  this  union, 
namely:  Rolertina,  Edgar,  Clarence,  Marie 
and  Corenia.  The  family  belong  to  the 
'Catholic  Congregation  of  Bellevue.  Mr. 
Haensler  has  built  up  a  fine  trade  in  gen- 
eral groceries  since  1881.  Attending  to 
his  own  business  closely,  and  dealing  with 
his  patrons  as  he  would  wish  to  be  dealt 
by,  he  has  made  an  enviable  reputation, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  man  whose  business 
methods  are  strictly  upright  and  honorable. 


d I  AMES  M.  CAIIOON.  In  the  front 
rank  of  the  influential,  well-to-do 
^  agriculturists  of  Wakeman  township 
stands  this  gentleman,  a  grandson  of 
Joseph  Cahoon,  who  was  born  on  Block 
Island,  R.  I.,  and  was  an  extensive  manii- 
facturer  in  the  East.  He  built  a  large 
nail  factory  in  Newark,  R.  I.,  and  in  an 
early  day  came  west  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Dover  Bay,  where  he  cleared  laud  at  a 
time  when  Indians  and  wild  animals  were 
more  numei'ous  than  welcome.  He  died 
about  the  year  1838  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years,  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  hard- 
working pioneer. 

Samuel  Cahoon,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  born  in 
1777,  and  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  primitive  old-time  log  schoolhouse, 
after  which  he  attended  Yale  College,  be- 
coming a  classmate  of  Perry  Penfield. 
When  yet  a  young  man  he  came  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  was  there  employed  by  the 
Government  in  boat  building.  During  the 
war  of  1812  he  carried  the  mail  for  Har- 
rison's army,  traveling  at  night,  sometimes 
up  streams,  at  other  times  over  steep  hills 
or  through  deep  valleys,  meeting  with 
many  adventures.  After  the  war  ho  l)0Uglit 
a  small  farm  in  Lorain  county,  at  that  time 


204 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


covered  with  timber,  which  by  dint  of 
liard  labor  he  cleared.  The  Indians  in  those 
restless  days  were  very  hostile  to  the  white 
man,  and  Mr.  Cahoon  organized  a  militia 
company,  of  which  he  was  made  captain; 
he  also  assisted  in  the  building  of  Fort 
Columbus  in  Lorain  county.  L)ocuments 
show  that  he  received  two  commissions  as 
captain  from  Gov.  Wortliington.  His  wife, 
Lucinda  (Barnum),  was  a  distant  I'elative 
of  P.  T.  Ijarnum,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Barnum,  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  a 
well-known  iron  manufacturer,  who  when 
well  advanced  in  years  came  to  Ohio, 
locatinjjj  in  Cuyahoga  county,  where  he 
died  a  few  years  later.  To  Mr.  ai\d  Mrs. 
Samuel  Cahoon  were  born  two  children: 
John,  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lo- 
rain county,  and  James  M.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  father  of  these  died  in 
1862.  Li  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  but  during  the  later 
years  of  his  life  he  was  a  stanch  Republi- 
can. He  was  a  devout  Christian,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Disciple  Church.  Socially  he 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  Elyria.  His  widow  survived  hitn  sev- 
eral years,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-five  years. 

James  M.  Cahoon,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  March  3,  1826,  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Lorain  county,  in  an 
old  doorless  log  house,  and  was  reared  to 
the  arduous  duties  of  the  farm.  In  1855 
he  married  Miss  Cynthia  D.  Parish,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Parish,  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  shortly  afterward  they  went  to  Wis- 
consin, where  he  invested  his  few  hard- 
earned  dollars  in  land,  but  the  climate  not 
agreeing  with  him,  he  sold  the  land  and 
returned  to  Lorain  county,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  live  from  1857  to  1863,  at  which 
time  they  moved  to  their  present  home  in 
AVakeman  township,  Huron  county.  Here 
Mr.  Cahoon  owns  a  farm  of  about  160 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county,  on  which  he  has  built  an  ele- 
gant and  comfortable  residence,  having  no 
superior  for  many  miles  around.     He  has 


carried  on  general  farming,  and  the  raising 
of  large  quantities  of  fruit.  To  our  sub- 
ject anil  wife  were  born  two  children,  viz.: 
Fred  P.,  a  very  popular  young  man,  and 
Julia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
months.  Politicallv  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  served  as  school  director. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Wakeman, 


(  LEXAKDER  TWADDLE,  Sr.,  may 
[\  well  be  classed  among  the  "sons  of 
the  American  Revolution."  He  was 
born  in  1782  in  Allegheny  county, 
Penn.,  and  was  a  son  of  the  Twad- 
dles who  emigrated  from  County  Donegal, 
Ireland,  to  Pennsylvania  about  the  time  of 
the  Revolution,  took  a  part  in  that  brilliant 
struggle  for  liberty,  and  died  about  the 
beginning  of  this  century,  leaving  nine 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  (1)  John  Twaddle,  the  eldest  son. 
died  at  Moore's  Salt  AYoi'ks,  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio.  He  reared  a  large  family, 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  blind  at  birth. 
He  received  from  the  United  States  a  grant 
of  land,  which  he  iinpioved,  and  on  which 
he  resided  until  his  death.  (2)  Margai-et 
Twaddle  married  a  Mr.  Deffenbaugh,  and 
they  moved  to  Muskingum  county.  Ohio, 
where  she  died.  (3j  William  moved  to 
Muskingum  comity,  Ohio,  in  early  days, 
and  was  sheriff  of  that  county  for  many 
years;  he  died  at  Zanesville.  (4)  James 
served  in  the  war  of  1812;  after  Harri- 
son's and  Perry's  repeated  victories,  on 
land  and  water,  over  the  British  and  Indi- 
ans, enabled  him  to  j-eturn,  he  engaged  in 
the  Ohio  river  trade,  went  down  that  river 
on  a  flat-boat,  and  was  never  heard  of 
again.  (5)  Ale.xander,  sketch  of  whom 
follows.  Of  the  four  other  children,  Philip, 
Archie,  Mary  and  Sarah,  but  little  is 
known. 

Alexander  Twaddle    was  reared  on   the 
home  farm.     He  married  Elizabeth  Ram- 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


205 


age,  who  was  born  September  23, 1788.  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  broiigiit  her  to  Jefferson 
coimty,  Ohio,  then  on  the  frontier.  lie 
rented  a  farm  near  East  Springfield,  but 
soon  after  moved  to  a  place  called  Moore's 
Salt  Works,  on  Yellow  creek,  where  he 
was  employed  for  six  years.  AVhile  attend- 
ing to  his  duties  there,  he  was  walking  out 
on  a  plank,  between  two  rows  of  boilers, 
when  a  false  step  cast  him  into  one,  scald- 
ing him  so  severely  from  ankle  to  hip  as 
to  make  him  a  cripple  for  life.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  eight  children  in 
Jefferson  county,  namely:  Jemima,  born 
JVovember  18,  1807,  married  Daniel  Haley, 
of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Kan- 
sas ill  1893;  Abner,  born  December  11, 
1809,  died  at  Rochester,  Lorain  county, 
where  for  several  years  he  conducted  an 
ashery;  Lydia,  born  October  22,  1811, 
married  Peter  Justice,  of  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  in  Clarksfield  township, 
June  1,  1873;  Mary,  born  May  6,  1814, 
married  Robert  Barnes,  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  in  Wakeman  townsliip; 
Alexander,  born  February  28,  181G;  Eliza- 
beth, born  April  8,  1818,  married  Peter 
Bevington,  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  and 
now  resides  in  Clarkstield  township;  John 
J.,  born  February  23,  1820,  married  Julia 
A.  Palmer,  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.; 
and  Sarah,  born  July  21,  1822,  married 
Adam  Shank,  of  Holmes  county,  Ohio, 
and  now  resides  in  Clarksfield  township. 
In  the  spring  of  1823  the  family  left  for 
the  West,  as  Holmes  county  was  then  con- 
sidered. Locating  in  Paint  township,  thev 
bought  200  acres  at  one  dollar  per  acre, 
occupied  a  log  house  which  stood  on  the 
tract,  and  began  the  work  of  clearing  the 
timber.  Soon  after  Mr.  Twaddle  sold  one 
hundred  acres  to  his  brother-in-law,  AbneV 
Rainage,  who  had  come  from  Pennsylvania. 
In  1835  he  sold  the  remaining  one  hundred 
acres,  and  giving  one  hundred  dollars  to 
his  son,  Alexander,  Jr.,  and  another  one 
iiundred  dollars  to  his  son  Jolin  J.,  as  their 
share  or  inheritau(;e,  suggested  the  invest- 
ment of   the    money  in   land.     The    boys 


proceeded  at  once  to  Clarkstield  township, 
Huron  county,  purchased  170  acres  in  the 
deep  forest  at  three  dollars  per  acre,  erected 
a  log  house  thereon,  and  in  the  fall  of  1836 
invited  the  rest  of  the  family  to  come  to 
the  new  land,  which  they  found  nntonched 
by  civilization.  The  father  purchased  fifty 
acres  from  the  sous,  erected  a  log  cabin, 
and  lived  therein  until  within  a  few  years 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  February  11, 

1859,  at  the  home  of  his  youngest  son, 
Willianr.  The  children  born  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  are  named  as  follows:  Susan, 
born  December  17,  1824,  widow  of  Royal 
Gridley,  residing  in  Clarksfield  township; 
Marjjaret,  born  January  8,  1827,  who  mar- 
ried Samuel  Gaines,  and  died  near  Kinder- 
hook,  111.,  being  the  first  of  the  children 
to  die;  Nancy,  born  January  27, 1830,  now 
widow  of  Elijah  Minkler,  residing  in  Mis- 
souri (her  first  husband  was  Philip  Mag- 
lone);  and  AVilliam  W.,  born  November 
Itj,  1833,  a  farmer  of  Clarkstield  township. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  October  12, 

1860,  and  was  buried  near  her  husband  in 
Clarksfield  cemetery.  The  life  of  the  father 
was  one  of  constant  work.  To  provide  for 
his  family  he  had  to  seek  employment  out- 
side his  farm,  and  with  his  son  Abner 
labored  on  the  Beaver  and  Sandy  Canal. 
He  was  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  who  always 
found  time  to  vote  that  ticket. 

Alexander  Twaddle,  fifth  child  of  Alex- 
ander Twaddle,  Sr.,  and  oldest  of  the  fam- 
ily now  living,  was  reared  in  Jefferson  and 
Holmes  counties,  and  settled  in  Huron 
county  in  1835.  Before  locating  here  he 
worked  for  four  months  on  a  farm  near 
Maumee  City,  but  was  stricken  with  fever 
and  ague.  Returning  to  his  father's  home, 
he  set  out  with  his  brother  to  locate  in 
Huron  county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  marriage  with  Sarah  Lee  took  place 
June  27,  1839;  she  was  born  February  5. 
1816,  in  New  York  State,  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Mercy  (Barber)  Lee,  who  set- 
tled in  Townsend  townshi])  in  1819.  Her 
father  and  mother  died  in  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, the  former  in   his  ninety-ninth  year. 


':o6 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Alexander  and  Sarah  Twaddle  resided  on 
tlie  farm  until  1848,  when  he  sold  the  pio- 
neer home  and  located  on  liis  present  farm 
of  211  acres.  The  children  born  to  them 
are  named  as  follows :  Abner  D.,  who  served 
in  Company  D,  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  and 
was  killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864, 
where  he  was  buried;  John  J.,  a  farmer  of 
Glarkstield  townsiiip;  and  Dorinda  A.,  who 
married  Clark  Auble,  and  died  in  Clarks- 
field  township.  Politically  Mr.  Twaddle 
lias  been  a  Prohibitionist  since  1872;  his 
first  vote  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson, 
but  in  1856  he  l)ecame  a  Republican,  and 
affiliated  with  that  party  until  1872.  In 
church  connection  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  and  has 
served  as  steward  and  class-leader  for  many 
years.  He  was  formerly  superintendent  of 
Sunday-school,  and  has  always  been  in- 
fluential in  church  affairs. 


^J 


t  Jl  R  COLEMAN,  New  London,  is 
^1  undoubtedly  one  of  the  n:ost  en- 
1]  terprising  business  men  of  Hu- 
ron county.  Philip  Coleman,  his 
father,  was  born  in  1814  in  New 
York  State,  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  when  a  young  man  married  Sarah  A. 
Haight,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  same 
State,  born  in  1820. 

Immediately  after  marriage  Philip  Cole- 
man and  his  wife  migrated  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  New  London,  Hu- 
ron county,  which  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  their  youngest  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Here  five  children  were  born  to 
them,  three  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Coleirian  was  a  progressive  farmer.  Po- 
litically a  Republican,  he  was  true  to  the 
faith  of  that  party  down  to  the  period  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  six  years  ago. 
His  widow  resides  with  iier  son  at  New 
London. 

M.  R.  Coleman  was  born  in  Huron 
county  in  1850.  The  territory  was  then 
far  advanced  beyond  pioneer  condition,  so 


that  as  a  boy  he  enjoyed  advantages  un- 
known to  older  natives  of  that  section.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  common  and 
high  schools  of  the  district.  About  the 
year  1870  he  began  business  for  himself, 
and  for  eight  or  ten  years  was  engaged  in 
farming.  Then  he  estahlifehed  himself  in 
New  London  as  a  hay  merchant — buying, 
baling  and  shipping  tiiis  staple  to  corre- 
spondents in  southern  and  eastern  cities, 
New  York  being  his  leading  market.  The 
extent  of  his  ti-ade  may  be  learned  from 
the  fact  that  in  1892  he  shipped  250  car- 
loads of  baled  hay.  His  flax  mill  is  also 
an  important  industry,  and  contributes  its 
quota  to  more  than  one  American  industry. 
The  product  of  this  mill  is  principally  up- 
holsterers' tow,  in  which  a  laro-e  trade  is 
done.  With  his  hay  and  flax  interests, 
Mr.  Coleman  also  carries  on  the  farm,  near 
New  London,  giving  to  it  a  full  share  of 
the  attention  it  merits. 

Politically  a  Republican,  our  subject  is 
influential  among  the  men  of  his  party; 
while  as  a  citizen  he  is  a  boon  to  the  neitrh- 
borhood  in  which  he  exercises  his  ])U8inesB 
talents. 


I[SAAC    De  WITT,    a    prominent    and 
much  respected  agriculturist  of  Ridge- 
J    field  township,  is  descended  from  Dutch 
ancestry,  the   pioneers   of    his    family 
liaving  emigrated  from    Holland    to    New 
Jersey  many  years  ago. 

Isaac  DeWitt,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  an  extensive  landowner  along 
the  Delaware  river,  and  in  Warren  county, 
N.J.  He  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, among  whom  is  mentioned  a  son 
named  Jacob. 

Jacob  DeWitt  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  N.  J.,  went  to  school  in  his  boy- 
hood, assisting  also  in  the  farm  duties,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith. 
While  yet  a  young  man  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Winters,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
who  bore  him  six  children,  viz.:  James,  a 
farmer  of  Perkins  townshij),  Erie  county, 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


207 


Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1888;  John,  at  one 
time  a  boot  and  shoe  dealei',  of  8andnsky, 
Ohio,  who  died  in  1866;  Catherine,  wiio 
was  married  in  New  Jersey  to  Barnett 
Matthews,  and  died  in  Ohio  in  1888; 
Elizabeth,  deceased  in  181(0,  in  Hui'on 
county,  Ohio,  wife  of  William  Miller; 
Margaretta,  deceased  wife  of  James  Per- 
son, of  Belvidere,  N.  J.;  and  Isaac,  whose 
sketch  follows.  In  1837  the  father  of  this 
family,  accompanied  by  his  son  Isaac  and 
some  of  the  other  children,  started  west. 
They  crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
then,  proceeding  to  Pittsburgh,  crossed 
the  Oliio  river  and  pushed  westward  to 
Ohio.  After  a  long,  tiresome  journey 
they  arrived  at  Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
there  made  a  temporary  location.  But 
this  rude  home  in  the  wilderness  offered 
little  "attraction  for  Mr.  DeWitt,  who  had 
always  been  accustomed  to  the  luxuries  of 
civilization.  He  resolved  to  return  to  his 
native  State,  and  would  have  done  so  had 
it  not  been  for  the  persuasions  of  his  son 
Isaac,  who  used  all  his  persuasive  powers 
to  induce  his  fatlier  to  remain.  The  latter 
finally  concluded  to  do  so,  purchased  land, 
and  foUow'ed  his  trade  at  Cook's  Corners 
(now  North  Monroeville).  In  politics  he 
was  actively  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  in  I'eligion  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  She  died  in  1863,  he  in  1866, 
and  both  are  buried  in  Perkins  cemetery, 
in  Erie  county. 

Isaac  DeWitt  was  born  September  17, 
1816,  in  Warren  county,  N.  J.,  where  he 
attended  school.  lie  was  an  eager  student, 
and  after  leaving  school  fitted  himself  for 
the  profession  of  civil  engineer,  which  he 
followed  for  some  time.  After  coming  to 
Ohio  he  devoted  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture,  and  on  December  23,  1840,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Martha  Young, 
who  was  born  August  18,  1823,  in  Roches- 
ter, AVindsor  Co.,  Vt.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Josiah  and  Mary  (Barden)  Voung, 
natives  of  New  Ilauipshire  and  early  set- 
tlers of  Huron  county,  Ohio.     Soon  after 


their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeWitt 
moved  from  liidgefield  township  to  Gro- 
ton  township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  1843 
purchased  a  farm  in  Ridgeiield  township, 
to  which  they  removed.  In  1857  he  bought 
the  place  which  is  now  their  home,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  farming,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years  when  he  carried 
on  the  grape  industry  on  Catawba  Island. 
He  has  been  an  energetic  and  successful 
business  man,  and  though  now  far  ad- 
vanced in  life  is  yet  able  to  do  a  great  deal 
of  work.  He  possesses  remarkable  vitality, 
and  knows  nothing  of  sickness  from  per- 
sonal experience.  In  politics  Mr.  DeWitt 
has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party,  at  the  same  time  sympa- 
thized with  the  Prohibition  movement, 
and  is  now  a  strong  Prohibitionist.  In 
religion  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  with  which  he  has  been 
connected  fifty-six  years.  In  1890  this 
couple  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  their  wedding  day,  on  which  occasion 
they  were  the  recipients  of  many  beautiful 
presents.  They  have  had  three  cliildren: 
Mary  Ellen  (deceased  in  1867),  wife  of 
James  G.  Fish;  Isaac  E.,  a  successful 
prospector  and  miner  of  Colorado;  and 
Burton  L.,  formerly  in  business  at  North 
Monroeville,  now  a  traveling  salesman  for 
several  large  wholesale  houses  of  Cleveland. 


E.  SIMMONS,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
practicing  physician  of  Norwalk, 
was  born  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
son  of  Charles  B.  and  Aura  (Palmer) 
Simmons. 

Our  subject  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  and  subse- 
quently became  a  student  at  Oberlin 
College  (Oberlin,  Ohio),  and  also  at  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University,  Delaware,  Ohio.  He 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Keith,  of  North 
Fairfield,  Ohio,  and  graduated  in  Cincin- 
nati, in  1881.  The  Doctor  practiced  his 
profesbion  in  North  Fairfield,  Ohio,  from 


208 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1881  to  1883;  then  in  Milan,  same  State, 
from  1883  to  1891.  In  the  latter  year  he 
took  a  special  course  of  study  in  Chicago, 
and  in  1892  came  to  Xorwalk,  where  he 
is  at  present  located,  being  surgeon  to  the 
Huron  County  Infirmary.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Pension  Examiners; 
a  member  of  the  State  Homeopathic  So- 
ciety and  of  the  National  Society. 

Dr.  Simmons  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Hattie  Dimon,  a  native  of 
Milan,  Ohio,  and  two  children — Charles 
and  Mary — have  been  born  to  them. 


EORGE  M.  DILLON,  active  in  real- 


estate  interests  in  Bellevue,  is  a  na- 


r 

\L_J  tive  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  born  March 
^l  19,  1851,  in  Zanesville.  In  1854 
he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Min- 
nesota, where  he  remained  until  1864,  at 
which  time  the  family  returned  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Zanesville,  but  subsequently 
settling  in  Chicago  Junction,  Huron 
county. 

George  M.  Dillon  received  hisedncation 
in  the  common  schools  of  Zanesville.  He 
then  entered  the  service  of  the  old  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  Railway  Company,  serving 
for  ten  years  as  conductor  on  that  division, 
and  he  is  to-day  one  of  tlie  great  army  of 
300,000  raih'oad  men  in  the  United  States. 
In  1882  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  N. 
Y.  C.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  Company,  as  passen- 
ger train  conductor,  and  he  is  at  present 
one  of  the  most  ])opular  officials  on  that 
division  of  the  -'Nickel  Plate." 

On  November  3,  1872,  Mr.  Dillon  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
with  Miss  Jennie  S.  Ogier,  who  was  born 
July  12,  1850,  at  Cambridge,  Ohio,  a 
daugiiter  of  John  P.  and  Martha  Ogicr, 
natives  of  the  Isle  of  AVight,  England.  To 
this  unio!i  have  been  born  five  children, 
viz.:  Thomas  E.,  George  B.,  Edith  P., 
Sidney  R.  and  Gracie  M.,  all  of  whom  re- 
side with  their  parents.  Politically  Mr. 
Dillon     is    a     Republican;     in     religious 


connection  he  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  In  social  and  benevolent  affairs 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 
(thirty-second  degree),  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  of  the  Order  of  Railroad 
Conductors.  Since  locating  at  Belluvue 
he  has  been  prominent  in  real-estate  en- 
terprises, owning  considerable  property, 
and  dealing  generally  in  real  estate.  He 
is  the  builder  and  principal  stockholder  of 
the  "Commercial  Hotel"  at  Bellevue,  and 
is  interested  in  many  other  projects.  In 
the  spring  of  1883  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  has  since  continuously 
served  in  that  capacity.  The  interest  which 
he  takes  in  town  affairs  overmasters  party 
interests,  for  in  this  Democratic  city  the 
people  have  elected  and  reelected  him  with- 
out questioning  his  Republicanism.  A 
natural  leader,  he  is  popular  among  rail- 
road men,  for  through  him  they  have  made 
their  influence  felt,  not  only  in  Bellevue, 
but  also  in  the  other  towns  on  his  division 
of  the  "Nickel  Plate."  As  a  citizen  he  is 
held  in  general  esteem. 


ENDRICK  W.  LAMOREUX.  Tiiis 
gentleman  traces  his  genealogy  to 
natives  of  the  "Sunny  Land  of 
France."  His  pioneer  ancestors 
immigrated  to  America  in  an  early 
day,  locating  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn., 
where  Joshua  Lamoreux  was  born  Atigust 
30,  1793,  and  reared  to  manhood.  He 
was  married  to  Martha  Ives,  who  was  born 
July  24,  1796,  and  their  children  were 
named  as  follows:  Samuel  A.,  Josiah, 
Darius,  Thomas,  Elizabeth,  Clarissa,  AVill- 
iam,  Elmira,  Lucy,  Emily  and  Mary  J. 

Samuel  A.  Lamoreux,  eldest  son  of 
Joshua  and  Martha  (Ives)  Lamoreux,  was 
born  October  11,  1815,  on  the  home  place 
in  Luzerne  county,  Penn.  He  attended 
the  schools  of  the  period,  and  post^essing 
marked  mechanical  al)ility  followed  various 
trades.     In   1837   he  selected  a  life  com- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


209 


paiiion  in  the  person  of  Amelia  M.  Skad- 
den,  wlio  was  born  Marcii  12,  1819,  in 
Luzerne  county,  Penn.,  daughter  of  Anson 
C.  Skadden.  After  his  marriage  Samuel 
A.  Lamorenx  located  on  a  farm,  and  in 
connection  followed  the  lumber  business, 
working  also  at  the  trade  of  millwright. 
His  ciiildren  were  there  born,  as  follows: 
Joshua,  Jannary  14,  1840,  deceased  in  in- 
fancy; Delia,  November  6,  1841,  wife  of 
W.  F.  Bradley,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio; 
Emnieline,  January  0,  1843,  living  in 
California;  llendrick  W.,  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch,  January  30,  1845;  An- 
son, August  29,  1846,  a  carpenter  of  Mon- 
roeville,  Ohio;  Benton  L.,  January  23, 
1849,  now  living  in  South  America;  Al- 
bert and  Absalom  (twins,  both  deceased  in 
infancy),  December  31,  1851;  and  Elmira 
J.,  April  15,  1853,  wife  of  David  Wilkin- 
son, of  Norwalk.  The  parents  of  this 
family  left  Pennsylvania  December  25, 
1854,  locatinw;  on  a  rented  farm  in  Oxford 
township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Lamoreux, 
being  in  limited  circumstances,  remained 
a  tenant  four  years  after  coming  to  Ohio, 
and  then  bought  a  small  tract  of  land.  In 
1874  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ridgetleld 
tovvnship,  Huron  county,  and  in  1871) 
n)oved  upon  it.  He  was  actively  interested 
in  politics,  and  was  first  a  Democi-at,  be- 
cotning  a  Republican  after  the  war;  he 
served  in  various  local  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Cliurch  for  forty- 
three  years,  and  subscribed  regularly  to 
The  Examiner,  a  Baptist  periodical  which 
had  been  known  as  the  BajAist  Re<jister 
since  1837.  He  was  an  officer  in  the 
church,  and  tauj^ht  the  Bible  class  for 
twelve  years.  He  died  October  31,  1890, 
leaving  many  friends  to  mourn  his  death, 
who  knew  his  worth  as  a  Christian  man 
and  progressive  citizen.  His  widow  is  yet 
living  on  the  home  farm  with  lu^r  son, 
Hendrick  W.  She  has  been  a  meitiher  of 
the  Baptist  Church  for  fifty-five  years. 

Hendrick  W.  Lamoreux  was  born  on 
the  home  place  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn., 
where    he    attended    the    district   schools. 


On  October  26,  1870,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Ruth  H.,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Fi'azier,  and  a  native  of  Erie 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lamoreux 
have  resided  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Ridgefield  township,  Huron  county,  since 
their  marriage,  where  two  children  have 
beer)  born  to  them:  Bertha  E.  and  Wilbur 
L.  Mr.  Lamoreux  is  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness man,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  Republican  party.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  BaptistCliurch,  with  wliich 
he  has   been  connected   twenty-two  years. 


(GEORGE  SUTLIFF,  who  represents 
,   an    old    and    well-known    family   of 


r 

\Ji\  Bronson  township,  is  a  son  of  Na 
~~^  than  Sutliff,  who  was  born  near 
Genoa,  New  York. 

Nathan  Sutliff  passed  his  youth  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  early  man- 
hood was  there  married  to  Loretta  Law- 
rence, a  native  of  Genoa,  same  State.  The 
young  couple  resided  in  the  home  neigh- 
borhood some  time  after  their  marriage, 
and  then  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  Sutliff  purchased  200  acres  of 
land.  At  the  time  of  this  purchase  Bron- 
son township  was  a  wilderness,  the  only 
njarks  then  evident  of  coming  civilization 
being  two  log  cabins  in  Norwalk,  and  one 
which  had  been  erected  the  previous  year 
on  the  land  now  owned  by  Martin  Kellog. 
With  these  few  neighbors  to  brighten  the 
lonely  wilderness,  Nathan  Sutliff  and  his 
wife  set  bravely  to  work  and  prepared  a 
home  for  those  who  followed.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  and  in  religion  was  one 
of  the  first  members  of  the  T'l-esbyterian 
Church  in  Peru  township.  Some  time 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  this  pioneer  was 
laid  to  rest  at  a  good  old  age.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children:  Alice,  Sam- 
uel, Mary,  David,  Loretta,  John,  Nathan 
and  George. 

George  Sutliff,  son  of  Natiian  and  Lo- 
retta  (Lawrence)   Sutliff,  was  born   March 


210 


IIUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


14,  1832,  till  the  farm  where  he  is  now 
living,  in  Iliiroi)  countj,  Ohio.  He  re- 
ceived a  limited  country-school  education, 
passing  his  earlj^  youth  on  the  home  farm, 
and  then  worked  four  years  at  the  carpen- 
try trade.  On  Fe])ruary  1,  1854,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Emily  Fancher,  a 
native  of  Huron  county,  and  daughter  of 
Daniel  Fancher,  who  was  married  to  a 
Miss  Mitchell,  and  settled  in  (rreenwich 
township,  Huron  county,  many  years  ago. 
In  the  autumn  following  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutliff  moved  to  De  Kalb 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  (about  si.xteen  of  which  were  then 
tillable),  afterward  adding  twenty  acres. 
He  continued  to  farm  on  this  place  seven- 
teen years,  hut  fiually  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  purchasing  the  old  homestead,  consist- 
ing of  104  acres,  has  since  resided  upon  it, 
and  has  made  many  improvements.  Po- 
litically he  votes  with  the  Hepublican 
party.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutliff  have  three 
children:  FUa  S.,  Oberka  F.  and  Ger- 
trude L.  Oberka  F.  was  married  January 
8,  1887,  to  Clara  Barto,  who  has  borne 
him  two  children:  Lelia  Gertrude  and 
Nathan  Koy. 


Ei)  ARNETT   ROE,   one   of   the   most 
i\   p''t)gressive   farmers  of    Greenfield 
I)   township,  is  a  descendant  of  Thomas 

Roe,  the   pioneer  of  the  family   in 
America. 

Thomas  Roe,  a  native  of  Northampton- 
shire, England,  left  his  country  in  1822, 
and  with  his  wife  and  seven  children  came 
to  the  United  States,  locating  near  Flem- 
ing, Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  had  eight 
children  born  to  him  in  England,  of  whom 
one,  Thomas,  died  there.  The  seven  who 
accompanied  their  parents  to  America 
were  Charles,  married  to  Corinna  Carver, 
of  Fleming,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  bore 
him  one  daughter,  Selina  (Mrs.  George  VV. 
Atherton),of  Peru  township,  Huron  county 
(Charles  Roe  died  in  Peru  township  in 
1891);  Anna,  who  married  Samuel  Weeks, 


and  died  at  Pioneer,  Williams  Co.,  Ohio; 
Mark,  now  residing  at  Granville,  Ohio; 
Joseph,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  the 
biograpiiy  of  A.  G.  Roe,  of  Peru  town- 
ship; Barnett,  a  short  record  of  whom 
follows;  Mary  Ann,  who  married  Hiram 
Jjarnum,  and  died  in  Fairfield  township, 
and  William,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Fair- 
field township,  where  he  died.  While  re- 
siding in  New  York  State,  two  more 
sons  were  born:  Thomas,  now  a  resident 
of  Oregon,  and  Reuben,  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 
About  1834  Thomas  Roe  and  his  son, 
Charles,  came  to  Huron  county  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  laud  in  Peru  township. 
The  father  remained  here,  while  the  son 
went  back  to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  for 
the  remainder  of  the  family,  with  whom 
he  returned  and  introduced  to  their  new 
home.  Here  the  father  and  mother  both 
died.  They  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  were  much  esteemed  citizens 
of  the  community. 

Barnett  Roe,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
in  1810,  in  England,  and,  accompanying 
his  parents  to  America,  resided  with  them 
in  New  York  State,  later  moving  with 
them  to  Huron  county,  Ohio.  His  school 
days  were  passed  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  also  began  to  learn  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  followed  with  such  a 
measure  of  success  that  he  was  enabled 
from  time  to  time  to  invest  in  small  tracts 
of  laud,  in  Greenfield  township,  increasing 
his  number  of  acres  annually.  While  still 
a  young  man  he  married  Harriet  Bright- 
man,  of  Peru  township,  who  was  born  in 
1814,  and  the  children  of  this  marriao;e 
are  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Strong;  Anna, 
Mrs.  James  White,  of  Cleveland;  Barnett, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Maria  and  Mary 
(twins),  of  whom  Maria  is  married  to 
Theodore  Niver,  of  Norwich  (Mary  died 
at  the  age  of  five  years),  and  James  K., 
who  was  a  miner  in  Colorado,  where  he 
met  his  death  in  his  thirty-second  year. 
Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Roe  made  the  homestead  their  residence, 
where    he    engaged    in     agriculture   and 


imEOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


211 


carpentry.  In  185(3  he  erected  what  is 
known  as  the  rhrniiix  mills  in  Greenfield 
townsiiip,  and  operated  same  for  twelve  or 
tiiirteen  years  with  marked  success.  After 
that  long  term  in  the  milling  business  his 
liealth  failed,  compelling  him  to  retire 
from  active  life.  He  resided  on  the  farm, 
now  occupied  by  his  son,  Barnett,  until 
his  death,  which  was  the  result  of  paraly- 
sis.- His  wife  died  January  27,  1851,  and 
both  are  interred  in  the  Steuben  cemetery. 
He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  held  various 
ofhces  in  the  township,  and  also  served  as 
county  commissioner.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  progressive  citizens  who  ever  lived 
in  Greenfield  township.  His  farm,  mill 
and  stone  quarries  were  parts  of  his  plan 
for  the  development  of  the  township,  so 
that  the  death  of  such  a  man  was  a  serious 
loss,  not  only  to  his  family,  but  also  to  the 
entire  community. 

Barnett  Roe,  whose  name  opens  this 
memoir,  was  born  January  26,  1843,  on 
the  home  farm.  He  received  a  primary 
education  in  the  district  school,  and  while 
yet  a  boy  began  work  in  his  father's  mill, 
where  he  continued  to  labor  until  1864. 
On  Angust  29,  tiiat  year,  he  enlisted  in 
Battery  M,  First  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery, 
was  mustered  in  at  Sandusky,  and  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Loudon,  Tenn.,  where 
he  joined  his  company.  He  served  with 
his  command  in  all  the  spirit-stirring  en- 
gagements in  which  it  participated,  until 
discharged,  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  June  20, 
1865.  At  Strawl)erry  Plains,  Dandridge, 
Bean  Station,  and  Greenville,  Battery  M 
did  good  service,  and  on  other  fields 
offered  timely  aid.  Mr.  Roe  was  taken 
i-ick  at  Lead  vale,  and  was  taken  to  a 
iieirro  hut,  where  a  colored  woman, 
known  as  '-Aunty  Jane,"  nursed  him  to 
convalescence.  On  his  return  to  Ohio  he 
i-eentered  the  service  of  his  father  in  the 
mill,  and  there  worked  some  three  or  four 
years.  On  May  16,  1867,  he  was  married 
to  Martha  J.  Lowther,  who  was  born 
August  5,  1843,   in   Greenfield    township, 


daughter  of  Capt.  E.  H.  Lowther.  The 
children  of  this  union  are  Earnest  B., 
born  September  29,  1869:  Frank  L.,  born 
November  2,  1871;  Anna  B.,  born  Octo- 
bers, 1875,  and  Alto  F.  and  Otto  J.  (^twins), 
horn  February  14,  1884,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  After  marriage  the  young  couple 
occupied  the  homestead,  and  here  Mr. 
Roe  carried  on  the  farm  in  connection 
with  a  sawmill  and  other  businesses.  Iti 
1880  he  located  on  his  present  farm,  and 
has  since  given  close  attention  to  agricul- 
ture and  stock  growing.  Mr.  Roe  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Disciple  Church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  treasurer  and  trustee  of  Green- 
field township,  proving  himself,  in  every 
particular,  worthy  of  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  people. 


I[  Jl    S.  FANNING,  a  progre-ssive  agri- 
r!^|    culturist  of  Clarkstield  township,  is 
I     1|    a  native  of  the  same,  born   Novem- 
■fj  ber5,1864.   His  grandfather,  James 

Fanning,  was  born  August  13, 1789, 
and  on  January  2,  1809,  married  Sarah 
Westbrook,  who  was  born  October  25, 
1789.  He  died  near  Kushville,  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  9,  1827,  on  which  day 
he  was  present  at  a  barn  raising  for  the 
proprietor  of  a  neighboring  hotel.  A  rain 
storm  came  up  suddenly,  driving  the  men 
to  shelter,  but  when  the  rain  ceased  all  re- 
sumed work.  The  water  made  the  lieavy 
timbers  slippery,  and  one  of  the  bents  fell, 
crushing  Mr.  Fanning's  head,  killing  him 
instantly.  He  left  a  widow,  and  eight 
children  all  born  in  Onondaga  county,  as 
follows:  Ann,  born  October  23,  1809; 
Eliza,  born  August  18,  1811;  Richard, 
born  April  27,  1813;  Asenath,  born  June 
4,  1816;  Julia,  born  May  2,  1819;  John 
C,  born  April  8,  1821;  Benjamin  (r.,  born 
September  11,  1823,  and  William  M.,  born 
May  13.  1826. 

In   1832  the  widow,  determined  to  seek 
a   wider   field    for   her   children,   sold    her 


I 
212 


HUliOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


home  in  New  York  State,  and  migrated  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio.  Her  son,  Richard, 
who  liad  settled  in  Clarkstield  township  a 
year  before  tlie  family  left  New  York,  sent 
glowing  reports  of  the  new  country,  and  to 
that  township  the  family  directed  their 
steps.  Here  Mrs.  Fanning  purchased  a 
farm  of  sixty-five  acres,  where  she  resided 
for  twenty  years,  or  until  her  marriage  (in 
1842  or  1843)  with  Jonas  Clark,  with 
whom  she  moved  to  Sandusky  county. 
She  died  there  July  17,  1863,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Townsend. 

Beniamin  G.  Fanning  came  with  his 
mother  to  Ohio  in  1832,  and  received  a 
primary  education  in  the  rude  school  of 
the  period.  While  a  youth  he  left  home 
to  learn  the  shoe  trade  from  a  man  named 
Long,  in  Lyme  township,  an  old  tradesman 
of  Huron  county.  Mr.  Fanning  was  an 
apt  mechanic,  and  became  as  good  a  slioe- 
maker  as  his  teacher;  but  the  trade  did 
not  suit  him,  so  he  went  into  the  fruit 
business  and  became  the  owner  of  a  farm 
in  Clarkstield  township.  Returning  thither 
he  found  employment  in  Sherman  Smith's 
shoe  store,  and  while  there  engaged  mar- 
ried Sabra,  daughter  of  Sherman  Smith, 
the  wedding  taking  place  July  4,  184G. 
Sabra  Smith  was  born  January  12,  1829, 
in  Clarkstield  township,  a  daughter  of 
Sherman  and  (Caroline  (Knapp)  Smith, 
pioneers  of  Huron  county.  The  young 
couple  settled  on  the  sixty-five  acres  which 
Mr.  Fanning's  mother  purchased  in  1832. 
Leaving  that,  he  bought  himself  a  farm, 
but  preferring  to  travel  as  a  patent-right 
salesman,  he  left  the  care  of  the  farm  to 
his  wife  and  hired  help.  In  1852,  how- 
evei%  he  assumed  charge  of  his  land,  and 
resided  thereon  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  -December  12,  1891.  In  1880 
he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  suffered 
much  from  the  disease.  He  was  a  fluent 
speaker  and  an  able  salesman,  anil  admira- 
bly filled  the  two  positions  of  fruit-tree 
grower  and  sales  agent.  He  was  a  man  of 
progress, always  encouraging  improvement. 
A  friend  of  the  unfortunate,  his  kindness 


did  not  consist  alone  in  words;  and  when 
his  remains  were  carried  to  Butterfield 
cemetery  for  interment,  there  was  a  host 
of  mourners  present. 

Mr.  Fanning  was  a  Whig  until  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  cast  his  political  fortunes  with  them. 
The  children  born  to  Benjamin  G.  and 
Sabra  Fanning  are  named  as  follows: 
Escdorab,  born  March  11,  1847,  died  Au- 
gust 26,  1850;  A.  S.,  deceased  June  9, 
1849;  Ida  B.,  born  January  27,  1853, 
wife  of  Theodore  Clark,  a  soap  and  per- 
fumery manufacturer,  of  Chicago,  111.; 
and  Henry  S.,  who  manages  the  home 
farm,  where  he  resides  with  his  mother. 

Henry  S.  Fanning  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  district.  With  the 
exception  of  five  years  whicli  he  passed  at 
the  home  of  Sherman  Smith,  his  grand- 
father, he  has  made  the  house  where  he 
was  born  his  home.  His  marriage  to 
Edith  Day  took  place  April  28,  1887. 
She  was  born  October  31,  1870,  in  New 
London  township,  daughter  of  Hiram  K. 
and  Sophia  (Brenstul)  Day,  who  were  old 
settlers  of  New  London.  To  this  marriage 
one  child  was  born  August  18, 1887,  named 
Ruth  D.  Politically  Mr.  Fanning  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
local,  State  and  national  affairs.  Like  his 
father,  he  is  a  friend  of  progress,  and  a 
most  successful  farmer. 


|r^\    L.  JUSTICE,  a  progressive,  influ- 
I    ential  farmer  ci 


Bl    ential  farmer  citizen   of  Clarkstield 
^'   township,    Huron    Co.,    Ohio,    is  a 

native  of  same,  born  June  18,  1852. 
His  father,  Peter  Justice,  was  born  July 
23,  1796,  in  Milford  township,  Somerset 
Co.,  Penn.,  son  of  Nathan  Justice,  who 
was  a  distiller  (then  a  very  common  pur- 
suit), and  manufacturer  of  linseed  oil. 
Peter  received  a  common-school  education, 
obtained  some  knowledge  of  farming  on  a 
place  which  his  father  owned,  and  when 
yet  a  youth  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


213 


and  joiner.  He  enlisted  in  the  war  of 
1812,  but  was  not  called  into  the  service, 
and  after  the  close  of  that  conflict  worked 
at  his  trade  for  five  years.  In  early  man- 
hood he  started  for  the  West  in  company 
with  a  cousin,  Adam  Mikesell,  crossing 
the  Ohio  river  at  Steubenville,  and  travel- 
ing through  Zanesville,  Columbus  and 
Delaware  toward  Upper  Sandusky,  meet- 
ing Indians  and  passing  through  Indian 
villages  around  Delaware,  thence  to  Fulton 
county,  Ohio,  in  search  of  land.  He  re- 
turned to  Pennsylvania  (making  the  entire 
journey,  coming  and  going,  on  foot),  and 
for  some  time  gave  his  attention  to  his 
trade.  Later  he  came  to  Holmes  county, 
Ohio,  wliere,  on  December  13,  1827,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia 
Twaddle,  who  was  born  October  22,  1811, 
in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Alex,  and  Elizabeth  (Kamage)  Twaddle. 
While  living  in  Holmes  county  children 
as  follows  came  to  this  union:  Thomas  W., 
born  January  28,  1829,  deceased  April  27, 
1862;  Nathan,  born  May  4,  1831,  mer- 
chant and  postmaster  at  North  Morenci, 
Mich.;  George  W.,  horn  June  17,  1833, 
deceased  March  23.  1886;  and  Henry  H., 
born  December  31,  1835,  a  farmer  of  New 
London  township,  Huron  county. 

In  1837  the  family  moved  to  Clarkstield 
township,  Huron  county,  coming  with  an 
ox  team  by  way  of  Wellington,  and  as  the 
roads  were  few  and  very  had  they  had  to 
pick  out  tlieir  way  by  marked  trees.  He 
purchased  116^  acres  (which  he  paid  for 
by  working  out  by  the  day),  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  which 
at  the  time  of  his  settlement  contained  no 
improvements  but  a  small  log  house.  Here 
the  remainder  of  his  family  was  born,  as 
follows:  John  A.,  born  January  10,  1839, 
a  farmer  of  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county;  Susan,  born  August  25,  1841, 
livino;  on  the  old  homestead  in  Clarkstield 
township)  (she  has  tieen  blind  all  her  life, 
liaviug  been  born  so);  Royal  F.,  born  April 
16,  1844,  died  September  23,  1891,  in 
Brighton    township,    Lorain   county;   An- 


drew A.,  born  December  24,  1846  (he  was 
born  blind);  and  Daniel  L.,  subject  of  this 
memoir.  Andrew  uses  horse  power  to  cut 
his  fodder,  and  has  a  mill  to  grind  his 
feed.  In  winters  he  does  all  his  own  chores 
alone,  only  in  summers  hiring  some  one  by 
the  day  to  assist  him.  After  the  death  of 
the  mother,  Susan  kept  house  for  the  fam- 
ily, and  all  the  work  is  now  done  by  them 
with  the  assistance  of  a  hired  woman. 

Peter  Justice  was  by  trade  a  cabinet 
maker,  and  for  years  made  all  the  coffins 
used  in  his  section.  The  coffin  for  his  eld- 
est son  was  among  the  first  factory  coffins 
brought  to  those  parts,  and  after  that  he 
gradually  ceased  to  follow  iiis  trade,  finally, 
about  1875,  discontinuing  it  altogether. 
He  was  a  very  robust,  well-preserved  man, 
and  the  day  he  was  seventy-five  he  walked 
fourteen  miles  and  cradled  over  five  acres 
of  wheat  ground.  In  pioneer  days  he 
would  walk  to  Ruggles,  Ashland  county, 
'taking  his  grist  to  the  mill,  where  he 
would  ofteu  have  to  wait  over  night,  as 
there  were  so  many  before  him.  Roads 
were  few  and  difficult  to  follow,  and  on 
one  occasion  he  got  lost  and  wandered  to 
Troy,  Ashland  county,  before  he  could  tell 
where  be  was.  He  was  never  sick,  and 
never  had  occasion  to  call  a  physician  until 
the  illness  which  caused  his  death.  Once, 
while  chopping  in  the  woods,  he  was 
struck  by  a  falling  timber,  and  received  a 
cut  some  inches  long  across  his  forehead, 
which  was  sewed  up  by  his  wife,  as  there 
were  no  doctors  near.  He  passed  away 
March  7,  1881,  preceded  liy  his  wife  on 
June  1,  1873,  and  i)oth  are  buried  at 
Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  Init  never 
took  any  further  interest  in  politics  than 
to  cast  his  vote  at  each  election. 

D.  L.  Justice  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  vicinity,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life.  When  a  young  man  he 
commenced  to  learn  photography  in  New 
London,  Ohio,  having  previously  read 
much  on  this  subject,  in  which  art  lie  be- 
came  quite   proiicieut.     He  remained  on 


214 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tlie  home  farm  until  March  23, 1890,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elsie 
C.  Fox,  who  was  born  September  30, 18G6, 
in  Clarksfield  township,  daughter  of  David 
Fox.  Shortly  afterward  they  settled  on  a 
farm  which  he  had  owned  for  some  time, 
and  where  they  have  since  made  their 
home.  On  October  30,  1893,  a  son  was 
born  to  them,  named  Peter  A.  Mr.  Jus- 
tice, who  ia  engaged  in  general  agriculture, 
is  a  well-int'ornied,  intelligent,  progressive 
citizen  of  the  community.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat. 


d'AMES  GILBERT  GIBBS,  Norwalk, 
is  the  lineal  descendant  of  one  of  the 
^  earliest  pioneer  families  that  came 
and  settled  in  Norwalk  township. 
He  is  secretary,  treasurer  and  manager  of 
the  Reflector  Printing  Company,  printing 
the  daily  and  weekly  Refecf())\  which  are 
among  the  leading  publications  of  north- 
ern Ohio;  also  publishing  several  otlier 
newspapers,  and  the  Norwalk  City  Di- 
rectory. 

Mr.  Gibbs  was  born  August  7,  1852,  in 
Norwalk,  where  had  lived  his  ancestors 
since  1816,  the  date  of  their  coming  here 
from  Norwalk,  Conn.  He  is  a  son  of 
Ralph  M.  and  Mary  (Higgins)  Gibbs,  the 
former  of  whom  was  also  a  native  of  Nor- 
walk, born  in  1824,  and  died  of  cliolera  in 
August,  1854,  then  but  thirty  years  of 
age.  David  Gibbs,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  became  an  officer 
in  the  regular  army  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  did  efficient  service  as  Capt.  David 
Gibbs  of  the  Thirty-seventli  Regular  In- 
fantry. At  the  close  of  the  war,  having 
meanwhile  resigned  from  the  army,  he 
came  to  Ohio  and  located  where  is  now 
Norwalk,  at  which  time  there  were  but 
two  other  families  in  the  township,  and 
the  site  of  the  ])resent  city  of  Norwalk  was 
an  unbroken  wilderness.  He  came  here  a 
licensed  lawyer,  and  in  1820  was  appointed 


l)y  the  court  as  county  clerk  of  Huron 
county,  in  which  service  he  continued 
until  his  death  in  1841.  This  fact  of  itself 
points  him  out,  not  only  as  among  the 
first  settlers,  but  as  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent. His  father-ill-law,  Henry  Lock- 
wood,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  was  a  wealthy 
merchant  of  that  place,  one  of  those  who 
sustained  heavy  losses  during  the  Revolu- 
tion,  through  the  raids  of  the  traitor  Bene- 
diet  Arnold  upon  the  Connecticut  coast, 
and  who  received  from  the  State,  as  recom 
pense,  lands  in  the  "  Firelands "  of  the 
Connecticut  Western  Reserve.  These 
lands  descended  by  inheritance  to  his  pos- 
terity, several  of  whom  are  residents;  but 
James  G.  is  the  only  male  descendant  now 
living  in  Norwalk  of  the  Capt.  Gibbs 
branch  of  the  Lockwood  family.  James' 
mother  came  here  in  1835  to  make  her 
home  with  her  grandfather,  Rev.  David 
Higgins,  pioneer  preacher  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  who  at  that  time  lived 
here.  His  son.  Judge  David  Higgins,  of 
the  common  pleas  court,  was  the  uncle  of 
Mary  Higgins;  the  young  man,  Ralph  M. 
Gibbs,  was  a  son  of  the  clerk  of  the  court, 
and  the  young  people  formed  an  acquaint- 
ance, then  a  friendship  that  in  due  time 
ripened  into  the  holier  jiassion,  and  they 
were  joined  in  wedlock  in  1846.  Mrs. 
Mary  H.  Gibbs  is  living,  the  beloved 
mother  of  four  children — three  daughters 
and  one  son,  whose  name  heads  this 
article. 

James  G.  Gil)bs,  the  father  dying  when 
the  boy  was  but  two  years  of  age,  was 
reared  as  a  member  of  the  family  of  his 
uncle,  Hon.  Jose[)h  M.  Farr,  who  was  the 
founder  in  1835  of  the  Narwall'  Experi- 
ment^ and  who  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  convention  of  1850,  that 
formed  the  present  State  constitution  of 
Ohio.  In  this  pleasant  home  the  lad 
passed  his  young  days,  and  was  given 
more  than  the  usual  advantages  of  youth; 
he  graduated  from  the  high  school  in 
1869,  and  at  once  entered  the  Refeefor 
printing    office,    to    learn    the     trade    of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


217 


setting  type  and  the  art  of  publishing  and 
editing  a  newspaper.  Mastering  rapidly 
tlie  mysteries  of  tlie  "  art  preservative  of 
all  arts,"  he  laid  down  his  "  stick "  and 
entered  Lafayette  College,  being  enabled 
to  do  so  by  the  assistance  of  his  uncle;  but 
his  college  course  was  much  shortened  by 
the  unfortunate  death  of  this  kind  rela- 
tive. On  leaving  college  the  young  man 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  a  reporter 
on  the  Inter  Ocean  newspaper,  under 
Hon.  E.  W.  Halford,  since  eminent  as 
President  Harrison's  private  secretary. 
In  1873  he  returned  to  Norwalk  and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  Refieetor,  becoui- 
incr  the  associate  of  Judge  Y.  Wickham  in 
that  publication,  and  has  since  continued 
in  tiiat  connection.  In  1881  the  tirin  was 
changed  to  a  joint-stock  company,  and 
soon  after  tlie  Daily  lieflector  was  lirst 
issued,  the  initial  number  appearing  in 
1882,  and  from  the  first  number  to  the 
present  time  it  has  had  unusual  prosperity. 
The  Reflector  has  long  been  the  official 
city  and  county  organ  of  the  party.  As 
printer,  editor  and  publisher,  the  young 
man  soon  rose  to  prominence  among  the 
craft,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
a  member  of  the  various  newspaper  asso- 
ciations. His  interest  in  his  chosen  voca- 
tion is  manifest  by  his  unfailing  attend- 
ance upon  each  annual  convention  of  the 
National'  Editorial  Association  of  the 
United  States  since  1889;  and  at  the  meet- 
ing in  Chicago,  1893,  he  was  unanimously 
elected  its  treasurer.  He  owns  stock,  and 
is  a  director  in  several  companies;  is  vice- 
president  of  the  (^hio  Savings,  Loan  & 
Trust  Compan}'  of  Norwalk;  a  director  in 
the  Laning  Printing  Company,  who  are 
the  State  Printers  of  Ohio;  has  l)een  presi- 
dent, secretary  or  treasurer  of  numerous 
organizations,  and,  more  than  all,  in  pub- 
lic spirit  and  enterprise  he  is  well  estab- 
lished as  one  of  our  foremost  citizens, 
widely  respected  at  home  and  favorably 
known  abroad.  He  has  been  elected  and 
re-elected  a  member  of  the  city  board  of 
education. 


James  G.  Gibbs  and  Carrie  L.  Wickham 
were  united  in  wedlock,  June  30,  1880; 
she  is  a  daughter  of  Judge  F.  Wickham, 
and  presides  with  quiet  grace  over  their 
comfortable  home.  They  have  two  inter- 
esting children:  Esther,  a  girl  of  eleven 
years,  and  Ralpli,  a  lad  of  five. 


ri(  NDREWJ.MOREHEAD.  Among 

/[\\     the   leading   influential    and    repre- 

lr\\^   sentative  men  of  that  part  of  Lyme 

•fj  township  known  as  Hunts  Corners, 

there  is  no  one  who  enjoys  a  greater 

decrree  of  confidence  and  esteem  than  the 

subject  of  this  brief  memoir. 

He  was  born  in  Lyme  township  on  the 
28th  day  of  May,  1836,  and  has  never  lived 
anywhere  else  (only  for  temporary  pur- 
poses) since.  He  resides  now  where  he 
has  lived  for  the  last  fifty-two  years  at 
Hunts  Corners,  Lyme  township,  and  only 
one  and  one-half  miles  from  where  he  was 
born.  He  is  now  the  oldest  resident  of 
that  noted  burgh.  His  parents  being  poor 
could  only  give  him  the  benefits  of  a  com- 
mon-school education  (and  the  schools  were 
not  fine  in  those  days).  After  getting 
what  education  he  could  at  these  schools, 
he  was  able  to  earn  money  enough  to  pay 
his  expenses  at  Oberlin  College,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  satisfied  with  his 
education,  working  through  the  summer 
for  farmers  V)y  the  day  to  get  money  with 
wliicii  to  pay  expenses  of  a  fall  term  at 
Oberlin. 

On  leaving  Oberlin  he  commenced 
teaching  school  (and  by  the  way  he  got  his 
first  teachers'  certificate  at  Oberlin).  His 
first  school  was  a  "select  school,"  situated 
less  than  a  half  mile  from  home.  He  then 
rented  lands,  and  worked  on  the  farm 
through  the  summer,  teaching  school  in 
the  winter  for  five  consecutive  winters. 
Finding  that  teaching  was  too  confining 
and  enervating  for  one  of  his  constitution, 
he  finally  made  up  bis  mind  to  try  black- 
smithing.      His  father  owned   a  shop  and 


218 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tools,  and  Andrew  had  occasionally  helped 
his  father  in  the  shop.  The  latter  was  now 
old  and  crippled.  Andrew  took  hold  of 
this  with  a  will,  determined  to  succeed, 
and  by  hiring  at  first  competent  help  did 
succeed  in  supporting  respectably  an  aged 
parent  who  had  l)een  a  widower  for  many 
years,  and  whose  daughters  had  married 
and  left  him.  During  this  time  our  sub- 
ject had  served  the  township  in  several  im- 
portant offices,  and  in  1879  lie  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  whicli  ofhce  he  has 
held  almost  continuously  since  with  great 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his 
fellow  citizens.  His  most  distinguishing 
trait  is  that  of  a  peace  maker,  there  having 
been  less  litigation  during  his  administra- 
tion than  ever  before  tor  the  same  length 
of  time. 

About  this  time  he  contracted  the  asthma 
in  its  worst  form,  consequently  had  to  quit 
bhicksmithing.  He  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  gardening  and  bee  keeping  for  sev- 
eral years.  Becoming  less  able  to  do  hard 
work,  he  next  opened  agrocery  store  at  the 
old  homestead,  and  notwithstanding  the 
hard  times  that  soon  came  on,  is  satisfied 
with  the  trade  that  he  has  secured,  which  is 
still  increasing. 

Bei)ig  an  original  and  independetit 
thinkej-,  and  seeking  to  avoid  popularity 
or  notoriety  he  has  never  joined  any  church 
or  secret  society,  but  claims  that  he  has 
alwa^vs  been  a  consistent  Christian  in  the 
true  sense  of  the  word.  Having  ever  lived 
a  moral  life,  he  says  that  he  would  not 
"swap"  his  chances  of  future  bliss  with 
nine-tenths  of  the  modern  "saints."  Mr. 
Morehead  lias  always  enjoyed  single 
blessedness,  but  now  that  he  is  weaker  and 
wiser  admits  that  one  of  the  greatest  mis- 
takes of  the  many  that  he  has  made  in  life 
was  in  not  marrying  early. 

George  Morehead,  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  W.  Va.,  in  January,  1795.  When 
but  a  boy  of  seventeen  or  eighteen  he  en- 
listed to  fight  the  battles  of  his  country, 
and  was  sent  witli  other  Virginia  troops  to 


join  General  Harrison  in  order  to  help  to 
drive  the  British  and  Indians  from  their 
forts  along  the  Maumee.  He  had  not  pro- 
ceeded much  farther  than  the  center  of 
this  State,  when  he  was  stricken  down  with 
the  camp  or  swamp  fever,  and  consequently 
had  to  be  left.  After  a  long  struggle  be- 
tween life  and  death,  he  recovered,  but 
only  as  a  cripple  for  life.  He  then  lived 
for  several  j-ears  in  the  southern  part  of 
Ohio,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
and  married  Miss  Charity  Patton.  Of 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  father  came  to  Huron  county 
in  about  1831,  and  moved  into  Lyme  town- 
ship about  1832.  People  have  a  good  deal 
to  say  now-a-days  about  hard  times,  but  if 
they  were  obliged  to  live  as  the  pioneers 
did  in  those  days  they  would  have  some 
cause  to  complain.  All  of  the  meat  those 
early  pioneers  got  was  procured  from  the 
woods  by  their  trusty  rifles.  Sometimes 
they  had  to  go  twenty  or  thirty  miles  to 
get  a  bushel  of  corn  ground,  with  whicli 
to  make  a  johnnycake.  Such  was  the  case 
when  Mr.  Moreliead  first  came  to  Huron 
county. 

The  eldest  child  born  of  this  union  was 
Mary,  who  afterward  married  Philip  Hey- 
raan,  and  now  i-esides  in  "Wood  county, 
this  State,  surrounded  by  prosperous  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren.  The  second  eld- 
est, named  Emily,  was  married  to  Joseph 
Morris,  and  now  lives  in  Nebraska.  Charity 
Morehead  died  iu  1838;  George  Morehead 
died  in  1873. 


ILBER    G.     FERVEK,    M.    D. 

Among  tlie  most  prominent  of 
Huron  county's  young  profes- 
sional men  is  the  irentleman 
whose  name  is  here  recorded.  Although 
not  a  native  of  the  county,  he  has,  in  the 
brief  period  of  his  residence  here,  estab- 
lished for  himself  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a  physician  and  surgeon. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


219 


Dr.  Ferver  \vas  born  February  22,  1859, 
in  Lawrence  connty,  Penn.,  nt^ar  the  town 
of  Xew  Castle,  and  his  boyhood  was  passed 
on  his  father's  farm,  in  the  successful  con- 
ducting of  which  he  proved  himself  of 
material  assistance.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen,  having  graduated  from  the  common 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  birth,  he  en- 
tered the  Edinburgh  State  Normal  School, 
and  for  the  succeeding  three  years  dili- 
gently pursued  his  studies.  He  then  at- 
tended Allegheny  College,  Meadville, 
Penn.,  one  year,  thereafter  taking  a  course 
in  medicine  and  surgery  at  Jefferson  Med- 
ical College,  Philadelphia,  graduating 
therefrom  in  1884.  The  Doctor  then  at 
once  located  at  Worth,  Mercer  Co.,  Penn., 
where  for  three  years  he  successfully  pur- 
sued the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession. 
From  there  he  returned  to  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  and  after  a  brief  sojourn  came  to 
Wakeman,  Huron  county,  iu  which  thriv- 
ing town  and  for  miles  around  he  has  since 
been  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  most  successful 
practice. 

On  June  15,  1885,  Dr.  Ferver  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  V. 
Goodge.  They  are  iriembers  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Wakeman,  and, 
socially,  enjoy  the  regard  and  esteem  of  a 
wide  circle  of  friends.  Dr.  Ferver  is  a 
straight  Republican,  but  is  not  active  in 
politics,  his  profession  demanding  and  re- 
ceiving his  undivided  attention. 


JESSE  E.  WHEELER  is  a  member  of 
the  old  and  well-known  family  of  that 
name  in  Greenfield  township.      He  is 
a  grandson   of  Rev.  John    Wheeler, 
who  came  to   Ohio   in    1818,    and   settled 
with  his  family  in  Greenfield  township  the 
following  year. 

Rev.  John  Wheeler  was  born  in  Massa- 
chtisetts,  but  when  seventeen  years  old 
moved  to  western  New  York,  where  he 
studied  for  the  ministry,  and  received 
license  to  preach  at  a  quarterly  meeting  of 


the  Free-will  Baptist  Church.  While  liv- 
ing in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  he  married 
Polly  Fi-anklin,also  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  with  her  took  up  his  residence 
on  a  new  farm  in  that  connty.  The  young 
preacher  cleared  iiis  farm,  and  made  it  his 
home  until  1818,  when,  as  previously  re- 
lated, he  brought  his  family  to  Ohio.  The 
children  born  to  him  in  New  York  State 
are  named  as  follows:  Sylvester  F.,  John 
H.  and  Benoni,  all  of  whom  died  in  Huron 
county;  Aaron,  now  a  resident  of  Norwalk, 
and  Calvin,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  children  born  in  Green- 
field township  were  Chauncey,  who  died 
in  Crawford  county,  Kansas;  Almira, 
widow  of  —  Tucker  (her  first  husband  was 
a  Mr.  Van  Tine),  and  Samuel  B.,  who 
resides  at  Parsons,  Kansas. 

Calvin  Wheeler,  the  fifth  child  of  John 
and  Polly  Wheeler,  was  born  January  19, 
1818,  in  Ontario  connty,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
but  an  infant  when  his  parents  settled  in 
Ohio.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  made  his  home  there  until  1870, 
when  he  established  himself  in  mercantile 
business  at  Steuben.  In  February,  1842, 
he  married  Mary  Richards,  who  was  born 
January  27,  1821,  in  Herkimer  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
in  1837.  Twelve  children  were  born  to 
this  nnion,  a  brief  record  of  whom  is  as 
follows:  Nancy  Genette,  born  January  15, 
1843,  married  E.  Trimmer,  and  died  in 
Kalamazoo  county,  Mich.;  Agnes  E.,  born 
March  9,  1844,  is  now  Mrs.  Marion  Par- 
sons, of  Shiloh,  Ohio;  David  M.,  born  De- 
cember 29,  1846,  is  a  traveling  salesman, 
his  home  being  in  Plymouth,  Huron 
county;  Benjamin  R.,  born  November  20, 
1848,  is  a  farmer  and  stock  buyer  of 
Greenfield  township;  Calvin  G.,  born  July 
31,  1850,  is  a  farmer  of  Peru  township; 
Chauncey  B.,  born  January  3,  1852,  is  an 
engineer  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific  Railroad;  Jason  A.,  born  January 
22,  1854;  Jesse  E.  (twin  of  Jason  A.)  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Alice,  born 
January  18,  1857,  is  the  widow  of  Henry 


220 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


BroiiBon,  and  is  now  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  at  Cliicago  Junction;  Alfred, 
a  twin  brother,  born  January  18,  1857,  is 
now  a  harness  maker  at  Plymouth,  Oliio; 
Lillis,  born  November  14,  1861,  is  now 
tiie  widow  of  Dayton  L.  Green,  residing 
at  Steuben,  and  Linda  Belle,  born  October 
3,  1863,  is  now  Mrs.  Elmer  McMorris,  of 
Steuben. 

Jesse  E.  Wheeler  was  born  January  22, 
1854,  in  Greenfield  township,  was  reared 
on  tlie  farm,  and  received  his  education  in 
tlie  district  schools.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  father  until  1875,  when  he  mi- 
grated to  California,  wliere  he  was  engaged 
in  floriculture  until  1885.  In  the  last 
named  year  he  returned  to  Ohio,  worked 
in  his  brother's  store,  and  after  the  burn- 
ing of  that  place  labored  on  the  home 
farui.  In  1889  lie  purchased  from  his 
brother  a  stock  of  yoods,  and  his  interest 
in  the  store,  which  he  had  opened  at  Chi- 
cago Junction,  and  in  partnership  with  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Alice  Bronson,  established  the 
present  business  in  dry  goods,  notions  and 
wall-paper.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  married  in 
February,  1890,  to  Mary  Keesy,  daughter 
of  Kev.  W.  Allen  Keesy,  mention  of  whom 
is  made  elsewhere  in  tliis  volume.  Mr. 
Wheeler  is  an  able  business  man,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  enterprises  for  the 
benefit  of  his  community. 


K.  CALLAGHAN,  editor  and  part 
proprietor  of  the  Bellevue  Gazette, 
was  born  at  Bellevue,  Ohio,  April 
12,  1861.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  and  parochial  schools,  and  when 
twelve  years  old  entered  a  printing  ofJice 
here,  and  devoted  his  youth  to  the  "art 
preservative  of  arts."  For  some  years  he 
worked  at  the  case,  mastering  every  detail 
of  the  work  in  the  office  of  a  weekly  news- 
paper, and  over  eleven  years  ago  became 
interested  in  the  Bellevue  Gazette,  pur- 
chasing an  interest  therein,  and'changing 
the  name  of  the   firm    to   C.  R.  Callacrhan 


&  Co.  The  Gazette  is  well  managed. 
Neutral  in  political  affairs,  it  is  never 
silent  wlien  a  wrong  has  to  be  righted,  or 
a  dangerous  candidate  unmasked.  In 
ordinary  local  affairs,  the  Gazette  is  an 
authentic  record.  Cor  it  is  the  aim  of  the 
editor  to  give  all  the  news  of  the  city  and 
tributary  district.  Its  certified  circulation 
is  1,400,  and  its  merits,  as  an  advertiser, 
are  acknowledged  by  the  number  and 
variety  of  businesses,  etc.,  which  seek  pub- 
licity through  its  columns. 

On  May  6,  1886,  Mr.  Callaghan  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Johanna 
Connors,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  daughter 
of  Patrick  Connors. 


jlOHN  E.  MENGES  (deceased)  was 
w  I  born  in  September,  1813,  in  Fayette 
\j)  township,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
youth  was  passed  in  the  tnanner  com- 
mon to  boys  of  that  time  and  place,  but 
before  his  boyhood  days  were  over  he  de- 
veloped a  rare  mechanical  genius,  and 
worked  at  several  trades  in  his  native 
county. 

In  1833  he  followed  his  father,  John 
Menges,  to  Ohio.  This  John  Mengeswas 
drowned  while  crossing;  Lake  Erie,  and  the 
son  came  hither  to  settle  the  estate  and 
take  care  of  the  property.  After  working 
for  some  time  on  a  farm  in  Greenfield 
township,  Huron  county,  he  moved  to 
Seneca  county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased 
land.  On  June  12,  1836,  he  was  there 
married  to  Margaret  Seed,  who  was  born 
May  25,  1819,  iu  New  York,  and  accom- 
panied her  parents  westward  to  Venice 
township,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Menges  died  May  12,  1839,  without 
issue,  and  was  buried  at  Attica,  Ohio.  On 
April  27,  1841,  he  married  Lydia  F.  Wil- 
bur, who  was  born  January  80,  1820,  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  In  1826  her  par- 
ents, Nathan  and  Esther  (Labarre)  Wilbur, 
settled  in  Sherman  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


221 


their  lives.  The  children  born  to  John  E. 
and  Lydia  Menijes  were:  Margaret  E., 
Mrs.  Alonzo  Simmons,  of  Fairfield,  Huron 
county;  Fhjra,  wife  of  Frank  Marriot,  a 
lawyer  of  Delaware,  Oliio;  and  Desse,  Mrs. 
Frank  R.  Williams,  of  Toledo,  Ohio. 

In  1855  Mr.  Menkes  came  to  Huron 
county,  locating  in  Fairfield  township; 
thence  removed  to  Greenfield  township, 
and  in  1878  settled  in  Peru  township, 
where  he  died  January  2(5, 1885.  He  was 
a  prosperous  merchant  at  Attica,  Seneca 
county,  and  later  carried  on  a  successful 
business  at  Fairfield,  before  establisliing 
his  farm  in  Greenfield  township.  AVhile 
a  resident  of  Peru  he  was  engaged  in  vari- 
ous enterprises,  at  that  place,  and  was 
known  as  a  most  active  and  enterprising 
citizen.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  was 
also  an  Abolitionist,  and  carried  his  prin- 
ciples into  practice  by  harboring  fugitive 
slaves.  In  religious  affairs  he  was  a  Wes- 
leyan  Methodist.  Since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Menges  his  widow  has  managed  the  busi- 
ness successfully.  The  manner  in  which 
she  transacts  the  affairs  of  the  estate  stamps 
her  as  a  woman  of  executive  ability,  and 
gives  proof  of  what  woman  may  accom- 
plish in  the  business  world.  Mrs.  Menges 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


/ 


tyifRS.  AMANDA  J.  SKILTON, 
^1  widow  of  Alvah  S.  Skilton,  is  the 
1[  oldest  child  of  John  Sowers  Davis 
and  his  wife,  Catharine  Pasco 
Nave. 

Mr.  Davis  was  born  in  Baltimore  county, 
Md.,  March  28,  1806.  He  was  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Ridgefield  township, 
having  accompanied  his  grandparents  to 
this  locality  when  a  mere  boy.  He  at- 
tended school  in  the  first  school  house 
built  in  Ridgefield  township.  In  early 
manhood  he  removed  to  Lexington,  and 
thence,  after  a  short  time,  to  Gallon.  He 
lived  in  Galion  twenty-eight  years,  and 
durinjr  his  residence  there  was  married  to 


Catharine  Pasco  Nave,  May  17, 1843.  She 
was  born  in  Path  Valley,  Franklin  Co., 
Penn.,  June  10,  1822,  and  moved  to  Galion 
with  her  father's  family  in  1839. 

In  1866  Mr.  Davis  with  his  family  re- 
turned to  Monroeville,  his  early  homcT  and 
there  he  lived  until  his  death  July  1, 1888. 
In  early  life  Mr.  Davis  was  a  farmer;  in 
middle  life  he  was  a  merchant  and  banker; 
his  last  years  were  spent  in  retirement 
from  active  business.  Mrs.  Davis  died  at 
the  family  homestead  in  Monroeville,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1890.  Four  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis:  Amanda  Jane, 
born  at  Galion,  married  Alvah  S.  Skilton; 
Jolinnie  and  Kittieljell,  liorn  at  Galion, 
died  in  infancy;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  at 
Monroeville,  married  Thomas  W.  Latham 
and  now  lives  in  her  father's  old  home. 

Elijah  Steel  Skilton  was  born  near  Wat- 
crtown.  Conn.,  May  17,  1800.  When  a 
young  man  he  left  his  boyhood  home  and 
taught  school  at  Hunter,  Greene  Co., 
N.  Y.  Here  he  was  married,  April  4, 1827, 
to  Elizabeth  Wilson,  who  was  born  at 
Hunter  March  5,  1805.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skilton  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Ra- 
venna, Portage  county.  Five  cliildren 
were  born  to  them:  Lucy  Cornelia,  John 
Wilson,  Jeannette  Parthenia,  Melicent 
Guernsey  and  Alvah  Stone.  Elizabeth 
Wilson  Skilton  died  near  Ravenna  October 
3,  1836.  Elijah  Skilton  was  subsequently 
married  a  second  and  a  third  time,  and 
died  at  his  home  near  Ravenna,  having 
passed  the  age  of  three  score  and  ten  years. 

Alvah  Stone  Skilton  was  the  son  of  p]li- 
jah  Steel  Skilton  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
Wilson.  He  was  born  near  Ravenna, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  April  12,  1836,  and 
when  but  six  months  old  was  left  mother- 
less. His  father  committed  him  to  the 
care  of  Jonathan  and  Catharine  Thompson, 
with  whom  he  lived  until  young  manhood. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  accompanied 
them  to  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  wdiere  they 
settled  in  a  locality  then  a  wilderness. 
When  he  left  the  home  of  the  Thompsons 


222 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Bellefontaiue 
et  Indianapolis  Kaih-oad  Company,  and 
was  soon  made  an  engineer,  retaining  this 
position  utitil  he  entered  the  Union  army. 
On  November  1,  1861,  Alvah  Skilton  en- 
listed in  the  Fifty-seventh  Regiment,  O. 
V.  I.,  and  on  the  tenth  of  the  following 
Fehruary  he  was  commissioned  captain  of 
Company  I  of  that  regiment.  Capt.  Skil- 
ton was  severely  wounded  in  tlie  right 
forearm  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6, 
1862,  and  returned  to  Ohio  on  sick  leave. 
When  sufhciently  recovered  from  the  ef- 
fects of  his  wonnd,  he  resumed  command 
of  his  company,  and  suljsequently  partici- 
pated in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  in 
many  battles,  among  them  being  those  at 
Missionary  Kidge,  Kesaca  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  Upon  three  occasions  he  re- 
ceived slight  wonnds,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  he  was  wounded 
and  captured.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  of 
war  at  Camp  Oglethorpe,  Macon,  Charles- 
ton, Columbia,  Asheville,  Saulsbury, 
Castle  Thunder  and  Libby.  He  escaped 
from  prison  several  times,  and  was  once 
within  sight  of  the  Union  camp  iires,  but 
was  recaptured  and  compelled  to  travel 
three  hundred  miles  on  foot  to  Asheville, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  and  his  com- 
panions were  confined  in  an  iron  cage. 
Among  his  papers  Capt.  Skilton  left  a 
diary  wiiich  he  kept  during  his  retention 
as  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  this  little  book 
tells  a  most  pathetic  story  of  prison  life  in 
Dixie.  Capt.  Skilton  was  released  from 
Libby  Prison  April  2,  1865,  and  on  tiie 
13th  of  the  same  month  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  army  he 
returned  to  Galion,  his  former  home,  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  On  De- 
cember 20,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amanda  J.,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
S.  Davis,  and  soon  afterward  the  newly 
married  couple  moved  to  Monroeville  with 
Mr.  Davis  and  family.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  spent;  in  Logansport,  Ind., 


Capt.  Skilton  resided  in  Monroeville  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  During  the  early 
part  of  his  residence  here  he  was  Express 
agent  for  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Kailway,  but  soon  engaged  in 
the  grain  and  commission  business,  con- 
tinuing therein  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  died  in  Monroeville  July  27,  1887, 
aged  fifty-one  years,  three  months,  fifteen 
days,  the  cause  of  his  death  being  a  car- 
buncle at  the  base  of  the  bi'ain.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  junior  warden  of  Zion 
Church,  Monroeville,  and  served  in  this 
capacity  until  he  died.  He  was  at  the 
time  of  his  death  chairman  of  the  Huron 
County  Soldiers'  Relief  Commission. 

Capt.  Skilton  was  'one  of  the  charter 
members  and  the  first  commander  of  Asa 
R.  Hillyer  Rost,  No.  532,  G.  A.  R.  He 
was  also  a  charter  member  of  Roby  Lodge, 
No.  534,  F.  i!c  A.  M.,  and  was  its  first 
worshipful  master.  He  was  a  member  of 
Huron  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  113,  Nor- 
walk  Council  No.  24,  and  Norwalk  Com- 
mandery  No.  18.  In  politics  Capt.  Skil- 
ton was  a  stanch  Republican. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Capt.  and 
Mrs.  Skilton — one  son  and  throe  daughters: 
The  Rev.  John  Davis  Skilton,  A.  M.,  is 
assistant  minister  in  Saint  Paul's  Parish, 
Cleveland;  Elizabeth  Roby,  Mary  Grace 
and  Catharine  Amanda  live  with  their 
widowed  mother  in  Monroeville  in  her 
pleasant  home,  which  embraces  a  part  of 
the  original  tract  purchased  by  her  ances- 
tors when  they  settled  in  the  wilderness 
during  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 


CHARLES  A.  SUTTON,  a  son  of  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  northern  Ohio, 
was  born  July  4,  1844,  in  Green- 
wich township,  Huron  county. 
Aranson  Sutton,  his  father,  was  born 
April  1,  1802,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y. 
While  yet  a  boy  his  father  died,  and, 
transferred  to  an  uncle's  care,  the  youth 
received  a  practical  training  in  farm  work, 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OniO. 


223 


and  the  education  whicli  the  early  frontier 
schools  afforded.  In  1822  or  1823  he 
was  employed  ])y  the  Erie  Canal  Com- 
pany at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  as  bookkeeper, 
liaviiig  charge  also  of  all  the  storehouses, 
and  keeping  the  time  of  all  the  workmen. 
For  his  services  he  received  twenty  dollars 
per  month,  and  after  accumulating  about 
three  hundi-ed  dollars  he  set  out,  in  1824, 
for  the  '-Firelands"  in  Ohio,  traveling  by 
canal  and  lake  boat.  He  landed  at  San- 
dusky, and  proceeded  on  foot  soutliward  to 
Huron  county,  where  he  passed  his  first 
night  in  the  cabin  of  Willis  Smith,  in 
Greenwich  township;  thence  he  walked  to 
Ruggles  township,  Ashland  county,  where 
he  joined  a  twin  brother  and  a  man  named 
Carver  in  the  purchase  of  a  tract  of  wild 
land.  His  marriage  with  Emeline  Brady 
took  place  in  1828.  She  was  born  in 
AVestchester  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1812,  and 
came  to  Greenwich  township  with  her 
parents  when  a  child.  The  children  born 
to  tliem  are  as  follows:  Charity,  born  No- 
veinber  29,  182'.),  married  Hiram  Town- 
send,  and  died  August  ;J1,  1892,  at  Cleve- 
land; Mary  J.,  born  March  9,  1832,  is  the 
widow  of  Harvey  Noble;  Sarah  A.,  born 
September  2,  1837,  married  Dr.  William 
Reynolds,  and  died  in  April,  1885,  in 
Seneca  county,  Ohio;  Louisa,  born  No- 
vember 27,  1838,  Mrs.  James  Fancher,  of 
Greenwich  township;  and  Charles  A.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  of  this 
family  was  accidentally  killed  November 
17,  1870,  by  being  run  over  by  a  wagon 
loaded  with  wood.  On  January  28,  1873, 
his  widow  died,  in  hospital,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  she  was  under  treatment; 
both  were  buried  in  East  Greenwich  ceme- 
tery. Aranson  Sutton  was  a  systematic 
farmer.  At  one  time  he  hauled  a  load  of 
wool  to  Greenwich  depot  which  brought 
him  over  two  thousand  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars. He  made  money  out  of  every  other 
venture  as  well  as  agriculture  and  stock 
growing,  and  at  one  time  was  owner  of 
700  acres  here.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,   until  the   IVee-soil    movement 


won  him.  When  the  Republican  party 
was  established  in  Ohio  he  cast  his  politi- 
cal lot  with  it,  and  was  faithful  to  its 
principles  until  his  death;  lie  tilled  almost 
every  township  office,  and  for  fifteen  years 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  during  wliich 
time  he  performed  more  marriage  care- 
monies  than  any  contemporary  justice  in 
the  southern  half  of  Huron  county,  and 
became  a  believer  in  secular  marriage.  He 
was  an  exhorter  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  always  held  an  importaiit 
office  in  that  body.  A  liberal  contributor 
to  the  religious  organizations  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, lie  won  the  reputation  of  being 
both  tolerant  and  benevolent. 

Charles  A.  Sutton  was  reared  in  the 
manner  common  to  contemporary  youth, 
working  on  the  farm  for  nine  months  and 
attending  school  in  winter  until  he  entered 
Berea  University.  He  afterward  studied 
for  eight  months  in  Oberliu  College,  and 
later  took  up  telegraphy  and  bookkeeping, 
and,  refusing  the  offer  of  his  father  to 
educate  him  in  any  college  in  the  United 
States  he  would  select,  returned  to  the 
farm,  preferring  to  be  a  useful  rather  than 
an  ornamental  citizen.  Ou  April  28, 1870, 
he  married  Ann  E.,  dauirhter  of  Benson 
and  Esther  (Rickard)  Ellis,  who  came  from 
Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  in 
Greenwich  township.  Mrs.  Sutton  was 
born  in  this  township,  July  16,  1845,  and 
here,  too,  the  following  named  children 
were  born  to  her:  Edward  A.,  born  April 
2, 1872,  now  residing  at  Oberlin;  William 
B.,  born  May  30,  1875,  and  Charles  D., 
born  February  17,  1880,  botli  residing  at 
home.  After  marriage  the  young  couple 
took  up  their  residence  in  the  Sutton  home, 
and  the  improvements  which  have  been 
made  here  since  1880  speak  for  the  owner's 
progressive  ideas.  In  that  year  tlie  capa- 
cious barn  was  constructed,  and  in  1883 
the  elegant  brick  residetice  which  now 
adorns  the  farm  was  erected,  these  being 
the  two  jirincipal  improvements.  Fences, 
small  buildintrs  and  drainajje  have  been 
carefully  looked  after  and  restored,  and  the 


224 


IIUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


old  farm  revamped  as  it  were,  until  now 
it  is  as  fertile  as  it  was  when  first  reclaimed 
from  the  wilderness.  Mr.  Sutton  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  a  Methodist  in 
cburcli  connection.  For  the  past  twelve 
years  he  lias  served  the  townsliip  as  school 
director,  and  has  taken  a  personal,  active 
interest  in  all  measures  which  appeared  to 
him  to  promise  benefits  to  the  township 
and  county. 


-HARLES  D.  STONER,  member  of 
tiie  well-known  lumber  firm  of  Gross 
&  Stoner,  Ijellevue,  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Hannah  (Webb)  Stoner,  natives 

of  New  York  State,  and  grandson  of 

Stoner,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
from  Germany  about  the  close  of  the  last 
century  or  the  hecrinnins;  of  the  present  one. 
Ciiarles  D.  Stoner  was  born  in  1835  in 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  and  when  fifteen 
years  old  accompanied  his  parents  to  Wis- 
consin, in  which  State  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. In  later  years  he  made  tlie  trip  to 
Pike's  Peak,  and  after  his  return  located 
at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  where  for  several  years 
be  was  connected  with  tiie  Conneaut  Re- 
porter. In  1876  he  removed  to  Rellevue, 
became  interested  in  the  publication  of  the 
Gazette,  of  which  paper  he  later  became 
sole  proprietor.  Over  eleven  years  ago  he 
sold  a  half  interest  to  Mr.  C.  R.  Callaghan, 
in  partnership  with  whom  he  still  conducts 
the  paper.  Notwithstanding  his  mercan- 
tile and  manufacturing  interests,  he  still 
finds  tia)e  to  devote  to  newspaper  work, 
and  may  often  be  found  in  the  Gazette 
office,  busy  at  the  case  or  at  the  editorial 
talde.  Some  time  after  locating  in  Belle- 
viie,  Mr.  Stoner  established  a  boot  and 
shoe  store,  subsequently  adding  a  full  line 
of  men's  furnishing  goods,  and  he  did  a 
most  satisfactory  business  until  1888,  when 
he  closed  out  the  stock.  In  that  year  he 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  lumber 
yard  and  planing  mill,  and  directed  his  at- 
tention to  the  development  of  the  trade 
and  industry.    This  is  the  only  concern  of 


the  kind  at  Bellevue,  and  is  the  supply 
depot  for  a  large  area.  The  owners  are 
practical  business  men,  who  understand 
the  principles  of  low  profits,  quick  sales 
and  prompt  returns.  Mr.  Stoner  takes 
charge  of  the  office,  and  directs  the  sales 
department,  while  Mr.  Gross  gives  direct 
attention  to  the  planing  mill  and  stock. 

Mr.  Stoner  was  married  at  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Fowler,  and  to  this 
marriage  was  born  one  child,  Susan,  wlio 
resides  with  her  parents.  Mr.  Stoner  is  a 
RepTiblican,  and  has  at  all  times  been  faith- 
ful to  his  party.  He  is  well  known  in 
Masonic  circles.  While  not  a  Church 
member,  he  is  a  strong  supporter  of  re- 
ligious effort,  and  always  gives  financial 
aid  thereto.  As  a  citizen  he  is  broad- 
gauged  and  enterprising,  and  must  be 
credited  with  a  large  share  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Bellevue's  interests.  (Since  the 
above  was  written  we  have  been  informed 
of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  Stoner  in  his 
office,  January  16,  1898. — Ed. 


tJIfATTHEW    GREGORY,    son    of 

\[/\     George  and  Polly  (Warring)  Greg- 

1|    ory,  vvas  born  July  7,  1829,  on  the 

J)  same   farm    which    he   now   owns 

and    resides    upon    in    Clarksfield 

township. 

Geoi'ge  Gregory,  his  father,  was  born 
November  12, 1786,  atWiltou,  Fairfield  Co., 
Conn.,  and  there  attended  school  until  ap- 
prenticed to  a  saddle-tree  maker,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  learned  the 
trade.  On  December  31,  1810,  he  mar- 
ried Polly  Wari'ing,  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Jiutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  where  she 
was  born  November  25,  1792.  In  his 
earlier  years  he  was  a  very  active  man. 
After  his  marriage  he  followed  his  trade 
until  1828,  when  he  set  out  with  his 
family  for  Ohio.  The  journey  was  made 
by  river  and  canal  to  Lake  Erie,  thence  by 
boat  to  Huron,  Erie  county,  from  which 
point  they  came  by  wagon  to  Clarksfield 


IIUUON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


225 


Hollow,  ill  Clarkstield  township,  Huron 
county,  lie  learned  that  his  trade  was  of 
little  value  in  northern  Ohio,  and  resolving 
to  become  a  farmer  purchased  112  acres  in 
the  southern  section  of  the  township. 
With  the  exception  of  fifteen  acres,  on 
which  stood  an  old  and  rude  cabin,  the 
tract  was  completely  wild,  but  the  forest 
was  full  of  game,  and  accordingly  there 
was  no  lack  of  animal  food.  He  worked 
early  and  late  in  clearing  this  tract,  and, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  June  16,  1865, 
left  a  valuable  property  to  his  widow  and 
children.  The  widow  died  December  29, 
1883,  and  was  buried  in  Prosser  cemetery, 
New  London  township,  near  the  grave  of 
her  husband. 

The  children  of  George  and  Polly  Greg- 
ory were  as  follows:  One  child  born  Oc- 
tober 22,  1811,  died  in  infancy;  James  L., 
born  August  19,  1813,  died  in  Clarkstield 
township,  July  11,  1863;  Mary  E.,  born 
September  23,  1815,  married  llichard  Fan- 
ning, and  died  July  15,  1844;  Peter  L., 
born  May  11,  1818,  resides  at  Minneapo- 
lis. Minn.;  Charles  W.,  born  February  27, 
1821,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  followed  his 
trade  until  his  death  in  New  London 
township;  Abbey  L.,  born  August  30, 
1823,  the  widow  of  J.  M.  Darling,  of 
Sandusky,  Ohio;  Ann  M.,  born  December 
3,  1826,  who  married  L.  J.  Smith,  died  in 
Clarkstield  township;  and  Matthew,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  All  were  born  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  e.xcept  the  last  named. 

Matthew  Gregory  is  one  of  the  few  per- 
sons in  this  county  who  can  boast  of  living 
on  the  home  farm  for  so  long  a  time  as 
from  1828  to  1893.  He  received  a  pri- 
mary education  in  a  school  near  his  father's 
house,  and  otherwise  was  reared  in  the 
manner  of  pioneer  boys.  On  May  11, 
1854,  he  married  Harriet  C.  Rogers,  born 
October  13,  1832,  in  Wayne  county,  N.  Y., 
a  dangliter  of  Joel  and  Betsy  (Ells)  Rogers, 
who  came  to  Ohio  in  November,  1832. 
Their  entire  married  life  has  been  passed 
on  the  home  farm,  of  which  Matthew  took 


charge  after  his  father's  death.  Republi- 
can in  politics,  he  is  content  to  cast  his 
vote  for  the  nominees  of  the  party,  witli- 
out  going  into  the  maelstrom  of  the  cam- 
paign. In  social  matters  he  has  always 
taken  a  leading  part;  he  is  one  of  the  |)il- 
lars  of  Grange  No.  1174,  and  except  for 
one  year  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Associa- 
tion since  its  organization.  Lie  is  a  sys- 
tematic, practical  farmer,  successful  in  all 
his  undertakings;  and  he  is  now  enjoying 
the  rewards  of  years  of  well-directed  labor. 
Mrs.  Gregory  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Society  of  Barrett's  Chapel. 


llLLIAM  E.  BRAMLEY,  foreman 

in  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
shops  at  Chicago  Junction,  was 
born  in  1848  at  Nottingham, 
England.  In  1849  his  parents  emigrated 
from  their  native  country,  and  arriving  in 
the  United  States,  located  at  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. 

Some  time  later  the  family  moved  to 
Zanesville,  Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
William  E.  was  apprenticed  to  the  ma- 
chinist's trade,  which  he  learned  in  the 
shops  where  he  subsequently  worked  as  a 
regular  mechanic.  His  term  of  service 
was  three  and  one-half  years,  and  in  this 
time  he  became  a  thorough  mechanic. 
Removing  to  Dennison,  Ohio,  he  worked 
in  the  shops  there  for  two  years,  when  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  P.  C.  C.  &  St. 
L.  Railroad  Company,  as  fireman.  In  the 
course  of  fourteen  months  he  was  promoted 
to  engineer,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
that  company  for  five  years.  In  1874  he 
came  to  Chicago  Junction,  and  at  different 
times  worked  in  shops  and  ran  a  yard 
engine.  For  several  years  he  has  been 
foreman  of  the  shops  here,  and  in  that  re- 
sponsible j)Osition  has  given  satisfaction  to 
his  employers  as  well  as  to  his  fellow  em- 
ployes. Sober,  economical,  industrious  and 
competent,  he  has  accumulated  a  compe- 
tence, and  is  the  owner  of  a  comfortable 


226 


nUEON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


home  just  outside  of  the  town.  A  strong 
advocate  of  temperance,  he  encourages  the 
practice  of  this  great  virtue  amoufj  the 
men  with  whom  he  is  associated,  and  has 
seen  the  good  results  of  his  example  and 
teachinuf. 

Mr.  Bramley  has  been  twice  married. 
In  1876  he  was  united  with  Jennie  C. 
Lewis,  who  died  in  1884,  leaving  three 
children:  Libbie,  Loula,  and  Jennie  (who 
died  when  one  year  old).  His  second 
marriage,  which  took  place  in  1887,  was 
with  Mrs.  Amanda  (Miller)  Halin,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Miller  and  a  native  of  Chi- 
cago Junction.  Mrs.  JBramley  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps.  Mr. 
Bramley  is  a  Republican,  but  not  a  parti- 
san. He  joined  the  Masonic  Fraternity  in 
1876  at  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  since  that 
time  has  become  a  member  of  the  Chapter, 
R.  A.  He  desires  it  to  be  here  recorded 
that  he  has  become  a  follower  of  Christ; 
that  under  the  revival  of  Miss  Jennie 
Smith  he  crave  his  heart  to  Cod,  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  with  his  wife.  He  is  also  a  useful 
worker  in  the  Temperance  cause,  in  con- 
nection with  which  the  organization  known 
as  the  ''  Railroad  Temperance  Association  " 
was  recently  started. 


QEORGE  JOINER,  than  whom  there 
,   is  no  more  highly  respected  citizen 
in  Norwich  township,  where  he  has 
,  1.   his    home,    is    a    native    of    Huron 
county,  born  in  Greenfield  township 
in  1839. 

Ralph  Joiner,  his  father,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam Joiner,  was  born  in  Slielburne  Falls, 
Mass.,  July  28,  1804.  At  the  age  of  seven 
years  he  was  bound  out  by  his  mother,  till 
twenty-one  years  old,  to  one  Smead,  a  tan- 
ner and  currier  and  shoemaker,  with  whom 
he  worked  his  full  time,  and  then  took  a 
sea  voyage  from  Boston  to  Cuba  and  the 
West    India    Islands,    in    the   capacity   of 


ship's  cook.  After  this  voyage  he  com- 
menced the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  makinsj 
in  Deertield,  Mass.,  continuing  in  same 
five  years.  He  then  took  another  trip, 
this  time  through  the  State  of  Illinois,  to 
New  Orleans,  down  the  Ohio  river,  and  to 
Sandusky  City,  Ohio,  thence  to  Greenfield 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  to  a  brother's 
(Osias  Joiner),  where  he  made  his  home 
until  he  was  married.  In  the  fall  of  1835 
he  took  charge  of  a  grocery  store  for  Mack- 
intire  Beemer,  at  Greenfield  Center,  Ohio, 
remaining  a  year  and  a  half.  On  August 
3,  1837,  Mr.  Ralph  Joiner  was  married  to 
Miss  Eliza  liischo,  born  August  5,  1817,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Inscho,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  nine  children,  their  names 
and  dates  of  birth  being  as  follows:  George 
(subject  of  this  sketch).  May  24,  1839; 
Richard  M.,  May  31,  1841  (deceased); 
Ralph  C,  June  23,  1843;   Harriet,  June 

28,  1845  (deceased);  Charles,  August  1, 
1847;  Charlotte  L.,  April  28,1850;  Frank 
P.,  December  29,  1852;  Benjamin  F.,  Au- 
gust 14, 1855,  and  Augusta  Arminda,  July 

29,  1862  (deceased).  The  father  of  this 
family  died  in  1877,  of  cancer  in  the  hand. 
The  mother,  now  in  the  seventy-seventh 
year  of  her  age,  is  at  the  present  writing 
visiting  her  three  sons,  who  are  residents 
of  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan. 

Robert  Inscho,  father  of  Mrs.  Ralph 
Joiner,  was  Iwni  in  New  Jersey  in  1765; 
moved  to  Virginia  in  1806,  whence  after 
a  residence  there  he  canie  to  New  Haven 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
farm  that  is  now  owned  by  a  grandchild 
of  his.  Some  time  in  the  "forties"  he 
moved  to  Noble  county,  Ind.,  and  there 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 

George  Joiner,  subject  of  sketch,  was 
I'eared  to  farm  work,  and  has  ever  since 
been  successful  in  his  agricultural  labors. 
Before  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  bought 
thirty- eight  acres  of  land  in  Greenfield 
township,  and  in  1861  he  came  to  Norwich 
township,  where  he  worked  by  the  month 
for  Wesley  Robinson,  and  also  hauled  wood 
for  the  i-ailroad,  making  good  wages.     He 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


227 


then  took  up  fanning  ou  liis  present  place 
in  Norwich  township,  tirst  buying  eigiity 
acres,  to  which  lie  has  from  time  to  time 
added  until  lie  now  has  227i  acres  of  as 
tine  land  as  can  be  found  in  tlie  township. 
In  1860  Mr.  Joiner  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Doncer,  of  Norwich  township, 
Huron  county,  daughter  of  George  Don- 
cer, and  their  home  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children,  namely:  Wesley  C,  born 
August  8,  1861;  Sarah  J.,  boi'n  February 
4,  1864;  Clara  E.,  born  August  12,  1867; 
Alice  I.,  born  November  13,  1869,  and 
George  Henry  Harrison,  born  August  18, 
1876.  A  Republican  since  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war,  onr  subject  has  held 
some  offices  in  his  township  with  character- 
istic abilit}'  and  fidelity — notably  having 
served  on  the  board  of  education,  and  as 
district  clerk.  Together  with  his  wife  he 
holds  to  the  tenets  of  the  U.  B.  Church  of 
Chicago,  Ohio. 


dlOHN  DRURY.  Prominent  among 
the  successful  agriculturists  of  Huron 
^  county  who  till  the  soil  and  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  labor,  ranks  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biographical  sketch,  who  de- 
votes his  time  and  attention  to  farming, 
and  realizes  that  judgment  and  executive 
ability  are  needed  to  successfully  carry  on 
his  chosen  occupation. 

His  father,  Jonathan  M.  Drury,  was 
born  February  24,  1809,, in  Worthington, 
Mass.,  and  inherited  all  of  the  energy  and 
ambition  characteristic  of  that  section  of 
the  United  States.  His  childhood  and 
early  manhood  were  passed  in  his  native 
State,  and  he  there  leai'iied  habits  of  thrift 
that  served  him  well  through  after  life.  In 
1837  he  visited  Ohio,  and  in  the  following 
year  located  in  this  State,  and  in  1844  he 
took  possession  of  the  farm  upon  which  he 
and  his  son  now  reside.  He  has  devoted 
his  whole  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
owns  one  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land, 
situated  a  mile  from  Bellevne.  Mr.  Drury 
wa.-i  married  in  March,  1836,  to  Miss  Abi- 


gail M.  Knowlton,  of  Vei'mont,  and  three 
children  blessed  their  union,  viz.:  John 
(our  subject),  and  Pollen  and  Carrie  (both 
of  whom  died  at  an  early  age).  This  wife 
died  May  8,  1847.  He  afterward  married 
Mrs.  Clarissa  B.  Wrisley,  of  Massachu- 
setts, who  died  December  20,  1887.  By 
his  second  marriage  he  has  one  child, 
]\Iyron  M.  (now  located  in  Chicago).  Mr. 
Drury  has  been  a  member  of  the  Lyme 
Congregational  Church  for  over  fifty  years, 
and  a  deacon  in  the  same  for  a  great 
length  of  time. 

John  Drury  was  born  March  7,  1847, 
in  Lyme  township.  He  has  always  re- 
sided at  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  has 
taken  a  great  interest  in  the  religious,  so- 
cial and  educational  progress  of  the  com- 
munity. In  1871  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Ida  M.  Cowle,  of  Bellevue, 
daughter  of  John  Cowle,  who  settled  in 
Huron  county  as  early  as  1835.  Of  this 
marriage  one  child  was  born,  a  daughter, 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Drury  died  in 
1887.  In  May,  1889,  Mr.  Drury  married 
Mrs.  Josephine  W.  Nims,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  AVright.  Mrs.  Drury's 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  James 
Ford,  who  settled  on  the  Ridge  in  1833. 
Mr.  Drury  makes  his  home  on  the  farm 
once  owned  by  his  father,  and  every  year 
makes  improvements  both  in  the  way  of 
building  and  in  carrying  out  modern  ideas 
in  his  farming  operations.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drury  are  members  of  the  Lyme  Congre- 
gational Church,  of  which  they  are  liberal 
supporters.  He  has  been  superintendent 
of  the  Lyme  Sabbath-school  since    1882. 


[f  GRACE  B.  SILLIMxVN,  who  is  a 
son  of  ff oseph  and  grandson  of  Jus- 
tus Sill i man,  was  born  in  1832  in 
Fairfield  county.  Conn.  Justus 
Silliman  was  a  farmer  of  Fairfield 
county.  Conn.,  a  descendant  of  English 
colonists  of  New  England.  In  early  man- 
hood   he    married    Ruth   Jennings,  and  to 


228 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


this  union  were  born  nine  cliildien:  Jo- 
sepli,  Isaac,  Abijali.  Daniel,  Stephen,  Abby, 
Morinda,  Sally  and  Ruth.  Justus  Silliinan 
died  on  the  faiin,  where  he  and  his  wife 
passed  the  greater  part  of  their  lives. 

Joseph  Silliman  was  born  in  1790  in 
Fairfield  count}',  Conn.,  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  the  farm,  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  the  school  of  the  district,  and  later 
taujjfht  school  there.  In  1812  he  married 
Lucinda  Banks,  who  was  born  in  1792  in 
Fairfield  county,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Banks,  a  farniei-  of  that  county.  After 
marriage  the  young  couple  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Fairfield  county,  where  they  re- 
sided until  death  removed  them.  •  Of  their 
three  children,  George  migrated  to  Ohio, 
settled  in  Fairfield  township,  Huron  county, 
and  died  on  his  farm ;  Sarah  married  Cor- 
nelius Benedict,  of  Connecticut,  and  died 
in  1845;  and  Horace  B.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  in  1887.  Josepli  Silliman  was  a 
slanch  Democrat,  and  served  as  sheriff  of 
Fairfield  county.  Conn.,  and  in  nearly  all 
the  ofiices  of  his  township. 

Horace  B.  Silliman  passed  his  boyhood 
(jn  the  farm  in  Connecticut,  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  in  1855  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Abigail  Hawkins,  also  a  native  of  Fairfield 
(iounty.  The  same  year  he  came  to  Kipley 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  liringing  with 
him  a  capital  of  three  thousand  dollars. 
How  judiciously  this  capital  was  invested 
may  be  learned  from  the  farm  and  home 
of  Mr.  Silliman,  for  his  lands  now  com- 
prise 225  acres  of  as  pi'oductive  a  tract  as 
exists  in  the  "Firelands"  region.  While 
giving  close  personal  attention  to  this 
beautiful  farm,  he  is  also  interested  in 
stock  growing,  and  deals  extensively  in 
fine  cattle.  A  Democrat  in  political  faith, 
he  has  been  elected  to  several  offices,  such 
as  trustee,  in  his  township,  in  the  face  of 
the  fact  that  the  Republicans  are  in  the 
majority  there.  Twice  he  was  nominated 
for  county  commissioner,  once  for  county 
treasui'er  and  once  for  Infirmary  director, 


and  polled  a  very  large  vote.  He  is  one  of 
the  "wheel-horses"  of  his  party  in  Huron 
county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silliman  have  been 
born  the  following  named  children: 
Georgiana,  J.  W.,  Francis  L.,  Dwight, 
Edward,  Clara,  Mary,  Ella;  there  were 
others,  who  died  in  infancy;  Georgiana  is 
deceased;  the  rest  reside  on  the  homestead. 


P)ETER  HOHLER.  In  1834  John 
Hohler  and  his  wife,  accompanied 
by  their  four  sons,  emigrated  from 
Baden,  Germany,  and  landed  in 
New  York,  September  14,  1834. 
They  there  met  an  old  actpiaintance  who 
had  previously  settled  in  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  and  through  his  representations  were 
induced  to  proceed  thither.  The  trip  was 
made  by  way  of  Lake  Erie,  and  on  arriv- 
ing in  Peru,  Huron  county,  October  8, 
John  Hohler  bought  ninety-six  acres  of 
heavily  timbered  land  in  that  township, 
only  a  small  portion  of  which  was  cleared. 
With  the  characteristic  energy  of  their 
race,  father  and  sons  cleared  the  land, 
erected  a  comfortable  log  cabin  to  which 
they  afterward  made  several  additions,  and 
finally  converted  the  cabin  into  a  barn, 
after  building  the  present  commodious 
dwelling.  The  sons,  all  of  whom  united 
their  efforts  on  the  old  place  until  each  one 
had  secured  a  home,  were  as  follows: 
Frank  Joseph,  who  is  supposed  to  have 
been  killed  in  the  Mexican  war;  Peter, 
whose  sketch  follows;  Frederick,  who  died 
in  Peru  township  in  November,  1863, 
leaving  seven  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living  in  Huron  county,  three  in  Cleve- 
land, one  in  Kansas,  and  one  in  Alaska; 
and  Philip  C,  who  died  in  January,  1804, 
in  Peru  township.  The  father  died  in 
1849,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  and  in 
1864  the  mother  was  laid  beside  him,  after 
having  entered  her  eightieth  year.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Peter  Hohler,  the  only  living  represent- 
ative  of   his   family,   was    born   July    12, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


229 


1815,  in  Baden,  Germany.  He  attended 
the  German  schools,  his  knowledge  of  En- 
glifch  having  been  seemed  solely  by  prac- 
tical experience.  When  the  old  estate  was 
divided,  he  came  into  possession  of  the 
liomestead,  and  from  poverty  rapidly  rose 
to  attiuence,  being  now  one  of  the  wealth- 
iest men  of  the  community.  In  1842  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret 
Glassnes,  a  native  of  Germany,  whose 
])arents  Ciinie  to  America  in  the  same  year 
as  the  Ilohler  family.  Mrs.  Holder  died 
in  1889,  since  which  time  Peter  Hohler 
has  made  his  home  principally  witii  Mrs. 
Brown  (a  niece  of  his  deceased  wife),  of 
the  German  settlement  in  Bronson  town- 
ship, right  opposite  his  old  farm,  which 
after  his  wife's  death  he  did  not  like  to 
have  anything  more  to  do  with.  He  deeded 
llOi  acres  to  a  son  of  his  brother  Fred- 
erick, named  Leo  Holder,  whom  they  took 
(after  his  father's  death)  at  the  age  of  four 
years,  and  brought  up.  In  consideration 
of  this  he  has  to  pay  to  each  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters  a  certain  sum  after  the 
death  of  Peter  Hohler. 

Our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  local  politics;  he  iias 
served  as  township  trustee,  assessor  and  in 
other  ofKces  of  trust.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 


TERRY,  D.  D.  S.,  is  the  first  den- 
tist of  Norwalk,  and  one  of  the  old- 
est living  dental  practitioners  in  the 
State  of  Ohio.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  corporal  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  his  son.  Ira  Terry,  was  born  in 
Long  Ishmd.  N.  Y.  Ira  Terry  was  mar- 
ried to  Fannie  Skinner,  whose  parents  were 
natives  of  New  York. 

A.  Terry,  son  of  Ira  and  Fannie  (Skin- 
ner) Terry,  was  born  in  1824,  in  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  commenced  the 
study  of  dentistry.  In  the  autumn  of 
1850  he  came  to  Ohio,    l)ut    returnintr  to 


New  York  in  1851,  he  there  remained  a 
few  months,  and  then  located  in  Plymouth, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He  soon  afterward 
moved  to  Monroeville,  same  county,  and 
the  following  June  again  returned  to  New 
York.  In  1853  he  made  a  permanent  lo- 
cation in  Norwalk,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  During  the  war  Dr.  Terry  did 
not  serve  as  a  soldier,  but  after  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg  left  his  office  in  charge  of 
an  assistant,  and  went  to  the  field  to  aid  in 
caring  for  the  wounded,  paying  hia  own 
expenses.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Northern  Ohio  Dental  Association.  In 
early  manhood  the  Doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  M.  I.  Clapp,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  who  bore  him  five  children, 
namely:  Two,  Fred  and  Fannie,  deceased 
when  young;  Ida,  wife  of  C.  L.  Rue;  Al- 
fred D.  and  Bessie,  the  latter  being  married 
to  J.  E.  Clive. 


THOMAS  W.  LATHAM.  Among 
the  wealthy  young  citizens  and  en- 
ergetic real-estate  men  of  Monroe- 
ville, this  gentleman  occupies  the 
position  of  a  popular  leader.  He  is 
a  son  of  Hiram  Latham,  and  a  grandson 
of  AVolcott  Latham,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  a  pioneer  settler  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio. 

Hiram  Latham  was  born  in  Huron 
county,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Lyme.  He  was  married 
to  Mary  Evans,  a  native  of  England,  who 
has  borne  hira  four  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Thomas  W.  lieing  second  in  order  of  birth. 
Our  subject  was  born  October  17,  1864, 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
reared  to  manhood,  being  educated  at  the 
Ada  Normal  School,  after  which  he  took  a 
business  course  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
After  leaving  school  he  passed  two  years 
in  Corwith,  Iowa,  being  there  coniiected 
with  his  cousin,  Frank  Latham,  in  the 
milling  and  grain  business;  and  upon  re- 
turning to  Ohio,  entered  a  hardware  estali- 
lishment  with  R.  G.  Martin,  selling  out  in 


230 


JIl'RON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1887.  Soon  after  this  he  opened  a  real- 
estate  and  insurance  l:)usiness,  meeting 
with  signal  success  in  this  enterprise.  On 
June  2-3,  1S89,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  S.  Davis, 
at  one  time  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Monroeville,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  born  one  son,  Davis  Wolcott. 
Mr.  Latham  owns  several  hundred  acres 
of  tine  farming  land  near  Monroeville,  and 
deals  extensively  in  all  departments  of  real 
estate.  In  politics  he  is  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party,  being  at 
present  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee,  treasurer  of  the  corporation, 
and  a  member  of  the  school  board.  Socially 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
and  also  a  member  of  the  Norwalk  Com- 
mandery.  Knights  Temj)lar,  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
lie  is  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Industry, 
an  organization  established  for  the  im- 
provement  of  Monroeville,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  all  matters  of  public 
improvements. 

In  religious  faith  Mr.  Latham  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Zion  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
he  is,  at  present,  vestryman  and  treasurer. 
He  possesses  an  unusually  energetic  nature, 
and  well  merits  his  reputation  as  an  enter- 
prising, prosperous  business  man. 


TfffENRY    S.   ARNERT,   one   of    the 
|p4     successful  farmers  and  stock  grow- 
I     1[    ers  of  nortliern   Ohio,   now  a  resi- 
•^  dent    of    Fitchville    township,    was 

born  May  20, 1831,  in  Yates  county. 
New  York. 

Uriah  T.  Arnert  (son  of  James  Arnert, 
who  died  in  Ilartland  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio)  was  born  March  12,  1806,  in 
Yates  county,  N.  Y.  The  school  and  farm 
were  the  tasks  of  his  boyhood,  and  the 
farm  the  work  of  his  youth.  In  1827  he 
married  Catherine  Townsend,  who  was  born 
January  13,  1S09,  in  Yates  county;  N.  Y., 
near  the  birthplace  of  her  husband.    There 


three  children  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows: George  T.,  December  24, 1S27;  Mary 
E.,  March  21, 1829,  and  Henry  S.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  George  and  Mary,  just 
named,  died  in  their  native  county,  while 
Henry  S.  was  brought  to  Ohio  early  in 
1832  by  his  parents.  The  journey  from 
Buffalo  to  Hui'on,  Ohio,  was  made  on  the 
"Sheldon  Thomson,"  and  from  Huron  to 
Hartland  township,  Huron  county,  they 
traveled  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  oxen. 

Arriving  here,  Mr.  Arnert  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  at  twenty  shillings 
per  acre.  The  tract  was  clothed  with  heavy 
timber,  and  water  submerged  a  large  part 
of  the  land,  but  the  pioneer  went  bravely 
to  work,  erected  a  rude  cabin,  and  began 
the  task  of  clearing.  His  success  was 
assured  from  the  beginning:  a  better  dwell- 
ing  house  took  the  place  of  the  cabin,  and 
improvements  were  carried  out  until  he 
sold  the  place  and  moved  to  Townsend 
township.  About  the  year  1860  he  located 
in  New  London  township,  where  he  died 
in  1863.  He  was  buried  in  Ilartland 
Ridge  cemetery. 

The  children  born  in  Ohio  to  Uriah  T. 
and  Catherine  Arnert  are  as  follows:  Sarah 
C,  born  April  2,  1833,  is  the  wife  of 
Thaddeus  Sprague,  of  Wakeinan  town- 
ship; Phoebe  J.,  born  October  12, 1885,  is 
the  wife  of  Birdsall  French,  of  Erie 
county,  Ohio;  Dolly  A.,  born  February 
10,  1838,  married  AVillnir  Jefferson,  and 
lives  in  Norwalk;  Catherine  C,  born  Oc- 
tober 4,  1840,  married  Edwin  Burney,  and 
died  in  New  London;  Uriah  B.,  born  April 
4,  1843,  enlisted  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  serving  with  Company  B,  Third 
Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry,  until  his  death  in 
Tennessee,  in  1862;  Cyrus  D.,  born  Au- 
gust 23,  1845,  is  now  residing  at  Bir- 
mingham, Ohio;  and  Frank,  born  February 
12,  1852,  died  in  1860.  Mr.  Arnert  was 
a  Whig  prior  to  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  of  which  he  then  be- 
came a  member.  In  Church  connection 
he  was  a  Methodist.  His  success  in  Ohio 
was  a  decided  one,  so  that,  at  his  death,  he 


TlUIiOlsr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


231 


left  to  his  family  a  valuable  property.  His 
widow  married  Henry  Riinyan,  aud  now 
resides  at  New  London. 

Henry  S.  Arnert  was  bronght  to  Huron 
county  in  infancy,  grew  to  manhood  here, 
and  became  closely  associated  with  its 
affairs.  He  received  a  primary  education, 
his  first  teacher  being  Julia  Ann  Crine, 
but  the  fact  that  he  was  the  eldest  son 
militated  against  him  in  the  matter  of 
education,  for  work  on  the  farm  had  to  be 
attended  to,  in  pioneer  days,  by  the  chil- 
dren as  well  as  by  the  adults  of  the  family. 
He  worked  on  the  homestead  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  old.  On  February  27, 
1862,  he  married  Julia  A.  Barker,  who 
was  born  October  31,  1829,  in  Fitchville 
township,  in  which  township  her  father, 
Joseph  Barker,  was  an  early  settler.  To 
this  marriage  came  one  son,  Frank  B., 
born  September  20,  1863,  a  farmer  of 
Fitchville.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Arnert 
purchased  a  fai-ni  in  Townsend  township, 
and  resided  thereon  until  1872,  when  he 
moved  to  Fitchville  township,  and  located 
on  the  "Elias  Showers  Farm."  He  now 
owns  127  acres  of  excellent  land,  which 
tract  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  is  also  a  stock  grower,  and  takes  pride 
in  the  appearance  of  his  cattle,  farm  and 
home.  Prior  to  1863  lie  was  a  Republi- 
can, but  since  tliat  year  has  been  a  Demo- 
crat. Before  bis  marriage  he  saved  enough 
from  his  earnings  to  purchase  his  first 
farm,  and  his  property  to-day,  which  repre- 
sents the  savings  of  thirty  years,  is  a  monu- 
ment alike  to  his  systematic  farming  and 
to  his  industry. 


'HAUNCY  WOODWORTH,  a  well- 
known,  native-born  citizen  of  New 
Haven,  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  Wood- 
worth,  a  farmer,  who  was  born  in 
Trumansburgh,  Tompkins  county.  New 
York. 

Jonathan  P.  Woodworth,  grandfather  of 
subject,  was  born  July  15,  1775,  in  Con- 


necticut, and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  He 
became  a  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  followed  his  profession  with  much 
success.  He  married,  and  liad  children  as 
follows:  Abigail,  born  in  17'J7;  Anna, 
born  in  1800;  David,  born  in  1801; 
Jonathan,  born  September  7,  1803; 
Osaines,  born  in  1805;  Cynthia,  born  in 
1807;  Chauncy,  born  in  1809;  Herman, 
born  in  1811;  Clarinda,  born  in  1814; 
Salina,  born  in  1817;  and  William  C,  born 
in  1819.  Rev.  Jonathan  P.-  Woodworth 
served  for  many  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  died  in  Trumansburgh,  New 
York. 

Jonathan  Woodworth  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  place  during  his  boy- 
hood. He  learned  the  shipbuilder's  trade, 
and  early  in  life  became  a  sailor  on  tlie 
lakes,  between  Geneva  and  BufJalo.  In 
1835  he  came  west  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
tract  of  ninety-six  acres  in  New  Haven 
township,  Huron  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  general  agriculture,  in  which  he 
met  with  considerable  success,  at  one  time 
owning  as  much  as  250  acres  of  land.  He 
was  united  in  marriao-e  October  27,  1S28, 
with  Miss  Freelove  Mott,  of  Shenango, 
Penn.,  daughter  of  Burger  Mott,  a  farmer, 
who  was  born  September  10,  1786.  To 
this  union  were  l)orn  fourteen  children,  as 
follows:  Herman,  in  1830;  E.  C. .  July 
25,  1831;  J.  P.,  October  13.  1832  (de- 
ceased); Mary  A.,  March  19,  1835;  So- 
phronia,  November  25,  1836;  Chauncy, 
December  8,  1838;  William  A.,  May  12, 
1841;  James  G.,  August  16,  1842;  Mercy 
J.,  November  25,  1844;  Salina  M.,  April 
22,  1847;  Ellen  H.,  August  14,  1848; 
Cynthia,  December  23,  1850  (deceased); 
Arsula,  October  23,  1853;  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  In  politics  Jonathan 
Woodworth  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Democratic  party,  was  a  great  debater, 
and  served  several  terms  as  trustee  of  his 
township.  In  religious  matters  he  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  ('hurch. 
He  passed  away  April,16,  1867.  He  was 
a  man  of  large  physiipie. 


232 


IIURON^  COUNTY,  OniO. 


Clianncy  Woodworth  ])assed  his  boyhood 
days  on  the  home  farm  in  New  Haven 
township,  meantime  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  tlien 
worked  by  the  month  for  his  mother  for 
twelve  years.  On  October  6,  18G'J,  he  was 
married  to  MissMaryetta  Hartman,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Hartman,  who  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  of  Bucks  county,  Penn.,  where 
he  was  born.  He  had  live  children,  viz.: 
Maryetta  (Mrs.  Wood  worth), Frank, Charles, 
George  and  Ai'abelle.  After  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woodworth  resided  for  two 
years  on  a  farm  in  New  Haven  township, 
and  he  then  bougiit  a  place  in  Kiclimond 
township,  Huron  county,  near  Chicago, 
where  they  also  remained  two  years.  In 
1875  they  came  to  their  present  residence, 
a  pleasant  farm  of  sixty-four  acres  in  the 
suburbs  of  New  Haven,  on  wliich  Mr. 
Woodworth  has  made  numeious  improve- 
ments. In  his  political  affiliations  our  sub- 
ject is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  welfare  of  his  party.  He  is 
a  substantial  supporter  of  religious  insti- 
tutions, giving  liberally  of  his  means  to 
churches  and  church  work.  Mrs.  and  Mrs. 
Woodworth  have  had  two  children,  one 
being  still-l)orn,  the  other,  a  daughter 
named  Belle,  dying  at  the  age  of  three  years. 


ffffON.  S.  E.  CRAWFOKD,  Norwalk, 
I^H     is    a    native    of     Richland    county, 
I     1[    Ohio,    born    September    20,   1842. 
yj  There  are  strong  evidences  at  hand 

]iointing  to  the  fact  that  he  not  only 
came  into  tliis  world,  but  also  to  Norwalk, 
under  propitious  stai-s. 

Twice  in  succession  was  he  called  to  the 
office  of  mayor  of  that  city  by  the  suffrages 
of  ills  old  neighbors,  the  lirst  time  in 
188U;  and  so  favorable  was  his  service  that 
he  was  re-elected,  and  was  yet  again  the 
unanimous  choice  of  his  party's  convention 
for  a  third  term,  chosen  over  the  heads  of 
older  citizens,  and.  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say,  above  all  in  Norwalk,  because  he  is 
and  has  been  of  the  political  party  that  is 


in  the  minority  in  the  city.  Few  men 
ever  receive  such  a  compliment  from  the 
voters  as  has  come  unsought  to  him;  few 
men  are  stronger  than  party  ties,  or  live  in 
an  atmosphere  far  above  the  active  preju- 
dices of  the  American  voter. 

Mr.  Crawford  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Margaret  (Miller)  Crawford,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  respectively. 
They  were  pioneers  to  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  met  and  were  married, 
thence  removed  to  Huron  county,  when 
the  suV)ject  of  this  sketch  was  about  five 
years  of  age.  The  father  died  March  31, 
1884,  aged  seventy-five;  the  mother  Octo- 
ber 1,  1885,  at  the  same  age.  They  were 
Dniversalists  in  their  religious  views,  and 
were  possessed  of  the  united  respect  of 
their  fellow-men.  Cominencinrc  their 
young  lives  together,  they  were  but  briefly 
separated  in  death.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  a  pioneer  of  Beaver  county, 
Penn.,  thence  moving  to  Richland  county, 
where  he  was  a  farmer.  The  paternal 
grandmother,  Mary  Eckles,  was  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  survived  to  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety  years.  Mayor  Crawford's  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Henry  Miller,  of  Mary- 
land, removed  to  Harrison  county,  Ohio, 
when  Mayor  Crawford's  mother  was  but  a 
small  child,  locating  soon  after  in  the 
forests  on  the  dividing  line  between  Huron 
and  Richland  oounties,  four  miles  east  of 
where  is  now  the  town  of  Plymouth.  Our 
subject's  maternal  grandmother  died  in 
the  village  of  Peru,  Huron  county,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years. 

S.  E.  Crawford  is  the  fifth  in  a  family 
of  ten  children.  Here  he  has  lived  his 
life  of  useful  years,  receiving  from  the 
common  schools  of  his  locality  the  funda- 
mentals of  an  English  education.  When 
old  enough,  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  wagon  maker's  trade,  which  he  left  un- 
completed to  enter  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try to  aid  in  the  suppressing  of  the  great 
Rebellion.  He  first  joined  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and   Sixty-sixth  Regiment, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


235 


O.  Y.  I.,  and  served  a  term  of  four 
months;  then  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Ninety-second  Regiment,  O.  V.  I., 
Company  A,  and  served  in  this  command 
eight  months  as  first  lieutenant,  all  the 
titne  being  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  When  peace  with  her  blessings 
again  came  to  the  land,  the  young  soldier 
quit  the  tented  front  and  repaired  to 
Bryan,  Williams  Co.,  Ohio,  and  again  took 
up  the  learning  of  his  trade,  completing 
which  he  located,  in  1867,  in  Norwalk, 
and  commenced  making  wagons  and  car- 
riages, havincf  established  the  firm  of  S. 
E.  Crawford  &  Co.  In  this  lie  continued 
until  1872,  when  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  cotnpany,  and  at  once  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  implement  business.  In  a 
short  time  he  organized  his  present  indus- 
try— the  manufacture  of  rui)ber  buckets, 
chain  and  wood  force  pump  supplies. 

In  1882  Mr.  Crawford  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  re- 
elected until  1889,  when  he  was  chosen 
mayor,  as  already  stated.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Daughters 
of  Rebekah,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees, 
National  Union  and  G.  A.  R.,  in  all  of 
which  he  is  a  ])ast  officer.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Norwalk  Metal  Stamping  and  Spin- 
ning Company,  and  is  vice-president  of 
the  Home  Savings  and  Loan  Company'. 
On  June  20, 1S93,  he  was  elected  a  director 
of  the  Sandusky,  Milan  &  Norwalk  Elec- 
tric Railway. 

On  September  30,  1S69,  S.  E.  Crawford 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
E.  Harrington,  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Mary  Harrington,  formerly  of  Cleveland, 
now  deceased. 


FW.    SCHNEERER.    M.    D.,    Nor- 
walk, is  a  native  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
^       born    June    27,    1850,    of   German 
descent,    the    son    of    Fredrick  and 
Johannah  (^Schwartz)  Schneerer,  natives  of 
Germany,  wiio  came    to   this    country  in 

13 


an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
subsequently  removing  to  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  and 
of  these  the  subject  of  this  notice  is  the 
fifth  in  the  order  of  birth.  He  received  a 
good  English  education  in  the  city  of  his 
nativity,  and  after  completing  his  literary 
education,  began  reading  medicine  under 
a  preceptor,  and  became  a  student  at  the 
Eclectic  Medical  Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 
graduating  therefrom  in  1875.  In  the 
same  year  he  opened  an  ofhce  for  the 
practice  of  hie  profession,  in  Norwalk, 
where  he  has  since  remained,  commanding 
a  large  and  lucrative  business,  originally 
somewiiat  assisted  in  starting  the  prac- 
tice by  his  thorough  familiarity  with  both 
the  English  and  German  languages, 
which,  followed  Ijy  eminent  success  with 
clients,  soon  establisiied  for  him  a  fair  and 
wide  reputation. 

During  the  year  1892  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Schneerer  spent  the  season  traveling  in 
Europe,  among  the  countries  visited  being 
England,  France,  Germany,  Switzerland, 
Scotland  and  Holland.  The  doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  State  Eclectic  Medical 
Society.  On  November  18,  1875,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Abbie  F. 
Cahoon,  and  of  this  union  were  born  four 
children:  Fredrick  B.,  Car!  E.,  Mary  E., 
and  Theodore  C. 


HW.  HOFFMAN,  a  son  of  George 
and  Margaret  Hoffman,  was  born 
_  Septeml)er  5,  1857,  in  Sandusky 
county,  Ohio.  His  parents,  who 
are  natives  of  Germany,  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  youth,  and  grew  to 
maturity  in  Ohio.  George  Hoffman  was 
twice  married,  three  children  being  born  to 
each  marriage,  all  residing  in  Ohio,  and  of 
whom  H.  W.  is  the  eldest. 

H.  W.  Hoffman  was  reared  in  iiis  native 
county,  and  received  all  his  literary  train- 
ing before  he  was  eleven  years  old,  his 
father's  circumstances  not  being  such  as 
to  warrant  his  giving  his   son   any  great 


■236 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


educational  advantages.  In  1868  lie  was 
apprenticed  to  a  harness  maker,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  established  at  Sandusky 
his  own  saddle  and  harness  shop,  which  he 
carried  on  for  three  years.  In  1875  he 
removed  to  Chicago  Junction,  where  he 
continued  in  his  trade.  In  1886  he  opened 
a  grocery  store,  just  opposite  his  present 
store,  on  Myrtle  avenue,  and  in  1889  erected 
the  two-story  brick  building,  30  x  60  feet, 
which  he  now  occupies.  Here  he  car- 
ries a  complete  stock  of  standard  and 
fancy  groceries;  the  establishment  is  well 
fitted  up,  and  the  entire  concern  would  do 
credit  to  a  much  larger  city  than  Chicago 
Junction. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  mari'ied,  April  24, 
1870,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Stahl,  of  New  Haven  township,  and  to 
them  four  children  were  born,  namely: 
Lily,  Rolson,  Paul,  and  Herbert  Henry 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  yearsV  Mr. 
Hoffman  is  a  member  of  Lodge  !No.  748, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  of  the  local  Lodge,  K.  of 
F.  No.  442,  and  Golden  Rule  Lodge  562, 
F.  &  A.  M.  The  facility  with  which  he 
changed  a  trade  for  a  mercantile  business, 
and  the  success  which  he  has  won,  are 
noticeable  points  in  Mr.  Hoffman's  career. 
Few  men  could  risk  making  tiie  change, 
and  all  he  has  accomplished  must  be  cred- 
ited to  himself,  and  to  his  energy,  good 
judgment  and  business  acumen. 


ULLIAM  W.  DRENNAN  was 
born  July  18,  1820,  at  Canton, 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  a  grandson  of 
David  Drennan,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, who  immigrated  to  America  prior  to 
the  Revolution,  settling  in  Pennsylvania. 
David  Drennan  was  married  at  Carlisle, 
Penn.,  to  Jane  Armstrong,  a  daughter  of 
a  Protestant-Irish  settler  in  that  town,  and 
seven  children  were  born  to  them — three 
sons  and  four  daughters — of  whom  James, 
the  father  of  suliject,  was  the  second  in 
order    of    birth.      Prior    to    1781     David 


Drennan  was  a  "carrier  of  merchandise 
and  produce"  between  Carlisle  and  Pitts- 
burgh. Settling  in  Beaver  county  in  1781, 
he  aided  in  its  establishment,  and  in  the 
year  1805  was  appointed  associate  jndge 
of  that  county  by  Gov.  McKean,  vice  Ab- 
ner  Lacock,  resigned.  In  1804  he  was  a 
member  of  the  first  grand  jury.  Two 
years  before  he  and  one  James  Drennan 
were  tax-payers  of  the  original  Reaver 
township  (later  Ohio  township),  and  Judge 
Drennan  was  a  most  influential  citizen, 
and  an  intelligent  judge  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Ohio  township,  August 
12,  1831. 

James  Drennan  was  born  at  Carlisle, 
Penn.  At  tlie  age  of  fifteen  years  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  cabinet  maker,  and  worked 
for  his  master  until  his  nineteenth  year, 
when  he  bought  his  freedom.  Removing 
to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  in  1802,  he  worked 
at  his  trade,  and  also  as  carpenter  and 
joiner,  until  he  had  earned  sufficient  money 
to  pay  for  his  freedom,  his  master  giving 
him  time  to  do  so.  AVhen  twenty-one  years 
old  he  married  Jane  Patton,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  Protestant-Irish  descent, 
and  to  them  six  children  were  born,  of 
whom  David,  the  eldest  son,  became  a 
Methodist  preacher,  and  died  when  about 
twenty-three  years  old;  Jane  died  unmar- 
ried; John  Patton,  now  over  seventy-eight 
years  old,  resides  at  Decatur,  111.,  where 
his  son  ])ublishes  a  daily  paper;  the  other 
three  died  in  childhood.  In  1812  James 
Drennan  was  commissioned  lieutenant  in 
the  recruiting  service  for  eastern  Ohio,  and 
organized  two  militia  companies,  the  second 
of  which  he  commanded  as  captain;  and 
going  to  the  front  at  once,  they  served  in 
Harrison's  army.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Drennan  had  worked  at  his  trade  in  Can- 
ton, Ohio,  until  called  out  to  serve  in  the 
army.  After  the  war  he,  in  partnership 
with  a  wealthy  German  and  a  wealthy 
Frenchman,  organized  the  first  banking 
concern  at  Canton,  of  which  he  was  cashier 
until  1821.  His  first  wife  died  in  1818, 
and    in    1810   he   married    Eliza  AVolfe,  a 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


237 


native  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Penn.,  then  re- 
sidint>;  at  MansHeld,  Oliio,  wlierc  slie  taught 
school  and  conducted  tlie  military  store  in 
tlie  old  Blockhouse.  She  had  come  to  Ohio 
witli  her  widowed  mother  in  1804,  first 
settling  at  Newark,  whence  they  soon  re- 
moved to  Fredericksburo'h,remaininir  there 
until  Hull's  surrender,  after  which  Mrs. 
"Wolfe  joined  her  daugliter  at  Mansfield. 

In  1821  Mr.  Drennan  resigned  the  posi- 
tion of  cashier  in  the  Canton  Bank,  and 
moved  to  Mansfield,  where  he  speculated 
in  land,  and  engaged  in  aixriculture.  In 
1825  he  came  to  Plymouth,  same  State, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  and  at  differ- 
ent times  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
He  was  postmaster  at  Plymouth  for  four 
years,  under  William  H.  Harrison's  ad- 
ministration, and  during  his  residence  in 
Stark  county  was  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  died  in  December,  1859,  being  then 
over  seventy-seven  years  old.  His  widow 
died  in  1870  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
Of  the  six  children  of  this  second  marriage, 
four  are  living,  namely:  William  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Artemisia  D.,  now 
Mrs.  McDonough,  of  Plymouth;  Kachel 
C.  Cook,  formerly  of  Brooklyn,  now  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.;  and  Manuel  J.,  a 
professor  in  Vassar  College,  who  was  edu- 
cated at  Oberliu  and  in  the  New  York 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary. 

William  W.  Drennan  received  a  some- 
what limited  education.  The  school  at 
Plymouth  from  1825,  when  iiis  parents 
settled  there,  to  1832,  when  his  school  days 
ended,  was  truly  a  primitive  one.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  years  he  entered  a  general 
store  at  Plymouth  as  clerk,  and  afterward 
served  in  the  same  capacity  in  different 
stores  at  Mansfield  and  Zanesville,  until 
he  was  twenty-four  years  old,  when  he 
established  himself  in  business  at  Shelby, 
Ohio.  A  year  later  lie  and  his  father 
opened  a  store  at  Plymouth,  wliich  they 
filled  witii  a  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
The  father  retired  at  various  times,  leavinjj 
or  selling  his  interest  in  the  stoi-e  toothers, 
so  that  while  W.  W.  Drennan  w'as  at  the 


head  of  the  business  until  December,  1859, 
he  had  several  partners.  At  that  time  he 
retired  from  mercantile  pursuits,  the  con- 
dition of  his  health  requiring  a  rural  life, 
and  for  eighteen  months  he  was  engaged 
in  agriculture.  In  the  spring  of  1861, 
when  the  war  broke  out,  he  was  acting  as 
mayor  of  his  town  of  Plymouth,  and  farm- 
ing, but  from  that  time  to  the  24:th  of  De- 
cember, 1861,  he  gave  more  time  to  re- 
cruiting soldiers  for  various  regiments  and 
companies  than  he  did  to  his  office  and 
farm,  and  was  very  successful.  He  did 
not  enter  the  army  himself  because  he  was 
pronounced  by  mustering  officer  unfit  for 
military  duty.  On  December  24,  1861, 
he  was  chosen  by  the  officers  of  the  Si.xty- 
fourth  Ohio  Infantry  as  their  sutler,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  the  regiment  con- 
tinuously, faithfully  and  acceptably  through 
the  war;  and  at  tlie  close  of  the  struggle 
he  engaged  in  the  commission  business  in 
Cincinnati,  doing  a  very  successful  trade 
for  about  seven  months,  when  he  sold  out 
and  returned  to  Plymouth,  Ohio,  where  he 
gave  his  attention  to  his  farm  and  to  specu- 
lating in  land  for  some  years. 

When  a  youth  of  from  sixteen  to  nine- 
teen years,  our  subject  began  the  study  of 
law,  giving  up  the  few  leisure  hours  at  hi.s 
disposal  to  that  profession  for  throe  years. 
Five  years  after  the  war  was  oyer,  he.  re- 
sumed  the  study,  and  in  1872  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  in 
Huron  and  adjacent  counties  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  practice.  During  the 
last  eight  or  nine  years  he  has  enjoyed  a 
large  ])ension  practice.  When  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  law  circle  in  1872  he  had 
1,100  acres  of  land  in  Huron  county,  the 
greater  area  of  which  he  improv^ed.  For 
nine  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
has  filled  the  office  of  notary  public  since 
twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Drennan  was  married,  in  IMarch, 
1850,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Hannah 
Brinkerhofif,  a  sister  of  Gen.  R.  Brinker- 
hoff,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio.  Of  six  children 
born  to  this  marriage,  two  are  living,  viz.: 


238 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


George  B.,  a  traveling  salesman  for  a 
Philadelphia  house;  and  Edith  K.,  a  sten- 
ographer. Mr.  Drennan  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  since  1840, 
and  since  1846  of  the  Plymouth  Presby- 
terian Society,  in  which  he  is  au  elder. 
Politically  lie  is  a  Republican,  ha\-ing  been 
an  anti-slavery  Whig  prior  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party. 

Before  closing  this  sketch,  the  ancestors 
of  Mr.  Drennap  on  the  maternal  side 
should  claim  some  attention.  His  great- 
grandfather was  Manuel  Gonzales,  a 
Spaniard  and  a  Protestant,  who  came  to 
Wilkes- Barre,  Penn.,  and  there  married 
£Vn  English  girl  named  Turner.  Eleanor, 
one  of  the  daughters  of  their  marriage, 
wedded  an  Austrian  Protestant  by  the 
name  of  Wolfe,  who  found  a  home  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  accidentally  killed 
in  his  Hfty-fourth  year.  Soon  after  this 
sad  event  the  widow  and  her  four  daugh- 
ters and  three  sons  moved  to  Ohio,  where 
the  second  daughter,  Eliza  Wolfe,  married 
James  Drennan. 


FRANK  J.  SMITH,  who  is  a  son  of 
Frank  and  grandson  of  Joseph  Smith, 
_^  natives  of  Baden,  Germany,  was 
born  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  Frank  Smith,  father  of  subject, 
when  a  young  man  left  his  native  land  in 
1829,  accompanied  by  his  bi'other  Joseph, 
and  they  landed  in  the  United  States. 
Shortly  after  the  brothers  came  to  Massa- 
chusetts, and  while  there  concluded  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  newer  country  beyond 
the  Alleghany  mountains.  They  wrote  to 
the  father  in  Baden,  telling  him  of  their 
intentions,  and  asking  him  to  take  his 
family  to  New  York. 

In  1832  the  entire  family  met  in  that 
city,  and  without  delay  traveled  westward 
via  the  Hudson  river  and  Erie  Canal. 
Halting  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  they  found 
that  land  could  be  purchased  there  at  eight 
dollars  per  acre,   but   learning  that  better 


land,  at  lower  prices,  could  be  had  farther 
west,  they  set  out  on  the  journey  which 
ended  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co.,  Okio. 

The  incident  which  urged  them  to  locate 
here  was  a  common  one  in  the  history  of 
the  settlement  of  the  western  States.  Halt- 
ing at  a  spring  to  drink,  they  found  the 
water  exceptionally  cool  and  clear,  the  land 
in  the  vicinity  good,  and  the  location  on 
the  ridge,  between  the  sources  of  the 
Huron  rivers,  favorable  to  health  and  in- 
dustry. The  physical  features  of  the 
country  corresponded  with  their  correct 
ideas  of  agriculture,  and  thev  delayed  not 
in  obtaining  a  title  to  the  land.  They 
immediately  erected  a  frame  building  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  south- 
west from  Monroeville,  and  there  they  re- 
sided until  the  death  of  Joseph  Smith 
(grandfather  of  subject)  and  his  widow. 

Frank  Smith,  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  from  his  father, 
paying  six  dollars  per  acre  for  same.  He 
married  Miss  Generosa  Ott,  and  to  this 
union  the  following  named  children  were 
born:  Caroline,  who  died  when  thirty 
years  old;  a  sou  who  died  in  infancy; 
Frank  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John 
J.,  a  resident  of  Bronson  township;  Charles 
S.,  of  Peru  township;  Alvin  P.,  of  Fre- 
mont, Ohio;  Joseph  S.,  of  Pern  township, 
and  Edward,  who  died  in  1884.  Frank 
Smith,  Sr.,  was  a  hardworking,  intelligent 
agriculturist,  and  a  man  of  fine  moral  ideas. 
He  died  in  1872.  His  widow,  a  kind, 
wholesouled  woman,  died  in  1888,  in  the 
midst  of  her  children,  who  merited  and 
won  succes.  Both  were  interred  in  St. 
Alphonsus  cemetery.  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
member  of  St.  Alphonsus  Catholic  Church, 
in  which  he  served  as  trustee  and  in  vari- 
ous other  positions.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  from  1832  to  1S72  took  an 
active  interest  in  national.  State  and  local 
issues,  and  filled  many  township  positions. 

Frank  J.  Smith,  son  of  Frank  and  Gene- 
rosa (Ott)  Smith,  was  born  March  3,  1840, 
in  Peru  township,  and  received  such  an 
education  as  the  schools  of    the    district 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


239 


afforded.  Being  the  eldest  son  of  a  pioneer 
family,  no  small  share  of  work  had  to  be 
done  by  hiiu;  but  with  all  this  he  filled 
the  double  role  of  pupil  and  farm  hand 
without  complaining.  He  labored  on  the 
homestead  farm  until  1867,  when  he  mar- 
ried Susannah  Scharf,  a  native  nf  New 
Wasliini(ton,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio.  This 
marriatre  was  blessed  with  the  following 
named  children:  Frank  W.  (of  California), 
JMary  C,  Louisa  C,  Peter,  Julia  (a  teaclier 
in  the  convent),  Alfred,  William,  Henry, 
Jacob,  John,  Carl,  Thei-esa  and  Hattie,  all 
residing  at  home.  The  parents  and  their 
children  are  all  members  of  the  Catholic 
Congregation  of  St.  Alphonsus,  to  which 
faith  their  ancestors  have  adhered  almost 
since  the  Romans  named  the  cradle  of  the 
family  in  Europe — -"Civitas  Aurelia 
Aquensis."  In  politics  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Democrat,  but  beyond  matters  relating  to 
his  township  and  county,  is  content  with 
the  constitutional  right  to  vote.  He  de- 
votes close  attention  to  his  agricultural  and 
stock  growing  interests,  and  is  considered 
one  of  the  most  industrious  citizens  and 
one  of  the  most  systematic  and  intelligent 
farmers  of  this  rich  pastoral  district.  He 
is  prominent  among  the  people  of  German 
descent,  and  his  example  and  counsel  are 
appreciated  by  all  within  the  circle  of  his 
acquaintance. 


FH.  JONES,  attorney  at  law,  JMor- 
walk.  From  the  unanimous  testi- 
_^  mony  of  this  cotiimunity,  we  may 
well  say  that  this  gentleman  is  one 
of  the  leading  members  of  the  Huron 
county  bar.  He  was  born  September  15, 
1858,  near  Madison,  Wisconsin,  a  son  of 
James  and  Sabra  (Alvord)  Jones,  who  mi- 
grated from  Massachusetts  to  the  West, 
settling  in  Wisconsin.  After  a  time,  how- 
ever, they  retraced  their  steps,  returning 
East  and  locating;  in  Bellevue,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.  The  paternal  ancestors  of  the 
family  came  to  this   country   about   1700, 


and  settled  on  the  island  known  as  Martha's 
VineyaVd;  the  maternal  ancestors  were 
from  England. 

F.  H.  Jones  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  then  be- 
came a  student  In  Western  Ee.serve  Uni- 
versity, Cleveland,  where  he  received  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  in  the  class  of  1882. 
During  the  year  1882-83  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  public  schools  of  Mentor, 
Ohio.  He  then  entered  the  Cincinnati 
Law  School,  and  in  1885  received  his 
diploma,  conferring  the  degree  of  LL.  B. 
Locating  first  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  he  there 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
but  in  a  short  time  removed  to  Norvvalk, 
entering  into  the  law  practice  in  partner- 
ship with  G.  R.  Walker.  This  firm  was 
subsequently  dissolred,  and  Mr.  Jones 
opened  out  his  present  office,  where  he  has 
since  been  in  active  practice,  gaining  an 
unusual  degree  of  success.  Pleasant  in 
address,  a  diligent  student  and  graceful 
speaker,  his  onward  course  has  been  the 
inevitable  result  following  strong  and  fixed 
causes.  He  has  the  entire  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  professional  brethren,  and 
the  courts  have  designated  their  confidence 
by  appointing  him  referee  in  a  number  of 
important  cases.  He  has  given  special 
study  in  the  law  to  the  subjects  of  equity, 
corporations  and  realty,  and  his  researches 
in  these  lines  have  made  him  influential, 
if  not  an  authority,  even  with  the  older 
men  of  the  profession.  Mr.  Jones  is  yet 
a  young  man;  the  future  with  its  fairest 
promises  is  all  before  him,  and  here  his 
closest  friends  may  in  confidence  anchor 
their  fondest  hopes.  Li  politics  he  has 
always  been  an  enthusiastic  and  active 
Republican. 


PjHILIP  SEEL  was  born  November 
24,  1843,  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Nassau,  Germany,  and  received  his 
elementary  instruction  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  vicinity.  He 
afterward  took  a  thorough  course  of  study 


MO 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


at  a  higher  institution  of  learning,  and 
fitting  himself  for  the  position  of  civil 
engineer,  followed  that  profession  for 
some  time  in  his  native  land.  In  1870, 
liaving  saved  a  good  sum  of  money,  he 
left  Germany  for  America,  embarking:  at 
Hamburg,  on  the  steamer  "  Ilarmouia." 
After  landing  in  New  York,  he  pushed 
westward  to  Ohio,  and  renting  a  place  in 
Ilidgefield  township,  Huron  county,  com- 
menced agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1871  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Louisa,  daughter  of  Chris  Knoll,  who  was 
a  native  of  (lermany  and  an  early  settler 
of  KidgeHeld  township,  Huron  county. 
After  his  marriage  Philip  Seel  purchased 
and  moved  upon  a  portion  of  the  farm  he 
now  occupies,  to  which  he  added  year  by 
year,  and  the  place  is  now  one  of  the  most 
valuable  in  the  township.  It  is  adorned 
with  all  modern  improvements,  including 
a  commodious  brick  residence,  and  other 
substantial  buildings.  Politically  Mr.  Seel 
is  a  Kepublican,  and  has  served  in  various 
local  offices,  having  been  school  director 
for  seventeen  years.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  en- 
joy tlie  esteem  of  all  who  know  tliem. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seel,  as  follows:  Otto  W.,  Amelia, 
Lydia,  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 
[Since  the  above  was  written  Mr.  Philip 
Seel  died  November  24,  1892,  on  his 
forty-ninth  liirthday. 


rjflRAM    D.  DRAKE,  a    prosperous 
IrH     young  farmer  of  Itidgetield  town- 
I     1;    ship,  is  a  grandson  of  Hiram   and 
■^  Sarah   (Ruggles)    Drake,    both    of 

whom  were   residents  of   Connecti- 
cut, descended  from  English  ancestry. 

Salmon  Drake,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  April  9,  1827,  in  Plymouth, 
Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  and  came  to  Ridge- 
field  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1848. 
On  June  17,  1850,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Cynthia  Dickey,  and  the  fol- 
lowing autumn  they  located  on  the  Dickey 


homestead  in  Ridgefield  townsliip.  He 
was  a  superior  farmer,  and  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  to  that  vocation;  he 
also  had  a  practical  knowledge  of  carpen- 
try, which  he  followed  during  the  earlier 
years  of  his  life.  In  July,  1807,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Drake  and  their  eldest  daughter 
united  at  Fairfield,  Huron  county,  with 
the  congregation  of  the  Christian  people 
known  as  Disciples.  In  January,  1S68, 
their  membership  was  transferred  to  a  sis- 
ter church  in  Norwalk,  where  Mr.  Drake 
was  at  once  chosen  elder,  and  continued  to 
serve  in  that  office  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  a  zealous  Christian  man, 
taking  an  active  part  in  every  good  work 
tending  to  the  advancement  of  the  moral 
or   religious    growth    of    the    community. 

While  one  day  traininiT  a  young  horse  lie 
was  injured  in  the  left  side,  and  having 
contracted  a  cold  in  a  storm  soon  after- 
ward, it  resultetl  in  a  fatal  attack  of 
typhoid  pneumonia.  He  died  April  3, 
1877,  and  was  followed  to  the  grave  l)y  a 
large  number  of  sympatliizing  friends. 
Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Drake  has  continued  to  reside  on  the 
home  place,  where  her  children  were  l)orn 
as  follows:  Eliza  Jane,  July  5,  1852; 
Hiram  D.,  July  7,  1854;  Charles  W., 
May  9,  1856;  Imogene,  April  29,  1858; 
J.  Omer,  March  6,  1861;  Geoi-giana, 
November  3,  1862;  Sterry  A.,  March  19, 
1864;  and  Ira,  born  October  4,  1865,  died 
January  18,  1872. 

Hiram  D.  Drake  i-eceived  his  early  edu- 
cation at  the  "AVebb  settlement  ■' school, 
afterward  attending  a  normal  school  at 
Milan,  in  Erie  county.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  he  began  to  cultivate  a  tract 
(if  land  for  himself,  meanwiiile  boarding 
at  the  home  of  a  neighbor.  On  March  28, 
1887,  he  was  married  to  Blanche  I.  Killey, 
a  native  of  Marblehead,  Ottawa  county, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary 
Killey.  Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Drake  have  resided  on  the  home 
place,  in  Ridgefield  township,  Huron 
county,  on  which  he  has  made  many  im- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


241 


provemeiits.  He  is  a  progressive  farmer, 
and  for  the  past  few  years  lias  been  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  small  fruit  culture. 
He  votes  witli  the  Republican  party,  but 
is  not  an  active  politican,  as  he  gives  his 
whole  time  to  conducting  his  private  busi- 
ness. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake  have  two  little 
sons,  viz.:  Lewis  Earl,  born  December  29, 
1888,  and  Robert  Eric,  born  November 
27,  1892. 


EORGE  BURDUE,  a  prominent, 
successful  farmer  of  Townsend  town- 
ship, was  born  February  19,  1811, 
in  what  is  now  Milan  township, 
Erie  county.  He  is  the  second  in 
a  family  of  eleven  children  (four  of  whom 
died  in  infancy)  born  to  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Dlazur)  Burdue,  both  of  whom 
were  burn  in  Pennsylvania,  the  former 
of  French  and  the  latter  of  German  ex- 
traction. 

William  Burdue,  the  father  of  subject, 
was  born  November  2G,  1782,  and  received 
an  ordiiiary  common-school  education  in 
his  native  State,  where  he  afterward  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  Here  too 
he  was  married,  March  28,  1809,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  following  year  (1810)  emi- 
grated  with  his  wife  and  child  to  the  then 
extreme  limit  of  the  western  frontier,  the 
almost  unbroken  and  pathless  wilderness 
of  northern  Ohio.  Settling  in  the  northern 
part  of  Lot  No.  4,  Townsend  township, 
Huron  county,  he  entered  wild  lands,  and 
built  a  log  cabin  in  the  primitive  manner 
of  those  days,  with  clap- board  or  shake 
roof,  puncheon  floor  and  wooden  latches. 
During  the  first  winter  after  his  arrival  he 
left  his  family  in  the  country  near  the  In- 
dian villatre  of  Milan,  while  he  busied 
himself  in  getting  his  cabin  ready  for  their 
reception  in  the  spring.  Here,  in  the 
dense  forest,  by  which  they  were  sur- 
rounded for  miles  on  every  side,  he  com- 
menced to  carve  out  a  home  for  himself 
and  family,  subsecjuently  clearing  up  and 
improving    an    e.xcellent   farm.       On    this 


home  the  family  experienced  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  a  frontier 
life,  mitigated,  however,  by  the  various 
pleasures  common  to  backwoods  life  in 
those  early  days.  The  vast  forest  around 
them  teemed  with  wild  game  of  all  kinds, 
wild  honey  was  abundant,  and  maple  syrup 
and  sugar  easily  obtained.  Though  their 
white  neighbors  were  few  and  far  between, 
there  was  a  warm,  hearty,  neighborly  feel- 
ing existing  among  thein,  and  their  social 
intercourse  at  the  frequent  house  raisings, 
log  rollings  and  quilting  bees  was  of  the 
most  friendly  character.  Soon  after  their 
arrival  the  family  made  the  acquaintance 
of  an  old  Indian  in  the  vicinity,  who  sub- 
sequently, by  reason  of  the  many  favors 
shown  him,  especially  by  Mrs.  Burdue,  a 
lady  of  most  excellent  character,  became 
warmly  attached  to  the  family,  and  ren- 
dered them  many  services.  On  one  occa- 
sion Mr.  Burdue,  having  lost  a  span  of 
horses  and  a  colt,  was  asked  by  this  Indian 
to  show  him  their  tracks;  this  being  done, 
the  Indian  carefully  measured  them  with 
his  hands  and  went  away,  returning  in  a 
few  days  and  informing  Mr.  Burdue  that 
he  had  fouiul  tracks  answering  to  the  de- 
scription. He  also  learned  that  the  In- 
dians would,  in  a  few  days,  go  to  Huron, 
their  usual  trading  point,  and  Mr.  Burdue 
requested  his  father,  Nathaniel  Burdue, 
who  was  able  to  speak  the  Indian  language, 
to  go  to  Huron  and  demand  the  surrender 
of  the  animals.  This  he  did,  but  the  In- 
dians refused  to  give  them  up  without 
compensation,  the  terms  being  a  small 
quantity  of  corn  and  whiskey,  which  were 
promptly  furnished  and  the  horses  re- 
turned. 

This  same  old  Indian  gave  frequent 
evidences  of  his  friendship  for  the  family, 
the  most  important  of  which  occurred 
during  the  war  of  1812-15.  soon  after  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Hull,  when,  partly  by 
signs,  he  made  the  family  understand  that 
the  savages  were  preparing  to  massacre  the 
settlers;  that  at  the  expiration  of  a  certain 
number  of  moons  they  would  all  probably 


242 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1)6  scalped  if  tliey  remained  in  the  country; 
and  at  the  same  time  lie  enjoined  upon 
them  the  strictest  secrecy  as  to  the  source 
of  tlieir  information,  assuring  them  that 
death  to  him  would  be  the  consequence  of 
this  friendly  warning  if  known  to  other 
members  of  his  tribe.  After  this  he  went 
away,  and  was  never  again  seen  in  these 
parts.  Tlie  family  imnjediately  prepared 
for  tficrht,  first  hiding  some  of  their  house- 
hold  and  cooking  utensils  under  the 
puncheon  floor  of  their  cabin,  and  went 
back  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they  remained 
until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  returning 
to  their  frontier  home  in  the  spring  of 
1816;  and  they  found  the  articles  hidden 
under  the  puncheon  floor  undisturbed,  al- 
though the  cabin  had  been  occupied  by  the 
savages. 

Mr.  Burdue  brought  with  him,  on  his 
return  from  Pennsylvania,  two  small  buhrs 
or  stones  for  a  hand-mill,  which  he  set  up 
near  one  side  of  the  cabin,  and  which  was 
used  by  the  neighbors  for  several  miles 
around,  and  was  for  a  time  the  only  one 
in  the  vicinity.  He  afterward  sold  the 
mill  to  a  potter  in  Milan,  who  used  it  for 
grinding  clay.  For  many  years  the  wolves, 
with  which  the  woods  were  swarming, 
were  among  their  greatest  pests,  and  would 
carry  off  or  destroy  calves  and  young  stock 
of  all  kinds,  unless  it  was  secured  under 
the  very  eaves  of  the  cabin;  they  were  fre- 
quently seen  prowling  about  the  spring 
near  the  house  in  daytime,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion destroyed  the  children's  playhouse 
near  the  cabin.  Wild  cats  and  panthers 
were  also  quite  numerous.  Game  of  a 
less  dangerous  and  more  useful  character, 
such  as  deer,  wild  turkeys,  wild  hogs  and 
squirrels,  abounded. 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  of  the 
settlers  in  that  early  day  was  to  procure 
fabric  for  clothing  and  other  necessary 
household  articles,  everything  of  the  kind 
being  very  scarce  and  very  dear;  prints 
and  domestics  were  worth  from  fifty  to 
sixty  cents  per  yard;  hence  they  were 
obliged  to  raise  flax  and  manufacture  linen, 


and  to  weave  linsey-woolsey  and  jeans  for 
domestic  use;  and  not  unfrequently  they 
manufactured  various  articles  of  wearing 
apparel  from  the  skins  of  deer  and  other 
wild  animals.  Salt,  too,  was  very  scarce, 
and  at  one  time  Mr.  Burdue  was  obliged 
to  pay  ten  dollars  per  barrel  for  a  very  in- 
ferior quality.  Soon  after  his  second  ar- 
rival he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania  and 
returned  with  several  head  of  cattle,  ail  of 
which  died  of  bloody-murrain  one  after 
another;  their  milch  cows  too  died  of  the 
same  disease,  until  they  had  lost  their  last 
cow  seven  different  times. 

For  some  time  after  they  came  to  the 
country  there  were  no  schools  in  the 
neighboihood,  and  when  a  rude  log  house 
was  finally  erected,  the  schools  were  of  the 
crudest,  most  primitive  character  for  sev- 
eral years.  As  to  churclies,  there  were 
none  in  the  section,  and,  as  usual  in  almost 
all  new  countries,  the  Methodist  itinerant 
preachers,  or  circuit  riders,  were  the  pio- 
neers in  the  religious  field,  holding  ser- 
vices first  at  one,  and  then  another,  of  the 
settlers'  cabins.  Both  Mr.  Burdue  and  his 
wife  were  lifelong,  earnest  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  His  death  occurred  at  his 
home  in  Townsend  township,  October  23, 
1834,  and  that  of  his  wife  March  29, 1868, 
when  she  was  in  her  seventy-seventh  year, 
her  birth  having  occurred  September  26, 
1791.  They  reared  seven  children  who 
grew  to  maturity,  of  whom  George  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Nathaniel  resides 
in  Norwalk;  John  and  Benjamin  are  in 
Linn  county,  Kans. ;  Isaac  B.  lives  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Ohio;  Jacob  died  August  5, 
1874,  in  Michigan;  and  William  W.  died 
July  22,  1886,  at  Collins,  Ohio. 

Nathaniel  Burdue,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, emigrated  to  northern  Ohio  in  abont 
1808,  settling  in  Berlin  township,  now  in 
Erie  county,  where  he  entered  a  large  tract 
of  land  (including  the  present  site  of  Ber- 
lin Heights),  erected  a  cabin,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  went  l:>ack  to  Pentisylvania 
for  his  wife  and  family.  Here  he  subse- 
quently cleared  and  improved  a  farm,  upon 


IIUKO.Y  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


243 


which  he  resided  until  liis  death,  which 
occurred  when  lie  was  over  ninety  years 
old.  He  was  born  and  educated  in  J'enn- 
sylvania,  where  in  early  life  he  learned  the 
shoeniaker's  trade.  Being  left  an  orphan 
at  a  very  early  age,  he  was  bound  out  till 
lie  attained  his  majority,  soon  after  which 
he  married  Miss  Margaret  Welch,  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  She  also  lived  to 
be  over  ninety  years  of  age,  and  her  death 
was  occasioned  by  an  accident,  her  clothes 
having  caught  fire,  whereby  she  was 
burned  severely.  She  was  a  remarkably 
active,  vigorous  and  energetic  woman  all 
her  life,  and  was  a  lifelong,  devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

George  Buvdue,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  opening  of  his  sketch,  received  but  a 
very  limited  English  education  in  youth, 
such  as  could  be  gleaned  at  the  primitive 
schools,  held  in  rude  log  buildings,  of  the 
Ohio  frontier  in  that  early  day.  In  after 
years,  however,  he  succeeded,  by  his  own 
exertions,  in  acquiring  an  ordinary  busi- 
ness education.  He  is  possessed  of  good 
judgment  and  a  strong,  active  mind,  and 
is  a  close  observer  of  everything  around 
him,  thus  gaining  in  the  great  school  of 
experience  a  fund  of  useful  knowledge  and 
valuable  information.  He  has  also  been  a 
constant  reader,  and  is  well  informed. 
Mr.  Burdue  owns,  and  has  always  lived 
upon,  the  old  home  farm  where  his  youth 
and  early  life  were  passed,  and  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
with  the  most  encouraging  success.  For 
several  years  he  was  also  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing charcoal  for  the  market,  of 
which  he  has  burned  and  sold  many  kilns. 
He  is  classed  among  the  pioneers  and  be- 
longs to  the  "  Firelands  Historical  Society," 
a  pioneer  association,  lieiiig  among  the  first 
white  children  born  in  the  northern  part 
of  Huron  (now  Erie)  county,  Ohio.  In 
about  1844  he  went  to  Green  Springs, 
Seneca  county,  thirty-three  miles  away,  to 
mill,  but  there  being  many  others  ahead  of 
him,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  grist  and 
go  back  a  second  time,  thus  traveling  182 


miles  for  one  grinding.  When  a  young 
man  our  subject  was  quite  a  successful 
hunter,  and  killed  over  a  hundred  deer,  be- 
sides wild  turkeys  and  other  game  without 
number.  In  1830  he  killed  a  very  large 
well-known  deer  (but  a  short  distance  fi-om 
thehou.se),  known  as  "Old  Golden,''  which 
other  hunters  had  frequently  tried  but 
failed  to  secure;  his  track  was  known  by 
his  having  lost  one  hoof.  The  antlers  of 
this  deer,  still  in  his  possession,  he  keeps 
as  a  relic  of  early  days. 

Mr.  Burdue  was  married,  November  20, 
1838,  to  Miss  Susan  Hill,  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware county,  N.  Y.,  born  October  5, 1821, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Sally  (Brooks)  Hill, 
both  natives  of  New  York  State  and  of 
English  extraction.  Two  children — a  son 
and  a  daughter — have  blessed  this  union: 
Moses  W.,  born  March  13, 1841,  and  Sarah 
E.,  now  Mrs.  Thomas  E.  Ricrccs,  born  June 
25,  1846.  Mrs.  Susan  Burdue's  death  oc- 
curred March  17,  1885,  when  she  was  in 
her  sixty-fourth  year.  Though  a  member 
of  no  church  she  was  nevertheless  a  firm 
believer  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  a 
practical  Chi'istian.  Mr.  Burdue  now  makes 
his  home  with  his  son  Moses  W.  and  fam- 
ily, on  the  old  home  place.  He  is  and  has 
been  an  earnest,  lifelong  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  In  politics  he  was  for 
many  years  a  Democrat,  but  is  now  identi- 
fied with  the  Prohibition  party,  and  is  an 
earnest  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause. 
He  is  one  of  the  old  pioneers,  prominent 
and  representative  farmers  of  the  entire 
county,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  respected 
citizens. 

Moses  W.  Burdue,  with  whom  our  sub- 
ject now  makes  his  home,  has  always  re- 
sided on  the  old  home  farm,  where  he  has 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  with  good  success. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  at  which  he  has  been  employed  to 
some  extent  and  at  various  places.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  English  and  scientific  educa- 
tion  in  youth  at  the  common  schools  and 
at  the   Western    Reserve   Normal  School, 


244 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Milan,  Ohio,  and  in  his  early  manliood  was 
encased  in  teaching;  for  a  time.  He  was 
married,  February  2,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary 
P.  Vanderpool,  a  iiatis^e  of  Hamilton 
county,  N.  Y.,  born  May  27,  1842,  a 
daucrhter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Six- 
bery)  Vanderpool,  both  of  whom  were  also 
natives  of  that  State,  and  of  Holland  and 
English  descent,  respectively.  Four  chil- 
dren have  blessed  their  union,  namely: 
George  M.,  Mary  P.,  Susie  E.  and  William 
Earle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burdue  and  the  en- 
tire family  are  active  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  Socially  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burdue 
are  members  of  Townsend  Grange,  No. 
1892.  He  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
temperance  cause,  a  Prohibitionist  in  polit- 
ical faith,  and  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
successful  farmers  of  the  community. 


HfENEY  C.  PINNEY,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Townsend  township,  is  a 
_[  native  of  same,  born  April  11, 
1842,  the  third  in  the  family  of 
four  children  born  to  Hollibert  and 
Harriet  (Fay)  Pinney,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  New  York  State,  and  of  English 
descent. 

Hollibert  Pinney  first  saw  the  light  De- 
cember 29,  1801,  and  received  a  good 
common-school  and  academic  education. 
He  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  some  time, 
and  worked  on  the  old  homestead  in  New 
York  until  he  attained  his  majority.  In 
1822  he  was  married  to  Harriet  Fay, 
whose  parents  were  early  settlers  of  west- 
ern New  York;  then  bought  the  home  farm 
and  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  also 
working  on  the  Erie  Canal  and  in  the  salt 
works.  Ho  was  a  member  of  the  New 
York  State  militia  until  1835,  when  he 
came  with  his  wife  and  one  child  to  tiie 
far  western  frontier  of  northern  Ohio,  lo- 
cating in  Berlin  township,  Erie  county. 
He  l)ought  a  slightly  improved  place  ot 
ninety  acres,  and  selling  it  about  three 
years  afterward,  bought  one  in  Townsend 


township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he 
continued  to  improve  and  increase  his  pos- 
sessions, finally  becoming  the  owner  of 
255  acres  of  well-improved  land.  For 
several  years  the  family  e,\perienced  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to 
frontier  life,  their  few  neighbors  being 
widely  separated.  On  this  farm  Hollibert 
Pinney  passed  his  remaining  days,  with 
the  exception  of  short  intervals.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Townsend  township,  also  serving  as  trustee. 
He  belonged  to  no  Church,  hut  was  a  firm 
believer  in  the  Universalist  doctrine  ;  was 
one  of  the  most  honored  and  respected 
citizens  of  the  county,  and  a  purer,  more 
exemplary  man  in  life  and  character  it 
would  be  hard  to  find.  He  died  October 
2,  1885.  His  ancestors  were  among  the 
early  settlel-s  of  Massachusetts.  Mrs.Har 
riet  Pinney  was  a  firm  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  a  con- 
sistent Christian.  Her  death  occurred 
March  23,  1880,  when  she  was  in  her 
sixty-seventh  year. 

Henry  C.  Pinney,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  only  a  common-school 
education  in  youth,  never  having  attended 
school  after  his  seventeenth  year.  He  has, 
however,  by  his  own  exertions  in  later 
years,  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  very  good 
practical  business  education.  He  is  a  man 
of  good  judgment  and  strong  natural  sense, 
and  is  now  possessed  of  a  fund  of  general 
information,  having  been  all  his  life  an  ex- 
tensive and  careful  reader.  He  was  em- 
ployed on  the  old  home  farm  until  he  was 
nineteen  years  old,  soon  after  which,  in 
September,  1861,  he  enlisted,  in  Company 
C,  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  was  mustered  in, 
and  went  south  with  his  regiment  January 
22.  1862.  They  were  assigned  to  duty 
with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  our 
subject  participated  in  the  battles  of  Cedar 
Mountain,  Bull  Pasture,  Second  Bull  Run, 
and  many  other  lesser  engagements,  in 
fact  he  was  with  his  regiment  in  all  its 
marches  and  engagements  until  the  latter 
part  of  August,  when  he  had  a  severe  at- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


245 


tack  of  typlioid  fever,  and  was  sent  to  Mt. 
Pleasant  hospital,  Washington,  D.  C, 
where  he  remained  for  several  months. 
Still  being  unfit  for  active  duty  at  the 
front,  he  was  transferred  to  the  V.  It.  C, 
and  served  with  same  at  Washington  until 
the  e.xpiratiou  of  his  term  of  service,  being 
mustered  out  September  17,  1864.  He 
then  retui-ned  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  has  been  so  employed  ever  since,  with 
good  success,  now  owning  a  well-improved 
farm  of  111  acres. 

Mr.  Pinney  was  married  October  16, 
1864,  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Roberts,  a  na- 
tive of  Perlinville,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  born 
October  12,  1843.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Lucy  (Baley)  Roberts,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
German  descent.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinney 
have  been  born  three  daughters,  namely : 
Lucy  Harriet  (now  Mrs.  Charles  Schreiner), 
Ida  Jane  and  Carrie  Agnes.  In  politics 
Mr.  Pinney  has  always  been  a  Repulilican; 
in  1881  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Townsend 
township,  serving  four  years,  and  was 
again  elected  to  the  same  oflice  in  the 
spring  of  1891,  for  a  term  of  three  years. 
He  belongs  to  no  Churcli,  but  is  a  firm  be- 
liever in  tlie  Christian  religion,  and  leans 
toward  the  doctrines  of  the  Universalists. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  Townsend 
Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has 
tilled  the  position  of  quartermaster  ever 
since  its  organization  in  April,  1885. 


THOMAS  HURST,  a  member  of  the 
farming  community  of  Townsend 
township,  is  a  native  of  the  Province 
of  (Quebec,  Canada,  born  November 
10,  1843,  a  son  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Hislop)  Hurst. 

John  Hurst  was  .born  in  Lancashire, 
England,  a  son  of  Thomas  Hurst,  a  weaver, 
who  followed  that  trade  in  his  native  land 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  wheti  his 
son  John   was    very   young.     John    Hurst 


received  a  very  fair  education  in  Englaiid, 
and  after  his  father's  death  commenced  to 
learn  the  weaver's  trade,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  reaching  manhood.  He  then 
enlisted  in  the  Pritish  army,  in  the  Royal 
Artillery,  in  wliich  he  served  continuously 
twenty-seven  and  a  half  years,  including 
the  period  during  which  all  Europe  was 
engaged  in  the  Napoleonic  wars,  being  for 
a  considerable  time  under  the  command  of 
the  "Iron  Duke."  He  also  participated 
ill  the  famous  Peninsular  war,  in  Spain 
and  Portugal,  and  while  he  was  serving  in 
that  campaign  his  mother  died.  Later  on 
— in  the  war  of  1812-14 — his  regiment 
was  sent  to  America  (landing  at  Quebec), 
and  he  was  with  the  British  forces  at  the 
battle  of  Plattsburg,  near  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  While  engaged  in  garrison  duty 
at  a  fort  located  on  an  island  in  the  Riche- 
lieu river,  some  fifteen  miles  north  of 
Plattsburg,  he  first  met  and  became  ac- 
quainted with  Miss  Margaret  Hislop,  a 
native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  to  whom  he 
was  soon  afterward  united  in  the  bonds  of 
wedlock.  After  his  marriage  he  remained 
in  the  army  several  years,  doing  garrison 
duty  at  various  posts  in  Canada,  among 
them  one  near  Niagara.  Upon  his  final 
release  from  military  duty  he  was  obliged 
to  go  back  to  England,  where  he  received 
his  discharge  and  other  documents,  return- 
ing  to  Canada  as  soon  as  they  were  secured, 
arid  locating  on  a  farm  near  the  Richelieu 
river,  bought  by  his  wife  during  his  ab- 
sence. Here  he  continued  to  reside,  and 
was  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  October,  1854,  when  he  was  in  his 
si.xty-eight  year.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  lifelong  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

James  Hislop,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Hurst,  was  twice  married  in  his 
native  land,  Scotland,  first  time  to  Miss 
Park  (a  cousin  of  the  noted  traveler  and 
explorer,  Mungo  Park),  who  bore  him  four 
children,  amonw  whom  was  the  mother  of 
our  subject.     Mr.   Hislop  next  married  a 


246 


UUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Miss  Betson,  and  two  sons  blessed  this 
union.  During  the  first  years  of  the 
present  century  Mr.  Hisiop  emigrated  to 
America,  settling  in  Lower  Canada.  He 
was  a  stone-cutter  and  carver  by  occupa- 
tiou,  and  was  universally  conceded  to  be 
one  of  the  finest  workmen  in  the  country. 
Shortly  before  the  war  of  1812,  he,  with 
others,  contracted  with  the  English  Gov- 
ernment for  the  coiistriictiou  of  extensive 
barracks  and  fortifications  along  the  Cana- 
dian and  American  frontier,  many  of 
which  works  are  still  standing,  monu- 
ments of  their  skill  and  energy.  Mr. 
Ilislop  continued  to  follow  his  trade  until 
liis  death.  For  many  years  before  com- 
ing to  America  he  was  a  prominent  and 
extensive  contractor  in  the  stone-cutting 
business  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  during 
which  time  he  had  in  his  employ  a  man 
named  Dixon,  who,  years  afterward,  be- 
came inspector  of  the  reformatory  pri- 
sons in  Canada,  one  of  which  was  built 
by  Mr.  Ilislop  on  the  same  island  in  the 
liichelieu  before  alluded  to  as  the  site  of 
the  fort.  Prior  to  his  immigration  lie  was 
a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  but  after  his  arrival  in  Canada  he 
identified  himself  with  the  Episcopal 
Churcli. 

Thomas  Hurst,  tiie  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  ninth  in  the  family 
of  eleven  children  of  Jolui  and  Margaret 
Hurst,  and  received  a  very  fair  English 
education  at  the  common  schools  of 
Canada  in  early  life.  After  his  father's 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  only 
ten    years    old,    he    remained   on    the    old 

ml 

homestead  with  his  mother  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1857,  when  our  sub- 
ject was  but  fourteen  years  of  age.  Being 
thus  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age, 
he  was  thrown  entirely  on  his  own  re- 
sources, and  compelled  to  begin  the  battle 
with  the  stern  realities  of  life  alone.  For 
several  years  he  was  employed  by  the 
month — generally  on  a  farm — but  was 
neither  afraid  nor  ashamed  to  turn  his 
band    to   any   honorable  employment  that 


offered  an  opportunity  for  making  an 
honest  dollar.  On  September  1,  18G0,  he 
set  out  for  the  United  States,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 3  found  himself  at  Kipton,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  with  two  dollars  and  a  half 
in  his  pocket.  Here  he  went  to  work 
at  anything  that  offered,  usually  farm 
work,  and  in  tlie  spring  of  1866  bought 
a  partly  improved  farm  of  sixty  acres 
in  Wakeman  township,  Huron  county, 
having  no  buildings  and  only  five  acres 
cleared;  but  during  the  folowing  fall 
he  built  a  house,  moved  onto  the  place 
March  13,  1867,  and  commenced  farming 
on  his  own  account.  On  this  place 
he  remained  some  fifteen  years,  when 
he  sold  out  and  bought  the  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  in  Townseud  township, 
Huron  county,  known  as  the  Manville 
farm  (of  which  he  is  the  third  owner  from 
the  original),  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
and  where  he  has  since  been  successfully 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Of  Mr. 
Hurst  it  may  most  truthfully  be  said  he  is 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  having 
commenced  the  battle  of  life  with  no 
friend  save  good  health  and  an  energy 
that  knew  no  such  word  as  fail,  and  with 
no  inheritance  save  a  stout  heart  and  will- 
ing hands;  nevertheless,  by  strict  atten- 
tion to  business,  industry,  economy,  and 
honest  integrity,  he  has  succeeded  in  ac- 
quiring a  very  fair  share  of  this  world's 
goods.  He  is  a  man  of  good  judgment 
and  quick  perceptions,  is  at  present  one  of 
the  trustees  of  Townsend  township,  and 
has  held  various  other  township  positions. 
Mr.  Hurst  took  out  his  naturalization 
papers  and  became  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  June  20,  1868,  casting  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  in 
November  of  that  year. 

On  December  25,  1866,  Mr.  Hurst  was 
married,  in  Elyria,  to  Miss  Alice  M.  Close, 
a  native  of  Henrietta  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  May  9, 
1847,  daughter  of  Chauncey  R.  and  Eme- 
line  (Ashenhurst)  Close,  the  former  of 
whom   was  a    native    of  Auburn,  N.  Y., 


iiuitoyr  COUNTY,  onio. 


247 


and  of  English  descent,  while  the  latter 
was  a  native  of  Florence  township,  Erie 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  of  English-German  ex- 
traction. Four  children  have  blessed  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  JVlrs.  Hurst,  viz.;  Ernest 
C,  Amy  M.,  Terry  T.  and  Marion  A. 
Mrs.  Hurst  is  a  consistent  ineinber  of  the 
Disciple  Church,  and  while  Mr.  Hurst  be- 
longs to  no  church,  he  is  a  believer  in 
practical  Christianity.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  and  unconiproinising  Republican, 
and  is  generally  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leading  spirits  of  his  party  in  this  part  of 
the  county,  and  one  of  its  best  workers 
and  organizers.  He  has  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  and  an  active  part  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  country,  local.  State 
and  National,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent, 
representative  citizens  of  his  county. 


TEPHEN  M.  YOUNG.  This 
prominent  and  successful  attorney 
at  law,  who  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  both  his  confreres  at  the 
bar  of  Huron  county  and  the  public  at 
large,  has  the  distinguished  privilege  of 
claiming  descent  from  a  variety  of  nation- 
alities. Through  his  father  he  has  inher- 
ited the  vigorous,  hardy  and  courageous 
blood  of  the  Scot  and  Scotch-Irish;  to  his 
mother  he  is  indelHed  for  having  in  him 
much  of  the  vivacity  and  polish  of  the 
French,  beside  the  stability  and  conserva- 
tism of  the  Holland-Dutch,  whilst  for 
some  generations  back  the  family  have 
lieen  wide-awake  Americans.  The  Young 
family  are  (as  already  intimated)  Scotch- 
Irish,  and  the  maternal  grandmother  of 
our  subject  was  a  Brennan.  His  maternal 
great-grandmotlier  was  a  cousin  to  Aaron 
l>urr, 

Mr.  Young  is  a  son  of  Downing  H. 
Younsf,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  August 
6,  1816,  one  of  a  family  of  fifteen  ciiil- 
dren.  At  Shelby,  Ohio,  Downing  was 
married  to  Angelina  Marvin,  a  highly  edu- 
cated hidy,  and  from  her  he   received  his 


chief  English  education  after  marriage. 
In  early  life  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law,  and  in  due  course  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Mansfield,  Ohio,  where  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. Moving  to  Norwalk,  he  here  con- 
tinued to  conduct  his  law  business,  his 
practice  covering  in  all  a  period  of  ov'er 
forty-five  years.  He  and  his  faithful  wife 
are  now  passing  the  declining  years  of 
their  honored  lives  at  the  old  homestead. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  them, 
Stephen  being  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 
Four  of  his  brothers  were  in  the  Federal 
army  during  the  Civil  war,  viz.:  Andrew 
J.,  who  died'  at  Danville,  Ky. ;  Henry, 
mortally  wounded  December  31,  1862,  at 
Stone  River,  Tenn.,  dying  January  3, 
1863;  Samuel,  who  served  six  years  in  the 
army,  escaping  wounds,  and  dying  at  his 
home  afterward;  Howard,  who  served  his 
full  time,  and  also  escaped  being  wounded. 
Daniel  and  George  Marvin,  brothers  of 
our  subject's  mother,  were  also  in  the  war, 
both  being  wounded,  the  latter  several 
times,  but  they  escaped  with  their  lives. 
Charles  and  John  Marvin  also  served  in 
the  Union  army,  the  former  as  surgeon. 
B.  Howard,  husband  of  our  subject's  sis- 
ter, was  in  an  Ohio  regiment,  and  died  in 
Anderson ville  prison. 

Stephen  M.  Young,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Mansfield, 
Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  March  27,  1848. 
When  he  was  about  seven  years  of  age  he 
removed  to  Toledo,  where  he  remained 
till  1860,  and  then  came  to  New  Haven, 
Huron  Co.,  same  State.  He  liad  received 
his  elementary  education  at  the  common 
schools  in  Mansfield,  Toledo  and  New 
Haven,  after  which  he  entered  Oberlin 
Colieo'e.  On  completing  his  studies,  in 
1867,  he  commenced  teaching  school,  first 
in  Crawford  county,  Ohio;  after  which  he 
became  assistant  in  one  of  the  public 
schools  of  Cincinnati,  in  which  capacity 
he  continued  three  years,  and  then,  in  con- 
sequence of  impaired  health,  lie  had  to 
abandon    teaching.     We    next    find     him 


248 


HUROX  COUXTT,  OHIO. 


acting  in  the  capacity  of  agent  in  Shelby, 
Ohio,  for  tiie  Merchants  Insurance  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago,  before  the  great  fire  in 
Cliicago,  1871,  which  among  many  other 
calamities  resulted  in  the  closing  up  of 
this  company  along  with  a  host  of  others. 
Mr.  Young  then  engaged  in  a  similar 
capacity  with  the  Underwriters  Associa- 
tion of  Philadelphia.  During  all  this  time 
he  was  industriously  pursuing  the  study 
of  law,  and  in  1873  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  After  a  brief 
sojourn  in  Plymouth,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio, 
he  moved  to  Bucyrus,  Crawford  Co.,  same 
State,  where  he  commenced  the  regular 
practice  of  law  in  May,  1875,  continuing 
till  October,  1878,  when  he  came  to  Xor- 
walk,  and  has  since  here  remained  success- 
fully practicing  his  profession,  and  build- 
ing up  a  reputation  as  a  learned  and 
shrewd  jurist,  in  civil,  criminal  and  cor- 
poration law. 

On  July  29, 1877,  Mr.  Young  was  mar- 
ried in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Isabella 
Wagner,  and  five  children  were  born  to 
them,  viz.:  AVall)urga,  Henry,  Don  John, 
Stephen  Marvin,  Jr.,  and  Isabella  Wagner. 
In  politics  Mr.  Young  is  a  Republican; 
socially  he  is  a  Freemason,  and  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


EORGE  SHEFFIELD,  formerly  of 
New  London,  Conn.,  was  born 
April  4,  1786.  In  the  summer  of 
1809  he  came  on  horseback  to  Ohio 
as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Huron 
river,  returning  the  same  way  the  follow- 
ing autumn. 

He  followed  his  trade  (shipbuilding)  till 
the  beginnintr  of  the  war  of  1812.  When 
the  British  frigate  "  Macedonia "  was 
captured  by  Commodore  Decatur,  Mr. 
Sheffield  was  a  member  of  the  Home 
Guards.  Early  in  the  winter  of  1813  he 
married  Betsey,  daughter  of  the  late 
Abishai  Woodward,  of  New  London,  and 
on   November    18,    1814,    a    son,   George 


Woodward. 


was  born.  In  June,  1816, 
George  Shettield  left  Connecticut  with  his 
wife  and  son  in  a  one-horse  chaise,  his 
brother,  J.  B.  Sheflield,  boy,  Orrin  Harris, 
and  man  with  team  following.  At  Dun- 
kirk, N.  y.,  the  family  boarded  a 
schooner,  and  after  an  uneventful  voyage 
landed  at  Huron,  Ohio,  some  time  in  the 
following  August.  On  his  land  on  the 
Avest  bank  of  (Jld  Woman  creek  he  built  a 
log  house,  where  the  daughter,  Betsey,  was 
born  in  September.  Soon  after,  the  place 
being  very  unhealthy,  the  family  moved  to 
Huron,  where  Mrs.  Sheffield  died  on  the 
18th  of  the  following  November.  The 
next  spring  Mr.  Sheffield  moved  to  Lyme 
township,  where  he,  with  his  brothers-in- 
law,  William  and  Gurdon  Woodward,  kept 
bachelors'  hall  for  two  years,  during  which 
time  they  were  preparing  separate  homes. 
In  1819  Mr.  Sheffield,  for  his  second  wife, 
married  Thurza  Baker,  daughter  of  John 
Baker,  of  Strong's  Ridge.  In  1820  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  February,  1822,  his  house  was  burned, 
and  in  it  his  little  daughter,  Betsey,  and 
the  boy,  Orrin  Harris,  together  with  all 
the  household  goods.  His  neighbors  gave 
him  all  assistance  within  their  power. 
About  1823  Mr.  Siieffield  sold  his  land  in 
Eldridge  township  (now  Berlin)  to  Daniel 
Benschooter.  In  1825  or  1826  he  was 
appointed  to  appraise  the  "Firelands"  for 
taxation.  In  the  autumn  of  1831  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Huron  county,  moving 
to  Norwalk,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity 
until  his  death.  On  August  20,  1834, 
Mrs.  Sheffield  was  seized  with  cholera,  and 
died  that  night;  Mr.  Sheffield  was  taken 
with  the  same  disease,  and  died  on  the 
2Brd — three  days  later.  There  were  five 
children  of  the  second  marriage,  viz.: 
James  King,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four: 
Betsey;  James  Fredrick;  Sarah  T.  and 
Edward. 

On  June  14,  1846,  George  Woodward 
Sheffield  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Gur- 
don and  Mary  S.  Woodward,  of  which 
union    there    were    seven    children,  viz.: 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


249 


Mary,  who  married  Henry  G.  Bramwell, 
formerly  of  Belleviie  (they  now  live  in 
Lincoln,  111.);  George,  who  died  in  1884 
(lie  luiirried  Mary  Gertrude,  daughter  of 
the  late  Judge  Joel  Parker,  of  Gambridge, 
Mass.);  Rachel,  deceased  in  1885;  Julia, 
married  to  Ezra  R.  Oliver,  of  Norwalk; 
James,  married  to  Fannie  A.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Bemiss,  of  Strong's  Ridge;  and 
Lncy  and  Gurdon,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  Mrs.  Sheffield  died  in  1865. 
Mr.  Sheffield  still  lives  upon  his  farm  two 
miles  south  of  Bellevue,  on  the  western 
boundary  of  the  "Firelands." 


^ILLIAM  C.  PENFIELD,  one  of 
the    prominent    and     prosperous 
farmers  of   Norwalk  township,  is 
a  native  of  Huron  county,  born  in 
North  Fairfield  township  in  1839. 

His  father,  Samuel  Penfield,  was  born 
near  Dani)nry,  Conn.,  in  ISOi,  where  he 
passed  his  boyhood  on  a  farm,  and  when  a 
young  man  learned  the  trade  of  wagon 
maker.  In  1827  he  moved  to  North  Fair- 
field, Ohio,  with  his  mother  and  two  sis- 
ters, a  third  sister  with  her  husband  and 
family  accompanying  them.  He  Ijad  pre- 
viously walked  from  Connecticut  to  North 
Fairfield,  taken  possession  of  a  tract  of 
wild  land  inherited  from  his  father,  and 
bnilt  a  log  cabin  upon  it,  and  on  the  ar- 
rival of  the  family  they  found  this  prim- 
itive home  awaiting  them.  He  occupied 
and  improved  the  farm  for  a  number  of 
years,  during  which  time,  in  1831,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Clara  A.  Woodvvorth,  of 
North  Fairfield,  a  native  of  Central  New 
York,  and  daughter  of  James  Woodworth. 
A  few  years  after  liis  marriage  he  rented 
the  farm  and  moved  into  the  village  of 
North  Fairfield,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a  short  time,  and  then  enrjaged 
in  mercantile  business  for  several  years. 
About  1846  he  returned  to  the  farm,  and 
there  ]iassed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  at 
the  age  of  fifty  three   years.     There  were 


six  children  born  in  the  family,  namely: 
Ephraiui  P.,  Frances  E.,  James  W.  (de- 
ceased), William  C,  Charles  (deceased) 
and  Henry  B.  (deceased  in  infancy).  Of 
these,  Epliraim  P.,  a  physician,  resides  in 
the  State  of  Washington;  Frances  E.  mar- 
ried T.  H.  Kellogg,  an  attorney  of  Nor- 
walk, Huron  county;  Charles  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  First  O.  V.  I.,  at- 
tached to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  (he 
was  seriously  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River,  and  died  in  1871).  The 
father  of  this  fitmily  died  in  1857,  in  poli- 
tics a  stanch  Alwlitionist,  a  strong  temper- 
ance man,  and  in  religious  faith  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

William  C.  Penfield  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  township,  after  which  he  at- 
tended the  Normal  School  at  Milan,  Erie 
county,  also  a  select  school,  and  then  be- 
came a  teacher  himself,  pursuing  the  voca- 
tion three  years.  In  1860  he  took  a  triii 
to  Pike's  Peak,  and  for  one  year  mined  for 
gold,  with  fair  success.  The  following 
year  he  returned  home,  and  the  Civil  war 
having  broken  out  he  enlisted  for  three 
years  in  the  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.  He  par- 
ticipated in  Fremont's  campaign  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  in  pursuit  of  Stonewall 
Jackson,  ending  in  tlie  battle  of  Cross 
Keys;  with  Sigel  along  the  Rappahannock, 
the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  Gettysburg,  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
and  in  numerous  minor  engagements.  At 
Chancellorsville  he  had  some  remarkably 
narrow  escapes,  being  struck  by  bullets  no 
less  than  three  times  in  less  than  a  minute 
—  one  bullet  drawing  blood  on  his  knuckle, 
another  striking  his  elbow,  while  a  third 
pierced  his  knapsack.  At  Gettysburg  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  conveyed  l)y  way  of 
the  Shenandoah  Valley  to  Richmond,  and 
confined  in  Belle  Isle  prison.  After  his 
exchange  the  following  spring,  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  on  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  the  close  of  his  three  years  service  he 
was  mustered  out  at  Atlanta,  but  early  in 
1865  re-eulisted,  being  this  time  attached 


250 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  Gen.  Hancock's  corps,  and  was  on  duty 
in  Washington  dnring  the  trial  and  at  the 
execution  of  the  conspirators  who  took 
part  in  the  inurder  of  President  Lincoln. 
Ill  186(3  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  serv- 
ice, having  been  in  the  army  over  four 
years,  and  during  all  this  time  of  service 
he  was  never  absent  from  his  company  ex- 
cept while  a  prisoner. 

On  his  return  home  from  tlie  army  Mr. 
Pentield  went  to  Michigan,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  milling  for  live  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  once  more  came  to 
Huron  county  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  has  a  nice  property  of  about  ninety 
acres,  just  outside  the  city  limits  of  Nor- 
walk.  In  1869  he  married  Miss  Agnes 
A.  Perry,  of  that  city,  a  daughter  of  Orfus 
Perry,  a  farmer,  and  tliree  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  viz.:  Clara  M.;  Leah, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Louis  P.  Po- 
litically our  subject  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


IIARLES  ROWLEY.    In  the  career 

of  Charles  Rowley  we  find  one  of 
the  best  examples  of  the  thrifty, 
enterprising  descendants  of  that 
sturdy  New  England  stock,  which  charac- 
terizes the  Western  Reserve,  and  has  made 
it  so  justly  famous  as  one  of  the  great 
centers  of  intelligence,  morality  and  pros- 
perity. He  came  from  an  old  English 
family,  his  quite  remote  ancestors  being 
among  the  very  first  settlers  and  pioneers 
of  Connecticut. 

His  grandfather,  Eli  Smith  Rowley, 
born  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  was  a  man  of  strong  character 
and  convictions,  and  thoroughly  patriotic. 
When  but  fitteen  years  of  age  he  enlisted 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  cap- 
tured by  the  British;  but,  though  a  mere 
boy,  lie  managed  to  make  iiis  escape,  and  by 
traveling  at  uij^ht  again  reached  the  Co- 
loniid  ranks,  where,  by  his  valiant  service. 


combined  with  his  extreme  youth,  he  ac- 
quired a  distinction  that  was  truly  de- 
served. His  military  life  was  most  ap- 
propriately referred  to  by  Hon.  Peter 
Dyckinan  in  an  address  delivered  on  July 
4,  1876.  at  Jefferson,  N.  Y.,  in  which  he 
said:  "I  know  at  least  one  Revolutionary 
hero,  taking  his  lasting  rest  among  the 
ever  silent  of  yonder  cemetery.  Many  are 
the  scenes  he  has  portrayed  before  my 
mind,  in  reciting  'deeds  immortal'  like 
unto  this.  *  *  *  Among  the  noble 
patriots  who  have  left  a  record  of  deeds  of 
daring  and  patriotism,  we  may  upon  this 
Centennial  Anniversary  day  inscribe  upon 
the  banner  of  Liberty  the  name  of  Eli 
Smith  Rowley."  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  farming, 
which  was  conducted  until  at  a  very  ad- 
vanced age  he  quietly  retired  from  active 
life. 

Edward  Rowley,  his  son,  was  born  Oc- 
tober 23,  1788.  When  quite  young  he 
left  school  to  learn  'the  cabinet  maker's 
trade,  which,  though  later  returning  to  the 
family  trait  of  farm  life,  he  followed  till 
near  his  death,  in  April,  1S78.  He  was  a 
most  excellent  workman,  and  manufactured 
the  finest  grades  of  household  furniture, 
cofHns  and  caskets  to  be  found  at  that  day. 
His  school  days  were  quite  limited,  yet 
being  of  a  studious  nature,  and  a  great 
observer,  he  became  well  educated,  pos- 
sessed an  excellent  address,  and  was  a  fine 
musician.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
and  an  ardent  worker  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Jefferson,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent,  always 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  religious  and 
better  side  of  life.  In  business  affairs  he 
was  successful,  rearing  and  educating  a 
large  family,  then  retiring  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  Of  his  first  marriage  three 
sons  were  born:  Frederick,  the  eldest, 
joined  the  "forty-niners"  in  California, 
and  there  accumulated  much  property; 
returning,  he  served  two  terms  as  sheriff 
of  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
spent  the   remainder  of  liis  life.     t)f  the 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


253 


other  sons,  Harvey  is  still  living  in  west- 
ern New  York,  and  Edward,  who  went 
South  wlien  quite  young,  became  a  wealthy 
planter  in  Georgia,  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  was  probably  killed 
dnrinix  the  war,  as  he  has  never  been  heard 
from  since.  His  first  wife  having  died, 
Edward  Rowley,  Sr.,  was  again  married, 
this  time  to  Miss  Lydia  Decker,  who  was 
a  member  of  an  old  family  whicli  has  long 
been  prominent  in  the  lumber  and  agri- 
cultural regions  of  Michigan  and  southern 
Canada.  She  was  a  woman  of  considera- 
ble executiveabliity,  especially  in  domestic 
and  church  circles,  yet  of  a  mild,  loving 
disposition  which  was  ever  manifest.  She 
died  April  27,  1877,  at  tiie  age  of  seventy- 
two  years,  at  Stamford,  N.  Y.,  her  hus- 
band following  her  a  few  months  later. 
Of  this  union  five  children  were  born: 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Edwin  Sweet),  now  living 
at  Eminence,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah  (Mrs.  James 
Merchant),  who  died  at  Jefferson,  N.  Y., 
in  April,  1878;  Eli,  the  elder  son,  who 
was  the  first  Tiian  in  Schoharie  county  to 
offer  his  services  to  his  country,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Rebellion,  did  noble  service 
in  the  Union  cause,  where,  by  hard  service 
and  exposure,  he  contracted  a  lung  trouble 
that  ended  in  his  death  on  July  24,  1867, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years;  Charles; 
and  Mary  Jane  (Mrs.  Dr.  E.  W.  Gallup), 
now  living  at  Stamford,  New  York. 

Charles  Rowley  was  l)orn  in  Jefferson, 
N.  Y.,  January  11,  1838,  and  died  at 
North  Fairfield,Ohio,  November  28, 1891. 
Of  his  life  and  character  perhaps  no  better 
sketch  can  be  given  than  the  following, 
which  appeared  in  tlie  Norwalk,  Oliio, 
Experiment-JSfews,  shortly  after  his  death: 
"On  a  farm,  in  Jefferson,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
year  1838,  Charles  Rowley  was  born,  the 
youngest  son  of  Edward  and  Lydia  Rowley. 
Tile  name  has  since  won  for  itself  a  re- 
spect and  confidence  so  universal  that  only 
a  most  true  and  earnest  man  might  hope 
to  win.  It  is  the  fact  tiiat  the  life  and 
death  of  Charles  Rowley  presents  every- 
where   iriodels  of   a   pure   life  and  a  pure 


quality  of  heart,  so  much  so  that  the 
Exjyerhnent-NewK  has  gathered  the  few 
simple  details  of  a  life  not  great  in  glory 
and  tinsel  of  cheap  fame,  but  rich  in  true 
nobility  of  heart. 

"  What  may  have  been  the  home  train- 
ing of  Mr.  Rowley  on  that  New  York 
farm  is  best  attested  by  his  after  life.  We 
do  not  gather  figs  of  thistles;  neither  do 
men  of  the  noblest  refinements  of  nature 
come  from  other  than  noble  parents.  Nor 
did  the  precepts  of  those  God-fearing  par- 
ents fall  on  stony  soil.  Almost  from 
boyhood  earnest  industry,  the  plodding 
step  to  success,  marked  the  progress  of 
the  youth  in  his  studies.  After  several 
terms  spent  in  the  best  school  of  all,  the 
position  of  teacher  studying  the  develop- 
ing sturdy  natures  of  scholars,  Mr.  Rowley 
completed  his  education  in  the  Franklin 
Literary  Institute,  at  Franklin,  New  York. 

>'  In  18G0  Mr.  Rowley  left  his  home  for 
Michigan,  where  he  became  secretary  for 
extensive  inillino-and  lumberin":  interests, 
owned  by  a  cousin,  Charles  Decker,  splen- 
didly fitting  him  for  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  his  own  business  interests  in 
after  years.  In  April,  1863,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Stevens,  of  Ripley, 
Huron  county,  and  took  his  bride  to 
Michigan  with  him,  this  time  to  enter  the 
retail  store  of  J.  L.  Woods,  now  President 
of  the  Euclid  Avenue  Rank,  of  Cleveland. 
In  November,  188G,  he  came  to  North 
Fairfield  and  engatjed  in  the  mercantile 
business,  which  was  conducted  most  profit- 
ably by  him  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  also  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  near 
the  villao-e,  the  manatjement  of  which  oc- 
cupied  much  of  his  time  and  attention. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  Norwalk  Savings 
Bank  Company,  and  vice  president  of  the 
Huron  County  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany. In  politics  Mr.  Rowley  was  always 
a  stanch  Democrat,  fearless  in  his  opinions, 
but  not  jjivincr  offense  bv  advancing  them 
airaiiist  contrary  opinions.  He  was  always 
a  faithful  worker  in  the  interests  of  his 
party,  and  though  in  a  community  noted 


254 


HUBON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for  its  radical  Republican  sentiment  and 
with  an  adverse  majority  of  three  to  one 
against  him,  has  been  repeatedly  elected 
school  director,  till  forced  to  decline  to 
serve  longer  because  of  ill  health.  He  has 
al^o  held  the  offices  of  towns-hip  clerk  and 
township  treasurer,  an  almost  impossible 
accomplishment  for  a  Democrat  in  Fair- 
field. 

"  During  his  early  life  Mr.  Rowley  was 
a  member  of  the  strict  school  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Of  later  years,  and 
since  his  residence  in  Fairfield,  he  has 
been  an  active  and  devout  worker  in  the 
Congregational  Church.  As  a  sincere 
Christian,  firm  in  the  faith,  he  met  death 
without  fear  and  in  calm  and  hopeful 
resignation.  His  private  life  was  without 
reproach.  In  his  family  he  was  a  loving 
and  always  solicitous  father,  striving  by 
example  father  than  precept  to  inspire  all 
about  him  with  his  own  earnestness  of 
purpose.  lie  vvas  liberal  in  giving  thor- 
ough educations  to  his  (;hildren,  denying 
them  nothing  that  would  better  fit  them 
for  the  struggle  of  life.  Among  his  neigh- 
bors no  man  shared  more  fully  the  public 
confidence.  It  is  related  of  liim  that  in 
many  cases  large  sums  of  money  were  de- 
posited with  him  for  safe  keeping,  the 
owners  showing  a  confidence  that  they  did 
not  have  in  any  bank  or  saving  institution. 

"At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Rowley 
was  a  comparatively  young  man,  but  too 
faithful  devotion  to  business  laid  the 
foundations  of  disease  too  deeply  for  hu- 
man skill  to  rcTuove.  For  fourteen  years 
he  has  suffered  in  health,  at  times  seri- 
ously. Last  spring  an  attack  of  grip  fas- 
tened its  clutches  onto  him,  developing 
complications  of  disease  which  gradually 
drew  him  down  until  he  w-as  forced  to  his 
bed,  nearly  seven  weeks  before  his  death. 
Nervous  prostration  in  its  worst  form  re- 
sulted, and  he  quietly  breathed  his  last  at 
6  o'clock  A.  M.  November  28." 

He  leaves  surviving  him  his  widow; 
four  sons,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Edward  F., 
is  conducting  the  business  he  left,  and  is 


pre.'^ident  of  the  North  Fairfield  Savings 
Bank;  Arthur  E.,  who  after  graduating  in 
the  literary  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  being  admitted  to  the 
bar,  is  now  practicing  law,  in  partnership 
with  Hon.  G.  T.  Stewart,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio;  two  small  boys,  Charles  Scott  and 
Leveret  Alcott;  and  one  daughter,  Anna 
L.,  now  attending  college  at  Oberlin.  In 
the  quiet  village  cemetery  at  North  Fair- 
field his  remains  are  resting  in  the  beauti- 
ful  family  vault  erected  shortly  after  his 
death. 


?;  A  MITEL  D.  MORSE,  of  Norwalk 
township,  is  a  native  of  the  city  of 
Norwalk,  born  in  1845.  He  is  a 
grandson  of  Asaliel  Morse,  who  in 
1818  came  from  Ontario  county,  N.  Y., 
to  Huron  county,  locating  in  Ridgefield 
township,  at  which  time  the  country  was  a 
veritable  wilderness,  wild  animals  and 
Indians  being  still  numerous.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  a  trade  he  followed  up  to  the 
time  of  coming  here,  after  which  he  de- 
voted  his  attention  almost  exclusively  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

After  three  years  residence  in  Ridge- 
field township,  he  moved  to  Norwalk  town- 
ship, same  county,  where  he  owned  in  all 
some  260  acres  of  land.  He  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  for 
about  thirty  years  exhorted  in  the  various 
localities  he  lived  in.  His  wife  was  Esther 
Eaton,  of  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  had  three  children,  viz.:  Daniel, 
John  and  Elmira,  the  latter  being  deceased. 
The  mother  of  these  dying,  for  his  second 
wife  Asahel  Morse  married  Miss  Lucy 
Rayniond,  of  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
three  children  were  also  born  to  this  union, 
named  respectively  Esther  (deceased).  May 
and  Samuel.  Asahel  Morse's  father  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  himself  in  that 
of  1812,  in  which  latter  he  was  a  captain 
stationed  at  BuflFalo,  N.  Y. 

Daniel  Morse,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  January  3,  1810,  in  Gorham,  Ontario 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


255 


Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  his  boyhood  days  were 
spent  on  a  farm,  and  in  attending  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  llavino' 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  he  followed 
same  for  some  time,  but  farming  was  his 
chief  occupation;  he  owned  the  old  home- 
stead until  1857,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
his  present  farm  in  Nor  walk  township, 
comprising  108  acres.  Mr.  Morse  mar- 
ried Miss  Joanna  Danforth,  of  Barnard, 
Vt.,  a  daughter  of  Saiunel  Danforth, 
M.  D.,  and  they  had  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Oscar,  Samuel  D.,  Asahel,  Alice, 
Roland  and  Euphemia.  The  fatiier  has 
been  a  Whig  and  Republican  in  his  politi- 
cal sympathies,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

Samuel  D.  Morse,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  common  and  high  schools  of  Norwalk, 
from  which  latter  he  rrraduated.  He  then 
went  to  Toledo  to  fill  the  position  of  book- 
keeper, and  in  that  city  enlisted,  in  1864, 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-second 
Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  serving  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  period  he  was  promoted  to  sec- 
ond lieutenant.  From  1865  to  1867  he 
attended  a  commercial  school  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  graduating  therefrom  in 
1867.  Returning  to  Toledo,  he  kept  books 
there  three  years,  and  then  moved  to  his 
present  farm  in  Norwalk  township,  Huron 
county,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  agri- 
culture. 

In  1867  Mr.  Morse  married  Miss  Elvira 
Smith,  daughter  of  Joel  Smith,  and  one 
child  has  blessed  their  union:  Mary  Alice, 
living  at  home.  Our  subject  is  a  member 
of  and  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church. 


(ILL  I  AM    B.    HOYT,    a    leading 
citizen    of    Ridgefield    township, 
Mj'     was  born  March  4,  1820,  in  St. 
Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
John    and    Lydia    (Plyinpton)    Hoyt,    the 
former  of  wjiom  was  a  farmer  of  St.  Law- 
rence   county,  and     moved    to    Jefferson 


county,  same  State,  in  1832.  They  were 
married  February  26,  1810,  and  John 
Hoyt  died  February  25, 1875,  Lydia  Hoyt 
on  May  16,  1855. 

William  B.  Hoyt  attended  the  common 
schools  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  mov- 
ing with  his  parents  to  Jefferson  county, 
remained  there  until  1844.  He  and  three 
sisters  then  joined  a  party  bound  for  Illi- 
nois, and  following  the  canal  to  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  there  embarked  for  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  on  the  vessel  "  Commodore  Perry." 
While  on  Lake  Erie  a  storm  compelled 
them  to  land  at  Huron,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  some  of  the  party  having  intended 
to  locate  at  Cook's  Corners,  in  Huron 
county,  they  took  a  conveyance  thither. 
They  persuaded  William  to  accompany 
them,  and  finally  deciding  to  remain  there, 
he  purchased  and  settled  on  a  small  farm 
in  the  vicinity.  On  December  22, 1846,  lie 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Ann, 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Rachel  (CooJi) 
Williard.  She  was  a  native  of  Adams, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  having  lost  her 
parents  when  young,  came  to  live  with 
relatives  at  Cook's  Corners,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  She  then  became  a  pioneer  school 
teacher  in  Ridgefield  and  Lyme  townships, 
receiving  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per 
week  as  compensation  for  her  services,  and 
"boarded  routid"  among  the  pupils. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt  began  wedded  life 
on  a  place  near  Cook's  Corners,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1869. 
He  then  purchased  the  fertile  tract  of  225 
acres  where  he  is  now  residing,  and  his 
parents,  coming  from  New  York,  passed 
their  last  days  with  this  son.  On  arriving 
in  Huron  county,  William  B.  Hoyt  had  no 
property,  but  by  hard  work  and  much 
expense  accumulated  his  pre.sent  fertile 
and  productive  farm,  which  is  underlaid 
with  twenty-two  miles  of  drain  tile.  The 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  B. 
Hoyt  are:  Judson  W.,  a  farmer  living 
near  Bellevue;  W.  Julius,  an  agriculturist 
of  Seward  county,  Neb.;  Charles  F.,  a 
farmer     of     Norwalk    township,     Huron 


256 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county;  Hubbard  W.,  a  physiciau  of 
Belleviie;  John  C,  a  real  estate  dealer  of 
El  Dorado,  Butler  Co.,  Ivans.;  Fred  B.,  a 
real  estate  dealer  of  Chatidlei-,  Oklahoma: 
Arthur  and  Edward  W.,  both  residing  with 
their  parent.s.  These  children  have  all 
received  a  college  education,  and  are  prov- 
ing themselves  worthy  of  the  exceptional 
advantages  they  have  enjoyed.  Mr.  Hojt 
takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  the  fact  that 
nine  Republican  votes  were  cast  at  one 
time  bv  his  family,  as  he  is  an  enthusiastic 
member  of  that'  party,  having  served  in 
numerous  local  offices.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
of  which  he  is  a  deacon.  Mrs.  Hoyt  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  North  Monroe- 
ville  congregation. 


THOMAS  DUiNMOEE, a  well-known 
inventor,  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Norwalk,  was  born  in  Birmingham, 
England,  in  1841,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Mason)  Dunmore,  both 
natives  of  England,  of  whose  family  he  is 
the  only  surviving  member. 

Thomas  Dunmore  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1861,  and  immediately  after 
landing  entered  the  jVa\:y,  in  New  York, 
remaining  in  the  service  four  years  and 
three  months.  He  was  in  New  Orleans 
just  after  its  capture,  and  spent  some  time 
at  Key  West.  Mr.  Dunmore  has  traveled 
considerably,  having  crossed  the  ocean 
nine  times.  In  his  native  land  he  learned 
the  plumber's  trade,  and  after  the  war  set- 
tled in  East  Boston,  whence  in  1866  he 
removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  remaining 
there  until  1881,  when  he  came  to  Huron 
county  for  the  purpose  of  following  his 
trade  of  plumber  and  steam-titter.  He  is 
the  inventor  of  an  improved  system  of 
heating  and  ventilating  houses.  He  is  one 
of  the  largest  stockholders  in  the  Norwalk 
Incandescent  Light  and  Power  Company, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  chief  organ- 
izers and  builders,  and  is  one  of  the  most 


enterprising  citizens  of  his  adopted  town. 
His  system  of  heating  and  ventilating  is 
covered  by  patents,  and  the  testimony  of 
experts  from  all  parts  of  the  country  is  to 
the  effect  that  it  is  of  the  highest  merit — 
as  often  reiterated:  "the  best  in  the 
world.''  He  is  master  of  his  business, 
and  all  the  important  contracts  in  Nor- 
walk iiave  been  under  Lis  successful  man- 
agement. 

In  social  life  Mr.  Dunmore  is  a  memi)er 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  K.  T.,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republioan.  At  Birmingliam, 
England,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Wright,  aud  to  them  has  been 
born  one  son,  Walter  T.  Our  subjeet's 
grandfather  Dunmore  was  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  in  Lincolnshire,  Englaiul. 
Mrs.  Dunmore's  father  (Philip  Wright) 
was  a  soldier  under  Wellington,  and  was 
in  the  front  ranks  at  the  battle  of  Water- 
loo; one  of  his  sons  was  in  the  English 
army  in  India,  and  died  in  hospital.  He 
had  been  discharged,  and  intended  upon 
his  return  to  England  to  come  to  America, 
but  he  died  a  short  time  after  reaching  his 
native  country. 


FJREDEPJCK  RICHARD  was   born 
November  18,  1818,  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
_^       many,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Richard, 
a  tanner,  who  in  his  day  was  a  well- 
known  tradesman  in  the  Saxon  community 
where  he  lived. 

Frederick  Richard  attended  school  in 
Germany,  and  became  a  fair  scholar  before 
he  befan  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade  under 
his  father.  In  18-17  he  emigrated  to 
America,  sailing  from  Bremen  to  New 
York.  Once  in  this  country,  he  waited 
not  in  the  city,  but  pushed  westward  to 
Bellevue,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  four  years.  In  1853  he  married  Anna 
Yeager,  a  native  of  Saxony,  who  came  to 
this  country  alone  when  twenty-four  years 
old,  and  to  this  marriage  the  following 
named  children  were  born:  John,  a  tanner 
of  Monroeville;   Lena,  Mrs.  Fred   Druner, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OSlO. 


257 


of  Toledo;  Lewis  and  Henry,  at  home; 
Tillie,  Mrs.  August  Falirenhach,  of  Mon- 
roeville;  and  August,  residing  at  liome. 
After  his  marriatje  Mr.  Richard  located 
at  Monroeville,  and  there  enoraged  in  the 
tanning  l)iisiness  for  many  years,  con- 
tinuing therein  until  he  saw  the  tannery, 
which  he  labored  so  hard  to  establish,  grow 
into  an  important  industry.  When  lie  re- 
tired to  his  farm,  he  gave  the  business  to 
bis  son,  who  now  carries  it  on  with  marked 
success.  Mr.  Richard  now  devotes  his  en- 
tire attention  to  this  tract,  which  contains 
165  acres.  In  political  affairs  he  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party.  In  religion 
the  entire  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  His  industry  is  re- 
markable. His  character  is  well  exempli- 
fied by  the  fact  that  with  very  little  capital 
lie  established  a  manufacturing  enterprise 
at  Monroeville,  which  subsequently  de- 
veloped into  a  most  prosperous  industry. 


C.  POST,  the  well-known  liveryman 
of  New  London,  is  a  native  of  the 
town,  born  April  6,  1841.  He  is  a 
son  of  Hizah  and  Ro.xanna  (Culver) 
Post,  both  natives  of  Madison  county,  N. 
Y.,  the  father  born  in  1808,  the  mother  in 
1826.  They  were  naarried  in  New  York 
State,  and  about  the  year  1840  came  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  New 
London  township,  where  they  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  The  mother  died 
there  in  1862,  and  the  father  afterward 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  making  his  home 
there  until  about  1889,  when  he  went  to 
New  York,  and  there  passed  from  eartii  in 
1892. 

Their  son,  C.  C.  Post,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  went 
on  the  "Big  Four"  Railroad  as  water  boy, 
from  which  position  he  was  promoted  to 
brakeman,  and  ran  the  first  sleeping  car 
that    was    run   from    Cincinnati,   Ohio,  to 


Pittsburgh.  Not  long  afterward  he  was 
promoted  to  the  ])osition  of  traveling  agent 
for  the  Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  &  Chicago 
Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Indianapo- 
lis, Ind.,  thence  moving  to  Chicago,  having 
been  appointed  city  passenger  agent  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad;  then  became 
ticket  agent,  with  office  at  the  corner  of 
Clark  and  Randolph  streets,  same  city. 
His  next  incumbency  was  a  yet  more  re- 
sponsible one — general  travel! ncr  acrent  for 

'  c5  4  0        0 

the  same  Company,  over  the  United  States 
and  Canada — a  position  he  filled  with 
characteristic  ability  and  energy  five  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  New  London, 
locating  on  a  farm  with  G.  W.  Bissell, 
father  of  liis  first  wife,  Sabra  L.  (Bissell), 
who  died  in  1883.  He  then  bought  the 
livery  business  in  the  town  of  New  Lon- 
don, which  he  has  since  successfully  con- 
ducted. Our  subject  by  his  iifter  marriage 
with  Miss  Ella  Gates  had  two  children: 
Clarence  and  Arline. 

Politically  Mr.  Post  is  a  Republican;  he 
served  four  years  on  the  city  council  of 
New  London  and  four  years  as  deputy 
sheriff  of  Huron  county. 


d[  WHITBECK  FOSTER,  manager  of 
the  Norwalk  Incandescent  Light  and 
/  Power  Company,  is  a  son  of  John 
II.  Foster,  who  was  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  in  1834  came  to  Ohio.  He 
was  a  school  teacher,  afterward  a  stockman 
and  drover,  then  served  in  the  Civil  war  as 
major  of  the  Tiiird  Ohio  Cavalry.  On  his 
return  home  from  the  war  he  conducted  a 
commission  establishment  in  Norwalk  for 
some  time.  He  was  married  to  Nancy  M. 
Boardman,  also  a  native  of  New  York. 
The  father  died  in  1874  (his  death  being 
hastened  by  his  wounds  and  exposure  dur- 
ing the  war),  and  was  followed  to  the  grave 
by  his  wife  in  1886.  In  their  family  there 
are,  besides  oiir  subject,  two  sons — Frank 
B.  and  William  S. — and  one  daughter — 
Maria  Louise — all  yet  living. 


« 
258 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


J.  Whitbeck  Foster  was  born  July  25, 
184-1:,  ill  Norwalk,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  liigli  schools  of  his  native 
place,  then  took  a  two  years'  commercial 
course  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  graduating  in 
1865.  After  leaving  school  he  returned  to 
Korwalk,  and  entered  the  sewing  machine 
business  in  partnership  witi)  N.S.C.  Perkins 
and  W.  A.  Mack,  with  whom  lie  remained 
until  the  firm  dissolved;  then,  in  company 
with  N.  S.  C.  Perkins,  manufactured  the 
Queen  and  Dauntless  sewingmachines, until 
they  too  went  out  of  business.  He  afterward 
became  connected  with  the  Norwalk  Light 
and  Power  Co.,  continuing  wilh  them  un- 
til April,  1891,  and  in  April,  1892,  he  ac- 
cepted the  management  of  the  N(jrwalk 
Incandescent  Light  and  Power  Company. 

On  October  22,  1888,  Mr.  Foster  was 
married  to  Clare  A.  Morehouse,  who  has 
borne  him  one  sod,  Vernon  W.  In  poli- 
tics our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  four  years  as  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil, during  which  time  he  was  very  active 
in  securing  electric  lights  for  the  city;  also 
served  on  many  important  committees. 
He  is  secretary  of  the  National  Union  at 
Norwalk,  and  president  of  the  City  Poard 
of  Equalization. 


llltlLLTAM  HIMBERGER,  one  of 
\Pvt/  *'''*^  representative,  pushing,  wide- 
Mi  ■(  fiwake  business  men  of  Norwalk, 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Smith  ctHimherger,  proprietors  of  lumber 
yard  and  planing  mill,  was  born  in  the 
Province  of  Nassau,  Prussia,  November 
23,  184-1.  He  is  the  eldest  in  the  family 
of  eight  I'hildren  of  William  and  Minnie 
(Horn)  Ilimberger,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Prussia  in  1816,  and  was  ac- 
cidentally killed  in  1863,  while  his  son 
William  was  serving  in  the  Union  army. 
The  widowed  mother,  now  seventy  years 
of  age,  makes  her  home  with  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

At  the  age   of  fourteen    years  William 
Himberger    came    with     his    parents    to 


America,  and  proceeding  from  their  place 
of  landing  on  these  shores  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  they  here  made  a  settlement, 
farming  being  their  occupation,  in  which 
they  met  with  well-merited  success. 
Young  William,  after  coming  here,  re- 
ceived about  ninety  days  schooling  in  all 
of  three  successive  winters,  learnincr  Entr- 
lish;  German  and  arithmetic,  in  which  he 
was  proficient,  he  had  learned  iti  his  native 
land.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Federal 
army,  in  Company  C,  Third  Ohio  Cavalry, 
in  which  he  served  sixteen  months;  then 
joined  the  Thirty-fourth  Kentucky  In- 
fantry, serving  in  same  till  the  close  of  the 
war,  the  last  two  years  as  sergeant.  His 
regiment  was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  the  company  in  wliich 
he  was  enrolled  were  for  the  most  part  of 
the  time  emj)loyed  in  provost  duty.  On 
June  21,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  at 
Knoxville,  E.  Tennessee,  and  he  received 
his  pay  July  12,  following,  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  when  he  returned  home  to  the  pur- 
suits of  peace. 

On  February  14,  1866.  Mr.  Himberger 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Iluntsdorf,  a 
native  of  Hessen- Darmstadt,  Germany, 
born  in  1845,  who  came  in  1853  to  Amer- 
ica and  to  Huron  county,  her  English  ed- 
ucation being  received  in  Norwalk.  Four 
children  have  come  to  bless  their  union, 
viz.:  Minnie,  Katie,  and  Dora  and  Julia 
(twins).  In  1868  Mr.  Himberger  entered 
the  lumber  business  as  yard  man  and 
salesman  in  D.  E.  Morehouse's  planing 
mill  and  lumber  yard,  where  he  worked 
his  way  up,  serving  some  time  in  the 
office,  then  as  sui)erintendent  of  the  plan- 
ing mill,  finally  liecoming  salesman,  being 
there  some  three  and  one  half  years  in  all; 
was  in  Brown  &  Goodnow's  lumber  yard 
and  mill,  five  years;  in  Lawrence  &  Gil- 
sons  lumber  yard  (present  location  of  the 
Smith  cfe  Himberger  yard  and  mill),  three 
and  one  half  years;  and  August  1,  1880, 
commenced  as  a  member  of  the  present 
firm.  They  do  an  excellent  trade,  and  en- 
joy  the   fullest  confidence  of  the    people, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


259 


their  patronage  extending  far  and  wide. 
The  firm  have  twice  suffered  heavy  loss 
throiij^li  fire,  the  shop  having  heeii  Inirned 
out  March  8,  1881,  loss  about  three  thous- 
and dollars  ;  and  October  30,  1891,  the 
lumber  yard  was  burned  with  a  loss  of 
about  six  thousand  live  hundred  dollars 
over  and  above  what  was  covered  iiy  in- 
surance. But  tlieir  credit  remained  intact, 
and  Plifsnix-like  they  arose  from  their 
ashes,  strengthened  ratlier  than  weakened 
by  the  calamities. 

In  politics  Mr.  Iliniberger  is  a  Demo- 
crat, tirin  and  loyal,  and  has  served  as  a 
uieniber  of  the  town  council  two  years,  and 
as  president  of  the  same,  one  year,  being 
elected  in  a  Republican  ward  by  a  major- 
ity of  over  fifty  votes.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  E.,  U.  V.  U.  and 
Knights  of  Pythias;  in  Church  connection 
he  is  an  Episcopalian. 


If    If    M.   INGLER,   general    foreman  in 

jpH     the     Baltimore    &    Ohio    Railroad 

I     1     Company's  shops  at  Chicago  Junc- 

■J/  tion,  is  a  son    of  Joseph   and  Eliza 

A.    (Baldwin)     Ingler,    natives    of 

Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,   respectively. 

The  father  was  a  brick   manufacturer,  and 

carried  on  that  industry  from  youth  to  old 

age.     To  Joseph  and  Eliza  A.  Ingler  nine 

children    were   born — five    sons   and    four 

daughters — H.    M.    being    the    second  in 

order  of  birth. 

H.  M.  Ingler  was  born  December  3, 
1828,  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  received  his  education.  At  the  ao-e  of 
seventeen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
machinist  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  serving  a 
full  term  of  four  years  in  the  McDevitt 
shops.  In  1850  Mr.  Ingler  joined  a  party 
of  Argonauts,  and  made  the  journey  to 
California,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
In  1856,  some  two  years  after  his  return, 
he  found  employment  in  the  shops  of  the 
P.  C.  C.  &  St.  L.  Railroad,  then  known  as 
the   Steubenville  &   Indiana    Railroad,  at 


Steubenville,  and  in  1857  began  work  in 
the  B.  &  O.  Railroad  Company's  shops,  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  since  which  time,  with 
the  exception  of  five  months,  he  has  Ijeen 
continuously  in  their  employ.  He  worked 
at  Wheeling  (W.  Va.),  Bellairo  and  Chicago 
Junction  (Ohio)  and  at  Garrett  (Ind.).  For 
twenty  years  he  was  general  foreman  at 
Bellaire,  and  for  six  months  master  me- 
chanic at  Garrett.  In  July,  1885,  he 
came  to  the  Chicago  Junction  shops  as 
general  foreman. 

On  July  20,  1854,  Mr.  Ingler  married 
Mary  A.  Burt,  daugliter  of  Isaac  Burt,  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  to  their  union  the 
following  named  children  were  born: 
George  Eldorado,  who  was  killed  by  a  lo- 
comotive at  Bellaire,  Ohio;  Viola  E.,  wife 
of  W.  A.  Rang,  a  brakeman  on  this  divi- 
sion of  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  (she  was  twice 
married,  first  time  at  Bellaire,  Belmont 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  James  McGraw,  who  was 
killed  at  Bellaire  while  in  the  service  of 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  Company  as  fireman,  to 
which  union  was  born  one  daughter;  after 
a  widowhood  of  eleven  years,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Graw married  W.  A.  Rang);  Kate  T., 
wife  of  G.  AV.  Deyarmon,  owner  of  a  paint 
store  at  Bellaire.  and  also  a  contractor; 
Florence,  who  died  in  infancy;  Martha  M., 
wife  of  J.  L.  Milligan,  a  shoe  merchant  of 
Bellaire;  Emma,  wife  of  L.  C.  Hess,  form- 
erly of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  now  of  Chicago 
Junction;  Josephine  A.,  wife  of  Sherman 
Williams,  a  farmer  of  Huron  county,  and 
Miriam  E.,  Bessie  M.,  Edna  R.  and  Hirain 
K.,  residing  with  their  parents. 

During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr. 
Ingler  was  a  strong  Unionist.  He  en- 
listed in  the  Ohio  National  Guard,  in 
1861,  for  a  term  of  five  years,  and  in  May, 
1864,  went  into  the  United  States  army, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventieth  Regiment,  0. 
V.  I.,  for  100  days  service;  was  in  active 
service  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  until 
September  30,  1864,  when  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  Columbus,  from  which 
point  he  returned  to  his  duties  with  the 
B.   &  O.  R.   R.     At    Bellaire    he    was    a 


200 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


member  of  the  board  of  Water-works  trus- 
tees for  three  successive  terms,  aud  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  water  system  of  that 
city.  At  Chica<;o  Junction  lie  was  presi- 
dent of  the  school  board  for  three  years, 
and  ever  a  strong  advocate  of  line  school 
buildings.  Politically  a  Republican,  he 
has  always  been  loyal  to  the  party.  In 
social  affairs  he  belongs  to  the  Order  of 
Good  Templars,  to  tlie  I.'  O.  O.  F.,  to  the 
Masonic  Fraternity,  and  to  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Druids.  The  entire  family  affili- 
ate with  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


II.  JACOBS.  This  well-known 
citizen  of  Norwalk  traces  his  an- 
cestry through  the  dim  vistas  of 
many  years  to  a  Frenchman  of 
the  family  name,  who  immigrated  to  Ver- 
mont in  early  Colonial  days.  His  son, 
John  W.  Jacobs,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, fought  under  Gen.  Putnam  at  Buu- 
ker  Hill,  and  was  present  during  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown. 

His  Son,  Gustavus,  was  born  in  1792, 
in  Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  in  1818  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Harriet  Perkins,  a  native 
of  the  same  place.  They  removed  to  a 
farm  in  the  New  York  colony,  where  he 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  childi-en — seven 
sous  and  two  daughters — of  which  family 
Henry  was  killed  in  the  Civil  war,  and  six 
are  yet  living.  The  parents  were  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Gustavus  Jacobs,  son  of  Gustavus  and 
Harriet  (Perkins)  Jacobs,  was  born,  in 
1828,  in  "Wyoming  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
bis  youth  was  passed.  He  learned  and 
followed  the  boat-builder's  trade  in  con- 
nection with  the  lumber  business,  and 
came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  1863. 
He  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Roth,  who 
was  born  March  24, 1831,  in  Seneca  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Roth,  and 
grandchild  of  Casper  Roth,  whose  parents 
were  natives  of  Germany.     Casper   Roth 


served  throughout  the  Revolution,  having 
fought  at  Valley  Forge,  taking  part  also 
in  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis. His  son  Jacob  was  born  in  1798, 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married  to  Cath- 
erine McBeth.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  fought  at  Lundy's  Lane. 
After  the  war  most  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  New  York,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-uine  years.  Gustavus  and  Sarah 
A.  Jacobs  have  passed  their  wedded  life 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  he  has  ac- 
cumulated a  large  fortune,  aud  is  now 
conducting  a  sawmill  at  Norwalk. 

W.  II.  Jacobs,  a  son  of  Gustavus  and 
Sarah  A.  (Roth)  Jacobs,  was  born  in  1862, 
in  Norwalk,  Ohio.  lie  attended  the  gram 
mar  school  and  high  school  of  his  native 
place,  and  since  his  eighteenth  year  has 
followed  carpentry  and  contracting.  He 
and  George  Stewart  have  conducted  a  ijen- 
eral  business  in  that  line  under  the  firm 
name  of  Stewart  &  Jacobs,  for  about  one 
year  and  a  half.  They  engaged  in  all 
classes  of  contract  work,  including  paving, 
the  laying  of  sidewalks  and  water  pipes, 
and  employing  about  twenty-eight  men. 
W.  H.  Jacobs  is  also  interested  in  a  saw- 
mill. He  was  married  to  Miss  Nettie 
Hamilton,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
has  borne  him  one  daughter — Maude — and 
one  son — Gustavus.  In  political  opinion 
Mr.  Jacobs  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church. 


FRANCIS  B.  CROSBY  (deceased) 
was  a  son  of  William  Crosby,  who 
^  settled  iu  Huron  county,  Ohio,  at  an 
early  day,  but  subsequently  moved 
to  Kansas.  William  was  born  in  Adams 
county.  N.  Y.  His  first  wife  was  Eliza 
Stilwell,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  married 
Eliza  Starkey,  who  accompanied  her  hus- 
band to  Huron  county. 

Francis  B.  Crosby  was  born  September 
16,  1833,  in   Ridgetield   township.  Huron 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


261 


Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  received  a  primary 
education  in  the  school  of  tiie  district,  and 
sniisequently  worked  on  the  home  farm. 
On  December  21,  1855,  he  married  Ade- 
line Franklin,  who  was  born  August  22, 
1830,  in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
tiieir  cliildreii  were  as  follows:  Alice  O., 
married  to  Jolin  Boweu,  a  farmer  of 
Greenfield  township;  William  F.  and  Al- 
bert W.,  residing  at  liome.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Adeline  Crosby  were  Reuben  and 
Tlhoda  (Nobles)  Franklin,  wlio  settled  in 
Eiclimond  township,  Huron  county,  at  an 
early  day.  Mrs.  Franklin  died  in  1839, 
Mr.  Franklin  in  1840.  From  the  death 
of  her  parents  to  the  time  of  lier  marriage 
Adeline  resided  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Rufus 
Atherton.  After  marriage  Francis  B.  and 
Adeline  Crosby  made  their  home  on  the 
William  Crosljy  homestead,  which  they 
purchased,  and  where  he  resided  until  his 
sudden  death,  April  1,  1880.  After  his 
death  the  widow  assumed  charge  of  affairs, 
and  managed  the  farm  and  other  interests 
with  consummate  ability,  until  the  legal 
division  of  the  estate.  From  1880  to  this 
time  Mrs.  Crosby  has  lived  in  her  present 
home.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  she  and  her  children  hold  a 
high  place  in  the  estimation  of  the  people. 
Mr.  Crosby  was  a  lifelong  farmer  and 
stock-grower,  and  built  up  a  valuable  es- 
tate by  industry  and  attention  to  details. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in 
religion  a  Baptist. 


rE.  WILCOX,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1843,  in  Peru  township,  is  a 
^  grandson  of  Daniel  Wilco.x.  Asahel 
Wilcox,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
September  2,  1805,  at  Gorham,  Ontario 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  migrated  to  Ohio  in  1820. 
On  March  28,  1832,  he  married  Emily 
Adams,  and  they  located  in  Peru  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  where,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  short  time  passed  in  Crawford 
county,  Ohio,  he  resided   until   his  death, 


which  occurred  during  the  cholera  epi- 
demic of  1849.  His  widow  lives  with 
her  son,  F.  E.  Wilcox,  on  the  home  farm. 
Mrs.  Emily  Adams  Wilcox  was  born 
September  27,  1814,  at  Kowe,  Franklin 
Co.,  Mass.;  iier  father,  Henry  Adams,  was 
born  in  1790  in  Marlboro  town,  ""tVindham 
Co.,  Vt.,  and  was,  while  still  a  youth,  a 
school  teacher  in  that  place.  On  October 
14,  1813,  he  married  Annis,  daughter  of 
Simeon  Barr,  who  was  also  born  at  Rowe, 
Mass.,  and  a  year  later  set  out  for  that  por- 
tion of  Ohio  known  as  the  "Firelands," 
leaving  his  young  wife  and  infant  daugter 
Emily  at  Rowe,  until  he  could  prepare  a 
home  for  them  in  tlie  wildnerness.  He 
took  with  liiiu,  on  this  long  journey,  a 
load  of  tinware,  which  he  sold  on  his  ar- 
rival in  Cleveland,  and  then  proceeded  to 
what  is  now  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  liis 
western  home  on  a  part  of  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  grandson,  F.  E.  Wilcox, 
and  was  tlie  earliest  pioneer  of  this  divi- 
sion of  Huron  county.  Some  time  later 
his  wife  and  child  and  a  party  of  relatives 
arrived.  Tiiey  journeyed  on  a  wagon 
from  Massachusetts  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
where  the  team  "gave  out,"  compelling 
the  young  mother  and  the  adults  of  the 

?arty  to  walk  to  the  Adams  settlement  in 
'eru.  The  original  home  was  constructed 
with  poles  and  bark,  but  later  a  substantial 
log  cabin  was  built,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  Wilcox  residence.  The  children 
born  to  Henry  and  Annis  (Barr)  Adams 
were  Emily,  who  married  Asahel  Wilcox; 
Caroline,  born  in  Peru  townshijj  February 
27,  1818,  married  S.  D.  Seymour,  and  died 
in  Taylor  county,  Tex.;  Levi,  born  De- 
cember 27,  1820,  died  when  seven  months 
old;  Simeon  F.,  born  October  28,  1821, 
died  in  infancy;  Franklin  L.  C,  born  June 
5,  1823,  died  in  1840;  Jane,  born  April  (1, 
1S25,  married  Eliplialet  Adams,  and  died 
at  Norwalk,  Huron  county;  Levi,  born 
July  20,  1827,  died  in  1829;  and  Alonzo 
and  Melissa  (twins),  !)orn  April  15,  1830, 
the  former  of  whom   died  May  29,  1865. 


262 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Adams  resided  here  iiiitil  his  death 
from  paralysis,  May  24,  1881.  He  settled 
in  the  forest  when  there  was  only  one 
house  at  Norwalk  and  one  at  Sandusky, 
endni'ed  all  the  trials  and  privations  com- 
mon to  the  pioneer,  and  yet,  beyond  the 
ordinary  "chills  and  fever"  which  attacked 
strong  and  weak  without  distinction,  lie 
never  suffered  from  illness  until  paralysis 
came  to  carry  him  off.  He  was  not  only 
a  pioneer  in  natne  but  also  in  fact.  He 
encouraged  improvements  in  agricultural 
methods,  and  was  the  first  to  introduce 
mowers,  reapers  and  other  implements  of 
husT)andry  into  Peru  township.  He  set  out 
the  first  seed  for  fruit  trees,  ordering  the 
seeds  from  Vermont.  A  consignment  of 
seeds  went  down  in  Lake  Erie  with  the 
vessel  on  which  they  were  shipped,  but  a 
day  later  the  wreckers  rescued  the  freight 
and  everything  which  escaped  dissolution 
in  the  waters  was  sent  to  its  destination. 
From  a  bag  of  seeds  recovered  at  that 
time,  the  fruit  trees  on  the  present  Wilcox 
farm  sprung.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  early  years;  but  about  1856  he 
joined  the  Whig  party,  and  afterwai-d  be- 
came a  strong  Abolitionist.  He  was  a 
conductor  on  the  "Underground  Kailroad,'' 
and  had  his  own  depot  for  concealing 
refugee  slaves.  He  taught  the  first  school 
in  Peru  township,  assembling  the  pupils 
in  his  own  log  cabin.  He  was  one  of 
the  earliest  adherents  of  Methodism,  and 
helped  to  establish  and  sustain  the  house 
of  worship  in  Peru  village,  from  1824 
until  he  joined  the  new  denomination,  in 
which  he  remained  to  the  period  of  hie 
death. 

F.  E.  Wilcox,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch,  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  schools  of  Peru 
township.  When  he  was  six  years  old  his 
father  died,  and  the  lad  was  reared  at  the 
home  of  his  grandfather.  On  November 
6,  1873,  he  married  Dorcas  A.  Perry,  who 
was  born  October  15,  1848,  in  Peru  town- 
ship, a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Tillson)  Perry.    The  children  born  to  this 


marriage  are  named  as  follows:  Frank  T., 
born  September  9,  1874;  Charles  N.,  born 
October  6,  1876;  John  N.,  born  January 
27,  1879;  Perry  E.,  born  March  3,  1881 
(died  August  5, 1882);  Fred  E.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1883;  Bert  O.,  born  March  14, 
188o,  and  Fanny  E.,  born  April  17,  1887. 
Since  1849  Mr.  AYilcox  has  lived  on  the 
old  Adams  homestead,  giving  close  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  affairs.  Politically  he 
is  Republican,  and  is  actively  interested  in 
the  success  of  his  party.  In  church  con- 
nection he  is  a  leading  member  and  officer 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society,  in 
which  he  is  class-leader,  steward  and 
trustee.  A  descendant  of  the  pioneers  of 
Peru  township,  and  successful  in  all  his 
undertakings,  he  is  a  man  of  influence 
here,  one  whose  good  citizenship  has  never 
been  questioned  in  any  particular.  He  is 
a  great  reader,  and  is  thoroughly  posted 
on  all  matters  relating  to  the  United  States. 


\ILLIAM  T.  SMITH,  one  of   the 

leading    farmers    of    Greenwich 

township,  and  the  most  popular 

of  all  the  old   residents,  was   born 

June   17,   1823,    in   Cayuga  county.  New 

York. 

Willis  R.  Smith,  his  father,  was  the  son 
of  Daniel  Smith,  of  Westchester  county, 
N,  Y.,  and  himself  was  a  native  of  that 
county.  AVhen  a  young  man  he  married 
Ann  Underbill,  also  a  native  of  West- 
chester, and  shortly  after  marriage  re- 
moved to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  There 
the  following  named  children  were  horn  to 
theni:  Alfred,  who  died  in  his  twelfth 
year  in  Huron  county,  Ohio;  Phcebe,  never 
married,  who  died  when  fifty  years  old; 
Daniel,  a  farmer  of  Greenwich  township, 
died  here,  aged  sixty-five;  Amelia,  residing 
in  Greenwich  township;  and  William  T., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  On  May  6,1824, 
Mr.  Smith  and  his  family  arrived  in  Green- 
wich township.  He  had  been  a  school 
teacher  in  New  York,  where  he  graduated 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


263 


from  a  college,  which  profession  he  fol- 
lowed after  settling  here,  and  from  his 
small  earnings  saved  enough  to  purchase 
one  hundred  acres  of  land.  The  condition 
of  iiis  health  permitted  him  to  do  but  lit- 
tle work  on  the  farm,  and  this  resulted  in 
his  giving  closer  attention  to  school  inter- 
ests. Satisfactory  to  himself,  his  services 
were  most  beneficial  to  the  community,  for 
boys  who  became  distinguished  men  re- 
ceived their  lessons  in  reading,  arithmetic 
and  penmanship  from  this  pioneer  teacher. 
In  Huron  county  an  addition  of  three 
cliihlren  was  made  to  the  family:  Sarah, 
living  in  Greeuwicli  township;  Mary,  wife 
of  Edward  Golden,  of  Ripley  township, 
and  Ann,  residing  in  her  native  township. 
The  father  died  on  the  original  farm  in 
1871,  the  mother  in  187-1:."  They  were 
members  of  the  Friends  Church  in  which 
Mr.  Smith  was  a  minister,  and  they  were 
buried  in  the  Friends  cemetery.  He  was 
a  mathematician  of  some  note,  and  was  as 
well  educated  as  any  of  his  comtempo- 
aries  in  the  county. 

William  T.  Smith  was  less  than  eleven 
months  old  when  his  parents  brought  him 
to  Huron  county.  He  received  an  ele- 
mentary education  here,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years  began  the  carpenter's 
trade  under  Marvin  Atwater.  Subse(]uently 
the  relation  between  employer  and  em- 
ploye was  reversed,  and  the  former  em- 
ployer became  an  employe  of  Mr.  Smith. 
In  1855  Wm.  T.  Smith  married  Asenath 
Rosco,  who  was  born  in  1831  in  Green- 
wich township,  and  to  them  came  the  fol- 
lowing named  cliildren:  Charity,  wife  of 
Wm.  A  White,  of  Colfax,  Wash.;  Celia,  a 
recorded  minister  of  Friends  living  in 
Dodson,  Ohio,  wife  of  Eugene  P.  Rollman; 
Yana,  who  died  December  3,  1890,  at 
Colfax,  Wash.,  where  she  was  teaching 
school,  and  was  buried  in  the  Friends 
cemetery  in  Greenwich  township;  AlvaR., 
residing  in  Nebraska;  Willis  J.,  a  farmer 
of  Greenwich  township;  Huron  county; 
Linna,  residing  at  home,  and  baby  (iarland, 
who  died  July  2,  187-1. 


After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
located  on  the  present  farm,  which  was 
purchased  with  money  saved  from  Mr. 
Sniitii's  earnings.  For  over  forty  years  lie 
has  followed  agriculture  in  connection 
with  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1889,  he 
set  out  on  a  western  tour,  going  by  the  North- 
ern Pacific  route,  and  returning  by  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  making  sliort  stays 
in  the  cities  along  each  route,  and  on  the 
the  Pacific  slope.  In  1892  he  undertook 
an  eastern  trip,  but  the  condition  of  liis 
health  urged  him  to  return  shortly  after 
his  arrival  in  New  York  City.  His  trade 
has  proven  very  useful  in  the  successful 
life  of  this  pioneer,  for  his  residence  and 
large  barn  are  specimens  of  his  own  work. 
Out  of  the  wilderness  he  carved  a  fine 
farm,  and  placed  thereon  costly  improve- 
ments. Politically  he  is  a  Prohibitionist, 
having  left  the  Republican  party.  He 
took  an  earnest,  active  part  in  in  the  Pro- 
hibition movement,  and  yet  devotes  consid- 
erable attention  toward  developing  the 
idea.  The  family,  religiously,  are  all 
members  of  the  Friends  Church.  [Since 
the  above  was  written,  William  T.  Smith, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years  ten  months 
twenty-three  days,  passed  from  earth  May 
10,  1893,  after  a  short  sickness,  the  im- 
mediate cause  of  iiis  death  being  dropsy  of 
the  heart.  Although  his  sufferings  were 
intense,  yet  he  was  always  cheerful,  and 
often  spoke  edifying  words  about  heaven 
to  the  many  who  came  to  see  him.  He 
dearly  loved  his  family;  yet  toward  the 
last  he  had  intense  longing  to  depart  and 
be  with  Christ.  The  morning  lie  died,  he 
took  his  wife  by  the  hand,  and  sweetly 
commended  her  and  the  cliildren  into  the 
loving  care  of  the  Heavenly  Father.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Friends  cemetery. 


H ARIES    HOMER  FISH,   one   of 

the     progressive     agriculturists    of 

Ridgelield     township,    is    a    son    of 

Sydney  D.,  whose  parents  were  John 

and  Lydia  (Van  Schoy)  P^ish. 


264 


nuRoyr  county,  ohio. 


Sydney' D.  Fish  was  born  November  28, 
18iy,  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  wlien 
three  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio.  He  there  pre- 
pared for  school  teaching,  following  that 
vocation  for  some  time,  and  then  clerked 
several  years  for  Parkins  &  HoUister,  of 
Monroeville.  In  1846  he  married  Harriet 
Sherman,  who  was  born  April  4,  1825,  on 
the  farm  in  Ridgetield  township  where  she 
died;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Laura  (Hubbell)  Sherman.  Sydney  D. 
Fish  built  a  tirst-class  grain  elevator  at 
Monroeville,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Sar- 
gent, the  firm  name  being  Fish  &  Sargent. 
In  1874  Fish  &  Sargent  sold  their  interest 
to  Fish  ct  Hill,  the  former  of  whom  is  a 
brother  to  Sydney  D.  Fish,  and  the  busi- 
ness has  since  prospered  under  the  skillful 
management  of  Mr.  Fish.  In  1866  he 
moved  to  the  farm,  located  one  and  one 
half  miles  north  of  Monroeville,  and  con- 
ducted the  place  in  addition  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  grain  elevator.  During 
the  later  years  of  his  life  he  retired  to  the 
farm  with  a  comfortable  competence, 
which  had  been  acquired  by  years  of  self 
sacrificing  industry.  He  was  very  popular 
in  social  life,  and  in  politics  lirst  voted 
with  the  Whigs,  afterward  uniting  with 
the  Republicans.  He  died  September  4, 
1887,  followed  by  his  wife  October  22, 
1890,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  George  S.,  a  farmer  of  Ridge- 
field  township;  Rozene,  widow  of  R.  G. 
Miller;  Allen,  deceased  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years;  Laura  J.,  wife  of  D.  II.  Drake, 
of  Kendallville,  Ind.,  and  Charles  Homer, 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch. 

Charles  Homer  Fish  was  born  Novem- 
ber 9,  1859,  in  Monroeville,  Ridgefield 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm,  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  and  in  1882 
went  to  Mapleton,  N.  D.,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  hardware  and  lumber  business  for 
four  years.  He  then  returned  home,  and 
on  December  21, 1886,  was  united  in  mar- 


riage with  Edna  J.  Van  Horn,  a  native  of 
Monroeville  and  daughter  of  William  H. 
Van  Horn.  Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fish  have  resided  on  their  present 
farm,  where  he  follows  general  agriculture 
and  stock  raising,  owning  some  very  fine 
Jersey  cattle.  He  is  an  energetic  farmer, 
whose  success  is  but  the  merited  reward  of 
thrifty  enterprise.  In  politics  Mr.  Fish 
votes  with  the  Republican  party.  Three 
children  have  comjileted  the  family  circle, 
namely:  Eugene.  William  and  an  infant 
daughter  named  Clara. 


Tp'J  J.  PEAT.  Among  the  successful 
Ip  business  men  of  Norwalk,  this  gen- 
11.^1  tleman  holds  an  enviable  position 
from  many  points  of  view.  Sur- 
rounded by  a  wealth  of  bud  and  blossom, 
whose  sweet  perfumes  fill  all  the  air  with 
fragrance,  his  hands  are  busied  with  deftly 
arranging  and  caring  for  the  fragile  plants. 
While  others  wage  fierce  battle  in  the 
political  arena  or  wear  out  their  lives 
in  dingy  shops  and  crowded  factories,  he 
ministers  to  the  hunger  of  the  human  soul 
for  beauty  and  refinement.  A  pleasant 
task,  and  one  which  ennobles  all  who  share 
its  privileges.  However  humble  a  home 
may  be,  when  we  see  a  little  flower  treas- 
ured by  the  inmates,  we  recognize  a  kin- 
dred feeling  which  softens  the  hardest 
hearts,  and  so  is  this  true  of  many  homes. 
Norwalk  may  well  be  proud  to  know  that 
a  florist  prospers  within  her  limits,  for  no 
surer  test  is  possible  of  the  culture  and 
innate  refinement  of  her  people.  As  the 
missionaries  in  hostile,  savage  lands  wel- 
comed the  rising  spire  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  knew  that  they  were  among 
friends,  so  the  traveler  who  passes  from 
town  to  town  welcomes  the  pure,  sweet 
flowers  as  tokens  of  a  kindred  sympathy 
with  nature. 

E.  J.  Peat  is  a  son  of  Edwin  Peat,  and 
was  born  September  21,  1862,  in  Birming- 
hauj,  England.      He  came  with  his  father 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


265 


to  America,  and  they  first  settled  in  Mon- 
roeville,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  E.  J. 
remained  until  about  eight  years  of  age. 
Tliey  afterward  moved  to  Toledti,  Ohio, 
remaining  there  two  or  three  years,  then 
passed  one  year  in  Wauseon,  finally  set- 
tling in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  vvliere  he  attended 
the  public,  schools.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Katie  Bepply,  who  has 
borne  him  one  son,  Roy.  In  1882  E. 
J.  Peat  established  his  present  business  as 
a  florist,  on  a  place  then  located  two  miles 
from  the  center  of  the  city,  just  outside 
the  corporation.  He  deals  in  cut  iiowers, 
and  carries  on  a  prosperous  business  both 
in  Erie  and  Huron  counties.  His  father 
is  yet  living,  but  the  mother  passed  away 
some  years  ago. 


ffjf    P.  KOHLMYER,  secretary  of  the 
NH     Metal  Spinning  and  Stamping  Com- 
I     11    pany,  Norwalk,  is  a  native  of  that 
•JJ  city,     born    November    21,     1858, 

near  the  spot  where  he  now  resides. 
He  is  the  eldest  son  in  a  family  of  six 
children  born  to  John  H.  and  Gertrude 
(Klegg)  Kohlmyer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Germany,  a  tinner  i)y  trade,  who  came  to 
America  in  early  manhood.  He  married 
after  coming  to  this  country,  reared  a  re- 
spectable family,  and  by  his  thrift  and 
energy  was  enabled  to  surround  his  chil- 
dren with  the  comforts  and  advantages  of 
the  times.  He  and  his  family  are  resi- 
dents of  Norwalk. 

H.  P.  Kohlmyer  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Norvvalk,  and  when  well 
grounded  in  the  fundamentals  of  a  busi- 
ness education  he  learned  the  tinner's 
trade  under  his  father.  After  this  he  en- 
tered a  hardware  store  as  clerk,  in  which 
line  he  opened  out  on  his  own  account  in 
1882.  In  1890  he  had  succeeded  in  draw- 
ing the  attention  of  others  to  the  impor- 
tance of  a  new  process  of  manufacturing 
tin  and  other  ware,  and  they  organized  the 
Norwalk  Metal  Spinning  and  Stamping 
'Company,   capital  stock   twenty   thousand 


dollars,  Mr.  Kohlmyer  taking  seven  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  works  were  built,  were 
soon  in  running  order,  and  had  been  in 
operation  about  four  weeks  when  they  ac- 
cidently  caught  fire  and  burned  to  the 
ground.  But  by  Decenil)er  lii,  1891,  the 
plant  was  rebuilt,  and  the  works  were  not 
only  running,  but  ready  to  make  a  ship- 
ment of  goods  on  that  day.  There  are  but 
three  metal  stamping  concerns  in  the 
United  States,  and  this  is  the  only  one 
that  makes  the  metal  spun  goods  in  nickel; 
thus  the  products  go  upon  the  world's 
markets,  practically  without  competition, 
the  demand  for  them  all  continually  out- 
running the  capacity  of  the  works.  Their 
stamp  to  make  tea-kettles,  etc.,  weighs  over 
twenty  thousand  pounds;  all  tlieir  machin- 
ery is  of  the  latest  improved  make,  and 
complete  in  every  department.  The  fac- 
tory in  Norwalk  is  one  of  the  institutions 
in  which  the  people  take  great  pride,  and 
its  existence  is  largely  due  to  the  untiriiio- 
energy  and  intelligent  persistence  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch. 

H.  P.  Kohlmyer  and  Emma  P^ox,  of 
Toledo,  Ohio,  were  united  in  the  bonds  of 
matrimony,  December  22,  1880,  and  to 
them  have  come  three  children:  Justice, 
Cornelius  and  Adolph.  Socially  our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.;  the 
family  worship  at  the  Lutheran  Church. 


E 


C.    MORRILL,    M.    D.      In    the 

practice  of  homeopathy,  this  gcn- 
tleman  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best- 
known  physicians  in  the  city  of 
Norwalk.  He  was  born  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  a  son  of  Dr.  Charles 
and  , I  uilith  (Cate)  Morrill,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  New  Hampshire. 

Charles  ilorrill  graduated  from  an  allo- 
pathic college  of  medicine  in  Cleveland, 
and  after  considerable  practice  elsewhere 
located  in  that  city,  wiiere  he  passed  from 
earth  in  1892.  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 


-'06 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  was  in  continuous  practice  until  that 
time,  having  made  sick  calls  the  day 
before  his  death. 

E.  C.  ^[I'lrill  was  educated  at  Oberlin 
College,  and  in  1862  left  this  school  to 
join  the  Union  army.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Eighty-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  and 
during  his  four  months  term  of  enlistment 
was  at  the  front  in  Kentucky,  after  which 
he,  with  his  command,  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service.  In  1864  he  re-enlisted,  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Regi- 
ment Ohio  State  Militia,  and  was  with 
tiie  army  in  defense  of  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington during  this  enlistment.  On  leav- 
ing the  service  he  resumed  the  study  of 
medicine,  which  had  been  interrupted  by 
his  last  enlistment,  and  after  a  thorough 
preparation  under  a  private  tutor,  entered 
as  student  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1866.  He  at  once  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Kent,  Portage 
county,  where  he  remained  four  years, 
after  which  he  located  in  Nor  walk,  where 
he  soon  became  one  of  the  leading  practi- 
tioners. His  lite  has  been  that  of  a  dili- 
gent student  of  books  and  men,  and  his 
many  friends  testify  to  his  genial  and 
sunny  disposition. 

On  July  17,  1872,  Dr.  Morrill  was 
mai'ried  in  Cincinnati  to  Miss  Martha 
Moore,  by  which  union  there  were  four 
children,  viz.:  Alma  Rebecca,  born  March 
21,  1873;  Charles,  born  September  27, 
1877,  died  June  29,  18U0;  Dee,  born 
January  21,  1879;  and  Judith  Anna,  born 
February  21,  1883. 


WILLIAM  E.  GILL,  M.  D.,  a  well- 
known  homeopathic  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Norwalk,  is  a  native 
of  Huron  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Esther 
(Young)  Gill,  the  latter  of  whoju  was  a 
descendant  of  a  family  who  were  early 
settlers  in  Ohio. 


William  E.  Gill  received  bis  education 
at  the  public  schools  of  Norwalk,  and  after 
linishing  a  course  in  the  hio;h  school  be- 
came  a  student  at  the  Ohio  State  Univer- 
ity.  He  then  commenced  a  course  of 
medicine,  reading  for  a  time  under  a  pri- 
vate preceptor,  and  afterward  entering  the 
Cincinnati  Homeopathic  School  of  Medi- 
cine. He  was  graduated  at  a  medical 
college,  in  the  class  of  1877,  and  immedi- 
ately returned  to  Xorwalk,  where  he 
opened  an  othce,  rapidly  acquiring  a  lucra- 
tive practice;  he  is  still  actively  engaged 
in  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Kline. 


MARVIN  HIBBARD,  practical 
farmer  in  Fitchville  township 
_|  from  September,  1854,  till  his 
JfJ  death,    November   4,  1879,    was 

born  on  a  farm  in  Mansfield, 
Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  August  25,  1797. 

Little  is  knowM)  of  his  father,  Andrew 
Hibbard,  save  that  he  served  honorably  as 
a  company  officer  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war;  that  he  was  married  twice,  and 
reared  seven  children,  two  by  his  first  wife 
— a  son  (the  late  Gen.  Daniel  F.  Hibbard, 
of  Mansfield,  who  died  March  19,  1880,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years),  and 
a  daughter  (Betsey,  Mrs.  Park,  formerly 
of  Canterbury).  The  other  children  were 
John  Loomis  and  William,  who  became 
farmers  in  Cortland  county,  N.  Y. ;  Mar- 
vin, the  leading  subject  of  this  sketch;  and 
Burnham,  who  settled  in  Oneida  county, 
N.  Y.,  but  owned  several  canal  boats  for 
years  running  from  Cleveland  to  the  Ohio 
river.  The  daughter  married  Anthony 
Weaver,  of  Tolland,  where  they  lived  and 
died,  leaving  a  numerous  family.  One  of 
the  sons,  W.  A.  Weaver,  has  had  residence 
in  Fitchville  township,  Huron  county,  now 
more  than  twenty-live  years. 

The  remembrance  of  the  familj'  is  that 
Francis  Hibbard,  the  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier and  patriot,  died,  having  fallen  from  a 
load  of  hay,  when  his  son  Marvin  was  six 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


267 


years  old.  This  affliction  caused  tlie  family 
to  1)6  dispersed,  and  Marvin  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  farmer  and  shoemaker  in  Hamp- 
ton, who  was  a  relation  of  the  family. 
Making  shoes  not  a<i;reeing  with  his 
health,  he  turned  his  attention  to  out-door 
work.  He  beecan  life  for  himself  as  a 
hired  man  on  the  farm  in  this  section  of 
the  country.  When  he  was  twenty-nine 
he  had  accumulated  about  six  hnndi-ed 
dollars,  working  for  five  to  nine  dollars  per 
month  winters  and  summers.  As  the  story 
goes,  he  jilanned  to  go  West  to  "  Holland 
Purchase,"  in  New  York,  and  buy  a  farm, 
but  while  visiting  an  aunt  in  Randolph, 
Vt.,  he  purchased  a  farm  and  made  ar- 
rangements to  improve  it.  Returning  to 
Connecticut,  he  married,  August  29, 1826, 
Zilpha  Robbins,  who  was  born  September 
2,  l!i02,  near  Westford.  Purchasing  a 
liorse,  a  yoke  of  o.xen  and  an  ox  cart  for 
conveyance,  they  immediately  mia;rated  to 
their  new  home,  150  miles  to  the  north. 
The  farm  was  in  a  bad  condition,  some  of 
it  being  so  stony  and  covered  with  briars 
and  hedge  trees  that  a  townsman  claimed 
it  was  not  worth  a  cent  an  acre.  Yet  this 
land  was  reclaimed  and  became  very  pro- 
ductire.  While  residing  here  twenty- 
eight  jeaj-s,  nine  children  were  born  to 
them,  but  six  of  them  died  very  young, 
the  oldest  dying  when  about  eighteen 
mouths  old.  The  third  child,  Andrew 
Chirk,  born  September  17,  1829,  received 
a  good  academical  education  at  the  Orange 
County  Grammar  School,  at  Randolph. 
He  wa?  teacher  several  terms  in  Vermont, 
also  in  Fitchville,  Ohio.  In  early  life  he 
was  engaged,  on  account  of  impaired 
healtii,  in  the  sale  of  sewing  machines  and 
musical  instruments.  He  is  now  a  farmer 
in  Fitchville.  He  married  November  12, 
18<)2,  Sarah  Augusta  Palmer,  daughter  of 
the  late  Linus  Palmer.  They  liave  three 
children:  Edith  May,  Clarence  Worden, 
and  Oramel  Ernest,  all  living. 

The  fourth  child.  Albert  Keyes  (born 
l^farch  15,  1881),  received  an  education  at 
the     before-mentioned     grammar    school, 


and  became  a  mechanic,  and  has  excelled 
in  the  manufacture  of  pianos  and  organs, 
also  as  an  inventor  in  his  business.  He 
has  been  since  1854  connected  with,  and  a 
member  of,  the  Mason  &  Hamlin  Piano 
and  Organ  Company,  Boston.  He  has 
had  three  children,  two  living  at  the  pre- 
sent time. 

The  ninth  or  youngest  child,  John 
Loorais  (born  August  25,  1842),  came 
with  the  family  to  Ohio  in  September, 
1854.  It  appears  that  in  the  spring  of 
that  year,  having  sold  his  farm  in  Ver- 
mont, Marvin  Hibbard  determined  to  go 
west.  He  visited  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  Fitchville.  The 
price  paid  was  thirty- two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre,  including  personal  property 
valued  at  about  two  liundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  In  this  place  he  was  engaged  in 
agriculture  until  his  death,  November  4, 
1879.  His  widow  died  JIarch  10,  1884. 
They  were  buried  in  the  beautiful  ceme- 
tery in  Fitchville,  where  a  suitable  monu- 
ment is  erected  to  their  memory.  They 
were  successful  in  the  business  of  farming. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  In  re- 
ligion they  adhered  in  early  life  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  Church,  but 
later  they  were  connected  with  the  Advent 
Christian  Church,  in  which  faith  they 
died.  It  is  just  to  say  that  ^[arvin  Hib- 
bard was  a  ina!)  of  strong,  quick  impulses, 
and  of  good  integrity,  while  ^Irs.  Hibbard 
excelled  as  an  economist,  and  she  con- 
stantly tangiit  the  art  of  living  in  her 
family. 

According  to  the  family  arrangement, 
Joiin  L.  svas  manager  after  1802,  and  finally 
came  in  possession  of  the  home  estate. 
In  the  spring  of  18G4  he  enlisted  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Sixth  O.  V.  I., 
Coin[)any  C;  on  May  15  proceeded  to 
Virginia  with  the  command,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  defense  of  Washington,  as 
one  of  the  hundred  days  men  of  Oiiio, 
until  September  9,  1864* 

On  November  12,  1868,  he  married 
Sarah   Jane    Hartman,    wlio   was   born   in 


208 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Carroll  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  daughter  of 
Creorge  W.  Ilartman,  a  native  of  that 
county,  who  moved  to  Fitchville,  where  he 
died.  There  are  six  children,  as  follows: 
George  Marvin,  now  with  his  uncle  Albert, 
in  Boston;  Ora  V.;  Milo  E.;  Albert  K., 
and  Alton  L.  and  Alta  J.  (twins),  all 
living.  Mr.  Hibbard  was  executor  and 
administrator  of  the  estates  of  his  father 
and  his  wife's  father,  respectively.  In 
political  affairs  he  has  been  a  Prohibition- 
ist since  1884,  having  formerly  been  a 
Republican,  and  he  has  held  various  town- 
ship offices.  In  church  connection  he  is 
a  Congregationalist,  and  has  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  church  work.  Mrs.  Hib- 
bard is  a  Seventh  Day  Adventist. 

As  an  agriculturist  Mr.  Hibbard  takes 
pains  to  increase  the  fertility  of  the  soil; 
he  likes,  too,  to  raise  improved  stock  of  all 
kinds.  Although  he  deals  sometimes  in 
horses,  he  has  several  now  on  hand,  direct 
descendants  of  the  "  Morgan  "  mare  bonght 
by  his  father  over  sixty  years  ago.  l^or 
has  he  failed  to  pay  considerable  attention 
to  horticulture. 


JAY  F.  LANING,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Caroline 
Laning,  both  early  settlers  of  New 
London,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Middlesex  county, 
X.  J.,  in  1819,  his  ancestors  having  set- 
tled in  that  locality  some  time  prior  to  the 
Ilevolution. 

John  Laning  came  to  New  London  in 
1844.  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  24,  1887.  His 
wife  was  Caroline  Wood,  daughter  of  Gil- 
bert and  Sally  Wood,  wht>  removed  from 
Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  to  New  London 
township,  in  1832.  John  and  Caroline 
Laning  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
two  daughters — Sarah  A.  (now  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Molsher)  and  Adilla  E.  (now  Mrs.  C. 
B.  Post),  both  residing  at  New  London — 
and  one  son — Jay  Ford  Laning,  now  resid- 
ing at  Norwalk,  in  the  same  county. 


Jay  F.  Laning  was  born  at  New  London, 
May  15,  1858.  He  gained  such  an  edu- 
cation as  could  be  obtained  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  l)irthplace,  by  a  short  course 
of  study  at  an  academy,  and  by  self-culture 
through  reading  and  study  at  home.  From 
the  age  of  fifteen  to  that  of  twenty-one  his 
time  was  spent  in  teaching  school  and  at 
manual  labor.  AYhatever  spare  hours  he 
had  were  devoted  to  tlic  study  of  law,  and 
ho  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875,  enter- 
ing upon  the  practice  at  his  native  place. 
He  followed  this  profession  successfully 
for  eight  years.  During  this  period,  what 
would  have  otherwise  been  spare  time  was 
spent  in  developing  ideas  which  became 
the  foundation  of  the  business  in  which 
our  subject  subsequently  engaged. 

In  1882  he  moved  to  Norwalk,  from 
which  time  he  gradually  abandoned  his 
law  practice,  and  established  the  publish- 
ing house  with  which  he  is  now  connected. 
By  energy,  pluck,  tact,  bard  work  and 
close  attention,  lie  made  the  business  grow 
with  rapidity  from  a  very  humble  begin- 
ning to  one  of  widespread  and  extensive 
patronage.  Important  among  tlie  publi- 
cations of  which  he  is  the  author  are  a 
system  of  labor-saving  books  and  devices 
for  facilitating  tiie  conduct  of  agricultural 
fairs — a  knowledge  of  which  he  gained 
while  acting  as  the  secretary  of  the  organ- 
ization  at  New  London — and  a  line  of 
school  supplies  embracing  several  educa- 
tional books,  the  outgrowth  of  his  experi- 
ence as  an  educator.  His  knowledge  of 
the  law  has  enabled  him  to  prepare,  also, 
sevei'al  useful  legal  books  and  forms  which 
have  had  an  extensive  sale.  He  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  local  political  work, 
representing  his  ward  for  four  years  in  the 
city  council.  At  the  election  of  1893  he 
was  elected  as  Senator  to  repre.=ent  the 
Thirtieth  District,  composed  of  Erie, 
Huron,  Sandusky  and  Ottawa  counties, 
in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State. 
He  has  also  been  actively  interested  in 
all    enterprises    tending    to  the  industrial 


cJ.  r.  LANING. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


271 


or  coiniaercial  advancement  of  the  city. 
In  1875  Mr.  leaning  was  married  to 
Caroline  E.  Sheldon,  youngest  daughter  of 
Hufus  and  Mary  Sheldon,  for  many  years 
residents  of  Greenwich  township,  Huron 
county,  and  the  fruits  of  tliis  union  are 
five  children,  viz.:  Ford  H.,  Joanna  P., 
John  J.,  Mary  G-.  and  Sheldon. 


QEORGE  L.  GUILDS  (deceased),  son 
,  of  Charles  Childs,  was  born  May  18, 
1826,  at  Teinpleton,  Mass.,  where 
,  I  he  passed  his  childhood.  Charles 
Childs  was  a  cooper  at  Teinpleton, 
Mass.,  until  the  reports  of  the  development 
of  Ohio  urcred  him  to  move  westward  and 
share  in  the  work  of  building  up  tlie  State. 

About  1834  the  family  set  out  on  the 
journey  to  the  "Fireiands,"  arrived  in  Hu- 
ron county,  and  located  at  Greenfield,  where 
he  carried  on  his  trade  in  connection  with 
farming.  For  a  numijerof  years  he  operated 
a  chair  factory  at  Greenheld,  and  was  suc- 
cessful in  all  his  undertakings.  Some  years 
prior  to  leaving  Massachusetts  he  married 
Roena  Baker,  and  to  this  union  four  chil- 
dren were  born,  namely:  Otis,  George  L., 
Thomas  and  Frank.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  1832,  and  the  same  year 
the  father  married  Ilepsey  Baird,  to  whom 
eight  children  were  born,  namely:  Roena, 
James,  Calvin,  John,  Mary,  Delia,  Cynthia 
and  Marcius.     The  father  died  in  1875. 

George  L.  Childs  accompanied  his  father 
to  Huron  county  in  1834.  The  change 
from  Templeton  was  a  radical  one  for  the 
boy,  for  he  was  transferred  suddenly  from 
a  town,  where  he  had  never  seen  a  cow,  to 
a  wilderness  where  the  bear,  wolf  and  deer 
abounded.  His  youth  was  passed  in  the 
manner  common  to  pioneer  boys,  attending 
winter  >chool  and  working  on  the  home 
farm.  Later  he  learned  the  tinner's  trade, 
and  worked  at  same  for  two  years  at  Ply- 
mouth, Ohio,  but  returning  to  the  farm  he 
labored  there  for  one  year.  He  tlien  bought 
an  interest  in  the  ciiair  factory  at  Green- 


field, and  held  that  for  about  two  years,  or 
until  he  lost  the  amount  he  had  invested 
in  that  industry.  Purchasing  three  and  a 
half  acres  of  land  and  the  little  log  cabin 
thereon,  he  engaged  in  farmitig  for  his  own 
account,  and  two  years  later  bought  a  tract 
of  eight  acres  with  a  better  house,  to  which 
lie  added  twenty  acres,  and  on  which  he 
resided  fourteen  years.  Movincr  to  Xew 
Haven  township  he  hought  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  resided  thereon  for  two  years,  and 
next  settled  on  a  tract  of  a  little  over  100 
acres  in  Ripley  township,  the  boundaries 
of  which  he  extended  until  he  had  a  beau- 
tiful farm  of  399  acres.  In  1847  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ann  M.  Miller,  daughter 
of  William  Miller,  who  was  a  son  of  John 
]\[iller,  of  Chambersburg,  Penn.  To  this 
marriage  eight  children  were  born,  namely: 
Julia  F.  (married  to  J.  N.  Kiser),  Anna 
R..  (married  to  C.  L.  Harrington),  William 
C,  Lizzie  (married  to  G.  R.  Craig),  Burt, 
Othello,  Henry  and  Edwin  F.  Of  the  sons, 
Henry  married  Anna  Howard;  William  C. 
married  Carrie  Youn";;  Edwin  F.  married 
Libby  Miller;  Burt  married  Nettie  Stevens. 
The  father  of  this  family^  was  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  one  of  the  local  councilors  of 
liis  party  from  1856  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  religious  affairs  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  active 
in  its  work,  and  particularly  so  in  Sunday- 
school  matters.  Out  of  his  industry  he 
created  wealth,  and  left  to  his  widow  and 
children  real  and  personal  property  valued 
at  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

Mrs.  Ann  M.  (Miller)  Childs  was  born 
in  April,  1830,  at  Chambersburg,  Penn. 
Her  father,  William  Miller,  was  born  there 
in  1806,  learned  the  mason's  trade,  and 
there  married  Elizabeth  Swinard.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  at  Chambersburg  until 
liis  removal  to  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  re- 
sided in  that  town  until  1849,  when  he  pur- 
chased ahout  100  acres  in  New  Haven  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  To  his  marriage 
were  born  tiiree  children:  Jaco.b,  Ann  M. 
and  Charlotte.  The  mother  died  in  1834, 
and  in  1839  he  married  Magdalena  Rook, 


272 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


who  lived  near  Plymouth,  Ohio.  To  this 
union  came  five  children:  Peter,  John, 
Margaret,  Eliza  and  William,  all  living. 
As  a  farmer  in  Huron  county,  the  father 
made  a  success  of  life,  leaving  to  his  fam- 
ily 240  acres  of  fertile  land  and  a  large 
amount  of  personal  property.  Mrs.  Ann 
M.  Childs  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife.  She  came  to  Ohio 
when  about  three  years  old,  and  attended 
school  until  her  marriage  in  1847.  She 
is  a  lady  of  good  executive  ability,  and 
manages  the  affairs  of  the  estate  with 
singular  success. 


iT^EOPGE  N.  EOUNDS.  a  promi- 
I  w,  nent,  progressive  citizen  of  Hart- 
VLJ  land  township,  is  a  native  of  New 
^  York,  born  October  12,  1820.  His 
father,  Isaac  Rounds,  was  the  son 
of  a  Vermont  farmer,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm. 

AVhen  a  young  man  Isaac  went  to 
Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and  there  married 
Polly  Waldron,  who  was  Ijorn  in  that 
county  in  1802.  The  Erie  Canal,  which 
was  commenced  July  4,  1817,  was  under 
construction  when  he  settled  in  New  York 
State,  and  there  was  little  difficulty  in  find- 
ing work  to  do  on  any  of  the  sections. 
Youncr  Kounds  went  to  work  with  a  will, 
and  proved  himself  a  most  valuable  man. 
The  foreman  discovered  that  he  could  wheel 
more  clay  in  a  barrow  than  any  of  bis  fel- 
low-workmen, and  considered  him  a 
model  lal)orer.  The  children  born  to  Isaac 
and  Polly  Rounds  in  New  York  State 
were:  George  N.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Harriet,  who  married  Aaron  Pix- 
ley,  and  died  in  Clarksfield  township; 
Mary  Ann,  who  died  when  eight  j'ears  old 
in  New  York  State;  Benjamin,  who  died 
in  Hartknd  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
when  young;  Hiram,  who  died  a  few 
weeks  after;  Isaac  and  Jacob  (twins), 
farmers  of  Hartland  township,  and  Lydia, 
the  widow  of  James  Conoley,  of  Hartland 


township.  After  the  removal  of  the  fam- 
ily to  Huron  county,  the  following  named 
children  were  born:  Eleanor,  widow  of 
Irkskine  Horr,  of  Barry  county,  Mich.; 
Olive,  married  to  Joseph  Briggs,  died  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa;  Arvilla,  Mrs.  IVIatthias 
McKin,  of  Iowa;  Jane,  who  died  just  six 
weeks  after  the  death  of  the  father,  at  the 
age  of  eight  years;  and  Armenthia,  Mrs. 
George  Bostwick,  of  Prairie  City.  Illinois. 

About  1835  Mr.  Rounds  and  his  family 
moved  to  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y., 
where  they  resided  until  June,  1840,  when 
they  made  the  journey  to  Ohio.  Travel- 
ing by  wagon  road  to  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  they 
embarked  for  Sandusky,  Ohio,  but  while 
on  the  lake  a  storm  arose,  and  the  boat 
was  driven  into  harbor  at  Erie.  Pennsyl- 
vania. Sailing  again  they  found  that  a 
landing  could  not  be  made  at  Sandusky, 
and  the  captain  headed  the  boat  for  De- 
troit. After  the  hioh  winds  had  subsided, 
the  return  trip  to  Sandusky  was  made,  and 
the  family  landed.  Without  delay  they 
proceeded  to  Hartland  township,  Huron 
county,  where  Mr.  Rounds  lented  a  tract 
of  land.  Within  a  year  or  so  he  purchased 
a  small  farm  in  Clarksfield  township,  and 
later  boucrlit  a  second  small  farm  in  Hart- 
land  township.  The  care  of  these  lands,  to- 
gether with  other  tracts  which  he  worked 
on  shares  and  laboring  for  others  in  clear- 
ing  land,  occupied  his  attention  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  February  15,  1850, 
when  a  tree  fell  upon  him,  crushing  his 
head  to  a  pulp.  The  tragic  affair  cast  a 
gloom  over  the  entire  township;  for  the 
father  of  a  large  family,  and  a  most  in- 
dustrious man,  was  removed  from  the 
circle  of  pioneers.  Politically  he  was  a 
Wliig?  and  one  who  took  a  lively  interest 
in  local  and  national  affairs.  [lis  widow 
afterward  married  Simeon  Chandler,  and 
died  August  81,  1878,  in  Illinois,  where 
she  was  buried. 

George  N.  Rounds  was  about  sixteen 
years  of  age  when  he  accomjianied  tiie 
family  to  Ohio.  Already  a  bread-winner, 
the  change  from   New  York  to  Ohio   was 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


273 


an  agreeable  one  to  liiin,  ami  in  Huron 
county  lie  worked  vigorously  to  make  a 
home  for  the  family.      On    December  25, 

1849,  he  married  Mary  Elizal)eth  Knapp 
(a  daughter  of  pioneer  parents),  who  was 
born  in  Hartland  township  in  1831.  To 
this  marriacre  came  the  followinir-named 
children:  George  F.,  born  November  7, 
1850;  Angie  L.,  Mrs.  O.  T.  Case,  of 
Clarksfield  township,  and  a  son  who  died 
in  infancy,  unnamed.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  October  13,  1886,  and  was 
buried  in  Hartland  Ridge  cemetery.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rounds  had 
practically  nothing  save  good  health  and 
strong  arms.      After  his  father's  death,  in 

1850,  he  returned  to  the  homestead  and 
took  charge  of  the  farm.  To-day  he  owns 
186  acres  of  good  land,  together  with  a 
good  home  and  excellent  farm  buildings, 
distancing  many  of  the  men  for  whom  he 
worked  prior  to  1849,  in  the  acquisition  of 
real  estate.  His  success  is  due  to  inces- 
sant toil,  untiring  industry  and  economy. 
He  now  holds  a  place  among  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  county,  and  no  one  is  held 
in  higher  respect  or  esteem.  His  life 
goes  to  prove  the  logic  of  the  old  proverb, 
"  where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,"  and 
will  stand  a  practical  demonstration  for 
his  descendants.  They  niay  learn  of  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  the  pioneers, 
but  never  can  they  endure  them.  After 
seventy  years  of  work,  Mr.  Rounds  stands 
like  a  giant  tree  in  the  forest  of  weather- 
worn pioneer  oaks.  Years  have  been  given 
to  him  to  witness  the  settlement  and  im- 

firovement  of  Ohio,  from  river  to  lake,  and 
roni  Pennsylvania  to  Indiana,  and  in  sur- 
veying the  scene  he  may  look  round  him 
and  say:  "I  have  taken  a  man's  part  in 
bringing  about  this  change,  and  no  one  in 
Huron  county  has  labored  for  it  more 
earnestly  than  I  have."  In  April,  1893,  Mr. 
Rounds  again  visited  Cattaraugus  county, 
the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and  while 
there  met  an  acqauintauce  of  his  youth 
in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Sally  Hopkins,  a 
widow,  whom  he  brought  back  as  a  wife. 


George  F.  Rounds  (eldest  son  of  George 
N.  Rounds)  has  now  the  entire  manajje- 
ment  of  the  farm.  For  some  years  he 
was  a  traveling  salesman,  and  while  thus 
employed  journeyed  over  a  large  area  of 
country;  but  in  1885  he  returned  to  the 
homestead,  which  has  since  claimed  his 
close  personal  attention.  He  is  a  musician 
by  nature,  and  his  ability  in  this  direction 
is  as  well  i-ecognized  throughout  this  sec- 
tion of  the  State  as  his  ability  as  an  ao-ri- 
cullurist  is  in  Hartland  township.  On 
April  2,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Jeanette 
Jarvis.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


RUSE,  manufacturer  of  tile  and 
brick.  New  London,  and  a  leading 
spirit  in  the  manipulating  of  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Plymouth  in  1852. 
He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Margaret 
(Prame)  Ruse,  natives  of  Bohemia,  Aus^ 
tria,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1851,  locating  in  Plymouth,  Ohio.  By 
trade  Andrew  Ruse  is  a  stonemason,  and 
he  now  resides  in  Barry  county,  Mich., 
whither  he  had  moved  in  1868.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  The  mother  is  yet  liv- 
ing. They  were  married  in  Bohemia,  and 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  second  in  order  of  birth. 

A.  Ruse  received  the  elementary  part 
of  his  education  in  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
whence  when  fifteen  years  old  he  moved  to 
Michigan,  where  he  had  his  home  some 
five  years.  He  then  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  in  Shiloh,  Richland  county,  entered 
into  partnership  with  Y.  J.  Prame  in  a  tile 
and  brick  business,  remaining  in  that  con- 
nection ten  years,  or  until  18S3,  in  which 
year  he  came  to  New  London  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  a  similar  business,  which 
he  has  since  successfully  conducted.  The 
shed  for  the  tile  works  is  238  x  22  feet,  and 
that  for  the  brick  is  80  x  54  feet;  the  out- 
put   has   been    100,000    brick,  and  about 


274 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


18,000  pieces  of  tile  to  eacli  of  fifteen 
kilns,  regular  employment  beinfj;  given  to 
from  seven  to  ten  men. 

In  1877,  Ml'.  Iluse  was  married  at 
Maple  Grove,  Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  to  Miss  L. 
M.  Dillin,  a  native  of  Kno.\  county,  Ohio, 
and  children,  as  follows,  have  been  born  to 
them:  J.  H.,  Minnie  and  Bessie.  Politi- 
cally  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  it  A.  M.  and 
I.  O.  O.  F. 


FRANK  M.  LUTTS.  Norwalk  town- 
is  noted  for  its  prosperous  farming 
_^  community,  prominent  among  which 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
is  a  native  of  Huron  county,  born  in  1S61 
on  his  present  farm  in  Norwalk  township. 
Conrad  Lutts,  father  of  subject,  was  a 
son  of  Michael  Lutts,  who  in  an  early  day 
came  from  Germany  to  America,  first 
locating  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  after- 
ward moving  to  Niagara  county,  N.  Y. 
Being  to  poor  to  pay  his  passage  across 
the  ocean,  he  was  sold  to  a  planter  to  work 
out  his  expenses.  In  eastern  Pennsylvania 
he  married  Miss  Ruth  Dolph,  and  by  her 
had  five  children,  viz.:  Gideon,  Conrad, 
Jonathan,  Michael  and  Annie.  Michael 
Lutts  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  but  was 
obliged  to  abandon  his  house  on  account 
of  the  "Redcoats"  and  Indians.  The  old 
flint-lock  musket,  minus  part  of  the  stock, 
is  still  in  possession  of  the  family.  He 
had  a  great  abhorrance  for  the  British,  al- 
ways shooting  them  on  sight,  and  was 
termed  a  "  bushwhacker;"  he  is  buried  on 
the  old  hotnestead  in  Niagara  county, 
New  York. 

Conrad  Lutts,  father  of  Frank  M.,  was 
born  in  1799  in  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
whence  he  njoved  with  his  parents  to  Nia- 
gara county,  N.  Y.  During  the  war  of  1812, 
owing  to  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  the  "clearing,"  to- 
gether with  his  mother  and  the  younger 
members  of  the  family,  to  a  safe  retreat  in 
another  county,  while  his  father  remained 


behind  to  protect  their  log  cabin  home. 
After  the  war  was  over  he  returned  to  the 
home  which  is  still  in  possession  of  his 
niece  Mrs.  Daniel  Eaves,  where  the  old 
family  burial  place  is  located,  and  many 
members  of  the  Lutts  family  found  their 
last  resting  place  there,  but  tlie  dates  upon 
the  slabs  are  not  now  legible.  He  became 
personally  acquainted  with  Gen.  W.  H. 
Harrison  duiiug  this  struggle,  and  after- 
ward voted  for  him  when  he  ran  for  the 
Presidential  chair,  the  only  Presidential 
nominee  Mr.  Lutts  ever  voted  for,  it  being 
a  principle  with  him  not  to  vote  for  any 
one  with  whom  he  was  unacquainted. 
About  the  year  1818  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  where  in  1822  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Fancher,  five  children  being 
the  result  of  this  union,  viz.:  William, 
George,  Michael,  Julia,  and  Mary.  The 
mother  of  these  died  in  1833,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Lutts  wedded,  July  3, 
1834,  Miss  Panielia  West,  of  Greenfield 
township,  Huron  county,  who  is  yet  liv- 
ing. She  is  a  daughter  of  Augustus  AVest, 
of  Albany  county,  N.  Y.,  a  pioneer  of 
Huron  county,  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
a  very  successful  man  in  his  business  en- 
terprises. Six  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage,  of  whom  but  two  survive: 
Augustus,  in  Allegan,  Mich.,  and  Frank 
M.  When  Conrad  Lutts  came  to  Huron 
county,  a  single  small  log  cabin  stood 
within  what  are  now  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  city  of  Norwalk.  On  his  arrival 
he  had  in  his  possession  no  more  money 
than  would  buy  a  barrel  of  salt,  and  for  a 
long  time  he  made  a  living  by  hunting, 
selling  or  trading  the  furs  of  the  animals 
he  might  kill.  He  met  with  many  ad- 
ventures in  his  pioneer  experiences,  and 
liad  some  narrow  escapes  from  death.  His 
rifle  is  apparently  as  good  as  when  used 
for  killing  the  wild  animals  which  sup- 
plied his  home  with  necessaries  and  other 
things. 

Frank  M.  Lutts,  the  youngest  sou  of 
this  brave  pioneer,  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


275 


township,  and  at  tlie  early  age  of  sixteen 
he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  owing  to 
his  father's  death,  and  here  ho  has  since 
continued  to  remain.  In  1881  lie  married 
Miss  Mary  E.  Soule,  dangiiter  of  C.  W. 
Soule,  at  tliat  time  a  prominent  farmer,  of 
Bronson  township,  Iliiron  county,  now  a 
resident  of  Norwallc.  To  this  union  were 
born  five  cliildren,  viz.:  Bertha,  Conrad, 
Nellie,  Howard  and  Idel,  all  living.  Mr. 
Lutts  is  owner  of  one  hundred  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and  all  devoted  to  general  crops  and  stock 
raising.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  he  is  considered  to  be  rather 
above  the  average  fanner  in  reading  and 
literature.  He  has  a  large  and  well-selected 
library,  to  which  he  is  constantly  adding 
standard  works,  it  being  his  ambition  to 
be,  some  day,  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
libraries  among  the  farmers  of  his  county. 
He  has  now  in  his  possession  the  anvil  and 
vise  which  Michael  Lutts  used  in  his 
blacksmith  shop,  and  which  have  been  in 
use  nearly  one  hundred  years,  in  Huron 
county  fifty-six  years,  and  they  yet  show 
the  hammer  marks  of  the  maker. 


E.  TERWILLIGER  is  descended 
from  pioneers  of  New  England, 
representatives  of  whom  migrated 
into  New  York  State,  where  the 
subject   of  this  sketch  was  born. 

William  Terwilliger,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  an  old  resident  of  Orano-e 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  there  married  Betsy 
Monroe.  In  1834  they  moved  with  their 
family  to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
Mrs.  Terwilliger  died  in  1836. 

William  E.  Terwilliger  was  born  De- 
cember 15,  1829,  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1834  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Cayuga  county,  where  he  was  reared  in 
the  manner  commoii  to  boys  of  the  pioneer 
period.  The  subscription  school,  with  its 
fee  of  three  dollars  per  term,  was  then  a 
luxury,   which  the    circumstances    of   his 


parents  would  not  permit  our  subject  to 
enjoy.  When  ten  or  twelve  years  old  he 
lived  out  as  a  farm  hand  at  three  dollars 
per  month,  and  worked  for  several  farmers 
at  that  rate.  Later  he  found  employment 
on  the  Erie  Canal  between  Cayuga  Lake 
and  Albany,  serving  first  as  a  driver, 
afterward  as  a  steerer.  Subsequently  he 
was  a  deck  hand  on  one  of  the  Cayuga 
Lake  boats,  and  thus  was  engaged  until 
he  was  nineteen  years  old,  when  he  bought 
his  time  from  his  father  for  one  hundred 
dollars,  and  followed  boating  on  canal  and 
lake,  until  1853,  when  he  "caught  the  gold 
fever,"  and  set  out  for  California.  The 
start  was  made  from  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  the 
following-named  forming  the  party:  James 
Sherwood,  Oliver  Booth,  Charles  Clark, 
George  R.  Van  Liew,  Reuben  Doty, 
Jasper  and  AYilliam  E.  Terwilliger,  .all 
young  men  from  the  neighborhood.  Th6y 
sailed  on  the  "  Permetias  "  to  Greytown 
on  the  Isthmus,  thence  up  the  river  to 
Castalla  Rapids,  thence  on  foot  to  Cas- 
talla,  at  the  head  of  the  rapids;  from 
there  by  lake  boat  to  Virgins  Bay,  and 
thence  by  mules,  furnished  by  the  trans- 
portation company,  to  San  Juan  del  Norte. 
On  this  trip  were  500  "argonauts."  The 
cavalcade  was  arranged  in  squads,  each 
squad  being  under  direction  of  a  driver, 
who  carried  a  great  whip  and  kept  the 
mules  in  line.  From  San  Juan  del  Norte 
the  party  sailed  to  San  Francisco,  halting 
only  at  Acapulco  to  take  on  coal.  Arriv- 
ing at  San  Francisco,  the  party  of  which 
W.  E.  Terwilliger  was  a  member  rested 
for  one  day,  and  the  next  pushed  on  to 
Sacramento,  where  he  found  employment 
at  four  dollars  a  day,  carrying  brick  up 
thi-ee  stories,  the  first  employment  which 
presented  itself.  He  followed  various 
businesses  in  California,  such  as  contract- 
ing to  cut  100  acres  of  barley  for  four 
dollars  per  acre,  his  partner  being  a  man 
named  Smith.  Ultimately  he  bought  a 
gold  mine,  which  he  sold  out,  and  returned 
to  New  York  in  May,  1858.  The  journey 
home  was  interesting  in  many  ways.    Tak- 


276 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ing  passage  on  the  "Golden  Gate"  at  San 
Francisco,  the  sliip  proceeded  on  her  way, 
but  when  twenty-four  hours  out  "broke 
down,"  and  had  to  return  to  port.  Mr. 
Tervvilliger,  not  to  be  delayed,  was  among 
the  men  who  then  emliarked  on  the  old 
"Menetia,"  an  unseaworthy  craft,  even 
then  condemned.  However,  she  carried 
the  passengers  in  safety  to  the  Isthmus, 
the  trip  aci-oss  which  -was  made  without 
accident,  and  the  returning  adventurers 
took  passage  on  the  ship  "Moses  Taylor" 
for  New  York.  The  voyage  was  made 
in  good  time,  and  in  May,  1858,  he  ar- 
rived among  his  relatives  in  Cayuga 
county,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
until  November,  same  year. 

Mr.  Terwilliger  then  resolved  to  leave 
liis  native  State  and  seek  a  home  in  Oliio, 
wliere  his  sister,  Mrs.  Silas  Cain,  lived,  and 
in  November,  1858,  he  arrived  in  Clarks- 
field  township,  Huron  county,  where  in 
the  spring  of  1859  he  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  unimproved  land  at  twenty-one 
dollars.  A  log  cabin  stood  on  the  tract, 
but,  such  as  it  was,  it  could  scarcely  be 
considered  an  improvement,  and  Mr.  Ter- 
williijer  at  once  set  himself  to  the  clearing 
of  the  forest.  On  January  2,  1860,  he 
was  married  to  Elmira  J.  Ronk,  who  was 
born  August  27,  1839,  in  Orange  county, 
N.  Y.,  daughter  of  George  D.  and  Mar- 
garet (Vandemark)  Ronk,  who  now  reside 
in  Brighton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 
She  came  to  Ohio  in  1853,  and  worked  out 
for  her  board  and  clothing,  so  that  her  edu- 
cation was  limited  to  a  short  school  term. 
After  marriage  the  young  couple  moved 
into  a  house  which  was  not  yet  plastered, 
so  that  he  has,  practically,  accumulated 
his  present  valuable  property  since  then. 
For  over  thirty  years  they  have  resided  on 
their  present  place,  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  growing.  For  seventeen  years 
he  extensively  carried  on  a  dairy  business 
without  withdrawing  his  attention  from 
his  farm.  His  industry  is  proverbial,  for 
at  all  times  he  finds  something  for  his 
hands   to  do,  and    his   surroundings  speak 


of  the  constant  care  devoted  to  farm,  stock 
and  home.  As  a  Whig,  he  voted  for  Win- 
field  Scott.  From  1858  to  1884  be  voted  with 
the  llepublicans,  and  since  1884  has  been 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Prohibitionists;  he  is 
not  a  politician,  and  seldom  takes  any  in- 
terest beyond  casting  his  vote.  Formerly 
a  Baptist,  he  became  a  Methodist,  and  is 
now  steward  and  trustee  in  the  East 
Clarksfield  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ter- 
williger are  as  follows:  Anna  E.,  Mrs. 
Frank  McKenzie,  of  Brighton  township, 
Lorain  county ;  Alma  C,  Mrs.  George 
McDonald,  of  Clarksfield  townsliip,  Huron 
county;  George  L,  who  married  Miss  Stella 
Cowie,  of  Brigliton,  Lorain  county  (they 
reside  on  one  of  the  farms).  Mr.  Ter- 
willicrer  is  the  owner  of  two  farms,  both  of. 
which  are  cultivated  and  improved  to  the 
highest  extent. 


YRUS  T.  KING,  D.  D.  S.,  a  leader 
in    his    profession,    and    a    popular 
member  of  the  Northern  Ohio  Den- 
tal Association,  was  born  in  Oswego 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1849. 

Leonard  King,  his  father,  who  was  a 
iiative  of  Rhode  Island,  when  a  young  man 
migrated  to  New  York,  whence  in  after 
years  he  proceeded  to  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
His  wife,  Julia  (Tiirney)  King,  to  whom  he 
was  married  in  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut.  Of  their  three 
children,  Warner  A.  is  a  dentist  of  May- 
ville,  Ohio;  diaries  D.  is  a  missionary  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  India,  and  Cyrus 
T.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Cyrus  T.  King  came  to  Ohio  M'itb  the 
family  when  he  was  six  years  old.  Re- 
ceiving a  practical  education  in  the  schools 
of  liis  district  in  Huron  county,  he  com- 
pleted a  literary  course  at  Granville,  Ohio, 
studied  dentistry  under  Dr.  Terry,  of  Nor- 
walk,  Ohio,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  that  profession.  Later  he  attended  the 
(/incinnati  Dental  College,  took  the  prize 


UUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


277 


for  the  best  itieclianical  work,  graduated 
from  the  Dental  School  in  1882,  and  re- 
sumed practice  at  New  London.  His 
patients  come  from  a  wide  district,  for  his 
work  is  appreciated,  and  his  name  is  well 
and  favorably  known  in  connection  with 
the  profession. 

In  1873  Dr.  King  married  Miss  Addie 
Knowlton,  and  three  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely:  Harry  L.,  Vinton  and  Ida. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  Proliibitionist, 
in  relitiious  faith  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  in  Society  aiiiliation  he  is 
a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  well  advanced  in  the 
work  of  the  Chapter.  As  before  stated,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Northern  Ohio  Dental 
Association,  and  he  is  as  much  esteemed 
by  his  confreres  as  he  is  by  his  neighbors 
and  patients.  In  municipal  affairs  he  is  a 
member  of  the  board  of  health  of  New 
London,  and  his  knowledge  has  been  of  in- 
estimable value  in  the  administration  of 
that  department  of  local  goverment.  He 
has  made  his  own  way  through  life,  and 
may  be  classed  among  the  self-made  men 
of  Ohio. 


OLOMON  SILLIMAN,  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Sillitnan  family  of 
Fairfield  county,  Conn.,  is  a  grand- 
son of  Justus  and  Rebecca  Silliman. 
Isaac  Silliman,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  1792,  in  Fairfield  county.  Conn., 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  school  of  the 
settlement  at  Weston,  Fairfield  county. 
On  arriving  at  man's  estate,  he  married 
Abby  Barlow,  also  a  native  of  that  county, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  children, 
namely:  Polly,  Catherine  and  Solomon, 
of  whom  Solomon  is  the  sole  survivor. 
The  mother  died  about  1826,  and  the  father 
in  1840,  leaving  to  his  children  a  small  but 
valuable  farm. 

Solomon  Silliman  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county.  Conn.,  July  26,  1824,  lost  his 
mother  when  eigliteen  months  old,  and  at 
the  age  of  six  years  was  placed  in  charge 


of  Isaac  Sherwood,  a  very  extensive  farmer 
of  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.  With  him  he 
remained  until  1840,  when  Mr.  Sherwood 
was  killed  by  a  falling  tree.  The  youth 
was  then  hired  by  George  Sherwood  as  a 
farm  hand,  the  money  consideration  being 
fifty  dollars  for  seven  months.  Complet- 
ing the  contract,  he  attended  school  during 
the  winter  months,  and  worked  for  his 
brother-in-law  during  the  other  seasons, 
the  wages  being  eight  dollars  per  month, 
which  in  1842  was  increased  to  nine  dol- 
lars. In  the  fall  of  1843,  he  migrated 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  Fairfield  township, 
Huron  county,  and  found  employment  at 
ten  dollars  per  month,  with  his  cousin 
George  Silliman.  A  short  time  after,  he 
purchased  a  piece  of  wild  land  in  Ripley 
township,  Huron  county,  and  with  his 
trusty  axe  began  the  task  of  clearing 
away  the  forest.  For  three  or  four  years 
he  labored  to  create  a  farm  out  of  the 
wilderness,  and  by  1850,  had  succeeded 
beyond  his  highest  expectations. 

Mr.  Silliman's  marriage  with  Lucinda 
Peck,  daughter  of  Isaac  Peck,  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  Danube,  Herkimer  Co., 
N.  Y.,  took  place  April  21,  1850.  They 
began  housekeeping  on  the  new  farm, 
where  were  born  to  them  four  children, 
namely:  George  B..  Emma  L.,  Hattie  L., 
and  Charles  H.,  all  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, liow  these  early  settlers  succeeded 
is  told  by  the  fact  that  Mr.  Silliman  be- 
came the  possessor  of  650  acres  of  land 
clear  of  incumbrance.  In  the  purchase  of 
this  large  tract  of  fertile  Ohio  land,  the 
owner  did  not  incur  one  dollar  of  debt,  pay- 
ing for  each  extension  of  his  farm  as  it  was 
made,  besides  laying  by  considerable 
money.  To  each  of  his  children  he  gave 
a  good  farm.  George  B.  resides  near  tiie 
old  home,  and  is  married  to  Ada  Long,  of 
New  Haven,  Ohio;  Emma  L.  is  the  wife  of 
J.  Quincy  Adams,  of  North  Fairfield,  Ohio; 
Hattie  L.  is  the  wife  of  Edwin  C.  Wood- 
worth,  of  North  Fairfield,  Ohio;  Charles 
H.  married  Emma  Kurtz,  of  New  Haven, 
Ohio,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 


278 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Silliman,  having  retired  from  farm 
life,  has  purchased  a  home  in  Plymouth, 
Huron  Co.,  Oliio,  where  he  now  resides. 
The  reputation  of  the  father  as  a  bread 
winner,  and  a  man  who  liewed  a  magnifi- 
cent property  out  of  tlie  forest,  honors  his 
children,  and  the  history  of  his  life  en- 
courages industry  in  the  field. 


JS.  WHITE,  Norwalk.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  disclaims  the  possession 
of  any  qualities  that  entitle  him  to 
the  mention  which  his  friends  believe 
should  be  made  of  him;  yet  it  is  in  no 
spirit  of  adulation  when  it  is  said  of  him 
that  his  life  is  illustrative  of  the  success 
that  attends  honest,  well-directed  endeavor, 
industry,  and  conscientious  adherence  to 
duty. 

Mr.  White's  grandfather,  Jonathan  S., 
and  father,  John  C.  White,  natives  of  New 
York  State,  came  to  Ohio  in  1829,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  near  Mansfield.  The  last- 
named  married  Xancy  A.  Taylor,  in  1840, 
after  which  they  came  to  Huron  county, 
settling  in  Ripley  township,  where,  on  a 
piece  of  laud  entirely  covered  by  the  na- 
tive forest,  they  built  a  log  cabin,  and 
commenced  housekeeping  in  true  pioneer 
fashion. 

Here  J.  S.  White  was  born  in  1844,  and 
here  followed  the  hard  routine  of  farm 
life  from  the  time  he  was  old  enough  until 
grown  to  manhood.  In  the  early  fall  of 
1862  the  One  Hundred  and  First  liegi- 
ment,  O.  Y.  I.,  was  formed.  Company  C 
being  for  the  most  part  made  up  of  re- 
cruits from  Ripley  and  Greenwich  town- 
ships, Huron  county,  and  our  subject  was 
one  of  the  "boys"  who  enlisted  in  its 
ranks.  In  August  the  regiment  went  into 
camp  at  Monroeville,  Ohio,  and  although 
Mr.  White  had  enlisted  in  good  faith,  ex- 
pecting  to  be  a  soldier  and  do  soldier's 
duty,  he  was  doomed  to  disappointment, 
for  when  he  came  before  the  medical  ex- 
aminers,   he    was    rejected    as    being    too 


slender  to  stand  the  marches  and  hardsJiips 
incident  to  war.  So,  with  a  heavy  heart, 
homeward  he  trod  his  lonely  way.  But 
conscious  that  he  must  do  something  for 
his  country,  he  subsequently  joined  an  in- 
dependent company,  and  in  1864,  through 
the  call  of  Gov.  Brough,  he  had  the  satis- 
faction of  going  South  and  doing  duty  as 
a  soldier  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
sixth  O.  V.  I. 

The  educational  advantages  of  Mr. 
White's  boyhood  days  commenced  in  a  log 
schoolhouse,  the  expenses  of  which  school 
were  defrayed  by  private  subscription;  but 
he  was  soon  enabled  to  avail  himself  ot 
the  free  schools,  summer  and  winter,  until 
such  time  as  his  services  were  re<pi)red  on 
the  farm.  He  also  enjoyed  a  few  terms  ot 
select  school,  and,  being  taught  by  compe- 
tent teachers,  he  so  far  mastered  the  com- 
mon branches  that  he  became  a  teacher,  in 
turn,  and  for  several  winters  successfully 
tanght  young  minds  how  to  procure  an 
education. 

In  1869  Mr.  White  married  Marietta 
E.  Barre,  and  they  settled  down  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  a  small  farm  adjoin- 
ing that  of  his  father.  Here  they  toiled, 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  re- 
spect of  their  neighbors  until,  in  1887, 
they  moved  to  the  city  of  Norwalk,  where 
they  have  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
many  new  friends  to  add  to  the  list  of  old 
ones  so  dear  to  them.  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  are  James  Edgar, 
Blanche  and  John  Gaylord,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  White  is  one  of  those  men  to  whom 
the  trite  term  "self-made"  is  appropriately 
applied.  Though  lacking  the  advantages 
of  a  higher  education  in  college,  yet  he  has 
attained  much  of  that  most  valuable  edu- 
cation of  all  which  comes  from  observa- 
tion, experience  and  general  reading  of 
books.  He  has  made  for  himself  a  char- 
acter and  reputation  that  place  him  in  the 
highest  regard  of  the  people  who  know 
him  best.  The  feeling  of  confidence  in 
his  judgment  and  probity  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  he  has  not  only  been  called 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


281 


upon  to  serve  in  offices  of  trust  in  the 
towtisliip  that  was  so  long  his  home,  but 
has  been  chosen  to  fill  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant offices  in  the  county.  In  the  year 
1886  he  was  elected  county  auditor,  tak- 
ing his  seat  in  September,  1887;  was  re- 
elected in  1889,  and  now  (in  1893)  is 
serving  out  the  last  of  his  second  term  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  parties ;  and  when  he 
retires  into  private  life  it  will  be  with  the 
satisfaction  that  he  has  served  the  people 
of  the  county  in  a  manner  that  will  elicit 
naught  but  favorable  comment. 

Politically  Mr.  White  has  always  been  a 
Republican,  and  has  been  an  unswerving 
supporter  of  the  cause  which  that  organi- 
zation espoused. 


AMUEL  A.  WARD,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Ezuba  (Bailey)  Ward,  of  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  was  born  March  18, 
1832,  in  Fitchville  township. 
Samuel  Ward  was  born  in  1790,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.  He  married  Ezuim  Bailey, 
who  was  born  in  that  county  in  1793,  and 
to  their  marriage  were  thirteen  children — 
nine  born  in  New  York  and  four  in  Ohio, 
namely:  Mary,  who  married  Daniel  Will- 
iams,died  in  Fitchville  township;  William, 
deceased  in  Michigan;  Elizabeth  (widow 
of  (leorge  Curry),  residing  in  Henderson 
county,  111.;  David,  who  died  in  Kentucky; 
Alpha,  who  also  died  at  an  adult  age;  Char- 
lotte, who  was  first  married  to  John  Jen- 
kins and  subsequently  to  H.  P.  Starr,  and 
died  in  Erie  county,  Ohio;  Gurdon,  who 
died  in  Michigan;  James,  who  died  in 
Bronson  township,  Huron  county,  and 
Martha,  who  married  Benjamin  P'ilkins, 
and  died  in  Fitchville  townsliip;  the  chil- 
dren born  in  Ohio  are  Samuel  A.,  of  whom 
a  sketch  follows;  Amos,  member  of  a 
Michigan  Cavalry  Regiment,  who  died  in 
the  South  during  the  war;  Lucy,  deceased 
in  infancy,  and  Adda,  wife  of  A.  H.  Fox, 
of     Wakeman    township,    Huron    county. 


About  1830  or  '31  Samuel  Ward  and  his 
family  settled  in  Ohio.  The  journey  from 
Oneida  county,  ^.  Y.,  was  made  by  river, 
canal  and  lake  boats  to  the  lake  port,  and 
thence  by  wagon  to  Fitchville  township. 
Here  he  purchased  200  acres  of  wild  land 
at  tliree  dollars  per  acre,  and  entered  at 
once  on  its  improvement,  leaving  his  fam- 
ily at  his  brother's  house  until  the  rude 
pioneer  cabin  would  be  ready  to  shelter 
them.  Mr.  Ward  subsequently  exchanged 
this  property  for  another  tract,  on  which 
lie  resided  until  his  death,  in  1864.  His 
widow  died  in  1873,  and  their  remains  lie 
in  Fitchville  cemetery.  Mr.  Ward  ex- 
perienced all  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer 
life,  conquered  every  difficulty  and  won  a 
very  high  position  among  the  pioneers  of 
Fitchville.  In  politics  at  first  a  Democrat, 
the  Free-soil  principles  of  1848  appealed 
to  his  ideas  and  claimed  his  support.  In 
1856  he  became  a  Republican,  and  gave 
his  adhesion  to  the  new  party  until  his 
death.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

Samuel  A.  AVard  attended  a  school 
taught  by  Elder  Hall,  for  a  few  months 
each  year,  and  while  yet  a  boy  worked  on 
the  home  place  and  became  a  valuable 
farm  hand.  During  his  youth  he  moved 
to  Livingston  county,  Mich.,  where  he 
earned  good  pay,  residing  there  until  1853, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio.  On  October 
16,  1853,  lie  was  married  to  Weltha  Fil- 
kiris,  who  was  born  March  18,  1831,  at 
Stockton,  Chautauqua  Co.,  New  York. 

John  S.  Filkins,  father  of  Mrs.  Ward, 
came  with  his  wife  and  seven  children  from 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1832, 
the  journey,  part  of  the  way,  being  made 
in  a  sleigh.  He  purchased  fifty  acres  of 
wild  land  in  North  Fitchville,  paying  one 
dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  His  family 
stayed  with  his  wife's  father,  Zadok  Weeks, 
until  such  time  as  he  could  clear  a  place 
and  build  a  log  cabin.  He  iiad  much  to 
contend  against,  and  many  difficulties  to 
surmount  in  the  daily  struggle  to  provide 
for  the  family;   but   he   bravely  stood    up 


282 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


against  all  adverse  circumstances.  He  had 
to  ioiirney  to  Wooster,  a  distance  of  fifty 
miles,  to  buy  flonr,  and  orj  one  occasion  he 
walked  the  entire  distance  in  order  to  make 
a  purchase  of  iit'ty  pounds  of  wool;  and 
after  getting  it  carded  into  rolls  and  placed 
in  a  sack,  he  shouldered  his  burden  and 
walked  home!  His  wife  spun  this  wool 
into  yarn,  which  in  turn  she  wove  into 
cloth  wherewith  she  made  garments  for  the 
family-  She  died  of  cholera  in  1834,  leaving 
a  sorrowing  husband  with  eight  children 
on  his  hands,  the  eldest  being  a  girl  of 
thirteen  summers,  who  with  her  father's 
help  kept  the  family  together  two  years. 
()f  these  eight  children  six  are  still  living 
besides  Mrs.  Samuel  A.  Ward,  and  a  brief 
record  of  them  is  as  follows:  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Vandusen  resides  in  Milan,  Ohio;  A.  J. 
Fiikins  and  Mrs.  M.  C.  Brown  are  in  Wis- 
consin; Mrs.  P.  A.  Whitsell  resides  in  Cen- 
terville,  Iowa;  B.  Fiikins  lives  in  Fitch- 
viUe.  Ohio;  W.  W.  Fiikins  in  1852  set 
out  for  California  by  the  overland  route, 
enduring  many  hardships  on  the  trip;  he 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  1876  for  a 
visit,  and  he  is  now  a  resident  of  Port- 
land, Oregon.  The  mother  of  these,  as 
was  also  her  hiisband,  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  In  1836  Mr.  Fiikins 
married  Miss  Betsy  Lyon,  who  died  in 
184'J,  leaving  three  children,  all  since  de- 
ceased, to  wit:  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Prosser,  who 
died  in  Hartland,  Ohio,  in  1864;  Mrs. 
Ellen  A.  Williams,  who  died  in  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  in  1877;  and  Mrs.  Julia  E.  Doane, 
who  died  in  Hartland,  Ohio,  in  1873.  By 
his  third  marriage  Mr.  Fiikins  had  three 
children,  viz.:  S.  M.  and  David  A.,  both 
engineers  on  the  "  Big  Four  Road,"  and 
residents  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  Mrs.  O. 
F.  Fish,  living  in  Florida,  her  husband 
being  also  a  railroad  engineer.  In  1867 
S.  A.  Fiikins  went  to  California,  returning 
to  Fitchville  in  1872,  soon  after  which,  in 
the  same  year,  he  met  with  an  accident  at 
a  barn  raising  which  caused  his  death. 

The   children    born    to    Samuel   A.   and 
Weltha  Ward  are  as  follows:   Eva  B.,  born 


October  13,  1854,  died  October  7,  1880; 
Adalbert,  born  June  27,  1856,  a  farmer  of 
Fitchville  township;  Carrie  A.,  born  March 
15,  1858,  died  November  16,1860;  Albert 
E.,  born  July  16,  1862,  a  fanner  of  Fitch- 
ville township;  and  Blanche  M.,  born  May 
25,  1868,  died  August  13,  1881.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  A.  Wai-d 
took  up  their  residence  in  the  Ward  home. 
and  remained  there  until  1867,  when  they 
entered  into  possession  of  their  present 
farm.  Though  now  living  a  I'etired  life, 
Mr.  Ward  still  directs  the  management  of 
the  farm,  which  is  worked  by  his  sons. 
The  property  is  a  valuable  one,  and  in  its 
development  the  labor  of  Samuel  A.Ward 
and  the  economical  administration  of  Mrs. 
Ward  have  proved  the  most  important 
factors.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
but  he  wastes  but  little  time  on  politics, 
as  his  farm  and  stock  interests  claim  his 
principal  attention.  Mrs.  Ward  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


d[    L.   HELLER,  a   prominent  farmer 
citizen  of  Richmond   township,    was 
_^1   born  March  27,  1842,  in  Northamp- 
ton county,  Penn.,  a  son  of  Abraham 
Heller,  a  native  of  Northampton  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

Abraham  Heller  married  Susan  Ann 
Bower,  by  whom  he  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Josiah.  deceased  in  Luzerne  county, 
Penn.;  William  H..  of  Ada,  Ohio;  a 
daughter  that  died  when  two  years  old; 
Maria,  who  married  James  Parks,  and 
died  in  Ohio;  Jacob  L..  subject  of  this 
memoir;  and  Benjamin  F.,  who  enlisted 
in  1864  in  Company  C,  Forty-ninth  Regi- 
ment 0.  V.  I.,  and  was  killed  Decemfier 
16,  1864,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he 
was  buried  in  the  National  cemetery. 
Abraham  Heller  was  born  and  reared  in  a 
hotel,  and  conducted  a  hostelry  for  many 
years  in  Northampton  county,  Penn.  He 
had  been  unfortunate  in  business,  and  the 
worry  over  his  affairs  hastened  his  death, 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


283 


which  occurred  in  18 —  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  a  mnch-respected  citizen.  In 
politics  he  was  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  After  the  deatli  of  the  father 
the  widow  kept  tlie  children  together;  she 
was  subsequently  married,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  David  Mascho,  a  farmer,  and  in 
185U  the  family  came  westward  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  tiie  village  of  Sulpliur  Springs, 
Crawford  county,  where  tliey  followed 
farming  and  resided  for  some  years.  Mr. 
Maschodiedin  1882;  his  widow  now  makes 
her  home  at  Ada,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 

J.  L.  Heller  received  a  common-school 
education,  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
when  seventeen  years  old  came  to  Ohio,  as 
before  stated.  Here  he  commenced  to 
learn  harness-making  with  George  Co.\, 
serving  as  an  apprentice  to  that  trade  for 
about  six  months,  or  until  liis  enlistment 
in  tiie  Civil  war.  On  August  15,  1861, 
at  Sulphur  Springs,  Ohio,  he  joined  Com- 
pany C,  Forty-ninth  Regiment  O.  V.  L, 
Col.  William  H.  Gibson,  and  served  with 
his  command  to  the  close  of  the  strua'O'le. 
He  was  then  detailed  with  the  Fourth 
Army  Corps,  which  was  ordered  to  Texas, 
where  he  served  five  months,  and  was  dis- 
charged November  30,  1865,  at  Victoria, 
Texas,  tliough  he  did  not  reach  home  till 
January  1,  1866.  His  brother,  William 
H.,  was  a  member  of  the  same  regiment, 
the  same  company  as  himself,  serving  at 
the  same  time  and  for  the  same  period. 

On  August  30,  1866,  Mr.  Heller  was 
married  to  Uretsa  Briggs,  who  was  born 
February  27,  1846,  in  Crawford  county, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  Dr.  G.  A.  and  Olive 
(Blowers)  Briggs,  and  to  this  union  have 
come  three  children,  viz.:  Lillie  M.,  now 
Mrs.  Edison  Wilcox,  of  Henry  county, 
Ohio;  Harry  A.,  of  Tiffin,  Oiiio,  and  Hat- 
tie  M.,  at  home.  After  marriage  our 
subject  located  on  his  present  place,  where 
he  has  since  continuously  resided,  engaged 
in  general  farming.  In  his  political  rela- 
tions he  is  a  Republican,  is  one  of  the 
local  counselors  and  advisers  of  his  party, 
and     has    served    creditably    as    township 


trustee  and  in  various  other  positions.  In 
religious  connection  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heller 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  in  which  he  has  been  steward  and 
a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school.  He  is  a 
prominent  citizen  and  successful  farmer, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 
Mr.  Heller  has  traveled  considerably,  and 
has  been  all  over  the  West. 


llV/lfRS.  LOUISA  BOGARDUS,  who 

I VI     was  born   November  12,  1819,  in 

I       L    Bly'"outh,  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  is 

■fj  a  daughter  of  Truman  and  Clarissa 

(Fuller)  Atherton,  and  widow  of 

the  late  Hon.  Evert  Bogardus. 

Hon.  Evert  Bogardus  was  a  son  of  Jacob 
B.  Bogardus,  whose  father  (also  named 
Jacob)  was  an  extensive  wholesale  mer- 
chant and  importer,  of  New  York,  being  a 
representative  of  a  very  wealthy  and  aristo- 
cratic family. 

Jacob  B.  Bogardus  was  born  November 
24,  1785,  and  was  reared  in  East  Haddam, 
Conn.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
was  married  about  1807  to  Gertrude 
Mosely,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  whose 
father,  Jonathan  Mosely,  served  six- 
teen years  in  Congress.  Mr.  Bogardus 
followed  bookkeeping  for  some  time, 
then  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and 
spent  several  years  in  the  West.  He  died 
November  24, 1868,  at  the  home  of  iiis  son 
in  Ridgefield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
Hon.  Evert  Bogardus  was  born  Sep- 
tember 15,  1813,  in  Lehman,  Luzerne  Co., 
Penn.,  and,  while  receiving  but  a  sub- 
scription-school  education,  made  the  best 
possible  use  of  every  opportunity.  When 
fifteen  years  old  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
saddler  in  New  York,  but  not  liking  the 
business,  he  went  to  Philadelphia.  He 
then  determined  to  secure  a  more  general 
education,  and  after  spending  a  short  time 
in  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  he  followed  book- 
keeping in  Williamsport,  Penn.     On  No- 


284 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


veiiiber  17,  1840,  lie  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Louisa  Atlierton,  and  resided 
on  a  farm  in  Huntsville,  Luzerne  Co., 
Penn.,  for  seven  years,  then  located  at 
Wilkes-Barre,  same  State,  where  he  fol- 
lowed a  commission  business  along  the 
canal.  In  185G  he  came  to  Norwalk, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1S57  entered  into  partnership  with  a 
brother-in-law.  He  tiien  purchased  land 
in  Ridgetield  township,  Huron  county,  and 
devoted  his  attention  for  a  time  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  1860  he  opened  a  store 
in  Nortli  Monroeville,  Huron  county, 
whicli  he  sold  in  1881,  and  afterward  lived 
in  retirement.  Evert  Bogardus  was  a 
Democrat  prior  to  the  war,  at  which  time, 
however,  he  joined  the  Republican  party, 
serving  in  various  township  and  county 
utHces.  He  represented  Huron  county  for 
four  years  in  the  State  Legislature  at  Co- 
lumbus, and  served  six  years  as  county 
commissioner.  In  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  were  zealous  members  of  tlie  Con- 
gregational Church  at  North  Monroeville, 
Huron  county.  They  were  the  parents  of 
two  children,  William  P.,  a  hardware 
merchant  of  Mount  Yernon,  Ohio,  and 
Emma  G.,  deceased  wife  of  H.  C.  Read. 
The  father  died  January  26, 1892,  and  was 
buried  in  the  North  Monroeville  cemetery. 
After  his  death  his  widow  moved  to  Mount 
Vernon,  Ohio,  where  she  resides  near  her 
sfni,  enjoying  the  society  of  many  friends. 


RZA  B.  GILSON,  Se.,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  Huron  county's 
^    representative  farmer   citizens,  and 
one  of    the   most    prosperous,    de- 
serves   more  than  a  passing  notice 
in  this  work. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America  was  his  great-grandfather,  wlio 
arrived  in  New  York  from  Ireland  about 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He 
was  one  of  two  brothers,  the  other  remain- 
ing in  Ireland.     The  one    who  emigrated 


settled  in  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  reared  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
of  whom  one,  named  Joel,  was  born  about 
1750.  The  latter  was  a  lifelong  farmer  in 
Saratoga,  his  native  county,  and  in  con- 
nection operated  a  sawmill.  He  was  a 
collector,  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States  Government,  of  Continental  money, 
and  had,  it  is  alleged,  in  his  possession  the 
sum  of  forty-two  thousand,  eight  hundred 
and  forty  dollars  worth  of  that  scrip  when 
Congress  repudiated  the  payment  of  same, 
and  he  thereby  lost  all  he  had.  In  his 
political  affiliations  lie  was  first  a  Federal- 
ist, later  a  Whig,  and  he  was  a  man  of 
considerable  prominence  in  iiis  section, 
straightforward  in  his  dealings,  and  highly 
respected.  He  died  in  1820.  His  wnfe 
was  a  Miss  Adams,  of  Saratoga  county, 
N.  Y.,and  they  had  a  family  of  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  named  as  follows: 
Norman,  Eli,  Jonas,  Joel,  John,  Asa, 
Naum,  Mary,  Anna  and  Rhoda,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  and  are  all 
now  deceased. 

Naura  Gilson,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  April  27,  1793,  in 
Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  received  but 
a  limited  education  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  the  period,  but  by  hard  study  at 
home  he  became  quite  a  proficient  scholar. 
In  1817  he  came  to  Ohio,  walking  the 
entire  distance  to  Norwich  township, 
Huron  county,  and  hewed  out  for  himself 
a  home  in  the  dense  forest.  He  built 
there  the  first  known  log  house  in  the 
towrtship  to  be  used  as  a  residence;  put  up 
the  first  pair  of  rafters,  and  made  the  first 
plow  and  harrow  ever  used  in  the  town- 
ship. At  this  time  Indians  and  wild  ani- 
mals, including  game  of  all  kinds,  were 
numerous.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
as  did  also  his  six  lirothers  and  father. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Sally  Ormes,  of  North- 
umberland county,  Mass.,  a  daughter  of 
Chauncy  Ormes,  a  capitalist  of  that 
section,  and  the  children  born  to  them 
were  Giles  J.,  deceased;  Marilla  D. 
Spaulding   and   Sarah    A.   Halliday,  both 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


285 


deceased;  Eugenia  M.,  now  Mrs.  Abrara 
DeGroflF,  of  Grand  Ledge,  Midi.;  Arza  B., 
subject  of  sketch;  Elon  W.,  of  Norwalk, 
Huron  cnnnty,  an  ex-treasurer  of  the 
county;  and  Ardelia  A.,  now  Mrs.  S.  W. 
Owen,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio.  Tiie  fatlier 
died  in  1864,  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  a  man  of  ability  and  con- 
siderable business  tact.  At  one  time  he 
was  land-agent  for  John  W.  Allen,  of 
Cleveland,  who  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  Huron  county;  was  township  clerk 
thirteen  years,  and  postmaster  at  North 
Norwich  eighteen  years,  being  the  first 
postmaster  in  I^orwich  township  He 
entertained  at  his  house  the  first  minister 
that  came  to  the  township,  and  was  con- 
verted by  him  on  the  occasion  of  his  first 
visit,  bein»  received  into  the  fold  of  the 
M.  E.  t'hurch.  Politically  he  was  origin- 
ally a  Whig,  afterward,  on  the  t'urTnation 
of  the  party,  a  stanch  Republican. 

A.  B.  Gilson,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  April  23,  1827,  on 
the  farm  whereon  he  now  lives  in  Norwich 
township.  He  received  a  fair  education 
at  the  public  schools  of  the  locality,  and, 
being  an  apt  scholar  and  close  student, 
soon    fitted    himself    for    the    position    of 

teacher.     At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  com- 
es o 

menced  teaching  school,  and  continued 
in  that  profession  fourteen  years;  he  also 
taught  vocal  music  tiiirty-five  years.  In 
1863  he  raised  a  company  of  115  men,  and 
was  elected  captain  of  Company  E.  Sixty- 
third  Eegiment  O.  N.  G.  On  May  2, 
1864,  this  regiment  was  called  upon  by 
the  General  Government  for  one  hundred 
days  service,  and  on  that  day  he  was 
chosen  as  major.  On  arriving  at  Camp 
Taylor,  Cleveland,  this  regiment  was 
joined  by  the  Seventy-ninth  Battalion 
O.  N.  G.  from  Medina  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  then  known  as  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  the  field  officers  of 
which  were  Harrison  G.  Blake,  Col.;  Ran- 
dolph Eastman,  Lt.  Col.;  and  Arza  B. 
Gilson,  Major.  He  served  the  regiment 
in   this   capacity  until  the  twelfth  of  May, 


1804,  when  by  reason  of  an  attack  of 
pneumonia  he  was  relieved  from  duty,  and 
returned  home.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
the  regiment  September  9,  following,  at 
Cleveland,  Oiiio.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  well- 
merited  success,  now  owning  228  acres  of 
land,  besides  property  in  Chicago,  Ohio. 

On  February  8,  1860,  Mr.  Gilson  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  A.  Baker,  of  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Chauncy 
Baker,  and  two  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Aida  Belle,  who  was  a  pupil  of 
the  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  married  November  22,  1893,  to 
John  M.  Elder;  and  Arza  Baker,  at  home 
and  at  school.  Our  subject,  in  addition 
to  his  many  other  interests,  is  a  notary 
public,  and  pension  attorney,  in  which 
capacity  he  enjoys  a  large  practice,  cover- 
ing several  States. 


THADDEUS  S.  FANCHER,  farmer 
and  stock  grower  of  Greenwich 
township,  was  born  April  8,  1809, 
in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
Thaddeus  Fancher,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  born  in  1777,  and  where 
he  learned  the  harness  maker's  trade. 

Emigrating  to  the  United  States,  Thad- 
deus Fancher  found  a  home  near  Stamford, 
Conn.,  followed  his  trade,  and  there  mar- 
ried Sally  Mead,  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Mead, 
of  Revolutionary  fame.  To  that  marriage 
twelve  children  wei-e  born,  namely:  Mary, 
('aroline,  Daniel,  Mead,  Eliza,  Thaddeus 
S.,  Amy,  William,  Sarah,  Mathew,  Will- 
iam and  Varney  P.,  of  whom  Sarah,  Mathew 
and  Varney  P.  were  born  in  Huron  county. 
About  the  year  1808  the  family  moved 
from  Connecticut  to  Ulster  county,  N.  Y., 
where  the  father  followed  his  trade  until 
the  war  of  1812  called  all  loyal  men  to 
arms.  Mr.  Fancher  was  drawn  into  the 
maelstrom,  and  took  up  arms  against  the 
troops  of  his  native  land.  After  the  war 
he  resumed  his  trade,  and  resided  with  his 


286 


UUEOiir  COUXTT,  OHIO. 


family  in  Ulster  county  until  1815,  when 
lie  set  out  on  the  long  journey  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  to  see  for  himself  whether 
the  olowiiio-  reports  about  the  "Firelands" 
were  reliable.  The  journey  was  made  on 
foot,  and  satisfied  Mr.  Faiicher  that  the 
land  was  all  that  was  claimed  for  it,  how- 
ever wild  the  country.  He  returned  to 
Ulster  county,  but  in  1819  revisited  Ohio, 
selected  a  tract  in  Greenwich  township, 
Huron  county,  and  went  home  to  prepare 
for  the  removal  of  his  family  to  a  new 
home  in  a  new  land.  In  November,  1820, 
the  family  started  on  the  journey  to  Ohio, 
a  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen  with  a 
horse  for  leader  beiiio;  used  during  the 
long  trip,  which  occupied  live  weeks  and 
four  days.  When  passing  through  Cleve- 
land onl^'  eight  huts  marked  the  site  of 
that  now  prosperous  city,  and  along  the 
route  via  Oberlin  and  Fitchville  Caucasian 
life  was  scarce  indeed.  On  Christmas  Eve, 
1820,  the  family  found  shelter  in  a  cabin 
occupied  by  a  man  named  Waters.  On 
Christmas  Day  they  arrived  in  Greenwich 
township,  and  took  possession  of  an  old 
hut,  which  stood  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  C.  A.  Sutton.  Within  a  day  or  so 
they  had  a  visit  from  David  Briggs,  their 
first  neighbor,  who  lived  about  two  miles 
away,  and  in  the  walk  over  that  short  dis- 
tance he  killed  seven  deer.  He  informed 
the  new  comers  of  his  feat,  and  with  Mr. 
Fancher's  help  gathered  in  the  game  and 
insured  to  his  new  friends  enough  meat  to 
supply  the  table  for  the  winter.  The  father 
died  December  26,  1854,  the  mother  May 
1,  1857.  He  was  truly  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  northern  Ohio,  was  a  leading 
Whig  of  this  section,  and  though  not  an 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  the  men 
of  that  faction,  who  knew  him,  admired 
him  for  his  sincerity  and  honesty  of 
purpose. 

Thaddeus  S.  Fancher  came  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents  wdien  eleven  years  old.  There 
were  no  schools  in  Huron  county  for  six 
years  after  his  arrival,  so  that  the  boy  was 
compelled  to  tramp  three  miles  to  and  fro 


daily,  in  winter,  to  a  school  which  had 
been  recently  established  in  Ruggles  town- 
ship, Ashland  county.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  home  farm,  in  the  improve- 
ment of  which  he  assisted  materially.  On 
September  8,  1833,  he  married  Annie  M. 
Chapman,  of  Ilichland  county,  who  was 
born  at  Simsbury,  Conn.,  October  8, 1817, 
and  came  to  Richmond  county  with  her 
parents,  Cyrus  and  Ciiloe  (Case)  Cliapman, 
in  1819.  The  children  born  to  them  are 
named  as  follows:  Reuben,  of  Lake  county, 
Ind.,  engaged  in  farming,  real  estate  and 
insurance;  Louisa.  Mrs.  Albert  Flint,  of  Em- 
poria, Kans.;  Lavina,  widow  of Warren, 

of  Chicago;  Varney  P.,  who  served  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Second  O.  V.  I.,  suf- 
fered the  horrors  of  Libby  Prison  and  lost 
his  health,  dying  in  Missouri,  after  the 
war;  Salathiel,  a  real-estate  man  in  Kansas 
City;  Lewis,  also  a  resident  of  Kansas 
City;  George,  a  carpenter,  residing  at 
home;  Maria,  Mrs.  William  Dennison,  of 
Topeka,  Kans.;  Stephen,  deceased  when 
six  months  old;  Orlando,  who  died  when 
three  years  old;  Seniore,  an  attorney  at 
Crown  Point,  Ind.,  and  Luella,  Mrs.  Alva 
Tubbs,  of  Osawatomie,  Kans.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1833,  our  subject  settled  on  part  of 
his  present  farm,  increasing  the  area  of  his 
lands  gradually,  until  his  large  estate  was 
formed.  In  1859  fire  destroyed  his  build- 
ings and  much  farm  produce;  insurance 
had  expired  five  or  six  days  before,  so  that 
he  suffered  total  loss.  He  found  himself 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars  in 
debt,  but  going  to  work  with  redoubled 
energy  he  reached  the  front  again,  and  his 
progress  has  since  been  unchecked.  He 
provided  well  for  his  children,  and  to-day 
enjoys  the  comforts  which  such  a  man 
should  have. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fancher  are  the  oldest 
married  couple  in  Huron  county.  They 
well  remember  the  days  when  the  bear, 
wolf  and  deer  were  ordinary  visitors,  and 
when  deer  would  come  to  browse  on  the 
leaves  of  the  fallen  trees  in  the  clearing. 
Indians  in   parties  of  thirty-five  or    forty 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


287 


often  passed  tlieir  pioneer  liome,  e7i  route 
to  tlie  lumtinir  iields  of  central  Ohio.  For- 
merly  a  Whig,  and  a  Republican  since 
1S5(),  he  has  always  been  faithful  to  his 
party,  and  he  and  his  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Cliurch  forty  years. 
Both  are  identified  with  the  pioneer  his- 
tory of  northern  Ohio,  and  are  honored  by 
all,  old  and  young,  who  know  them. 


DeWITT  C.  NORTON  was  born  De- 
cember 10,  1826,  in  Poultney,  Yt., 
'    a  grandson  of  tSolomon  Norton,  who 

was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1757, 
and  reared  to  farming,  which  he  made  a 
success. 

Grandfather  Norton  moved  to  Vermont 
when  a  young  man,  bought  a  farm  and 
erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  all  of  which 
lie  carried  on  lor  some  years.  He  was 
prosperous  and  became  a  very  influential 
man.  At  the  age  of  seventy-five  he  re- 
tired from  active  life,  and  with  his  wife 
(his  third  one)  moved  to  the  town  of 
Shoreham,  Vt.,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried, in  1774,  to  Miss  Sarah  Re.xford,  who 
was  born  in  1757  in  Vermont,  and  they 
had  thirteen  children — seven  sons  and  si.x 
daughters. 

James  R.  Norton,  seventh  child  of  Solo- 
mon Norton,  was  born  in  Poultney,  Vt., 
in  1786,  and  was  higidy  educated;  he  at- 
tended one  of  the  best  eastern  colleges, 
was  a  good  classical  scholar,  a  great  reader, 
and  was  possessed  of  a  most  retentive 
memory.  He  married  Miss  Chloe  Savage, 
of  Granville,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Solomon 
Savage,  of  the  same  place,  and  then  em- 
barked in  mercantile  business  in  Poultney, 
in  wliich  lie  continued  until  the  passage  of 
the  Embargo  Act,  which  ruined  his  busi- 
ness. He  then  commenced  the  trade  of 
cooper,  and  worked  at  same  in  Poultney 
till  1834,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  and  settling  in  Norwalk 
township    bought  a  farm   of  thirty  acres. 


He  still  continued  at  his  trade  here,  while 
his  sons  farmed  the  place,  and  became 
quite  prosperous,  owning  before  his  deatii 
147  acres  of  land.  In  politics  he  was  a 
strong  Republican,  one  of  the  counsellors 
and  advisers  of  the  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  R.  Norton  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  viz.:  Louisa,  Charlotte  L.,  Sarah, 
James  H.,  DeWitt  C.  and  Henry  C. 

DeAVitt  C.  Norton  at  the  age  of  eight 
years  came  with  his  father  from  Poultney, 
Vt.,  to  Norwalk  township.  He  received 
his  education  at  the  high  school  of  Nor- 
walk,  after  which  he  taught  school  nine 
winters.  In  1859  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Sarah  Henderson,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Henderson,  of  Connecticut.  After 
marriage  he  farmed  with  his  fathei-  until 
the  death  of  the  latter  in  1872,  when  he 
bought  his  present  farm,  then  of  147,  now 

of  177  acres,  and  commenced   the  rearing 
...  ~  ■ 

of  fine  sheep,  an  industry  he  continued  in 

some  years  with  good  success,  and  he  had 
the  reputation  of  keeping  the  best  sheep 
in  the  county.  He  has  now  on  his  farm 
several  thorough-bred  cattle.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Norton  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Mary  and  Sarali  L.,  both  of 
whom  died  young;  Horace  H.,  working  ot) 
his  father's  farm;  and  James  P.,  a  veteri- 
nary surgeon  in  Fulton,  Mo.  In  politics 
our  subject  is  a  solid  Republican,  but  has 
never  sought  office. 


ip?  FORGE  M.  RYERSON  was  born 
I  J,  March  10,  1821,  in  Sussex  county, 
\Jl\  N.  J.  His  father,  Peter  Ryerson, 
^Ji  follovved  farming,  and  was  also  an 
extensive  tanner  and  currier  in  that 
county. 

During  the  youth  of  George  M.  Ryer- 
son, his  native  county  was  surrounded  by 
pioneer  conditions  of  even  a  more  decided 
character  than  he  found  existing  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  in  later  years.  He  received 
such  an  education  as  the  subscription 
schools  of  Sussex  county  afforded,  and  then 


288 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  continuously  until  some  six  or  eight 
years  after  coming  to  Ohio  in  1850.  On 
January  14,  1847,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riajre  with  Miss  Sarah  C.  Edsall,  a  native 
of  Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  and  to  them  the 
follovving  named  children  were  born: 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  childhood;  Sarah, 
born  October  22,  1849,  who  married 
Charles  H.  Burg,  of  Paterson,  N.  J.; 
Price  v.,  born  November  6,  1851,  a 
farmer  of  Greenfield  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio;  Edsall  F.,  born  August  12.  1853, 
in  Huron  county,  also  a  farmer  in  the 
neighborhood;  Esther  P.,  born  January  11, 
1856,  wife  of  A.  G.  Roe,  of  Peru  township; 
George  E.,  a  farmer  of  Fairfield  township; 
Dora  Elzie,  married  to  Fred  Mitchell,  of 
Bronson  township:  Delno  P.,  a  farmer  of 
Peru  township;  Kate,  married  to  Free- 
man Mitchell,  of  Greenfield  township; 
and  Grace,  the  youngest  child,  who  was 
married  November  15,  1893,  to  Henry  T. 
Graham,  of  Greenfield.  The  mother  of 
tliis  large  family  died  July  4,  1877,  aged 
fifty-three  years,  and  was  buried  in  Center 
cemetery  with  the  rites  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  she  was  a 
member.  On  June  25,  1878,  Mr.  Ryer- 
son  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Misa 
Haunah  Harrison,  who  was  born  February 
11,  1837,  in  Huntingdonshire,  England, 
and  came  thence  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  in 
1867.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are: 
Mabel  B.,  born  May  4,  1879,  and  Susie 
A.,  born  August  28,  1880. 

In  1850  Mr.  Ryerson,  with  his  wife  and 
two  children,  made  the  journey  from  New 
Jersey  to  this  part  of  Ohio,  where  he 
rented  a  small  tract  of  land.  Later  he 
purchased  a  larger  tract  in  Peru  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  A  farmer  and  car- 
penter, he  found  work  always  waiting  for 
his  hands,  and  his  industrious  character 
did  not  permit  a  waste  of  time.  A  good 
farmer  and  a  good  mechanic,  he  filled  the 
double  role  well,  and  accumulated  a  valu- 
able property.  His  children  were  all 
reared  at  home,  and   when    each  required 


aid  in  beginning  life's  journey,  he  was  al- 
ways ready  with  will  and  means  to  assist. 
Up  to  the  Buchanan  regime  Mr.  Ryerson 
was  a  Democrat,  but  since  that  period  he 
has  been  a  Republican.  He  has  held  vari- 
ous township  offices,  and  is  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  principles  of  govern  meat, 
always  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  success 
of  his  party,  particularly  in  the  manage- 
ment of  township  and  county  affairs.  He 
is  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  held 
several  offices,  and  is  one  of  its  pillars  and 
most  liberal  supporters.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
family  are  well  and  favorably  known  here, 
and  Mr.  Ryerson,  himself,  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem. 


URI  B.  THOMAS,  who  has  been  a 
resident  of  Huron  county  since  1846, 
was  born  October  24,  1818,  in 
Otsego  county.  New  York. 
His  parents,  George  and  Adeline  (Baker) 
Thomas,  bestowed  care  un  the  training  of 
their  son,  and  gave  him  such  education  as 
the  common  district  school  afforded.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  sickness  com- 
pelled him  to  abandon  study,  and  for  the 
three  following  years  little  attention  was 
given  bv  him  to  school  matters.  Con- 
valescent  once  more,  he  entered  Clinton 
Institute,  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1840, 
the  year  he  claims  was  the  turning  point 
in  his  life,  and  being  a  studious  young- 
man  learned  quickly — grammar,  algebra, 
chemistry,  surveying,  philosophy  and  the 
higher  branches  of  mathematics,  French 
and  Latin  being  particularly  suited  to  hitn. 
After  a  stay  of  four  months  and  a  half  at 
Clinton,  he  contracted  to  teach  the  village 
school  at  Burlington  Flats,  the  considera- 
tion  being  seventeen  dollars  per  month. 
There  were  fifteen  applicants  for  this  posi- 
tion, which  entailed  the  instruction  and 
control  of  one  hundred  and  five  pupils. 
This,  his  first  school,  began  November  1, 


$r". 


^ 


^^'^^ 


^V-:^^^2'-2:^y, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


291 


1840,  and  ended  in  March,  1841.  His 
success  as  teacher  was  pronounced,  so 
that  wlien  he  established  a  select  school  in 
the  same  village,  parents  gave  him  a  lib- 
eral support.  For  several  years  after  Mr. 
Thomas  conducted  scliool,  and  also  found 
time  to  attend  Clinton  Institute.  In  1840 
he  walked  nine  miles  to  attend  the  Whig 
convention  at  Utica,  making  the  tow-path 
of  the  Chenango  Canal  his  road  to  and  fro; 
and  in  November  of  that  year  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  From  1840  to  1846  he  wa.s  steadily 
engaged  in  school  work,  and  in  April  of 
the  last  named  year  he  set  out  for  Huron 
county,  traveling  via  the  Erie  Canal  and 
lake  to  Huron,  Ohio,  whence  he  proceeded 
to  his  destination  in  Greenwich  township. 
His  father  owned  a  piece  of  partly  im- 
proved land  in  that  township,  half  of 
which  tract  (to  the  value  of  about  five  hun- 
dred dollars)  he  granted  to  his  son,  pro- 
vided the  latter  would  clear  and  Improve 
the  whole  tract.  Uri  B.  went  to  work 
earnestly,  and  though  the  condition  of  his 
health  scarcely  warranted  such  labor  as  the 
contract  with  his  father  demanded,  yet  his 
venture  was  attended  with  marked  suc- 
cess. In  the  fall  of  1846  lie  purchased 
110  acres  of  wild  land  for  five  hundred  and 
ten  dollars,  and  gave  his  attention  for 
three-fourths  of  each  year  to  the  iiqprove- 
uient  of  both  tracts,  being  engaged  in 
teaching  school  here  during  the  winter 
terms. 

On  April  16,  1849,  Mr.  Thomas  mar- 
ried Ellen  R.  McOmber,  a  native  of  Cas- 
tleton,  Vt.,  born  May  21,  1829.  In  1848 
a  sister  of  this  lady,  by  name  Charlotte, 
visited  Greenwich  township;  she  was  one 
of  a  party  going  through  the  country, 
lecturing  on  mnemonics,  or  the  science  of 
n)en}orv,  and  gave  an  exhibition  in  the 
school,  then  conducted  by  Mr.  Thomas. 
She  organized  a  class  there,  which  her 
sister  was  assigned  to  teach,  and  in  this 
way  Mr.  Thomas  became  acquainted  with 
her.  They  were  married  at  the  old  '•  Neil 
House,"  Columbus,  Ohio,  by  a  Universal- 
is 


ist  preacher,  Rev.  N.  Doolittle,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Orr  U.,  residing  at  home;  George 
T.,  probate  judge  of  Huron  county;  Dora 
E.,  who  died  young;  a  son  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Luna  A.,  who  died  young. 
Mrs.  Ellen  R.  Tliomas  died  March  25, 
1861,  and  was  buried  in  Fitchville  ceme- 
tery. On  February  17, 1864,  his  marriage 
with  Myra  B.  Stowe,  a  native  of  Erie 
county,  Oliio,  took  place,  and  to  them  were 
born:  Walter  S.,  who  died  in  youth,  and 
Myra  A.,  Mrs.  Lewis  A.  Akelcy,  a  pro- 
fessor in  the  University  of  South  Dakota, 
at  Vermillion. 

After  his  first  marriage  our  subject 
established  his  home  on  the  old  place 
where  he  had  resided  since  1846,  and  con- 
tinued there  until  1864,  when  he  moved 
to  his  present  residence.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  w'as  recognized  as  a  leading 
agriculturist,  stock  grower  and  wool  dealer, 
in  the  latter  capacity  buying  wool  through- 
out northern  Ohio.  For  over  two  years 
he  has  led  a  semi-retired  life,  leavinu;  his 
lands  and  the  management  of  the  estate  in 
the  hands  of  his  eldest  son.  Mr.  Tliomas 
was  a  Den^ocrat  until  1852.  In  1848  he 
voted  the  Free-soil  ticket,  and  in  1856 
voted  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  but 
stoutly  refused  other  offices,  even  with- 
drawing his  name  when  presented  in  con- 
vention of  his  party  for  representative  in 
the  Legislature.  He  is  thoroughly  versed 
in  the  political  history  of  the  United 
States,  and  well  informed  on  a  great  num- 
ber of  subjects.  Possessing  a  good  mem- 
ory and  the  gift  of  language,  he  is  a  fluent, 
intelligible  speaker.  Some  two  years  ago 
he  sustained  injuries  from  a  runaway  team, 
which  came  near  making  him  a  cripple  for 
life,  and  to  his  own  knowledge  of  anatomy, 
more  than  to  any  other  source,  must  be 
credited  his  recovery. 

On  August  29,  1873,  was  organized  a 
corporate  company,  under  the  title  of 
"  The  Greenwich  Land  and  Building  Asso- 
ciation,"   having   purchased    the  farm   of 


2^2 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


121. 44  acres  where  Greenwicli  now  stands, 
for  the  purpose  of  growing  the  town.  The 
town  of  Greenwich  liad  in  1873  a  popula- 
tion of  fifty  within  a  radius  of  iBO  rods 
from  the  center  of  the  C.  0.  C.  &  I.  K  K. 
tracks  on  Main  street.  In  1878  tlie  popu- 
tation  of  Greenwicli,  within  the  same 
radius,  was  over  1,000.  Mr.  Thomas  iiav- 
ing  taken  stock  in  said  Association,  at  the 
election  of  officers  in  September,  1873,  he 
was  elected  its  president;  re-elected  to  that 
position  annually  to  date,  and  the  manage- 
ment has  been  largely  under  his  control. 


El  THAN  C.  LOVELL,  a  large  land- 
owner of  Greenfield  township,  was 
I  born  here  June  17,  1819,  where  his 

parents,  David   and    Mary   Chilcott 
Lovell,  were  early  pioneers. 

David  Lovell  was  born  in  1763,  in 
Baltimore  county,  Md.,  which,  according 
to  Bancroft,  was  "  the  only  place  in  the 
wide  world  where  religious  liberty  found 
a  home."  His  ancestors  came  from  Elng- 
land,  but  whether  with  the  Maryland  or 
Virginia  colonists  is  not  recorded.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  in  his  native 
county,  I'eceived  an  education  in  the  school 
of  his  district,  and  when  yet  a  young  man 
removed  to  Huntingdon  county,  Penn. 
There  he  married  Mary  Chilcott,  also  a 
native  of  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  and  they 
resided  in  Trough  Creek  Valley  until  the 
fall  of  1815,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  jour- 
neyed across  the  mountains  with  his  wife 
and  four  children.  He  made  a  short  stay 
at  the  home  of  a  relative  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  but  the  reputation  of  the  "Firelands" 
had  penetrated  to  the  wilderness  of  Knox 
county,  and  soon  the  family  started  on  the 
journey  to. Huron  county.  Arriving  here 
Mr.  Lovell  entered  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
Greenfield  township,  butdidnot  buildanew 
cabin  immediately,  preferring  the  shelter 
which  the  cabin  of  an  earlier  settler 
afforded  until  he  could  select  a  favorable 
site  for  a  iionie.     His  land  purchases  were 


not  confined  to  Greenfield  township,  so 
that  he  carried  all  he  could  handle.  At 
this  critical  time  the  buyer  of  the  farm  in 
Himtingdon  county,  Penn.,  failed  to  pay 
for  it,  and  ownership  had  to  be  resumed 
by  Mr.  Lovell.  This  circumstance  com- 
pelled him  to  sell,  not  only  the  old  farm 
at  a  sacrifice,  but  also  some  of  his  lands  in 
Ohio.  After  this  troublesome  deal  was  con  - 
eluded,  he  located  on  tiie  farm  where  Ethan 
C.  Lovell  now  resides,  and  gave  all  his  at- 
tention to  agriculture  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  16,  1830.  His  widow 
died  July  14,  1848,  and  both  are  interred  in 
Greenfield  township.  Politically  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  religiously  a  member  of 
the  Close  Communion  Baptist  Church. 
The  record  of  their  children  is  as  follows: 
Ruth,  born  March  8,  1804,  died  February 
17, 1818,  while  her  parents  were  visiting  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  first  person  in- 
terred in  Greenfield  cemetery;  Martha, 
born  November  2,  1806,  is  the  deceased 
wife  of  Edward  H.  Lawther,  of  Green- 
field township;  Kachel,  born  August  6, 
1809,  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Phineas  K. 
Guthrie;  Mary,  born  September  10,  1811, 
died  November  6,  1820;  Eleanor,  born 
August  29,  1815,  is  the  deceased  wife  of 
Nehemiah  Brooks;  Ethan  C.  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Ethan  C  Lovell  was  born  and  reared  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and  his 
education  was  such  as  the  primitive  schools 
of  that  period  aflbrded;  geograpiiy  was 
the  boy's  favorite  study.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  his  mother  assumed  charge  of 
the  farm,  and  theson  worked  thereon.  When 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years  old  he  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm  of  fifty  acres, 
and  also  of  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  Peru 
township,  and  carried  both  on  with  marked 
success.  He  was  married  December  30, 
1854,  to  Martha  McKelvey,  who  was  born 
March  31,  1831,  at  Plymouth,  Ohio.  Her 
grandfather,  William  McKelvey,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Bevolutionary  war.  In 
1811  he  came  to  the  "Firelands"  of  Ohio, 
and  settled  in  Greenfield  township,  Huron 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


293 


county;  liut  .some  time  afterward,  when 
the  news  of  Hull's  treachery  and  the 
capitulation  of  Detroit  was  heralded 
through  the  settlements,  William  McKel- 
Tey  removed  his  family  to  Trumbull 
county,  and  he  and  his  son  William  joined 
the  army.  When  peace  was  declared  they 
returned  to  Greenfield,  Huron  county. 
Matthew  McKelvey,  father  of  Mrs.  Lovell, 
was  born  January  30,  1791,  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Penn.  He  married  Nancy 
Adams,  who  was  born  July  30,  1798,  at 
Marlboro,  Vt.,  a  daughter  of  Bildad 
Adams,  an  early  settler  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  Matthew  McKelvey  opened  a 
general  store  near  Greentield  Center;  the 
first  dry-goods  store  at  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
was  established  by  him,  and  for  a  long 
time  he  was  the  leading  merchant  in  a  wide 
district,  wliere  to-day  thousands  are  en- 
gaged in  trade. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lovell  located  on  the 
present  farm  immediately  after  marriage, 
and  to-day  possess  one  of  the  finest  resi- 
dences in  the  township.  Having  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  they  adopted  two,  who 
bear  the  name  of  their  foster-parents.  In 
political  life  Mr.  Lovell,  prior  to  1856, 
was  a  Democrat,  of  the  Jacksonian  school, 
but  since  then  he  lias  been  a  thorough  Re- 
publican; he  is  a  strong  and  logical  advo- 
cate for  protective  tariffs.  The  valuable 
property  which  he  now  owns  is  the  direct 
result  of  his  own  and  his  wife's  industry 
and  perseverance.  He  gives  to  agricul- 
ture and  stock  growing  the  care  which 
generally  warrants  success,  and  to-day  he 
ranks  with  the  leading  farmers  of  this 
section  of  Ohio. 


FHtLIP    HAUXHURST,  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Huron  county,  was  born  October  4, 
1829,  in  Ulster  county.  New  York. 
Samson    Hau.xhurst,    his    father, 
was    born    April    30,    1803,    near    White 
Plains,    N.    Y.,    and    was    raised    on    his 


father's  farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
old.  In  1821  lie  was  apprenticed  to  a  car- 
penter and  millwright,  with  whom  he 
served  five  years.  On  January  1,  1829, 
lie  married  Susan  Briggs,  who  was  born 
February  22,  1806,  in  Wawarsing  town- 
ship, Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  her  father, 
Daniel  Briggs,  was  a  fanner.  To  this 
marriage  eight  children  were  born,  of 
whom  the  three  first  named  in  the  follow- 
ing record  were  natives  of  New  York: 
Philip,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  George, 
born  April  10,  1832,  who  died  September 
11,  1840;  Martha,  born  January  1,  1834, 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Sprague,  of  Belgrade,  Neb.; 
Elnora,  born  February  2,  1837,  wife  of  J. 
S.  Laughlin,  of  Golden  Spring,  Neb.; 
Mary    Jane,     born     September    9,    1840, 

widow   of   Carscallen,   of    Oakdale, 

Antelope  Co.,  Neb.;  Sarah,  born  Septem- 
ber 9,  1842,  who  married  Marcus  Bacon, 
and  died  December  14,  1873,  at  Wells- 
worth,  Mo.;  Minerva,  born  August  1, 
1844,  Mrs.  Herbert  Mickey,  of  Fitchville 
township;  and  Charles  W.,  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1846,  died  April  13,  1847. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  the  parents  and  their 
three  children  set  out  from  Ulster  county 
for  Ohio.  From  their  home  in  the  villao-e 
of  Ellen ville,  to  Kingston,  thirty  miles 
distant,  they  traveled  in  a  wagon,  thence 
to  Albany,  on  a  Hudson-river  boat;  thence 
to  Buffalo  on  canal  boat;  thence  to  Huron, 
Ohio,  on  lake  boat,  and  lastly  in  a  wagon 
to  Fitchville  township,  Huron  county, 
w^here  the  family  found  a  temporary  home 
with  Robert  Washburn,  a  brother-in-law 
of  Mr.  Hauxhurst.  Samson  Hauxhurst 
was  not  a  stranger  in  the  new  country.  In 
1834  he  had  visited  the  West  to  examine 
lands,  and  starting  from  Detroit  traversed 
southeastern  Michigan  and  the  two  north- 
ern  tiers  of  counties  in  Ohio  (east  of  Wood 
county),  on  horseback.  In  Huron  county 
he  found  land  to  suit  iiim,  and  purchased 
140  acres  at  sixteen  dollars  per  acre.  After 
locating  here  in  1836  he  built  a  log  cabin, 
which  soon  after  gave  place  to  a  log  house 
built    by    himself.     From   that    time    till 


294 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


October  23, 1880,  wlien  death  removed  the 
pioneer,  he  gave  all  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  farm,  seldom  even  exercising  his 
trade,  when  snch  would  take  him  away 
from  the  place.  Mrs.  Hanxhnrst  died  in 
June,  1870.  Politically  a  Republican,  he 
was  well  posted  on  public  affairs,  faithful 
to  the  party  platform,  aud  tilled  several 
township  offices  most  satisfactorily.  In 
religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  ardent  as 
well  as  liberal  supporters  of  same.  Mr. 
Hau.xhurst  donated  a  house  and  lot  to  the 
missionary  cause.  He  held  various  posi- 
tions in  the  church,  and  was,  altogether, 
one  of  its  most  zealous  members. 

Philip  Hauxhurst  was  reared  at  Ellen- 
ville,  N.  y.,  until  he  was  seven  years  of 
age,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ohio.  In  boyhood  he  attended  the  Fitch- 
ville  high  school,  when  Mr.  DeWolfe,  ex- 
State  superintendent  of  schools,  was  prin- 
cipal of  that  institution.  After  school 
days  had  gone  with  the  past,  he  returned 
to  the  farm.  On  May  4,  1804,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Julia  A.  Denman, 
born  Xoveraber  26, 1830,  in  Ulster  county, 
N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Martin  Denman,  who 
settled  in  Townsend  township,  Huron 
county,  in  1833.  To  this  marriage  came 
children  as  follows:  Carrie  D.,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1856,  died  April  7,  1864;  Louisa, 
born  December  7,  1857,  died  October  3, 
1875;  Annabel  M.,born  August  10,  1859, 
wife  of  J.  E.  Bliss,  of  Fairfield  township; 
and  an  infant,  unnamed,  born  P"'ebruary  8, 
1863,  who  died  a  few  days  later.  The 
mother  of  these  children  passed  away  Sep- 
tember 11,  1867,  and  Mr.  Hauxhurst's 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Mary  Webster,  widow 
of  Guy  Webster,  of  Ionia,  Mich.,  took 
place  June  7,  1870.  She  died  without 
issue,  February  13,  1889,  and  on  June  3, 
1890,  our  subject  married  Anna  Filkins, 
a  native  of  Attica,  N.  Y.,  born  February 
22,  1835.  After  his  first  marriage  Mr. 
Hauxhurst  located  in  his  father's  home. 
This  property  he  purchased  in  1870,  and 
at   once   began   the  work  of  improving  it. 


The  residence,  whicli  was  built  by  himself, 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  township.  Po- 
litically a  Republican,  he  has  always  been 
true  to  the  party.  He  has  filled  the  office 
of  township  trustee  for  a  greater  number 
of  terms  than  any  other  resident  of  the 
township,  and  has  also  served  in  other 
local  offices.  In  religions  affairs  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  steward  of  the  M.  E.  Society 
of  Fairfield. 

In  May,  1864,  our  subject  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
O.  V.  I.  (formerly  of  the  Sixty-third  Ohio 
National  Guards),  proceeded  to  Virginia 
with  the  command  on  May  15,  and  served 
in  the  defense  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
against  Jubal  Early's  raiders.  He  prac- 
tically escaped  the  sickness  which  attacked 
the  regiment,  and  receiving  honorable  dis- 
charge,  was   mustered    out    September   9, 

1864,  and  returning  home  resumed  farm- 
er 

ing.  His  civil  and  military  records  are 
without  stain,  and  to-day  he  stands  high 
in  the  opinion  of  the  people  of  Huron 
county  and  his  township. 


^jr^j   M.  WILLEY  was  born  August  23, 

l^^    1828,  in    the   county   of    Durham, 

I    \i  England.     He  received  but  a  com- 

J)  mon   country  school   education    in 

his  native  land,  and  when  yet  a  boy 

emigrated  to  America,  locating  in  Gunius, 

Seneca  Co.,  New  York. 

In  1854  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  being 
naturally  adapted  to  mechanical  work, 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Lake  Shore  & 
Alichigan  Southern  Pailroad  Company  in 
the  road's  pioneer  days.  After  leaving 
this  company  he  went  to  Michigan,  and 
became  an  engineer  for  a  sawmill,  in  one 
of  the  great  lumber  camps.  Finally  re- 
turning to  Ohio,  he  was  married,  July  29, 
1870,  to  Hattie  J.  Haskell,  who  was  born 
in  1843,  in  Worcestershire,  England.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Ann 
(Barber)  Haskell,  who  came  to  America  in 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


295 


1850.  locating  in  Erie  county,  Ohio.  R. 
]\[.  and  Ilattie  J.  Willey  were  the  parents 
of  one  daughter,  Gertie  M.,  who  now  has 
cliarge  of  tiie  liome  farm.  On  April  22, 
1872,  Mr.  Willey  mourned  the  death  of  his 
wife,  and  she  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Nor- 
walk  cemetery.  He  passed  his  remaining 
years  on  tiie  farm  in  Ridgefield  township, 
Huron  county,  following  general  agri- 
culture and  stock  raising,  in  which  he  was 
successful.  His  death  occurred  August  4, 
1890,  when  he  was  laid  to  rest  by  tlie  side 
of  iiis  wife. 

When  a  joung  luan  Mr.  Willey  twice 
sustained  the  loss  of  large  sums  of  money 
due  him  for  labor,  but  not  becoming  dis- 
couraged he  again  set  to  work,  and  at  last 
succeeded  in  acquiring  a  competence.  He 
Tiecame  an  eager  reader,  and  spent  most  of 
his  time  at  home,  where  he  could  always 
be  found.  Although  very  unassuming  in 
his  manner,  he  was  a  very  popular  man, 
and  his  friends  were  numbered  by  the 
scores.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party. 


T|  L.  SLAGLE,  one  of  the  prominent 
w  I  railroad  men  of  Chicago  Junction, 
\^  was  born  July  4,  1858,  at  Cassel, 
Hessen-Cassel,  Germany.  The  name, 
in  Germany,  was  originally  von  Schlagel, 
but  after  coming  to  the  United  States  the 
father  of  George  von  Schlagel,  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  changed  the  spelling  to 
Slagle. 

George  von  Slagle  was  born  in  Gallia 
county,  Ohio,  shortly  after  his  parents  had 
emigrated  to  the  United  States.  He  re- 
ceived  a  common  English  education,  and 
by  his  own  labor  paid  for  his  education  as 
civil  engineer  and  land  surveyor.  About 
1856  he  married  a  Miss  Atkins,  of  south- 
ern Indiana,  and  while  thev  were  visiting 
in  Germany  to  settle  an  estate,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born.  They  returned 
in  September,  1858,  and  settled  in  Wapello 
county,  Iowa.     In  1861  George  Slagle  en- 


listed as  a  private  in  Company  E,  Thirty- 
sixth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  later 
was  promoted  to  corporal.  Taken  prisoner, 
he  was  compelled  for  seven  months  to  ac- 
cept the  tei-rible  hospitality  of  the  Con- 
federate prisons,  which,  with  thii'ty-seven 
months  in  actual  service,  made  his  full 
term  of  three  years  and  eight  months. 
Since  receiving  honorable  discharge  he  has 
resided  at  Seymour,  Ind.,  where  he  fol- 
lows the  profession  of  civil  engineer,  and 
is  engaged  in  contracting.  He  has  three 
children,  namely:  J.  L.,  Frank,  and  Hattie 
C,  wife  of  Harry  Wheeler,  locomotive 
engineer,  of  Seymour,  Ind.  The  mother 
of  this  family  died  nineteen  years  ago. 

J.  L.  Slagle  received  a  fair  education  in 
the  common  and  graded  schools  of  Sey- 
mour, Ind.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Missouri 
Pacific  as  fireman  on  the  Kansas  City  & 
Atchison  division,  in  which  position  he 
served  eight  months,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted to  yard  engineer.  After  eight 
months'  service  he  resigned,  returning  to 
Indiana,  where  he  again  found  employment 
as  fireman,  but  in  an  accident  of  his  road 
he  received  injuries  which  incapacitated 
him  for  heavy  railroad  work  for  three 
years.  He  was  able,  however,  to  do  cleri- 
cal work,  and  traveled  over  the  country  in 
various  employments.  In  1881  he  re- 
sumed railroad  work,  as  fireman  on  the  Bal- 
timore &  Ohio  Railroad,  but  later  accepted 
a  position  as  brakeman;  was  then  promoted 
to  freight,  and  then  to  passenger  conductor. 
On  July  23,  1886,  he  assisted  in  opening 
the  new  division  between  Philadelphia  and 
Baltimore,  where  he  remained  nearly  one 
year,  and  in  1887  returned  as  freight-train 
condiictor  between  Chicago  Junction  and 
Chicago,  making  his  home  at  Chicago 
Junction.  Since  entering  the  service  of 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Company 
he  has  served  in  nearly  every  capacity  on 
tiie  train — as  brakeman,  fireman,  liaggage 
agent,  and  freight  and  passenger  conductor. 

Mr.  Slagle  was  married  August  9, 1888, 
to  Kunnegunde,  eldest  daughter  of  Capt. 


296 


HUROyr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


F.  J.  Leydorf.  They  own  a  delightful 
home  on  Spring  street,  and  enjoy  many 
substantial  friendships.  Mr.  Slagle  is  a 
polished,  courteous  gentleman,  popular 
not  only  in  railroad  circles,  but  also  among 
men  in  every  station  in  Chicago  Junction. 
In  1892  his  name  was  presented  to  the 
Republican  convention,  as  candidate  for 
sheriff  of  Huron  county,  and  he  received 
a  flattering  support.  In  the  great  raili-oad 
system  of  this  country  promotion  always 
waits  on  such  a  man,  slow  it  may  be,  but 
Bure. 


J  JOSEPH  SMITHLA,  who  was  born 
February  19,  1819,  in  Baden,  Ger- 
^:  niany,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Gross)  Smithla,  natives  of  that 
division  of  what  is  now  the  German 
Empire. 

John  Smithla  was  a  miller,  and  died  in 
1826,  his  wife  surviving  him  three  years. 
After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  she 
re-married,  and  Joseph  resided  with  his 
step-father  during  his  minority.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
subsequently  learned  the  baker's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  1847.  In  that  year 
he  sailed  for  America  from  the  port  ot 
Havre  in  northern  France,  landed  at  New 
York,  worked  one  month  at  his  trade  there, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
He  appears  to  have  cast  aside  the  baker's 
ti'ade  there  in  favor  of  an  ordinary  labor- 
er's work,  for  he  worked  in  the  latter 
capacity  on  the  Newark  &  Sandusky 
Railroad,  which  was  then  in  course  of 
construction.  In  1850  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, the  journey  occupying  103  days, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  gold  diggings  until 
1852,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  made 
his  home  in  Huron  county. 

On  May  2,  1853,  he  was  married  to 
Helena  Hiss,  who  came  from  Germany 
with  her  parents  in  1837,  and  the  children 
born  to  this  marriage  were  Joseph, 
Edward  and  Taophile  (all  three  farmers  of 
Pern  township);  Helena,  Rosa,  Carrie  and 


Tillie,  residing  with  parents,  and  Mary 
and  Paul  (deceased).  In  1853  Mr.  Smithla 
piirchased  ninety  acres  of  his  present  farm 
of  187  acres,  afterward  adding  the  remain- 
ing ninety-seven  acres.  This  tract  gives 
ample  evidence  of  the  care  which  he  has 
bestowed  upon  it  during  tlie  last  forty 
years.  It  is  highly  improved  and  intrin- 
sically valuable,  as  well  as  being  the 
pioneer  home  of  the  SmithJas  in  America. 
Like  the  Argonants  of  1819-52,  the  owner 
is  a  whole-souled,  al)le-bodied,  reliable 
man,  whose  industry  carved  out  of  a 
forest  a  valuable  home.  The  family  are 
all  members  of  the  Catholic  con(rreo;ation, 
and,  like  the  father,  very  much  esteemed. 
Mr.  Smithla  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party  in  State  and  National  issues;  and 
even  in  local  politics,  where  the  man,* 
rather  than  the  party,  is  considered,  it  is 
unusual  for  him  to  desert  the  nominee  of 
his  party.  The  elegant  brick  residence 
and  farm  buildings  speak  forcibly  of  Mr. 
Smithla's  relation  to  the  community. 


l"J\ILLIAM  PERRIN,  one  of  the 
yjl  leading  representative  business 
ll[  men  of  Huron  county,  is'  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State,  born  in 
Wilkes-Barre,  March  31,  1835,  a  son  of 
Gurdin  and  Polly  (Church)  Perrin,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Connecticut 
in  1801,  where  lie  was  reared  and  educated. 
In  1822  Gurdin  Perrin  moved  to  Penn- 
sylvania where  he  followed  farming  till 
1837,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  and  continued  his  life 
vocation  up  to  his  death,  which  event 
occurred  about  the  year  1867.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  of  the  old  school,  in  church 
connection,  and  an  uncompromising  Wliig, 
in  his  political  predilections.  About  the 
year  1824  he  was  married  to  Polly  Church, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  six 
are  now  living.  The  mother  died  October 
5,  1855. 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


297 


William  Perrin,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  educated  at  the  Huron 
Institute,  at  Milan,  Ohio,  and  when  old 
enough  commenced  teaching  school .  in 
Huron  county,  in  which  he  continued  some 
years.  Abandonino;  scholastic  duties,  Mr. 
Perrin  next  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural  pursuits,  stone  quarrying,  and 
dealing  in  real  estate.  He  assisted  in  the 
laying' out  of  the  route,  in  Huron  county, 
of  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Ilailroad. 

On  December  26,  1860,  William  Perrin 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Newson,  who  bore  him  one  child 
that  died.  This  wife  was  called  from 
earth  February  3, 1863,  and  April  5, 1864, 
Mr.  Perrin  married  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Jordan, 
sister  to  his  first  wif e,  _  by  which  union 
there  are  two  children,  Emma  E.  and 
William  N.  In  politics  our  subject  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  having  been  cast  for  Buchanan, 
but  in  1864  he  became  a  Republican,  and 
has  ever  since  cast  his  suffrages  for  that 
party.  In  churcli  relationship  he  is  an 
earnest  Episcopalian. 

William  N.  Perrin,  son  of  William  and 
Mary  E.  Perrin,  was  born  in  1870  at  Nor- 
walk,  Ohio,  and  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  Norwalk, 
after  which  he  attended  the  Case  School 
of  Applied  Science  at  Cleveland,  studying 
both  civil  and  electrical  engineering.  He 
made  all  the  maps  for  a  recent  excellent  atlas 
of  Huron  county,  which  have  given  uni- 
versal satisfaction. 


JAMES  McMAHON,  a  well-known 
agriculturist  of  Huron  county,  was 
born  May  17,  1837,  in  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland,  where  he  passed 
his  childhood  and  received  a  moderate 
edncation.  As  he  approached  manhood  he 
determined  to  seek  a  new  home  where  he 
could  have  broader  chances  for  accumulat- 
ing money,  and  more  freedom  in  his  ideas 
and  manner  of  living. 


in    view  he   emigrated  from 


With  thi 
Ireland  in  1853,  and  immediately  after  his 
arrival  in  America  located  in  Ohio,  where 
he  began  his  business  career  as  a  farm 
laborer  on  the  estate  of  Steven  Sawyer. 
The  country  at  that  date  was  in  a  wild 
state,  thoroughly  undeveloped  and  but 
thinly  populated,  and  farming  was  hard 
work;  but  a  determination  to  succeed, 
coupled  with  unusual  energy,  enabled  our 
subject  to  persevere  in  the  work  for  eight 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  had 
accumulated  enough  money  to  buy  two 
horses  and  rent  a  small  tract  of  land,  and 
in  a  few  years  bought  seventy-two  acres  of 
land,  two  and  one  half  miles  southeast  of 
Bellevue.  He  has  continued  to  add  to  his 
farm  until  it  now  comprises  200  acres  of 
highly  cultivated  soil,  and  yields  him  a 
comfortable  income.  On  October  10, 
1866,  Mr.  McMahon  married  Miss  Bridget 
Perry,  who  was  born  in  1848  in  Toronto, 
Canada,  a  daughter  of  James  Perry,  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Erie  county,  who  died  in 
1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  Their  mar- 
riage has  been  blessed  with  eight  children, 
viz.:  Rose  (who  married  Bernard  Brady, 
of  Portland,  Oreg.),  James  (who  lives  in 
Bellevue,  and  is  married),  Mary,  Susie, 
Agnes,  Eddie,  Julia  and  Isabella,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  Mrs.  McMahon  died 
January  17,  1882,  deeply  mourned  by  her 
family  and  friends. 

The  subject  of  this  biograpiiical  memoir 
is  an  example  of  what  energy  and  frugal- 
ity can  accomplish.  He  commenced  life 
in  a  new  country  without  either  money  or 
friends,  and  to-day  has  an  abundance  of 
both.  He  devotes  his  attention  exclusively 
to  farming,  and  principally  to  raising  wheat 
and  corn.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  served  as  road  supervisor  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers and  liberal  supporters  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

James  McMahon,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  lived  there  until 
1861,  at  which  time  became  with  his  wife 
to  America,  settling  in  Ohio.     He  was  a 


298 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


farmer  in  the  old  country,  and  always  de- 
voted his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  com- 
menced work  in  Ohio  with  no  money,  but 
succeeded  in  renting  a  farm  in  Ly'ne  town- 
ship, where  he  was  highly  respected  by 
his  neighbors,  and  where  his  wife  died. 
He  had  six  children  as  follows:  Thomas, 
formerly  of  Deertield,  Mich.,  who  died 
December  25,  1887;  Mary,  who  died  in 
New  York  in  1839;  James,  subject  of 
sketch;  Mrs.  Owen  Kelly  and  Peter  Mc- 
Mahon,  of  Deertield,  Mich.;  and  Patrick, 
residing  three  miles  southeast  of  Bellevue. 


'Jr^  EV.  CHARLES  V.  CHEVRAUX, 
li*^    pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Churcli,  Nor- 
ll  ^   walk.     The  organizer  of  the  Eng- 
J)  lish-speaking  congregation  of  Ro- 

man Catholics  at  jNorwalk  was  Rev. 
Father  Narcissus  Ponchell,  a  native  of 
France,  born  September  19,  1825.  In 
July,  1850,  he  bade  farewell  to  his  native 
land,  and  in  company  with  Bishop  Rappe 
embarked  for  America,  landing  August  6 
following.  On  January  1,  1851,  he  was 
ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Rappe.  He 
was  an  able  man,  and  soon  became  pastor 
of  St.  Peter's  Church,  at  Norwalk. 

Seeing  the  necessity  for  an  English- 
speaking  church  here,  he  organized  St. 
Mary's  parish,  and  in  1853  purciiased 
land  on  which  to  erect  a  church.  The 
building  was  commenced  in  1857,  and  the 
first  mass  was  held  in  it  on  Easter  Sunday, 
1859.  He  also  purchased  the  cemetery  of 
five  acres.  Before  the  church  was  com- 
pleted, however.  Father  Ponchell  was 
called  to  his  reward  by  the  hand  of  death, 
September  15,  1860.  He  had  labored 
zealously  in  the  diocese  for  the  salvation 
of  souls,  and  was  beloved  by  citizens  of  all 
denominations.  He  was  a  man  of  impos- 
ing appearance,  amiable  disposition,  and  a 
true  priest.  Although  it  is  now  over 
three  decades  since  his  remains  were  laid 
to  rest,  his  memory  is  as  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  as  though  it  were  but 


yesterday,  and  he  is  still  spoken  of  as  the 
perfect   gentleman  and    true  man  of  God. 

Rev.  E.  M.  O'Callahan  attended  St. 
Mary's  Church  from  Cleveland  from  Sep- 
tember 4,  1S60,  till  December  1,  same 
year;  from  December  1  till  April  2,  1864, 
Rev.  John  Quinn  had  charge  of  the  parish. 
He  did  excellent  work,  and  the  congrega- 
tion grew  under  his  charge.  During  his 
pastorate  a  handsoi'ne  parocliial  residence 
was  built.  It  is  located  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Milan  and  St.  Mary  streets. 
Rev.  Thomas  P.  Thorpe  succeeded  Father 
Quinn  as  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Church  in 
April,  1864.  He  enlarged  the  church,  and 
built  a  small  parochial  schoolhouse  at  the 
rear  of  the  church.  Father  Thorpe  was 
succeeded  March  3,  1868,  by  the  saintly 
and  energetic  Father  Halley,  whose  pas- 
torate was  marked  by  unusual  progress  of 
the  parish,  both  materially  and  spiritually. 
Among  the  first  moves  in  material  matters 
during  his  service  in  the  parish  was  the 
purchasing  of  a  church  bell,  which  weighs 
three  thousand  one  hundred  pounds,  and 
is  still  one  of  the  finest  in  this  part  of  Ohio. 

As  the  congregation  grew  rapidly,  and 
most  of  tlie  members  settled  in  the  western 
part  of  Norwalk,  it  became  necessary  to 
build  a  new  church  and  school  building,  and 
expedient  to  remove  the  location  of  the 
same  to  a  more  central  portion  of  the 
parish.  With  this  end  in  view,  March  7, 
1875,  I''ather  Halley  purchased  a  location 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  State  and 
League  streets,  and  in  1878  a  fine  brick 
schoolhouse  was  erected.  A  few  years 
later  Father  Halley  was  incapacitated 
through  ill-health,  and  lingered  about 
three  years,  when  death  closed  his  earthly 
labors,  after  having  served  for  nearly  sev- 
enteen years  as  pastor  of  St.  Mary's 
Church.  Father  F.  Halley  was  born  near 
Tramore,  County  Waterford,  Ireland,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1833;  was  educated  at  Mount 
Mellory  and  at  All  Hallows  College,  Dub- 
lin, Ireland.  In  1855  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  in  1857  he  entered  St.  Mary's 
College,   Cleveland,   Ohio,  where  he   was 


HURON  COUNTY,  OTIIO. 


301 


ordained  by  Bishop  Rappe,  December  2, 
1860.  He  subsequently  labored  in  Toledo, 
Grafton,  St.  Mary's  Seminary  (Cleveland) 
and  St.  Mary's  parish  (^Norwalk).  Al- 
though his  last  charge  was  a  heavy  one, 
and  traught  with  adversity,  he  was  always 
equal  to  the  task;  a  princely  priest  and 
veritable  man  of  God,  he  died  January  4, 
1885.  During  his  pastorate  in  Norwalk, 
he  labored  hard  to  put  down  all  practices 
that  would  tend  to  lower  the  moi'als  of  his 
flock.  Amonu;  other  things  his  aim  was 
directed  against  the  dance.     When  he  took 

o 

charge  of  the  congregation  it  numbered 
thirty  families;  at  his  death  it  numbered 
130,  and  was  out  of  debt. 

After  the  death  of  Father  Halley,  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  Charles  Vincent 
Chevraux,  was  appointed.  He  was  born 
in  the  eastern  part  of  France  January  22, 
184:8,  a  son  of  August  and  Justine  (Poiusot) 
Chevraux. 

When  Father  Chevraux  was  a  boy  of  six 
years,  his  parents  etnigrated  to  America, 
and  located  in  the  town  of  Louisville, 
Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he  attended  the 
local  schools,  and  subsequently  the  dio- 
cesan college  at  that  place.  He  afterward 
entered  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  graduated  in  1874,  and 
he  was  ordained  at  South  Bend,  Ind.,  by 
Bishop  Gilmour.  In  1874  Father  Chev- 
raux was  stationed  at  the  cathedral,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  remained  ten  and 
one-half  years,  and  while  there  gained 
many  friends,  and  proved  himself  a  priest 
by  eminent  qualities.  When  the  pastorate 
of  St  Mary's,  Norwalk,  was  found  vacant, 
his  appointment  to  the  incumbency  was 
eminently  fitting.  One  of  the  first  moves 
made  by  him  was  to  introduce  the  Sisters 
of  St.  Joseph  to  take  charge  of  the  paro- 
chial schools,  and  under  their  management 
it  has  prospered  in  a  high  degree.  He 
commenced  to  build  a  church  on  the  prop- 
erty purchased  by  Father  Halley,  the  first 
work  being  done  in  1889.  The  structure 
is  now  almost  completed,  and  is  a  beauti- 
ful   piece    of    architecture,    cruciform    in 


shape,  Gothic  in  style,  and  built  of  stone 
throughout.  It  will  stand  as  a  lasting 
monument  to  the  pious  zeal  of  Father 
Chevraux  and  his  fiock.  The  laying  of 
the  corner-stone,  which  took  place  Sep- 
tember 22,  1889,  called  to  Norwalk  the 
largest  assemblage  ever  gathered  in  the 
city,  very  many  couiing  from  Cleveland, 
called  hither  on  the  occasion,  greatly  by 
Father  Chevraux's  popularity  in  that  city. 
[Since  this  sketch  was  written  the  church 
has  been  frescoed,  the  windows  set  in. 
The  fresco,  windows  and  paintings  are 
beautiful  and  grand. J 

Father  Chevraux  is  a  man  of  over  me- 
dium stature,  pleasing  and  kindly  in  his 
manners,  at)  earnest  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  an  enterprising  citizen.  He  is 
thoroughly  American,  and  his  views  on 
politics  are  of  a  broad  and  liberal  char- 
acter. The  following  very  flattering  no- 
tice of  this  reverend  gentleman  is  taken 
from  a  recent  issue  of  the  Toledo  Bee: 
"  Rev.  Chas.  V.  Chevraux,  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  sang  solemn  high  mass  at  St.  Francis 
de  Sales  Church  Wednesday  morning. 
Father  Chevraux  is  considered  and  un- 
doubtedly is  the  most  celebrated  vocalist 
in  the  American  Priesthood,  and  the  peo- 
ple of  St.  Francis  de  Sales  parish  were  de- 
lighted to  have  an  opportunity  of  hearing 
him.  A  voice  of  superb  '  timbre,'  clear, 
powerful  baritone,  of  such  volume  that  his 
notes  could  be  often  heard  a  block  from 
the  church,  the  lofty  vaulted  ceilings 
seemed  alive  with  charming  music.  A 
cultured  auditor  remarked:  'There!  in  the 
sanctuary  for  once  Madame  Machen  has 
found  her  match,  in  church  music'  Come 
again,  noble- voiced  monsieur,  and  give  our 
thousand  cultured  Toledo  people  due  notice 
of  your  coming." 


J(    L.   MEAD.     Matiy   years  ago  three 
brothers  of  the   name   of   Mead  left 
I    their    home    in     Wales,     and    sailed 
across   the   ocean    to   America.      On 
arriving  in   the  New   World   they   finally 


302 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


located  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  one  of 
tliein,  Abram  Mead,  became  the  tirst  white 
settler  of  Fitchville  township.  Some  years 
afterward  he  and  his  family  moved  to 
Norwalk  township,  where  they  became 
prominent  settlers.  He  was  married  four 
times,  and  died  near  Norwalk  in  1852. 

Joel  E.  Mead,  youngest  son  of  the  pio- 
neer just  mentioned,  was  born  in  Putnam 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  when  but 
three  months  old.  He  came  with  the 
family  to  Norwalk  township  when  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  farm.  When  a  yoiiug  man  he  se- 
lected a  life  companion  in  the  person  of 
Betsey  A.  Lewis,  a  native  of  tlie  "Fire- 
lands."  and  she  bore  him  seven  children. 
The  father  died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
three  years,  tlie  mother  on  December  31, 
1888. 

Jerome  L.  Mead,  third  child  of  Joel  E. 
and  Betsey  (Lewis)  Mead,  was  born  No- 
vember 7,  1850,  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  worked 
for  several  years  handling  and  shipping 
stock  near  to  Norwalk,  and  now  has  charge 
of  the  grain,  feed  and  seed  store  in  Nor- 
walk, formerly  owned  by  Woodward  Bros., 
and  now  the  property  of  J.  L.  Mead  &  Co. 
Oiir  subject  is  also  a  partner  in  the  grocery 
firm  of  D.  O.  Woodward  &  Co.  at  Nor- 
walk. On  May  2,  1877,  he  was  iinited  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lucinda  AYoodward, 
who  was  born  in  Clyde,  Sandusky  Co., 
Ohio,  and  they  have  two  sons,'  Kalph  and 
Fred.  Politically  Mr.  Mead  is  a  Repub- 
lican ;  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  L  O. 
O.  F.,  and  Royal  Arcanum;  in  religious 
faith  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 


JJ 


(ACOB     P.     HOUFSTATER    is     a 

■  grandson  of  Adam  Houfstater,  who 
was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in 
America.  Adam  Houfstater  was 
born  in  1755,  in  Germany,  whence  when 
a  youth  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 


settling  in  Pennsylvania  he  learned  the 
weaver's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until 
he  became  a  farmer.  He  was  married  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  moved  some  time  later 
to  Niagara  county,  N.  Y.,  where  most  of 
the  following  named  children  were  born 
to  them:  Adam,  Philip,  John,  George, 
Jacob,  Jane,  Susan  and  Polly,  all  now 
deceased. 

George  Houfstater,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  1797,  in  Pennsylvaina,  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Niagara  county, 
N.  Y.,  when  a  boy,  and  was  reared  on  the 
frontier.  In  New  York  State  he  met 
Elizabeth  Barre,  also  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  whom  he  was  wedded,  and  after 
his  marriage  he  began  farming.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  them  on  the  home- 
stead, namely:  Almira,  Mary,  David, 
Matilda  and  Fidelia  (twins),  Jacob  and 
Catherine;  Lucy  Ann,  the  eighth  child, 
was  born  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  October 
15,  1836.  In  1836  the  family  moved  to 
Ohio,  and  settled  on  the  farm  which  is  now 
the  property  of  Jacob  P.  Houfstater, 
which  territory  was  then  a  complete 
wilderness.  While  the  new  comers  were 
surrounded  by  neighbors,  the  particular 
land  selected  was  still  in  the  forest,  and 
the  clearing  of  this  tract  devolved  on  the 
father  and  sons.  He  subsequently  bought 
a  farm  of  186  acres,  which  he  saw  cleared 
before  his  death  in  1874.  Of  a  hard- 
working, economical  disposition,  he  left  a 
valuable  property  to  his  children,  and  died 
with  success  stamped  upon  his  work. 
Prior  to  1856  he  was  a  Whig,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death,  a  Republican. 
In  religion  he  affiliated  with  the  Christian 
Church. 

Jacob  P.  Houfstater  was  born  January 
17,  1830,  in  Niagara  county,  N.  Y,  In 
1836  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
where,  February  16,  1854,  he  married 
Roena  M.  Carpenter,  of  Fairfield  town- 
ship, Huron  countj'.  The  young  couple 
at  once  entered  farm  life,  and  for  forty 
years  have  continued  to  follow  it  success- 
fully.    Not  only  does  Mr.  Houfstater  own 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


303 


130  acres  of  improved  land  in  Ripley 
township,  but  he  has  also  endowed  three  of 
his  children  most  liberally,  giving  to  each 
two  thousand  dollars.  Of  their  children, 
Cora  married  Agnew  Welch,  editor  of  the 
Record,  &t  Ada,  Ohio;  Elva  married  Abert 
Young,  a  farmer  of  Ripley  township;  and 
Carrie  married  Edward  L.  Young,  who 
was  city  editor  of  the  Huron  County 
Chronicle,  at  Norwalk,  from  1885  to  1892, 
when  he  was  appointed  Great  Record 
Keeper  of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  Mr. 
Houfstater  is  a  Republican,  an  active 
member  of  the  party,  serving  his  township 
as  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  various  other 
offices.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  of  Ripley,  and  is  a  citizen 
of  acknowledged  worth. 


dlARMAN  PATRICK,  a  well-known 
I  agriculturist  of  Townsend  township, 
■  Huron  county,  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  born  December  10, 
1836,  in  Florence,  Erie  county.  He  is 
the  eldest  child  and  only  son  in  a  family 
of  four  children  born  to  James  Jarman 
and  Lucy  A.  (Tucker)  Patrick,  the  former 
of  whona  was  born  in  the  County  of  Norfolk, 
England,  the  latter  in  the  State  of  New 
York. 

James  Jarman  Patrick  was  born  about 
1809,  and  received  a  good  English  educa- 
tion  in  liis  native  land.  Soon  after  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  landing  at  New  York  after 
a  stormy  passage  of  six  weeks,  during 
most  of  which  time  he  suffered  from  sea- 
sickness. After  his  arrival  in  America  he 
farmed  on  shares,  or  rented  lands  in  New 
York  for  a  short  time,  and  then  removed 
to  the  far  western  frontier  and  almost  un- 
broken wilderness  of  northern  Ohio,  first 
stopping  in  what  is  now  Erie  county, 
where  he  took  the  job  of  chopping  and 
clearing  space  for  a  mill-pond  on  the  old 
Sprague  farm.  Hero  he  was  married,  and 
soon     afterward    removed     to    Townsend 


township,  Huron  county,  where  he  bought 
wild  land,  built  a  log  house,  and  com- 
menced to  carve  out  of  the  dense  forest 
around  him  a  home  for  himself  and 
family.  He  and  his  brother-in-law  were 
both  accidentallykilled,  December  23, 1842, 
their  death  being  caused  by  the  premature 
falling  of  a  tree,  which  fell  upon  and 
crushed  them.  The  Patrick  family  in 
England  were  among  the  old  and  well-to- 
do  families  of  English  commoners,  own- 
ing quite  an  extensive  landed  property, 
subject  to  the  law  of  entail,  that  is,  it 
descended  to  the  eldest  son,  generation 
after  generation.  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Patrick's 
death  occurred  October  1,  1886,  when  she 
was  in  her  seventy-third  year. 

Jarman  Patrick,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  very  fair  common- 
school  education  in  early  life.  After  his 
father's  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  oidy  six  years  old,  he  remained  with 
his  mother  on  the  old  home  farm  for  a 
time,  and  then  lived  with  his  grandfather 
Tucker,  who  employed  him  on  his  farm, 
until  he  reached  his  twentieth  year.  He 
then  commenced  for  himself,  being  em- 
ployed at  working  out  by  the  month  and 
farming  on  shares  for  several  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1862  he  bought  a  partially- 
improved  farm  in  Townsend  township, 
Huron  county,  upon  which  he  now  re- 
sides, and  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, the  place  being  now  well  improved 
and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Patrick  enlisted 
in  Company  B  (organized  in  Townsend 
township).  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
O.  V.  I.,  N.  Ct.,  which  was  called  out  by 
President  Lincoln  in  May,  1864,  for  one 
hundred  days  service.  The  regiment  or- 
ganized at  Cleveland,  where  Mr.  Patrick 
was  transferred  to  Company  F,  and  did 
duty  in  and  around  Washington,  D.  C, 
until  September  9,  1864,  when  they  were 
mustered  out  and  returned  home,  each 
soldier  receiving  a  certificate  of  thanks 
from  President  Lincoln. 


3»4 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  February  2,  1861,  Mr.  Patrick  was 
married  to  Miss  Maryette  Hill,  a  native  of 
Townsend  townshiji,  born  August  24, 
1841,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Sallie 
(Brooks)  Hill,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Delaware  coiinty,  N.  Y.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  the  fruits  of  this  union,  only 
four  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  James 
Delbert,  born  October  10,  1866;  Frank 
J.,  born  November  14,  1868;  Guy  B., 
born  September  6,  1878;  and  William  C, 
born  July  23,  1883.  Edgar  Royle,  who 
was  born  August  12,  1864,  died  April  9, 
1886,  in  his  twenty-second  year.  Mr. 
Patrick  is  a  member  of  Townsend  Post 
No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  and  Mrs.  Patrick  is  a 
member  of  the  Townsend  Relief  Corps, 
No.  142,  auxiliary  to  the  above  mentioned 
Post.  He  is  also  a  member  of  East  Town- 
send  Lodge,  F.  k,  A.  M.  In  politics  Mr. 
Patrick  is  a  liberal  Republican,  but  claims 
the  right  to  think  and  act  for  himself  in 
all  things  and  at  all  times. 


q?    M.     S.    SANBORN,    lumber    and 
w,  coal  dealer,  is  a  well  known  business 
I    man    of   Norwalk.     He  is  a   son  of 
U  John  M.  Sanborn,  whose  father  was 
a    native    of    New  Hampshire,    of 
EniTlish  ancestry,  and  passed  his  life  on  a 
farm  near  Franklin,  that  State. 

John  M.  Sanborn  was  born  in  1821,  in 
Franklin,  Merrimack  Co.,  N.  H.,  and 
when  a  young  man  was  married  to  Fannie 
J.  Fisher,  a  native  of  Francestown,  N.  H., 
and  a  representative  of  an  old  New  Eng- 
land family.  He  was  master  mechanic  of 
the  Norwalk  division  of  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad  from  1874  until  a  short  time  be- 
fore his  death,  May  12,  1890.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  of  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  in  religious  faith 
was  a  Baptist.  Mrs.  Sanborn  died  June 
27,  1892,  in  Norwalk,  leaving  two  children, 
G.  M.  S.  and  Edward  D. 

G.  M.  S.  Sanborn  was  born  March  24, 
1858,  at  Nashua,  Hillsborough  Co.  N.  Y. 
He    came    west    with     his    parents    when 


quite  young,  and  after  attending  school 
for  a  number  of  years,  secured  em- 
ployment with  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
Company,  at  Norwalk;  in  April,  1875,  he 
began  to  learn  the  trade  of  machinist 
and  draftsman.  He  became  an  expert  as 
draftsman,  and  in  July,  1884,  accepted  a 
position  as  superintendent  of  the  drafting 
department  of  the  Lake  Shore  shops  at 
Elkhart,  Elkhart  Co.,  Ind.  On  Novem- 
ber 24,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Blanche 
O.  Pepoon,  who  was  born  April  1,  1857, 
in  Painesville,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Lycur- 
gus  and  Susan  (Morse)  Pepoon,  the 
former  of  Painesville,  Ohio,  the  latter  of 
Elizabethtown,  N.  J.;  she  is  still  living. 
Mr.  Pepoon  was  twice  married;  first  time 
in  1856  to  Mary  Lovelace,  of  Painesville, 
Ohio,  who  died  in  1861,  and  in  1863  he 
married  Susan  Morse,  as  above.  He  died 
at  West  Farmington,  Ohio,  in  September, 
1891.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  M.  S.  San- 
born have  been  born  two  sons:  Willis  E. 
and  George  Walter.  Mr.  Sanborn  saved 
quite  a  sum  of  money  from  his  salary,  and 
in  January,  1889,  entered  the  Chicago  Bap- 
tist Seminary,  intending  to  prepare  for 
the  ministry.  His  health  failed,  however, 
and  abandoning  his  studies  in  August, 
1889,  he  bought  out  a  coal  and  lumber 
establishment  in  Norwalk,  in  which  he 
has  been  very  successful.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  having  assisted 
in  its  organization  in  Norwalk. 


^ILLIAM  S.  CREECH,  proprietor 
of  a  stone  quarry  in  Lyme  town- 
ship,   was    born    in    England    in 
1836,  a  son  of  John  and  Caroline 
Creech,  who  died  while  he  was  young. 

Our  subject  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1871,  locating  in  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  His  worldly  goods  were  few,  and 
he  depended  solely  upon  health  and 
strength,  and  a  determination  to  succeed, 
to  win  friends  and  money  in  a  new  home. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


30i 


He  cominenced  bis  business  career  in  tliis 
county  as  a  laborer  in  the  stone  quari-y  of 
H^ Smith,  and  after  eight  years  was  able, 
through  practicing  rigid  economy,  to  start 
in  business  for  himself.  He  purchased 
the  stone  quarry  he  now  runs  so  success- 
fully, and  every  year  adds  to  his  already 
large  business  some  new  improvement;  he 
now  owns  the  largest  stone  crusher  in 
Lv"ne  township.  At  one  time  he  furnished 
as  luuch  as  seventeen  thousand  build- 
ing stones  for  the  roundhouse  of  the 
Nickel  Plate  Eailroad.  He  also  owns  a 
larti^e  lime  kiln,  and  furnishes  lime 
throughout  all  parts  of  the  township.  In 
1860,  before  leaving  England,  Mr.  Creech 
was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Hole,  and  by 
lier  had  six  children,  live  of  whom  are  now 
living  with  hiin,  viz.:  Thomas  G.,  Fred  J., 
Caroline  E.,  Ada  F.  and  Anna  L.  Mrs. 
Creech  died  in  1873,  and  in  1884  Mr. 
Creech  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hole,  a 
sister  of  his  iirst  wife. 

Mr.  Creech  is  a  self-made  man  of  more 
than  the  average  intelligence,  and  has  by 
means  of  his  energy  and  executive  ability 
established  a  good  business  and  a  comfort- 
able  home.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth, 
whose  integrity  is  never  questioned,  and 
who  uses  his  time  and  money  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  township  in  which  he 
resides. 


l(  LLEN  T.  ASHLEY,  grandson  of 
l\  James  Ashley,  was  born  April  2, 
\  1829,  the  eighth  in  the  family  of 
twelve  children  born  to  Leonard 
and  Sally  (McDougal)  Ashley. 
Leonard  Ashley  was  lx»rn  about  1790, 
at  Deerfield,  Mass.,  learned  slioemaking 
under  his  father,  and  worked  at  the  trade 
during  his  life  in  Massachusetts.  His 
mother  died  about  the  year  1799,  and  the 
youth  then  went  to  reside  with  an  elder 
brother,  Luther.  After  some  years  he 
wished  to  see  the  world  outside  of  liis 
native  State,  and  migrated  to  Canada, 
where,  in    1815,    he    married    Sally    Mc- 


Dougal, who  was  born  in  1794,  in  Xova 
Scotia,  for  whose  father  young  Ashley 
worked  ;  and  while  living  on  Yonge 
street,  and  near  Toronto,  in  the  Province 
of  Ontario,  the  following  named  children 
were  born  :  Thomas,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  James,  who,  in  1824,  accompanied 
his  mother  to  Ohio,  where  he  married,  be- 
came a  Free-will  Baptist  preacher,  and 
thence  moved  to  Michiiran,  where  he  died, 
leaving  twelve  children  ;  Stewart  B.,  late 
a  resident  of  Steuben,  Ohio,  who  died  Oc- 
tober 30,  1893,  and  is  buried  in  Greenfield 
cemetery  ;  Sally,  who  first  married  David 
Skeeles,  and  subsequently  Dean  Keefer 
(she  is  now  a  widow,  residing  at  Colum- 
bus, Kans.);  and  John,  a  Free-will  Bap- 
tist preacher,  of  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  who  was 
a  fellow  schoolmate  of  James  A.  Garfield. 
After  the  family  joined  the  father  in 
Greenfield  township,  in  1824,  there  were 
born  Luther,  a  resident  of  Bellevue,  Mich.; 
William,  of  Knoxville,  Iowa  ;  Allen  T., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Joseph  B.,  of 
Oberlin,  Ohio;  Mary,  wife  of  Judge  G. 
W.  Lewis,  of  Medina,  Ohio;  Henry,  a 
resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.;  and 
Daniel,  who  went  to  California  in  1862 
and  died  there. 

In  1822  Leonard  Ashley  left  Canada 
for  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  worked  on 
farms  and  at  his  trade  here  for  two  years. 
In  1824  his  wife  and  children  arrived,  and 
all  found  a  home  with  Alden  Pierce,  a 
brother-in-law,  who  then  occupied  what  is 
known  as  the  "Sturges  Farm"  in  Green- 
field township.  The  father  was  known  as 
a  good  farmer  and  a  good  shoemaker,  and 
was  a  very  active  man  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1873.  At  that- time  he 
was  on  a  visit  to  his  son  John  at  Rock- 
away,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  from  which  place 
his  remains  were  returned  to  Huron 
county  for  interment  in  the  Greenfield 
cemetery.  His  wife,  who  died  March  19, 
1863.  was  interred  in  Steul)en  cemetery. 
Leonard  Ashley  was  a  Whig  until  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republicans,  when  he 
became   a  stanch    supporter  of    the    new 


306 


HUEOX  COUNTY,  OHIO- 


party.  In  religious  matters  lie  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Free-will  Bap- 
tist Church. 

Allen  T.  Ashley  was  born  in  Green- 
field township,  Huron  county.  He  re- 
ceived a  primary  education  in  the  district 
school,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
1864,  wiien  he  established  his  home  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  On 
May  1,  18G6,  he  married  Clara  T.  Warner, 
who  was  born  January  29, 1844,  in  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  M.  B.  and  Sally 
(Dimmick)  AVarner.  To  this  marriage 
were  born  three  children,  namely: 
Georgia  May,  Mrs.  A.  T.  Shaffer,  of 
Plymouth,  Ohio;  Dessie  C,  and  Thad  W. 
Politically  a  Republican,  Mr.  xVshley  has 
only  taken  a  citizen's  interest  in  the  great 
party  battles.  The  township  offices  which 
he  has  tilled  are  not  strictly  political  of- 
fices, the  man,  rather  than  the  party,  being 
sougiit  by  the  municipal  body.  He  is  a 
practical  and  successful  farmer,  standing 
high  in  the  community,  and  he  aud  his 
family  are  held  in  very  high  esteem. 


d JACOB  DEAN,  a    retired  farmer    of 
!    Mew    Haven    township,    and    a  pio- 
'    neer    of    Huron     county,    was    born 
at     Wittenberg,     Saxony,     Prussia, 
March  25,  1821. 

His  parents,  George  Michael  and  Jaco- 
bine  Dean,  belonged  to  the  class  of  Ger- 
man  peasant  farmers  whose  probity  and 
industry  were  acknowledged.  In  1827 
they  decided  to  immigrate  to  America, 
and  proceeding  to  Havre,  France,  by  high- 
way, they  sailed  for  the  United  States,  and 
after  a  long  voyage  landed  at  New  York. 
Coming  westward  at  once,  by  river  to 
Albany,  by  canal  and  lake  to  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  and  thence  by  wagon-road  to  Green- 
field township,  Huron  county,  they  rested 
there,  and  soon  began  agricultural  life. 
The  father's  characteristic  industry  en- 
abled him  to  support  his  family,  and,  as 
its  members  increased,  to  provide  for  their 
daily  wants  until  death  removed  him. 


Jacob  Dean  had  to  take  a  boy's  share  in 
supporting  the  family,  and  thus  was  com- 
pelled to  forego  the  advantages  of  an  edu- 
cation, becoming  a  bread-winner  at  an 
early  age.  AVhen  twelve  years  old  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Capt.  Lawther,  of 
Greenfield  township,  the  consideration  for 
his  labor  being  very  small.  With  the  ob- 
ject of  providing  a  home  for  his  mother 
and  brothers  he  worked  diligently,  saved 
the  little  earnintrs  lie  received,  and  in  time 
purchased  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  New 
Haven  township.  Here  a  cabin  was  built, 
and  in  it  the  family  made  their  home  until 
the  mother  died.  She  was  buried  beside 
her  husband  in  New  Haven  cemetery. 
For  some  years  after  his  mother's  death 
Jacob  Dean  kept  bachelor's  hall  in  the  old 
home,  and  lived  with  the  tenants  to  whom 
he  rented  the  farm,  in  later  years  with  his 
brother,  who  came  to  the  old  homestead 
with  his  family.  Mr.  Dean  is  now  the 
owner  of  200  acres  of  fertile  land,  most 
of  which  was  cleared  and  cultivated  by 
him.  Redeeming  it  from  the  forest,  he 
now  enjoys  the  fruits  of  long  years  of 
stern  labor  among  the  trees,  and  can  see 
that  lie  has  taken  more  than  one'  man's 
part  in  the  development  of  this  section. 

When  the  Universalist  Church  existed 
at  New  Haven,  Mr.  Dean  was  a  member 
of  the  denomination,  but  since  that  time 
has  not  been  connected  with  any  religious 
society.  He  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  but  his  political  activity  begins  and 
ends  at  the  polls.     He  has  never  married. 


FHILIP  J.  KNOLL,  a  prominent 
farmer  citizen  of  Ridgefield  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  the  late  John 
P.  Knoll  and  grandson  of  Jacob 
Knoll,  natives  of  the  Province  of 
Nassau,  Germany,  both  of  whom  were 
farmers,  the  latter  dying  in  his  native  land. 
John  P.  Knoll  was  born  May  3,  1826, 
aud  in  the  Fatherland  received  his  ele- 
mentary education  in    both    literary  and 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


307 


agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849  he  immi- 
grated to  America,  and  purchased  land  in 
Ridgefield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
lie  then  revisited  Germany,  and  returning 
to  America,  brought  with  iiim  his  fiancee, 
Miss  Minnie  Cook,  whom  in  1852  he 
married  at  Sandusky,  Ohio.  Slie  was  the 
daughter  of  George  Cook,  and  was  l)orn 
March  19,  1832.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knoll 
settled  on  the  farm  in  Huron  county  now 
occupied  by  some  of  the  family,  and  here 
liy  constant  toil  he  succeeded  in  securing 
a  comfortable  competence.  In  political 
opinion  he  was  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and 
in  religion  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Evangelical  Church,  with  which  his 
widow  is  also  identified.  He  died  in 
1887,  and  Mrs.  Knoll,  surrounded  by 
many  friends,  is  yet  residing  on  the 
beautiful  home  farm,  which  she  owns. 

The  children  of  this  estimable  couple 
were  as  follows:  Charles,  a  farmer  of 
Norwalk  township,  Huron  county;  Will- 
iam, deceased  at  the  age  of  three  years; 
Adolph,  deceased  in  infancy;  Lewis,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  Ed- 
ward, a  farmer  of  Norwalk  township, 
Huron  county;  Louisa,  wife  of  Philip 
Poths,  of  Fulton  county,  Ohio;  Philip  J., 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch,  and  who  is 
married  and  lives  on  part  of  the  farm,  in 
the  house  last  bought  by  his  father  (in 
1872);  Gustavus,  living  on  the  home 
place;  and  Matilda  and  Minnie,  residing 
with  their  widowed  mother. 


\ALTEPt  E.  BELL,  dealer  in  coal, 
lime,  cement,  etc.,  Norwalk,  is 
I]  M]  a  son  of  James  G.  Eell,  who  was 
born  in  New  York  State,  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  and  who  married  Nancy  C. 
Bacon,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent.  Our 
subject  was  born  January  25,  1845,  in 
Henderson,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
coming  west  with  his  parents  in  1849 
located  near  Berlin  Heights,  Erie  county, 
Ohio.     He  farmed    there  for  a   time,  then 


moved  to  Norwalk,  Huron  county,  and 
about  the  year  1882  established  his  pres- 
ent business.  Although  beginning  life 
with  no  financial  aid,  he  has  prospered, 
and  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
reliable  business  men  of  Norwalk.  He 
was  married  January  16,  lS(i7,  to  Fannie 
Henderson,  then  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools,  and  three  children  have  blessed 
their  union,  namely:  Henry,  Howard 
and  Charles.  Mr.  Bell  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  and  in  religion  a  Baptist.  He 
has  one  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza  M.  Gibson,  now 
living  in  Stryker,  Ohio;  one  brother, 
"Watson  J.,  in  Birmingham,  Ohio,  and 
the  younger  brother,  W.  C,  in    Norwalk. 


THOMAS  ALEXANDER  McLANE 
was  born  in  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  April  20,  1832, 
the  fourth  son  of  Robert  and  Mar- 
garet McLane,  who  with  three  elder 
brothers  had  emigrated  from  Ireland  two 
years  previous.  A  short  time  before  his 
birth  they  had  built  and  moved  into  a  log 
cabin  which  stood  near  the  present  home, 
which  cabin,  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of 
Thomas,  was  in  an  unfinished  condition, 
there  being  neither  floor  nor  chimney  con 
structed. 

His  school  days  were  begun  in  the  old 
log  school  house  where  the  desks  were 
formed  of  planks  resting  on  pegs  driven 
into  the  second  or  third  log.  The  reversi- 
ble seats  found  in  the  schools  of  the 
present  day  were  represented  by  heavy 
slabs  resting  on  rustic  legs.  In  those  days 
the  wood  was  not  provided,  and  the  boys 
were  obliged  to  go  into  the  woods  to  pro- 
cure it.  Plain  as  it  was,  that  school  may 
be  considered  the  vanguard  of  civilization, 
and  from  it  went  forth  men  and  women 
superior  in  many  respects  to  those  who  now 
graduate  within  more  pretentious  public 
buildings.  When  at  school  young  Thomas 
studied  hard,  and  ranked  as  one  of  the  best 
scholars,  the  teacher  often  calling  upon  him 


308 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  help  others  with  their  lessons.  But  time 
flies  rapidly,  and  Thomas  has  reached 
young  manhood  and  his  school  days  are 
over,  lie  had  a  sti-ong  desire  to  learn  a 
trade,  but  times  were  hard  and  money  was 
scarce,  so  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his 
desire  and  go  to  work  on  the  farm.  He 
had  a  strong  constitution,  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  could  do  a  man's  work.  As  it 
was  in  the  days  before  inacliinery  came  to 
aid  the  farmer  in  his  work,  his  services 
were  in  great  denaand,  for  forty  years  ago 
the  modern  machinery  of  to-day  was 
unknown.  The  grain  was  cut  with 
a  sickle  or  cradle,  and  tlie  grass 
with  a  scythe;  corn  was  planted  with  a 
hoe,  and  the  ground  was  plowed  with  oxen. 
Instead  of  the  threshing  machine  thresh- 
ing the  grain,  the  farmer  pounded  it  out 
with  flails.  The  old  house  was  fast  decay- 
ing, and  often  in  the  winter  when  the 
wind  was  blowing  he  would  awake  in  the 
morning  to  find  his  bed  covered  with  snow. 
As  all  men  must  in  the  course  of  life 
fall  in  love,  he  was  not  an  exception,  for 
he  met  and  loved  Miss  Susan  Channing, 
and  was  married  to  her  November  28, 
1867.  She  was  born  in  Somersetshire, 
England,  April  4,  1844,  and  five  years 
later  she  accompanied  her  parents  across 
the  ocean  to  America,  they  settling  in 
Greenfield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  lier  father,  Joseph  Channing,  es- 
tablished himsef  as  a  farmer.  The  Chan- 
nings  subsequently  moved  to  Riclimond 
township,  then  Norwalk  township,  and 
Anally  to  Chicago  Junction,  where  her 
father  died  December  3, 1889;  her  mother 
is  still  living.  While  but  a  small  child, 
Susie  (as  she  was  commonly  called)  was 
always  willing  to  help  her  parents,  and 
since  she  was  thirteen  years  old  she  has 
earned  her  own  living  besides  giving 
money  to  her  parents.  At  tlie  time  of  his 
marriage  Mr.  McLane  decided  to  make 
farming  his  vocation,  and  he  and  wife  took 
up  their  residence  on  the  McLane  farm, 
where  his  boyhood  days  had  been  spent. 
The  only  child  born  to    them   is   Margaret 


C,  an  accomplished  young  lad}',  who  re- 
sides at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  McLane  is 
a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Congrega- 
tionalist.  During  the  last  two  decades 
many  improvements  have  been  made  on 
his  place;  the  old  house  has  been  torn 
down  and  the  handsome  brick  residence 
has  taken  its  place,  while  the  commodious 
farm  buildings  and  the  beautiful  shade 
trees  that  have  been  planted  speak  forcibly 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs..  McLane's  taste  and  indus- 
try; for  both  liave  acted  well  their  ]mrt  in 
the  development  of  this  tract,  and  are  now 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labors. 


H[  ENRY  LAIS,  sole  proprietor  of  the 
Star  Brewery,  Norwalk,  is  one  of 
_j  the  many  indefatigable,  wide-awake 
citizens  and  native-born  business 
men  for  which  Huron  county  is  so 
justly  celebrated.  He  was  born,  in  1853, 
in  Monroeville,  a  son  of  Anthony  and 
Catherine  (Thomas)  Lais,  natives  of  Ger- 
many, the  former  born  in  Baden  in  1826, 
the  latter  born  in  1828.  She  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a  child,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Huron  county,  Ohio. 

In  1849  Anthony  Lais  came  to  Amer- 
ica, making  his  new  home  in  Monroeville, 
Huron  county,  where  he  married.  In  the 
same  year  he  came  here  he  was  given  the 
position  of  foreman  in  J.  S.  &  H.  M. 
liobey's  brewery  in  Monroeville  (estab- 
lished in  1845),  which  he  held  with  char- 
acteristic fidelity  for  a  period  of  twenty- 
one  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Norwalk, 
and  in  1871  purchased  the  brewery  in  that 
town,  from  which  time  until  his  deatli  in 
1886  he  carried  it  on  continuously,  with 
more  than  average  success.  This  industry 
was  at  first  but  a  small  ale  brewery,  now 
the  product  of  it  is  nearly  six  thousand 
barrels  of  beer  annually,  the  market  for 
same  lieing  chiefly  coniined  to  local  trade 
in  Huron  and  Erie  counties.  Anthony 
and  Catherine  Lais  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  as    follows:    Mary    (married    to 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


311 


W.  O.  Meyers),  Henry  (our  subject),  Jolm, 
Josepliine,  Charles,  William,  Helen,  and 
George,  all  yet  living.  The  mother  is  now 
makiiior  her  home  with  her  son  Henry, 
who  with  true  filial  affection  is  carincr  for 
her  in  her  declining  years. 

Henry  Lais,  of  whom  this  sketch  mainly 
treats,  received  his  education  at  the  Mon- 
roeville  public  schools,  after  which  he 
worked  two  years  in  the  brewery  owned 
by  his  fatlier.  He  then  went  on  the  road 
as  salesman  for  the  brewery,  traveling 
through  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  at  the 
end  of  ten  years  lie  went  into  the  office, 
and  establisiied  the  trade  on  a  solid  basis. 
For  the  past  eight  years  the  business  lias 
been  most  flourishing,  the  entire  brewing 
finding  a  ready  market,  as  the  brands  are 
of  the  very  best  quality.  John  Lais 
brother  of  Henry,  is  an  able  assistant  in 
the  management  of  the  rapidly  growing 
business.  In  the  year  1882  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Helrick. 

Mr.  Lais'  paternal  grandfather  never 
left  Germany,  but  his  maternal  grand- 
father came  to  America  about  the  year 
1830,  and  was  a  farmer  in  Huron  county, 
dying  some  eight  years  since.  Politically 
Mr.  Lais  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  C.  M.  B.  A.,  L  O.  K.  M.,  also 
Hermann  Verein. 


'HARLES  L.  HAWLEY,  a  promi- 
nent agriculturist,  manufacturer  and 
justice  of  the  peace,  of  Townsend 
township,  was  born  in  lio.xbury, 
Delawivre  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  12,  1824,  a 
son  of  William  M.  and  Malinda  (Older) 
Hawley. 

William  M.  Hawley  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  of  English  descent.  He 
received  a  good  education  in  his  native 
State,  and  while  a  young  man  moved  to 
New  York,  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  located  in  Hornellsviile, 
Steuben  county.  Here  he  met  with  great 
success,  and  was  soon  recoiinized  as  one  of 

17 


the  leading  attorneys  of  that  section  of 
the  State.  He  married  Miss  Malinda 
Older,  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  N. 
Y.,  and  of  Eiicrlisli  descent,  dauichter  of 
Nathaniel  and  Anna  Older,  and  their  mar- 
riage was  blessed  with  a  son,  Charles  L. 
In  politics  William  M.  Hawley  was  a 
Whig,  and  very  popular  with  his  party. 
He  represented  his  District  in  the  State 
Senate  two  terms,  and  was  Circuit  Judge 
for  four  terms.  During  a  long  and  active 
professional  life  he  acquired  both  fame 
and  an  ample  income,  and  was  sincerely 
mourned  wlien  he  died,  in  1866.  He  was 
a  Mason,  and  a  consistent  Church  mem- 
ber. His  ancestors  wer«  pioneers  of  the 
Bay  Colony,  and  were  actively  engaged  in 
the  struggles  of  the  Colonial  days;  and 
the  ancestors  of  his  wife,  the  Olders,  were 
early  settlers  of  the  Hartfprd  Colony. 

Charles  L.  Hawley  received  only  a  lim- 
ited literary  training  in  his  youth,  but  in 
later  years  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  practi- 
cal business  education.  He  lived  with  his 
mother  and  worked  on  the  home  farm, 
until  twenty  j'ears  of  age,  at  which  time 
he  commenced  life  for  himself  with  no 
capital  except  health,  energy  and  ambition. 
Upon  leaving  home  he  was  giv^en  an  a.\e 
by  his  stepfather,  and  that  was  his  only 
earthly  possession,  but  by  means  of  econ- 
omy, strict  attention  to  business  and  good 
judgment  he  lias  accumulated  considerable 
property.  Mr.  Hawley  has  always  been  a 
great  reader,  not  only  of  current  literature, 
but  also  of  history  and  science.  When  he 
started  out  to  make  a  living,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  labor  by  the  day  or  month  at  any 
honest  work,  and  being  both  competent 
and  faithful  his  services  were  always  in 
demand.  In  1849  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  potash  for  five  or  si.v 
years,  after  which  he  contracted  with  the 
Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road Company  to  supply  wood  along  the 
line  of  that  road  for  about  three  years. 
In  1866  he  moved  to  Oil  City,  Penn., 
where  for  five  years  he  was  foreman  for 


312 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  Baltic  Oil  Company  (tlie  Company 
operatino;  at  Petroleum  Center  and  various 
other  points  on  Oil  creek),  and  in  1871  he 
returned  to  Townsend,  Huron  county, 
where  for  three  and  a  half  years  he  acted 
as  foreman  for  tlie  Collins  Pump  Com- 
pany. At  tlie  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Haw- 
ley  began  manufacturing  pumps  on  his 
own  account,  at  East  Townsend,  and  has 
uj)  to  the  present  time  continued  in  this 
business  with  great  success. 

About  the  time  that  he  settled  in  East 
Townsend  he  purchased  a  valuable  farm  in 
Townsend  Center,  and  has  also  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  Being  physically 
disabled,  Mr.  llawley  was  unable  to  take 
an  active  part  in  the  Civil  war,  but  in 
September,  1862,  Gov.  Tod  sent  a  message 
to  INorwalk,  requesting  that  as  many  men 
as  possible  be  enlisted  to  defend  Cincin- 
nati acrainst  a  threatened  attack  of  the 
enemy.  He  was  notified  of  Gov.  Tod's 
call,  and  requested  to  enlist  men  and  re- 
port with  them  at  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and. reported  with  twelve  men,  be- 
tween seven  and  eight  thousand  men 
responding  to  this  call  in  less  than  twenty- 
four  hours.  They  w'ere  regularly  mustered 
into  service,  organized  as  the  Ohio  Squir- 
rel Hunters,  and  rendered  excellent  service 
till  May  4,  1863,  when  they  were  hon- 
orably discharged.  Mr.  Hawley  has  held 
mimerous  positions  of  trust:  he  was  clerk 
of  the  township  live  years;  was  treasurer 
for  over  nine  years,  and  justice  of  tlie 
peace  for  more  than  twelve  years,  to  both 
of  which  offices  he  was  re-elected  in  April, 
1892 ;  and  served  for  thirteen  years  as  post- 
master, which  office  he  held  during  the 
Civil  war.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
East  Townsend  Lodge  No.  322,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  has  filled  every  position  in  the 
Lodge  except  that  of  S.  D.  He  has  pre- 
sided over  this  Lodge  about  half  the  time 
since  its  organization,  and  has  represented 
it  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ohio  at  fifteen 
sessions.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Town- 
send  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  K.,  and  is  a 
stanch  Republican. 


On  May  2,  1847,  Mr.  Hawley  married 
Miss  Maria  Nichols,  who  was  born  in 
Chelsea,  Vt.,  October  10, 1830,  a  daughter 
of  Elijah  F.  and  Elsa  (Norton)  Niciiols, 
natives  of  Vermont  and  of  English  de- 
scent. Their  niarriag«  was  blessed  with 
four  children,  viz.:  C.  Frank,  who  was 
horn  February  13,  1849,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  tlie  firm  of  Haserott  Bros.  &, 
Co.,  wholesale  grocers  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Grover  M.,  born  July  29,  1850,  and  died 
July  20,  1851;  Julia  A.,  born  April  21, 
1852,  and  died  August  20,  1854,  and 
Crosby  N.,  who  was  born  February  12, 
1860,  and  is  now  settlement  clerk  for  the 
"ISIipano"  Railroad  Company,  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  Both  the  Nichols  and  Norton 
families  were  pioneers  in  Vermont,  were 
strong  ^A'^higs,  and  served  faithfully  in  the 
long  struggle  for  American  Independence. 
Mrs.  Hawley's  grandfather,  Zera  Norton, 
took  a  distinguished  part  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  died  in  Cattarangus 
county,  N.  Y.  Her  grandmother,  Eliza- 
beth Norton,  died  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
after  a  long  and  happy  life,  filled  with 
kind  thoughts  and  generous  deeds. 


L 


EROY  S.  HELLER,  postmaster  at 
New  Haven,  a  popular  citizen  and 
one  of  the  principal  business  men 
of  this  section  of  the  county,  was 
born  June  1,  1831,  in  Tompkius  county. 
New  York. 

Solomon  Heller,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  son  of 
German  pioneers  of  that  State.  Ephraim 
Heller,  the  father  of  Leroy  S.,  was  born  in 
Northampton  county,  Penn.,  and  when 
twenty-one  years  old  moved  to  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  married  Anna 
Jacobs. and  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture  until  1835,  At  that  time  lie  migrated, 
with  his  wife  and  children,  to  New  Haven 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  purchas- 
ing the  land  now  held  by  his  heirs  estab- 
lished his   home,  residing  there   until  his 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


313 


death,  which  occurred  March  11,  1876, 
when  he  was  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his 
age.  His  widow  died  Septeinijer  9,  1892, 
in  her  eigiity-second  year.  Both  were 
Free-will  Baptists,  and  charter  members 
of  the  Nortii  New  Haven  Baptist  Church. 
Of  their  six  children,  Leroy  8.  is  the  eld- 
est; L.  0.  resides  at  New  Haven;  F.  J. 
is  a  farmer  of  Mitchell  county,  Kans.;  E. 
C.  resides  on  the  homestead;  C.  A.  is  the 
wife  of  W.  E.  Geer,  of  Nein.aha  county, 
Kans.,  and  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  J.  (t. 
Hanna,  of  Brown  county,  Kans.  The 
famil}'  for  generations  have  been  con- 
nected with  agriculture,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  being-  the  tirst  to  embark  in 
mercantile  business. 

Leroy  S.  Heller  was  about  four  years 
old  when  he  arrived  in  Ohio.  Like  con- 
temporary youth,  he  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  un- 
til his  boyhood  days  were  passed,  and  then 
devoted  all  his  attention  to  farm  work. 
In  1853  he  made  the  journey  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  in  that  State,  and  in  Oreo-on 
and  Washington,  he  lived-  for  fourteen 
years,  engaged  the  while  in  agriculture, 
mining  and  lumbering.  He  returned  to 
Huron  county  in  September,  1866,  and 
during  the  succeeding  decade  conducted  a 
general  mercantile  business,  and  then 
went  to  Colorado.  After  remaining  two 
years  in  that  State,  he  returned  to  Huron 
county  and  engaged  in  the  drug  trade  at 
New  Hnven.  In  November,  1885,  he 
was  commissioned  postmaster,  and  held  the 
office  under  the  first  Cleveland  adminis- 
tration as  well  as  under  that  of  Harrison, 
and  is  still  Postmaster  under  Cleveland's 
second  term. 

Mr.  Heller  was  married,  January  31, 
1869,  to  Ella  Harrington,  who  died  in 
1875,  leaving  two  children,  namely:  O. 
E.,  who  resides  in  Kansas,  and  Ida,  living 
at  home.  His  marriage  with  Lydia  Har- 
rington took  place  in  the  fall  of  1876; 
she  died  in  1879,  leaving  one  child,  J. 
Ransom,  who  resides  in  Fairfield  town- 
ship, Huron  county.     In  1883  Mr.  Heller 


married  Miss  H.  J.  Young.  He  has  held 
several  township  offices,  was  treasurer  for 
a  long  period,  and  is  now  serving  as 
township  clerk. 


AMLTEL  McCAMMON,  M.  D.  (de- 
ceased), who  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury practiced  medicine    in  Green- 
field township,  was  born  January  3, 
1821,  near  Pittsburgh.  Pennsylvania. 

His  parents,  Samuel  and  Ellzalteth  Mc- 
Cammon,  in  1823  moved  from  their  farm 
near  Pittsburgh  to  the  vicinity  of  MansKeld, 
Ohio,  and  there  the  father  died  in  1825. 
When  Samuel  was  twelve  years  old  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  saddler,  learned  the  trade 
and  for  a  short  time  worked  as  a  journey- 
man. Asa  boy  his  desire  for  study  was, 
manifest,  and  now  that  he  was  a  bread- 
winner, he  could  indulge  in  this  desire. 
Accordingly  he  attended  school  at  Mans- 
field and  at  Fredericktown,  making  rapid 
y)rogress  in  study.  In  December,  1842, 
he  turned  his  attention  toward  nnedicine, 
and  sought  instruction  in  that  science 
under  Dr.  John  Tifft,  of  Norwalk.  Subse- 
quently he  attended  two  courses  of  lectures 
at  the  Willoughby  Medical  College,  in  Lake 
county,  and  in  March,  1845,  commenced 
practice  at  Greenfield,  then  a  busy  village 
and  the  center  of  a  rich  agricultural  dis- 
trict. His  success  was  assured,  and  within 
a  little  while  he  purchased  a  building  lot 
at  Greenfield,  subsequently  buying  the 
farm  adjoining  that  lot.  On  Sep- 
tember 7,  1848,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riao-e  with  Miss  Philena  Blackman,  who 
was  born  August  27,  1828,  in  Greenfield 
township,  the  eldest  of  three  children  born 
to  Lebo  and  Polly  (Dubois)  Blackman, 
early  settlers  of  Greenfield  township.  To 
the  union  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  McCammon 
the  following  nanied  children  were  born: 
George  L.,  born  June  26,  1851,  died  Oc- 
tober 3,  1856;  Frank,  born  October  5, 
1855;  Edward  S.,  born  August  16,  1858; 
and  Laura,  born  July  9, 1861.  Of  these,  one 


314 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


son  resides  with  the  mother  on  the  home- 
stead; tlie  other  son  and  tlie  daughter  are 
botli  married,  and  pleasantly  situated  in 
homes  of  their  own  not  far  from  the  "  old 
lioine,''  and  the  farm  and  business  affairs 
are  at  the  present  time  managed  by  Ed- 
ward S.  McCammon. 

Dr.  McCammon  practiced  over  a  very 
wide  circuit  from  March,  1845,  to  Feb- 
ruary, 1870,  when  his  last  professional  call 
was  made.  From  the  close  of  February  to 
the  day  of  his  death,  August  2,  1870,  a 
chronic  ailment,  which  had  threatened  him 
for  some  years,  gained  the  mastery  and 
confined  him  to  his  home.  He  was  not  a 
Church  mem  her,  but  entertained  a  deep 
respect  for  sincere  Christianity  and  lived 
like  such,  a  correct  life,  doing  good 
wherever  it  was  in  his  power.  lie  went  to 
Eternity  quietly  and  without  fear. 


dlOHN  CAROTHERS,  an  honest, 
straightforward  citizen,  was  born 
^  April  15,  1824,  in  Beaver  county, 
Penn.  His  grandparents,  William 
and  Sarah  (Kress)  Carothers,  had  a  family 
of  seven  children — three  sons  and  four 
dautrhters — among  wiioin  was  one  named 
Mat  bias. 

Mathias  Carothers,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Virginia,  received  an 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright;  he  also 
worked  five  years  at  the  tanner's  trade. 
When  a  young  man  he  married  Nancy 
Sample,  who  was  born  in  Beaver  county, 
Penn.,  daughter  of  AVilliaiii  Sample.  They 
were  married  in  Beaver  county,  where  he 
followed  his  trade,  and  while  residing 
there  children  were  born  to  them  as  fol- 
lows: John,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Sarah, 
Mrs.  John  Smith,  of  North  Fairfield,  Ohio; 
Margaret,  deceased  when  young;  and 
Robert,  of  Venice  township,  Seneca 
county.  In  the  spring  of  183i  the  family 
came  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where 
they  purchased  fifty  acres  at  forty  dollars 
per  acre,  part  of  which  was  cleared.     They 


remained  there  until  about  1838,  and  then 
removed  to  Seneca  county,  same  State. 
After  coming  to  Trumbull  county  they 
had  one  son  born  to  them,  Philip,  who  is 
now  a  carpenter  in  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  The 
family  came  to  Seneca  county  in  an  old 
wagon  drawn  by  two  oxen  and  a  horse, 
and  the  journey  was  necessarily  a  very 
slow  one.  In  December,  1888,  they  lo- 
cated in  Venice  township  (Seneca  county), 
where  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  most  of  which  was  in  the  woods, 
thoucrh  a  clearing  large  enough  for  a  cabin 
and  a  garden  patch  had  been  made. 
While  living  here  three  more  children 
were  born,  viz.:  William,  a  farmer  <>f  Van 
Wert,  Ohio;  and  two  daughters  who  died 
in  infancy,  unnamed.  Here  ^Mathias 
Carothers  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1879;  his  wife  passed  away  in 
1875,  and  was  buried  in  Pisgah  Church 
cemetery,  in  Venice  township,  Seneca 
county.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Carothers  were 
members  of  the  M.  P.  Church.  In  politics 
he  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  made  agriculture  his  principal  vocation 
in  life,  and  became  a  successsful  farmer 
and  well-to-do  citizen. 

John  Carothers  first  atteiided  school  in 
Poland,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  his  first 
teacher  being  a  Miss  Coe.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  and  at  an  early  age  was  put 
to  work,  clearing  the  land  which  his  father 
had  bought,  attending  school  only  such 
days  as  his  assistance  was  not  required  at 
home.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  for  some  time  after  I'eaching  his 
majority,  and  on  November  2r),  1846, 
was  married  to  Susan  Mowery,  who  was 
born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Michael  Mowery,  who  came  to  Seneca 
county  in  pioneer  days.  Children  as  fol- 
lows were  born  to  this  union:  Nancy, 
Mrs.  Jonathan  Crabbs,  of  North  Fairfield, 
Huron  county;  Mathias,  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
mond township;  Sarah,  Mrs.  William 
Runyan,  of  Venice  township,  Seneca 
county;  Jennie,  Mrs.  Albert  Runyan,  of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


315 


Van  Wert  county,  Ohio;  Emma,  Mrs. 
Frank  Weaver,  ot  Seneca  county,  Ohio; 
Ida,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Hawn,  of  Chicago 
Junction,  Ohio;  Martha,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Link; 
Ella,  vvlio  married  Cyrus  Crabbs,  and  died 
in  Seneca  county;  William  and  a  daughter, 
both  of  whom  died  young.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Carothers  liad  purchased 
forty  acres  of  partly  cleared  woodland, 
upon  which  he  erected  a  house  and  barn. 
This  property  he  subsequently  sold,  and 
purchased  eighty-nine  and  one-half  acres 
of  new  land  in  Ilichmond  township,  Huron 
county,  upon  which  stood  a  log  house 
18  X  20  feet.  He  has  since  added  to  this 
tract  from  time  to  time,  until  it  now  com- 
prises 139^  acres,  completely  equipped 
with  new  farm  buildings.  In  1891  he 
moved  to  Chicago  Junction,  where  he  has 
since  led  a  retired  life.  In  politics  lie  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  but  since  the  for- 
mation of  the  Republican  party  lias  been 
a  member  of  same.  He  has  served  as 
township  trustee,  for  twelve  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  various  local 
offices.  In  religious  connection  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  U.  B.  Church, 
in  which  he  is  class-leader.  Mr.  Carothers' 
success  is  due  to  hard  work  and  good  busi- 
ness management,  which,  coupled  with 
common  sense  and  sound  judgment,  have 
brought  him  the  reward  he  so  well  merits; 
and  he  is  a  man  whose  opinions  are  sought 
after  and  valued  by  his  fellow-citizens. 


EiLIJAH  WASHBUEN,  one  of  the 
oldest  native-born  citizens  of  Fitch- 
I   ville  township,  is  the  son  of  Joseph 

Washburn,  a  pioneer  of  this  section 
of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Joseph  Washburn  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  in  New  York  State,  near  the 
Catskill  Mountains,  was  raised  in  the  man- 
ner common  to  boys  of  that  time  and 
place,  and  while  still  a  young  man  married 
Sarah  Tompkins.  To  them  three  children 
were  born   in    New    York    State,    one  of 


whom  died  in  infancy,  while  the  second 
lived  to  an  adult  age.  In  1820  the  family 
migrated  to  Fitchville  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  Joseph  Washburn  had 
located  a  tract  of  700  or  800  acres  of  wild 
land.  On  their  arrival  a  log  cabin  was 
built,  and  while  awaiting  the  erection  of 
that  cabin  the  members  of  the  family  found 
shelter  in  the  liome  of  a  settler  named 
Palmer.  In  Fitchville  township  the  fol- 
lowincr  named  children  were  born  to  the 
pioneer  parents:  James,  who  moved  to 
Michitran;  Sarah,  who  married  Anson 
Skellenger,  and  died  at  New  London,  Ohio; 
and  Elijah  and  Edmund  (twins),  the  latter 
of  whom  died  when  two  and  one  half 
years  old.  On  this  land  the  father  resided 
iintil  his  death,  February  7,  1853,  and  the 
mother  until  her  death,  July  10,  1886. 
Joseph  AYashburn  was  a  practical  farmer 
and  a  successful  one.  Politically  a  Whig, 
he  was  always  faithful  to  that  jjarty.  His 
widow  lived  to  be  ninety-two  years  old. 
In  her  later  years  she  was  a  member  of 
the  Concrreo-ational  Church,  and  one  of  the 
original  members  of  that  denomination  in 
Fitchville  township.  The  husband  and 
wife  were  buried  in  Fitchville  cemetery. 

Elijah  Washburn  was  born  November 
20,  1830,  on  the  home  farm,  which  he  now 
occupies.  There  he  was  reared,  and  in  the 
school  of  the  district  received  an  elemen- 
tary education,  being  one  of  the  pupils  who 
attended  regularly  during  the  winter 
months  of  each  year.  The  rude  school- 
house  is  not  better  remembered  than  the 
slab  seats  and  stern  teacher.  During  the 
spring,  summer  and  fall  the  boy  was  kept 
busy  on  the  farm,  and  thus  employed  he 
grew  to  manhood  physically  strong  and 
self-reliant.  In  1854  he  married  Harriet 
Potter,  who  was  born  in  Ruggles  town- 
ship, Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1835,  daughter 
of  Asahel  Potter,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
who  was  a  pioneer  of  Ashland  county. 
The  young  couple  located  on  the  home 
farm,  and  to  them  were  born  children  as 
follows:  Viola,  deceased  wife  of  Peter 
Kichie;  Ada,  married  to  George  Evans,  of 


316 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Fitcliville;  Nettie,  deceafed;  Charles,  pro- 
prietor of  tlie  "Mansion  House,"  at  Fitcli- 
ville; Hattie,  deceased  wife  of  Dwigbt 
Kniffin;  Martin;  Joseph;  Louisa,  deceased; 
Leeland;  Lillie  M.  (deceased);  and  Loriii, 
of  whom,  Martin,  Joseph,  Leeland  and 
Lorin  are  residing  at  home. 

During  his  residence  here,  or  for  a  term 
of  over  thirty  years,  Mr.  Washlnirn  has 
been  a  house-inover  and  farmer,  and  has 
been  successful  in  each  business.  For- 
merly a  Whig,  he  became  a  Republican  on 
the  organization  of  the  new  party.  Born 
in  Fitcliville  township,  lie  has  resided  on 
the  same  farm  longer  than  any  other  citi- 
zen in  the  township,  and  in  his  long  life 
here  be  has  become  highly  esteemed  by  all. 


I(  AEON  ROBINSON,  one  of  the 
l\  largest  landowners  and  mostpromi- 
^  nent  stock  growers  of  Fitcliville 
township,  of  which  locality  he  has 
been  a  resident  many  years,  was 
born  November  27,  1827,  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio. 

His  father.  William  Pierce,  was  left  an 
orphan  in  his  boyhood,  and  was  adopted 
by  a  man  named  John  Robinson,  hence 
the  change  in  the  patronymic.  William 
Pierce  was  born  in  Delaware  in  1780,  and 
about  the  first  or  second  year  of  this  cen- 
tuiy  migrated  into  Pennsylvania,  settling 
in  Washington  county.  Here  he  married 
Letitia  Coleman,  with  whom  in  1815  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Coshocton 
county,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
1829.  In  the  year  last  named  the  family 
removed  to  Crawford  county,  same  State, 
locating  where  the  Cincinnati  Turnpike 
now  is,  at  a  point  six  miles  south  of  Bucy- 
rus,  and  here  they  resided  until  1833, 
when  his  twelve  children  were  stricken 
with  milk  fever,  a  peculiar  disease  then 
common  in  Crawford  county.  The  father 
determined  to  seek  a  healthier  place,  and 
mounting   his  horse   set    out    for    Huron 


county.  Arriving  there  he  made  some  e.\- 
plorations,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
small  tract  of  land,  about  fifty  acres,  in 
Norwich  township,  in  exchange  for  his 
horse.  Without  delay  he  brought  his 
whole  family  to  IHiron  county,  and  re- 
sumed the  work  of  pioneers.  The  land 
was  cleared  by  Mr.  Robinson  and  his  sons, 
and  a  tract  of  150  acres  added  to  the 
homestead,  much  of  which  was  also  cleared, 
and  all  of  it  improved  by  them.  Mean- 
time the  father  sold  his  estate  in  Crawford 
county  to  a  French  family  for  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  dollars,  and  invested  the 
proceeds  in  lands  in  Wood  county,  Ohio. 
In  1848  William  Robinson  removed  to 
Fitchville  township,  where  he  located  on 
the  present  Aaron  Robinson  farm,  and 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  Auenst 
10,  1864.  His  widow  died  January  25, 
1865,  and  both  lie  in  the  Fitchville  ceme- 
tery. They  reared  a  large  family — seven 
sons  and  five  daughters — of  whom  two 
sons 'and  two  daughters  survive,  namely: 
Wesley,  a  farmer  of  Norwich;  Aaron,  a 
farmer  of  Fitchville;  Christine,  widow  of 
John  Bowen,  of  Norwich;  and  Emma 
Eliza,  widow  of  John  M.  Foreman,  of 
Miami,  Lucas  Co.,  Ohio.  The  father  of 
this  family  was  a  Democrat  down  to  the 
period  of  Buchanan's  nomination  in  1856, 
when  he  joined  the  American  party.  From 
1856  to  the  date  of  his  death,  he  was  an 
active  Republican,  while,  in  religious 
opinion,  as  was  also  his  wife,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
Aaron  Robinson  may  be  termed  a 
pioneer  of  three  counties  in  Ohio.  His 
school  days  began  in  the  log  house  in 
Norwich  township,  where  Miss  Emily 
Ashley  wielded  the  birch.  They  were  of 
short  duration;  for  the  exigencies  of  the 
times  would  not  permit  the  farm  to  be 
neglected,  and  the  boy  of  the  period  had, 
certainly,  his  place  in  the  economy  of  the 
farm.  His  marriage  with  Hannah  D. 
Hinkley  took  place  October  1.  1856.  She 
was  born  June  13,  1832,  in  Hector  town- 
ship, Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Horace  and 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


317 


Laura  (Mclntire)  Ilinkley,  who  settled  in 
Ripley  townsliip,  Iluroti  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1884,  and  removed  to  Fitchville  townsliip 
in  1836. 

After  their  raarriacre  Aaron  and  Hannah 
D.  Robinson  located  on  a  farm  in  Fitch- 
ville townsliip,  which  they  now  own,  and 
resided  thereon  until  1865,  when  the 
family  took  possession  of  the  present 
farm.  Their  children  are  William  IL,  an 
attendant  of  the  Lebanon  (Ohio)  College, 
now  a  farmer  of  Fitchville  township,  and 
Laura  L.  D.;  they  reside  with  their  par- 
ents. Mr.  Robinson  is  the  owner  of  500 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  may  be  found  in 
the  Western  Reserve.  He  is  one  of  tiie 
large  real-estate  owners  in  the  county, 
and  one  of  its  extensive  stock  growers. 
Systematic  in  the  management  of  his 
estate,  he  is  also  a  good  tinancier,  and  in 
every  respect  a  progressive  agriculturist. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been 
elected  trustee;  has  also  tilled  other  public 
positions,  but  his  manifold  business  inter- 
ests are  given  his  closest  personal  attention. 


djESSE  SXYDER,  a  well-known 
farmer  citizen  of  New  Haven  town- 
'  ship,  is  a  native  of  Tompkins  coun- 
ty, N.  y.  His  grandfather,  John 
Snyder,  who  was  of  German  descent,  fol- 
lowed the  milling  business  in  Northampton 
county,  Penn.,  in  which  he  was  quite  suc- 
cessful. He  was  a  colonel  in  the  State 
militia  during,  the  Whiskey  Insurrection, 
and  was  a  man  of  considerable  influence. 
He  had  twelve  children,  viz.:  Peter,  John, 
Samuel.  Melchior,  Daniel,  Simon,  Rudolph, 
Sally,  Hannah,  Louisa,  Catiierine  and 
Susan,  all  now  deceased. 

Rudolph  Snyder,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  1802,  in  Northampton  county, 
Penn.,  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  tanner's  trade, 
which,  in  connection  with  agriculture,  he 
followed  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1822 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 


Heller,  wlio  was  horn  February  3,  1803, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Heller,  a  farmer. 
In  1886  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  migrated  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Eloominggrove  town- 
ship, Richland  county,  where  they  lived 
until  1839,  in  whicii  year  they  removed  to 
New  Haven  township,  Huron  county,  re- 
maining there  until  1857,  when  they  took 
up  tl'.eir  residence  in  the  village  of  New 
Haven.  They  were  the  j)arents  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  four  died  in  infancy, 
the  others  being  Reuben,  Jesse,  Solomon, 
Abner,  Mary  and  Eliza.  Mr.  Snyder  was 
a  decidedly  successful  man.  Politically 
he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  in  his  township;  in  religious  belief 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Free-will  Baptist 
Church.     He  died  April  2,  1882. 

Jesse  Snyder  was  born  March  3,  1826,  in 
Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  passed 
his  early  years  on  a  farm.  In  1844  he 
came  to  Plymouth  (then  Paris),  Ohio,  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  working  at 
same  for  three  years,  when  he  commenced 
farming,    in    which    he    continued     until 

o  ... 

1853.  In  that  year  he  went  to  California, 
taking  the  route  through  Central  America, 
where  the  Nicaragua  Canal  is  now  in 
course  of  construction.  He  remained  two 
years  in  the  California  mining  regions, 
visiting  all  the  principal  camps — San 
Francisco,  Sacramento,  etc. — and  toward 
the  latter  part  of  iiis  stay  went  to  San 
Antonio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  shingle 
business.  During  this  time  he  also  con- 
ducted a  store  and  hotel  in  West  Union, 
four  miles  from  Redwood  City,  Cal.  In 
1855  he  returned  to  New  Haven,  Ohio, 
and  purchasing  a  farm  worked  same  for 
two  years,  when  he  engaged  in  the  tanning 
business  until  1865,  and  then  agai[i  took 
up  agriculture,  to  which  he  has  ever  since 
given  his  attention.  Mr.  Snyder  now  owns 
128  acres  of  good  farming  land,  and  by 
hard  work  and  strict  economy  has  attained 
considerable  success  in  his  chosen  vocation. 
On  October  3,  1850,  Mr.  Snyder  was 
united   in    marriage  with   Miss  Elizabeth 


318 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Lovelaiid,  daughter  of  John  Loveland,  of 
New  Haven  tmvnship,  and  to  this  union 
came  three  children,  viz.:  Ralph,  now  a 
farmer  in  Xew  Haven  township;  and  Will- 
iam W.  and  Jesse  C.  (both  deceased).  The 
mother  of  these  died  February  9,  1862, 
and  Septemlier  14,  1863,  Mr.  Snyder  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Satira  A.  (Campbell) 
Easter,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  Campbell,  of 
Greenfield  township,  Huron  county.  She 
died  September  26,  1864,  and  on  January 
1,  1866,  he  was  again  married,  this  time 
to  Miss  Martha  Dickinson,  a  daughter  of 
E.  Dickinson,  of  New  Haven  township.  To 
this  union  has  come  one  child,  Alton 
S.,  a  farmer  of  New  Haven  township.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  a  stanch  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  has  served  in 
various  township  otKces.  In  1848  he  made 
a  visit  to  Chicago,  111.,  at  which  time  the 
city  contained  no  railroads,  and  he  made 
the  return  trip  to  Ohio  on  a  horse.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  in  1857,  and  has  been  a  member 
ever  since;  in  1870  was  elected  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ohio, 
I.O.  O.  F. 


)\AEEEN  SEVEEANCE,  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Huron  county  bar, 
lf('  is  a  native  of  Sandusky  county, 
Ohio,  born  October  9^  1836. 
Elisha  Severance,  his  father,  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  where  he  received  a  fair 
education,  and  passed  his  early  life. 

When  a  young  man  Elisha  Severance 
moved  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  father, 
and  naade  his  home  in  that  State  until 
1819,  when  he  settled  at  Milan,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio.  In  1830  he  located  at  the  site  of 
the  present  town  of  Clyde,  Sandusky 
county,  and  in  1839  came  to  Peru  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm.  Having  learned  the  trade  of  cooper 
in  Massachusetts,  his  time  in  Peru  town- 
ship was  devoted  to  that  in  connection 
with  agriculture,  working   at   the  trade  in 


winter,  and  giving  his  attention  to  the 
farm  during  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
until  1853.  In  the  last  mentioned  year  he 
removed  to  GreenlTeld  township,  and  there 
remained  until  1863,  when  he  came  to  New 
Haven  with  his  son  Warren,  with  whom 
he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

On  April  28,  1823,  Elisha  Severance 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha  Bangs, 
and  to  their  union  were  born  children  as 
follows:  Charles  F.,  Lucien  (who  died 
young),  Clarissa,  and  Samuel  (who  died  in 
1883).  This  wife  died  xiugust  12,  1829, 
and  on  May  7, 1831,  Mr.  Severance  wedded 
Mrs.  Phoebe  (Tracy)  Morgan,  of  Milan, 
Ohio,  by  which  marriage  were  also  born 
four  children:  William  M.,  who  died  in 
1883  in  Illinois;  Byron,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Warren,  the  subject  of  this  memoir; 
and  Byron  (named  after  the  iirst  Byron), 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  of  Fairfield  town- 
ship, who  died  October  7,  1892.  The 
mother  of  these  children  passed  away  in 
January,  1879,  aged  seventy-seven  years; 
she  was  a  daughter  of  Abel  Tracy,  of  Ver- 
mont, in  which  State  she  was  born;  a 
Presbyterian  from  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
to  her  death,  she  was  always  a  consistent 
member  of  that  Church.  Elisha  Severance 
was  a  Whig  before  the  war,  but  in  1856 
or  1860  joined  the  Democratic  party.  He 
passed  away  October  13, 1892,  aged  ninety- 
eight  years. 

The  family  name  was  originally  Severns, 
of  Norman  origin.  The  ancestor  of  the 
family  in  America  moved  from  England 
into  Scotland,  and  came  from  the  latter 
country  to  the  LTnited  States  in  early  Co- 
lonial days.  From  the  genealogy  pul)lished 
by  Eev.  Mr.  Sexerance,  of  Chicago,  we 
quote:  "While  no  member  of  the  family 
has  ever  arisen  to  any  particular  promi- 
nence, none  have  ever  put  any  stain  upon 
the  name."  The  family  are  the  only  rep- 
resentatives of  the  name  in  this  section  of 
Ohio,  but  there  is  a  colony  of  Severances 
at  Severance,  Doniphan  Co.,  Kans.,  while 
a  number  of  the  name  make  their  home  in 
Chicago,  Illinois. 


.e^^i^^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


321 


Warren  Severance  received  in  his  youth 
a  practical  education,  and  for  nine  years 
prior  to  1875-76  was  an  instructor  of  high 
repute.  In  1S63  lie  purchased  a  farm  in 
New  Haven  township,  four  miles  east  of 
Chicago  Junction  and  near  New  Haven 
village,  which  Tie  carried  on  without  tak- 
ing his  attention  from  his  profession  of 
school  teacher.  On  February  9,  1S60,  he 
was  married  to  Philinda  Shepard,  daughter 
of  Israel  Shepard,  who  came  from  New 
York  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and  thej 
have  had  two  children :  Elmer  AV.,  born  in 
1861,  who  is  now  in  the  office  of  his 
father,  and  Clara  M.,  wife  of  C.  A. 
Weatherford,  of  Chicago  Junction.  In 
1876  Mr.  Severance  was  offered  induce- 
ments by  Mr.  D.  H.  Young,  a  member  of 
the  Ohio  bar  and  for  thirteen  years  an  in- 
surance agent,  to  enter  the  legal  profession, 
which  he  accepted,  entering  the  office  as  a 
partner  in  the  entire  business,  and  for  two 
years  he  worked  in  the  insurance  and  real- 
estate  office  at  Chicago  Junction.  On 
March  28,  1878,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  at  Bucyrue,  Ohio,  and  on  June  3, 
1880,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
United  States  Courts  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  In 
September,  1878,  Mr.  Young  moved  to 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Severance  as- 
sumed full  charge  of  the  office.  In  1891 
he  was  appointed  local  counsel  for  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  and 
he  has  iirmly  established,  himself  in  the 
confidence  of  that  great  corporation  by  the 
close  attention  he  gives  to  their  legal  af- 
fairs in  this  division.  Apart  from  this 
work,  he  commands  a  large  and  lucrative 
general  practice,  and  is  well  and  favorably 
known  to  the  people  of  Huron  and  ad- 
joining counties.  He  also  conducts  an 
important  real-estate  business. 

Mr.  Severance  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  here  in  1890.  In  1885  he  was 
one  of  four  of  the  Republican  candidates 
for  prosecuting  attorney,  receiving  seventy- 
seven  of  the  seventy-eight  votes  required 
for  nomination,  and  as  candidate  for  the 


judgeship  of  the  Probate  court  he  also  re- 
ceived a  very  flattering  support.  Almost 
forty-two  years  old  when  admitted  to  the 
bar,  his  success  is  marvelous,  if  not  phe- 
nomenal. His  knowledge  of  the  people 
and  the  universal  respect  and  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  played  an  important 
])art  in  the  issue;  but  this  alone,  without 
the  actual  ability  which  he  possesses  to  an 
unusual  degree,  would  be  of  little  use  in  a 
battle  for  precedence  among  the  lawyers 
of  this  section,  and  Mr.  Severance  may 
well  be  proud  of  the  brilliant  record  which 
he  has  made. 


EiLON    G.  BOUGHTON,    abstracter 
and  conveyancer,  Norwalk,  is  a  na- 
I   five  of    Huron    county,   born   June 

30,  1839,  a  son  of  John  and  Susan 
(Benedict)  Boughton.  The  father  was  born 
in  1796  at  Soutiibury,  Conn.,  was  reared 
in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1836 
came  to  Ohio,  where  he  passed  from  earth 
December  12,  1864.  The  mother  was  born 
February  2,  1800,  near  Norwalk.  Conn., 
and  died  June  9, 1888.  They  had  a  family 
of  ten  childi'en,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
E.  G.  Boughton  was  reared  to  early  man- 
hood in  the  vicinity  of  his  birth,  gaining 
the  experiences  of  the  average  boy  of  tiie 
period  in  the  schools,  and  in  learning  the 
practical  lessons  of  patient  labor  and 
economy.  When  only  a  well-grown  youth 
he  taught  school  successfully  for  three 
terms,  but  when  the  tocsin  of  war  rang  out 
over  our  Union,  the  young  man  dropped 
his  birch  baton  and  enlisted,  in  September, 
1861,  in  Company  D,  Forty-first  Regiment 
O.  V.  I.  He  went  to  the  front  with  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  wounded 
November  25, 1863,  at  the  battle  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  after  which  he  was  on  de- 
tached service  to  the  close  of  his  three 
years  term  of  enlistment.  On  his  return 
home  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1872, 
when  he  was  elected  recorder  of  Huron 
county,  and  was  subsequently  re-elected, 
serving  three  consecutive   terms,   or  nine 


322 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


years.  While  in  office,  almost  as  apart  of 
his  duties,  he  comiiieiiced  work  in  a  set  of 
abstract  books,  and  immediately  on  retir- 
ing to  private  life  opened  his  present  ab- 
stract and  conveyancer's  office,  in  which 
line  be  has  commanded  almost  a  monopoly 
of  tlie  business. 

E.  G.  Bougliton  and  Melinda  A.  Davis, 
a  native  of  Huron  county,  were  nnited  in 
marriage  March  22,  1865,  and  they  iiave 
had  four  children:  Will.  H.,  Fred  G..  Lena 
M.  and  Laura  M.  The  Boughton  family 
is  one  of  the  eminently  respected  in  Huron 
county. 


fr^  A.  EHRMAN,  baker  and  confec- 
I  w.  tioner,  Chicago  Junction,  is  a  Ger- 
^^J  man  by  birth,  l)orn  March  10,  1852, 
J^  in  Hessen  Darmstadt,  a  son  of  Frank 
and  Margaretta  Ehrmaii,the  former 
of  whom  was  a  baker  by  trade. 

Alter  leaviug  school  in  his  native  land, 
our  subject  commenced  learning  his 
father's  trade,  under  hitn  completing  his 
apprenticeship.  At  the  age  of  si.xteen 
years  he  embarked  at  Bremen  on  board  the 
steamship  "Rhine,"  for  the  New  World, 
and  after  a  passage  of  fourteen  days  landed 
at  New  York.  F'rom  there  he  proceeded 
westward  to  Cleveland,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  till  1873,  in  which  year  he  re- 
visited his  native  country,  remaining  there 
one  and  one  half  years,  when  he  again  came 
to  America  and  to  Cleveland,  resuming 
his  trade.  In  1877  he  a  second  time 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  Fatherland,  on 
this  occasion  sojourning  there  two  years, 
and  then  again  coming  to  Cleveland,  once 
more  took  up  the  baking  business.  In 
1881  he  moved  to  Norwalk,  Huron  county, 
and  here  worked  for  J.  P.  Link  in  the 
same  line,  six  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  (188B)  he  came  to  Monroeville,  and 
coniinenced  business  for  his  own  account. 
In  1891  he  ga\e  up  his  small  business  in 
Monroeville,  and  coming  to  Chicago 
Junction    has  here  since  conducted     the 


leading  bakery  and  confectionery  establish- 
ment, and  grocery  and  jjfovision  business, 
in  the  town. 

On  May  8,  1884,  Mr.  Ehrman  was  mar- 
ried to  Barbara  Ileeb,  born  January  16, 
1858,  in  Hessen- Darmstadt,  Germany,  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Catherine  Heeb. 
She  came  to  the  United  States  in  Jutie, 
1888,  and  was  living  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
at  the  time  Mr.  Ehrman  visited  and  won 
her,  and  took  her  to  Norwalk.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  this  union  are  as  follows: 
Philip  F.  E.,  George  L.,  Carl  J.  and  Eddie 
J.,  all  yet  living  except  the  last  named. 
In  his  political  leanings  our  subject  is  in- 
dependent, belonging  to  no  particular 
party,  but  voting  always  for  the  candidate 
he  considers  best  fitted  for  the  position. 
In  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church. 


APTAIN  F.  J.   LEYDORF,  a 


pio- 


neer of  Chicago  Junction,  was  born 
^  November  7,  1841,  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  where  his  father,  Henry 
Wilhelm  Leydorf,  was  a  dealer  in  live 
stock. 

F.  J.  Leydorf  received  a  practical  educa- 
tion in  the  public  and  private  schools  of 
his  native  place,  and  at  the  age  of  foui-teen 
years  was  apprenticed  to  a  mechanic,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  full  years.  In 
1800  he  entered  the  Prussian  army,  and 
served  until  1866,  when  the  Electorate  of 
Hesse  fell  [It  was  annexed  to  Prussia  in 
1867J.  and  he  did  not  wish  to  serve  longer. 
Some  short  time  after  the  war  his  father 
died,  and  the  son  was  requested  by  his 
mother  to  return.  In  1867  he  married 
Anna  Maria  Baechman,  and  in  1868  they 
immigrated  to  the  United  States,  coming 
to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  friends  of  the 
family  had  settled.  Shortly  afterward  they 
moved  to  Custar,  Wood  county,  where 
Capt.  Leydorf  established  a  saloon  and 
meat  market,  but  in  1872  he  returned  to 
Sandusky,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel 


iiURoy  COUNTY,  omo. 


323 


Inisiness,  and  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1S75.  In  1873  he  organized  the  Sandusky 
military  company,  of  which  he  was  elected 
captain,  a  position  he  held  during  his  i-esi- 
dence  in  that  city.  Locating  at  (Chicago 
Junction  in  1875  he  erected  one  of  the 
first  houses  there,  on  the  west  side,  and 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business,  which 
he  carried  on  until  1877.  In  1882  he 
bought  the  property  of  William  Oehni,  of 
Front  street,  and  in  1889  purchased  the 
property  he  now  occupies  as  a  hotel,  on 
Spring  street.  He  owns  the  Fox  and 
Oehm  property,  purchased  previously,  and 
has  been  exceptionally  successful  in  his 
business.  No  man  has-  been  more  inti- 
mately identified  with  the  progress  of 
Chicago  Junction  in  its  various  phases,  and 
it  was  through  his  efforts  that  the  town  was 
incorporated.  Coming  here  when  the  site 
was  practically  in  its  primeval  condition, 
he  labored  in  the  interest  of  the  place,  and 
watched  its  progress  with  joy.  In  1879 
he  was  elected  street  commissioner  and 
constable,  in  which  position  he  served  for 
two  years.  As  street  commissioner  he 
laid  out  a  number  of  what  are  now  the 
principal  streets  of  the  town,  and  shortly 
after  he  was  elected  a  member  of  board  of 
education  for  three  years.  An  active, 
earnest  Democrat,  he  was  the  nominee  of 
the  party  for  sheriff  of  Huron  county,  and 
at  the  polls  he  succeeded  in  cutting  down 
the  Republican  majority  from  1,400  to 
778.  In  1888  he  was  appointed  deputy 
United  States  marshal  for  the  Northern 
District  of  Ohio,  and  served  until  1892. 
He  is  now  serving  his  sixth  year  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  in  1893  was  elected 
mayor  of  the  city. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leydorf,  eight  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Kunnegiinde  (wife  of  J.  L.  Von  Slagle), 
Matilda  K.,  Frederick  W.,  Magdalena, 
Anna  Margaret,  Maria  Theresa,  Amelia 
and  Amanda.  The  eldest  child,  Annie 
Kathrina,  died  when  four  years  old,  and 
Frederick  Jacob  died  in  infancy.  The 
family  are  all  popular  in   the  community, 


and  the  Captain  himself  is  known  to  his 
particular  friends  as  a  prince  of  •  good 
fellows. 


k,TLLIAM  MONTEITH,  one  of  the 
most  progressive  citizens  of  Fly- 
mouth,  and  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  that  place,  was 
born  March  25,  1861,  in  Iieland,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  in 
1864. 

He  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  A. 
fSmith)  Monteith,  natives  of  Ireland,  and 
aescendants  of  that  sturdy  Scotch-Irish 
race  that  predominates  in  the  North. 
Andrew  Monteith,  who  was  a  farmer  and 
ropemaker  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  emi- 
grated, in  1864,  with  his  family  to  the 
United  States,  and  landing  at  Philadelphia 
proceeded  at  once  to  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
where  two  of  his  brothers-in-law  already 
resided.  In  1882  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Ne*v  Haven  township,  and  later  bought 
a  second  tract  two  miles  south  of  Plymouth, 
in  Richland  county,  where  he  now  resides. 
Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Andrew 
and  Mary  A.  (Smith)  Monteith,  William 
is  the  eldest. 

AVilliam  Monteith  came  to  Ohio  when 
three  years  old.  He  received  a  practical 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ply- 
mouth, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
accepted  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  that  place.  His 
services  in  this  capacity  were  so  well  ap- 
preciated, that  in  January,  1886,  he  was 
promoted  to  cashier,  vice  W.  B.  Cuyken- 
dall,  who  had  resigned,  and  he  still  holds 
the  position,  giving  perfect  satisfaction  to 
patrons  and  stockholders. 

Politically  a  Republican,  he  takes  an 
active  interest  in  pul)lic  affaire,  always 
giving  his  party  a  loyal  support,  and  he 
has  served  as  treasurer  both  of  the  town- 
ship and  town.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
Plymouth  Savings  Building  and  Loan 
Association,  and  a  stockholder  in  that 
company;  is  also  a  director  and  treasurer 


324 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  the  Cline  Eno-ine  and  Machine  Coin- 
pany,  and  is  interested  in  every  possible 
way  in  the  development  of  trade  and  in- 
dustry in  Plymouth.  This  popular  young 
man  is  self-made  by  intelligence  and 
earnestness,  for  to  all  enterprises,  with 
which  he  associates  himself,  he  gives  his 
best  thought  and  labor,  and  makes  success 
attend  it. 


P\IIILIP  EKF,  a  prominent,  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Peru  township, 
was  born  January  13.  1881,  in 
jMassau,  Gerniany,  and  immigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  1852. 
His  father,  Jacob  Erf,  was  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  in  which  country  he  married 
Catherine  Spangkus,  who  bore  him  the 
following  children:  Philip,  Catherine, 
Anthony  and  Jacob.  In  1853  the  parents, 
with  their  three  younger  children,  immi- 
grated to  America,  settling  in  Lyme  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  their  son 
Philip  had  previously  purchased  a  farm. 
Here  thej'  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  Mrs.  Erf  dying  in  1875,  Mr.  Erf  in 
1889.  Politically  he  was  an  independent 
Democrat,  and  in  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Church. 

Philip  Erf  received  a  common-school 
training  in  his  native  country,  being  fairly 
educated  for  a  young  man  of  his  time. 
He  remained  in  Germany  until  1852, 
when  (as  above  related)  he  sailed  for  the 
United  States,  taking  passage  for  ^ew 
York  from  London,  England,  the  voyage 
occupying  thirty-one  days.  After  land- 
ing he  proceeded  westward  to  Ohio,  travel- 
ing by  canal,  railroad  and  lake  to  San- 
dusky, and  thence  went  to  Monroeville, 
where  he  obtained  work  as  a  farm  hand  at 
eight  dollars  per  month.  A  poor  German 
lad,  honest  and  energetic,  he  went  to  work 
with  a  will,  saved  his  earnings,  and  within 
a  few  years  established  himself  as  a  land- 
owner. On  October  18,  1856,  he  married 
Dora  Heyman,   also   a   native  of  Nassau, 


Germany,  daughter  of  William  Heyman; 
she  crossed  the  ocean  on  the  same  vessel 
as  Mr.  Erf,  though  at  the  time  of  their 
emigration  they  were  entire  strangers. 
After  his  marriage  our  subject  located  on 
the  farm  where  he  still  resides,  and  which 
at  one  time  he  worked  in  partnership  with 
his  father-in-laW.  Since  his  location  in 
Peru  township  Mr.  Erf  has  followed 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
few  if  any  of  the  farmers  of  the  town- 
ship have  been  more  successful.  He  now 
owns  over  500  acres  of  excellent  laud,  on 
which  stands  one  of  the  finest  brick  resi- 
dences in  the  township.  The  barn  equals 
anything  in  the  district,  and  the  whole 
farm  gives  evidence  of  progressiveness 
and  thrift.  If  the  title  of  the  most  sys- 
tematic farmer  can  be  consistently  be- 
stowed on  any  one  farmer  in  Peru  town- 
ship, Philip  Erf  well  deserves  it.  Aside 
from  some  property  received  from  his  wife 
his  wealth  is  the  accumulation  of  his  own 
industry.  His  land  is  to-day  worth  thirty- 
five  thousand  dollars;  the  stock  which  he 
raises  always  commands  the  highest  prices, 
and  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm  only  the 
most  improved  machinery  and  farm  imple- 
ments are  used.  As  a  business  man  and 
financier  his  influence  is  keenly  felt,  and 
his  decisions  have  great  weight  in  his  com- 
munity. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erf  have  children 
as  follows:  William,  a  farmer  of  Lyme 
township;  Lydia,  Mrs.  August  Horn,  of 
Lyme  township;  and  Lewis  and  Oscar,  at 
home.  Politically  he  is  Republican,  is  an 
enthusiastic  party  man,  and  has  tilled 
several  township  othees.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Protestant  Church  at 
Monroeville. 


W.  OSBORN,  the  leading  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Greenwich,  was 
born  November  30,  1858,  in  Ma- 
honing county,  Ohio,  and  received 
a  common-school  education  in  the  schools 
of  Youngstown,  same  State.     He  learned 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


325 


the  tinner's  trade,  and  worked  at  same  for 
teu  years  before  establishing  his  present 
business. 

On  September  20,  1883,  Mr.  Osborn 
establislied  liis  present  house  at  Green- 
wich. A  practical  tradesman  himself,  he 
started  on  a  small  scale,  gradually  in- 
creasing his  stock  to  meet  his  growing 
trade,  and  thus  built  up  on  a  solid  founda- 
tion a  prosperous  business.  lie  handles 
hardware,  stoves,  tin  and  copper  ware  and 
queensware.  keeping  in  each  department 
a  large  and  varied  assortment  of  goods, 
making  a  specialty  of  paints,  oils,  var- 
nishes, etc.,  and  tin  and  sheet-iron  work. 
His  store  occupies  a  building  20  x  70  feet 
in  area.  On  November  12,  1889,  he  mar- 
ried Annetta  Patterson,  by  whom  two  chil- 
dren were  l)orn:  Mabel  Estelle,  August  12, 
1890.  and  Mildred  Virginia,  June  12, 1893. 
Mrs.  Osborn's  parents,  Robert  and  Mary 
Patterson,  are  Irish  and  Scotch  respect- 
ively. 

Mr.  Osborn  is  a  Republican  politically, 
lias  served  as  member  of  the  Greenwich 
council,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  An  active  participant  in  public 
enterpt-ises,  he  gives  a  lilieral  share  of  his 
time  to  questions  afftcting  the  well  being 
of  the  town  and  tuwnshij)  of  Greenwich. 
In  religious  connection  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  His  parents, 
Freeman  and  Susan  (^Strauss)  Osborn,  are 
descended  from  English  and  Dutch  pio- 
neers of  Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in  Ohio 
at  an  early  day. 


THOMAS  L.  MEAD,  grandson  of 
Calvin  Mead,  was  born  in  Green- 
wich township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
November  28, 1830.  Luther  Mead, 
son  of  Calvin,  was  born  on  his 
father's  farm  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,  in 
1790.  When  a  young  man  he  married 
Annis  Mead,  a  native  of  AVestchester 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  took  her  to  his  home 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  had  pre- 
viously established   himself   in   mercantile 


life.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  Ludlow- 
ville,  where  he  started  a  dry-goods  store, 
and  carried  on  business  until  1826,  when 
he  and  family  went  to  Greenwich,  Con- 
necticut. 

In  1830  Luther  Mead,  his  wife  and 
three  children  set  out  on  a  journey  to  the 
"Firelands"  in  Ohio,  traveling  via  Albany 
and  Buffalo  to  Sandusky  (at  that  time 
called  Portland),  and  thence  by  wagon  via 
Norwalk  to  Greenwich  township,  where 
his  father,  Calvin  Mead,  had  purchased 
1,100  acres  of  wild  land.  He  deeded  to 
Luther  500  acres,  anil  on  this  tract  the 
pioneers  erected  a  cabin.  In  tlii.s  pioneer 
cabin  were  born  two  childreu,  viz.:  Thomas 
L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Annie 
M.,  a  resident  of  Greenwich  township. 
The  father  of  these  children  died  on  the 
original  farm  January  11,  1876,  and  the 
mother  in  March,  1886,  both  being  in- 
terred in  the  Fitchville  cemetery.  Luther 
Mead  was  a  Whig  until  the  Republicans 
were  organized,  and  for  twenty  years  was 
a  faithful  iidherent  of  the  new  party.  In 
religious  connection  he  and  his  wife 
were  early  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Fitchville,  and  among  its  most 
zealous  supj)orters.  On  one  occasion  Mr. 
Mead  saw  a  few  boys  desecrating  the  Sab- 
bath Day  by  bathing  in  a  mil!  pond,  and 
approaching  them  invited  them  to  his 
home  to  attend  Sabbath-school.  The  boys, 
now  clean,  good-natured  and  vigorous  after 
their  bath,  accepted  the  invitation  and  ap- 
peared in  due  time  at  the  Mead  cabin. 
The  Sabbath  school  was  thus  opened  for 
the  first  time  in  Greenwich  township. 

Thomas  L.  Mead  received  an  elementary 
education  in  the  public  school  of  his  dis- 
trict, and  passed  a  short  term  in  the 
schools  of  Milan,  Ohio.  School  days  over 
he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1855, 
on  November  30  of  which  year  he  married 
Allathea  P.  Finch,  who  was  born  April 
23,  1834,  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,  daughter 
of  Gilbert  P.  and  Allathea  (Peck)  Finch. 
She  visited  a  sister  who  resided  in  Huron 
count}',  and    here  met   Mr.  Mead   for  the 


326 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tirst  time.  To  thein  tlio  following  named 
children  were  born:  Luther  11.,  now  over- 
seer of  Dr.  Parker's  elegant  country  seat 
at  New  Canaan,  Conn.;  Joseph  A.,  a  car- 
penter, of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Edward  L.,  a 
fanner;  Annis  M.,  now  Mrs.  E.  D.  Nick- 
ersoM,  of  Fiiidlay,  Ohio;  Gilbert  F.,  of 
Greenwich  township;  Allathea  C.  and 
Thonjas  L.,  Jr.,  residing  at  home,  and 
Anna  D.  The  firstborn  was  a  daughter  un- 
named, who  died  in  infancy;  another  child, 
Marcus  L.,  died  in  youth.  The  present 
farm  has  been  the  family  home  since  1855, 
with  the  exce])tion  of  two  years,  when  the 
parents  resided  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  to  super- 
intend the  education  of  their  children  in 
Oberlin  College.  Mr.  Mead  is  a  man  well 
endowed  with  common  sense  and  good 
judgment,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  his  township.  Politically 
a  Republican,  he  gives  loyal  support  to  his 
party,  and  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  six  years.  lie  is  a  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Greenwich,  of 
which  his  wife  and  several  children  are 
also  members,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury he  has  discharged  the  duties  of  Sun- 
day-school superintendent. 


^J 


t /I  ICEIAEL  E.  FEWSON,  a  promi- 
1^1  iient  agriculturist  and  worthy  citi- 
I]  zen  of  Green  Held  township,  was 
born  March  17,  1841,  at  Burton, 
Yorkshire,  England. 
His  father,  David  Fevvson,  was  a  laborer 
in  Yorkshire,  and  there  married  Johanna 
Scribner,  to  whom  six  children  were  born 
in  England,  namely:  John  R,  who  died 
in  his  native  land;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  George 
Billard,  of  Norwich  township;  John,  a 
sawyer  of  Richmond  township;  Robert,  of 
Surry  county,  Va. ;  Michael  E.,  of  Huron 
county,  and  Jane,  who  married  Charles 
O'Connell.  In  1852  the  family  emigrated 
from  England  to  the  United  States.  Sailing 
from  Liverpool  in  the  clipper-ship  "  Rap- 
pahannock," Capt.  Cushion,   they    arrived 


at  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  seven 
weeks.  From  that  city  the  family  trav- 
eled by  railroad  to  Havana,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  via  Buffalo  and  Sandusky.  His 
son-in-law,  George  Billard,  had  already 
settled  in  the  neighborhood;  so  that,  how- 
ever strange  the  land  appeared,  they  were 
not  altogether  among  strangers.  Mr. 
Fewson  rented  a  log  house  in  Norwich 
township  at  one  dollar  per  month,  and  re- 
sided there  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1884.     His  wife  died  in  1879. 

Michael  E.  Fewson  was  nine  years  old 
when  the  family  settled  in  the  United 
States.  He  received  a  primary  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  Norwich  town- 
ship, was  granted  his  time  by  the  father  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  entered  on 
life  for  himself.  The  first  money  he 
earned  was  a  dime,  which  was  paid  him  by 
the  late  Dr.  McCammon  to  the  young 
guide  who  led  biin  through  the  thicket  to 
the  cabin  of  Clark  Eddy,  who  was  suffer- 
ing from  fever  and  ague.  Soon  after  our 
subject  found  employment  in  a  sawmill  as 
engineer,  and  later  he  went  to  work  in  a 
clearing,  being  so  engaged  up  to  the  time 
of  his  enlistment  in  August,  1863,  for  five 
years  State  duty  in  Company  E,  Sixty- 
tiiird  O.  Y.  I.,  commanded  by  Capt.  A.  B. 
Gilson.  On  May  2,  1864,  this  organiza- 
tion was  called  on  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment for  one  hundred  days  United  States 
service,  Capt.  Gilson  being  elected  major 
of  tliat  regiment  on  the  same  day.  They 
were  ordered  to  Camp  Taylor,  city  of 
Cleveland,  arriving  on  the  third,  and  were 
there  joined  by  the  Seventy-ninth  Battal- 
ion from  Medina  county.  Ohio.  They 
were  examined  on  the  6th  and  7th  and 
mustered  in  on  the  8th;  and  were  then 
known  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
sixth  Regiment  O.  N.  G.  Vols.  In  the 
re-organization  Mr.  Fewson  was  attached 
to  Company  H,  commanded  by  Capt.  B. 
F.  McCormick.  His  term  of  service  ex- 
pired September  10,  18(34,  and  he  then  re- 
turned to  Huron  county,  where  he  resumed 
work  in  a  sawmill. 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


327 


On  November  2,  I860,  Mr.  Feweon 
married  Sarah  E.  Dailey,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Dailey,  a  native  of  New  York, 
who  had  settled  in  Greenfield  township, 
where  Sarah  was  born  May  2,  1839.  The 
children  by  this  inarria<;e  are  Burton  E., 
Nellie  M.,  Minnie  M.,  William  G.,  Dessie 
D.  and  Harry  D.,  all  residing  with  their 
parents.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fewson  settled  on  a  rented  farm  in  Green- 
field townsiiip;  later  he  purchased  ten 
acres  iu  Norwich  township,  of  which  tract 
he  gave  his  parents  a  life  lease;  subse- 
quently he  moved  to  Bronson  township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  carried 
on  a  meat  market,  selling  from  a  wagon  to 
the  people.  In  1878  he  returned  to  Green- 
field township,  and  located  on  his  present 
farm  of  114  acres.  In  a  decade  and  a 
half  his  labors  have  won  him  a  valuable 
property,  and  have  given  him  a  home  of 
whicli  many  an  older  man  might  feel 
proud.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Gov- 
ernor John  Brough,  of  Ohio,  in  1863,  and 
for  the  last  thirty  years  he  has  been  a 
faithful  Republican.  With  the  exception 
of  various  township  positions,  which  he 
has  been  called  upon  to  till,  he  has  never 
sought  otiice,  being  content  with  the  serv- 
ice he  yields  the  party  in  the  rank  and 
file  of  voters. 


EiDWIN  L.  DOLE,  a  well  and  favor- 
ably known   agriculturist   of   Lyme 
I  township,  Huron  county,  was   born 

April  21,  1842,  in  Ashtield,  Mass., 
a  son  of  Orrin  and  Lncinda  (Kemp)  Dole. 
The  Dole  family  are  of  French  extraction, 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio,  and 
have  always  been  distinguished  forhonesty, 
true  worth  and  irreproachable  character. 

Orrin  Dole  was  born  November  1,  1806, 
in  Massachusetts,  where  he  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  acquired  habits 
of  thrift  and  perseverance  that  were  of 
great  benefit  to  him  in  after  life.  He 
also  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed that  until   1843,  at   wliich  time  he 


moved  west  and  located  in  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  numbered  among  the 
pioneers  who  were  telling  trees,  building 
log  cabins  and  transforming  a  wilderness 
into  fertile  farms.  In  his  new^  home  he 
began  agricultural  pursuits,  an  occupation 
he  continued  to  follow  up  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  16, 1872.  He  was 
popular  with  his  neighbors,  and  was  sev- 
eral times  elected  trustee  for  Lyme  town- 
ship. Orrin  Dole  was  married  October 
18,  1827,  to  Miss  Lucinda  Kemp,  born 
January  25,  1808,  also  of  Massachusetts, 
and  eight  children  blessed  their  union, 
viz.:  D.  W.,  Fidelia  J.  (Mrs.  Samuel 
Taylor,  deceased),  Harriet  A.  (deceased 
wife  of  Ely  Coolej),  George  S.,  Orrin, 
Edwin  L.,  Henry  S.  (deceased)  and 
Julia  E.  (Mrs.  J.  B.  Stocking).  Mrs. 
Dole  died  November  15,  1884.  The 
family  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  of  which  they  were  all  liberal 
supporters. 

Edwin  L.  Dole  was  only  a  year  old 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and 
his  early  life  was  one  of  vicissitude  and 
hard  work.  He  received  such  education 
as  was  afi'orded  by  the  district  schools  of 
Lyme  township,  and  found  leisure  time  to 
cultivate  his  mind,  and  acquired  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1854  he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  about 
two  miles  from  Bellevue,  comprising  128 
acres  of  valuable  land,  and  here  he  gives 
his  attention  to  farming  and  the  manu- 
facture of  vinegar.  He  has  served  two 
terms  as  township  treasurer  and  is  highly 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  His 
younger  brother,  Henry,  was  in  the  Civil 
war,  and  engaged  in  active  service  two 
years  in  Company  G,  Fifty-fifth  Regi- 
ment, O.  V.  I.  Our  subject  was  married 
December  24,  1865,  to  Miss  Susan  Ed- 
wards, who  died  February  7,  1879,  leaving 
three  children:  Louise  M.,  Fidelia  ej. 
and  Orrin.  On  December  30,  1880,  Mr. 
Dole  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Kramb,  of 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  who  bore  him  one 
child,  Elizabeth   (deceased).      His   second 


328 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wife  passed  away  M.ay  24,  1885,  and  on 
June  8,  1886,  Mr.  Dole  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mi-s.  Aura  Northam,  of 
Huron  county,  born  November  12,  1853, 
in  Cliestervilie,  Morrow  Co.,  Ohio, 
daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  Laycox. 
Joseph  Layco.x  (l)orn  October  1,  1825), 
and  Deborah  DeCainp  (born  February  27, 
1832)  uere  l)oth  natives  of  this  country, 
but  were  of  French  extraction.  Joseph 
Laycox  was  a  member  of  Company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Regiment 
O.  N.  G.,  and  died  at  Fort  Williams,  Va., 
August  20,  1864.  He  was  a  fine  and 
noble  young  man,  and  was  esteemed  and 
respected  t)y  all  who  knew  him.  Deborah 
Laycox,  an  estimable  Christian  lady,  is 
still  living,  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter.  Mrs.  E.  L.  Dole. 


T.  FRANCLS  William  Francis, 
great-grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Wales, 
was  an  admiral  in  the  British 
navy  under  Lord  Nelson,  and  saw  the  hero 
of  Trafalgar  ro(;ei\e  his  death  wound.  He 
received  an  honorable  discharge  from  the 
British  government  in  1808,  and  the  same 
year  cauK!  to  Canada,  settling  at  Gravely 
Bay.  When  the  war  of  1812  broke  out 
he  was  made  brigadier-general,  and  served 
until  the  beginning  of  the  year  1815. 
About  that  time  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Dixon,  a  neighbor  of  his  from  Gravely 
Bay,  formed  a  small  foraging  com]>any, 
and  joined  the  United  States.  This  I)ixoa 
owned  a  little  vessel,  and  with  his  fol- 
lowers would  cross  into  Canada  to  plunder; 
but  ffreat-grandt'ather  Francis  caught  three 
of  the  gang  and  they  were  shot,  Dixon  es- 
caping, however,  to  the  United  States  with 
his  plunder.  Shortly  after  that  event 
Francis  was  taken  sick  at  his  own  home, 
at  which  time  Dixon  and  his  gang,  again 
returning  to  Canada,  surrounded  the  house 
which  they  set  on  fire,  burning  all  within, 
and  while  loading  their  plunder  on  his 
vessel,  a  party  of  Canadians  collected  and 


killed  five  of  the  gang,  among  them  being 
Dixon  himself,  who  was  shot  by  Abra- 
ham Savitz,  a  neighbor  of  Dixon's  before 
the   war. 

Thomas  Francis,  grandfather  of  W.  T., 
came  to  Canada  with  his  father  in  1808, 
and  enlisting  in  the  war  of  1812  was  made 
captain,  in  which  rank  he  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  twice  wounded. 
He  was  married  in  1817  to  Electa  Wag- 
ner, who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1797,  and  came  to  Canada  with  her  parents 
in  1816.  Her  father  was  colonel  in  the 
British  army.  As  soon  as  married  the 
young  couple  settled  on  a  farm  at  New 
Sayrum,  Elgin  county,  Ontario,  where  she 
now  lives,  quite  hearty,  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  almost  ninety-eight  years.  Grand- 
father Francis  followed  farming  until 
1860,  in  which  year  he  died  leaving  a 
family  of  eleven  children — five  sons  and 
six  daughters. 

William  Francis,  father  of  subject,  was 
the  eldest  in  the  family,  and  was  born  in 
1817  at  New  Sayrum.  In  1842  he  was 
married  to  Matilda  Doan,  daughter  of  Jo- 
nathan Doan,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  wi.tli  his  family  moved 
to  Canada  before  the  war  of  1812, 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Elo-jn  county,  Ontario. 
William  Francis  also  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Elgin  county,  three  miles  from  St. 
Thomas,  where  he  still  lives.  His  wife 
died  in  February,  1854,  leaving  three 
children — all  sons — named  respectively 
John  D.,  William  T.  and  George.  In 
1857  the  father  married  Helen  Hepburn, 
whose  parents  came  from  Scotland,  and  of 
this  union  three  children  were  born — two 
daughters  and  one  son — Catherine,  Ellen 
and  Robert.  This  wife  dying  in  1862,  Mr. 
Francis,  in  1865,  married  Jessie  Davidson, 
a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  six 
children  came  to  them — four  sons  and  two 
daughters — James,  Wellington,  Charles, 
Nettie,  Eva  and  Arthur,  of  whom  James 
and  Charles  are  in  the  western  States; 
Wellino-ton  is  at  home,  having  charge  of 
the  farm;   the  two  daughters   and  Arthur 


'yV^OVt^€yt^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


331 


are  also  living  at  home.  Robert  Francis 
owns  and  is  living  on  the  old  homestead  at 
New  Sayruni,  where  our  t^uhject's  fatlier 
was  born  (lie  is  married  and  has  three  chil- 
dren); Catherine  is  married  to  Franlc 
Hathaway,  a  farmer;  Ellen  is  married  to 
William  Gnest,  an  engineer,  and  is  living 
in  Bay  City,  Mich.  Jolin  D.  Francis,  the 
eldest  son  of  William  Francis,  was  born 
June  22,  1848;  he  is  a  blacksmith  l)y 
trade,  and  carries  on  a  lucrative  business 
at  Shedden,  Ontario;  he  married  Maggie 
Shaw,  a  farmer's  daughter,  and  they  have 
two  cliildren  living,  one  having  died. 
George  Francis  was  born  January  8,  1853, 
is  still  single,  and  is  on   his  farm   near  St. 

o 

Thomas,  ()ntario. 

W.  T.  Francis,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  July  27,  1850.  It 
was  his  father's  desire  to  give  him  a  classi- 
cal education,  and  he  remained  at  home, 
going  to  school  until  the  year  1868,  when 
the  desire  to  be  in  business  for  himself 
overcame  his  better  judgment  and  the 
wishes  of  his  father.  Without  money,  and 
refusing  assistance  in  any  respect,  he  left 
home  in  the  month  of  June,  and  secured  a 
situation  with  a  farmer  by  the  name  of 
William  Down,  near  London,  Ontario. 
From  him  he  received  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen dollars  and  board  for  five  months'  work, 
and  this  money  he  changed  for  two  and  a 
half  and  five-dollar  gold  pieces,  and  some 
silver  half   dollars,  all  United  States  coin. 

In  the  fall  of  1808  he  left  Canada,  and 
proceeding  to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  there 
sold  his  gold  and  silver  coin  for  just 
double  their  face  value  to  the  Yankees  for 
pocket  pieces,  such  coin  being  very  rare  at 
that  time  on  account  of  the  premium  on 
gold  and  silver,  "green-backs"  and  '-shin 
plasters  "  being  the  only  money  in  circula- 
tion. His  uncle,  Titus  Doan,  a  railroad 
contractor,  being  at  that  time  employed 
by  the  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  the  construction  of  that  road  from 
Grand  Rapids  to  Jackson,  Mich.,  through 
him  our  subject  got  employment,  at  first 
in  charge  of  men,  then  as  overseer  of  his 

18 


contracts,  and  timber  purchasing  agent  for 
the  Railroad  (Company.  There  he  remained 
till   1871,    when    he    returned    home,   but 
again  left  in  the  spring  of  1873,  coming  to 
Newark,  Ohio,'  where   May  25,  1873,  he 
found  employment  as  freight  brakeman  on 
the  Lake  Erie  division  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio   Railroad.     On   November  9,  of  that 
year,  he  was  injured  at  Monroeville,  Ohio, 
while    coupling  curs,   in     consequence    of 
which  he  was  laid    up  four   months.     On 
May   1,   1875,   he  was  promoted  to  fi'eight 
conductor,    and     until     1878     was    con- 
ductor   on    local     fi-eigiit,    wrecking,    and 
construction  trains,  also  as  extra  passerjger 
conductor.     In  1878  he  was  made  I'egular 
conductor   of    an   accomodation   train    be- 
tween   Newark   and   Sandusky,    Ohio;    in 
1881  was  put  on  the  through  runs    from 
Sandusky    to   Whfeling,   W.  Va.,  and  in 
1884  was  put  on  the  limited  trains  making 
the  run  from  Wheeling,  W.    Va.,   to   Chi- 
cago,   111.,    covering  the   distance  of   468 
miles,   and   in   four  different   States   each 
trip — West    Virginia,  Ohio,   Indiana  and 
Illinois.      In    July,   1884,    he   was    placed 
back  on  the  Sandusky  and  Wheeling  runs. 
On  December  1,  1885,  he   was  appointed 
general  agent  and  yard  master  at  Chicago 
Junction,    Ohio,    which   position    he    held 
until  December  1,  1S87,  at  which   date  he 
gave  that  up  to  again  take  the  old  position 
as  passenger  conductor  on   the   Ohio  divi- 
sions.    Removing  to   Sandusky,  Ohio,   he 
there  remained  until  February,   ISiJl,  and 
then  returned    to   Chicago   Junction.      As 
passenger  conductor  Mr.  Francis  has   been 
remarkably  fortunate,  having,  in  over  six- 
teen years  of  such   service,    had    only    one 
passenger  injured  (caused  by  the  passenger 
himself  being  intoxicated),  and  in  all  that 
time  has  never  had  but  two  pair  of  wheels 
off  the  track.   No  one  appreciates  this  good 
fortune  more  than  himself. 

Chicago  Junction  in  thespringof  1876, 
with  a  population  of  less  than  1,000,  was 
quite  dull,  l)ut  Mr.  Francis  assisted  in  in- 
spiring new  life  into  it  by,  among  other 
improvements,    making  the  Baltimore  & 


882 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ohio  Park  at  that  place,  and  by  arousing 
the  citizens  to  get  up  an  old-fashioned 
"  Fuurtii  of  July  Celebration."  The  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  advertised  it  extensively,  and 
the  consequence  was  that  over  thiee  thou- 
sand people  came  in  to  celebrate,  and  went 
home  Well  pleased,  witii  a  more  kindly 
feeling  than  before  for  Chicago  Junction. 
From  this  on  the  town  made  a  fresh  start 
with  a  growth  which  as  yet  has  not  been 
retarded,  as  the  population  of  2,300  of  to- 
day amply  proves.  In  May,  1891,  Mr. 
Francis  purchased  that  part  of  the  William 
Motson  estate  on  the  east  side  of  the  rail- 
road, together  with  the  famous  Deer  Lick 
Mineral  Springs;  laid  out  a  large  addition 
in  lots;  graded  streets  and  sidewalks;  built 
a  number  of  fine  i-esidences,  which  he  sold, 
with  several  of  the  lots,  cheap  and  on  easy 
terms,  whereby  many  procured  homes  who 
would  not  have  been  able  to  do  so  under 
other  circumstances.  He  has  improved  the 
surroundings  of  Deer  Lick  Springs,  and 
given  the  citizens  the  tree  nse  of  the  water; 
is  now  building  on  the  grounds  a  large 
Sanitarium  bath-house  on  the  latest  im- 
proved plans,  where  all  the  different  baths 
will  be  given  as  at  other  water-cures.  The 
natural  surroundings  of  these  springs  are 
beautiful,  no  less  than  seven  different  kinds 
of  water  flowing  out  within  a  space  of  300 
feet,  among  them  being  one  of  white 
sulphur  and  one  of  iron.  With  the  medici- 
nal qualities  of  these  waters,  the  surround- 
ings and  location,  together  with  the  im- 
provements above  named,  designate  Deer 
Lick  Mineral  Springs  to  become  famous 
the  world  over. 

On  September  1,  1875.  Mr.  Francis  was 
married  to  Rettie  M.  Holler,  of  Newark, 
Ohio,  the  daughter  of  Eliasand  Mary  Jane 
Holler,  and  four  children  were  born  to 
their  union,  two  of  whom  are  living,  viz.: 
Myrtle  Delia,  born  September  24^  1877, 
and  AVillard  Thomas,  born  January  12, 
1888.  Two  sons  were  taken  away  in  early 
life:  Willie  Earl,  born  July  28,  1880, died 
September  1,  same  year,  and  Walter  Mer- 
ton,  a  remarkably  bright  child,  born  July 


13,  1882,  died  of  diphtheria  June  9,  1885. 
Mrs.  Francis  has  always  been  a  kindly 
wife,  and  true  mother  to  her  children, 
never  allowing  the  care  of  tliem  to  others, 
and  sharing  alike  with  her  husband  the 
buidens  of  sickness  and  misfortune.  lie 
says  of  her  with  honest  pride:  "She  is 
entitled  to  her  share  of  credit  for  any  good 
I  may  have  done,  worthy  of  mention." 


LEXANDER  LEWIS,  who  is  a 
son  of  Philip  Lewis,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Huron  county,  holds  a  high 
rank  among  the  representative  agri- 
culturists of  northern  Ohio. 
Philip  Lewis  was  born  in  1788  in  Lewis 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  7'eared  on  a  farm. 
In  the  spring  of  1816  he  took  a  lumber 
raft  down  the  Susquehanna,  the  timber 
having  been  '-taken  out"  during  the  pre- 
ceding winter,  at  the  headwaters  of  that 
river.  On  delivering  the  raft  at  its  des- 
tination he  received  his  winter's  pay,  and 
immediately  set  out  for  Ohio,  with  the  in- 
tention of  making  a  home  here.  The 
journey  across  the  Alleghany  mountains 
was  made  on  foot,  and  the  youth  reached 
the  site  of  Manstield  (then  a  village  of  a 
few  huts  and  a  log  cabin)  in  safety.  The 
conditions  surrounding  the  title  to  the 
land  in  and  around  Mansfield  were  then 
unsatisfactory  to  buyers,  so  that  Philip 
Lewis  had  to  seek  another  location.  Walk- 
ing north  to  Plymouth,  Huron  county,  he 
began  work  for  a  settler  named  Barney, 
and  earned  a  little  money  clearing  land. 
Having  learned  something  of  the  district 
in  which  he  sojourned,  he  went  down  to 
Greenfield  township,  and  purchasing  a 
tract  of  200  acres  at  three  dollars  per  acre, 
erected  a  cabin  thereon,  cleared  a  small 
area  and  planted  some  corn.  In  the  fall 
of  1816  he  returned  to  his  native  county, 
where,  in  the  spring  of  1817,  he  married 
Louisa  Coleman,  who  was  born  in  1796, 
in  Oneida  county,  X.  Y.,  and  immediately 
afterward  the  young  couple  set  out  for  the 
partially  made  home  in  Ohio,  making  the 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


333 


journey  along  the  lake  shore,  soinetimes 
traveling  on  the  ice,  in  a  wagon  drawn  by 
one  horse.  Here  the  following  named 
children  were  born  to  them:  Maria,  born 
September  18,  1818,  who  was  burned  to 
death  in  1821,  while  left  alone  in 
the  cabin  by  her  mother;  David,  born 
July  24,  1820,  who  graduated  from 
Cleveland  Medical  College,  was  a  physi- 
cian at  New  Haven,  Ohio,  and  also 
in  the  Qnincy  (HI)  Hospital  until  his 
death  at  Ashland,  111.,  December  15,  1880; 
Eli,  born  Angnst  24,  1822,  studied  law, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practiced  at 
Juneau,  Dodge  Co.,  Wis.,  until  his  death 
there  in  1890;  Alexander,  born  October  3, 
1824,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  James, 
horn  September  28, 1826,  taught  school  in 
several  townships  of  Huron  county,  and 
afterward  moved  to  Fort  Worth,  Texas, 
where  he  died;  Philander,  born  June  28, 
1829,  is  now  a  lawyer  of  Juneau,  Wis.; 
Philena  (twin  sister  of  Philander),  who 
married  John  Worley,  and  died  in  Illinois; 
Lyman,  born  September  25,  1832,  died  in 
youth  ;  Alvira,  born  May  22, 1835,  married 
Augustus  Colvin,  and  died  at  New  Haven, 
Ohio:  and  Lorenzo,  who  died  in  youth. 
The  mother  of  this  large  family  died  Sep- 
tember 2,  1848,  and  the  falher  August  17, 
1859.  Both  are  buried  in  the  Greenfield 
cemetery.  Philip  Lewis  was  a  farmer, 
lawyer  and  politician,  a  very  active  man. 
Loaning  money  without  good  collateral 
was  one  of  his  faults;  if  he  had  others 
they  were  buried  with  him.  In  Church 
connection  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  and  in 
politics  a  Democrat. 

Alexander  Lewis  was  born  in  CTreenfield 
township,  received  his  prima,ry  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  district,  and 
subsequently  worked  on  the.  home  farm. 
On  October  11,  1849,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Martha  M.  Gunn,  who  was 
born  November  2,  1829,  at  Danby,  Tomp- 
kins Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  in  1834,  witii  her  parents,  John  and 
Martha  M.  (Fletcher)  Gunn.  The  Gunns 
located  in  Greenfield  township,  and  resided 


there  until  1849  when  they  moved  to  Nor- 
wich township,  where  John  Gunn  died  in 
1880.  and  his  widow  in  1891.  Alexander 
and  Martha  M.  Lewis  have  one  son,  an 
only  child,  Augustine  W.,  born  February 
11,  1859,  in  Greenfield  township.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  part  at  the  district 
schools  of  the  locality  of  his  home,  in  part 
at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  he  is  now  a  farmer 
living  on  the  homestead.  On  January  28, 
1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  at  Juneau, 
Dodge  Co.,  Wis.,  with  Miss  Annie  M. 
Travis,  and  two  children  have  come  to 
brighten  their  home,  viz.:  Clarence  A., 
born  in  Juneau,  Wis.,  October  26,  1875, 
and  Ada  L.,  born  in  Greenfield  March  10, 
1879.  They  represent  the  fourth  genera- 
tion that  have  occupied  the  Philip  Lewis 
estate. 

Alexander  Lewis  resided  on  the  old 
Lewis  farm,  and  cared  for  his  father,  who 
was  an  invalid  for  some  time  prior  to  his 
death,  after  which  event  he  (Alexander) 
assumed  charge  of  the  estate,  and  settled 
with  all  the  heirs.  In  1871  his  new  home 
was  completed  and  occupied.  Since  the 
memorable  Lincoln  campaign  Mr.  Lewis 
has  been  a  Republican.  In  Church  rela- 
tion his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple 
Church,  and  unquestionably  one  of  the 
most  estimable  women  in  Huron  county. 
Mr.  Lewis  has  always  been  a  farmer,  and 
even  now,  when  approaching  his  seventieth 
year,  he  is  an  active  man  of  the  world,  en- 
joying labor  and  taking  pride  in  a  well- 
cultivated  and  improved  farm. 


GHAELES  A.  PAUL,  cashier  of  the 
Norwalk  Savings  Bank,  Norwalk,  is 
a  native  of  Huron  county,  born 
December  12,  1860,  a  son  of  J.  L. 
and  Eliza  (Delamater)  Paul,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  They  are  one  of  the  promi- 
nent families  of  the  county,  living  on  a 
stock  farm  two  miles  south  of  Norwalk, 
where  the  father  and  son  raise  and  deal  in 


334 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


line  stock  extensively,  and  in  this  line  are 
widely  and  favorably  known.  About  their 
household  is  an  air  of  comfort  and  unos- 
tentations  refinement,  in  itself  a  sufficient 
guarantee  that  their  son  was  given  those 
influences  and  advantages  that  are  adapted 
to  the  production  of  the  best  citizensliip. 

Our  subject  was  well  grounded  in  the 
fundamentals  of  au  English  education  in 
the  Norwalk  schools,  and,  passing  these, 
he  spent  the  next  three  years  at  the  Ohio 
State  University,  taking  a  special  course. 
Keturnincr  to  his  home  he  entered  into 
partnership  witli  his  fatlier  in  their  stock 
farm,  an  interest  in  which  he  still  retains, 
the  tinn  being  one  of  the  most  extensive 
buyers  and  sellers  of  line  stock  in  this  part 
of  Ohio.  Their  place  is  known  as  the 
"Norwalk  Stock  Farm." 

In  1891  C.  A.  Paul  went  to  Cleveland, 
and  was  employed  in  the  Arcade  Bank  of 
that  place,  biit  severed  this  connection  to 
return  to  Norwalk  and  take  his  present 
position  in  the  Norwalk  Savings  Bank,  of 
which  he  is  also  a  stockholder  and  director. 
He  was  married  on  June  28,  1893,  to  Miss 
Clara  B.  Cannon,  only  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cannon,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  It  is 
saving  nothing  more  than  what  the  records 
bear  out,  when  we  publish  the  fact  that  no 
young  man  in  the  county  stands  fairer  in 
the  public  estimation  than  Mr.  Paul. 


I(  NDREW  LOVE,  Jr.,  a  prominent 
j\  farmer  citizen  of  Townsend  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  tiie  same,  born 
April  10,  1842.  He  is  the  ninth 
child  in  a  family  of  twelve  children 
born  to  Andrew  and  Eliza  (Kelsey)  Love, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Catskill, 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the  latter  in  Monmouth 
county,  N.  J.,  of  English  and  Irish  de- 
scent, respectively. 

Andrew  Love,  Sr.,  was  born  April  1, 
1798,  and  received  but  a  very  limited  Eng- 
lish education  in  youth.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years  lie  was  bound  out  to  a  farmer  in 
his  native  county,  with  whom  he  remained 


until  he  attained  his  majority,  and  then 
went  to  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a  brickyard  until  the 
fall  of  1841,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Townsend  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
Here  he  was  employed  for  several  years  at 
anything  he  could  find  to  do,  working  by 
the  day  or  job  and  frequently  taking  con- 
tracts to  chop  and  clear  land.  He  cleared 
several  hundred  acres  of  land,  perhaps 
more  than  any  other  one  man  in  the  town- 
ship, and  in  about  1848  bought  fifty  acres 
of  wild  land  in  same  township  and  county 
(upon  which  our  subject  now  resides), 
where  he  engaged  in  manufacturing  staves, 
which  he  hauled  to  Milan,  then  the  nearest 
market,  where  many  thousands  were  dis- 
posed of.  In  1851,  after  having  partially 
improved  the  place,  he  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Wapello  county,  Iowa,  where  he 
bought  a  partially  improved  farm  and  en- 
gaged in  agriculture,  but  after  two  years, 
in  1853,  he  again  sold  out,  and  returned 
to  Townsend  township,  Huron  county, 
where  two  years  later,  in  1855,  he  bought 
a  place  adjoining  his  first  purchase.  Here 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
liis  death,  which  occurred  July  2U,  1869. 
His  father,  John  Love,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, where  he  received  a  meager  common- 
school  education.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  etnigrated  to  the  United  States,  landing 
at  New  York,  where  he  afterward  learned 
the  ship  carpenter's  trades  which  he  con- 
tinued to  follow  for  several  years,  or  until 
he  was  disabled  by  a  log  rolling  against 
and  crushing  his  left  limb.  His  death 
occurred  in  1838,  in  New  Jersey,  when  he 
was  about  sixty  years  old.  When  he  left 
England  he  brought  with  him  an  old  Bible, 
published  at  Oxford  in  1725,  which  is  now 
the  property  of  our  subject. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Love,  who  was  born  April 
15,  1808,  is  yet  living  and  resides  with  her 
son,  the  subject  of  our  sketch;  she  is  a 
devout  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Her  father,  James  Kelsey,  was  born  in 
Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  where  he  received 
a  good  education    in   English   and    mathe- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


335 


niatics  in  early  life.  At  the  age  of  thir- 
teen he  shipped  on  hoard  a  sailing  vessel 
as  cahin  boy,  steadily  advancing  from  one 
position  to  another,  at  a  very  early  age  at- 
taining the  rank  of  master  or  captain  of  a 
vessel,  which  he  continued  to  hold  until 
he  was  seventy-three  years  old,  having 
followed  the  high  seas  continuously  for 
sixty  years  in  the  waters  of  every  clime 
and  quarter  of  the  globe.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  his  native  place  and  had  two  sons, 
both  of  whom  followed  in  their  father's 
footsteps  and  became  captains  of  vessels, 
serving  as  such  till  their  ships  were 
wrecked  and  they  were  drowned,  both  be- 
ing wrecked  in  the  same  storm,  but  on 
different  vessels.  The  Kelsey  family  were 
among  the  stanch  patriots  in  New  Jersey, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  fortunes — 
civil  and  military — of  that  commonwealth 
in  early  days. 

Andrew  Love,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  an  ordinary  common- 
school  education  in  early  life,  and  remained 
with  his  parents,  sometimes  on  the  home 
place  and  at  other  times  working  out  by 
the  month,  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
On  February  15,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Fifty-fifth  ().  V.  I.,  joining 
the  regiment  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  early 
in  March,  after  which  he  served  with  his 
command  in  all  its  marches  and  encracre- 
raents  up  to  and  including  the  battle  of 
Resaca,  Ga.,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the 
left  hand,  sent  to  the  rear  and  subse- 
quently taken  to  a  hospital  at  Jefferson- 
ville,  Ind.,  where,  after  his  wound  had 
partially  healed,  he  was  taken  sick  and  re- 
moved to  a  hospital  at  Camp  Dennison, 
Ohio.  After  his  recover}'  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  just  before 
starting  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea,  upon  which  cam- 
paign he  accompanied  his  regiment,  suffer- 
ing very  severely  the  while  with  rheuma- 
tism, and  participated  in  all  the  subsequent 
battles  and  engagements  in  which  his  com- 
mand was  engaged  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washing- 


ton, D.  C,  and  was  finally  discharged  from 
the  service  July  20,  18(35,  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  After  liis  return  from  the  army  he 
chopped  wood  and  worked  by  the  month 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1867  commenced  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count on  the  old  home  place  in  Townsend 
township,  Huron  county,  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  and  where  he  has  since  been 
successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. The  farm,  consisting  of  seventy- 
five  acres,  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  here  he  has  built  a  good  house  and 
barn.  He  has  served  the  township  as 
trustee  and  in  various  other  official  posi- 
tions. Mr.  Love  was  married,  February 
2, 1867,  to  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Hoff,  a  native 
of  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  where  she  was 
born  August  22.  1839,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  O.  and  Elizabeth  (Aumack)  Hoff, 
both  natives  of  Monmouth  county,  N.  J., 
and  of  Holland- Dutch  descent.  One 
daughter  has  blessed  this  union,  Lizzie  A., 
now  Mrs.  S.  J.  Hawkins.  Samuel  O.  Hoff 
died  in  September,  1872,  in  his  sixty-sixth 
year.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hoff  is  yet  living, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Love.  The  Hoff  family 
were  among  the  very  earliest  of  the  Dutch 
settlers  of  New  Jersey,  and  among  their 
ancestors  was  a  lady  who  was  the  first 
white  woman  in  that  State.  Both  Mr. 
Love  and  his  wife  are  devout  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  at  East  Townsend.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  and  uncompromising 
Prohii)itionist,  and  he  is  one  of  the  well- 
known,  enterprising  and  respected  citizens 
of  the  community. 


TjOHN  S.  HESTER,  of  Norwich  town- 

k.  II    ship,  for  many    years    a  well-known 

^^    prosperous  citizen  of  the  county,  is  a 

native  of  Ohio,  born  in   Columbiana 

county  November  8,  1810. 

His  father,  Martin  Hester,  was  born  in 
Greene  county,  Penn.,  a  son  of  John 
Hester,    of    German    birth,  who  came  to 


336 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


America  when  a  young  man,  settling  in 
Greene  conntv,  Peiin.,  where  lie  carried  on 
a  farm  of  his  own,  and  followed  the  trade 
of  weaver.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Mason,  by  whom  there  were  three  sons — 
Martin,  John  and  Matthias — and  live 
daughters — Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Mary,  Mar- 
garet and  Emily.  From  Pennsylvania  he 
moved  with  his  family  to  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  where  he  continued  agricultural 
pursuits  and  weaving.  He  passed  from 
eartli  about  the  year  1825,  at  the  age  of 
si.\ty-tw-o  years.  Politically  he  was  a 
strong  WliijJ,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church. 

Martin  Hester,  eldest  son  of  this  pioneer, 
was  born  in  1787  in  Greene  county,  Penn., 
and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  at- 
tending: during  a  few  winter  months  the 
subscription  schools  of  the  locality.  He 
became  a  great  reader,  and  what  he  lacked 
in  education  he  made  up  amply  by  home 
study.  "When  his  parents  moved  to  Co- 
lumbiana county,  Ohio,  he  accompanied 
them,  and  farmed  there  some  four  or  five 
years  after  marriage,  removing  then  to 
Orange  township,  Richland  (now  Ashland) 
Co.,  Ohio.  At  that  time  this  was  the  ex- 
treme frontier  of  civilization,  and  if  there 
were  any  neighbors  north  of  tliem,  save 
"Redskins,"  they  never  heard  of  them. 
The  Indians  were  numerous,  and  wild  ani- 
mals, such  as  bears,  wolves  and  deer, 
roamed  the  dense  forest  at  will.  One  day 
Mrs.  Hester,  being  out  after  the  cows, 
found  a  very  young  deer,  so  small  that  she 
carried  it  hoiiie  in  her  apron,  and  kept  it 
as  a  pet  for  a  year  or  two.  In  Orange 
township  Mr.  Hester  owned  about  160 
acres  of  land,  and  there  lived  till  1824, 
when  he  came  to  Bronson  township, 
Huron  county,  settling  on  land  bought  of 
Judge  Southgate,  and  here  lie  spent  the 
rest  of  his  busy  life,  dying  iu  1870;  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1865.  In  1809  he 
had  married  Miss  Mary  Stough,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  John  Stough,  of  Fayette  county, 
Penn.,  and  to  this   union   were  born  live 


children,  all  of  whom  are  living  to-day  at 
advanced  ages,  none  being  under  seventy 
years  old.  Their  names  are  Joim  S.,  Eliza, 
Samuel,  Matthias  and  Martin  M.,  of  whom 
John  S.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Eliza 
married  Elisha  Savage,  of  Berea,  Ohio; 
Samuel  lives  in  Paxton,  111.;  Matthias  is 
in  Norwalk,  Ohio;  Martin  M.  is  in  Bron- 
son township,  on  the  old  homestead.  Tlie 
father  was  a  stanch  Whig  and  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in 
which  he  served  as  steward. 

John  S.  Hester,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  received  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion, as  his  boyhood  was  much  taken  up 
in  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  Be- 
ino-  fond  of  books, "  however,  and  gifted 
with  a  retentive  memory,  lie  was  not  long 
in  making  up  for  deficiency  in  that  respect. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  commenced  to 
learn  carpentry,  at  which  he  worked  three 
years,  receiving  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  his  time.  He  then  went  to 
Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  and  continued  his 
trade  for  one  year,  his  wages  being  one 
dollar  per  day.  After  this  he  moved  to 
Huron,  same  county,  and  worked  on  steam- 
boats, assisting  among  other  things  in 
building  several  boats,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  "  United  States"  and  the 
"George  Washington."  Coming  to  Nor- 
walk  in  1834,  he  here  worked  at  his  trade 
one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time,  his 
healtli  failing  and  his  eyesight  becoming 
iujpaired,  he  gave  up  work  and  returned 
to  his  father's  house,  where  he  recuperated. 
Soon  thereafter,  in  1835,  he  married  Miss 
JanePancost,  of  Bronson  township,  Huron 
county,  but  she  died  the  following  year. 
He  then  bought  land  in  Norwich  township, 
paying  therefor  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
per  acre,  which  property  he  subsequently 
traded  for  the  farm  in  Norwich  township, 
wliere  he  now  lives.  He  received  from  his 
father's  estate  four  hundred  dollars,  which 
alone  gave  him  a  start  in  the  world,  and 
he  has  now  200  acres  of  land,  although  he 
at  one  time  owned  400  acres,  having  sold 
200  acres  of  valuable  timber  land,  the  pro- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


337 


ceeds  of  wliich  he  invested  in  five-twenty 
Government  bunds  at  par,  to  aid  tlie  Gov- 
ern tnent  in  carrying  on  the  Civil  war, 
which  investment  proved  remunerative. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Hester  married, 
in  1841,  Miss  Lucinda  M.  Hiidredth,  born 
in  Tompkins  county,  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  llildredth,  and  five 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  of  whom 
tlie  foUowincr  is  a  brief  record:  Charles 
T.  died  in  the  Civil  war;  Eliza  is  the  wife 
of  S.  R.  McConnell,  of  Burlington,  Iowa; 
Susan  died  in  infancy;  Julia  is  the  widow 
of  William  Dougherty,  late  of  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  and  has  one  child,  Bessie  (they  re- 
side with  our  subject);  Hattie  H.  is  mar- 
ried to  Rev,  H.  P.  Richards,  of  North 
Fairtield.  Politically  our  subject  has  been 
respectively  a  Free-soiler,  Abolitionist  and 
a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  has  held 
the  offices  of  class-leader,  steward,  etc., 
and  in  1879  vvas  elected  a  lay  delegate 
to  the  annual  Conference  of  northern 
Ohio,  and  successively  every  four  years 
up  to  1891. 

Mr.  Hester  relates  many  interesting 
anecdotes  of  the  early  days  in  the  settle- 
ments. His  great  uncle,  Uriah  Hester, 
was  once  attacked  by  Indians,  who  scalped 
him  and  left  him  for  dead;  but  he  re- 
covered, and  afterward  moved  to  Indiana, 
becoming  the  progenitor  of  the  family  of 
the  name  in  that  State.  Martin  Mason, 
great-grandfather  of  subject,  when  a  boy 
was  captured  by  Indians,  and  taken  to 
Canada,  where  he  was  sold  to  some  man  of 
prominence.  When  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  was  allowed  to  return  to 
Pennsylvania  to  visit  relatives,  with  M'hom 
he  remained.  Jacob  F'ast,  great-uncle  of 
John  S.  Hester,  was  also  captured  by 
Indians,  who  told  him  that  he  would  have 
to  "run  the  gauntlet,"  and  his  life  would 
be  spared.  Instead  of  running  the 
customary  way,  however,  he  treated  the 
Redskins  to  an  e.xhibition  of  side  hand- 
springs, known  among  boys  as  "  making  a 
wheel  of  himself,"  which   must  have  con- 


siderably astonished  his  audience,  who  not 
only  spared  his  life  but  made  him  a  chief. 


Iff  lALMER  GRIFFIN,  a   successful 

I ^H     farmer  of  Fitchville  township,  and 

I     1     a    progressist    in    all    agricultural 

■^  affairs,     was     born     in    Greenwich 

township,    Huron  Co.,  Ohio,   May 

6,    1842,    a    son    of    Riley    and    Philena 

(Washburn)  Griffin. 

His  youth  was  passed  much  in  the 
manner  of  boys  of  that  time  and  place — • 
attending  the  district  school  and  working 
on  the  farm.  Miss  Clarissa  Parker  was 
his  first  teacher,  and  for  many  terras  he 
was  present  as  a  pupil  in  her  school. 
Later  he  attended  an  academy  at  Green- 
wich Center,  which  was  conducted  there 
for  one  year,  completed  his  education  and 
returned  to  the  farm.  On  August  4, 
1864,  he  married  Amanda  Knapp,  a  native 
of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  who  came  to 
Ohio  with  her  parents,  and  after  marriage 
the  young  couple  moved  to  Montcalm 
county,  Mich.,  where  he  purchased  a  farm. 
One  year  later  they  returned  to  Oliio,  and 
renting  a  place  in  Fitchville  township, 
Huron  county,  for  two  years,  resumed 
farming  here.  In  18G9  he  located  on  his 
present  farm,  two  miles  south  of  Fitchville 
villao-e,  and  has  since  made  the  place  his 
home.  From  boyhood  Mr.  Griffin  inclined 
towards  carpentry.  He  has  cultivated  his 
mechanical  talents  to  a  practical  e.xtent, 
utilizing  them  in  the  construction  of  new 
buildings  on  his  own  farm  and  in  the  re- 
pair of  old  buildings.  A  systematic  agri- 
culturist, and  consequently  a  successful 
one,  he  finds  time  to  devote  to  a  very  im- 
portant branch  of  farming — poultry  rais- 
ing. In  this  department  he  employs  the 
most  modern  appliances,  and  the  most  ap- 
proved methods;  he  is  a  supporter  and 
reader  of  the  leading  poultry  journals,  and 
a  strict  observer  of  scientific  methods  in 
the  poultry-yard.  A  few  years  ago  tire 
destroyed  the   hennery,  entailing  a  heavy 


338 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


loss,   but  he  at  once   went   to    work  and 
built  a  larger  and  more  complete  one. 

A  lifelong  Kepubliean,  Mr.  Griffin  has 
always  been  a  loyal  mtmlier  of  the  party; 
fur  twelve  years  he  held  the  otHce  of  town- 
ship trustee,  and  during  that  time  the 
pnblic  affairs  of  FitchviUe  went  forward 
with  precision  and  harmony,  for  he  took 
an  interest  in  every  puldic  and  private  en- 
terprise which  promised  benefit  to  the 
township.  His  cliildren  are  as  follows: 
Blanche,  Mrs.  George  Black,  of  Birming- 
ham, Erie  Co.,  Ohio;  Loren,  a  farmer,  and 
Lola  W.,  an  accomplished  young  lady, 
both  residing  with   their  parents. 


LIEUTENANT GEOEGE  BAEGUS, 
I    a  proniinent  agriculturist,  and  com- 
[   missioner    of    Huron    county,    was 

born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  April  29, 
1839,  a  son  of  William  and  Charlotte 
(Argyle)  Bargus,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  Jersey  and  of  German  extraction,  the 
latter  of  Scotland. 

Lieut.  Bargus  was  left  an  orphan  in  in- 
fancy, and  compelled  to  rely  entirely  upon 
his  own  efforts  even  from  the  tenderest 
years.  He,  therefore,  received  only  such 
education  in  his  youth  as  was  afforded  by 
the  common  schools  of  New  Jersey  at  that 
early  day,  but  in  after  years  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  good  practical  knowledge  of 
the  English  language,  which,  added  to  his 
judgment  and  energy,  enabled  him  to  win 
success  in  every  undertaking.  Llis  only 
inheritance  consisted  chiefly  of  a  stout 
heart,  willing  hands  and  great  faith  in 
humanity.  He  has  always  been  a  constant 
and  extensive  reader,  and  possesses  a  wide 
rantre  of  general  information,  beine  a  sub- 
scril)er  for  newspapers  and  magazines,  and 
owning  a  carefully  selected  library  of  sev- 
eral hundred  volumes.  He  is  particularly 
interested  in  ancient  and  modern  history 
and  the  various  sciences,  and  his  wealth 
allows  him  to  gratify  his  literary  tastes. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  our  subject  went  to 


Eocdiester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  learned  the 
baker's  and  confectioner's  trade,  serving 
an  apprenticeship  of  four  years, after  which 
he  journeyed  west  with  the  intention  of 
working  at  his  trade,  but  found  no  open- 
ing, and  was  glad  to  do  whatever  offered 
an  opportunity  to  make  an  honest  dollar. 
During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1859-60 
he  traveled  through  Tennessee,  Arkansas 
and  Louisiana,  but  when  the  Mrst  clouds 
of  the  Civil  war  gathered  in  the  South  he 
returned  north.  Early  in  1861  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E,  of  Yates'  Sharpshooters, 
which  in  1864  became  the  Sixty-fourth 
Eegiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  in  as  sergeant.  Owing  to 
distinguished  service  and  gallantry  at  the 
battle  of  Corinth  and  elsewhere,  he  was 
rapidly  promoted  through  all  the  inter- 
mediate ranks  to  First  Lieutenant.  For 
more  than  a  year  he  commanded  his  com- 
pany, and  was  with  his  regiment  through 
all  its  marches  and  campaigns,  participat- 
ing in  the  battles  of  New  Madrid,  Island 
No.  10,  the  Siege  of  Corinth,  Ecsaca  (Ga.), 
Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta 
of  July  22,  and  also  on  July  28,  1864, 
Ezra's  Church,  and  numerousminorencrat;e- 
ments.  He  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman  in 
his  famous  marcii  to  the  sea;  was  slightly 
wounded  several  times,  and  was  mustered 
out  of  service  in  January,  1865. 

Lieut.  Bargus,  soon  after  his  return 
from  the  army,  took  a  commercial  course 
in  Oberlin  College,  and  then  moved  west, 
but  after  one  year  returned  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  settled  on  his  farm  near 
Collins,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  raising  fruit.  His  farm  contains 
400  acres  of  valuable  land,  all  well 
improved.  He  also  conducted  a  sawmill  and 
lumber  business,  until  the  cyclone  of  April, 
1890,  entirely  destroyed  his  large  mill. 

On  April  12,  1866,  Lieut.  Bargus  mar- 
ried Miss  S.  Alice  Humphrey,  who  was 
born  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Sarah  Ann  (Bierce) 
Humphrey,  natives  of  Litchfield  county, 
Conn.     Their  union  has  been  blessed  by 


HUEOyr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


341 


four  cliildren:  George  (deceased),  Alvin 
Dudley,  May  (deceased)  and  Edwin  Hnin- 
plirey.  Lieut.  Bargus  lias  served  as  town- 
ship trustee  several  terms,  was  a  member 
of  the  county  board  of  the  Infirmary  di- 
rectors, and  is  now  servintr  his  second  term 
on  the  board  of  county  commissioners. 
He  belongs  to  no  church,  but  is  a  firm  be- 
liever in  Christianity  of  a  practical  kind. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  No. 
4l4r,  Townsend,  of  whi^h  he  has  been 
comtnander  since  its  organization,  in  April, 
1885.  About  two  years  ago  Lieut.  Bar- 
gus  was  general  commander  of  the  Four- 
teenth District  Brigade,  and  is  now  assist- 
ant inspector  and  *aid-de-cainp  on  the 
Department  Staff,  Ohio  G.  A.  K.  He  is 
also  the  colonel  commanding  F.  H.  Boalt 
Command  Xo.  17,  U.  V.  U.,  of  Nor  walk, 
Ohio,  and  last  year  served  as  deputy  com- 
mander of  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Fraternity,  and  W.  M.  of  East 
Townsend  Lodge  JSTo.  322,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
to  which  Lodge  he  has  belonged  for  over 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  a  member 
of  Huron  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.,  of 
Norwalk  Comiriandery  No.  18,  K.  T.,  and 
also  of  Norwalk  t'ouncil  No.  403,  Royal 
Arcanum.  Lieut.  Barous  is  an  uncoin- 
promising  Republican,  and  while  quite 
young  became  very  much  interested  in  the 
slavery  question,  being  in  sympathy  with 
the  slaves.  He  is  in  harmony  with  his 
party  on  the  tariff  question,  and  though  he 
has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  success  of  the  G.  O.  P., 
and  is  an  excellent  organizer.  His  first 
vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 

William  Humphrey,  father  of  Mrs. 
Bargus,  was  born  in  Goshen,  Conn., 
October  13,  1812,  the  seventh  child  of 
Dudley   and   Polly    M.   (Sherman)    Hum- 

fhrey,  and  of  Scotch- English  descent, 
n  April,  1834,  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Ann  Bierce,  a  native  of  Cornwall, 
Conn.,  and  of  English-German  descent, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  viz.: 
Emma  Louise  (Mrs.  Joseph  Hyde),  Sarah 
Alice  (Mrs.  George  Bargus),  Delia  Lucretia 


(Mrs.  W.  D.  Johnston,  deceased)  and 
Willie  (who  died  in  infancy).  Mrs. 
Hnmphrey  died  November  13,  1854,  and 
Mr.  Humphrey  was  niarried,  June  28, 
1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Hyde,  of  Wake- 
man,  Ohio.  Mr.  Humphrey's  education 
was  chiefly  acquired  by  experience  and 
observation,  his  school  days  having  ended 
when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age.  While 
young  he  manifested  unusual  mechanical 
skill,  and  during  his  long  and  active 
business  career  invented  many  improve- 
ments in  machinery,  such  as  "  Humphrey's 
Direct  Action  Steam  Mill,"  and  the 
"Humphrey  Double  Action  Pump."  In 
1835  he  moved  from  Connecticut  to 
Parma,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  with  his 
brother  Dudley  S.  in  manufacturing 
clocks,  lumber,  etc.,  and  in  1849  they  came 
to  Townsend  township,  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land,  and  began  an  extensive  lum- 
ber business.  They  built  mills  and  plank 
roads,  furnished  employment  for  a  great 
number  of  men,  and  transformed  an  almost 
unbroken  forest  into  broad  acres  of  pas- 
ture, meadow  and  orchard  land,  where  two 
thriving  villages  now  stand.  Their  lum- 
ber  was  shipped  to  eastern  markets  from 
Milan,  Ohio,  via  the  lakes.  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey soon  became,  and  continued  until 
fiis  death,  the  largest  landowner  in  Town- 
send  township.  He  was  president  of  the 
Central  Plank  Road  Company,  and  was  the 
leading  spirit  in  completing  the  work,  his 
judgment  in  business  matters  being  clear 
and  decisive.  He  boldly  entered  into  and 
controlled  commercial  enterprises  that  men 
of  broader  experience  hesitated  to  consider, 
and  was  cool,  self-reliant,  and  equal  to 
every  emergency. 

His  father's  estate  having  been  spent  in 
paying  security  debts  for  friends,  he 
learned  in  childhood  the  lessons  taught  by 
poverty,  and  endured  its  struggles,  trials 
and  tempations.  He  was  reraarably  char- 
itable, and  always  found  time  to  listen  to 
the  complaints  of  those  who  were  in  dis- 
tress. Himself  incapable  of  a  mean  or 
dishonorable  action,  he  scorned  and  despised 


342 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


treachery  and  deceit  in  others,  and  was 
even-tempered,  forbearing  and  forgiving. 
He  was  prepossessing  iu  personal  appear- 
ance, genial  and  attractive  in  manner, 
and  a  devoted  husband  and  father.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  Democrat,  but  in  sympathy 
with  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and 
during  the  Civil  war  contributed  gener- 
ously to  the  comfort  of  Union  soldiers  and 
their  families.  In  1865  he  was  nominated 
by  his  party  for  State  legislator.  While 
Mr.  Humphrey  was  engaged  in  repairing 
the  roof  of  his  house,  November  23, 1874, 
the  scatibkl  gave  way,  and  his  skull  was 
fractured,  causing  death  in  a  few  hours. 
He  was  never  identitied  with  any  Church, 
but  believed  in  and  practiced  practical 
religion. 

The  Humphrey  family  is  numerously 
represented  iu  Europe  and  America,  and  is 
of  noble  and  ancient  origin,  few  families 
even  among  the  British  peerage  being  its 
equal  in  antiquity.  A  few  years  ago  Dr. 
Frederick  Humphrey,  of  New  York  City, 
his  sister  Mrs.  Sarah  W.  Churchill,  and 
others,  prepared  with  great  labor  and  at 
much  expense  a  complete  and  elaborate 
genealogy  of  the  Humphrey  family,  trac- 
ing its  origin  to  Sir  Humphrey  De  Bohum, 
of  Normandy,  born  A.  D.  996,  and  also  giv- 
ing an  account  of  the  coats  of  arms  adopted 
by  the  different  branches  of  the  family. 
The  Humphreys  were  related  to  William 
the  Conqueror,  and  several  of  them  accom- 
panied him  in  his  conquest  of  Britain, 
where  no  less  than  eight  brandies  of  the 
family  are  now  found,  each  with  a  differ- 
ent coat  of  arms.  The  Humphreys  were 
found  in  England,  Scotland,  Wales  and 
Ireland,  and  were  barons  of  Prudhoe  and 
earls  of  Angus.  Many  of  them  took  part 
in  the  Crusades  and  perished  in  the  Holy 
Wars;  others  were  beheaded  and  some 
burned  at  the  stake.  Among  them  were 
Philip  Humphrey  (the  martyr),  Lawrence 
Humphrey  (an  eminent  Puritan  divine), 
and  Lieut.  Gov.  John  Hum})hrey  (one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  East  India  Company, 
and  one  of   the  original   patentees  of  the 


Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay).  The  Hum- 
phreys found  in  America  are  divided  into 
four  distinct  branches:  First — -Jonas 
Humphrey,  who  came  from  England  in 
1034  and  settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass., 
and  whose  descendants  are  included  in  the 
Dorchester  and  Weymouth  branches.  Sec- 
ond— Daniel  Humphrey,  who  came  from 
Wales  in  1660,  and  located  in  Piiiladel- 
phia,  Penn.,  and  whose  descendants  in- 
clude Charles  Humphrey  (member  of  the 
first  Continental  Congress),  Joshua  Hum- 
phrey (designer  and  builder  of  the  Ameri- 
can Navy  in  1812-14),  Maj.  Gen.  Andrew 
A.  Humphrey,  and  also  the  Humphreys 
of  New  Jersey,  Virginia,  Tennessee  and 
Mississippi.  Third — Hugh  Humphrey, 
who  settled  on  the  Hudson  river  in  New 
York.  Fourth — Michael  Humphrey,  who 
came  from  Lyme  Regis,  England,  in  1643, 
and  located  in  Ancient  \Vindsor,  Conn., 
and  whose  descendants  are  his  sons  Sero-t. 
John  and  Lieut.  Samuel  Humphrey,  Will- 
iam Humphrey,  Mrs.  George  Bargus,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Plyde,  Mrs.  W.  D.  Johnston  (de- 
ceased), and  Gen.  Humphrey  (on  Gen.  U. 
S.  Grant's  staff  diiring  the  Civil  war). 
Gen.  Bierce,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Saraii  Ann  (Bierce)  Humphrey,  was  a  gen- 
eral in  the  Hessian  army.  Ke  was  sent  by 
the  British  ministry  to  America  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  to  assist  in  subdu- 
ing the  C/olonies,  but  soon  after  reaching 
America  Gen.  Bierce's  sympathy  was  en- 
listed on  the  side  of  the  Colonists,  and  he 
espoused  their  cause,  rendering  gallant  and 
distinguislied  service  in  the  American 
army.  He  married  in  Connecticut,  and 
continued  to  reside  there  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death. 


d(   H.  WEBER,  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness   men    of    Bellevue,    was    born 
_1    January    29,    1842,    in     Darmstadt, 
Hessen-Darmstadt,  Germany.  Eleven 
years  later   he    accompanied    his    parents, 
Henry      and      Elizabeth       (Betzendorfer) 
Weber,  to  the  United  States,  and  traveled 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


343 


west  with  them  to  Tiffin,  Oliio,  where  the 
family  located.  The  lather  died  during  a 
visit  to  HessenDamstadt,  and  the  mother, 
now  seven t3'-eight  years  of  age,  resides  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  witli  lier  daughters. 

J.  H.  Weber  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Darmstadt,  and  on  liis  arrival  here  re- 
sumed his  studies  in  the  primitive  schools 
of  the  time.  In  about  1859  the  yonth 
found  employment  as  clerk  in  a  store  at 
Bellevue,  and  when  a  young  man  his  ster- 
ling qualities  recommended  liim  so  strongly 
to  his  employer  tliat  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  the  concern.  Later  he  purchased 
the  interests  of  his  partner,  and  has  since 
managed,  with  marked  success,  the  large 
grocery  establishment  in  the  development 
of  which  he  took  so  important  a  part.  He 
has  carried  on  business  so  many  years  in 
Bellevue,  and  has  been  so  closely  connected 
with  all  the  enterprises  attending  the 
growth  of  that  city,  that  his  name  is 
synonymous  with  it;  for  "going  to 
Weber's "  was  at  once  generally  nnder- 
stood  to  be  the  same  as  going  to  Bellevue, 
and  it  is  a  fact  that  very  little  has  been 
planned  or  projected  by  the  community 
withonf  his  counsel  and  aid.  In  the  board 
of  education  and  in  the  city  council  he  has 
been  an  invaluable  adviser,  always  favor- 
ing progress,  bnt  keeping  the  cost  of  im- 
provement within  reasonable  bounds,  and 
opposing  municipal  jobs  of  every  kind. 
As  president  of  the  Electric  Light  and 
Power  Company,  he  has  directed  its  affairs 
in  such  a  public-spirited  manner  as  to 
satisfy  both  the  people  and  the  stock- 
holders. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat;  in 
social  relations  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  Koyal  Arcanum;  in 
philanthropical  work  an  earnest  member 
of  the  German  Aid  Society,  and  in  Church 
relation  a  Lutheran.  During  the  summer 
of  1892  he  made  an  extended  tour  through 
Europe,  giving  his  special  attention  to  the 
modern  condition  of  the  German  people. 
Mr.  Weber  is  the  junior  member  of  the 
lumber  firm  of  Gross  &  Weber,  who  have, 
by  their  energy  and  fair  dealings,  built  up 


an  extensive  trade  in  their  line,  and  their 
success  is  identified  with  the  growth  of 
the  village.  In  1893  he  sold  out  his 
grocery  business  to  his  son-in-law,  H.  A. 
Schlicht,  who,  of  late  years  has  been  his 
manager.  Mr.  Weber  may  be  said  to  have 
grown  up  in,  and  materially  assisted,  the 
growth  of  Bellevue,  and  ever  had  its  in- 
terests at  heart.  Strictly  a  business  man, 
his  life  has  been  one  of  continued  success 
and  commercial  progress. 


Q 


ILBERT    L.    ROSCOE,   who    is    a 

,   grandson  of  Josiah  Roscoe,  was  boi-n 

October    7,     1844,     in     Greenwich 

township,  where   he    is   a    pushing, 

progressive  farmer,  and  a  citizen  of 

high  standing. 

Josiah  Roscoe  lived  in  Putnam  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  married  Hannah  Bough- 
ton.  Shortly  after  marriage  the  young 
couple  moved  into  the  wilds  of  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  the  following  named 
children  were  born  to  them:  Jeremiah  and 
Benjamin  (twins),  Mary,  Clara  and  Sally. 
Jeremiah  is  referred  to  at  length  below; 
Benjamin  married,  reared  a  large  family 
in  Greenwich  township,  and  died  thei'e; 
Mary  married  Charles  Pierce,  and  subse- 
quently became  the  wife  of  William  Farley 
(her  death  occurred  in  Greenwich  town- 
ship); Clara,  who  married  Daniel  Kniffiii, 
died  in  Greenwich  township;  Sally  married 
Shadrach  Reed,  and  also  died  In  Green- 
wich township.  About  the  year  1819 
Jeremiah  and  Benjamin  Roscoe  visited 
Huron  county,  and  secured  a  large  tract  of 
land  at  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents 
per  acre.  After  this  one  of  them  I'evisited 
Cayuga  county,  and  in  1820  brought  his 
father,  mother  and  sisters  to  his  new  home 
in  Greenwich  township,  where  the  sons 
had  a  log  cabin  ready  for  them.  The  trip 
was  made  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  oxen  and 
horses,  and  beyoTid  its  delays  and  tedious- 
ness  was  uneventful.  Josiah  Roscoe  was 
a  well-to-do  citizen  in  New  York,  so  that 


344 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


on  his  arrival  here  farm  work  was  coin- 
inenced  and  carried  out  systematically. 
The  father  died  here  in  1845,  the  mother  a 
short  time  afterward,  and  both  were  buried 
on  the  farm. 

Jeremiah  Roscoe  was  born  February  6, 
1797,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  came 
to  Huron  county  when  twenty-two  years 
of  age.  On  April  4,  1826,  he  married 
Selinda  Sheldon,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  State  January  26,  1807.  To  them 
were  born  tiie  following  named  chil- 
dren: Harriet,  Mrs.  Charles  Dills,  of 
Monroe  county,  Mich.;  Hulda,  Mrs. 
Robert  Griffin,  of  Fitch ville  township; 
Asenath,  Mrs.  William  T.  Smith,  of 
Greenwich  township;  Johanna,  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Sutton,  of  Nebraska;  Mary,  who 
died  in  youth;  Sarah,  who  married 
Charles  Bell,  and  died  in  Wood  county, 
Ohio;  Selinda,  who  died  very  young; 
Benjamin,  a  citizen  of  Nebraska;  Gilbert 
L.,  the  subject  of  this  sketcli;  Lestina, 
Mrs.  Frank  Hawkins,  of  Lyon  county, 
Kaiis.;  and  Alva,  who  died  young.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Roscoe 
settled  on  the  homestead,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  April 
5,  1872.  His  widow  died  in  1877,  on  the 
farm,  near  the  graves  of  Josiah  and  Han- 
nah Roscoe.  The  sawmill  owned  by  Jere- 
miah Roscoe  was  the  pioneer  manufacturing 
industry  in  Greenwich  township,  and  he 
operated  it  in  connection  with  the  farm 
nntil  about  1840  when  he  sold  it.  In  1856 
he  left  the  Whig  party,  and  became  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  served  as  clerk  of  Green- 
wich township  for  years.  In  religious 
connection  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Universalist  Church. 

Gilbert  L.  Roscoe  was  born  October  7, 
1844,  on  the  home  place.  Attending 
school  and  working  on  the  farm  occupied 
his  time  until  1862,  when  he  joined  the 
National  Guards.  In  1864  his  command 
was  ordered  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  he 
was  stationed  at  Fairfax,  Va.,  until  the  fall 
of  that  year,  when  he  returned  home.  On 
March    17,   1869,  he    married    Hattie  P. 


Brady,  who  was  born  at  Mecklenburgh,  N. 
Y.,  September  2,  1848,  daughter  of  David 
J.  and  Parmelia  (Franklin)  Brady.  To 
this  marriage  the  following  named  chil- 
dren were  born:  Franklin  B.,  Mary  E., 
Lew  W.  and  Johanna,  all  residingat  home. 
For  some  time  after  marriage  the  young 
people  resided  on  the  home  place,  then 
moved  to  Lorain,  Ohio,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1872,  when  they  returned  to 
the  homestead,  and  have  since  been  en-, 
gaged  in  general  farm  work  and  stock 
growing.  Mr.  Roscoe  is  a  natural  me- 
chanic,  and  has  done  trade  work  for 
himself,  sucii  as  repairing  machinerj', 
buildings,  etc.  .In  politics  he  is  Republi- 
can; has  represented  his  party  in  county 
conventions,  and  served  in  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  office. 


JjOSEPH  WALTER  is  a  native  of 
I  Germany,  to  which  country  so  many 
^^  of  our  most  gifted  citizens  trace  their 
origin.  The  country  of  the  Rhine 
has  ever  been  as  famous  for  the  intel- 
lectual strength  of  its  people,  as  for  the 
magnificent  grandeur  of  its  scenery,  and 
well  may  every  German  cherish  a  loving 
pride  for  his  beautiful  Fatlierland. 

Joseph  Walter  is  a  son  of  Francis  Wal- 
ter, who  was  born  in  1793,  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many, and  there  learned  the  butchering 
business.  In  early  manhood  Francis 
Walter  was  married  to  Manegarth  liein- 
becker,  who  was  also  born  in  1793,  in 
Baden,  Germany.  The  young  couple 
settled  in  a  small  town  in  their  native 
place,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  and 
also  conducted  a  grocery  store.  Here  the 
following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Frederick,  a  resident  of  Mansfield,  Ohio; 
Joseph,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch; 
John,  living  in  a  western  State,  and  Will- 
iam, in  Columbia  City,  Ind.  In  the 
spring  of  1833  the  family  embarked  from 
Havre,  France,  first  landing  in  New  York. 


HUliOX  VOUXTY,  OHIO. 


345 


From  this  port  they  came  by  river  and 
canal  to  Buffalo,  then  via  Lake  Erie  to 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  wlience  tliey  proceeded 
with  horse  teams  to  Peru  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Walter  there  purchased 
si.xty  acres  of  woodland,  and  found  a  tem- 
porar}'  shelter  in  a  vacant  schoolhouse, 
where  the  family  remained  until  a  rude 
cabin  was  constructed  of  poles  and  bark. 
In  this  home  two  children  were  added  to 
their  circle,  namely:  Dennis,  now  living  in 
Columbia  City,  Ind.,  and  Mary,  widow  of 
E.  L.  Stranse,  living  in  Bismarck,  N.  D. 
The  parents  died  in  Huron  county,  the 
mother  April  25,  1865,  the  father  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1874,  and  both  are  buried  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  of  the  German  settle- 
ment, in  Peru  township. 

Joseph  Walter  was  born  January  2, 
1828,  on  the  home  place  in  Jiaden,  Ger- 
many, and  was  but  live  years  of  age  when 
the  family  settled  in  Ohio.  He  began  to 
assist  with  the  farm  work  at  the  earliest 
possible  age,  and  little  leisure  was  ever 
allowed,  as,  so  he  now  says,  "  It  was  work, 
work,  work  all  the  time."  His  educa- 
tional opportunities  were  limited  to  two 
terms,  of  twenty-one  and  twenty-seven 
days  each,  at  the  neighboring  subscription 
school.  A  hard  life  was  this  for  an  active, 
fun-loving  boy,  but  the  stern  lessons  and 
tasks  of  that  dull  childhood  developed  a 
eelf-reliant  and  jiersevering  spirit  wiiich 
miixht  have  remained  dormant  in  an  atmos- 
phere  of  luxury  and  ease.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  privations  of  his  youth  he  has  ac- 
quired a  practical  business  education, 
which  is  sufficient  for  all  ordinary  pur- 
poses. On  January  3,  1853,  Joseph  Wal- 
ter was  united  in  marriage  with  Biligelldis 
Snyder,  who  was  born  in  1828,  in  Ger- 
many, a  daughter  of  Joseph  Snyder.  She 
came  with  her  parents  to  America  in  1847. 
Joseph  and  Biligelldis  Walter  remained 
on  the  home  farm  several  years  after  their 
marriage,  and  cared  for  his  aged  parents. 
Here  he  conducted  a  butcher  business 
in  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests. 
When  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  South- 


ern Railroad  was  iti  process  of  construc- 
tion he  contracted  to  furnish  beef  for  the 
graders  employed  there,  but  lost  seven 
hundred  dollars  on  the  transaction.  This 
sum  was  a  serious  loss  at  that  time,  but 
undismayed  by  one  failure  he  presevered 
in  the  business,  and  success  soon  rewarded 
his  patient  efforts.  Year  after  year  his 
prosperity  increased,  and  he  now  owns 
over  300  acres  of  excellent  farming  land, 
and  in  1880  erected  a  handsome  frame 
residence,  also  other  good  buildings  which 
give  ample  evidence  of  prosperity.  He 
owned  and  manased  a  threshino-  outfit  for 
fourteen  years,  and  made  many  acquaint- 
ances in  this  business;  but  of  late  years 
failing  health  has  requii-ed  him  to  retire 
from  the  more  arduous  tasks  and  devote  his 
time  to  overseeing  the  work.  He  is  a  sys- 
tematic farmer,  wiiose  success  has  been 
achieved  in  the  face  of  many  obstacles. 
In  politics  he  is  a  leader  in  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  served  as  assessor  of  Peru 
township  for  ten  years,  also  in  various 
other  local  offices.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church  at  Mon- 
roeville.  Tlieir  children  have  been  born 
as  follows:  Dennis,  deceased  farmer  of 
Peru  township,  Huron  county;  Frank, 
living  at  home;  William,  a  resident  of 
Monroeville;  Emma,  wife  of  Hard  Der- 
ringer, of  Tiffin,  Ohio;  Jeanette,  married 
to  Henry  Zipfel,  of  Monroeville.  and 
Adolph,  residing  with  his  parents.  Mr. 
Walter  has  been  a  very  robust  man,  and 
now  weighs  over  200  pounds. 


dlOHN  T.  TOWNSEND,  the  eldest 
son  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Huron 
/  county,  is  iiimself  one  of  the  oldest 
~  natives  of  this  section  of  Ohio. 
William  Townsend,  grandfather  of  John 
T.  Townsend,  left  Massachusetts  to  make 
his  home  with  his  sons  in  Ohio,  and  died 
in  New  London  township.  Huron  county, 
in  February,  1847.     Hosea  Townsend,  son 


346 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  William  Townsend,  was  born  at  Green- 
busli,  N.  Y.,  May  25,  1794,  and  grew  to 
manhood  tliere,  serving  in  the  war  of 
1812  when  little  more  than  a  boy.  On 
the  day  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  ar- 
rived in  New  London  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  made  an  examination  of  the 
lands  in  the  county,  and  returned  to  his 
home  ill  Tyringham,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
where  his  father's  family  then  resided. 
The  country  impressed  him  favorably  and, 
on  February  4,  1816,  he  and  his  brother 
Hiram  started  for  Ohio.  The  journey, 
made  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  occupied 
fifty  two  days,  or  until  March  28,  1816, 
when  tlie  brothers  arrived  in  New  London 
township.  There  they  at  once  erected  a 
cabin,  beijan  the  work  of  clearing'  the  for- 
est,  planted  four  acres  in  corn,  and  com- 
pleted the  introduction  to  pioneer  life. 
The  product  of  the  four  acres  confirmed 
the  opinion  which  the  brothers  had  formed 
on  the  character  of  the  land.  It  was  not 
only  sutKcient  for  feeding  the  oxen,  but 
also  for  food  for  the  pioneer  owners  of  the 
farm,  who  ground  the  grain  in  a  beech 
stump  mortar,  and  tlien  formed  it  into 
cakes,  to  be  baked  before  the  great  log 
tire.  What  corn  they  could  not  use  was 
sold  to  the  Indiatis  at  one  dollar  and  six 
cents  per  bushel,  who  paid  for  it  in 
English  specie. 

Ill  1820-22  Hosea  Townsend  set  out 
the  first  orchard  in  New  London  township, 
and  in  1826  he  built  the  first  frame  barn 
there.  His  marriage  with  Sophia  Case 
took  place  March  25,  1821.  She  was 
born  April  26,  1798,  in  the  town  of 
Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
the  first  school-teacher  in  New  London 
township.  To  this  marriage  came  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Sarah,  born  October  7, 
1822,  married  S.  W.  Gates,  and  died  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio;  John  T.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Eliza  L.,  born  December  22, 
1825,  now  Mrs.  K.  C.  Johnson,  of  Fitch- 
ville;  Dalinda,  born  January  12,  1828, 
married  George  Washburn,  and  died  in 
New  London  in  1876;  Ira  S.,  born  June 


14,  1831,  residing  in  Fitchville;  Philotha, 
born  July  IS,  1885,  wife  of  Alfred  John- 
son, of  New  London;  Mary  F.,  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1834,  deceased  (she  devoted 
herself  to  study);  and  Hiram  W.,  born 
March  5,  1S42,  cashier  of  the  New  Lon- 
don National  Bank.  This  large  family 
grew  to  maturity  in  Huron  county,  bless- 
ings to  their  parents,  who  lived  to  see  them 
settled  in  life.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren died  March  2,  1875,  the  father  in 
1885;  an  elegant  monument  in  New  Lon- 
don cemetery  rises  above  their  graves. 
Hosea  Townsend  was  truly  a  pioneer;  for 
when  he  and  his  brother  located  in  New 
London  township,  in  1816,  the  country 
was  a  wilderness.  When  he  died  the 
ancient  forest  was  a  thing  of  the  past,  for 
a  collection  of  homes  and  farms,  and  flocks 
and  herds,  crowded  out  the  trees  as  well  as 
tlie  savage,  and  showed  the  reign  of  in- 
dustry. What  his  share  was  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  township  may  be  described 
by  young  as  well  as  old.  A  large  land- 
owner and  farmer,  he  yet  found  time  for 
public  life.  His  vote  was  cast  in  1840  for 
James  G.  Birney  and  Francis  J.  LeMoyne, 
candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent, respectively,  chosen  by  the  Abolition- 
ists in  convention  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y .,  in 
1839.  In  1844  he  voted  for  James  G. 
Birney  and  Thomas  Morris,  nominees  of 
the  Liberal  party,  and  exerted  all  his 
power  in  opposing  slavery.  While  not  at- 
tached to  any  Church,  he  was  a  believer  in 
the  teachings  of  Christianity,  and  an  ob- 
server of  its  tenets. 

John  T.  Townsend  was  born  in  New 
London  July  22,  1824.  When  of  proper 
age  he  was  sent  to  the  school  presided 
over  by  Miss  Mary  Frost,  which  was  a 
very  primitive  institution,  in  building  and 
surroundings,  but  it  accorded  with  the 
time  and  place,  and  was  useful  in  its  way. 
For  several  years  the  boy  attended  this 
school,  until  sent  to  Oberlin  College, 
where  he  prepared  himself  for  the  profes- 
sion of  teacher.  Returning  home,  he  soon 
was  given  the  position  of  teacher  in  one  of 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


347 


the  Clarksfield  district  scliools,  and  subse- 
quently taught  in  New  London  and 
Fitcliville  townships. 

On  ISeptember  20,  1849,  he  married 
Elizabeth  A.  Palmer,  who  was  born  in 
Clarksfield  township  January  15,  1828, 
and  by  this  marriage  there  is  one  child, 
Elmer  E.,  of  New  London  township. 
After  their  marriage  the  young  couple 
took  up  their  residence  in  a  log  house, 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  their  present 
home.  The  improvement  of  this  tract, 
and  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  must 
be  credited  to  him,  for  he  has  proved  him- 
self a  practical  farmer  and  stock  grower, 
making  a  success  of  those  two  departments 
of  agricultural  industry.  He  is  now 
interested  as  stockholder  in  the  New  Lon- 
don National  Bank.  Politically  a  Re- 
publican, he  was  formerly  a  Free-soiler, 
and  in  1848  cast  his  first  vote  for  Van- 
Buren  and  Adams,  nominees  of  the  Free- 
soil  convention  held  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in 
August,  1848.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Townsend  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
the  political  issues  of  the  country,  and  in 
local  affairs  has  always  been  prominent. 
For  twenty-three  consecutive  years  he  was 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  might  have  held 
the  office  indefinitely  had  he  not  declined 
to  serve  another  term ;  for  several  years  he 
was  trustee  and  assessor  of  the  township. 
In  1880  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  county  commissioners  for  a  term 
of  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
was  re-elected  for  another  term,  and  since 
the  close  of  the  second  terra  he  has  filled 
the  office  by  special  appointment.  With- 
out regard  to  ttie  influence  of  the  Town- 
send  family  in  general,  John  T.  Townsend 
is  honored  for  his  own  personal  worth. 


\lLLIxVM  F.  HEYMANN    ranks 

high  among  the  prominent   agri- 

llj  Il[     cultiirists  of  Lyme  township,  and 

is    esteemed    by    all    who    know 

him.      lie    was    born    February  18,    1839, 

in  Germany,  a  son   of  John    G.  and  Mary 


Heymann,  and  came  with   his  parents   to 
America  in  1848. 

Immediately  after  their  arrival  in  this 
countrj  they  journeyed  west,  and  located 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  numbering  among 
the  early  settlers  who  suffered  the  trials 
and  hardships  incident  to  transformino- 
the  forest  into  fertile  farms.  In  this 
country  our  subject  received  such  educa- 
tion as  was  afforded  by  the  district  schools, 
where  the  teachers  were  but  poorly  pre- 
pared to  impart  information.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  laboring  on  the  home  farm, 
after  which  he  worked  five  years  on  the 
farm  of  his  brother  Henry.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  had  accumulated  a  suffi- 
cient amount  of  money  to  purchase  two 
horses,  a  wagon  and  a  complete  outfit  for 
farming,  and  in  1861  he  bought  ninety- 
one  acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  general 
agriculture.  In  1872  he  bought  ninety- 
six  acres,  and  still  later  170  acres,  making 
a  tract  of  357  acres  of  valuable  land.  II  ; 
is  popular  in  political  circles,  and  has 
served  as  school  director  of  Lyme  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Heymann  was  married,  December 
3,  1863,  to  Miss  Verena  Ballmer,  of 
Henry  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John 
Jacob  and  Verena  Ballmer,  and  thirteen 
children  blessed  their  union,  viz.:  Mary 
(deceased),  Samuel,  Julius  August,  Oliver 
William,  Verena,  Charlotte,  Walter  Will- 
iam, Arnold  Cyrus,  William  Frederick, 
Eoscoe  Winfield,  Arthur  Oswald,  Paul 
Benjamin  and  Calvin  Karl.  In  politics 
our  subject  was  originally  a  Democrat, 
but  is  now  associated  with  the  Republican 
party.  In  religious  matters  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  in 
which  he  has  been  an  elder  twelve  or 
fourteen  years.  He  furnished  quite  a 
large  sum  of  money  for  the  Civil  war,  but 
was  unable  to  serve;  he  was  worth  about 
two  thousand  dollars. 

John  G.  Heymann,  fatlier  of  our  sub- 
ject, married  a  Miss  Oppermann,  and  by 
this    union    had    ten    children:       Jeanette 


348 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


(deceased),  Anna  (deceased),  Pliilip,  Will- 
iam (deceased),  (Teorge,  Henry,  John  P., 
Catherine,  William  F.,  and  Margaret  (de- 
ceased). Jolin  G.  Heymann  and  his  wife 
passed  tiie  later  years  of  their  lives  at  the 
home  of  our  subject,  wliere  Mrs.  Hey- 
mann died  in  1872,  and  her  husband  in 
1881.  They  were  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church. 


V.ESLEY  ROBINSON.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  the  tenth  son 
in  tlie  family  of  eleven  cliildren 
of  William  and  Lutica  (Coleman) 
liobinson,  who  removed  from  Washington 
county,  Penn.,  to  Ohio  soon  after  the  latter 
became  a  State,  first  locating  in  Linton 
township,  Coshocton  county,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  October, 
1822,  or  1823. 

In  1828  the  father  of  our  subject,  with 
his  family,  removed  to  Marion  county, 
Ohii>,  where  they  remained  until  April, 
18;52,  when  they  came  to  Huron  county, 
arriving  in  Norwich  township  May  5  of 
tliat  year.  Young  Wesley  was  brought  up 
ill  the  wild  woods,  as  there  were  only 
about  fifteen  acres  cleared  off  the  farm  his 
father  had  settled  on,  the  country  being 
almost  a  i>erfect  wilderness,  a  very  heavy 
growth  of  timber  covering  the  surround- 
ing country.  All  kinds  of  wild  animals,, 
such  as  deer  and  turkeys,  were  numerous. 
Mr.  Robinson's  privileges  of  going  to 
school  were  much  limited,  and  the  schools 
were  supported  by  the  parents  who  sent 
children,  so  much  being  paid  for  each 
scholar.  Young  Wesley  went  to  school 
chiefly  in  the  winter  time,  as  liis  father 
had  other  business  for  him  to  do  in  the 
warm  weather.  After  several  years  of  hard 
work  and  exposure  he  was  stricken  with 
rheumatism,  and  was  a  cripple  for  about 
five  years,  it  having  settled  in  his  left 
knee.  After  a  time  he  attended  common 
school  for  a  few  terms,  and  his  father  sent 
him   to   the  seminary    school  at   Norwalk 


one  quarter,  which  finished  his  limited 
education.  He  then  taught  winter  school 
two  terms,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
felt  satisfied  that  it  i-equired  more  patience 
than  he  could  command.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  e.xclusively  to  farming,  re- 
maining on  the  old  homestead.  The  first  real 
estate  he  ever  purchased  was  on  March  8, 
1851,  from  which  time  he  bought  and  sold 
land,  and  finally  became  the  owner  of  the 
homestead  farm  of  200  acres.  Subsequently 
he  bought  land  adjoining  the  homestead, 
until  he  owned,  in  the  aggregate,  437 
acres.  On  the  liomestead  farm  he  erected 
new  buildings,  ami  since  the  time  of  the 
war  he  has  sold  a  part  of  his  real  estate, 
and  now  owns  but  290  acres.  Believing  in 
the  old  adage,  that  "'a  rolling  stone  gathers 
no  moss,"  he  antl  his  wife  have  remained 
on  the  old  homestead  farm,  from  May  5, 
1832,  up  to  the  present  time. 

On  April  5,  1846,  Mr.  Robinson  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac 
H.  and  Sally  (Cassady)  Bennett,  of  Reed 
township,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio.  After  mar- 
riage the  young  couple  continued  to  live 
■under  his  father's  roof  until  the  spring  of 
1848,  when  his  parents  moved  to  Fitch- 
ville,  Huron  county,  and  our  subject  and 
wife  were  left  alone  on  the  old  homestead, 
which  at  that  time  contained  200  acres  of 
land.  Here  they  remained,  working  the 
farm,  and  rearing  their  family  of  children, 
consisting  of  the  followincr:  William,  born 
March  30,  1847,  married  Susan  Benning- 
ton, and  now  lives  near  Jackson,  Mich.; 
Isaac  H.,  born  February  8,  1849,  married 
Isadore  Bramble,  and  is  now  living  with 
his  parents  on  the  farm;  George  A.,  born 
November  26,  1852,  married  Francos  E. 
Eddy,  and  is  now  living  at  Bellaire,  An- 
trim Co.,  Mich. ;  and  Daniel  B  G.,  who 
married  Mary  Amend,  and  is  now  living 
in  Norwich  township,  Huron  county. 

In  his  political  afiiliations  Mr.  Robinson 
is  a  sound  Democrat,  very  conservative, 
believing  that  every  man  has  a  right  to  his 
own  honest  convictions.  The  first  town- 
ship oflice  he  ever  held   was    that   of  con- 


4y^^-Au' y^O  J-'- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


35J 


stable,  having  been  elected  in   the  spring 
of  1846,  and  ever  since  he  has  held  ottice 
of  one  kind  or  another.   He  has  been  town- 
ship assessor  several  times;   real-estate  as- 
sessor three  times;  was  first  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  in  the  spring  of  1857,  holding 
tiie  otHce  until  1863;  was  re-elected  in   the 
fall  of  1874,  and  has  held   the   office   ever 
since.     Some    twenty-five    years    ago    he 
united  with  the  United  Brethren   Church, 
and  has  been  a  member  ever  since.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  having 
joined    Richland    Lodge  No.    201,  in    the 
fall  of  1858,  which  Lodge  holds  its  regular 
session    at   Plymouth,   Ohio.     Al)out  the 
same  time    he    became   a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  ().  F.,  Ceutreton  Lodge  No.  607,  and 
continues  a  member  of  both  Fraternities. 
Some  years  since  he   advocated   that  the 
time  had  come  when  it  was  necessary  for 
the  agricultural  class  to  organize  for  their 
better     protection,     as     they     were    being 
robbed,  from  day   to  day,   of   the    benefits 
and  fruits  of  their  honest  work,   by   trusts 
and  other  combinations,   by    the  moneyed 
kings  of  our  country,  who  to-day  stand   in 
our  midst,  to  use  his  own  words,  "as  monu- 
ments of  evil  and  a  disgrace  to  free  Ameri- 
can people."     Thus  he  became   one  of  the 
charter  meinliers  of  what  is  known  as  Lis'e 
Oak  Grange,  No.  747,  Norwich  township; 
he  was  elected  master  on  its   organization, 
March    23,   1874,  and  has  occupied  that 
position  most  of  the  time   since;   has   also 
served  as   n)aster   of   Pomona   Grange,  of 
the  county,  several   times.     Some  twenty 
years  ago  he  purchased  seven  head  of  the 
American  Merino  sheep,  of   L.    C.  Olark, 
of  Vermotit,    at   seventy-five    dollj^rs    per 
head,  and   later  made  several   other   pur- 
chases, for  all  of  which  he  paid  what  was 
considered    extravagant   prices.      He     was 
one  of  seven  that  paid  twenty-one  hundred 
dollars  for  one  buck,  and  held   an   interest 
in  several  bucks  thatcost  from  one  hundred 
to  seven  hundred  dollars  per  head;  he  has 
devoted  considerable  time  and  attention  to 
the  breeding  of   this   fine    Merino   sheep, 
keeping   upward   of  two   hundred   on    his 

19 


farm  year  by  year,  and  has  found  it  a  profit- 
able investment. 

Mr.  Robinson,  with  all  his  wealth,  has 
been  a  victim  of  losing  several  thousand 
dollars  by  signing  notes  for  others;  and 
his  only  reason  for  having  this  mentioned 
in  the  sketch  is  that  it  may  be  a  warning 
to  others  never  to  sign  an  accommodation 
paper. 


'JT^    A.  SEVER.\NCE,  M.  D.,  late  of 
Ir^    Bellevue,  descended   from   an    old 
I    ^  ^^^  li'S^^'y  respected  New  England 
^  family.     His  father,  Tillihu   Sever- 

ance, was  the  eighth  son  of  Jona- 
than Severance,  who,  coming  from  England 
in  1755  (an  officer  in  the  Commissary 
Department  of  Gen.  Bradcjock's  army), 
became  a  pioneer  settler  of  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  and  afterward  a  soldier  in  the  Revo 
Intion.  In  1801  Elihu  Severance  married 
Martha  Hitchcock,  a  woman  of  cultured 
intellect,  from  a  family  eminent  in  tlie 
educational  and  scientific  circles  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Ralph  Abercrombie,  the  elder  of  their 
two  sons,  was  born  in  Greenfield  on  Janu- 
ary 15,  1803.  He  inherited  the  sturdy 
virtues  of  his  pioneer  ancestry  on  the  fa- 
ther's side,  and  the  scholarly  tastes  of  his 
mother.  He  early  decided  to  follow  one 
of  the  learned  professions;  and  after  an 
unusually  thorough  preparation,  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  medical  department  of 
B.owdoin  College  in  1831.  Soon  after,  he 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Saxton's 
River,  Vt.,  where  he  remained  twenty- one 
years,  in  constantly  increasing  esteem  and 
honor  among  his  fellow  townsmen,  being 
the  most  eininent  physician  in  the  region. 
In  1854  Dr.  Severance  left  Saxton's  River, 
greatly  to  the  regret  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity, and  removed  to  Bellevue,  Ohio. 
Here  again  he  won  wide  confidence  in  his 
skill  as  a  physician,  high  admiration  as  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  warm  esteem 
for  his  sterling  qualities  as  a  man. 


352 


jirnox  COUNTY,  oiiio. 


For  sixty  years  he  was  an  active  and 
influential  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  to  which  he  contrilmted  with  a 
liberality  out  of  proportion  to  his  means, 
as  he  did  also  to  many  educational  and 
philanthropic  enterprises.  He  helped  to 
establish  an  academy  in  Vermont,  and  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  a  college  in  Michi- 
i^an.  He  was  a  consistent  Mason,  holding 
liicrh  ofKce  in  the  Order,  until  failing 
strength  prevented  his  attendance  upon  its 
meetings.  Bv  birth  and  tastes  he  was  in- 
clined  to  the  "best  things;"  yet,  in  his 
social  relations  and  manner  of  life,  he  was 
most  democratic.  In  politics  he  was 
always  the  friend  of  the  oppressed.  An 
anti-slavery  man  by  instinct,  his  house  for 
many  years  was  a  station  on  the  "Under- 
ground Railroad."  Though  possessing  for 
fifty  years  an  extensive  practice  in  his  pro- 
fession, his  constant  generosity  prevented 
the  accumulation  of  a  large  estate. 

On  June  11,  1845,  Dr.  Severance  mar- 
ried Joanna  Bailey,  of  Westmoreland,  N. 
Y.,  with  whom  he  spent  a  most  happy 
wedded  life  of  nearly  forty-eight  years.  To 
them  were  born  three  children,  a  son  and 
two  daughters.  Dr.  Severance  died  April 
23,  1893,  at  the  great  age  of  ninety  years, 
three  months  and  eight  days. 


ri(     G.   ROE,   one  of    the  most  widely 
Hj^    known  agriculturists  of  Peru  town- 
fr\^   ship,  was  born  April  21,  1849,  on 
•^J  the    place   where  he   now   resides. 

He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  grand- 
son of  Thomas  Roe,  natives  of  Northamp- 
tonshire, England,  who  etnigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  the  "  twenties,"  and 
settled  in  Huron  county,  Ohio. 

Thomas  Roe  was  married  in  England  to 
Mary  Ann  Barnett,  where  several  children 
were  born  to  them,  namely:  Charles, 
Annie,  Barnett,  Mary  Ann.,  William  and 
Joseph  B.  In  1821  the  family  immi- 
grated  to  America,  and  after  landing   in 


New  York  pushed  westward  to  Auburn, 
N.  Y.,  where  they  remained  ten  years, 
and  where  three  more  children  were  born, 
namely:  Mark,  Reuben  and  Thomas. 
About  1831  two  sons  visited  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Peru  township,  and  jirepared  a  home  there 
for  the  rest  of  the  family,  who  came  in 
the  spring  of  1832.  The  parents  resided 
here  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
following  is  a  brief  record  of  their  chil- 
dren: Charles,  a  well  known  farmer  of 
Pern  township,  died  in  the  fall  of  1891; 
Annie  married  Samuel  Wicks;  Barnett, 
who  was  a  farmer  and  miller  of  Greenfield 
township,  died  in  the  county;  William 
was  the  tirst  member  of  the  family  to  pass 
away  here;  Mark  resides  at  Granville, 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio;  Reuben  is  a  machinist 
in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Thomas  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1852,  and  now  resides  in  Ore- 
gon; Joseph  B.  was  a  farmer  of  Peru 
township. 

Joseph  B.  Roe  was  born  December  15, 
1818,  in  England,  and  was  brought  to  the 
United  States  by  his  parents  in  1821. 
He  received  a  primary  education  in  the 
schools  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  after  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  this  county  at- 
tended school  in  Peru  township  and  worked 
on  the  farm.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Amanda  Gale,  of  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  to  this  marriage  was  l)orn  one 
child,  A.  G.  Roe,  of  whom  mention  will 
presently  be  made.  Immediately  after 
marriage  Mr.  Roe  located  on  the  farm 
where  his  son  now  resides,  being  a  part 
of  the  original  tract  occupied  by  the 
family.  Mrs.  Amanda  Roe  died  in  June, 
1849,  during  the  cholera  epidemic,  and  Mr. 
Roe  was  afterward  married  to  Harriet  Hil- 
dreth,  sister  of  a  well-known  preacher  of 
Norwalk.  Mr.  Roe  was  a  Jacksonian 
Democrat  up  to  1856,  when  he  became 
a  Republican.  At  an  early  age  he  united 
with  the  Methodist  Church,  and  was  al- 
ways one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters; 
he  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee   during    the    construction     of    the 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


353 


present  house  of  worship.  His  death  oc- 
eiirreii  Janiiary  19,  18S3,  the  result  of  an 
attack  of  paralysis. 

A.  G.  Roe  received  his  rudimentary 
■  education  in  the  district  school,  and  after- 
ward completed  a  cotniuercial  course  in 
Oberlin  Commercial  Colleo-e.  He  worked 
on  the  iiome  farm  until  1873,  in  which 
year  lie  visited  the  Pacific  coast,  went 
from  San  Francisco,  Cat.,  to  Portland, 
Oregon,  and  remained  in  the  latter  State 
for  some  time.  Returning  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  1877,  when  he 
married  Estlier  P.,  daughter  of  George  M. 
Ryerson,  of  Peru  township,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  two  children:  E.  Anna 
and  J.  Clarence,  both  of  whom  are  living 
at  home.  Since  the  spring  of  1878  he 
has  liad  charge  of  the  home  farm.  In 
188-4  Mr.  Roe  was  sliot  in  the  right  leg, 
an  accident  which  checked  his  rapid  prog- 
ress as  a  farmer,  and  handicapped  him  in 
the  race  for  precedence.  Notwithstanding 
liis  physical  disability  he  is  fairly  endowed 
with  wealth,  and  what  is  superior  to 
wealth,  taste  and  intelligence.  He  is  an 
oninivorons  reader,  a  good  speaker  and  a 
close  student  of  events.  He  was  a  Re- 
publican up  to  a  few  years  ago,  when  he 
joined  the  Independeift  party.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  which  Society  he  has  served 
in  various  offices. 


NGUS  McDonald.  The  ances- 
try of  the  family,  of  whom  this 
^  gentleman  is  a  prominent  member, 
is  traced  to  one  Roger  McDonald, 
a  native  of  the  island  of  Skye,  one 
of  tiie  Inner  Hebrides,  Scotland.  He 
removed  to  Campbelltown,  Argyleshire,  in 
early  maidiood,  and  was  there  married  to 
Mai-y  McAllister,  and  nine  children  — 
four  sons  and  five  daughters — were  born  to 
them,  of  whom  one  son,  Roger,  came  to 
America    and     made    a    settlement    here. 


The  father  was  a  shepherd,  and  his  eldest 
son,  named  Donald,  perished  in  a  snow- 
storm while  tending  sheep  on  his  native 
hills,  leaving  one  daughter  Mary  who 
came  to  America  and  married  an  oflicer, 
by  name  Donald  McDonald,  a  resident  of 
Ontario  county,  Ontario  (Canada),  where 
they  are  yet  living,  and  have  a  family  of 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Another 
grandchild  of  Roger  and  Mary  McDonald 
is  Mrs.  Flora  Simpson,  a  widow  lady,  at 
present  living  in  Norwalk,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  with  her  two  daughters.  Flora  (a 
teacher  in  high  school  at  Norwalk),  and 
Maggie  (living  at  home). 

Roger  McDonald,  son  of  Roger  and 
Mary  (McAllister)  McDonald,  was  born 
in  Campbelltown,  Scotland,  March  20, 
1820,  and  in  1840  he  emigrated  to  Ainer- 
ica,  making  his  way  from  the  port  of 
landing  to  Huron,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  Here 
he  was  married  in  1844  to  Charlotte  Par- 
ratt,  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  England, 
and  in  the  following  year  they  moved  to 
Noble  county,  Ind.,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1849,  in  which  year,  being 
seized  with  the  '-gold  fever"  which  had 
become  so  epidemic,  he  set  oiit  to  the  then 
new  "  El  Dorado  " — California— his  family 
returning  to  Huron  county,  Ohio.  In 
1851  he  returned  to  Huron  coilnty,  and 
here  he  purchased  102  acres  of  farm  land 
in  Lot  10,  Section  4,  in  Bronson  town- 
ship. In  1885  they  removed  to  North 
Fairfield  village,  still  retaining  the  farm 
property,  however.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Donald have  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom  died  when  quite  young,  and  four 
children  are  living,  viz.:  Angus,  the  snb- 
ject  of  these  lines;  Bruce,  a  prominent  horse 
dealer  of  North  Fairfield,  Ohio;  Emma  E., 
married  to  H.  II.  Hovt,  a  drv-goods  mer- 
chant,  and  has  three  children;  and  Will- 
iam H.,  a  bookkeeper,  all  residents  |of 
Huron  county,  William  H.  and  the  Hoyts 
living  in  Xorwalk.  In  politics  linger 
McDonald  votes  with  the  Prohibition 
party;  in  religion  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


354 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Angus  McDonald,  the  eldest  son  of 
IkOger  and  Charlotte  (Pai-ratt)  McDonald, 
was  born  April  22,  1846,  in  Noble  county, 
Ind.,and  alter  I'eceiving  a  liberal  conimon- 
scliool  training  he  entered  the  Toledo  Com- 
inercial  (JoUege,  where  he  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1866.  In  1868  he  purchased 
the  farm  and  began  farming  on  the  place 
where  he  is  now  iivfng,  being  Lot  7.  Sec- 
tion 4,  Bronson  township  (101  acres).  In 
1869  Angus  McDonald  was  married  to 
Libbie  PI.  Adriance,  a  native  of  Greene 
county,  N.  Y.,  born  of  parents  of  Dutch 
and  French  descent,  and  they  have  two 
children:  Hugh  A.  and  Elnora  Y.,  both 
living  in  the  parental  home.  Mr.  McDon- 
ald is  a  thorough  business  man,  and  has 
given  his  chief  attention  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  F'rom  1886  to  1891 
lie  was  secretary  of  the  Huron  County 
Fariners'  Mutual  Fire  Association;  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  vari- 
ous farmerb'  and  labor  organizations  in 
Huron  county  for  many  years.  Politically 
he  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  was  a  candidate 
for  the  office  of  county  recorder  in  1890, 
his  opponent  being  elected  by  only  a 
small  majority.  In  religion  himself  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Bronson  Bap- 
tist Church. 


B.  TUDOR,  a  leading  merchant  of 
Chicago  Junction,  is  the  sou  of  Sa- 
lathiel  and  Mary  J.  (Wilson)  Tudor. 
His  great-great-grandfather  Tudor 
was  born  in  Wales;  the  uiateinal  great- 
grandfather of  subject  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, anil  the  maternal  great-grandmother 
was  a  native  of  Germany. 

Salathiel  and  Mary  J.Tudor  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  respectively. 
Salathiel  Tudor  was  a  tailor,  but  later 
learned  carpentry,  and  applied  himself  to 
that  trade  for  some  time.  About  1827  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Richmond  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  but  some  time 
aftei'ward  removed  with  his  father  to  Mus- 


kingum county.  He  was  married  in  Mus- 
kingum county,  where  he  resided  for  a 
short  time,  until  the  glowing  accounts  of 
the  prairie  lands  of  Illinois  urged  him  to 
move  farther  west.  For  thirteen  years  he 
lived  in  that  State,  but  in  1859  returned 
to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  his  removal  to  Chica- 
go Junction  in  1883.  Ilis  wife  died  in 
Illinois  in  1855.  They  had  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  lour  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  namely:  AYilliam,  who  enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second 
O.  Y.  I.,  when  seventeen  years  old.  and 
was  killed  at  Locust  Grove,  Ya.,  in  1863; 
J.  W.,  a  farmer  in  Clarke  county.  111.; 
Lyman,  residing  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio; 
and  C.  B.,  a  resident  of  Chicago  Junction. 
The  father  entered  the  army  in  1862, 
served  through  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now 
a  veteran  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

C.  B.  Tudor  was  born  March  18,  1851, 
in  Edgar  county,  111.,  received  a  somewhat 
limited  education  in  the  district  schools 
there,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  1859.  He  was 
engaged  in  farm  work  until  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  when  he  was  employed  for 
the  bridge  and  carpenter  department  on 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.,  where  he  remained 
from  1873  till  1880.  In  that  year  he  and 
George  Dillon  established  a  hardware  store 
at  Chicago  Junction,  but  at  the  close  of 
a  year's  business  Mr.  Tudor  purchased 
his  partner's  interest,  and  for  the  two  suc- 
ceeding years  conducted  it  alone.  His 
brother-in-law,  D.  A.  Bishop,  then  en- 
tei-ed  into  partnership  with  him,  and  the 
firm  carried  on  trade  until  the  spring  of 
1892,  when  Mr.  Tudor  again  became  sole 
proprietor.  He  began  business  on  a  capi- 
tal of  twelve  hundred  dollars,  and  now 
carries  a  stock  ranging  in  value  from  seven 
thousand  to  ten  thousand  dollars.  His 
interests  are  not  altogether  mercantile.  In 
1889,  in  partnership  with  Otis  Sykes,  he 
bought  fitty-six  lots  in  Matson's  west  side 
sub-division,  and  of  these  only  twenty  re- 
main unsold.  Seven  years  before,  in  1882, 
he  atid  Mr.  Sykes  built  the  brick  block  in 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


355 


which  our  subject's   large   hardware   store 
is  located. 

On  October  8,  1878,  Mr.  Tudor  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Delia  Se- 
vault,  who  was  born  in  Huron  county,  of 
which  her  father,  Jacob  Sevault,  is  an  old 
settler.  Of  their  two  children,  Ebert  died 
in  infancy,  and  Glenn,  a  bright  boy  of 
eleven  years,  resides  with  his  parents.  In 
political  life  Mr.  Tudor  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party  in  State  and  National  elec- 
tions, but  is  not  a  politician,  as  his  busi- 
ness interests  are  too  numerous  to  warrant 
liim  in  giving  his  attention  to  public  mat- 
ters, though  he  has  served  four  years  on 
the  school  board.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Lodge  No.  7i8,  1.  O.  O.  F.;  in  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren   Church. 


1^ 


H!  OSEA  M.  HOOD,  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  widely-known  citizens 
of  Hartland  township,  where  he 
enjoys  a  very  large  circle  of  friends, 
was  born  August  19,  1824,  at 
Sweden,  Monroe  county,  New  York. 

His  father,  Thomas  Hood,  was  born 
January  1,  1791,  in  Canaan,  Conn.,  and 
about  1812  was  married,  at  Steventown, 
N.  Y.,  to  Dorothy  L.  Hill,  who  was  born 
there  February  20,  1794.  They  soon  after- 
ward moved  to  Sweden,  N.  1.,  then  a 
frontier  settlement,  the  trip  being  made 
with  an  o.\-team.  In  Monroe  county  he 
found  work  as  a  wood-chopper,  supplying 
fuel  for  the  salt  works,  near  which  he 
lived.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hood  were:  Henry  L.,  born  June  29, 
1813,  now  a  resident  of  Medina,  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.;  Horace  E.,  born  October  13, 
1815,  an  auctioneer,  who  died  at  Spring- 
Held,  111.,  while  traveling  with  Van  Am- 
berg's  circus;  Hiram  B.,  born  December 
30,  1817,  was  accidently  killed  in  1850, 
while  working  in  a  stone  quarry  at  Swe- 
den, N.  Y.;  Lydia  L.,  born  May  2,  1820, 
married  first  to  William  Seely,  of  Me- 
dina county,  Ohio,  and   subsequently  to  a 


Mr.  Coates,  of  Michigan;  Dorothy  L., 
born  March  17,  1823,  died  in  infancy; 
Hosea  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Bet- 
sey M.,  born  January  20,  1827,  married 
Freeman  Russell,  and  died  at  Ilolley,  Or- 
leans Co.,  N.  Y.;  Alvin  J.,  born  August 
31,  1831,  a  farmer  of  Noi'walk  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Edwin  T.,  born  April 
24,  1834,  who  served  during  the  Civil  war 
in  the  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  was  wounded  in 
1864  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  received 
an  honorable  discharge,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Mary  L.,  born 
November  25,  1836,  now  Mrs.  Randall,  a 
widow,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Some  time 
after  the  birth  of  the  last  child  tlie  family 
removed  to  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
the  mother  died  May  15,  1841;  the  father 
returned  to  Monroe  county,  where  he  died 
April  19,  1865.  Both  were  buried  at 
Sweden,  where  all  their  children  wei-eborn 
and  which  all  called  home.  Thomas  Hood 
was  a  Whig  prior  to  1856,  when  he  joined 
the  Republican  party.  In  religious  con- 
nection he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Holley,  N.  Y.,  his  wife  also 
being  a  member  of  the  same  church. 

Hosea  M.  Hood  received  an  elementary 
education  in  the  "  Stone  Bridge  School," 
at  Sweden,  N.  Y.,  and  subsequently 
worked  on  the  farm,  near  the  salt-works, 
assisting  his  father  until  1845.  In  that 
year  he  set  out  on  the  journey  to  Ohio, 
his  capital  being  ten  dollars  in  currency, 
good  health  and  plenty  of  pluck.  The 
journey  was  made  from  Sweden  to  Buffalo 
by  way  of  the  canal;  from  Buffalo  to 
Huron  by  lake,  and  thence  to  Hartland 
Ridge  by  wagon.  The  trip  from  Buftalo 
to  Huron  was  so  extremely  rqugh  that  the 
boat  returned  to  port  rather  than  venture 
to  weather  the  gale.  Arriving  at  Hart- 
land Ridge  with  eight  dollars  of  his  capi- 
tal gone,  he  found  his  brother,  Horace  E., 
who  had  previously  located  there,  and  who 
offered  him  work.  The  succeeding  winter 
he  attended  school,  and  the  following 
spring  accompanied  his  brother,  selling 
notions  along  the  route  of  June  &  Tur- 


356 


HUBON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ner's  circus,  going  through  Ohio,  Michi- 
gan, Indiana,  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  In 
the  fall  they  returned  to  Hartland  town- 
ship, where  Ilosea  M.  taught  the  "Bills" 
school  for  thirteen  dollars  per  month.  For 
nine  seasons  he  continued  to  follow  the 
routes  of  the  great  circus  companies,  sell- 
ing notions  and  jewelry.  Van  Amberg's, 
Spalding  &  Rogers',  Welch's,  Franconi's 
and  Bainum's  men  knew  him  almost  as 
one  of  themselves.  While  thus  employed, 
he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  duties  of 
of  an  auctioneer,  and  this  profession  he 
adopted. 

On  June  4,  1850,  he  married  Hulda  M. 
Holiday,  who  was  born  December 4,  1831, 
in  Kuggles  township  (^then  in  Huron 
county),  daughter  of  Lorton  and  Matilda 
(Gates)  Holiday.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hood 
were  born  the  foUowino;  named  children: 
Elvira  I.,  born  October  10,  1851  (deceased 
in  infancy);  Alice  C,  born  August  15, 
1853,  a  graduate  of  Lebanon  (Ohio)  Nor- 
mal School,  who  was  seven  years  a  teacher 
in  the  Milan  Normal  School  (she  is  now 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Ferguson,  of  Hartland  town- 
siiip);  Hosea  M.,  Jr.,  born  September  25, 
1855,  is  city  salesman  for  a  Denver  (Colo.) 
wholesale  grocery  house;  Evaline  F.,  born- 
November  26,  1856,  died  in  infancy; 
Herbert  E.,  born  November  10,  1858,  an 
employe  as  telegraph  operator  and  station 
agent  for  the  C.  C.  &  S.  R.  K.  at  Beach 
City,  Ohio;  Dora  B.,  born  December  16, 
1861,  wife  of  S.  F.  Angus,  a  leading  in- 
surance man  of  Detroit,  Mich.;  and  Edith 
M.,  born  February  21,  1868,  residing 
at    home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hood  located  in 
Hartland  township,  on  a  rented  farm,  but 
continued  to  sell  notions  and  jewelry  as  of 
old.  In  1854  he  located  on  his  present 
home,  which  then  comprised  seventy  acres, 
but  is  now  a  well-improved  tract  of  175 
acres.  Since  1858  he  has  given  close  at- 
tention to  his  farming  interests.  As  a 
"sale   crier"  he   is  well    known,   and    his 

Frofessional  calls  extend  over  a  wide  area, 
ndeed  it  is  said   that  some  of  the  best 


"  sale  criers  "  in  this  section  of  Ohio  have 
graduated  under  him.  In  early  years,  in 
fact  for  fifteen  winters  after  coming  to 
Ohio,  he  taught  school  in  Hartland  town- 
ship. A  Kepublican  in  politics,  he  has 
served  in  various  township  offices;  for 
twelve  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  he  also  served  as  clerk  and  trustee. 
He  is  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
for  some  years  was  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school.  Mrs.  Hood  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  both  are 
popular  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hood  is  a 
progressive,  leading  citizen,  and  his  prop- 
erty is  entirely  the  accumulation  of  his 
own  earnest  toil. 


p^  IMEON  O.  RIGGS.  This  gentle- 
man is  a  prominent  representative 
of  an  old  Scotch  family,  the  first 
pioneer  of  the  name  having  located 
in  New  Jersey  in  the  earliest  Colonial 
days.  For  generations  the  eldest  son  of 
this  family  has  borne  the  name  of  Simeon, 
and  many  years  ago  one  Simeon  Riggs 
left  his  New  Jersey  home  owing  to  some 
misunderstanding  with  his  relatives.  He 
was  a  fuller  by  trade,  and  settling  in 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  there  purchased 
and  operated  a  woolen  mill.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  a  Miss  Cheney,  who  bore  him 
four  children — two  sons  and  two  dautrh- 
ters — the  eldest  son  being  named  E.  C,  a 
departure  from  the  old  family  custom. 

E.  C.  Riggs  was  born  in  Guernsey 
county,  Ohio,^and  when  but  twelve  years 
of  age  suffered  the  loss  of  one  hand.  A 
few  years  before  this  accident  his  father 
was  burned  out,  uninsured,  and  this  son 
(although  crippled)  engaged  in  the  most 
menial  labors,  in  order  to  assist  in  sup- 
porting the  family  and  securing  his  own 
education.  He  worked  for  some  time  as 
errand  boy  in  a  general  store,  studying 
every  hour  of  leisure  time,  and  when  but 
sixteen  years  old  he  commenced  teaching 
a  writing-school.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  began   teaching  public  school  in 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


357 


Noble  county,  Ohio,  continuing  the  same 
until  1864.  In  1854  he  was  married  to 
Margaret  Brokaw,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  wanted  to 
enlist,  and  although  refused  on  the  around 
of  physical  disability,  he  assisted  in  the 
pursuit  of  Morgan.  In  1863  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  courts  of  Guernsey  county 
on  the  Republican  ticket.  In  the  spring 
of  1864  he  removed  from  Senecaville  to 
Cambridge,  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio,  continu- 
ing to  hold  the  office  of  clerk  for  three 
successive  terms.  He  then  conducted  a 
grocery  and  manufacturing  business  for 
some  time,  and  during  Gov.  Foster's  first 
term  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unfinished 
term  of  Judge  Buchanan  as  probate  judge 
of  Guernsey  county.  After  occupying 
this  office  he  served  two  years  as  acting 
judge  under  Judge  Kennan;  then  took  a 
position  as  bookkeeper  with  the  Cam- 
bridge Coal  Mining  Company,  which  was 
eventually  merged  into  the  Guernsey  Coal 
Mining  Company,  when  he  assumed  the 
duties  of  general  manager  and  secretary. 
This  position  he  resigned  August  1,  1892, 
and  he  is  now  retired  from  active  business. 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to 
the  union  of  E.  C.  and  Margaret  (Brokaw) 
Ritige:  Mrs.  J.  F.  Salmon,  living  in  Cam- 
bridge;  Simeon  O.,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch;  C.  N.,  who  owns  the  finest 
drug  business  in  Buffalo;  Howard,  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Chicago,  111.;  William  L.,  a 
resident  of  Cambridge;  H.  P.,  a  telegraph 
operator  in  Geneseo,  Henry  Co.,  111.;  and 
Jessie,  Delbert  and  Ruby,  all  three  living 
at  home. 

Simeon  O.  Riggs  was  born  May  9, 1856, 
in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  schools  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  ap- 
prenticed to  learn  the  printer's  trade. 
After  working  two  years,  he  accepted  a 
position  in  a  dry-goods  store  where  he 
worked  three  years;  then  traveled  for  a 
cigar  factory  in  which  his  father  was 
interested.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  selected 
a  life  companion    in   the  person  of   Alice, 


daughter  of  S.  H.  Culbertson,  of  Cam- 
bridge. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Riggs 
began  business  with  his  father-in-law  in 
general  merchandise,  but  dissolved  partner- 
ship one  year  later,  and  then  conducted  a 
restaurant  for  one  year.  Afterward  he 
clerked  for  his  father-in-law  for  some 
time,  and  during  the  summer  of  1880 
worked  for  the  Ohio  Valley  Hedge  Com- 
pany, of  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  assisted 
his  father-in-law  the  succeeding  winter; 
then  took  charge  of  a  job  and  news  room 
in  Cambridge,  continuing  in  that  business 
until  1883.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Chicago  Junction  and  took  charge 
of  the  Times  newspaper,  which  had  just 
been  started  by  Lusk  &  Krause.  Six 
months  later  he  bought  the  office,  and  has 
since  been  editor  and  proprietor  of  this 
very  successful  paper,  which  is  now  estab- 
lished on  a  firm  basis.  It  is  Independent 
in  politics,  and  enjoys  a  large  advertising 
patronage,  as  well  as  a  wide  circulation 
for  a  local  paper.  Editor  Riggs  contem- 
plates putting  in  steam  presses,  which  will 
doubtless  greatly  facilitate  his  business. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party. 
In  religion  he  is  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  in  Chicago,  Ohio,  and 
is  a  zealous  member  of  that  denomination. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riggs  have   three   sons   and 

Tr-r 

one  daughter,  namely:  Walter  A.,  Carlos 
O.,  Simeon  Otis,  and  Mable  E.  [Since 
the  above  was  written,  Mr.  Riggs,  in  the 
fall  of  1892,  disposed  of  the  Times,  and  is 
now  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Times, 
a  straight  Republican  paper,  at  Indianola, 
Warren  Co.,  Iowa. 


LOUIS  FIESINGER  is  a  native   of 
,    New    York    State,    born    in    Utica, 
[  Oneida    Co.,    N.    Y.,    February    8, 

1844,  a  son  of  Francis  Josepli  and 
Theresa  Ebrhardt  Fiesinger,  natives  of 
Alsace  (then  in  France,  now  in  Germany), 
the  father  receiving  his  education  in 
Paris. 


358 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


At  the  age  of  thirty-five  years  the 
father  of  our  subject  came  to  America, 
locating  at  first  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
foUowed  his  trade  of  cabinet  maker,  which 
he  had  learned  in  Paris.  In  1854  he  came 
to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  he  also  worked 
at  his  trade,  and  was  for  a  time  in  the 
employ  of  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad  Company  at  that 
place.  In  the  old  country  he  had 
married  Theresa  Ehrhardt,  and  ten  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  Louis  being  the 
third  youngest,  and  of  that  large  family, 
only  he  and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Doran,  in 
Cleveland,  are  now  living.  The  father 
died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  abont  sixty- 
three  years,  the  mother  in  1887,  aged 
seventy-nine  years;  they  were  members 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Louis  Fiesinger  was  educated  in  Nor- 
walk, at  the  high  school  of  which  place  he 
graduated,  and  after  completing  his  stud- 
ies he  for  some  years  taught  school  in  the 
southern  part  of  Ohio.  Coming  to  Cin- 
cinnati in  1861,  he  was  here  employed  as 
recording  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of 
the  courts,  from  1861  to  1867,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  returnea  to  Norwalk 
and  embarked  in  the  grocery  and  provision 
business.  But  this  he  soon  afterward 
sold  out,  and  opening  a  restaurant  carried 
that  on  till  1871,  in  which  year  he  accepted 
a  position  as  traveling  salesman  for 
Stephen  Buhrer,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
wholesale  dealer  in  liquors  and  wines. 
This  line  of  business  he  followed  till  1873, 
and  then  received  an  appointment  as  bill 
clerk  on  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad  at  Monroeville,  in  the 
same  county;  but  in  1875  he  moved  to 
Chicago  Junction,  also  in  Huron  county, 
and  there  once  more  commenced  in  the 
restaurant  line,  having  in  connection  a 
ball  alley.  Thence  in  1878  he  went  to 
Columbus,  where  he  ran  a  saloon  and  bil- 
liard room  one  year;  then  returned  to 
Chicago  Junction,  thence  again  moving  to 
Norwalk  where  he  has  since  successfully 


carried  on  his  present  business.  In  Nor- 
walk he  has  opened  a  brick  and  tile  fac- 
tory which  promises  to  become  one  of  the 
best  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  the  cost  of 
the  plant  being  not  less  than  twelve 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  run  by  steam, 
and  has  a  capacity  of  20,000  feet  of  tile 
and  40,000  brick  per  day.  The  tiring  of 
the  tile  and  brick  is  done  with  oil  fuel, 
part  of  the  plant  being  a  large  tank  ca- 
pable of  holding  300  barrels  of  oil,  and 
the  work  can  be  carried  on  in  any  weather — 
summer  or  winter,  hot  or  cold,  dry  or  wet. 
There  is  also  a  disintegrator  for  crushing 
clay;  in  fact,  the  concern  is  most  thor- 
oughly equipped  in  every  essential. 

In  1876  Mr.  Fiesinger  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Fox,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and 
three  children  have  lieen  born  to  them, 
viz.:  AVilliam  Louis,  May  and  Leon.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican;  in 
religion  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  no  par- 
ticular Church. 


D    J.     C.     ARNOLD,     tnanufacturer 
of  brick  and   tile   makers'  supplies, 
'   and   metal  wheels.  New  London,  is 

a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
October  27,  1854,  in  the  town  of  Adams, 
where  he  received  his  education. 

In  1876  Mr.  Arnold  came  west  to  Ohio, 
and  locating  in  New  Loudon,  Huron 
county,  commenced  in  the  lumber  business. 
In  1878  he  established  his  present  indus- 
try, the  factory  being,  perhaps,  the  largest 
one  in  the  United  States  devoted  to  the 
special  manufacturing  of  brick  and  tile- 
yard  supplies.  The  buildings  have  a  total 
area  of  between  22,000  and  23,000  feet  of 
floor  space,  and  being  located  on  the  main 
line  of  the  "Big  Four"  Railroad  system, 
which  extends  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
most  populous  section  of  the  United  States, 
the  shipping  facilities  are  unsurpassed. 
Shipments  are  made  directly  to  all  parts  of 
the  country,  with  but  very  few  changes. 
The  Pittsburgh,  Akron  &  Western  Rail- 
road also  runs  here,  and  the  Baltimore  & 


ar4:yU/ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


361 


Ohio  through  line  is  very  near.  The 
industry  does  an  extensive  trade  even  as 
far  as  the  Pacific  coast,  including  all  inter- 
mediate points,  and  enjoys  an  unprece- 
dented local  patronage.  Among  the  cata- 
logued articles  manufactured  by  Mr. 
Arnold  may  be  mentioned  the  following: 
llepresses,  dump  carts,  brick,  mud,  tile,  sand 
and  otlier  barrows,  patent  pallet  trucks, 
spring  trucks,  dry  press  trucks,  patent 
sewer  pipe  trucks,  and  sewer  pipe  and  other 
barrows;  pug  mill  shafts;  wrought  iron 
tempering  wheels;  machine  and  hand  molds 
of  all  kinds;  brick  edgers,  etc.,  as  well  as 
everything  pertaining  to  the  proper  out- 
fitting and  furnishing  of  brick  and  tile 
kilns.  Special  mention  may  here,  also  be 
made  of  the  metal  wiieels  for  trucks  and 
barrows  turned  out  by  the  Arnold  Metal 
Wheel  Company,  for  which  a  patent  was 
secured  in  1890.  These  wheels  are  light, 
strong,  durable  and  handsome,  and  have 
been  in  use  long  enoueh  to  demonstrate 
that  tliey  are  all  that  is  claimed  for  thera, 
and  that  they  never  fail  to  give  satisfac- 
tion. The  superiority  of  good  metal 
wheels  over  wood,  or  a  combination  of 
wood  and  iron,  has  been  proven  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  who  have  used  them,  and 
who  now  use  no  other. 

Mr.  Arnold  is  looked  upon  as  the  ne 
plus  ultra  business  man  of  New  London, 
ills  energy  and  enterprise  being  proverbial; 
and  in  the  affairs  of  both  town  and  county 
he  wields  a  potent  influence  in  the  line  of 
progressiveness  and  reform.  In  his  politi- 
cal sympathies  he  is  a  straight  Republican. 


\^T|ATHAN  BEERS  is  descended  from 
VJ     one   of  the   early   families  of  Con- 
1     iiecticut,  of  whicli  State  his  father, 
Nathan  Beers,  was  a  native.  Grand- 
father Beers  was  paymaster  nnder 
Washington  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war,   and    was  subsequently  a  steward 
of  Yale  College. 

His  son,  Nathan  Beers,  was  born   Octo- 
ber   15,    1806,    in    New     Haven,    Conn., 


Gen. 


where  he  received  his  education.  He 
completed  the  freshman  year  in  Yale,  and 
then  set  out  on  a  journey  to  Oliio,  travel- 
ing by  canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland,  and 
thence,  on  horseback,  to  Trumbull  county, 
where  relatives  resided.  After  a  brief 
visit  he  pursued  his  journey,  coming  to 
Huron  county,  where  an  uncle  and  a 
brother  had  previously  purchased  land. 
On  July  3,  1828,  he  married  Louisa  Ash- 
ley, who  was  born  December  6,  1806,  in 
Deertield,  Mass.,  whence  in  1817  she  ac- 
companied iier  parents,  Luther  and  Eunice 
(Smith)  Ashley,  to  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  the  journey,  which  oc- 
cupied six  weeks,  being  made  in  a  wagon. 
The  children  born  to  Nathan  and  Louisa 
Beers  were  as  follows:  Mary,  widow  of 
Lucius  Gibbs,  who  resides  in  California; 
Augusta,  widow  of  Isaac  Darling,  of 
Greenfield  townsliip,  and  Nathan.  The 
parents  of  these  began  married  life  on  the 
same  farm  where  he  died  March  6,  1891. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Steuben 
cemetery.  His  widow  now  resides  with 
her  son  Nathan  on  the  homestead.  Politi- 
cally this  pioneer  diffei-ed  from  the  ma- 
jority of  the  men  of  Huron  count}-,  who 
voted  for  Fremont  in  1856.  He  simply 
changed  from  being  a  Wliig  into  a  Re- 
publican, while  the  others  who  changed 
political  ideas  at  the  time  were  generally 
Democrats.  He  filled  many  township 
offices  in  early  years,  such  as  clerk,  trustee 
and  treasurer.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  was  much  es- 
teemed by  his  neighbors.  He  was  tenderly 
beloved  by  his  children  and  grandchildren, 
and  at  all  times  he  dealt  justly,  loved 
mercy,  and  reverenced  God. 

Nathan  Beers,  son  of  the  pioneer,  was 
born  October  8,  1840,  was  educated  in  the 
district  school,  and  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer.  He  worked  on  the  homestead 
until  1861,  when  he  mai'ried  Ellen  Conk- 
lin,  who  was  born  March  14,  1844,  at 
Plymouth.  Ohio;  her  parents,  Charles  and 
Rachel  (Bevier)  Conklin,  came  from 
Owasco,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.    Y.,  where   Mr. 


362 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Conklin  was  born  July  14,  1807,  and  his 
wife  November  24,  1807.  Mr.  Conklin 
was  a  tailor  Ijy  trade,  but  devoted  much  of 
his  time  to  agriculture.  To  the  marriage 
of  Nathan  and  Pollen  Beers  were  bora 
three  children,  namelj:  Fred  P.,  a  boot 
and  shoe  dealer  of  Plymouth,  Ohio; 
Louise,  Mrs.  Deino  P.  Ryersou,  of  Peru 
township,  and  Mary,  at  home.  All  were 
born  on  the  home  farm,  where  the  parents 
settled  after  inarriage.  Mrs.  Beers  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  Mr.  Beers  of  the  Congregational 
Society.  Politically  he  is  a  Eepnblican, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  advisers  of  the  party 
in  his  district.  In  August,  1862,  he  en- 
listed,  at  Steuben,  Ohio,  in  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  O.  V.  I., 
which  was  attached  to  the  Eighth  Corps 
and  army  of  the  James,  and  served  with 
that  command  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  received  an  honorable  discharge,  and 
was  mustered  out  in  June,  1865,  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  With  the  exception  of  that 
radical  departure  from  home  life,  Mr. 
Beers  has  called  the  farm,  which  was  lo- 
cated by  his  father,  his  home.  He  is  a 
systematic  agriculturist  and  an  experienced 
stock  grower,  and  is  in  every  respect  a  use- 
ful, industrious  citizen. 


VILLIAM  A.  DANGELEISEN, 
proprietor  of  "The  Imperial," 
Ifj'  Bellevue,  is  of  German  descent, 
and  ranks  high  in  commercial 
circles.  His  father,  Joseph  Dangeleisen, 
was  born  in  1817,  in  Breunlingen,  Baden, 
Germany,  and  passed  his  youth  in  that 
country.  He  learned  the  trade  of  tanner 
and  currier,  and  followed  same  for  twenty 
years  in  various  places  in  Germany,  after- 
ward working  in  France,  Italy.  Austria, 
Denmark,  and  tive  years  in  Switzerland. 
During  this  time  he  learned  several  lan- 
guages and  gained  much  valuable  infor- 
mation. At  one  time  he  was  foreman  in 
a  shop  at  Germany,  where  he  received 
for  his  services  only  one  dollar  per  week. 


Joseph  Dangeleisen  emigrated  from 
Germany  in  1853,  three  years  after  the 
revolution  in  that  country,  in  which  lie 
was  a  leader.  He  was  at  that  time  presi- 
dent of  a  German  club,  and  also  tilled  the 
ofiice  of  councilman.  After  reaching 
America  he  located  in  what  was  then 
known  as  Newburg  (now  Cleveland),  Ohio, 
and  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1857  he 
moved  to  Talford,  same  State,  but  soon  re- 
turned to  Cleveland,  and  from  there  went 
to  Akron,  Ohio,  where  he  had  charge  of  a 
tannery  until  1859,  at  which  time  he 
moved  to  Bellevue,  and  worked  for  Adam 
Zehner  four  years.  In  1863  he  began 
business  for  himself,  opening  the  billiard 
parlors  and  saiuple  room  now  known  as 
'•The  Imperial,"  and  continued  in  active 
charge  until  four  years  ago,  when  his  son 
became  proprietor.  In  1846  Mr.  Dange- 
leisen married  Miss  Caroline  Ilio-orer,  and 
their  union  was  blessed  with  live  children, 
viz.:  Joseph  (I.)  (who  died  in  infancy); 
WilUiam  A.  (subject  of  this  sketch);  Emil 
V.  (who  married  Miss  Matilda  Schuler,  a 
native  of  Huron  county,  Ohio);  Josephine 
(twin  of  Joseph  (II.),  who  married  Otto 
Mai-Jioeser,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  has 
one  daughter,  Elsie).  His  wife  died  in 
1866,  and  in  1868  Mr.  Dangeleisen  mar- 
ried Miss  Susan  Gimmey,  to  which  mar- 
riage no  children  have  been  born.  Mr. 
Dangeleisen  has  acquired  considerable 
property,  is  highly  I'espected,  and  is  gen- 
erally regarded  as  one  of  Bellevue's  best 
citizens. 

William  A.  Dangeleisen  was  born  in 
1856,  in  Newburg,  Ohio.  He  passed  his 
school  days  in  Bellevue,  and  was  with  his 
father  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  he  went  to  Cleveland  and  learned  the 
machinist  trade.  He  worked  in  Cleveland 
four  years,  and  attended  the  Commercial 
College  about  eighteen  months.  In  1875 
he  moved  to  Adrian,  Mich.,  where  he 
clerked  in  the  "  Mineral  Spring  Hotel," 
and  was  given  full  charge  of  same.  After 
six  months  he  went  to  Toledo,  Imt  twelve 
months  later  returned  home,  where  he  had 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


363 


a  severe  lllnegs.  He  next  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Iligbee  &  Company,  tlie  largest 
grain  dealers  of  northern  (_)iiio,  and  for 
three  years  \va>;  assistant  bookkeeper  and 
bookkeeper  tor  four  years.  He  remained 
witli  the  successors  of  this  firm,  Ward  & 
Collins,  four  years,  and  then  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  McLaughlin  &  Com- 
pany, successors  to  Ward  &  Collins. 
After  five  months  he  withdrew  from  the 
business  and  moved  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
where  he  secured  a  position  as  bookkeej)er, 
but  before  he  accepted  it  his  father  re- 
quested him  to  return  home  and  assume 
charge  of  "The  Imperial"  in  Bellevne. 
He  has  successfully  managed  this  hand- 
some billiard  parlor  and  sample  room  up 
to  the  present  time,  and  is  very  popular  in 
business  circles. 

In  1882  Mr.  Dangeleiseu  married  Miss 
Julia  Korner,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children:  Virginia  and 
William  AVarren.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  tlie  Catholic  Church.  He  was 
nominated  township  clerk,  but  declined 
the  nouiination,  and  the  same  year  refused 
to  run  for  city  clerk,  preferring  to  devote 
liis  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M., 
and  has  filled  the  othce  of  secretary  for 
Lodge  No.  T),  Guardian  Tent;  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Koyal  Arcanum,  Lodge 
No.  363,  Bellevue  Council,  and  Uniform 
Rank  of  K.  P.  His  political  views  are 
Republican. 


•JjILLlAM  A.  HEYMAN.  Among 
\l]  tlie  agriculturists,  who  by  their 
Ij  exemplary  lives  have  won  the  es- 
teem of  their  neiglibors  and  per- 
formed an  important  part  in  the  political, 
mercantile  and  social  affairs  of  Lyme  town- 
ship, none  are  more  prominent  than  WiU- 
iam  A.  Hey  man,  who  was  born  July  21, 
1830,  in  Nassau,  Germany. 

William  C.  Heyman,  father  of  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  re- 
mained in  that  country  until  the  prime  of 


life,  when  he  was  induced  by  the  flattering 
reports  of  his  son's  success  in  America  to 
make  for  himself  and  family  a  new  home. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  after 
locating  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  renting  land  until 
1852,  at  which  time  he  purchased  a  valu- 
able farm  of  155  acres  in  Sherman  town- 
ship. He  married  Miss  Maria  Opperman, 
and  to  their  union  were  born  ten  children, 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Hey- 
man is  now  living  in  Huron  county,  and 
though  eighty-four  years  of  age  still  enjoys 
good  health,  and"  retains  the  energy  and 
executive  ability  that  enabled  him  to  ac- 
cumulate a  handsome  estate,  and  manage 
his  business  affairs  successfully.  His  wife 
died  in  ISS-t,  after  a  Christian  life  filled 
with  kind  impulses  and  generous  deeds. 

William  A.  Heyman  received  an  excel- 
lent education  in  Germany,  and  learned 
habits  of  thrift  and  industry  that  served 
him  well  during  the  years  when  he  was 
struggling  for  wealth  and  fame.  When 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  determined  to 
seek  broader  fields  of  labor  than  were  open 
to  young  men  in  the  Fatherland,  and  emi- 
grated from  his  native  shore  in  IS-IO. 
Immediately  after  7-eaching  the  United 
States  he  journeyed  west  and  settled  in 
Lyme  township,  Hui'on  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  worked  as  a  farm  laborer  for  Squire 
Prentiss  a  short  time.  By  practicing 
strict  economy  he  was  soon  able  to  engage 
in  farming  for  himself,  and  he  now  owns 
three  valuable  farms  in  Huron  county, 
comprising  425  acres,  and  devotes  his  at- 
tention to  general  agriculture  and  stock 
raising.  He  is  very  popular  in  political 
circles,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
four  terms. 

Mr.  Heyman  was  married,  Deceu)ber 
15,  1854,  to  Miss  Jennette  Moore,  who 
was  born  in  Germany,  a  daughter  of  Con- 
rad and  Clara  Moore,  and  fifteen  children 
— ten  sons  and  five  daughters — blessed 
their  union,  viz.:  Mary,  Emma,  Charles, 
David,  Adam,  Benjamin,  William,  Henry, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Clara,  Louisa  and  Sarah,  and 


364 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


two  whose  names  are  not  given,  of  whom 
eight  sons  and  three  daughters  are  yet  liv- 
ing. The  mother  of  tiiese  died  iu  1875, 
and  in  1877  our  subject  was  married,  in 
Lorain,  to  Miss  Ida  Schroeder,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Schroeder,  formerly  of  Lorain  county, 
Ohio;  he  and  his  wife  were  both  born  in 
1799,  and  the  former  died  in  January, 
1885,  the  latter  in  January,  1893.  Two 
children  blessed  this  last  marriage  of  Mr. 
lieyman,  named  Otto  and  Hugo.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Heyman  are  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  Cliuroh,  of  which  they 
are  liberal  supporters,  and  are  actively  in- 
terested in  all  public  matters  that  have  as 
an  object  the  improvement  of  the  townsliip 
in  which  they  reside. 


MARTIN   GROSS,    senior   member 
of    the   firm  of  Gross   &   Weber, 
J    proprietors    of    the    lumber    and 
^)  planing  mills  at  I'ellevue,  was  born 

in  1843  in  the  Province  of  Nassau, 
Germany,  a  son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Fritz)  Gross. 

In  1860  he  immigrated  to  America,  and 
having  learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade, 
followed  that  business  for  about  one  year 
in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  first  learned 
to  speak  English.  In  1861  he  began 
working  on  a  farm  near  Bellevue,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  soon  afterward  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment, 
O.  V.  L,  in  which  he  served  three  years 
with  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  ChancellorsviUe  and 
Gettysburg,  and  during  the  former  en- 
gagement was  wounded  in  the  leg  and 
taken  prisoner,  but  twelve  days  after  his 
capture  he  wase.xchanged.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  discharged,  and  has  since 
drawn  a  pension.  On  May  1,  1866,  he 
selected  a  life  companion  in  the  person  of 
a  Miss  Angel,  who  died  a  few  years  after- 
ward. Her  children  were  as  follows: 
Louise,  Lizzie,  one  deceased  in  infancy, 
and     Minnie.     After    the    death    of    the 


mother  of  these  children,  the  father  was 
united  in  marriage  May  26,  1874,  with 
Phillipena  Schwenk,  who  has  borne  him 
live  children,  namely:  Katie,  Emma. 
Willie,  Martin  and  Charlie. 

In  1867  Martin  Gross  opened  a  furni- 
ture business  in  Bellevue,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued fourteen  years;  then  sold  out,  and 
bought  a  half  interest  with  J.  H.  Weber  in 
the  lumber  and  planing  mill  at  Bellevue. 
In  1888  Mr.  Weber  sold  his  interest  to 
Charles  D.  Stouer,  who  died  January  16, 
1893,  when  M.  Gross  and  J.  H.  Weber 
bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Stoner.  The 
well-known  tirm  of  M.  Gross  &  J.  H. 
Weber  carry  on  an  extensive  business  in 
lumber,  shingles,  etc.,  their  yard  and  plan- 
ing mills  being  located  on  tlie  east  side  of, 
and  in  close  proximity  to,  the  Nickel  Plate 
Railroad.  Mr.  Gross  is  a  successful, 
enterprising  business  man,  active  in  all 
matters  tending  to  public  improvement, 
and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 


B.  SMITH,  the  courteous  and  efK- 
cient  postmaster  at  Bellevue.  was 
born  March  25.  1840,  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  His  grandfather  and  father 
were  both  natives  of  New  York,  the 
formei-  born  of  Holland-Dutch  ancestry. 

W^illiam  T.  Smitli,  father  of  subject, 
was  married  to  Frances  L.  Smith,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  they  had  children  as 
follows:  Oliver,  Henry,  A.  B.,  Geo.  E., 
F.  W.,  Frances  M.  and'Chas.  A.  In  1835 
William  T.  Smith  established  a  shoe  busi- 
ness in  Cleveland,  wiiere  he  became  a  very 
prominent  citizen.  Politically  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Know-Nothing  party,  and 
one  time,  while  he  was  absent  from  home, 
he  was  elected,  by  his  Cleveland  friends,  a 
councilman  as  such,  although  always  a 
Republican.  He  died  July  2,  1890;  his 
widow  still  lives  in  Cleveland. 

A.  B.  Smith  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Cleveland,  and  when 
the  Civil  war  opened  he  enlisted,  in  April, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


365 


1861,  in  the  First  Ohio  Regiment  of  Liglit 
Artillery.  He  was  in  tlie  tirst  battery  that 
left  the  State  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Philippi, 
W.  Va.,  June  20,  1861.  After  the  time 
had  expired  for  which  lie  lind  enlisted,  he 
reentered  the  service  in  1864,  then  went 
to  Washington  and  remained  in  fortifica- 
tions until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
mustered  out  as  sergeant.  Soon  after  the 
war  he  made  a  permanent  settlement  in 
Bellevne,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  for  about  ten  years.  During  Gar- 
field's administration  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  that  place,  and  served  four 
years  ;  was  re-appointed  by  Harrison  in 
April,  1891,  having  proved  himself  a  faith- 
ful official  and  an  enterprising  citizen.  Mr. 
Smith  was  maiTied  October  7,  1862,  to 
Miss  E.  A.  Lewis,  who  has  borne  him 
four  children,  viz.:  William  F.,  Albert, 
Frank  G.  and  Mary  L. 


djOHN  P.  MEYER  is  the  grandson  of 
George   Meyer,   a  farmer  of  Baden, 
^    Germany,    who    in    1846    sailed    for 
America  with   his  family,  consisting 
of  wife  and    five   children — four   sons  and 
one   daughter — one   child    having  died  in 
infancy. 

After  landing  at  New  York  they  pro- 
ceeded westward  by  way  of  the  Iliidson 
river  and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
wiiich  at  that  time  was  the  most  popular 
route.  From  Buffalo,  via  Lake  Erie,  they 
went  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  thence  to  Ridge- 
field  township,  Huron  county,  where 
George  Meyer  purchased  land  near  Mon- 
roeville.  He  had  accumulated  consider- 
able property  in  Germany,  which  was 
disposed  of  there,  and  he  came  to  America 
to  avoid  having  his  boys  drafted  into  the 
German  army.  In  this  country  he  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics.  Soon  after  locating 
in  Ohio,  his  wife  died,  and  in  1865  he  was 
laid  by  her  side,  having  been  a  sufferer 
from  asthma  several  years.  They  were 
buried  in  Monroeville  cemetery. 


John  George  Meyer,  the  eldest  child  of 
George  Meyer,  was  born  March  27,  1831, 
in  Baden,  Germany.  He  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  and  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  country.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  he  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  and  followed  farm  work  with 
his  father,  with  whom  his  youth  was 
passed.  In  April,  1855,  he  was  married 
to  Lena  Kohler,  who  was  born  May  1, 
1833,  in  the  Canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Kohler.  In  1854  she 
came  to  America  with  relatives,  sailing 
from  Havre,  France,  on  tiie  vessel  "Gil- 
christ." After  twenty-six  days  on  the 
ocean,  she  landed  at  New  York,  remaining 
there  three  months  with  a  sister,  afterward 
coming  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  she 
met  her  future  husband.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Meyer  engaged  in  farming  near 
Pontiac,  Peru  township,  Huron  county, 
where  he  resided  till  1858,  and  then  pur- 
chased the  farm  in  Ridgefield  township, 
on  which  he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  27,  1885. 
Mr.  Meyer  was  a  successful  agriculturist, 
and  his  excellent  farm  of  nearly  142  acres 
stands  as  evidence  of  his  prosperity,  much 
of  which  was  secured  by  the  aid  of  his 
good  wife's  economy  and  energy.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  was 
elected  by  his  party  to  numerous  township 
offices,  which  he  filled  with  credit  to  liim- 
self.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  and 
liberal  contributor  to  the  Evangelischer 
Church  at  Monroeville,  with  which  his 
widow  is  also  identified.  Since  the  death 
of  her  husband  Mrs.  Meyer  has  been  living 
on  the  home  place,  surrounded  by  hosts  of 
friends,  and  enjoying  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  them  all.  She  has  had  one  son, 
John  P.  Meyer. 

John  P.  Meyer  was  born  December  12, 
1855,  in  Ridgefield  township,  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education,  his  first  knowledge  of 
acrricnlture  being  obtained  on  the  same 
farm  where  he  is  now  residing,  h  rom 
early    youth  he  evinced  a  natural  mechan- 


366 


HUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ical  gift,  and  thongh  never  learning  any 
trade,  is  now  capable  of  executing  work 
requiring  no  small  amount  of  skill,  in  sev- 
eral trades.  On  March  25,  1879,  he  mar- 
ried Wilhelinina,  a  daughter  of  Piiilip 
Boehler.  of  Monroeville,  and  she  has  borne 
him  four  children:  Otto  J.,  born  March 
23,  1881;  Albert  H.,  born  January  30, 
1884;  Oscar  P.,  born  May  13,  1890;  and 
Clarence  G.,  born  August  28,  1892,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Meyer  located  on  a  part  of  his  father's 
farm  where  he  has  since  lived,  following 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  and  intelligent  young 
farmers  of  tlie  township,  and  methodical  in 
his  labors.  Politically  lie  votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  and  has  iield  othces  in  his 
township,  taking  considerable  interest  in 
the  success  of  his  party.  Both  be  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Evaugelischer 
Church  at  Monroeville. 


\ILLIAM  GAMBLE    is   undoubt- 
edly one  of  the  self-made  men  of 
Huron  county.      By  his  labor  he 
■   -  developed  a  vahialile  farm,  and  in 

the  faco  of  ditticulties  and  disappointments 
established  himself  among  the  well-to-do 
agriculturists  of  Greenfield  township. 

Thomas  Gamble,  a  native  of  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  was  there  married  to  Mary 
Rick,  and  to  them  three  children  were 
born,  namely:  Joseph,  William,  and  Mary 
Ann,  who  married  George  Wallace  and  is 
now  residing  at  Cascade,  Iowa.  In  1843 
the  entire  family  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York  being  accomplished  in  ninety  days. 
The  journey  from  Manhattan  Island  to 
their  destination  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
was  also  long  and  disagreeable.  Here 
Thomas  Gamble  purchased  a  small  parcel 
of  land  and  built  a  cabin,  the  first  home 
of  the  family  in  America.  Mrs.  Gamble 
died  in  1849,  and  was  buried  at  Olena,  in 
Bronson  township.  This  was  a  severe 
stroke  of  misfortune,   resulting    as  it   did 


in  scattering  the  children  and  leaving  the 
father  in  a  condition  of  depression,  which 
incapacitated  him  for  an  active  life.  He 
now  lives  in  a  comfortable  home  furnished 
by  his  son  William. 

William  Gamble  was  born  October  15, 
1842,  in  Lincolnshire,  England.  On  the 
death  of  his  mother  he  went  to  live  with 
an  aunt,  in  Fairfield  township;  but  owing 
to  a  disagreement  with  her  transferred 
himself  to  his  uncle's  home  in  the  same 
township.  Ultimately  he  went  to  the  home 
of  his  grandfather,  Edward  Rick  (who 
came  hither  from  England  in  1842),  and 
resided  with  him  until  1853.  From  that 
period  until  young  Gamble  was  twenty-one 
years  old  he  resided  at  the  house  of  James 
Youngs,  Sr.,  and  worked  for  him,  receiv- 
ing at  the  close  of  the  decade  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  dollars  for  his  services.  So 
far  in  his  career  little  opportunity  for  edu- 
cating himself  was  offered,  beyond  what 
could  be  gleaned  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence. In  February,  18G4,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Bennett,  who  was  born  October 
8,  1847,  in  New  Haven  township,  and  to 
this  marriage  five  children  were  born, 
namely:  Mary,  wlio  died  young;  Lillian, 
Mrs.  Charles  Earl,  of  Oleua,  Huron  county; 
Helen,  Mrs.  Fred  Sparks,  of  New  Haven 
township;  William  T.  and  Jay,  both  resid- 
ing at  home.  Mi-s.  Elizabeth  (Bennett) 
Gamble  is  a  daughter  of  Allen  and  Harriet 
(Youngs)  Bennett,  and  granddaughter  of 
James  Youngs,  Sr.  From  1855,  when  her 
mother  died,  to  the  date  of  her  marriage, 
she  resided  with  her  grandfather. 

The  farm  on  which  Mr.  Gamble  now 
lives  was  first  occupied  by  him  in  18G4, 
when  he  pttrchased  sixty- six  acres  of  it  on 
credit.  How  he  worked  by  the  day  and 
year  to  pay  for  this  tract  is  a  creditable 
item  in  the  history  of  the  man.  By  1866 
he  had  saved  sufficient  money  to  warrant 
him  in  beginning  work  on  tiiis  farm.  He 
split  500  rails  for  liis  first  five  bushels  of 
seed  potatoes,  and  by  closely  observing  the 
principles  of  economy  and  industry  was 
enabled    to   pay    for    the    sixty-six     acres 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


3(5^ 


within  a  few  years.  He  then  purchased  a 
second  tract,  and  extended  the  area  to  183 
acres;  in  1872  he  erected  a  new  dwelling 
honse,  since  whicli  year  all  the  farm  build- 
ings have  been  constructed.  This  prog- 
ress has  not  been  accomplished  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstances.  His 
leg  has  been  broken  twice,  and  sickness 
has  invaded  the  household  at  intervals,  so 
that  at  times  his  pathway  was  rough  and 
uninviting.  But  like  a  trained  man  he 
conquered  adversity,  rose  above  it,  and 
came  out  from  each  trial  feeling  the  better 
for  having  fought  and  won.  Mr.  Gamble, 
while  engaged  in  agiiculture  proper,  gives 
some  attention  to  the  growing  of  Poland- 
China  hogs,  line  sheep  and  other  stock.  He 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  is 
not  an  active  partisan  or  politician,  his 
policy  being  to  attend  closely  to  his  own 
business,  pay  his  taxes  and  let  others  look 
after  the  affairs  of  State. 


qEORGE  LINDER  was  born  Feb- 
,  ruary  25,  1822,  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, where  his  father,  John  Law- 
,  >  rence  Linder,  was  a  vine  grower  and 
wine  producer. 
George  Linder's  youth  was  passed  in 
the  manner  common  to  boys  of  the  Bava- 
rian agricultural  class.  He  received  a  prac- 
tical education  in  the  schools  of  his  birth- 
place, and  also  attended  Sunday-school 
four  years.  When  his  boyhood  days  were 
over,  he  began  work  on  the  farm  and  vine- 
yard, and  so  continued  until  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  family  to  America.  In  1845 
the  parents,  with  George  and  his  sister, 
Catherine,  set  out  from  their  native  land 
for  Havre,  France,  en  route  to  the  United 
States.  At  Havre  they  embarked  on  the 
"  x\rgo,"  one  of  the  giant  ships  of  that 
period,  and  after  a  tempestuous  voyage  of 
thirty-five  days  and  a  half,  landed  at  New 
York.  At  one  time  during  this  dreary 
journey,  when  the  great  ship  was  caught 
in  an  ice-floe,  grave  fears  were  entertained 
for    her   safety;    but  Providence  was  with 


the  emigrants,  and  the  good  ship  "  Argo  " 
came  safely  into  port.  The  travelers  pro- 
ceeded to  Philadelphia,  thence  across  the 
Alleghany  mountains  to  Pittsburgii,  and 
through  mistake  were  sent  to  Portsmouth, 
Ohio,  thence  to  Cleveland.  It  was  cer- 
tainly a  circuitous,  expensive  and  trouble- 
some journey;  but  the  brave  Bavarians 
endured  it  with  but  little  complaint. 
From  Cleveland  the  party  pushed  into  the 
wilds  of  Huron  county,  and  there  the 
father  purchased  land  in  Peru  township, 
where  the  mother  died  in  1869,  aged 
seventy- three  years,  the  father  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven  years.  The  tire  of  1846 
destroyed  the  little  home  they  had  built 
and  the  property  they  had  accumulated ; 
but  like  a  majority  of  his  countrymen  Mr. 
Linder  rose  above  this  misfortune,  and 
looked  upon  it  as  a  lesson.  He  was  a 
hard  worker,  industrious  and  frugal,  and 
succeeded  in  accumulating  a  good  prop- 
erty. He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
the  Lutheran  cemetery  at  Pontiac.  Cath- 
erine, their  daughtei-,  who  married  Will- 
iam Brinker,  of  Cleveland,  is  also  num- 
bered with  the  dead. 

George  Linder  was  married  January  6, 
1849,  to  Elizabeth  Schwan,  who  was  born 
February  6,  1831,  in  Germany,  and  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  her  par- 
ents in  1834;  she  grew  to  womanhood  in 
Pern  township,  where  the  family  settled 
that  year.  George  Schwan,  her  father, 
moved  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  iu  1848. 
To  George  and  Elizabeth  Linder  were 
born  children  as  follows:  George,  a  farmer 
of  Peru  township;  Lena,  deceased ;  Cath- 
erine, deceased;  Lawrence  J.,  a  farmer  in 
Peru  township;  and  Minnie,  Mrs.  Henry 
Linder,  of  Weaver's  Corners.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Linder  established  liis  home  in 
Peru  township,  where  he  resided  until 
April  1, 1870,  when  lie  moved  to  his  pres- 
ent farm.  The  family  is  an  industrial  one 
in  every  particular;  father,  mother  and 
each  of  the  children  work  on  the  farm,  in 
the   vineyard    and    in    the    home,   with   a 


368 


IIUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


eingle  eje  to  the  advancement  of  all. 
Each  one  has  his  or  her  place  to  till,  and 
does  the  work  of  that  place  cheerfully. 
Mr.  Linder  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  man  of 
influence  in  local  politics.  In  religions 
connection  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linder  are  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  various  positions.  As 
a  farniLT,  grape-grower  and  stock-raiser  he 
lias  won  his  title  to  success,  and  is  to-day 
one  of  the  most  highly-respected  old  set- 
tlers of  Huron  county. 


A.  KNAPP,  a  well-known  and 
highly  respected  farmer  and 
banker,  of  Fitch ville  township, 
was  born  in  Fairfield  county. 
Conn.,  January  10,  1841.  the  eldest  child 
of  William  A.  and  Harriet  (Marshall) 
Knapp,  of  New  York  State. 

William  A.  Knapp,  father  of  subject, 
was  liorn  at  Lewisboro,  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  February  14,  1817.  His  father, 
Sylvanus,  was  a  sailor  for  years;  but  liav- 
incr  learned  the  raasoti's  and  shoemaker's 
trades,  he  worked  at  same  in  Connecti- 
cut. William  A.,  Sr..  received  an  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  place,  and  March  1,  1840,  married 
Harriet  Marshall,  a  native  of  Westchester 
county.  That  he  was  economical  as  a 
youth  is  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that, 
from  a  total  revenue  of  fifty  cents  per 
diem,  he  saved  two  hundred  dollars,  which 
sum  he  loaned  to  a  friend,  but  lost  the 
loan.  Continuing  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  which  he  had  learned  of  his  father, 
he  soon  replenished  his  purse,  and  then, 
from  Judge  T.  Rosevelt,  rented  a  farm  in 
Connecticut,  near  New  York  City,  which 
he  operated  until  1845,  when  he  set  out 
for  Ohio  with  his  wife  and  two  cliildren — 
William  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
Amanda,  now  Mrs.  Hialmar  Griffin,  of 
Fitchville  township.  The  family  traveled 
by  river,  canal  and  lake  to  Ohio,  arriving 
at  Huron  October  2,  1845. 


The  journey  from  Huron  to  Fitchville 
township  was  made  by  wagon,  and  there, 
on  February  27,  1846,  one  child  was  horn 
to  them,  Euphronia,  who  married  H.  D. 
Palmer,  and  died  at  New  London,  Ohio, 
March  27,  1884.  It  appears  from  the 
records  of  the  family  that  Sylvanus  Knapp, 
father  of  W.  A.  Knapp,  Sr.,  became,  by 
purchase  or  State  grant,  owner  of  235 
acres  in  the  "Firelands"  of  Ohio.  In  1838 
or  1839  AVilliam  A.,  the  son  of  the  owner. 
visited  Ohio,  and  selecting  lands  in  Fitch- 
ville township  brought  the  family  hither  in 
1845,  to  occupy  the  tract.  Becoming  dis- 
satisfied with  his  purchase,  however,  he 
exchanged  it  for  lands  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  township,  allowitig  three  dol- 
lars per  acre  for  the  new  tract  of  wild 
land.  In  the  Indian  summer  of  1845  two 
acres  were  cleared  and  a  frame  house  18  x 
24  feet  erected,  wherein  the  family  passed 
their  first  winter  in  Ohio.  From  distant 
neighbors  they  purchased  supplies  for  a 
long  term.  In  the  spring  of  1846  Mr. 
Knapp  planted  two  acres  of  corn,  the  sys- 
tem followed  being  to  make  a  hole  in  the 
ground  with  an  axe,  and  place  therein  a 
few  grains  of  corn.  The  first  crop,  so 
rudely  put  in,  was  large,'  giving  the  new 
settlers  an  idea  of  what  Ohio  soil  could  do. 
For  eleven  years  the  family  resided  there, 
and  in  1856  or  1857  moved  nearer  the 
center  of  the  township,  where  farming  was 
carried  on  until  1881,  in  which  year  the 
family  moved  to  Greenwich.  There  he 
served  as  president  of  the  Greenwich 
Banking  Co.  until  his  death  in  1888.  His 
widow  died  at  Fitchville  in  1889,  and  was 
buried  beside  her  husliand  in  the  Fitch- 
ville cemetery.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  a  Whig  down  to  1856,  and  a 
Republican  from  that  period  until  his 
death.  For  a  number  of  years  he  served 
his  township  as  trustee,  and  in  all  matters 
relating  to  the  public  welfare  his  advice 
was  sought  and  generally  followed.  He 
was  a  most  successful  farmer  and  business 
man.     Dealing  extensively  in    live  stock. 


V 


DAUGHTEf\OFW.A.KNAPP. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


371 


whicli  lie  sliipped  to  eastern  markets,  his 
consii^iiinents  were  received  without  ques- 
tion, for  liis  eastern  correspondents  knew, 
as  well  as  Ills  iiei";hbors,  that  ho  was  a 
judge  of  stock  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the 
word,  and  that  he  would  neither  stoop  to 
defraud,  nor  permit  any  one  to  defraud 
liini.  In  financial  affairs  he  was  conserva- 
tive, prompt  in  thinking  and  acting,  and 
always  a  snccess. 

W.  A.  Knapp  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Htchville,  and  a 
practical  education  on  the  farm.  In  1864 
he  enlisted  in  one  of  the  one-hundred  day 
regiments,  served  the  term,  and  after  re- 
ceiving honorable  discharjfe,  visited  his 
home.  Returnintj  to  the  field,  he  worked 
as  a  laborer  in  the  Telegraphic  Depart- 
ment of  the  army;  was  promoted  to  fore- 
man, and  subsequently  served  for  two 
years,  at  seventy-five  dollars  per  month 
and  expenses.  Later  he  was  employed  by 
the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company, 
by  whom  his  talent  and  energy  were  recog- 
nized. Returning  to  the  farm  in  1869,  he 
became  interested  in  his  father's  acricnlt- 
ural  and  live-stock  business,  which  he  has 
conducted  since  that  time.  On  the  death 
of  his  father  he  inherited  valuable  t)rop- 
erty,  a  fraction  of  what  he  now  owns,  and 
today  he  is  the  most  extensive  farmer  in 
Fitchville  township,  a  heavy  stock  man, 
president  of  the  Greenwich  Banking  Com- 
pany, a  director  in  the  N"ew  London  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  a  stockholder  in  other 
projects. 

On  March  27, 1879,  Mr.  Knapp  married 
Philena  Kirkpatrick,  a  native  of  Troy 
township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  and  daugh- 
ter of  William  Kirkpatrick,  of  that  county. 
By  this  union  there  were  four  children: 
Pearl  Knapp,  born  June  26.  1881;  J.  D. 
Knapp,  born  March  5,  1883;  Harley  B. 
Knapp,  born  November  23,  1886;  W.  A. 
Knapp,  born  December  6,  1889,  died  June 
21,  1892.  The  motlier  of  this  family  was 
called  from  earth  July  29.  1892.  Mr. 
Knapp  is  a  Republican,  taking  more  than 
ordinary  interest  in  the  party  of  progress, 
so 


but  is  not  a  politician,  his  agrietdtural  and 
banking  interests  detnanding  and  receiving 
his  close  personal  attention.  Though 
liberally  endowed  by  his  father,  he  may, 
in  a  measure,  l)e  called  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune;  for,  since  he  abandoned  the 
telegraph  service,  he  has  given  his  lands 
atid  other  interests  his  undivided  time, 
labor  and  study. 


FJRANK  HACIIENBERG,contractor 
and  Ijuildei',  Bellevue,  was  born 
_^  April  27,  1847,  in  Snyder  county, 
Penn.,  a  son  of  Samuel  atid  Ellen 
(Bilcher)  IIrtclien])erg,  also  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children — five  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters— ten  of  whom  are  yet  living,  the  only 
death  being  that  of  the  second  eldest  who 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  fifty- six  years; 
and  only  twice  has  a  physician  been  called 
upon  to  render  aid  to  this  large  family. 
The  parents  now  reside  in  Elkhart  county, 
Indiana. 

Frank  Hachenberg  came  to  Ohio  with 
liis  parents  about  I860,  and  one  year  later 
moved  to  Michigan,  where  he  remained 
five  years,  thence  proceeding  to  Indiana, 
where  he  learned  the  cai'penter's  trade. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years  be  set- 
tled at  Bellevue,  Huron  county,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  by  the  day  for  five 
years.  Since  1876  he  has  given  his  at- 
tention to  contractintr  and  building-,  and 
to  him  must  be  credited  some  of  the  finest 
residence  buildings  in  Bellevue.  In  the 
fall  and  winter  of  1892  he  erected  four 
houses  here,  one  of  which  is  the  finest  in 
the  city.  In  all  this  work  Mr.  Hachen- 
berg has  given  direct  employment  to  a 
number  of  skilled  workmen,  and  he  has 
satisfied  the  owners  in  observing  specifica- 
tions. 

Mr.  Hachenberg  was  marrietl  July  4, 
1872,  to  Miss  Lydia  Kreisher,  and  to  this 
marriage  have  come  six  children,  namely: 
William,  Carrie,  Gertrude,  Edith,  Bertha 
and  Edwin.     Politically    he  is  an   ardent 


372 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America,  a  Society  which 
rendered  much  aid  to  the  Republican  party 
in  1892.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  K.  of  P.,  and  in  re- 
licrions  faith  he  is  a  member  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  all  of  which  he  is  an 
active  worker.  As  a  carpenter  and  builder 
he  is  well  known,  not  only  in  Bellevue, 
but  throughout  the  neighboring  country. 


yjICKERY  BROS.,  well-known  law- 
yers of  Bellevue,  command  an  ex- 
tensive practice  not  only  on  account 
of  their  abilities  and  personal  claims, 
but  also  on  account  of  their  location,  which, 
at  the  corners  of  four  counties,  Huron, 
Seneca,  Erie  and  Sandusky,  is  in  the  midst 
of  one  of  the  most  prosperous  agricultural 
districts  in  the  country. 

"Willis  and  Jesse  Vickery  are  the  song 
of  William  and  Sarah  (Perkins)  Vickery, 
who  came  to  Bellevue  from  England  in 
1857.  Willis  Vickery,  senior  member  of 
the  firm,  was  born  in  1857,  at  Bellevue, 
received  a  primary  education  in  the  coun- 
try schools  near  there,  and  subsequently 
studied  in  the  Clyde  High  School,  gradu- 
ating with  first  honors  in  1880.  He  then 
entered  Boston  University,  and  later  was 
enrolled  a  student  in  the  law  school  of 
that  institution,  graduating  in  the  latter 
course  in  1884,  receiving  the  degree  of 
L  L.  B.  In  1885,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother  Jesse,  he  established  a  law  office 
at  Bellevue,  where  he  has  since  continued 
in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession. 
Willis  Vickery  was  married  September  23, 
1884,  in  Clyde,  to  Miss  Anna  L.  Snyder, 
and  to  this  union  three  children  have  been 
born:  Lucile,  Melville  and  Howard  L. 
Mr.  Vickery  is  a  charter  member  of  Alta 
Lodge  No.  206,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Belle- 
vue; representative  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Ohio;  a  member  of  the  committee  on  law 
and  supervision  pf  the  Ordef.  A  Repub- 
licati  in  politics,   he   is   a    member   of  the 


Executive  Committee  of  Sandusky  county, 
and  is  valued  highly  in  the  councils  of  his 
party. 

Jesse  Vickery  was  born  in  1859,  in 
Groton  township,  Erie  county,  Ohio.  Like 
his  brother,  he  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  local  schools,  later  studied  in 
the  Western  Reserve  Academy,  and  then 
entered  the  University  of  Michigan,  gradu- 
ating with  the  law  class  of  '84.  Returning 
to  Bellevue,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Ohio,  and,  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Willis,  established  the  law  firm  of  Vick- 
ery Bros,  in  1885.  On  August  7,  1890, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Bettie  Haas,  and 
to  this  marriage  has  come  one  child, 
Gordon  H.  Politically  Mr.  Vickery  is  a 
Republican,  and  is  a  representative  of  that 
party  on  the  board  of  Deputy  Election 
Supervisors  of  Sandusky  county,  he  having 
served  as  Chief  Deputy  of  the  board, 
which  position  he  still  occupies. 

Both  these  brothers  are  popular  in  law 
as  well  as  in  social  circles,  and  have  built 
up  a  lucrative  business,  their  clientage  in 
Huron,  Sandusky,  Erie  and  Seneca  coun- 
ties being  large  and  influential.  Willis 
Vickery  is  attorney  for  Bellevue  city.  The 
young  lawyers  are  men  of  fine  legal  at- 
tainments, physically  and  mentally  strong, 
and  are  working  steadily  onward  to  take 
a  first  place  among  the  legal  lights  of  the 
State  of  Ohio.  Both  are  close  students, 
and  keep  well  abreast  with  the  current 
events  and  literature  of  the  day.  Both 
have  excellent  private  libraries,  being  large 
and  well  selected. 


THEODORE  C.  LAYLIN,  ranking 
among  the  most  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Norwalk  town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  only  two  surviv- 
ing sons  of  John  Laylin  (a  pioneer 
of  the  "  Eirelands  "),  the  other  being  Hon. 
Lewis  C.  Laylin. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  1841  on  the 
farm  in  Norwalk  township,  Huron  county, 
where  Mr.  A.  D.  Clapp  now  resides.     He 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


373 


was  here  reared  to  luanliood,  attending  tlie 
union  scliools  of  Norwalk,  at  the  same 
time  heinor  trained  to  both  the  theoretical 
and  practical  phases  of  agriculture.  At 
tlie  age  of  twenty-two  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  E.  Ailing,  of 
Norwalk,  a  daughter  of  Prudeii  Ailing,  a 
farmer  of  the  same  township,  and  three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  to  wit: 
John,  city  engineer  of  Norwalk,  Ohio, 
and  who,  considering  his  age,  has  already 
won  for  himself  quite  a  reputation;  Eliza- 
beth G.,  married  to  Dudley  T.  French  and 
living  in  Brownhelm,  Ohio;  and  David  T., 
assisting  iiis  father  on  the  farm.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laylin  came  to  liis 
present  farm,  covering  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  the 
result  of  his  own  industry  and  enterprise; 
lie  also  owns  a  feed  mill  wliich  is  situated 
on  his  farm.  In  addition  to  his  regular 
vocation  as  an  ao-riculturist  he  taugrht 
school  in  the  neio-jiborhood  for  eight  win- 
ters.  Politically  he  has  always  been  a 
straight  Republican,  and  tilled  the  olhce  of 
assessor  two  years,  and  township  trustee 
three  years.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  very 
tine  piece  of  property,  on  which  there  is  an 
artificial  lake  constructed  by  his  son  John 
as  a  trial  of  his  engineering  skill. 


EV.  FEEDERICK  RUPERT, 

present  pastor  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  congregation  of  Belle- 
vue,  was  born  November  21,  1849, 
at  Massillon,  Ohio.  He  received 
his  elementary  education  in  the  parochial 
and  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
In  Autumn,  1868,  he  entered  St.  Louis 
College,  Louisville,  Ohio,  wiiere  he  devoted 
about  live  years  to  the  study  of  Greek  and 
Latin  classics,  and  higher  mathematics.  In 
September,  1873,  he  was  appointed  to  a 
professorship  in  Assumption  College,  On- 
tario, Canada.  This  he  resigned  in  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  when  he  entered  St.  Mary's 
Theological  Seminary,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 


on  July  5,  1879,  received  ordination  at  the 
•  hands  of  lit.  Rev.  Bishop  Gilmonr.  Since 
then  he  has  rendered  pastoral  service  in 
the  Cleveland  Diocese.  His  first  appoint- 
ment was  Antwerp  and  mission,  which  he 
held  till  April  1,  1881,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Siielby  and  mission.  In  July, 
1882,  he  was  appointed  'pastor  of  St. 
Joseph's  congregation,  Maumee,  Ohio,  and 
in  April,  1885,  was  transferred  toBellevue, 
Ohio,  as  pastor  of  Immaculate  Conception 
congregation. 

Tlie  history  of  the  congregation  may  be 
said  to  date  back  to  1833,  when  Father 
Francis  Xavier  Tschenhens,  C.  P.  P.  S., 
visited  the  Catholic  families  in  the  terri- 
tory of  which  Bellevue  is  now  the  center. 
Afterward  Fatiiers  Allig  and  Mahlebouf, 
and  other  raissioners,  came  among  the 
people,  prior  to  1844,  when  the  Very  Rev. 
Sales  Brunner  laid  the  humble  foundations 
of  the  great  church  in  Thompson  town- 
ship, Seneca  county.  From  1844  to  1859 
the  people  of  Bellevue  were  compelled  to 
attend  some  neighboring  church.  In  1859 
Rev.  J.  Ponchell,  who  was  then  stationed 
at  Holy  Angels  Church,  Sandusky,  was  in- 
structed by  the  bishop  to  hold  services  at 
Bellevue  at  stated  times.  On  May  11  of 
that  year,  a  piint-warehouse  and  the 
ground  on  which  it  stood  were  purchased 
from  J.  B.  Higbee  forfive  hundred  dollars. 
The  house  was  fitted  up  for  church  pur- 
poses, and  answered  therefor  until  1884, 
when  the  new  church  building  was  coin- 

o 

pleted. 

In  December,  1860,  Rev.  J.  Quinncame 
to  administer  the  new  parish,  but  remained 
only  two  months,  and  in  April,  1861.  Rev. 
James  Monahan  was  appointed  the  first 
resident  pastor.  He  purchased,  on  July  18, 
1863, forone  thousand  ami  one  hundred  dol- 
lars, ahouseand  three  lots,  which  he  liadiin- 
proved  at  once  for  the  purpqseof  a  pastoral 
residence.  In  July,  1866,  he  was  trans- 
ferred, and  in  September  of  that  j'ear  Rev. 
T.  M.  Mahony  was  appointed  pastor.  In 
1867  the  school  was  established,  and  the 


pa 


rish  was  in   a  flourishing  condition  in 


374 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


August,  1871,  when  Tiev.  E.  Mears  as- 
sumed charge.  On  January  20,  1873, 
Father  Mears  purchased  two  lots  near  the 
business  center  for  one  thousand  and  eight 
hundred  dollars,  and  entertained  the  idea 
of  erecting  a  new  church.  His  transfer  to 
Crestline,  Oiiio.  in  April,  187-4,  delayed 
the  pi-oject,  aifd  for  the  ensuing  two  years 
Bellevue  parish  was  in  charge  of  Rev.  J. 
D.  Bowles,  who  also  attended  Clyde,  from 
which  he  had  been  transferred.  In  July, 
1876,  Rev.  J.  MoUoy  was  appointed  pastor 
and  remained  until  the  arrival  of  Rev.  W. 
J.  Gibbons,  who  administered  the  parish 
until  1880,  when,  owing  to  feeble  health, 
he  retired  and  traveled  in  Europe.  Rev.  J. 
T.  Cahill  taking  his  place.  In  November 
of  that  year  the  secretary  of  the  diocese, 
Rev.  George  T.  Houck,  visited  the  parish 
occasionally,  but  Father  Cahill  continued 
pastor,  and  in  October,  1881,  work  on  the 
foundations  of  the  present  building  was 
begun  under  his  supervision. 

On  his  return  from  Europe  Father  Gib- 
bons resumed  his  pastorate  at  Bellevue, 
and  on  July  9,  1882,  the  corner  stone  of 
the  new  building  was  placed.  In  the  fall 
of  1882  he  purchased  a  lot,  west  of  and  ad- 
joining the  lots  on  which  the  new  structure 
stands,  for  six  hundred  dollars,  and  thither 
the  pastoral  residence  was  moved.  At  this 
time  the  lots  pui-chased  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mon- 
ahan  were  sold  for  two  thousand  dollars, 
the  sum  going  far  to  complete  the  new 
church.  The  blessing;  of  the  new  church 
was  carried  out  August  3,  1884,  by  the 
Bishop  of  Cleveland,  many  priests  from 
this  section  of  Ohio,  and  a  great  number 
of  people,  being  present.  The  priest,  to 
whose  earnest  labors  the  congregation  owe 
this  elegant  building,  died  April  1,  1885, 
and  on  April  6  his  remains  were  interred 
at  Cleveland. 

Father  Rupert  assumed  charge  of  the 
parish  April  16,  1885.  The  school  was 
placed  by  him  in  charge  of  ti)e  Sisters  of 
St.  Francis,  who  came  from  Tiftin,  Ohio, 
and  began  teaching  here  September  1, 
1885.      In  November  of  the  same  year  a 


house  and  lot,  opposite  the  church,  were 
purchased  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred 
dollars,  and  fitted  up  as  a  residence  for  the 
sisters.  On  February  2,  1887,  the  con- 
gregation purchased  the  public-school 
property,  in  the  rear  of  the  new  church, 
for  one  thousand,  three  hundred  and 
tweiity-tive  dollars.  A  further  sum  of  nine 
hundred  dollars  was  e.xpended  in  repairing 
the  old  school  building,  and  it  was  ready 
to  receive  pupils  September  1,  1887. 
There  are  three  rooms  here  devoted  to 
classes,  and  one  to  music.  Within,  it 
shows  the  neatness  which  exemplifies  the 
life  of  the  community  of  teachers;  without, 
the  grounds  are  well  ordered.  The  church 
and  school  buildings  tell  of  care  and  taste, 
within  and  without,  and  the  tout  ensemble 
is  one  of  the  prettiest  in  the  pretty  town 
of  Bellevue.  The  stone  steps,  leading  from 
the  ground  level  to  portico  level,  and  ex- 
tending along  the  whole  front  of  the 
church,  were  constructed  in  October  and 
November,  1887,  at  a  cost  of  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy  dollars.  This  improve- 
ment, with  the  lavatory  and  sacrarium, 
practically  completes  the  building.  The 
debt  of  five  hundred  dollars  which  was  due 
on  all  this  projierty  in  1887  was  a  nominal 
one,  and  is  now  paid.  Even  the  library  of 
the  Reading  Society  is  paid  for,  the  mein- 
Iters,  titty-two  in  number,  taking  special 
care  to  avoid  debt. 

A  decade's  work  was  finished  in  1890, 
and  on  August  27  of  that  year.  Father 
Rupert  retired  temporarily,  to  renew  aca- 
demic days,  this  time  entering  the  great 
University  at  Washington,  D.  C.  During 
his  absence  leathers  P.  W.  Schirack,  C.  P. 
P.  S.,  and  W.  J.  Smith,  of  the  Order  of 
Fathers  of  Mercy,  attended  to  parish 
affairs.  On  January  20,  1891,  Father  Ru- 
pert returned  and  resumed  the  duties  of 
pastor.  The  number  of  the  congregation 
varies  slightly.  Dull  times  at  Bellevue, 
which  fortunately  are  rare,  reduce  the  num- 
ber, but  taking  the  decade  just  passed,  the 
increase  has  been  marked  indeed.  Finan- 
cially the  congregation  holds   an    enviable 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


375 


position.  Possessors  of  a  most  valuable 
property,  clear  of  indebtedness,  a  cash  bal- 
ance of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents 
stood  to  their  credit  in  the  fall  of  1892. 
How  much  credit  for  this  progress,  this 
pleasant  condition  of  the  parish,  is  due  to 
the  respected  pastor  of  the  congregation  of 
the  Chnrcli  of  the  Immaculate  Conception, 
can  be  told  by  the  people  of  Bellevue,  and 
particularly  by  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation. 


D 


ANIEL  WHEATON.     Among  the 

leading   business  men  of  Norwalk 

none  holds  higher   rank   than   this 

well-known     gentleman,   who   is   a 

son     of    Robert    and    Catherine    (White) 

Wheaton. 

Robert  Wheaton,  who  was  one  of  four 
brothers — Philip,  William,  John  and  Rob- 
ert—  was  born  in  1784,  in  Huntingdon- 
shire,  England,  near  Cambridge,  and  was 
a  successful  butcher  and  farmer,  keeping 
four  teams  constantly  at  work.  He  died 
in  1848,  the  mother  passing  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years. 

Daniel  AVheaton  was  born  the  second 
Monday  of  January,  1814,  in  Huntingdon, 
England,  the  second  youngest  of  his 
father's  fatnily,  and  is  the  only  one  now 
living.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive land,  there  following  the  butcher  busi- 
ness as  well  as  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
was  united  in  marriage,  March  25,  1835, 
with  Miss  Ann  Mehew,  who  was  born  in 
1816,  also  in  Huntingdon,  England.  In 
November,  1851,  they  came  to  America, 
first  locating  in  Monroeville,  Ohio,  and 
three  months  later  moving  to  Norwalk, 
where  they  resided  for  three  years.  He 
followed  his  trade  for  some  time  after 
settling  here,  tiien  purchased  a  farm,  but 
continued  the  butcher  business  until  about 
the  year  18G3,  when  his  sons  took  entire 
charge.  Since  then  the  father  has  man- 
aged the  farm;  formerly  he  owned  ninety- 
two  acres,  but  now  has  eighty-eight  acres. 


He  erected  the  Wheaton  block  in  the 
business  portion  of  the  city,  and  owns  the 
Webber  block,  the  Chronicle  block  (part 
of  which  he  built)  and  seven  houses  in  the 
place,  beside.=  three  brick  buildings  in  the 
village  of  Huron.  He  has  taken  two 
thousand  and  one  hundred  dollars  worth 
of  stock  in  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie 
Railroad,  and  was  also  an  original  stock- 
holder  in  the  Norwalk  Metal  Spinning  and 
Stamping  Company;  he  was  the  first  man 
to  put  in  plate  glass  in  Norwalk.  Mr. 
,  Wheaton  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in 
religion  isatnemberof  the  Baptist  Church, 
with  which  his  wife  was  also  identified. 
Mrs.  Wheaton  died  March  16,  1878,  and 
since  then  the  home  has  been  cared  for  by 
relatives.  The  chiklren  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wheaton  have  been  as  follows:  David, 
born  in  April,  183G,  in  Erith,  England, 
died  in  1844;  Emma  A.  (Mrs.  Watkins), 
born  in  May,  1837;  Dennis  E.,  born  June 
17,  1838  (a "butcher  in  Cleveland);  Charles 
H.,  born  February  5,  1840  (also  a  butcher 
in  Cleveland);  Susan  A.  (wife  of  Eli 
Hoyt),  born  July  17,  1841,  died  September 
6,  1889;  Hannah  L.,  wife  of  John  Perrin, 
born  January  2,  1844;  Robert  A.,  born 
March  16,  1847,  died  November  25,  1868; 
Catherine,  wife  of  W.  H.  Price,  born  No- 
vember 30,  1849;  Ada  E.,  born  March  5, 
1853  (died  October  14,  1853);  and  Leon- 
ard, born  January  30,  1856. 


EiDWARI 
ous,     in 
I   New   H 


ARD  R.  SKINNER,  a  prosper- 
telligent  agriculturist  of 
Haven  township,  is  a  native 
of  the  same,  born  July  14,  1844, 
son  of  John  and  Maria  (Rubens)  Skinner. 
He  was  reared  to  fanning  pursuits,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  place 
of  birth,  his  first  teacher  being  William 
Gibbons.  He  resided  at  home  until  his 
marriage,  November  10,  1871,  to  Ellen  J. 
Woodworth,  who  was  born  August  14, 
1847,  in  New  Haven  township,  daughter 


376 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Jonatlian  Woodwortli.  After  their 
marriage  lliey  resided  for  about  one  year 
on  the  home  farm,  and  on  April  1,  1873, 
took  up  their  residence  on  tlieir  present 
place,  where  i\\ey  have  ever  since  resided. 
The  tract  then  contained  120^  acres  of 
arahle  land,  for  which  Mr.  Skinner  paid 
$10,000,  going  into  debt  for  $9,000,  and 
here  he  has  since  given  his  attention  ex- 
•clusively  to  farming.  He  has  two  chil- 
dren, Lillian  and  William  J.,  both  of 
whom  are  leaders  among  the  young  people 
of  the  section.  In  political  faith  our  sub- 
ject is  a  lifelong  Republican,  and  has  held 
various  townsiiip  offices,  at  present  serv- 
ing as  township  treasurer.  In  1890  he 
erected  one  of  the  finest  rural  residences 
in  the  township,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  He 
is  a  progressive,  well-to-do  fanner  in  every 
respect,  and  now  owns  over  200  acres  of 
excellent  land,  his  farm  being  one  of  the 
best,  if  not  the  best,  in  the  township. 

It  is  to  tlie  presence  of  such  citizens  as 
our  subject  that  New  Haven  township  and 
village  can  attribute  their  prosperity  and 
peaceful  character.  Mr.  Skinner's  prog- 
ress has  been  gradual,  but  decided,  and 
with  the  help  of  iiis  excellent  wife,  who 
has  watched  incessantly  over  the  house- 
hold affairs,  he  has  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable competence.  No  family  statids 
higher  in  the  community,  and  there  is  not 
a  citizen  who  is  more  respected,  or  a  farmer 
•who  more  tiioroughly  understands  his 
business,  than  Mr.  Skinner.  lie  has  a 
practical  business  education,  keeps  himself 
well  informed,  and  in  all  matters  exercises 
good  judgment  and  common  sense. 


HELDON  J.  HAWKINS,  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  of  Townsend  town- 
ship, was  born  May  18,  1861,  in 
Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
eldest  of  four  children  born  to  John  W. 
and  Lavanche  (Hill man)  Hawkins. 

John  W.  Hawkins  was  born  in  1840,  the 
youngest  of  thirteen  children,  and  was  left 
an   orphan  at   the  age  of   six  years,  his 


father  having  been  killed  in  the  Mexican 
war.  Thus  early  thrown  upon  liis  own 
resources,  the  half-orphan  lad  had  no  lit- 
erary advantages,  and  never  attended  a 
term  of  school.  But  diligent  application 
overcame  these  obstacles,  and,  after  the 
day's  work  was  ended,  night  after  night 
did  he  devote  to  study,  thus  securing  a 
good  education.  From  early  boyhood  he 
was  employed  in  the  sawmill  and  lumber 
business,  which  he  followed  until  attaining 
his  majority,  since  when  he  has  given  his 
time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  one  of  the  Ohio  rem- 
ments  during  the  Rebellion,  and  fought  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  also  in  many  other  en- 
gagements. In  1860  he  was  united  in 
mari'iage  with  Lavanche,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Jane  (Johnson)  Hillman,  the 
latter  of  whom  is  now  living  with  her 
grandson,  Sheldon  J.  Hawkins. 

Mrs.  Hillman  is  descended  from  the 
earliest  colonists  of  Connecticut,  and  her 
ancestors  took  an  active  part  in  tlie  strug- 
gle for  Independence,  many  of  them  serv- 
ing with  distinctioti  in  the  Continental 
army.  Her  father,  Sheldon  Johnson,  was 
a  sailor  in  early  life,  and,  rising  rapidly 
from  a  lowly  position,  eventually  became 
captain  of  his  vessel.  During  the  war  of 
1812  he  transported  supplies  from  foreign 
countries  to  the  American  army,  and,  in 
1814,  being  captured  by  one  of  the  British 
cruisers,  vessel  and  cargo  were  confiscated. 
Immediately  after  the  war  he  and  his 
family  removed  to  northern  Ohio,  first 
settling  in  Erie  county,  where  thej^  en- 
dured the  hardships  and  dangers  insepa- 
rable from  pioneer  life.  He  erected  a  log 
hoi:se,  and  began  the  task  of  clearing  the 
farm  which  was  surrounded  by  Indians, 
their  white  neighbors  beina  few  and  far 
between.  They  had  numerous  adventnres 
with  bears,  panthers  and  wolves,  which 
roamed  through  the  vast  forest,  often  car- 
rying oif  the  stock.  Wolves  were  espe- 
cially troublesome,  and  night  after  night 
would  howl  about  the  pioneer  cabins,  kill- 
ing the   dogs   or   driving    them  into  the 


HUROI^  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


377 


house.  A  few  years  later  the  Johnson 
family  removed  to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
and  again  settled  in  the  woods,  where  the 
father  followed  agriculture  and  droving 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  his 
eighty-fourth  year,  in  1866.  His  younger 
brother,  David,  died  in  1890,  in  Erie 
county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  one  hundred 
years.  Sheldon,  when  a  young  man,  was 
married  to  Martha  Mason,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  whose  ancestors  were  En- 
glish Puritans,  and  among  the  first  settlers 
of  the  old  Bay  Colony,  having  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Jane,  daughter  of  Sheldon  Johnson,  was 
born  December  19,  1820,  in  the  old  cedar 
house  in  Put-In-Bay,  Ohio,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Erie  county,  then  to  Cuya- 
hoga. She  was  married  August  3,  1840, 
to  Samuel  Hillman,  and  she  had  one  child, 
Lavanche  (Mrs.  John  AV.  Hawkins).  Mrs. 
Hillman  is  a  firm  adherent  of  Puritan 
principles,  and  in  early  life  was  a  Presby- 
terian, but  recently  united  with  the  M.  E. 
Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  resided  on  the 
farm  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  until  the 
mother's  death,  which  occurred  in  1871. 
She  had  four  children,  namely:  Sheldon 
J.  (whose  name  opens  this  sketch),  Agnes, 
Mildred,  and  a  son  who  died  when  four 
days  old. 

Sheldon  J.  Hawkins  attended  the  sub- 
scription schools  until  ten  years  of  age, 
remaining  on  the  home  farm  in  Cuyahoga 
county  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old. 
He  then  left  home  with  but  sixty-three 
cents  in  his  pocket,  and  commenced  the 
battle  of  life  for  himself.  For  the  first 
three  years  he  worked  by  the  month  dur- 
ing the  summer  season,  attending  school 
in  winter,  then  became  baggage  master  for 
the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  Company,  at  Collins,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  During  this  time  he  had  mastered 
telegraphy,  and  was  first  employed  as  night 
operator,  then  as  station  agent  and  oper- 
ator. In  1884  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
grain   business  of    Frank   Pinney  &  Co., 


and  the  following  year  left  the  railroad 
service,  engaging  in  general  merchandise 
in  Collins.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Townsend  township,  carrying 
a  large,  well-selected  stock  of  merchandise, 
amounting  to  seven  or  eight  thousand 
dollars.  He  also  deals  very  extensively  in 
grain,  hay  and  coal  at  Collins,  besides  in 
six  or  seven  neighboring  towns,  and  ex- 
tending into  three  or  four  counties  in 
northeastern  Ohio.  On  August  27,  1885, 
Mr.  Hawkins  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Lizzie  A.  Love,  a  native  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Lucy 
A.  (Hoff)  Love,  natives  of  Ohio,  of  En- 
glish-German descent.  Four  children 
blessed  the  union  of  Sheldon  J.  and  Lizzie 
A.  Hawkins,  as  follows:  Cyril,  Lucy  L., 
Agnes,  and  one  deceased. 

In  1888  Mr.  Hawkins  was  elected  town- 
ship clerk  on  the  Citizens'  ticket,  his  op- 
ponent being  one  of  the  most  popular  men 
in  Townsend  township.  He  served  two 
and  a  half  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1892 
was  again  elected  to  the  same  office.  Mr. 
Hawkins  is  one  of  the  most  energetic  busi- 
ness men  of  the  township,  and  in  1890 
was  candidate  for  county  sheriff  on  the 
Prohibition  ticket.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  and  Mrs. 
Hawkins  is  identified  with  the  M.  E.  de- 
nomination. 


EiDGAR  BARNHART  is  a  son   of 
Steven  Barnhart,  who  was  born  on 
I  a  farm  in  New  York  State,  and  there 

attended  the  schools  of  the  home 
neighborhood.  In  early  manhood  he  was 
married  to  Nancy  Palmer,  and  they  after- 
ward located  near  Toronto,  Canada. 

In  1829  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  land- 
ing at  Sandusky  invested  his  limited  capi- 
tal in  a  small  wood-covered  tract  of  land  on 
the  east  branch  of  the  Huron  river,  in  what 
is  now  Ridgetield  township,  Huron  county. 
According  to  the  kindly  custom  of  early 
pioneers,  the  neighbors  gathered  and 
erected    a   log  cabin   for  the  new   arrival. 


378 


iiUEoy-  COUNTY,  onio. 


Here,  siirroiiiided  liy  the  beasts  of  the 
forest,  with  neighbors  few  and  far  between, 
the  rude  little  hotiie  was  erected,  and  in 
due  time  gave  place  to  a  inore  pretentions 
structure.  He  affiliated  with  the  Old-line 
Whig  and  Ilepublican  parties  in  politics, 
and  from  the  time  of  his  first  vote  never 
missed  an  election,  except  when  confined 
to  his  bed.  In  religion  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Old  Free-Will 
Baptist  Church.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  John  E.,  born  in  Canada,  was  a 
member  of  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry, 
and  died  in  Keota,  Iowa;  Melvin  H., 
born  in  Ohio,  was  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment,  O. 
V.  I.,  and  died  at  Winchester,  Va. ;  Mer- 
cilla,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  married  to 
Judson  Phelps,  and  died  near  Decatur, 
Mich.,  and  Edgar,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch.  The  fatiier  died  on  the  Ohio  farm 
April  7,  1886,  having  been  preceded  to 
the  grave  by  his  wife  in  September,  1870. 
Edgar  Bariihart  was  born  June  27,  1837, 
on  the  home  farm  in  Ridgefield  townsliip, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  wliere  he  is  yet  living. 
He  attended  the  winter  schools  three 
months  each  winter  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  then  began  active  labor 
on  the  farm.  His  youth  was  passed  in 
assisting  in  the  clearing  of  the  farm,  in 
addition  to  usual  agricultural  duties.  In 
1861  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Ann  Gary,  who  was  born  in  1835,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  came  to  Ohio  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  To  this 
union  three  children  have  been  born,  viz.: 
Roily,  a  farmer  of  Norwalk  township; 
Mertie,  wife  of  Lewis  Hamilton,  of  Deca- 
tur, Mich.,  and  Albert,  residing  in  Toledo, 
Ohio.  In  1863  Mr.  Earnhart  enlisted  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio,  in  Company  B,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  and  served 
as  guard  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington. 
Being  discharged  four  months  later,  he 
returned  to  the  home  farm,  and  has  since 
given  his  attention  to  cultivating  the  sixty 
acres  of  fei-tile  land  contained  in  the  home 
farm.     In  political  opinion  he  votes  with 


the  Republican  party,  and  in  religious 
faith  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Norwalk,  his  wife  being  identified  with 
the  Methodist  denomination. 


AMUEL     MILLER,    a    prominent 
representative  citizen  of  Richmond 
township,  first  saw  the  light  May  17, 
1839,  near  Goshen,  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio. 

His  father,  also  named  Samuel,  was 
born  October  26,  1806,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married  in 
Lancaster  county,  about  1830,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Kirkwood,  who  was  a  native  of 
same,  born  September  5,  1802.  In  about 
1835  Samuel  Miller  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Columbiana  county,  where  he  remained 
until  1849;  then  removed  to  Richland 
county,  wliere  he  resided  but  a  short  time, 
and  in  1850  located  in  the  northern  part 
of  Richmond  township,  Huron  cgunty. 
He  had  always  followed  farming,  and  on 
coming  to  Richmond  township  purchased 
100  acres  of  land,  but  four  of  which  were 
cleared,  where  he  lived  in  a  loo;  house. 
He  was  obliged  to  go  into  debt  for  one- 
half  of  the  thousand  dollars  this  land  cost 
him,  but  he  set  bravely  to  work  and  soon 
cleared  the  property.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Miller  had  children  as  follows:  Joshua, 
born  January  12,  1831,  in  Lancaster 
county,  Penn.,  died  October  4,  1843,  and 
was  buried  in  Goshen  cemetery,  Colum- 
biana county,  Ohio;  Hannali,  born  May 
5,  1832,  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn.,  now 
the  widow  of  Seymour  N.  Sage,  lives 
in  Richmond  township,  Huron  county; 
Thomas,  born  February  15,  1834,  in  Lan- 
caster county,  Penn.,  died  in  March,  1866. 
The  rest  were  born  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  as  follows:  C'atherine,  born  May  9, 
1836,  now  Mrs.  J.  W.  Sage,  of  Richmond 
township;  Mary,  born  January  25,  1838, 
now  Mrs.  Daniel  Polliiiger,  of  Richmond 
township;  Elizabeth  and  Samuel  (twins), 
born  May  17,  1839,  the  former  of  whom  is 


UUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


379 


the  wife  of  Otis  Sykes,  of  (Chicago  Junc- 
tion (her  first  husband  was  Andrew  J. 
Sykes,  a  brother  of  Otis,  who  was  killed  in 
the  army);  Samuel  is  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  sketcli;  Susannah,  born  June 
10,  1841,  died  September  20,  1811;  John, 
born  July  18, 1842,  now  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
mond township;  and  Jacob,  born  Decem- 
ber 10,  1845,  also  a  farmer  of  Tviclimond 
townsliip.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
a  Republican,  but  took  no  interest  what- 
ever in  politics.  He  passed  from  earth  in 
July,  1875,  his  wife  in  January,  1880, 
and  they  are  buried  side  by  side  in  the 
Union  Bethel  cemetery,  in  Richmond 
township.  As  a  citizen  lie  commanded 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. During  the  early  days  he  en- 
dured many  iiardships;  of  his  farm  in 
Richmond  township,  only  a  few  acres  were 
cleared  at  the  time  he  purchased  it,  and 
before  his  death  he  had  transformed  all  of 
the  remainder  from  the  heavy  forest  to 
prcductive  fields.  His  family  all  reside  in 
Richmond  township,  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  old  homestead. 

Samuel  Miller  was  reared  to  farming 
pursuits;  he  passed  the  first  ten  years  of 
his  life  in  Columbiana  county,  then  came 
with  his  parents  to  Richland  county,  and 
one  year  later  to  Huron  county.  He  was 
put  to  work  at  an  early  age,  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  reacliing  his 
majority,  doing  chopping  and  other  work 
in  the  woods.  On  December  23,  1863, 
be  enlisted  at  Plymouth,  Ohio,  in  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and  remained  with  the 
command  at  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  during 
the  winter  of  1803-64.  They  then  took 
part  in  the  engagements  of  Xew  Market, 
Winchester,  Piedmont,  Lynchburg  and 
Berry vi lie,  Va.,  where  on  September  3, 
1864,  our  subject  was  wounded  by  a  ball; 
he  was  first  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Sandy 
Hook,  thence  to  Frederick,  Md.,  and 
thence  to  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he 

home     he 


was     discharcred 


Returning 


worked  around   in    various  capacities,  and. 
traveled  over  the  West  throngh  lovva  and 
Missouri,  but  not  liking   the  country    lie 
came  home. 

On  February  23,  1871,  Mr.  Miller  was 
united  in  maeriage  with  Miss  Aurilla 
Sykes,  who  was  born  November  1,  1844, 
in  Richmond  townsliip,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Sykes.  To  this  union  have  come  four 
children:  Walter,  Belle,  William  and 
Bertha.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  settled  on  their  present  farm,  and 
here,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  tliey 
have  ever  since  resided.  In  his  political 
afhliations  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican,  and 
is  actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his 
party.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a  most  kind-hearted, 
generous  lady,  and  is  highly  esteemed  in 
tlie  community  in  which  she  resides. 


JfOHN   H.  CRAWFORD  is  a  native 
of    Cass     township,     Richland     Co., 
I   Ohio,  born  January  8,  1840,  fourtii 
child  of  David  and  Margaret  (Millei) 
Crawford. 

John  Crawford,  father  of  David,  was 
born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  when 
eight  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents 
to  a  pioneer  farm  in  Franklin  county,  Penn. 
On  arriving  at  maturity  John  Crawford 
was  married  to  Mary  Eckels,  and  in  1830 
they  came  to  a  farm  in  Richland  county, 
Ohio.  He,  voted  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  in  religion  was  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  died 
in  1800,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years, 
followed  by  his  wife  in  1870. 

David  Crawford  was  born  December  4, 
1805,  on  the  home  place  in  Franklin 
county,  Penn.,  where  he  was  educated, 
learning  and  following  the  slioemaker's 
trade,  and  in  1830  came  to  Richland 
county,  Ohio.  In  the  same  year  he  selected 
a  life  companion  in  the  person  of  Mar- 
garet Miller,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  in 
1848  they  settled  in  Ripley  townsliip, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,   where   he  conducted  a 


380 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


grist  and  saw  mill.  In  1863  he  settled  in 
Pern  township,  Huron  county,  and  devoted 
his  later  years  to  carpentering.  Politically, 
he  athliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  was  a  llniversalist  in  religious  belief. 
He  died  in  1884,  followed  by  his  wife  in 
1885,  when  in  her  seventy-fourth  year. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children — 
four  sons  and  six  daughters — of  whom  the 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living. 

John  H.  Crawford  received  a  common - 
school  education,  and  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  On  July  28,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
First  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  which  was  as- 
signed to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 
He  went  with  them  through  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  took 
part  in  the  engagements  at  Perryville, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  besides  several 
minor  engagements.  At  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  (September  20, 1863),  he  was 
wounded  and  captured,  being  first  taken 
to  Belle  Isle,  then  to  Danville,  and  from 
there  to  Andersotiville,  where  he  was  con- 
fined six  months  and  ten  davs,  enduring 
untold  hardships.  From  there  he  was 
taken  to  Charleston,  then  to  Florence, 
thence  to  Goldsboro,  and  finally  to  Wil- 
mington. He  was  tiiere  paroled,  and  going 
to  Annapolis,  Md.,  was  finally  exchanged 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  February  26,  1865, 
after  having  been  a  prisoner  for  eighteen 
months.  He  was  discharged  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  June  9,  1865,  and  returning  to  Peru 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  resumed  his 
trade.  On  July  3,  1867,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Frances  M.  Nye,  and  they 
had  six  children,  namely:  Cora  L.,  Anice 
M.,  Alice  M.  (deceased  in  infancy),  Arthur 
A.,  Verna  (deceased  in  infancy),  and  Clair 
M.  In  1880  Mr.  Crawford  took  charge 
of  his  father-in-law's  farm  (consisting  of 
sixty  acres  in  Bronson  township)  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  Politically  he 
has  always  voted  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  served  seven  years  as  con- 
stable of  Pern  township.  He  has  also  held 
a  similar  position  in  Bronson  township  for 


five  years,  and  has  served  eight  years  as 
township  assessor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Llniversalist  Church;  a  member  of  Huron 
Lodge  No.  37,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  a  Past 
Grand,  and  at  the  present  time  is  Sen. 
Vice  Commander  of  James  Mann  Post  G. 
A.  R.,  Department  of  Ohio;  also  Secretary 
of  Peru  Grange,  P.  of  H. 


/^ 


HOMER  C.  CLARY.  Prominently 
identified  witii  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  Ridgefield  township  is 
this  well-known  gentleman.  His 
early  ancestors  were  natives  of  New 
York  ^nd  New  England. 

In  the  winter  of  1817  Isaac  and  Preox- 
cintha  Clary  began  the  perilous  journey 
from  New  York  to  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
Ice  covered  the  lakes  over  which  they 
passed,  and  finally  they  landed  in  the 
midst  of  an  unbroken  forest,  where  Huron, 
Erie  county,  now  stands.  Our  travelers, 
however,  pushed  farther  south,  making  a 
permanent  location  on  a  part  of  the  large 
tract  now  owned  by  their  descendants.  The 
ring  of  the  pioneer  axe  was  soon  heard  in 
the  wilderness,  and  one  by  one  the  mighty 
monarchs  of  the  forest,  which  had  for 
centuries  withstood  the  fury  of  the  ele- 
ments, yielded  to  their  conquerors.  In 
1818  Preoxci-ntha  Clary  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Monroeville  cemetery,  having  been  the 
first  of  many  whose  remains  are  there  in- 
terred. In  1822  Isaac  Clary  was  buried 
beside  his  wife,  leaving  the  following  chil- 
dren to  perpetuate  his  memory:  Aurelius, 
two  daughters  (Mrs.  Parsons  and  Mrs. 
Ward),  and  Daniel,  whose  sketch  follows. 

Daniel  Clary  was  born  in  1799,  near 
Watertown,  N.  Y.,  and  there  received  a 
subscription-school  education.  He  then 
learned  the  gunsmith  business,  soon  after- 
ward accompanying  his  parents  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  a  very  energetic, 
industrious  young  man,  and  after  the  death 
of  his  father  (who  left  no  property)  made 
a  bargain  for  100  acres  of  land  owned  by 
Maj.   David  Underhill,  who  was  then   the 


HURON^  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


381 


agent  for  the  "  Firelands."  This  tract  was 
to  be  paid  for  in  work,  and  during  the  fol- 
lowing three  years  he  lost  but  three  days 
time,  thus  securing  the  property  and 
obtaining  a  start  in  life.  On  February  28, 
1825,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Wilcox, 
who  was  born  in  August,  1809,  in  New 
York,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  came  with 
her  parents  to  Ohio,  where  she  afterward 
taugiit  school  in  Crawford  county.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Clary  continued  to  fol- 
low agriculture,  adding  to  his  possession 
year  by  year,  and  tinally  becoming  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. In  politics  he  was  an  Old-line 
Whig,  afterward  uniting  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  died  April  29,  1863,  fol- 
lowed by  his  widow  in  1882.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  sons,  viz.:  Homer  C, 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch,  and  George 
W.,  who  married  Sarah  Patterson,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 

Homer  C.  Clary  was  born  December  25, 
1825,  on  the  home  farm  in  Ridaelield 
township,  Huron  county,  where  he  is  yet 
living.  He  attended  school  in  District 
No.  1,  Ridgefield  township,  and  assisted 
his  father  with  the  duties  of  the  farm. 
On  October  17,  1850,  he  married  Laura 
Humphreys,  who  was  born  in  1830  in 
Connecticut.  When  a  girl  she  came  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  with  her  parents, 
Decins  and  Laura  (Adams)  Humjihreys, 
who  were  relatives  of  Col.  Humphreys, 
Gen.  Washington's  private  secretary.  The 
representatives  of  this  family  have  borne 
national  reputations  as  expert  homeo- 
pathic physicians  and  surgeons  of  New 
York  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clary  have 
always  resided  on  the  farm  which  they 
now  occupy,  and  where  children  were  born 
to  them  as  follows:  George  (deceased  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years),  Ellen  (Mrs.  Fish- 
er), Atherton  (in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.),  David 
geceased  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven), 
aniel  (a  farmer  of  Ridgefield  township), 
Edward  D.  (secretary  and  superintendent 
of  the    Burlington    (Iowa)  Gas  Compatiy) 


and  Frank  (a  lawyer  of  Toledo,  Ohio). 
Mr.  Clary  has  inherited  the  progressive 
traits  of  character  so  prominent  in  the  life 
of  his  father,  and  now  owns  over  300  acres 
of  the  tinest,  most  productive  land  to  be 
found  in  Huron  county,  every  acre  of  the 
property  being  tillable.  A  handsome  brick 
residence,  surrounded  by  numerous  shade 
trees,  stands  amid  the  fertile  fields,  thus 
completing  one  of  the  most  pleasant  home 
scenes  of  Ridgefield  township.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Clary  has  been  a  Republican 
since  the  organization  of  that  party,  and 
has  filled  various  township  offices  with 
credit  to  himself  and  the  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents.  In  addition  to  his  agri- 
cultural interests,  he  is  a  director  of  .the 
Monroeville  National  Bank,  and  was  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  establishing  the 
Monroeville  Woolen  Mills,  which,  how- 
ever, were  in  operation  but  a  few  years. 


EiDAVARD  GEYER,  a  well-known 
prominent  farmer  citizen  and 
I   wealthy     landowner     of     Sherman 

township,  was  ijorn  in  Saxony, 
Germany  (on  the  Austrian  frontier),  in 
1884. 

He  is  a  son  of  Christian  and  Eva  Geycr, 
who,  in  1840,  came  to  America,  brincjins 
the  family,  and  settled  in  Sherman  town- 
ship, Huron  county.  Christian  was  by 
trade  a  tanner,  and  operated  a  tannery  in 
Sherman  township  many  years,  in  his  lat(;r 
days  following  farming  as  well.  He  died 
in  1872  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  a 
healthy,  strong  man  up  to  within  a  short 
time  of  his  death.  His  wife  died  in  1869, 
aged  sixty-six  years.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  Edward  being  tiftli  in 
the  order  of  birth. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was,  as  wiU 
be  seen,  seven  years  old  when  brought  to 
this  country.  He  received  but  a  meager 
English  school  education,  as  in  early  boy- 
hood he  was  put  to  work  in  his  father's 
tan-yard,  where  he   remained  till   he  was 


382 


IlUJiOX  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


fourteen  years  old,  at  which  time  he  went 
on  the  farm.  After  his  marriage  he  com- 
nieiiced  agricultural  pursuits  for  his  own 
account,  in  a  small  way,  from  which  lim- 
ited commencement  he  has,  by  good  busi- 
ness sajjacity  and  indomitable  perseverance, 
amassed  a  fortune.  He  is  now  the  owner 
of  500  acres  of  land,  and  one  of  the  finest 
residences  in  Huron  county,  if  not  the 
finest,  being  quite  palatial  in  its  design 
and  equipment.  The  house  is  of  modern 
style  of  architecture,  built  of  pressed  brick, 
and  fitted  up  to  be  heated  with  steam  and 
lighted  with  gas.  The  outbuildings — barns, 
etc. — are  in  keeping,  being  comf(jrtable  and 
commodious.  He  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  all  kinds  of  farming,  including  cereals, 
root  crops  and  stock. 

In  1859  Mr.  Geyer  married  Miss  Eliza 
Sowerine,  by  whom  he  has  an  interesting 
family  of  ten  robust  cliildren,  namely: 
Theodore,  Louis,  Edward,  Louisa  (married 
to  a  Mr.  Miller,  and  has  one  child,  Levi), 
Jennie,  Emma,  Cora,  Alice,  Lawrence  and 
Rosa.  It  may  be  here  stated  that  so 
healthy  is  the  entire  family  that  Mr.  Geyer 
has  never  had  to  pay  a  doctor's  bill  for 
either  himself,  wife  or  children.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  public-spirited  Republican,  and, 
though  not  a  member  of  Church,  con- 
tributes liberally  of  his  means  to  both 
churches  and  schools,  as  well  as  to  all 
charitable  institutions.  During  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  his  duties  to  his  parents, 
who  needed  his  filial  care  and  help,  pre- 
vented him  joiniug  the  Union  army,  and 
thus  he  was  couipelled  to  pay  heavy 
amounts  for  substitutes,  although  under 
other  circumstances  he  would  rather  have 
shouldered  his  rifle  and  gone  to  the  front. 


I  OHN  McLANE,  son  of  Robert  and 
k.  I  Margaret  (Arthur)  McLane,  was  born 
^J)  in  Ireland,  before  the  emigration  of 
his  parents  to  America. 

Robert  McLane  was  born  in  1799  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and,  like  boys  of 
that  time  and  place,  passed  his  youth  al- 


ternately at  school  and  in  farm  work.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  that  section,  and 
the  McLanes  were  known  there  for  gen- 
erations. About  the  year  1824  he  married 
Margaret  Arthur,  also  a  native  of  County 
Tyrone,  where  she  was  born  in  1799.  In 
1831  they  set  out  on  the  journey  to  Amer- 
ica with  tiiree  children,  James,  John  and 
William.  The  father  worked  in  New  York 
State  for  some  time,  and  they  then  set  out 
for  Ohio,  landing  at  Sandusky  after  a 
long,  tedious  and  dangerous  journey,  and 
immediately  proceeding  south  to  Green- 
field township,  Huron  county,  arrived  at 
the  home  of  John  Arthur.  Robert  McLane 
selected  a  tract  of  land  in  the  wilderness 
west  of  Steuben,  which  he  purchased  at 
ten  shillings  per  acre,  and  there  built  his 
cabin,  where  he  dwelt  until  his  death  in 
1890.  His  wife  died  in  1S65,  and  both 
are  buried  in  the  Steuben  cemetery.  The 
only  child  born  to  them  in  Greenfield 
township  was  Thomas,  a  farmer  of  that 
township,  who  now  resides  on  the  home 
place.  The  father  was  a  lifelong  farmer, 
who  succeeded  in  accumulating  quite  an 
amount  of  property  by  the  unceasing 
labor  of  his  brain  and  hands.  Democratic 
in  politics  and  Congregational  in  religion, 
he  gave  to  each  complete  and  loyal  sup- 
port. 

John  McLane  was  educated  in  the  pio- 
neer schools  of  Greenfield  township,  giv- 
ing the  three  winter  months  to  study  and 
the  balance  of  the  year  to  farm  work.  In 
1856  he  married  Sarah  A.  Easter,  daugh- 
ter of  Archibald  Easter,  who  came  from 
Ireland  and  settled  in  Greenfield  town- 
ship, where  Sarah  A.  was  born.  To  this 
union  were  born  two  children:  Stanley  E., 
a  farmer  in  Greenfield  township,  and 
Irwin,  who  died  December  31,  1880,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Immediately  af- 
ter marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLane  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  where  they  resided  un- 
til 1887,  and  which  Mr.  McLane  still 
owns.  In  the  last  mentioned  year  the 
family  moved  to  Steuben  village,  and  he 
retired   from  active  agricultural  life;  his 


HURON  COUNTY,  OUIO. 


383 


beautiful  farm  of  200  acres  is,  however, 
still  managed  by  him  and  his  son.  Since 
the  formation  of  the  Kepnhlicaii  party  Mr. 
McLaiie  has  voted  for  its  candidates,  prior 
to  which  time  he  was  a  Free-soil  Democrat, 
and,  before  the  agrarian  question  was 
raised,  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school.  For 
several  years  he  served  his  township  as 
trustee,  and  has  been  treasurer  for  eight 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLane  are  ranked 
among  the  most  popular  and  respected 
citizens  of  the  county. 


born 
ton. 


W.  BOISE,  a  descendant  of  the 
DuBoies  of  France  who,  after  the 
conspiracy  of  Amboise  in  1560,  had 
to  fly  from  their  native  land,  was 
December  13,  1831,  at  Worthing- 
Massachusetts. 
The  member  or  members  of  the  family 
■who  belonged  to  the  Eidgenossen  or  Hu- 
guenots fled,  it  is  thought,  before  the  edict 
of  January,  1562,  was  proclaimed,  leaving 
behind  the  Reformes,and  taking  with  them 
the  name  "Huguenots."  Finding  shelter 
in  Scotland,  and  afterward  in  Ireland, 
many  thousand  of  the  refugees  settled  in 
the  latter  country,  and  descendants  of  them 
may  be  found  in  that  island  to-day.  Al- 
most a  century  and  a  half  after  the  Am- 
boise affair  the  children  of  the  refugee  Du- 
Boies  emigrated  from  Ireland  and  found  a 
New  World  home  at  Blandford,  Mass. 
In  a  border  country,  as  Blandford  then  was, 
there  was  little  veneration  or  respect  for 
patronymics,  and  the  prefix  of  the  name 
fell  into  disuse.  In  tiniethe  name  proper 
was  changed  from  Boies  to  Boise,  the 
father  of  our  subject  being  tiie  first  to 
spell  it   thus. 

The  American  ancestor  of  the  family 
was  David  Boies,  who  died  at  Blandford, 
Mass.,  December  15,  1752.  He  was  ruling 
elder  in  the  church  there  for  some  years 
prior  to  his  death,  perhaps  from  1738  to 
1752.  Amontr  the  documents  now  in 
possession  of  S.  W.  Boise,  is  one  dated 
April  18,  1738,  which  is  nothing  less  than 


a  declaration  of  principles,  a  covenant  made 
between  himself  and  (rod.  A  copy  of  the 
old  document  is  given  as  follows: 

Eternal  Jehova,  I  desire  to  come  unto  Thee,  a 
poor,  wretched  sinner,  a  miserable  creature,  who 
am  full  of  sin  and  iniquity.  Defiled  in  all  powers 
and  faculties  of  both  soul  and  body  by  reason  of 
original  sin  and  actual  transgressions,  and  am 
justly  liable  unto  Thy  wrath  and  displeasure,  not 
only  in  this  world  but  in  the  world  which  is  to  come. 
And  that  I  can  by  no  powers  of  mine  own,  no 
created  being,  either  angels  or  men,  can  help  me 
out  of  this  misTable  condition  in  which  I  am,  and 
seeing  Thou  hast  made  known  to  me  in  Thy 
Blessed  Word,  that  there  is  a  way  jirovided  for  the 
relief  and  recovery  of  poor  sinners  in  and  through 
Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  been  pleased  to  condescend 
so  low  as  lo  make  known  to  me  the  way  how  to  ob- 
tain pardon  of  ray  sins  and  be  again  restored  unto 
God's  favor;  and  the  way  is,  if  ever  I  expect  to  ob- 
tain pardon,  in  and  through  the  Blessed  Redeemer, 
Jesus  Christ.  I  must  be  denied  to  myself  and  all 
mine  own  richeousness  and  to  Accept  of  Thine  as 
He  is  freely  offered  in  the  Gospel  and  to  be  for 
Thee  and  never  for  another,  and  to  follow  Tliee 
through  good  report  and  bad  report  and  lo  Continue 
faithful  unto  my  life's  end.  And  now,  O  Lord,  the 
Eternal  God,  the  Wonderful,  Condescending  and 
Merciful  God  the  heart-searching  and  "re  in- 
trieng"  God,  who  has  been  pleased  of  Thy  boi>nd- 
less  and  infinite  mercy  to  provide  such  way  of 
relief  through  Jesus  Christ,  the  nnly  Savior  and 
Redeemer  of  poor  lost  and  undone  sinners,  and  hast 
made  proclamation  of  theGosple,  that  whomsoever 
Cometh  to  Thee,  in  and  through  Him,  thou  wilt  in 
no  ways  cast  out,  and  hast  invited  the  weary  and 
heavy  laden  sinner  to  come  unto  Thee  and  they 
shall  find,  out  with  their  souls  and  seeing,  O  Lord 
God,  thou  hast  been  pleased  to  invite  such  a  poor 
wretched  sinner  as  I  am,  to  come  and  enter  into 
covenant  with  Thee,  who  deserveth  rather  to  be 
cast  into  hell  for  my  sins.  Thou  to  have  such  a  kind 
ofTer  made  unto  me;  yet  O  Lord  God,  seeing  Thou 
art  pleased  of  Thy  Infinite  mercy  to  condescend  so 
low  as  to  invite  me  to  come  and  enter  into  Coven- 
ant with  Thee,  which  would  have  indeed  been  un- 
pardonable presumption  in  me  to  have  attempted 
to  do,  were  it  not  that  Thou  hast  invited  me  to 
come,  1  do  heartily  embrace  the  offer.  Lord  God, 
let  it  be  a  bargain.  Lord.  I  believe,  help  my  un- 
belief. Lord  I  give  myself  to  Tliee  to  be  for  Thee, 
and  to  serve  Thee  for  ever.  Lord  let  Thy  grace 
be  sufficient  for  me;  and  now,  O  Lord,  my  request 
and  my  petition  is  to  Thee  for  grace  to  help  me  per- 
form this  Covenant  aright,  and,  O  Lord  God,  let 
not  ray  failing  raake  this  void  this  covenant.  Now, 
O  Lord,  what  I  have  now  done  on  earth,  let  it  be 
ratified  in  heaven.     Amen,  and  Amen. 

The  son  of  Elder  David  Boies  was  born 
at  Blandford.  Mass.;  at  an  early  day  he 
moved  to  the  Western  Reserve,  and  died 
in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  at  an  advanced 
age.     He  spelled  his  name  Boies. 


384 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Otis  Boise,  a  son  of  this  old  settler  of 
Lorain  county,  was  born  in  1804  at  Bland- 
ford,  Mass.,  and  died  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
in  1874.  When  a  young  man  lie  graduated 
in  medicine  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  in 
1825  entered  on  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion there.  Shortly  afterward  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elvira  Clark,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1833  the  family  moved  to 
Twinsburgh,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where,  and 
also  at  Hudson,  same  county.  Dr.  Boise 
conducted  a  mercantile  b\isiness  from  the 
time  of  his  arrival  until  1842.  In  the 
latter  year  he  moved  to  Bellevue,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  proving  himself  a 
skillful  physician  and  surgeon,  and  he  be- 
came wealthy  and  influential.  The  Clark 
family,  into  which  he  married,  are  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

S.  W.  Boise  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio  in  the  spring  of  1833,  and  received  a 
common-school  education  at  Twinsburgh, 
Summit  county,  subsequently  removing 
with  the  family  to  Bellevue,  Huron  county. 
On  October  8,  1856,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Celestia  E.  Gould,  who 
was  educated  at  Oberlin  College,  and  be- 
came the  assistant  principal  of  the  first 
graded  school  in  Bellevue,  a  position  she 
held  up  to  the  time  of  her  marriage.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
a  brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  (1) 
Watson  E.,  who  graduated  from  Oberlin 
College,  is  now  a  farmer  of  Bdlevyria,  N. 
D.;  he  has  four  children:  David,  Charles, 
Howard  and  Otis.  (2)  Ciiarles  G.  is  also 
a  farmer  in  North  Dakota;  he  is  married 
and  has  one  child,  Kate.  (3)  Jnlia  E.  is 
married  to  Dr.  H.  M.  Hoyt,  and  resides  in 
Bellevue,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Celestia  E.  Boise, 
though  a  grandmother,  does  not  appear  to 
be  past  middle  age.  Her  home  tells  of 
care  and  refinement,  and  she  herself  is 
like  the  home,  contented,  happy  and  well 
preserved. 

Mr.  Boise  followed  farming  in  Lyme 
township  for  many  years  with  marked  suc- 
cess.     He  was  recognized  as  a  systematic 


agriculturist  and  a  most  fortunate  man  of 
business.  Since  his  retirement,  ten  years 
ago,  from  the  active  life  of  a  farmer,  he  has 
built  a  beautiful  home  in  one  of  the  finest 
residence  locations  in  Bellevue,  and  devotes 
his  time  to  the  sale  of  his  extensive  prop- 
erty and  the  investment  of  his  capital. 
Having  taken  a  full  part  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  Huron  county,  he 
now  takes  an  important  place  in  the  finan- 
cial circles  of  Bellevue.  A  man  of  iron 
constitution,  his  appearance  does  not  de- 
note his  age;  for  one  who  did  not  know 
the  fact  would  never  suspect  that  he  had 
passed  his  threescore  years.  A  Republi- 
can in  politics,  and  a  Congregationalist  in 
religion,  he  takes  a  share  in  aiding  all 
measures  which  promise  to  benefit  the 
community. 


JACOB  JETTEPt,  retired  farmer  and 
tanner,  residing  in  Weaver's  Corners, 
was  born  in  Wittenberg,  Germany,  in 
1818.  In  his  native  land  he  was  a 
tanner  by  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
many  years  in  this  country,  whither  he 
had  come  in  1848. 

Landing  in  Philadelphia,  he  M'orked 
there  seven  years,  then  one  year  in  the 
country,  after  which  he  came  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Sherman  township,  Huron 
county.  Here  he  bought  a  tannery,  which 
he  enlarged  and  otherwise  improved, 
operating  the  same  some  thirty-one  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  turned  it  over 
to  his  son.  He  also  bought  land  in  Seneca 
county,  which  he  has  owned  nineteen 
years,  and  twelve  years  ago  he  bought  the 
farm  in  Sherman  township,  Huron  county. 
Mr.  Jetter  did  an  extensive  business  in  his 
tannery  industry,  finding  a  ready  market 
for  his  product — consisting  inaitdy  of  calf, 
kip  and  harness  leather — in  Cleveland, 
Sandusky,  etc.,  besides  local  trade. 

In  1851  Mr.  Jetter  married,  in  Phila- 
delphia, Penn.,  Miss  Anna  Bauman,  a  na- 
tive of  Switzerland,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1848,  and  children  were 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


385 


born  to  them,  of  whom  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  Katie  is  the  wife  of  Phil 
Heyman,  and  has  seven  children — four 
sons  and  three  daugliters — namely:  Phillip, 
Edward,  Arthur,  Walter,  Stella,  Neta  and 
Annie;  Annie  is  married  to  II.  C  Jacobi, 
and  has  five  children:  William,  Henry, 
Charles,  Albert  and  Clara;  Lena  was  mar- 
ried, and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years;  Lizzie  is  married  toThonias  Heyman, 
and  has  one  child,  Howard ;  Charley  is  now 
owner  of  the  tannery;  Emma  is  the  wife  of 
Adolph  Lieber,  and  has  one  child,  Clarence; 
Emma  died  in  the  fall  of  1893,  aged  twenty- 
six  years.  Mr.  Jetter  in  his  political  sym- 
pathies was  first  a  Democrat,  then  a  Re- 
publican, voting  twice  for  Lincoln,  and 
since  the  Civil  war  again  a  Democrat.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He 
has  four  brothers  and  two  sisters,  of  whom 
three  brothers  reside  in  Philadelphia  and 
one  in  Germany;  the  two  sisters  reside 
in  Germany. 


NDREW  WILHELM,  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  Peru  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Christopher  Wil- 
helm,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  who  was 
born  in  that  Kingdom  in  1814. 
When  a  young  man  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  worked  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade  in  Bnffalo,  N.  Y.,  for  some  time, 
but  subsequently  settled  in  Peru  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 

On  coming  to  America  he  learned  the 
value  of  a  trade.  Being  a  complete 
stranger  in  a  new  and  strange  land,  his 
own  hands  and  mind  were  his  only  friends. 
At  Butfalo  he  had  to  labor  late  and  early 
for  very  small  pay,  and  even  then  his  task- 
masters did  not  seem  satisfied  with  the 
volume  of  work  produced  by  the  young 
Bavarian.  Out  of  his  small  earnings, 
however,  he  saved  enongh  to  venture  far- 
ther  west,  and  fortutie  led  him  to  Peru 
township,  Huron  county,  where  he  resided 
until  his  deatii.  Here  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  some  years,  until   he   had   saved 


enough  money  to  purchase  a  farm.  Then 
buying  a  part  of  the  "  Redenberg  Tract," 
of  the"  Firelands,"  he  began  its  improve- 
ment, and  resided  thereon  until  Centen- 
nial Year  (187G),  when  he  retired  and  took 
up  his  residence  at  Monroeville,  where  he 
died  October  6,  1881.  Mr.  Wilhelm  was 
thrice  married:  first  time  to  Arazula 
Kraback,  liy  which  union  there  were  tiiree 
children:  One  son — Frank,  who  died  in 
1864  during  the  Civil  war  in  which  he 
served  as  post-quartermaster; — and  two 
daughters — Margaret  and  M;iry  Ann,  the 
former  of  whom  died  in  1876.  The  sec- 
ond wife  was  Catherine  Hiss,  a  native  of 
Baden,  Germany,  who  bore  him  three 
children:  John,  who  died  when  aged 
twenty-nine  years;  Caroline,  widow  of 
Andrew  Duffnerr,  of  Monroeville,  and 
Andrew,  our  subject.  The  mother  of 
these  died  in  1852,  and  was  buried  in  Peru 
cemetery;  she  was  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Wil- 
helm married  Agatha  Dufl'ner,  and  twu 
children  were  born  to  them,  \dz.:  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  in  1878,  and  Fred.  Chris- 
topher Wilhelm  was  a  natural  scholar.  He 
was  educated  at  the  schools  of  Bavaria,  and 
after  settling  here  was  an  omnivorous  reader 
of  history,  current  literature  and  news- 
papers. A  Democrat  in  politics  and  a 
leader  in  his  district,  he  never  tried  to 
condone  the  local  or  national  errors  of  his 
jjarty,  and  thus  he  became  known  as  a  man 
who  estimated  fair  play  above  price.  He 
was  trusted  and  respected,  being  several 
times  elected  to  township  offices.  He  was 
a  consistent  Catholic,  a  man  wlio,  if  he 
could  not  accomplish  good,  would  not 
descend  to  do  harm. 

Andrew  Wilheltn  was  born  September 
14,  1860,  on  the  homestead  farm.  He 
received  a  rudimentary  education  in  the 
school  of  his  district  in  Peru  townsliip, 
and  completed  a  commei'cial  course  in  the 
Dayton  Business  College.  On  October  6, 
1876,  he  married  Rosa  Bower,  a  native  of 
Bronson  township,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter 
Bower.     To  this  marriage  seven  ciiildren 


386 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


were  born:  Alfred  P.,  Charles  A.  (de- 
ceased), Frederick  A.,  Mary  Frances  A., 
Edward  C,  Conny  C,  and  Florentine  J. 
The  same  year  in  which  Andrew  was  mar- 
ried, the  father  removed  to  Monroeville, 
and  Andrew  took  charse  of  the  farm.  Po- 
litically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  one  of  the 
advisers  of  the  party  in  this  district.  He 
held  various  township  offices,  and  is  con- 
sidered a  man  of  sound  judgment,  honor 
and  principle.  Religiously,  he  is  a  Catho- 
lic; as  a  business  man  he  devotes  all  his 
attention  to  agriculture  and  stock  growing, 
and  takes  a  place  among  the  practical, 
successful  farmers  of  northern  Ohio. 


L 


EWIS  CONGER,  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists    of    Greentield    town- 
ship,   is    an    example    of    what    in- 
telligence   and    industry     may    ac- 
complish. 

Elijah  Conger,  father  of  Lewis  Conger, 
was  born  October  16,  1786,  at  Newark,  N. 
J.,  and  when  a  youth  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  in  New  York  City.  Subse- 
(juently  he  moved  to  Tompkins  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  partnership  with  his  father- 
in-law,  Thomas  Ludlow,  built  a  mill  at 
Ludlow vi lie,  where  he  also  established  a 
store.  On  October  24,  1809,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Hannah  Ludlow,  daughter  of  the 
founder  of  Ludlowville,  where  she  was  born 
September  19,  1791.  The  children  born  to 
this  marriage  in  New  York  State  were  as 
follows:  Lorenzo,  born  July  29, 1810,  died 
in  Greenfield  township;  Maria,  born  July 
6,  1812,  married  Samuel  Boalt  in  New 
York,  came  to  Ohio,  and  died  in  Peru 
township,  Huron  county;  Delia,  born 
January  25,  1815,  married  Harry  Chase, 
and  also  died  in  Peru  township;  Clarissa, 
born  June  5,  1817,  now  the  widow  of 
Samuel  Atherton;  Charles,  born  Jaijuary 
6,  1820,  died  in  Milan,  Ohio;  Cornelia, 
born  Ji;ne  10,  1822,  deceased;  Lewis  (the 
subject  of  this  sketch),  born  September  S, 
1824;    Elijah,   Jr.,   born     September    23, 


1827,  died  at  Milan,  Ohio;  Julia,  born 
March  31,  1880,  deceased,  and  Henrietta, 
born  March  7,  1832,  also  deceased.  The 
father  of  this  family  carried  on  a  farm,  a 
mill  and  a  store  in  Tompkins  county,  N. 
Y.,  up  to  1833,  when  he  determined  to 
seek  a  home  in  Ohio.  He  traveled  by  the 
Erie  Canal  and  Lake  to  Huron,  Ohio, 
and  thence  proceeded  to  Milan,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
Later  he  started  a  branch  store  at 
Macksville,  in  Peru  township,  and  in 
about  1836  sold  his  interests  at  Milan 
and  tof)k  up  his  residence  at  Macksville. 
In  1840  he  erected  a  mill  in  Greenfield 
township,  sold  the  Macksville  store,  and 
for  ten  years  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
milling  industry.  In  1850  he  sold  the 
mill  and  lands  iti  Greenfield  township,  and 
returned  to  Milan,  where  he  led  a  retired 
life  until  his  death,  April  18,  1851.  His 
widow  died  October  18,  1884,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-three  years,  and  was  interred  at 
Milan  by  the  side  of  her  husband.  The 
life  of  Elijah  Conger,  both  in  New  York 
and  Ohio,  was  one  of  enterprise  and 
activity,  and  his  name  is  associated  with 
the  development  of  trade  and  industry  in 
Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Erie  and 
Huron  counties,  Ohio. 

Lewis  Conger  was  born  September  8, 
1824,  at  Ludlowville,  N.  Y.,  received  the 
rudiments  of  an  education  there,  and  in 
1833  accompanied  his  parents  to  Milan, 
Ohio.  From  boyhood  until  1850  he  as- 
sisted his  father  in  mill  and  store,  and  to 
him  must  be  credited  some  of  the  success 
which  waited  on  their  enterprise;  for  to 
young  Lewis  was  often  left  the  direction 
of  the  store  and  mill.  In  fact,  for  a  long 
time  prior  to  1850  the  management  of  the 
business  devolved  upon  him.  On  February 
10,  1853,  he  married  Isabel  Lowther,  who 
was  born  in  Greenfield  township,  June  25, 
1831,  a  daughter  of  E.  H.  Lowtbei',  and  to 
this  union  came  the  following  tiamed  chil- 
dren: Edward  L.,  born  June  20,  1854,  a 
farmer  of  Greenfield  township;  Halsey, 
born  April  18,  1856,  died   September  27, 


:& 


c^ci-UM-cJ      ^o 


^-^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


389 


1856;  Julia  L.,  born  January  8,1858,  now 
Mrs.  Charles  Palmer,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and 
Lewis  L.,  born  March  28,  1S69,  a  teaclier  in 
the  Deaf  and  Diunb  Asylnin  at  Columbus, 
Oliio.  In  the  year  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
Conger  purchased  a  farm  in  Greeniield 
township,  where  he  resided  until  1868, 
when  he  ijurchased  his  present  farm.  In 
1870  he  bought  another  tract,  now  con- 
ducting two  farms,  and  by  careful  man- 
agement lie  has  succeeded  in  building  up 
a  very  valuable  property  in  real  estate  and 
live  stock.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat 
until  the  Prohibition  party  was  organized. 
In  religion  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Concrrecrational  Church  at  Fairfield. 
As  a  citizen  he  encourages  all  enterprises 
which  promise  social,  commercial  or  in- 
dustrial benetits  to  the  county. 


Daniel 


MRS.  MARY  ANN  BISHOP  was 
born  January  11,  1818,  in  Lor- 
ain county,  Cihio,  and  is  the  only 
living  representative  of  her  father's 
family.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
and  Laura  (Williams)  Cadwell, 
natives  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  who  became 
pioneer  settlers  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 
On  November  30,  1837,  Mary  Ann  Cad- 
well gave  her  band  in  marriage  to  William 
A.  Bishop,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(WykofF)  Bishop,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
descended  from  Holland  ancestry,  Joseph 
Bishop  was  a  representative  of  an  old 
English  family,  and  died  when  his  son  was 
a  small  child,  his  widow  surviving  him 
tifty-eight  years. 

William  A.  Bishop  was  born  March  3, 
1806,  in  New  Jersey,  where  his  parents 
were  then  living.  He  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  in  1832  began  teaching  in 
Northampton  county,  Penn.,  coming  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  183-t.  On  April 
4,  that  year,  he  married  Miss  Magdalene 
Elinger,  who  bore  him  two  sons:  Jo.seph, 
born  January  26, 1835,  deceased  in  infancy, 
and  William  H.,  born  June  19,  1836,  now 

SI 


residing  in  Norwalk.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop 
came  to  Ohio  in  the  year  of  their  marriage, 
journeying  in  the  old-fashioned  emigrant 
style,  cooking  their  meals  by  the  roadside 
and  camping  out  at  nightfall.  Tliej  first 
located  on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Huron 
River,  in  Ridguheld  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  on  what  was  known  as  the  "Page 
farm."  Mrs.  Bishop  died  on  this  place 
April  5,  1837.  Mr.  Bishop  was  afterward 
married  to  Mary  Ann  Cadwell,  who  bore 
him  the'following  named  children:  Laura 
Ann  (deceased),  born  January  18,  1839: 
Eliza,  born  August  25,  1842,  deceased  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  Charles  D.,  born 
January  4,  1846,  now  living  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio;  Lina,  born  April  15,  1849,  wife  of 
Charles  Drake,  of  Ridgefield  township; 
Mary  E.,  born  January  2,  1854,  deceased 
at  the  age  of  three  years,  and  Martha  E., 
born  June  1, 1857,  living  with  her  widowed 
mother.  In  1849  they  moved  to  the 
"Palmer  farm,"  situated  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Huron  river.  The  home  farm  con- 
tains nearly  170  acres  of  most  productive 
land,  equipped  with  a  comfortable  dwelling 
and  commodious  outbuildings.  This  was 
the  home  of  Mr.  Bishop  for  over  thirty- 
two  years,  and  during  the  latter  part  of 
that  time  he  lived  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness. In  politics  he  voted  first  with  the 
Whig  party,  afterward  \vitli  the  Repub- 
lican, and  served  in  various  local  offices. 
Though  not  a  church  member,  lie  gave 
liberally  to  the  support  of  the  good  work. 
He  died  January  20,  1881,  and  his  widow 
has  continued  to  reside  on  the  home  place, 
surrounded  by  many  friends. 


W.  HEDRICK,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
ablest  and  most  popular  young  phy- 
sicians of  Huron  county,  is  a  native 
of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1853,  a  son  of  George  and 
Julia  (Speer)  Iledrick,  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  the  former  born  in  1826,  the  latter 
in  1828. 


390 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


At  the  age  of  twenty  George  Heflrick 
came  west  to  Xewark,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio, 
wliere  he  has  since  almost  continuously 
resided,  and  here  he  met  Miss  JiiiiaSpeer, 
to  whom  he  was  afterward  married.  They 
are  the  parents  of  six  children,  namely: 
William  F.  and  Dennis  E.,  both  living  in 
Columbus,  Ohio;  C.  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Fred,  a  resident  of  Newark, 
Ohio;  Winona,  the  wife  of  Areh  Day,  of 
Newark;  and  Inez  G.,  who  died  in  1874. 
The  father  of  this  family  learned  shoe- 
making  at  an  early  age,  and  followed  the 
trade  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  living.  On  the  paternal 
side  the  Hedrick  family  are  of  German 
origin;  on  tiie  maternal  side  they  are  of 
Scutch-Irish  descent,  the  first  ancestor  of 
the  family  in  America  having  come  from 
the  North  of  Ireland,  where  the  grand- 
father and  great-crrandraother  of  our  sub- 
]ect  were  burn;  the  great-grandfather  was 
born  across  the  channel,  in  Scotland. 

Dr.  C.  W.  Hedrick  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Newark, 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  and  after  graduation 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Oliio  Railroad  Co.,  as  agent  at  Somerset, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then  accepted  the  situation  of  book- 
keeper for  the  XX  Coal  Mine,  at  Shawnee, 
Ohio,  a  position  he  filled  acceptably  for 
one  year.  In  1874  he  visited  Illinois, 
fully  intending  to  locate  there,  bnt  the 
same  year  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  became 
a  painter  apprentice,  learned  the  trade  and 
with  the  money  thus  earned  finally  paid 
his  way  through  medical  college.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  nnder 
his  uncle.  Dr.  A.  T.  Speer,  in  1879,  and 
during  the  four  years  he  remained  with 
him  he  obtained  all  the  benefits  to  be  de- 
rived from  study  under  a  practical  man. 
During  the  winter  of  1880-81  he  attended 
Columbus  Medical  College;  then  studied 
for  another  year  under  his  uncle,  and  in 
the  winter  of  1882-83  again  attended  lec- 
tures at  Columbus  Medical  College,  from 
which  institution   he  graduated  in   1883. 


Locating  in  Newark,  he  practiced  there 
until  Maich  14,  1885,  when  he  received 
the  appointment  of  medical  examiner  for 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Kailroad  Co., 
with  office  at  Garrett,  Ind.,  where  he  was 
stationed  until  his  removal  to  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.,  in  February,  1886.  On  June  1, 
1886,  he  was  transferred  to  Chicago  Junc- 
tion, his  present  home,  where  he  owns  a 
pleasant  residence. 

Dr.  Hedrick's  marriage  with  Miss  Saidie 
A.,  daughter  of  David  S.  Nevins,  took 
place  June  30,  1886,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  two  children — a  son  and 
a  daughter — Raymond  Speer,  wiio  died 
November  24,  1892,  aged  four  months, 
and  Hazel  Wood.  Dr.  Hedrick  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encampment,  of 
the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  Royal  Arcanum  and  of 
the  Masonic  Fraternity.  He  is  a  citizen 
of  sterlinif  worth. 


GHARLES  A.  SAWYER,  who  ranks 
among  the  prominent  agriculturists 
^  and  stock  raisers  of  Lyme  township, 
is  a  member  of  an  old  and  highly 
respected  family. 

His  father,  John  Sawyer,  was  born  in 
the  county  of  Kent,  England,  and  came  to 
America  as  early  as  1819.  He  located  first 
in  Connecticut,  and  from  there  moved  to 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river,  numbering 
among  the  pioneers  of  that  region,  where 
he  took  a  contract  from  Gen.  Harrison  to 
clear  some  land  thickly  covered  with  woods. 
At  a  later  date  he  moved  to  Humn  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  euifaged  with  his  father  in 
trading  stock.  Being  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  twenty  children,  he  had  many  duties  to 
perform,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1852,  owned  215  acres 
of  land.  He  married  a  Mrs.  Edinger,  of 
New  Jersey,  and  by  her  had  six  children — 
two  sons  and  four  daughters — three  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Charles  A.  Sawyer  was  born  February 
12,  1845,  in  Lyme  township,  Huron  coun- 
ty, and  passed  his  youth  in  Oberlin,  where 


nUBOX  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


391 


he  attended  the  primitive  schools  of  those 
days  and  worked  on  liis  lather's  farm, 
learning  at  an  early  age  the  duties  and 
customs  of  agricultural  pursuits.  After 
reaching  manhood  he  moved  to  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  and  since  the  death  of  his  father  has 
had  entire  charge  of  the  old  homestead 
farm,  wliere  he  devotes  some  attention  to 
stock  raising,  but  is  chiefly  engaged  in 
farming.  On  April  14,  1887,  Mr.  Sawyer 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clara 
Daley,  also  a  resident  of  Huron  county,  hut 
born  in  Michigan.  No  children  have  been 
l)orn  to  them.  They  are  both  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  served  as 
trustee  of  Lyme  township  for  sixteen  years. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  Raby  Lodge,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Blue  Lodge,  Monroeville,  and 
was  senior  warden  and  master  of  Lodge; 
also  member  of  Bellevue  Chapter  Royal 
Arch  Masons;  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  of  Bellevue,  and  has  taken  all  but  the 
last  degree.  He  served  in  the  Civil  war 
from  1862  until  1864,  in  Company  (J, 
Eighty-eighth  Regiment,  O.  V.  L;  re- 
enlisted  in  1864,  in  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighty-ninth  O.  V.  L  Mr.  Saw- 
yer is  a  member  of  Hillier  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
Monroeville. 


SA  G.  FELTOlSr,  a  successful  and 
prosperous  agriculturist,  of  Nor- 
wich township,  is  a  native  of  the 
same,  born  in   1847. 

Ephraim  Felton,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born,  in  1815,  in  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  James  Felton,  who 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He,  James,  married  Eu- 
nice Wheeler,  of  same  place,  and  by  her 
had  eight  children,  viz.:  James,  Lyman, 
Hiram,  Warren,  Walter,  Ephraim,  Maria, 
and  one  whose  name  is  not  given.  The 
father  of  these  came  to  Huron  county  i?i 
IH'iiS  with  Ills  son  Ephraim,  settling  in 
Norwich,  where  he  died  about  1850. 
E])hraim  Felton  was  reared  on  a  fai-m,  and 
attended   durinir  the   winter  months    the 


subscription  schools  of  the  period.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  came  to  Ohio,  and 
worked  at  the  trade  of  carpenter  near  Nor- 
walk, Huron  county,  till  after  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  moved  into  Norwich  town- 
ship, locating  on  the  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  where  William  Stockmaster  is  now 
living.  From  there  in  1849  he  came  to 
his  farm  in  the  same  township,  compris- 
ing tifty  acres  of  good,  fertile  land.  In 
1841  he  married  Miss  Melissa  Gilson, 
daughter  of  Asa  Gilson,  a  farmer  of  Nor- 
wich township.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage were  Celia  (married  to  George  Kee- 
ler,  a  tinner),  Rhoda,  Asa  G.  and  Mary 
Melissa.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
1851,  and  Ephraim  Felton  subsequently 
married  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Chandler,  a 
daughter  of  Burwell  Fitch,  an  early  settler 
of  Sherman  township,  Huron  county.  To, 
this  marriage  were  born  Ada  V.,  Lillian 
and  Emma,  of  whom  Ada  V.  is  married 
to  Lewis  Woodruff,  and  they  live  in  Fair- 
field township;  Lillian  lives  in  Chillicothe, 
Mo.,  married  to  John  Schnits,  an  attor- 
ney; Emma  married  I.  H.  Wilson,  and 
lives  in  Nebraska.  Ephraim  Felton  made 
a  success  of  life,  and  owned  at  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1864,  about  300  acres 
of  land.  He  was  a  breeder  of  graded 
stock,  making  a  specialty  of  fine-wool 
sheep.  In  politics  he  was  a  strong  Aboli- 
tionist, and  took  an  active  part  in  the  free- 
ing of  the  negroes;  in  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Methodist. 

Asa  G.  Felton,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his 
birth,  and  was  reared  a  practical  farmer 
bov.  He  was  seventeen  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  four  years  later  he 
commenced  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a 
store,  where  be  remained  some  seven  years. 
Turning  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, he  then  came  to  Norwich  township, 
Huron  county,  and  settled  on  his  present 
farm  of  150  acres  in  that  township. 

In  1872  Mr.  Felton  was  united  in  mar- 
riage  with    Miss    Catherine    Kramer,    of 


392 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Plymouth,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Matthias 
Kramer,  a  farmer  of  Auburn  township, 
Crawford  county.  Politically,  our  subject 
has  always  been  a  solid  Republican,  a 
counfelor  in  the  party;  in  matters  of  re- 
ligion he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Uiiiversalist  Church  of  Havana. 


dOHN  STRIMPLE,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent   agriculturists    of    Greenwich 
I    township,     was    born     February    19, 
182i),    in    Hunterdon    county,    New 
Jersey. 

Aaron  Striinple,  his  father,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  in  1803.  Some  years  later 
his  father  died,  and  Aaron  was  left  to 
battle  with  the  world  alone.  About  the 
year  1828  he  married  Keziah  Stout,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1804,  and  to 
tlieir  union  came  the  following  named 
children:  John  (the  subject  of  this  sketch), 
Judith  Ann  (Mrs.G.W.Van  Scoy),  Andrew 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years),  and  George  (a  farmer  of  Green- 
wich township),  all  natives  of  New  Jersey; 
Sarah  (Mrs.  Daniel  Sizer,  of  Greenwich), 
Samuel  (who  died  at  an  advanced  age), 
Elizalieth  (widow  of  Egbert  N.  Burgess), 
and  AVilliam  (who  resides  in  Richland 
county),  all  natives  of  Ohio.  In  1839  the 
family  removed  to  New  Haven  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  company  with  three 
other  families,  the  whole  party  comprising 
twenty-eight  persons.  The  journey  was 
made  \>j  wagon,  over  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  and  occupied  twenty-nine  days. 
On  arriving  here  Aaron  Strimple  rented  a 
liouse  in  New  Haven  township,  but  the 
following  year  removed  to  a  point  four 
miles  east  of  Mansfield,  in  Mifflin  town- 
ship, Richland  county,  where  he  leased  a 
farm  for  ten  years.  About  1850  he  lo- 
cated near  the  northern  line  of  Richland 
county,  and  bouijht  a  tract  of  land,  part  of 
which  lay  in  Huron  county.  Later  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  in  Greenwich  town- 
ship,   where  he  and  his  wife  resided,   the 


latter  until  her  death  in  1886,  and  the 
former  until  1890,  when  he  passed  away. 
He  was  a  practical  farmer,  and  an  expert 
stock  dealer  and  grower,  being  successful 
in  each  line.  In  politics  he  voted  witb  the 
Democrats  until  1856,  when  the  new 
Whigs  or  Republicans  won  him  to  their 
cause,  though  at  times  he  voted  with  the 
Democrats,  when  the  nominees  of  his  own 
Darty  appeared  to  him  to  be  undeserving 
of  public  otiice.  In  religious  connection 
he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  tiie  Metiiodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

John  Strimple  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Ohio  when  ten  years  old,  and  during 
his  youth  helped  with  the  work  on  the 
farm  and  attended  school.  He  was  quick 
to  learn,  and  while  still  a  youth  taught  a 
scliool  for  fourteen  dollars  per  month,  his 
salary  being  gradually  increased  until  he 
was  in  receipt  of  thirty  dollars  per  month. 
During  vacation  periods  he  worked  on 
the  farm,  and  lost  no  opportunity  of  earn- 
ing money.  In  1851  he  married  Elizabeth 
Mary  Viers,  who  was  born  in  Rich- 
land county,  Ohio,  where  her  father,  L.  D. 
Viers,  resided.  The  children  of  this  union 
are  named  as  follows:  Alice  P.,  Mrs.  G. 
W.  King;  Silas  W.,  a  grain  dealer; 
Thomas,  an  attorney,  all  three  residing  at 
Greenwich;  Theodore  L.,  assistant  prose- 
cuting attorney  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
and  Keziah  J.,  who  died  in  youth.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1864,  and 
Mr.  Strimple  married  Loraine  Viers,  a 
sister  of  his  deceased  wife.  To  this  mar- 
riage were  born  Aden  L.  and  Aaron  B., 
the  former  an  agriculturist  and  the  latter 
a  school  teacher.  After  his  first  marriage 
Mr.  Strimple  rented  a  farm  in  Richland 
county,  and  later  joined  his  father  in  the 
purchase  of  land.  This  tract  was  quit- 
claimed by  the  father,  who  sold  a  portion 
to  the  son.  In  1860  John  Strimple  pur- 
chased ninety-five  and  a  quarter  acres  in 
Ripley  township,  and  established  his  home 
thereon.  In  1S64  he  purchased  110  acres 
in  Greenwich  township,  known  as  "  The 
Old  Barrett  Farm,"  and  here  he  has  since 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


393 


resided,  the  tract  now  comprising  235 
acres,  all  thorouglily  improved.  His  house 
and  barn  are  tine  buildings,  and  are  con- 
sidered among  the  best  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Striniple  has  been  liberal  in  the  ex- 
penditure of  money  on  the  education  of 
his  family.  In  political  life  he  votes  with 
the  Republicans,  though  he  is  not  a 
partisan,  and  he  has  tilled  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  he  is  steward  and  trustee,  class- 
leader,  and  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school — in  fact  he  has  taught 
everj'  class  in  the  school.  His  reputation 
is  without  reproach,  and  he  may  undoubt- 
edly be  classed  with  the  best  citizens  of 
Huron  count-v. 


f[ffARVEY    PIEECE,    a   worthy    de- 
r!?n     scendant  of  an  early  pioneer  family 
I     1[    of  Huron  county,  was  born  January 
^J  20.  1822,  in  Peru  township.   About 

1814  his  grandfather,  Alden  Pierce, 
bought  a  part  of  what  was  then  known  as 
the  "Redenberg  tract,"  in  the  "Firelands" 
of  Huron  county.  Late  in  1815  he  and 
his  son  Wiliard,  with  a  number  of  other 
emigrants,  came  hither  from  their  eastern 
home,  the  journey  occupying  forty-four 
days.  Upon  their  arrival  they  erected  a 
rude  shelter  of  logs  and  bark,  where  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  the  winter,  and  in 
the  spring  the  Pierces  erected  a  more  sub- 
stantial log  cabin,  and  cleared  the  first 
garden  spot  in  Greenfield  township. 

Wiliard  Pierce,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  April  29,  1800,  in  North  Leverett, 
Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  at  the  common 
schools  of  which  place  he  received  his  edu- 
cation. In  1815  (as  above  related)  he 
migrated  with  his  father  to  Ohio,  where, 
during  the  ensuing  four  years,  he  carved 
out  a  home  for  himself  in  the  forest.  In 
1820  he  set  out  for  his  native  State,  walk- 
ing the  entire  distance  from  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  to  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  and 
while  in  the  East   married  Nancy  Curtis, 


who  was  born  in  June,  1801,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  Curtis, of  Franklin  county,  Mass., 
who  died  in  1811.  Under  the  laws  of 
Massachusetts  the  marriage  bans  had  to  be 
publicly  announced  for  three  Sabbaths  be- 
fore the  ceremony  could  be  performed,  and 
to  avoid  this  delay  Mr.  Pierce  took  Miss 
Curtis  to  Vermont,  where  Old  Colony 
formalities  were  not  strictly  observed,  and 
there  they  were  married.  They  remained 
in  Massachusetts  just  long  enough  to  con- 
vert the  property  of  the  young  wife  into 
currency,  and  then  set  out  for  their  future 
home  in  Ohio,  the  journey  being  made  in 
a  wagon  drawn  by  a  "  Yankee  team  "  of 
oxen,  with  a  horse  for  a  leader.  To  their 
union  were  born  the  following  children: 
Harvey;  Jason  (an  invalid),  of  Oceana 
county,  Mich.;  Jefferson,  Maria  (Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Hull)  and  Allen,  all  three  residents 
of  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich.;  Nancy,  Mrs. 
Lovell;  and  Susan,  Mrs.  Harrison.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  here  June  22, 
1847;  his  widow  died  April  21,  1857,  in 
the  Baptist  faith,  and  both  are  buried  in 
the  Hester  cemetery  in  Bronson  township. 
He  was  a  successful  farmer,  who,  notwith- 
standing the  extraordinary  expense  caused 
by  repeated  sicknesses,  left  a  valuable 
property  to  his  children.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  and  in  man- 
ner unassuming  and  sedate. 

Harvey  Pierce  was  reared  in  much  the 
same  manner  as  all  pioneer  boys  of  bis 
day,  attending  school  and  working  on  the 
farm  alternately.  In  the  spring  of  1843 
he  migrated  to  Wisconsin,  passing  through 
Chicago  village  on  his  way  thither.  Of 
course  there  were  no  railroads  then,  and 
travel  by  wagon  meant  walking  half  the 
distance.  For  nine  months  young  Pierce 
worked  in  the  lead  mines  of  Iowa  county, 
Wis.,  and  early  in  1844  returned  to  Ohio 
and  worked  on  the  farm  of  Robert  Baker 
in  Peru  township  at  ten  dollars  per  month. 
Subsequently,  when  his  father's  health  be- 
gan to  fail,  Harvey  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  and  on  the  death  of  the  pio- 
neer continued    therein,  caring    for     his 


394 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


invalid  mother,  and  ultimately  paying  off 
the  share  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  estate. 
On  June  16,  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Sephronia  Woodworth,  who  was  born  in 
October.  1836,  in  New  Haven  township, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Woodworth,  who 
came  to  this  section  from  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1832.  To  Harvey  and 
Sephronia  Pierce  tlie  following  named 
children  were  born,  viz.:  (1)  Jenett  L.,of 
New  Haven  townsiiip,  born  April  25, 
1860,  and  was  married  March  18,  1884,  to 
W.  L.  Smith,  by  wiiom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren, Harvey  and  Stanford;  (2)  Jonathan 
W.,  a  farmer  i-esiding  on  the  homestead, 
born  January  31,  1868,  and  was  married 
February  5,  1889,  to  Em  ma  P.  Kellogg,  of 
Greenfield.  Mr.  Pierce  is  a  man  of  extra- 
ordinary vitality,  and  is  so  well  preserved 
that  he  looks  twenty  years  younger  than 
he  really  is.  His  memory  is  faultless, 
and  he  can  speak  of  events  connected  veith 
his  youth  and  early  manhood  with  remark- 
able accuracy.  He  vras  a  Whig  prior  to 
the  organization  of  the  Republicans,  when 
he  joined  the  new  party.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Ciiurch,  in 
which  Society  he  is  an  official.  Mr.  Pierce 
is  a  great  reader,  and  consequently  well 
posted  on  men  and  events.  No  one  is 
more  respected  than  he,  and  all  in  all  lie 
well  merits  the  social  and  agricultural  suc- 
cess wiiich  he  has  won. 


L 


AWRENCE  OTT  was  born  Febru- 
ary 14,  1831,   in   Baden,  Germany, 
where  his  ancestors  were  known  for 
generations.     His  father,  Michael  F. 
Ott,   a   native   of    Baden,   died     in    1888, 
leaving    an    encumbered    property    to    his 
widow. 

Lawrence,  though  then  a  child,  realized 
the  condition  of  affairs,  and  with  the  spirit 
of;  a  youth  aided  his  mother  materially. 
On  May  14,  1838,  he  left  home  and  for 
eight  years  worked  as  a  farm  laborer,  re- 
ceiving from  ten  to  fifty  dollars  per  year. 
His  mother  died  iu  the  meantime,  and  in 


1853  he  received  some  moneys  from  lier 
estate,  enough  to  pay  the  expenses  of  a 
trip  to  the  United  States.  Knowing  the 
scant  opportunities  for  winning  a  compe- 
tence in  his  native  country,  he  set  out  for 
London,  England,  where  he  took  passage 
for  New  York  in  the  "Yawton"  (his  name 
for  the  ship),  arriving  after  a  voyage  of 
thirty-live  days,  with  a  cash  capital  of  six- 
teen dollars.  He  did  not  halt  there  long, 
but  pushed  farther  westward  to  the  Ger- 
man settlements  in  Huron  county,  Oiiio, 
via  the  Hudson  river,  the  Erie  Canal  and 
the  lake  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  tiience  to 
Monroeville.  From  that  point  lie  walked 
to  Macksville,  and  the  day  after  his  arrival 
began  work  on  the  farm  of  Martin  Hes- 
ter, of  Bronson  township.  He  continued 
with  Mr.  Hester  for  eighteen  months,  and 
then  entered  the  employ  of  Alvin  l^ritii- 
man,  for  whom  he  worked  six  years.  On 
February  5,  1861,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Dehe,  who  was  born 
March  3,  1839,  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Dehe,  of  Norwalk,  and  to 
this  marriage  were  born  nine  children, 
namely:  Rosa,  Mrs.  Leo  Hohler,  of  Peru 
township;  John  P.,  a  farmer  of  the  same 
township;  Frank,  a  carpenter,  residing  at 
home;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  Fred,  Lawrence,  Louisa  and  Jerome, 
residing  at  home,  and  Theodore,  who  died 
when  three  months  old.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Ott  purchased  seventy-two  acres 
of  land,  paying  part  of  the  purchase  money 
out  of  his  savings,  and  securing  the  bal- 
ance by  an  ordinary  real-estate  mortgage. 
Strong  heart  and  hands  aided  him,  year 
after  year  he  prospered,  and  after  a  strug- 
gle he  could  call  this  tract,  with  the  im- 
provements thereon,  his  absolute  property. 
In  1878  he  sold  the  first  farm  in  the 
southern  section  of  Peru  township,  and 
purchased  118  acres  from  Joseph  Remele, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Aside  from 
iinproving  his  new  purchase,  he  remodeled 
the  residence,  barns  and  other  buildings, 
and  literally  made  this  part  of  the  old  wil- 
derness to  "blossom  as  the  rose."     It  is 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


395 


all  the  work  of  a  liealthy  mind  in  a  healthy 
body,  and  of  a  citizen  who  would  win  by 
honest  labor  over  every  obstacle. 

Mr.  Ott,  his  wife  and  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Conujregation.  In 
political  affairs  he  votes  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  beyond  this  takes  little 
interest  in  politics.  He  earns  the  taxes, 
votes  for  those  whom  he  considers  would 
make  good  servants  of  the  public,  and 
leaves  fhe  rest  to  men  who  have  leisure 
liours  for  it.  The  family  are  held  in  the 
hitrhest  esteem  in  the  community  in  which 
they  reside. 


JOHN  W.  SAGE,  a  successful  and 
most  highly  respected  agriculturist  of 
Richmond  township,  was  born  March 
30,  1829,  in  Oswego  county,  N.  Y., 
a  son  of  Roswell  Sage,  who  was  born  May 
18,  1786,  in  Connecticut.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Wales,  and  in  early  days  im- 
migrated to  America. 

Roswell  Sage  was  married  January  26, 
1814,  to  Nancy  Jewett,  born  October  5, 
1792.  Their  children,  who  were  all  born 
in  New  York  State,  were  as  follows:  Ly- 
man, born  September  27,  1815,  died  May 
11,  1816;  Caroline,  born  March  27,  1817, 
married  William  Harman,  and  died  in 
Boone  county,  Iowa;  Rhoda,  born  May 
16,  1819,  who  was  married  to  Alfred 
Knapp,  and  died  in  Fairfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Sarah  Marilla,  born 
May  27,  1822,  married  Newell  Curtiss, 
and  now  resides  in  Newark,  N.  J.;  Sey- 
mour N.,  born  May  17, 1824,  was  a  farmer 
and  machinist,  and  was  a  leading  citizen 
and  for  twelve  years  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Richmond  township,  Huron  county, 
where  he  died;  Amanda  E.,  born  August 
8,  1826,  now  the  widow  of  Rev.  Leander 
Curtiss,  a  Congregational  minister,  who 
had  preached  for  forty  years;  John  Wes- 
ley, subject  proper  of  this  sketcli;  and 
Harriet  E.,  born  May  8,  1832,  now  Mrs. 
W.  G.  Rathborne,  of  Clyde,  Ohio.  While 
residing  in  New  York  State  Roswell  Sage 


followed  farming,  and  became  quite  well- 
to-do,  but  lost  considerable  by  indorsement 
for  a  friend,  so  that  when  he  caine  to  Ohio 
in  1835  he  was  a  comparatively  poor  man. 
The  trip  frojn  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  was 
made  by  way  of  Lake  Ontario,  then  through 
the  Welland  Canal,  and  thence  across  Lake 
Erie  to  Cleveland,  where  they  landed.  On 
Lake  Erie  they  encountered  a  very  rouo-h 
sea,  and  the  women  and  children  were  all 
ordered  below,  the  captain  declaring  it  to 
be  ''the  roughest  .sea  for  nineteen  years." 
The  family  traveled  by  wagon  from'Cleve- 
land  to  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  the  fatlier  purchased  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  on  which  they  resided 
for  six  years,  and  then  moved  to  Auburn 
township,  Crawford  county,  remaining  there 
five  years,  when  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  Ripley  township,  Huron  county,  being 
driven  out  of  Crawford  county  by  the 
"milk  sickness"  so  common  in  that  sec- 
tion. They  made  their  home  in  Ripley 
township  till  about  1845,  and  then  moved 
to  Wood  county,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
died  April  9, 1848,  at  Bowling  Green,  and 
was  there  buried.  His  wife,  who  had 
passed  away  December  26,  1843.  in  Rip- 
ley township,  was  buried  in  the  "Old  M. 
E.  cemetery,"  north  of  Edwards  Corners. 
Mr.  Sage  had  met  with  many  reverses,  but 
was  a  very  sympathetic  man,  and  always 
did  his  best  to  help  those  who  needed  his 
assistance.  In  religion  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church;  in  politics  a 
Whig. 

John  W.  Sage  accompanied  the  family 
to  Ohio  in  1835,  and,  though  then  but  six 
years  of  age,  he  remembers  the  journey 
very  distinctly,  and  the  cries  of  the  women 
and  children  who  were  shnt  down  in  the 
hold  of  tlie  vessel  to  prevent  their  being 
washed  overboard.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  but  his  educational  oppor- 
tunities were  in  the  main  somewiiat  cir- 
cumscribed. He  remained  at  home  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  in 
various  kinds  of  labor,  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship at  boot  and  shoe  making  in 


396 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


his  father's  shop  at  Bowling  Green;  but 
not  liking  the  tiwde,  left  it.  Later,  in  com- 
pany with  Joli!!  Lamb,  he  bnilt  a  wooden 
scow  which  they  ran  on  the  Manniee  river, 
and  he  was  subsequently  employed  as  a 
deck  hand  on  the  propeller  "  Globe,"  on 
Lake  Erie,  making,  however,  but  two  trips 
on  that  boat,  which  plied  between  Maumee 
City  (Ohio)  and  Buffalo  (N.  Y.).  When 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Ripley  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  and  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years  under  three 
different  men.  He  continued  to  follow  the 
business  twenty-five  years,  and  some  of  the 
finest  residences  in  his  section  of  the 
county  were  either  his  own  individual 
work  or  erected  under  his  supervision. 

On  March  15,  1855,  Mr.  Sage  married 
Miss  Catherine  Miller,  who  was  born  May 
9,  1836,  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Miller,  who  came  to 
Richmond  township,  Huron  county,  in 
1847.  To  this  union  have  been  born  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Julia  A.,  now  Mrs.  A.  W. 
Harman,  of  Richmond  township;  William 
S.,aU.B.  minister  of  Sandusky  Conference, 
who  was  educated  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  after 
which  he  spent  about  four  years  in  Sierra 
Leone,  West  Africa,  in  the  missionary 
field;  Charles  W.,  a  farmer  of  Richmond 
township;  and  Mary  A.,  now  Mrs.  John 
F.  Dellinger,  of  Richmond  township.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Sage  located  in  Richmond 
township,  on  thirty  acres  of  land  which  he 
had  purchased  at  twelve  dollars  per  acre, 
and  to  which  he  soon  added  another  thirty 
acres,  gi-adually  increasing  the  size  of  his 
farm  to  111  acres.  \\\  the  summer  of  1863 
he  joined  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and 
Sixty-si.xth  O.  V.  L,  National  Guards,  on 
May  2,  1864,  was  called  into  service,  and 
was  detailed  on  guard  duty  the  greater 
part  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  which  ex- 
pired September  9,  1864.  Later,  frotn 
February,  1865,  to  May,  1865,  he  was  in 
the  United  States  Engineers  service,  at  Ar- 
lington Heights,  Va.,  erecting  forts  and 
fortifications.     Early    in    the    summer   of 


1865  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Huron 
county,  and  in  tlie  fall  of  the  satne  year 
purchased  his  present  farm,  which  then 
consisted  of  171  acres,  for  which  he  paid 
twenty-six  dollars  per  acre.  The  land  was 
then  in  a  comparatively  rude  condition, 
containing  no  improvements  but  a  log 
house  and  ijarn,  and  here  he  has  since 
made  his  home,  excepting  for  three  years 
he  was  engaged  at  his  trade.  Through 
his  never-ceasing  industry  and  care  the  soil 
is  now  as  rich  as  any  in  the  county,  and  all 
the  buildings  on  the  property  are  the  work 
of  his  own  hands.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
party,  but  is  not  particularly  active  in 
politics.  In  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife 
are  proniinent  members  of  the  U.  B. 
Church,  in  which  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
steward,  class-leader,  trustee,  etc.,  being 
obliged  to  resign,  however,  on  account  of 
poor  health.  For  some  years  he  has  been 
a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  in  which 
he  has  also  been  superintendent.  Mr. 
Sage  is  a  great  reader,  and  by  observation 
has  acquired  an  excellent  practical  educa- 
tion ;  he  is  a  writer  of  no  mean  ability,  and 
as  a  poet  deserves  more  tiian  local  promi- 
nence. He  acts  as  correspondent  to  nearly 
all  the  newspapers  in  his  section,  and  to 
all  of  those  published  at  the  county  seat. 
He  is  a  successful  farmer  and  a  good 
neighbor,  and  Mrs.  Sage,  who  is  a  most 
estimable,  kind-hearted  lady,  shares  fully 
the  esteem  whicli  is  felt  for  the  entire 
family.  The  following  are  the  titles  of 
some  of  his  poetical  productions:  The 
Storm  King;  God's  Wisdom,  Love  and 
Power;  Jack  Frost;  Little  Karl;  Some 
Sweet  Day;  A  Poet's  Imagination;  The 
(^Id  Year;  Naming  The  Baby;  October; 
Spring;  May;  December;  After  Harvest 
Thoughts;  Decoration  Day;  Eighteen 
Hundred  and  Eighty-Three;  Have  Faith 
in  Jesus'  Name;  The  Cabin;  Twenty 
Years  Ago;  The  New  Year;  Oh  ye 
Winds:  Ye  Wintry  Winds;  The  Editorial 
Sanctum;  Thoughts  on  the  Death 
of    Douglas    Snydei-;    In    the    Far    West, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


397 


on  a  Claim;  Tlie  Old  AVomaii  Who 
Lived  ill  Her  Shoe;  The  Plymouth  Ad- 
vertiser; If  Yes;  If;  Cheerfulness;  The 
Plymouth  Fair  October  1887;  The  Farmer; 
Stray  Thoughts;  How  Oft  we  Murmur  at 
God's  Providences;  How  Like  Some  Little 
Fickle  Maid;  Memory;  Summer  Time; 
The  Pest  Farm  Crop;  Thanksgiving  Day; 
Life;  Py  The  Sea  Shore;  Spring;  The 
World;  This  Land  of  Ours;  The  Year 
Eighty-Nine;  The  World's  Fair;  Thoughts 
on  the  Past,  Present  and  Future;  Sunshine 
and  Flowers;  Praise  and  Adoration;  The 
Old  and  the  New  Year;  The  Distant  Shore; 
Septeniljer;  Tlie  Equinoxial;  Seasonable 
and  Unseasonable;  The  Soldier's  Pension; 
Huckleberries;  At  School;  Groundhog 
Day;  He  Calleth  Unto  Thee;  Our  Jour- 
ney; Ode  to  a  Reporter;  The  Fast  Age; 
Daily  Blessings;  The  Kitchen  Hearth; 
The  Glorious  Fourtli.  Of  these  we  give 
the  following: 

THE  STORM  KING. 


Terrific!  rolls  the  thunder, 
Cloud  cleaving  cloud  asunder; 
The  forked  tongues  of  lightning  flash, 
The  giant  oals,  with  heavy  crash, 
Late  monarch  towering  in  his  pride. 
Lies  prostrate  now  with  shattered  side. 
Peal  on  peal  the  thunders  crashing, 
And  the  forked  lightnings  flashing, 
Like  tiery  chariots  coming  o'er  us. 
Joining  the  discordant  chorus. 
Heavens  artillery  all  a-boom, 
Blackness,  and  darkness,  and  gloom, 
Hover  about 

With  terrific  shout. 
Most  terrible,  solemn  and  grand. 
Like  the  wail  of  demoniac  band. 
On,  on  they  come  with  angry  motion. 
Shaking  old  earth  as  well  as  ocean.  • 

Iron-bound  ships  riven  asunder. 
While  onward  rolls  the  distant  thunder. 
Rolls  low,  rolls  high,  rolls  loud,  and  rolls, 
Till  earth  is  shaken  from  center  to  poles. 
Again  and  again  the  thunders  roll. 
Waking  the  timid,  slumbering  soul; 
While  loud  and  long  the  storm  king  shouts 
Like  maddened  chieftain  to  his  scouts. — 
His  sword  unsheathed  in  up-lifled  hand. 
He  musters  again  his  chosen  band. 

Heaven's  artillery  all  ablaze. 

The  world  in  silence  all  agaze, — 
While  forked  li'..'htnings  rend  the  sky. 
And  deaf'ning  thunders  roll  on  high. 
There  he  comes!  the  storm  king  comes, 
With  neighing  horses  and  heaven's  drums; 


Hurling  thunder-bolts  left  and  right, 
Scattering  javelins,  piercing  the  night; 

On,  on  advancing 

Like  fiery  steeds  dancing. 
Now  hovers  low,  now  rises  liigh. 
Like  frightened  eagle  cleaving  the  sky. 
While  deathlike  darkness  over  all. 
Enshrouds  the  earth  like  a  tuneral  pall. 

With  terrible  shout. 

The  storm  king's  route. 
Lies  across  the  trackless  ocean; 

And  woe  to  the  ship. 

On  its  homewai'd  trip. 
When  caught  by  this  wild  commotion. 
Fire,  hailstones,  and  Jupiter's  coals. 
Whirling,  seething,  and  trying  men's  souls. 
Jove's  black  war  horse  onward  prances. 
With  liquid  fire  from  eye  that  glances 
From  cloud  to  cloud  as  the  storm  runs  high 
And  the  eagles  shriek  as  they  pierce  the  sky. 
Jove's  charger,  as  with  iron  hoof, 

Stops,  paws  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
While  trembles  the  blue  vaulted  roof, 

Like  slivered  timbers  riven. 
Darting  from  nostril  distended. 

Forked  lightnings  leap. 
Darkness  and  light  seem  blended. 

Deep  calling  unto  deep. 
Heavens  host  led  on,  led  on  by  Jove, 
Find  rendezvous  in  Neptune's  grave, 
While  a  grand  parade  of  corps  after  corps, 
Is  marshaled  for  battle  on  Ilinlan's  shore. 

The  long  roll  reverberating 

Ballalions  concentrating, 
While  the  order  reaches  through  the  world  at  large. 

Tlie  standard  bearer  advances, 

The  troops  with  naked  lances, 
Make  the  final  victorious  charge. 

Then  galloping  over  the  plain. 

With  long,  disheveled  mane. 
Come  the  warriors,  with  battle  cry 
Reaching  through  the  sky. 
The  storm  king's  mooted  power, 
Transferred  in  a  single  hour, 
While  heaven's  victorious  fleet 
Wheel  into  line  for  the  homewai'd  retreat. 
The  thunder  rolls  in  the  distance. 
Offering  little  or  no  resistance. 
Blackness  and  darkness  give  way. 
The  clouds  roll  back,  and  we  say 
The  storm  king,  with  his  mighty  host. 
Has  returned  to  his  native  coast,  • 

And  now,  with  united  cry 
We  join  in  praise  to  the  Most  High. 


EORGE    E.    HASKELL    is  a  son 
of    George   Haskell,    wiiose    father 
was  a  physician  in  England.  George 
Ai   Haskell  was  born  in  1813,  in  Wilt- 
shire, England,  and  was  there  bound 
out  to   learn  the  siioemaker's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  some  time.      On  January 


398 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


12,  1837,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Barber, 
who  was  born  March  19,  1815,  in  Wilt- 
shire, England,  a  daughter  of  William 
Barber,  a  cabinet  maker.  George  and 
Mary  Ann  fBarber)  Hasi^ell  first  located 
in  Brixon  Deveril,  England,  where  four 
children  were  born,  namely:  Ilattie  J., 
William    Henry,  Jolin_  T.  and  Catherine. 

In  1850  tile  parents,  accompanied  by 
the  above-named  children,  sailed  from  Liv- 
erpool, and  after  a  voyage  of  ten  weeks 
landed  at  New  York.  From  there  they 
proceeded,  via  the  Hudson  River,  Erie 
Canal,  and  Lake  Erie  to  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
On  arriving  at  Milan,  Erie  county,  George 
Haskell  had  only  four  dollars  left,  but  was 
soon  earning  fair  wages  at  his  trade.  Some 
time  later  lie  moved  to  Norwalk,  and  re- 
sided on  Milan  street,  where  he  conducted 
a  gardening  business.  He  then  purchased 
and  moved  upon  a  small  tract  of  land  in 
Ridgefield  township,  Huron  county,  mean- 
while following  his  trade  at  Monroeville. 
In  1866  he  bought  tlie  home  farm  where 
he  died  February  22,  1885,  being  followed 
to  the  grave  by  his  wife  August  5,  1889, 
and  both  were  buried  at  Norwalk.  He 
was  an  energetic,  industrious  man,  having 
accumulated  a  good  property  by  unremit- 
ting effort.  Politically,  he  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  in  religion  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  The 
children  born  to  George  and  Mary  Ann 
Haskell  were  as  follows:  Hattie  J.,  de- 
ceased wife  of  R.  M.  Willey;  William  H., 
an  orange  grower  in  Florida;  John  T.,  of 
Liberal,  Kans.;  Catharine  M.,  unmarried, 
living  in  Ridgefield  township;  George  E.; 
p]l!en  S.,  wife  of  John  E.  Wheaton,  of 
Seward  county,  Kans.;  and  Annie  O.,  wife 
of  John  V.  Brady,  of  Belleville,  Kans. 
Of  these  the  latter  three  were  born  in  the 
United  States. 

George  E.  Haskell  was  born  September 
9,  1851,  in  Norwalk,  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
and  attended  the  common  schools.  When 
his  l)rothers  had  all  left  lionie,  this  son  re- 
mained on  the  old  place,  and  assisted  in 
paying  his  father's  debts.      On  December 


28,  1887,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Adelphia  Saunders,  who  was  born  in  1868 
in  Oxford  township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  the 
youngest  of  seven  children  of  Leroy  W. 
and  Eliza  (Skinner)  Saunders.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Haskell  began  wedded  life  on  the 
home  farm  in  Ridgefield  township,  Huron 
county.  He  well  deserves  the  prosperity 
which  has  rewarded  his  years  of  toil,  and 
his  hospitable  cheery  manner,  combined 
with  sterling  worth,  has  won  him  scores 
of  warm  friends.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican; in  religion  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Disciple  Church,  his  wife  being  iden- 
tified with  the  Presbyterian  denomination. 
They  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter: 
Le  Roy  George,  Clyde  Vernon,  and  Mil- 
dred Pauline. 


L 


EROY  BURTON,  city  marshal  of 
Norwalk,  is  a  native  of  Huron 
county,  born  November  25,  1843, 
son  of  E.  S.  and  Laura  B.  Burton. 
The  father  was  born  in  1816,  in  Warren 
county,  N.  Y".,  near  Lake  George,  and 
came  west  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man.  He 
selected  a  site  for  his  future  home,  then 
returned  East,  married,  and  brought  hither 
his  young  wife.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1883,  he  owned  a  fine 
farm,  mainly  the  result  of  his  own  unceas- 
ing industry.  He  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children — four  daughters  and  three  sons — • 
all  still  living.  Mrs.  Burton  died  in  1864. 
David  Burton,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
subject,  was  a  native  of  New  Y^ork,  and 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one 
years,  the  grandmother  reaching  the  patri- 
archal age  of  ninety-four  years. 

Leroy  Burton  was  educated  in  the  public 
and  select  schools  of  Norwalk,  and  wlien 
but  a  mere  boy  entered  the  army,  but  on 
account  of  a  severe  accidental  injury  was 
discharged,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
farming.  On  April  3,  1865,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Pettis,  a  native  of  Berea, 
Ohio,  and  continued  on  the  farm  four 
years  afterward,  at  the  end  of  which  time 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


399 


he  removed  to  Norwalk,  and  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  witli  his  father-in-law  the 
next  five  years.  Abandoning  this,  he 
opened  a  gun  repair  shop,  and  conducted 
same  some  seven  years,  or  until  1885, 
when  he  was  elected  niHrshal  of  Norwalk, 
to  which  position  he  has  since  been  con- 
tinuously re-elected;  and  he  has  had  the 
liigh  compliment  from  his  fellow  citizens 
of  being  elected  by  375  majority.  He  is 
now  serving  his  fifth  term,  which  will  be 
ten  years.  Mr.  Burton  is  the  unquestioned 
head  of  the  police  force  of  Norwalk,  the 
welfare  of  the  city  during  the  day  being 
in  his  keeping,  while  at  night  there  are 
three  guards  who  are  also  under  him.  As 
an  illustration  of  his  popularity,  it  maybe 
here  stated  that  in  the  1889  elections  he 
was  the  only  Hepublican  elected,  every- 
thing else  going  to  the  Democrats. 


^/ 


t^JIfATHIAS  BEAMER,  one  of  the 
ly^  best  known  and  most  liighly  re- 
l\  spected  citizens  of  Richmond 
township,  was  born  September  25, 
1820,  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio. 
His  parents,  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Al- 
baughj  Beamer,  were  both  natives  of 
Maryland,  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Freder- 
icktown,  the  former  in  1773.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  came  from  Germany. 
Adam  Beamer  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  married  in  Maryland, 
where  three  children  were  born  to  him, 
viz.:  Rebecca  (who  married  Henry  Da- 
huff,  and  died  in  Carroll  county,  Ohio), 
and  Elias  and  Henry,  both  of  whom  died 
in  Van  Wert  county,  Ohio.  In  about 
1810  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
near  the  Ohio  river  in  Harrison  county, 
and  while  living  here  Mr.  Beamer  entered 
the  war  of  1812,  in  which  he  received 
ninety-six  dollars  for  six  months  service. 
He  assisted  in  the  erection  of  Fort  Meigs 
(now  Maumee  City)  on  the  Maumee  river, 
and  after  his  service  came  to  near  Mcln- 
tyre,  Jefferson  county,   where   his    family 


then  resided.  Here  all  the  money  he  had 
received  for  his  services  in  the  war  was 
paid  out  for  bail  for  a  merchant,  named 
Satskiver,  who  afterward  failed.  Subse- 
quently the  family  migrated  farther  west 
to  Carroll  county,  locating  along  Connot- 
ton  creek,  in  Rose  township,  where  our 
subject  first  saw  the  light.  Adam  Beamer 
was  a  comparatively  poor  man,  and  having 
no  property  of  his  own,  he  leased  land, 
which  he  would  cultivate;  but  as  he  was 
just  about  getting  the  land  in  condition  to 
work  it  to  advantage,  he  would  be  obliged 
to  leave  it  and  begin  on  another  tract. 
Aside  from  providing  for  his  family  he 
accumulated  very  little.  He  died  in  1840, 
and  was  buried  in  the  llite  cemetery,  in 
Rose  township,  Carroll  county.  Mrs. 
Beamer  survived  her  husband  many  years, 
and  passed  from  earth  in  1865  in  Van- 
Wert  county,  Ohio,  where  she  was  buried, 
in  Sugar  Ridge  cemetery,  TuUy  township; 
Mr.  Beamer  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
but  voted  for  Gen.  Harrison. 

Mathias  Beamer  was  reared  to  the  ardu- 
ous duties  of  pioneer  farm  life,  and  dur- 
ing his  youth  received  scarcely  any  school 
training,  as  his  father  was  too  poor  to 
afford  the  subscription  by  which  the 
schools  were  supported.  As  early  as 
possible  he  was  put  to  work  clearing  the 
land,  which  was  then  entirely  in  the  woods, 
in  which  labor  he  assisted  at  the  youthful 
aire  of  seven.  When  the  father  died  the 
mother  was  left  poor,  and  our  subject  set 
to  work  to  pay  off  some  remaining  debts. 
On  February  24,  1846,  he  was  married  to 
IMargaret  Thompson,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 15,  1824,  in  Monroe  township, 
Carroll  county,  daughter  of  Frederick 
Thompson,  who  came  from  Maryland.  Af- 
ter his  marriage  Mr.  Beamer  located  near 
New  Cumberland,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  stayed  three  years.  He  had 
saved  a  sum  of  money,  and  about  1849  re- 
moved to  Van  Wert  county,  Ohio,  then  a 
wihl  and  swampy  country,  where  he  owned 
some  land.  Here  he  made  his  home  for 
eight  years,   during   which     time   he  did 


400 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


much  liard  labor,  clearing  and  chopping, 
and  tlien  coming  to  Huron  county  on  a 
visit  to  his  father-in-law,  he  purchased  his 
present  farm,  at  that  time  consisting  of 
ninety-six  acres,  which  he  has  since  in- 
creased to  over  230  acres,  all  excellent 
farming  land.  He  has  always  followed 
agricnltural  pursuits,  and  has  met  with 
encouraging  success  in  liis  chosen  vocation. 
Mr.  Beamer  has  always  been  a  healthy, 
robust  man,  and  in  his  prime  could  split 
200  rails  a  day,  from  the  stump,  then  a 
wonderful  task,  which  he  accoraplished  day 
after  day. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beamer  have  been  born 
children  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  wlio  mar- 
ried John  Fink,  and  died  in  Seneca  county, 
Ohio;  Hannah,  now  Mrs.  George  Cole,  of 
Richmond  township;  John,  a  farmer  of 
Richmond  township;  Ann,  Mrs.  Jacob 
Rapp,  of  Richmond  township;  Lucinda, 
Mrs.  Lewis  Rapp,  of  Crawford  county, 
Ohio;  Rebecca,  deceased  in  infancy;  Ella, 
wife  of  Charles  Clark,  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
luond  township;  Allen,  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
mond township;  Martha,  Mrs.  Jacob  Fink; 
and  Emma,  Mrs.  Samuel  Garber,  of  Rich- 
mond township.  Mr.  Beamer  was  origin- 
ally a  Democrat,  but  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  though  in  township 
and  county  elections  he  votes  for  the  best 
man,  regardless  of  politics.  In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  meml)er  of  the  "Church  of 
God."  Mr.  Beamer  has  five  great-grand- 
children. 


EPHRAIM  W.    FAST,  than  whom 
there  is  no    better  known   or  more 
^  highly  respected    citizen   in   Rich- 
mond   township,    is    a    native    of 
Orange  township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  born 
March  28,  1830. 

Christian  Fast,  grandfather  of  Ephraim 
W.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  dur- 
ing which  struggle,  along  with  fonr  others, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Wyandot  In- 
dians; this  Christian  Fast  was  naturally 
very  dark,  and  though  decidedly  of  Ger- 


man extraction  resembled  an  Indian  very 
much.  The  live  prisoners  were  doomed  to 
death,  but  the  preliminary  tortures  to 
which  they  were  subjected  gave  Christian 
a  chance  to  display  his  activity,  and  this 
saved  his  life;  the  gauntlet  was  formed, 
and  being  the  last  prisoner  to  run  it,  he 
accomplished  the  painful  journey  by  turn- 
ing handsprings  the  entire  distance,  wiiich 
so  amused  as  well  as  astonished  the  sav- 
ages that  they  permitted  him  to  pass 
through  unharmed.  Then,  after  putting 
his  four  comrades  to  death  before  his  eyes, 
ti)ey  retained  him  as  a  conjurer,  and  he 
soon  became  a  favorite  with  the  M'hole 
tribe,  being  adopted  by  the  head  chief. 
During  his  captivity  he  witnessed  the 
huruing  of  Crawford  at  the  stake  by  the 
tribe  he  was  with.  As  Mr.  Fast  remained 
with  the  Indians,  their  confidence  in  hini 
continued  to  grow,  and  gradually  the 
watches  over  him  lessened.  One  night, 
npon  asking  his  bedfellow  and  guard  to 
bring  him  a  drink  of  water,  he  was  or- 
dered to  go  himself,  and  while  the  guard 
slept,  all  unconscious  of  his  captive's  acts, 
the  latter  tilled  a  small  kettle  with  hominy 
corn  and  made  his  escape.  He  started 
east,  and  before  long  reached  the  Manmee 
river,  across  which  he  had  to  swim;  but 
in  the  meantime  his  escape  had  been  dis- 
covered, and  pursuit  begun,  for  bullets 
whizzed  past  him  while  he  was  in  the 
watei-.  However,  he  reached  the  opposite 
shore  in  safety,  and  set  out  for  the  white 
settlements,  then  so  few  in  eastern  Ohio, 
traveling  by  night  and  sleeping  in  the  day- 
time. He  reached  the  settlement  in  time 
to  inform  the  inhabitants  of  the  approach 
of  the  Indians  (whom  he  could  hear  be- 
hind him),  and  none  too  soon,  for  they  had 
barely  time  to  flee  to  the  blockhouse  be- 
fore the  savages  arrived.  He  afterward 
proceeded  on  his  joui-ney.  and  finally  got 
back  to  his  home  in  Pennsylvania.  Chris- 
tian Fast  had  married,  in  Pennsylvania, 
Barbara  Mason,  who  bore  him  ten  chil- 
dren, and  he  subsequently  came  with  his 
family  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Ashland  county, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


401 


wLere  he  passed  from  earth  ahont  the  year 
1840;  he  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
four  or  live  years,  were  buried  side  by  side 
in  Ashland  county. 

Jacob  Fast,  father  of  suliject,  was  born 
in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  was  married 
in  his  native  State  to  Miss  Catherine  Rex. 
He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  and,  as 
previously  stated,  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
father.  The  entire  journey  was  made  by 
wagon,  and  they  endured  many  hardships 
on  their  trip  to  the  western  frontier,  which 
at  that  time  offered  cheap  homes.  They 
located  in  Ashland  county,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land,  to  the  task  of  clear- 
ing which  he  at  once  set  himself  in  order 
to  make  a  home  tor  his  growing  family. 
He  followed  his  trade  to  some  extent  after 
coming  to  Ohio,  but  soon  finding  it  un- 
profitable, he  gave  his  entire  attention  to 
farming.  His  family  were  as  follows: 
Martin,  who  died  in  Ashland  county; 
Polly,  who  became  the  wife  of  John 
Fast,  and  died  in  Ashland  county; 
Eli,  deceased  in  Ashland  county;  Jacob, 
now  a  resident  of  Troy  township,  Ashland 
county;  Malinda,  who  married  Alonzo 
Parker,  and  died  in  Ashland  county;  Ma- 
tilda, who  married  Campbell  Murray,  and 
died  in  Ashland  county;  Itebecca,  widow 
of  David  Gurton,  of  Wood  county,  Ohio; 
Jesse,  deceased  when  young;  Ephraim 
W.,  subject  of  sketch,  and  Elzina  (Mrs. 
Wesley  Cheney),  of  Ashland  county.  The 
father  of  this  family  passed  away  in  1877, 
preceded  to  the  grave  by  his  wife  by  a  few 
years;  they  lie  buried  in  Orange  township 
cemetery,  Ashland  county.  Mr.  Fast  was 
a  hard-working,  highly  esteemed  man, 
and  accumulateda  comfortable  competence. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  re- 
litrion  a  inembfr  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Ephraim  W.  Fast  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  and  received  a  somewhat 
limited  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.  He  resided  at  home 
until  his  marriacre,  October  14,  1850,  with 
Haimah  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  ISJiO 
in  Ashland  county,  and  they  located  on  his 


father's  farm,  which  he  worked  on  shares. 
At  about  the  same  time  he  purciiased  a 
tract  of  fifty-four  acres,  for  which  he  was 
oldiged  to  go  into  debt.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fast  resided  in  Ashland  county  until  1867, 
during  which  time  he  prospered  and  man- 
aged to  save  a  sum  of  money.  Selling  out 
his  property  in  the  year  above  named,  he 
came  to  Richmond  township,  Huron 
county,  and  purchased  100  acres  of  land  at 
forty  dollars  per  acre,  where  they  have  ever 
since  made  their  home,  and  to  which  he 
has  since  added  numerous  improvements, 
having  erected  a  pleasant  residence  and 
good  farm  buildings.  They  have  liad  six 
children,  as  follows:  Jennie,  now  the  wife 
of  Jacob  Walker,  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio; 
Mary,  wife  of  Scott  Seawalt,  of  Char- 
lotte, Mich.;  Madison  and  Elmer,  both 
farmers  of  Richmond  township;  Leroy, 
who  died  in  1881  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  and  Ida  (Mrs.  AVin field  P.  Skid- 
more),  of  Chicago,  Ohio.  Mr.  Fast  is  a 
systematic  agriculturist,  and  has  met  with 
well-deserved  success;  lie  is  a  self-made 
man  in  every  respect,  and  has  acquired  all 
his  possessions  by  his  own  indu-stry,  busi- 
ness economy  and  good  management.  He 
has  given  all  his  sons  a  start  in  life,  and 
still  has  a  comfortable  income  from  his 
lands.  A  quiet,  peaceable  and  kind-hearted 
neighbor,  always  ready  to  assist  the  needy, 
he  is  everywhere  respected  and  loved.  In 
his  political  afhliations  he  is  a  Democrat. 
Mrs.  Fast  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Bethel 
U.  B.  Church. 


dl   GEORGE  EGGERT.  Classed  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  Mouroe- 
'    ville,  where  he  has  been   in  business 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

He  is  by  birth  a  German,  having  been 
V)orn  April  9,  1852,  in  Baden,  a  son  of 
Lawrence  and  Theresia(Schwiible)  Eggert, 
farmers  by  occupation,  who  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing.    The  parents  came  to  this  country  in 


402 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1887,  taking  up  tlieir  residence  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  Our  subject  was  reared  to 
farming  in  his  native  land,  and  when  old 
enon^Ii  found  employment  at  various  kinds 
of  work,  cliiefly  on  farms.  In  the  summer 
of  1873  he  left  the  Fatherland  tor  the 
United  States,  and  September  15,  same 
year,  found  iiim  in  Monroeville,  Huron 
county,  where  he  had  relatives.  For  three 
years  thereafter  lie  was  employed  in  farm 
work,  and  being  hard-working,  industrious 
and  frugal,  he  made  and  saved  some  money. 
In  1870  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Monroeville,  his  first  store  being 
an  old  building  wliere  now  stands  his 
present  fine  one,  which  he  erected  in  1889, 
and  which  he  owns.  Here  he  lias  built  up 
a  leading  business  and  safe  trade. 

On  January  27,  1880,  Mr.  Eggert  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maggie 
Rupp,  who  was  born  in  Ridgetield  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  a  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Rupp,  a  native  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  whose  wife,  Barbara  (Feit),  is  a 
Prussian.  They  immigrated  to  America, 
and  Mr.  Rupp  is  now  a  farmer  in  Ridge- 
field  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eggert 
were  born  four  children,  namely:  Mary, 
William,  Robert  and  Martin,  all  living 
except  the  last  named.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  he  has 
served  as  treasurer  of  Monroeville,  the  ap- 
pointment to  him  being  an  unexpected 
honor,  as  bis  name  was  used  entirely  with- 
out his  consent.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church. 


D 


AVID  S.  BELL,  who  is  a  grandson 

of  Robert   Bell,  was  born   near  St. 

Clairsville,  Belmont  Co..  Ohio,  April 

25,    1816,  at    four   o'clock    in    the 

afternoon.  ' 

In  1798  Robert  Bell,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  children,  migrated  from  New 
Jersey  to  Washington  county,  Penn.,  and 
in  1800  came  farther  west,  settling  in  Bel- 
mont county,  Ohio.     He  was  a  farmer  and 


distiller  in  Belmont  county  until  1814, 
when  he  purchased  lands  in  Richland 
county,  same  State,  and  «)oved  thither 
with  his  family.  Bellville,  in  that  county, 
was  named  in  honor  of  him,  and  there  the 
remains  of  his  wife  and  himself  were  in- 
terred. The  children  of  Robert  Bell  are 
named  as  follows:  John,  referred  to  below; 
Zephaniah,  a  pioneer  Methodist  preacher, 
who  died  in  Whitley  county,  Ind.;  Robert, 
Jr.,  who  died  at  Bellville,  Richland  county 
(he  had  sufl^ered  from  fever  in  youth,  and 
was  left  a  cripple  by  the  disease);  Betsey, 
who  married  George  Yaring,  and  died  in 
Illinois;  one  daughter  who  married  a  Bap- 
tist preacher  named  Dorsey  Phillips,  of 
western  Pennsylvania;  Catherine,  who  mar- 
rieil  Thomas  Piatt,  and  died  in  Richland 
county. 

John  Bell,  eldest  son  of  Robert  Bell, 
was  born  in  November,  1781,  in  New  Jer- 
sey. In  1803  he  married  Hannah  Finch, 
wiio  was  born  in  Rhoile  Island  in  1785, 
and  came  to  Belmont  county  with  her  par- 
ents. To  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Bell  seven 
children  were  born  in  Belmont  county, 
namely:  Robert,  who  moved  to  Steuben 
county,  Ind.,  whei'e  he  died;  Jesse,  who 
moved  to  Missouri,  and  died  near  Hamil- 
ton; Anna,  who  married  John  Knott,  and 
died  at  Angola,  Steuben  county,  Ind.; 
John  who  died  in  Richland  county,  but 
lived  in  Ripley,  Huron  county,  where  he 
was  a  tanner;  Hannah,  widow  of  Thomas 
Knott,  of  Tipton,  Iowa;  Enoch,  who 
died  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  a  preacher  of  tlie  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  later  a  farmer;  and  David 
S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  In  the  fall 
of  1817  John  Bell  and  family  moved  to 
Bellville,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio.  In  the 
spring  of  the  following  year  he  purchased 
260  acres  of  land  at  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre,  in  Bloominggrove  town- 
ship, and  on  that  tract  established  his 
home.  He  was  a  great  hunter,  and  during 
his  lifetime  killed  over  400  dear,  and  a 
large  number  of  bears  and  wolves,  thus 
providing  himself  with  field  sports,  and  his 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


403 


]aro;e  family  and  pioneer  neighbors  with 
tiutiicient  animal  food.  In  Blooming- 
grove  township  three  children  were  added 
to  the  iainiiy,  namely:  Nathaniel,  a  Metho- 
dist preacher  and  farmer  of  Ripley  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  deceased;  Steplien, 
who  died  in  the  same  township  when 
twenty-ti  ve  years  old ;  and  Joseph,  deceased 
in  infancy.  In  1839  the  family  moved 
into  Ripley  township,  Huron  county,  where 
Mrs.  Bell  died  in  1856.  The  father  died 
May  2,  1867,  in  Greenwich  township,  at 
tlie  house  of  his  son,  David  S.,  where  he 
had  resided  the  previous  six  years.  Roth 
were  buried  in  the  old  Salem  cemetery  in 
Richland   county. 

David  S.  Bell  received  a  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  early  schools  of  Richland 
count}',  going  many  miles  througli  the 
woods  for  even  the  little  which  was  taught, 
and  when  seventeen  years  old  Ijegan  to 
learn  the  tanner's  trade  at  P^itchville,  under 
his  brother  John.  Two  years  later  he 
moved  to  New  Haven,  and  worked  there 
and  in  otlier  settlements  until  the  fall  of 
1835,  when  he  moved  to  Steuljen  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  erected  a  sawmill.  Early 
in  1836  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 8,  that  year,  married  Emeline  Slo- 
cum,  who  was  born  November  26,  1817, 
in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.  To  this  mar- 
riage four  children  were  born,  of  whom 
Charles  F.  is  a  wagon  maker  of  Wood 
county,  Ohio;  Stephen,  a  farmer,  and  mini- 
ster of  the  Christian  Church  in  Logan 
county.  Ohio;  Melvin,  who  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Sixty-Fifth  O.  V.  I.,  and  died 
in  1862,  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  of  disease  al- 
leged to  have  been  caused  by  poisoned 
maple  sugar  served  to  the  troops,  and  John 
A.,  who  died  wlien  five  years  old.  The 
mother  of  this  1'amily  died  in  1860.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Bell  moved  to  Steuben, 
Ind.,  establisiiiug  a  tannery  there,  whicii 
he  carried  on  until  the  spring  of  1838, 
when  he  returned  to  Huron  county  and 
followed  farming  until  the  spring  of  1863, 
at  wiiicli  time  he  located  on  the  farm  in 
Greenwich  township,  wiiere  he  yet  resides. 


In  1860  he  married,  for  liis  second  wife, 
Clarissa  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  Scott 
township,  Sandusky  Co.,  Ohio,  February 
28,  1830,  daughter  of  Galbraith  and  Anna 
(Russell)  Stewart.  To  this  marriage  two 
children  were  born:  Cora  E.,  who  was  first 
married  to  John  Luxon,  and  is  now  Mrs. 
C.  B.  Benedict,  of  Ripley  township,  and 
Edwin  S.,  a  farmer  of  Greenwich  township. 
Mr.  Bell  retired  from  active  farm  work 
in  1871,  in  order  to  give  more  attention  to 
the  manufacture  of  cheese,  in  which  he  is 
now  heavily  interested.  For  thirty  years 
no  promissory  note  of  his  arrived  at  ma 
turity  before  payment  was  tendered,  and 
all  other  obligations  have  been  met  with 
equal  promptness.  The  product  of  his 
cheese  factory  commands  the  very  highest 
prices,  for  its  quality  is  recognized  as  the 
best,  and  it  holds  the  local  market.  In  re- 
ligious connection  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  are 
members  of  the  Society  of  P>iends,  and 
both  are  eiders  therein.  Mr.  Bell  cast  his 
first  vote  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  he 
subsequently  voted  with  the  Whigs  until 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
sincewhen  he  has  remained  with  that  party. 


CHARLES  S.  SMITH,  a  grandson  of 
Joseph  Smith,  who  settled  in  Huron 
county  in  1832,  was  born  April  23, 
1844,  in  Peru  township.  His  father, 
Frank  Smith,  son  of  Joseph,  was  one  of 
two  brothers  who  came  to  the  United  States 
from  Baden,  Gei-many,  before  his  parents 
and  the  other  members  of  the  family. 

Charles  S.  Smith  was  educated  at  the 
"Center  Scliool,"  in  Peru  township.  Like 
the  majority  of  pioneer  boys,  his  youth 
was  passed  between  school,  work  a'ld  play, 
all  merging  into  one  another  so  completely 
that  now  it  is  difficult  to  remember  where 
any  one  of  these  three  parts  in  the  youth's 
life  began  or  ended.  When  school  days 
were  passed  forever,  the  realities  of  farm 
life  were  presented  to  him,  and  he  worked 
on  the  homestead  earnestly  and  faithfully 


4(t4 


HUROyr  COUNTY,  OHIO- 


for  his  fatlier  until  1869.  On  April  13, 
1869,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Hipp,  daughter  of  Andrew  Hipp,  and  a 
native  of  Peru  township.  The  children 
born  to  this  marriage  are  named  as  follows: 
Edward  P.,  Clara  R.  and  Anna  M. 

The  members  of  tliis  family  are  Catho- 
lics of  the  German  School,  and  their  at- 
tachment to  their  Church  has  ever  been 
noticeable.  Politically  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Democrat,  and  is  prominent  in  local  party 
circles.  He  has  tilled  several  township 
offices  with  absolute  profit  to  the  people 
and  honor  to  himself  and  the  township, 
lending  to  the  people  in  political  affairs 
the  same  earnestness,  honesty  of  purpose, 
and  intelligence,  on  which  is  founded  his 
personal  success.  As  an  agriculturist,  he 
shares,  with  his  brothers,  the  general  esteem 
in  which  they  are  held,  and  vies  with  them 
in  his  efforts  to  elevate  agriL-ultural  life  to 
the  high  plane  which  it  should  occupy. 
His  farm  of  180  acres  is  a  model  farm  in 
fact.  Not  only  is  the  land  fertile  in  itself, 
but  the  methods  of  cultivation,  the  system 
of  rotation  of  crops,  and  the  general  care 
bestowed  upon  the  tract  have  made  it  one 
of  the  most  productive  and  valuable  farms 
of  its  size  in  northern  Ohio.  Mr.  Smith 
also  devotes  attention  to  stock  growing, 
and  is  the  owner  of  many  tine-bred  cattle, 
sheep,  hogs  and  horses. 


JOSEPH  REMELE,  a  highly  respected 
citizen  of  Peru  township,  is  a  son  of 
Lawrence  Remele,  who  was  a  native 
of  Ba<len,  Germany,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  glazier's  trade.  He  was  niarried 
to  Josephine  Ritter,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  six — one 
son  and  five  daughters — grew  to  maturity. 
In  1847  the  family  sailed  from  Havre, 
France,  and  after  a  voyage  of  forty  days 
landed  in  New  York,  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded, by  river,  canal  and  lake,  to  Huron, 
Ohio.  They  pushed  southward  into  Peru 
township,  Huron  county,  where  the  fatlier 


bought  fifty  acres  of  land,  for  which  he 
paid  nine  hundred  dollars,  which  he  had 
saved  in  Germany,  and  afterward,  with  no 
help  but  that  of  his  son,  cleared  nearly 
twenty  acres  of  same.  On  this  tract  stood 
a  log  house,  18  x  20  feet,  in  which  the 
family  lived.  They  prospered,  for  they 
belonged  to  that  class  of  Germans  whose 
industry  will  always  bring  prosperity  in  a 
fair  field.  Here  the  parents  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives,  the  father  dying  in 
1870,  the  mother  about  1877;  they  were 
interred  in  the  Catholic  cemetery. 

Joseph  Remele  was  born  January  5, 
1831,  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents. He  took  charge  of  the  home  farm 
some  time  prior  to  his  father's  death,  paj'- 
ing  off  all  claims,  and  making  many  sub- 
stantial improvements;  afterward  bought 
forty-nine  acres  from  Peter  Hipp,  for 
which  he  paid  two  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred dollars.  In  1861  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Theresa  Gies,  who  was 
born  in  1838,  in  Bronson  township,  Huron 
county,  daughter  of  Joseph  Gies,  who  was 
born  in  Alsace  (then  a  part  of  France), 
and  came  to  America  about  1819,  locating 
in  Bronson  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Remele  were  born  two 
children:  Charles,  who  was  married  to 
Amelia,  daughter  of  6.  Killhover,  but 
died  one  year  after  their  marriage,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Amelia;  and  Alphonse,  who 
was  married  May  2,  1893,  to  Rosella, 
daughter  of  Philip  Barman,  of  Peru  town- 
ship. In  religious  faith,  Alphonse,  as  was 
also  his  brother,  is  a  Catholic,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  They  have  always  assisted  their 
father  faithfully  in  the  work  of  the  farm. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Remele  located  on 
the  forty-nine  acres  he  had  purchased,  and 
in  1872  removed  to  his  present  well  im- 
proved farm,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  His  success  is  but  the  direct  re- 
sult of  his  own  toil  and  constant  industry. 
Starting    in    life   with   but    little,   he    has 


Jf^if^-f^!^  ^f 


^(^,^y2A^ly^izy^7-L^4^ 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


407 


acciinnilated  a  good  property,  being  now  the 
owner  of  380  acres  of  good  land,  witli 
substantial  buildings  thereon.  The  resi- 
dence has  been  remodeled  and  tiie  barns 
improved,  and  evidences  of  the  good  taste 
and  systematic  management  of  the  owner 
are  everywhere  present.  In  politics  Mr. 
Remele  is  a  Democrat,  but  not  an  office- 
eeeker.  His  whole  life  has  been  an  exam- 
ple of  what  principle,  square  dealing  and 
industry  can  accomplish,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  held  in  the  liighest  esteem  in  the 
community  in  which  they  reside.  In  re- 
ligious belief  they  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  CLurch. 


N 


ORMAN       SNOOK,       small-fruit 
grower,    well-known     in     Norwalk 
township  for   his    industrious  and 
^)  frugal  habits,  is  a  native  of  Colum- 

bia county,  N.  Y.,  born  January  21, 
1821,  (in  the  old  homestead  settled  by  his 
grandfather. 

Peter  Snook,  father  of  subject,  was  also 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  born  in  1796; 
and  his  father,  born  near  Hudson,  same 
State,  where  he  followed  farming,  had  five 
children — Peter,  Martin,  John,  Tunis  and 
George — all  now  deceased.  Peter  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  a  short  time,  and  his 
life  vocation  was  farming,  in  that  respect 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father. 
He  married  Miss  Cornelia  VanDuseri,  of 
the  same  place,  and  the  young  couple  then 
moved  to  Yates  county,  same  State,  mak- 
ing their  new  iiome  in  Benton  Center  for 
six  years.  Thence  they  went  to  Allegany 
county,  also  in  New  York  State,  and  for 
five  years  lived  in  the  town  of  Grove,  after 
which  they  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and  for 
one  year  had  their  residence  in  Girard 
township,  Erie  county.  Their  next  and 
final  move  was  to  Norwalk  township,  Hu- 
rou  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Snook  com- 
menced farming  and  the  growing  of  stnall 
fruits.  lie  died  in  1864,  the  father  of 
seven    ciiildren,  to  wit:      Laura,  Stephen, 


Josephus,  Martin,  Norman,  Marvin  and 
Abby,  of  wlu)m  Stephen,  Josephus,  and 
Marvin  are  deceased. 

Norman  Snook,  the  subject  of  sketch, 
was  brought  up  to  practical  farm  life, 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  In  1847 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sally  Cunning- 
ham, of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John 
Cunningham,  and  three  children  were 
born  to  them,  namely:  Laura  (deceased), 
Lura  (wife  of  A.  T.  Ewell)  and  Alliert  (in 
ChicMgo),  who  served  one  year  in  the  Civil 
war  in  Company  C,  Twenty-fifth  O.  V.  I., 
and  was  confined  to  hospital  four  or  five 
weeks.  The  mother  died  in  1862.  After 
marriage  our  subject  continued  farming 
until  1874,  and  then  opened  a  grocery  in 
East  Norwalk,  conducting  same  eiirht 
years,  at  the  end  of  whicli  time  he  came  to 
his  present  place  of  twenty  acres,  wiiere  he 
cultivates  small  fruit  with  considerable 
profit.  When  he  first  arrived  in  Huron 
county  the  land  was  almost  entirely 
covered  with  woods,  and  he  has  seen  many 
hundreds  of  deer  and  turkeys  enjoying  the 
freedom  of  the  dense  forest.  The  Snook 
family  have  always  been  stanch  Democrats, 
not  caring,  however,  for  political  prefer, 
ment. 


AENER  STIMSON,  one  of  the  most 
successful    agriculturists  of  Ridge- 
field    townshij),  is   a  native   of   that 
"tight  little  island,"  England,  born 
in  Cambridgeshire,  January  2, 1836, 
a  son  of  Joseph  Stimson,  and  grandson  of 
Thomas  Stimson,  who  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  died  in   England. 

Joseph  Stimson  was  born  in  1806,  in 
Sutton,  Cambridgeshire,  England,  and  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  education,  as  he  was 
a  small  boy  when  his  father  died  leaving 
the  widowed  motlier  with  but  little  prop- 
erty. In  1832  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Ann  Barnes,  who  was  born  in  1810,  in 
Huntingdonshire,  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stimson  began  wedded  life  on  a  farm  in 
Cambridgeshire,     where     they     remained 


408 


JU'RON  ror^XTY,  OHIO. 


until  1851,  when  in  July  of  that  year  they 
Failed  from  Liverpool  on  the  vessel  "  Van- 
dalia."  After  landing  in  New  York  they 
went  west  via  the  Hudson  river  and  canal 
to  Buffalo,  thence  coming  up  Lake  Erie  to 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  then,  moving  south- 
ward, located  on  a  farm  near  Monroeville, 
Huron  county.  Mr.  Stimson  continued  to 
follow  farming  the  rest  of  liis  life,  and  had 
a  hard  struggle  to  support  his  family.  In 
politics  he  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the 
Kepublican  party.  He  died  in  1886,  hav- 
ing been  preceded  by  his  wife  November 
19,  1851.  They  were  the  parents  of  tlie 
following  children:  Jane,  wife  of  J.  L. 
Smith,  of  Norwalk  township,  Huron 
county;  Garner;  Elizabeth,  deceased  wife 
of  George  Setchel ;  Joseph,  living  in  Michi- 
gan; Charles,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  and  is  now  living  in 
Monroeville,  Ohio;  John,  living  in  Mon- 
roeville, Huron  county ;  Frank,  a  resident  of 
Iowa;  Ruth,  married  to  Charles  Kitchen, 
ancf  Arthur  C,  in  Nebraska. 

Garner  Stimson  came  with  his  parents 
to  America  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 
After  attending  the  common  schools,  he 
entered  college  at  Granville,  Ohio,  then 
worked  on  the  home  farm.  On  September  4, 
1861,  he  enlisted  at  Milan,  Ohio,  in  the 
Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  was  wounded  at 
Shelliyville,  Tenn.  After  a  furlough  of 
four  months  he  rejoined  his  i-egiment,  and 
some  time  later  he  sustained  the  loss  of 
his  I'ight  eye,  which  was  pierced  by  a 
thorn.  He  took  part  in  most  of  the  im- 
portant engagements  participated  in  by 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  returned 
to  Huron  county  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
with  the  rank  of  captain. 

On  April  4,  1866,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Susanna  Surles,  who  was 
born  in  1840,  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Zibe 
Surles.  The  children  of  this  couple  have 
been  as  follows:  Jessie  L.  (wife  of  Fred 
Rosecrans,  of  Idaho),  Effie  C,  "William  G., 
Elver  Z.,  Gertie  (deceased  in  infancy),  Su- 
sie A.  and  Ambrose  H.  Since  the  war 
Mr.  Stimson  has  devoted  his  attention  to 


agriculture,  in  which  business  he  has  been 
very  successful.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican with  Prohibition  sympathies,  but 
casts  his  ballot  for  the  most  capable  can- 
didate, regardless  of  party.  He  and  his 
wile  are  leading  members  of  the  Monroe- 
ville  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  deacon  for  twelve  years,  and  clerk  of  the 
church  for  twenty-six  years. 


jILLIAM  GALE  MEADE.  Among 
viivr/  *^®  prominent  and  snccessful  citi- 
Mj  Vf    zens  of    Brouson    township    none 
have  won  a    higher   place   in  the 
esteem  of  the  community  than  this  gentle- 
man, the  eldest  son  of  Alfred  Meade. 

Grandfather  Meade  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  tor  his  military 
services  received  600  acres  of  land  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  His  son  Alfred 
was  born  about  1786,  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
place,  receiving  a  limited  education,  and 
learning  the  trade  of  cooper.  In  1807  he 
was  married  to  Betsey,  daughter  of  Paul 
Barger,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Cayuga 
county,  who  lived  to  be  almost  one  hun- 
dred years  of  age.  The  Barger  family 
were  remarkable  for  longevity,  over  four 
generations  of  the  family  name  having 
been  centenarians.  Alfred  Meade  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812,  serving  three  years. 
At  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane  he  received 
a  gun-shot  wound;  his  left  thigh  being 
shattered,  and  from  the  effects  of  this  in- 
jury he  died  fourteen  years  later.  In  1834 
Mrs.  Meade  came  to  Ohio,  where  she  died 
at  the  home  of  her  son  in  1883,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-four  years,  leaving  four  children, 
namely:  William  Gale;  Paul,  of  Kent, 
Ohio;  Mrs.  Mary  Smith,  of  Bronson  town- 
ship, and  Mrs.  Mary  Close,  who  died  in 
1887.  The  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  during  her  later  years. 

William  Gale  Meade  was  born  September 
3,  1808,  in  Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  In  1827 
he  was  united  in   marriage  with  Hannah 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


409 


Smith,  also  a  native  of  Cayuga  coniity,  and 
on  June  4,  1833,  the  young  couple  moved 
to  Ohio.  Thej'  proceeded  to  Buffalo  via 
the  Erie  Canal,  then  by  boat  on  Lake  Erie 
to  the  mouth  of  Huron  river,  traveling 
thence  to  tlieir  destination  by  private  con- 
veyance. He  bought  125  acres  of  land  lo- 
cated between  the  farm  of  George  Law- 
rence and  the  present  home  of  our  subject. 
On  arriving  in  Huron  county  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Meade  lived  with  Benjamin  Lyons  (_on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Josiah  Lawrence)  un- 
til their  own  log  cabin  was  erected.  He 
hired  help  to  clear  the  farm,  which  was 
heavily  timbered,  and  continued  to  follow 
the  carpenter  trade  for  twenty-one  years, 
and  many  of  the  oldest  and  most  substan- 
tial buildings  of  Huron  county  are  yet 
standing  as  unimpeachable  evidence  of  his 
skill.  The  first  house  which  he  erected  in 
the  county  is  the  one  now  occupied  by 
John  Gardiner.  Game  was  plentiful  in 
those  days,  and  many  were  the  hapless  vic- 
tims to  his  unerring  rifle,  for  Mr.  Meade 
has  been  a  famous  hunter,  supplying  him- 
self and  neighbors  with  all  the  game  they 
required.  Among  the  many  interesting 
events  of  this  period,  he  remembers  hav- 
ing made  a  two-hours'  hunt  on  nine  sue- 
cessive  occusions,  each  time  returning  with 
a  deer.  When  a  young  man  lie  possessed 
a  fine  physique,  being  capable  or  doing  a 
great  amount  of  work,  and  since  abandon- 
ing his  trade  has  given  his  attention  to  the 
farm.  He  has  been  a  most  methodical 
and  successful  agriculturist,  as  none  can 
doubt  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  visit- 
ing his  pleasant  home.  A  short  time  be- 
fore the  Civil  war  the  county  com,mission- 
ers  appointed  a  committee  of  three  practi- 
cal farmers  to  examine  the  farms  and 
award  a  prize  to  the  one  found  in  the  best 
condition.  Upon  an  examination  of  eight  of 
the  best  farms,  that  belonging  to  Mr.  Meade 
was  unanimously  conceded  to  be  in  the 
best  condition,  and  he  accordingly  received 
the  prize.  He  served  twenty-one  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  during  which  time  he 
performed  more  marriage  ceremonies  than 


any  one  who  ever  held  that  office  in  Huron 
county.  He  always  discharged  the  oner- 
ous duties  of  his  position  with  the  utmost 
faithfulness,  and  is  known  by  every  person 
in  the  county  as  an  upright  genial  citizen. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  in 
religious  faith  has  been  a  zealous  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church  for  fifty  years, 
and  has  served  as  a  class- leader. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meade  have  had  two  chil- 
dren: Betsey  A.,  who  died  in  her  twenty- 
first  year,  and  Alfred  N.,  who  was  born  in 
18-11,  on  the  home  place  in  Broiison  town- 
ship, Huron  county.  He  attended  Ober- 
lin  College  two  years,  afterward  graduat- 
ing from  Delaware  College.  Just  before 
the  time  appointed  for  their  graduation, 
Alfred  N.  Meade  and  nearlyevery  meml)er 
of  his  class  left  the  halls  of  the  college  for 
the  battle  field.  He  served  three  years, 
two  of  which  were  employed  in  attending 
the  prisoners  on  Johnson's  Island,  and 
while  in  active  service  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  captain  of  his  company.  On  Oc- 
tober 1,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Martha, 
Morse,  who  has  borne  him  three  children 
— two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Alfred  N. 
Meade  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bell, 
Cartwright  &  Meade,  luniber  merchants,  of 


Cleveland,  Ohio. 


Since   the  above  was 


written  William  G.  Meade  was  called  from 
earth,  the  date  of  his  death  being  January 
""    1893. 


99 


THEODORE  M.  REYNOLDS,  well- 
known  as  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful agriculturists  of  Hartland  town- 
ship, was  born  July  3,  1826,  ia 
Fairfield  county,  Connecticut. 
Warren  Reynolds,  his  father,  was  bora 
February  18,  1800,  in  the  same  county, 
and  married  Sarah  Scofield,  also  a  native 
of  Fairfield  county.  To  them  were  born, 
in  Connecticut,  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: William,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Rachel,  born  June  5,  1824,  died  in  Fitch- 
ville  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  May  7, 
1838;    Theodore   M.,  the  subject  of   this 


410 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sketch;  and  Phtebe,  who  married  Saninel 
Wibert  (she  died  in  Michigan).  After 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  Fitchville 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  one  son, 
James  P.,  was  born,  Novemljer  5,  1832, 
served  in  the  Civil  war  in  the  celebrated 
Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  was  one  of 
the  six  men  of  that  i-egiment  who  captured 
the  President  of  the  Confederacy,  the  late 
Jefferson  Davis.  He  died  in  Barry  county, 
Mich.,  Uecember  1,  1867.  The  mother 
of  this  fatiiily,  born  December  5,  1804, 
died  March  21,  1837,  in  Ohio,  and  was 
buried  in  Fitchville  township.  Warren 
Reynolds  afterward  married  Ruth  Barnes, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  whose  parents  were 
early  settlers  of  Fitchville  township,  and 
the  children  born  to  this  marriage  were 
Rufus,  a  citizen  of  Nebraska;  Lorinda, 
Mrs.  George  Thatcher,  of  Michigan;  Bet- 
sey, deceased;  Henry,  a  citizen  of  Michi- 
gan; Sarah,  who  married  John  Lee,  and 
died  in  Ripley  township;  Eliza,  who  mar- 
ried Fred  West,  and  died  in  Fitchville 
township;  John,  who  died  in  Fitchville 
township,  and  Lucinda,  Mrs.  Edwin 
Palmer,  of  Fitchville  township. 

The  early  settlers  had  many  adventures 
with  wild  animals,  and  the  Reynolds 
family  were  no  e.xception.  One  night, 
while  our  subject's  mother  and  sister  were 
on  their  way  to  a  neighbor's  house,  a  wolf 
came  out  of  the  woods  to  attack  them,  get- 
ting in  front  of  them,  snapping  his  teeth 
and  growling.  Thrice  they  succeeded  in 
driving  the  brute  back,  and  there  is  little 
doubt  that  had  either  been  alone  the  wolf 
would  have  made  short  work  of  his  victim. 

In  Connecticut  Warren  Reynolds  fol- 
lowed the  cooper's  trade.  In  June,  1831, 
the  idea  of  settling  in  Ohio  took  shape, 
the  fertile  lands,  to  be  had  at  a  nominal 
price,  having  won  him  to  this  decision.  Set- 
ting out  from  their  home  in  Connecticut, 
the  family  traveled,  via  New  York  City 
(where  a  week  was  passed  with  relatives), 
by  Hudson  river  and  canal  to  Buffalo,  and 
thence  by  lake  boat  to  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
The  trip  from  Sandusky  to  Fitchville  town- 


ship was  made  in  a  wagon,  and  here  he 
found  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
with  a  cash  capital  of  forty  dollars,  which 
sum  he  at  once  invested  in  forty  acres  of 
land  in  the  northeast  section  of  the  town- 
ship. He  undertook  to  support  the  family 
by  working  at  his  trade,  but  owing  to  the 
small  demand  tor  the  product  of  cooper's 
labor  the  task  proved  impossible,  and  the 
pioneer  directed  his  labor  toward  clearing 
his  own  small  tract,  the  while  earning 
small  sums  in  clearing  land  for  his  neigh- 
bors. He  died  November  1,  1873,  in 
Fitchville  township,  leaving  a  valuable 
property  to  his  widow  and  children.  He 
was  one  of  the  three  citizens  of  Fitchville 
township  who  voted  for  James  G.  Birney, 
candidate  for  President,  up  to  which  cam- 
paign he  had  been  a  true  Democrat,  but  he 
ever  after  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  In 
religious  matters  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church  for  some  years 
prior  to  his  death.  In  home  affairs  he  was 
a  thorough  lover  of  his  family,  and  he  was 
recognized  as  a  thoroughly  honest  and  up- 
right business  man. 

Theodore  M.  Reynolds  passed  the  five 
first  years  of  his  life  in  Connecticut,  came 
with  the  family  to  Ohio  in  1831,  and  has 
since  been  a  citizen  of  this  State.  His 
educational  opportunities  were  so  limited 
that,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  could 
not  read  figures.  This  was  partly  due  to 
the  new  and  unsettled  condition  of  the 
country,  and  partly  to  the  fact  that  a  good 
deal  of  the  farm  work  devolved  upon  the 
eldest  son.  After  reachincr  the  acre  of 
twenty-one  years  he  realized  the  value  of 
education,  and  as  he,  in  boyhood,  obeyed 
Miss  Catherine  Towerr,  his  first  teacher, 
so  now,  in  manhood,  he  was  ready  to 
obey  any  teacher  who  would  instill  into  his 
mind  a  knowledge  of  reading,  writing  and 
aritiimetic.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  left  home,  aiul  contracted  to  clear 
four  acres  of  land  at  four  dollars  per  acre. 
This  contract  completed,  he  worked  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  until  twenty-three 
years  and  two  montlis  of  age. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


411 


On  September  2,  1849,  lie  was  united 
in  marriage  witli  Melissa  Slioles,  who  was 
born  May  B,  1823,  in  Madison  county,  N. 
Y.,  daughter  of  Parley  and  Mary  (Hidden) 
Sholes.  When  thirteen  years  old  she  came 
to  Fitchville,  on  a  visit  to  her  sister,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Ward,  and  here  she  met  Mr. 
Reynolds  for  the  first  time.  To  their  mar- 
riage were  born  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Dayton  W.,  a  farmer  of  Rice  county, 
Kans. ;  Orrin  P.,  a  merchant  of  Hartland 
Center;  and  Bion  S.,  a  farmer  in  the  Black 
Hills  country  in  Nebi-aska.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Reynolds'  capital  consisted  of 
sixty  dollars  in  currency  and  a  yoke  of 
oxen.  Too  limited  to  utilize  with  effect, 
he  continued  to  work  as  a  farm  hand  ui}til 
1850,  when  he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land 
in  Hartland  township,  at  six  dollars  per 
acre.  To  make  this  deal  he  had  to  en- 
cumber the  land  with  a  debt  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  an.  amount  which  was  due 
him  from  an  estate  that  failed  to  pay  out. 
In  December,  1862,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres,  upon  which  he  built  his  home,  and 
where  he  has  since  resided.  The  area  of 
his  farm  has  been  gradually  increased,  un- 
til to-day  he  owns  175  acres,  well  improved 
throughout  with  an  elegant  residence  and 
spacious  farm  buildings.  The  burning  of 
his  large  barn  in  July,  1892,  entailing  a 
loss  of  three  thousand  dollars,  and  the  en- 
dorsing paper  for  friends,  have  checkmated 
him  a  little;  but  he  rose  above  these  mis- 
fortunes rapidly.  His  industry  is  supple- 
mented by  executive  ability  and  system,  so 
that  he  makes  tiie  farm  a  paying  invest- 
ment where  less  careful  men  fall  behind. 
In  addition  to  his  general  farming,  he  is  a 
breeder  of  thoroughbred  Short- horn  cattle. 
In  the  credit  for  his  success  Mrs.  Rey- 
nolds must  share,  for  she  has  well  and 
faithfully  done  her  part.  Liberal  with- 
out being  ostentatious,  and  economical 
without  being  parsimonious,  she  has  in- 
deed aided  in  making  the  happy  home 
which  the  family  enjoy.  Politically  Mr. 
Reynolds  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  his   party   in    many    town- 


ship offices.  He  does  not  attach  himself 
to  the  religious  sects,  but  is  a  believer  in 
the  teachings  of  tiie  Christian  Church,  an 
observer  of  the  "  Golden  Rule ,"  and 
philanthropic  to  the  limit  of  his  means. 

During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr. 
Reynolds  was  one  of  the  one  hundred  days 
men,  and  went  to  camp  in  Cleveland,  re- 
maining there  eleven  days.  He  then  hired 
a  substitute,  paying  him  one  hundred  and 
twenty-tive  dollars,  got  his  discharge,  and 
returned  home  to  be  with  his  wife  and 
children,  measles  having  broken  out  in  the 
faniily.  He  had  not  been  long  redomesti- 
cated,  however,  before  a  draft  was  ordered 
by  the  Government,  and  he  paid  seventy- 
five  dollars  to  clear  the  township,  after 
which  there  was  another  draft  ordered,  on 
which  occasion  he  paid  fifty  dollars  more 
to  again  clear  the  township. 


[(  NTHONY  RUFFING  ranks  among 
l\    the     prosperous     dry-goods     mer- 
^  chants  of  Bellevue,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  and  highly  respected 
family. 

His  father,  Joseph  Ruffing,  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  and  in  1836  came  to 
America,  locating  in  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
He  married  Catherine  Schwartz,  and  by 
her  had  seven  children,  namely:  Anthony, 
Peter,  Joseph,  Frank,  John,  Michael  and 
Elizabeth ;  Frank,  John  and  Elizabeth  be- 
ing deceased,  and  Petei',  Joseph  and  Mi- 
chael  wealthy  farmers  in  America. 

Anthony  Ruffing  was  born  April  8, 
1840,  in  Sherman  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  His  childhood  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
sixteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
moved  to  Bellevue,  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  J.  H.  Eisenbeis,  dry-goods  mer- 
chant, as  clerk.  This  position  he  filled  two 
years,  and  then  for  five  years  worked  for 
Setzler,  in  the  grocery  business.  In  May, 
1865,  Mr.  Ruffing  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  J.  H.  Eisenbeis,  the  style  of  the 
firm  becoming  J.  H.  Eisenbeis  &  Co.,  and 


412 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wlien  his  partner  dietl,  in  1869,  he  bought 
out  the  entire  business,  and  has  since  been 
sole  proprietor  of  one  of  the  finest  dry- 
goods  houses  in  Huron  county,  carrying  a 
very  large  and  ccmiplete  stock  of  dry- 
goods,  carpets,  wall  paper,  etc. 

On  November  28,  1865,  Mr.  EnfHng 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Eisenbeis,  who 
was  born  in  Germany,  a  sister  of  J.  11. 
Eisenljeis,  and  dauorhter  of  Jacob  and  Eliza 
Eisenbeis.  This  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children,  viz.:  Kose  M.  (^Mrs.  I). 
B.  Callaghan),  Charles  E.,  Albert  A.  and 
Lucy  M.,  the  latter  three  living  at  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruffing  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  of  which  they  are  liberal 
supporters.  They  are  enjoying  the  many 
comforts  that  surround  them,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1892  made  an  extensive  trip 
through  Europe.  Mr.  Ruffing  commenced 
his  business  career  with  nothing  except 
energy,  ability  and  a  determination  to 
succeed,  and  has  by  close  application  and 
by  means  of  his  excellent  judgment  ac- 
cumulated a  fortune. 


ILLIAM  C.  VAN  LIEW,  promi- 
nent among  the  well-to-do  agri- 
culturists  of  Norwich  township, 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  Van  Liew, 
of  New  Jersey  birth,  who  was  a  son  of 
Peter  Van  Liew.  The  last  named  was  a 
native  of  Holland,  coming  to  the  United 
States  when  young,  and  settling  in  New 
Jersey.  Llere  he  married,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  hiu):  Peter,  Fred- 
erick, Cornelius,  John,  Wicoff  and  Dinah, 
all  now  desceased. 

Frederick  Van  Liew,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  March  13,  1792, 
and  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm,  at 
the  same  time  learning  the  trade  of  tanner 
and  currier,  at  which  he  worked  up  to 
middle  life.  While  a  young  man  he  moved 
from  New  Jersey  to  Cayuga  county,  N. 
Y.,  and  there  married,  in  1814,  Miss  Mar- 
garet Post,  born  in  Somerset  county,  N. 
J.,  January  10,  1797.    After  marriage  the 


young  couple  moved  into  Genesee  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  many  years,  he  in 
tlie  meantime  becoming  a  farmer,  in  which 
vocation  he  met  with  considerable  success, 
although  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
comparatively  a  poor  man.  In  1837  he 
removed  to  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
there  farmed  some  ten  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  came  to  Summit  county, 
Ohio,  thence,  after  a  residence  there  of 
two  or  three  years,  to  Huron  county,  set- 
tling in  Norwich  township,  where  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  died 
March  8,  1865,  while  on  a  visit  to  one  of 
his  daughters  in  New  York  State.  In 
politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later, 
from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
party,  a  stanch  Republican.  He  was  the 
father  of  nine  children,  viz.:  Maria,  Jacob, 
Margaret,  Jane,  AVillard,  William  C, 
Adeline,  Frederick  and  Martin,  all  called 
to  their  long  homes  save  Jacob,  living  in 
Wyoming  county,  N.  Y.,  William  C,  sub- 
ject, and  Martin,  in  Potter  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. 

The  subject  proper  of  these  lines  was 
born  May  10,  1828,  in  Genesee  county,  N. 
Y.,  received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  locality,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  set  out  for  tiie  gold  fields  of 
California.  He  spent  his  twenty-first 
•birthday  on  the  Istlimus  of  Panama,  and 
was  in  the  gold  regions  nearly  four  years, 
doing  fairly  well.  In  1854  he  returned  to 
Huron  county,  and  bought  his  present 
property  of  one  hundred  acres,  where  he 
has  since  lived,  having  cleared  it  of  timber 
and  underbrush,  and  converted  it  into  a 
luxuriant  farm.  In  1864  he  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth 
O.  V.  I.,  N.  G.,  under  Col.  Blake,  in 
which  regiment  he  served  three  months, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  renewed 
agricultural  pursuits! 

On  March  11,  1856,  Mr.  Van  Liew  was 
married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Burdge,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Burdge,  of  Centerton, 
Huron  county,  and  six  children  were  born 
to  them,  to  wit:  Allen,  deceased;  Alberta, 


IIUEOy^  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


413 


of  Moienci,  Mich.;  Mary;  Oscar,  in  Chi- 
cago, Huron  county;  Fred,  also  of  Chi- 
cago, Huron  county,  and  Ada,  of  New 
Haven.  Politically  our  subject  has  been 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
township  trustee,  treasurer,  and  in  other 
oiSces  of  trust.  He  and  his  wife  are  promi- 
nent members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at 
Centerton,  and  the  children  are  all  asso- 
ciated with  the  same  church. 


f|    Ji    L.    MOORE.       One    of    the    best 
r;^     known  agriculturists    of   Hartland 
I     1     township    is    the    gentleman    here 
J)  named.      David  Moore,   his  grand- 

father, who  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  married  a  Miss  Robinson,  and 
afterward  moved  to  New  York  State, 
wiiere  he  followed  farming  and  the  trade 
of  shoemaker.  He  died,  in  1826,  in  Tomp- 
kins county,  N.  Y.,  the  father  of  three 
sons — Jonah, David  and  Joseph — and  three 
daughters — Polly,  Sally  and  Susan. 

Joseph  Moore,  father  of  H.  L.,  was  born 
November  19,  1787,  and  died  October  5, 
1876.  He  received  but  a  meager  educa- 
tion, and  learned  the  trade  of  weaver, 
which  he  followed,  also  for  some  years 
conducting  a  small  distillery.  In  June, 
1833,  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Nor- 
walk  township,  Huron  county,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  of  Judge  Timothy  Baker; 
in  1855  he  moved  to  Hartland  township. 
He  married  Miss  Susanna  Silcox,  of  New 
Jersey,  daughter  of  Henry  Silcox,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  that  State,  and  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolution;  married  a 
Miss  Luce,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  all  now  deceased.  Children 
as  follows  were  born  in  New  York  State 
to  Joseph  Moore  and  wife:  Sallie,  Maria 
(married  to  Jonathan  White  in  1842,  now 
living  in  Kansas),  H.L.  and  David  R.  (twins 
—  David  being  deceased),  a  daughter  de- 
ceased in  infancy,  and  Lewis  (in  Hartland 
township,  Huron  county,  an  invalid).  The 
father  died  in   Hartland   township,  at  the 


home  of  his  son  Lewis,  who  inherited  his 
property;  the  mother  was  called  from 
earth  in  April,  1854.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  his 
political  predilections  Mr.  Moore  was  a 
stanch  Whig  and  Republican. 

H.  L.  Moore,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  February  2,  1821,  in  Genoa, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.;  thence  in  1833  his 
parents  removed  with  him  to  Tompkins 
county,  same  State,  whejice  after  a  ten- 
years'  residence  they  came  to  Ohio.  In 
1  his  boyhood  H.  L.  attended  the  subscrip- 
tion schools,  afterward  taking  a  two-years' 
course  at  the  academy  in  Norwalk,  Huron 
county.  When  eighteen  years  old  he 
commenced  work,  and  for  two  years  was 
employed  on  farms,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  commenced  to  learn  carpentry  at 
Monroeville,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
two  years,  but  finding  his  health  impaired 
he  returned  to  the  farm.  In  1848  he  was 
elected  constable  of  Norwalk  township, 
and  appointed  deputy  sheriff ,  in  which  in- 
cumijency  he  served  six  years;  was  then 
elected  sheriff  on  the  last  Whig  ticket,  his 
majority  being  231.  In  1855  he  was  re- 
elected sheriff,  this  time  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket,  with  a  majority  of  1,200,  and 
at  tiie  expiration  of  his  term,  in  1857,  re- 
moved to  his  farm  which  he  had  bought 
out  of  his  hard-earned  stipends,  never  hav- 
ing received  assistance  from  anyone.  He 
has  experienced  many  ups  and  downs  dur- 
incr  his  lifetime,  but  has  never  lost  his 
native  energy  and  perseverance,  though 
his  health,  now,  is  not  what  it  used  to  be. 
In  the  Civil  war  he  served  in  Company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  O.  V.  I., 
N.  G.,  one  hundred  days,  during  which 
time  he  contracted  disease  from  which  he 
never  recovered. 

On  September  10,  1848,  Mr.  Moore  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  White,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Cephas  White,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
who  in  1844  came  to  Ohio  and  to  Huron 
county,  settling  in  Norwalk  township, 
where  he  was  a  successful  farmer.  lie 
served    in   the  war  of   1812,  participating 


414 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  the  battles  of  Chippewa,  Lundy's  Lane, 
etc.  He  died  the  fatlier  of  f even  children, 
of  whom  are  living  Mrs.  Mary  K.  Rodgers, 
in  Paulding  county,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Sarah  F. 
Moore;  Luther,  an  ex-soldier;  and  Mrs. 
Rhode  R.  Benn,  a  widow,  in  Norwalk; 
tliose  deceased  are  Ceplias,  Jonathan  and 
Henry.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Moore 
were  born  seven  children,  of  wliom  the 
following  is  a  brief  record:  Frank  A. 
and  Finetta  are  both  deceased ;  Lewis  A. 
and  Lucy  A.  (twins),  of  whom  Lucy  A.  is 
the  wife  of  George  Brown,  of  Bronson 
township,  Huron  county,  and  Lewis  A. 
lives  on  tlie  home  farm;  Edwin  Jo  Ceph, 
a  railroad  man,  resides  in  Cleveland;  Jen- 
nie lives  at  home;  Henry  L.,  Jr.,  a  young 
man  of  great  promise,  is  an  instructor  in 
a  business  college  of  Cleveland,  where  he 
resides.  He  was  married  May  4,  1893, 
to  Miss  Lillie  Cannada,  of  Randolph 
county,  Ind.  Our  subject  is  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  acres  of  prime  land,  which  is 
conducted  by  his  son  Lewis  A.,  and  in 
addition  to  general  farming  they  pay  some 
attention  to  the  rearing  of  stock.  Mr. 
Moore  is  a  member  of  tlie  Methodist 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


/George  w.  atherton  is  des- 

I  w,  cended  from  an  old  New  England 
^^J     family,  and  is  a  grandson  of  Jona- 

\|i  than  Atherton,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 4,  1738,  in  New  England. 
On  December  6,  1770,  Jonathan  married 
Amey  Sabin,  and  to  their  union  were  born 
nine  children,  live  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity, of  whom  the  youngest  was  named 
Samuel. 

Samuel  Atherton,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  June  29,  1790,  on  the  home  farm  at 
Richmond,  N.  H.  He  worked  on  the 
homestead  until  his  twenty-first  year,  when 
he  moved  to  Attleborough,  Mass.,  where, 
on  January  19,  1812,  he  was  married  to 
Patience  Tyler,  who  was  born  July  17, 
1795,  in  New  Hampshire.     By  this  mar- 


riage there  were  two  sons:  Simon,  born 
January  25,  1814,  died  December  31, 
1840,  in  Massachusetts,  and  Jonathan,  born 
April  3,  1816,  died  in  Greenfield  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  July  24.  1886. 
The  mother  passed  away  November  6, 
1819,  and  was  buried  at  Attleborougii, 
Mass.  For  his  second  wife  Samuel  Ather- 
ton married  Content  Atherton,  who  was 
born  May  31,  1787,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
by  her  also  had  two  children:  Rufus  S., 
born  September  13,  1821,  died  March  10, 
1861,  in  Iowa,  and  Nancy,  born  March 
4,  1826,  died  September  2,  1826.  Mrs. 
Content  Atherton  died  June  10,  1835, 
and  was  buried  in  Attleborough,  Mass. 
On  April  18,  1836,  Mr.  Atherton  was 
again  married,  on  this,  the  third  occasion, 
to  Sarah  Robinson,  who  was  born  June  1, 
1800,  at  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  where  her  father, 
Noah  Robinson,  was  a  well-known  citizen. 

In  October,  1838,  Mr.  Atherton  came 
westward  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  with  his 
son  Rufus,  journeying  by  river  to  Albany, 
N.  Y.;  thence  by  way  of  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  from  there  by  lake  to 
Huron,  Ohio,  and  finally  by  wagon  to 
Greenfield  township,  Huron  county.  Here 
he  purchased  land  and  prepared  a  home 
for  his  wife,  who  had  i-emained  in  the  East, 
whence,  in  the  spring  of  1839  (six  months 
after  her  husband)  she  came  to  Huron 
county,  accompained  by  one  of  her  step- 
sons. To  Samuel  and  Sarah  Atherton  was 
here  born  one  son,  George  W.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Atherton  was  a  Democrat  up  to 
1856,  when  he  joined  the  Republican 
party;  in  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 
He  died  August  18, 1871,  and  his  remains 
were  interred  in  Bronson  township.  His 
widow,  though  now  in  her  ninety-second 
year,  is  active  and  intelligent,  and  for  the 
last  fifteen  years  has  resided  with  her  son. 
She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  for  over  thirty  years. 

George  W.  Atherton  was  born  May  17, 
1840,  in  Greenfield  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  and  passed  his  youth  in  the  manner 
common  to  boys  of  that  period,  attending 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


415 


school  in  tlie  winter  and  woriiinfi'  on  the 
farm  during  the  rest  of  the  year.  On  De- 
cember 18,  1862,  he  married  Selina  Roe, 
who  was  born  in  1837  in  Peru  township, 
the  only  child  of  Charles  and  Corinna 
(Carver)  Rue,  of  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y. 
The  father  was  born  in  Northamptonshire, 
England,  son  of  Thomas  Roe,  the  mother 
December  5,  1809,  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  George  W. 
Atherton  located  on  a  farm  of  sixty-eight 
acres  in  Greenfield  township,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  until  1871,  wlien  lie 
located  on  the  Roe  homestead.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  his  marriage  with  IMiss  Roe 
were  Blanche,  who  died  April  3,  1885, 
aged  twenty-one  years,  and  Cecil  G.,  who 
was  born  October  17,  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Atherton  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Politically  be  was  a  Republican 
from  the  formation  of  the  party  until  the 
organization  of  the  Prohibitionists,  with 
whom  he  has  since  been  identified.  As  an 
agriculturist  he  ranks  high,  and  is  an  an- 
thority  on  modern  systems  of  farming. 
As  a  stock  grower  he  is  well-known,  not 
only  for  the  study  he  has  given  this  im- 
portant department  of  farm  work,  but 
also  for  the  success  he  has  won  in  it. 


II  RA    S.  TOWNSEND  (deceased),  who 
was  a  son  of  Hosea  and   Sophia  (Case) 
J    Townsend,  was   born  in  New  London 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  June  14, 
1831,  the  first  child  born  in  a  frame  house 
in  the  township. 

When  a  mere  boy  our  subject  attended 
the  school  taugbt  by  Miss  Adeline  Treat, 
in  New  London  township,  and  later  com- 
pleted a  course  at  Oberlin  College,  after 
which,  until  1855,  he  lived  at  home,  shar- 
ing, of  course,  in  the  farm  work.  On 
September  27,  1855,  he  married  Mary  M. 
Ward,  born  February  4,  1836,  in  Cbardon, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Ward,  who  now  resides  at  Milan,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Mary  M.  Townsend  died  October  14, 


1881,  and  was  buried  in  N^ew  London 
cemetery.  Some  time  after  her  death  he 
married  Ellen  Ward,  his  deceased  wife's 
sister,  who  was  born  January  24,  1841, 
also  in  Cbardon,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  Society. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Townsend  located  on 
his  late  farm,  a  part  of  the  1,000  acres 
which  his  father,  llosea  Townsend,  owned. 
The  tract  was  without  buildings  when  Ira 
S.  Townsend  first  entered  on  its  improve- 
ment, and  it  was  all  through  his  labor  that 
the  elegant  residcmce  and  farm  buildings 
were  erected,  and  a  beautiful  farm  devel- 
oped. He  gave  a  large  share  of  his  atten- 
tion to  stock  growing,  and  he  was  also  an 
extensive  dealer  in  stock.  He  was  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  New  London  from  the  time  of  its  in- 
corporation, in  1872,  until  it  was  reincor- 
porated twenty  years  later.  He  was  chosen 
vice-president  the  third  year,  and  continued 
to  serve  in  that  capacity  until  1886,  when  he 
was  elected  president,  serving  as  such  six 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  (1892)  it 
was  reorganized  under  the  name  of  New 
London  Bank,  when  lie  was  again  elected 
president,  and  continued  to  serve  in  that 
incumbency  until  hisdeath.  In  the  bank- 
ing world,  as  well  as  in  the  agricultural 
world,  he  proved  his  ability  to  command 
success.  System  was  his  guiding  princi- 
ple. It  was  part  and  parcel  of  his  nature, 
but  while  following  it  he  did  not  permit 
red-tapeism  to  cramp  his  business,  as  he 
thought  and  acted  quickly.  In  the  midst 
of  his  business  he  never  neglected  his  du- 
ties as  a  citizen,  for  he  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party,  and  a  student 
of  the  public  affairs  of  Huron  county. 
Mr.  Townsend  died  September  12,  1893, 
and  the  following  extract  from  one  of  the 
county  papers  in  a  measure  illustrates  the 
feeling  of  the  community  on  learning  of 
his  unexpected  taking  away,  and  the  higli 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held:  "The  sud- 
den death  of  Mr.  Ira  S.  Townsend  came  so 
unexpectedly  to  the  people  of   New  Lon- 


416 


HUEO.V  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


don,  tliat  rarely  has  the  community  been 
80  surprised  and  benumbed  by  the  death 
of  one  of  its  members.  Mr.  Townsend 
made  frequent  visits  to  this  village  [New 
London],  he  being  president  of  both  the 
bank  and  the  Fair  Association.  His  whole 
business  interests,  aside  from  his  farm, 
were  in  New  London,  where  he  was  re- 
garded and  valued  as  one  of  its  citizens, 
and  on  Tuesday  lie  was  in  town  in  appar- 
ent good  health,  driving  home  about  four 
o'clock.  After  supper,  and  while  sitting 
with  his  family,  chatting  and  joking  in 
his  usual  good  Iniinor,  he  suddenly  placed 
his  hand  to  his  side  with  an  exclamation 
of  pain,  and  expired  without  a  word." 


V  ALPH  C.  JOHNSON,   prominent 
[(     in  agricultural  circles  in  Fitchville 


I]  \v  township,  was  born  August  31, 
^  ""  1822,  in  Middlesex  county,  N.  J., 
son  of  William  Johnson. 
William  Johnson,  son  of  Ralph  John- 
son, was  born  in  Middlesex  county,  N.  J., 
September  18,  1793.  About  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  taimer 
and  currier  and  a  shoemaker,  and  worked  at 
these  trades  for  five  years,  five  months  and 
eighteen  days.  In  1821  he  married  Lydia 
(a  daughter  of  Ralph  Cortleyon),  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  born  April  22,  1800, 
and  their  children  are  as  follows:  Ralph 
C,  born  August  31,  1822;  Gertrude  A., 
born  December  28,  1823,  married  J.  C. 
Ransom,  and  died  March  9,  1892;  Mary, 
born  July  5,  1825,  married  William  Pros- 
ser,  and  died  May  14,  1882;  Eliza  Jane, 
born  April  8, 1827,  widow  of  S.  K.  Barnes, 
residing  in  Fitchville,  Ohio;  Alfred  S., 
born  March  29,  1829,  a  resident  of  New 
London,  Ohio;  Catherine,  born  December 

7,  1830.  who  married  J.  M.  Foots,  and 
subsequently  Ira  Foote,  and  died  February 

8,  1877;  and  William  C,  born  February 
7,  1833,  died  November  13,  1833.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  April  3,  1834, 
and  the  same  year  Mr.  Johnson  married 


Melinda  Blodsett. 


riage   came   the   following: 


To  this  second  mar- 
Lewis,  born 
September  18,  1835,  now  a  resident  of 
Clarksfield  township;  Philena,  born  No- 
vember 16,  1837,  who  married  George 
Foote,  and  subsequently  John  Bigelow; 
Oliver,  born  June  14,  1841,  died  August 
16,  1849;  and  Lydia,  born  September  14, 
1846,  died  August  10,  1849.  Mrs.  Ma- 
linda  Johnson  died  September  14,  1849, 
and  on  January  30,  1850,  Mr.  Johnson 
married  Mrs.  Hepzibah  (Blodgett)  Eaton 
(widow  of  Jonathan  Eaton),  who  died  Sep- 
tember 20,  1861,  without  issue.  The  father 
died  February  24,  1867. 

William  Johnson  followed  his  trade  in 
New  Jersey  until  his  removal  to  Ontario 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1825.  In  1835  he  mi- 
grated to  Ohio,  where,  in  Hartland  town- 
ship, Pluron  county,  he  had  purchased 
some  land.  On  November  17  of  that  year 
the  family  started  on  the  journey  to  that 
township,  arriving  at  their  destination 
December  2,  1835.  The  method  of  trans- 
portation was  a  lumber  wagon,  and  the 
route  via  Rochester,  Buffalo,  Cleveland 
and  Elyria.  His  purchase  of  220  acres  for 
two  thousand  dollars  was  half  paid  for  in 
the  fall  of  1835,  and  within  a  few  years 
tlie  second  one  thousand  dollars  was  paid 
up.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Johnson  led  an 
active  life  until  within  a  short  time  prior 
to  his  death,  when  he  retired  to  the  liome 
of  a  daughter  at  New  London,  where  he 
passed  away,  and  was  buried  with  Baptist 
ritual,  in  Hartland  Ridge  Cemetery. 

Ralph  C.  Johnson  received  an  element- 
ary education  in  the  rude  schools  which 
were  in  vogue  in  his  youth.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  and  worked  thereon  till  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1849,  on  which  day  he  married 
Eliza  L.  Townsend,  born  in  Huron  county 
December  22,  1825,  a  daughter  of  Hosea 
Townsend,  who  was  a  pioneer.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  located 
on  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  Hartland  town- 
ship, and  remained  there  for  sixteen  years, 
until  the  land  was  all  cleared.  In  1865 
they  located    on    the    Hickock  farm,  one 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


417 


mile  soutli  of  Fitchville  Center,  wliere 
tliey  have  resided  to  the  present  day.  One 
child  has  been  born  to  Ralph  C.  and  Eliza 
L.  Johnson:  Eliza  J.,  w.ife  of  Richard  L. 
Merrick.  She  graduated  from  Oherlin 
College,  and  is  now  a  practicing  pliysician 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  of  tlie  Ilomeopatliic 
School.  Mrs.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Fitchville.  R.  C.  John- 
son vras  originally  a  Whig,  became  a  Re- 
publican in  1850,  and  has  since  been  a 
most  stanch  supporter  of  that  party.  He 
has  held  offices  in  each  township  where  he 
has  resiiled,  and  has  always  been  an  effi- 
cient and  courteous  otKcial.  Mr.  Johnson 
is  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  grower. 
His  estate  of  over  378  acres,  in  this  rich 
section  of  Ohio,  has  been  won,  principally, 
by  his  stern,  hard  labor  in  the  forest  and 
field.  The  improvements  have  been  mainly 
made  by  iiim,  and  the  herds  and  flocks 
which  browse  upon  his  beautiful  farm  have 
been  gathered  by  hiu).  All  in  all  he  is 
the  sole  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and 
a  man  who  deserves  the  place  he  holds  in 
the  estimation  of  his  neighbors  and  of  the 
people  of  Fitchville  township. 


,1  "JULLIAM  GRAHAM,  son  of  John 
yjl  and  Thomason  Graliam,  was  born 
M[  January  21,  1835,  in  the  County 
of  Durham,  England.  John  Gra- 
ham was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  generally 
resided  in  the  County  of  Durham,  but 
oftentimes  traveled  as  a  journevman. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Graham  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Will- 
iam is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth.  He 
received  a  primary  education  and,  in  1845, 
was  apprenticed  to  a  tailor  for  two  years, 
receiving  board  in  lieu  of  pay.  Not  prov- 
ing partial  to  his  father's  trade,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  for  five  years 
(his  board  being  still  the  consideration  for 
his  labor),  but  becomincr  discontented  he 
concluded  to  leave  his  native  land  and  seek 
a  home  in  America.     With   his  mother's 


assistance  he  secured  the  amount  necessary 
to  pay  the  expense  of  the  ocean  trip,  and 
sailed  on  the  "Andrew  Foster,"  Captain 
Swift,  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  the 
voyage  occupying  seven  weeks.  From 
New  York  he  proceeded  by  river  to  Al- 
bany, by  canal  to  Buffalo,  by  lake  to  San- 
dusky and  thence  to  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his  brother  Joseph 
had  hitherto  located;  and  from  the  period 
of  his  arrival  until  1875  he  worked  at  his 
trade  in  the  township. 

On  November  20,  1859,  Mr.  Graham 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Low- 
tber,  who  was  born  February  27,  1830,  in 
Greenfield  township,  daughter  of  E.  H. 
Lowther,  a  resident  of  that  township.  The 
young  couple  settled  on  a  tract  of  108 
acres,  which  Mr.  Graham  improved,  at  the 
same  time  working  at  his  trade.  There 
one  son  and  two  daughters  were  born  to 
them,  the  older  daughter  dying  in  infancy, 
and  there  he  made  his  houie  until  1881, 
when  he  purchased  the  Terry  farm,  on 
which  he  made  many  improvements,  and 
there  took  up  his  residence.  For  over  a 
decade  he  has  given  particular  attention 
to  general  farming  and  stock  growing, 
and  has  proved  that  a  tradesman  may  be 
a  success  as  an  agriculturist.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat.  In  cliurch  relation  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Univer- 
ealist  Church  of  Peru.  It  may  be  truly 
said  that  in  business  and  politics,  as  well 
as  in  religion,  his  wife  and  himself  are  co- 
workers, each  industrious  and  each  work- 
ing for  the  other.  Few  men  stand  higher 
in  the  community  than  Mr.  Graham,  who 
is  recognized  as  a  methodical,  business- 
like farmer. 


rj|ENRY   RUGGLES.     The    pioneer 

pH     of  the  Riiggles  family  in  Ohio  was 

I     11    Joseph  Ruggles,  who  was  a  resident 

■fj  of  Belchertown,  Mass.,  where  he  was 

known  as  a  farmer  and  teamster. 

In   pre-railroad  days,  when   the  e.xpress 

service    between    Boston   and    New  York 


I 

418 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  founded,  Joseph  Rnggles  established 
himself  as  a  teamster  ou  the  route  between 
Belchertown  and  Boston,  hauling  mer- 
chandise from  Boston  to  points  on  the 
route,  and  farm  products  from  sucii  points 
to  Bobton.  lie  was  married  at  Belcher- 
town to  Miss  Hannah  Tillson,  and  four 
children  were  there  born  to  them:  Leon- 
ard, Sumner  and  Benjamin  (both  deceased), 
and  Henry.  In  1818  the  whole  family  set 
out  for  the  West,  and  traveled  in  safety  to 
Peru  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
they  located.  As  the  father  possessed  but 
little  means,  he  was  unable  to  purchase  a 
farm  on  coming  liere.  Building  a  log 
cabin  to  shelter  his  family,  he  devoted 
himself  to  labor,  and  with  his  earnings 
purchased  some  land  in  Peru  township, 
which  he  cleared  and  on  which  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  June,  1846.  His  widow 
died  three  years  later.  The  children  born 
to  these  pioneers  after  their  location  in 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  were:  George  (now 
deceased),  who  was  a  farmer  in  Peru  town- 
ship; Mary,  who  tnarried  Levi  Rnggles 
(deceased);  Nancy,  widow  of  Jeff.  Brown 
(now  residing  in  Kansas  City);  Levi,  who 
died  in  Arizona,  while  in  the  United  States 
civil  service,  and  Lyman,  also  deceased. 
Of  all  the  children  born  to  this  pioneer 
couple,  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  Nancy,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  are  the 
only  survivors. 

Henry  Buggies  was  born  January  6, 
1816,  at  Belchertown,  Mass.,  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents  in  1818,  and  grew  to 
manhood  in  Peru  township,  Huron  county. 
His  youth  was  like  that  of  the  other  boys 
of  the  settlement,  and  when  a  young  man 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  On  Janu- 
ary y,  1844,  he  was  married  in  Peru  town- 
ship to  Florinda  Tillson,  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  of  the  children  born  to  this 
union  Lyman  died  at  Sacramento,  Cal.; 
Lewis  resides  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio;  Ida 
married  George  Minard,  of  Milan;  Inez  is 
deceased;  Anna  resides  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.; 
Harvey  resides  at  home,  and  Newton  is 
deceased.    After  their  marriage  Henry  and 


Florinda  Ruggles  located  in  Norwich  town- 
ship, but  two  years  afterward  settled  on 
their  present  farm  in  Peru  township.  They 
are  members  of  the  Universalist  Church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Ruggles  was  a  Whig  up  to 
1856,  when  he  united  with  the  new  Re- 
publican party,  of  which  he  has  ever  since 
been  a  consistent  member.  He  has  held 
various  township  offices,  and  has  filled  them 
all  with  great  satisfaction  to  the  people. 
As  a  farmer  and  stock  grower  he  is  well 
known,  for  to  these  two  departments  of 
farm  work  he  gives  the  closest  personal 
attention. 


AVID  HENRY  REED,  M.  D.,  the 

leading  physician  of  North  Fair- 
field, is  a  descendant  of  David  Reed, 
who  was  a  farmer  of  Connecticut 
in  Colonial  times. 

David  Reed,  great-grandfather  of  Dr. 
Reed,  carried  on  a  farm  near  Danbury, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  a  large  property 
owner.  Harry  Reed,  his  son,  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm  near  Danbury,  Conn., 
and  when  but  a  young  man  engaged  in 
Tnercantile  life.  He  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Hoyt,  who  died  leaving  three 
children,  namely:  Shadrach  H.,  Charles 
and  Jane.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Reed  was  again  married,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  two  children,  Henry  E. 
and  Mary.  Of  ajl  the  children,  Mary,  the 
youngest  (now  Mrs.  Darius  Stevens,  of 
Danbury,  Conn.),  is  the  only  survivor. 

Shadrach  H.  Reed,  son  of  Harry  Reed, 
was  born  in  September,  1809,  in  CJonnec- 
ticut,  where,  and  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
he  passed  his  boyhood  years.  When  six- 
teen years  old  he  accompanied  a  Mr.  Mead 
to  the  latter's  purchase  in  the  southeast 
part  of  Greenwich  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  and  worked  for  him  on  this  tract 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  when 
his  employer  deeded  to  him  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land  in  consideration  of  five  years' 
service.  But  soon  afterward  Mr.  Reed 
traded  the  eighty  acres   for  another  tract 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


419 


of  150  acres,  which  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Reed  family.  In  1881  he  ii)ar- 
ried  Sally,  daughter  of  Josiah  Roscoe,  who 
came  from  Caynga  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  in  Greenwich  township,  and  to  this 
marriaije  five  children  were  born,  namely: 
David  II..  a  physician  of  Huron  county; 
Clara  J.,  a  resident  of  Bellefontaine,  Logan 
Co.,  Ohio;  Charles  E.,  deceased;  A.  S., 
deceased ;  and  H.  E.,  who  resides  on  part 
of  the  old  farm.  Mr.  Reed  gradually  in- 
creased the  area  of  his  lands,  and  upon  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1885,  he  left  to 
his  heirs  a  tine  farm  of  200  acres,  all  of 
which  was  cleared  and  improved  by  him- 
self. Shadrach  H.  Reed  was  a  Democrat 
up  to  1856.  when  his  son,  the  present  Dr. 
Reed,  prevailed  upon  him  to  join  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  was  an  outspoken 
friend,  and  a  man  whose  word  was  as  good 
as  his  bond.  He  held  numerous  township 
offices,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace. 

Dr.  David  H.  Reed  was  born  in  1832  in 
Greenwich  township,  Huron  county,  passed 
his  youth  on  the  farm,  and  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  schools  of  the 
district.  He  taught  school  for  a  short 
period,  and  then  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, in  which  he  continued  for  two  years, 
later  attending  the  Homeopathic  Medical 
School,  Cleveland,  for  three  years.  He 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  1854, 
the  same  year  establishing  his  office  in 
Fairfield,  where  lie  has  practiced  ever  since. 
Dr.  Reed  was  married,  in  1855,  to  Miss 
Caroline  Long,  of  Greenwich  townshij), 
who  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  \  ., 
and  to  this  union  the  following  named 
children  were  born:  Alto  P.,  who  died 
when  twenty-four  years  old;  Charles  E., 
who  died  in  infancy;  Aliraham  L.;  Charles 
S.,  a  lawyer  in  Wilson  county,  Kans.; 
Fanny  C;  Mary  E. ;  and  two  that  died  in 
infancy.  The  Doctor  owns  200  acres  in 
Greenwich  township,  besides  his  western 
lands.  It  is  now  almost  forty  years  since 
he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  here. 
A  Republican  by  choice  and  education,  he 
was  an  active  worker  for  Fremont  in  1856, 


and  ever  since  that  time  his  voice  has  been 
raised  for  the  interests  of  his  party.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder. 
The  Doctor  was  appointed  in  1863,  by 
Gov.  David  Tod,  to  organize  the  militia  of 
the  Southern  District  of  Huron  county, 
and  was  commissioned  captain.  After  the 
organization  he  was  elected  colonel  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  and  continued  in  com- 
mand until  the  organization  was  aban- 
doned. He  also  served  as  member  of  the 
school  board  of  the  Union  School  of  North 
Fairfield  for  fifteen  years.  In  1893  he 
was  nominated  and  elected  representative 
to  the  Seventy-first  General  Assembly  of 
the  State  of  Ohio,  and  at  this  date  (Fei)- 
ruary  14,  1894)  is  serving  the  State  in 
that  capacity,  holding  the  position  of 
chairman  of  the  coinn)ittee  on  Medical 
Colleges  and  Medical  Societies,  also  a  mem- 
bership on  the  Fish  Culture  and  Game, 
Common  Schools,  and  Food  and  Dairy 
committees. 


EiDMUND    FRANKLIX,   a    worthy 
memi)er  of  an  early  pioneer  family 
)  of  Huron  county,  and  who  is  one  of 

the  oldest  and  most  hio-hly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Richmond  township, 
was  born  May  8,  1827,  in  Herkimer 
county,  New  York. 

He  is  the  fourth  child  and  second  son 
of  Reuben  and  Rhoda  (Nobles)  Franklin, 
of  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  farmer.  In  1836  the  family, 
then  consisting  of  father,  mother  and  six 
children,  migrated  westward  to  Ohio, 
coming  by  way  of  canal  and  lake-boat  to 
Sandusky,  an<l  thence  in  a  smaller  boat  to 
Fremont,  Ohio.  Reuben  Franklin  resided 
a  short  time  in  Norwich  township,  Huron 
county,  and  then  came  to  Richmond  town- 
ship, where  he  bought  sixty-one  acres  at 
three  dollars  and  fitly  cents  an  acre,  and 
built  thereon  a  cabin,  the  fifth  in  the 
township.  One  child  was  born  after  the 
family  settled  in  Richmond  township,  and 


420 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


on  this  farm,  which  Edmund  Franklin 
now  owns  and  makes  his  home  upon,  these 
wortliy  people  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  buej  lives.  They  were  pioneers  in 
the  true  sense  of  the  word,  for  at  the  time 
of  their  arrival  Richmond  township  was 
covered  with  a  dense  forest,  excepting  tlie 
southern  part,  which  was  then  a  vast 
swamp,  where  no  human  being  could  pos- 
sibly make  a  living.  With  the  exception 
of  a  few  sticks  cut  by  hunters  in  search  of 
the  game  wliicli  abounded  in  this  section, 
there  was  "not  a  stick  amiss"  on  the  farm 
in  the  northern  part  of  Richmond  township 
where  Reuben  Franklin  took  up  his  abode. 
He  was  a  deserving  pioneer  farmer. 

Edmund  Franklin  was  reared  in  the 
manner  of  pioneer  farmer  children,  and 
during  his  youth  received  but  limited  lit- 
erary advantages,  as  there  were  no  schools  in 
Richmond  township  for  live  or  six  years  after 
tlie  family  arrived.  His  mother  died  when 
he  was  but  ten  years  old,  his  father  two 
years  later,  and  thus  he  was  left  at  an  early 
age  to  begin  life  on  iiis  own  account.  He 
worked  by  the  month  for  twelve  years  at 
various  places,  and  for  low  wages.  In  1849 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Henrietta  Thomas,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  in  1829;  her  father,  Henry 
Thomas,  was  drowned  near  Buffalo  when 
she  was  but  a  little  girl,  and  she  came  to 
Ohio  in  early  womanhood.  During  his 
twelve  years  of  hard  labor  Mr.  Franklin 
had  accumulated  eni>ugh  money  to  buy 
the  home  farm,  most  of  which  he  had  to 
redeem  from  the  forest,  and  here  he  has 
since  resided,  making  many  valuable  im- 
provements. 

On  September  15,  1861,  our  subject  en- 
listed at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  in  Company  I, 
Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  which  command  was 
sent  to  West  Virginia,  the  first  battle  Mr. 
Franklin  took  part  in  being  at  Moorefield, 
that  State,  and  he  afterward  participated 
in  the  following  engairements:  Foot  of 
Cheat  Mountain,  Cross  Keys,  Second  Bull 
Run,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mis- 
sionary   Ridge    and    Lookout    Mountain, 


Buzzard's  Roost,  Big  and  Little  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Big  Shanty,  Resaca,  Ga.  (where 
he  belonged  to  the  storming  division), 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  siege  of  Atlanta,  Ben- 
tonville  and  Averysboro.  He  was  also 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 
At  Resaca  (where  he  found  four  bullet- 
holes  in  his  coat)  he  received  a  wound,  and 
he  was  knocked  down  at  Peach  Tree  Creek 
by  the  concussion  of  the  wind  of  a  ball. 
He  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  on 
June  24,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
was  discharged  in  that  city  in  July,  com- 
ing home  at  once  to  Huron  county,  where 
he  has  ever  since  followed  farming.  He 
has  a  most  comfortable  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Franklin  have  children  as  follows: 
Walter,  a  car  carpenter  of  Norwalk,  Ohio; 
Rufus,  a  railroad  engineer  of  Chicago 
Junction;  Ella,  wife  of  Scott  Jump,  of 
Chicago  Junction;  Emma,  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Bowen,  of  Chicago,  Ohio;  AVilbur,  who 
was  killed  on  the  railroad  when  thirty- 
four  yearsold;  Clarence,  of  Fostoria,  Ohio; 
Edmund,  a  railroad  employe;  and  Carrie, 
Kitty  and  George,  who  still  reside  at 
home.  In  politics  Mr.  Franklin  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  highly-esteemed  citi- 
zen, and  the  comfortable  home  and  prop- 
erty which  he  now  enjoys  are  the 
accumulation  of  many  years  of  hard,  un- 
remitting toil;  the  entire  family  stand 
high  in  the  regard  of  the  community  in 
which  they  reside.  Mrs.  Franklin  is  a 
member  of  the  U.  B.  Church. 


-fj 


tJJ  ATHIAS   CAROTHERS,    one  of 
\f/\     the  pushing,  go-ahead  young  farm- 
1     ers    of  Richmond    township,  was 
born  October    13,  1849,  in   Nor- 
wich township,  Huron   Co.,  Ohio, 
eldest  son  and  second  child  in  the    family 
of  John  and  Susan  (Mowery)  Carothers. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  active  agri- 
cultural life,  received  such  an  education  as 
the  common  schools  of  his  boyhood  af- 
forded, and   remained  under  the   parental 


HUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


421 


roof  until  his  marriage.  On  July  4,  1872, 
he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Bigham,  who  was 
born  in  Venice  township,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio, 
daiiijliter  of  John  Bigham,  a  pioneer  of 
that  county.  After  marriageMr.  and  Mrs. 
Carothers  resided  for  a  short  time  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  in  about  1873  took  up 
their  residence  on  their  present  place, 
where  they  have  since  had  their  home. 
While  Mr.  Carothers  lias  not  resided  in 
Kiehmond  township  as  long  as  some  of  its 
farmers,  he  has  seen  his  acres  gradually 
converted  from  heavy  forests  to  fertile 
fields,  and  this  is  practically  the  work  of 
his  own  hands,  as,  when  he  took  posses- 
sion of  the  land,  but  a  small  portion  of  it 
was  cleared.  The  elegant  residence,  large 
and  commodious  barn  and  other  necessary 
farm  buildinirs  which  enhance  the  value  of 
his  place,  are  all  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 
So  far  he  has  made  farming  his  life  work, 
and  has  met  with  considerable  success. 
Mr.  Carothers  is  active,  full  of  energy  and 
progressive,  and  stands  very  high  in  his 
community.  He  is  a  leader  of  the  Re- 
publican party  in  his  township,  and  is  now 
serving  as  justice  of  the  peace.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carothers  are  meml)er8  of  the  U.  B. 
Church,  in  which  he  is  class-leader  and 
superintendent  of  Sunday-school.  They 
have  had  three  children,  viz.:  Daisy  D., 
Jennie  May,  successful  teachers  in  the 
public  schools,  and  Chalmer  J.,  an  ener- 
getic lad  of  eight  summers. 


JfOSEPH  EITFFING.  Among  the 
k,  I  brave  old  pioneers  of  Shei-man  town- 
%J)  ship  stands  prominent  this  worthy 
farmer  citizen,  a  native  of  South 
Germanv,  born  in  Baiern  (Ravaria)  April 
10,  1830. 

He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Catharine 
(Schwartz) Eutfing,  wealthy  farming  people 
in  the  Fatherland,  who  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  were  born  in 
Baiern,  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who  died  in 
Sherman  township,  when  nineteen  years 
old;  Peter, a  farmer  in  Sherman  township, 


a  carpenter  l)y  trade,  and  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  that  business  in  the  townsliip; 
Joseph,  subject;  John,  a  farmer  of  Sher- 
man township,  who  died  in  1892;  and 
Frank,  also  a  tanner  of  Sherman  township, 
who  died  in  1887.  In  the  spring  of  1836 
the  family  set  sail  in  a  merchant  ship  from 
Havre,  France,  for  the  New  World,  and 
after  a  rough  passage  of  forty-four  days, 
during  which  a  severe  storm  drove  them 
considerably  out  of  their  course,  north- 
ward, they  landed  at  New  York.  From 
there  they  proceeded  via  Hudson  River 
and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  lake 
to  Cleveland,  and  from  that,  then,' villacre 
by  wagon  to  Elyria,  Lorain  county,  where 
they  tarried  a  short  time.  Here,  enquir- 
ing the  most  direct  route  to  Sherman  town- 
ship, they  were  misdirected,  and  by  night- 
time found  themselves  in  the  village  of 
Norwalk,  where  the  only  place  they  could 
find  to  sleep  in  was  a  welcome  barn.  On 
the  following  morning  the  family  pro- 
ceeded on  their  journey,  and  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  August,  1836,  found  them- 
selves at  their  forest  home,  in  that  part  of 
Sherman  township  lying  smith  of  the 
center.  Here  they  had  settled  but  a  short 
time  when  the  dense  forest,  and  other  un- 
pleasant features  connected  with  the  new 
home,  caused  the  head  of  the  family  to  re- 
gret that  he  had  not  bouslit  land  in  the 
very  heart  of  Cleveland,  which  had  been 
offered  him  lor  eighteen  dollars  per  acre; 
and  he  was  of  a  mind  to  buy  even  yet,  but 
was  dissuaded  from  doing  so  by  an  old 
lady  whom  the  family  had  met  in  Elyria. 
In  Sherman  township  the  father  had 
bought  land  (represented  at  the  time  of 
purchase  as  cleared,  which  turne<l  out  not 
to  be  the  case)  at  twelve  dollars  per  acre 
(about  five  times  its  value),  and  erected 
thereon  a  log  house.  He  then,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  sons,  set  to  work  to  clear 
the  land,  and  pref)are  the  soil  for  crops;  in 
the  course  of  time  Fortune  smiled  more 
favorably  on  him,  and  by  dint  of  hard 
work  and  unceasing  industry  he  prospered, 
80  that  he  was  able  to  make  additions  from 


422 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


time  to  time  to  his  original  purchase,  and 
at  his  death  was  the  owner  of  a  fine,  well- 
stocked  and  fertile  farin,  equipped  with 
comfortable  buildings.  T.vo  children  were 
born  to  Joseph  and  Catharine  Kuffing  in 
their  pioneer  home,  namely,  Anthony,  a 
uierciiant  of  Believue,  Huron  county,  and 
Michael,  a  farmer  of  Sherman  township. 
The  father  passed  from  earth  in  1882,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  the  mother  in 
June,  1865,  and  they  lie  side  by  side  in 
Sherman  cemetery.  They  were  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  contributors 
tovards  the  first  church  buildino- of  that 
denomination  erected  in  Sherman  town- 
ship. 

Joseph  Ruffing,  the  second  son  born  to 
these  honored  old  pioneers,  received  but  a 
limited  education,  the  greater  part  of  it, 
in  fact,  at  his  home,  his  father  being  his 
instructor;  and  under  the  tuition  of  his 
brother  Peter,  who  was  a  mechanic  of 
considerable  ability,  he  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
was  "liired"  to  a  neighbor  (Burrett  Fitch) 
to  work  out  the  price  of  a  colt  his  father 
had  bought,  and  this  occupied  liim  six 
■weeks.  At  twenty  years  of  age  he  com- 
menced journeyman  work  at  his  trade  in 
the  neigh l)orhood  of  his  home,  and  he  and 
his  brother  Peter  put  up  the  first  frame 
house  in  Slierman  townsiiip. 

On  Octol)er  21,  1856,  Mr.  Ruffing  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  J.  Geiger,  who  was  born 
February  16,  1836,  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  a 
daughter  of  Lawrence  Geiger,  who  came 
to  Sherman  townsiiip  when  she  was  a  child. 
To  this  union  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  P.  Krnpp,  of 
Seneca  county,  Ohio;  Frank  J.,  a  farmer 
of  Sherman  township;  Michael  J.,  a  farmer 
of  Norwich  township;  Coraline,  Mrs.  John 
Glassner,  of  Seneca  county;  Josephine, 
Mrs.  Lewis  Kalt,  of  Norwalk;  Annie,  Mrs. 
John  Witter,  of  Biicyrus,  Ohio;  and  Vic- 
toria, at  home.  On  July  13,  1877,  the 
mother  of  these  was  injured  in  a  runaway, 
and  she  lingered  between  life  and  death 
until  July  20,  1877,   when  death   put  an 


end  to  her  sufferings;  she  was  buried  in 
Slierman  cemetery.  In  1877  Mr.  Riitfing 
married  Mrs.  Mary  Quisuo,  widow  of 
Joseph  Quisuo,  and  a  native  of  Belgium. 
After  his  first  marriage  our  subject  settled 
with  his  bride  on  a  portion  of  his  present 
farm,  and  has  here  since  devoted  himself 
exclusively  to  general  agriculture.  He 
and  his  brother  had  bought,  jointly,  one 
hundred  acres,  of  which  at  his  marriage 
each  took  fifty  acres,  and  to  his  share 
Joseph  has  since  added  as  circumstances 
offered  until  now  he  is  the  owner  of  122 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  his 
section.  He  is  a  menaber  of  the  Catholic 
Church;  politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
has  held  township  and  other  offices  of  trust 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  of 
his  constituents. 


THOMAS  HAGAMAN  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  an  old  pioneer  family 
that  originated  in  Holland.  His 
grandfather,  Thomas  Hagaman,  na- 
tive of  Gettysburg,  Penn.,  married 
Nellie  Burnett,  of  New  York,  whose  an- 
cestors were  also  natives  of  Holland. 

The  ancestors  of  this  couple  immigrated 
to  America  many  years  ago,  first  locating 
in  New  Jersey,  and  afterward  crossing  into 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  grandfather  con- 
tinued to  follow  agricultural  pursuits  and 
weaving.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig  and 
Abolitionist;  in  religion  he  first  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  afterward 
becoming  a  Congreu-ntionalist.  He  died 
in  August,  1852,  at  about  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  his  wife  some  years  later.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  sons,  John, 
James  and  George  B.,  who  came  to  Ohio 
with  their  parents  in  1818. 

John  Hagaman  was  born  July  1,  1801, 
in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1818 
came  with  his  parents  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  as  above  stated,  where  he  married 
Tina  Ammerman.  He  bought  a  farm  of 
new  heavily-timbered  land  in  Bronson 
township,   upon   which    he  erected   a   log 


JOHN  HAGAMAN 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO, 


425 


house,  and  devoted  the  remainder  of  his 
life  to  cleariii<j:  and  cnltivatint;  tlie  same. 
In  politics  he  voted  first  witli  the  Wiiius, 
later  with  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
the  first  Abolitiouist  in  the  township;  in 
reliffious  faith  he  and  his  wife  were  active 
members  of  the  Conjireijatioual  Church, 
in  which  he  served  as  a  deacon.  He  died 
in  1870,  his  wife  December  29,  1879, 
having  passed  her  seventy-second  year. 
Tliey  viere  the  parents  of  four  ciiildren,  as 
follows:  Maria  B.  (deceased  in  1840,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen],  Lucy  A.  (deceased  in 
1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years),  Thomas 
(whose  name  opens  this  sketch),  and  Isa- 
bel (wife  of  J.  W.  Snook,  of  Bronson 
township). 

Tiiomas  Hagaman  was  born  August  20, 
1834,  on  the  farm  where  he  is  now  living, 
in  Bronson  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  also  attended  the  Norwalk  High 
Sciiool.  On  October  14, 1868,  he  married 
Mary  Ellen  Woodruff,  a  native  of  New 
Berlin,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  dauijhter 
of  Edwin  and  Lydia  A.  (Gilmore)  Wood- 
ruff. Two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Jessie  W.  and  John  E.  The  mother  was 
called  from  earth  January  2,  1879.  Since 
the  death  of  his  father  Thomas  Hagaman 
has  had  charge  of  the  old  homestead,  and, 
having  bought  out  the  other  heirs,  now 
owns  137  acres,  where  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  cast  his  first  ballot  for  John  C. 
Fremont  for  President  in  1856;  in  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


\ILLIAM    BROWN.      This    well- 
known    wide-awake   and    affluent 
agriculturist    of     Norwi' h   town- 
ship  coupes  of  sturdy  Protestant- 
Irish  stock,  noted  for  their  longevity. 

Thomas    Brown,   his   grandfather,  came 
to  AuTerica  in  1803,  and  settling  in  New 
York    State   there   followed   weaving   and 
as 


farming.  He  was  twice  married,  and  iiad 
in  all  eighteen  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
l)y  name  Thomas  IL,  learned  the  trade  of 
weaver  in  liis  native  land  of  Erin,  where 
he  was  born  in  1787,  and  was  eighteen 
yeai-s  old  when  he  came  to  America.  He 
made  his  tirst  home  in  the  New  World  in 
Maryland,  near  Baltimore,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  weaving  trade  six  years.  He 
there  married  Miss  Susan  Sowers,  of  that 
locality,  and  they  then  proceeded  to  New 
York  State,  locating  in  (!ayuga  county  on 
a  farm,  on  which  they  resided  till  1825, 
when  they  catne  to  Ohio,  where,  in  Ash- 
land county,  near  the  town  of  Ashland, 
Mr.  Brown  bought  160  acres  of  totally 
wild  land  which  he  cleared,  and  where  he 
and  his  wife  lived  up  to  her  death  in  1866. 
He  then  moved  to  Hancock  county,  same 
State,  and  made  his  final  home  with  his 
youngest  son,  James,  dying  there  in  1884 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years. 
He  was  a  very  successful  farmer,  owning 
at  the  time  of  his  death  about  400  acres 
of  land,  which  he  divided  among  his  five 
sons.  He  was  a  stanch  Republican,  and  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His 
family  of  children  numbered  ten,  named  as 
follows:  Hugh,  Eve,  Margaret,  Martha, 
William,  Sarah,  Thomas,  Franklin,  James 
and  Susanna,  all  now  deceased  except 
Thomas,  William  (subject),  Franklin, 
James  and   Sarah. 

William  Brown,  of  whom  this  sketch 
more  particularly  relates,  was  born,  in 
1823,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  passed 
his  boyhood  on  a  farm  in  Ashland  county, 
Ohio,  whither  the  family  had  come  in 
1825,  as  above  related.  When  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old  his  father  gave  him 
eighty  acres  of  land,  entirely  covered  with 
timber,  but  he  went  to  work  with  an  axe 
and  a  will,  clearing  it  and  transforming  it 
into  a  fertile  farm.  To  this  from  time  to 
time  he  added  until  he  had  166  acres,  and 
he  then  sold  and  bought  200  acres  in  Nor- 
wich township,  Huron  county,  where  he 
ives.      lie  has  owned  as  much  as  480 


now 


acres,  and  his  success  has  been  due  entirely 


426 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  untiring  industry,  judicious  economy 
and  a  life  of  rectitude.  After  giving  each 
of  his  sons  fifty  acres,  he  has  180  left. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  from  May 
to  Septeml)er,  18f3-t,  in  Company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Regiment  O.  V. 
I.,  N.  G.,  under  Col.  H.  G.  Blake,  and  was 
always  '-ready"  at  the  call  to  duty. 

In  1846  Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elizabeth  Greer,  of  Ash- 
land county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  James 
Greer,  and  five  children,  as  follows,  were 
born  to  them:  Thomas,  James,  Franklin 
H.,  William  L.,  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Our  subject  in  his  political  pref- 
erences is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has 
held  numerous  township  oflices,  notable 
among  which  was  that  of  township  treas- 
urer, which  he  filled  eight  years.  In  re- 
ligions faith  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which 
he  is  a  trustee. 


L 


YMAN  ASHLEY  is  a  descendant, 
in  the  eighth  generation,  of  a  well- 
known  pioneer  family  whose  ances- 
try may  be  traced  to  Robert  Ashley, 
who  emigrated  from  England  about  1630 
and  located  in  Massachusetts. 

James  Ashley,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Lyinan,  was  born  in  1740,  in  Massachu- 
setts. His  son,  Luther  Ashley,  was  born 
April  1,  1775,  was  a  surveyor  by  profes- 
sion, and  later  a  sawmill  owner.  On  Sep- 
tember 1,  1800,  he  married  Eunice  Smith, 
who  was  born  October  10,  1781,  and  was 
living  at  Shrewsbury,  Mass.  To  this  mar- 
riage the  following  named  children  were 
born:  Gilbert,  born  December  27.  1801, 
removed  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
died,  leaving  a  family;  Nancy,  born 
January  17,  1803,  widow  of  Hiram  Spen- 
cer, lives  at  Sandusky,  Ohio;  Dexter,  born 
October  13,  1804,  deceased  in  Greenfield 
township  at  an  advanced  age;  Louisa,  born 
December  5,  1806,  widow  of  Nathan 
Beeri--,  residing  with  her  son,  Nathan,  in 
Greenfield    township;    Dennis,    father    of 


Lyman,  referred  to  below;  Harriet,  born 
March  13,  1813,  widow  of  Martin  Smith, 
living  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.;  Emily,  born 
January  6,  1816,  widow  of  Erastus  Smith, 
living  in  Greenfield  township;  and 
Smith,  born  December  22,  1822,  residing 
at  Vacaville,  Cal.  The  last  named  is  the 
only  one  who  was  born  in  Huron  county. 
In  1815  the  father  migrated  to  Canada  to 
look  up  work,  but  becoming  dissatisfied 
he  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1817, 
accompanied  by  his  son  Gilbert,  he  came 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  purchased 
some  land.  His  brother-in-law,  Alden 
Pierce,  who  had  already  made  a  settlement 
here,  visited  Massachusetts  that  year,  and 
at  the  request  of  Luther  Ashley,  he 
guided  Mrs.  Ashley  and  her  children  to 
their  future  home  in  northern  Ohio.  In 
the  fall  of  1817  the  family  left  Deerfield, 
Mass.  A  wagon  drawn  by  three  horses 
conveyed  the  household  goods,  the  mother, 
and  younger  members  of  the  family, 
while  the  adnlts  walked  the  greater  part 
of  the  distance.  From  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
westward,  the  roads  were  reported  to  be 
bad,  and  to  provide  against  delay  or  acci- 
dent, some  of  the  goods  were  unloaded 
and  shipped  by  boat  to  the  lake  port  near- 
est to  Greenfield  township.  The  party 
then  resumed  the  journey,  traveling  via 
Cleveland  and  Norwalk,  and  arrived  safely 
in  Greenfield  township.  The  father  moved 
in  later  years  to  a  point  near  Albion,  Ind., 
where  he  resided  for  some  years.  At  last, 
attacked  by  a  malady  common  at  that  time 
and  place,  he  set  out  for  the  home  in  Hu- 
ron county,  but  died  while  en  route,  at 
Fremont,  Ohio,  November  3,  1838,  and 
was  buried  at  Steuben.  His  widow  died 
March  30,  1856,  and  was  buried  in  the 
same  grave  at  Steuben.  Luther  Ashley 
was  a  Federalist,  and  a  stanch  supporter  of 
that  party.  He  and  his  wife  were  Con- 
gregationalists. 

Dennis  Ashley,  father  of  Lyman,  was 
born  January  30,  1810,  at  Deerfield,  Mass. 
He  accompanied  his  mother  to  Ohio,  at- 
tended the  pioneer  schools  of  Greenfield 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


427 


township,  and  worked  oti  his  fatlier's  farm. 
In  August,  1830,  he  married  Lurany  Bliss, 
who  was  born  at  Rows,  Mass.,  March  17, 
1812,  to  Jacob  and  Bethiah  (Brown)  Bliss, 
who  settled  in  Greenfield  township  in 
1822.  The  children  born  to  Dennis  and 
Lurany  Ashley  are  named  as  follows:  Ly- 
man, the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Luther,  a 
resident  of  Yuba  count)',  Cal.;  Noah,  who 
died  in  youtli;  Lucy,  who  died  in  her  eigh- 
teenth year;  Erastus,  residingin  Chico,  Cal. ; 
Dexter,  who  died  in  youth;  Mary,  who 
married  Charles  McMaster,  died  in  Green- 
field township;  Ward,  deceased  in  Green- 
field township,  and  Charlotte,  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Wheeler,  of  Greenfield  township.  From 
1830  to  1854  Dennis  Ashley  was  engaged 
in  farming  here;  the  ensuing  two  years  he 
passed  in  Iowa,  and  from  1856  to  his 
death,  which  occurred  September  27,  1892, 
he  was  a  farmer  of  Greenfield  township. 
From  1889  to  1892  he  was  an  invalid. 
Plis  wife  died  August  8,  1891,  and  both 
lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Steuben.  A  Whicr 
prior  to  1856,  he  was  a  stanch  Republican 
during  the  remainder  of  his  active  life, 
and  held  various  township  ofhces.  For 
fifty  years  he  was  a  member,  and  for  some 
years  a  deacon,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  denomination  his  wife  also  belonged. 
He  did  not  accumulate  much  property, 
but  always  had  a  competence,  and  few  men 
were  better  known  or  more  respected  than 
Deacon  Ashley. 

Lyman  Ashley  was  born  February  20, 
1832,  in  Greenfield  township,  and  there 
secured  a  primary  education  in  district 
school  No.  6.  After  school  days  he  en- 
tered a  dry-goods  store  at  Plymouth,  and 
worked  there  a  short  time  at  four  dollars 
per  month,  when  he  engaged  as  brakeman 
on  the  Sandusky,  Mansfield  &  Newark 
Railroail.  Subsequently  he  worked  in 
Jonas  Chijd's  gristmill  at  Steuben,  and 
followed  the  miller's  trade  from  Ohio  to 
Iowa  until  1863.  On  March  29,  1863,  he 
married  Mary  L.  Youngs,  wiio  was  born 
December  3,  1846,  daughter  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Frost)  Youngs,  of  Greenfield  town- 


ship. To  this  union  came  the  following 
named  children:  CoraB.,  Joseph  B.,  and 
Lewis  C.  (now  a  machinist  at  Galion, 
Ohio).  Cora  B.  was  married  December  7, 
1892,  to  J.  C.  Baker,  and  they  reside  at 
Steuben;  one  son,  Glendower  E.,  was  born 
to  them  September  14,  1893.  Immedi- 
ately after  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashley 
located  on  their  present  farm,  where  the 
husband  did  his  first  farm  work  when 
thirty-one  years  old.  In  politics  he  is  a 
lifelong  Republican,  and  has  filled  several 
township  offices  with  credit  to  himself  and 
profit  to  ti)e  people.  He  has  increased  the 
area  of  his  farm,  has  put  out  all  the  shade 
trees  and  erected  all  the  buildino-s  thereon, 
and  IS  a  practical,  substantial  farmer  in 
every  respect,  one  who  has  made  his  way 
to  success  unaided. 


P.  NOBLE,  a  prominent  stock- 
man of  Huron  county,  is  a  grand- 
■(  Mf     son  of  James  Noble,  the  ancestor 
of  the  family   in    America,  who 
was  born  in   Ireland,  and   reared  to  man- 
hood in  County  Tyrone. 

In  1790  he  left  his  native  land,  and  after 
a  voyage  of  fourteen  weeks  set  foot  on  the 
shores  of  the  young  Republic,  and  pro- 
ceeding at  once  to  Washington,  Penn., 
located  near  Taylorstown.  His  marriage 
with  Mary  Harvey,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
took  place  in  Washington  county,  and  to 
their  union  five  children  were  born, 
namely:  John,  Will,  Harvey,  Mary  and 
Nancy,  all  now  deceased,  and  their  de- 
scendants scattered. 

Harvey  Noble,  the  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  1806  near  Taylorstown,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  the  subscription  school  of  his  na- 
tive place,  but  his  school  days  were  alloyed 
with  a  pioneer  boy's  work  round  the  liome 
and  on  the  farm.  In  1827  he  married 
Margaret  Little,  a  daughter  of  George 
Little,  who  resided  near  Taylorstown,  and 
immediately    after    marriage    the    young 


428 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


couple  eet  out  for  Ricliland  county,  Ohio, 
with  the  intention  of  making  a  home  there, 
and  located  near  the  village  of  Shiloli. 
The  country  was  even  then  in  a  most 
primitive  condition;  the  forest  teemed  with 
animals  of  the  chase;  bear,  deer  and 
wolves  were  abundant,  and  even  the 
panther  came  to  visit  the  district  at  inter- 
vals. On  one  occasion  Mr.  Noble  was 
compelled  to  go  as  far  as  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
fur  a  doctor;  the  wolves  appeared  to  be  un- 
usually disturbed,  and  howled  the  whole 
night,  but  he  went  on  his  journey  unmind- 
ful of  the  brutes,  and  that  night  was  the 
last  one  for  the  wolves  in  the  country. 
About  1S27  lie  located  on  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Richland  county,  which  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  increased  to  500 
acres.  There  were  born  to  him  eight 
cliildren,  namely:  Mary,  John,  James, 
JN'ancy,  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  W.  P.  and 
Minerva.  Of  these,  Nancy  and  Elizabeth 
are  now  deceased;  James  resides  in  Green- 
field township,  Huron  county;  John  is  a 
resident  of  Richland  county;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Jerrie  Davidson,  of  Richland 
county;  Minerva  resides  in  Huron  county. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  July  2, 
1865,  the  father  July  11,  1885.  He  was 
the  owner  ot  the  tirst  threshing  machine 
used  in  Richland  county,  and  was  in  every 
respect  a  progressive  farmer. 

W.  P.  Noble  was  born  in  1839  in  Rich- 
land county,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  old  homestead  in  that 
county.  He  received  a  practical  education 
in  tlie  school  of  his  district,  and  was  in- 
ducted into  the  mysteries  of  agriculture 
under  the  direction  of  his  father.  In  1864 
he  married  Eliza  Jane  Starkey,  daughter 
of  James  Starkey,  then  of  Ripley  town- 
ship, but  now  a  citizen  of  Illinois,  and  to 
this  marriage  were  born  ten  children,  as 
follows:  Mina  A.,  Sherman,  Elmer,  Theo- 
dore (deceased],  Allen,  Warren,  Winnie, 
Nellie,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noble  settled 
on  their  present  farm  in  Ripley  township, 
part  of  which  v\as  cleared  and  all  of  it  im- 


proved by  Mr.  Noble.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  one  of  the  "wheel  horses" 
of  the  party  in  Huron  county.  For  many 
years  he  has  lepresented  his  section  of  the 
county  in  local  and  Congressional  con- 
ventions, and  in  every  way  is  a  trusted 
councilor. 

Prior  to  1870  Mr.  Noble  made  the 
foundations  of  his  Shorthorn  herds.  To- 
day he  has  two  prize  herds,  every  head  of 
which  may  properly  be  classed  as  fine 
stock,  and  to  this  business  he  has  given 
close  attention,  making  it  a  most  pi-ofitable 
one.  He  also  deals  in  fast  horses,  owning, 
among  other  animals,  a  half-brother  to 
Maude  S.,  Noble  Harold,  No.  4722.  His 
land  now  comprises  310  acres,  all  of  which 
he  has  accumulated  since  1864. 


J(^HN  R.  ELLIS  was  born  September 
,  1,  1845,  in  Gi-eenwich  township.  His 
father,  John  Ellis,  was  born  August 
8,  1816,  in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y., 
attended  school  there  when  a  small  boy, 
and  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  hired  out 
as  alarm  hand  at  three  dollars  per  month. 
For  the  seven  succeeding  years  he  labored 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  183U,  when  he 
and  his  brother  George  migrated  to  Huron 
county.  Ohio,  and  purchased,  in  partner- 
ship, a  tract  of  fifty  acres  in  Gieenwich 
township.  This  land  was  bought  from 
their  uncle,  Ellis,  at  five  dollais  per  acre, 
and  is  now  owned  by  John  R.  and  Martin 
Ellis. 

In  1841  John  Ellis  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Rachel  Rickard,  a  native  of 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  to  tiieni  were 
born  the  following  named  children:  Sidney 
H.,  for  forty  years  was  a  farmer  of  Green- 
wich township,  and  who  died  in  1888; 
Theresa,  who  married  Charles  Horr;  John 
R.,  a  farmer  of  Fifchville  township; 
Martin,  a  farmer  of  Greeuwich  township; 
Leona,  wife  of  Jacob  Weaver,  of   Ripley 


UUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


429 


township;  Paulina,  Mrs.  Benton  Davis,  of 
Ripley  townsliip;  Plirain,  deceased  in 
youth;  and  Sarah,  Mrs.  Allen  Ziegler,  of 
Eichland  county,  Ohio.  The  parents  of 
this  faniily  resided  on  the  original  farm 
until  they  died,  the  mother  in  April,  1887, 
and  the  father  March  4.  1890.  In  1850 
Mr.  Ellis  began  to  lose  his  health,  and  from 
1855  to  the  date  of  his  death  he  was  un- 
able to  accomplish  a  day's  work.  Under 
the  care  and  labor  of  his  sons,  however, 
his  possessions  grew,  and  from  a  half  in- 
terest in  fifty  acres  he  became  the  owner 
of  550  acres  of  fertile  land.  A  one-thou- 
sand-dollar monument  marks  the  grave  in 
Ripley  cemetery  where  John  and  Rachel 
Ellis  lie.  In  early  days  they  joined  the 
church;  but  owing  to  want  of  harmony  in 
the  religious  body  to  which  they  belonged, 
they  ceased  attending  services,  though  con- 
tinuing to  worship  God  within  their  home. 
Politically  a  Democrat,  Mr.  Ellis  was 
loyal  to  tlie  party,  but  never  was  an  active 
politician;  ho  was  often  elected  to  town- 
ship office,  and  each  trust  confided  to  him 
he  observed  with  fidelity. 

John  R.  Ellis  was  reared  in  the  manner 
common  to  his  contemporaries  in  Green- 
wich township,  attended  the  district  school, 
and  at  an  early  age  entered  on  practical 
farm  work,  taking  a  man's  place  on  the 
farm.  On  June  6,  1866,  he  was  married 
to  Jane  Viers,  who  was  born  in  Butler 
township,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  L.  D.  and  Jane  (Parker)  Viers.  To 
this  marriage  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  Hiram,  Nora,  and 
Charles,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home. 
After  their  union  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  set- 
tled in  Ripley  township,  and  there  remained 
three  years,  when  they  purchased  a  one- 
half  interest  in  218  acres  in  Greenwich 
township,  Martin  Ellis  holding  the  second 
half  interest.  For  nine  vears  they  resided 
there,  and  then  in  1880  came  to  Fitchville 
township,  where  Mr.  Ellis  purchased  the 
old  Palmer  farm  of  eighty  acres.  To  this 
he  has  added  forty-two  acres  adjoining,  re- 
modelled    the    dwelling-house,    improved 


the  farm  buildings,  and  converted  the 
whole  tract  into  a  fertile  garden.  For  the 
last  six  years  Mr.  Ellis  has  suffered  from 
rheumatism,  and  does  but  little  active 
work;  he  gives,  however,  close  personal  at- 
tention to  the  farm.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  one  of  the  trusted  advisers 
and  councillors  of  the  party  in  Huron 
county,  well  posted  on  political  issues. 


HERMAN  GULP,  a  well-known  at- 
torney of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  is  a  na- 
tive of  same,  born  November  1, 
1854:.  Christian  Gulp,  the  grand- 
father of  subject,  was  born  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  in  New  York,  where  the 
pioneers  of  the  family  in  America  settled 
after  coming  from  Germany. 

When  a  young  man  Christian  Gulp 
migrated  to  Ohio,  in  which  State  he  mar- 
ried Nellie  Burton,  a  descendant  of  Scotch 
pioneers.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  he 
purchased  700  acres  of  land  (embracing 
almost  the  whole  site  of  Plymouth)  in 
New  Haven  township,  Huron  county,  and 
moving  hither  in  1835,  established  a  grist- 
mill and  carding-mill,  both  of  which  he 
carried  on  in  conjunction  with  his  farm. 
At  the  time  of  this  settlement  Plymouth 
consisted  of  two  or  three  log  cabins.  Here 
five  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  to 
Christian  and  Nellie  Gulp,  only  two  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Jacob,  now  of  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  and  Mrs.  Polly  Sherman,  of 
Plymouth. 

Henry  Gulp,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  second  child  in  order 
of  birth.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he 
married  Hannah  Baker,  a  daughter  of  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Ripley  township,  and  to 
their  union  were  born  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  father  died  February  13, 
1889,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  and 
his  widow  now  resides  on  the  home  of  her 
childhood  in  Ripley  township. 

Sherman  Gulp,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated at  Plymouth,  and  is  now  the  owner 


430 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO, 


of  the  home  founded  by  his  grandfather, 
Cliristiaii  Ciilp.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years  he  entered  tlie  law  ofhce  of  J  ohn 
W.  Bell,  at  Plymouth,  read  law  under  his 
direction,  and  in  1886  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  During  this 
term  of  study  the  young  lawyer  was 
elected  mayor  of  the  town,  and  has  tilled 
the  offices  of  notary  public  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  In  1888  he  was  the  nominee 
of  the  Democratic  party  for  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Huron  county,  and  went  within 
327  votes  of  being  elected.  He  has  served 
in  the  council  of  Plymouth,  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  all  public  affairs.  He  is 
also  popular  in  social  circles,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  K.  of  P.  and  I.  O.  O.  F. 

His  marriage  with  Louise  Strong,  daugh- 
ter of  E.  D.  Strong,  took  place  at  Ply- 
mouth September  13,  1882.  To  them 
thiee  children  wei'e  born,  namely:  Ross 
S.,  Henry  S.  and  Frank  R.,  but  the  death 
of  the  latter  occurred  September  4,  1893. 
Mr.  Gulp's  law  practice  is  not  confined  by 
any  means  to  Huron,  but  extends  through- 
out the  four  or  five  adjoining  counties. 
The  business  of  the  office  is  almost  ex- 
clusively in  civil  law,  of  which  Mr.  Gulp 
is  au  able  e.xponent,  and  in  the  practice  of 
which  he  is  very  prominent. 


CHESTER  S.  HOWE,  a  well-known 
resident  of  Peru  township,  was  born 
September  9,  1818,  in  Fleming, 
Cayuo;a  county,  New  York. 
His  father,  Titus  Howe,  was  also  a  na- 
tive jof  that  place,  born  November  14, 
1793,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner.  On  May  26,  1814, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Almira 
Hicks,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Nelson  A.,  horn  Aug- 
ust 18,  1816;  Ghester  S.,  subjectof  sketch; 
Marion  P.,  born  February  25,  1821; 
Edwin  R.,  born  October  5,  1823;  Helen 
M.,  born  February  1,  1830;  Almira  M., 
born  November  14,  1833;  Julia  E.,  born 


May  5, 1837;  Amelia  V.,  born  October  22, 
1839;  and  Oscar  S.,  born  April  28,  1843. 
Titus  Howe  had  visited  the  Far  "West 
prior  to  1834,  in  which  year  he  came  west- 
ward with  his  wife  and  family  (then  con- 
sisting of  six  children),  making  a  location 
where  the  beautiful  town  of  Batavia,  Kane 
Go.,  111.,  now  stands.  The  journey  was 
made  in  a  wagon,  the  route  being  through 
northern  Ohio,  southern  Michigan,  north- 
ern Indiana  and  Cook  county.  111.,  to  the 
banks  of  Fox  river.  In  1836  the  family 
moved  twenty  miles  southward  to  what  is 
now  Kendall  county.  On  leaving  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Howe  took  with  him  a 
set  of  sawmill  tools,  which  he  used  in  a 
mill  he  erected  on  Fox  river.  Later  he 
erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill  at  Yorkville, 
Kendall  county,  and  was  the  pioneer  in 
the  use  of  water-power  there.  He  took  an 
important  part  in  the  development  of  this 
rich  little  county  of  Illinois,  and  at  his 
death,  which  occurred  August  25,  1867,  in 
Yorkville,  the  community  mourned  the 
decease  of  an  honest  citizen.  In  politics 
he  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  after 
the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion  he 
became  a  Republican.  Mrs.  Howe  passed 
away  March  5,  1873. 

Chester  S.  Howe  accompanied  his  father 
to  Illinois  in  1834,  worked  with  him  in 
the  sawmill  on  Fox  river,  and  later  m  the 
saw  and  grist  mill  at  Yorkville.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1838,  he  decided  to  go  east,  and 
acting  on  this  determination  came  to  Peru 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  that  month. 
He  resided  one  year  with  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Daniel  B.  Hicks,  and  at- 
tended the  school  at  Milan,  Ohio.  In  the 
spring  of  1839  he  revisited  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  a  year,  then  returning  to 
Ohio  he  Avorked  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  during  the  winter  of  1840-41  taught 
school  in  Norwich  township,  Huron  county, 
having  previously  taught  a  school  in 
Greenfield  township.  In  1841  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Alonzo  Fox,  as  clerk  in  his 
general  store.  In  September  of  that  year 
he  started  on  a  southern  journey  with  two 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


431 


friends,  but  at  Cincinnati  he  and  one  of 
the  friends  left  the  other,  visited  Lexing- 
ton and  Louisville  (Ky.),  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded by  river,  via  Cairo,  St.  Louis  and 
La  Salle,  to  his  father's  western  iioine  at 
Yorkville.  In  the  spring  of  1842  he  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Boalt  &  Gibbs,  merchants.  In  1846  he 
became  Mr.  Boalt's  partner,  and  subse- 
quently became  sole  owner  of  the  stock. 
In  1859  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Peru 
township,  and  followed  agricultural  life 
until  1878,  when  he  moved  to  Macksville, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

On  June  7, 1846,  Mr.  Howe  was  united 
in  marriatre  with  Miss  Harriet  Barker, 
who  was  born  April  11,  1822,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.  In  1828  she  was  brought 
by  her  parents  to  Bronson  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  received  her  educa- 
tion, and  passed  the  remainder  of  her  life. 
Two  children  were  born  to  this  marriage, 
namely:  Albert  B..  born  March  16,  1847, 
and  who  died  December  17,  1850;  and 
Frank,  born  December  5,  1851,  and  was 
married  February  20.  1873,  to  Eva,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Einilene  Akers  (their 
children  are  Lela  M.,  born  January  12, 
1877,  and  Sarah  E.,  born  February  3, 
1879).  Mrs.  Harriet  Howe  died  Septem- 
ber 27,  1892.  Mr.  Howe,  in  politics,  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party. 


grandson  of  (xer- 
born  April  29, 
)wn    of    Hunter, 
^  (jrreene  county,  New  York. 

Gersham  Griffin  was  a  farmer 
of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y .,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
suffered  repeatedly  from  marauding  par- 
ties of  the  British  soldiery.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  was  plowing  in  a  cornfield,  whei 
some  British  cavalry  galloped  forward  and 
seized  upon  the  only  horse  he  possessed. 
On  sundry  occasions  they  visited  the  farm, 
destroying  fences  and    burning  what  they 


could  not  carry  away.  It  is  not  known 
why  he  did  not  enter  the  Continental  line, 
but  his  young  wife  and  family  probably 
restrained  him,  or  mayhap  some  political 
notions  may  have  militated  against  his 
service  witii  the  patriots.  Whatever  the 
cause,  he  did  not  serve  in  the  army,  but 
removed  with  his  wife  and  children  to 
Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  hoped  the 
wilderness  would  not  only  shelter  them 
from  the  wrath  of  war,  but  would  also 
enable  him  to  make  a  new  property  as 
good  as  that  which  he  abandoned.  Ten 
days  before  his  death,  in  1831,  as  a  patient, 
he  made  his  first  acquaintance  with  a  phy- 
sician, but  medical  aid  was  useless,  for  his 
race  was  run,  and  he  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  years,  one  month  and 
two  days. 

Abijah  Griffin,  son  of  this  old  pioneer, 
was  born  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y"., 
August  28,  1773,  and  when  eighteen  years 
old  was  brought  by  his  parents  into  Greene 
county.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and 
in  1795  married  Abigail  Bloomer,  who 
was  born  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y"., 
June  5,  1770,  and  when  twenty-one  years 
old  came  to  Greene  county  with  her  par- 
ents, who,  like  the  Griffins,  were  pioneers 
of  that  section  of  New  Y^ork.  To  this 
marriaiie  came  the  following  named  cliil- 
dren:  Esther,  born  July  8,  1796,  married 
Joseph  H.  Miller,  and  died  in  New  Y'^ork 
State  in  1843;  Ezekiel.  born  October  21, 
1799.  settled  in  Ohio  in  1836,  and  died  in 
Greenwich  township,  Huron  county,  in 
1872;  Phoebe,  born  June  4,  1803,  married 
James  Williamson,  of  Fitrhville  township, 
Huron  county,  and  died  in  1881  (she  was 
the  mother  of  J.  A.  Williamson,  a  leading 
attorney  of  the  Huron  county  bar);  Tamer, 
born  April  15,  1806,  married  Jeremiah 
Kingsbury,  in  Greenwich  township,  and 
died  there  in  1855;  Robert  B.,  born  June 
11,  1809,  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  died  in 
Greenwich  township,  August  9,  1891,  and 
Riley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Ill  May,  1833,  the  father  of  this  family 
visited     Ohio,     to    examine    the    lands  of 


432 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Huron  county.  Selecting  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  acres  in  Greenwich  townsliip,  he 
purchased  it  for  four  hundred  dollars,  re- 
turned to  Greene  county,  and  in  Septem- 
ber followinir  hrought  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren  (excepting  Esther  and  Ezekiel)  to  take 
possession  of  their  Ohio  home.  The 
journey  was  made  via  canal  and  lake  to 
the  village  of  Huron,  and  thence  by  wagon 
to  Greenwich  township.  The  weatlier  be- 
ing stormy,  the  boat  on  which  they  traveled 
from  Buffalo  to  Huron  was  driven  to  tlie 
Canadian  shores,  where  it  lay  for  two  days, 
rather  than  risk  a  trip  across  the  lake.  The 
land  wliich  Mr.  Griffin  purchased  was 
slightly  improved,  a  small  log  cabin  in  a 
small  clearing  indicating  that  some  pioneer 
had  been  there  before.  Some  short  time 
after  settling  here  another  tract  of  one 
hundred  acres,  op|iosite  the  first  tract,  was 
purchased  for  ten  dollars  per  acre,  and  to 
the  new  land  the  family  removed  their 
residence.  A  new  house  was  erected 
tliereon  by  his  sons,  and  tliere  the  father 
died  in  May,  1856.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Fitchville  cemetery,  in  or  near 
the  grave  where  his  wife  was  buried,  she 
having  died  November  20,  1840.  Both 
were  Methodists,  and  in  politics  Abijah 
Griffin  voted  with  the  Whigs. 

Riley  Griffin  was  born  April  29,  1812, 
and  passed  his  boyhood  on  the  farm  and 
in  attending  winter  school.  When  a  youth 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  bnt  still 
continued  to  give  his  attention  to  books. 
He  taught  school  for  ten  dollars  per  month 
in  New  York  State,  and  after  settling  in 
Greenwich  township  taught  one  term  there 
and  two  terms  in  Fitchville,  the  highest 
salary  paid  being  fifteen  dollars  per  month 
anil  "boarding  round."  On  January  21, 
1839,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Pliilena  Washburn,  who  was  born  June 
8,  1817,  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
brought  by  her  parents,  Henry  and  Mary 
Washburn,  to  Greenwich  township  in 
1819.  To  this  marriage  came  the  follow- 
ing: Mary,  born  February  10,  1840,  died 
December  5,  1882;  Hialmer,  born  May  6, 


1842,  a  farmer  of  Fitchville  township, 
Huron    county;    Ermina,    born    July    18, 

1843,  Mrs.  T.  W.  Fancher,  of  Lorain 
county;  Corwin,  born  June  7,  1845,  a 
physician  of  Clyde,  Ohio,  and  Stanley, 
born  May  20,  1848,  proprietor  of  the 
"Hotel  Griffin,"  Lorain,  Ohio.  The 
motlier  of  this  family  died  February  20, 
1863,  and  was  interred  in  the  family  burial 
ground,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Green- 
wich cemetery.  On  January  21,  1864,  he 
married,  forbis  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane 
(Carl)  Baker,  who  was  born  November  22, 
1813,  at  Salem,  N.  Y.,  whence  in  1815  she 
was  taken  by  her  parents,  AVilliam  and 
Martha  (Weed)  Carl,  to  Greenwich,  Conn. 
In  1830  the  family  moved  to  Greenwich 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  purchased  one  hundred  acres  at  one 
dollar  per  acre,  and  here  ]\Iary  J.  Carl 
married  Marshall  Baker,  and  after  his  death 
united  with  Mr.  Griffin.  They  knew  each 
other  in  their  youthful  days. 

In  1834  Riley  Griffin  located  on  the 
second  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  purchased 
by  his  father,  while  Robert  B.,  a  brother 
who  also  married  about  that  time,  located 
on  the  first  tract.  The  highway  alone 
separated  the  bi'others'  farms,  and  for 
twenty-two  years  they  worked  as  one  man. 
The  earnings  of  the  two  farms  were  equally 
divided  annually,  and  this  division  closed 
the  year's  business.  Riley  Griffin  resided 
on  the  second  tract  until  1876,  when  he 
moved  to  the  town  of  Greenwich,  where  he 
has  since  lived  a  semi-retired  life.  The 
trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  learned  in 
his  youth,  enabled  him  to  build  his  own 
houses,  fences,  etc.  This  ti-ade,  with  his 
natural  aptitude  for  agriculture  and  pro- 
verbial industry,  brought  him  wealth,  so 
that  now  he  can  enjoy  the  reward  of  his 
early  labor.  In  politics  formerly  a  Whig, 
he  became  a  Republican  on  the  formation 
of  the  party,  and  was  one  of  the  first  four- 
teen men  in  Greenwich  township  who 
voted  tile  new  ticket.  He  is  a  great 
reader  of  newspapers,  and  is  well  versed 
in    the    political    history    of   the    United 


iiuitoyr  COUNTY,  ouio. 


438 


States.  His  memory  of  dates  and  events 
is  phenomenal,  and  for  a  man  of  liis  age 
there  are  few  who  can  be  compared  with 
hiiti  in  physical  and  mental  strength.  He 
has  held  several  township  oftices,  but  he 
had  no  political  aspirations.  In  religious 
connection  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffin  attend 
the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  they 
are  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  esteem  in 
which  they  are  held. 


CALVERT  A.  MEAD  is  descended 
from  one  of  three  Welsh  brothers 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Huron 
county.  His  father,  Edmund  Mead, 
was  born  in  1788,  in  Putnam  county,  N. 
Y.,  and  reared  on  a  farm.  He  received  a 
good  education,  and  was  private  secretary 
to  a  captain  during  the  war  of  1812.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  State  to  Rachel 
Knapp,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day. 
After  moving  to  Ohio  Edmund  Mead 
bought  125  acres  of  land,  situated  one  and 
one  half  miles  southeast  of  Norwalk. 
About  the  year  1832  he  bought  a  tract  of 
150  acres  in  Section  2,  Bronson  township, 
a  log  house  and  a  few  tillable  acres  being 
the  only  improvement  then  made.  To 
this  family  were  born  nine  children — four 
sons  and  five  daughters — of  whom  five  are 
yet  living,  viz.:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Mit- 
chell and  Mrs.  Almira  A.  Merwin,  both  of 
whom  reside  in  California;  Alfred  G.,  a 
farmer,  surveyor  and  miller,  of  Michigan 
(^has  a  family  of  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters); Charles  E.,  living  in  Oklahoma  (has 
one  son  and  four  daughters),  and  Calvert 
A.  The  father  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
Whig  and  Republican  parties.  He  died 
in  1876  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years, 
and  in  1878  the  mother  was  laid  beside 
him,  having  passed  her  eighty-eighth  year. 
Calvert  A.  Mead  was  born  June  9,  1834, 
on  the  home  farm  in  Bronsun  township. 
He  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
from  early  youth  has  been  associated  with 


agricultural  pursuits,  having  had  charge 
of  the  home  place  since  his  twenty-fourth 
year.  On  March  24,  1857,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of  Eri 
Mesnard,  and  she  has  borne  him  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Ijyron  L.,  Albert  S.,  Ger- 
trude L.,  Clayton  B.,  Henry  B.  and  Frank 
L. ;  they  also  have  an  adopted  son,  Charles 
W.  Of  these  children  one  is  in  Toledo, 
Ohio,  two  are  living  in  Illinois,  one  in 
Buffalo,  and  Frank  L.,  the  youngest,  died 
September  29,  1893. 

In  1876  Mr.  Mead  erected  a  commodious 
residence,  situated  on  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  picturesque  spots  in  Huron 
county.  He  has  been  a  very  successful 
farmer,  and  has  made  many  substantial 
improvements  on  the  place.  In  politics  he 
has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  party,  having  cast  his  first 
ballot  for  John  C.  Fremont. 


RESTON  PALMER,  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  most  deserving  pio- 
neer families  of  Huron  county,  was 
born  January  6,  1834,  in  Fiteh- 
ville  township. 
The  first  of  the  family  in  America  lo- 
cated in  New  England  at  the  close  of  tiie 
seventeenth  century,  and  his  descendants 
were  still  residing  there  when  the  fertile 
lands  of  Ohio  were  first  opened  to  settle- 
ment. Samuel  Palmer,  grandfather  of 
subject,  was  born  in  1758  in  Fairfield 
county,  Connecticut. 

Samuel  Palmer,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born 
September  12,  1799,  in  Connecticut,  re- 
ceived an  elementary  education  in  the 
school  of  his  native  place,  and  grew  to 
manhood  there.  One  of  his  brothers, 
Alvah,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
received  200  acres  of  tiieConnecticut  "Fire- 
lands  "  in  Ohio.  Another  brother,  Randall, 
visited  Ohio  in  1817  or  1818,  making  his 
home  there,  and  in  the  spring  of  1819 
Samuel,  accompanied  by  Randall  Palmer's 
wife  and  her  four  children  with  his  sister 


434 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Hannah,  set  out  for  Ohio.  They  traveled 
in  a  wagon  drawn  by  an  ox  and  a  cow  with 
a  gray  mare  as  leader  of  the  team.  Owing 
to  wet  weather,  the  greatest  care  had  to  be 
taken  in  fording  the  rivers  and  streams  en 
route,  and  the  greatest  patience  exercised 
in  ci'ossing  marshy  spots  on  the  road.  The 
party  arrived  safely  in  Huron  county  after 
being  seventy-five  days  on  the  road.  Often 
friendly  Indians  helped  them  out  of  the 
swamps  during  their  journey,  and  ever 
after  tlie  travelers  were  kind  to  the  Red- 
man. Along  the  route  young  Samuel 
killed  sufficient  game  to  keep  up  the  supply 
of  fresh  meat,  while  from  the  pioneers  they 
bought  corn  or  ''johnny-cake."  Samuel 
Palmer  became  the  first  school  teacher  in 
Fitchville  township. 

In  October,  1832,  he  married  Eliza  O. 
Ourtiss,  who  was  born  on  Long  Island,  N. 
Y.,  October  7,  1815.  Her  father,  William 
P.  Curtiss,  was  a  minister  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church  until  his  death  from 
cholera  in  1828,  and  his  two  daughters 
were  brought  to  Ohio  by  their  uncle, 
Chester  Manville,  who  settled  in  Wake- 
man  township,  Huron  county.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  the  following-named 
children:  Preston,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Marcus  C,  born  February  19, 1839, 
who  died  leaving  a  family;  and  Samuel  L., 
born  November  17,  1841,  deceased  in 
youth.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
May  2,  1842,  and  was  buried  in  Fitchville 
township.  On  October  29.  1844,  Mr. 
Palmer  married  Anna  P.  Lyon,  who  was 
born  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
marriage  took  place.  Tiie  children  born 
to  this  marriage  are  named  as  follows: 
Eliza,  born  September  1,1848;  Samuel  E., 
born  August  1,  1851,  and  Anna.  The 
last  named  three  children  died  in  youth, 
and  on  September  27,  1876,  their  mother 
passed  away.  The  father  died  December 
5,  1882,  and  the  remains  of  both  lie  in  the 
Fitchville  cemetery.  Mr.  Palmer  was  a 
farmer  even  during  the  years  when  he 
taught  school  in  Fitchville  township.  As 
a  horticulturist  he  was  well  known,  for  he 


brought  fruit-tree  seeds  from  the  East,  and 
set  out  the  first  nursery  in  the  township. 
He  read  every  book,  pamphlet  and  news- 
paper which  came  to  his  hand,  and  was 
particularly  devoted  to  Bible  reading.  A 
supporter  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  in  early  years  a  trustee  in  that  Church, 
the  latch-string  of  liis  home  was  always 
out  tor  preachers  of  that  denomination. 
An  unflinching  Abolitionist,  he  was  a 
''conductor  on  the  Underground  Rail-^ 
way,''  at  times  concealing  from  ten  to  fif- 
teen negroes  round  the  home,  until  he 
could  forward  them  to  Canada.  In  1856 
he  joined  the  Republicans,  and  remained 
with  that  party  tbe  rest  of  his  life.  He 
was  a  most  successful  farmer,  and  highly 
esteemed  in  his  district. 

Preston  Palmer  was  reared  in  the  man- 
ner common  to  pioneer  boys  in  Ohio  at  his 
time.  The  common  school  existed  when 
he  was  of  school  age,  and  in  that  of  his 
district  he  received  a  rudimentary  educa- 
tion, being  a  student  at  the  time  when 
school  was  held  in  nine  distinct  houses, 
and  at  irregular  periods.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  his  labor  on  the  farm  was 
deemed  more  necessary  than  his  education, 
and  from  the  spring  of  1848  to  the  sum- 
mer of  1850  he  worked  steadily  as  a  farm 
hand.  In  1850  he  began  to  learn  the 
coach  painter's  trade  under  Jacob  Loomis, 
of  Cleveland,  and  worked  as  journeyman 
painter  throughout  southern  Ohio  in 
1851-52,  and  part  of  1853,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Fitchville  township  and  resumed 
farming. 

On  Jnne  26,  1859,  he  married  Elthina 
Crane  (daughter  of  Chauncey  Crane),  a 
native  of  Fitchville  township,  who  died 
August  27,  1890,  without  issue.  On  June 
11,  1892,  Mr.  Palmer  married  Mrs.  Jo- 
hanna (Van  Vechten)  Smith,  daughter  of 
Dr.  D.  D.  Van  Vechten,  formerly  of  Alle- 
gany county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Palmer  has  not 
devoted  his  whole  life  to  agriculture.  In 
June,  1863,  he  was  summarily  summoned 
from  industry  to  war,  and  enlisted  in  an 
artillery     company     at    Cleveland,    Ohio, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


435 


wliich  was  dissolved  by  Gov.  Tod.  On 
July  20,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  CoTiipany  M, 
First  ().  H.  A.,  known  also  as  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventeenth  0.  V.  I.,  trans- 
formed into  an  artillery  regiment  by  order 
of  May  2,  1863.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  the  works  at  Covington 
and  IS^ewport  for  the  protection  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  also  served  at  Alexandria  atid 
P'ort  Whittlesey  until  the  end  of  January, 
1864,  when  tlie  command  proceeded  to 
Point  Burnside,  Tenn.  At  the  close  of 
February  the  order  to  move  toward  Knox- 
ville  was  observed,  but,  on  that  terrible 
march  over  the  mountains,  Mr.  Palmer's 
strength  failed,  and  he  was  left  at  a  farm 
house  to  be  cared  for.  About  the  last  of 
March  he  joined  the  company  at  Knox- 
ville,  and  on  April  6  was  assigned  to  serv- 
ice on  the  engineer  corps  under  Lieutenant 
Steruberger.  In  July,  1864,  he  was 
stricken  with  malarial  fever,  and  trans- 
ferred to  hospital  at  Knoxville,  where  he 
remained  until  discharged.  May  26,  1865. 
Returning  from  the  war,  he  resumed  farm- 
ing on  the  old  homestead,  and  has  won 
success  as  an  agriculturist.  A  Republican, 
he  is  one  of  the  counsellors  of  the  party  in 
his  county,  is  well  posted  on  public  mat- 
ters, and  being  a  man  of  sound  judgment 
and  common  sense  his  opinion  is  often 
sought  in  public  affairs  and  in  many  pri- 
vate concerns. 


EORGE  VAN   HORN,  one  of  the 
y   pushing,  vvide-awake  citizens  of  Ha- 


r. 

V^li    vana,   and    a   prosperous    mer<duint 
^^  of   the   town,   of    which    he   is   also 
postmaster,  is  a  native  of  Norwich 
township,  Huron  county,  born  in  1857. 

William  H.  Van  Horn,  father  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1827,  a 
son  of  William  D.  Van  Horn,  also  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  State,  bcirn  of  Ger- 
man ancestry.  William  H.  was  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder,  and  came  to  Ohio  when  a 
young  man.  He  married  a  Miss  Hicks, 
by  whom  there  were  seven  children. 


The  subject  of  these  lines  received  a 
liberal  education  at  the  public  schools  of 
Norwich  township,  and  was  thoroughly 
trained  to  the  arduous  duties  of  farm  life 
until  the  age  of  seventeen,  at  which  time 
he  commenced  clerking  for  his  uncle,  F. 
Van  Horn,  in  Havana,  Huron  county,  with 
whom  he  remained  eleven  years.  Then 
for  six  years  he  was  a  partner  with  his 
uncle,  after  which  he  bought  his  uncle  out, 
and  commenced  business  for  himself.  He 
is  a  thoroughly  representative  self-made 
man,  having  risen  from  very  small  l)e- 
ginnings,  by  his  own  indefatigable  energy, 
to  his  present  position  of  comparative 
affluence.  In  his  political  preferences 
Mr.  Van  Horn  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
on  February  22,  1889,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Havana.  In  religions  faith 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church. 


El  LI  O.  ELLIS,  a  worthy  descendant 
of  pioneers  of  Vermont  and  north- 
I  ern  Ohio,  was  born    November  28, 

1825,  on    the  farm    in    Peru   town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides. 

Andrew  Ellis,  grandfather  of  Eli  O., 
was  a  farmer  of  Essex  county,  Vt.,  and  in 
connection  .with  agriculture  carried  on  the 
manufacture  of  lampblack,  in  which  he 
was  assisted  by  his  children,  whose  names 
are  Mary,  Andrew,  Freeman,  William, 
Apollis,  Joseph  Cornelius  and  Lyman. 
Lyman  Ellis  was  born  about  1795,  on 
the  home  farm  in  Vermont.  When  a 
youth  he  served  with  tlie  troops  of  his 
State  in  tlie  war  of  1812  as  a  substitute 
for  his  father.  Before  and  after  that  con- 
flict he  worked  in  the  lampblack  factory, 
and  tlion  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  In 
1820  he  determined  to  see  for  himself 
what  truth  there  was  in  the  reports  from 
Ohio,  and  made  the  journey  tliither  on 
foot,  carrying  with  liim  all  liis  property. 
Locating  for  awhile  in  Lorain  countY,  near 
Black  River,  he  satisfied  himself  that  Flor- 
ence (now  Berlin),  Sandusky  county,  offered 


436 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


greater  advantages  to  liiin,  and  thither  he 
proceeded.  There  he  married  Annie  Wil- 
son, a  native  of  Hebron,  Wasiiington  Co., 
N.  Y.,  near  tlie  Vermont  line,  daughter  of 
Asa  Wilson,  and  who  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Ohio  in  1820.  Dnring  the  jour- 
ney they  encountered  a  very  heavy  snow- 
storm, the  ground  being  covered  to  a  depth 
of  two  feet,  and  malving  it  necessary  for 
the  travelers  to  obtain  the  small  limbs  of 
trees  to  feed  to  the  cattle.  In  1820  Asa 
Wilson  purchased  500  acres  in  Peru  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  at  five  dollars  per 
acre,  and  built  a  rude  cabin  thereon,  where 
he  dwelt  with  his  wife  and  family.  Lyman 
Ellis  died  in  1864;  his  widow  followed 
him  to  the  grave  in  1883,  and  both  are 
buried  in  the  Wilson  family  cemetery. 
Mr.  Ellis  was  one  of  the  early  Methodists, 
and  was  class-leader  for  a  number  of  years, 
until  he  and  his  wife  renounced  Method- 
ism and  embraced  the  Free  will  Baptist 
doctrine.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Democrat,  but  voting  for  Fremont  in  1856 
he  remained  thereafter  a  consisterit  Repub- 
lican until  his  death. 

Eli  O.  Ellis,  like  other  pioneer  boys, 
passed  his  youth  in  farm  work,  in  school 
or  in  play,  there  being  always  a  surplus  of 
work  present.  When  a  youth  he  was 
sent  to  a  school  at  Norwalk;  but  mechan- 
ics and  agriculture  being  more  in  conso- 
nance with  his  nature  than  clerical  work,  it 
is  not  a  matter  for  surprise  to  find  him 
again  on  the  farm,  sharing  in  the  work  of 
clearing  and  cultivating.  When  the  San- 
dusky &  Mansfield  Eailroad  was  surveyed 
young  Ellis  was  rodmaii  for  John  Webb, 
the  surveyor.  Being  a  natural  mechanic, 
he  worked  at  various  trades  until  1847. 
On  May  23,  that  year,  he  married  Miss 
Hannah  Gordon,  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  to  this  marriage  the  following-named 
children  were  born:  Emma,  Mrs.  William 
F.  Robinson,  of  Norwich  township,  and 
Adelbert  D.,  who  died  when  eleven  years 
old.  Mrs.  Hannah  Ellis  died  in  1862, 
and  Mr.  Ellis  in  1864  married  Sarah  L. 
Clement,     who    bore    him    two    children, 


Clayton  and  Elbert  M.,  both  residing 
here.  After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Sarah  L. 
Ellis,  who  was  killed  by  the  cars  in  1881, 
he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Millis.  After  his 
first  marriage  our  subject  settled  on  the 
home  farm,  which  he  had  aided  his  father 
in  clearing,  and  here  he  has  resided  for 
over  forty-five  years.  Some  years  ago  he 
was  injured  by  a  runaway  horse,  and  since 
that  time  has  done  no  active  farm  work, 
although  he  still  attends  to  the  direction 
and  management  of  all  his  interests.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  an  independent  thinker,  and  will 
not  be  held  by  party  bonds  unless  the 
principle  and  deeds  of  the  party  appear  to 
him  to  be  wise.  He  was  a  Republican 
prior  to  the  passage  of  the  McKinley  Bill, 
and  is  now  allied  with  the  People's  party. 
Though  he  has  been  honored  with  town- 
ship offices  since  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
be  is  not  a  politician  in  the  sense  that  an 
office  seeker  is;  for  he  can  speak  fluently 
and  intelligently  on  all  sides  of  a  political 
question  regardless  of  sympathy  with  it, 
and  indeed  can  ably  bring  out  the  good 
and  bad  points  in  the  lives  of  local  and 
national  statesmen. 


L 


P.  SISSON,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Greenwich  township,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1823,  in  Wayne  county, 
N.  Y.,  a  sou  of  Sanford  Sisson,  who 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  but  when  seven 
years  old  accompanied  his  father,  Jabez 
Sisson,  to  Rensselaer  county,  N.Y.,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood. 

When  a  young  man  Sanford  married 
Flaviah  West,  a  native  of  Rensselaer 
county,  and  they  moved  to  Wayne  county 
in  pioneer  times,  residing  there  until  1827, 
when  the  family  came  to  Ohio.  They 
located  in  Ripley  township.  Huron  county, 
where  the  father  purchased  114  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  erected  a  rude  log 
house.  The  old  settlers  of  Huron  can 
form  an  idea  of  the  courage  of  these  pio- 
neers in  entering  Ripley  township  at  that 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


43'; 


time.  It  was  a  veritable  wilderness,  the 
favorite  haunt  of  deer  and  other  large 
game,  and  Mr.  Sisson,  it  is  related,  has 
stood  in  one  place  and  killed  three  deer  at 
a  time.  The  bear  and  wolf  were  regular 
visitants,  and  wild  turkey  abounded.  To 
Sanford  and  P'laviah  Sisson  fourteen  chil- 
dren were  born,  of  wbom  two  are  now 
living,  namely:  L.  P.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  Augustus,  of  Ft.  Payne,  Ala. 
Arnold,  the  last  one  whose  death  is  re- 
corded, died  in  1893  in  Hastings,  Mich. 
The  father  died  in  Ripley  township  iti 
1859,  his  widow  in  Barry  county,  ]\[ich., 
in  1862,  each  being  buried  in  the  place  of 
death.  Mr.  Sisson  was  a  Whig,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  political  contests  of 
his  time. 

L.  P.  Sisson  was  nearly  five  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Huron  county. 
He  attended  a  winter  school,  taught  by  one 
of  his  sisters  in  a  rude  log  building,  and 
when  school  days  were  over  entered  on 
farm  woik.  On  December  15,  1844,  lie 
married  Elizabetii  Mills,  who  was  born 
Decembers,  1822,  in  Wayne  county,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Mills,  who  settled 
in  Ohio  with  his  familj'  about  the  year 
1838.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were 
Willis  N.,  a  fanner  of  Greenwich  township; 
Frances  Josephine,  Mrs.  D.  D.  Washburn; 
Sanford  H.,  a  farmer  of  Greenwich  town- 
ship; Emma  F.,  who  died  when  nineteen 
years  old;  Lucius  A.,  residing  at  home; 
Oscar  L.,  living  in  Greenwich  township; 
Addie  L.,  who  died  young;  William  E..  a 
farmer  of  Greenwich  township,  and  Jennie 
A..  Mrs.  Charles  McMillen,  of  Berea, 
Ohio.  After  liis  marriage  Mr.  Sisson 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  for  three 
years,  and  then  as  a  tenant  for  U.  B. 
Thomas.  In  1850  he  pnrcliased  fifty  acres 
in  Xew  London  township;  in  1853  he 
took  up  liis  residence  on  the  old  Mills 
homestead,  where  he  continued  to  live  till 
October  31.  1893,  when  he  moved  to  the 
village  of  Greenwich.  In  politics  origin- 
ally a  Whig,  he  has  been  a  Republican 
from  the  organization   of   the  new  party. 


and  has  held  various  township  offices,  being 
always  earnest  and  faithful  in  the  perform- 
ance of  his  duties.  He  has  been  a  most 
successful  farmer  and  stock  grower,  but 
live  years  ago  lie  practically  retired,  and  he 
now  enjoys  the  ease  and  peace  which 
generally  follow  economy  and  intelligent 
labor. 

E'    G.  E.  EASTMAN,  who  was  born 
April  17,  1838,  in   Bronson   town- 
I  ship,   is   a    son    of    Seba    Eastman, 

born  July  18,  1798,  near  Rutland, 
Vt.  Seba  Eastman  was  married,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1830,  to  Keziah  Edson,  who  was 
born  December  8,  1801,  near  Charlestown, 
Massachusetts. 

Starting  in  life  Seba  sold  a  valuable 
team  of  horses  for  four  hundred  dollars, 
but  was  cheated  out  of  three  hundred  and 
ninety-five  dollars  of  this  sum.  the  balance 
of  which,  five  dollars,  he  invested  in  a 
Bible,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  ot 
his  son.  The  incident  is  given  to  show 
the  intensity  of  the  faith,  as  it  i)urned 
among  the  Green  Mountains  at  the  begin- 
ning  of  this  century.  Before  leaving  Ver- 
mont two  cliiidren  were  born  to  Seba  and 
Keziah  Eastman — Caroline  E.  and  Keziah 
A. — both  of  whom  were  brought  west  by 
their  parents  in  1832.  The  family  traveled 
by  the  Erie  Canal  and  lake  to  Ohio,  and 
first  located  in  Lykius  township,  Crawford 
county,  but  in  the  fall  of  1832  made  a 
permanent  settlement  in  Huron  county. 
()f  their  children  who  came  with  them  to 
Ohio,  Caroline,  who  married  Alonzo 
Adams,  died  December  9,  1869,  and 
Keziah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Myron 
D.  Stevens,  resides  in  Michigan.  The  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  after  their  set- 
tlement  in  Ohio:  E.  G.  E. ;  Seba  A.,  a 
fanner  of  Greenfield  township,  and  James 
A.,  who  enlisted  when  sixteen  years  old  in 
Company  C,  Twenty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  and 
died  in  South  (-arolina.  The  father  died 
of  apoplexy  July  4.  1850,  his  widow  on 
May  6,  1877,  ami  both  are  buried  in 
Centre  cemetery. 


438 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


E.  G.  E.  Eastman  received  a  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship. On  the  death  of  iiis  fatlier  he  began 
wori<  as  a  farm  hand  at  six  dollars  per 
month,  and  with  this  small  pay  labored 
each  summer  until  1854,  when  he  and  his 
brother  formed  a  partnership,  and  later, 
with  their  mother,  purcliased  sixty  acres 
of  land  which  now  forms  a  part  of  his 
estate.  In  1859  Mr.  Eastman  moved  to 
Fulton  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
one  year,  and  then,  returning,  resided  with 
his  mother  until  her  death. 

On  January  3,  1878,  he  married  Mary 
J.  Kendall,  who  was  born  June  19,  1845, 
at  Amity,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
Amos  Kendall,  who  broujcht  his  family  to 
Huron  county  in  1846.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eastman   have    been    born    the    following 

o 

named  children:  EfRe  G.,  Grace  E.,  Gary 
E.,  Amos  K.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
With  the  exception  of  one  year  passed  in 
Bronson  townsliip,  and  two  years  on  one 
of  the  tracts  in  Peru  township,  the  family 
have  resided  on  the  old  farm,  purcliased 
about  1854.  Mr.  Eastman  is  non-partisan 
in  politics.  His  idea  is  to  place  honest 
men  in  office,  and  this  accomplished  the 
laws  will  be  observed  strictly,  improve- 
ments carried  out  economically,  and  taxa- 
tion reiluced  to  a  minimum.  He  takes 
special  pride  in  being  known  as  an  indus- 
trious, frugal  man,  who  has,  in  fact,  made 
a  valuable  property  by  his  own  intelligent 
labor. 


EV.  HENEY  G.  SUTTER,  pastor 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
of  Bellevue,  was  born  February  12, 
1857,  at  Sugar  Grove,  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio. 
His  parents,  John  J.  and  Eva  (Hoffman) 
Sutter,  natives  of  Switzerland  and  Wur- 
temberg  (Germany),  respectively,  came  to 
the  United  States  when  children,  and  to 
their  marriage  four  daughters  and  one  son 
were  born.  John  J.  Sutter  was  a  German 
Evangelical       Lutheran       minister,      and 


preached  in  Fairfield  county  the  greater 
part  of  his  life,  but  also  served  charges  at 
Clyde,  Marion  and  Bellevue,  Ohio,  after- 
wai'd.  Rev.  John  J.  Sutter  died  January 
4,  1884.  Mrs.  Eva  Sutter  resides  with  her 
son,  Henry  G.,  at  Bellevue. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  place,  and  completed  a  liberal 
course  of  study  in  the  Capital  University, 
Columbus,  Ohio,  from  which  institute  he 
graduated  in  1880.  Entering  the  German 
Lutheran  Seminar}'  at  Columbus,  he  grad- 
uated thence  in  1883,  and  was  ordained  at 
Attica,  Seneca  county.  In  April,  same  year, 
he  took  charge  of  the  church  at  Attica,  and 
introduced  preaching  in  both  German  and 
English,  German  having  been  used  exclu- 
sively in  the  pulpit  up  to  that  time.  In  18S4 
he  was  called  by  the  Bellevue  congregation, 
and  this  with  two  congregations  in  the 
district  he  serv^es  most  satisfactorily.  He 
is  one  of  the  ablest  of  the  younger  minis- 
ters of  the  Lutheran  denomination  in  Ohio. 

Rev.  Henry  G.  Sutter  was  married  Sep- 
tember 18,  1884,  to  Miss  Minnie  Rut- 
hardt,  born  in  New  York  City,  October  25, 
1861,  whose  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  To  this  union 
were  born  four  children,  namely:  Fred- 
erick, Gertrude,  Walter  and  Hortense. 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH,  grandson  of 
Josejih  Smith,  was  born  April  1, 
1849,  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  and  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools.  Later  heat- 
tended  Bryant  &  Felton's  Business  Col- 
lege at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  whence  he 
graduated. 

Returning  to  his  native  county,  he 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  for  some  time, 
then  entered  the  employ  of  William  &  A. 
W.  Prentiss  at  Monroeville,  where  he  was 
a  clerk  for  eighteen  months,  until  stricken 
with  small-pox.  Abandoning  business  he 
returned  to  the  home  farm.  In  1876  he 
came  into  possession  of  the  home  place, 
and  on  May  14,  1877,  was  married  to  Miss 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


439 


Mary  Amend,  wlio  was  born  in  Havana, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Aiiieiid,  farmer 
of  Norwich  township.  The  children  born 
to  this  marriage  are  Joseph,  Clarence  and 
Amelia,  all  residing  at  home.  Since  his 
marriage  he  has  resided  on  the  home  farm, 
which  is  part  of  the  "Old  Johnson  Farm." 
Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the  prominent  agri- 
culturists and  stock  growers  of  the  county, 
is  very  popular  among  the  Germans  of 
his  neighborhood,  and  is  a  highly  respected 
citizen  of  his  community.  Ilis  farm  and 
buildings  tell,  at  a  glance,  how  far  system 
in  agriculture  goes  toward  success.  The 
ancestry  of  the  family  is  recorded  in  the 
biograpiiy  of  Mr.  Frank  J.  Smith,  of  Peru 
township,  a  brother  of  our  subject.  Mr. 
Smith  gives  the  Democratic  party  his  un- 
flinching loyalty;  but  beyond  the  time  de- 
voted to  the  municipal  interests  of  the 
townsliip  he  does  not  permit  politics  to 
interfere  with  his  business  interests.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 


fl(  RTHIIR     WILLOUGHBY,      who 
l[l\    during  his  lifetime  was  one  of  the 
Ir^   nn)St  progressive  citizens  of  Rich- 
■fj  mond    township,  was    a    native    of 

Harrison  county,  Ohio,  born  near 
the  present  town  of  Xew  Hagerstown. 
He  was  the  fourth  child  of  James  and 
Margaret  (Patterson)  Willoughby,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Penn.,  the  latter  in  Ireland,  whence 
when  a  young  girl  she  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  America,  locating  in  Harrison 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  were  pioneers. 

James  Willoughby  was  a  farmer  in  Har- 
rison county,  whither  he  too  had  come  with 
his  parents  in  pioneer  times,  and  where  he 
was  married.  While  living  in  Harrison 
county  three  children  were  born  to  them, 
as  follows:  Catherine,  who  was  married 
to  John  Bingham,  and  died  in  Seneca 
county,  Ohio;  Robert,  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
mond township,  and  Ai'thur,  the  subject 
proper  of  this  memoir.     About  1829  this 


family  settled  in  the  woods  of  Seneca 
county,  at  which  time  the  vicinity 
abounded  with  wild  animals — bear,  deer, 
wild  cats,  turkeys,  etc.  The  journey, 
which  was  made  by  wagon,  was  very  diffi- 
cult, and  in  some  places  they  even  had  to 
cut  their  own  roads  through  the  country. 
He  purchased  land  at  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  and  made  some 
money  acting  as  guide  for  land  seekers;  he 
also  speculated  to  some  extent,  with  the 
hard-earned  money  he  had  accumulated  in 
Harrison  county,  and  had  some  success  in 
that  line.  His  ability  as  a  marksman, 
with  an  old  flint-lock  rifle,  was  really  re- 
markable, and  many  were  the  wild  ani- 
mals which  fell  before  it.  Two  more  chil- 
dren were  born  in  Seneca  county:  Rel)ecca, 
now  Mrs.  Chauncy  Reed,  of  Michigan, 
and  Jane,  widow  of  William  Gardner,  also 
residing  in  Michigan.  Mr.  Willoughby 
died  June  22,  1834,  and  was  buried  at 
Attica,  Seneca  county;  he  was  indeed  a 
pioneer  in  his  section.  His  widow  was 
afterward  married  to  Jacob  Courtwright, 
to  whom  she  bore  one  child,  Jacob,  who  is 
now  a  liveryman  of  Attica,  Seneca  county. 
They  resided  in  Norwich  township,  and 
she  lived  for  a  number  of  years  afterward, 
dying  April  17,  1865. 

Arthur  Willoughby  was  born  February 
27,  1825,  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and,  as 
his  step-father  did  not  believe  in  much 
education,  received  during  his  early  youth 
but  little  school  training.  When  seven- 
teen years  old  he  left  home,  with  but  few 
clothes  and  a  small  amount  of  money,  and 
took  up  his  abode  with  Major  La  Rue,  in 
Venice  township,  Seneca  county,  where  he 
workecl  as  a  farm  hand.  Here  he  also  at- 
tended school.  He  was  a  good  worker,  and 
received  nine  dollars  a  month  for  his  serv- 
ices, prior  to  which  he  had  split  rails  for 
fifty  cents  a  hundred.  In  the  fall  of  1852 
he  married  Mary  .lane  Ringle,  born  in 
Carroll  county,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Pottorf)  Ringle,  and  the  young 
couple  settled  in  Norwich  township  on 
one  hundred   acres  of  land,  which   he  had 


440 


HUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


purchased  at  eleven  dollars  per  acre.  He 
had  previously  bouglit  eome  land  in  Wy- 
andot county,  Ohio,  and  selling  this  at  a 
profit,  he  was  able,  with  the  proceeds  and 
one  hundred  dollars  which  his  wife  re- 
ceived from  her  home,  to  pay  all  but  one 
hundred  dollars  of  the  eleven  hundred  dol- 
lars, the  price  of  the  new  land.  It  was 
then  entirely  in  the  woods,  and  contained 
a  log  house  in  which  the  family  njade 
their  home  for  eighteen  years.  From  time 
to  tinrie  additions  were  made  to  this  land, 
and  in  1869  an  elegant  brick  residence 
was  erected  across  the  road  in  Richmond 
township.  The  following  children  came  to 
bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur 
"Willougiiby:  Simon  A.,  a  former  resident 
of  Keno  county,  Kans.,  where  he  died 
April  28,  1893,  leaving  a  widow  and  three 
children  (he  was  a  member  of  the  Kansas 
State  Board  of  Pardons,  and  in  an  obituary 
notice  of  him  in  a  local  paper  we  lind  the 
following:  "  For  several  years  he  had  been 
a  very  active  man  in  politics,  and  labored 
with  an  intelligence  and  earnestness  in  the 
new  political  movement  that  marked  him 
as  one  of  its  leaders.  He  was  yet  a  young 
man,  and  would  have  made  a  good  official 
record  had  his  life  lieen  spared  ");  Harry 
E.,  of  Cincinnati,  an  electrician  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Electric  Kailroad;  Willie  M., 
a  shoe  merchant  of  Chicago,  Ohio;  Alice 
M.,  Mrs.  Cyrus  Everingim,  of  Attica, 
Ohio;  Charley  L.,  a  farmer  of  Richmond 
township;  Clara  B.,  a  school  teacher,  a 
highly  educated  lady;  and  Walter  J.,  at- 
tending school. 

The  father  of  this  family  passed  from 
earth  August  21,  1889;  his  death  was  sud- 
den and  rather  unexpected,  as  he  had  al- 
ways been  a  robust  man,  never  ill  for  a 
day.  For  eight  years  previous,  to  his  de- 
cease he  had  made  his  home  in  Attica, 
Seneca  county,  in  order  to  educate  his 
children,  and  here  he  lived  a  very  retired 
life.  At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Will- 
ougiiby owned  an  elegant  home  and  375 
acres  of  excellent  land.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 


party  in  his  section;  in  religious  belief  he 
was  a  member  of  the  M.  P.  Church,  in 
which  he  held  the  office  of  steward.  He 
was  in  many  ways  an  active  man;  even  in 
his  early  youth  he  understood  the  value  of 
knowledge,  and  this  occasioned  the  dis- 
cord between  him  and  his  step-father 
wliich  caused  him  to  leave  home  to  seek 
an  education.  He  continued  to  hold  these 
opinions  all  his  life,  and  as  his  family  grew 
up  he  affijrded  each  member  ample  op- 
portunities for  an  education,  of  which  they 
were  not  slow  to  take  advantage.  As  a 
family  and  as  individuals  the  Willoughbys 
stand  second  to  none  in  the  county.  After 
the  death  of  her  liusband  Mrs.  Willoughby 
returned  to  the  home  in  Richmond  town- 
ship, where  she  has  ever  since  resided. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  M.  P.  Church,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  ladies 
in  the  community  in  which  she  resides. 


OLE.  Of  the  families  of  this  name 
in  Bronson  and  Norwalk  townships, 
the  earliest  ancestor  of  whom  there 
is  authentic  record  was  one  John 
Cole,  born  in  1670,  in  England,  whose 
son,  also  named  John,  was  born  in  1705, 
in  "that  tight  little  island,"  and  came  to 
America  in  old  Colonial  days,  passing  the 
later  portion  of  his  life  in  Connecticut. 
He  was  twice  married,  first  time  to  a  sister 
of  Benjamin  Franklin,  his  second  wife  be- 
ing Mary  Brown.  John  Cole  was  the 
father  of  six  children — two  sons  and  four 
daughters — the  eldest  of  whom  was  John, 
the  second  son  being  named  Thomas.  The 
latter  was  born  August  25,  1735,  in  Wind- 
ham  county.  Conn.,  and  on  December  7, 
1757,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miriam 
Kinne,  who  bore  him  the  following-named 
children:  Silas,  Amos,  Spencer,  Levi, 
Thomas,  Jeremy,  Samuel,  Mary,  Eunice 
and  Marion.  The  descendants  of  this  fam- 
ily are  very  numerous,  and  are  scattered 
throughout  the  many  portions  of  the 
United  States.  The  following  is  quoted 
nearly  verbatim,  and  with  some  additional 


/^ 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OniO. 


443 


matter,  from  a  liistory  of  Huron  and  Erie 
counties,  giving  a  biographical  sketch  of 
Levi  Cole: 

Levi  Cole,  the  fourth  son  of  Thomas  and  Mir- 
iam (Kinne)  Cole,  was  born  November  iO.  ITHij,  in 
Windham  county.  Conn.,  married  November  2.i, 
1790,  and  died  February  11,  IWO,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio.  His  wife,  Hannali  Kinne,  was  born  in 
Windham  county,  ('onn..  July  24,  1770,  and  died  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio,"  February  27,  1840.  They  had 
seven  sons  and  two  daushters,  as  follows:  Jeremj', 
born  March  17,  17!»o;  died  July  30.  1818;  came  to 
Ohio  in  1815.  Asher,  born  April  2;i,  171i7,  died  No- 
vember 4,  Vi'if);  came  to  Ohio  in  1810.  James,  born 
April  25,  17UH;  came  to  Ohio  in  181'j;  on  January 
1.5,  1824,  he  was  married  to  Fhilena  Johnson,  born 
October  4,  1802,  and  there  were  born  to  tbera  live 
children — tour  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz. :  Albert, 
born  October  2.  1824,  still  living  in  Greeley.  Colo.; 
Bryant,  born  March  7,  1828.  died  May  10,  1863; 
Starry  H.,  born  March  6,  1831,  died  October  30, 
187ti  (he  was  first  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Si.xly-sixlh  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  for  a 
term  of  ninety  days);  George  W.,  born  February  22, 
183.").  died  January  t>,  1893  (he  enlisted  in  the  Third 
Ohio  Cavalry  for  a  term  of  three  years);  and 
Maria,  born  August  13,  1841,  died  January  1,  1893; 
the  father  of  these  died  December  20,  1881,  the 
mother  on  April  30,  1881.  Levi,  born  March  23, 
1801 ;  died  in  Kidgefield  township;  came  to  Ohio  in 
1811).  .Miner,  boi^n  July  20,  1803;  died  in  Norwalk 
township;  came  to  Ohio  in  1810.  Manly  K.,  born 
February  11,  1807,  and  who  came  to  Ohio  in  1816, 
has  mention  farther  on.  Lyman,  born  March  10, 
1810;  died  October  10,  18.53;  came  to  Ohio  in  1810. 
The  daughters  were  Hannah,  born  March  11,  1792, 
died  Aueust  24,  1795.  Ardelia,  born  December  4, 
1811,  died  May  8,  1812. 

In  1814  Mr.  (^ole  was  living  in  Herkimer  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  lost  money  after  marriage,  and, 
that  year,  in  company  with  -Major  David  Underbill 
and  Timothy  Baker,  came  on  to  look  at  lauds  held 
by  Mr.  Underbill  in  liidgefield  township.  He  was 
pleased  with  the  land,  and  bargained  for  a  piece 
this  side  of  the  present  farm  of  Sidney  Brown,  and 
then  returned  home. 

In  1815  the  fi^ther  came  out  again,  accompanied 
by  his  son  Jeremy,  Horace  Morse,  Dr.  Joseph 
Pierce  and  David  Underbill,  put  up  a  house  on  the 
land,  commenced  a  clearing,  and  otherwise  pre- 
pared for  bringing  his  lumily  out  the  ne.xt  year.  In 
the  fall,  leaving  .Jeremy  to  look  after  the  place  and 
continue  the  improvements,  he  returned  home 
again. 

During  this  visit,  and  on  the  10th  day  of  July, 
181.'),  he.  Major  Underbill  and  Dr.  Joseph  Pierce, 
bruslied  out  a  "trail,"  or  road,  from  Abijah  Com- 
stock's  place  to  the  "  Sand  Ridge,"  as  it  was  then 
called  (pnw  Norwalk),  and  at  night  returned  and 
stayed  at  Comsto<'k's  until  the  next  day.  and  then 
started  out  and  completed  their  worK  through  to 
Underhill's  place  on  the  17th.  This  was  the  first 
highway  labor  ever  done  on  Main  street.  They 
followed  the  old  "  Indian  trail,"  which  came  out 
oil  the  ridge  somewhere  between  Milan  and  Chat- 
ham streets. 


In  January,  1810,  Mr.  Cole  and  Major  Under- 
hill  started  with  their  families  and  such  goods  and 
supplies  as  they  might  require  in  their  new  homes, 
with  six  teams  and  sleighs,  three  to  each  family. 
The  party  comprised  twenty  persons,  to  wit:  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cole  and  six  of  their  boys,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Underbill  and  six  children,  Jasper  Underbill  (a 
nephew  of  the  Major),  Daniel  Warren.  Marks  Ros- 
beck,  Rhoda  Pierce,  sister  to  Joseph  Pierce,  and  a 
person  by  the  name  of  Wilcox. 

After  spending  six  weeks  upon  the  road  (fiTe 
days  resting  at  Avery,  the  old  county  seal),  they 
reached  Major  Underbill's  on  the  22nd  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1810.  The  Huron  river  was  then  so  high 
that  Mr.  Cole  could  not  cross  with  his  family  and 
teams  to  his  own  house,  so  he  took  them  to  Dr. 
Pierce's  house  (the  Benjamin  Newcomb  place), 
and  soon  after  purchased  that  place,  and  remained 
there  so  long  as  he  lived. 

In  1818  Mr.  Cole  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
movement  which  culminated  in  the  removal  of  the 
county  seat  to  Norwalk. 

On  February  9,  1820,  while  Mr.  Cole  was  en- 
gaged hauling  a  large  saw-log,  one  of  his  limbs, 
owing  to  an  accident  in  unloading,  was  caught 
between  the  logs,  and  so  terribly  crushed  that  he 
died  two  days  afterwards. 

Of  tlie  children  born  to  Levi  and  Hannah 
Cole  the  following  is  a  brief  record:  Asher 
(the  second  son),  or  Col.  Asher  Cole,  as  he 
was  called,  was  married  Jaimary  G,  1828, 
to  Narcissa  Lawrence,  who  bore  hitn  one 
son,  also  named  Asher.  This  son  was  borq 
November  12, 1828,  and  on  October  19, 
1859,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
J.  Pnrdy.  He  died  May  2'J,  1885,  leaving 
a  widow  and  seven  children. 

Miner  Cole  (fifth  son),  father  of  Asher 
M.  Cole,  was  born,  as  above  recorded,  July 
2(),  1803,  in  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  received  his  boyhood  school 
training.  In  1816  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  father,  making  his 
new  home  on  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Xor- 
walk  township.  In  addition  to  his  eleraent- 
arv  education  he  attended  Norwalk  Acade- 
my one  term,  and  further  improved  his 
mind  by  home  study  and  close  observation 
of  men  and  things.  On  July  30, 1840,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  A.  Allen,  of  Ripley 
township,  born  November  7,  1819,  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  Allen,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  near  Utica,  N.  Y.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Cole  continued  in  his  life  voca- 
tion up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred August  20,  1885.     A  Republican 


444 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  politics,  he  served  his  township  faith- 
fully as  trnstee.  But  one  child  was  born 
to  him,  Asher  M.  Cole,  a  sketch  of  whom 
follows.  The  mother  died  September  20, 
1801. 

Manly  K.  Cole  (sixth  son)  was  married 
March  27,  1844.  to  Sarah  M.  Bristol. 
They  lived  in  Section  3,  Brouson  township, 
and  were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Manly  K.  Cole  died  April  29, 
1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Lyman  (youngest  child)  was  married 
February  28,  1841,  to  Sarah  Johnson,  a 
native  of  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.  About 
the  year  1840  he  bought  of  Judge  Baker 
100  acres  of  heavy  woodland,  in  Section 
3,  Bronson  township,  Huron  county,  which 
is  now  the  home  farm.  He  was  a  prominent 
agriculturist,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
public  matters.  He  died  in  1853,  his 
widow  surviving  him  till  February  22, 
1892,  when  she  too  passed  away,  in  her 
seventy-second  year.  They  left  three 
children,  viz.:  Emma,  living  with  her 
brother  on  tlie  old  homestead;  Ella,  wife 
of  Sylvester  Snyder,  of  Peru  township,  and 
Levi  L.,  sketch  of  whom  follows. 

Asher  M.  Cole  was  born  November  19, 
1843,  on  his  present  farm  in  Norwalk 
township,  and  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  schools  of  the  home  district,  at  the 
same  time  learning  agriculture  on  the 
homestead  under  the  preceptorship  of  his 
father.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
sixth  O.  V.  I.,. and  May  15,  1864,  was 
mustered  into  the  service.  His  first  expe- 
rience was  on  garrison  duty  at  Arlington 
Heigiits,  where  he  remained  until  Septem- 
ber, same  year,  when,  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment expii'ing  at  that  date,  he  was  dis- 
charged. Prior  to  his  enlistment  in  the 
United  States  forces,  he  had  served  on 
home  gnard  for  some  time. 

On  March  5,  1869,  Mr.  Cole  married 
Miss  Louisa  E.  Channing,  a  native  of 
Somersetshire,  P^ngland,  born  in  1846,  and 
who.  at  the  age  of  five  years,  was  brought 
to    Huron   county,   where  on   a   farm   her 


youthful  days  were  passed.  One  child, 
Miner  A.,  born  August  26,  1880,  has  come 
to  brighten  the  cosy  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cole.  During  the  same  year  they  adopted 
a  little  boy  of  six  summers,  named  Drill 
Allen,  a  distant  relative.  Mr.  Cole  owns 
a  fine  farm  in  Norwalk  township  of  125 
acres,  and  he  is  honored  and  respected  not 
only  as  an  industrious  and  prosperous 
fanner,  but  also  as  a  useful  and  loyal  citizen. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Uni- 
versalist  Church. 

Lkvi  L.  Cole  was  born  October  19, 
1850,  on  the  ancestral  acres  in  Bronson 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He  received 
his  elementary  training  in  the  neighboring 
schools,  then  attended  Milan  Normal 
School  three  terms.  On  October  20,  1880; 
he  was  married  to  Elva  T.,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Eliza  (Lutts)  Boyle,  a  native 
of  Norwalk  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Anna  E.,  who  is 
now  ten  years  of  age.  Mr.  Cole  has  fol- 
lowed in  the  footsteps  of  his  forefathers,  is 
a  practical,  successful  agriculturist,  and 
has  owned  the  old  place  (consisting  of  150 
acres)  since  the  death  of  his  father. 


^/ 


IV  JIfRS.  BENJAMIN  MOORE  is  a 
\rl  daughter  of  Jacob  Weiker,  a  na- 
1|  five  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  highly 
educated  citizen  of  Philadelphia. 
He  was  a  wealthy  and  prominent 
man,  and  died  at  Bellevue,  Ohio;  in  poli- 
tics he  voted  with  the  Democratic  party. 
His  daughter  Anna  was  born  July  10, 
1818,  in  Union  county,  Penn.,  and  in  1835 
came  to  Bellevue,  Ohio.  On  November 
28,  1837,  she  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Benjamin  Moore,  a  son  of  Henry  Moore, 
a  native-born  farmer  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  religion  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Churcii.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his  son 
Charles,  near  Bellevue,  January  25, 1855. 
his  age  being  eighty-one  years. 

Benjamin  Moore  was  born  May  19,  1814, 
in  Mitilinburgh,  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  where 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


445 


he  received  his  early  education,  and  learned 
the  carpenter  trade.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Susannaii  Moore,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania Ma}'  11,  1779,  and  died  in  the  same 
State  December  25,  183-4,  at  the  age  of 
tifty-tive  years  and  three  months.  In  1836 
Benjamin  Moore  came  on  foot  through 
the  winter  snow  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Bellevue,  Ohio.  Arriving  at  liis  destina- 
tion witli  no  capital  except  energy  and  a 
good  trade,  he  set  bravely  to  work,  win- 
ning for  himself  position,  wealth  and 
friends.  After  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Weiker,  lie  oontinned  to  follow  liis  trade 
until  18(31,  and  then  moved  to  a  neij^hbor- 
ing  farm  which  he  had  purchased.  In 
1885  he  and  his  family  came  to  another 
farm  adjacent  to  Bellevue,  and  tinally  set- 
tled in  that  village,  wliere  he  erected  a 
neat  brick  dwelling.  He  was  actively  in- 
terested in  all  matters  relating  to  the  pro- 
gress of  the  community,  and  for  forty 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Cluirch ; 
in  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  died 
June  11.  1892,  honored  and  mourned  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  had  the  following 
children:  Sarah  M.,  deceased  August  1, 
1846;  William  H.,  a  druggist  of  Bellevue 
(has  two  children,  Benjamin  and  George); 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  J.  IT.  Mayne,  a  prom- 
inent business  man  of  Bellevue  (she  has 
two  children,  Nettie  and  Ernest,  by  her 
former  husband);  Louisa,  wife,  of  Frank 
Smith,  a  famous  evangelist  of  the  Congre- 
gational Ohuicli  (they  liave  four  children, 
Fannie,  Anna,  Gertrude,  and  Willie). 

Mrs.  Moore  has  three  great-giandcliil- 
dren,  namely:  Ethel  Barker,  Robert 
Barker  and  Ernest  Barker,  and  her  last 
days  are  passing  amid  a  throng  of  loving 
friends  and  relatives. 


I(  AMES  McLANE,  who  was  born  De- 
w  I  ceinber  23,  1825,  in  County  Tyrone, 
^^  Ireland,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Robert 
and  Margaret  (Arthur)  McLane,  who 
were  born  in  the  same  county  in  1799, 
where  the  family  originated. 


Robert  McLane  married  Margaret  Ar- 
thur, daugliter  of  Jolm  Arthur,  a  farmer 
of  (bounty  Tyrone,  and  tliree  children  were 
born  to  them  there,  James  (in  1825),  John 
and  William.  The  fourth  son,  Tiiomas 
A.,  was  born  in  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  two  years  before  which 
event  the  family  had  emigrateii  from  Ire- 
land, landing,  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks, 
at  New  York.  The  father's  means  were 
limited,  so  that  his  further  progress  had 
to  depend  upon  his  earnings.  Finding 
work  in  New  York  State,  he  labored  there 
until  his  savings  warranted  him  in  resum- 
ing  the  journey  to  Huron  county,  OhiOj 
where  relatives  of  his  wife  had  previously 
settled.  In  the  fall  of  1831  they  set  out 
for  their  destination,  traveling  via  the  Erie 
Canal  and  lake  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  whence 
the  father  walked  to  Steuben,  in  Green- 
field township,  Huron  county.  There  he 
hired  an  ox-team,  and  returning  to  San- 
dusky brought  his  family  to  their  future 
home  in  the  United  States,  locating  on 
rented  land.  Mr.  McLane  entered  the 
employ  of  Archibald  Easter,  with  whom 
he  remained  two  years,  when  he  purcha?ed 
some  land  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  and  developed  the  farm  on  wliich  he 
resided  until  his  death  in  1889.  His  wife 
died  Octobei-  3,  1865,  and  was  buried  in 
Steuben  cemetery,  where  the  remains  of 
her  husband  also  lie.  Robert  McLane 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and 
voted  for  every  Democratic  candidate  down 
to  1889.  Like  his  wife,  he  was  a  Congre- 
gationalist  in  religion.  Of  their  cliildren 
James,  John  and  Thomas  A.  are  residents 
of  Huron  county,  while  William  is  a 
farmer  of  South  Dakota.  The  four  sons 
assisted  the  father  in  clearing  and  improv- 
ing the  home  farm. 

James  McLane  attended  tiie  early  schools 
of  Greenfield  township,  in  which  the  old- 
fasliioned  speller  was  the  only  te.xt  book. 
Scliool  days  over,  the  youth  entered  on 
reo"ular  farm  work,  and  remained  on  the 
home  place  until  November  18,  1869, 
wlien    he    married    Rebecca  C.  Schaeffer, 


446 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


who  was  born  at  Fayette,  Seneca  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  whence  when  six  years  of  age  she  came 
witli  her  iatlier,  Michael  Schaeffer  (a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  who  had  settled  at 
Fayette,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.),  to  Milan 
townslii|),  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  To  her  mar- 
rirge  with  Mr.  McLane  the  following 
named  children  were  born:  Schaeffer  M., 
a  stenographer,  of  Cleveland;  Howard  B., 
who  died  in  infancy;  Mary  C.  and  Robert 
D.,  residing  at  home.  In  1869  they  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  they  now  occupy, 
and  which  they  have  made  one  of  the  most 
valuable  in  the  township.  In  politics  Mr. 
McLane  votes  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  formerly  he  took  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs,  serving  his  township  in 
various  offices.  In  Church  relation  he  is 
a  Congregationalist,  and  one  of  the  most 
liberal  supporters  of  that  denomination 
here.  As  a  farmer  he  is  well  known  for 
his  systematic  methods,  while  as  a  stock 
grower  he  has  the  reputation  of  being  ex- 
perienced and  successful.  He  is  an  in- 
dustrious man,  highly  esteemed  for  what 
he  lias  accomplished. 


J^ILLIAM  H.  PIEECE,  postmas- 
ter at  Wakeman,  is  a  native  of 
the  town,  born  in  1840,  and  there 
received  his  education. 
Amile  Piatt  Pierce,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  whence 
in  1815  he  came  to  Wakeman  township, 
Huron  county,  making  the  journey  with 
ox-teams,  crossing  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains, and  encountering  many  dangers  and 
obstacles  by  the  way.  He  located  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  township  at  a 
time  wi)en  there  were  only  two  houses  in 
it.  His  children  were  Lemuel  Bennett, 
Minot,  Ann,  Fanny,  and  David  S.,  of 
wliom  are  yet  living:  Minot,  now  seventy- 
nine  years  of  age,  and  Ann  (Mrs.  Dr. 
Johnson,  of  Oberiin),  now  aged  seventy- 
si.K  years;  the  remainder  of  the  family  all 
roiiched  advanced  ages. 


Lemuel  B.  Pierce,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born,  in  1807,  in  Connecticut, 
where  his  early  boyhood  days  were  passed 
on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  about  eight 
years  old  when  his  parents  brought  liiin  to 
Wakeman  township,  and  on  the  journey, 
small  boy  as  he  was,  he  drove  one  of  the 
ox-teams.  Here  he  encountered  all  the 
trials  and  dangers  of  pioneer  life,  attend- 
ing a  few  brief  months  the  subscription 
school  of  the  locality,  wiiich  was  held  in 
a  dilapidated  old  log  cabin,  with  greased 
paper  in  lieu  of  windows,  and  rough  slabs 
tor  seats  and  desk.  During  his  earlier 
youth  he  learned  milling,  a  trade  he  fol- 
lowed in  connection  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married  Miss  Eunice  Burr, 
daughter  of  John  Burr,  a  pioneer  of  the 
county,  having  settled  in  Wakeman  town- 
ship in  1817.  To  this  union  were  born 
five  children,  viz.:  Amelia  and  Elbert  B. 
(both  deceased);  Julia,  Mrs.  T.  V.  Bunce, 
of  Oberiin,  Ohio;  Frank  L.,  a  resident  of 
the  same  place,  and  William  IL  The 
father  died  in  August,  1874,  leavintr  an 
estate  of  great  value,  and,  of  still  greater 
value,  an  honored  name  and  an  enviable 
record  for  iionest}',  and  generositv  even  to 
a  fault.  In  his  political  predilections  he 
was  first  an  Old-line  Whig,  afterward, 
from  the  formation  of  the  party,  a  Repub- 
lican. He  and  bis  wife  were  both  devout 
members  of  the  Cong-recrational  Church, 
thorough  Christians,  and  earnest  workers 
in  tlie  cause  of  the  Master. 

W.  H.  Pierce,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  with  the  exception  of  about  six 
years  has  spent  his  entire  life  at  the  place 
of  his  nativity,  and  received  thorough 
practical  lessons  in  the  arduous  duties  of 
farm  life  under  the  competent  preceptor- 
ship  of  his  father.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  war,  tired  by  the  spirit  of  pa- 
triotism, he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Forty- 
iirst  O.  V.  I.,  under  Captain  Pease,  and 
served  some  tliree  and  one-half  years,  one 
and  one-half  as  private,  from  which  he  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant.  He  jiarticipated 
in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  (where 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


447 


his  regiment  was  hotly  engaged),  besides 
many  skirinisiies,  etc.  Receiving  an  hon- 
orable discharge,  Mr.  Pierce  returned  to 
Wai<einan,  and  for  about  one  year  was  en- 
gaged in  his  former  vocation.  In  1866 
he  etnbarlced  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  the 
town  of  Wakeman,  but  after  a  short  ex- 
perience in  this  line  lie  found  an  oppor- 
tunity of  disposing  of  the  business,  and 
returned  to  his  old  love — farming.  Then 
followed  a  series  of  movintrs  and  retnov- 
ings  between  the  years  1882  and  1888,  after 
which  lie  again  found  himself  in  Wakeman 
engaged  in  general  mercantile  pursuits. 
In  1890,  as  the  result  of  an  election  held 
by  the  citizens  of  the  town  to  determine 
by  vote  wlio  might  be  the  most  popular  of 
the  many  aspirants  for  the  postmastership 
of  Wakeman,  he  was  installed  in  the  office, 
an  honor  he  has  in  every  respect  proved 
himself  well  worthy  of. 

In  1864  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Dosia  A.  Wantjh,  datijjhter  of  Lan- 
eing  Waugh,  a  native  of  Chautauqua,  N. 
Y.,  and  who  came  to  Wakeman  township 
in  1850.  Children,  as  follows,  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce:  Clarence 
H.,  at  home;  Arthur  M.,  in  Findlay,  Ohio; 
Gilbert,  who  died  in  1872;  Ada  M.,  at 
home,  and  Anna,  deceased  in  1878.  Our 
subject  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Sec- 
ond Cotigrecjational  Church  of  Wakeman, 
and   in  politics  he  is  a  square  Republican. 


fr^)  EV.  W.  A.  KEESY  was  born  July 
f^^    25,  1843,  in   Richmond    township, 
I    ^  Huron     Co.,    Ohio.      His    grand- 
■^  father,    Henry  Keesy,   was  born  in 

Pennsylvania  during  the  eighteenth 
century,  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
of  age,  and  then  established  his  own  home- 
stead. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  removed  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
some  years  later,  and  died  at  the  house  of 
bis  son  John,  in  Richmond  township, 
about  the  year  1855.  He  was  an  unassum- 
ing, industrious  man,  who  played  his  part 
in  the  development  of  the  "Firelands." 


John  Keesy,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
settled  in  Ohio  about  the  year  1830.  His 
education  was  necessarily  limited,  but 
owing  to  his  youth  being  spent  in  a  coun- 
try and  time  where  tlie  Gorman  language 
was  more  popular  than  the  English,  he 
could  speak  both  with  ease.  On  April  3, 
1828,  he  married  Elizabeth  Gons,  and  to 
this  union  ten  children  were  born,  a  brief 
record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  Harriet" is 
the  widow  of  Daniel  Rogers;  Jolin  H. 
resides  in  Richmond  townshij);  Margaret 
is  the  wife  of  Mathias  Ringle,  Tuscola 
county,  Mich.;  Peter  B.  F.  resides  in 
Richmond  township:  Noah  Miley  also  re- 
sides in  Richmond  township;  Catherine, 
who  married  David  Hershiser,  died  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Ohio,  in  1865;  W.  A.  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Fink,  of  Attica,  Ohio;  George  W. 
resides  in  Yuba  City,  Cal.,  and  Sarah  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Archibald  Riddle,  of  Ricli- 
mond  township.  «The  father  of  this  family 
died  January  18,  1859,  the  mother  in 
1873.  Jolin  Keesy  was  a  farmer  of  ster- 
ling character.  He  followed  an  idea  per- 
sistently, and  thus  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  lie  was  a  radical  Whig  and  an  ex- 
treme Abolitionist,  but  after  the  formation 
of  the  Republican  party  he  gave  it  his  un- 
qualified support.  He  filled  many  town- 
ship offices  and  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  trustee,  treasurer  and  in  various 
other  local  positions.  When  he  first  set- 
tled in  Ohio  he  was  a  Winebrennerian, 
but  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  Wineiireimcr's 
followers  here  he  joined  the  majority  and, 
for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  was  a  most 
zealous  worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

W.  A.  Keesy  received  a  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  district,  which 
was  supplemented,  after  the  war,  by  a  term 
and  a  half  at  the  Milan  (Ohio)  Normal 
School.  In  fact,  agriculture  rather  than 
education  claimed  the  attention  of  his  early 
youth.  After  his  father's  death  he  worked 
as  a  farm  laborer  until  October,  1861,  when 
he   enlisted  in   the   Fifty-fifth   O.    V.    I., 


448 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


went  into  camp  at  Norwalk  on  the  17tli  of 
that  month,  and  on  January  25,  1862,  left 
for  the  front  with  his  command.  The 
severe  marches  from  New  Creek  to 
Romnej,  and  to  Mourefield,  W.  Va.,  in- 
troduced him  to  war  no  less  than  diseases 
which  fell  upon  the  regiment  at  Grafton, 
in  February,  1802.  The  April  campaign 
and  unsatisfactory  marching  and  coiinter- 
marchincr  of  tlie  spring  and  earlv  summer 
of  1862  ended  near  Winchester,  Va.,  in 
June,  and  in  that  month  the  Fifty-tirst 
was  made  a  part  of  the  army  of  Virginia. 
In  August  the  affairs  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock tested  the  merits  of  tlie  regiment.  In 
May,  1863,  it  performed  splendid  service 
at  Cliancellorsvilie;  at  Gettysburg,  the 
coininand  lost  lifty-five  men,  and  in  the 
Knoxville  campaign,  carried  on  in  winter, 
also  suffered  severely.  Mi'.  Keesy  did  not 
participate  in  the  work  of  1803,  for  after 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  his  health 
began  to  fail,  and  he  was,sent  to  hospital, 
from  whicli  he  was  discharged,  December 
11,  1862.  In  October,  1801,  he  was  a 
robust,  well-built,  wiry  man  of  155  pounds. 
On  receiving  his  discharge  from  the  army 
he  weighed  only  ninety-seven  and  a  half 
pounds,  and,  with  this,  was  in  a  wretched 
state  of  health. 

On  returning  to  Huron  county  Mr. 
Keesy  rested  for  si.\  months,  and  then  went 
to  work  with  his  brother  in  a  sawmill, 
where  he  was  engaged  until  he  answered 
the  draft  of  1864,  in  the  fall  of  which  year 
he  was  one  of  400  recruits  received  into 
the  Si.xty-fourth  O.  V.  I.,  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.  He  took  part  in  the  pursuit  of 
Hood's  forces  to  Alpine,  Ga.,  where  his 
command  was  incorporated  with  Gen. 
Thomas'  army,  returned  to  Chattanooga, 
proceeded  to  Athens,  Ala.,  thence  marched 
to  Spring  Hill,  Tenn.,  where  they  again 
suffered  losses.  At  Franklin  the  regiment 
sustained  heavy  loss,  but  marched  with 
spirit  to  Nashville,  where  its  service  was 
substantial  and  its  losses  great.  After 
Hood's  army  was  used  up,  the  Sixty-fourth 
went  into  camp  at  Athens,  but  they  sub- 


sequently served  at  Athens  and  Decatur, 
next  at  iluntsville,  Nashville  and  Straw- 
berry Plains,  and  again  at  New  Orleans, 
until  ordered  to  Victoria,  Tex.,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1865,  where  they  were  mustered  out 
December  3,  1865.  After  the  total  rout 
of  Hood,  Mr.  Keesy  received  an  honorable 
discharge  in  Tennessee,  June  16,  1805,  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  and  entering  the  Normal 
School  at  Milan,  as  before  related,  studied 
for  a  term  and  a  half  and  afterward  taught 
school  in  Huron  county  five  terms. 

On  July  7,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Mag- 
gie Lane,  daughter  of  Rev.  S.  T.  Lane,  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  Of  their 
children,  Minnie  is  the  wife  of  William 
McKee;  Mary  is  married  to  J.  E.  Wheeler, 
and  Maggie  L.  died  November  2,  1878, 
aged  four  years  and  four  months.  The 
mother  died  September  24,  1873,  and  on 
February  9,  1875,  he  married  Hattie 
Augusta  Charles,  daughter  of  Robert 
Charles,  of  Richland  county,  Ohio.  To 
this  union  were  born  six  daughters  and 
one  son,  namely:  Flora,  Osceola,  Vesta, 
Edith  and  Ethel  (twins),  Leon  Cassel 
and  Fern. 

In  1865,  after  his  return  from  the  war, 
Mr.  Keesy  made  a  profession  of  religion 
for  the  first  time.  In  1868  the  Quarterly 
Conference  licensed  him  to  preach,  and 
recommended   him   to  the  Annual  Confer- 


ence. 


The  last  named   body  granted  him 


license  August  27,  1869,  and  he  was  or- 
dained a  preacher  in  1872,  being  assigned 
to  Huron  Mission,  in  Huron  county,  the 
same  year.  He  served  at  Honey  Creek 
two  years;  Melmore,  one  year;  Shelby, 
one  year;  Richland  Circuit,  two  years;  and 
Cliicago  Junction  over  three  years.  At 
the  latter  place  he  organized,  in  1870,  a 
United  Brethren  class,  the  first  church  in 
that  place,  and  in  1871  was  instrumental 
in  building  a  house  of  worship  there. 
After  a  year's  service  at  Osceola,  he  was 
elected  three  consecutive  years  Presiding 
Elder — one  year  at  Fostoria  and  Clyde, 
and  two  years  at  Attica,  in  Seneca  county; 
he  then  held  the  position  of  elder   in  the 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


449 


districts  of  Sandusky,  Findiay,  Fostoria 
and  Bowling  Green  for  seven  consecutive 
years. 

Mr.  Keesy  made  his  home  in  Richmond 
township  until  he  began  service  as  an 
elder,  when  he  located  at  Chicago  Junc- 
tion. He  is  a  pioneer  of  the  town,  and 
one  who  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  its 
upbuilding.  In  denominational  affairs  he 
is  iintirinij  in  his  zeal,  and  has  accom- 
plished  much  for  the  cause  he  represents; 
and  few  men  in  any  trade  oi'  profession 
are  better  known  throughout  northern 
Ohio  than  he  is.  In  the  war  he  took  part 
and  was  under  lire  in  the  followinti  en- 
gageraents,  viz.:  Mooretield,  Stransbnrg, 
Cross  Keys,  Bull  Run,  Franklin  (Va.), 
Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  Franklin  and 
Nashville  (Tenn.),  besides  being  in  many 
raids  and  skirmishes.  He  has  organized 
and  built  several  churches,  and  proposes 
to  continue  to  war  against  sin.  He  is  a 
forcible,  logical  and  sympathetic  as  well 
as  fearless  preacher,  and  wiiile  the  "com- 
mon people  hear  him  gladly,"  all  classes 
are  edified  by  his  eloquent  sermons. 
Wherever  his  extensive  influence  reaches, 
the  public  is  inestimably  benetited. 


'Jr^j  UFUS  S.   MILES,  one  of  the  best 
l^^    known  and  most  highly   respected 
I    ^  citizens  of  Fitehville  township,  was 
^  born  January    1,    1824,  in  Green- 

wich    township,    Fairfield    county, 
Connecticut. 

His  father,  Daniel  Miles,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Fairfield  county.  Conn.,  and  a  well- 
known  stonemason  and  sawmill  owner  of 
Greenwich  township.  When  a  young  man 
he  married  Eliza  Ann  Austin,  and  to  them 
were  born,  in  Connecticut,  the  following 
named  children:  Rufus  S.,  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch;  Emily  F.,  Mrs.  Will- 
iam Hickok,  of  Fitehville  township; 
Peninah  C,  Mrs.  Robert  Kelsey,  of 
Wauseon,  Ohio;  Mary,  who  died  in  Con- 
necticut when  four  years  old;  Sylvester,  a 


farmer  of  Hartland  township,  who  was 
killed  by  an  enraged  bull  in  18'JO;  Phi- 
lander C,  who  died  of  the  measles  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  while  a  member  of 
Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Third  O.  V.  I.,  and  Marcus  S.,  who  resides 
in  Otsego  county,  Mich.  The  family  mi- 
grated to  Ohio  in  1830,  the  journey  being 
made  by  canal  and  lake  boat  to  Huron, 
Ohio,  and  thence  by  wagon  to  Norwalk 
township,  where  the  father  purchased  land 
at  seven  dollars  per  acre.  That  farm  he 
partly  improved,  carrying  on,  in  connec- 
tion therewith,  a  sawinill.  In  1841  T\[r. 
Miles  purchased  wild  lands  in  Fitehville 
township,  and  removing  thereto  cut  the 
first  tree  on  the  tract.  After  residing  there 
for  some  years,  he  established  the  family 
on  a  farm  in  Ilai'tland  township,  and  was 
a  taxpayer  of  that  township  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  had  gone  on  a  visit  to  Con- 
necticut, his  native  State,  and  while  there 
died.  Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Miles  died  in  Hart- 
land  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Both 
were  identified  closely  with  pioneer  times 
and  events  in  Huron  county,  and  the  old 
settlers  of  three  townships  ofte7i  speak  of 
the  days  when  the  Miles  family  settled  in 
the  wilderness. 

Rufus  S.  Miles  came  to  Ohio  when  little 
more  than  thirteen  years  old.  In  his  Con- 
necticut home  he  had  received  an  elemeii- 
tary  education,  and  in  Ohio  he  had  to  aid 
his  father  in  clearing  the  land,  enduring 
no  small  share  of  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions which  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  pioneer. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  began  to 
learn  blacksmithiug,  and  subsequently 
worked  for  nine  years  at  the  trade  in 
Greenwich  township.  On  October  13, 
1852,  he  married  Jane  Crittenden,  who 
was  born  in  Fitehville  township  Decem- 
ber <J,  1832,  a  daughter  of  C.  C.  Critten- 
den. To  this  marriage  the  following 
named  children  were  born:  Mary  D.,  wife 
of  O.  F.  Walton,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio; 
Charles  D.,  a  young  merchant  of  Fiteh- 
ville, and  Frank  R.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve   years.     After    marriage  Rufus  S. 


450 


HUBON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  Jane  E.  Miles  located  in  Hartland 
township.  Fur  three  or  four  years  lie 
operated  a  sawmill  in  that  township,  and 
then  moved  to  Fitchville,  bringing  with 
liiin  the  mill.  Trading  the  machinery  for 
lands  in  Wood  county,  Ohio,  he  established 
a  general  store  in  Fitchville,  also  a  black- 
smith's shop  and  tin  store.  He  remained 
at  Fitchville  until  1882,  when  he  moved 
to  his  present  farm,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased some  years  previons.  This  land  is 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  im- 
proved with  a  substantial  residence  and 
Rne  farm  buildings. 

Republican  in  political  faith,  Mr.  Miles 
gives  his  party  a  hearty  support,  and  is 
looked  upon  as  a  safe  counsellor  in  local 
political  affairs.  Since  he  arrived  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  has  held  town- 
ship offices,  and  has  frequently  tilled  sev- 
eral at  one  and  the  same  time;  for  six 
years  he  was  postmaster  of  Fitchville.  In 
the  days  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  an  earnest 
worker  in  meeting  the  demands  made 
upon  the  township  by  the  draft.  Some 
years  ago,  when  there  was  a  prospect  of 
connecting  Fitchville  with  the  outside 
world  by  railroad,  he  favored  the  scheme 
and  aided  the  promoters  in  a  very  decided 
manner.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Greenwich  Fair  Associ- 
ation, and  held  every  office  in  connection 
with  it,  during  that  long  period.  For  over 
twenty  years  he  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath-school  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  held  various  offices  in  that 
church.  The  part  taken  by  his  wife  in 
domestic  affairs  and  in  the  social  doings  of 
the  township  has  been  a  material  one,  and 
her  influence  for  good  has  been  recognized. 
To-day  she  shares  with  her  husband  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people. 


djASON  A.  WHEELEKwas  born  Jan- 
uary  21,  ISS-i,    in   Greenfield  town- 
'    ship,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.     His  grand- 
father, John  Wheeler,  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  and  when    a   youth   of 


seventeen  years  settled  in  western  New 
York,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  While 
residing  in  Ontario  county.  New  York,  he 
cleared  a  tract  of  farm  land,  where  he  es- 
tablished his  home.  There  he  married 
Polly  Franklin,  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
and  to  this  union  the  following  named 
children  were  born  in  Ontaiio  county, 
N.  Y.:  Sylvester  F.,  John  H.,  Eeuoni, 
Aaron  and  Calvin. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  the  father  visited 
Ohio,  and  purchased  land  in  Greenfield 
township,  Huron  county.  Early  in  the 
spring  of  1811*  he  set  out  with  his  wife 
and  children  for  their  new  home,  making 
the  journey  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  team 
of  oxen  and  a  team  of  horses.  The  trip 
occupied  four  weeks.  They  had  no  lack 
of  friends  in  the  new  country,  for  neigh- 
bors of  the  family,  such  as  the  Starrs, 
Adams,  McKelveys  and  others,  had  pre- 
viously located  in  Huron  county.  The 
splendor  of  the  forests,  no  less  than  the 
hopes  for  the  future,  buoyed  up  the  cour- 
age of  the  new  comers.  John  Wheeler 
was  an  ardent  lover  of  out-door  sports,  and 
here  he  could  enjoy  them  ad  libitum.  The 
animals  of  the  chase  abounded;  bear  and 
deer  offered  themselves  as  targets  for  the 
Iiunter  and  food  for  the  settlers,  and  the 
rich  soil  jiromised  rewards  corresponding 
with  the  industry  of  the  husbandman.  In 
such  a  country  the  younger  children  of 
John  and  Polly  Wheeler — Chauncy  B., 
Almiraand  Samuel  B. — were  born.  ()f  the 
children  who  came  to  Ohio  with  their  par- 
ents, Aaron  (of  Norwalk)  and  Calvin  are 
the  only  survivors,  the  others  having 
passed  away  in  Huron  county.  Of  the 
children  born  in  Greenfield  township, 
Chauncy  died  in  Crawford  county,  Kans. ; 
Almira,  who  first  married  a  Mr.  Van  Tine 
and  later  a  Mr.  Tucker,  is  a  widow;  and 
Samuel  B.  resides  at  Parsons,  Kans.  They 
were  all  reared  in  Ohio  in  the  manner  of 
pioneer  children.  When  Calvin  was  four 
years  old  his  parents  left  him  and  tliree 
brothers  in  the  cabin,  while  they  assisted 
at  the  burial  of  a  neighbor.     During  their 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


451 


absence  the  children  saw  a  large  sow  root- 
ing in  the  soil  near  the  house,  and,  while 
they  were  watching,  a  black  bear  appeared 
in  the  clearing  and  carried  ■off  the  fright- 
ened hog  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where 
he  killed  it.     Some  time  after  a  clearinor 

o 

was  made  in  Greenfield  township  the  father 
revisited  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
was  ordained  a  Free-will  Baptist  minister. 
On  his  return  he  became  an  active  vs^orker 
in  that  Churcli,  and  organized  several  So- 
cieties in  Huron  and  Ashland  counties. 
His  first  wife  died  in  June,  18 — ,  aged 
sixty-three  years.  For  his  second  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Hulda  (Osborn)  Gregory, 
widow  of  Lansing  Gregory,  and  she  died 
some  years  before  him.  He  was  a  strong 
Democrat  until  the  slave  question  arose, 
when  he  joined  the  Republican  ranks. 
He  possessed  a  stentorian  voice,  and  when 
leading  religious  services  could  be  heard 
at  long  distances.  He  preached  for  a 
Dumber  of  years  at  Steuben,  where  he  was 
the  first  Baptist  minister;  and,  tiiongh  his 
circuit  was  a  wide  one,  it  was  all  known 
to  him,  for  he  was  a  hunter  and  a  fisher- 
man as  well  as  a  farmer  and  preacher.  He 
died  about  1877,  in  his  ninety-first  year. 
Calvin  AVheeler,  son  of  John  Wheeler, 
was  born  January  19,  1818,  in  Ontario 
county,  N.  Y.  Little  over  a  year  later  he 
was  brought  to  Huron  county,  and  here 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  He  ob- 
tained the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  a 
school,  to  which  lie  had  to  walk  two  miles 
each  winter  morning  and  return  the  same 
evening.  In  February,  1842,  he  married 
Mary  Richards,  who  was  born  January  27, 
1821,  in  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
came  with  her  father  to  Huron  county  in 
1837.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were 
as  follows:  Nancy  Genette,  born  January 
15,  1843,  who  married  E.  T.  Trimmer, 
and  died  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich., 
March  5,  1868;  Agnes  E.,  born  March  9, 
1844,  now  Mrs.  Marion  Parsons,  of  Shi- 
loh,  Ohio;  David  M.,  born  December  29, 
1846,  a  traveling  salesman,  whose  home  is 
at   Plymouth,   Huron   county;    Benjamin 


R.,  born  November  20,  1848,  a  farmer 
and  stock  buyer  of  Greenfield  township; 
Calvin  J.,  born  July  31,  1850,  a  farmer  of 
Peru  township:  Chauncy  B.,  born  January 
3,  1852,  an  engineer  on  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  <k  Pacific  Railroad;  Jason  A., 
born  January  21,  1854;  Jesse  (twin  of 
Jason  A.),  a  merchant  at  Cliicago  Junc- 
tion; Alice,  born  January  18, 1857,  widow 
of  Henry  Bronson,  now  engaged  in  mer 
cantile  business  at  Chicago  Junction ;  Al- 
fred (twin  of  Alice),  now  a  harness  maker 
at  Plymouth,  Ohio;  Lillis,  born  November 
14,  1861,  now  the  widow  of  Dayton  L. 
Green,  residing  at  Steuben;  and  Linda 
Belle,  born  October  3,  1863,  now  Mrs. 
Elmer  McMorris,  of  Steuben.  The  father 
of  this  large  family  was  engaged  in  farm 
work  up  to  1870,  when  he  removed  to 
Steuben  to  engage  in  mercantile  l)usiness. 
He  was  postmaster  there  for  some  years. 
His  wife  died  March  5,  1866,  and  was 
buried  in  Steuben  cemetery  with  the  rites 
of  the  Free- Will  Baptists,  of  which  Church 
she  was  a  member.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  a 
Democrat  until  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  when  he  became  a  Free- 
soiler.  For  over  fifty-six  years  he  lias 
been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Chui'ch. 

Jason  A.  Wheeler  was  born  January  21, 
1854,  in  Greenfield  township,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  in 
the  Buckeye  College.*  Wiien  school  days 
were  passed  he  entered  the  store  of  his 
brother,  D.  M.  Wheeler,  of  Steuben,  in 
whose  employ  he  remained  until  1874. 
For  a  time  he  was  a  clerk  for  A.  J.  Coul- 
ton,  of  Steuben,  in  which  capacity  he 
learned  all  the  details  of  business,  and  on 
January  7,  1877,  he  estal)lished  himself  in 
trade  at  Steuben.  Here  for  ten  years  he 
conducted  a  general  store,  and  built  up  an 
extensive  trade,  his  courteous  manners  and 
reputation  for  fair  dealing  winning  him 
an  immense  patronage.  On  May  30, 
1887,  his  store  and  goods,  valued  at 
$8,000,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  but  with- 
out delay  he  opened  a  stock  at  Chicago 
Junction,    and    was    engaged    iu    general 


452 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


trade  there  for  a  short  time,  when  he  re- 
tired to  his  farm,  one  mile  soutli  of  Steu- 
ben, whither  he  had  moved  in  188t5.  The 
tract  was  known  as  the  "Piatt  Farm." 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  married  October  15, 
1873,  to  Charlotte  Ashley,  who  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  February  11, 
1856,  and  cauje  to  Ohio  with  her  father, 
Dennis  Ashley,  in  March  of  that  year. 
The  children  of  Jason  A.  and  Charlotte 
"Wheeler  are  Charles  N.,  George  M.,Mary 
L.,  Jason  A.,  Jr.,  and  Tluth.  The  eldest 
graduated  from  Oberlin  College  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  On  October  21,  1891, 
he  delivered  the  oi'ation  on  "Columbus 
Day,"  being  selected  by  the  faculty  for 
this  task  in  recosnition  of  his  high  stand- 
ing  in  oratory.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler, 
with  the  three  elder  members  of  the  fam- 
ily, belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Republican 
party  in  Huron  county;  was  postmaster  at 
Steulien  for  some  years;  was  clerk  of 
Greenfield  township  eight  years,  is  now  a 
trustee  of  that  township,  and  November  7, 
1893,  was  elected  comniissioner  of  Huron 
county  three  years.  Since  1886  he  has 
given  close  attention  to  his  fine  farm,  and 
has  the  reputation  of  being  a  methodical 
agriculturist  and  a  most  excellent  citizen. 


fr^)  UDOLPH    GEIGER,  retired,  is  a 

lU^    native   of    Baden,   Germany,    born 

ir^  December  17,  1823,  a  son  of  John 

JJ  Geiger,  who  died  in  Baden  wiieo 

Rudolph  was  five  years  old,  leaving 

five  children. 

In  Marcii,  1844,  the  widow  and  three  of 
her  children — Lawrence  (who  had  visited 
the  United  States  twelve  years  before), 
Josephine  (who  died  six  weeks  after  arriv- 
ing in  the  country),  and  Rudolph — set  out 
for  the  shores  of  Columbia,  here  to  better 
their  condition  and  make  a  new  home. 
They  first  proceeded  to  Rotterdam,  Hol- 
land, thence  to  Havre,  France,  where  they 
took  sailing  ship  for  New  York,  landing 
after  a  voyage  of  forty- two  days.     From 


there  they  traveled  westward  to  Ohio,  ar- 
riving in  course  of  time  at  the  town  of 
Huron,  Erie  county,  whence  Lawrence  and 
Rudolph  walked  to  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  county,  where  they  hired  a  team, 
drove  back  to  Huron,  and  brought  their 
mother  and  sister  to  Greenfield. 

Rudolph  Geiger  received  his  education 
in  the  Fatherland,  and  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  blacksmith;  but  he  had  to 
abandon  it  on  account  of  his  lungs  being 
easily  affected  while  working  at  the  forge; 
he  then  for  a  brief  spell  tried  his  hand  at 
carpentry,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica. In  Huron  county  he  first  secured  em- 
ployment in  a  brickyard,  later  in  the  tan- 
nery in  Norwalk  belonging  to  Judge 
Baker's  brother,  who  was  so  much  pleased 
with  him,  on  account  of  his  sterling  hon- 
esty and  characteristic  industry,  that  he 
oflfered  to  give  him  seventy  acres  of  land 
in  Clarkstield  township  if  he  would  stay 
with  him  two  years  longer.  This  highly 
complimentary  and  valued  offer  Mr. 
Geiger  was  constrained  to  decline,  how- 
ever, on  account  of  the  tannery  business 
impairing  his  health.  He  then  drove  team 
for  Pickett  Lattimore,  a  brewer  of  Nor- 
walk, and  from  there,  after  a  time,  he  re- 
turned to  Greenfield  township,  and  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a  brickmaker  soon  became 
owner  of  a  kiln,  which  he  conducted  up  to 
his  marriage.  After  that  event  he  and  his 
young  wife  made  their  home  in  Milan, 
Erie  county,  where  for  four  years  he 
burned  brick  each  season;  and  many  of 
the  best  buildings  in  that  town,  and  also 
in  Norwalk,  were  made  in  his  yard — in 
fact  his  brick  was  by  far  the  best  made  in 
the  county  at  that  time.  Until  he  com- 
menced in  the  business  only  a  few  brick 
buildings  had  been  erected,  but  afterward, 
so  popular  had  the  product  of  his  yards 
become,  a  "boom  "  in  putting  up  brick 
houses  was  the  result.  He  next  came  to 
Sherman  township,  and  boughteighty  acres 
of  land  in  the  woods,  the  trees  being  (to 
use  liis  own  language)  "  as  thick  as  hnir8 
on  a  dog's  back."     After  two  years  labor 


UUROy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


453 


here  in  clearing  tlie  land  he  moved  to  San- 
dusky, and  tliere  made  four  kilns  of  brick, 
which  sold  rapidly,  notwithstanding  the 
many  other  kilns  in  the  place — the  reason 
being,  simply,  that  he  made  better  brick 
than  any  one  else.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
cholera  in  that  city,  in  1855,  he  once  more 
came  to  Sherman  township,  renewed  farm- 
ing operations,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since. 
In  Feiiruary,  1849,  Mr.  Geiger  married 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Ott,  who  was  born  in  Jjaden, 
Germany,  in  1826,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  young  womanhood.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  union  were  John  and  Adolph, 
both  in  Sandusky;  Louisa,  who  married 
John  Smith,  and  died  when  twenty-five 
years  old;  Odelia,  now  Mrs.  Frederick 
Brown,  of  Pulaski  county,  Ind.;  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  John  Weidenger,  of  Sherman 
township;  and  Anna,  at  home.  The  fam- 
ily are  all  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger,  honored  and  re- 
spected in  their  old  age,  have  been  living 
for  the  past  few  years  a  comparatively  re- 
tired life,  compulsory  in  his  case  more  on 
account  of  an  accident  he  met  with  a  few 
years  ago,  a  log  rolling  on  him,  which  has- 
tened his  retirement  from  active  work. 


S.  LANTEKMAN,  M.  D.,  mayor 
of  Bellevue,  was  born  in  1847,  in 
Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
^  John  and  Julia  (Brown)  Lanterman. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  New 
York  State,  where  he  passed  from  earth  at 
the  age  of  forty-six  years;  the  mother, 
who  is  a  native  of  New  England,  is  now 
eighty-one  years  old. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Lanterman  was  educated  in 
his  native  county,  and  read  medicine  there 
under  a  preceptor  for  some  time.  Later 
he  was  enrolled  as  a  student  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  and  graduated  from 
the  Medical  Department  of  that  institution 
of  learning  in  1807.  The  same  year  he 
located  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  and  surgery  for  one 


year,  and  then  removed  to  Bellevue,  Ohio. 
He  is  the  oldest  practicing  physician  of 
the  regular  school  here  to-day,  and  is  un- 
doubtedly the  most  popular  citizen  in  this 
particular  section  of  Huron  county.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  old  Delamater  Medi- 
cal Association  of  Norwalk,  and  for  a  long 
period  was  the  life  of  that  organization. 
He  has  been  connected  with  the  municipal 
affairs  of  Bellevue  for  a  number  of  years, 
served  as  councilman  for  several  terms, 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as 
mayor.  In  political  life  he  is  a  thorough 
Republican,  earnest  in  the  support  of  his 
party,  l)ut  always  good  natured  and  logical 
in  his  arguments.  He  is  well  up  in  Ma- 
sonic work,  and  has  reached  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  In  August,  1802,  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years,  our  subject  enlisted 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  N.  Y. 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  in  that 
command  and  in  the  Third  N.  Y.  Light 
Artillery  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Dr.  Lanterman  was  united  in  marriage, 
September  20,  1872,  with  Miss  Emma 
Heal,  a  native  of  Eno-land,  daughter  of 
Enoch  and  Charlotte  Heal.  He  has  proved 
himself  a  conservative  power  in  the  coun- 
cil of  Bellevue,  and  a  most  able  physician 
and  surgeon;  and  it  may  be  here  stated 
that  the  municipal  body  is  as  safe  in  his 
hands  as  are  his  patients. 


C.  HEYMANN.  Among  the 
earliest  German  settlers  of  Sher- 
man township  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  is  an  honored 
representative  of  a  large  and  respected 
family  of  the  name,  noted  for  their  thrift 
and  wealth. 

Mr.  Heymann  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1808,  and  came  to  America  in  1852,  set- 
tling in  Sherman  township,  where  he  en- 
joys the  distinction  of  being  now  the 
oldest  citizen.  He  married,  and  has  ten 
children,  named  as  follows:  William, 
John,    Charles,    Jacob,    Philip,    Henry, 


454 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


George,  Frederick,  Mattie  and  Lizzie,  to 
eadi  of  whom  Mr.  Heyinann  has  given  a 
good  start  in  life.  By  industry  and  judi- 
cious economy  he  has  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable competence,  being  an  extensive 
landholder,  and  is  now  living  retired  at 
Weaver's  Corners.  In  his  political  pref- 
erences he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  re- 
jiijioas  belief  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


xVMUEL    A\^.  CURTISS,  one  of  the 
progressive,  active  spirits  of   Fitch- 
vilie  township,  and  a  friend  of  every 
worthy  enterprise,  was  born  in   that 
township  July  10,  1832. 

Joseph  C.  Curtiss,  his  father,  was  born 
in  June,  1803,  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
attended  the  school  of  his  native  place  for 
some  time,  and  tlien  learned  the  gunsmith's 
trade.  He  was  there  married  to  Liicina 
Ward,  and  early  in  1825  the  young  couple 
set  out  for  Ohio.  It  was  then  the  para- 
dise of  huuters,  and  Mr.  Curtiss  saw 
plainly  that,  where  hunters  were,  would  un- 
doubtedly be  the  proper  place  to  carry  on  his 
trade.  Locating  at  Norwalk,  Huron  coun- 
ty, he  purchased  a  town  lot  on  Main  street, 
known  as  "  The  Todd  Lot,"  and  thereon 
erected  a  small  house,  to  serve  the  dual 
purpose  of  dwelling  and  workshop.  Early 
in  1S32  he  removed  to  Fitchville,  and  en- 
teririg  into  partnership  with  Union  White, 
established  a  general  store  at  the  center. 
Political  incompatibility  led  to  the  disso- 
lution ot  this  partnership  in  1835.  There 
was  no  possibility  of  an  agreement  be- 
tween Whig  and  Democrat,  under  one 
roof,  and  hence  the  establishment  of  a  sec- 
ond general  store  at  Fitchville,  in  the  year 
named. 

In  1835  Mr.  Curtiss  erected  a  residence 
adjoining  his  store,  and  there  lived  to  the 
close  of  his  life.  In  1861  he  retired  from 
mercantile  pursuits,  but  up  to  the  period 
of  his  death,  September  1,  1871,  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  particu- 
larly in  the  development  of  Fitchville  vil- 


lage and  township.  Prior  to  1856  he  waa 
an  Old-line  Whig,  and  during  his  retnain- 
ing  years  a  stanch  Republican.  In  1839-40 
he  was  an  active  partisan  in  the  Harrison- 
Tyler  campaign,  and  was  himself  elected  a 
commissioner  of  Huron  county  on  the 
Whig  ticket.  That  office  he  held  four 
years,  when  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  in  which  he  served  during 
the  sessions  of  1845  and  1846.  A  tem- 
perance man  by  experience,  he  studied  the 
devastation  of  human  life  by  drink,  and 
opposed  free  liquor  witii  all  the  force  of 
his  mind.  In  fact  he  carried  the  principle 
so  far  as  to  enlarge  his  dwelling  and  estab- 
lish a  temperance  hotel  for  the  convenience 
of  the  public.  Tiie  enterprise  was  un- 
popular. Travelers,  as  a  rule,  were  drink- 
ing men  then,  and  the  regular  hotel-keep- 
ers furnished  a  certain  amount  of  strong 
drink  with  board  and  lodging;  so  that  the 
temperance  hotel  was  compelled  to  light  a 
long  and  strong  battle  against  the  sophistry 
and  liberality  of  its  opponents.  Mr.  Cur- 
tiss met  their  actions  by  furnishing  board 
and  lodgings  twenty  per  cent,  below  the 
price  charged  by  the  regular  hotel  men, 
and  this  action  compelled  them  to  cut 
prices.  Thus  matters  went  along  for  thir- 
teen years,  when  the  temperance  house 
closed  its  doors.  It  was  conducted  at  a 
profit,  and  taught  lessons  which  bore  rich 
fruit. 

Mr.  Curtiss  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Lucina  Ward,- to  whom  three  sons — J;  C, 
Jr.,  S.  W.  and  D.  A. — and  one  daughter 
— Mary  J. — were  born.  After  the  death 
of  this  wife  he  married  a  Mrs.  Allen,  who 
is  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Jane,  now 
living  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y.  While  a  resi- 
dent of  Norwalk  Mr.  Curtiss  produced  a 
greater  number  of  guns  than  the  demands 
of  local  trade  required.  The  surplus  he 
would  load  on  a  pack  horse,  at  stated  in- 
tervals, and  sell  along  the  old  Wooster 
trail,  and  what  retuained  on  arriving  at 
Wooster  he  could  easily  dispose  of  there 
to  hunters  and  farmers.  He  afterward  be- 
came a  heavy   dealer    in   farm    products, 


HUltOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


455 


which  he  received  in  exchange  for  mer- 
eliaiulise.  On  one  occasion  he  sent  for- 
ward a  drove  of  1,700  hoo;s  to  Now  York 
City,  and  often  shipped  vast  quantities  of 
stociv  and  grain  to  the  mariiets  north, 
south  and  east. 

Samuel  AV.  Curtiss  was  born  in  Fiteh- 
ville  township,  immediately  after  the  re- 
moval of  the  family  from  Norwalk,  and  in 
his  boyhood  attended  the  school  of  Miss 
Sarah  Mason,  just  south  of  FitchviJIe  vil- 
lage. After  her  day  he  continued  to  at- 
tend the  school  of  the  district,  the  hours 
after  school  being  given  to  work  in  his 
father's  store.  Later  he  attended  the 
academy  of  Rev.  T.  F.  Thompson,  of  Nor- 
walk,  and  when  his  school  days  were 
passed  took  a  position  in  the  Curtiss  store. 
On  one  occasion,  in  winter  time,  when  he 
was  seventeen  years  old.  he  was  sent  witii 
the  drovers  to  deliver  1,700  hogs,  which 
his  father  promised  to  supply  to  a  party  or 
parties  at  Baltimore.  The  route  lay  through 
Peimsylvania.  Tlie  Ohio  river  was  crossed 
at  Smith's  Feriy,  and  they  proceeded 
thence  via  the  National  Pike,  through 
Washington  county,  Penn.  Before  reach- 
ing Baltimore  the  destination  was  changed 
to  New  York,  and  while  en  route  they  sold 
1,300  of  the  hogs  at  Reading,  Penn.,  the 
balance  being  traded  for  fat  hogs,  which 
they  took  to  New  Y^ork  And  there  sold. 
After  returning  to  Fitchville  our  subject 
became  a  regular  clerk  in  his  father's 
store.  In  1851  he  married  Fidelia  Tucker, 
who  was  born  in  1830,  in  Madison  county, 
N.  Y'.,  daughter  of  Lester  Tucker,  and 
after  marriage  the  young  couple^  went  to 
reside  on  a  farm  in  Greenwich  township, 
llis  first  experience  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits was  on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  where 
he  remained  some  three  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Greenwich,  whence  after  two 
years  residence  there  he  returned  to 
Fitchville  and  re-entered  his  father's  store. 
For  three  years  thereafter  he  clerked,  and 
then  continued  as  partner  with  iiis  father 
until  the  fall  of  1864.  Retaining  iiis  in- 
terest in  the  store,  he  returned  to  the  farm. 


and  was  engaged  in  agriculture  until  1871, 
wiien  the  deatii  of  his  fatlier  called  him  to 
Fitchville  village  to  take  charge  of  the 
store.  In  1878  he  admitted  as  partner  his 
son,  who  managed  the  house  from  1883  to 
1887,  while  tiie  fatiier  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  his  fine  farm,  situated  northeast 
of  the  village.  On  this  farm  he  built 
an  elegant  i-esidence  and  made  many  im- 
provements, but  since  1887  he  has  'made 
his  home  in  the  village,  entrusting  his 
farm  to  the  care  of  tenants.  The  children 
of  Samuel  W.  and  Fidelia  Curtiss  are  as 
follows:  Ada  M.,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Townsend,  of 
New  London  township;  Sidney  O..  of  Xew 
London  village;  Carrie,  who  died  when 
twenty-two  years  old;  Doren.  who  died 
when  four  years  old;  Lena  F.,  deceased 
wife  of  William  Palmer;  Bertha  and  Pearl, 
who  reside  at  home.  The  mother  of  this 
family  is  a  metnberof  the  Baptist  Church. 
Mr.  Curtiss  enlisted  April  2,  1864,  in  an 
independent  company  of  the  Si.xty-third 
Regiment,    Ohio    National    Guards.       In 

1863  the  One  Hundred  and  Si.xty-sixth 
Regiment  was  organized  in  Huron  county 
as    Home  Guards,   and    in   the   spring  of 

1864  Gov.  Brough  turned  the  Si.xtv- third 
over  to  the  Government  as  United  States 
troops,  to  go  wherever  called.  On  May 
2,  1864.  they  were  ordered  to  Camp  Taylor, 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  when  mustered  it 
was  found  there  were  sonie  200  men  un- 
fit for  duty,  and  Mr.  Curtiss'  company 
was  then  consolidated  with  the  Seventy- 
ninth  Battalion,  O.  N.  G.,  of  Medina 
county,  a  senior  organization.  On  May 
15,  1><64,  when  the  change  was  made 
in  the  disposal  of  the  Sixty-third  Regi- 
ment, he  was  mustered  in  as  first 
lieutenant;  and  when  his  company  was 
consolidated  with  the  Medina  battalion 
(at  which  time  he  was  quartermaster),  he 
was  deprived  of  his  commission  on  a 
technicality.  Thereupon  he  was  about  re- 
turning home,  when  his  superiors  prevailed 
upon  him  to  remain  as  lieutenant  in  Com- 
pany B.  The  regiment  proceeded  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  did  duty  at  Forts   Richardson, 


456 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Barnard,  Reynolds  and  Ward,  until  muster- 
out,  September  9,  1864.  After  the  ex- 
citement attendant  on  Jubal  Early's  raid 
on  Washington  had  died  out,  the  men  of 
Mr.  Cnrtiss'  regiment  suffered  much  from 
camp  sickness.  At  one  time  his  own  ill- 
ness was  so  serious  that  his  wife  traveled 
from  Ohio  to  attend  upon  him,  and  to  her 
ministrations  his  recovery  is  attributed. 

Our  subject  cast  his  first  vote  for  the 
first  Republican  Presidential  liorainee,  and 
his  loyalty  to  the  party  is  well  known  in 
Huron  county.  He  has  filled  various 
offices  in  his  townshi)).  Under  the  charter 
of  the  village  of  Fitchville  he  is  mayor, 
although  the  corporation  is  sleeping.  It 
was  he  who  contributed  lumber  for  the 
first  sidewalk  laid  by  the  municipality,  and 
to  him  must  be  credited,  specially,  the 
lighting  of   the  streets  of  the  village. 


QRREN  W.  HEAD  was  born  at  Paris, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  18th  day 
^'    of  May,  1808.     His  parents,  Jona- 
than   and     Hepzibath   (Livermore) 
Head,  were  both  born  in   New  England — 
the  father  in  Rhode  Island,  the  mother  in 
New  Hampshire. 

Mr.  Head  trrew  to  manhood  on  the  farm, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1836 
he  contracted  a  matrimonial  alliance  with 
Julia  Ch'ane,  a  resident  of  Marshall,  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
five  children — three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, the  latter  of  whom  are  both  dead.  In 
1842  Mr.  Head  and  his  family  settled  in 
Ridgefield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  the  "  Sours  farm," 
together  with  other  lands  adjoining,  mak- 
ing a  farm  of  420  acres,  which  he  kept 
well  cultivated  and  improved.  In  1857 
he  built  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Davis 
Block  "  in  Monroeville,  in  which  for  a 
number  of  years  he  did  a  banking  busi- 
ness— first  under  the  name  of  the  Perkins 
&   Head   exchange  Bank;  then,  after   the 


death  of  E.  B.  Perkins,  under  the  name  of 
the  O.  W.  Head  Exchange  Bank.  In  1862 
he  sold  out  to  S.  V.  Harkness,  but  always  did 
a  private  banking  business.  He  occupied, 
and  deservedly  so,  a  high  place  in  tiie  es- 
teem of  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  by  close 
attention  to  business;  by  strict  and  hon- 
orable dealing;  by  carefnl  and  wise  man- 
agement, he  succeeded  in  accumulating  a 
good  competency.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Monroeville  National  Bank, 
and  served  as  its  first  president,  which  po- 
sition he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  died  October  2,  1882,  and  was  buried 
in  Monroeville  cemetery. 

Mr.  Head  was  ever  willing  to  assist  any 
movement  tending  to  improve  the  condi- 
tion of  the  community  in  which  he  lived, 
and  was  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out the  county.  He  never  refused  aid  to 
those  worthy  of  assistance,  and  it  can  be 
said  of  him  that  he  assisted  more  men,  at 
the  time  they  needed  it  most,  to  secure 
homes,  than  any  other  one  man  in  the 
county. 

On  October  4, 1872,  Mr.  Head  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  M.  Newcomer,  of  Ashland, 
Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Annie  (Albert)  Newcomer,  of 
Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Head  has  resided  upon  the  home  farm, 
and  has  conducted  her  business  interests 
with  success.  She  is  now  owner  of  over 
eight  humlred  acres  of  land,  besides  other 
properties.  Though  not  a  professor  of  re- 
ligion, she  contributes  liberally  of  her 
means  to  such  institutions  of  which  her 
husband   was  also  a  hearty  supporter. 


f[J|ENRY  KIMMEL,  the  pioneer  car- 
IpH     penter  and  builder  of  Bellevue,  is  a 
I     1|    son    of   Henry     and    Anna    Maria 
■JJ  (Brandau)  Kimniel,  fartning  people 

of  Germany,  who  lived  and  died  in 
their  native  land. 

Henry  Kiinmel  was  born  December  24. 
1828,  in  Niederngiida,  Kreiss  Rodenberg, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


457 


Germany.  Wlien  not  eighteen  years  old 
lie,  with  a  brother,  catne  to  the  United 
States,  locating  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where 
Henry  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  In 
1848  or  1849  he  came  to  Bellevue,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  worked  at  his  trade  by  the 
day  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  mar- 
ried July  22, 1851,  to  Miss  Eva  R  Streck, 
of  Bellevue,  and  to  this  marriage  seven 
children  were  born,  namely:  Louisa,  who 
is  married  to  James  Aigler,  and  has  three 
children — Ernest,  Ethel  and  Amos;  Julia, 
who  married  Charles  E.  Burgess,  and  has 
two  children — Aid  and  Robert;  Isabel, 
married  to  Henry  Mansfield;  Franklin 
(married);  Adelaide  (unmarried);  Eva  R., 
married  to  J.  Rudd,  and  one  son  de- 
ceased. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kimmel 
returned  to  Sandusky,  where  he  resided  for 
one  year,  and  then  moved  to  New  Haven, 
Ohio,  remaining  there  six  or  seven  mouths, 
during  which  time  he  purchased,  con- 
ducted, and  sold  the  hotel  at  that  point. 
Returning  to  Bellevue,  he  has  made  this 
city  his  home  up  to  the  present  time.  In 
1862  he  was  drafted,  but  he  furnished  a 
substitute. 

Mr.  Kimmel  lias  been  engaged  in  con- 
tract work  for  altout  thirty -four  years.  The 
first  block  in  the  town  of  Bellevue,  the 
"Kern  Block,"  was  erected  by  him,  and 
of  the  many  buildings  he  has  put  up  it  is 
said  that  the  owner  was  invariably  satisfied, 
a  record  which  speaks  most  forcibly  of  Mr. 
Kimmel's  practical  honesty. 


DAVID  GRIEVE,  one  of  the  large 
landowners  of  Greenfield  township, 
'   was  born  April   28,   181'J,  in  Ber- 
gen  county,  N.  J.,  son  of  Thomas 
Grieve,  who  was  a  native   of   Edinburgh, 
Scotland. 

At  an  early  age  Thomas  Grieve  removed 
to  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  where  in  1810 
he  married  Elizabeth  Stewart,  a  native  of 
that  county,  where  one  son — -Thomas — 
was  born  to  them.  In  1812  the  father 
sailed  from  Ireland  for  the  United  States, 


and  for  two  years  worked  at  the  weaver's 
trade  in  New  Jersey.  Having  earned 
sufficient  money  to  pay  for  the  passage  of 
his  wife  and  son,  he  sent  for  them,  and  in 
1814  they  arrived  after  a  rough  voyage  of 
ninety  days,  the  cost  of  passage  for  each 
being  two  hundred  dollars.  The  family 
located  in  New  Jersey,  and  there  the 
father  worked  at  his  trade  until  1836. 
The  children  born  iu  New  .lersey  to 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Grieve  are  named 
as  follows:  David,  James,  William  and 
George  (twins),  Elizabeth  ,1.  and  John.  In 
1886  the  whole  family  came  to  Ohio  via 
the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie,  and  proceed- 
ing south  located  in  Huron  county.  The 
father  purchased  land  in  Greenfield  town- 
ship at  eight  dollars  per  acre,  improved  the 
tract  with  the  aid  of  his  sons,  and  had  a 
comfortable  home  made  for  his  family, 
when  disease  carried  him  off  in  1838,  he 
and  his  three  sons — William,  John  and 
James — being  buried  within  one  month. 
The  widow  survived  this  terrilile  atHiction 
until  1858,  when  she  died,  and  was  buried 
in  Greenfield  township. 

David  Grieve  attended  school  for  six 
and  one-half  years,  intending  to  devote 
his  life  to  mercantile  or  clerical  work. 
When  an  infant  six.  weeks  old  his  right 
hand  was  burned  so  terribly  as  to  render 
the  member  of  little  use,  and  to  this  inci- 
dent his  long  educational  course  must  be 
credited.  In  his  youth  he  went  to  New 
York  City  and  found  employment  in  a 
grocery  store  on  the  corner  of  Spring  and 
Hudson  streets,  remaining  there  until 
1836,  when  he  followed  his  parents  to 
Ohio, where  he  taught  school  inan  old-fash- 
ioned log  house,  boarding  around  with  his 
pupils.  He  caught  tlie  "Ohio  Itch,"  and 
suffered  from  lung  troubles  fostered  by 
exposure  in  the  ancient  school  buildings, 
and  all  this  was  rewarded  by  twelve  dol- 
lars a  mouth,  with  bed  and  board  in  va- 
rious places.  Clearing  the  forest  was  pref- 
erable, and  he  abandoned  the  teacher's 
profession,  and  for  the  seven  following 
years  worked  as  a  farm  laborer.      In  1865 


458 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  married  Sarali  M.  Koch,  who  was  born  in 
1842,  near  Pottstown,  Penn.,  and  came  to 
Huron  county  with  her  father,  Jonathan 
Koch,  wlien  a  girl.  The  children  born  to 
this  marriage  are  Elinira  G.,  who  resides 
at  home,  and  John  A.,  a  farmer  of  Peru 
township.  For  some  years  before  his  mar- 
riage the  mother  and  sister  of  our  sub- 
ject weie  his  housekeepers. 

At  the  time  of  his  father's  death  David 
Grieve  was  bequeathed  a  ti-act  of  land  of 
forty  acres,  in  consideration  of  the  care 
bestowed  by  him  on  his  mother  and  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  and  to  this  small  tract 
he  added  gradually,  until  he  now  has  over 
270  acres  of  good  land.  In  1854  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies. 
Politically  Mr.  Grieve  is  a  Republican, 
formerly  a  Whig;  in  1840  he  voted  for 
William  H.  Harrison.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year,  which  he  passed  as  clerk 
in  a  wholesale  grocery  house  at  Toledo, 
Mr.  Grieve  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
agriculture.  He  has  filled  various  town- 
siiip  offices,  and  is  a  man  who  reads  ex- 
tensively and  thinks  for  himself.  Mrs. 
Grieve  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Churcii. 


/ 


tyfff  ARTIN  ORDWAY,  carpenter  and 

\^     joiner,  of  Townsend   township,   is 

1]    a  native  of  the  county,  born    May 

29,  1823,  in  Norwalk,  the  lifth  in 

a  family  of  nine  children  born   to 

Neheraiah  and   Eleanor  (Ferand)  Ordway, 

both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vermont, 

and  of  English  descent. 

Nehemiah  Ordway  was  educated  and 
married  in  his  native  State,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pui-snits  for  several 
years.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier  during 
the  war  of  1812,  soon  after  which,  in  1816, 
he  immigrated  with  his  wife  and  family  to 
the  tlien  western  frontier  of  northern  Ohio, 
settling  near  Norwalk,  Huron  county,  then 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  accomplish- 
ing the  entire  journey  overland,  from  the 
hills  of  Vermont  to  this  wild  region,  with 


wagons  and  teams.  In  the  winter  of  1823- 
24  he  bought  wild  lands  two  miles  south 
of  the  center  of  Townsend  township,  Hu- 
ron county,  where  he  subsequently  im- 
proved a  farm.  Here  the  family  sutfered 
all  the  hardships  and  privations  incident 
to  a  frontier  life,  their  white  neighbors 
beincr  few  and  far  between,  the  nearest  one 
two  and  a  half  or  three  miles  distant;  the 
Redmen,  however,  were  still  numerous,  but 
they  were  generally  quite  peaceable  and 
caused  but  little  trouble  or  anxiety  to 
the  white  settlers.  In  about  1832  Mr. 
Ordway  sold  his  place  and  bought  another 
near  Townsend  Center,  and  there  remained 
until  1852,  when  he  again  sold  out,  and 
removed  to  Wood  county,  Ohio.  Here  he 
bought  a  farm,  and  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  May,  1876.  He  was  for  many 
years  trustee  of  his  township,  and  for  the 
last  thirty  years  of  his  life  was  an  earnest 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  to  which 
his  wife  also  belonged. 

Martin  Ordway,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  such  an  education  in 
youth  as  could  be  obtained  at  the  common 
schools,  taught  in  the  rude  schoolhouses  of 
that  early  day,  which  were  usually  con- 
structed of  logs,  with  puncheon  floor  and 
clap-board  roof.  He  was  employed  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  was  nineteen  years  old, 
and  then  went  to  Milan,  Ohio,  to  learn  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  his  brother,  with 
whom  he  remained  about  three  years.  He 
then  went  to  work  at  his  trade  on  his  own 
account,  and  he  has  ever  since  continued 
to  follow  same,  at  various  points,  with 
most  al)undaiit  success.  He  owns  a  small 
farm  near  Townsend  Center,  upon  which 
he  has  I'esided  for  the  last  forty- six  ytars. 

Mr  Ordway  was  married  December  24. 
1846,  to  Miss  Amilla  Van  Tassell,  a  native 
of  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  born  Stjptember 
4,  1822,  a  daughter  of  Tunis  and  Puah 
(^Haven)  Van  Tassell,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  the 
former  of  Holland-Dutch  extraction  and 
the  latter  of  Enoilish  descent.    To  Mr.  and 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


459 


Mrs.  Ordway  have  been  born  five  children, 
viz.:  Betsey  Jane,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  AVissert; 
Electa  D  ,  now  Mrs.  Niles  II.  House;  Jef- 
ferson II.;  Etfie  A.,  now  Mrs.  W.  G.  Dart; 
and  Einina  N.  (Birdie),  now  Mrs.  C.  B. 
Canfield.  Mr.  Ordway  is  at  present  serving 
as  trustee  of  Townsend  township,  and  has 
served  as  such  at  various  times  for  many 
years.  He  lias  been  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Fraternity  for  over  thirty  years. 
Botii  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  and  uncompromising  R^^publican. 
Mrs.  Ordway's  father,  Tunis  Van  Tas- 
sell,  was  also  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
northern  Ohio,  haviricr  removed  from  New 
York  to  Townsend  township,  Huron  county, 
in  1836.  Here  he  bought  wild  land  and 
subsequently  improved  a  farm,  where  he 
was  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  all  his  life.  His  father  and  father- 
in-law  were  soldiers  in  the  Continental 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
ance-tors  of  the  Van  Tassell  family  were 
among  the    hardy   and    patriotic   Holland 

Sioneers  of  the  old  Dutch  colony  of  New 
fetherlands,  while  the  Haven  family  were 
also  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  game 
colony,  later  known  as  New  York. 


FRANK  CAMPBELL,  a  well-known 
citizen   of   Fairlield    township,  is   a 
_^       grandson  of  Hugh  A.  Campbell,  and 
is  descended  from  the  Argyle  branch 
of  the  Campbell  family  of  Scotland. 

Hugh  A.  Campbell  was  born  May  15, 
1783.  He  married  Margaret  Mather;  and 
to  this  union  the  following  named  children 
•were  born:  Ann  Eliza,  who  married  Will- 
iam Inscho,  died  Septeml>er  14,  1889; 
Lorenzo  Q.,  born  November  7,  1808,  died 
December  25,  1884;  Argyle,  born  Feb- 
ruary 3Q,  1810,  died  August  7,  1830; 
James  M.,  born  November  15,  1812; 
Angeline,  born  November  8,  1815,  mar- 
ried James  Burns,  and  died  in  Iowa; 
Jlelen    M.,  born  April  6,  1818,  died  No- 

80 


vember  30,  1853;  Margaret  S.,  born  July 
3,  1821,  who  married  Jonathan  Atherton; 
and  DeWitt  C,  born  December  23,  1823. 
In  the  spring  of  1817  Hugh  Campbell  and 
his  family  set  out  from  their  home  at 
Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  the  "Fire- 
lands"  in  Huron  county,  Ohio.  Travel- 
ing via  Cleveland,  Rocky  river  and  Nor- 
walk,  they  arrived  in  Greenfield  township 
and  located  on  the  farm  where  the  father 
died  August  23,  1861.  At  the  time  of 
their  settlement  here  a  small  log  hut  stood 
in  a  one-acre  clearing  on  this  land,  an 
oasis  in  the  wilderness.  From  1817  to 
1861  the  father  of  this  large  family  toiled 
on  the  farm  or  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  shoe- 
maker. In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  until 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  was  a  Presbyterian  for  many  years  and 
was  a  deacon  in  that  church,  but  later  he 
united  with  the  Congregationalists.  The 
mother,  Margaret  Mather,  was  truly  a  pio- 
neer woman,  and  like  her  husband  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
parents  were  buried  in  Steuben  cemetery. 
Lorenzo  Q.  Campt)ell  accompanied  the 
family  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  in  1817. 
He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  here 
from  his  father,  and  also  learned  tiie 
cooper's  and  carpenter's  trades,  and  with 
all  this  obtained  a  primary  education  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  Greenfield  township. 
On  April  15,  1834,  he  married  Betsy 
Mathers,  a  native  of  Contiecticut,  who  ac- 
companied her  parents  to  Huron  county  in 
girlhood,  and  to  this  union  two  children 
were  born:  Frank,  born  February  6,  1835, 
and  Satira,  born  October  31,  1836  (she 
first  married  John  H.  Easter,  later  Jesse 
Snyder,  and  died  Septendier  4,  1864). 
The  mother  died  January  26,  1837,  the 
father  many  years  afterward,  on  December 
25,  1884.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  Whig 
until  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
part}',  and  filled  nearly  every  township 
office,  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years.  In  religious  connection  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  which  he  held  ottice.     To  him  must  be 


460 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


credited  the  excellent  condition  of  the 
homestead  in  Greenfield  township,  for, 
some  years  after  his  father's  death,  he 
built  a  substantial  residence  and  made 
very  many  important  improvements. 

Frank  Campbell  was  born  February  6, 
1835,  in  Greenfield  township.  Up  to  the 
age  of  twelve  years  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  district,  and  then  went 
to  the  Hillsdale  (Mich.)  Academy,  subse- 
quently attending  the  Ohio  Normal  School 
at  Milan.  School  days  over,  he  resumed 
farm  life  and  worked  for  his  father  until 
the  latter's  death.  On  September  26, 
1860,  he  married  Martha  J.  Shourds,  who 
was  born  February  5,  1841,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Shourds, 
who  settled  in  Huron  county.  The  only 
child  born  to  this  marriage  is  Mary  Del, 
who  was  married  October  6,  1891,  to 
Roscoe  B.  Fisher,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  In  politics 
Mr.  Campbell  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
traveled  considerably  over  his  native  coun- 
try, and  passed  eighteen  months  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  He  is  an  active  farmer  and 
a  skilled  apiarist,  much  interested  in  bee 
culture. 


HELTON.  When  far  advanced  in 
life,  Gershon  Shelton  (grandfather 
of  Charles  R.  and  Henry  S.  Shel- 
ton, of  Wakeman  township)  came 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Vermillion  township 
fat  that  time  in  Huron  county,  now  in 
Erie),  where,  during  the  later  days  of  his 
life,  he  was  engaged  in  broom  making. 
His  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in 
Connecticut,  were  as  follows:  Jennette 
(Mrs.  French);  Julia,  Sailie  and  Daniel, 
all  three  deceased;  William,  in  Vermillion 
township,  Erie  county;  and  Lyman  and 
Gershon  (both  deceased).  The  last  named, 
father  of  Charles  R.  and  Henry  S.,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Connecticut, 
receiving  a  limited  subscription-school  edu- 
cation during  a  few  months  in   the  win- 


ter  season.  About  the  year  1825  he  came 
to  Huron  coiinty.  and  trading  a  small 
piece  of  improved  land  in  Connecticut  for 
a  large  tract  of  wild  land  in  Wakeman 
township,  he  set  to  work  to  improve  it, 
first  building  for  himself  a  substantial  log 
cabin.  This  tract  consisted  of  240  acres 
lying  a  short  distance  south  of  the  present 
site  of  Wakeman  village.  Here  by  in- 
dustrious labor  and  judicious  management 
he  cleared  his  land,  having  at  the  time  of 
his  death  the  best  improved  farm  in  the 
locality.  His  wife  was  Hepsey,  daughter 
of  David  Smith,  both  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  who  were  among  the  first  settlers 
of  Wakeman  township.  To  this  union 
were  born  four  children,  to  wit:  Henri- 
ette  (Mrs.  Joseph  Hoskins),  living  in 
Wakeman;  Charles  R.,  sketcii  of  whom 
follows;  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Green),  a  widow, 
having  her  home  in  Wakeman;  and  Henry 
S.,  sketch  of  whom  follows.  The  father 
passed  from  earth  about  the  year  1840,  a 
stanch  Democrat,  and  a  useful  adviser  of 
ills  party. 

When  he  first  came 
wild  animals  of  many 
forest  at  will,  wolves 
troublesome.  While 
cabin,  with  the  assistance  of  the  few  far- 
scattered  neighbors,  darkness  set  in  tlie 
first  day  considerably  before  the  work  was 
completed.  Thereupon,  having  to  wait 
till  next  morning,  the  little  party  gathered 
together  their  provisions,  together  with  a 
suttieient  amount  of  firewood,  and  laid 
themselves  down  to  rest  for  the  night. 
Suddenly  they  were  awakened  by  most 
ferocious  howls  and  yelpings,  and  starting 
to  their  feet  found  to  their  dismay  that 
they  were  surrounded  by  a  pack  of  raven- 
ous wolves.  Being  totally  unarmed,  and 
the  danger  imminent,  they  at  once  betook 
themselves  to  places  of  security — some 
climbing  trees,  others  the  half-built  house 
— and,  in  no  little  fear  for  their  safety,  in 
that  manner  passed  the  rest  of  the  night. 
With  the  grey  dawn  of  morning,  the 
wolves,  disappointed  of  their  prey,  retired 


to  Huron  county, 
kinds  roamed  the 
being   particularly 

building    his    log 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


461 


to  the  fastnesse3  of  the  forest,  and  the  he- 
roes of  onr  narrative  descended  to  terra 
jirmit,  and  completed  the  building  with- 
out further  molestation. 

Charles  R.  Shelton,  a  retired  farmer 
of  Wakeinan  township,  and  now  proprie- 
tor of  a  prosperous  hardware  business  in 
the  town  of  Wakeman,  was  I)orn  January 
3,  1820,  in  Oxford  township.  New  Haven 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  was  there  reared.  In  his 
boyhood  lie  received  an  elementary  educa- 
tion, and  after  attaining  his  majority  at- 
tended Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
one  year,  and  further  improved  his  educa- 
tion by  considerable  home  study  and  care- 
ful reading.  When  his  widowed  mother 
married  a  second  time,  our  subject  formed 
the  resolution  to  '•  paddle  his  own  canoe," 
struck  out  for  himself,  and  for  some  years 
worked  on  farms.  In  the  spring  of  1851 
lie  married  Miss  Eunice  O.  Wiiitney,  a 
daughter  of  Abel  Wiiitnej,  of  Florence 
township,  Erie  county,  and  Mr.  Shelton 
then  followed  teaming,  buying  timber  and 
haulincr  it  to  Ashland,  where  he  traded  it 
for  wheat,  which  in  turn  he  conveyed  to 
Milan,  Erie  county,  where  it  was  sold, 
that  town  being,  on  account  of  a  canal 
connecting  it  with  Lake  Erie,  an  impor- 
tant market  point  for  wheat  and  other  pro- 
duce. After  three  years  so  engaged,  Mr. 
Shelton,  having  made  and  saved  money, 
bought  land  in  Wakeman  township,  in- 
creased by  fifty  acres  of  wild  land  left  to 
him  by  his  father.  This  he  cleared  and 
further  added  to  until  he  was  owner  of  a 
considerable  amount  of  good  farm  land,  at 
one  time  owning  500  acres;  but  he  has 
sold  and  given  away  a  great  deal,  and  now 
has  143  acres,  all  in  excellent  condition. 
In  1886  he  retired  from  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  corning  to  the  town  of  Wake- 
man. began  what  has  proven  a  successful 
mercantile  career,  and  now  conducts  a 
thriving  hardware  establishment.  In  his 
I'Oiitical  sympathies  he  is  a  straight  Re- 
publican, and  years  ago  held  many  offices 
of  public  trust;  in  religious  faith  lie  and 
his   wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 


Church.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  de- 
barred from  joining  tlie  Union  army 
through  physical  disability,  but  in  giving 
pecuniary  assistance  he  was  as  generous  as 
he  was  loyal. 

Hevry  S.  Suelton,  a  well-known  prom- 
inent farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Wake- 
man township,  is  probably  the  wealthiest 
among  the  agricultural  community  of  his 
section.  He  is  a  native  of  the  township, 
born  November  10,  1832,  on  the  old 
homestead,  a  part  of  which  he  now  owns. 

He  received  his  elementary  education  in 
his  native  township,  and  he  well  remem- 
bers the  old  red  sclioolhouse  with  its  primi- 
tive furnishings,  and  not  less  primitive 
"  dominie."  After  a  time  he  attended  the 
schoolsof  Milan,  Erie  county,and  later, Ober- 
lin College,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  taking  a  partial 
course.  When  he  was  about  ten  years  old 
his  mother  married  a  Mr.  Squiers,  of  the 
"  inn  "  at  Milan,  and  he  was  there  reared, 
being  employed,  from  time  to  time  after 
leaving  school,  on  the  surroundins;  farms. 
Being  gifted  with  more  than  ordinary 
strength,  and  having  naturally  industrious 
habits,  his  services  were  much  sought  after 
and  appreciated.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
lie,  unassisted,  sowed  to  wheat  thirteen 
acres  of  newly  cleared  land,  from  which  he 
harvested  133  bushels,  from  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale  of  which  he  invested  in  a  team 
of  oxen,  and  an  old  "  Scotch  drag."  Thus 
equipped,  he  began  the  cultivation  of  his 
mother's  portion  of  his  father's  small  es- 
tate. Meanwhile,  his  stepfather  having 
died,  his  twice-widowed  mother  and  he 
continued  to  live  together,  for  his  true 
filial  devotion  for  her,  and  her  love  for 
him,  would  never  permit  a  separation,  he 
toilincr  and   saving  his   earnings   that  she 

O  t5  "  .  « 

mirflit  be  comfortably  cared  for  in  her  fast 
declining  years. 

I>y  the  time  he  reached  his  majority  our 
subject  had  saved  some  sixteen  hundred 
dollars,  and  he  then  married  Miss  A.  M., 
daughter  of  Iloxey  and  Abigail  Benson, 
natives  of  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  by 
which  union  there  are  no  children.     This 


462 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wife  dying  after  eleven  years  of  married 
life,  Ml'.  Siielton,  for  his  second  spouse, 
wedded  Miss  Antoinette  Vincent,  of 
Clarkstield  townsliip,  Huron  county,  who 
bore  him  children  as  follows:  Charles  H., 
a  resident  of  Berlin  Heights,  Ohio;  Mary 
E.  (Mrs.  Charles  Todd),  inWakeman;  and 
Addie  B.,  George  H.,  Myron  A.  and 
Harry  S.,  all  at  home.  The  mother  of 
these  was  called  from  earth  in  April,  1890. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Republican;  a 
devoted  adherent  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
he  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  same,  and  he 
is  a  useful  and  influential  member  of 
society.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  350  acres 
of  land  in  Wakeman  township,  and  forty 
in  Clarkstield.  and  his  remarkable  success 
is  clearly  the  result  of  his  assiduous  indus- 
try, indomitable  perseverance  and  good 
management. 


\[   J[IRAM     LATHAM,    a     prosperous 
ipH     grocer  of  Lyme,  and  agent  for  the 
I     11    Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie   Railway,  is 
■J/  a    native    of    Huron    county,   born 

June  9,  1835,  a  son  of  Alexander 
W.  and  Anna  (Wood)  Latham. 

Alexander  W.  Latham  was  born  in  1806 
in  Connecticut,  where  he  passed  his  child- 
hood and  youth,  attending  the  district 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  and  working 
on  his  father's  farm.  Feeling  desirous  of 
making  a  new  home  for  himself,  where  he 
could  have  better  opportunities  for  ac- 
cumulating money,  he  journeyed  west  and 
located  in  Sherman  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  where  for  sixty  years  he  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  its  interests  and 
progress.  Nature  endowed  him  with  a 
great  amount  of  tact  and  energy,  charac- 
teristics that  enabled  him  to  win  the  re- 
spect of  his  new  neighbors  and  to  succeed 
in  business.  The  country  at  that  time  was 
in  an  undeveloped  condition,  and  he  shared 
the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  It 
was  his  aim  to  deal  fairly  with  every  man, 
and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1889, 
he  was  sincerely  moiii-ned  by  all  who  knew 


him.  He  devoted  his  attention  exclnsively 

to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  worked  dili- 
gently in  cultivating  his  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  Wood,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  their  union  was  blessed  with 
four  children:  Thomas  (deceased),  Ly- 
man (deceased),  Hiram  and  Rilev.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  1879,  after  having 
passed  many  useful  and  happy  years  with 
her  husband  and  children. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  memoir 
received  his  education  in  Huron  county, 
attending  the  rude  log  schools  in  his  dis- 
trict. Until  a  year  ago  he  engaged  in 
farming,  since  wliicli  time  has  been  agent 
for  the  Wheeling  &:  Lake  Erie  Railway. 
His  wife  is  postmistress  at  Lyme,  and  as- 
sists in  conducting  their  grocery  business. 
Mr.  Latham  was  married,  April  19,  1860, 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Evans,  who  was  born  in 
Loudon,  England,  and  came  to  America 
with  her  parents  in  1849,  and  of  their 
union  have  been  born  Ave  children,  viz.: 
Wilbur  H.,  Thomas  W.,  Fred  E.,  Artiiur 
W.  and  Stella  M.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which 
they  are  liberal  supporters.  Mr.  Latham 
is  a  member  of  Raby  Lodge,  Monroeville, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Subordinate  Lodge  No.  122.  He  was  at 
one  time  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  but 
did  not  serve,  and  iias  been  assessor  for  four 
terms.  He  is  a  wideawake,  active  busi- 
ness man,  and  popular  in  the  commercial 
and  social  circles  of  Lyme  townsliip. 


FREDERICK  PARROTT  (deceased), 
who  for  many  years  was  a  leading 
_^  farmer  of  Fairfield  township,  was 
born  March  24,  1825,  in  England. 
His  father,  William  Parrott,  also  a  native 
of  England,  immigrated  to  America,  locat- 
ing in  Ripley  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  for  a  few  years  with  his 
family.  He  then  returned  to  England  on 
a  visit,  during  which  time  his  family  be- 
came scattered;  and  after  his  return  he  re- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


463 


siiieJ  with  oiir  subject  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  Of  his  children,  one  resides  in 
Ripley  township,  Huron  county;  three  of 
tlie  daughters  make  their  home  in  Toledo, 
Ohio,  and  one  resides  in  Bioomington, 
Illinois. 

Our  subject  was  l)ut  sixteen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  immigration  to  America, 
but  even  then  he  was  looked  upon  by  the 
family  as  the  provider.  His  education 
was  consequently  somewhat  limited,  but 
in  after  life  he  devoted  much  of  his  leisure 
time  to  reading,  tlius  acquiring  a  store  of 
valuable  general  information.  He  was 
one  of  those  who  "  felled  the  giant  oak, " 
cleared  from  the  laud  the  brush  and  waste, 
and  luade  thereon  a  home  for  iiimself  and 
his  family,  destined  then  to  be  what  it  is 
now,  one  of  the  handsomest  of  rural  homes 
to  be  found  in  Huron  county.  Mr.  Par- 
rott  was  njarried  October  7,  1847,  to  Miss 
Rosa  M.  Smith,  daughter,  of  Aaron  and 
Esther  (Wallinj  Smith,  natives  of  New 
York  State,  who  came  to  Fairfield  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  when  it  was  yet  a 
vast  wilderness.  The  land  upon  which 
they  located  is  that  on  which  Mrs.  Par- 
rott  now  resides.  Upon  his  marriage  our 
subject  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
'' iieirs  apparent"  to  the  Smith  place,  and 
assumed  control  and  ownership  of  the 
large  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  late  in 
their  lives,  moved  to  the  West,  where  they 
resided  with  their  children  until  they  de- 
parted this  life,  the  latter  dying  January 
18,  1851. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  were  born 
three  children,  as  follows:  Phonie,  de- 
ceased; William,  who  is  now  a  representa- 
tive of  the  D.  W.  Osborne  Machine  Co., 
of  Auburn,  N.  Y. ;  and  Smith,  at  home. 
Mr.  Parrott  was  very  much  interested  in 
all  kinds  of  machinery;  for  many  years  he 
was  a  thresher,  owning  and  operating  one 
of  the  first  threshing  machines  in  Huron 
county.  He  also  took  the  first  threshing 
outfit  into  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  where, 
to  enable  him  to  do  business  with  the  ma- 
chinery, it   was    necessary    to    insure    the 


stock  of  grain  against  fire  before  he  would 
be  permitted  on  tlie  premises  of  the  own- 
ers. He  was  also  engaged  in  selling 
various  machines,  and  for  years  represented 
in  his  locality  the  firm  in  whose  employ 
his  son  William  now  is.  Mr.  Parrott  was 
a  Democrat,  and  while  takino-  an  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  country,  he 
was  not  a  politician,  though  for  a  number 
of  years  he  held  the  office  of  township 
trustee.  Mrs.  Parrott  is  a  member  of  the 
Disciple  Church. 


|ILLIAM  H.  ERDRICH.  a  prom- 
inent business  man  of  Bellevue, 
was  born  in  that  city  in  1858,  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Pervis  (Liitz) 
Erdrich,  the  former  a  native  of  Baden, 
Germany,  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Joseph 
Erdrich  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1855,  and  in  1861  established  a  cooperage 
in  Bellevue,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  carrying 
same  on  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1889,  when  he  was  in  his  sixty-fourth 
year.  His  widow  still  resides  here,  where 
her  parents  had  settled  in  1820;  her  father 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  year 
1800,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight; 
her  mother  died  in  the  "sixties." 

William  II.  Erdrich  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Bellevue,  in  which 
town  he  grew  to  manhood,  learning  the 
cooper's  trade  in  his  father's  shop.  As 
has  been  stated,  the  industry  was  estab- 
lished in  18G1,  and  the  work  was  all  done 
by  hand  until  1880,  when  steam  power 
and  modern  machinery  were  introduced. 
The  specialty  of  the  cooperage  is  a  light 
cask,  made  in  imitation  of  foreign  casks, 
the  tannin  being  so  extracted  from  the 
wood  as  to  insure  its  future  contents 
against  discoloration.  The  founder  of 
this  cooperage  saw  it  grow  into  a  great 
industry  before  his  death,  and  left  to  his 
widow  and  sons  a  valuable  plant  and  a 
more  valuable  business.  Casks  are  made 
in  all  sizes,  and  of  all  suitable  woods.  The 
trade,  which  extends  from   Buffalo,  N.  Y., 


464 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  Omaha,  Neb.,  is  steadily  growing,  and 
■with  it  the  reputation  of  this  Bellevue  in- 
dustry. When  running  on  full  time  tlie 
establishment  gives  employment  to  forty 
men,  and  produces  60,000  light  casks  per 
annum.  The  equipmeut  for  handliug  the 
output  is  arranged  with  a  view  to  economy 
in  labor,  as  is  also  the  machinery.  Since 
the  death  of  their  father,  oiir  subject  and  a 
brother  have  conducted  the  business  with 
much  ability. 

William  H.  Erdrich  was  married  to  Miss 
Amelia  Gelle,  and  to  them  were  born  two 
children,  Eugene  and  William.  In  1885 
Mr.  Erdrich  was  elected  clerk  of  Lyme 
township,  and  was  re-elected  six  times. 
He  has  been  president  of  the  Water-Works 
Company  for  over  four  years,  and  is  closely 
connected  with  pul)lic  affairs  in  township 
and  city.  Besides  his  cooperage  he  is  in- 
terested in  other  business  enterprises,  and 
is  a  wide-awake  citizen.  Politically  a 
Democrat,  he  gives  loyal  service  to  his 
party.  In  social  affairs  he  is  a  member  of 
of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.  and  of  the  Elks,  being  a 
popular  member  of  both  associations. 


T  OHN  F.  GRABILL,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
k.  I  prominent  physicians  of  Townsend 
^Jj  township,  was  born  in  Hayesville, 
Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  February  19, 
1856,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Habeck)  Grabill. 

Samuel  Grabill  was  born  in  Germany, 
received  a  classical  education  in  a  college 
in  that  country,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Habeck,  also  a  native  of 
the  Fatherland.  In  1830  Samuel  Grabill 
emigrated  from  liis  native  country,  and 
after  reaching  America  located  in  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  par- 
tially improved  farm  near  Hayesville  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  During 
his  early  life  he  served  several  years  as 
cavalryman  under  Napoleon,  participated 
in  many  of  the  most  noted  battles  fought 
by  that  Emperor,  and   was  several  times 


wounded.  His  death  occurred  in  the  fall 
of  1870,  when  he  was  eighty-two  years  of 
age.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His 
parents,  who  lived  always  in  Germany, 
were  quite  wealthy,  his  father  owning  and 
controlling  a  large  milling  business. 

Dr.  John  F.  Grabill  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth  of  the  seven  children  born 
to  his  parents.  He  received  a  common- 
school  and  academic  education  in  his 
youth,  attending  the  spring  and  fall  ses- 
sions of  the  Perrysville  Academy  about 
six  years,  and  teaching  during  the  winter 
mouths.  In  1877  he  commenced  to  study 
medicine,  under  the  preceptorship  of 
Doctors  Erwin  and  Craig,  of  Manstield, 
Ohio,  and  dui-ing  the  session  of  1878-79 
he  attended  lectures  at  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  Western  Reserve  Univer- 
sity of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  1879-80  he 
attended  the  Miami  University  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  graduated  with  honors 
in  the  class  of  1880.  The  same  year  he 
began  to  practice  his  profession  in  Reeds- 
burgh,  Ohio,  but  after  four  years  located 
in  Townsend  township,  Huron  county.  He 
has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
practice,  is  remarkably  successful  in  his 
treatment  of  patients,  and  is  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  in 
Huron  county.  In  the  I'all  of  1880,  Dr. 
Grabill  married  Miss  Rosina  Buchanan, 
who  was  born  in  Hayesville,  Ashland 
county,  in  July,  1856,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Rosina  (Hyatt)  Buchanan. 
Their  marriage  was  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren; Wade  Hampton  and  Vera.  Dr. 
Grabill  is  a  member  of  the  North  Central 
Medical  Society  of  Ohio,  and  is  thoroughly 
posted  in  all  the  latest  discoveries  and  ad- 
vancements made  in  his  profession.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Republican. 

George  Buchanan,  father  of  Mrs.  Gra- 
bill, was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn., 
of  Scotch  descent.  He  was  a  man  of 
splendid  scholastic  attainments,  being  a 
graduate  of  Washington  College,  both  iu 
the  classical  and  theological  departments. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


465 


Though  prepared  for  the  ministry,  be  liad 
no  inclination  tor  the  profession,  and 
never  entered  it.  He  moved  South,  where 
he  enjiaHed  in  teaching,  and  where  he  was 
first  married.  But  with  the  first  sio^ns  of 
the  Civil  war  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  in  Ashland  county,  where  he  died 
in  September,  1882,  being  eighty-two 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  lifelong  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


BARTLETT   DAVIS.     In    the  year 
,    1635  there  came   to  America  from 
I   Wales  one   Joseph  Davis,  a  Cym- 

rodion  of  no  small  degree  of  promi- 
nence in  his  day,  and  from  him  are  de- 
scended the  numerous  family  of  Davis  in 
America. 

This  Josepli  Davis  was  born  in  1617, 
and  the  best  part  of  his  life  was  passed  in 
Roxbury,  Mass.  The  next  lineal  descend- 
ant, of  whom  there  is  record,  was  another 
Joseph,  who  owned  a  tract  of  land  in  what 
is  now  the  South  Gore  of  Oxford,  Mass., 
and  later  bought  land  and  settled  in  Wor- 
cester, same  State.  He  was  engaged  to 
some  extent  in  mercantile  business,  and 
frequently  made  trips  to  Boston  with  farm 
produce,  which  be  would  exchange  for 
groceries,  etc.,  dealing  in  such  extensively, 
and  he  was  widely  known  as  a  man  of  the 
liighest  integrity. 

Aaron  Davis  (a  twin),  son  of  the  last 
mentioned  Joseph,  and  father  of  Bartlett 
Davis,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  June  9, 
1771.  He  was  married  November  29, 
1800,  at  Dudley,  in  that  State,  to  Thonia- 
sine  Bartlett,  of  Dudley,  whose  father, 
Roger  Bartlett,  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, and  had  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution;  so  far  as  known  he  had  three 
children — two  daughters  and  one  son.  Af- 
ter  marriage  Aaron  Davis  made  his  home 
for  a  time  in  Charlton,  Mass.,  afterward 
went  to  Palmer.  He  was  a  laborer,  and 
for  thirty-two  years  suffered  much  from 
lameness    caused    by    fever   sores,   which 


alone  was  the  cause  of  his  being  a  poor 
man  up  to  the  day  of  his  death.  About 
the  year  1844  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  and 
at  Bristol,  Kenosha  county,  died  Decem- 
ber 19,  1849.  He  was  a'  lifelong  Whig 
in  his  political  sympathies,  but  was  never 
ambitious  for  office;  his  wife,  who  passed 
away  August  9,  1866,  was  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  The  names 
of  the  children  born  to  this  couple  are  as 
follows:  Pharos,  Sarah,  Dexter,  Thom- 
asine,  Aaron,  Joseph.  Bartlett,  Wealthy 
Ann,  Diantha  and  Samantha. 

Bartlett  Davis,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  May  14,  1815,  in 
the  town  of  Palmer,  Mass.,  at  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  which  place  he  re- 
ceived his  education,  necessarily  very 
limited.  At  the  early  age  of  nine  years  he 
commenced  work  on  a  farm,  receiving  as 
compensation  his  board  and  clothes,  and 
a  few  weeks  instruction  at  the  neighboring 
schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered 
a  woolen  factory  to  learn  the  trade  of 
spinner,  and  for  the  first  year  received  six 
dollars  per  month  for  his  services,  after- 
ward from  twelve  dollars  to  fourteen  dol- 
lars per  month;  and  at  the  end  of  two 
years  he  had  saved  some  two  hundred  and 
ten  dollars.  In  1836,  in  company  with 
relatives,  he  came  to  Ohio,  by  way  of  the 
Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  lake  to 
Sandusky,  and  from  there  by  wagon  to 
Bronson  township.  Huron  county.  After 
a  summer's  residence  there,  he  and  Calvin 
O.  Chaffee  jointly  made  a  purchase  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  wild  land  at  five  dollars 
per  acre,  in  Harlland  township,  and  built 
thereon  a  stout  log  house.  In  1865  Mr. 
Davis  built  a  handsome  residence,  and 
still  owns  eighty-three  acres  of  as  fine  land 
as  can  be  found  in  the  county. 

On  May  10,  1836,  Bartlett  Davis  was 
united  in  marriage  -with  Miss  Maria  Beal, 
daughter  of  William  Beal,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, and  the  children  of  this  union  were: 
Louisa  (Mrs.  E.  Burr),  deceased;  Mary  A. 
(Mrs.  James  Blakeman),  in  Hartland 
township,    Huron    couuty;    Martha,   de- 


466 


nrnoy  coryrr,  nnio. 


ceased ;  Flora,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Charles, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  Company  A,  Twenty- 
fourth  O.  V.  I.,  was  wounded  at  Shiioh, 
and  died  in  Jefl'erson  barracks,  Mo.,  while 
a  nieml)er  of  the  U.  S.  Signal  Corps,  in 
which  he  had  enlisted  after  recovering 
from  his  wound ;  Lucy  (Mrs.  Ezra  Webb), 
and  Frank  K.,  by  trade  a  carpenter,  living 
in  Missouri.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
April,  1850,  and  was  buried  in  Norwalk; 
she  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  On  December  25,  1850,  Mr. 
Davis  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Jackson, 
daughter  of  John  and  Clarissa  (Vandeveer) 
Jackson,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  whose  children 
were  Maria,  Clarissa,  John  and  Mary  A. 
Mr.  Jackson  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  drowned  in  Lake  Owasco, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  his  widow  was  subse- 
quently intermarried  with  James  Hiles. 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Davis  came  to  Huron 
county  with  the  Monahan  family  in  1833. 
The  children  by  this  second  marriage  of 
Mr.  Davis  are:  Milo  O.,  married  to  Flora 
Fish,  and  Cora  L.,  wife  of  Ephi'aiin  Tem- 
ple. Politically  our  subject  is  a  Kepub- 
lican,  formerly  a  Whig,  and  for  twenty 
years  has  served  as  trustee  of  Hartland, 
of  which  township  he  was  constable  for 
some  time  after  his  arrival.  He  and  the 
entire  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
nearly  si.xty  years,  and  has  been  trustee  for 
some  considerable  time.  Notwithstanding 
his  years,  Mr.  Davis  is  hale  and  hearty, 
enjoying  excellent  physical  health,  and  he 
still  supervises  his  farm,  which  in  its  pro- 
ductiveness and  neatness  is  a  credit  to  the 
owner. 


DELBERT     E.    PECK,    owner    of 

l\     101  acres  of  prime    farm    land    in 

^    Wakeman   township,  is  a  native  of 

the  locality,  born  February  3, 1844, 

a  son  of  Henry  Peck. 

He  was  reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of 

fartn   life,  and    remained   with    his    father 

until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  when  he 


commenced  for  his  own  account.  Having 
saved  a  little  money,  and  being  assisted  by 
his  father,  he  in  1874  went  west  and 
bought  a  farm  in  Henry  county,  111.,  re- 
maining there  nine  years,  and  making  a 
fair  success.  In  1877  he  revisited  his  old 
home,  and  married  Miss  Julia  E.  Sweet, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Sweet,  of  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  born  of  English  par- 
entage. Taking  his  young  wife  out  to  his 
western  home,  they  there  remained  till 
1883,  when  he  sold  the  property  and 
bought  his  present  farni  of  101  acres  in 
Wakeman  township.  On  it,  same  year, 
he  built  an  elegant  home,  an-d  put  up 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  of  fence;  his 
specialty,  in  addition  to  general  farming, 
is  the  breeding  of  high-grade  live  stock. 

Mr.  Peck  is  a  pronounced  Prohibitionist, 
and  when  he  first  went  west  was  the  only 
voter  on  that  ticket  in  Henry  county.  111., 
where  there  are  now  eight  votes.  During 
the  Civil  war,  in  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  Capt.  I.  O.  Peck,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  one  hundred- 
days  men,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Cleve- 
land. His  brother  Edward  was  a  member 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  0.  V.  I.,  having  en- 
listed at  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburgh 
Landing  (Shiioh). 


h 


UCIAN  JONES,  a  venerable  and 
respected  pioneer  of  Sherman  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born 
in  Windsor  county  March  11,  1812. 
Bruce  Jones,  father  of  subject,  was  bora 
November  8,  1772,  in  Massachusetts, 
whence  when  a  young  man  he  moved  to 
Vermont,  and  was  there  married  Decem- 
ber 6,  1804,  to  Miss  L.  Partridge,  who  was 
born  November  9, 1778,  and  died  May  12, 
1819.  The  record  of  the  children  by  this 
marriage  is  as  follows:  Amanda  was  mar- 
ried March  19,  1827,  to  Willard  Crandall, 
and  always  resided  in  Vermont;  Solon, 
born  June  25,  1809,  died  in  December, 
1809;  Lucian  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 


IlCIiOy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


467 


and  Steoi-n,  l)orn  September  2,  1814,  died 
November  11,  1862.  For  liis  second  wife 
Bruce  Jones  married  Miss  Lucy  Sanderson, 
n-ho  was  born  ilarch  18,  17S4,  and  died 
Marcli  19,  1865.  Tliree  children  were  the 
result  of  this  union,  viz.:  Lucretia,  now 
the  widow  of  P.  Bright,  living  in  New 
London,  Huron  county;  Sarah,  born  May 
15,  1822,  died  September  6,  1838;  and 
Susan  E.,  boi-n  April  8,  1827,  unmarried. 
The  father  died  in  1846.  He  had  settled 
on  the  land  in  Sherman  township,  Huron 
county,  on  which  some  of  his  children  are 
yet  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to 
Huron  county  witii  his  parents,  and  has 
lived  longer  in  Sherman  township  than  any 
one  else.  He  has  never  married.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  and  one  of  the 
most  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  sec- 
tion, honored  the  more,  probably,  on  ac- 
count of  his  blindness,  caused  by  disease, 
an  affliction  he  bears  with  Christian  resig- 
nation.  His  half-sister,  Susan  E.,  keeps 
house  for  him,  and,  Mr.  Jones  being  very 
wealthy,  has  a  vast  amount  of  business  to 
transact,  which  she  does  with  most  com- 
mendable care  and  accuracy.  She  also 
took  care  of  her  parents  in  their  declining 
years. 

JH.  BEATTIE,  a  leading  clothier  of 
New  London,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Ruggles,  Ashland  county,  in 
1849,  a  son  of  John  Beattie,  a  native 
of  Scotland,  who  came  to  America  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Our  subject  was  reared  in  Ashland 
county,  attending  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood  of  his  birth,  and  also  the 
academy  at  Savannah,  same  county.  In 
1874  he  commenced  business  for  his  own 
account,  having  previously  served  as  clerk 
in  various  mercantile  houses  in  New  Lon- 
don, but  closed  out  his  business  in  1877. 
In  1889  he  opened  out  his  present  cloth- 
ing and  merchant  tailoring  establishment 
in  New  London,  and  it  lias  become  the 
leading  one  of  its  kind  in  the  place. 


In  1874  Mr.  Beattie  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  L.  Middlesworth,  of  Ivno.\- 
ville,  Iowa,  and  six  children,  as  follows, 
have  been  born  to  them:  Edna  Mary,  F. 
J.  M.,  Jennie  Alberta,  Louie  Isabel,  Les- 
ter M.  and  Alice.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  &,  A.  M.,  Iloyal  Arcanum, 
Knights  of  Honor,  and  National  Union. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions; 
was  State  delegate  for  his  party  when 
Foraker  was  nominated  for  governor,  and 
also  when  McKinley  was  the  nominee  of 
the  party  for  the  same  office. 


d JUSTICE  TOWNSEND,  the  popular 
and  courteous  proprietor  of  the 
^  "Gregory  House,"  New  London,  is  a 
native  of  Huron  county,  born  in 
Hartland  township  in  1852. 

His  father,  D.  T.  Townsend,  was  born 
in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  whence  when 
twenty-one  years  old  he  came  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  making  a  settlement  in 
Greenwich  township.  Here  he  married 
Miss  G.  W.  Dewitt,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  in  1828,  and  three  children 
came  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
our  subject  being  second  in  order  of  birth. 
The  parents  after  marriage  moved  to  Hart- 
land  township,  Huron  county,  where  the 
mother  is  yet  living;  the  father  died  at  the 
ao-e  of  sixty-tive  years;  he  was  by  trade  a 
millwricrht,  and  operated  a  sawmill;  in 
politics  lie  was  a  Republican,  and  in  relig- 
ious faith  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
as  is  his  widow. 

Justice  Townsend  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  tlie  common  schools  of  Hartland 
township,  Huron  county,  as  well  as  at  the 
schools  of  Milan,  P^rie  county,  for  a  time, 
after  which  he  commenced  business.  His 
first  experience  was  on  a  farm,  where  he 
remained  one  year;  he  then  went  west  to 
Beatrice,  Neb.,  where  he  was  in  a  sheep 
bubiness  two  years,  after  which  he  returned 
home  and  bouglit  a  farm,   which  he  con- 


468 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ducted  one  and  one-half  years.  We  next 
find  Mr.  Townsend,  for  lie  was  never  idle, 
conducting  a  grocery  business  in  Noi-walk, 
Huron  county,  up  to  the  tinae  of  his 
father's  death,  when  he  returned  to  the 
homestead,  on  which  he  remained  about 
tlii'ee  years.  Embarking  then  in  the  grain 
and  treneral  stock  trade  in  Clarksiield, 
Huron  county,  he  built  an  elevator,  and 
continued  in  the  business  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  went  into  the  hotel 
business  in  the  same  town,  remaining  in 
it  some  four  years.  In  1891  he  became 
proprietor  of  the  "Gregory  House"  in 
New  London,  and  has  since  been  its  genial 
and  obliging  host,  meeting  with  well- 
merited  success,  at  the  same  time  conduct- 
ing his  farm.  In  1873  Mr.  Townsend  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mabel  Mer- 
rick, a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
four  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.: 
One  deceased  in  infancy,  Charles  O.,  Julia 
E.  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Townsend 
are  adherents  of  the  M.  E.  Church;  so- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M., 
and  in  politics  he  is  a  solid  Republican. 


0 


TIS    STKES,    the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  business  man  at  Chicago 
Junction,  was   born   May  2,  1847, 
in  Richmond  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio. 

Daniel  Sykes,  his  father,  was  born  June 
6,  1806,  at  East  Berkshire,  Franklin  Co., 
Vt.,  where  he  attended  school,  afterward 
working  on  the  home  or  neighboring  farms 
until  1827,  when  he  determined  to  seek  a 
wider  field  for  his  industry  in  New  York 
State.  The  followine  three  years  he 
passed  at  Sweden,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  as 
a  farm  hand,  and  there,  on  April  5,  1832, 
he  was  married  to  Arabella  Butler.  In  May 
of  that  year  he  visited  Michigan,  purchased 
a  quarter  section  of  United  States  lands, 
and  passed  the  summer  there,  clearing  the 
land  and  jn-eparin";  a  home.  That  fall,  on 
returning  to  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  he  was 


urged  by  his  friends  to  settle  in  Ohio,  and 
in  October,  accompanied  by  his  young  wife 
and  a  \ev!  friends,  set  out  for  that  State. 
The  journey  was  made  by  wagon  to  Buf- 
falo, and  thence  to  Sandusky  by  lake-boat. 
At  this  point  Daniel  Sykes  separated  from 
the  party,  leaving  his  wife  in  care  of  her 
uncle,  who  took  her  to  Milan  on  horseback. 
Her  husband  went  to  Michigan  to  dispose 
of  his  land  there,  but  failed  in  his  mission, 
returned  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  wild  land  one  and  a 
half  miles  northwest  of  Greenfield  Center. 
On  this  tract  was  a  small  loar  cabin,  and'^ 
into  it  the  young  pioneer  couple  moved,  to 
begin  life  in  the  wilderness.  With  un- 
daunted courage  Daniel  began  the  work  of 
clearing  tlie  forest.  He  had  yet  to  pay  for 
this  forty-acre  tract,  for  his  earnings  were 
nearly  all  invested  in  the  Michigan  pur- 
chase. With  strong  heart  and  hands 
and  a  brave  wife  he  persevered,  and  with- 
in a  comparatively  short  space  of  time 
succeeded,  not  only  in  paying  for  the  land, 
but  also  in  obtaining  various  household 
articles  and  comforts.  In  1836  lie  sold  the 
old  farm  and  purchased  sixty  acres  in 
Richmond  township  from  a  Mr.  McMas- 
ter,  on  which  the  home  was  established. 
A  few  years  later  lie  purchased  an  adjoin- 
ing tract  of  sixty  acres  from  Robert 
Askins;  but  owing  to  a  defect  in  the  title, 
Mr.  Sykes  was  compelled  to  pay  for  this 
property  a  second  time,  to  Henry  Mills, 
the  actual  owner.  Mr.  Sykes  had  now  a 
good  farm  of  120  acres,  with  substantial 
buildings,  and  all  this  he  made  out  of  his 
labor,  before  his  children  were  old  enough 
to  help.  His  death,  which  occurred  elune 
10,  1883,  was  the  result  of  an  accident; 
while  crossing  the  railroad  he  was  struck 
by  a  locomotive,  fell  under  the  wheels,  and 
his  lower  limbs  were  severed  from  his 
body.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words  but  of 
many  deeds,  and  was  loved  wherever 
known. 

Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Daniel 
and  Arabella  Sykes,  five  grew  to  maturity, 
a  brief  record  of  them   being  as   follows: 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


469 


William  H.  is  a  physician  at  Plyniouth; 
Andrew  J.  served  in  the  Fifty-lifth  0.  V. 
1.,  and  was  killed  at  Kesaca,  Ga. ;  Royal, 
who  served  in  the  Third  O.  V.  C,  died  of 
typhoid  fever  at  Pittsburg  Landing;  Aurilla 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Richmond 
township;  Otis  is  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch.  In  religious  faith  Mr.  Sykes 
was  a  Baptist;  in  politics  he  was  origin- 
ally a  Democrat,  and  Liter  became  a  Re- 
publican. 

Otis  Sykes  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township.  On  August 
13,  1862,  while  yet  a  mere  boy,  he  en- 
tered the  United  States  service  with  Com- 
pany C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
O.  V.  I.,  and  going  to  the  front  with  the 
command,  participated  in  many  of  the 
brilliant  engagements  which  took  place  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  taking  part  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester  (where  the  famous 
cavalry  officer,  Sheridan,  saved  the  day), 
in  the  Lynchburg  raid,  and  in  the  battle 
of  Staunton,  Ya.  At  Winchester  he  lost 
his  left  limb,  and  was  sent  to  the  field  hos- 
pital. Thence  he  was  removed  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Baltimore,  and  later  to  that  at 
Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  until 
June  6,  1865,  when  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  and  returned  to  his  home. 
Some  time  later  he  commenced  the  study 
of  dentistry  at  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  three  years.  In 
1872  he  established  a  drug  store  at  Wa- 
bash, Ind.,  which  he  carried  on  until  1876, 
and  then  came  to  Chicago  Junction,  where 
in  1878  he  opened  his  present  drug  busi- 
ness, to  which  he  has  since  given  his  ex- 
clusive attention.  Mr.  Sykes,  in  his  poli- 
tical preferences,  is  a  Republican,  and  on 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Chicago 
Junction  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first 
council.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  in  both  ofhces  exercised 
a  wide  influence  for  good.  In  Society  af- 
fairs he  is  a  member  of  Chicago  Junction 
Lodge  No.  748,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

In  1S73  Mr.  Sykes  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth    A.,  daughter     of   Samuel  and 


Elizabeth  Miller,  and  to  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing named  children  were  born:  Maud 
I.,  who  died  in  1891,  aged  fifteen  years, 
and  Doris,  who  resides  with  her  parents. 
Mr.  Sykes  began  mercantile  life  with  little 
or  no  assistance,  and  through  his  own  ef- 
forts he  has  not  only  built  up  a  prosper- 
ous business,  but  also  that  which  is  more 
difficult  to  acquire  and  sustain — a  fine 
reputation. 


f^NOCH  HEAL.     The  beginning  of 
the    modern    buildinnrs  of  Bellevue 


E 


J  may  be  credited  to  tiie  year  in  which 
Enoch  Heal  arrived  there.  Mr. 
Heal  was  born  February  1, 1826,  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
stone  and  brick  mason  under  iiis  father. 
He  was  married  in  his  native  country,  and 
in  1849  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
arriving  at  Bellevue,  Ohio,  the  same  year. 
His  tirst  work  here  was  the  building  of  the 
stone  gristmill.  Later  he  put  up  the  old 
stone  residence  for  Dr.  Woodward,  and  he 
has  since  been  continuously  engagad  as 
contractor  and  builder,  and  as  stone  and 
brick  mason,  building  many  of  the  sub- 
stantial structures  now  found  in  Bellevue, 
Monroeville  and  Norwalk.  From  1849  to 
the  present  time  his  home  has  been  at 
Bellevue,  save  for  eleven  weeks  in  1878, 
which  he  with  his  wife  and  relatives 
passed  in  England.  During  the  Civil  war, 
when  Cincinnati  was  threatened  by  the 
Confederate  forces,  he  joined  a  Bellevue 
company,  and  went  to  the  front  to  defend 
the  city. 

Mr.  Heal  was  united  in  marriage  witii 
Elizabeth  C.  Joint,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  ten  children,  a  brief  record  of  whom 
is  as  follows:  One  child  died  in  infancy; 
Elizabeth  C.  is  the  widow  of  W.  K.  Hil- 
bert;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Lanterman; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  W.  E.  Miller;  Amelia 
is  married  to  George  C.  Beckworth,  of 
Bellevue;  W.  A.  is  a  clerk  in  the  "  Ball 
House"  at  Fremont;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of 
R.    H.    Boyer,    of    Minneapolis,    Minn.; 


470 


IlUliOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Fi-ancls  P.  is  a  druggist  in  Belleviie;  New- 
ton W.  is  a  traveling  salesman;  Nettie  E. 
is  the  wife  of  C.  B.  Cupp,  a  druggist. 
Tiie  niotlier  of  this  large  family  died  De- 
cember 18,  1SS3.  She  carried  on  a  milli- 
nery store  here  for  about  twenty  years. 
In  October,  1891,  Mr.  Heal  married  Carrie 
W.  Duuiiing,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
who  for  some  time  was  a  stenographer  at 
Chicago,  and  for  about  three  years  was 
engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  at 
Bellevue.  In  political  life  Mr.  Heal  is  a 
Prohibitionist,  and  in  church  connection 
a  Congregationalist.  Mr.  Heal  is  the  em- 
ployer of  a  number  of  skilled'  mechanics 
and  laborers,  is  the  owner  of  valuable 
pi'operty  at  Bellevue,  and  altogether  is  a 
shining  example  of  industry  and  enterprise. 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Heal,  Enoch  and 
Elizabeth  (Tamlin)  Heal,  came  from 
Devonshire,  England,  to  America  in  1854, 
and  located  at  Bellevue,  Ohio,  where  the 
mother  died  in  1868,  the  father  in  1872. 
He  had  been  twice  married,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  being  one  of  the  children  born 
to  the  second  marriage.  Our  subject  has 
two  full  sisters  and  one  full  brother,  the 
latter  and  one  of  the  sisters — Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Head,  a  widow — being  residents  of 
Bellevue.  Four  sons  in  the  family  were 
stone  masons. 


EiLMER  E.  McKESSON,  proprietor 
of  a  leading  grocery  establishment 
I  in  Bellevue,  is  a  son  of  James  Mc- 
Kesson, a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Many  years  ago  James  McKesson  lo- 
cated in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farmino;  and  railroad  work.  When 
a  young  man  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mayetta  Provut,  a  native  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
f(nir  children,  Elmer  E.  being  the  young- 
est. The  father  is  now  a  resident  of 
Bellevue,  and  is  still  farming. 

Elmer  E.  McKesson  was  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1862,  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  where 
lie    attended     the   common    schools.     He 


selected  a  life  companion  in  the  person  of 
Helen  M.  Riese,  a  young  lady  who  moved 
in  the  highest  social  circles  of  Bellevue. 
On  March  1,  1891,  Mr.  McKesson  em- 
barked iu  a  grocery  business,  which  is 
very  prosperons,  as  he  carries  a  full  line 
of  excellent  goods. 


DAVID  BORES.    Of  the  industrious 
and  prosperous  German  settlers  of 
'    Sherman  township,  Huron  county, 
none  is  more  deserving  of  the  re- 
spect  and  esteem  of  the  community  than 
this  gentleman. 

Mr.  Bores  was  born  January  24,  1832, 
in  Nassau,  Prussia,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  Bores,  the  former  of  whom  was 
by  trade  a  harness  maker.  David  received 
his  education  in  his  native  land,  and 
learned  harness  making  of  his  father.  At 
about  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  set 
sail  for  the  United  States  in  the  good  ship 
"Southampton,"  and  after  a  voyage  t>f 
twenty-eight  days  landed  in  New  York 
December  18  following — "a  stranger  in  a 
strange  land."  After  a  few  days  sojourn 
in  New  York  City  he  came  westward  to 
Ohio,  making  his  first  stop  in  the  Buckeye 
State  at  Monroeville,  Huron  county,  where 
for  three  months  he  was  employed  by 
Philip  Knoll  at  six  dollars  per  month.  He 
next  moved  to  Indiana,  and  worked  as  a 
laborer  on  the  railroad  then  being  con- 
structed between  Indianapolis  and  Peru. 
Returning  to  Huron  county,  he  engaged 
with  Christ  Knoll,  with  whom  he  worked 
some  time,  but,  suffering  from  fever  and 
ague  for  three  years,  he  was  almost  totally 
incapacitated  for  labor  of  any  kind. 

Alter  a  pai'tial  recovery  from  his  illness, 
Mr.  Bores  married,  in  1855,  Miss  Anna 
Mary  Fachinger,  also  a  native  of  Nassau, 
Prussia,  daughter  of  John  Fachinger,  who 
came  with  his  family  to  the  United  States 
when  Mrs.  Bores  was  twenty-six  years  old. 
After  marriage  our  subject,  though  still 
unwell,  worked  as  a  farm  hand  in  Lyme 
township,  Huron  county,  and  then  rented 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


471 


farms  for  six  years.  In  1802  he  purchased 
fifty  acres  of  wild  land  in  Sherman  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  at  forty  dollars  per 
acre;  this  he  has  liy  hard  work  and  assidu- 
ous industry  converted  into  a  productive 
farm.  He  went  into  debt  for  this  prop- 
erty, and  has  not  only  succeeded  in  paying 
for  it,  but  has  added  thereto  until  now  he 
has  240  acres  of  prime  land,  in  the  ac- 
cumulating of  which,  atid  in  the  convert- 
ing of  the  farm  generally,  he  has  been  ably 
and  faithfully  assisted  by  his  amiable  wife. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bores 
were  as  follows:  Joseph,  who  died  young; 
Henry,  a  fanner  of  Sherman  township; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Chris.  Wilhelm,  of  Leip- 
sic,  Putnam  Co.,  Ohio;  August,  a  farmer 
of  Sherman  township;  flohn,  living  at 
home;  and  Emma,  now  Mrs.  AVilhelm 
Kiuirlein,  of  Putnam  county,  Ohio.  Poli- 
tically our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  he 
has  held  the  office  of  school  director  with 
acceptability.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church,  of  which  he 
is  trustee.  He  is  a  typical  self-made  man, 
and  considering  his  long  period  of  sickness 
and  the  expenses  incident  to  same,  he  has 
been  wonderfully  successful. 


IlOHN  F.  GUENEY,  one  of  the  most 

L.  I     extensive  farmers  of  Richmond  town- 

\yj    ship,  was  born  November  10,  1S32, 

a  son  of  Samuel   and  -fane   (Cross) 

Gurney. 

In  1S38  the  parents  came  to  Ohio, 
bringing  their  family,  which  then  con- 
sisted of  four  children,  viz.:  Olive  Jane, 
now  the  widow  of  John  Detweiler,  of 
Mansfield,  Ohio;  John  F.,  wlio  is  men- 
tioned farther  on;  Oliver,  of  Bellville, 
Ohio;  and  Lewis,  a  bricklayer  and  plas- 
terer, of  MansHeld.  After  coming  to  Ohio 
they  had  born  to  them  one  child,  Sarah 
Elizabeth.  When  Samuel  (rnrney  arrived 
in  Oliio  he  settled  near  l>ellvillc,  Richland 
county,  where  he  owned  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  section,  being  a  man  of  no 
small  means.     He  was  possessed  of  con- 


siderable genius  as  a  mechanic,  and  in- 
vented a  shingle  machine,  a  contrivance 
for  pulling  stumps,  and  also  a  machine  for 
converting  palm  leaves  into  fans;  while  in 
the  South  he  made  many  profitable  sales 
of  his  inventions,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
he  was  killed  in  New  Orleans  for  his 
money.  Some  time  later  his  widow  mar- 
ried, for  lier  second  husband,  Hiram 
Bailey;  she  died  about  1878  near  Bellville, 
Richland  county,  where  she  was  buried. 

John  F.  Gurney  was  about  six  years  old 
when  he  came  with  the  rest  of  the  family 
to  Ohio.  He  received  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  from  a  private  instructor  in 
the  person  of  his  employer,  John  C.  Bate- 
man,  a  farmer  of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
attended  school  very  little,  in  fact  for  onl}' 
one  winter.  Beiiur  the  eldest  son  the 
family  depended  principally  on  him  after 
the  death  of  the  father,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  commenced  to  learn  plaster- 
ing, serving  an  apprenticeship  ot  three 
years,  after  which  he  bought  out  his  em- 
ployer, William  C.  Weirick,  and  continued 
in  the  business  for  twenty-one  years  in 
Mansfield  and  vicinity.  On  January  0, 
1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Lavina  Tinkey,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 16,  1829.  in  Washington  county, 
Penn.,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Swickard)  Tinkey,  who  came  to  Ohio  in 
1853.  locating  in  Richland  county.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gurney  rented  a 
house  in  Bellville,  where  they  resided  for 
about  ten  years,  and  then  purchased  a 
small  place  south  of  the  town,  where  they 
made  their  home  another  ten  years.  On 
July  19,  1874,  they  came  to  Richmond 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  locating  on 
their  present  farm,  where  Mr.  Gurney  has 
ever  since  been  actively  engatred  in  aijri- 
culture  and  stock  raising.  To  our  subject 
and  wife  have  been  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: Elizal)eth  Jane,  Mrs.  James  L. 
Frederick,  of  Chicago  Junction,  Ohio; 
Ann  Eliza,  Mrs.  William  Cox.  of  Rich 
mond  township;  Mary  Inez.  Mrs.  D.  B. 
Ziegler,  of  Plymouth;  Otis  Washington,  a 


a 

472 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


farmer  of  Hicks ville,  Ohio;  Ella  May,  Mrs. 
Portice  Williams,  of  Fostoria,  Ohio;  and 
Martha  Adele,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Rang,  of  Chi- 
cago Junction. 

In  May,  1S64,  Mr.  Gnrney  enlisted,  for 
one  hundred  days'  service,  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-third  Reoiment 
O.  V.  1.  (of  which  he  had  been  a  member 
for  five  years),  and  participated  in  the  en- 
gagements in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
around  Richmond,  etc.,  serving  with  special 
bravery  and  distinction;  on  one  occasion 
he  was  one  of  four  .soldiers,  who,  after 
having  been  ordered  to  surrender,  defied 
and  held  at  bay  POO  rebels,  until  their 
comrades  rallied  and  captured  the  enemy. 
Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  268  acres  of 
most  excellent  land,  the  result  of  his  own 
unremitting  energy  and  industry,  and  his 
continual  perseverance  in  improving  and 
cultivating.  This  tract,  located  in  the 
north  end  of  what  was  known  as  the 
"  Black  Swamp,"  was  once  a  vast  swamp, 
and  was  considered  practically  worthless; 
but  it  is  now  the  most  productive  land  in 
tliis  section  of  the  county.  Mr.  Gurney  is 
a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
takes  no  active  part  in  politics;  in  religions 
connection  he  was  originally  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian,  but  is  now  a  member  of 
the  U.  B.  Church,  and  he  has  always  con- 
tributed liberally  toward  churches  and 
church  work. 


JfOHN  A.  HETTEL,  retired  farmer  of 
^  I  Peru  township,  was  born  March  20, 
\Jl  1816,  in  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  A.  Hettel,  a  hatter  who  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  witii  his  family 
in  1834. 

They  sailed  from  the  port  of  Havre, 
France,  and  after  a  voyage  of  thirty  days 
landed  at  New  York,  proceeding  thence  by 
river,  canal  and  lake  boats  toHuron,  Ohio, 
and  from  that  village  to  the  wilderness  of 
what  is  now  the  beautiful  township  of 
Peru.  Here  the  father  purchased,  at  ten 
dollars  per  aci'e,  the  land  on  which   there 


was  at  that  time  a  clearing  of  six  acres,  and 
increased  gradually  the  area  of  the  tract. 
Mr.  Hettel  and  his  wife  resided  on  this 
tract  until  their  death.  Each  arrived  at  a 
ripe  old  age,  living  to  see  some  of  their 
children  settled,  and  fair  provision  made 
for  the  younger  members  of  the  family. 
The  pioneers  rest  in  St.  Peter's  Catholic 
cemetery  at  Norwalk,  where  so  many  of 
the  early  settlers  are  buried. 

John  A.  Hettel,  was  eighteen  years  old 
when  he  accompanied  the  rest  of  the  family 
into  the  wilderness  of  Ohio.  He  had  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  his  native  land, 
and  after  coming  to  America  assisted  his 
father  in  making  a  new  home. 

On  November  15, 1847,  he  married  Miss 
Maggie  Horn,  who  was  born  February  10, 
1822,  near  the  birthplace  of  Mr.  Hettel, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
father,  Joseph  Horn,  in  1843,  residing  for 
the  next  three  years  in  Massachusetts, 
when  the  family  came  to  Huron  county. 
The  following  named  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hettel:  Louisa, 
Rose,  Albert  and  Louis,  all  deceased  when 
young;  Anna  M.,  residing  at  home;  John 
F.,  a  farmer  in  Peru  township;  Edward 
A.,  a  farmer  of  Henry  county,  Ohio,  and 
Frank  A.,  residing  at  home.  The  mother 
of  tiiis  family  died  July  25,  1887,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Catholic  cemetery  at 
Monroeville.  From  the  period  of  her 
marriage  until  her  death  the  old  home- 
stead, still  occupied  by  Mr.  Hettel,  was 
her  home. 

Mr.  Hettel,  though  retired  from  active 
work,  is  not  an  idle  onlooker.  Rounding 
out  as  he  now  is  fourscore  years,  he  is 
still  hale  and  hearty,  and  takes  especial 
jiride  in  seeing  the  farm  which  he  helped 
to  hew  out  of  the  forest  grow  in  beauty 
and  productiveness  at  the  hands  of  his 
children.  In  his  old  age  he  can  look  back 
over  a  useful  and  honorable  life,  and  take 
pride  in  the  children  who  grew  up  around 
him.  He  appreciates  the  assistance  he  has 
received  from  them  and  their  mother,  who 
has  passed  away,  in  amassing,  or  rather  the 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


473 


making,  tlie  wealth  which  he  calls  his  own, 
and  which  they  will  enjoy  after  him. 
Since  the  mother's  death,  his  daughter, 
Anna  Mary,  has  been  mistress  of  the  old 
home,  wiiile  the  farm  is  managed  by  the 
sons.  ]V[r.  TIettel  has  always  been  a  con- 
sistent Ilepul)lican,  but  takes  no  active  in- 
terest in  party  affairs.  He  and  his  chil- 
dren hold  to  the  Catholic  faith,  and  as  he 
aided  in  planting  it  in  northern  Ohio,  so 
liis  sons  and  daughters  to-day  aid  in  sus- 
taining it. 


TEPHEN  BERRY,  a  wealthy  and 
highly  honored  agriculturist  of  Lyme 
townsliip,  was  born  March  12, 1844, 
in  Waldo  township,  Marion  county, 
Ohio,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Christina  (Powel) 
Berry. 

Henry  Berry  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
there  received  the  most  complete  education 
afforded  by  the  schools  of  that  j)eriod.  At 
an  early  age  he  became  familiar  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  an  occupation  which  en- 
gaged his  exclusive  attention  until  his 
death,  whicli  occurred  in  18S2.  He  was 
a  man  of  unusual  cultnre  and  sterling 
worth,  and  used  his  wealth  to  succor  the 
helpless  neighbors  who  invariably  appealed 
to  him  for  assistance.  His  vast  estate  was 
highly  cultivated,  and  his  fortune  of  eighty 
thousand  dollars  carefully  managed.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  married 
Mi^s  Christina  Powel,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  of  this  union  were  born  nine 
children  (six  of  whom  are  now  living), 
viz.:  Strander.  Thomas,  William,  Stephen, 
Massey  (Mrs.  Barney  Collins),  Mary  (Mrs. 
John  Showers),  Christina  (Mrs.  Jonathan 
Wriglits,  of  Michigan),  Cordelia  (Mrs. 
William  Mills,  who  died  in  Bellevue)  and 
one  whose  name  is  not  given.  The  mother 
of  this  family  died  in  1872,  after  a  life 
tilled  with  kind  impulses  and  generous 
deeds,  and  was  sincerely  mourned  by  her 
family,  friends  atid  neighbors. 

Stephen  Berry  was  quite  young  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  I^yme  town- 


ship, where  he  has  since  continued  to  re- 
side. He  received  an  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  township,  but  his 
natural  ability  and  the  advantages  of  cul- 
tured parents  enabled  him  to  attain  a 
much  greater  degree  of  knowledge  than 
the  teachers  of  those  days  were  j)re])ared 
to  impart  to  their  pupils.  For  eight  years 
he  ojierated  a  sawmill,  but  has  cliiefly  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  j)ursuit8,  and  owns 
two  farms,  one  of  forty-four  acres  in  Lyme 
township,  the  other  comprising  102  acres, 
in  Sherman  township.  At  prt  sent  he  rents 
his  land,  ami  is  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts that  attend  wealth.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  very  prominent  in  the  political 
circles  of  Huron  county.  Mr.  Berry  was 
married,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Priscilla  Gensal, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  arid  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  ciiildren: 
Ada  and  Arthur  W.  Mr.  and  MVs.  Berry 
are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, and 
are  actively  interested  in  all  charitable  en- 
terprises. 


JOSEPH  SHERCK,  who  for  four  years 
—from  Ajiril,  18S2,  to  April,  188G— 
served  as  mayor  of  Bellevue,  was 
born  November  10,  1828,  in  MitHin 
county,  Penn.  John  and  Magdalena  (Krei- 
der)  Sherck,  parents  of  our  subject,  iiuived 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Seneca  county,  ( )hio, 
locating  in  Thompson  township  October  1, 
1834.  L)  1808  the  family  migrated  to 
Michigan,  locating  in  St.  Josepii  county, 
where  Mrs.  Alagdalena  Sherck  died  in 
1882;  the  father  also  died  there.  They 
reared  a  family  of  twelve  children  (our 
subject  being  the  eldest),  of  whom  five 
are  yet  living. 

Joseph  Sherck  received  a  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  district  school  of  Thompson 
township,  Seneca  county,  and  afterward 
worked  on  the  home  farm,  where  he  grew 
to  numiiood.  On  August  19,  1n51,  he 
married  Barbara  A.  Decker,  th.e  youngest 
child  of  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Billman) 
Decker.     Jacob  Decker  is  a  son  of  John 


474 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  Julia  Aim  (Royer)  Decker,  who  came 
in  1S16  from  Union  county,  Peiin.,  to 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  thence  in  1830 
to  Keneca  county,  where  Mrs.  Sherck  was 
born.  To  her  marriage  witli  Josepli  Sherck 
two  cliildren  were  born,  namely:  Mary  A., 
Mrs.  Miller,  of  Seneca  county,  and  Charles 
M.,  associated  with  his  father  in  business 
at  Bellevne.  From  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  1S73  Mr.  Sherck  worked  on 
the  farm,  and  in  1860  purchased  the  160 
acres  in  the  center  of  Thompson  township, 
Seneca  county,  known  as  the  Sherck  home- 
stead. While  on  this  farm  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  served  in  that 
position  for  nine  years.  In  1873  he  moved 
to  Bellevne,  Huron  county,  and  established 
a  saddle  and  harness  house,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1884,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade.  To-day  he  operates  the  large 
elevator  at  Bellevne,  and  carries  on  a  most 
extensive  business  in  grain,  seed,  coal, 
plaster,  salt,  water- lime,  etc. 

Mr.  Sherck  can  trace  his  ancestry  back 
300  years,  and  for  a  century  or  more  can 
claim  this  country  as  the  family  home. 
Prominent  in  Masonic  work,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  at 
Bellevne.  and  of  the  Commandery,  K.  T.,  at 
Norwalk,  Ohio.  In  religious  affairs  he 
alKliates  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  An  active,  enterprising  biisiness 
man.  one  who  has  taken  a  full  part  in  the 
development  of  Bellevue,  he  enjoys,  as  he 
merits,  the  confidence  of  the  community. 


IV/If    '^'  ^'^^^^'  general  'agent   for  all 

I  VI'     l<inds  of  agricultural   implements, 

I       ll    with    residence  at    Weaver's  Cor- 

■fj  ners,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 

born   in    1848,  whence  when  five 

years  old  he  was  brought  to  Huron  county, 

Ohio,  hy  his  parents. 

Mr.  Stapf  received  his  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  Bellevue,  Huron  county, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  butcher,  at  which 
he  worked  in  various  places.     Abandoning 


this  business,  he  secured  a  position  as  trav- 
eling salesman  for  Nicholas  Seckler, 
wholesale  liipior  dealer,  Cleveland,  his 
territory  covering  the  States  of  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  this  line  he  remained 
some  eighteen  years.  He  then  came  to 
Weaver's  Corners,  Huron  county,  where 
he  has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in 
his  present  business,  doing  a  large  and 
profitable  trade.  In  1869  Mr.  Stapf  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Walter,  and 
eight  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
George,  Hester,  Rosa,  Frank,  Nettie, 
Henry,  Lucy  and  John.  Politically  our 
subject  is  an  active  Republican,  and  has 
been  assessor  of  Sherman  township  two 
years;  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
i.  O.  O.  F.  and  K.  of  P.;  in  Church  con- 
nection he  is  a  Lutheran. 

Frederick  and  Christina  (Baer)  Stapf, 
parents  of  M.  J.,  immigrated  frc^n  Ger- 
many to  this  country,  and  they  took  up 
their  residence  in  Bellevue,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  where  the  father  followed  his  busi- 
ness, that  of  brewer.  He  died  in  1887  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five  years;  his  widow, 
now  seventy-six  years  old,  the  mother  of 
four  children,  is  living  with  her  son  M.  J., 
and  with  him  enjoys  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  the  community. 


JLLIAM  WELLS  VAN  GOR- 
DER,  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen  of  New  London,  where  he 
cornlucts  a  flourishing  furniture 
store  and  undertaking  establishment,  is  a 
native  of  Willoughby  township.  Lake  Co., 
Ohio,  born  September  23,  1834. 

Peter  Van  Gorder,  his  father,  married 
Miss  Martha  Allen,  and  nine  children  were 
born  to  them,  named  respectively:  Allen, 
Mary,  Sarah  Ann,  Henry,  John,  Miranda, 
Martha,  Daniel  and  William  W.  The  last 
named,  our  subject,  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood of  bis  place  of  birth,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  commenced  to  learn  car- 
pentry, working  at  the  same  for  others  for 


IlUJiOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


475 


about  three  years,  bj  the  end  of  whicb 
time  lie  had  saved  about  three  hundred 
dollars,  being;  thus  enabled  to  commence 
business  for  liis  own  account.  For  eleven 
years  he  followed  the  trade  with  varying 
success,  and  found  himself  the  possessor  of 
tive  thousand  dollars  of  hard-earned  cash, 
which  he  invested  in  property,  and  then 
embarked  in  his  present  business. 

Mr.  Van  Gorder  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Angeline  Sarah  Kinp;,  b}'  which 
union  there  is  one  child,  Lillian  Adelaide, 
who  was  first  married  to  Dr.  Andrews,  by 
whom  she  has  two  children,  named  Mil- 
dred and  Ermy.  Dr.  Andrews  dying,  ins 
widow  was  subsequently  married  to  Mr. 
Sheerer,  who  controls  the  lecture  course  in 
a  college  in  Cincinnati.  As  will  readily 
be  seen,  Mr.  Van  Gorder  is  a  self-made 
man  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  expres- 
sion. He  is  a  director  of.  the  First  National 
Bank  of  New  London,  and  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  citizens  of  the  town.  Poli- 
tically he  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist,  hav- 
ing been  a  member  of  that  party  since  its 
organization. 


jlfUGn    KENDEIGH,    an  enterpris- 
'!^     ing,  highly  respected  farmer  citizen 
1     of   Townsend   township,   was  born 
■J)  October  15,  1828,  in  Westmoreland 

county,  Penn.  He  is  the  second 
child  in  a  family  of  six  born  to  Daniel 
and  Sarah  (McKinney)  Ivendeigh,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
of  German  and  Scotch- Irish  descent  re- 
spectively. 

Daniel  Kendeiwh  received  no  education 
in  youth,  never  having  attended  school  a 
day  in  his  life;  but  after  attaining  to  man- 
hood's years  he  succeeded,  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions, in  obtaining  sutHcient  education 
for  the  ordinary  transactions  of  life,  and 
was  possessed  of  a  varied  stock  of  useful 
knowledge,  acquired  in  the  great  school  of 
experience.  His  youth  was  passed  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he    was    also    married,    snon    after  which 

86 


event  he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  for 
some  four  or  five  years.  He  then  engaged 
in  coal  mining  at  the  same  place,  in  wiiicli 
he  continued  for  some  tenor  twelve  years, 
and  in  ls;3;J  removed  with  his  family  to 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  bought  a  partially-improved 
farm,  and  other  lands  in  the  same  county. 
In  1840  he  sold  the  home  place  in  Lorain 
county  and  returned  to  Pittsburgh,  remain- 
ing three  or  four  years,  and  tlien  coming 
back  to  Lorain  county,  whence,  after  a 
residence  of  about  one  year,  he  removed  to 
Lenawee  county,  Mich.,  selling  his  prop- 
erty. In  Michigan  he  purchased  a  farm 
whereon  he  resided  and  engaged  iu  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1885,  when  he  was  in  his 
seventy-second  year.  In  1863  he  enlisted 
in  a  Michigan  volunteer  regiment,  serving 
under  (tcu.  Gilmore  in  South  Carolina,  and 
participating  with  his  regiment  in  all  its 
marches  and  engagements  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
earnest  lifelong  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  The  McKinney  family 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  old 
Keystone  State,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  progress  and  development  of  that 
Commonwealth  in  the  early  Colonial  days. 
Hugh  Kendeigh  received  a  fair  English 
education  in  youth  at  the  select  atid  sub- 
scription schools  of  his  native  State  and 
also  in  Ohio,  and  reniained  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  about  twenty-three  years 
old,  when  he  commenced  the  battle  of  life 
on  his  own  account.  He  bought  wild  land 
in  Townsend  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  subsequently  improved  a  farm. 
This  he  sold  in  1862,  the  next  year,  1863, 
buying  another  farm  in  the  same  township, 
where  he  yet  resides,  and  has  since  been 
successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. The  place  is  well  improved  and 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr. 
Kendeigh  was  nnirried  in  1855  to  Miss 
Hannah  Love,  who  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  born  in  1836,  daughter  of  Andrew 


476 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  Eliza  (Kelsey)  Love,  both  also  natives 
of  New  Jersey.  Three  children,  only  one 
of  whom  is  now  living,  were  born  to  this 
iiiiion,  viz.:  Charles  L. ;  Arvilla  Ann,  who 
died  November  18,  1882,  in  her  twentieth 
year;  and  Myra  D.,  Mrs.  Elmer  Belmey, 
who  died  July  18,  1886.  Mrs.  Hannah 
Keudeigh  departed  this  life  January  3, 
1874,  in  her  thirty-sixth  year.  In  politics 
Mr.  Kendeigh  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  progressive  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  the  township  and  county. 


TlOHN  C.  PALMER,  a  descendant  of 

k.  I     one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Huron 

^^    county,  is  a  son  of  John  C.  Palmer, 

whose  father,  Roger  Palmer,  was  a 

farmer  of  Washington  county.  New  York. 

John  C.  Palmer,  father  of  our  subject, 
attended  the  rate  schools,  and  when  a 
young  man  married  Mary  Piester,  of 
Washington  county,  N.  Y.  They  moved 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  making  a  portion 
of  the  journey  by  wagon,  the  remainder 
via  canrtl  and  lake,  landing  at  Huron,  on 
Lake  Erie.  At  this  time  Mr.  Palmer's 
capital  amounted  to  forty  dollars  and  a 
span  of  horses,  one  of  which  was  killed 
while  being  taken  from  the  boat  at  Huron, 
whence  they  proceeded  southward,  locating 
along  tlie  Huron  river  in  Ridgetield  town- 
ship. The  land  was  covered  with  dense 
forest,  and  after  a  rude  means  of  shelter 
had  been  provided  he  set  to  work  to  "fell 
the  giant  oak."  Year  after  year  of  hard 
labor  brought  slow  but  sure  reward,  and 
fields  of  golden  grain  in  due  time  sup- 
planted the  grand  old  forests,  and  the  pioneer 
became  a  prosperous  agriculturist.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Whig  and  Republican,  and 
in  religion  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  A  brief  record  of 
their  children  is  as  follows:  Matilda, 
widow  of  Philo  Whitford,  is  living  on 
the  home  farm;  Elzina,  widow  of  Rob- 
ert Richey,  is  also  living  on  the  old 
place;  Emily  is    the  wife  of  Ira  0.  Stew- 


art, of  Michigan;  Melissa  is  married  to 
Luther  Ashley,  of  California;  John  C, 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch;  Luther  is 
a  farmer  of  Ridgetield  township;  Myron 
lives  in  Wauseon,  Fulton  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
Harlow,  who  sailed  from  New  Bedford, 
Mass.,  on  a  whaling  vessel,  was  lost  in 
the  Straits  of  Snnda.  The  father  of  this 
family  died  in  1862,  aged  fifty-seven  years, 
followed  by  the  mother  in  1882,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  To  citizens  of 
Mr.  Palmer's  stamp  too  much  praise  can- 
not be  given  for  the  hardships  and 
struggles  which  they  endured  in  the  early 
settlement  of  Huron  county.  These  pion- 
eers sleep  side  by  side  in  the  Monroeville 
cemetery. 

John  C.  Palmer  was  born  November 
17,  1838,  on  the  farm  in  Ridgefield  town- 
ship which  he  now  owns.  His  earliest 
education  was  obtained  at  the  subscription 
schools,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a 
short  course  in  an  institution  away  from 
home.  Since  then  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention have  been  given  to  the  farm,  and 
those  principles  of  enterprise  and  energy, 
characteristic  of  his  father,  are  equally 
noticeable  in  the  son.  He  has  charge  of 
the  home  farm,  and  in  addition  lo  general 
agriculture  deals  extensively  in  cattle.  In 
politics  he  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
the  party.  Mr.  Palmer  is  unmarried,  and 
his  two  widowed  sisters  and  a  brother 
make  their  home  with  him. 


P)HILIP  HORN.  Huron  county 
has  within  her  borders  many  men 
toward  whom  she  may  point  the  fin- 
ger of  pride,  men  who  in  their  ad- 
vancement have  not  been  blind  to 
their  country's  welfare,  and  while  winning 
honor  and  success  for  themselves  have  also 
shaped  her  destiny.  Chief  among  these 
men  ranks  Philip  Horn,  who  was  born  in 
1826  in  Germany,  and  settled  in  Huron 
county  as  early  as  1854.  His  father,  Gott- 
fret  Horn,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  Ger- 


IIUEOX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


477 


many,  and  lias  eight  children,  six  of  whom 
are  now  in  America,  our  subject  being 
third  in  order  of  birth. 

Philip  Horn  received  a  good  practical 
education  in  (xermany.  Growing  tired  of 
the  customs  of  his  native  land,  he  came  to 
America,  and  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
worked  two  years  as  farm  laborer  for 
Joseph  Wood,  of  Lyme  township,  and  one 
year  for  his  brother,  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  had,  by  practicing  strict  economy, 
accumulated  sufficient  money  to  rent  a  few 
acres  of  land  from  Isaac  Bently,  and  be- 
gan farming  for  his  own  account.  Five 
years  later  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Belle- 
vue,  but  sold  that  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent place,  comprising  128  acres  of  highly- 
cultivated  land,  where  he  devotes  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock 
raising.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
served  as  school  director  of  Lyme  town- 
ship eight  years,  and  as  supervisor  six 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Protestant  Church. 

Mr.  Horn  was  married,  in  1856,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Steel,  and  by  her  has  nine  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  married  and  are  now 
living  in  Huron  county,  viz.:  Louisa 
(Mrs.  Henry  Boehler);  Gustavo  (married); 
Charles  (married);  Minnie  (Mrs.  Christ 
Uttar)  and  Emma  (Mrs.  Otto  Boehler). 


dCAL.  WAIiD,  a  progressive  and 
successful  dry-goods  merchant  of 
Chicago  Junction,  was  born  June  5, 
1853,  in  llichland  county,  Ohio,  son 
of  S.  F.  and  Jane  (Ilunter)  Ward,  who 
were  natives  of  Kichland  and  Columbiana 
counties  respectively.  The  father  was  a 
cabinet  maker,  an  adept  at  his  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  all  his  life,  and  he  alwaj's 
found  ready  work  for  his  hands.  He  had 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  in 
Alansfield  while  learnintr  cabinet  making, 
during  which  time  he  received  only  his 
board  and  clothes.     Of  his  children,  J.  (/. 


Ward  is  the  subject  of  this  .sketch;  and 
Sophronia  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Gething, 
of  Manstield,  Ohio. 

J.  Cal.  Ward  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  district  in  youth,  but  owing 
to  pool  health  gave  study  very  little  at- 
tention, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
entered  the  general  store  of  Uriah  Uhler, 
at  Shiloh,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio.  Hero  he 
held  the  position  of  clerk  for  six  years, 
never  losing  a  day  or  day's  pay  in  that 
long  term,  and  though  beeinnincr  work  at 

1  111  ^ 

but  ten  dollars  a  month  (and  boardincr 
himself),  his  untiring  attention  to  business 
soon  secured  for  him  higlier  pay.  Leav- 
ing this  old  house  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Williams,  who  kept  a  dry-goods  and 
grocery  store  at  Shiloh,  but  left  this  posi- 
tion within  a  very  short  time.  In  1878  he 
established  a  grocery  house  (borrowing  the 
necessary  capital),  which  he  carried  on 
until  February,  1881,  when  he  closed  out 
the  stock  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Acme  Grease  &  Oil  Manufacturing  Co., 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as  traveling  salesman, 
in  which  ho  continued  for  about  six 
months.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he  took  a 
position  in  a  dry-goods  house  at  Rerea, 
where  he  worked  until  the  spring  of  1SS8, 
and  then  resumed  his  position  with  the 
Acme  Co.  at  an  increased  salary,  reraain- 
ingwith  them  until  Christmas-time,  1885, 
when  he  and  S.  S.  Holtz  purchased  the 
Brinemond  stock  of  dry  goods  at  Shiloh. 
In  September,  1887,  Messrs.  Ward  & 
Holtz,  dissolving  partnership,  made  an 
equal  division  of  the  stock,  and  the  former 
continued  the  business  until  the  spring  of 
1888,  when  he  located  at  Chicago  Junc- 
tion, and  opened  up  a  dry-goods  and  no- 
tion store  in  the  old  Ilockett  Building. 
In  October,  1890,  he  moved  into  the  Wool- 
ford  Building,  whore  he  i-emained  until 
February,  1892,  when  his  present  estab- 
lishment in  the  Opera  House  Building 
was  opened.  He  carries  a  select  assort- 
ment of  dry  goods,  notions  and  wall-paper, 
ranging  in  value  from  five  thousand  dollars 
to  seven  thousand  dollars. 


478 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Ward  was  married,  July  4,  1878,  to 
Miss  Ellen  Iloltz,  who  died  February  14, 
1887,  and  on  October  17, 1887,  lie  married 
Miss  Flora  E.  Case,  daughter  of  Israel 
Case.  Politically  Mr.  "Ward  is  a  Republi- 
can, but  not  especially  active  in  party 
affairs.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Frateruity,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  En- 
campment. He  is  a  thorough  business 
man,  but  takes  a  deep  interest  in  municipal 
affairs  and  ])rivate  enterprises  affecting  the 
the  welfare  of  the  town. 


Li 


GUIS  WILLIAMS.  Of  the  many 
prosperous  agriculturists  of  Nor- 
wich township,  none  is  better  known 
or  more  highly  respected  than  this 
gentleman,  lie  is  a  son  of  John  Williams, 
whose  father,  also  named  John,  a  tailor  by 
trade  in  Germany,  married  a  Miss  Leicht, 
by  whom  he  had  one  child:  John.  Soon 
after  John's  birth  the  mother  died,  and  the 
father  subsequently  married  Miss  Stien, 
who  bore  him  three  children,  all  now 
deceased. 

John  Williams,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1795, 
in  Nassau,  Prussia,  where,  on  a  farm, 
his  boyhood  was  passed.  In  early  youth 
he  entered  the  Prussian  army,  and  he 
served  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  for 
which  he  received  a  silver  medal  now  in 
the  possession  of  Mrs.  John  Willow, 
daughter  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Af- 
ter the  close  of  that  memorable  campaign 
he  served  six  years  in  the  Prussian  army, 
in  Holland.  On  leaving  the  army  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Herschberger,  and  then 
commenced  farming  in  his  native  land.  In 
1853  they  came  to  America,  and  in  Nor- 
wich township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  Mr. 
Williams  opened  up  a  farm  of  110  acres, 
for  which  he  paid  tiie  sum  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  viz. :  John,  Jennette,  Anthony, 
Christian     and    Louis,    all    now   deceased 


except  Anthony  and  Louis.  Mr.  Williams 
never  became  a  naturalized  citizen,  but  was 
a  Democrat  in  principle. 

Louis  Williams,  of  whom  this  sketch 
more  particularly  relates,  was  born  in  1835 
in  Nassau,  Prussia,  where  he  first  received 
a  good  education.  After  coming  to  this 
country,  which  he  did  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years,  he  lived  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  and  subse- 
quently worked  out  by  the  month  until 
after  his  marriage,  when  he  came  to  his 
present  farm,  now  consisting  of  459  acres, 
on  which  he  has  since  carried  on  general 
agriculture,  including  the  raising  of  Short- 
horn cattle.  In  1861  he  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Williams,  widow  of  his  brother 
Christian,  and  six  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  namely:  Jennie,  Artilla,  Eliza- 
beth, Wilhelmina,  Edward  and  Gustavus. 
In  his  political  associations  our  subject  is 
a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 


P.  JACOBS,  a  popular  aiid  public- 
spirited  citizen  of  Chicago  Junction, 
was  born  August  27,  1855,  in  Liv- 
'>^i  ingston  county,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Gus- 
tavus and  Sarah  (^Roth)  Jacobs. 
Our  subject  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children — live 
sons  and  four  daughters.  Completins  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Norwalk,  he  at 
once  embarked  in  the  lumber  business,  in 
which  he  has  since  been  continuously  en- 
gaged. In  1872  he  purchased  a  mill  in 
Wood  county,  Ohio,  and  conducted  same 
for  six  years,  during  which  time  he  re- 
ceived injuries  in  a  mill  accident,  which 
for  two  years  incapacitated  him  for  active 
work.  On  recovering  he  carried  on  the  in- 
dustry at  Millbury,  Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  for 
two  years,  and  in  1886  located  at  Chicago 
Junction,  where  he  established  a  mill  and 
lumberyard,  and  at  once  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive trade.  He  supplies  large  quan- 
tities of  timber  to   railroads,  and   lumber 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


479 


and  mill  work  to  the  local  trade.  To- 
gether with  this  he  is  a  building  contrac- 
tor and  an  extensive  dealer  in  real  estate, 
owning  property  in  Norwalk  and  Chicairo 
Junction.  His  trade  in  line  hardwoods, 
and  sash,  doors  and  blinds  is  proportion- 
ately great. 

In  November,  1872,  Mr.  Jacobs  was 
married  to  Miss  Ida  S.  Davis,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  F.  Davis,  of  Norwalk,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  eight  children,  six 
sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Earl, 
Welton,  Wesley,  Clarence,  Ilai-ry,  Vernon, 
Bertha  and  Mabel,  all  residing  at  Chicacro 
Junction.  Mr.  Jacobs  votes  with  the  Re- 
publicans, is  active  in  the  councils  of  his 
party,  and  has  filled  various  local  offices 
with  satisfaction  to  the  people,  and  credit 
to  himself.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No. 
748,  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  he  is  a  thorough-goincr 
business  man,  and  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising citizens  of  the  town. 


AMDEL  MILLER,  a  prosperous 
liveryman  of  Bellevue,  was  born,  in 
1810,  in  Lancaster,  Fenn.,  a  son  of 
Samuel  Miller.  His  parents  were 
well-to-do,  and  his  mother  was  well  edu- 
cated both  in  ETiglish  and  German;  she 
died  in  Wisconsin. 

Our  subject  passed  his  school  days  in 
his  native  State,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  primitive  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
In  1832  he  came  west,  seeking  broader 
fields  of  labor  and  a  home  where  he  could 
put  in  practice  the  habits  of  thrift  and 
energy  that  he  had  been  taught  at  home. 
With  this  object  in  view  he  settled  in  Ohio, 
which  at  that  time  was  but  sparsely  popu- 
lated, and  where  the  pioneers  were  endur- 
ing many  hardships  and  clearing  land 
preparatory  to  cultivating  the  soil.  He 
lived  two  years  in  Fremont,  working  at 
his  trade  of  shoemaking,  and  from  there 
moved  to  Tiiompson  township,  Seneca 
county,  where  he  farmed  for  two  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he   located  perma- 


nently in    Bellevue.    and  engaged  in  the 

1 .  ,        .  too 

livery  busmess,  in  which  lie  lias  since  con- 
tinued, meeting  witli  great  success.  He  is 
widely  interested  in  buying  and  selling 
horses  in  connection  with  his  regular  busi- 
ness,  purchasing  car-loads  of  horses  from 
all  over  the  country  for  both  himself  and 
others.  His  livery  and  sale  stable  are 
well  stocked  with  tine  horses. 

In  1830  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  Oswick,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  George  Os- 
wick, a  prominent  agriculturist  of  that 
State.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  by 
eight  children,  viz.:  Reuben  G.  (deceased), 
Edward  (who  married  Miss  Hale,  and  lives 
in  IJellevuej,  John  (deceased),  Charles 
(married,  in  partnershi])  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness with  his  father  in  Bellevue),  Belle 
(who  is  married,  and  resides  in  Huron 
county),  Sarah  (deceased),  Clara  (Mrs. 
Weil),  and  Emma  (who  lives  with  her  par- 
•ents).  Mr.  Miller  was  remarkably  active 
in  ills  youth,  and  has  through  every  period 
of  his  life  manifested  energy  and  great 
business  ability.  He  took  no  part  in  the 
Civil  war,  being  too  old,  but  his  sons  Ed- 
ward and  John  were  both  in  the  service. 
He  is  popular  alike  in  commercial  and 
political  circles,  and  has  served  as  marshal 
of  Bellevue  for  several  years. 


B.  CCYKENDALL,  who  is 
prominently  identified  with  the 
business  interests  of  Plymouth, 
was  born,  in  1828,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Solomon  and  Mary 
(Bran)  Ciiykendall,  also  natives  of  New 
York  State.  The  American  ancestors  of 
the  family  emigrated  from  Holland. 
Solomon  Cuykendall  was  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Cayuga  county,  and  resided  on 
the  homestead  there  during  liis  life.  Of 
the  three  sons  born  to  Solomon  and  Mary 
Cuykendall,  the  eldest  died  in  his  native 
State;  the  second  still  resides  there,  and 
W.  B.  lives  in  Ohio. 


480 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


W.  B.  Cuykeiidall  received  a  liberal 
coinmon-scliool  and  academic  education  in 
his  native  State,  and,  school  days  over,  en- 
tered a  dry-goods  house  at  Owasco,  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  three  years.  In  1852 
he  married  Miss  Adelaide  Tompkins,  a  na- 
tive of  Cayuga  county,  and  two  years  later 
they  started  for  Davenport,  Iowa,  visiting, 
en  route,  friends  at  Plymontii,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  and  thence  pushino;  on  by  rail  to 
Chicago.  The  streets  of  the  Garden  City 
were  not  then  graded,  and  to  all  but  the 
hunter  after  the  "almighty  dollar"  it  was  a 
rather  uninviting  spot.  His  wife  became 
sick  there,  and  he  was  compelled  to  take 
her  to  Adrian,  Mich.,  during  their  stay  at 
which  place  Mr.  Cuykendail  purchased 
property  at  Charlotte,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich., 
intending  to  locate  there.  But  correspond- 
ence with  his  friends  at  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
changed  this  purpose,  and  going  thither 
in  the  fall  of  1854,  he  purchased  a  stock 
of  drugs  from  II.  M.  Wooster,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  drug  business  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Square,  conducting  same 
for  seven  years.  For  a  while  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  dry-goods  house  of  H. 
Graham  here,  and  also  engatred  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Bucyrus,  In  1864- 
65  he  was  clerk  iu  the  quartermaster's 
department  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  and 
"Washington,  D.  C,  under  Gen.  Brinker- 
hoff.  After  the  war  he  went  to  Newberne, 
N.  C  and  was  engaged  in  cotton  growing 
there  until  1870,  meeting  with  consider- 
able success. 

Keturning  to  Plymouth  in  1870  Mr. 
Cuykendail  entered  into  partnership  with 
H.  Graham,  but  in  1873  he  sold  his  inter- 
est and  started  a  lumber  yard,  which  he 
carried  on  until  appointed  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Plymouth  in  1875. 
This  bank  was  founded  in  1871,  under 
United  States  charter,  and  the  important 
office  of  cashier  was  filled  by  Mr.  Cuy- 
kendail from  1875  to  1886,  when  he  re- 
signed to  make  a  tour  of  the  country  on 
the  Pacific  Slope.  In  August,  1889,  he 
succeeded  Josiah  Brinkerhoff  as  president 


of  the  bank.  For  about  twenty  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness,  representing  standard  companies. 
He  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  near  Plymouth,  and  in  every  way  is 
closely  identified  with  the  town  and  sur- 
rounding country.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  social  affairs  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Fraternity.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cuykendail  have  had  thi-ee  children,  all  of 
whom  died  young. 


\ILLIAM  H.  8HEDD  is  one  of 
the  wealthiest  citizens  and  most 
successful  agriculturists  of  Bron- 
son  township,  having  accumulated 
a  handsome  competence  by  strict  economy 
and  untiring  industry. 

He  is  a  sou  of  Simon  and  Rachel  (A\^ood) 
Shedd,  natives  of  Connecticut,  the  former 
of  whom,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  died  in 
New  York  at  about  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  followed  by  his  wife,  who  died 
when  eighty- five  years  of  age.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children — seven  sons 
and  two  daughters — of  whom  one  son 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  one  at  the 
age  of  nineteen;  another  son,  Foster  L.,  is 
living  at  Bridgewater,  S.  D.,  and  with  the 
exception  of  William  H.  the  remaining 
childi'en  are  residing  in   the  East. 

William  H.  Shedd  is  the  third  child  in 
order  of  birth,  and  the  only  representative 
of  his  family  now  living  in  Ohio.  He  was 
born  in  April,  1824,  in  Jefferson  county, 
N.  Y.,  attended  the  subscription  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  began  life  as  a 
farmer  in  his  native  State.  AVhen  twenty- 
two  years  old  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Willard,  who  bore  him  one  son, 
Willard  H.,  now  living  in  Erie,  Penn. 
Mrs.  Sh^dd  died  three  years  after  her 
marriage,  and  in  April,  1857,  our  subject 
was  married  to  Rachel  Shedd,  who  has 
borne  him  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 
viz.:  Herbert  C,  a  railroad  mail  clerk,  in 
Bronson  township;  Milton  B.,  of  Bridge- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


481 


water,  S.  D.,  and  Florence  May,  living;  at 
home.  In  1852  Mr.  Shedd  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  there  remained  four  years, 
mining  the  first  year,  and  then  fanning 
successfully  for  tiiree  years.  Having  se- 
cured a  competence  in  California  he  de- 
cided to  make  a  home  in  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  and  in  1868  lie  bought  231  acres  of 
land  in  Bronson  township,  located  one 
mile  and  a  quarter  west  of  Olena.  He  has 
invested  six  thousand  dollars  in  improving 
this  place,  and  in  the  spring  of  1888 
erected  a  handsome  dwelling  in  the  out- 
skirts  of  Olena,  where  he  lias  since  resided. 
In  politics  he  votes  the  Republican  ticket. 


,AVID  A.WHITE,  who  conducts  a 
snug,   fertile    farm   of  seventy-five 
acres  which    he  owns  in   Norwich 
township,  is  a  native  of  Greenfield 
township,  Huron  county,  born  in  1842. 

Nathaniel  AVhite,  his  father,  a  native  of 
near  Mansfield,  Ohio,  was  a  son  of  Nathan- 
iel White,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
was  a  tanner  by  occupation,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Nancy  Thornton,  of  the  same 
place.  They  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom 
nine  grew  to  maturity :  Thomas,  Nathaniel, 
William,  Mahlon,  John,  Edwin,  Polly, 
Sarah  and  Emily,  all  now  deceased  except 
Edwin,  who  lives  in  California.  Nathan- 
iel, the  second  son,  was  born  in  1806,  and 
passed  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm,  learn- 
ing at  the  same  time  the  trade  of  tanner. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Skeels,  of  the 
same  locality,  and  they  then  settled  on 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  Greenfield  township, 
Huron  county,  where  children,  as  follows, 
were  born  to  them:  William,  Isaac,  John 
(deceased),  Mary,  David  A.,  Leander,  John 
and  James,  all  now  scattered  over  the 
United  States. 

David  A.  White,  whose  name  appears 
at  the  opening  of  this  biographical  sketch, 
received  a  fair  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township,  was  reared 


on  a  farm,  and  learned  the  trade  of  har- 
ness maker.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the 
First  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery,  which  was 
attached  to  the  army  of  the  Cutnberland, 
and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Mission 
Ridge,  Chickamauga  and  others,  after  a 
service  of  two  years  and  seven  months  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge  and  return- 
ing  home.  Recommencing  the  pursuits  of 
peace,  he  first  opened  out  a  harness  shop 
in  Centretou,  Norwich  township,  Huron 
county,  which  be  conducted  two  years,  and 
then  moved  to  Wood  county,  this  State, 
where  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  close 
to  the  town  of  Milton  Center;  but  selling 
out  in  about  one  year  he  again  came  to 
Norwich  township  and  commenced  farm- 
ing on  a  fifty- acre  tract  of  land.  At  the 
end  of  two  years  he  went  to  California, 
traveling  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
State,  following  his  trade,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent mining.  He  made  some  forty-five 
thousand  dollars,  but  lost  it  all  in  quick- 
silver speculation.  On  his  return  to  Nor- 
wich township  he  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  and  has  met  with  considerable  suc- 
cess. He  owns  a  hotel  and  a  half  interest 
in  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  California,  be- 
sides his  seventy-five  acres  in  Norwich 
township.  Huron  county. 

Mr.  White  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Olivia  G.  Magee,  of  Norwich  town- 
ship,  daughter  of  William  Magee,  and  five 
children,  named  as  follows,  were  born  to 
them :  Dolly,  Page  (deceased),  Grace,  Myr- 
tle (deceased)  and  Dora.  In  his  political 
affiliations  our  subject  was  a  Democrat 
until  four  years  ago,  at  which  time  he 
enlisted  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party. 


l\  ylr  RS.  M.  A.  CORWIN.     This  lady 

Vrl     is  one  of    the  most  popular  and 

1     useful  citizens  of   Norwalk.     She 

is    a   daughter  of    the    late   Hon. 

Timothy   Baker,   and    traces    her 

lineage  to  three   brothers  who  sailed   from 

England    and    located    in    Lyme,    Mass.; 


< 


482 


HURON  COUNTY,  Omo. 


afterward  one  of  the  brothers,  Abner,  set- 
tled in  Northampton,  Mass.,  in  early 
Colonial  days. 

Abner  Baker  was  a  member  of  the 
church  of  Dr.  Edwards.  He  married  Lois 
Waters,  of  Connecticut.  He  spent  the 
later  years  of  his  life  in  Norwalk,  Ohio. 
His  son,  Timothy,  was  born  August  5, 
1787.  in  Northam]iton,  Mass.  He  went 
to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1801,  and  in  1805  made 
his  home  in  Herkimer,  N.  Y.  In  1814 
he  joined  some  friends  in  a  journey  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  with  no  intention  of 
purchasing  land  or  making  a  home  in  the 
locality.  '•  Passino;  through  Norwalk  on 
an  Indian  trail,  the  party  found  shelter 
for  the  night,  witli  several  other  similar 
companies,  in  a  log  cabin  about  fifteen 
feet  square,  two  miles  south  of  the  village, 
ten  or  twelve  making  their  bed  on  the 
poles  and  bark  that  formed  the  Hoor  under 
the  primitive  roof.  In  1815  he  again 
visited  Ohio,  and  purchased  several  large 
tracts  of  land,  including  the  farm  in  Nor- 
walk." After  returning  to  Herkimei-,  he 
was  married,  March  23,  1816,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Remington,  a  resident  of  Fairfield, 
who  was  born  in  1794,  in  Providence,  R. 
I.,  and  whose  maternal  grandfather  was  a 
cousin  of  Gen.  Greene,  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  She  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
educated  in  Fairfield  Academy,  N.  Y.,  be- 
ing a  very  intellectual  woman,  and  was  of 
material  assistance  in  promoting  the  suc- 
cess of  her  distingnislied  husband.  On 
September  27,  1819,  Tiraotliy  Baker,  ac- 
companied by  his  family  and  brother  The- 
odore, moved  upon  his  property  in  Nor- 
walk, Ohio,  the  village  then  consisting  of 
ten  or  twelve  families.  He  immediately 
entered  heartily  into  every  plan  for  the 
progress  and  development  of  the  place, 
and  was  a  prominent  citizen  for  forty 
years.  In  1821  he  was  made  associate 
judge  of  Huron  county,  serving  in  that 
capacity  for  twenty-one  years,  iu  1842  de- 
clining reappointment.  He  was  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Bank  of  Norwalk  for  many 
years,  and  in  all  these  responsible  positions 


won  a  reputation  for  integrity  and  good 
judgment  which  has  been  accorded  to  but 
few,  and  which  was  never  better  deserved. 
In  1842  he  united  with  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Norwalk,  and  the  tie  thus 
formed  proved  a  source  of  strength  and 
blessing  during  his  remaining  years,  grow- 
ing more  precious  as  the  years  passed. 
Mrs.  Baker  died  September  27,  1862,  fol- 
lowed by  her  husband  January  27,  1878. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  all 
of  whom  lived  to  be  over  si.xty  years  of 
age.  They  were  as  follows:  M.  A.,  James 
W.,  William  (an  attorney  in  Toledo),  Timo- 
thy (now  deceased,  connected  with  the  Chi- 
cago Board  of  Trade),  and  Charles  H.  and 
George,  in  Toledo. 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Corwin  grew  to  womanhood 
beneath  the  paternal  roof,  and  was  educated 
at  the  old  Norwalk  seminary  when  it  was 
a  leading  institution  of  the  State.  Among 
her  schoolmates  were  students  who  have 
risen  to  national  fame,  and  she  has  de- 
veloped into  a  woman  of  rare  culture.  On 
September  3,  1840,  she  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Rev.  Ira  Corwin,  who  was  born 
December  12,  1809.  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  State,  and  then  took  a  theological 
course  at  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  now  Colgate 
University.  He  then  came  to  Medina, 
Ohio,  being  ordained  a  Baptist  minister  in 
1838,  which  was  his  first  charge.  He  had 
pastorates  in  Erie,  Penn.,  three  years,  and 
then  came  to  Ohio;  was  nearly  nine  years 
in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  then  was  seven 
years  in  South  Bend,  Ind.  In  1861  he  re- 
signed his  pastorate  in  South  Bend,  and 
came  to  Norwalk,  and  supplied  vacancies 
in  Huron  and  adioining  counties.  He  was 
a  thorougii  scholar,  and  watchful  pastor, 
doing  grand  service  for  the  cause  to  which 
his  life  was  given.  He  died  July  7,  1886. 
The  children  were  as  follows:  Timothy 
B.,  William  H.,  George  Whipple,  Eliza, 
Charles,  and  George  W.,  last  named  being 
deceased.  There  are  two  grandchildren. 
Bertha  and  Maria.  Mrs.  Corwin  has  been 
a    prominent    leader    in     promoting    the 


HUROlSr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


483 


literary  and  social  culture  of  Norwalk,  as 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Society  for 
that  purpose  which  prospered  for  many 
years,  and  whose  influence  is  yet  evident. 
She  is  now  living  at  Norwalk  in  semi- 
retirement,  though  yet  a  devoted  worker 
in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  gives  liherally 
to  all  worthy  enterprises.  For  morning 
exercise  she  indulges  in  a  novel  hut  suc- 
cessful method  of  healthy  recreation,  pull- 
ing weeds  in  the  garden  Ijcfore  breakfast, 
which  she  affirms  produces  a  salutary  effect, 
and  is  very  conducive  to  a  good  appetite. 


Hi  USTllSr  CUSIIMxVN,  a  native-born 

l/V    agriciiltnrist  of  Norwich  township, 

lf~\\    where  he  is  well-known  for  his  in- 

•fj  dustry  and  frugality,  first  saw  the 

light  in   1846,    his    parents    being 

Henry  and  Julia  (Turner)  Cushman. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1820  in 
Knox  county,  and  was  lirought  up  a  fartner 
boy,  his  education  being  limited  to  twenty- 
six  days  attendance  at  the  subscription 
schools,  to  which  lirief  experience  he  ma- 
terially added  by  home  study  and  a  close 
attention  to  men  and  things.  When  com- 
menciiig  life  for  himself,  he  bought  a  farm 
of  forty  acres  in  Norwich  township,  Huron 
county,  and  in  course  of  time  commenced 
the  ijractice  of  law,  in  which  he  still  con- 
tinues, mainly  the  carrying  through  the 
court  of  petty  cases  in  his  township.  He  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  held  township  offices, 
such  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  clerk; 
in  religious  views  he  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Universalist  faith.  Henry  Cushman  mar- 
ried Miss  Julia  Turner,  of  Peru  township, 
Huron  county,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Turner, 
the  owner  of  several  small  farms  in  the 
county.  To  this  union  were  born  four 
children,  viz.:  Austin  (subject  of  sketch), 
Seymour,  Ellen,  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  mother  of  these  was  called 
from  earth   in   1852,  and   Mr.   Cushman 


subsequently  wedded  Miss  Mary  Cole,  of 
Richmond,  Ohio,  by  which  marriage  there 
were  five  children,  as  follows:  Charles, 
Amos,  Addison,  John,  and  one  that  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Cushman  is  now  retired 
from  active  life. 

Austin  Cushman,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  sketch,  received  a  liberal 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  of  his  place  of  birth.  Up 
to  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  worked  by 
the  month,  after  which,  in  1867,  he  settled 
on  his  present  place  of  seventy-six  acres 
excellent  farm  land,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  general  agriculture,  including  the  breed- 
ing of  sheep.  His  success,  which  has  been 
marked,  has  been  due  entirely  to  his  own 
untiring  efforts  and  honesty  of  purpose. 
In  1867  Mr.  Cushman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage  with  Miss  Alice  Clark,  daughter  of 
William  Clark,  of  Norwich  township, 
Huron  county,  and  one  child,  Artie,  born 
in  1883,  brightens  and  cheers  their  home. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  Democrat. 


jILLIAM  H.  HOULE.  In  every 
county  there  are  men  who,  by 
their  strength  of  will  and  irre- 
proachable  character,  impress  their 
individuality  upon  the  entire  community, 
and  succeed  in  whatever  they  undertake. 
Such  a  man  is  William  II.  Houle,  who, 
since  1854,  has  resided  in  Huron  county. 
He  was  born,  in  1828,  in  Devonshire, 
England,  where  he  received  his  education, 
and  where  he  served  for  a  time  as  footman 
to  a  wealthy  family.  Since  his  arrival  in 
Lyme  township  he  has  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits.  When  he 
emigrated  from  England  his  only  capital 
consisted  of  energy,  perseverance  and  good 
health,  and  he  was,  therefore,  compelled 
to  accept  the  first  means  of  earning  money 
that  presented  itself.  He  worked  for  a 
number  of  years  as  a  farm  laborer,  before 
he    accumulated    a    sufficient    amount    of 


484 


HUBOHsr  COUNTY,  Off  TO. 


money  to  purchase  his  present  farm,  con- 
sisting of  114  acres  of  valuable  land,  two 
and  a  lialf  miles  from  Bellevue.  Mr. 
Houle  was  married  in  1854  (just  before 
leaving  England),  to  Miss  Lucy  Gaydon, 
who  was  also  born  in  that  country,  and 
their  union  was  blessed  with  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  viz.:  William  H.,  John 
G.,  Lucy  H.,  Frank  G.,  Ida  M.,  Frederick 
G.  and  Jennie.  All  of  these  children  re- 
side on  the  home  farm,  with  the  exception 
of  Jennie,  who  is  deceased,  and  William 
H.,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Collins, 
daughter  of  J.  D.  Collins,  and  lives  with 
liis  wife's  parents.  Mr.  Houle  is  a  self- 
made  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
of  sound  judgment,  whose  integrity  was 
never  questioned,  and  whose  influence 
through    life  has    always    been   for  good. 


D  WIGHT    M.    BARRE,    a    lifelong 
farmer    of    Ripley    township,   is    a 
'   native  of  same,  born  in  1848.    John 

Barre,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  Penn.,  where  he 
was  reared,  and  resided  until  his  removal 
to  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  in  early  man- 
hood. He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  to  this  marriage  were  born  tliree  sons 
and  two  daughters,  namely:  Thomas, 
David,  John,  Betts  and  Catherine,  all  de- 
ceased but  the  last  named.  John  Barre 
was  a  practical  farmer,  both  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  in  New  York,  and  when  he 
came  to  Ripley  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  about  the  year  1830,  he  brought 
with  him  capital  sufficient  to  purchase  400 
acres  in  that  township,  and  confidence  in 
himself  to  bo  able  to  hew  a  good  home  out 
of  the  wilderness.  At  the  period  of  his 
settlement  in  Ripley,  the  township  was 
almost  wliolly  in  its  primitive  state,  roads 
were  not  then  laid  out,  and  l)ear,  deer, 
wolves  and  other  game  were  numerous.  He 
resided  there  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1836. 

Jojjn  Barre,  father  of  Dwigiit  M.  Barre, 
was     born     in     Northumberland     county, 


Penn.,  and  passed  his  boyhood  there  and 
in  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.  On  August 
25,  1825,  he  married  Amy  Stout,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Stout,  of  Tompkins  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  for  a  few  years  after  marriage 
the  couple  resided  in  that  county,  and 
then,  in  1832,  moved  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  To  their  union  were  born  fifteen 
cliildren,  namely:  Cornelius  (deceased), 
David,  Herman  (deceased],  Jane,  Jona- 
than, Wellington,  Henry,  Ira,  Maryetta, 
Lyman,  James,  Corvis  M.,  Dwight  M., 
Josephine  and  Jessie.  Of  these  Corvis  M. 
and  Henry  served  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. Corvis  M.  Barre  is  now  an  at- 
torney of  Hillsdale,  Mich. ;  he  was  formerly 
cashier  of  the  bank  there,  and  subsequently 
served  as  United  States  consul  in  Chili, 
having  been  appointed  by  President  Har- 
rison. For  one  year  the  Barre  family  re- 
sided in  North  Fairfield  township,  in  1833 
moving  to  Ripley  township,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  general  farming  and. 
stock  growing. 

Dwight  M.  Barre  attended  the  district 
school,  subsequently  took  a  course  in  a 
select  school,  and  tiien  entered  agricultural 
life.  In  1876  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Ella  Wolcott,  daughter  of  Rensselaer 
Wolcott,  a  farmer  of  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  and  after  marriage  the  young  couple 
settled  on  the  farm  where  they  now  re- 
side, and  here  two  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  Walter  and  T.  DeWitt.  Mr. 
Barre  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
served  liis  township  as  trustee  for  eight 
years.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Congregational  Church.  His 
farm  of  eighty-five  acres  is  highly  im- 
proved, and  speaks  well  for  the  industry 
of  the  owner. 


DANIEL    W.    LONEY,    M.    D.,   of 
Olena,  is   a  son  of    Calvin    Loney, 
'    whose  father,  John  Loney,  was  born 

in  Virginia,  of  Scotch- Irish  parents. 

Calvin  Loney,  a  native  of  Knox  county, 

Ohio,    was    married     to.  Mary    Ridenour, 


imiiON^  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


485 


who  was  born  in  "Washington  county,  Md., 
and  tiiey  have  always  since  resided  in 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  where  tliree  sons  and 
three  daughters  were  born  to  them,  of 
whom  Daniel  W.  is  third  in  order  of  birth. 
The  names  of  the  others  are  John  A., 
Clarence,  Annie,  Belle  and  Berniee.  Both 
parents  are  yet  living. 

Dr.  Daniel  W.  Loney  was  born  May  20, 
1861,  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  after 
attending  Greentown  Academy  at  Perrys- 
ville,  Ohio,  for  three  years,  spent  two 
years  at  Kenyon  College.  In  1882  he 
entered  the  medical  school  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduat- 
ing therefrom  in  1885.  While  yet  a  stu- 
dent, he  was  married,  December  18,  1884, 
to  Ilallie,  daughter  of  Jacob  Foltz,  of  Fort 
Smith,  Ark.  It;  the  spring  of  1886  they 
came  to  their  present  home  in  Olena, 
where  the  Doctor  has  since  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Loney  have  two  daughters,  Mary  E.  and 
Doratha  E.  In  his  political  preferences 
he  is  a  Democrat,  as  were  his  father  and 
grandfather. 


f^  W.  HOFMAN,  a  highly  respected, 
I  w.  influential  citizen  of  Plymouth,  is  a 
\^  son  of  John  H.  Hofman,  who  was 
^^  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  near 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  of  German  de- 
scent. He  was  a  jeweler  by  trade,  and  in 
1823  came  to  Eichland  county,  Ohio,  em- 
barking at  Mansfield  in  tiie  jewelry  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  continued  for  twenty 
years.  In  1843  he  removed  to  Plymouth, 
and  later,  in  1850,  to  Bucyrns,  conducting 
a  jewelry  business  in  both  places.  He 
died  in  Bucyrus  in  1854.  Mr.  llofman 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
E.  Huffman,  of  near  Hagerstown,  Md., 
and  to  their  union  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Aaron,  Catherine,  Eliza, 
Charles,  G.  W.,  John  II.,  Jr.,  R.  E., 
Allen  G.,  Mary  E.,  Laura,  and  Frank. 
In  politics  the  "father  of  this  family  was 
a  Democrat. 


G.  W.  Hofman  was  born  in  1831,  in 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  was  twelve  years  of 
age  when  the  family  removed  to  Plymouth. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  when  yet  a  young  man  em- 
barked in  the  jewelry  business  with  his 
brother,  Aaron  Hofman,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the 
First  Ohio  Independent  Hattery,  and 
served  three  years  with  the  army  of  the 
East,  taking  an  active  part  in  twelve 
engagements — Lynchburg  (Va.),  Cloyd 
Mountain,  etc.  He  returned  from  the 
war  in  1865,  and  buying  out  his  brother — 
A.  Hofman — embarked  in  the  jewelry 
business,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged;  and 
though  at  times  he  has  been  unfortunate, 
he  has,  iii  the  main,  been  prosperous  and 
successful  in  his  mercantile  career.  In 
1889  Mr.  Hofman  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  of  Plymouth  from 
President  Harrison;  he  is  a  liepnblican 
politically,  and  has  always  Ijeen  active  in 
party  affairs  in  Richland  county. 

In  1858  Mr.  Hofman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Susan  Frye,  of  New  Haven 
township,  Huron  county,  daughter  of 
Abraham  Frye,  a  farmer.  To  this  union 
have  come  two  children,  viz.:  Belle,  who 
married  Robert  McDonough,  a  traveling 
salesman;  and  Maude,  married  to  W.  F. 
Reed,  a  newspaper  man  of  Plymouth. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  WILLIAMS,  for 
nearly  half  a  century  a  resident  of 
Lorain  county,  was  born  January  22, 
1796,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 
In  the  spring  of  1804  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  (^liio,  locating  in  Columbia, 
Cuyahoga  county,  this  part  of  the  State 
being  at  that  time  a  comparative  wilder- 
ness, awaiting  the  westward  march  of 
civilization.  Where  is  now  the  magnifi- 
cent city  of  Cleveland  there  was,  when 
Mr.  Williams  landed  at  that  port,  but  a 
single  log  building,  and  he  assisted  in  the 


486 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


erection  of  the  first  frame  structure  in  the 

Elace.  In  1820  he  removed  to  Ridgeville, 
orain  conntj,  wliere  he  resided  twenty 
years,  diii-ing  tlie  first  five  of  which  he 
taught  the  first  school  held  in  Elyria.  In 
1825  he  married  Lorain  Root,  who  was 
born  August  1,  1810,  in  Hartford,  Conn., 
wiience  wlien  she  was  but  six  weeks  old 
she  was  brought  to  Ohio  by  her  parents, 
being  the  first  white  child  to  be  baptized 
in  what  is  now  Lorain  county,  which  was 
named  after  her.  Her  father's  family 
consisted  of  eleven  boys  and  one  girl 
(Lorain),  all  of  whom  lived  to  rear  families 
of  their  own.  To  Capt.  John  and  Lorain 
(Root)  Williams  were  born  twelve  children. 
He  died  February  27,  1867,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years,  one  month,  his  widow 
surviving  him  till  January  16,  1881,  when 
she  too  was  called  to  her  long  home. 

J.  S.  Williams,  the  only  surviving  son 
of  this  honored  pioneer  couple,  was  born 
April  16,  1844,  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 
On  January  15,  1867,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  A.  Greig,  and  there 
have  been  born  to  them  nine  children  — 
three  sons  and  six  daughters — all  yet 
living. 


LYMAN  AUSTIN.      The  New  Eng- 
I   land   States  have  always   been  dis- 
\  tinguished     for     their   industrious, 

honest  and  frugal  sons,  one  of 
whom,  bearino-  all  these  enviable  charac- 
teristics,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Austin  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  1815,  a  son  of  Daniel  Austin,  a 
native  of  Plainfield,  same  State,  who  was 
a  son  of  John  Austin,  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  by  trade,  who  was  killed  while  rais- 
ing a  building.  Daniel  Austin  was  born 
May  22,  1783,  and  in  1811  married  Miss 
Electa  Lyman,  of  Norwich,  Mass.,  daugh- 
ter of  Luther  Lyman,  a  farmer.  After 
marriage  Daniel  moved  to  Vermont, 
and  carried  on  farming  there  for  a  few 
years,  after  which  he  came  to  New  York 
State,  making   a   settlement    in    Genesee 


county,  where  he  died  July  1,  1852.     He 

was  generally  successful,  but  in  the  panic 
of  1833  he  lost  all  he  had  made;  never- 
theless he  died  comparatively  well  off. 
He  bad  a  family  of  eight  children,  viz.: 
Albert,  Lyman,  William,  Betsy,  Harriet, 
Rodney,  Adeline  and  Oscar,  all  now  de- 
ceased except  Albert,  William  and  Lyman. 
The  father  was  a  stanch  Whig,  held  some 
township  ofiices,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Ciiurcii. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketcli  was 
educated  at  the  common  schools  of  Gene- 
see county,  N.  Y.,  whither  his  parents  had 
brought  him  when  a  boy.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  worked  on  the  home  farm  for  five 
years,  and  in  1845  came  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  where,  in  Norwich  township,  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm  which  he  subsequently 
bought,  and  now  owns.  It  originally  con- 
tained fifty  acres,  to  which  from  time  to 
time  he  has  added  until  it  now  comprises 
some  175  acres  of  prime  farming  land. 
In  1882  he  retired  from  active  work,  and 
is  at  present  living  in  the  village  of  Cen- 
treton,  same  townsiiip. 

In  1840  Mr.  Austin  married  Miss  Re- 
villa  Rolf,  of  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Rolf,  a  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  two  children  were  born  to 
them,  to  wit:  L.  D.,  a  resident  of  Nor- 
wich township,  and  L.  W.,  living  on  the 
home  farm.  Politically  our  subject  was 
originally  a  Whig,  and  since  the  formation 
of  the  party  has  been  a  straight  Republican. 


EORGE  C.  PARKER,  a  prosper- 
,  ous  and  prominent  agriculturist  of 
Bronson  township,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 23, 1841,  on  a  farm  situated 
one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  his 
present  home.  Our  suliject  is  a  grandson 
of  George  Parker,  a  farmer,  of  English 
descent,  who  lived  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.  He  was  quite  wealthy,  and  gave  all 
his  children  a  good  start  in  life. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


487 


Nelson  Parker,  son  of  George  Parker, 
was  born  September  9,  1809,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  home  farm.  He  then  taught  school 
and  a  singing  class,  and  on  May  1,  1834, 
was  nnited  in  marriage  with  Malancy 
Wade,  who  was  born  February  26,  1809, 
in  Massachusetts.  In  early  life  he  came 
to  Bronson  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
preceded  thither  by  three  brothers  and  two 
sisters,  and  here  he  became  a  prosperous 
farmer,  at  one  time  owning  450  acres  of 
land.  In  politics  he  was  a  strong  Aboli- 
tionist. Mrs.  Parker  was  the  second  in  a 
family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
located  in  Huron  county.  She  was  a  re- 
markably intelligent  woman,  and  through 
reading  acquired  a  liberal  education.  She 
was  a  minister  in  the  Christian  Church, 
and  during  active  life  was  an  earnest, 
forcible  preacher.  She  died  in  June,  1892, 
having  been  preceded  to  the  grave  by  her 
husband  in  December,  1887.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Two  that  died  in  infancy;  Phosbe,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seventeen;  George  C,  whose 
sketch  follows;  Hannah  F.,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Cole,  deceased  in  1890,  at  the  age  of 
t'orty-six  years,  leaving  two  children;  Celia, 
wife  of  Aro  Carpenter,  a  farmer  in  Fair- 
field township,  who  has  one  child;  Eunice, 
who  is  married  to  A.  G.  Dale,  of  Bronson 
township,  her  second  husband,  and  has 
six  children;  and  Laura  M.,  who  died  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

George  C.  Parker  received  but  a  limited 
education,  his  help  having  been  much 
needed  on  the  home  farm,  as  he  was  the 
only  son.  He  took  entire  charge  of  the 
place  upon  attaining  his  majority,  and  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  his  marriage. 
On  October  7,  1872,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Esther  Ann  Chapin,  a  native 
of  Hartland  township,  Huron  county, 
daughter  of  Morris  and  Clarissa  (Granger) 
Chapin,  and  to  this  union  have  lieen  born 
two  children:  Clara  Ann  and  Edward 
Conger.  In  October,  1882,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Parker  came  to  their  present  home,  con- 


sisting of  148  acres,  in  Bronson  township, 
where  lie  has  conducted  a  prosperous  agri- 
cultural business;  during  the  past  year  he 
sold  over  one  thousand  and  three  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  produce.  Politically  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as  township 
trustee,  being,  with  one  e.vception,  the  only 
Democrat  who  has  ever  held  an  office  in 
Bronson  townshij). 


ITUS  HOERNER,  a   successful 

farmer  of  Peru   township,  was  born 

August  7, 1832,  in  Baden,  Germany, 

and  is  the  pioneer  of    the  Hoerner 

family  in  Ohio. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  also  named 
Vitus,  was  a  native-born  farmer  of  Baden, 
where  his  sou  attended  school  until  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  fourteen  years,  when  he 
began  farm  life  for  himself.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years  he  proceeded  to  Havre, 
France,  from  which  port  he  embarked  in 
the  sailing-vessel  "New  York,"  landing  at 
New  York  City  after  a  memorable  voyage 
of  forty-seven  days.  Mr.  Hoerner  set  out 
at  once  for  northern  Ohio,  arriving  at  Nor- 
walk  during  the  cholera  epidemic,  when 
the  town  was  almost  depopulated.  Learn- 
ing of  the  deplorable  condition  of  aflairs 
there,  he  did  not  wait  for  the  command  to 
go,  but  betook  himself  to  Sherman  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  where  he  found  work, 
the  compensation  for  same  being  fifty 
cents  per  day.  Later  he  was  engaged  to 
chop  wood  at  fifty  cents  a  cord.  On  May 
15,  1854,  our  subject  was  married,  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Klein,  a  Lutheran  minister,  to  Mary 
Hildebrand,  who  was  also  born  in  Baden 
in  1832,  and  came  to  America  with  her 
parents  in  1853,  locating  at  Norwalk  with 
them.  She  became  the  mother  of  a  large 
family,  as  follows:  Mary,  Mrs.  C.  Bow- 
man, of  Indiana;  Margaret,  Mrs.  L.  Lin- 
der;  Vitus,  a  farmer  of  Peru  township; 
Lizzie,  Mrs.  George  Sheidt,  of  Peru  town- 
ship; Catharine,  Mrs.  Charles  Sheidt,  of 
Peru    township;    William,    of    Sherman 


488 


IIUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


township;  Charles,  Minnie  and  Frederick, 
residing  at  home;  and  Jacob,  Louis  and 
Lottie,  deceased.  Immediately  after  mar- 
riage these  sturdy  pioneers  settled  on  a 
farm,  which  both  worked  hard  to  clear  and 
buy.  Within  a  year  or  so  tliey  purchased 
twenty  acres  in  Sherman  township,  where 
they  erected  a  log  cabin  and  resided  until 
1873,  when  they  purchased  the  present 
farm  in  Peru  township,  and  took  up  their 
residence  iiere.  He  still  owns  the  pioneer 
farm  in  Sherman  township,  together  with 
valuable  tracts  in  other  divisions  of  the 
county.  Arriving  in  the  United  States 
with  a  capital  of  thirty  dollars,  he  and  his 
wife  have  built  up  a  valuable  property, 
provided  well  for  each  member  of  their 
family,  and  still  own  a  considerable  estate. 
Mr.  Hoerner,  though  non-partisan  in  poli- 
tics, lias  been  honored  with  various  town- 
ship offices.  The  men,  rather  than  the 
measures,  claim  his  support;  for  bad  men 
cannot  administer  good  measures.  In  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Pontiac  Lu- 
theran Church. 


FH.  SCHUYLEE,  a  successful  agri- 
culturist of  Lyme  township,  was 
born  in  1826  in  Pennsylvania,  a 
son  of  Garret  and  Mary  (Heacock) 
Schuyler,  and  came  to  Huron  county 
in  1834.  The  country  was  in  a  wild  con- 
dition, and  in  order  to  till  the  soil  it  was 
first  necessary  to  clear  the  land  and  trans- 
form the  dense  woods  into  farms.  The 
pioneers  of  those  days  were  sturdy  and 
energetic,  and  practiced  frugality  to  a  de- 
gree that  is  unknown  to  their  children. 
Mr.  Schuyler  now  ranks  among  the  most 
highly  esteemed  residents  of  Huron  county, 
and  has  accumulated  a  comfortable  for- 
tune.    He  has  married. 

Garret  Schuyler,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Heacock,  also  a 
native  of  that  State.  Their  union  was 
blessed  with  six  children,  viz.:  Philip  N"., 
Sarah  A.  (who  died  in  1842),  Mary,  P.  II. 


(our  subject),  Elizabeth,  and  Nancy  (who 
died  in  1834).  In  1834  Garret  Schuyler 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  located  in  Sherman 
township,  Huron  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  His  thrift  and  economy 
soon  enabled  him  to  take  a  prominent 
place  among  his  neighbors,  and  he  was  on 
several  occasions  honored  with  townsiiip 
offices.  His  death  occurred  in  1849;  his 
wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1834. 


HARLES  SAWYER  ranks  among 
the  prominent  pioneer  farmers  of 
Lyme  township,  who  came  to  Ohio 
when  the  State  was  almost  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  thickly  populated  by 
Indians.  Those  early  days  were  filled  with 
hardships  and  dangers  of  which  the  present 
residents  of  the  State  have  little  knowledge, 
and  our  subject,  like  the  other  children  of 
pioneer  parents,  received  only  a  limited 
education,  and  that  under  difficulties  that 
the  average  youth  of  to-day  would  never 
undertake.  He  was  born  in  1816  in  Sus- 
sex, England,  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Doro- 
thy (Lanstell)  Sawyer,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  America  when  three  years  of  age. 
Stephen  Sawyer  was  born  in  Sussex, 
England,  where  he  received  an  ordinary 
school  education,  and  in  1819  immigrated 
to  the  United  States,  settling  near  Cincin- 
nati, on  the  Ohio  river.  He  engageil  in 
farming  and  stock  raising,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six.  He  was  married  in 
England  to  Miss  Dorothy  Lanstell,  who 
was  also  born  in  Sussex,  and  died  in  Ohio 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Their  union 
was  blessed  with  nine  sous  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  four  are  now  living. 

Charles  Sawyer  worked  on  the  home 
farm,  comprising  364  acres  of  land,  from 
1826  up  to  the  time  of  his  father's  death, 
and  has  always  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  makiiiij  Lyme  township  what 
it  now  is,  being  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  same,  and  has 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


489 


been  prominently  identitied  with  all  of  the 
itnpoi'tant  events  connected  with  tlie  his- 
tory of  Huron  county.  In  1851  Mr.  Saw- 
yer was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eachel  A.  Gates,  who  was  born  in  1819, 
in  New  York,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Hannah  Gates.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  are 
n)embers  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  they  are  liberal  supporters,  and 
after  louf^  and  well-spent  years  are  enjoy- 
ing; the  sunset  of  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saw- 
yer  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
some  they  have  adopted. 


THADDEUS  SPRAGUE,  an  enter- 
prising and  successful  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  of  Wakeman  township, 
is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
January  28,  1826,  in  Ulster  county. 
George  Sprague,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a 
lifelong  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Grav,  and  seven  children  were  born  to 
them,  of  whom  are  living  Thaddeus,  Henry 
(in  Hartland,  Huron  county),  Jose])h  (in 
Nebraska)  and  Minerva  (in  Fitchvilie, 
Ohio).  The  parents  both  died  in  188-4, 
aged  about  seventy-six  years,  in  "Wakeman 
township.  They  came  to  Huron  county 
in  1833,  and  purchased  sixty-three  acres  of 
partly  improved  land  at  five  dollars  per 
acre,  on  which  they  erected  suitable  farm 
buildings,  and  here  they  made  a  success, 
being  enabled  to  give  each  of  their  sons  a 
good  start  in  life.  They  were  members  of 
the  Free-will  Baptist  Church,  and  in  poli- 
ties Mr.  Sprague  was  a  lifelong  Democrat. 
Thaddeus  Sprague,  the  subject  proper 
of  these  lines,  received  his  early  element- 
ary education  at  the  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  when  seven  years  old  was 
brought  to  Huron  county  by  his  parents, 
who  took  up  a  farm  in  Hartland  township. 
Here  he  resumed  his  studies,  attending  the 
subscription  schools  a  few  months  in  the 
winter  season,  the  rest  of  his  time  being 
occupied  in  working  on   his  father's  farm, 


whereon  he  remained  till  his  marriage.  He 
then  bouglit  sixty-six  and  three-quarters 
acres  in  Wakeman  township,  to  wiiicli  from 
time  to  time  he  added  until  ultimately  he 
found  himself  tlie  owner  of  200  acres  of 
prime  land,  fifty-live  of  which  he  has  given 
to  his  son.  Elver,  and  fifty  to  his  other  son, 
Elmer.  In  1852  Mr.  Sprague  married 
Sarah  Arnot,  daughter  of  Terry 
and  Catherine  (Townsend)  Arnot,  who 
in  an  early  day  came  to  Huron  county 
from  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  settling  in  Hart- 
land township,  where  Mrs.  Sarah  Sprague 
was  born  April  24,  1833.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union,  viz.:  Elver 
and  Elmer  (on  the  home  farm),  Lydia  Bell 
(wife  of  John  Den  man,  of  Norwalk)  and 
Nora  (wife  of  Doran  Rowland,  in  Mans- 
field, Ohio).  Mr.  Sprague  has  in  his  day 
traveled  considerably,  and  is  well  informed 
on  most  topics,  a  great  observer  of  men 
and  things.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  his  township  as  trustee.  In  1854 
he  erected  substantial  and  commodious 
buildings  on  his  farm,  greatly  enhancing 
the  value  of  his  property,  which  lias  since 
been« further  improved.  [Since  the  aliove 
was  written  we  have  been  informed  of  the 
death  of  Mr.  Sprague. — Ed. 


FRANK  CHASE,  a  well-known  farmer 
of  Townsend  township,  was  born  De- 
_^  cember  23, 1826,  in  Putnam  county, 
N.  T.,  the  second  j-oungest  child  in 
a  fainily  of  twelve  born  to  Alvin  and  Ruth 
(Cole)  Chase,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  New  York  State  and  of  English  descent. 
Alvin  Chase  was  educated  and  married 
in  his  native  State,  where  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  He  was 
a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  liaving 
served  in  the  New  York  lino,  and  for 
more  than  thirty  years  officiated  as  justice 
of  the  peace.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
ardent,  lifelong  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig 
and  a  great   admirer  of   Henry  Clay,  and 


490 


Tirnnx  couxty,  oiiio. 


was  ])itterly  opposed  to  secret  societies  of 
all  kinds.  His  father  was  a  stanch  patriot, 
and  served  in  the  Continental  army  dur- 
ing the  entire  seven  years  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary struggle.  The  Chase  family  were 
among  the  early  English  settlers  of  the  old 
Empire  State,  taking  an  active  and  honor- 
able part  in  the  various  struggles  of  that 
commonwealth  in  the  early  days.  The 
Cole  family  were  also  among  the  pioneers 
of  New  York  State,  many  of  them  serving 
with  distinction  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion as  well  as  in  the  Indian  wars  of  an 
earlier  period. 

Frank  Chase,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  very  fair  common-school 
and  academic  education  in  his  early  life, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  (in  1842) 
came  to  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  with  his 
sister  and  brother-in-law,  on  whose  farm 
he  was  employed  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, after  which  he  taught  school  for  a 
short  time  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio.  In 
1849  he  went  south,  and  was  employed  on 
a  packet  steamboat  plying  between  Vicks- 
burg  arid  New  Orleans  for  some  seven 
years,  after  which  he  returned  north  and 
was  employed  on  a  farm  in  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  for  about  one  year.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  that  county,  upon  which 
he  remained  for  about  seven  years,  and 
then  traded  for  another  farm  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  After  a  few  years  lie 
traded  this  place  for  a  farm  in  Sandusky 
county,  Ohio,  upon  which  lie  remained 
some  eighteen  or  twenty  years,  selling  it 
in  1890,  and  purchasing  another  in  Town- 
send  township,  Huron  county,  where  he 
now  resides  and  is  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  While  livincr  in 
Sandusky  county  he  was  twice  elected 
trustee  of  his  township.  In  the  spring  of 
1864  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-fifth  0.  V".  I,  proceeded 
with  his  command  to  Washinorton,  D.  C, 
was  engaged  in  garrison  duty  on  Arling- 
ton Heights  during  the  entire  summer,  and 
was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
Angust  24,  1864. 


On  May  5,  1858,  Mr.  Chase  married 
Miss  Sarah  J.  Tompkins,  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of 
Nelson  and  Hannah  (Knapp)  Tompkins, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York 
and  of  English  descent.  Four  children 
have  come  to  this  union,  viz.:  Lester  T., 
U.  S.  Grant,  Arthur  and  Burton  B.  Mr. 
Chase  belonfjs  to  no  church,  but  he  is  a 
firm  believer  in  practical  Christianity.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Townsend  Post 
No.  414,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  distantly  re- 
lated to  the  late  Hon.  Salmon  P.  Chase. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  one 
of  the  enterprising  and  most  respected 
citizens  of  his  township  and  county.  The 
Tompkins  family  were  also  early  settlers 
of  the  Empire  State,  and  bore  an  active  part 
in  the  various  struggles  of  that  grand  old 
commonwealth — civil  and  military — both 
before  and  after  the  Revolutionary  war. 


/p^EORGE  SCHUSTER,  a  successful 
I  y,  harness  maker  of  Bellevne,  was 
V^J     born  in  1829,  in  Germany,  where  he 

Ji  learned  his  trade  and  received  a  fair 
education.  Becoming  dissatisfied 
with  the  commercial  prospects  of  his  na- 
tive land,  he  determined  to  make  for  him- 
self a  new  home  in  a  country  wdiere  broader 
fields  of  labor  were  open  to  young  men. 

With  this  in  view  he  emigrated  from 
Germany  in  1851,  the  only  member  of  his 
family  who  came  to  America,  and  imme- 
diately after  landing  traveled  westward, 
locating  in  Bellevue.  Ohio.  He  worked 
two  years  on  a  farm,  and  then  as  a  journey- 
man at  his  trade  until  1854,  at  which  time 
he  beo^an  business  for  himself,  opening 
one  of  thelargest  harness  shops  in  Bellevue. 

In  1854  Mr.  Schuster  married  Miss 
Barbara  Cox,  and  of  their  union  were  born 
five  children,  two  of  whom,  Hattie  and 
Addie,  are  now  living.  The  motiier  of 
of  these  dyiii?  in  1864,  Mr.  Schuster  was 
married  in  1866,  for  iiis  second  wife,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Kaiser, of  Thompson,  Ohio, 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


491 


1)3'  wliich  marriage  he  has  two  children, 
George  and  Laura.  Mr.  Schuster  coin- 
iiienced  life  with  a  capital  composed  ciiietly 
of  energy,  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his 
trade,  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  and 
now  ranks  iiigli  in  business,  social  and 
religious  circles.  He  and  liis  family  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  are 
actively  interested  in  whatever  is  intended 
for  the  public  good.  In  the  Civil  war  he 
served  two  years  and  nine  months,  having 
enlisted  in  Company  D,  Tliirty-fourtli 
Regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  under  Gen.  Cox,  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Wytheville;  he 
was  also  a  private  in  the  Thirtynintii 
Regiment,  O.  V.  I.  He  is  pre-eminently 
a  self-made  man,  and  has  by  his  own  efforts 
built  up  a  good  trade. 


[p^  OL.  SPEAR,  a  successful  merchant 
of  Plymouth,  one  who  possesses  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who 
deal  with  him,  is  a  native  of 
the  Fatherland,  born  near  Hessen-Cassel 
in  1843. 

His  father,  "Wolf  Spear,  who  was  a  son 
of  Nathaniel  Spear,  was  a  merchant  in 
Hessen-Cassel,  Germany,  where  he  passed 
his  entire  life,  dying  there  in  1889.  He 
married  a  Miss  Schoenberg.  a  native  of  a 
neighboring  province,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Two 
that  died  in  infancy;  Nathaniel,  deceased 
at  the  age  of  nine  years;  Sol.,  who  is  men- 
tioned farthetr  on;  Betty,  married  to  Moses 
Sineld,a  merchant  of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and 
Jacob,  who  is  ^  general  merchant  in  his 
native  town. 

Sol.  Spe;^r  passed  his  boyhood  in  attend- 
ing school  in  his  native  country,  and  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  came  to  America, 
settlii^g  immediately  in  Plymouth,  Ohio, 
where  he  has  ever  since  remained.  At 
first  he  attended  school,  then  for  a  while 
engaged  in  peddling,  Init  finally  com- 
menced clerking,  first  with  W.  P>.  Kahn, 

27 


with  whom  he  remained  two  years.  He 
next  entered  the  employ  of  Billstein  & 
Schoenberg,  in  the  stock  business,  con- 
tinuing with  them  until  the  spring  of  1866, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business  for 
a  few  months  on  his  own  account.  In  the 
fall  of  1866  he  bought  out  the  store  of 
W.  H.  Kahn,  conducting  the  business  alone 
until  1868,  in  which  year  he  admitted  M. 
Shield  into  partnership,  and  they  carried 
on  the  establishment  jointly  until  1891, 
when  Mr.  Shield  sold  his  interest  to  our 
subject,  who  has  since  been  sole  proprietor. 
Besides  the  regular  business,  the  firm  also 
dealt  extensively  in  wool,  seeds,  etc. 

In  1867  Mr.  Spear  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Augusta  Billstein,  by 
whom  he  has  six  children,  viz.:  Nathaniel 
(residing  in  Cincinnati),  Alexander,  Joel 
(in  Cincinnati),  Ida,  Maurice  and  Bernice. 
In  politics  our  sal)ject  has  always  been  a 
Democrat,  and  has  held  various  offices  of 
honor  and  trust  in  his  cominiinity;  he  has 
served  on  the  school  board  for  eighteen 
years,  a  longer  term  of  service  than  any  other 
member  can  boast  of.  Mr.  Spear  owns  a 
storeroom,  warehouse  and  dwelling  in  Ply- 
mouth. He  has  made  a  complete  success 
as  a  business  man,  and  fully  merits  the 
respect  and  good  opinion  which  he  has  won 
from  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him. 


J  I  II.  HALLER,  whose  successful 
business  career  is  ev^ery where  recog- 
^  nized  in  Huron  county,  was  born  in 
1864,  in  Germany,  son  of  John 
Haller,  a  tailor  in  the  Fatherland,  where 
he  followed  his  trade.  J.  H.  Haller  re- 
ceived a  practical  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  place,  and,  in  1880,  immi- 
grated to  America.  He  had  acquired  suf- 
ficient knowledge  of  the  tailor's  trade  from 
his  father  to  enable  him  to  work  as  a 
journeyman,  and  on  arriving  in  New 
York  City  he  found  ready  employment, 
and  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  metropolis 
until  1885,  when  he  revisited  Germany. 


492 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  Lis  return  to  the  United  States  Mr. 
Haller  took  a  course  in  Mitcliell's  Cutting 
Academy,  and  after  graduating  was  em- 
ployed as  cutter  in  New  York  and  otlier  large 
cities,  becoming  remarkably  proficient  in 
this  important  branch  of  the  tailor's  trade. 
In  1887  he  engaged  with  a  firm  of  mer- 
chant tailors  in  Plymouth,  Ohio,  with 
whom  he  remained  nearly  four  years,  and 
in  September,  1891,  established  an  inde- 
pendent tailoring  house  at  Plymouth, 
meeting  from  the  beginning  with  a  most 
liberal  patronage.  In  order  to  centralize 
his  trade,  in  August,  1892,  be  transferred 
his  stock  to  Chicago  Junction,  and  his 
success  here  has  been  as  decided  as  at  Ply- 
mouth. He  carries  a  large  assortment  of 
men's  and  boys'  suitings,  and  conducts  a 
profitable  merchant  tailoring  establish- 
ment, doing  good  work  at  prices  which  do 
not  fear  competition.  In  1887  our  subject 
was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Peters,  of 
PataskalaA^hio,  whom  he  brought  to  his 
home  at  Plymouth,  and  there,  as  well  as 
at  Chicago  Junction,  they  have  been  highly 
esteemed.  In  Society  affairs  Mr.  Haller 
is  a  member  of  Plymouth  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.  His  life  furnishes  an  ex- 
ample of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
energy  in  business  and  earnestness  in  the 
desire  to  please  customers. 


UGUSTUS  JOSLIN,  superinten- 
dent and  secretary  of  the  water- 
works at  Norwalk,  is  a  sou  of  Dr. 
Perry  and  Fanny  C.  (Davis)  Jos- 
lin,  who  were  natives  of  New  York, 
born  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 

Augustus  Joslin  was  born  in  1827,  in 
Ft.  Edward,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  In 
1844  he  came  west,  and  locating  in  Nor- 
walk, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  was  here  engaged 
in  the  distillery  business  for  ten  years. 
He  then  went  to  Xipton,  Ohio,  and  took  a 
railroad  contract  on  the  Air  Line,  return- 
ing to  Norwalk  three  years  later,  where  he 


has  since  resided.  For  the  past  nine  years 
Mr.  Joslin  has  been  connected  with  the 
water- works  at  Norwalk,  having  taken 
charge  of  the  system  when  only  four  miles 
of  pipe  were  laid.  He  has  proved  most 
efficient  in  this  business,  which  has  pros- 
pered under  his  management,  fourteen 
miles  of  pipe  being  now  in  operation. 
Politically  Mr.  Joslin  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Weever,  a  native  of  the  same 
State. 


UGGLES.      The    families    of    this 


name  in  Ridgefield  township  are 
descended  from  Edward  Ruggles, 
who  was  born  May  13,  1766,  in 
Danbury,   Conn.,    of    Scotch-Irish 


parents. 

Daniel  Ruggles,  son  of  this  Edward 
Ruggles,  was  born  December  23,  1796,  also 
in  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  was  the  seventh' 
child  in  order  of  birth,  and  the  second  son 
of  his  parents.  His  literary  education  was 
completed  before  he  was  ten  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  made  a  practical  use  of  his 
natural  mechanical  ability,  and  learned  the 
carpenter  trade.  About  1(!>20  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Luzerne  county,  Penn., 
where,  on  November  27, 1828,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Louisa,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Catherine  F.  Fuller.  The 
parents  were  of  Saxon  ancestry,  and  re- 
sidents of  Luzerne  county,  Penn.,  where 
the  daughter  Louisa  was  born  June  3, 
1799.  About  1831  Daniel  and  Louisa 
Ruggles  moved  from  Luzerne  county, 
Penn.,  to  Ohio,  bringing  with  them  two 
yoke  of  oxen,  one  sjjan  of  horses,  and  two 
wagons,  which  contained  all  their  worldly 
goods.  They  were  over  four  weeks  ou  the 
road,  and  on  arriving  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
the  teams  and  wagons  were  pushed  across 
the  river  with  "  set  poles  "  on  a  flat-boat. 
There  was  only  one  log  house  on  the  west 
side  of  Cuyahoga  river,  and  in  coming 
through   Berlin  township,  Erie  county,  to 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


493 


Milan,  Ohio,  land  was  for  sale  at  one  dol- 
lar per  acre.  The  people  said  then  that 
the  sandy  soil  between  the  two  branches  of 
the  Huron  river  wonld  not  produce  any- 
thing. j\Ir.  Haggles  purchased  one  lum- 
dred  acres  of  land  of  Jonathan  Hess,  in 
Ridgefield  township,  Hnron  county,  for 
which  he  paid  eight  dollars  per  acre,  add- 
ing to  the  original  farm  as  years  passed 
on,  and  at  one  time  he  owned  over 
500  acres,  paying  eighty  dollars  per 
acre  for  the  last  purchase.  Politically  he 
was  originally  an  Old-line  AYhig,  then  a 
Free-Soiler,  and  liiially  a  Kepnblican,  but 
be  gave  his  principal  attention  to  personal 
business.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  Church,  and  many  services 
were  held  in  his  own  home,  where  he  was 
ever  a  genial,  hospitable  host.  He  died 
April  4,  1867,  having  been  preceded  to 
the  grave  by  his  wife  August  16,  1865, 
and  they  were  buried  on  the  home  farm. 
They  were  tlie  parents  of  children  as  fol- 
lows: Alonzo  J.,  sketch  of  whom  follows; 
Alfred  and  Almond  (twins),  born  Febru- 
ary 12,  1827,  the  former  of  whom, 
now  (^leceased,  was  a  farmer  of  Ridgefield 
township  (Almond  died  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years);  Daniel  W.,  sketch  of  whom 
follows;  Dwight,  born  May  28,  1834,  who 
was  a  member  of  Company  B,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  O.  V.  I., 
and  died  August  3,  1864,  in  a  hospital  at 
Washington,  D.  C;  and  Mary  J.,  born 
August  8,  1836,  wlfo  became  the  wife  of 
Charles  Brown,  of  JJilan,  Ohio,  and  died 
in  1892,  in  California. 

Alonzo  J.  Ruggles,  eldest  son  of  Dan- 
iel Haggles,  was  born  in  January,  1825, 
near  Huntsviile,  Plymouth  township,  Lu- 
zerne C!o.,  Penn.,  and  was  five  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio.  He  at- 
tended the  schools  of  Huron  county,  re- 
ceiving his  elementary  training  in  a  small 
white  frame  schoolhouse,  which  was  a  fair 
specimen  of  the  Ijaildings  then  erected. 
He  also  attended  school  in  Norwalk,  and 
after  returning  home  assisted  in  the  work 
on  the  home  farm.     He  would  rise  at  four 


o'clock  in  the  morning,  get  the  o.x-team 
ready  and  go  to  the  clearing,  where  he 
felled  many  monarchs  of  the  forest.  At  that 
time  the  streams  had  to l)e  forded, as  bridges 
were  then  unknown  in  the  locality.  On 
September  15,  1852,  Mr.  Ruggles  uuirried 
Tliekla  A.  Lewis,  who  was  born  April  11, 
1825,  in  Spatford,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Lewis,  who  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  was  married  to 
Betsey  Whiting,  a  native  of  Vermont. 
In  1835  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Lewis 
moved  to  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  thence 
to  Huron  county,  where  their  daughter, 
Thekla  A.,  was  married. 

Alonzo  J.  and  Thekla  A.  Ruggles  began 
wedded  life  on  a  portion  of  the  old  home- 
stead in  Ridgelield  township,  Huron 
county,  where  they  remained  until  1888. 
They  then  came  to  their  present  home  in 
Norwalk,  where  he  has  since  lived  in  semi- 
retirement.  He  yet  cultivates  a  small  tract 
of  land  in  Ridgefield  township,  and  owns 
150  acres  of  some  of  the  finest  and  best 
improved  land  in  the  neighborhood.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Ruggles  was  tirst  a  Whig, 
then  a  Republican,  and  has  tilled  various 
local  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  Churcli,  his  wife  is  identified 
with  the  Disciple  Church.  They  have  iiad 
children  as  follows:  Charles,  deceased  in 
infancy;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Charles  Bishop, 
of  Xorwalk;  Betsy  Louisa,  deceased  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  Elizabeth  T.,  de- 
ceased in  1891;  Celia  F.,  wife  of  Hugh 
Jacobs,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Dwight  J., 
deceased  in  infancy;  Flora  M.;  and  Flor- 
ence, married  to  Albert  Prentiss,  of  Nor- 
walk.  Fred  Stewart,  who  was  adopted  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ruggles  when  he  was  but 
four  months  old,  and  reared  to  manhood 
by  them,  is  now  a  prominent  manufac- 
turer in  Norwalk,  Ohio. 

Daniel  W.  Ruggles,  fourth  son  of  Dan- 
iel and  Louisa  (Fuller)  Ruggles,  was  born 
August  1,  1831,  in  Erie  county,  (^hio, 
where  his  parents  had  made  a  temporary 
location  while  en  route  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio.     When  he  was  six  months  old  the 


494 


HURON  COUNTY,  OIITO. 


family  moved  to  the  home  farm  in  Hiiron 

county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated. 
On  December  25,  1862,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Chloe,  daughter  of  Lee  and 
Phcebe  (Bradley)  Moore,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  married 
in  Summit  county,  Ohio.  Chloe  was  the 
ninth  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  and 
was  born  Jiily  25, 1837,  in  Bowling  Greeu, 
Ohio.  To  the  union  of  Daniel  W.  and 
Chloe  (Moore)  Euggles  three  children  have 
been  born,  viz.:  Frank  W.,  Arthur  L.  and 
Dora  M.,  all  living  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  Kuggles  has  given  his  time  to  agri- 
culture, in  which  pursuit  he  has  been  suc- 
cespful,  but  for  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
not  been  strong  enough  to  perform  any 
manual  labor.  He  has  been  a  zealous 
worker  in  the  Republican  party,  casting 
his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and 
has  represented  his  locality  in  numerous 
county  conventions,  serving  also  as  school 
director  and  supervisor.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at 
Norwalk. 


TT^HOMAS  MILLER,  one  of  the  best 

II      and  most  hustling  business  men  of 

I       Norvvalk   township,  and   a  prosper- 

^      ous,  enterprising  agriculturist,  is  a 

native  of  Huron    county,    born,  in 

1843,  in  Townsend  township. 

Levi  Miller,  his  fatlier,  born  near  the  Al- 
bany (E.  Y.)  salt-works,  was  a  cooper,  and 
at  tlie  age  of  twenty-live  years  removed  to 
Richland  county,  Oiiio,  where  for  ,  two 
years  he  followed  his  trade.  He  then 
came  to  Townsend  township,  Huron 
county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  ten  years,  dying  in  1855  at  the  age 
of  forty-iive,  having  been  born  in  1810. 
His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Betsy  Taylor,  of 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  two  children 
were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Elizabeth  and 
Maria,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Rickett,  of  Toledo, 
Ohio.  This  wife  died  in  1838,  and  Mr. 
Miller  subsequently  married  Miss  Harriet 


Sanders,  of  Florence,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  after 
which  they  came  to  Townsend  township, 
as  above  stated.  The  children  of  this 
union  were  Jane  Jarrett,  now  of  Berlin, 
Erie  county;  Levi,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Thirtieth  Ohio  Cavalry  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  at  Corinth,  Tenn.; 
Thomas,  subject  of  sketch;  and  Henry  and 
Charles,  farmers  in  Fulton  county,  Ohio. 
Thomas  Miller,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  opening  of  this  sketch,  commenced 
active  business  life  by  selling  farm  ma- 
chinery, and  doing  threshing,  which  he 
continued  in  till  after  his  marriage,  when 
he  took  up  farming  in  Townsend  town- 
ship. Here  he  remained  twelve  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  (1882)  he  came  to 
his  present  farm  in  Norwalk  township,  and 
has    since    been    successfully    engaged   in 

.  -r-r 

both  farming  and  selling  machinery.  He 
was  married,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Arvilla, 
daughter  of  John  Hunter,  a  pioneer  of 
Huron  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
two  children,  viz.:  Ellery  L.  and  Gertrude 
May,  both  at  home. 

In  1864  Mr.  Miller  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-si.xth  Regiment 
O.  V.  I.,  under  Col.  Blake,  attached  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  and  stationed  at 
Fort  Barnard,  Va.,  eighteen  miles  from 
Washington.  He  has  been  a  lifelong 
Democrat,  as  was  his  father  before  him, 
and  has  held  various  township  offices. 


JOHN  B.  N I VER,  a  progressive  and 
well-to-do  farmer  of  Norwich  town- 
ship, was   born  March   19,   1813,  in 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived 
nineteen    years,    working   on    his  father's 
farm,  and  attending  the   common    schools 
of  the  period. 

Mr.  Niver  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Niver,  of 
German  descent,  who  came  from  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Huron  county  where  he 
carried  on  farming,  and  died  in  the  prime 
of  life,  when  our  subject  was  five  months 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


495 


old.  In  1802  he  married  Margaret  Mc- 
Millan, a  native  of  Scotland,  and  daughter 
of  John  McMillan,  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
who  came  to  tiiis  country  with  his  family, 
settling  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
lie  passed  from  earth.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  named  children:  Denni- 
8on,  James,  Charles  B.,  Mary  J.,  Jacob 
and  John  B.,  all  now  deceased  except 
John  B. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  received  a  fair 
education  at  the  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  In  1882  he 
came  to  Huron  county,  and  settled  on  his 
present  place  of  122  acres,  at  that  time 
covered  with  a  dense  and  sombre  forest, 
through  which  deer,  wolves  and  other  wild 
animals  roamed  at  will.  In  1843  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  A.  White,  of  Mansfield, 
Eichland  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Natlianiel 
White,  and  four  children — Edwin  (who 
was  a  member  of  Company  I,  Third 
O.  V.  C,  and  died  in  Andersonville  prison), 
Marietta  (deceased),  Emma  J.,  and  Nancy 
(deceased) — were  born  to  them.  The  mother 
of  these  died  in  1864,  and  for  his  second 
wife  our  subject  was  wedded  to  Miss  Esther 
Simmons,  of  Greenfield  township,  Huron 
county,  a  daughter  of  Albert  Simmons. 
Three  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
nameiy:  Eimon  L.,  Louie  and  Harry,  all 
yet  living.  A  stanch  Republican  in  pol- 
itics, Mr.  Niver  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  in  1836,  for  W.  H.  Harrison,  when 
the  latter  ran  against  Martin  Van  Buren. 
In  religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 


E 


S.  TUTTLE,  proprietor  of  elevator, 
and  an  extensive  dealer  in  grain, 
J  coal,  oil,  etc.,  was  born  in  1853,  in 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  son  of  J.  M.  and 
Charlotte  (Crawford)  Tuttle,  both  natives  of 
New  York.  J.  M.  Tuttle  came  with  his 
father's  family  to  the  "  Firelands  "  in  Erie 
county,  and  here  cleared  his  farm,  which 
is  still  in  the  family's  possession.  About 
1873  the  family  removed  from  the  farm  to 


Norwalk,  and,  in  partnership  with  W.  T. 
Bowen,  built  the  elevator,  which  they  suc- 
cessfully operated  until  1887,  when  they 
leased  to  the  present  proprietor.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Nathan  Tuttle,  was 
also  born  in  New  York,  and  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  wife,  who  was  a  Leland. 

E.  S.  Tuttle  came  to  Huron  county  with 
his  parents,  and  was  educated  in  the  Nor- 
walk public  schools,  passing  through  the 
high  school  with  credit.  lie  commenced 
his  active  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware 
store,  and  there  remained  for  thirteen 
years,  when  he  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness, meeting:  from  the  first  with  marked 
success.  He  is  regarded  by  all  as  one  of 
the  intelligent,  rising  business  men  pf  the 
city,  liberal  and  enterprising,  and  of  pleas- 
ing social  qualities.  He  is  solo  proprietor 
of  the  elevator  and  grain  department,  and 
has  two  mills  for  making  food  and  bolted 
corn  meal.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  a  man  who 
kee])s  his  mind  in  touch  with  the  social 
and  other  interesting  questions  of  the  day. 
In  1876  he  was  married  to  Clara  E.  Lam- 
kin,  a  native  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Dr.  George  Lamkin,  of  Nor- 
walk, and  they  have  three  children:  Ora, 
Bessie  and  George. 


H[ON.  H.  K.  HOUSE.  The  city  of 
Norwalk  takes  proper  pride  in  her 
many  thrifty,  intelligent  and  pro- 
gressive citizens,  of  whom  not  the 
least  prominent  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  brief  sketch. 
Mr.  House  after  leaving  school  com- 
menced business  life  as  an  employe  on  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad,  on  which  line  for 
several  years  he  was  a  popular,  faithful 
and  efficient  conductor.  Always  frugal 
and  careful,  he  saved  his  earnings,  retired 
from  the  railroad,  and  locating  in  Norwalk 
purchased  property  and  embarked  in  the 
furniture  business.  After  a  time  he  sold 
out  this  industry,  and  engaged  in  railroad 
contracting — his    first  contract    being   on 


496 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Kailroad — a 
line  of  business  that  has  since  claimed  his 
close  attention. 

During  the  early  "eighties"  the  Ke- 
puhlican  party  in  Norwalk,  recognizing 
the  ability,  sagacitj'  and  acumen  of  Mr. 
House,  by  an  almost  unanimous  move- 
ment invited  him  to  represent  the  head  of 
their  ticket  in  municipal  election.  Being 
prevailed  on  to  accept  the  nomination,  he 
was  easily  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  an  in- 
cumbency lie  has  filled  with  characteristic 
dignity  and  grace,  and  his  administration 
is  remembered  as  one  of  the  most  peaceful 
and  prosperous  in  the  municipal  life  of 
Norwalk.  Mr.  House  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Otis  (wt'd  Reed),  whose  father  was  the 
first  white  male  child  born  in  Greenwich 
township,  Huron  county.  Our  subject 
erected,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city, 
an  elegant  and  pleasant  home  residence. 


ri(  BRAHAM  D.  JENNEY  was  born 
//_\\    May   19,  18l3,  at   Fairhaven,  Bris- 
ir%  to!  Co.,    Mass.       His    grandfather, 
■fj  Benjamin  Jenney,  was  born  Febru- 

ary 28,  1744,  in  New  England,  and 
married  Bersheba  Bassett,  who  was  born 
December  14,  1744.  They  had  four  sons 
arfd  one  daughter,  of  whom  John  was  the 
third  son  in  order  of  birth. 

John  Jenney  was  born  July  12,  1773, 
in  Bristol  county,  Mass.,  and  when  a 
young  man  married  Catherine  Davis,  who 
was  born  May  28,  same  year.  They  re- 
sided in  Massachusetts,  where  John  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  ship  carpenter  until  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  worked  at  the  mill- 
wright's trade,  and  for  a  time  was  engao-ed 
in  milling.  On  May  19, 1823,  he  and  lannly 
followed  his  sons  to  Ohio.  It  appears 
that  the  two  sons — Mordecai  and  Obediah 
— visited  Huron  county,  Ohio,  about  1818, 
and  selected  lands  in  Greenwich  township. 
A   daughter,  Bersheba,  who  was   married 


in  Xew  York  to  E.  L.  Salisbury,  came 
here  in  1820.  Thither  the  father  and 
family  moved  in  1823,  and  he  purchased 
the  land  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  and  erected  a  log  house,  the  interior 
of  which  he  furnished  in  a  style  hitherto 
unknown  to  the  pioneers.  After  the  home 
in  the  wilderness  was  made,  the  father 
went  to  Sandusky  and  built  two  vessels  for 
Townsend  &  Chapman,  which  were  called 
the  "Ligura"  and  "The  Charles  Chap- 
man." He  passed  several  winters  at  Sa- 
vannah, Ga.,  where  he  was  recognized  as 
a  good  ship  carpenter,  and  always  found 
work  at  his  trade,  so  with  that  and  farm- 
ing he  was  an  industrious  and  altoo-ether 
a  well-to-do  citizen.  He  died  March  4, 
1852,  his  widow  June  9,  1853,  and  both 
are  buried  in  a  private  cemetery  on  the 
farm.  Of  their  children  the  following 
record  is  made:  Obediah  died  at  Nor- 
walk,  aged  eighty-nine  years;  Sarah  mar- 
ried, in  Massachusetts,  Ebenezer  Wing, 
and  died  in  that  State  at  an  advanced  age; 
Mordecai  W.  died  in  Greenwich  township; 
Bersheba  married  E.  L.  Salisbury,  and 
died  in  Greenwich  township;  Elizabeth 
married  Joseph  Bartlett,  and  died  in  Hu- 
ron county;  Sylvia  C.  was  married  in  New 
York  to  Joseph  Gilford,  and  died  in  Kan- 
sas; Jane  married  Humphrey  Gifford,  and 
died  in  Greenwich  township;  Benjamin 
resides  in  Montcalm  county,  Mich.,;  Mary 
married  Benjamin  Watson,  and  moved  to 
Kansas;  Abraham  D.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Abraham  D.  Jenney  was  reared  in  the 
manner  common  throughout  western  New 
York  in  pioneer  days.  He  was  ten  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  here  be  passed  his  youth,  working  on 
the  farm  and  attending  the  subscription 
schools  of  tlie  period.  Being  the  only  soa 
who  did  not  learn  a  trade,  he  remained  on 
the  farm  and  assisted  his  father  in  clearing 
it.  On  March  20,  1842,  he  married  Sally 
Ann  Griffin,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State  October  7,  1818,  and  to  this  mar- 
riage   came   eleven   children,    as    follows: 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


497 


James  W.,  now  a  citizen  of  Kansas;  Salina, 
a  physician;  George  D.,  a  physician  of 
Kenton, Ohio,  where  he  died;  Cornelia,  wlio 
married  Jasper  Jennings,  of  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  died  at  Fitciiville,  Ohio;  Smith, 
wlio  died  in  yonth;  Mary,  married  to  Otis 
Enrge,  of  Greenwich  township;  Chloe,  re- 
siding at  home;  A.  Warren,  a  school 
teacher;  and  Charles  A.,  residing  on  the 
home  farm ;  besides  the  children  named, 
there  were  two  who  died  young. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jenney  located 
on  his  present  farm,  where  he  lias  been  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  np  to  the 
present  time.  In  1856  he  became  a  Re- 
publican, having  previously  been  a  Whig, 
but  beyond  filling  various  township  posi- 
tions he  does  not  go  actively  into  political 
life.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Both  are  endowed  with 
e.xcellent  memories. 


EILIJAH  PEICE,  retired  farmer  of 
Fairfield  townsnip,  is  of  Welsh 
1  descent,  and  is  a  grandson  of  Alex- 
ander Price,  who  was  a  farmer  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  among 
the  first  to  offer  his  services  in  the  war  of 
1812,  during  which  conflict  he  commanded 
a  division  of  militia  with  the  rank  of  gen- 
eral. He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
served  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
Alexander  Price  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Polly  Seely,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  six  children,  namely:  Elijah,  Will- 
iam, Mary  (who  married  Lucas  Foot,  of 
North  Fairfield),  Betsey,  Caroline, and  Ann 
(who  married  James  Vincent,  a  farmer  of 
Chautauqua,  N.  Y.). 

Elijah  Price,  son  of  Alexander,  was  born 
in  1805,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  period.  He 
was  married  at  Skaneateles,  Onondaga  (Jo., 
N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Abigail  Foot,  who  was 
born  there  in   1806,  and   they  had  seven 


children,  viz.:  Alexander  (who  is  now  a 
stock  grower  in  Idaho),  Eben,  Salvio,  Will- 
iam, Elijah,  Mary  Louise  and  Grant.  In 
May,  1882,  Mr.  Price  brought  his  family 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  tlie 
present  homestead  in  Fairfield  township. 
He  cleared  the  land  and  made  a  beautiful 
farm  of  177  acres,  and  at  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1888,  left  a  valuable  property 
to  his  heirs.  In  political  opinion  he  was 
a  Democrat,  and  served  as  township  trus- 
tee. Mrs.  Price  died  December  14,  1869. 
Elijah  Price,  the  sul)joct  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  April  6,  1832,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio  the  same  year.  On  Sep- 
tember 7,  1856,  he  married  Harriet  Place, 
of  Fairfield  towtiship,  and  they  took  up 
their  residence  on  the  home  farm,  where 
two  children  were  boru  to  them,  one  that 
died  in  infancy,  and  S.  Grant,  a  business 
man  of  Norwalk.  After  his  father's  death 
he  purchased  the  home  farm  of  177  acres, 
and  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
growing,  giving  particular  attention  to  the 
rearing  of  coach,  trotting  and  draft  horses. 
In  politics  Mr.  Price  is  a  Democrat,  and 
has  served  his  township  as  trustee. 


L.  KREIDER,  M.  D.,  is  the  oldest 
medical  practitioner  in  Monroevilie, 
and  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
chosen  vocation.  He  is  a  son  of 
Michael  Kreider,  a  native  of  Lebanon 
county,  Penn.,  and  his  ancestry  (who  were 
of  Dutch  origin)  have  been  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  for  three  generations. 

C.  L.  Kreider  was  born  May  29,  1840, 
in  Lebanon  county,  Penn.,  and  received  his 
early  education  at  Lebanon  Academy.  He 
then  took  a  medical  course  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  graduating  therefrom 
in  1863,  and  liegan  to  practice  in  Lebanon 
county.  In  1868  became  to  Monroevilie, 
where  he  has  ever  since  V)een  actively  eii- 
o-aged  in  the  duties  of  his  profession.     Dr. 


498 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Kreider  was  united  in  marriage  at  Phila- 
delphia, Penn.,  with  Miss  Caroline  "Walter, 
who  has  borne  him  four  children.  He  was 
formerly  a  member  of  the  American  Med- 
ical Association,  and  is  now  identified  with 
the  Delamater  Medical  Association.  In 
politics  he  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  with  which  his  sons  are  also  asso- 
ciated. He  and  his  family  are  all  adher- 
ents of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  socially  he 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Of  the  children  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Kreider  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
"Walter  Kreider  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Monroeville,  then  took  a  par- 
tial course  in  civil  engineering  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.;  he  is  now  employed  in 
Chicago,  111.  E.  E.  Kreider  graduated 
from  the  Monroeville  High  School,  then 
took  a  medical  course  at  Jeflferson  Medi- 
cal College,  Philadelphia,  receiving  his 
diploma  in  1890;  he  is  now  in  j^artnership 
with  his  fathei',  and  has  already  secured 
the  confidence  of  the  community  as  a  rising 
young  physician.  Charles  R.  Kreider  also 
graduated  from  the  Monroeville  High 
School,  afterward  preparing  for  business 
life  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  he  is  now 
in  the  employ  of  Sanborn  &  Co.,  Chicago, 
111.  Mabel,  youngest  child  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Kreider,  is  a  student  in  Delaware 
College,  Ohio. 


D    A.  AVOOD,  M.  D.,  is  one  of   the 
oldest  physicians  and  surgeons  now 
'    in  practice    in    Huron  county — in- 
deed, with  a   solitary  exception,  he 
is  the  oldest. 

His  parents,  Alva  and  Levissa  (Buck) 
"Wood,  were  both  natives  of  New  York 
State,  the  former  born  in  1809  in  Saratoga 
feounty,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
carried  on  a  farm  in  connection  with  a 
gristmill.  He  died  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  Levissa 
(Buck)  "Wood  died  at  Utica  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  her  age.    Of  their  six  chil- 


dren, live  are  living.  Their  parents  came 
from  Connecticut  to  western  New  York  at 
an  early  day,  and  were  among  the  pioneers 
in  the  agricultural  development  of  this 
now  rich  portion  of  the  Empire  State. 
The  grandfather  of  Dr.  "Wood  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Onondaga  county  for 
many  terms,  and  is  still  remembered  by 
the  older  residents  of  that  county. 

Dr.  D.  A.  "Wood  was  born  September  16, 
1832,  in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.  He  re- 
ceived an  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  subsequently  entered 
Clinton  University,  where  he  took  a  full 
literary  course.  After  reading  medicine 
for  some  time,  he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
attended  lectures  there,  and  graduated  from 
the  Eclectic  Medical  College.  Early  in 
1S58  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  locating  at 
Olena,  practiced  medicine  there  fc^r  many 
years.  Meantime  he  neglected  no  oppor- 
tunity which  offered  to  him  greater  per- 
fection as  a  physician,  for  he  is  found  at 
Cleveland  attending  lectures,  or  at  home 
reading  Austrian,  French  or  American 
authorities.  He  graduated,  in  the  winter 
of  1871-72,  from  the  Cleveland  Medical 
College,  and  continued  to  i-eside  at  Olena. 
He  had  seen  great  changes  in  his  district. 
The  trials  which  awaited  him  in  his  early 
professional  life  were  no  longer  to  be 
looked  for.  Loner  rides  through  the  forest 
were  no  longer  necessary,  nor  was  there  a 
prospect  of  his  being  again  compelled  to 
lead  his  horse  through  the  thickets  or  fol- 
low unfamiliar  paths  to  the  cabins  of  his 
patients. 

Dr.  Wood  was  married,  at  Olena,  to  Miss 
Lucy  A.  Cherry,  and  to  this  marriage  five 
children  were  born,  namely:  Louise,  wife 
of  "W.  C.  Laney;  Frederick;  Elmer  D., 
who  died  in  early  boyhood;  Gertie  M., 
residiTig  with  her  parents;  and  Harley  D. 
In  1881  the  Doctor  moved  to  Greenwich, 
where  greater  successes  rewarded  his  close 
studies  and  faithful  attention  to  his  patients. 
In  early  practice  he  made  a  reputation  in 
restoring  to  health  those  stricken  with 
fever;   he  was  also  very  successful  in  ob- 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


499 


stetrics,  and  won  tlie  entire  confidence  of 
the  people.  To-day  he  numbers  among 
his  patients  many  whose  birth  he  attended. 
Dr.  Wood  beloHijs  to  the  Alumni  Medical 
Association  of  Cleveland,  and  is  a  retrular 
attendant  at  meetings  of  this  Association, 
as  well  as  a  periodical  student  in  the  col- 
lege. Among  his  favorite  medical  jour- 
nals are  tlie  "Cleveland  Medical  Journal" 
and  the  "New  York  Medical  Journal." 
But  his  readings  on  medicine  and  surgery 
are  not  at  all  confined  to  these,  for  lie  takes 
special  delight  in  anything  and  everything 
written  on  the  two  subjects. 


dD.  EASTON  is  descended  from  an- 
cestors who  were  prominent  actors  in 
the  early  history  of  the  New  England 
colonies.  One  of  these  pioneers  of 
the  Easton  family  settled  in  Providence 
Plantation,  in  Phode  Island,  becoming  an 
associate  of  Roger  AViliiams.  The  grand- 
mother of  our  subject,  Miss  M.  Perry, 
was  a  full  cousin  of  Commodore  Perry,  of 
Lake  Erie  fame. 

Perry  Easton,  father  of  J.  D.,  was  born 
January  8,  1790,  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  and 
when  yet  a  boy  came  to  Greene  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  served  in  Capt.  Clark's  Com- 
pany during  the  war  of  1812.  After  the 
war  he  came  to  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1818  moved  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  re- 
siding in  Ridgefield  and  P>ronson  town- 
ships. When  a  young  man  he  was  married 
to  Sajlie  Paymond,  who  was  born  in  Great 
Barrington,  Mass.,  a  descendant  of  Lord 
Raymond,  and  they  had  three  children,  of 
whom  are  mentioned  J.  D.,  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch,  and  a  twin  brother 
who  lives  in  Paris,  Texas.  Politically  Mr. 
Easton  was  first  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat, 
then  a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  and  subsequently 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  family  were 
members  of  tiie  Presbvterian  Church.  He 
died  in  1858. 


J.  D.  Easton  was  born  in  1816,  in  Rush- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Huron  county,  Ohio.  In  1848  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Barker, 
who  was  born  in  1815,  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  made  their  home  on  a 
farm  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
During  the  war  he  bonglit  horses  for  the 
Government.  About  1873  they  settled  on 
their  present  home,  containing  170  acres, 
ninety  of  which  are  within  the  limits  of 
the  corporation  of  Monroeville.  In  poli- 
tics our  subject  was  originally  a  Wiiio-, 
now  a  Republican,  and  lie  has  served  six 
years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors 
for  the  county  infirmary.  He  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  other  matters  of  local 
importance,  and  was  recently  elected  vice- 
president  of  the  Firelands  Historical  As- 
sociation. His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easton 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely: 
Ida  S.  and  John  P.,  the  latter  of  whom  "is 
married  to  a  Miss  Fish,  and  is  now  living 
on  a  farm  near  Monroeville;  he  has  two 
children,  Eunice  and  Candace. 


^/ 


MRS.  DAVID  L.  GIESECK  is  a 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  and  Han- 
nah J.  (Harris)  Smith,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Ohio,  tlie 
former  born  in  Knox  county,  the 
latter  in  Licking  county.  The  father  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

Carrie  S.  Smith  was  born  on  the  home 
place  in  Knox  county,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood,  attending  the  common  schools 
of  the  vicinity.  She  also  received  a  year's 
training  in  the  normal  school,  then  taught 
two  years  in  Licking  county,  Ohio.  On 
January  29,  1885,  she  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  David  L.  Gieseck,  wliose  father 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  his  mother  an 
American,  born  of  German  ancestry. 

David  L.  Gieseck  was  born  March  8, 
1858,   in    Black    Lick,    Ohio,   passed    his 


500 


HUROX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


yontli  in  liis  native  county,  and  after  his 
marriage  came  to  Huron  county,  locating 
in  Monroeville  Marcli  20,  1885.  Here,  in 
partnersliip  with  his  father,  he  founded 
the  tile  works,  the  product  of  which  was 
sent  to  the  eastern  and  western  part  of 
Ohio,  and  also  as  far  south  as  Columbus. 
In  the  following  April  they  employed 
eight  men.  Mr.  Gieseck  in  politics  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  and  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
holding  the  latter  position  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  9, 
1892.  He  was  baptized  in  the  Li;theran 
Church;  his  widow  is  identified  with  the 
Baptist  denomination.  Since  the  deatli  of 
her  husband  Mrs.  Gieseck  has  conducted 
the  tile  business  with  great  success.  She 
has  had  three  children,  namely:  Henry  L. 
(deceased  at  the  age  of  two  years  and  nine 
months),  Emma  T.  and  Mable  H. 


llACOB  BEOWN  was    born  April  6, 

k.  I     1836,     in     Peru     township,     Huron 

\^i    Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Jacob  Brown,  who 

was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  the 

United  States. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native 
of  France,  whence  he  emigrated  when  a 
young  man,  and  found  a  home  iu  the 
United  States.  He  worked  on  the  Erie 
Canal,  at  Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  and  there 
met  and  married  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Bentley, 
a  widow.  Soon  after  their  marriage  this 
couple  located  in  Pern  township,  on  a  tract 
of  five  acres,  and  Mr.  Brown,  together 
witii  improvins  that  little  farm,  worked 
for  others,  his  industry  enabling  him  to 
gradually  extend  the  lines  of  the  original 
purchase.  His  property  was  destroyed  by 
fire  once,  obliging  him  to  seek  another  lo- 
cation in  the  township.  After  a  life  of 
hard,  honest  toil,  he  died  on  the  farm,  and 
three  years  later  was  followed  to  the  grave 
by  his  wife;  both  are  buried  in  the  Catho- 
lic cemetery.  Mr.  Brown  merely  exercised 


his  constitutional  right  to  vote,  giving  his 
closest  attention  to  his  farm  and  family 
interests.  To  his  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Bentley  were  born  five  children,  namely: 
Henry,  who  served  during  the  Rebellion 
with  the  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  and  died 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  from  in- 
juries received  in  battle;  Coleman,  a  farm- 
mer  of  Peru  township;  Jacob,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Lainie,  married  to  Henry 
Brown,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio;  and  Mary  Ann, 
who  married  William  Brown,  of  Peru 
township. 

Jacob  Brown  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm 
until  1861,  when  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Ann  Addleman,  a  native  of  Peru  township, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Addleman.  To  this 
union  nine  children  were  born,  namely: 
Evaline  (now  Mrs.  John  Greseamer,  of 
Sherman  township),  Charles  (a  farmer  of 
Norwalk  township),  Alfred,  Arthur,  Ida, 
Laura  (Mrs.  William  Hettel,  of  Peru  town- 
ship), Eleanor,  Theodore  and  Otto,  resid- 
ing at  home.  In  1861  Mr.  Brown  located 
on  the  home  farm,  and  remained  thereon 
for  five  years,  when  he  purchased  a  one- 
hundred-acre  tract.  He  owned  several 
farms  at  difl'erent  times  prior  to  1873, 
when  he  settled  on  his  present  place.  The 
residence  and  other  buildings  erected  here 
by  Mr.  Brown  within  the  last  two  decades 
speak  of  his  progressive  character,  his  taste 
and  his  industry;  while  his  farm  is  testi- 
mony to  the  methodical  application  of  agri- 
cultural knowledge.  The  members  of  the 
family  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 


THOMAS    THOMPSON,    proprietor 
of  the  "Greenwich  Hotel,"   is   not 
OTily  a  pioneer  of  northern  Ohio,  but 
also  an  old  and  respected  hotel  man 
of  this  section. 
Thomas  Thompson  was  born  November 
28,  1832,  in  Richland  county,  just  across 
the    Huron     county    line.      His    parents, 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Bard)  Thompson,  were 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


501 


pioneers  of  Richland  county.  The  father 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn., 
moved  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  in  1823, 
bought  a  tract  of  wild  land,  and  settled 
thereon  with  his  young  wife,  a  year  after 
their  marriage.  The  names  of  the  six 
children  born  to  them  are  as  follows: 
Margaret,  a  widow;  Ann,  Mrs.  McLaugh- 
lin; John,  living  in  Greenwich  township; 
Keziah,  residing  on  the  old  homestead; 
Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
Absalom,  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 

Thomas  Thompson  grew  to  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm,  which  he  helped  to  im- 
prove. He  assisted  in  opening  the  old  road 
Wween  Huron  and  Richland  connties,  and 
also  aided  in  making  the  first  road  on  the 
west  brancli  of  the  Yermiliion  river.  He 
was  not  yet  fourteen  years  old  when  he 
hauled  the  grain  and  other  products  of  the 
farm  to  Milan,  the  nearest  market-town, 
and  from  that  age  to  his  twenty-eighth 
year  was  the  man  of  all  work  on  the  home- 
stead. On  October  4,  1860,  he  married 
Miss  Susan  Clark,  who  was  l)orn  in  Orange 
township,  Ashland  county.  One  son 
George  M.,  was  born  to  them,  who,  enter- 
ing the  telegraph  service  at  fourteen  years 
of  age,  is  now  filling  an  important  position 
with  the  Western  Union  Co.,  in  the  State 
of  Washington.  Soon  after  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thompson  located  on  a  rented 
farm  in  Greenwich  township,  whence  he 
shortly  afterward  moved  to  the  center  of 
the  township,  and  carried  on  a  hotel 
for  three  years.  He  ne.Kt  came  to 
Greenwich,  purchased  property  in  the 
vilhige,  and  conducted  a  hotel  from 
September,  1800,  to  September,  1876, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in  the 
old  house,  and  purchasoil  his  present 
property,  where  he  has  since  resided  and 
carried  on  business.  Mr.  Thompson  was 
one  of  the  men  who  cut  the  first  lumber 
used  in  the  construction  of  the C.&  I.  R.  R., 
and  for  four  or  five  years  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business,  handling  ])rinci- 
pally  black  walnut.  During  the  Civil  war 
he    was   represented  in   the  field    by    his 


cousin,  John  Thompson,  who  is  now  living 
in  Pennsylvania.  In  politics  our  subject 
is  a  Democrat.  His  paternal  grandparents 
came  from  Ireland,  where  their  fathers 
liad  settled  on  the  confiscated  lands.  They 
came  here  with  the  theories  of  ownership 
of  real  and  personal  property  inculcated 
in  Ireland,  and  those  theories  have  been 
inherited  by  their  children  and  grand- 
children. On  the  maternal  side  the  grand- 
parents came  from  England,  and  found  a 
home  in  Pennsylvania. 


ICHAEL  STEIBER.  Jr.,  a  pros- 
perous, intelligent  farmer  of 
Ridgefield  township,  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  Steiber,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  by  trade  a  stonemason. 
Michael  Steiber  was  born  in  1^29  in 
Baden,  Germany,  and  after  attending  the 
public  schools  of  the  Grand  Duchy,  learned 
his  father's  trade.  In  1860  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Victoria  Ilolerbaugh, 
also  a  native  of  Haden,  who  bore  him  four 
children,  namely:  Frank,  now  a  farmer  of 
Ridgefield  township,  Huron  county;  Mi- 
chael, whose  sketch  follows;  Gretchen,  and 
Louis,  the  latter  two  having  died  in  their 
youth.  The  father  followed  his  trade  some 
years  after  his  marriage,  then  farmed  for 
a  time.  A  brother  (Franklin)  who  had 
settled  in  America,  then  bargained  for  a 
farm,  which  they  purchased,  and  in  1872, 
with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  Michael 
Steiber  sailed  from  Hamburg,  landing  at 
New  York.  They  then  proceeded  to  Nor- 
walk,  Ohio,  remaining  there  four  weeks, 
waiting  till  their  property  was  vacated, 
then  located  on  the  farm  where  they  have 
since  resided.  Among  the  many  improve- 
which  Mr.  Steiber  has  made  on  his  place 
should  be  mentioned  the  handsome  dwell- 
ing and  commodious  new  barn.  He  has 
successfully  conducted  a  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  business,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  a  good  sum  of  money  by 


« 
502 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


dint  of  constant  toil  and  judicious  economy. 
He  is  an  nnassmiiiiig  but  thorouglily  sub- 
stantial citizen,  and  in  politics  votes  the 
Democratic  ticket.  He  and  his  wife  are 
zealous  supporters  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  Norwalk. 

Michael  Steiber,  Jr.,  son  of  Michael  and 
Victoria  (Holerbaugh)  Steiber,  was  born 
September  28,  18G3,  in  Baden,  Germany, 
where  he  attended  school  two  years,  then 
came  with  his  parents  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio.  After  settling  in  this  country  he 
finished  his  education  at  the  schools  of 
Kidgefield  township,  and  on  May  4,  1886, 
he  married  Mary  Fitz,  who  was  born  in 
1861,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Fitz,  of  San- 
dusky, Ohio.  Since  their  marriage  Mi- 
chael and  Mary  Steiber  have  resided  on  his 
fatlier's  farm,  which  he  works.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  young  men  of  Ridgefield 
township,  and  in  political  opinion  is  a 
Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 


"%  OBEKT  F.  WADDELL,  Hartland 
^  township.  This  gentleman  is  a 
\^  grandson  of  Robert  Waddell,  a 
farmer,  who  was  born  near  Balti- 
more, Md.,  whence  in  middle  life 
he  migrated  to  Ohio,  dying  in  Knox 
county  at  about  the  age  of  seventy- two 
years.  The  names  of  some  of  his  children 
are  Charles,  Abbott,  Robert  F.,  David, 
Bertha  and  Rachel. 

Robert  F.  Waddell,  father  of  subj'-^t, 
was  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  came 
to  Ohio  along  with  his  father.  He  was  a 
farmer  all  his  days,  and  in  Brown  town- 
ship, Knox  county,  was  a  local  preacher. 
He  took  up  wild  land  in  that  township,  and 
"  blazed  "  a  road  from  Danville  to  his  farm, 
a  distance  of  nearly  eight  miles  through 
the  woods.  He  cleared  half  an  aci-e,  and 
built  him  a  log  cabin,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Maryland  for  his  wife  and  child, 
whom  he  had  left  behind,  bringing  them 


to  their  new  western  home,  together  with 
all  the  household  goods  and  chattels,  the 
journey  being  made  in  winter-time  with 
an  ox-sled.  Wild  animals  still  roamed  the 
forest,  and  wolves  would  frequently  make 
nocturnal  attacks  on  the  illy-protected 
cabin,  rushing  for  the  "  door,"  which  con- 
sisted of  nothing  stronger  than  a  blanket 
hung  up;  but  by  keeping  up  a  bright  tire 
the  ravenous  brutes  were  held  at  bay.  Mr. 
Waddell  cleared  250  acres,  and  had  many 
an  adventure  while  engaged  at  either 
chopping  or  hunting,  at  one  time  having  a 
narrow  escape  from  a  bear,  which  would 
have  killed  him  but  for  his  faithful  dog. 
He  built  the  first  church  and  school bou^e, 
and  established  the  tirst  burying-ground  in 
Brown  township,  Knox  county,  Ohio. 

Robert  F.  Waddell,  Sr.,  married  Eliza- 
beth Critchtield,  a  daughter  of  Alvin 
Critchfield,  a  native  of  near  Cumberland, 
Md.,  who  came  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and 
there  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  To  this 
union  were  born  children  as  follows:  Ray- 
mond, Milton .  and  Matilda,  all  three  de- 
ceased; Evaline  (Mrs.  Melton),  also  de- 
ceased; Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Phillips),  in  Hart- 
land;  Charles,  a  physician  in  Indiana, 
where  he  has  an  extensive  practice;  James, 
in  Wauseon,  Fulton  Co.,  Ohio;  and  Rob- 
ert F.  The  father  died  in  1850,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  the 
mother  about  1868. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
February  7,  1848,  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  the  vicin- 
ity. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war 
he  would  have  joined  the  Union  army  but 
for  physical  disability,  and,  moreover,  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  care  for  his  aged 
mother,  he  being  the  only  one  left  at  home. 
He  married  Miss  Christiana  Blakely, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Blakely, 
of  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  five  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  to  wit:  Jennie, 
Charles,  Raymond,  Sarah  Elizabeth  and 
Jessie  Mabel,  all  at  home  except  Charles, 
who  is  deceased. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


503 


After  marriage  Mr.  Waddell  sold  the  old 
homestead  and  bought  fifty  acres  of  land 
in  Huron  county,  which  lie  paid  for  in  fonr 
or  live  years,  and  then  resold  and  purchased 
his  present  place  in  Hartland  township, 
comprising  ninety-one  and  a  quarter  acres 
of  excellent  farm  land.  In  18'J0  he  built 
a  commodious  barn,  and  otherwise  greatly 
imjiroved  the  property.  Politically  Mr. 
"Waddell  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious 
faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church. 


V  C.  FEIEND,  M.  D.,  a  deservedly 
popular  rising  young  physician  and 
druggist  of  Monroeville,  is  a  native 
of  that  town,  born  in  18G2. 

He  is  a  son  of  Charles  Friend, 
who  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in 
1827,  a  son  of  John  Friend,  of  the  same 
place.  Charles  was  a  cooper  by  trade, 
working  at  which  as  a  journeyman,  he 
traveled  over  the  greater  part  of  Switzer- 
land. When  comparatively  yet  a  young 
man,  he  immigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  to  Ohio,  making  a  new  and  permanent 
home  in  Monroeville,  Huron  county,  where 
he  carried  on  his  trade  several  years,  and 
then  einbarked  in  the  grocery  business,  in 
which  he  met  with  fair  success.  In  1858 
he  married  Miss  Paulina  Stoeckley,  also  of 
Baden,  Germany,  a  daughter  of  John 
Stoeckley,  who  came  from  Germany  to 
Monroeville,  Ohio,  some  few  years  ago. 
To  this  marriage  seven  children  were 
born,  viz.:  Henry,  Alfred,  Emma  and 
Catherine,  all  deceased  in  infancy;  and 
Mary  L.  (Mrs.  Tyler),  in  Monroeville;  Dr. 
A.  C.;  and  John  B.  The  father  died 
April  2.  1889;  the  mother  died  July  19, 
188S.  They  were  worthy  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch 
was  educated  in  his  native  town,  and  after 
leaving  school  entered  the  drug  store  of 
D.  Jay  Kling  as  clerk.  He  then,  about 
1882,  went  to  the  Western  Reserve  Medi- 
cal School,  where  he  graduated    in  1884. 


He  first  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Sandusky,  but  remained  only 
a  short  time,  returning  to  Monroeville, 
where  in  1887  he  bought  a  half  interest  in 
a  drug  store,  his  brother  John  B.  owning 
the  other  half.  Not  long  afterward  our 
subject  bought  out  his  brother's  interest, 
and  has  since  had  undivided  control  of  the 
business,  an  excellent  one,  the  store  bein": 
replete  with  everything  essential  to  a  first- 
class  drug  establishment,  including  the 
careful  compounding  of  prescriptions. 

In  1888  Dr.  Friend  was  married  to 
Miss  Loretta  E.  Worley,  daughter  of  An- 
drew Worley,  a  retired  merchant  of  New 
Riegel,  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  and  three  chil- 
dren have  come  to  brighten  their  fireside 
• — Ralph  W.,  Oliver  J.  and  Sylvia  Marie. 
The  Doctor  has  l>een  for  a  considerable 
time  a  prominent  local  Democrat  of  no 
little  influence,  and  has  served  in  various 
positions  of  trust,  such  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  town  clerk,  which  latter  incum- 
bency he  is  now  filling  with  marked 
ability;  has  been  president  of  the  Demo- 
cratic club  of  Norwalk,  and  chairnaan  of 
the  central  committee.  He  is  president  of 
the  National  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 

o 

tion  of  Monroeville,  and  in  religious  faith 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  In  addition  to  his  thriving  drusr 
business,  he  enjoys  a  lucrative  and  fast 
increasing  practice  in  his  profession. 
[Since  the  above  was  written  we  have  iieen 
informed  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Friend, 
which  occurred  November  8,  1893. — Ed. 


E.  HERSHISER,  M.  D.,  whoenjoys 
a  wide  reputation  in  Huron  county 
and  vicinity  as  a  successful  physi- 
cian and  surgeon,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  the  town  of  Shelby, 
Richland  county,  in  1854. 

He  is  a  son  of  Solomon  Hershiser,  who 
was  born  in  Bradford,  Penn.,  whence  when  a 
small  boy  he  came  with  his  father  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Richland  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  all  his  life.     His  grand- 


504 


nUEON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


father  (great-graud father  of  our  subject), 
came  to  America  before  the  Revolution, 
in  whicli  struggle  he  served  on  the  side 
of  the  patriots. 

A.  E.  Hershiser  received  a  liberal  com- 
mon-school education,  after  which  hegradu- 
ated  in  a  scientitic  course,  and  then  took 
up  the  study  of  the  classics.  He  read 
medicine  tirst  under  tlie  preceptorship  of 
Dr.  N.  Huss,  then  of  Shelby,  Ohio,  now 
of  Brooklyn,  JSf.  Y.,  and  attended  lectures 
at  Cleveland  Medical  College,  two  terms, 
finally  graduating  at  Mianii  Medical  Col- 
lege, Cincinnati.  The  Doctor  commenced 
the  practice  of  iiis  profession  at  Collins, 
Ohio,  whence  after  about  three  years  he 
proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  where  for  a 
year  he  attended  hospitals  and  leading 
medical  colleges,  receiving  his  diploma 
from  Jefferson  Medical  College.  In  1885 
he  came  to  Wakeman,  and  has  since  en- 
joyed a  wide  and  successful  practice;  he 
has  given  diseases  of  the  lungs  and  abdomen 
special  attention.  Our  subject  was  mar- 
ried, in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  Miss  JMettieS. 
Purdj,  and  one  child,  Mary  Beulah,  has 
been  born  to  them.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Her- 
shiser are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Chnrch;  politically  he  a  Prohibitionist, 
socially  a  member  of  the  North  Central 
Ohio  Medical  Association. 


IfSAAC  McKESSON.  The  well-known 
family,  of  which  this  gentleman  is  a 
_[  worthy  member,  originated  in  Scotland, 
where  one  Jolin  McKesson  was  born 
and  educated,  graduating  with  high  honors 
frum  both  the  literary  and  theological 
departments  of  the  University  of  Edin- 
burgh. Immediately  after  graduation  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  passed  his  life  as  a 
"watchman  on  the  walls  of  Zion." 

About  1760  he  set  sail  for  the  United 
States  in  company  with  some  friends,  first 
locating  at  Windsor,  York  Co.,  Penn., 
where  in  addition  to  his  ministerial  duties 


he  owned  and  operated  a  large  distillery, 
taking  the  produce  to  Baltimore  and  other 
markets  by  means  of  four-and-six-horse 
teams.  His  superior  scholarship  was  of 
practical  use  in  land  surveying,  of  which 
there  was  much  in  those  days,  untangling 
knotty  problems,  adjusting  compasses, 
levels  and  other  mathematical  instruments; 
and  also  enabled  him  to  act  as  interpreter 
in  the  various  courts.  He  was  a  stanch 
patriot,  rendering  numerous  and  important 
services  to  the  young  Republic. 

He  and  his  wife,  Jane  McKesson,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  had  a  family 
of  seven  children. 

Isaac  McKesson,  youngest  child  of  John 
and  Jane  McKesson,  was  born  July  25, 
1782,  in  Pennsylvania.  He  received  a 
good  education,  and  began  to  study  for  the 
ministry,  but  theology  did  not  suit  his 
tastes,  which  were  inclined  to  mechanical 
pursuits.  Accordingly,  he  abandoned  his 
theological  studies,  and  served  several 
years  as  an  apprentice  to  his  brother  James, 
who  was  an  expert  millwright  and  equally 
skilled  in  all  branches  of  woodwork.  After 
serving  his  time,  Isaac  McKesson  success- 
fully followed  his  trade  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  On  October  1,  1811,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
of  James  and  Jane  (Reed)  Caldwell,  the 
foiiner  of  whom  was  a  prominent  patriot 
and  colonel  in  the  Continental  army, 
rendering  valuable  service  to  his  country 
dui'ing  the  Revolution.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKesson  removed  to 
Lycoming  county,  Penn.,  where  he  took 
up  about  2,200  aci'es  of  land  among  the 
hills  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna river.  He  then  built  a  saw  and 
grist  mill  at  Sinnamahoning,  Cameron 
county,  near  the  mouth  of  Sinnamahoning 
creek,  also  dealing  extensively  in  lumber, 
which  he  shipped  down  the  river  to  Balti- 
more and  other  important  points.  After 
the  war  of  1812  he  s\istained  heavy  tinau- 
cial  losses,  through  the  depreciation  of 
currency  throughout  the  country.  In  1827 
lie  moved  to  northern  Ohio,  first  locating 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


505 


in  Venice,  Erie  county,  tlien  moving  to 
Huron  county,  where  lie  repaired  the  saw 
and  grif-t  mills  owned  by  E.  Jessips,  an  ox- 
tensive  land  owner,  of  whom  Mr.  Mc- 
Kesson purchased  a  farm  in  Margaretta 
township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mi's. 
McKesson  reared  a  family  of  eiglit  chil- 
dren. They  were  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  in  which  he  held  numerous  offi- 
cial positions.  He  died  March  25,  1854, 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Isaac. 

Isaac  McKesson,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  January  12,  1821, 
in  Lycoming  county,  Penn.,  and  when 
seven  years  of  age  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio.  After  receiving  a  subscriptiou- 
school  education  he  taught  for  a  while,  at 
the  same  time  assisting  his  father  with  the 
carpenter  and  mill-wright  business.  He 
then  opened  a  lumber  and  sawmill  estab- 
lishment at  Enterprize,  Huron  county, 
and  after  conducting  this  one  year,  re- 
sumed farming  on  his  father's  place,  later 
moving  to  near  Sandusky.  During  the 
winter  season  he  dealt  in  lumber  for  about 
three  years,  then  bought  a  farm  in  York 
township,  Sandusky  Co.,  Ohio,  and  (bl- 
lowed  agricultural  pursuits,  also  acting 
as  agent  for  various  kinds  of  agricultural 
implements.  In  1851  Mr.  McKesson 
moved  to  a  place  knowm  as  the  "  Seven- 
Mile  House,"  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  which 
he  purchased,  and  there  continued  farm- 
ing, in  addition  to  the  agency  business, 
until  the  autumn  of  1869.  He  then  sold 
a  part  of  this  farm,  and  moved  to  Towns- 
end  township,  Huron  county,  where, 
about  three  years  previously,  he  had  pur- 
chased several  hundred  acres  of  land  and 
the  bendintr  works  situated  at  CJolliiis.  He 
continued  to  improve  the  works,  which 
had  been  opened  in  1852,  being  the 
first  establishment  of  the  kind  in  that  part 
of  Ohio,  and  in  18T1  sold  the  business  to 
his  son,  L.  V.,  and  established  a  sash  and 
blind  and  pump  and  tubing  factory  at 
Collins.  The  famous  "  Collins  force  pump" 
was  first  made  at  the  factory  just  men- 
tioned,   which    Mr.   McKesson  afterward 


sold  and  then  conducted  the  first "  Genesee 
separator"  used  in  this  country.  He  now 
owns  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Eaton  county, 
Mich.,  and  for  several  years  has  conducted 
a  largo  sawmill  and  turning  factory  about 
two  miles  below  Eaton  Rapids;  he  has 
also  been  part  owner  of  an  edge-too  fac- 
tory at  the  same  place.  He  is  now  retired 
from  active  business,  but  still  owns  several 
hundredacresof  land  in  Ohio, Virginia,  Mis- 
souri and  Michigan,  besides  town  and  vil- 
lage property  in  various  places.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  elected  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Erie  county  militia,  and  since 
then  has  tilled  numerous  civil  and  military 
positions.  He  served  eight  successive 
terms  as  trustee  of  Groton  township,  Erie 
county,  being  elected  by  the  Eepublicau 
party  in  a  township  usually  having  a 
Democratic  majority.  He  was  originally  a 
local  leader  of  the  Whigs,  afterward  assist- 
ing to  organize  the  Eepublican  party,  in 
which  he  has  been  a  prominent  worker. 
At  one  time  he  was  an  earnest  advocate  of 
the  "  Greenback "  theory,  but  never  re- 
nounced fealty  to  tiie  Republicans,  and  is 
now  deeply  interested  in  the  National  Rank 
systeui.  He  has  served  as  township  treasurer 
and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  two  years 
was  commissioner  of  Erie  county.  Mr. 
McKesson  has  also  been  appointed  ad- 
ministrator of  various  estates  and  guardian 
for  minor  children.  He  has  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Childrens'  Home  Association  of 
Huron  county  since  that  institution  was 
organized,  and  for  several  years  has  been  a 
director  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Erie 
and  Huron  counties,  having  assisted  with 
the  location  and  purcliase  of  the  grounds 
for  the  Erie  County  Agricultural  Associa- 
tion. He  lias  ever  been  a  leading  spirit  in 
all  public  enterprises,  and  was  the  prime 
mover  in  the  erection  of  the  new  depot  at 
('oUins.  He  also  assisted  in  locating, 
grading  and  adorning  the  beautiful  little 
park  at  that  place,  in  securing  tiie  elegant 
music  hall,  the  improvement  of  several 
streets,  and  has  been  interested  in  various 
public  enterprises. 


506 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  October  28,  1841,  Mr.  McKesson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Lorada  Jane 
Hunt,  who  was  a  native  of  Bridgewater, 
N.  H.,  born  August  8,  1817,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Norwalk  Seminary,  being  a 
pupil  of  the  late  Bishop  Thomson.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Lord) 
Hunt,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New 
Hampshire,  of  English  descent.  She  died 
September  29,  1878,  a  lifelong  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  leaving  two  children: 
Lester  Y.  and  Nancy  E.,  wife  of  George 
D.  Lyles.  In  March,  1880,  Isaac  Mc- 
Kesson married,  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Harriet  S.  (Reed)  Emerson,  who  was  born 
July  19,  1818,  in  Connecticut.  She  died 
July  1,  1886,  at  the  home  of  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  J.  D.  Waggoner,  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  and  on  November  1, 
1887,  Mr.  McKesson  was  married  to  his 
present  wife,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Jane  (Ball let) 
van  Buskirk,  who  was  born  May  18, 
1840,  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Montz)  Balliet,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  whither  their  an- 
cestors had  emigrated  from  Alsace-Lo- 
raine  (then  in  France,  now  in  Germany). 
Our  subject,  in  religious  faith,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church,  which  he  has 
served  in  various  capacities,  while  Mrs. 
McKesson  is  identified  with  the  Presby- 
terian denomination. 


Joseph  t.  lazell,  a  successful 

k.  I     farmer   of  Fitchville   township,  is  a 
^j)   native  of  New  York  State,  born  at 
Moravia,    Cayuga  county,    February 
15,  1837. 

Calvin  Lazell  (great-grandfather  of  sub- 
ject) and  his  brother  emigrated  from 
France  to  America  about  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  the  first  named  locat- 
ing in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  the  latter  in 
Pennsylvania.  This  Calvin  was  the  father 
of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  Daniel 
was  one. 


Daniel  Lazell  married,  and  had  si.x  chil- 
dren, Jared,  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  be- 
ing the  father  of  our  subject.  Jared  La- 
zell was  born  in  1812,  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.,  was  reared  there  in  the  manner 
common  to  the  boys  of  his  time,  and  while 
still  a  youth  was  apprenticed  to  a  shoe- 
maker. AVhen  a  young  man  he  married 
Hannah  Turner,  a  native  of  Cayuga 
county,  and  they  soon  after  migrated  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Hartland 
township,  where  they  lived  at  the  home 
of  Spencer  Phillips.  Here  he  followed 
his  trade  for  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Cayuga  county,  where  Mrs.  La- 
zell died  in  July,  1841.  Mr.  Lazell  mar- 
ried, for  his  second  wife,  Mary  Sawyer, 
and  then,  again  determined  to  try  Ohio, 
he  came  to  Berlin,  Erie  county,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  one  year,  going  from 
house  to  house,  as  was  then  the  custom. 
The  family  then  returned  to  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  Mr.  Lazell  followed 
the  trade  for  six  or  seven  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Olena,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  Later 
he  established  himself  at  Bairdstown, 
Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  is  yet  engaged 
at  his  trade,  though  now  over  eighty-two 
years  of  age.  His  wife  also  resides  there, 
and  both  enjoy  remarkable  health  for  per- 
sons of  their  age.  There  were  three 
childien  born  to  Jared'and  Hannah  Lazell, 
namely:  Joseph  T.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Emeline,  widow  of  Judson  Smith, 
of  Cleveland;  and  an  itifant  who  died  un- 
named. To  his  second  marriage,  with 
Mary  Sawyer,  two  children  were  born: 
Franklin,  of  Bairdstown,  Ohio,  and  Caro- 
line, widow  of  Byron  Fullson,  of  Garretts- 
ville,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio. 

Joseph  T.  Lazell  received  an  elementary 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  when 
thirteen  years  old  was  apprenticed  to  AVal- 
ter  Sabin,  a  shoemaker  in  Cayuga  county, 
N.  Y.  Having  previously  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  the  trade  with  his  father,  he 
learned  quickly,  and  soon  received  sev- 
enty-five dollars  per  annum  for  his 
labor,  working  with    Sabin  nine  months. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


507 


Later  he  received  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  a3'ear,  and  subsetj^uently  worked  at 
Montville,  X.  Y.,  until  he  began  life  as  a 
joiirneytnan.  Owing  to  his  youthful  ap- 
pearance he  was  known  as  "  The  Boy  Shoe- 
maker," a  sobriquet  crenerally  conferred  iti 
the  kindest  sense,  for  the  people  knew  that 
he  was  as  capable  of  doing  tine  work  as 
the  most  experienced  tradesman.  He 
worked  as  journeyman  from  Moravia  to 
Buffalo,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years 
located  at  Olena,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  began  work  for  T.  G.  King,  afterward 
working  for  Benjamin  Green,  and  he  sub- 
sequently became  a  partner  with  his  father. 
On  February  16,  1<S58,  Mr.  Lazell  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Burris,  who  was  born  at 
Olena,  daushter  of  William  H.  Burris, 
who  came  from  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y., 
and  settled  in  Hartland  township,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.  To  this  marriage  were  born 
the  following  named  children:  Blanche 
H.,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Luxon,  of  Chicago,  Ohio; 
Euth  A.,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Smith,  of  Fitchville; 
Nellie,  Mrs.  Eugene  Lee,  of  Hartland 
township;  Emma,  Louise,  and  Jessie,  all 
residing  at  home.  After  his  marriage  he 
built  a  home  at  Olena,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  there  until  1866,  when  he  purchased 
the  Al)ijah  Palmer  farm  in  Fitchville  town- 
ship. To  this  tract  he  has  added  seventy 
acres,  and  improved  the  whole  area.  A 
Republican  in  politics,  he  has  tilled  vari- 
ous township  otKces;  but  his  farm  receives 
the  greater  part  of  his  attention. 


GHARLES  S.  CLARK.  This  gentle- 
man, who  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
^^ '  prising  and  thoroughly  successful 
young  men  of  Wakeman,  is  a  son  of 
D.  Stiles  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Milford, 
New  Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  in  182S.  The  lat- 
ter received  a  liberal  common-school  edu- 
cation, and  in  early  youth  commenced  to 
learn  the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  maker, 
which  he  followed  for  fully  twenty-five 
yeirs. 

88 


In  1856  D.  Stiles  Clark  came  west  to 
Ohio,  and  located  in  Wakeman  township, 
Huron  county,  where  he  continued  his 
trade,  and  invested  in  real  estate  in  and 
near  the  present  site  of  Wakeman  village, 
which  was  then  but  a  mere  "  cross  road." 
Some  of  his  property  was  divided  into  town 
lots,  the  remainder  he  cultivated  and 
farmed.  In  Connecticut  he  had  married 
Miss  Esther  A.  Boyd,  and  five  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Ella,  Wal- 
ter and  RoUie  (deceased);  Harriet,  now  the 
wife  of  Prof.  Andrews,  of  Oberlin  College; 
and  Charles,  subject  of  sketch.  The  father 
died  in  February,  1887,  a  thorough  Chris- 
tian, and  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Wakeman.  In  his  political 
sympathies  he  was  a  Republican  until  a 
few  years  before  his  demise,  when  he  be- 
came a  Prohibitionist.  In  the  course  of 
his  busy  life  he  had  accumulated  wealth, 
but  in  later  years  he  naet  with  I'everses  and 
lost  heavily.  In  the  cemetery  of  Wake- 
man stands  a  beautiful  monument,  erected 
by  tlie  family  to  the  memory  of  a  devoted 
husband,  a  kind  and  loving  father,  an  hon- 
ored and  trusted  neighbor  and  citizen.  His 
noble  wife,  who  through  sunshine  and 
storm  was  ever  his  helpmate  and  comfor- 
ter, survives  him,  and  is  now  at  the  age  of 
sixty- four  years  residing  with  her  son,  of 
whom  she  is  justly  proud. 

Charles  S.  Clark,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  March  21,  1860,  in 
Wakeman,  Huron  county,  where  his  boy- 
hood was  passed,  during  the  winter  months 
attending  the  village  school,  the  remainder 
of  the  year  working  on  his  father's  farm. 
Oti  reaching  his  majority  he  decided  on 
his  future  sphere  of  life,  and  renting  from 
his  father  an  acre  of  ground,  bought  five 
dollars  worth  of  corn-seed,  that  sum  being 
his  entire  capital.  This  seed  lie  sowed  on 
the  land  he  had  rented,  and  the  crop  there- 
of he  sold  for  seed  purposes;  then  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  rented  more  land,  and  this 
time  planted  sweet  corn,  on  each  occasion 
carefully  cultivating  and  harvesting  his 
crops.     From   this  small   beginning  Mr. 


508 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Clark  has  gradually  risen  until  to-day  he 
is  the  most  extensive  seed-corn  grower  in 
America.  He  handles  more  than  eighty 
diti'erent  varieties  of  corn — including  iield, 
pop  and  sweet — and  his  businese  has 
grown  to  such  proportions  that  he  now  has 
seven  branch  othces  and  w-arehouses  in 
various  parts  of  the  United  States.  He  is 
the  originator  of  the  varieties  of  corn 
known  as  "Clark's  Mastodon  Field  Corn  " 
and  "  None-such  Sweet  Corn,"  which, 
though  placed  on  the  market  a  lew  years 
ago,  are  known  and  grown  by  corn  raisers 
all  over  the  world.  During  the  past  tew 
years  he  has  invested  many  thousands  of 
dollars  in  buildings,  etc.,  while  his  daily 
freight  bills  reach  far  into  the  hundreds, 
which  in  themselves  testify  to  the  magni- 
tude of  his  trade.  In  connection  with  his 
business  interests,  Mr.  Clark  has  traveled 
extensively,  and  is  well  known  in  every 
part  of  the  land. 

On  June  12,  1888.  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sadie  T. 
Smith,  daughter  of  Stiles  Smith,  of  Mil- 
ford,  Conn.,  and  two  children  have  come  to 
brighten  their  home,  viz.:  Hazel,  born 
February  20,  1892,  and  another  daughter, 
born  February  17,  1894:.  In  his  political 
predilections  Mr.  Clark  may  be  said  to  be 
a  "  No  Party  "  man,  casting  his  vote  for 
the  candidate — Presidential  or  otherwise 
— he  considers  best  qualified  for  the  posi- 
tion, and  the  best  man  for  the  people  at 
large.  His  wife  and  mother  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 


E'DWIN"    DENNIS  TODD,    one    of 
the  many  well-to-do  farmer  citizens 
I  of  Wakeman  township,   is   a  native 

of  same,  born  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  December  20,  1841. 

George  Todd,  fatlier  of  Edwin  D.,  was 
born  in  North  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1807,  and 
was  there  educated,  and  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  In  1836  became  to  Ohio, 
settling  on  land    now  owned   by   our  sub- 


ject, in  Wakeman  township,  Huron  county, 
at  that  time  a  vista  of  almost  unbroken 
forest  and  deep-tangled  undergrowth.  He 
married  Miss  Betsy  Pierpoint,  also  of 
Connecticut  birth,  and  four  children,  as 
follows,  came  to  their  union:  Edgar  M., 
living  in  Wakeman,  Huron  county;  Ellen 
G.,  wife  of  Rev.  Edwin  Irwin,  of  Middle- 
toW'U,  Ohio;  Edwin  Dennis,  subject  of 
sketch,  and  one  deceased.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  in  April,  1853,  owner  at 
that  time  of  206  acres  of  land  which  he 
accumulated  by  industry  and  good  man- 
agement. Socially  he  was  a  good  citizen, 
honest  and  upright;  politically  he  was  a 
stanch  Democrat,  loyal  to  his  party  and 
active  in  all  its  campaigns.  His  widow, 
now  in  her  eighty-first  year,  is  living  with 
her  son  Edgar  M.  in  Wakeman;  she  is  a 
devout  Christian,  and  enjoys  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  the  entire  community. 

Edwin  Dennis  Todd  received  a  limited 
elementary  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  home  district,  which  was 
supplemented  with  a  two-terms  course  in 
the  schools  of  Milan.  He  remained  on 
his  father's  farm  until  twenty-six  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  commenced  working 
for  his  own  account,  and  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  ninety-six  acres  of  prime  land  in 
Wakeman  township,  on  which,  in  1891,  he 
built  a  coujmodious  dwelling.  On  No- 
vember 25,  l.sOy,  Mr.  Todd  w-as  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Bates,  daughter 
of  Hiram  Bates,  of  Wakeman,  and  natives 
of  New  York  State.  They  have  no  chil- 
di'en.  Our  subject  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and 
is  regarded  as  a  good  representative  citizen. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  several  years. 


dAMES  PARK,  one  of  the  prominent 
farmei-s  of  Huron  county,  was  born 
April  20,  1832,  in  County  Donegal, 
Ireland,    within     eighteen     miles    of 
Londonderry. 

His  father,  Joseph  Park,  son  of  Joseph 
Park,  a    farmer  of  County  Donegal,  Ire- 


HUROlf  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


509 


land,  was  born  in  1802  on  the  farm  of  liis 
father  and  there  reared  to  manhood.  lu 
early  manhood  he  tnarried  Sarah  McAdoo, 
who  was  born  in  1805  in  County  Donegal, 
Ireland,  and  to  this  marriage  six  children 
were  born  in  Ireland,  namely:  Joseph  and 
Robert,  both  farmers  of  Bronson  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  James,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  William  H.,  a  farmer,  who 
served  in  the  Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  was 
for  seven  years  U.  S.  guager  at  Cincinnati 
(he  died  in  188B);  Alexander,  a  farmer  of 
Bronson  township,  and  Matthew,  who 
served  in  the  One  Hundred  and  First 
O.  V.  I.,  and  after  the  war  was  clerk  for  an 
iron  company  in  Missouri,  where  he  was 
taken  ill  (he  returned  home  and  died  in 
Eronson  township  January  20,  1S74).  The 
father  of  this  family  was  the  owner  of  two 
good  farms  near  Londonderry  and  the  em- 
ployer of  many  farm  hands  until  1847, 
when  he  sougiit  a  home  in  the  United 
States,  where  a  wide  field  was  open  for 
hiinsp.lf  and  his  children.  In  1847  Joseph, 
his  wife  and  the  six  sons  proceeded  to  Liv- 
erpool, England,  and  embarking  on  the 
ship  "  Royalist,"  sailed  for  the  United 
States.  The  voyage  was  a  stormy  one 
from  the  start,  so  much  so  that  the  old  ex- 
perienced Scotch  captain  of  the  vessel  rec- 
ommended his  passengers  to  prepare  for 
death.  The  olil  captain,  fortunately,  was 
out  in  his  reckonings,  the  storm  abated, 
and  the  good  ship  anchored  in  the  shadows 
of  Quebec's  heights  twenty-eight  days 
after  leaving  Liverpool. 

The  Parks  proceeded  westward  I^y  river 
and  lake  boats  until  they  reached  the  port 
of  Huron,  Ohio.  They  proceeded  by 
wajron  from  that  villao-e  to  William  Mc- 
Pherson's  house  in  Bronson  township, 
Huron  county,  and  there  rested  for  a  few 
weeks.  Later  the  family  went  to  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  and  remained  among  friends 
from  Donegal  for  a  few  months.  In  the 
fall  of  1847  the  father  retui-ned  to  Bron- 
son township,  purchased  seventy-five  acres 
of  laud  at  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
acre,  and  there  resided    until  his  death, 


November  6,  1860;  he  was  followed  to 
the  grave  by  his  wife  January  1,  1861, 
and  the  remains  of  both  lie  in  Olena  ceme- 
tery. The  land  which  he  puj'ciiased  was 
all  wild  with  the  exception  of  three  acres, 
and  in  clearing  it  the  father  and  sons  ex- 
pended much  labor;  for  the  work  was  new 
to  them  and  their  financial  condition,  low- 
ered by  the  extraordinary  expenses  of  tlie 
journey  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  caused 
them  to  exercise  the  closest  economy 
while  making  their  home  in  the  wilder- 
ness.  The  fact  is  that  he  had  to  buy  his 
first  farm  on  credit,  but  through  the  per- 
sistent industry  of  himself  and  sons  he 
prospered,  and  before  his  death  had  made 
a  comfortable  home. 

James  Park  received  an  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  district  in 
Douecral,  Ireland,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
old  enough  assisted  in  the  farm  work  and 
cattle  herding.  <^ In  1847  he  accompanied 
the  family  to  America,  and  gave  his  best 
labors  here  until  their  first  home  in  the 
Xew  World  was  made  and  clear  of  debt. 
He  next  entered  the  employ  of  Isaac  Sel- 
over,  in  Bronson  township,  the  cotisider- 
ation  being  one  hundred  and  sixty-two 
dollars   for  the  year  ending    in    October, 

1855.  The  next  three  months  our  subject 
worked  at  carpentry,  and  on  January  20, 

1856,  embarked  at  New  York  on  board  a 
vessel  bound  for  Aspinwall,  and  after 
crossing  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  took  pas- 
sage in  the  "John  L.  Stevens"  for  San 
Francisco.  During  the  two  years  he  passed 
iti  California  he  was  engaged  in  various 
pursuits,  such  as  mining,  packing  mer- 
chandise between  Humboldt  Bay  and  Sal- 
mon river,  and  butchering.  On  July  4, 
1858,  he  re-embarked  on  the  "John  L. 
Stevens  "  for  the  Isthmus,  crossed  to  As- 
pinwall, and  thence  sailed  to  New  York 
on  the  "  Moses  Taylor."  He  paid  another 
visit  to  California,  and  also  revisited  his 
native  land — Ireland. 

In  April,  1859.  Mr.  Park  was  married 
to  Catherine  Ernsberger,  who  bore  him 
two  children,  William  H.  and  Emma,  both 


510 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  whom  died  in  youth.  The  mother  of 
these  cliildren  dying  in  February,  1803, 
Mr.  Park  married  Martha  Ernsberger,  sis- 
ter of  his  first  wife,  and  to  tliis  \inion  were 
born  three  children:  Jennie,  Mrs.  Charles 
F.  Brown,  of  Hartland  township;  Emmett, 
who  resides  at  home,  and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  A. 
D.  M.  Pratt,  of  Norwalk.  After  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Martha  Park,  he  married,  for  his 
third  wife,  Mary  A.  McPherson,  and  she 
became  the  mother  of  four  children, 
namely:  Louise  E.  (a  student  in  Oberlin 
College),  Clara  B.,  Edna  M.  and  Alice  F., 
residin":  at  lionie.  On  the  death  of  bis 
tirst  wife  Mr.  Park  took  up  his  residence 
with  bis  father-in-law,  Mr.  Ernsberger,  on 
the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  later  pur- 
ciiasing  this  place  and  adding  to  it  gradu- 
ally, until  bis  estate  now  comprises  over  200 
acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  township.  In 
1884  he  selected  a  natural  elevation  on  his 
farm  for  a  residence,  and  thereon  built  the 
finest  dwelling  house  in  the  township.  Mr. 
Park's  success  rests  on  labor.  He  is  an 
indefatigable  worker  and  a  most  system- 
atic agriculturist.  Endowed  with  the  vim 
and  energy  characteristic  of  the  sons  of 
Erin,  he  carved  out  for  himself  a  fortune 
and  gave  to  the  fairest  portion  of  Ohio  one 
of  its  best  improved  farms.  Politically  a 
llepublican,  he  lias  always  been  loyal  to 
the  party,  and  is  one  of  its  most  trusted 
members  in  Huron  county.  He  has  served 
his  township  in  various  official  positions, 
as  director  of  the  County  Infirmary  for 
nine  years,  and  township  trustee  for  thir- 
teen years.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
helped  in  raising  nineteen  thousand  dollars 
to  clear  the  township  of  demands  arising 
from  the  draft.  He  has  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  organization  of  agricultural  so- 
cieties,  and  has  held  various  positions  in 
agricultural  fair  associations  throughout 
the  county.  A  man  of  e.xcellent  judgment, 
his  opinion  is  sought  on  questions  affect- 
ing township  and  county;  while,  in  pri- 
vate affairs,  his  reputation  for  honesty  and 
sincerity  causes  him  to  be  selected  as 
guardian  and  e.xecutor.      In  religious  con- 


nection he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
Olena  PresbA'terian  Church,  in  which  he 
lias  been  elder  for  over  twenty-five  years, 
superintendent  of  Sabbath-school  for  over 
twenty-seven  years,  and  is  from  every 
point  of  view  a  pillar  in  the  Society. 


S.  ANDREWS,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Eunice  (Taylor)  Andrews, 
was  born  in  1843,  in  Fairfield 
township,  Huron  county  Ohio. 
Samuel  Andrews  was  born  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  resided  there  until  his 
marriage  with  Eunice  Taylor.  The  young 
couple  then  removed  to  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Fairfield  township, 
where  Mrs.  Andrews  died  in  her  seventy- 
sixth  year.  Samuel  Andrews,  now  over 
eighty  years  old,  resides  with  his  son,  W. 
S.,  at  Greenwich.     They  had  two  sons. 

W.  S.  Andrews  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  subsequently  took  a 
commercial  course  in  Oberlin  College. 
Ileturning  home,  he  worked  on  the  home 
place  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old, 
when  he  established  himself  as  a  dealer  in 
horses,  making  a  specialty  of  fine  coach 
and  carriage  horses  for  the  New  Yorlc  and 
Boston  markets.  He  located  at  Greenwich 
in  1882,  when  he  established  a  livery  in 
connection  with  his  stables.  In  1884  he 
sold  liis  livery  interests,  in  order  to  give 
exclusive  attention  to  his  growing  business 
in  fine  horses.  Animals  worth  from  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  eight  hundred 
dollars  are  always  ready  in  his  stables  for 
shipment,  and  his  representation  of  a  horse 
is  accepted,  for  there  is  no  better  judge  of 
horses  in  the  county  than  he  is.  The  fact 
that  he  has  a  horse  in  his  stable  is  a  certain 
guarantee  that  the  animal  possesses  all  the 
points  necessary  in  a  coach  or  carriage 
horse.  He  is  recognized  as  a  thoroughly 
reliable,  honest  business  man,  and  he  gen- 
erally receives  his  own  price  for  his  stock. 


UURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


511 


Mr.  Andrews  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Fairtield,  witli  Miss  Flora  Wright.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Hepublican.  As  a  citizen 
he  has  done  much  to  encourage  tiie  breed- 
ing of  line  stock,  and  has  exerted  a  bene- 
ficial influence  on  the  horse  markets  of 
eastern  cities. 


[[ATHANIBL  W.  O'DELL,  a  protn- 
inent  citizen  of  Fitchville  township, 
was  born  February  8, 1842,  in  Hart- 
land  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio. 
His  great-grandfather,  James 
O'Dell,  was  one  of  three  bi'others  who  came 
from  Ireland  to  the  young  Republic  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
James  settled  in  Connecticut;  another 
brother  located  in  Virginia,  and  one  became 
a  sailor,  all  trace  of  the  latter  being  lost. 
Nathaniel  O'Dell,  son  of  James  O'Dell, 
was  born  November  6,  1799,  in  Warren 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
and  learned  the  trades  of  mason  and  plas- 
terer. In  1819  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sally  Lane,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county  October  20,  1799,  and  there 
the  following  named  children  were  born  to 
them:  Daniel,  born  July  4,  1819;  Ansel, 
born  April  19,  1821,  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents,  but  about  1855  migrated  to  Mich- 
igan, settling  in  Ingham  county,  where  he 
carried  on  farming  until  his  retirement 
from  active  life  (he  now  lives  at  Aurelius, 
Mich.);  Lewis  L.,  born  August  31,  1823, 
died  January  29,  1825;  Amy,  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1825,  wife  of  William  Hop- 
kins, of  Aurelius,  Ingham  Co.,  Mich.; 
Lewis  L.  (2),  born  September  20,  1827, 
who  was  a  farmer  of  Ingham  county, 
Mich.,  died  in  Lucas  county,  Ohio;  and 
Maria,  born  August  24,  1829,  who  married 
Ezra  Stratton,  and  now  resides  at  Swanton, 
Ohio.  The  family  of  Nathaniel  O'Dell 
removed  to  Ohio  about  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1838,  the  father  having  visited 
Huron  county  three  years  prior  to  their 


migration.  The  journey  of  the  family, 
however,  was  not  completed  without  disap- 
pointments. The  lake  was  so  rough  that 
they  were  prevented  from  landingat  Huron, 
and  the  teams  sent  down  from  Huron 
county  to  meet  them  and  convey  them  to 
their  new  home  returned.  When  the  storm 
suiisided,  a  landimr  was  made,  and  Mr. 
O'Dell  walked  to  Olena  to  procnre  other 
teams.  His  trip  was  successful,  and  re- 
turning to  Huron  he  brought  the  family  to 
Hosea  Townseud's  farm  in  New  London 
township.  His  capital  at  this  time  was 
twelve  dollars,  and  the  members  of  the 
family  that  were  old  enough  had  to  enter 
at  once  on  work,  to  earn  sustenance.  In 
this  county  the  following  named  children 
were  born:  William,  born  February  14, 
1833,  who  died  February  6,  1840,  and  was 
buried  on  the  farm ;  Emeline,  born  Sep- 
tember 4,  1836,  wife  of  Frank  Miller,  of 
Swanton,  Ohio;  and  Charlotte,  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1844,  married  to  Silas  Munsil, 
of  Swanton,  Ohio,  where  she  now  resides. 
For  six  months  after  their  arrival  the  fam- 
ily remained  in  New  London  township, 
and  then  moved  to  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  Olena,  then  known  as  "  Angel's 
Corners,"  where  the  father  purchased  some 
land.  There  he  resided  until  about  1850, 
and  then  located  on  a  farm  some  distance 
south  of  Olena,  on  which  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  September  19,  1879. 
He  was  taken  ill  while  visiting  in  Lucas 
county,  Ohio,  which  illness  led  to  his  death. 
His  wife  died  in  1878,  and  both  lie  in  the 
cemetery  at  Olena,  where  monuments, 
erected  by  their  children,  mark  their  graves. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat  until  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  joined  the 
Republicans.  Owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
work  for  him  as  a  tradesman,  he  devoted 
his  attention  to  agriculture,  and  even  as 
an  old  man  he  could  contest  for  the  honors 
of  work  with  the  ablest  hands  on  the  farm. 
As  a  wrestler,  he  was  never  thrown  by  any 
one.  His  wife,  known  as  "  Aunt  Sally," 
was  a  strong,  healthy  woman,  and  endured 
with  the  family  all  the  trials  of  pioneer  life. 


512 


HUROyr  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


Daniel  O'Dell  was  born  in  1819,  at 
Queensbnry,  Warren  county,  N.  Y.,came  to 
Ohio  witli  his  parents  in  1833,  and  took  a 
full  share  in  supporting  the  family.  Be- 
fore leaving  Warren  county,  N.  Y.,  he  at- 
tended scliool,  and  even  in  Ohio  he  realized 
the  value  of  an  elementary  education,  for, 
while  working  here  for  A.  G.  Post,  he 
found  time  to  attend  the  winter  school  of 
the  district.  When  a  young  man  he  at- 
tended the  masons  in  the  erection  of  the 
first  brick  buildincr  at  Norwalk,  and  he  also 
cut  the  first  four-foot  lire-wood  hauled  to 
Norwalk,  the  consideration  being  two  shil- 
lings per  cord.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
February  11,  1841,  with  Miss  Almira 
Wooley,  who  was  born  April  28,  1824,  in 
Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Ohio 
when  a  cliild  ten  years  of  age.  To  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  O'Dell  the  following 
named  children  were  born:  Nathaniel  W., 
the  subject  of  this  biographical  memoir; 
Henry  C.,  born  May  18,  1844,  a  resident 
of  Olena;  Charles  J.,  a  farmer  of  Fitch- 
ville  township;  Wesley  D.,  a  resident  of 
Olena;  and  Sarah  J.,  born  October  15, 
1861,  deceased  July  3,  1862.  In  1841 
Daniel  O'Dell  and  his  wife  settled  on  a 
farm  of  forty  acres  in  Hartland  township, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  thence  in  1860  removing 
to  Townsend  township,  where  he  had  pur- 
chased land.  In  1871  he  returned  to 
Hartland  township,  eight  years  later  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Greenwich  township, 
and  remaining  there  until  1881,  when  he 
located  at  Fitcliville.  Here  he  resided  un- 
til his  death,  March  16,  1891;  the  death 
of  his  wife,  the  preceding  day,  affected 
him  so  powerfully  as  to  cause  his  own 
death  within  twenty-four  hours,  and  the 
pioneers  were  buried  side  by  side  in  Olena 
cemetery.  Mr.  O'Dell  was  an  enthusiastic 
Democrat,  and  in  Church  connection  affili- 
ated with  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  wife 
joined  the  Methodist  Church  in  early 
years,  but  seventeen  years  prior  to  her 
death  united  with  the  Society  of  Friends 
at  Greenwich.  Both  were  excellent  peo- 
ple, as  parents  and  citizens,  and  possessed 


broad  sympathy  for  the  unfortunate.  At 
their  golden  wedding,  held  February  11, 
1891,  the  large  number  of  relatives  and 
friends  demonstrated  clearly  the  esteem  in 
which  the  old  people  were  held. 

Nathaniel  W.  O'Dell  passed  his  youth 
after  the  fashion  of  farmers'  boys  of  the 
period,  working  on  the  farm  and  attending 
winter  school,  his  first  teacher  being  Miss 
Emma  A.  Pierce.  From  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen to  that  of  twenty-one  years  iiis  health 
was  poor,  but  recovering  somewiiat  he 
went  to  Cleveland,  where  he  obtained  the 
position  of  traveling  salesman  in  Noyeson 
Bros.'  dry-goods  and  notions  house.  The 
salary  of  twenty  dollars  per  month  was 
soon  increased  to  forty-five  dollars,  and  he 
remained  in  the  service  of  that  tirm  until 
the  close  of  June,  1869.  On  Julj  1, 
1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Dania  (Templar)  Deneen  (widow  of 
William   Deneen),  who  was  born  January 

22,  1850,  in  Hartland  township.  Her 
father,  Jonathan  Templar,  was  born 
March  20,  1813,  in  Schenectady  county, 
N.  Y.,  came  westward  to  Ohio  in  1848, 
and  subsequently  went  to  Mason,  Micii., 
where  he  died  October  10,  1866.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  O'Dell  came  the  following 
named  children:  Frank,  a  farmer  of  Fitch- 
ville  township;  Fred  L.,  born  August  1, 
1871,  also  a  farmer  of  Fitch ville;  Annie 
S.,  born  November  14,  1875,  Mrs.  John 
Kennedy,  of  Olena;  Nicholas  T.,  born 
March   19,  1877;   Colonel  E.,  born   April 

23,  1882,  and  Delia,  born  November  4, 
1886,  all  residing  at  home.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  O'Dell  and  his  wife  located  in 
Greenwich  township,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged for  one  year  in  buying  and  furnish- 
ing wood  for  the  C.  C.  C.  &  I.  Railroad 
Co.  He  had  fifty-three  acres  of  land  in 
Townsend  township,  the  property  of  his 
maternal  grandfather,  and  selling  this 
tract,  together  with  one  of  thirty  acres  in 
Greenwich  township,  he  removed  to  Olm- 
sted Falls,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
became  interested  in  farming  and  stone 
quarrying.     After  a  year  he  returned  to 


/vr^ 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


513 


Greenwich  townsliip,  and,  in  partnersliip 
with  his  fatlier,  purchased  a  farm  and  car- 
ried it  on  for  over  six  years.  Then  lie 
removed  to  ITartland  township,  to  take 
possession  of  Grandfatlier  O'Dell's  farm, 
M'hich  lie  purchased,  and  on  whicli  he  re- 
mained for  five  years,  a  part  of  tlie  time 
conducting  a  general  store  at  Olena,  in 
connection  with  his  farming  operations. 
In  1883  he  purchased  the  Hezekiah  .Tohn- 
son  farm  in  Fitchville  township,  and  he 
now  owns  178  acres,  all  improved,  which 
he  manages  systematically.  In  connection 
with  his  agricultural  pursuits  on  tliis  heau- 
tiful  farm,  he  does  a  large  business  in  agri- 
cultural implements,  a  trade  which  he  has 
built  up  during  the  last  twelve  or  thirteen 
years.  Politically  Mr.  O'Dell  is  a  Demo- 
crat; religiously,  a  Presbyterian. 


JOHN  S.  DAVIS  was  born  March  28, 
180t;,  in  iialtimore  county,  Md.  His 
parents  were  Jesse  and  Mary  Ann 
(^Sowers)  Davis.  Ilis  mother  died 
while  he  was  still  an  infant,  and  he  was 
brought  up  by  his  maternal  grandparents, 
John  and  Mary  Ann  Sowers.  After  his 
mother's  death  his  father  was  twice  mar- 
ried— firf.t  to  a  Miss  Hunt,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  Mary  and  Jackson — and 
again  to  a  Miss  Sewell,  who  bore  him  one 
child,  Ann  Eliza.  Not  long  after  his 
mother's  death,  his  father  removed  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  where  (in  the  vil- 
lage of  Shrewsbury,  York  county)  he  died 
about  the  year  1833. 

In  1811,  when  he  was  but  five  years  old, 
Mr.  Davis  came,  with  his  grand])arents 
above  named,  to  Fairfield,  Lancaster  Co., 
Ohio.  Not  long  after,  they  settled  in 
Ilidgefiekl  township,  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Cone  farm — a  [)art  of  which  is  in- 
cluded in  the  corporation  of  Monroeviile. 
Here  his  grandfather  died  July  23,  1820, 
aged  sixty-three,  and  his  grandmother 
twenty-eight  years  after,  May  21,  1848, 


aged  ninety-three.  These  grandjiarents 
had  four  sons,  John,  Moses,  Daniel  and 
James,  with  the  older  of  whom  Mr.  Davis 
lived  till  after  iiis  majority.  It  is  well 
woi'thy  of  record,  as  a  remarkable  physio- 
logical fact,  that  James,  the  youngest  of 
these  four  uncles  (who  is  still  living  in 
Whitley  county,  Ind.),  was  born  when  his 
mother  was  fifty-three  years  old,  his  next 
older  brother,  Daniel,  being  then  in  his 
fourteenth  year. 

Mr.  Davis  lived  in  this  township  till 
1835,  when  he  removed  to  Lexington, 
Richland  county.  Three  years  later  he 
moved  again  to  Galion,  Crawford  county, 
where  he  lived  twenty-eight  years — re- 
turning to  Monroeviile  in  1866. 

While  living  at  Galion,  on  the  17th  of 
May,  184:3,  he  married  Catharine  Nave, 
who  was  born  in  Path  Valley,  Franklin 
Co.,  Penn.  They  had  four  children,  of 
whom  two  daughters  are  still  livino-.  The 
elder  of  these  daughters,  Amanda  J.,  born 
February  17,  1844,  married  Capt.  A.  S. 
Skilton  in  Galion,  December  20,  1865. 
They  had  two  children,  John  Davis  Skil- 
ton and  Elizabeth  Roby.  ^Ir.  Davis' young- 
est daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  was  born 
January  15,  1869. 

Mr.  Davis  followed  the  honorable  pro- 
fession of  farmer,  on  a  small  place  in 
Ridgetield  township,  till  he  was  thirty 
years  old,  when  he  went  into  the  dry-goods 
business  with  Mr.  Bloomer  as  partner. 
About  the  year  1850  he  embarked  in  the 
business  of  banking,  first  in  the  Exchange 
Bank  of  (xalion,  maiiageil  under  the  firm 
name  of  Atwood,  Davis  vk:  Bloomer;  after- 
ward in  the  First  National  Bank  at  the 
same  place.  He  was  also  interested  in  the 
Farmers'  National  Bank  of  Mansfield,  the 
National  Bank  of  Plymouth,  and  (more 
especially)  the  Exchange  Bank  of  ^lonroe- 
viile,  of  which  the  managing  firm  was 
Davis,  Crim  it  Stentz.  Mr.  Davis  was 
also  president  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
Monroeviile,  acting  in  that  capacity  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  In  all  his  business 
enterprises  Mr.  Davis  was  singularly  sac- 


514 


HURON-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cessful,  and  if  he  did  not  "  make  money  " 
quite  as  fast  as  Midas,  lie  was  more  for- 
tunate tlian  that  fatally  avaricious  king,  in 
that  lie  was  permitted  to  choose  what 
shonld,  and  what  should  not,  turn  to  gold 
under  his  touch. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1876,  a  very 
numerous  company  of  his  relatives,  friends 
and  neighhors  assembled  at  his  spacious 
mansion  to  celebrate  his  seventieth  birth- 
day. The  affair  was  managed  by  his  good 
wife,  tocrether  with  his  daughter  and  son- 
in-law,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skilton,  as  a  "sur- 
prise," and  most  complete  was  their  suc- 
cess, Mr.  Davis  having  not  the  least  sus- 
iiicion  of  what  was  Doing  on,  till  the 
guests  began  to  arrive.  But  his  surprise 
reached  its  culmination  when,  after  the 
company  had  all  assembled,  an  elegant 
gold-headed  cane,  and  a  beautiful,  life- 
sized  crayon  portrait  of  Mrs.  Davis  (a 
present  from  the  above-mentioned  parties), 
were  produced  and  ju'esented  to  him  in  an 
appropriate  address.  Touched  to  the  heart 
by  these  manifestations  of  kindly  regard, 
it  would  have  been  strange,  indeed,  if  he 
had  found  any  other  than  the  simplest 
words  of  thanks,  in  which  to  express  his 
grateful  emotions.  The  Huron  County 
Teachers'  Institute,  being  then  in  session 
at  Monroeville,  were  present  in  a  body, 
and  with  them  the  distinguished  gram- 
marian. Professor  Harvey,  of  Painesville. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  enjoyed 
the  distinguished,  but  unsought,  honor  of 
being  chosen  elector  of  president  and  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States;  and  after- 
ward, in  the  college  of  electors,  of  casting 
his  vote  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and 
William  A.  Wheeler,  as  president  and 
vice-president  of  the  nation. 

Mr.  Davis  enjoyed  perfect  health  up  to 
his  last  illness,  which  resulted  in  death, 
July  1,  1888,  being  over  eighty-two  years 
of  age.  He  was  looked  up  to  by  young 
and  old  as  a  kind  friend  and  prudent 
counsellor.  No  object,  looking  toward 
the  moral  and  religious  improvement  of 
the  community,  failed  of  his  cordial  support. 


IlOSIAH  LAWRENCE.  The  Law- 
k.  I  reuce  family  are  represented  among 
\^)  ihe  oldest  pioneers  of  Huron  county, 
having  been  for  many  years  prom- 
inently identihed  with  the  history  of  its 
development. 

Samuel  and  Hannah  (Dibble)  Lawrence 
were  natives  of  Connecticut,  where  tiiey 
were  reared  and  married.  In  June,  1804. 
they  removed  to  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y., 
and  there  passed  their  remaining  days  on 
a  farm,  where  lune  children — six  sons  and 
three  daughters — were  born.  Samuel  Law- 
rence was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  was  known  as  a  man 
of  sterling  worth.  He  died  when  about 
eighty-three  years  of  age.  Of  his  children, 
Timothy,  George  and  a  sister  are  men- 
tioned, the  latter  of  whom  is  now  residing 
on  the  old  home  farm  in  New  York. 

George  Lawrence,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Dibble)  Lawrence,  was  born,  in 
1805,  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
the  first  member  of  the  family  to  settle  in 
Huron  county,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of 
1831  he  was  married,  in  his  native  State, 
to  Rhodema  Smith,  and  the  succeeding 
autumn  came  via  Lake  Erie  to  Sandusky, 
thence  proceeding  to  Huron  county,  Ohio. 
He  bought  the  home  farm  in  Bronson 
township,  and  was  obliged  to  cut  a  road 
through  the  woods  before  he  could  get  to 
the  place,  which  was  cleared  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  son,  Miner.  The  father  gave 
his  pi'incipal  attention  to  carpentry,  until 
obliged  to  retire  from  active  life  as  old 
age  approached.  He  is  now  living  on  the 
home  farm  in  Bronson  township  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  He  reared  the 
following  children:  Minei,  born  in  1833, 
w'as  married  in  1865  to  Julia  Smith,  and 
is  now  living  on  the  home  farm  (tiiey  have 
liad  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter); Alonzo  E.,  born  in  1838,  was  married 
to  Jane  Herrick  (who  has  borne  him  one 
son),  and  is  a  prominent  farmer  of  Bron- 
son township;  Addison,  living  in  Califor- 
nia, and  Alice,  widow  of  Hubbard  Law- 
rence, living  in  Bronson  township. 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


515 


Timothy  Lawrence,  sou  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Dibble)  Lawrence,  was  horn  in 
1800,  in  Connecticut,  and  was  a  small  boy 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Cayuira  county, 
K.  Y.  After  attaining  his  majority  lie 
worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  about  twelve 
years.  In  1831  he  was  married  in  New 
York  to  Calista  Todd,  a  native  of  Tomp- 
kins county,  N.  Y.,  born  March  6,  1812. 
In  1833  he  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
and  bought  his  present  farm  of  112  acres, 
in  Lot  18,  Section  4,  Bronson  township, 
the  place  at  that  time  being  a  wild  piece 
of  heavily-wooded  land.  Here  he  resided 
the  remainder  of  his  life  with  the  excep 
tion  of  the  eight  years,  between  1868 
and  1876,  when  he  lived  in  Norwalk 
township.  In  personal  appearance  Tim- 
othy Lawrence  was  of  medium  size,  some- 
what below  the  average  height.  Politically 
he  was  originally  a  Whig  and  Abolition- 
ist, afterward  becoming  a  Republican,  and 
in  religious  belief  he  was  a  Presby- 
terian. He  died  January  30,  1882,  leaving 
a  widow  and  two  children — Josiah.  and 
Mrs.   Delia  L.  Curtis,  of  Calumet,  Mich. 


The  mother  is  yet  living  on  the  home  farm. 
Josiah  Lawrence,  son  of  Timothy  and 
Calista  (Todd)  Lawrence,  was  born  No- 
vemher  9,  1834,  on  tiie  home  farm  in 
Bronson  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
attended  the  common  schools,  and  from 
early  boyhood  has  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1867  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Alice  Newman,  a  native  of  In- 
diana, who  was  residing  in  Ohio  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  She  died  in  1870, 
leaving  two  children,  Eben  and  Mary,  and 
in  1871  Josiah  Lawrence  was  married  to 
Maggie  Baird,  born  in  Monroe  county, 
N.  Y.,  of  Scotch  parents.  She  died  in 
1878,  leaving  one  child,  Vina,  and  for  his 
third  wife  Mr.  Lawrence  married,  in  De- 
cember, 1879,  Nancy  liowland,  of  Clarks- 
fiekl,  Huron  county.  Since  1868  he  has 
had  full  charge  of  the  old  place,  upon 
which  he  carries  on  a  successful  business, 
and  has  added  thirty-eight  acres  to  the 
original  tract.  Politically,  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  in  various  local 
othces:  in  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


n 


uvjr 


I2TY, 


5<!i«,ft.^' 


VV    Jl. 


OLONEL  NAHUM 
^  BALL  GATES,  wlio 
for  more  than  fifty 
years  was  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  pros- 
^  perity  of  Elyria,  was 
born  in  St.  Albans, 
Vt.,  September  28, 
He  was  tiie  youngest 
twelve  children  of  Joini 
Abigail  (Ball)  Gates,  who 
in  1800  migrated  from  North- 
borough,  Mass.,  to  St.  Albans 
township,  Franklin  Co.,  Vt., 
where  they  followed  farming. 
Col.  N.  B.  Gates  received 
his  education  in  the  district 
his  native  town,  also  one  year 
Albans  Academy,  which  well  pre- 
him  for  teaching,  a  vocation  he 
followed  for  three  winters,  laboi-ing  on 
his  father's  farm  during  the  intervals.  In 
the  spring  of  1834,  being  violently  attacked 
with  M-hat  was  called  "Western  Fever," 
he  threw  down  his  axe  and  declared 
he  would  never  chop  another  stick  of 
wood  in  Vermont;  so  with  the  scanty 
means  his  parents  could  afibrd,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  came  to  Elyria, 
wliere  his  brother,  Horatio  N.  Gates,  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  business.  In  Sep- 
tember, same  year,  he  engaged  as  clerk  in 
his  brother's  store,  where  he  remained  till 


schools 
at  St. 
pared 


May,  1835,  at  which  time  he  went  to 
Cleveland,  Oliio.  While  there  the  ciiolera 
epidemic  broke  out,  but  it  in  no  way  drove 
him  away  from  the  place,  as  it  did  thou- 
sands of  others,  for  he  remained  at  his  post 
and  manfully  devoted  his  time  for  weeks 
in  attending  to  the  sick  and  dying,  and 
also  to  the  burying  of  the  dead.  These 
acts  of  humanity  were  characteristic  of 
him  all  through  his  life.  He  had  no  fear, 
and  upon  other  occasions,  when  smallpox 
and  other  scourges  afilicted  the  community, 
he  performed  similar  offices,  and  escaped 
all  contagion.  In  Cleveland  he  remained 
engaged  in  a  variety  of  pursuits  until  Sep- 
tember, 1834,  when  he  returned  to  Elyria, 
and  during  the  remainder  of  that  year  and 
part  of  1835  clerked  for  the  firm  of  Gates 
&  Green.  On  May  17,  1835,  our  subject 
went  to  Black  River  (now  Lorain),  in  Lo- 
rain county,  and  opened  a  general  store 
for  Gates  &  Green,  remaining  in  charge  of 
same  until  the  fall  of  1838,  when  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  removed 
into  the  town  of  Elyria.  "  From  1836  to 
1844  a  copartnership  had  existed  between 
himself  and  his  brother,  II.  N.  Gates,  in 
the  forwarding  and  commission  business 
at  Black  Eiver.  While  a  resident  of  that 
place  he  tilled  the  various  offices  of  con- 
stable, justice  of  the  peace  and  marshal. 
He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1838  because  of 
his  thorough  fitness  for  the  position ;  there 


520 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  much  public  excitement  in  that  year 
— banks  suspending  specie  payment,  and 
counterfeiters  springing  up  in  every  sec- 
tion— and  it  was  undoubtedly  due  to  Sher- 
iff Gates'  indomitable  courage  and  deter- 
mination that  Lorain  county  was  rid  of  all 
kinds  of  nefarious  characters. 

In  1840  Col.  Gates  was  an  ardent  Whig, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  memorable 
campaign  of  that  year.  Mounted  on  his 
famous  black  horse  "Bucephalus,"  he  led 
the  delegation  in  the  procession  from  Lo- 
rain county  to  the  imposing  grand  conven- 
tion held  upon  the  banks  of  the  Maumee 
river  on  June  11,  that  year.  In  Elyria  he 
built  a  sawmill,  sash,  door  and  blind  fac- 
tory, and  in  1843  he  put  up  an  ashery, 
which  he  operated  for  many  years.  In 
1843  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Elyria  for 
the  first  time,  and  served  many  succeeding 
terms,  though  not  coi\secutively.  In  1844 
he  embarked  in  general  mercantile  business 
in  Elyria,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  sold 
out.  In  1850  he  was  a  director  of  the  Lo- 
rain Plank  Road  Company,  and  for  many 
years  was  its  superintendent.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  president  of  Lorain  County 
Agricultural  Society,  and  gave  it  its  first 
permanent  footing.  In  1862  he  was  active 
in  the  Kepublicau  party,  and  a  member  of 
the  "Wide-awake  Club."  Same  year  he 
was  appointed  by  Abraham  Lincoln  col- 
lector of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Four- 
teenth District  of  Ohio,  in  which  office 
he  remained  till  removed  by  President 
Johnson. 

Indeed  it  may  be  truly  said  of  Col. 
Gates  that  his  life  in  Elyria  has  been  one 
of  constant  action.  His  code  of  morals 
may  be  inferred  from  the  following  scrip- 
tural quotation  found  among  his  papers — 
yellow  with  age — and  which  he  exemplified 
in  all  his  intercourse  with  his  fellows: 
"Pure  and  undefiled  religion  before  God, 
the  Father,  is  this:  To  visit  the  fatherless 
and  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep 
himself  unspotted  from  the  world." 

Col.  Gates  died  December  9,  1890;  all 
his  family  were  present  at  the  funeral  ser- 


vices except  his  daughter  Helen,  then  ab- 
sent in  New  York,  whose  health  prevented 
her  from  attending.  The  services  at  his 
late  residence  were  conducted  by  his  pas- 
tor. Rev.  E.  E.  Williams,  and  were  brief 
and  impressive.  The  ceremonies  at  the 
grave  were  performed  by  Elyria  Lodge 
No.  103,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  which  Col.  Gates 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  the  formation 
of,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the 
only  living  active  charter  member.  His 
son-in-law,  Rev.  T.  Y.  Gardner,  read  a  few 
extracts  from  a  paper  written  and  sealed 
by  deceased  on  his  birthday,  two  years  be- 
fore, in  whicli  he  briefiy  reviewed  the  past, 
and  gave  some  of  the  leading  principles 
which  had  been  the  guide  of  his  actions. 
To  give  a  more  detailed  history  of  our 
subject's  useful  and  busy  life  comes  not 
within  the  province  of  this  article;  suffice 
it,  that  he  was  possessed  of  those  sterling, 
solid  qualities  which  were  calculated  to 
give  him  prominence  in  his  newly-chosen 
field,  and  make  him  what  he  proved  to  be, 
one  of  Lorain  county's  leading  and  hon- 
ored citizens.  In  his  administration  of  his 
public  duties  he  was  brought  in  contact 
with  all  classes,  and  in  his  discharge  of 
those  duties,  while  his  aim  was  always  to 
maintain  a  high  standard  of  morality,  his 
kind  heart  never  failed  to  respond  when 
there  was  opportunity  for  leniency  or 
mercy.  He  will  long  be  remembered  by 
the  poor  for  his  many  acts  of  charity  and 
benevolence.  Being  a  positive  and  ag- 
gressive man,  his  position  on  all  public 
questions  was  never  a  doubtful  one,  and 
he  was  always  found  true  to  his  convic- 
tions, whether  religious,  political  or  other- 
wise. In  the  home  circle  he  was  a  great 
favorite.  His  geniality  and  his  rare  social 
qualities  made  him  ever  companionable. 
Although  for  months  clinging  to  life  by  a 
slender  thread,  baffling  disease  with  all  the 
force  of  his  great  will-power,  like  a  true 
philosopher  he  was  unconiplaining,  always 
hopeful,  always  better,  always  heroic,  as 
he  passed  down  the  line  to  the  gateway  of 
the  great  Unknown.     To  the  hearts  of  his 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


521 


family  wlio  ministered  to  In's  wants  he 
brought  only  sunsliine;  and  when  tiie  end 
came  it  was  as  calm  and  peaceful  as  the 
close  of  a  midsummer  day. 

On  May  12,  1841,  Col.  Gates  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  S.  Monteith, 
a  daughter  of  Eev.  John  Monteith,  form- 
erly professor  of  ancient  languages  in 
Hamilton  College.  She  survived  her  hus- 
band but  a  little  over  two  years,  dying  in 
New  York  City  from  the  result  of  an  ac- 
cident, April  18,  1893.  There  were  born 
from  this  marriage,  John  Quincy,  who 
died  early;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  AV. 
Wheeler,  of  Cleveland ;  Charlotte,  wife  of 
Rev.  T.  Y.  Gardner;  Mary  Ely,  who  died 
in  childhood;  Charles  Alexander,  of  Mas- 
sillon;  Helen  Gates,  of  Elyria;  William 
N.,  of  Cleveland,  and  Frederick  H.,  of 
Cleveland.  Mrs.  Gates  was  a  highly  edu- 
cated lady,  possessed  of  marked  cliaracter- 
isties,  a  leader  in  all  kinds  of  reform, 
Cimrcli  and  missionary  work,  strikingly 
non-partisan,  prominent  in  W.  C.  T.  U. 
■work,  and  withal  an  uncompromising  ad- 
vocate of  temperance.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gates 
lived  to  enjoy  nearly  fifty  years  of  marital 
felicity,  for  Mr.  Gates'  death  occurred  but 
live  mouths  prior  to  their  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  wedded  life.  They  lived  also  to 
see  four  of  their  children  married,  and 
born  of  them  twelve  grandchildren.  This 
large  family  periodically  held  their  family 
reunions,  and  the  old  homestead  at  such 
times  was  the  scene  of  rare  festivities. 

Rev.  John  Monteith"  was  born  August 
5,  1788,  at  Gettysburg,  Penn.  His  father, 
wlfose  parents  were  natives  of  Dundee, 
Scotland,  was  an  early  settler  in  the  wilds 
of  western  Pennsylvania,  where  the  son 
was  reared  in  a  life  of  industry  and  plain 
farmer's  toil.  His  mother  was  also  a 
native  of  Dundee,  Scotland,  and  from  this 
parentage  he  inherited  that  hardy  physical 
constitution,  and  those  sturdy  mental  and 
spiritual  traits  that  conspired  to  tit  him 
for  the  heroic  work  that  fell  to  his  hands 
as  a  pioneer,  and  a  lifelong  educator  and 
reformer.     He  graduated  at  Jefferson  Col- 


lege,  Penn.,  in  1813,  and  at  Princeton 
Theological  School  in  1810.  About  this 
time  an  invitation  was  extended  to  him 
'•  to  introduce  the  Gospel  into  the  Terri- 
tory of  IVfichigan,"  to  accept  which  offer 
he  declined  an  ap])ointment  as  professor 
in  a  Pennsylvania  college.  On  Sunday 
afternoon,  June  18,  1816,  he  preached  the 
first  English  sermon  that  had  ever  been 
pronounced  in  Michigan,  from  the  text 
Luke  ii,  10.  In  May,  1817,  Mr.  Monteith 
was  ordained  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  Dr.  Alexander  deliv- 
ering to  him  the  charge.  Returning  to 
Detroit  be  entered  upon  the  work  with 
characteristic  zeal,  industry  and  personal 
sacrifice.  He  organized  tiie  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Monroe,  and  preached  the  first 
Protestant  sermon  in  that  place.  The 
"University  of  Miciiigan,"  in  point  of  fact 
simply  a  school,  established  in  1817,  in  a 
great  measure  owed  its  birth  to  Mr.  Mon- 
teith, wiio  had  the  office  of  president  and 
no  less  than  six  professorships  conferred 
upon  him. 

On  June  7,  1820,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  Sophia  Granger,  of  Portage,  Ohio, 
who  died  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year, 
while  visiting  her  parents  in  Ohio.  In 
1821  he  married,  at  Nahor,  in  the  then 
wilds  of  northern  Ohio,  Miss  xVbigail 
Harris,  and  here  his  career  in  Detroit 
came  to  an  end.  From  that  point  he  re- 
moved to  New  York  State,  to  occupy  the 
Chair  of  ancient  languages  in  Hamilton 
College,  in  which  position  he  remained 
eight  years.  Tiien  for  several  years  he 
followed  academic  labors  at  Cambrid<>-e, 
N.  Y.,  and  at  Germantown,  Penn.,  after 
which,  in  1832,  he  came  to  Elyria,  Ohio. 
"  Here  was  the  evident  goal  of  his  provi- 
dential destiny.  He  bettered  the  town 
and  the  community  by  his  educational 
labors  and  lectures.  He  bettered  the 
Western  Reserve  l)y  joining  his  hand  with 
others  in  the  estal)lisliinent  of  churches^ 
and  Presbyteries,  and  colleges.''  He 
ijirded  on  the  armor  of  a  zealous  and  nn- 
compromising  anti-slavery  champion,  and 


522 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


fearlessly  and  conscientiously  fought  its 
battles.  '•  When  the  clash  of  arms  came, 
he  felt  that  the  beginning  of  the  end  was 
at  hand;  and  when  the  red  cloud  of  war 
passed  beyond  the  horizon,  he  felt  that  the 
ultimate  vision  of  liis  life  was  realized. 
*  *  *  His  joy  was  calm,  dignified  and 
silent." 

In  1845  Mr.  Monteith  again  resided  in 
Michigan,  ministering  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  good  people  of  Blissiield  and 
Monroe  until  1855,  in  whicli  year  he  re- 
turned to  Elyria,  where  lie  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  busy,  useful  life,  dying 
Api'il  5,  1868,  in  the  eighty-tirst  year  of 
his  age. 

Rev.  John  Monteith  was  a  fine  speci- 
men of  manly  physique;  he  was  si.x  feet 
tall,  straight  and  muscular,  his  povver  of 
endurance  being  transmitted  from  the 
Scottish  race  from  which  he  sprang.  As 
a  scholar  he  was  accurate  and  learned,  and 
though  the  scope  of  his  culture  was  not 
wide,  yet  in  the  ancient  languages  and  in 
French  his  proficiency  was  something  re- 
markable for  his  day.  Duty  was  the 
mainspring  of  all  his  actions,  and  fear- 
le-sly  he  performed  it,  as  witness  his  he- 
roic efforts  to  introduce  the  Gospel  into 
undeveloped  territories,  making  long, 
weary  and  ofttimes  hazardous  journeys  in 
the  prosecution  of  benevolent  work. 


I< 


f  ON.  JOEL  TIFFANY.  To  Hon. 
George  G.  Washburn,  of  Elyria,  the 
publishers  are  indebted  for  the  fol- 
lowing biographical  record  of  this 
deceased  gentleman,  who  "was  a 
most  original  genius,  and  one  of  the  in- 
veutive  creators  of  his  age." 

Mr.  Tiffany  was  a  native  of  Bai'kham- 
stead.  Conn.,  born  Septemljer  6,  1811,  and 
where  his  ancestors  lived  in  the  days  of  the 
Revolution.  They  being  Presbyterians, 
he  was  placed  in  college  in  1827  to  pre- 
pare him  for  the  ministry,  but,   preferring 


the  study  of  law,  he  in  1831  entered  the 
office  of  William  G.  Williams,  of  New 
Hartford,  Conn.,  as  a  law  student.  lu  the 
following  year  he  went  to  Ohio  on  a  visit 
to  a  brother  and  other  relatives,  and  was 
induced  to  make  Ohio  his  home,  which  he 
did,  first  locating  in  the  town  of  Medina. 
Here  he  resumed  the  study  of  law  tinder 
the  preceptorship  of  Charles  Olcott,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1834  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  commenced  practice.  In  the  spring 
of  1835  he  came  to  Elyria,  Lorain  county, 
and  entered  into  the  practice  of  law  with 
Horace  D.  Clark,  and  together  they  worked 
harmoniously — Mr.  Clark  preparing  the 
cases,  and  Mr.  Tiffany  trying  them  in  court. 
In  1848  he  removed  from  Elyria  to  Little 
Mountain,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  short 
time,  and  thence  to  New  York  City.  From 
1850  he  gave  up  all  other  business,  and 
devoted  bis  time  to  writing  and  speaking 
upon  the  subject  of  spiritualism  until 
1860,  when  he  went  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
engaging  there  in  legal  writings,  etc.,  and 
in  doing  what  he  could  in  suppressing  the 
Civil  War.  He  served  as  reporter  for  the 
court  of  appeals  for  several  years  with 
marked  distinction.  At  the  end  of  ten 
years  he  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  and  was 
actively  engaged  in  different  lines  of  busi- 
ness up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  whicii 
occurred  at  Hinsdale,  III.,  July  1,  1893, 
he  being  then  eighty-two  years  old. 

Mr.  Tiffany  was  not  only  a  lawyer  but 
also  an  inventor,  and  he  is,  probably,  most 
widely  known  for  his  invention  of  the 
Tiffany  Summer  and  Winter  Refrigerator 
car;  he  also  made,  through  his  inventive 
genius,  valuable  improvements  and  inven- 
tions in  machinery. 

Mr.  Tiffany  resided  in  Elyria  thirteen 
years,  during  the  prime  of  his  manhood, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  the 
greater  part  of  the  time.  He  served  as 
prosecuting  attorney  during  the  years 
1837-38-39,  and  in  1841  and  1845  each 
for  one  year.  As  a  lawyer,  and  especially 
as  an  eloquent  advocate,  he  had  no  su|ierior 
at  the  bar,  which   was  composed   of  strong 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


523 


men ;  and  had  he  devoted  his  great  natural 
abilities  to  the  practice  of  his  profession 
lie  would  have  attained  the  highest  dis- 
tinction at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench.  In 
the  trial  of  causes  he  was  aided  not  only 
by  a  remarkable  memory,  but  by  an  intui- 
tive perception  of  the  points  his  adversary 
would  make,  and  thus  was  ever  ready  to 
meet  them.  The  trials  which  gave  him 
most  distinction  were  the  noted  "counter- 
feiting cases,"  in  which  one  Cash,  whose 
testimony  was  important  to  the  prosecu- 
tion, was  shot  by  the  counterfeiters  be- 
cause he  turned  "  States  evidence,"  and 
was  brought  from  his  home  on  a  litter  to 
give  his  testimony.  In  these  cases,  which 
were  tried  in  1838-39,  Mr.  Tiffany  acted 
both  as  detective  and  prosecutor  with  con- 
summate ability,  regardless  of  the  threats 
against  his  life  that  came  from  unknown 
sources.  He  persisted  in  his  prosecutions, 
and  succeeded  in  breaking  up  an  extensive 
gang  of  counterfeiters  who  had  hitherto 
successfully  plied  their  vocation  in  this 
county  without  detection,  and  landed  four- 
teen of  tiiem  in  the  penitentiary.  He  was 
a  scholar  of  almost  unlimited  resources,  yet 
he  derived  little  pecuniary  aid  therefrom. 
His  inventive  genius  was  remarkable,  but 
it  took  the  direction  of  natural  science  and 
philosophy  rather  than  practical  mechan- 
ics, and  this,  near  the  close  of  his  life,  gave 
him  a  competence. 


/ 


HfON.  GEOKGE  G.  WASHBURN 
is  a  native  of  Orange,  Grafton  Co., 
N.  IL,  born  iS"ovember  24,  1S21. 
Plis  father,  Azel  Washburn,  de- 
scended from  the  Maine  branch  of 
the  Washburn  family,  and  his  mother, 
Elizabeth  Danforth,  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  her  ancestors  btiuir  ainon<£  the 
early  settlers  in  Londonderry,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcii  spent  his  early 
days  among  the   rugged  New  Hampshire 


hills,  with  his  parents  for  his  only  teacher, 
until  he  was  eleven  years  old,  when  the 
family  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Perry  township  (then  in  Geauga  county) 
where  for  three  years  he  had  the  benefit  of 
good  schools.  In  1885  they  removed  to 
Camden,  Lorain  county,  then  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  where  he  spent  most  of  the 
days  of  his  minority  in  the  laborious  work 
of  clearing  up  a  new  farm. 

By  the  aid  of  his  fatiier,  and  by  the  li<^ht 
of  the  log-cabin  fireplace,  he  ac(|uired  suf- 
ficient education  to  teach  school  in  the 
winter,  while  his  summers  were  spent  in 
farm  labor.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  abandoned  the  farm,  and  spent 
one  year  in  teaching  a  private  school  in 
Brandenburg,  Ky.  On  his  return  he  spent 
four  years  in  study  at  Oberlin  College, 
paying  his  way  by  labor  on  the  college 
farm,  and  by  teaching  duriug  the  winter 
months.  From  Oberlin  he  removed  to 
Elyria,  nine  miles  distant,  where  he  read 
law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Philemon  Bliss. 
He  w"as  admitted  to  practice  in  IS-iS,  and 
for  two  years  was  associated  with  Hon. 
Sylvester  Bagg,  who  subsequently  removed 
to  Iowa. 

Mr.  AVashburn  became  an  early  writer 
for  the  press,  and  on  the  removal  of  Judge 
Bag2  to  Iowa  he  assumed  cliartje  of  the 
Elyria  Courier,  the  organ  of  the  then 
Whig  party,  which  soon  became  recog- 
nized as  an  influential  factor  in  moulding 
public  sentiment.  He  soon  abandoned  all 
other  pursuits,  and  for  forty-two  years  con- 
ducted tiiat  journal  and  its  successors — 
the  Independent  Democrat  and  the  Elyria 
Republican — as  the  sole  proprietor,  editor 
and  manager.  For  many  years  lie  de- 
clined all  political  prefermeut,  but  served 
during  this  period  as  member  of  the 
board  of  .school  examiners  for  the 
county,  member  of  the  Elyria  council,  and 
for  six  years  as  president  of  the  board  of 
education.  lie  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Uennison,  and  served  during  the  war  as 
secretary  of  the  military  committee  for 
Lorain  county,  the  duties  of  which   often 


524 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


led  him  to  visit  the  battle-fields  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  aid  in  caring  for  the  wounded 
soldiers.  He  lias  been  connected  with  the 
Lorain  Bank  in  Elyria,  and  its  successor, 
the  National  Bank  of  Elyria,  as  one  of  its 
board  of  directors  for  thirty-four  years. 

In  1888  he  consented  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  General  Assembly,  as  the 
representative  for  Lorain  county,  and  served 
four  years  with  credit  to  himself  and  his 
intelligent  constituency.  He  then  declined 
further  political  service,  and  resumed  liis 
journalistic  duties,  but  was  soon  afterward 
commissioned  by  the  Governor  as  one  of 
the  board  of  managers  of  the  Ohio  State 
Reformatory,  wliich  he  had  been  active  in 
establishing  while  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, and  wliicli  position  he  now  holds.  In 
September,  1891,  he  sold  the  entire  plant 
of  the  Elyria  Repnhlican,  which  he  had 
conducted  with  marked  success  for  so  many 
years,  and  is  now  devoting  his  time  chiefly 
to  the  reformatory  movements  of  the  day. 
His  long  connection  with  the  State  and 
National  Press  Associations,  and  services 
as  a  legislator,  have  jj;iven  him  an  exten- 
sive acquaintance  with  men  prominent  in 
politics  and  journalism  in  both  the  State 
and  Nation. 


EILY    FAMILY.       Among    the    firSt 
land    proprietors   of    what    is    now 
]   Lorain    county,    Ohio,    was    Justin 

Ely,  of  West  Springfield,  Mass.,  a 
very  extensive  dealer  in  real  estate,  aiid 
one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  wliat  was 
then  known  as  "  The  Connecticut  Western 
Reserve,"  in  Ohio,  under  the  Connecticut 
Land  Company. 

Hon.  Heman  Ely,  fourth  in. the  family 
of  Justin  Ely,  and  who  succeeded  to  his 
father's  estate  in  what  is  now  Lorain 
county,  was  also  a  native  of  West  Spring- 
field. Mass.,  born  April  24,  1775.  He 
was  a  linguist  of  ability,  and  a  traveler  of 
no  small  experience,  having  visited,  prior 


to  1810,  many  of  the  leading  places  of  in- 
terest in  Europe.  In  that  year  he  returned 
to  America,  and  in  1811  came  west  as  far 
as  Cleveland,  Ohio,  with  the  view  of  open- 
ing up  for  settlement  the  land  owned  by 
his  father,  tlien  known  as  "No.  6,  Ranee 
17,  Connecticut  Western  Reserve."  The 
impending  war  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  however,  made  it  an 
inauspicious  time  for  coloiiization,  and 
Mr.  Ely  returned  to  his  New  England 
home. 

In  1816,  ])eace  being  now  concluded  be- 
tween the  two  countries,  he  atrain  ventured 
west,  and  immediately  commenced  opera- 
tions for  the  development  of  his  forest- 
covered  land,  contracting  for  the  building 
of  the  first  house  that  marked  the  spot 
whereon  now  stands  the  prosperous  city  of 
Elyria,  together  with  a  gristmill  and  saw- 
mill. Having  accomplished  so  much,  he 
returned  to  West  Springfield,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1817,  finally  left  for  his  new  western 
home,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  the  development  of  its  resources, 
and  the  converting  of  the  wild  forest  into 
prosperous  farms,  villages  and  towns.  He 
erected  several  houses,  including  the  one 
in  which  his  son,  Heman,  now  lives,  in 
Elyria.  The  town  was  laid  out  by  him  in 
its  present  form,  and  bears  his  name,  as 
also  the  township.  On  the  formation  of 
the  county  in  182-1,  he  named  it  Lorain, 
from  Loraine,  in  France,  in  which  prov- 
ince he  spent  some  time  while  in  Europe, 
and  with  which  beautiful  spot  he  was 
much  delighted.  He  was  also  the  founder 
of  the  educational,  religious  and  other  pub- 
lic institutions  of  Elyria,  giving  liberally 
of  his  means,  and  his  name  is  still  revered 
by  the  many  descendants  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Elyria.  He  passed  from  earth 
February  2.  1852. 

Heman  Ely,  Jk.,  was  born  October  30, 
1820,  in  Elyria.  Ohio,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  "Elyria  High  School,"  and 
at  Farmington,  Conn.  In  his  father's 
office  he  acquired  a  thorough  training  and 
insight  into  the  real-estate  business,  which 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


527 


he  followed  for  many  years  with  much  suc- 
cess. Like  his  father,  but  further  in  the  ad- 
vaiiceiiieiit  of  the  county,  Mr.  Ely  lias  iden- 
tified himself  vvith  many  of  the  leading 
institutions  of  Elyria,  prominent  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  Lorain  Bank 
(establisheil  in  1847);  the  First  National 
Bank  (organized  in  18G4:  from  the  J^orain 
Bank),  and  the  National  Bank  of  Elyria 
(organized  in  1883  from  the  First  National 
Bank),  in  which  several  institutions  he  has 
been  director,  vice-president  and  president, 
in  which  latter  capacity  he  is  at  present 
serving  in  the  last  named  organization.  In 
1852,  in  connection  with  others,  he  secured 
tiie  building  of  that  section  of  tiie  Lake 
Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad, 
then  known  as  the  "Junction  Road,"  from 
Cleveland  to  Toledo.  From  1870  to  187.? 
he  served  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  as- 
sisted in  molding  the  present  insurance 
laws  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 

On  September  1,  1841,  Heman  Ely  and 
Miss  Mary  Harris  Monteith,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  and  i\l)igail  Harris  Monteith, 
were  united  in  marriage,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Celia  Belden, 
George  H.  and  Mary  Monteith.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  Elyria 
March  1,  1849,  and  May  27,  1850,  Mr. 
Ely  married,  for  his  second  wife.  Miss  Mary 
F.  Day,  daughter  of  Hon.  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (Coit)  Day,  of  Hartford,  Conn. 
Four  children  were  born  to  this  marriage, 
namely:  Edith  Day,  Charles  Theodore, 
Albert  Heman  and  Ilarriette  Putnam.  Mr. 
Ely  is  prominent  in  social  life,  as  follows: 
Has  been  an  active  member  of  the  F.  &  A. 
Masons  since  1852;  from  1858  to  1871  he 
was  worshipful  master  of  King  Solomon 
Lodge  No.  56  of  Elyria;  received  the 
orders  of  Knighthood  in  Oriental  Com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templars  No.  12  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1857,  of  wliich  he  was 
Eminent  Commander  from  Deceml)er,18Gl, 
to  December,  18G5,  and  from  1864  to  1871 
he  was  grand  commander  of  tlie  (irand 
Commandery,  Knights  Templars  of  Ohio. 
He    is  an   active  member  of  the  supreme 

29 


council  of  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite 
for  the  Northern  Masonic  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  was  treas- 
urer of  same  from  May,  1867,  to  September, 
1891.  In  matters  of  religion  be  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Elyria  since  183S,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  one  of  its  officers,  about  ten 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  gentleman  much  respected  in  the 
community  for  his  moral  worth  and  his 
many  unassuming  charitable  deeds. 


I|0HN  W.  HULBERT,  cashier  of  the 
V.  I  National  Bank  of  lilyria,  was  born  in 
O  Old  Chatham,  Columbia  Co.,  IST.  Y., 
April  1,  1827. 

His  ancestor  on  the  father's  side  settled 
in  Connecticut  in  1630.  His  great-grand- 
father and  grand fatlier  both  served  in  the 
Revolution,  the  former  in  the  capacity  of 
surgeon.  Grandfather  Ilulbert  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  removed  to  western  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  thence  to  Canaan,  N".  Y., 
where  iiis  son,  Philip,  father  of  John  W., 
was  born.  He,  Philip,  was  born  April  16, 
1799,  and  died  March  27,  1881.  He  set- 
tled in  Old  Chatham,  and  followed  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner  until  1837, 
when  he  bought  an  iron  foundi-y,  which 
with  a  plow-factory  he  carried  on  till  his 
death.  On  September  1,  1824,  lie  married 
Abigail  Smith,  born  August  26, 1797,  died 
May  8.  1840,  and  eight  children  were  born 
to  them,  to  wit:  Harriet  Elizabeth,  John 
W.,  Geo.  B.,  Chas.  W.,  Seymour  C,  Mary 
I.,  Henry  B.,  and  Samuel  C. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Chat- 
ham, and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  went  to  New 
York  City,  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  house. 
He  came  to  Elyria  in  September,  1847, 
under  engagement  in  the  large  general 
store  of  Kendall  ct  Mussey,  with  whom  he 
remained  till  1853,  when  ho  was  appointed 


528 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


teller  of  tlie  Lorain  Branch  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Ohio.  In  January,  1856,  he  was 
elected  cashier,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
remained  through  its  re-organizations  in 
1864  and  1883,  being  upwards  of  forty 
years  of  continuous  service. 

Mr.  Hulbert  was  united  in  marriage, 
January  1,  1857,  with  MissEllen  N.Wood 
(daughter  of  Taber  Wood  and  Almira  his 
wife),  who  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  Mass., 
May  4,  1832,  and  died  December  6,  1889, 
leaving  two  daughters.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hulbert  was  a  Democrat  until  1853,  when 
he  became  a  FreeSoiler  (afterward  a  Re- 
publican). He  was  made  a  Mason  in  King 
Solomon  Lodge  No.  56,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in 
March,  1851,  a  R.  A.  M.  in  October,  1851; 
and  a  Knight  Templar  in  Oriental  Com- 
mandery  No.  12,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1855, 
to  which  organizations  he  still  belongs.  He 
was  Master  of  his  Lodge  from  1853  to 
1859;  M.  E.  H.  P.  of  the  Chapter  from 
1853  to  1883.  Mr.  Hulbert  is  a  member 
and  trustee  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church,  where  for  sixteen  years  he  led  the 
church  choir. 


E 


R.  HOLIDAY,  M.  D.,  Wellington, 
was  born  March  27,  1843,  a  son  of 
J  Lorton  and  Huldah  Matilda  (Gates) 
Holiday. 
Amos  Holiday,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  is  believed  to  have  been  born 
in  Vermont.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Re- 
volution, however,  he  was  living  in  Gran- 
by,  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  and  with  his 
three  brothers  served  during  that  war  in 
the  Colonial  army,  enlistinsf  and  aoincrout 
in  a  company  raised  m  what  was  known 
as  "Salmon  Brook  Street"  in  or  near 
Granby.  One  of  the  brothers  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  was  either  killed  or  perished 
in  prison,  as  he  was  never  heard  of  after  by 
his  friends.  After  the  war  Amos  again 
returned  and  lived  at  Granby  until  1800. 
In  that  year,  in  January,  his  son  Jonathan, 


who  was  born  in  Granby  in  1776,  married 
Bethesda  Holcomb,  also  a  resident  of 
Granby,  born  there  June  22,  1879.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year  these  three  and  a  bro- 
ther of  Amos,  named  Azariah,  emigrated 
to  Ponipey,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
were  born  to  Jonathan  and  Betiiesda  Holi- 
day the  following  children:  Hiram,  Lorton, 
Rowena,  Milton,  Eno  and  Arley — four 
sons  and  two  daughters.  During  the  stay 
in  Pompey,  Jonathan  Holiday  was  twice 
called  out  in  defense  of  the  State  and  coun- 
try in  the  war  of  1812,  and  served  at 
Sacket's  Harbor,  Sodus  Point  and  other 
places  along  the  border.  After  the  chil- 
dren had  become  somewhat  grown,  they 
removed  to  near  Bath,  in  Steuben  county, 
where  they  lived  until  1828,  when  the 
grandfather  of  E.  R.  and  four  of  his  chil- 
dren— Lorton,  Eno,  Rowena  and  Arley — 
removed  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  the  rest 
of  the  family  remaining  about  Balh  and 
Hornellsville,  where  their  descendants  now 
live.  Amos  Holiday  was  a  pensioner  of 
the  Revolution,  and  lived  to  the  remark- 
able age  of  one  hundred  and  nine  years  and 
eleven  months,  dying  in  Steuben.  Jona- 
than Holiday  died  in  Hartland,  Huron 
county,  in  1845;  his  wife,  Bethesda,  died 
in  the  same  place  February  22,  1859. 

Lorton  Holiday,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Pompey  August  27, 
1804.  Here  and  in  Steuben  he  acquired 
a  fair  education  in  the  branches  taught  in 
those  times  and  places,  and  on  arriving  in 
Ohio  taught  school  for  a  time.  Marrying 
in  1830,  lie  soon  after  began  hotel  keeping 
in  New  London,  in  what  was  known  as 
the  "  Asher  House."  Here  E.  R.  was 
born.  The  other  children  of  this  marriage 
were  as  follows:  (1)  Huldah  M.,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1831,  is  now  the  wife  of  Hosea 
M.  Hood,  and  resides  in  Hartland,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio. 

(2)  Henry  M.,  born  March  3,  1833,  who 
ran  away  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  went  to  sea, 
and  was  a  sailor  for  two  or  three  years, 
but  finally,  through  the  influence  of  his 
captain,  returned  to  shore  life  and   books; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


529 


graduated  from  Thetford  Academy,  Ver- 
mont, tlien  wedding  Miss  Louise  Jane 
Coombs,  of  tliat  plaee,  tiiey  went  South 
and  taufflit  schools  in  Georgia  and  Ala- 
bama until  the  trouble  about  slavery  and 
secession  grew  so  fiente  thev  were  requested 
to  leave,  which  tliey  did  in  1859;  CDming 
nortii  he  studied  theology  at  Walnut  Hills, 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  then  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  from  which  place  he  'went  to  St. 
Johnsbury  Center,  Vt.,  where  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  that  place.  From  here  he  went  to  Tol- 
land, Conn.,  as  pastor  of  a  church  there; 
thence  he  went  to  Alma,  Mich.,  finally  to 
Olivet,  Eaton  county,  where  he  died  July 
31,  1888,  of  typhoid  fever;  his  wife  died 
about  a  month  later  of  same  disease,  leav- 
ing three  children:  Nina,  Winifred  and 
Charles. 

(3)  Charles  B.,  born  November  11,  1834, 
was  an  attorney  of  St.  John's,  Mich.;  en- 
listed in  the  Eighth  Michigan  Infantry  as 
lieutenant,  and  died  off  Port  Kuyal,  Oc- 
tober 5,  1861,  of  typhoid,  on  board  ship, 
and  was  buried  at  sea. 

(4)  Lenora  J.,  born  July  8,  1838;  mar- 
ried Alonzo  Hood,  and  lives  at  Alma, 
Mich.  They  have  one  daughter  living — 
M.  Louise  Hood. 

(5)  George  G.,  born  March  31,  1840, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  servintr  three 
years;  he  married  Miss  Chloe  Garget,  and 
they  have  two  daughters;  he   is  a  farmer. 

H.  M.  (Gates)  Holiday,  mother  of  E.  R., 
was  born  December  8,  1812;  died  April 
18,  1843;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Gross 
Gates  (born  February  4,  1789,  died  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1841)  and  Abigail  (Ames)  Gates 
(born  September  22,  1794,  died  June  13, 
1836);  they  died  and  were  buried  in 
Ruggles,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio.  Gross  Gates 
served  in  the  "  war  of  1812." 

Lorton  Holiday,  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  continued  in  the  hotel  business  for  a 
few  years,  when,  his  children  having  found 
homes  (?)  with  friends  and  relatives,  he 
went  into  the  new  State  of  Michigan, 
working  at  gunsmithing  and  trading  with 


the  Indians,  among  whom  he  was  often 
styled — on  account  of  his  black  eyes, 
swart  complexion  and  heavy  black  beard — 
"  Black  Hawk."  Ho  was  a  man  of  splen- 
did physical  proportions,  si.x  feet  two 
inches  in  his  stocking  feet,  and  as  lithe  as 
a  pantluM-.  He  was  on  friendly  terms 
always  with  the  Indians,  and  after  settling 
down  at  Alma,  they  always  camped  upon 
his  land  if  their  rovings  brought  them  in 
the  neighborhood,  knowing  they  were  wel- 
come. He  lived  at  Alma,  Gratiot  Co., 
Mich.,  before  the  township  was  organized 
as  a  township,  keeping  a  sort  of'" pioneer 
hotel."  He  was  postmaster  in  that  place 
under  Buchanan.  He  died  of  pneumonia 
April  25,  1870. 

Edwin  R.,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  on  the  death  of  the  mother  was 
taken  and  cared  for  by  Helen  M.,  a  sister 
of  the  dead  mother,  and  wife  of  Eno  Holi- 
day, a  brother  of  the  father.  Here  he 
lived  on  a  farm  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  when,  on  the  5th  of  September, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Third  Regiment 
Ohio  Vol.  Cavalry,  and  served  with  that 
organization  throughout  the  war,  being 
discharged  from  the  service  August  14, 
1865;  veteranizing  in  January,  1864,  was 
discharged  as  sergeant;  was  at  Savannah 
during  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Lamliug,  as 
cavalry  was  useless,  and  there  was  enough 
to  do  the  work  anyhow;  was  in  the  Stone 
River  engagement  at  Chattanooga;  at 
Kenesaw;  Atlanta;  on  the  Wilson  raid 
from  Eastport,  Tenn.,  to  Macon,  Ga., 
where  they  first  learned  of  the  surrender 
of  Lee  and  the  death  of  Lincoln;  and  last 
(but  not  least  to  him)  had  charge  of  twen- 
ty-five men  from  his  company,  which,  with 
the  regiment  or  a  part  of  it,  went  in  pur- 
suit of  Jefferson  Davis,  but  was  too  far  in 
advance,  however  (eight  miles),  of  that 
anomaly  to  be  in  at  the  capture,  but  saw 
him  in  the  ambulance  on   the  return  trip. 

After  the  war  our  subject  returned  home 
on  a  Saturday,  and  the  following  Monday 
morning  started  for  school  at  Alilan,  Erie 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  took  one  term;  taught 


530 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


school  the  winter  following,  and  in  the 
spring  wejit  to  reside  with  his  brother 
Henry  in  Vermont,  where  he  took  private 
instructions  until  the  following  winter, 
when  he  began  the  term  of  lectures  at  his 
Alma  Mater,  the  medical  department  of 
"Western  Keserve  College,  from  wliich  in- 
stitution he  graduated  in  February,  1871. 
For  a  time  he  practiced  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State,  and  in  Michigan. 

On  January  5,  1878,  the  JJoctor  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  B.  Peet,  of  Brighton,  Lo- 
rain  Co.,  Ohio,  who  was  born  in  that  place 
December  1,  1856.  He  located  in  Ciarks- 
tield,  Huron  county,  where  he  practiced 
for  eight  years,  and  twice  was  elected 
coi'oner  of  the  county.  In  this  place  were 
born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Holiday  three  chil- 
dren: Lorton  E.,  born  November  24,  1878; 
Malcolm  P.,  born  February  26,  1882,  and 
Bertha  Gates,  born  DeceTuber  12,  1884. 
In  April,  1887,  the  Doctor  removed  to 
AVellington,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
has  since  practiced  his  profession. 


H\  ON.  JUDGE  LAERTES  B.  SMITH, 
a  prominent,  well-known   jurist  of 
_[    Lorain  county,  attorney   at  law  and 
•fj  justice  of  tiie  peace,  with  residence 

in  Elyria,  was  born  in  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  September 
21.  1830.  He  comes  of  an  old  New  Eng- 
land family  of  Puritan   descent. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Chiliab  Smith, 
was  born  in  Connecticut  November  11, 
1765,  and  died  in  1840.  Prior  to  coming 
to  Ohio  he  lived  many  years  in  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  and  was  there  married  to 
Nancy  Marshall,  who  was  born  January 
19,  1765,  and  died  December  5,  1824.  In 
1814  they  immigrated  to  Lorain  county, 
the  trip  being  made  with  ox  wagons;  aiid 
it  took  them  five  days  to  cut  a  road  from 
the  present  site  of  Elyria  through  the 
woods  to  what  afterward  became  Amherst 
township    (for   it    was   not  organized  till 


April,  1817),  where  they  arrived  October 
16,  1814.  Here  they  settled  upon  land 
for  which  grandfather  Sinitli  had  traded 
property  in  the  East  to  the  Connecticut 
Land  Company.  He  was  by  trade  a  tailor, 
at  which  he  worked  in  his  new  home  dur- 
ing intervals  in  his  farm  work,  as  oppor- 
tunity ottered.  As  an  exhorter  in  the  M.  E. 
Ciiurch,  he  held  frequent  meetings  in 
the  neighborhood  of  his  hoine  and  in  his 
own  house.  When  old  age  came  upon 
him  he  turned  his  farm  over  to  his  chil- 
dren, who  also  inherited  the  good  name 
of  one  of  the  best  known  and  earliest  of 
the  pioneers.  He  had  settled  on  Little 
Beaver  creek,  four  miles  west  of  where  is 
now  Elyria,  and  opened  the  first  tavern  in 
that  vicinity.  / 

David  Smith,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
in  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  March  20, 
1797,  and  came  to  Lorain  county  along 
with  his  father.  In  1824  he  raiirried  a 
Miss  Fannie  Barnes,  also  a  native  of  Berk- 
shire county,  born  December  23, 1802,  and 
nine  children  were  born  of  this  union,  six 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  Laertes  B.  be- 
ing the  third  in  the  order  -of  birth.  The 
father  died  April  30,  1861,  the  mother 
Aixgust  6,  1888.  In  religion  she  was  a 
Presbyterian,  attending  the  Church  of  that 
denomination  in  Elyi-ia  till  1840.  In  poli- 
tics David  Smith  was  a  Democrat,  and  he 
was  a  quiet,  unostentatious  inan. 

Laertes  B.  Smitii,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  received  his  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  left  his 
father's  farm  to  learn  the  trade  of  harness 
maker,  at  which  he  worked  till  he  was 
about  twenty-five  years  old.  He  then  en- 
tered a  hardware  store  at  La  Porte,  Ind., 
where  he  remained  some  five  years,  or  un- 
til 1858,  in  which  year  he  returned  to 
Lorain  county,  and  commenced  the  study 
of  law  with  Vincent  &  Sheldon,  Elyria.  In 
1860  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  with  whom  he 
had  learned  his  profession,  and  within  the 
first  year,  Mr.  Vincent  retiring,  Mr.  Shel- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


531 


don  and  Mr.  Smith  formed  a  new  partner- 
ship; but  the  Civil  war  breaking  out,  the 
senior  partner  went  into  the  army  in  1861, 
and  in  the  following  year  our  subject  be- 
came a  partner  with  Judge  W.  W.  Boyn- 
ton,  which  copartnership  lasted  some  three 
or  four  years.  In  June,  1871,  he  was 
appointed  probate  judge  of  Lorain  county, 
to  till  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  John  W.  Steele,  and  continued  in 
the  office,  by  re  election,  till  February, 
1882,  since  when  he  has  been  acting  jus- 
tice of  the  peace. 

On  December  26,  1871,  Judge  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet  Smyth,  of  Ontario  county,  N.  1  ., 
and  live  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
namely:  Fannie,  Clara  Louise,  Frank 
Carleton,  Gertrude  and  Leroy.  Politically 
Judge  Smith  was  a  Democrat  till  the 
breaking  out  of  tiie  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
since  when  lie  has  been  a  Republican. 


EV.  MATTHEW  L.  STARR,  re- 
tired, was  born  April  4,  1809,  in 
Jefferson  township,  Schoharie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Talcott  and  Mary 
(Lindsley)  StaYr,  whocame  to  Lorain 
county  in  184U,  and  here  died. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
elementary  education  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  native  place,  supplemented 
with  a  three-years'  course  at  an  academy, 
and  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm. 
Having  decided  to  devote  his  life  to  the 
ministry,  lie,  after  marriage,  prepared 
himself  for  the  work,  attending  a  Theo- 
logical school  in  his  native  State.  Having 
duly  qualified,  he  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon in  Jefferson,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
taking  for  his  text  the  words:  "Behold! 
I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock."  For 
three  years  after  his  marriage  he  contin- 
ued to  live  on  liis  father's  farm,  at  tlie 
same  time  following  his  duties  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  then  trav- 


eled four  years  in  the  New  York  Confer- 
ence. Removing  to  Massachusetts,  he 
was  associated  witli  the  Great  Barrington 
(Berkshire  county)  Conference  for  a  time; 
from  there  was  transferred  to  Bloomfield, 
Conn.,  thence  to  Colebrook,  same  State. 
In  1838  he  received  a  transfer  to  the 
Michigan  Conference,  at  that  time  em- 
bracing the  portion  of  Ohio  wherein 
Lorain  county  lies,  to  reach  wiiich  he  and 
his  wife  had  to  drive  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
thence  proceed  by  lake  to  Cleveland,  and 
then  take  stage  for  Elyria.  From  Elyria 
to  Pentield  township  they  came  by  a  con- 
veyance driven  by  Orrin  Starr,  a  pioneer 
of  that  township,  and  at  his  home  our 
travelers  matle  their  first  sojourn  in  Ohio. 

The  reason  of  Rev.  and  iVIrs.  Starr  pre- 
ferrinj;  to  come  to  Lorain  county,  was  on 
account  of  her  parents,  William  L.  and 
Aurilla  (Lindsley)  Hayes,  having  made  a 
settlement  in  Pentield  township.  Mr. 
Starr  was  on  the  Elyria  circuit  two  years, 
durincr  which  time  his  home  was  at  La- 
Porte.  Lorain  county;  thence  moved  to 
Medina,  then  to  the  Wellington  circuit, 
after  which  he  was  stationed,  respectively, 
at  TifBn,  Sidney,  Bellefontaine  and  Lima 
(all  in  Ohio),  from  which  latter  place  he 
returned  to  Penfield  township.  After 
four  or  five  years  rest  and  relaxation,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  built  a  comfortable 
residence  on  his  farm  in  that  township, 
and  moved  therein  (he  had  purchased  this 
property  before  coming  to  Ohio),  he  pro- 
ceeded, at  the  earnest  request  of  their 
friends,  to  LaPorte;  from  there  went  to 
Richfield  (Summit  county),  thence  to  Co- 
lum!)ia  (Lorain  county),  and  from  there  to 
Hayesville  (Ashland  county) — aggregat- 
ing, from  the  date  of  his  first  sermon,  a 
half  century  of  active  life  in  the  ministry 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  is  now 
superannuated,  preaching  only  an  occa- 
sional funeral  sermon. 

On  March  3,  1831,  Mr.  Starr  married  in 
Delaware  county,  N.  Y,  Miss  Sarah  Hayes, 
born  in  New  Canaan, Conn.,  and  to  tills  union 
were   born   children,  as   follows:   Alta  M., 


532 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wlio  (lied,  unmarried,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one;  Sarali  M.,  who  died  iiiiinarried  at  the_ 
arje  of  twenty-three;  Elbert  A.,  a  farmer 
of  Penlield  township;  Wilbur  F.,  who  died 
when  five  years  old;  Watson  F.,  a  livery- 
man, of  Mackinaw  Island,  Mich.;  Mary  I., 
Mrs.  William  Sheldon,  of  Kansas;  and 
Irviiif:^,  a  farmer  of  Pentiehl  township. 
Mr.  Starr,  in  Ins  political  preferences,  was 
for  many  years  a  stanch  Republican,  but 
of  late  lias  been  an  uncompromising  Pro- 
hibitionist, not  only  in  theory  Init  in  prac- 
tice, for  never  in  his  long  life  has  ho  tasted 
either  liquor  or  tobacco.  He  and  his 
faithful  wife,  now  in  the  sixty-third  year 
of  their  married  life,  are  hand  in  hand 
descending  the  hill  toward  the  golden  sun- 
set, wearing  well  their  years  of  honored 
and  useful  lives,  and  enjoying  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  On 
October  23,  1893,  Mrs.  Starr  received  a 
shock  which  affected  her  right  side,  and  on 
January  4,  1894,  she  fell,  injuring  her  hip 
on  the  same  side. 


LANSON  GILLMORE.  Tiiis  hon- 
ored old  pioneer  of  Lorain  county 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice 
in  this  volume,  were  it  only  for  his 
continuous  residence  here  of  over 
fourscore  years,  in  that  period  witnessing 
the  transformation  of  forests  wild  into 
fields  of  golden  grain;  and  the  time  of  the 
old  postboy  and  stage-coach  giving  place 
to  the  era  of  steam  and  electricity. 

Mr.  Gillmore  was  born  in  April,  1805, 
in  Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  seventh  in 
the  family  and  the  only  survivor  of  eio-ht 
children  born  to  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
(Stewart)  Gillmore,  both  also  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  In  1812  they  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  the  journey  from  Hampshire 
county,  Mass.,  being  made  overland  with 
teams,  and  occupying  thirty  days.  They 
located  on  land  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
two    miles    west   of  the   mouth  of  Black 


river.  Here  they  opened  out  a  farm,  on 
which  they  passed  the  rest  of  their  busy 
lives.  The  mother  died  in  February,  1844, 
the  father  on  April  9,  184(3.  He  was  a 
strong  John  Quincy  Adams  man,  also  a 
supporter  of  John  Adams;  in  his  later  life 
he  was  a  Democrat. 

Alanson  Gillmore  was  seven  years  old 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Lorain 
county,  and  he  was  reared  ou  the  shore  t)f 
Lake  Erie,  his  education  being  received  at 
the  primitive  schools  of  those  early  days. 
When  the  family  first  came  here,  they 
killed  game  in  abundance  in  what  is  now 
Black  River  township.  Our  subject  dis- 
tinctly remembers  Perry's  victory  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  the  firing  at  the  time  of  Hull's 
surrendering  of  Detroit  to  the  Canadian 
militia.  Till  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
aee  he  woi'ked  on  a  farm,  and  then  went 
into  a  shipyard  with  Capt.  Augustus  Jones, 
of  the  sloop  "  William  Tell."  For  over 
thirty  years  he  was  employed  as  a  siiip 
builder,  working  chiefly  in  the  principal 
cities  along  the  lakes. 

On  February  23,  1833,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Evaline  C.  Junes,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, whose  half-brother  came  to  Lo- 
rain, Ohio,  in  1818.  To  this  union  were 
born  five  children  (all  yet  living  except 
one),  as  follows:  Adelaide  E.,  wile  of  Ed- 
mund Gillmore,  of  Lorain;  Simon  A.,  mar- 
ried, and  living  in  Lorain;  Joel  M.,  a 
seafaring  man,  drowned  in  Lake  Michigan 
July  2,  1886;  Byron  A.,  residing  in  Lo- 
rain, and  Fannie,  wife  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Wilford,  also  of  Lorain.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  on  the  farm  on  Lake  Erie, 
October  5,  1850,  and  February  10,  1859, 
Mr.  Gillmore  married  Emma  Lynch.  She 
died  in  1863,  and  June  5,  1865,  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage,  in  Dodge 
county.  Wis.,  with  Mrs.  Sarah  Mantoe,  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Mary  (Barron)  Burnham, 
who  in  an  early  day  migrated  t"  Michigan, 
thence  to  Wisconsin  at  the  time  it  was  a 
territory.  This  Mrs.  Gillmore  had  been 
twice  married  before   her   union   with  our 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


533 


Buhject,  first  time  to  Mr.  A.  Bankson,  by 
whom  slie  liad  two  daughters,  viz.:  Louisa, 
wife  of  William  Cross,  of  Fairmount, 
Minn.;  and  Jennie,  widow  of  William 
Washington  Peaiiiek.  By  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Man  toe  she  had  one  son:  George 
Arthur,  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  foreman  in 
a  bonded  warehouse.  Durinjr  the  Revolu- 
tion Grandl'atiier  Jonathan  Barron  served 
as  an  aid-de-camp  to  his  father  Gen.  Bar- 
ron. Jonathan  Barron  married  a  Miss 
Minor. 

In  politics  our  subject  was  originally  a 
Whig,  and  since  the  formation  of  the  party 
has  been  a  strong  Republican;  he  has 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  (two  terms) 
and  township  assessor.  In  matters  of  re- 
ligion he  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple 
Church. 


Li 


EVI   MORSE.     Among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Lorain  county,  none 
is    more  notable    than   this    gentle 
man,   who  is  a     trustee    of    Elyria 
township. 

Mr.  Morse  is  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  in  Prospect,  New  Haven  county,  July 
1, 1812,  a  son  of  Lent  and  Lydia  (X^oolittle) 
Morse,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Cheshire,  New  Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  followed 
farming,  and  died  at  the  age  of  si.xty-seveu 
years;  he  was  descended  from  one  of  three 
brothers  who  came  from  England  in  very 
early  times.  Mrs.  Lydia  Morse,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  lived  to  be  fifty  years  old, 
and  had  si.K  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing is  a  brief  record:  Lydia  married  Sam- 
uel Bronson,  and  resided  in  Waterbury, 
Conn.,  where  she  died,  leaving  one  son, 
Spencer  Bronson;  Lent  died  in  Prospect 
when  about  forty  years  old,  leaving  two 
daugliters,  Martha  and  Lucy;  Luther  lived 
in  Prospect,  married  Adelia  Piatt,  and 
reared  three  cliildren:  Nancy,  Agnes  and 
Edward;  Levi,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  the  fourth  child;  Harry  married  Sarah 
Gillette,  and  died,  leaving  seven  children: 


George,  John,  Walter,  Byron,  Hattie, 
Mary  and  Alice;  Achsah  married  George 
Payne,  of  Prospect,  wliere  she  still  resides 
(she  reared  three  children:  Achsah,  Lydia 
and  Harry).  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  in  1825,  and  in  1828  or  '2'J  Mr. 
Morse  married  Miss  Tuttle,  by  whom  there 
are  three  children:  Augustus  M.,  Sarah 
and  Lydia  Ann. 

Levi  Morse,  who.se  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive town.  Prospect.  In  1835,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three,  when  Elyria  was  l)ut  a 
small  place  of  perhaps  four  hundred  in- 
habitants, with  two  or  three-  stores,  a  log 
house  used  for  a  jail  and  no  church  build- 
ings, he  came  west  to  Ohio,  and  there  com- 
menced business  in  the  stoi'e  of  S.  W. 
Baldwin,  who  iiad  accompanied  him  to  the 
town.  He  remained  in  his  employ  some 
fifteen  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business  in 
company  with  a  Mr.  Andrews,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Andrews  iz  Co.  In  about 
two  years  Mr.  Andrews  died,  and  Mr. 
Morse  carried  on  the  business  alone  for  a 
time.  We  then  find  him  in  the  responsi- 
ble position  of  first  station  agent  at  Elyria 
for  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  Company,  which  incumbency  he 
filled  with  ability  and  satisfaction  three 
years;  after  which  for  a  time  he  was  in  the 
produce  trade — buying  and  selling  grain. 
In  1863  he  was  elected  township  trustee, 
which  position  he  has  held  continuously 
since,  e.xcej)ting  one  term.  He  was  super- 
intendent of  the  County  Infirmary  for  over 
two  years. 

In  1840  Mr.  Morse  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Minerva  Mann,  who  was 
bom  in  New  York  State,  December  7, 
1818,  and  the  children  iiorn  to  this  union 
were  as  follows:  Milo  Welsey,  born  April 
21,  1842,  enlisted  in  18()2  in  Company  E, 
Forty-second  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and  was 
killed  May  25,  1863,  at  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burtf,  while  on  sharpshooting  duty;  Clara 
A.,  "born  January  15,  1846,  die<l  February 
18,  1849,  of  scarlet  fever;    Alfred  D.,  born 


534 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


January  29,  1851,  now  living  in  Elyria. 
niarrifd  to  Miss  Adams,  of  Colninbia;  Ed- 
M'ard  F.,  born  November  11,  1853,  is  in 
tbe  mining  business,  and  be  and  his  wife 
make  tbeir  home  alternately  in  Stockton 
and  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Lydia  May,  the 
wife  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Brant,  of  Port  Clinton, 
Ohio,  Avas  born  April  10,  1859;  Charles 
L.,  born  October  6,  1861,  in  business  in 
Elyria,  married  to  Miss  Basset,  of  Elyria. 
Mr.  Morse  in  his  political  proclivities  is 
a  Republican,  and  has  voted  for  every 
Whig  and  Republican  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent since  1833.  In  his  church  relation- 
ship he  is  a  Methodist,  and  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  bnilding  the  first  M.  E. 
Church  (now  the  Disciple  Church)  on  East 
Second  street,  which  was  dedicated  in  1851. 
He  has  held  an  official  position  in  the 
church  of  his  choice  since  1843,  and  is  now 
one  amony  less  than  a  dozen  of  the  origi- 
nal  membership  of  the  First  M.  E.  Chnreh. 
His  children  now  livine;  are  four  in  num- 
her,  and  he  has  eight  grandchildren. 


THOMAS   LOTHROP   NELSON, 
prominent  merchant  and   banker  of 
Elyria,   was   born  in  Lyme,  Grafton 
Co.,  N.  H.,  January  11,  1823,  a  son 
of  Asa  and  Sarah  (Gilbert)  Nelson. 
His    mother   was   the  daughter  of   Major 
Thomas  Lothrop  Gilbert,  a  worthy  citizen 
of  Lyme. 

The  Gilberts  had  emigrated  to  Lyme 
from  Hebron,  Conn.,  and,  at  the  time  of 
Thomas  L.  Nelson's  birth,  a  line  of  worthy 
ancestors  had  lived  in  Lyme  for  at  least 
one  hundred  and  eighty  years,  and  the  old 
Gilbert  Homestead,  in  which  Thomas  L. 
Nelson  was  l)orn,  is  now  occupied  by  a 
descendant  of  the  seventh  generation.  His 
father,  Asa  Nelson,  was  a  merchant  in 
Lyme,  but  died  when  his  youngest  child 
was  small,  and  left  his  widow  with  no 
means,  but  a  stout  heart  and  courage  to 
care  for  a  family  of  small  children. 


The  little  lad,  Thomas  L.  Nelson,  spent 
his  boyhood  days  in  his  Grandfather  Gil- 
bert's family.  Mr.  Nelson  enjoyed  and 
improved  the  few  edncationai  advantages 
which  the  place  afforded,  and  then  went 
for  a  time  to  Thetford  Academy,  Vermont, 
near  by;  but  be  was  a  close  student  and 
careful  reader  all  his  life.  Upon  leaving 
school  lie  was  employed  in  a  dry-goods 
store  in  his  native  town  for  two  years,  and 
then,  attaining  his  majority,  he  started  for 
the  great  West,  reaching  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
where  his  uncle  (by  marriage)  Deacon  Por- 
ter Turner  resided.  His  ambitif)n  was  to 
acquire  an  education  at  the  college  in 
Oberlin,  but  as  all  his  possessions  consisted 
of  one  dollar  in  money  and  the  small 
bundle  he  carried  in  his  hand,  the  way  to 
procure  an  education  did  not  seem  clear  to 
him.  Yet  this  early  struggle  and  disap- 
pointment prepared  the  way  for  him  to 
sympathize  with,  and  help  in  later  years, 
young  men   similarly  situated. 

Thomas  L.  Nelson  left  Oberlin,  walked 
to  Mansfield,  Richland  county,  aiul  at  last, 
after  many  attempts  and  failures  to  find 
employment,  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in 
a  dry-goods  store,  which  clerkship  he  held 
for  si.x  months.  A  kind  Providence  after- 
ward directed  his  steps  to  Elyria,  and 
he  entered  the  store  of  Baldwin,  Starr  & 
Co.  At  the  end  of  five  years  of  industry, 
the  strictest  economy  and  self-denial,  he 
was  able  to  become  a  partner  in  this  busi- 
ness, under  the  firm  name  of  Starr  &  Co. 
In  1857  the  firm  of  Baldwin,  Laundon  & 
Nelson  was  formed,  and  for  fifteen  years 
Mr.  Nelson  was  known  throuijhout  the 
county  as  an  honest,  upright,  successful 
merchant.  The  largest  business  in  Lorain 
county  was  done  by  this  house.  At  the 
time  of  this  partnership  the  same  parties 
also  conducted  a  large  mercantile  house  in 
Wellington.  In  1872  Mr.  Nelson  with- 
drew from  the  mercantile  business,  and  in 
company  with  J.  C.  Hill  organized  the 
Savings  Deposit  Bank,  of  wliich  he  was 
chief  stockholder  and  the  honored  Presi- 
dent up  to  the  time  of  his  last  sickness. 


o^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


537 


He  was  a  valuable  man  in  the  commun- 
ity, and  his  presence  in  business  or  Chris- 
tian meetings  was,  as  it  were,  "a  tower  of 
strength."  He  was  always  interested  in 
the  cause  of  education  and  the  upbuilding 
of  humanity.  For  thirty-one  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Elyria,  and  for  eighteen  years  its  president. 
For  nearly  twenty  years  he  served  as  trus- 
tee of  Oberliti  College.  For  one  year  he 
was  mayor  of  Elyria,  but  declined  all  other 
offices  tendered  to  him.  Mr.  Nelson  cast 
his  first  vote  with  the  Whig  party,  and 
afterward  was  a  member  of  the  Liberty  and 
Republican  parties  as  they  came  into  ex- 
istence. For  thirty-seven  years  he  was  a 
beloved  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  ever  ready  to  bear  the  burdens  of 
the  Ciiureh,  a  devout  attendant  upon  its 
worship,  a  constant  worker  in  the  Sabbath- 
school,  and  a  faithful  witness  for  truth  and 
righteousness.  When  a  young  man  he 
laid  down  certain  rules  for  governing  his 
life,  among  which  honor,  strict  business 
integrity  and  Christian  charity  stood  most 
prominent  in  his  mind.  A  life  regulated 
by  such  standards  bore  its  fruits  in  win- 
ning the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact  and  in  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion. How  little  does  a  sketch  of  tiiis 
length  portray  the  character  of  such  a  man! 

In  a  business  career  of  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury— a  man  of  unstained  integrity,  as  a 
citizen — honored  and  respected.  A  Church- 
member,  beloved  and  mourned.  In  social 
circles  always  the  gracious,  affable  gentle- 
man. Thomas  Lothrop  Nelson  died  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1891. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  thrice  married.  Ilis 
first  wife  was  Miss  Lucretia  Churchill 
(daughter  of  Judge  Churchill,  of  Lyme, 
N.  II.),  whom  he  married  July  24,  1851; 
she  died  January  18,  1853,  leaving  an  in- 
fant daughter,  Lucretia,  now  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  E.  P.  Butler,  of  Sunderland, 
Mass.  On  August  21,  1856,  he  married 
ISliss  Mary  L.  Moody,  of  Chicopee.  ]\[ass. 
She  died  February  13,  1863,  leaving  three 
daughters:    Mary  L.,   the  wife    of   A.  L. 


Garford,  of  Elyria;  Lizzie  Gilbert,  who 
died  in  childhood,  and  Sarah  M.,  wife  of 
Robert  Frey.  After  ten  years  Mr.  Nelson 
married,  February  19,  1873,  Miss  Frances 
H.  Sanford,  of  Elyria,  who  survives  him. 
The  last  Mrs.  Nelson  was  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Frederick  Burr  Sanford  and 
Eveline  (Nichols)  Sanford.  Mr.  Sanford 
was  born  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  April  25, 
1805.  lie  was  educated  in  the  academies 
of  his  native  place,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  with  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas 
W.  Pitman,  went  South  and  engaged  in 
commercial  business  in  Newl)erne,  N.  C, 
but  after  a  sojourn  of  some  years  they  sold 
out  and  returned  to  their  home  in  Dan- 
bury.  On  May  6,  1830,  he  married  Eve- 
line Nichols,  daughter  of  Aaron  Nichols, 
of  Danbury.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare 
gifts,  active  in  Church  work,  a  friend  of 
the  poor,  a  sister  of  mercy  to  the  sick  and 
afflicted — an  example  of  all  that  is  sweet, 
tender  and  heroic  in  Christian  faith. 
After  the  birth  of  their  si.x  children  they 
left  Connecticut  and  settled  in  Elyria,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Sanford  again  embarked  in  mercantile 
business,  for  a  long  period  being  proprietor 
of  the  then  well-known  "  Peoples'  Store." 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  busi- 
ness. His  noble,  beautiful  life  passed  from 
earth  December  27,  1879;  his  wife  pre- 
ceded him  March  1,  1864.  Tliey  were 
both  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  their  children  cherish  the  ten- 
derest  memories  of  their  home.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sanford  were  descendants  of  the 
Starr  family,  a  name  well  known  through- 
out Connecticut,  and  they  were  worthy 
descendants  of  such  a  long  line  of  noble 
ancestors. 


jRRIN  HALL,  than  whom  there  is 
no  one  better  known  or  more  highly 
respected  in  Lorain  county,  was 
born  April  o,  1816,  in  Connecticut, 
a  son  of  Avery  Hall,  also  of  the  Nutmeg 
State,  whose  father's  name  was  also  Avery. 


538 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Avery  Hall,  father  of  subject,  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  wlieu  a  young  man  took  up 
the  business  of  what  was  commonly  known 
througliout  the  country  as  a  "Yankee 
peddler,"  selling,  in  company  with  another, 
tinware  and  notions  from  their  tin  shop  in 
Meriden,  Conn.,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  tlie 
town.  On  December  27,  1801,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Foster,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren: Seiden,  born  September  19.  1802, 
and  died  in  Wellington,  whither  he  had 
removed  from  Brighton,  and  where  he  lived 
retired;  and  Alfred,  l)orn  May  21,  1803, 
and  (lied  in  1890  in  Perth  Am  boy,  N.  J., 
where  ,he  was  in  the  terra  cotta  business. 
The  mother  of  these  dying,  Mr.  Hall  mar- 
ried, September  1,  1805,  for  his  second 
wife.  Miss  Lucy  Bacon,  the  result  of  which 
union  was  children  as  follows,  born  in 
Connecticut:  Erastus,  born  July  28, 1806, 
was  a  merchant,  and  died  in  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.;  Sarah,  born  November  11,  1807, 
married  Cyrus  Miner,  and  died  in  Town- 
send,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Edwin,  born  April 
9,  1809,  lives  in  Eljria,  Ohio;  Avery,  born 
February  28,  1812,  a  farmer,  died  in  1891 
in  Kansas;  Lucy,  born  April  IB,  1814, 
married  Lorenzo  Doty,  and  died  in 
Brighton,  Lorain  county;  Orrin  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir;  Julia  and  Julius 
(twins),  born  April  19,  '1818,  of  whom 
Julius  died  in  infancy  (Julia  was  iirst 
married  to  Alfred  Laml),  and  after  his  de- 
cease to  William  Cook;  she  died  id  Per- 
rysburg,  Ohio);  one  born  June  17,  1820, 
and  died  in  infancy;  and  Theophilus,  born 
May  15,  1821,  lives  retired  in  Wellington, 
Ohio. 

In  New  England  Avery  Hall  owned  a 
farm,  and  also  a  sawmill  located  on  Muddy 
brook.  About  the  year  1820  he  came  to 
Ohio  in  company  with  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Comstock,  the  jonrney  hither  l)eing  beset 
with  many  hardships  and  much  sutt'ering. 
In  Lorain  county  Avery  selected  200  acres 
of  wild  land,  and  tlien  returned  to  Connec- 
ticut, where  for  the  Lorain  land  he  traded 
what  property  he  had  to  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut.     In    the  summer  of  1822  he  and 


such  of  his  family  as  were  then  living,  ex- 
cepting two  sons — Seiden  and  Alfred  (who 
had  already  gone  on,  in  order  to  prepare  a 
cabin,  walking  the  entire  distance  carrying 
their  packs  on  tiieir  backs) — set  out  for 
their  new  Western  houie.  The  family,  to- 
gether with  tiieir  goods  and  chattels,  came 
ill  two  wagons  drawn  by  a  span  of  horses 
and  a  yoke  of  oxen,  respectively,  others  of 
the  farm  stock,  including  a  couple  of  cows, 
being  led  behind.  Alter  a  tedious  though 
somewhat  uneventful  journey  of  four  weel'is 
and  four  days,  the  party  arrived  in  Lorain 
county,  locating  in  what  afterward  became 
Brighton  township.  The  county  seat  was 
then  Medina,  now  of  Medina  county,  Lo- 
rain county  being  organized  about  the  year 
1821,  and  the  Hall  family  was  the  fifth  to 
come  into  the  township.  (The  county  was 
organized  the  year  before  they  came  in,  and 
the  township  the  year  after).  On  their 
arrival  they  found  the  cabin  not  quite  com- 
pleted, consequently  they  stayed  at  the 
home  of  Calvin  Rice  for  a  time.  While 
living  in  Brighton  townsliip  three  more 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery 
Hall,  to  wit:  John  W.,  born  August  26, 
1823,  of  Wisconsin;  William,  born  April 
11,  1825,  now  a  mechanic  of  Southampton, 
Mass.;  and  Clarissa,  born  August  22, 
1829,  who  died  when  twelve  years  old. 
After  a  residence  of  some  time  here,  Avery 
Hall  attended  a  meeting  whicli  was  called 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  township, 
and  he  there  suggested  for  it  the  name  of 
"  Brighton."  wliich  was  adopted.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  sufficient  voters  in  the 
township  to  fill  the  several  offices  estab- 
lished by  its  formation.  Tlie  whole  country 
all  around  for  many  miles  was  in  a  thor- 
oughly wild  state,  not  ten  acres  of  cleared 
land  to  be  found  in  tlie  entire  township, 
and  bears,  deer,  wolves,  grey  foxes,  wild 
turkeys,  .etc.,  were  numerous;  the  Indians 
used  to  bring  fresh  meat  to  the  Avery 
home,  which  they  would  trade  for  other 
things  useful  to  themselves.  In  cour.se  of 
time  Mr.  Hall,  as  declining  years  came 
upon    him,  retired   from  active  work,  and 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


539 


made  his  home  in  Brighton  Center,  where 
he  died  at  an  advanced  age;  hi»  wife  had 
preceded  hiin  to  the  grave,  dying  in  No- 
vember, 1853,  and  they  lie  side  by  side  in 
Brigiitoii  Cemetery.  In  religiuus  faith 
she  was  a  Congregationalist.  Politically 
Mr.  Avery  Hall  was  a  Democrat  until  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
lie  united  with  it,  continuing  in  the  ranks 
thereof  till  the  day  of  his  death ;  he  held 
the  first  offices  in  Brighton  township,  and 
was  as  highly  respected  as  he  was  well 
known. 

Orrin  Hall,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was,  as  will  be  seen,  six  years  old 
when  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  and  as  for 
nine  years  thereafter  there  were  no  school 
houses  in  Brighton  township,  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  necessarily  some- 
what limited.  For  a  time  he  found  ample 
employment  in  assisting  to  clear  up  the 
land,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  trades  of  mason 
and  bricklayer  and  plasterer,  under  A. 
Briggs.  Having  completed  what  might 
be  termed  his  apprenticeship,  he  worked  at 
these  trades  as  a  journeyman  in  twenty- 
eight  States  of  the  Union  and  in  Upper 
Canada,  traveling  about  as  much  to  see  the 
country  as  anything  else.  Immediately 
after  his  marriage  he  located  on  a  portion 
of  the  old  Kingsbury  homestead  in  Brighton 
township,  and  in  IbSo  came  to  his  present 
farm  in  Brighton  township,  comprising 
115  acres  of  prime  farm  land.  Since  1888 
he  has  retired  from  active  work,  and  is  now 
enjoying  with  ease  a  well-earned  com- 
petence. 

On  November  1,  1843,  Mr.  Hall  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  Kings- 
bury, born  November  16, 1823,  a  daughter 
of  Austin  and  Altomira  (Adams)  Kings- 
bury, who  in  an  early  day  came  from  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  to  Lorain  county.  To 
this  union  children  as  follows  were 
born:  Charles  M.,  who  became  amember  of 
Company  F,  Twelfth  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  was 
killed  in  1863  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  where 
he  was  buried;  Albert,  of  Cleveland;  An- 


drew, living  at  home;  Mary,  Mrs.  Albert 
Pierrepont,  of  Wyoming;  Jay,  a  teacher 
at  Oberlin,  Ohio;  and  Eva,  of  Wellington. 
Politically  our  subject  was  originally  a 
Whig,  now  a  liepublican,  and  in  religious 
faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  Brighton  Center,  which 
he  has  attended  for  over  sixty  years,  and 
has  held  every  office  in  same. 


ff^j  EV.  JOHN  J.  SIIIPHERD.  Ober- 
Y^    lin  is  known  in  the  world  as  an  in- 
I    ^  stitution  of    learning   and   a   com- 
^J  munity,  the  two  having  a  common 

origin  and  a  common  history.  As 
seen  to-day  it  is  a  thriving  city  of  some 
five  thousand  inhabitants,  surrounded  by  a 
prosperous  farming  community,  in  the 
midst  of  which  stands  a  college  with  its 
various  departments,  theological,  collegiate, 
preparatory  and  mtisical,  and  an  aveiage 
yearly  attendance  of  about  fifteen  hundred 
students.  The  projectors  and  prime  mov- 
ers of  the  enterprise  were  Rev.  John  J. 
iShipherd,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
(Jliurch  of  Elyria,  and  his  associate  and 
friend,  Philo  P.  Stewart. 

John  J.  Shipherd  was  born  March  28, 
1802,  in  West  Granville,  Washington  Co., 
N.  Y.,  son  of  Zebulou  R.  and  Elizabeth 
B.  Shipherd.  He  was  carefully  and  re- 
ligiously educated,  and  while  at  school  at 
Pawlet,  Va.,  in  preparation  for  college,  his 
conscious  religious  life  opened  in  a  con- 
version which  began  in  intense  conviction 
and  conriict,  and  resulted  in  great  peace 
and  joy.  From  this  time  to  the  end  of  his 
days  his  character  and  life  were  marked 
with  profound  earnestness  and  restless  ac- 
tivity. In  his  youth  a  serious  mistake,  in 
swallowing  poison  instead  of  a  remedy  pre- 
scribed for  a  slight  indisposition,  so  af- 
fected his  constitution,  involving  a  weak- 
ness of  his  eyes,  that  he  had  to  abandon  his 
preparatory  studies  for  entering  the  col- 
letre  at  Middlebury,  Vt.,  and  turn  his  at- 
tention to  such  business  as  opened  to  him. 


t 

540 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  1824  he  married  Miss  Esther  Ray- 
mond, of  Ballstoi),  N.  Y.,  and  removed  to 
Vergennes,  Vt.,  to  engage  in  the  marble 
business.  But  he  had  still  in  view  the 
work  of  preparing  for  the  Gospel  minis- 
try, and  his  eyesight  having  improved,  he 
entered  the  study  of  Rev.  Josiah  Hopkins, 
of  New  Haven,  Vt.,  where  he  spent  a  year 
and  a  half,  in  company  with  other  young 
men,  in  theological  study.  His  first  year 
in  the  ministry  was  with  the  church  in 
Shelburne,  Vt.  The  next  two  years  he 
was  engaged  in  the  sjenei-al  Sundav-school 
work  in  tiie  State,  njaking  Middlebnry  his 
lieadquarters,  editing  a  Sunday-school  pa- 
per, and  ti'aveling  throughout  the  State  in 
the  work  of  orsjanizing  schools.  Conclnd- 
ing  to  try  a  new  field  for  his  life  work,  he 
took  a  commission  from  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  "  went  out, 
not  knowing  whitlier  he  went,"  but  turn- 
ing his  face  to  the  "  Valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi," as  the  whole  country  west  of  tlie 
Alleghany  Mountains  was  then  called.  At 
Cleveland  he  met  Rev.  D.  W.  Lathrop, 
who  liad  just  closed  his  labors  as  pastor  of 
the  church  in  Elyria,  and  upon  his  invita- 
tion lie  came  to  that  town  in  October,1830, 
and  the  following  February  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  church.  In  October,  1832,  he 
tendered  his  resignation, and  entered  upon 
the  work  of  laying  the  foundations  at 
Oberlin,  in  which  connection  he  was 
joined,  the  same  year,  by  his  old  friend, 
Philo  Penfield  Stewart,  the  companion  of 
his  boyhood  at  Pawlet  Academy.  Thus 
the  two  founders  of  Oberlin  were  finally 
brought  together,  consecrated  to  the 
great  cause,  and  ready  for  any  sacrifice 
which  the  work  required.  In  constitution 
and  natural  movement  they  were  greatly 
unlike.  Mr.  Shipherd  was  ardent,  hope- 
ful, sanguine,  disposed  to  underestimate 
difficulties  and  obstacles;  while  Mr.  Stew- 
art was  slow  and  cautious,  apprehensive  of 
difficulties,  and  inclined  to  provide  for 
tliem  in  advance.  But  they  liad  entire 
confidence  in  each  other,  in  respect  to  rec- 
titude of  heart  and  purpose,  although  their 


cooperation  doubtless  involved  some  diffi- 
culties; but  whatever  they  were,  there  was 
unanimity  in  the  pushing  to  consunxma- 
tion  the  one  grand  object  in  view.  In 
their  deliberations  they  exchanged  views; 
one  would  present  one  point  of  interest, 
and  another  a  different  one.  Thus  they 
labored  and  prayed,  and  one  day  while  on 
their  knees  asking  guidatice,  the  whole 
plan  developed  itself  to  Mr.  Shipherd's 
mind,  and  before  rising  to  his  feet  he  said: 
"  Come,  let  us  arise  and  Iniild."  He  then 
told  Mr.  Stewart  what  had  come  into  his 
mind — to  procure  a  tract  of  land  and  collect 
a  colony  of  Christian  families  that  should 
pledge  them.selves  with  all  its  interests. 
They  came  down  from  the  study,  and  Mr. 
Shipherd,  with  a  glowing  face,  said  to  his 
wife:  "  Well,  my  dear,  the  child  is  born, 
and  what  shall  its  name  be?"  It  was 
named  lor  John  Frederic  Oberlin,  a  Ger- 
man pastor  of  Waldbach,  in  the  Vosges 
Mountains,  Eastern  France,  who  had  died 
a  few  years  before,  of  whose  labors,  in  ele- 
vating the  people  of  his  parish,  an  inter- 
esting account  had  been  published  in  this 
country,  as  a  Sunday-school  book. 

Several  sites  were  proposed  whereon  to 
found  Oberlin,  but  none  of  the  situations 
gave  sutticient  scope  to  Mr.  Shipherd's 
ideal  community;  finally  a  forest-covered 
tract  eight  miles  southwest  from  Elyria,  in 
the  township  of  Russia,  was  decided  on, 
the  owners  of  which  lived  in  New  Haven, 
Conn.  Hence  a  journey  must  be  made 
by  some  one  to  New  England,  for  the 
threefold  purpose  of  securing  the  land, 
the  money,  and  the  men.  In  Novetnber, 
1832,  Mr.  Shipherd  undertook  the  jour- 
ney, which  had  to  be  accomplished  on 
horseback,  arriving  at  his  destination, 
New  Haven,  in  the  course  of  two  weeks. 
"  The  day  after  his  arrival,"  to  quote  from 
Mrs.  Shipherd's  records,  "  he  called  on 
Messrs.  Street  and  Hughes,  the  owners  of 
the  land,  and  laid  his  plan  before  them, 
and  asked  the  gift  of  five  hundred  acres  for 
a  Manual  Labor  School,  proposing  to 
gather  a  colony  of  families  who  should  pay 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


541 


a  dollar  and  a  half  an  acre,  for  five  thou- 
sand acres  in  addition,  representing  that 
this  would  bring  the  lands  into  market, 
and  thns  prove  a  mutual  benefit.  But 
they  could  not  see  the  prospect.  He 
called  on  them  day  after  day  unsuccess- 
fully, until  at  length  he  came  down  from 
his  room  one  morning,  and  remarked  to 
the  lady  of  the  house,  our  friend,  '  I 
shall  succeed  today;'  and  she  told  me 
afterward  that  his  face  shone  like  the  face 
of  Moses.  He  accordingly  went  over  to 
tile  office,  and  after  the  morning  saluta- 
tions, one  of  the  linn  said:  'Well,  Mr. 
Shipherd,  we  have  concluded  to  accept 
your  proposition.'  They  adjusted  mat- 
ters, and  he  was  prepared  to  proceed  with 
his  work  of  collecting  the  colony.'' 

The  arrangement  was  to  sell  live  thou- 
sand  acres,  bought  for  one  dollar  and  a 
half  an  acre,  to  colonists,  at  at)  advance  of 
one  dollar  an  acre,  and  thus  secure  a 
fund  of  five  thousand  dollars  for  laying 
the   foundations  of  the  college.      But  Mr. 

o 

Shipherd  engao-ed  that  from  this  fund  a 
sawmill  and  a  icristmill  should  be  erected, 
to  be  owned  by  the  college,  as  these  were 
essential  to  the  very  existence  of  the 
colony,  and  there  was  no  probability  that 
the  mills  would  be  erected  as  a  private 
enterprise. 

But  as  it  does  not  come  within  the 
province  of  this  biographical  article  to 
give  a  history  of  Oberlin,  which  has 
already  most  exhaustively  and  graphically 
been  treated  on  by  Prof.  James  II.  Fair- 
child,  president  of  Oberlin  College,  it  but 
remains  for  us  hei-e  to  conclude  the  per- 
sonal sketch  of  Mr.  Shipherd. 

While  in  the  East,  he  had  engaged  the 
number  of  families  he  suj)posed  it  desira- 
ble to  invite  to  become  the  nucleus  of  the 
Oberlin  Colony;  had  enlisted  a  considera- 
ble number  of  students  who  were  to  join 
the  school  at  its  opening  in  December 
following,  or  the  next  spring;  had  looked 
up  and  secured  the  appointment  of  the 
necessary  teachers,  and  had  raised  a  fund, 
in  contributions  and  subscriptions,  amount- 


ing to  nearly  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 
His  journey  back  to  Ohio  was  character- 
istic of  the  man  and  the  times.  Mrs. 
Shipherd  had  gone  in  the  early  sutnmer, 
witl)  a  six-weeks-old  babe  in  her  arms,  to 
her  father's  home  in  Ballston,  N.  Y. 
There  Mr.  Shipherd  joined  her  in  August, 
and  in  an  open  buggy,  with  a  willow 
cradle  at  their  feet,  they  made  tiie  journey 
to  Ohio,  remembered  by  Mrs.  Shipherd,  to 
the  last,  as  the  most  pleasant  journey  of 
their  lives.  They  then  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Oberlin. 

In  1884  the  organizition  of  the  "  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Christ  at  Oberlin  " 
was  begun,  the  ministers  present  at  the 
organization  being  John  J.  Shipherd;  Seth 
II.  Waldo,  principal  of  the  school;  John 
Keyes,  pastor  of  the  church  at  Dover; 
J.  H.  Eels,  pastor  at  Elyria;  and  Oliver 
Eastman,  of  Oberlin.  Mr.  Shipherd,  by 
unanimous  call,  became  its  tirst  pastor,  in 
which  relationship  he  continued,  with 
some  interruption  from  ill  health  and  iiis 
other  duties,  until  June,  1836. 

There  were  special  educational  enter- 
prises of  a  missionary  character,  in  which 
the  colony  shared  with  the  college.  The 
first  of  these  was  led  by  Mr.  Shipherd 
himself,  who  had  laid  the  foundations 
here,  and  had  a  lotiging  to  continue  work 
of  the  kind.  In  providing  men  for  Ober- 
lin, the  church  and  the  college,  he  had  not 
been  careful  to  reserve  a  place  for  himself; 
and  thus,  after  ten  years,  while  still  a 
young  man,  he  foutid  himself  with  im- 
proved health,  free  from  the  responsibility 
in  the  college  except  as  trustee.  H.iving 
occasion,  in  tiie  autumn  of  1843,  to  pass 
througli  the  State  of  Michigan,  his  mind 
occupied  with  the  thought  of  another  Ober- 
lin, he  chanced  upon  a  place  in  Eaton 
county  that  impressed  him  as  possibly  the 
appointed  field.  Returning  to  Oberlin,  lie 
gathered  a  few  of  the  men  who  had  joined 
the  Oberlin  colony  U])an  his  invitation, 
and  proposed  to  tliein  the  new  enterprise. 
In  the  spring  of  1844  Mr.  Shipherd  took 
his  wife  and  six  sons  into  a  wagon,  together 


« 

542 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


witli  such  household  goods  as  could  be 
readily  transported,  with  a  yonncr  man  or 
two  to  drive  his  cows  and  sheep,  and  made 
his  way  overland  to  tlie  new  wilderness 
home.  A  half-dozen  families  from  Ober- 
lin  followed,  and  two  young  men,  gradu- 
ates of  the  preceding  year,  joined  them  as 
teachers.  Thus  the  foundations  of  the 
town  and  the  college  of  Olivet,  Mich.,  were 
laid.  The  new  settlement  had  its  experi- 
ences of  hardship  and  trial;  sickness  came 
to  many,  especially  to  Mr.  Shipherd  and 
his  family.  In  September,  IS-l-i,  at  the 
Hge  of  forty-two,  he  passed  away,  and  his 
grave  was  made  in  the  new  colony,  where 
his  memory  is  still  cherished,  as  it  is  in 
Oberlin.  No  published  writings  of  his  re- 
main, and  as  no  portrait  of  him,  of  any 
kind,  was  ever  taken,  not  even  an  outline 
of  his  features  was  left.  Mrs.  Shipherd 
returned  to  Oberlin  with  her  fatherless 
boys,  and  by  the  help  of  the  people  here 
her  former  home  was  secured  to  her.  After 
some  years  three  sons  came  forward  to 
their  mother's  aid,  and  provided  her  a 
home  in  Cleveland,  where  some  of  them 
had  settled  in  business.  She  died  Decem- 
ber 7, 1879,  at  tlie  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
two.  A  memorial  window  in  the  Plymouth 
Church  at  (Ueveland  symbolizes  the  self- 
forgetfulness  and  beauty  of  her  life.  A 
simple  tablet  in  the  Ladies'  Hall  is  all  that 
bears  the  Shipherd  name  at  Oberlin — 
Oberlin  itself  is  the  monument.  [Com- 
piled from  "Oberlin:  The  Colony  and  the 
College,"  by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
author,  Prof.  James  H.  Fairchild. 


llHILO     PENFIELD     STEWAET. 

This  gentleman,  whose  name  has 
II  been  associated  with  that  of  John 
■J/         J.  Shipherd,   in    tiie   above  sketch, 

when  treating  of  the  organization  of 
Oberlin  Colony  and  College,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  in  the  town  of  Sher- 
man, July,  1798.  When  ten  years  of  age, 
on  account  of  his  father's  death,  he  was 


sent  to  live  with  his  maternal  grandfather, 
in  Pittsford,  Vt.,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen he  was  apprenticed  to  his  uncle  in 
Pawlet,  Vt.,  to  learn  the  saddle  and  har- 
ness-making trade.  In  this  apprentice- 
ship he  served  seven  years,  with  a  term  of 
three  months  each  year  in  the  Pawlet 
Academy,  a  privilege  which  he  greatly 
prized,  and  thoroughly  improved.  Under 
the  influence  of  a  Christian  teacher  in  the 
Academy,  he  had  devoted  his  life  to  the 
Master's  service;  and  after  completing  his 
apprenticeship  he  experienced  a  sort  of 
second  conversion,  in  a  conflict  with  his 
love  of  money,  which  seemed  a  natural 
tendency  in  his  character.  Thus  he  was 
prepared  at  the  age  of  twenty- three  to  ac- 
cept an  appointment  from  the  American 
Board  to  a  mission  among  the  Choctaws, 
in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  The  journey 
of  almost  2,000  miles  to  his  fleld  of  labor 
he  made  on  horseback,  a  pair  of  saddle- 
baijs  containing  his  whole  outflt.  The 
officers  of  the  Board  had  furnished  him 
seventy  dollars  for  his  traveling  expenses. 
But  from  the  time  of  starting  he  entered 
upon  his  missionary  work,  and  preached 
the  Gospel  to  the  families  along  the  way, 
until  he  reached  the  Choctaw  nation,  at  an 
expense  to  the  board  of  only  ten  dollars 
for  himself  and  his  horse. 

An  important  part  of  his  work  at  the 
mission  was  the  superintendence  of  its 
secular  affairs,  for  which  he  was  well  fitted. 
In  addition  he  tauglit  the  boys'  school, 
and  with  the  help  of  an  interpreter  held 
services  on  the  Sabbath  in  the  different 
Indian  settlements.  His  health  failing, 
he  returned  to  Vermont  to  recruit,  but  re- 
turned again  to  the  mission  in  1827,  with 
a  reinforcement  of  one  young  man  and 
three  young  women,  whom  he  took  over 
the  long  journej'  in  a  wagon,  at  an  expense 
only  slightly  greater  than  that  involved  in 
his  own  journey  six  years  before. 

In  1828  Mr.  StevvSrt,  now  thirty  years 
of  age,  married  Miss  Eliza  Capen,  one  of 
the  young  women  whom  he  had  taken  out 
to   the    mission    the    previous    year   from 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


543 


Pittsford,  Vt.,  and  together  they  wrought 
in  the  mission  two  or  three  years  more, 
when  Mrs.  Stewai-t's  broken  liealth  com- 
pelled them  to  return  north,  and  resign 
the  mission  work.  Still  on  the  outlook 
for  a  field  for  Christian  labor,  he  corre- 
sponded with  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Shipherd, 
the  companion  of  his  boyliood  at  Pawlet 
Academy;  and  as  a  result,  leaving  Mrs. 
Stewart  behind,  he  joined  him  at  Elyria 
in  tlie  spring  of  1832,  and  became  an  in- 
mate of  his  family. 

During  Mr.  Shipherd's  eastern  tour  in 
1832,  to  secure  lands,  funds,  etc.,  Mr. 
Stewart  was  rejoined  by  Mrs.  Stewart,  and 
they  remained  at  Elyria  with  Mr.  Ship- 
herd's  family,  Mr.  Stewart  being  especially 
occupied  in  the  work  of  bringing  to  per- 
fection a  cooking-stove  which  he  had  in- 
vented, and  which  was  known  as  the 
''Oberlin  stove."  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  Stewart  cooking-stove,  whicii  has 
become  so  well  known  throughout  the 
country.  It  was  his  expectation  that  the 
success  of  the  invention  would  warrant  the 
trustees  of  the  school  in  taking  the  pecuni- 
ary responsibility  involved,  and  thus  all 
the  profits  might  go  to  the  school;  but  the 
trustees  never  felt  authorized  to  assuiue 
this  responsibility. 

While  carrying  forward  the  project  of 
tile  cooking-stove  at  Elyria,  Mr.  Stewart 
had  general  supervision  of  the  work  of  the 
new  colony  at  Oberlin,  meeting  the  colo- 
nists as  they  came  from  the  East  with  in- 
formation and  counsel  and  enconrage- 
nient,  conducting  such  correspondence  as 
the  work  called  for  from  this  point,  and 
iiolding  frequent  meetings  with  several 
gentlemen  of  the  region  who  had  con- 
sented to  act  as  trustees  of  the  enterprise. 
Thus  the  work  at  Oberlin  was  begun. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart,  having  no  chil- 
dren, had  pledged  themselves  to  the  service 
,of  the  Oberlin  Institute  fur  five  yeai-s,  for 
no  other  compensation  than  the  mere  cost 
of  living.  When  the  school  was  opened 
in  1833  they  took  charge  of  the  boarding- 
hall,   and    continued    in   this  capacity   of 


father  and  mother  to  the  young  people, 
until  1836.  The  first  year  he  was  also 
general  manager,  in  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Shipherd,  as  treasurer  of  the  college. 
His  views  and  practice  of  frugality,  and 
plainness  of  diet,  were  somewhat  too  rigid 
for  general  acceptance  with  the  students, 
and  in  1836  he  resigned  the  stewardship 
of  -the  "  Hall,"  and  with  some  sense  of 
disappointment  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart 
made  their  way  eastward  to  Vermont,  and 
finally  to  New  York,  to  work  out  the 
stove  problem,  which  for  two  or  three 
years  had  been  held  in  suspense.  He 
established  his  home  at  Troy,  X.  Y.,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  manufacturers 
who  worked  out  his  inventions. 

Mr.  Stewart,  worn  out  with  the  cares 
and  perplexities  of  his  business,  died  De- 
cember 13,  1868,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Mrs.  Stewart  afterward  remained 
at  her  home  in  Troy,  the  only  survivor  of 
the  group  that  in  the  parsonage  at  Elyria, 
in  prayer  and  consultation,  devoted  them- 
selves to  the  work  of  building  up  in  the 
wilderness  a  Christian  College,  and  a 
Christian  community.  [Compiled  from 
"Oberlin:  The  Colony  and  The  College," 
by  the  kind  permission  of  the  author, 
Prof.  James  H.  Fairehild. 


DAVID  BENNETT,  one  of  the  early 
I   settlers  of  Lorain  county,  was  born 
,  '   on  the  26th  day  of  May,  1788,  in 

Westmoreland,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H., 
being  third  in  a  family  of  fifteen  children. 
His  father,  Dea.  David  Bennett,  was 
the  onl}'  son  of  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  from  England  to  the  Massachusetts 
Colony  about  tiie  year  1750,  and  was  born 
at  Harvard,  Mass.,  May  28,  1761,  his  par- 
ents both  dying  in  his  infancy.  At  the 
ace  of  sixteen  years  he  enlisted  in  the  in- 
fantry service  of  the  United  States  army, 
and  fought  in  the  Revolution.  He  was 
married  in  1783  to  Abagail  Chase,  and  to 


544 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


them  were  born  nine  children.  He  joined 
tlie  Baptist  Church  at  Jamaica,  Vt.,  in 
1)S06,  and  the  next  year  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  deacon.  In  December,  1811, 
he  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Se- 
lina  Holmes,  and  to  them  were  born  six 
children.  He  died  at  Dummerston,  Vt., 
June  9,  1848. 

David  Bennett  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years  married  Polly  Wheeler,  and  lived  at 
Londonderry,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  until  the 
year  1827,  when  became  to  Carlisle  town- 
ship and  purchased  112  acres  of  land  in 
Section  12,  one  and  one-half  miles  west  of 
the  center.  He  returned  east  for  his  fam- 
ily, consisting  of  his  wife  and  a  niece,  and 
the  next  spring,  in  May,  caine  to  make  a 
permanent  settlement  on  his  farm.  He 
soon  afterward  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  that  part  of  the  township;  put 
under  cultivation  110  acres  of  land,  and 
there  resided  until  his  death,  July  16, 
1863. 

On  February  6, 1830,  he  married,  for  his 
second  wife,  Jane,  eldest  daughter  of  Neri 
and  Betsy  Galpin,  of  Elyria,  and  to  them 
were  born  six  children:  Polly,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Jane  A.,  wife 
of  W.  C.  Sutliff ;  Emerett,  wife  of  Curtis 
Webster,  Elyria;  Celestia,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Melvin  R.  and  Cassimar  D.  Mrs. 
Bennett  died  December  27,  1884,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years.  David  Bennett 
was  an  energetic  farmer,  and  became  suc- 
cessful in  his  chosen  vocation.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  various  otRces 
of  trust  in  the  township,  being  for  six  years 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  two  terms 
township  treasurer.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Universalist. 

M.  R.  Bennett,  the  eldest  son,  was  born 
September  11,  1849,  on  the  home  farm, 
where  he  resided  until  1884,  when  he 
removed  to  seventy  acres  adjoining  which 
he  now  owns.  He  received  an  elementary 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  afterward  attending  Ely- 
ria High  School,  and  subsequently  Ober- 
]in  Academy. 


On  January  27,  1880,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Katie  L.  Schaden,  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children,  Florence  E.  and  Karl 
E.  Mr.  Bennett,  politically,  votes  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  in  1872  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  township  clerk,  in 
which  position  he  has  since  served. 


GD.    BENNETT,     an     enterprising 
wide-awake  farmer  of  Carlisle  town- 
_      ship,  is  a  native  of  same,  born   No- 
vember 2,  1852,  a  son  of  David  and 
Jane  (Galpin)  Bennett. 

He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  is  now  owner  of  sixty-four  acres  of 
well-improved  land,  where  he  carries  on 
general  farming.  In  1887  he  married 
Miss  Carlie  Kellogg,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio. 


P)ARKS  FOSTER.  As  a  living  ex- 
ample of  what  it  is  possible  for 
man,  with  willing  heart  and  hands, 
to  accomplish — how  from  the  bot- 
tom round  of  the  ladder,  upward,  to 
work  out  for  himself  an  honorable  compe- 
tency, a  solid  reputation  and  a  good  name 
— this  gentleman  stands  prominent  among 
the  worthy  citizens  of  his  native  county. 
Mr.  Foster  was  born  in  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  September  4, 1832,  of  New  England 
ancestry.  His  paternal  grandfather,  who 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  for  some  ten  or 
twelve  years  lived  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  whence  he  came  to  Ohio,  where  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  Elisha  Fos- 
ter, father  of  subject,  also  of  Vermont 
birth,  moved  to  New  York  State  with  his 
parents  when  nine  years  old,  and  in  1816 
proceeded  westward  to  Ohio,  making  a 
settlement  in  what  is  now  Avon  township, 
Loi'ain  county,  at  that  time  a  wild,  un- 
broken   wilderness.      The    next   year    he 


^^a^^/r^    ^^^::5^^^i^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


547 


moved  to  Amherst,  same  count}',  and  tlie 
farm  which  he  cleared  and  lived  on  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  members  of  tlie  family. 
In  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  he 
kept  hotel  at  Amherst  for  foui-teen  years. 
He  married  Miss  Ann  Maria  Mason,  who 
was  born  in  Lee,  Mass.,  January  12,  1804, 
and  is  still  living  on  the  old  home  farm, 
hale  and  hearty  for  a  woman  of  her  years. 
Parks  Foster  received  his  education  in 
tile  old  log  bchoolhouse  at  Amherst,  and 
early  commenced  the  arduous  work  inci- 
dent to  farm  life  in  his  younger  days. 
This  he  pursued  nntil  he  was  thirty-six 
years  old,  and  then  went  into  the  stone 
business,  Amherst  township  and  vicinity 
being  famed  for  its  quantity'  and  quality 
of  sandstone.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Elyria,  but  shortly 
afterward,  on  account  of  his  wife's  im- 
paired health,  they  went  to  the  Sunny 
South,  sojourning  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
seven  years,  during  which  time  lie  was 
connected,  as  director,  with  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Chattanooga;  was  president 
of  the  first  street  railway  organization  in 
that  city;  was  one  of  the  first  organizers  of 
of  the  Roane  Iron  Company  ]\Iills,  at  that 
time  one  of  the  largest  rolling  mills  in  the 
South,  and  was  assistant  superintendent  of 
same;  helped  to  start  the  Wasson  Car 
Works,  and  also  assisted  *n  the  erection  of 
a  riouring  mill.  On  behalf  of  the  Govern- 
ment, he  helped  to  open  iip  the  Mussel 
Shoals  Canal,  employing  in  the  work  a 
large  number  of  men  for  a  year.  He  put 
out  the  first  extensive  peach  orchard,  yield- 
ing good  fruit,  on  tlie  side  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  where  the  battle  of  Missionary 
Kidge  was  fought;  in  addition  to  wiiich 
he  became  interested  in  real  estate,  own- 
ing lands  and  houses,  incluiiing  a  hand- 
some residence  in  Chattanooga,  whicli  was 
the  family  home  while  in  that  city.  On 
his  return  to  Lorain  county,  Mr.  Foster 
reentered  the  stone  business,  in  company 
with  Clough  Bros.,  the  firm  style  being 
"  The  Clough  Stone  Co.,"  which  continued 
some  seven  years.     They  built  the  railroad 


to  the  quarry  from  Oberlin,  some  four 
miles  in  length,  afterward  selling  out  to 
the  Cleveland  Stone  Company. 

Afterselling  his  interests  in  the  Clough 
Stone  Co.,  Mr.  Foster  tooka  trip  toEurope, 
remaining  there  some  months,  visiting  vari- 
ous countries,  and  then  set  sail  again  for 
his  native  land.  Soon  after  his  return  he 
engaged  extensively  in  the  lake  vessel 
business,  as  a  member  of  two  transporta- 
tion companies,  the  Escanaba  &  Lake 
Michigan  Transportation  Co.,  and  the 
Owen  Line,  and  one  of  the  vessels,  a  hand- 
some craft,  bears  his  name — "The  Parks 
Foster." 

In  1888,  Mr.  Foster  was  appointed,  by 
Gov.  Foraker,  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
State  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  at  Toledo, 
and  served  throughout  the  Governor's 
term;  under  Gov.  Campbell  he  was  re- 
moved for  political  reasons  only,  but  was 
reappointed  by  Gov.  McKinley,  and  still 
enjoys  the  incumbency. 

In  addition  to  Mr.  Foster's  manifold 
businesses  above  recounted,  he  is  interested 
in  a  cattle  ranch  in  Colorado,  and  also  in 
coal  industries.  For  a  time  he  was  a 
stockholder  in  and  director  of  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank  Co.,  of  Elyria.  He  owns 
two  large  farms  near  Toledo,  and,  in  con- 
nection with  J.  C.  Hill  and  T.  L.  Nelson, 
was  interested  in  an  extensive  timber 
business.  He  is  at  present  a  director  of 
and  stockholder  in  the  Garford  Manufac- 
turing Co.,  and  the  Electric  Light  Plant 
at  Lorain,  Ohio.  In  1890  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equaliza- 
tion, serving   thereon  some  seven  mouths. 

While  in  Toledo  Mr.  Foster  contracted 
(in  1891)  with  that  city  to  lay  some  pipes, 
to  tiie  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
and  while  engaged  on  same  was  taken  so 
ill  tiiat  he  had  to  be  conveyed  to  his  home, 
where  he  gradually  became  worse,  and  in 
May,  1892,  he  had  to  take  to  his  bed,  and 
for  eleven  months  he  lay  between  lite  and 
death,  his  friends  all  ilcsp  liring  of  his  re- 
covery. In  Ocloljer,  after  lying  some  five 
months  dangerously  ill,  he  submitted  to  a 


30 


548 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


heroic  operation.  Medical  skill,  backed 
by  a  good  constitution,  prevailed,  and 
the  patient  slowly  gained  strength,  al- 
thongh  be  had  lost  one  hundred  pounds  in 
weight.  Five  months  elapsed  after  the 
operation  before  much  iinprovement  in 
his  system  was  noticeable,  but  since  then 
Jie  has  improved  steadily,  and  is  now 
almost  fully  recovered — a  living  monu- 
ment to  modern  medical  and  surgical  skill. 
In  October,  1855,  Parks  Foster  and 
Mary  L.  Robertson,  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  were  united  in  marriage,  and  four 
children — one  son  and  three  daughters — 
were  born  to  them,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  brief  record:  Sarah  May  is  the  wife  of 
S.  L.  Kent,  of  New  York  City;  Burton  P. 
is  a  resident  of  Findlay,  Ohio;  Mary  L.  is 
the  wife  of  Arthur  W.  Walker,  of  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H. ;  and  Miss  Florence  is  a 
student  of  music  at  Boston,  Mass.  John 
B.  Robertson,  Mrs.  Foster's  father,  was  a 
native  of  Ballston,  N.  Y.,  and  was  well- 
known  in  prominent  Democratic  circles. 
He  was  formerly  a  resident  of  Saratoga, 
-N.  Y.,  coming  to  Lorain  county  in  18B0. 
He  married  Miss  Temperance  Foot,  a  na- 
tive of  Lee,  Mass.,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
dren —  three  sons  and  two  daughters — of 
whom  two  sons  are  living,  in  Lorain  county 
and  New  York  City,  respectively.  Mr. 
Robertson    died   in    1875.     His   widow  is 


living  in 
the 


Amherst  township,  Lorain 
advanced    age    of    ninety- 


now 

county,    at 
three  years 

Mrs.  Foster  passed  her  girlhood  in  Am- 
herst township,  where  she  was  educated. 
It  was  after  marriage,  when  her  health  be- 
gan to  fail,  that  she  and  her  husband  went 
South,  as  already  related.  She  has  ever 
been  a  hard  worker  in  the  interests  of  re- 
form, a  zealous  Church  woman,  and  was 
the  one  who  took  the  initiative  and  most 
active  part  in  the  erecting  of  the  present 
Baptist  Church  building.  A  member  of 
Several  organizations,  she  acts  as  chairman 
of  numerous  committees.  She  is  a  live 
worker  in  the  social  interests  of  the 
Church,    and    raised    the   wherewithal  to 


establish  the  Temperance  Reading  Room. 
In  the  Anti-Liquor  League  recent)}'  or- 
ganized, she  is  one  of  the  active  workers, 
and  a  leader  in  its  councils.  She  is  a 
power  in  the  family  circle,  and  a  counsellor 
to  her  husband,  at  times  aggressive  when 
he  may  be  mild  or  indifferent,  but  always 
on  the  side  of  right,  to  that  end,  in  all 
things,  fearless  and  unflinching. 


ILLIAM  SMITH,  retired,  enjoys 

the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the 

oldest    and   most  honored  of  the 

farmer  citizens  of  Lorain  county. 

He  was   born   in   Bennington  county,    Vt., 

December    30,   1809,   and  is  consequently 

now  fourscore  and  four  years  old. 

He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Pollie  (Fuller)  \ 
Smith,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  ' 
Vermont,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
died  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  eighty- three.  His  wife,  when  aged 
sixty-two,  died  in  Illinois,  whither  he  had 
accompanied  her,  but  returned  East  just 
prior  to  his  death.  His  father,  Daniel 
Smith,  a  Vermonter,  came  of  old  Puritan 
stuck,  and  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church;  Mrs.  Pollie  Smith,  our  subject's 
mother,  was  also  a  Baptist.  She  had  five 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Jedediah  is  residing  near  Platts- 
burg,  N.  Y. ;  William  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Willis  is  living  in  Utah; 
Laura,  who  was  married  in  New  York 
State  to  a  Mr.  W^ebb,  died  in  Iowa;  and 
Lydia,  married  to  a  Mr.  Pixley,  is  living 
in  Orange,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio. 

William  Smith  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
of  his  place  of  birth,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's  farm. 
At  about  the  age  of  twenty-six  he  moved 
to  New  York  State,  but  after  a  year's  so- 
journ there  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
piece  of  land   in   Sullivan  township.  Ash- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


549 


land  eotinty,  coininenciiig  there  witli  about 
tour  Imndred  dollars,  and  by   iiulustry  and 
indomitable     perseverance    succeeded     in 
accniiiulating     a    handsome    competence, 
becoming  the  owner  of  888  acres  of  fertile 
land.     There  he  lived   forty-one  years,  or 
until  about  1878,  when  he  came  to  Well- 
ington, Lorain  county,  and  has  here  since 
made  his  home.      In  Novetnber,  1835,  our 
subject  married  Miss  Sabriiia  Palmer,  and 
eleven  children  were  born  to  this  union,  of 
whom  the   following  is  a  succinct   record: 
(1)  Lydia  M.  married  George  .McClellen, 
and  had  two  children:  Lydia  M.  and  Julia, 
both  married;   Lydia  M.  died  in  Welling- 
ton in   1884.     (2)   Piatt  B.  is  a  farmer  in 
Sullivan   township,   Ashland    county.      (3) 
Fuller  enlisted    iu    Company    H,   Eighth 
O.  V.  L,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor.     (4)   Russell  also  was  in  the  Civil 
war,  serving  under  Gartield  in  the  Forty- 
second  O.    v.  L,   during  which  time  his 
health  was  completely  shattered  ;  he  died  at 
home.     (5)   Martin   W.   lives  in   Sullivan, 
Ohio;  he  is  married  and  has  live  children: 
Nettie,  Sabrina,  Fuller,  Claude  and  Ethel. 
(Gj  Julia  is  the   wife  of  a  Mr.  Beem,  and 
resides  in  Sullivan,  Ohio;  she  has  one  son, 
William  S.     (7)  Eli   resides  in   Michigan; 
he  has  four   children:  Milo,  Mabel,  Ruby 
and  Ettie  Joy.     (8)  George,  living  in  Sulli- 
van, has  two  children:  Louise  and   Mack. 
(<J)    Ettie  resides  in  Sullivan.     (10)   Milo 
died  in  youth.     (11)   One  that  died  in  in- 
fancy.    The  mother  of  these  died  in  1874, 
and  in  1878  Mr.  Smith   wedded  Mrs.  Lo- 
rena  G.  West,  nee  Diinmock,  a  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  Clarissa  (Phelps)   Dinunock. 
Her  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut,  in    an    early    day    came    to     Sharon, 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at  Olmsted 
Falls,  Cuyahoga  county,  at  the  patriarchal 
age  of  ninety-three  years.     He  was  a  well- 
known  Baptist  minister,  at  first  serving  in 
the  capacity    of  a   missionary.     His   wife 
(who  was   born  in  Connecticut,  and   from 
there  moved  to   Vermont,  where  she  was 
married)    died  at   the   age  of   eighty-nine 
years.      They  had    twelve  children,    Mrs. 


Smith  being  amoni£  the  vouncrer  ones.  Her 
hrst  husl)and,  by  whom  she  had  four  sons, 
died  in  Kansas  iu  1875;  he  was  a  farmer, 
and  a  devout  member  of  church.  She  is 
an  adherent  of  the  Baptist  faith,  Mr. 
Smith  of  the  Disciples.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  as  a  Whig  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Polk.  In  his  long  lite  and  early 
pioneer  e.xperiences  he  has  an  interesting 
history,  and  full  many  a  tale  of  days  gone 
l)y  can  be  yet  relate — of  difhculties  and 
dangers  unknown  to  the  present  generation. 


THEODORE  FREEING  HUY  SEN 
DANIELS,  cashier  of  the  Citizens 
Savings  Bank,  Lorain.  Of  the  men 
who  have  from  the  first  believed 
firmly  and  steadfastly  in  the  ultimate 
greatness  of  Lorain,  and  whose  faith  has 
been  and  still  is  unshaken  by  any  momenta^ 
rily  discouraging  circumstance  that  might 
arise,  T.  F.  Daniels  has  been  one  of  the 
most  patient  and  persevering.  The  town 
never  had  a  bank  until  he  came  in  1880, 
and  it  has  had  a  good  one  ever  since. 
When  the  town  grows  to  a  population  of 
a  hundred  thousand  or  so  he  will  be  re- 
membered as  the  pioneer  banker.  His 
ability  and  integrity  have  brought  pros- 
perity to  the  institution  of  which  he  has 
so  lono'  been  an  important  officer,  and  his 
continued  connection  with  it  amounts  to  a 
guaranty  of  its  continued  success. 

Theodore  Frelinghuysen  Daniels  was 
born  in  Caledonia,  N.  Y.,  on  the  first  day 
of  July,  1844,  a  son  of  Eli  W.  and  Ann 
(Miner)  Daniels,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Connecticut.  The  mother  died 
when  Theodore  was  four  years  of  age,  but 
his  father  is  yet  living  at  the  age  of 
ei<Thty-one.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  two  years  of  age  the  family 
moved  to  the  wilds  of  Wisconsin.  The 
first  place  the  family  settled  was  at  Ocono- 
mowoc,  a  few  years  later  moving  to  what 
is  now  Auroraville.     The  Daniels  family 


550 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  about  the  first  white  family  to  settle 
in  the  neitrliborhood,  and  young  Tlieodore's 
first  and  for  a  number  of  years  only  play- 
mates were  young  Indians.  Settlement 
was  made  on  tiie  bank  of  a  sniall  stream 
which  was  made  to  furnish  power  for  a 
saw  and  grist  mill.  For  many  ye^rs  the 
place  was  known  as  Daniels'  Mills,  but  as 
it  grew  in  importance,  the  name  was 
chancred.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  young  Theodore  desired 
to  accompany  his  older  brother  when  he 
went  to  the  front,  but  his  father  refused 
to  give  his  consent  on  account  of  his  son's 
delicate  health,  fie  continued  to  asji.->t 
his  father  with  his  business  until  the  last 
call  for  troops  came  in  1864.  In  Septem- 
ber of  that  year  Mr.  Daniels  enlisted  in 
Battery  D,  First  Wisconsin  Heavy  Artil- 
lery. His  company  was  sent  to  Brashear 
City,  La.,  which  is  some  distance  below 
New  Orleans.  Mr.  Daniels  was  detailed 
first  as  clerk  in  the  company  headquarters, 
but  afterward  became  a  messenger  in  the 
telegraph  service.  The  responsibilities 
and  dangers  of  this  position  were  some- 
times great.  He  was  still  in  this  service 
when  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated, 
and  carried  the  dispatches  which  spread 
the  startling  news.  Mr.  Daniels  was  at- 
tacked by  "  southern  fever,"  and  lay  for 
several  months  in  different  southern  hos- 
pitals, being  finally  discharged  at  Prairie 
du  Chieii  in  July,  1865. 

The  following  winter  he  attended  a  nor- 
mal  school  near  his  home,  and  was  in- 
fluenced by  his  teacher  to  go  to  Oberlin 
College.  He  reached  Oberlin  February  1, 
18(')6,  and  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  August,  1872.  The  next  day  after  he 
graduated  he  entered  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Oberlin,  and  it  speaks  well  for  his 
conduct  and  close  application  to  his  work 
that  he  became  its  cashier  in  a  little  less 
than  two  years  and  a  half.  In  May,  1875, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  H.  Lewis, 
of  Pleasanton,  Mich.,  an  Oberlin  student, 
who  was  born  near  Athens,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1850,  daughter  of   Rev.  William  S. 


and  Eliza  (Campbell)  Lewis,  the  former  a 
native  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  the  latter  of 
Acworth,  N.  H.  In  1864  the  Lewis 
tamily  removed  to  Michigan,  and  later  tiie 
daughter  attended  Oberlin  College,  where 
she  met  her  future  husband. 

During  the  summer  of  1880  Mr.  Daniels 
was  attacked  by  the  "  western  fever,"  and 
took  a  prospecting  trip  through  Colorado, 
Neln-aska,  Kansas  and  Wyoming.  He 
came  back  satisfied  with  Ohio,  but  still 
determined  to  launch  out  for  himself  in 
business.  About  this  time  Loi'ain  began 
to  attract  attention  by  reason  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  brass  works.  Mr.  Daniels  came 
down  from  Oberlin  one  day  to  look  the 
town  over.  What  he  saw  must  have 
pleased  him,  for  be  immediately  resigned 
his  position  at  Oberlin,  and  started  the 
Bank  of  Lorain  in  the  front  room  of  a 
dwelling  house  owned  and  occupied  liy 
Mrs.  Mary  Reid.  Owing  to  the  great  de- 
mand for  business  rooms  at  that  time,  this 
was  the  only  location  that  could  be  ob- 
tained. The  town  grew  and  the  bank 
prospered.  In  January,  1882,  the  First 
National  Bank  was  organized  with  a  capi- 
tal of  fifty  thousand  dollars  as  the  successor 
of  the  Bank  of  Lorain.  Mr.  Daniels  was 
offered  the  presidency  of  the  new  institu- 
tion, but  preferred  the  more  active  duties 
of  the  cashiership.  The  bank  paid  regu- 
lar semi-annual  dividends,  and  in  Marcli, 
1893,  divided  an  extra  twelve  per  cent, 
dividend;  and  the  First  National  Bank 
was  then  merged  into  the  Citizens  Savings 
Bank,  with  a  subscribed  capital  of  one 
hutidred  thousand  dollars.  The  new  bank 
started  out  with  a  surplus  of  twelve  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  which  in  the 
coming  January  will  be  increased  to  four- 
teen thousand  dollars,  notwithstanding  the 
unprecedented  panic  of  1893. 

Mr.  Daniels  has  held  different  local  offices 
among  others  that  of  city  and  township 
treasurer,  councilman,  water-works  trustee, 
etc.  It  is  needless  to  say  he  has  filled  all 
these  positions  with  credit.  He  has  always 
been  much   interested  and  a  great  deal  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


551 


the  time  an  active  participant  in  local  pub- 
lic affairs.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  on  the 
bank  of  Lake  Erie  a  short  distance  west  of 
Lorain.  His  family  consists  of  a  wife  and 
three  children:  Irving  L.,  Mabel  E.  and 
Ruth  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniels  were  both 
formerly  members  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Cbnrch  of  Oberlin,  and  latterly 
members  of  the  Concrreo-ational  Church  of 
Lorain.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican. [Extract  from  "  Men  we  all 
know,"  Lorain  Herald,  December,   1898. 


^jr\E  V.JAMES  BRAND,  D.  D., 
li«^    Oberlin,  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born 
J[  ^  February  2G,  1834,  at  Three  Rivers, 
Jf)  a  town  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  the 

Province  of  Quebec.  He  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Jennette  (Boyesj  Brand,  natives 
of  Dumfries,  Scotland,  where  they  married, 
and  whence  they  came  to  Canada  sliortly 
befure  the  birth  of  our  subject.  The  father 
was  a  school  teacher  and  farmer,  and  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church;  they  died  in  Canada. 

Our  subject  received  a  limited  education 
in  tiie  public  schools,  Windsor,  P.  Q.,  and 
graduated  from  Phillipps  Academy,  An- 
dover,  Mass.,  after  which,  in  1861,  he  en- 
tered Yale  College.  His  studies  here  were 
interrupted  by  a  service  in  the  Union  army, 
he  having  enlisted  in  1862,  in  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  wiiere  he  served  under  Burn- 
side  and  Hooker  and  Mead,  as  color  ser- 
geant of  the  Twenty-seventh  Connecticut 
Volunteers.  He  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg,  in  the  first  of  which  he 
was  wounded  in  the  shonlder.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  service  he  contin- 
ued his  college  studies  at  Yale,  and  in  1866 
graduated  A.  B.  He  then  entered  the 
Tiieological  Seminary  at  Amlover,  Mass., 
where  for  three  years  he  studied  theology, 
at  the   conclusion    of   which    he    became 


pastor  of  the  Maple  Street  Congregational 
Church  in  Danvers,  Mass.  After  four 
years  labor  in  that  field  he  came,  in  1873. 
to  Oberlin,  and  became  successor  to  Pres- 
ident Finney  as  pastor  of  the  First  Church. 
Mr.  Brand  received  his  degree  of  D.  D. 
from  Iowa  College,  Grinnell,  Iowa.  He 
has  published  several  books  and  pamphlets, 
all  treating  more  or  less  on  theological  sub- 
jects, and  has  also  written  considerably  for 
journals.  To  some  extent  he  has  lectured 
on  the  battle  of  Gettj^sburg.  He  has  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  the  Temperance  Re- 
form in  Ohio;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Inter- 
national Council  at  London,  England, 
where  he  delivered  one  of  the  addresses. 
In  1871  Dr.  Brand  married  Miss  Juliette 
n.  Tenney,  of  Troy,  Ohio,  and  has  a  family 
of  six  children,  as  follows:  Charles  A., 
Edith  B.,  Mary  T.,  Helen  C,  James  T.  and 
Margret  R. 


ffffON.  W.  B.  THOMPSON.     In  the 
t^^     front    rank  of  the  progressive  and 
I     1     influential  citizens  of  Lorain  stands 
■^  this   gentleman,  a  leading  attorney 

at  law,  and  mayor  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Thompson  was  born  September  6, 
1863,  at  (Jolumbia.  Lorain  Co..  Ohio,  a 
son  of  S.  B.  and  Emular  (Osborne)  Thomp- 
son, residents  of  Columbia.  He  attended 
sciiool  at  Berea,  Ohio,  finally  graduating 
from  Baldwin  University,  class  of  1885, 
taking  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  He  then, 
having  decided  on  making  the  profession 
of  law  his  life  work,  commenced  its  study 
with  Judge  Barber,  of  Cleveland,  and 
completed  same  with  prosecnting-attorney 
Webber,  of  Elyria.  After  a  thorough 
delving  into  "  Blackstone  "  and  "  Coke 
upon  Lyttleton,"  our  subject  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  December  6.  1888,  and  was  as- 
sociated in  business  in  Elyria  with  his  last 
preceptor,  one  year,  when,  seeing  the  great 
possibilities  in  store  for  Lorain,  a  fast 
growing  town,  he  moved  thither  and 
opened  an  office  for  his  own  account.     He 


552 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


has  succeeded  beyond  his  most  sanguine 
expectations.  As  a  cogent  reasoner  and 
jurist,  he  is  marked  for  his  ability,  and  as 
a  pleader  he  has  few  equals  among  men  of 
his  age  and  experience.  By  his  integrity 
and  business  capabilities  lie  has  won  the 
contidence  of  the  best  business  men  of  the 
community.  In  1890  Mr.  Thompson  was 
elected  mayor  of  Lorain,  and  is  now  tilling 
his  second  terra.  During  his  incumbency 
as  mayor  have  been  made  most  of  the 
great  public  improvements  of  the  city,  and 
in  this  he  has  always  taken  a  leading  part. 
During  the  year  1892  Lorain  expended 
sixty  thousand  dollars  on  public  sewers, 
and  many  otiier  extensive  improvements 
have  been  made. 

In  December,  1890,  Mr.  Thompson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Lulu  Sanford,  of 
Delaware,  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  K.  of  P.  and  I.  O.  O.  F. 


ILAS  D.  WHITNEY,  the  oldest 
citizen  of  Pittsfield  township,  is  a 
worthy  member  of  a  pioneer  family 
of  the  county.  He  is  a  grandson 
of  Asa  Whitney,  who  in  1792  removed 
from  Connecticut  to  the  vicinity  of  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  there  in  1802.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  among  the  children  by 
his  tirst  wife  was  Asa,  Jr.,  who  afterward' 
became  the  tirst  man  to  agitate  the  idea  of 
a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

Milton  Whitney,  who  was  a  son  of  Asa 
Whitney  by  his  second  wife,  was  born  in 
1786  in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  and  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  reared.  He  received  a  common-school 
education,  learned  tlie  trade  of  blacksmith, 
and  had  wagons  and  plows  made  in  his 
wagon  shop.  After  the  death  of  his 
lather  he  resided  with  his  mother  until 
his  marriage,  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  with 
Miss  Lydia  Cleveland,  who  was  born  on 


the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard,  daughter 
of   Zebdial  Cleveland,  an  old  sea  captain. 
To  this   union  came  children,  all  of  whom 
were  born   in  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  as  follows: 
Asa  W.,  a   blacksmith   by  trade,  who  died 
in  Pittsfield,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio  (he  was  in 
Lorain   county  when    Pittsfield    township 
was   formed,  it    being   No.  4,  Range    18, 
Connecticut  AVestern  Reserve,  and  it  was 
he  who   suggested    that   the  township  be 
called   Pittsfield,   after   Pittsfield,   Mass.); 
Chancey,  who  died  young,  the  sharp  point 
of  an  old-fashioned  spinning-wheel  having 
accidentally  peneti'ated  his  skull;  Clarissa, 
who  married  Hiram  Humphrey,  a  presid- 
ing   elder    and     minister    in    the    M.    E. 
Church,    and    died     in     Pittsfield.    Ohio; 
Wealthy,  who  married  J.   L.  Wadsworth, 
and  died  in  Wellington,  Ohio;  Oliver  W., 
deceased   in  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Silas  D., 
who    will    receive     mention     farther    on; 
Henry  C,  who  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  Colorado,  where  he  died;  and  Frederick 
C,  of  Pittsfield  Center.     In  1820  Milton 
Whitney   set  out   for   Ohio,  traveling  by 
way  of  the  Erie  Canal  as  far  as  Buffalo, 
where  he  remained  one  week,  waiting  for 
the  steamer  (the  only  one  on  the  lake)  to 
take  him   to  Cleveland,  which  was  then  a 
small  village,  containing  but  a  few  huts. 
He  came  by  stage  from  Cleveland  to  South 
Amherst,  and  thence  on  foot  to  Pittsfield 
township,  Lorain    county,  where   he    had 
some    few   years    previously   purchased   a 
large    tract  of  land,  containing  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  acres.     He  decided  not 
to  settle  at   that  time,  as  the  country  was 
entirely    wild,    and    there    were    but    few 
white  people  in  all  of  Lorain  county.     Re- 
turning to  his  home  in  Massachusetts,  he 
remained    there  until   1833,  when  he  sold 
his   beautiful  home  for  a  good   price,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  year  came  with  his  wife 
to   Lorain    county,   Ohio,  where   they   de- 
cided   to    locate    in    Pittsfield     township. 
Again    returning   to  the  East,  they  made 
preparations    for    migration,  and  on   Jan- 
uary 22,  1884,  their  two  sons,  Asa  W.  and 
Silas  D.,  left  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  setting  out 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


553 


with  two  horses  and  two  wagons  for  their 
new  home,  w'here  they  arrived  in  tlie  latter 
part  of  February.  The  rest  of  the  family 
followed  shortly  afterward.  To  Tiiomas 
and  Jerry  Wait  Mr.  AVhitney  gave  one 
hundred  acren,  and  to  Chauncey  and 
Henry  Remington,  also  one  hundred  acres 
(fifty  acres  to  eacii  individual),  all  wild 
land  in  an  unbroken  wilderness  in  No.  -4, 
on  condition  that  they  settle  on  the  land, 
which  they  did.  The  Waits  (both  bache- 
lors) settled  here  in  1821,  being  the  first 
permanent  settlers  in  Pittstield   township. 

Milton  Whitney  was  not  physically  a 
strong  man,  or  robust,  and  he  spent 
many  seasons  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health.  He  was  an  ardent 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
served  as  postmaster  during  his  residence 
in  Fittstield  township,  where  he  owned 
one  thousand  acres  of  land.  He  died  in 
1839,  his  wife  in  1809,  and  they  are  both 
buried  in  the  South  cemetery,  in  Pittslield 
township. 

Silas  D.  Whitney  was  born  March  3, 
1820,  in  Pittslield,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  greater  part  of  his  education, 
afterward  attending  the  old  log  school 
houses  of  Pittslield,  Ohio,  and  finally  one 
term  in  Wellington.  He  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  remained  at  home  until  two 
years  after  his  father's  decease.  On  No- 
vember 11,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Electa  N.  Parsons,  who  was  born  in  182-4 
in  Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  and  Electa  (Naramore)  Parsons, 
the  latter  of  whom  died  when  her  daugh- 
ter Electa  was  born ;  the  father  remained 
a  widower  ten  years,  when  he  remarried, 
and  in  1835  he  came  to  Pittsfield,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitney  settled  on  the  home  farm,  where 
they  still  reside,  and  here  the  following 
children  have  come  to  brighten  their  home: 
Arthur  E.,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Ann  Clar- 
issa, a  most  beloved  daughter,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  thirty-one;  Alma  E.,  wife  of 
Ciiarles  E.  Archer,  of  Massillon.  Oiiio; 
Abbie,  wife  of  F.  C.  Williams,  of  Creston, 


Ohio;  Agnes,  who  was  married  November 
22,  1893,  to  Frank  Coleman,  of  Nelson, 
Nel). ;  Frances,  living  at  home;  and  Ed- 
mund M.,  superintendent  of  the  F.  C. 
Kimball  Manufacturing  Co.,  Cleveland. 
In  politics  Mr.  Whitney  was  originally  a 
Democrat,  but  subsequently  because  an 
Abolitionist,  and  he  is  now  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church;  his  wife 
worships  at  the  Congregational  Church. 


IA\ILLIAM  HAWKINS  (deceased) 
y  was  born  July  2,  1804,  in  New- 
ly burgh.  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Van  Camp) 
Hawkins,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in 
the  Wyoming  Valley,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  an  eyewitness  to  some  of  the  incidents 
connected  with  the  massacre  which  took 
place  in  that  historic  vale. 

William  Hawkins  was  one  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  last 
survivor.  When  he  was  nine  years  of  age, 
his  father  died,  and  the  young  lad  then 
went  to  make  his  home  with  Adam  Welty, 
a  fartner  of  Owasco  township,  Cayuga 
Co.,  ]M.  Y.,  with  whom  he  lived  some 
time,  during  which  he  attended  the  com- 
mon  schools  in  winter  and  worked  on  a 
farm  in  summer.  When  seventeen  years 
of  age  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of 
blacksmith  under  one  HoUiday,  whom  in 
later  years  he  always  referred  to  as  his 
"old  boss,"  and  after  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  he  commenced  business  for  his 
own  account  in  Owasco  township.  When 
he  started  he  was  absolutely  penniless,  as 
during  his  apprenticeship  he  received 
nothing  but  his  board  and  clothes,  although 
treated  very  kindly,  and  as  one  of  the 
family.  His  foster-father  went  security 
for  an  outfit  of  tools,  which  enabled  him 
to  make  a  good  start,  and  after  a  few  years 
industrious  application  at  his  trade  lie  paid 
off  this  indebtedness,  his  only  one,  and  had 


554 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


saved  monpy.  In  1830  he  made  a  visit 
to  Micliiiian  (wiiere  lie  had  a  lirotlier  liv- 
inir).  with  the  intention  of  reiDaining 
thfi-e,  but  being  dissatisfied  with  the  coun- 
try, returned  to  New  York  State.  In 
1832  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  locating  in 
Erie  county  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  man 
named  Tillinghnrst  at  but  meager  wages. 
Two  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  Buckeye 
State  he  bought  105-J  acres  on  Lot  13, 
Tract  10,  Camden  township,  Lorain  county, 
at  that  time  covered  with  an  unbroken 
forest,  and  devoid  of  buildings  of  any 
kind.  Here,  in  company  with  his  brother 
Charles,  he  set  to  work  to  make  a  clearing 
for  a  home,  and  together  they  erected  a 
substantial  log  house,  at  that  time  consid- 
ered the  best  one  in  the  township.  Our 
subject  also  built  a  log  blacksmith  shop, 
and  in  connection  with  his  farming  opera- 
tions followed  his  trade  for  thirty  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  retired  from 
blacksmithing,  and  continued  agriculture 
exclusively  during  the  remainder  of  his 
active  life.  He  died  September  6,  1888, 
after  a  brief  illness,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Camden  cemetery.  He  was  a  man  of 
remarkable  vitality,  strong,  robust  consti- 
tution, and  almost  iron  frame.  He  made 
a  success  in  life,  and  from  a  start  of  posi- 
tively nothing  save  a  willing  pair  of 
hands  accumulated  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence, and  succeeded  in  securing  and  re- 
taining the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors  and  many  acquaintances.  Po- 
litically he  was  originally  a  "Whig,  later  a 
Eepublican,  and  in  church  matters  he  in 
an  early  day  united  with  the  Baptist  Con- 
gregation at  Camden  Center. 

On  April  22,  1835,  Mr.  Hawkins  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ab- 
bott, a  native  of  Otsego  county,  N.  Y., 
born  March  29,  1813,  a  daughter  of  Squire 
and  Anna  (SpafEord)  Abbott,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, where  they  lived  till  they  were 
over  twenty  years  of  age.  Mr.  Abbott 
was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  in  pioneer 
days  came  from  New  York  State  to  Ohio 
on  horseback,  being  sent  out  as  missionary 


from  the  Baptist  board.  In  1820  he  lo- 
cated in  Ashtabula  county,  and  five  years 
later  came  to  Henrietta  toAvnship,  Lorain 
county,  at  that  time  part  of  Brownhelm 
township,  where  he  died  December  18, 
1853,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years; 
his  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in 
1847,  and  they  peacefully  await  the  Eesur- 
rection  Morn  in  Henrietta  township  ceme- 
tery. The  record  of  the  children — eight 
daughters  and  one  son — is  as  follows: 
Eliza  married  Egbert  Ingersoll,  and  died 
iu  1886  at  Camden  Center;  Hannah  is  the 
wife  of  J.  B.  Cook,  of  Elyria;  Maria  is 
residing  at  home;  Vesta  married  Oscar 
Tanner,  and  died  May  23,  1863,  in  liug- 
gles,  Ashland  county;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
L.  A.  Andrews,  of  Delplios,  Ohio,  a  con- 
ductor on  the  P.  A.  W.  Railway;  Anna 
is  married  to  Simeon  Hales,  of  Henrietta, 
Ohio;  Charles  E.  is  farming  on  the  home 
place  in  Camden  township;  Naomi  is  the 
wife  of  E.  H.  Wing,  of  Chicago,  111.; 
Alice  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Hales,  of  Cam- 
den township.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband  Mrs.  Hawkins,  now  a  hale  and 
hearty  lady,  in  the  enjoyment  of  almost 
phenomenal  health,  has  been  making  her 
home  with  her  son  Charles  and  daughter 
Maria  on  the  old  homestead,  where  well 
nigh  sixty  years  of  her  honored  life  have 
already  been  passed. 


EYMOUR  WESLEY  BALDWIN, 

^^-,  long  a  merchant  in  Elyria,  was  born 
^g/)  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  June  29,  1807. 
He  was,  quite  remarkably,  only  in 
the  fourth  generation  from  the  first  an- 
cestor of  the  name,  Richard  Baldwin,  who 
settled  in  Milfurd,  Conn.,  in  1639.  The 
family  was  a  very  respectable  one  in 
Buckinghamshire,  England,  prominent  in 
Milford  and  rich  in  lands — wiiich  were 
divided  and  re-divided  among  the  descend- 
ants, so  that  there  was  an  unusual  number 
of  farmers  of  moderate  wealth. 


V/ /^>/^-:h;-^^ 


LOIiAiy  (.  OUNTY,  OUIO. 


557 


Such  was  Mr.  Baldwin's  fatlier,  Charles 
Eakhviu,  an  early  Methodist  of  the  last 
century,  who  bought  a  large  farm  in 
Meriden,  and  died  there  in  1S18  leaving  a 
widow  and  seven  children,  of  whom  Sey- 
mour W.  was  the  youngest.  He  went  to 
district  school  winters,  w'orking  at  the 
farm  summers,  and  was  thought  to  have 
considerable  education  when  he  attended 
the  Episcopal  Academy  at  Cheshire  for 
one  winter.  When  seventeen,  Seymour 
commenced  business  as  a  peddler,  which 
mode  of  life  was  the  common  and  almost 
only  one  open  to  enterprising  and  respect- 
able young  men;  and  many  prominent 
citizens  in  after  days  commenced  as  "Con- 
necticut peddlers."  Many  settled  in  that 
most  prolitable  Held,  the  South,  as  mer- 
chants, and  many  elsewhere.  When,  in 
1847,  Mr.  Baldwin  retired  to  Meriden,  the 
ex-member  of  Congress  residing  there — 
both  bank  presidents,  the  ex-president  of 
the  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co.,  and  a  large  share 
of  the  other  leading  business  men  of  the 
place,  had  made  such  a  beginning.  When 
all  goods  had  to  be  carted  overland,  this 
was  quite  the  natural  mode  of  trade.  The 
carriage  of  goods  by  railroad  has  nearly 
abcdished  this  mode  of  trade,  and  vastly 
lowered  its  dignity.  An  entertaining  study 
might  be  made  of  that  business  at  that 
time.  The  field  was  on  foot,  or  with 
horse  and  wagon  in  the  New  England 
States  and  Long  Island,  or  with  wagon  in 
the  South,  and  with  regular  routes  and 
customers. 

Seymour  soon  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother  Jesse,  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  &  S.  Baldwin,  as  a  country 
merchant,  in  Oxford,  Conn.,  then  a  more 
thriving  village  than  at  present.  The 
business  was  general,  and  while  at  first 
one  of  the  brothers  peddled,  they  also  em- 
ployed other  peddlers  and  manufactured 
silver  spoons.  Soon  outgrowing  Oxford, 
J.  &  S.  Baldwin  removed  to  Middletown, 
same  State.  The  energy,  ability  and  high 
character  of  the  brothers  had  already  be- 
come recognized  in  New  York.    That  cele- 


brated Xew  York  merchant atid  philanthro- 
pist, William  E.Dodge, in  his  little  book  on 
Old  New  York  published  by  Dodd,  Mead 
&  Co.,  in  1880,  selected  the  two  brothers 
and  a  comrade,  who  together  entered  his 
store  with  trunks,  as  typical  samples  of 
Connecticut  merit  and  success.  Tliey  all 
became  prominent  and  valued  customers 
and  friends  of  Mr.  Dodge.  Mr.  Dodge 
mentioned  that  Mr.  Jesse  Baldwin  had 
then  been  a  bank  president  for  twenty 
years,  and  the  third  a  large  manufacturer. 
Mr.  Dodge  then  spoke  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  at  greater  length  and  with 
much  respect.  Both  brothers  became  in 
South  Carolina  and  Geoi"<ria  strong  anti- 
slavery  men — Jesse  as  a  leading  Abolition- 
ist, while  Seymour  was  a  Whig,  becoming 
an  early  Free-soiler.  Possibly  his  wag- 
ons at  Elyria  may  sometimes  have  traveled 
on  the  "Underground  Railroad,"  for  Ids 
works  were  always  with  his  faith.  In 
May,  1835,  though  the  South  was  a  more 
alluring  field  for  money,  Mr.  Baldwin 
with  his  young  wife  and  an  infant  son  re- 
moved to  Elyria.  Here  with  a  magnificent 
physical  constitution  he  displayed  great 
energy.  Business  was  then  so  perfectly 
unlike  business  now,  that  a  sketch  of  it 
ujay  be  interesting. 

Elyria,  the  county  town,  was  settled  in 
1817.  The  county  was  heavily  timbered. 
It  is  easy  to  see  that  before  the  Erie  Canal 
there  must  have  been  but  little  trade  in- 
deed. The  pioneers  must  have  lived  by 
themselves — lives  very  simple  and  full  of 
"  hardship,"  and  perhaps  as  happy  as  ours. 
In  1835  there  was  a  general  barter  trade; 
there  was  very  little  money.  The  heavy 
timber  was  burned  into  ashes,  and  ashes, 
pot  and  pearl,  were  considered  "  cash, " 
and  went  to  Pittsburgh  for  glass  and  also 
to  New  York.  Many  salts  went  to  Pitts- 
burgh in  the  shape  of  scorchings  or  black 
salts,  which  was  lye  reduced  to  a  black  mass 
and  then  scorched  in  ovens.  From  1838 
much  white  oak  and  many  staves  went  to 
Black  River,  thence  by  sail  to  Buffalo, 
thence  by  canal  to  New  York.  There  could 


558 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


hardly  have  been  any  eastern  trade  with- 
out these  commodities.  The  dry  goods 
and  groceries  were  bought  in  New  York. 
They  came  l)y  canal  to  Buifalo,  thence  by 
boat  or  sail  to  Cleveland,  or  more  com- 
monly Black  Kiver.  No  goods  came 
through  in  the  winter,  and  such  replenish- 
ing, if  any,  as  took  place,  came  by  Pitts- 
burgh to  Cleveland,  being  hauled  from 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh. 
Hauling  was  a  business  of  considerable 
extent,  and  one  spring  Mr.  Baldwin  met 
east  of  Pittsburgh  within  ten  miles 
as  many  as  fifty  wagons.  After  a  while 
some  goods  were  bought  of  the  firm  of 
Hilliard  &  Hayes,  in  Cleveland.  In  the 
early  spring  goods  were  hauled  from  Buf- 
falo west  (before  that  harbor  was  opened) 
to  Silver  Creek  or  elsewhere,  to  meet  the 
boats,  and  Mr.  D.  B.  Andrews,  formerly 
partner  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  going  down  on  a 
steamer,  was  compelled  to  land  in  Canada, 
cancrht  cold,  and  died  in  Buffalo. 

The  cheapest  goods  were  then  in  demand. 
There  were  no  ingrain  carpets  kept  in 
Elyria  until  about  1845.  Ingrain  carpets, 
nice  shawls  and  dresses,  were  bought  on 
special  orders.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  at  first 
in  company  with  Mr.  Orrin  Cowles,  from 
Meriden.  They  separated,  and  be  bought 
out  (for  the  sake  of  the  corner  stand)  Wil- 
cox &  Beebe.  successors  of  the  Lorain  Iron 
Company.  That  store  long  remained  with 
Mr.  Baldwin's  sign  "  Old  New  York  Store." 

Then  commenced  the  very  energetic 
competition  which  made  Elyria  noted  for 
trade.  Mr.  H.  K.  Kendall,  a  merchant  of 
greatability,  then  had  the  leading  business. 
He  was  first  on  the  ground,  and  there  had 
been  great  falls  in  prices  of  which  he  had 
the  credit.  A  merchant's  life  was  labori- 
ous. Mr.  Baldwin  used  to  go  by  stage 
before  navigation  opened  on  the  lake — 
sometimes  by  way  of  Buffalo  and  some- 
times by  way  of  Pittsburgh — to  New  York 
and  Philadelphia.  It  was  a  great  thing  to 
get  the  first  goods  in  the  spring,  and  he 
studied  the  matter  carefully,  spending 
several  days   in    Albany.     He   loaded   the 


canal  boats  in  New  York  (being  careful  to 
have  the  boats  filled  with  his  own  goods 
only),  and  early  went  to  Albany  before  the 
canal  was  opened.  There  boats  had  a  right 
to  go  in  order  of  registry.  For  several 
years  he  offered  prizes  for  being  among 
the  first  ten  boats  at  Buffalo,  but  there  was 
danger  of  being  too  early;  as,  if  unloaded 
at  Buffalo  in  warehouse,  the  lake  boats 
would  take  fresh  canal  boats  rather  than 
from  the  warehouse,  thereby  saving  one 
loading.  At  the  first  decided  triumph, 
when  his  rival  had  advertised  the  first 
goods,  Mr.  Baldwin  passed  those  first 
goods  safely  stored  at  Buffalo,  saw  his 
own  loaded  in  boat,  got  the  boat  to  land 
at  Black  River,  and  accompanied  the  goods 
to  Elyria  long  before  his  rival's  arrived. 
Such  single  incidents  seem  small,  but  it 
was  the  many  such  struggles  that  made 
Elyria  the  center  of  trade  for  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  miles  east  and  west,  and  twenty- 
five  miles  south.  The  system  of  ready 
cash  (there  was  but  little)  or  barter  was 
introduced,  and  this  lowered  prices. 
Elyria  in  those  days  was  a  sight  to  see. 
The  farmer  came  over  the  mud  road  with 
his  heavy  wagon,  frequently  with  oxen,  for 
twenty-five  miles,  bringing  part  of  his 
family  and  such  articles  as  he  had  to  sell, 
and  doing  the  trading  for  the  spring  and 
fall.  The  street  at  midday  would  be  full 
of  wagons,  there  being  often  one  hundred, 
more  or  less.  Other  merchants  were 
crowded  out,  but  both  the  chief  competitors 
went  safely  through  the  hard  times  of 
1837  to  1840.  In  the  spring  of  1837 
both  had  to  ask  some  extension,  Mr.  Bald- 
win asking  only  leave  to  extend  their  debts 
for  some  friends;  but  aside  from  this,  in  a 
business  life  of  over  sixty  years,  Mr. 
Baldwin  has  never  been  obliged  to  ask  a 
favor  of  a  creditor.  It  is  difficult  even  for 
one  who  experienced  it  to  see  how  busi- 
ness could  have  been  conducted — with 
the  frightful  state  of  money  and  difficult 
transportation.  The  farmers  brought  but- 
ter (and  very  poor  it  was  in  those  days), 
feathers,  oats,   wheat,   in    fact    everything 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


559 


they  had,  and  tlie  merchants  houalit  almost 
everything  but  live  beef.  The  butter  went 
to  Xew  York,  and  the  wheat  was  floured 
ai  the  local  mills.  But  the  farmers  brought 
little  money.  8ome  cash  came  in  with 
emigrants.  When  the  farmers  could  ex- 
change a  pound  of  butter  for  a  pound  of 
sugar  there  was  rejoicing.  In  1S3(5  there 
was  a  general  suspension  of  hanks,  and 
there  was  no  resumption  until  1840. 
There  was  "Michigan  Wild  Cat"  paper, 
the  worst  currency  imaginable,  everybody 
fearing  it.  Mr.  Baldwin  once  having  flour 
to  sell  on  commission — the  currency  being 
left  to  him — the  farmers  seemed  to  be  very 
glad  to  get  anything  for  such  currency; 
and  when  Mr.  Baldwin  announced  that  he 
would  charge  a  dollar  more  for  currency 
than  for  barter,  the  currency  came  in  only 
the  faster.  Produce  was  generally  taken 
as  cash,  and  sold  again  at  home  without 
proflt.  It  was  very  ditflcult  for  the  farm- 
ers to  get  enough  money  to  pay  taxes,  and 
Mr.  Baldwin  earned  the  lasting  gratitude 
of  one  farmer  by  giving  him  two  dollars 
hard  money  at  the  current  price  for  butter. 
At  a  later  date  the  Arm  at  Elyria  sold  at 
times  from  one  hundred  and  tifty  thousand 
dollars  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
and  a  branch  at  Wellington  two-thirds  as 
much.  A  large  share  was  paid  in  pro- 
duce, the  firm  at  Elyria  handling  from  flfty 
thousand  dollars  to  sixty  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  butter  in  a  year.  The  firm  em- 
ployed at  one  time  about  forty  clerks.  The 
rivalry  at  Elyria  was  famous,  and  a  retired 
New  York  merchant  once  said  to  the  writer 
that,  as  a  country  store,  Mr.  Baldwin's  was 
as  remarkable  in  its  way  as  that  of  Mr. 
Stewart's  in  New  York  City.  Railroads 
largely  revolutionized  the  trade.  Mr.  I'ald- 
win  never  tried  to  make  large  profits, 
and  never  lost  money  except  one  year 
(about  1840),  the  year  the  l)anks  were  re- 
quired to  resume  in  Ohio.  He  paid  a 
Cleveland  bank  that  announced  the  inten- 
tion to  resume  thirteen  per  cent,  premium 
in  its  own  hills  for  a  draft  on  New  York 
ten  days  before  the  appointed  time.     The 


draft  was  paid,  the  bank  did  not  resume. 
At  that  time  merchants  refused  to  sell  at 
any  price  for  the  currency  of  the  country. 
That  generation  needed  no  more  lessons  as 
to  the  value  of  safe  currency. 

Mr.  Baldwin  has  been  a  man  of  very  un- 
usual poise  of  character.  With  such  a 
business,  which  by  its  economy  of  labor 
and  low  profits  has  done  the  farmers  of 
Lorain  a  very  large  amount  of  saving,  he 
has  not  hiiuself  cared  for  wealth.  Always 
fairly  economical — never  ostentatious — he 
on  coming  to  P^lyria  resolved  that  when 
he  had  ao(|nired  a  moderate  fixed  sum  he 
would  retire.  In  1847,  in  accordance  with 
that  resolve,  he  returned  to  Meriden, 
though  it  is  doubtful  if  he  would  have 
been  willing  to  (|uit  unless  he  had  become 
the  leader.  But  he  could  not  let  business 
alone.  He  started  there  a  ready-pay  store, 
and  became  the  president  of  the  Home 
(now  Home  National)  Bank,  which  post 
he  resigned  on  his  return  to  Elyria.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of 
Wicks,  Otis  &  Brownell,  of  Cleveland.  He 
became  acquainted  with  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  William  A.  Otis,  while 
waiting  at  Albany  to  see  the  goods  through. 
In  1856  he  returned  to  Elyria,  and  until 
his  death  had  a  small  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness at  Elyria  and  at  Wellington.  Losses 
invited  his  return,  but  he  had  no  ambition 
for  business  in  large  places — having  de- 
clined in  1847  an  invitation  to  partnership 
in  the  leading  house  in  Cleveland,  and  at 
other  times  favorable  invitations  to  New 
York.  His  energy  and  business  judgment 
would  have  made  large  wealth  in  larger 
places,  but  Mr.  Baldwin  had  such  mastery 
of  life  that  he  cared  not  for  it. 

In  1870  Mr.  Baldwin  went  abroad  for 
travel, and  after  that  he  was  notactivein  his 
business.  In  1874  he  had  so  severe  an  attack 
of  pneumonia  that  it  was  thought  to  be  im- 
possible for  him  to  live,  atid  his  death  was 
reported;  but  a  vigorous  constitution  and 
pure  life  carried  him  through,  and  he  lived 
until  tlie  fourth  day  of  February,  1891. 
He  continued  active  in   his   care    of    an 


5(50 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO, 


invalid  wife  until  her  death  in  1886;  in  his 
garden;  in  slight  attention  to  tlie  business 
of  tlie  bank,  of  which  he  was  many  years 
director;  or  in  other  private  business.  He 
was  always  an  intelligent  reader,  having 
especially  a  taste  for  history. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  also  much  interested 
in  securing,  before  he  died,  the  building  of 
a  new  church,  donatingthe  lot  and  in  other 
ways  helping  much.  He  gave  the  plans 
and  the  building  much  thought  and  time. 
He  was  a  man  of  sturdy  independence  of 
character,  with  a  frank  toleration  for  the 
opinions  of  others,  which  steadily  increased 
with  his  advancing  years.  An  interchange 
of  thought  became  a  pleasure,  for  his  in- 
terlocutor was  sure  of  a  fair  hearing,  how- 
ever diverse  might  be  their  views.  His 
public  spirit  was  evidenced  by  the  deep 
interest  he  always  took  in  the  success  of 
the  many  young  men  with  whom  he  was 
associated.  Said  Dr.  Hoyt  at  his  funeral; 
"  Coming  as  Mr.  Baldwin  did  from  Puritan 
stock,  ho  early  inherited  some  of  its 
marked  peculiarities.  He  had  an  intense 
antipathy  at  all  times  to  whatever  he  re- 
garded as  meanness,  to  ingratitude  and  to 
every  form  and  manifestation  of  injustice. 
He  prized  personal,  political  and  religious 
freedom,  and  he  sought  in  every  way  as  he 
had  opportunity  to  pi'otect  the  helpless  and 
the  oppressed,  and  to  guard  against  the 
encroachment  of  power." 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  always  much  inter- 
ested in  what  he  regarded  as  the  best  in- 
terests of  Elyria  in  political  or  business 
matters,  and  in  early  days,  when  railroad- 
ing was  a  problem,  was  a  director  in  the 
Junction  Railroad — built  through  Elyria 
and  now  a  part  of  the  Lake  Shore  &  Mich- 
igan Southern  Railway.  He  attributed 
his  business  success  to  rigid  adherence  to 
principles  of  which  the  chief  were  to  always 
promptly  fulfill  his  obligations,  of  what- 
ever nature,  and  to  keep  his  business 
always  within  his  control.  It  may  fairly 
be  said  of  him,  however,  that  his  life  has 
been  governed  by  a  rare  judgment  and 
moderate  ambition. 


Mr.  Baldwin  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Mary  Candee,  of  Oxford,  Conn.,  who  died 
in  Elyria  September  28,  1836,  leaving  two 
children  both  under  two  years  of  age.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Fidelia  Hall, 
of  Meriden,  Conn.,  who  survived  until 
1886.  He  had  four  sons — by  the  first 
wife:  Charles  Candee  Baldwin,  of  Cleve- 
land, and  David  Candee  Baldwin,  of 
Elyria;  by  the  second  wife:  John  Hall 
Baldwin,  a  manufacturer,  of  New  York 
City,  and  Arthur  Rice,  a  resident  of 
Atlanta,  Georgia. 


CHARLES    CANDEE    BALDWIN 
was    born    December    2,    1834,    in 
Middletown,  Conn.,  a   son    of  Sey- 
mour    W.     and     Mary      (Candee) 
Baldwin. 

In  May,  1835,  the  family  moved  to 
Elyria,  Ohio,  making  a  considerable  part 
of  their  journey  by  boat  on  the  Erie  Canal, 
where  it  is  reported  that  the  young  traveler 
made  his  presence  effectively  known  by  the 
vigorous  use  of  his  then  lusty  voice.  In 
1836  his  mother  died,  too  early  for  his  re- 
membrance. In  time  her  tender  care  was 
supplied  by  a  stepmother,  of  whom  it  is 
said  in  the  Baldwin  Genealogy  that  she 
was  as  good  a  stepmother  as  ever  lived. 
As  illustrating  the  changes  which  have 
taken  place  in  Lorain  county,  where  his 
childhood  was  spent,  and  which  has  always 
been  his  pride,  it  is  related,  among  the  ex- 
periences of  his  early  childhood,  that  when 
two  years  old  he  was  lost  in  the  woods 
where  the  Elyria  depot  now  stands. 

In  1847  the  family  returned  to  Connec- 
ticut, residing  in  Meriden  until  1856,  when 
they  again  came  to  Elyria.  Meantime,  on 
August  1,  1855,.  Charles  had  graduated 
with  honor  from  the  Wesleyan  University, 
Middletown,  and  same  month  entered  the 
Harvard  Law  School,  where,  in  1857,  he 
took  the  degree  of  LL.  B.    In  the  autumn 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


561 


of  the  same  year  lie  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  entered  the 
office  of  S.  B.  and  F.  J.  Prentiss.  In  1861, 
on  the  election  of  F.  J.  Prentiss  to  the 
office  of  county  clerk,  Mr.  Baldwin  entered 
into  partnership  with  S.  B.  Prentiss,  un- 
der the  tirm  name  of  S.  B.  Prentiss  & 
Baldwin.  In  1869,  upon  the  election  of 
S.  B.  Prentiss  to  the  bench,  the  firm  of 
Prentiss,  Baldwin  &  Ford  was  formed, 
which  in  1878  was  changed  to  Baldwin  & 
Ford. 

By  too  close  attention  to  business  Mr. 
Baldwin's  health  became  so  much  im- 
paired in  1870,  that  he  spent  some  time  in 
Europe  for  recuperation,  winch,  however, 
was  but  partial;  so  that  for  some  years 
subsequent  he  gave  less  attention  than 
formerly  to  his  law  business,  in  order  to 
secure  more  outdoor  exercise.  From  1875 
to  1878  he  was  president  of  the  Cleveland 
Board  of  Underwriters.  He  has  heen  di- 
rector of  four  banks,  and  has  been  twice 
offered  the  presidency  of  a  leading  bank 
in  Cleveland.  His  rare  capacity  and  sterl- 
ing integrity  have  brought  into  his  hands 
from  the  first  a  business,  unusually  im- 
portant in  its  character  and  responsibility, 
largely  relating  to  corporations  and  bank- 
ing. A  most  important  case — that  of 
Brown,  Bonnell  &  Compsiny,  the  great 
iron  manufacturers  of  Yonngstown — was 
argued  by  him,  by  brief  and  orally,  several 
times  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
Stated,  involving  the  very  successful  issue 
of  a  million  and  a  half  of  dollars. 

In  1884,  on  the  organization  of  the 
circuit  court,  under  the  change  in  the  con- 
stitution of  Ohio,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  unani- 
mously presented  by  his  county  as  their 
candidate.  Of  the  160  votes  cast  at  the  con- 
vention in  ElyriaMr.  Baldwin  received  142; 
the  next  highest  candidate  nominated  re- 
ceived but  105.  He  has  since  been  reelected, 
and  is  now  (1894)  the  presiding  judge  of 
that  court.  Mr.  Baldwin  lias  been  untiring 
in  his  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office, 
though  it  has  i)een  impossible  for  him  to 
relieve    himself    from    finishing    in     the 


United  States  Courts  a  large  amount  of 
professional  business  of  a  high  order.  So 
well  founded  have  been  the  most  of  his 
judicial  decisions,  that  it  is  exceedingly 
rare  for  one  to  be  reversed  by  the  higher 
courts.  Though  a  man  ot  specially  tender 
susceptibilities,  he  has  shown  himself,  to  a 
remarkable  degree,  able  to  rise  above  his 
sympathies  in  defining  the  exact  equities 
of  the  law.  In  one  notable  case,  where 
the  death  of  a  beautiful  little  girl  had  been 
caused  by  a  railroad  train,  though  his  feel- 
ings were  so  overcome  that  he  completely 
broke  down  in  giving  his  decision,  yet 
it  was  clear  that  he  did  not  suffer  his 
sympathies  to  warp  his  sense  of  legal 
equity. 

The  inherent  activity  of  Judge  Baldwin's 
nature,  and  the  liberal  education  with 
which  he  lifgan  his  professional  career, 
joined  to  natural  tastes  in  that  direction, 
have  led  him  to  do  a  largeamount  of  effect- 
ive work  in  promoting  the  general  inter- 
ests of  science,  education  and  culture,  both 
in  Ohio  and  in  the  country  at  large. 
Especially  effective  has  been  his  wc>rk 
in  lines  of  historical  and  archaeological 
research. 

In  1866,  while  a  vice-president  of  the 
Cleveland  Library  Association  (now  Case 
Library),  Mr.  Baldwin  planned  the  West- 
ern Reserve  Historical  Society,  which  was 
first  formed  as  a  branch  of  the  Case  Library 
Association;  but  in  1892  was  organized 
under  a  separate  charter.  Upon  the  death 
of  Colonel  Whittlesey,  in  1886,  Mr.  Bald- 
win WHS  chosen  his  successor  as  president 
of  the  Society.  Through  his  personal  so- 
licitations in  1892,  sixty  thousand  dollars 
were  raised  to  complete  the  purchase  and 
remodelling  of  the  fireproof  building,  upon 
the  Public  Square,  in  which  the  valuable 
historical  library  and  archivologioal  mu- 
seum of  the  Society  are  now  stored.  Mr. 
Baldwin's  taste  for  history  has  been  active, 
and  in  1881  he  published  the  "  Baldwin 
Genealogy;"  in  1882-83  the  "Candeeand 
Allied  Families,"  and  later  the  "  Baldwin 
Supplement."      There     have    also      been 


562 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


published  from  his  pen  some  twenty-five 
addresses  and  magazine  articles,  among 
tliein  Early  Maps  of  Ohio  and  the  West 
(the  one  on  Indian  Migrations  being 
adopted  with  little  change  in  Windsor's 
"  Critical  History  of  America");  an  ad- 
dress at  Youngstown  on  ''The  Geographical 
History  of  Ohio;  "  at  Norwalk,  on  "  Man 
in  Ohio;"  at  Oberlin,  on  "Columbus;" 
and  at  Mansfield,  on  "Early  Indian  Mi- 
gration in  Ohio;"  and  a  review  of  the 
"Margry  Papers,"  published  in  Paris  in 
the  French  language.  He  has  been  elected 
causa  honoris  a  member  of  nine  State  or 
other  historical  societies,  and  in  1891  a 
fellow  of  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science.  Prof.  G.  F. 
Wright  is  free  to  say  that  but  for  the  recog- 
nition and  aid  of  Judge  Baldwin,  his  own 
work  in  glacial  antiquities  would  have 
come  to  an  end  with  tlie  survey  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  that  it  was  largely  through 
the  advice  and  encouragement  of  Judge 
Baldwin  that  he  was  led  to  venture  upon 
the  publication  of  so  elaborate  and  highly 
illustrated  a  work  as  his  "Ice  Age  in 
Nortii  America."  For  portions  of  several 
seasons  Judge  Baldwin  has  been  in  the 
field  with  Professor  Wright  in  prosecuting 
glacial  investigations. 

In  LS92  Mr.  Baldwin  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  his  Alma 
Mater.  Among  the  many  who  united  in 
nominating  him  for  tliis  honor  was 
David  J.  BreM'er,  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  who  sent  the  following 
letter: 

Sdprkme  Codrt  op  the  United  States. 
Washington. 

April  6,  1892. 
to  the  faculty  op  western  univbksity. 
Gentlemen: — 

Permit  me  to  join  with  others  in  recom- 
mending the  granting  of  an  honorary  LL.  D.  to 
.Judge  Charles  0.  Baldwin,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio:  I 
have  known  Judge  Baldwin  ever  since  college  days. 
He  is  now  the  presiding  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals  in  Northern  Ohio,  and  has  a  high  rank  as 
a  lawyer  and  judge.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  high 
character,  and  especially  loved  and  honored  in  the 
State  in  which  he  has  made  his  home  during  his 
active  life.  He  has  won  quite  a  name,  too,  outside 
of  the  law,  by  his  researches  into  the  early  history 


of  his  State,  both  before  and  since  its  settlement  by 
the  whites.  He  is  eminently  worthy  of  any  honor 
the  University  can  confer  upon  him,  and  certainly 
a  host  of  friends  will  be  gratified  by  hearing  that 
he  has  received  an  LL.  D.  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
Yours  very  truly, 

David  J.  Brewer. 


DAVID  CANDEE   BALDWIN  was 
born  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  September  23, 
,  '    1836.     He  was  son  of  Seymour  W. 

and  Mary  (Candee)  Baldwin,  the 
latter  of  whom  was  a  daughter  of  David 
and  Hannah  (Catlin)  Candee,  of  Oxford, 
Conn.  The  Caiidees  were  French  Huo-ue- 
nots. 

The  Catlins  had  among  their  ancestors 
Capt.  Joseph  Wadsworth,  who  hid  the 
Connecticut  Charter  in  the  Charter  Oak, 
and  Matthew  and  John  Allyn,  two  of  the 
grantees  named  in  that  saineCharter.  John 
Allyn  was  for  thirty  years  secretary  of  Con- 
necticut, and  during  some  of  the  time  was 
practical  governor,  the  then  Connecticut 
constitution  requiring  a  change  of  gov- 
ernor every  year;  but  the  secretary  of 
State  was  more  constant.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Heman  Ely,  Thomas  Day,  was  for 
twenty-five  years  secretary  of  the  same 
Commonwealth. 

Hannah  Catlin  had  also  amono'  her  an- 
cestors  William  Pynchon,  the  treasurer  of 
the  Massachusetts  Colony  before  the  emi- 
gration, a  member  of  the  council,  the 
founder  of  Springfield,  and  high  in  in- 
fluence until  he  wrote  a  Unitarian  book, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  too  soon.  The 
book  was  burned  on  Boston  Common,  and 
Mr.  Pynchon  returned  to  England,  where 
he  could  enjoy  religious  liberty — "fearing," 
says  Judge  Savage,  "that  he  would  be 
treated  as  was  his  book."  The  State  of 
Massachusetts  at  the  Chicago  Exposition 
exhibited  in  its  State  Buildincr  most  con- 
spicuously  his  portrait.  Mr.  Pynchon  is  the 
hero  of  Holland's  "Bay  Path." 

When  Mr.  Baldwin  was  but  five  days 
old  his   mother  died,  and  his  father  was 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


563 


left  with  the  care  of  two  infants,  for  tlie 
older  son  was  not  yet  two  years  old. 
David  was  at  lirst  cared  for  by  Mrs.  Sarah 
Goodwin,  who  had  a  son  of  the  same  age. 
Seymour  W.  Baldwin's  second  wife,  Fide- 
lia Hall,  as  gentle  and  conscientious  as  any 
mother  could  be,  came  into  the  care  of 
these  two  small  children.  She  survived 
until  1886,  in  Elyria,  having  two  children 
of  her  own.  She  was  many  years  in  ill 
health,  a  feeble,  tender  woman,  strong  in 
her  past  life,  and  in  her  character.  Iler 
own  children  were  far  away,  one  in  Minne- 
sota and  one  in  New  York  City,  and  no 
own  son  conld  have  been  more  attentive, 
thoughtful  and  kind  than  was  the  stepson 
who  lost  his  own  mother  when  five  days 
old.  She  should  certainly  have  loved  him 
as  tenderly  as  if  he  was  her  own,  and  she 
did. 

AVhen  our  subject  was  ten  years  old  his 
father  revisited  his  old  home  in  Connecti- 
cut, returning  to  Elyria  in  1856.  David 
was  educated  at  the  best  schools  to  be 
found,  first  in  Meriden  with  Hon.  David 
N.  Camp,  afterward  distinguished  in  Con- 
necticut, and  Hon.  H.  D.  Smith,  also  a 
leader;  next  with  D.  H.  Chase,  LL.  D., 
of  Middletown,  all  still  living  and  all 
honored.  He  closed  his  education  at 
Wilbraham  Academy  under  Dr.  Ray- 
mond, now  president  of  the  University  at 
Middletown. 

His  father  had  high  hopes  of  his  practi- 
cal business  qualities,  and  he  went  at  once 
into  a  store  at  Meriden,  in  which  his  father 
was  partner.  On  the  return  to  Elyria  he 
went  into  the  store  there  of  Baldwin, 
Laundon  &  Nelson.  Through  his  father 
he  had  an  interest  in  the  business,  and  he 
contributed  in  a  large  degree  to  the  emi- 
nent success  of  the  firm,  the  business  of 
which  is  described  in  the  sketch  of  S.  W. 
Baldwin.  His  excellent  sense  and  judg- 
ment, his  easy  tact,  graceful  manners  and 
strict  and  high  integrity  made  him  an  ex- 
cellent salesman  and  an  early  favorite  with 
the  public.  On  the  reorganization  of  that 
firm  iu  1872,  it  became  D.  C.  Baldwin  & 


Company,  composed  of  his  father,  himself 
and  Mr.  John  Lersch,  he  having  principal 
charge  of  the  very  large  business  of  the 
firm.  The  then  leading  wholesale  merchant 
of  Cleveland  once  said  to  the  writer  that 
no  better  merchant  entered  his  store  than 
Mr.  Baldwin.  In  time  the  firm  became 
Baldwin,  Lersch  &  Co.,  composed  of  the 
same  partners,  and  later  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  S.  W.  Baldwin,  Mr.  Lersch  taking 
gradually  a  more  responsible  part  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  own  and  the  wishes  of 
David.  Mr.  Baldwin  has  a  fine  skill  and 
judgmeut  in  mechanics,  and  it  is  easy  to 
see  that  with  his  business  ability,  if  he 
had  remained  in  Meriden,  he  would  prob- 
ably have  engaged  in  manufacturing,  as 
was  indeed  his  first  taste,  and  he  would 
have  become  eminent.  He  has  an  excel- 
lent library,  which  is  especially  rich  in 
archasology — a  science  which  at  the  iireseut 
time,  especially,  needs  good  judgment,  and 
his  opinions  are  much  respected.  He  gave 
some  months  and  considerable  expense  to 
the  exhibit  of  Man  and  the  Clacial  period 
under  the  name  of  Prof.  (t.  F.  Wright  and 
himself  in  the  Anthropological  Building 
at  the  Columbian  Exj)osition.  He  has 
been  very  generous  to  the  Western  Reserve 
Historical  Society  of  Cleveland,  of  which 
his  brother  is  president,  having  aided  hand- 
somely in  the  purchase  of  its  building,  and 
still  more  handsomely  in  the  objects  of  the 
Society.  Tiie  D.  C.  Baldwin  Collection 
was  the  first  extensive  collection  of  arcluvol- 
ogy  donated  to  the  Society,  and  it  is  prob- 
ably unexcelled  by  any  collection  of  the 
same  size  in  the  United  States. 

On  the  reorgatiization  of  that  very  suc- 
cessful Society  in  1892,  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
one  of  its  incorporators;  he  is  also  a  patron 
and  an  honored  adviser.  AVith  no  wish 
for  wealth  for  its  own  sake,  and  with  more 
than  means  to  gratify  his  wants,  no  one 
person  knows  his  generosity.  Whether  as 
lieutenant  in  the  Civil  war,  or  bank  director 
or  holding  other  office,  he  has  simjjly  taken 
what  was  in  the  plain  line  of  duty,  with 
no  shrinking  from  care,  but  with  no  desire 


564 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for  place  beside.  He  has  well  in  his  heart 
the  idea  of  the  Moravian  prayer — "Pre- 
serve us  from  the  unhappy  desire  of  be- 
coming great." 

Not  long  since  a  gentleman,  who  has 
been  most  intimately  associated  with  a 
public  man  of  distingjuislied  and  constant 
success,  told  the  writer  that  in  the  pleni- 
tude of  his  distinction,  this  man  said: 
•'My  life  has  been  a  failure."  Who 
can  say  that,  when  his  success  is  his 
character? 

Mr.  Baldwin  married.  May  1,  1878, 
Miss  Josephine  Staub,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Henry  Staub,  a  clerjryman  of  the  Method- 
ist Ejiiscopal  Church.  She  is  a  person  of 
tine  education,  with  a  very  active  mind 
and  much  intellectual  strength.  They  are 
both  addicted  to  reading  (which  brings  the 
best  of  company  of  this  and  other  ages) 
and  to  travel.  They  have  journeyed  abroad 
thrice,  as  well  as  extensively  in  this  coun- 
try. Mr.  Baldwin's  life  has  been  quite 
without  such  incident  as  is  usually  men- 
tioned in  a  biography.  He  did  not  ad- 
venture himself  as  a  pioneer  in  a  new 
country,  or  start  business  in  a  new  place, 
or  hold  conspicuous  office.  To  those  who 
know  him  it  is  evident  he  would  have  been 
successful  in  any  line  of  life  he  chose,  as 
he  has  been  in  that  he  has  chosen.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  citizen,  and  especially 
a  le;ider  in  such  good  deeds  as  need  sym- 
pathy, active  work  and  a  benevolent  con- 
tribution. Few  men  have  that  even  poise 
of  character  that  they  are  not  carried  away 
by  the  world,  by  the  desire  of  wealth,  of 
power  or  of  political  position.  Mr.  Bald- 
win's distinction  is,  as  was  his  father's  be- 
fore him,  his  character — successful  in 
everything  he  has  ever  tried,  of  ample  for- 
tune, but  not  desiring  large  wealth,  de- 
clining the  prospect  of  prominent  station 
whenever  offered;  well  educated  by  school- 
ing, reading,  by  travel  and  by  experience; 
well  married,  happy  in  society,  in  his  own 
home  and  abroad;  hospitable,  thoroughly 
appreciated  by  all  who  know  him;  intelli- 
gent, with   tact  and  generosity;   having  a 


most  charming  home,  with  such  reason- 
able hobbies  as  occupy  his  mind;  liappily 
contented,  independent  in  his  own  pur- 
suits, and  able  to  gratify  every  wish  of 
himself  or  his  appreciative  wife — who  can 
but  feel  that  that  is  a  life  to  be  envied, 
and  who  in  the  county  will  not  think  that, 
if  any  one  deserves  it,  "Dave  Baldwin" 
does? 


\ICHAED  BAKEE.  The  subject 
^  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Harjiole, 
\v^  near  Northampton,  Etigland,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1818.  His  ancestors  were 
Freeholders — yeomen,  owners  and 
occupiers  of  land  for  many  generations, 
both  on  his  father's  and  mother's  side. 

Up  to  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject 
was  kept  closely  to  the  country  school,  and 
was  then  sent  to  a  first-class  boarding- 
school,  one  of  the  leading  business  educa- 
tional institutions  of  that  day.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  left  school,  and 
assisted  his  father  in  the  management  of 
"  Spratton  Grange  Farm,"  which  he  occu- 
pied for  many  years.  From  a  young  boy 
he  was  very  fond  of  live-stock,  especially 
cattle,  and  his  father  being  a  large  breeder 
and  feeder,  he  had  great  advantages,  be- 
coming an  expert  in  judging,  managing 
and  handlincj  cattle. 

While  yet  in  his  minority  young  Richard 
succeeded  in  gathering  and  establishing  a 
herd  of  Shorthorns,  that  in  after  years  was 
successful  in  the  show-ring.  He  has  been 
an  admirer  of  Shorthorns  all  his  life,  but 
never  entertained  any  prejudice  against 
other  useful  breeds.  Having  in  those  early 
years  handled  so  many  Hereford,  Aber- 
deen, Sussex  and  Norfolk  grades,  he  knew 
their  oood  qualities,  and  has  ever  been 
ready  to  acknowledge  their  merits.  He 
has  been  called  upon  to  serve  as  "Expert 
Judge"  on  the  "Beef  Breeds"  of  cattle  at 
several  different  States,  and  many  other 
large,  exhibitions,  his  decisions  being 
generally  satisfactory. 


f^L  'c^UecfL^c^^cU^^^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


567 


In  1S52  Mr.  Baker,  accoinpaiiied  hy  his 
wife  and  family  of  eight  chil(h'en,  immi- 
grated to  this  country,  settling  in  Lorain 
county,  where  he  lias  since  been  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  raisini;.  In  ISSC)  he 
commenced  breeding  Siiortliorns,  and  in 
1871  he  purchased  the  "  Cliff  Grange 
Farm  "  of  200  acres,  near  Elyria. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married, 
in  England,  to  Sarah,  sixth  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  and  Martha  Gaudern,  of  Cottes- 
brook,  Northamptonshire.  England.  Mr. 
Gaudern  was  a  large  grazier  and  feeder  of 
cattle;  his  wife,  Martha,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Baker,  was  a  Miss  Eaton,  of  same 
county,  her  ancestors  had  been  prominent 
agriculturists  for  many  generations.  Sev- 
eral of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker 
died  in  their  infancy,  and  two  sons  and 
one  daughter — George  Edward,  Sai-ah  Ann 
and  Alfred  M. — passed  away  in  maturer 
years.  Alfred  M.  died  at  Fort  Collins, 
Colo.,  May  18,  1893.  In  1874  he  went 
out  to  Colorado,  purchased  160  acres  of 
land,  improved  it,  and  made  himself  a 
pleasant  and  substantial  home,  including  a 
good  brick  house  and  all  necessary  out- 
buildings. In  1881  he  married  Ada, 
daucrhter  of  John  Bichardson,  of  Norwalk, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He  added  to  his  farm, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  400 
acres  of  land,  well  stocked,  together  with 
other  property.  He  left  a  loving  wife  and 
a  daughter,  Edna.  In  1890  he  had  •'  La 
Grippe,"  which  never  qnite  left  him,  and 
at  the  above  date  died  of  quick  consump- 
tion. Gordon  W.,  the  eldest  son  of  Richard 
Baker,  is  in  business  in  Elyria.  He  mar- 
ried Charlotte  Alice,  the  fonrth  daughter 
of  William  Linnell,  a  farmer,  of  Sulby, 
Northamptonshire,  England  ;  has  two 
daughters:  Alice  Maud  Mary  and  Annie 
Louise.  B'red  Richard  is  at  Fort  (Collins, 
Colo.,  where  he  has  a  large  farm,  which  he 
rents  to  a  good  farmer,  and  lives  in  the 
city.  He  is  a  director  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  was  county  commissioner 
one  term.  He  was  a  member  (from  Lo- 
rain county)  of  the  "  Union  Light  Gnards," 

31 


composed  of  young  men,  one  from  each 
county  in  Ohio,  sent  to  Washington  by 
Gov.  Tod,  of  Ohio,  as  an  escort  to  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  during  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. In  187(1  he  was  married  to  Elnora, 
daughter  of  Mr.  James  Jackson,  of  Am- 
herst, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  their  only 
son,  Edward  Richard,  is  the  only  grand- 
son to  bear  the  name  of  this  branch  of  the 
Baker  family.  The  youngest  living  daugh- 
ter, Lizzie  C.,  is  at  home,  having  the  whole 
care  of  the  household,  her  mother  having 
been  an  invalid  for  several  years  past. 

Mr.  Baker  has  held  several  offices.  In 
1858  he  was  elected  a  director  of  Lorain 
County  Agri.-ultural  Society,  and  was  its 
presideiit  at  different  times  up  to  1883. 
In  1860  he  started  a  county  "  Farmers 
Club,"  which  was  in  useful  existence  for 
many  years.  He  wrote  up  the  History  of 
the  County  Agricultural  Society,  published 
by  AVilliams  in  1879.  In  1888  he  was 
appointed  County  Centennial  Commission- 
er, and  also  elected  president  of  the  Coun- 
ty Centennial  Association.  In  1879  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State 
Board  of  Agriculture;  re-elected  in  1881; 
elected  president  of  the  Board  in  1882; 
participated  in  establishing  the  "  new 
work  "  of  the  Board;  the  system  of  gather- 
ing crop  reports;  analyzation  of  fertilizers; 
strongly  advocated  the  Ohio  farmers 
"County  Institutes";  opposed  premiums 
on  wines  at  the  State  Fair.  He  was  a  de- 
legate to  the  convention  of  agricultural 
and  college  boards,  at  Washitif^ton,  called 
by  Commissioner  Loring  in  1882;  read  a 
paper  at  that  meeting  on  "  Best  Breeds  of 
Cattle  for  Farmers  of  the  Western  States," 
which  elicited  lengthy  discussion;  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  a  committee  of  five,  at  that 
convention,  to  urge  u[)on  Congress  the 
necessity  and  importance  of  the  •'  Hatch 
Bill."  He  assisted  in  organizing  the  Lo- 
rain  County  Farmers  Institute,  and  was  its 
first  president;  has  prepared  many  papers 
and  read  them  at  the  Insritute  meetings; 
is  secretary  of  this  organization  at  the 
present  time  (1894).     In  1862  he  was  ap- 


568 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


pointed  by  the  first  commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture (Newton)  as  principal  correspond- 
ent and  reporter  of  condition  of  crops  and 
farm  stock  for  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and 
lias  held  that  office  up  to  the  present  time, 
under  Secretaries  Coleman  and  Rusk  and 
the  present  secretary,  Morton.  He  has  a 
complete  set  of  the  Annual  Reports  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Ohio 
Farjner:  "Mr.  Baker  became  acquainted 
with  Thomas  Brown  of  the  Farmer  in 
1853,  and  has  been  a  subscriber,  reader 
and  occasional  contributor  ever  since.  He 
has  always  been  a  firm  friend  to  this  jour- 
nal, and  has  done  some  nol)le  work  for  it. 
His  tirst  communication  to  it  was  on  tlie 
importance  of  '  Farmers  Clubs.'  He  is  a 
thorough  American  in  thought  and  prin- 
ciple, has  done  his  duty  wherever  it  has 
been  made  known,  honestly,  conscientiously 
and  fearlessly.  Mr.  Baker  was  one  of  the 
men  who  earnestly  advocated  the  Board  of 
Agriculture  owning  its  own  grounds  for 
State  Fail-  purposes,  and  for  some  time 
stood  alone  in  this  position;  but  he  has 
lived  to  see  his  plan  carried  into  successful 
completion.  All  honor  to  the  pioneers  of 
progressive  Agriculture  in  Ohio."  He  has 
been  a  true  friend  to  the  farmers  not  only 
of  Lorain  county,  but  of  the  entire  State, 
never  grudging  his  time,  and  he  has  been 
the  leading  spirit  of  the  Agricultural 
Society. 

In  politics  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
has  been  a  thorough  Republican,  from  the 
organization  of  that  party,  and  most 
heartily  endorses  the  McKinley  protec- 
tive Bill. 

His  father  was  the  fourth  son  of  George 
Baker,  a  large  farmer  of  Harpole,  North- 
amptonshire. His  mother  was  third 
daughter  of  Thomas  Marriot,  Floore, 
same  county.  George  Baker  was  the  second 
son  of  John  Baker,  who  was  a  son  of 
William  Baker,  all  large  farmers.  A 
nephew  of  George  Baker  was  a  noted 
writer  of  his  day.  He  published  the  "His- 
tory   of      Northamptonshire."        [George 


Washington's  ancestors  were  from  that 
county.]  He  possessed  the  most  complete 
library  in  the  county.  The  Baker  and 
Marriot  families  are  Saxon  on  both  sides, 
all  along  the  line.  They  have  been  '•  Free- 
holders," and  always  eligible  to  vote  for 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons. 


D 


S.  CUMMINGS  (deceased)  was  a 
son  of  Archibald  Cummings,  who 
was  born  in  Billingscake,  County 
Down,  Leland,  in  March,  1781. 
Archibald  Cummings  came  to  America 
in  1791.  and  remained  in  New  York  State 
until  1834,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Sul- 
livan (then  in  Lorain,  now  in  Ashland 
county),  Ohio.  In  1813  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Anderson,  and  ten  children  were  born 
to  them,  as  follows:  (1)  Sarah  Ann,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Joel  Talcott,  who  died  in  1871; 
Sarah  Ann  died  in  1891.  (2)  John  P., 
deceased  in  1868.  (3)  D.  S.,  subject  of 
sketch,  died  April  3,  1881.  (4)  Thomas 
S.,  deceased  October  19,  1893,  in  Overton 
county,  Tenn.  (5)  Elizabeth,  married  to 
Dr.  William  Stilson,  who  died  in  Clyde, 
Ohio;  Elizabeth  is  now  living  in  Kansas. 
(6)  Margaret,  deceased  in  1856.  (7)  Har- 
riet, deceased  in  1873.  (8)  James  Ander- 
son, who  lives  in  Milan,  Ohio,  and  has 
three  children.  (9)  Archibald,  who  died 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1856.  (10)  Andrew, 
married,  and  residing  in  Missouri. 

D.  S.  Cummings  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  educated  at  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  the  period.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
came  to  Rochester  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  he  hired  out  to  C.  W.  Conaut.  After 
his  marriage  in  1844  Mr.  Cummings  rented 
land  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time,  by  assiduous  industry  and 
judicious  thrift,  he  was  enabled  to  pur- 
chase one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Roch- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


569 


ester  towiisliip  at  eight  dollars  per  acre, 
paying  ca>h  for  oiie-fourtli  of  the  amount, 
ami  triviiiir  notes  for  tlie  balance.  This 
was  all  uncleared  land,  with  the  exception 
of  about  tifteeu  acres,  which  could  be  called 
tillable.  In  about  six  years  from  that  time 
seven  acres  were  added,  making  a  total  of 
107  acres,  which  is  now  the  liomestead  of 
his  widow,  all  being  accumulated  by  their 
joint  efforts. 

On  April  13,  1844,  Mr.  Curamings  was 
married,  in  Sullivan  (then  Lorain,  now 
Ashland  county),  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Close, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Gale) 
Close,  who  were  the  parents  of  sixteen 
children,  as  follows:  Miranda,  Alonson, 
Deborah  Ann,  one  that  died  in  infancy, 
Alvira,  Nathaniel,  llebecea,  Amy,  Eliza- 
beth, Samuel,  Lockwood,  Sacah,  Diana, 
Annis,  Lucy  and  Reuben. 

Benjamin  Close  was  born  in  Greenwich, 
Conn.,  a  son  of  Benjamin  Close,  Sr.,  wdio 
was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  These  two, 
father  and  son,  when  the  latter  was  about 
ten  years  old,  moved  to  Genoa,  N.  Y. 
When  ^rown  to  manhood,  Benjamin,  Jr., 
with  his  wife  and  two  children,  and  accom- 
lianied  by  his  elder  brother,  Henry,  started 
for  Ohio  in  June,  1S17.  He  left  his  fam- 
ily in  Painesville,  and  along  with  Henry 
came  on  to  Sullivan  township,  then  in  Me- 
dina county,  afterward  in  Lorain,  now  in 
Ashland.  Of  an  old  acquaintance  living 
in  Harrisville,  thirteen  miles  from  Sulli- 
van, Mr.  Close  borrowed  some  corn  and  po- 
tatoes, and  he  had  not  a  dollar  to  pay  on  his 
land,  even  his  last  tavern  bill  having  to  be 
settled  in  cloth  Mrs.  Close  had  made  before 
leaving  Genoa.  They  built  the  first  house 
of  logs  in  Sullivan  township,  and  cut  their 
road  through  the  dense  forest,  as  they 
moved  onward  with  their  ox-team  from 
Harrisville  to  Sullivan.  As  soon  as  Mr. 
Close  could  clear  a  piece  of  land,  he  planted 
some  apple  seeds,  thus  startinjj  an  orchard, 
and  until  fruit  was  gathered  from  it  the 
family,  from  the  time  they  came  into  the 
township,  eat   only   two  apples.     For  tea, 


medicine,  etc.,  he  had  to  go  on  foot  to 
Elyria,  twenty-five  miles  north,  there  being 
no  road  for  oxen,  and  at  that  time  he  had 
no  horse.  On  one  occasion  he  lost  his  way, 
coming  homeward,  it  being  so  cloudy  he 
could  not  see  the  sun,  and  his  compass  he 
had  left  behind.  After  wandering  about 
some  time,  he  struck  a  small  stream  which 
proved  to  be  a  tributary  of  Black  river,  in 
what  is  now  Rochester  township,  then  un- 
itdiabited  save  by  roving  Indians  and  wild 
animals.  On  the  bank  of  this  stream  he 
spied  a  wolf  watching  him,  and  then  our 
adventurer  wished  he  had  brought  his  gun; 
but  his  faithful  dog,  that  had  accompanied 
him,  ''tackled"  the  brute,  and  after  a  des- 
perate struggle  got  him  by  the  throat,  which 
80  weakened  the  wolf  that  Mr.  Close  was 
able  to  give  him  a  blow  on  the  back  with 
a  hickory  club  he  had  cut  for  the  purpose, 
and  the  dog  then  easily  finished  him.  Mr. 
Close  reached  home  at  last,  but  not  before 
darkness  had  set  in. 

Mr.  Close  succeeded  eventually  in  pay- 
ing for  200  acres  of  land.  The  home  was 
a  regular  manufacturing  establishment;  for 
there  was  tailoring,  dressmaking,  millinery 
work  and  shoemaking  going  on  nearly  all 
the  time.  Wool  was  spun  and  woven,  and 
the  cloth  colored,  all  at  home;  yet  with  all 
this  work  the  family  found  time  to  close 
their  labor  on  Saturday  night,  ready  for 
rest  on  the  Sabbath — sweet  rest,  indeed! 
The  family  library  consisted  of  Bible, 
Catechism,  "  History  of  Henry  Obookiah," 
"  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man  "  (the 
latter  volume  published  in  England  in 
1020)  and  the  "  Missionary  Herald,"  pub- 
lished in  the  interest  of  the  missions  in  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  This  pioneer  home  was 
always  open  to  ministers  and  school  teacli- 
ers,  of  whom  those  in  the  neighborhood 
had  much  to  do  with  the  education  of  the 
larce  family  growint;  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.  Mr.  Close  was  protected 
through  many  dangers  by  a  kind  Provi- 
dence; at  last,  on  August  10,  1852,  when 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years,  he  wasdriv- 
ing  a  span  of  young  horses  that  took  fright 


570 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  ran  away,  throwing  him  from  the 
wagon  and  killing  him,  wlien  but  a  short 
distance  from  his  home.  His  widow  died 
in  1868. 

D.  S.  Cummings  died  April  3,  1881, 
leaving  a  widow  but  no  children,  as  the 
three  born  to  them  died  young,  namely: 
Francis  E.,  died  when  five  years  and  eight 
months  old;  one  died  in  infancy,  un- 
named; and  Wallace  A.  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years.  Mr.  Cummings  in  his  political 
sympathies  was  a  Whig,  afterward  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  was  repeatedly  called 
upon  to  till  (itiices  of  trust  in  his  township, 
which  he  did  with  characteristic  fidelity 
and  acknowledged  ability.  In  Church 
work  he  was  very  energetic  and  helpful, 
was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church 
many  years,  and  took  particular  interest  in 
educational  work.  His  highly  respected 
■widow  is  regarded  in  the  community  as  a 
woman  of  high  morality,  and  is  admired 
for  her  many  virtues.  At  the  present  time 
she  is  living  on  the  old  homestead  with 
an  adopted  son. 

In  1848  there  was  a  long  and  tedious 
lawsuit  commenced  by  some  Connecticut 
people  against  the  farmers  in  the  section 
where  Mr.  Cummings  had  settled.  It  ap- 
pears that  this  tract  of  land  was  many 
years  ago  ceded  to  Ohio  by  same  Connecti- 
cut people  who  afterward  claimed  to  have 
never  signed  away  their  right  and  title  to 
it.  The  suit  was  finally  decided  in  favor 
of  the  farmers  (of  whom  Mr.  Cummings 
was  one),  but  the  cost  of  contesting  it  was 
about  equivalent  to  paying  tor  the  land 
twice  over,  and  fell  the  more  heavily  on  the 
occupants,  as  the  soil,  being  new,  was 
yielding  but  a  very  small  revenue. 

In  the  fall  of  1843  the  women  of 
Rochester  formed  a  Temperance  Society, 
as  they  found  liquor  was  being  sold  in  the 
town,  doing  an  inestimable  amount  of 
harm.  The  leaders  among  the  women  were 
Mrs.  H.  M.  Tracy  (afterward  Mrs.  Cutler), 
now  living  in  California,  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Bell,  now  living  in  Kansas.  They  ap- 
pointed the  following  named  as  a  commit- 


tee to  talk  to  the  party  selling  the  liquor: 
Mrs.  Orpha  Conant,  Mrs.  Ilumiston  and 
Mrs.  Lucretia  Stevens.  The  liquor  dealer 
promised  to  stop  the  sale,  but  nevertheless 
continued  the  traffic,  though-  more  cau- 
tiously, and  the  women  then  took  the  case 
before  tlie  county  court,  where  the  man 
was  fined  ten  dollars  and  costs.  In  1844 
Mrs.  Tracy  edited  a  paper  called  The  Fal- 
ladium,  the  temperance  meetings  being 
continued,  and  this  lady  also  delivered 
some  good  temperance  lectures.  Some  of 
the  best  citizens  came  with  their  wives  to 
hear  her,  and  soon  afterward  she  was  in- 
vited to  deliver  the  lectures  in  public. 
Thus  meetings  continued  for  two  or  three 
years.  Mrs.  Tracy  left  the  town,  how- 
ever, for  more  extended  work,  and  Miss 
Anvilla  Huraiston  then  edited  l'/>e  Pal- 
ladium, and  Mrs.  Eliza  Conant  became 
president.  Later  Miss  Ilumiston  also  left 
town  for  another  field  of  usefulness,  after 
which  Mrs.  E.  C.  Cummings  edited  The 
I'lilladium.  The  meetings  still  continued 
till  public  sentiment  was  sufficiently 
aroused  to  induce  those  best  men  to  en- 
couray-e  the  women  in  the  good  work.  The 
liquor  element  succumbed,  and  as  a  na- 
tural result  the  morals  and  status  of  the 
community  greatly  improved.  As  far  as 
known,  this  was  the  first  Woman's  Tem- 
perance Society  formed  in  tlie  State  of  Ohio. 


JOHN  I.  MASTEN  (deceased),  who 
w  I  in  his  lifetime  was  one  of  the  most 
}^j)  industrious  and  deservedly  successful 
agriculturists  of  Rochester  township, 
was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
March  8,  1812,  in  Dutchess  county,  a  son 
of  James  Masten. 

Our  subject  received  a  liberal  education, 
for  his  early  time,  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  native  ])lace. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  work,  and  being  a 
natural  mechanic  was  capable  of  following 
the  trades   of  turner  and  shoemaker.     On 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


571 


October  7,  1835,  be  was  united  in  raarriacre 
with  Miss  Rosalia  Loomis,  wbo  was  born 
August  17,  1813,  in  the  town  of  Steuben, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Martin  and 
Laura  (^Hianchard)  Loomis.  In  the  fol- 
lowing spring  the  younuj  couple  came  to 
Oiiio,  via  canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland, 
thence  by  wagon  to  Rochester  township, 
Lorain  county.  Mr.  Masten,  the  previous 
winter,  had  visited  this  locality,  and  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  timber-covered  land  in 
Rocliester  township,  where  wild  animals — 
such  as  deer,  turkeys,  hogs,  etc. — were 
almost  as  "plentiful  as  blackberries."  This 
farm,  comprising  tifty  acres  of  primeval 
forest,  he  paid  four  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
per  acre  for,  and  the  first  dwelling  of  these 
honored  pioneers  was  of  a  most  jiriniitive 
description — the  floor  being  made  of  pun- 
cheon and  the  roof  of  beech  bark,  while  a 
quilt  nailed  over  the  entrance  served  the 
plac4  of  a  door.  Here  during  his  long 
residence  he  followed  general  farming,  in- 
cludincr  the  rearing  of  and  extensive  deal- 
ing  in  live  stock,  of  which  he  was  an 
excellent  judge.  It  should  here  be  men- 
tioned that  to  the  original  tract  of  wood- 
land he  from  time  to  time  added  until  at 
his  death  he  was  the  owner  of  236  acres 
of  prime  farming  land.  For  seven  and 
one-half  years  he  lived  in  the  village  of 
Rochester,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm  and,  later,  moved  a 
short  distance  to  where  his  long  and  busy 
life  came  to  a  close  March  16,  1893.  His 
remai  ns  repose  in  the  cemetery  at  Rochester. 
In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Masten 
was  a  Whig  until  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  enlisted  under 
the  new  banner,  and  up  to  the  close  of  his 
life  was  loyal  to  the  cause.  He  was  an  ex- 
emplary member,  as  is  his  aged  widow,  of 
the  Free-will  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he 
held  office  many  years.  Mrs.  Masten  is 
now  passing  the  evening  of  her  honored 
life  at  the  old  homestead,  calmly  and  hope- 
fully awaiting  the  summons  that  shall  call 
her  hence.  The  farm  is  now  at)ly  con- 
ducted by  her  son  Frank  L.,  whose  filial 


care  is  a  blessing  to  his  loving  mother. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
I.  Masten  were  as  follows:  Decalia  B., 
who  served  in  the  Civil  war,  and  afterward 
located  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  died; 
Amelia  C,  who  married  C.  0.  Boney  and 
died  in  Lorain,  Ohio;  Mortimer  C,  of 
Charlotte,  Mich.;  Celia,  now  a  widow,  of 
Manchester,  Ohio;  Delia,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Bis- 
sell,  of  Rochester.  Ohio;  Nina,  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Irish,  of  Lorain,  Ohio;  John  D.,  of  Char- 
lotte, Mich.;  and  Frank  L.,  in  charge  of 
the  home  farm. 


ory. 


CEDIAH  BOWEN  (deceased)  was 
in  his  lifetime  a  well-known  pros- 
perous citizen  of  Elyria,  where 
stands,  as  a  monument  to  his  mem- 
the  "  Bowen  Block,"  on  Cheapside, 
erected  by  him  not  long  before  his  death. 
Mr.  Bowen  was  born  June  26,  1818,  in 
the  town  of  Roxbury,  Delaware  Co.,  N.Y., 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm  till  about  the 
ai^e  of  eighteen  years.  He  then  com- 
menced to  learn  the  trade  of  merchant 
tailor,  in  Waynesburg,  Ohio,  whither  he 
had  come  when  sixteen  years  old,  and 
where  he  followed  the  business  about  ten 
years.  For  ten  or  twelve  years  he  was  ex- 
press and  ticket  agent  for  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad  Company,  after  which  he  em- 
barked in  the  manufacture  of  and  dealing 
in  Babbitt  metal.  During  the  later  years 
of  his  life  he  was  retired  from  active  work, 
living  upon  the  interest  of  his  hard-earned 
accumulations.  He  was  a  typical  self- 
made  man,  shrewd  and  calculating.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage  he  had  but 
seventy-five  cents  in  cash,  but  he  was  very 
successful  in  all  his  business  transactions, 
and  when  he  died  he  left  a  considerable 
amount  of  property.  On  April  11,  1839, 
Mr.  Bowen  married  Miss  Diantha  A.  Pren- 
ti.ss,  of  whom  special  mention  will  be  pre- 
sently made.     In  August,  1857,  Mr.  and 


572 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mrs.  Boweu  came  to  Elyria,  where  he 
passed  from  earth  December  11, 1887.  He 
was  a  stanch  Republican,  casting  his  first 
vote  for  W.  H.  Harrison,  and  his  last  vote 
for  Benjamin  Harrison.  In  religion  he 
was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  as  has 
been  his  widow  since  1832.  For  thirty 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
aud  was  buried  by  the  Order. 

Mrs.  Obediali  Bowen  was  born  Novem- 
ber 17,  1816,  in  Lowville,  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  in  June,  1836,  moved  west  with 
her  parents  to  Lorain  county,  the  family 
coming  at  that  time  as  pioneers  into  a  wild 
and  unbroken  forest,  and  making  a  settle- 
ment about  one  mile  from  the  center  of 
what  is  now  Camden  township.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Bates) 
Prentiss,  the  former  of  whom  passed  away 
in  1819,  the  latter  (who  was  born  in  North- 
ampton, Mass.)  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  Mrs.  Bowen's  grandmother 
died  January  7,  1837,  at  the  patriarchal 
age  of  ninety-five  years,  less  nearly  four 
months. 


W.  ROWLAND.  The  family,  of 
which  this  gentleman  is  a  worthy 
member,  is  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed  in  both  Huron  and  Lorain 
counties. 

He  is  a  son  of  Aaron  Rowland,  who  was 
born  in  a  military  camp  at  Danbury, 
Conn.,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  a 
son  of  Hezekiah  Rowland,  who  served  all 
through  that  struggle,  the  exact  period  of 
his  service  being  seven  years,  eleven 
mouths  and  seven  days.  By  trade  he  was 
a  blacksmith.  Aaron  Rowland  was  a 
miller,  and  operated  flour  and  saw  mills 
along  the  Croton  river.  Seven  children, 
as  follows,  were  born  to  him  in  New  York 
State:  Ezra,  deceased  in  Clarkslield  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Anna,  deceased  in 
infancy;  Jemima,  who  married  Linues 
Palmer,  and  died  in  Fitchville  township, 
Huron  county;  William,  a  farrier  by  trade, 


who  died  in  New  York  City;  Samuel  W., 
a  retired  farmer  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Tama- 
zon,  who  first  married  Samuel  H'lsted, 
and  is  now  the  widow  of  Martin  Pulver, 
of  Clarksfield  township,  Huron  county; 
and  Betsy  Ann,  who  first  married  Joseph 
Stiles,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Pelton,  of  Berlinville,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio. 
In  the  fall  of  1818  the  family  set  out  on 
a  journey  to  Ohio  with  two  yoke  of  oxen 
and  one  horse,  the  trip  as  far  as  Cleveland 
occupying  six  or  seven  weeks.  When 
they  arrived  at  that  now  large  and  elegant 
city  they  found  but  one  house  on  the 
"  West  Side,"  and  that  was  occupied  by 
the  ferryman  who  rowed  travelers  across 
the  Cuyahoga  river.  Coming  yet  farther 
west,  the  family  halted  at  Clarksfield  Hol- 
low, in  Huron  county,  where  Aaron  Row- 
land secured  work  in  a  new  mill  owned  by 
Capt.  Samuel  Husted,  and  he  and  his 
family  occupied  the  log  cabin  home  of 
Capt.  Husted,  along  with  his  family.  In 
course  of  time  Aaron  bought  a  small  farm 
north  of  Clarksfield  Hollow,  and  during 
the  summer  season,  when  water  in  the 
streams  was  too  low  to  drive  the  mill,  he 
would  work  on  this  farm.  He  was  also  in 
charge  of  a  mill  east  of  the  "  Hollow,"  later 
owning  a  share  in  same,  and  he  followed 
the  business  several  years.  When  he  came 
into  what  is  now  Clarksfield  tow7iship,  it 
contained  but  eight  other  families,  the 
several  heads  of  which  were  Samuel  Hus- 
ted, Smith  Starr,  Benjamin   Benson,  

Seger,  Benjamin  Stiles,  Asa  Wheeler, 
Simeon  Hoyt,  and  Ezra  Wood.  After 
coming  to  Ohio  the  following  children 
were  born  to  Aaron  Rowland:  Charles 
(the  third  child  born  in  Clarksfield  town- 
ship, Lavina,  daughter  of  Asa  Wheeler, 
and  Samuel  Stiles  having  been  the  first 
and  second,  respectively),  and  Daniel. 
After  a  married  life  of  sixty-si.\  years  less 
a  few  days  the  parents  were  called  from 
earth,  the  mother  dying  in  1866,  the  father 
in  1868,  and  they  now  sleep  their  last 
sleep  in  the  cemetery  at  Clarksfield.  Po- 
litically he  was  first  a  Whig,  afterward,  on 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


573 


the  organization  of  tiie  party,  a  Republi- 
can. He  was  a  pioneer  in  the  milling  in- 
dustry, in  those  days  the  leading  one  next 
to  farming,  and  was  a  man  of  prominence, 
well  known  and  universally  esteemed. 

S.  W.  Rowland,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born  July  5.  1810,  in 
Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  trade  of  axe-handle  maker,  but 

feneral  farming  has  been  his  life  work. 
[e  was  eight  years  old  when  the  family 
came  to  Ohio,  and  he  distinctly  remembers 
the  journey.  At  the  primitive  subscription 
schools  of  the  locality  where  his  father 
had  settled,  in  Huron  county,  he  gleaned 
a  comparatively  meager  education,  whicli, 
however,  he  vastly  improved  by  reading 
and  study  in  his  spare  moments. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1834,  Mr.  Rowland 
was  married  to  Harmony  Blair,  who  was 
born  June  25,  1814,  at  Becket,  Mass., 
dautrhter  of  Luther  Blair,  who  came  in 
the  fall  of  1832,  to  Rochester,  Lorain  Co  , 
Ohio,  at  that  time  on  the  frontier  of  the 
"  Far  West."  The  young  couple  began 
married  life  in  a  log  cabin  in  Clarkstield 
township,  Huron  county.  In  1830  they 
removed  to  Rochester  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  bought  land  at  three 
dollars  per  acre,  which  he  improved  and 
cultivated  with  his  own  hands  till  1868, 
in  which  year  he  removed  to  Oberlin,  same 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided,  living 
a  retired  life.  Children  as  follows  have 
been  born  to  this  honored  pioneer  and  his 
faithful  wife:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Welcher,  of  Iowa;  William,  deceased; 
Caroline,  wife  of  H.  A.  Doming,  of  Kip- 
ton,  Ohio;  Edmund,  a  farmer  of  Rochester 
township,  who  also  manages  the  home 
farm;  Evaline,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Flower,  of 
Elyria,  Ohio;  and  Thaddeus,  a  druggist  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1884,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rowland  celebrated  their  golden  wedding, 
members  of  the  family,  only,  being  pres- 
ent, and  last  Christmas  (1893)  being  the 
fifty-ninth  anniversary  of  their  marriage, 
their    children     and    grandchildren    came 


home  to  celebrate  the  occasion  in  an  ap- 
propriate manner,  wishing  the  old  couple 
"  many  happy  returns."  Mr.  Rowland 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  185  acres  in  Rochester 
township,  and  a  pleasant  home  in  Oberlin. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  originally 
a  Whig.  Mrs.  Rowland  is  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 


^r^^  EV.  WILLIAM  BENTON  CHAM- 
l^    BERLAIN,    A.    M.,    professor  of 
I    ^  elocution  and  rhetoric,  Oberlin  Col- 
JJ  lege,  comes  of  an  old  Connecticut 

family,  his  paternal  grandfather 
having  been  a  native  of  that  State,  but 
passed  a  considerable  portion  of  his  life  in 
Ohio.  Joshua  Chamberlain,  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

The  gentleman  under  our  present  con- 
sideration was  born  at  (rustavus,  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  September  1,  1847,  a  son  of  Rev. 
E.  B.  and  Mary  Ann  (Cowles)  Chamber- 
lain, the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
western  New  York,  the  latter  a  sister  of 
John  P.  Cowles.  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  of 
Prof.  Henry  Cowles,  D.  D.,  of  Oberlin 
College;  she  died  in  1874,  aged  fifty-seven 
years.  Rev.  E.  B.  Chamberlain  graduated 
from  the  second  class  at  Oberlin  College, 
1S3S,  and  after  being  licensed  preached  in 
Ohio  for  the  greater  part  of  his  ministerial 
life,  and  later  in  western  Pennsylvania,  in 
which  locality  he  died  in  1882  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  Of  their  five  chil- 
dren William  B.  is  the  youngest.  He  en- 
tered Oberlin  College  in  1871,  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  classical  course  in  1875. 
Proceeding  to  Philadelphia,  he  studied 
music  there  from  1876  to  1878.  Return- 
intf  to  Oberlin,  he  entered  the  Theological 
Seminary,  graduating  from  there  in  1881. 
From  1878  to  1883  he  taught  vocal  music 
in  Oberlin  Conservatory  of  Music,  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  giving  lessons  in  elocu- 


574 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tion,  having  been  appointed  instructor  of 
that  art  in  1881;  in  1884  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  incumbency,  of  professor  of 
elocution  and  rhetoric.  Mr.  Chamberlain 
is  a  master  of  vocal  expression,  and  last 
year  he  published  a  work  entitled  '■  Rhe- 
toric of  Vocal  Expression."  He  has  thor- 
oughly adopted  what  is  recognized  as  the 
"  Oberlin  Ideal  "  of  things,  and  although 
he  has  been  offered  more  remunerative 
positions  elsewhere  has  invariably  refused 
them,  preferring  to  labor  in  the  interests 
of  Oberlin.  Mr.  Chamberlain  is  a  Con- 
gregationalist,  and  has  filled  various  pul- 
pits at  different  times,  rot  as  regular 
pastor,  however,  as  his  time  is  t'nlly  oc- 
cupied with  teaching.  Prior  to  making  his 
home  in  Oberlin  he  taught  common  schools 
in  Erie  county,  Ohio. 

In  1875  Kev.  AV.  B.  Chamberlain  and 
Miss  Emma  E.  Peck  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  the  following  named  six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them:  Fred  W., 
John  F.,  Ernest  E.,  Harold,  F.  P.  and 
Mary  E.  In  his  political  preferences  our 
subject  is  a  Prohibitionist,  but  of  that 
practical  class  that  is  willing  to  work  for 
any  measure  that  promises  to  eliminate  or 
curtail  the  liquor  traific. 


ffJfON.  E.  G.  JOHNSON  was  born  in 
Is^     LaGrange,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,    No- 
I     li    vember  24,  1836.    His  father,  Hon. 
J)  Nathan  P.  Johnson,  removed  from 

Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  to  La- 
Grange  in  18.33.  The  township  was  then 
sparsely  settled  with  pioneers,  mostly  from 
the  same  State,  living  in  rudely  con.^tructed 
log  cabins,  and  diligently  engaged  in  clear- 
ing away  the  primeval  forest  that  sur- 
rounded their  hospitable  dwellings.  Here 
he  labored  with  ceaseless  enei-gy  to  trans- 
form the  wild  woods  into  fruitful  fields, 
and  with  undaunted  courage  met  the  many 
vicissitudes    incident    to   a  pioneer's  life. 


His  intelligence,  high  sense  of  honor,  and 
zeal  in  all  good  works  won  the  highest  re- 
gard of  all  who  knew  him,  atid  called  him 
to  occupy  places  of  trust  and  honor  in 
after  years.  He  was  three  times  elected  to 
represent  his  county  and  district  in  the 
General  Assembly,  serving  two  years  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  and  two  in 
the  Senate.  He  died  in  1874,  and  the 
memory  of  his  noble  character  will  long  be 
cherished. 

It  was  surrounded  by  such  influences  and 
under  such  salutary  home  instruction  that 
the  son  E.  G.  grew  up  to  manhood  before 
leaving  the  parental  roof.  In  early  boy- 
hood he  began  to  display  the  diligence  and 
application  that  have  characterized  his  sub- 
sequent life,  and  all  his  leisure  moments 
were  spent  in  willing  efforts  to  aid  his 
honored  parents  in  bearing  the  burden  of 
founding  a  home  for  the  family,  with  no 
means  except  their  strong  arms.  These 
efforts  were  not  relaxed  as  years  added  to 
his  strength  and  the  desire  for  study 
trenched  upon  his  hours  for  labor.  In  those 
pioneer  days  schools  were  not  what  they 
now  are,  and  boys  of  sufficient  age  to  per- 
form farm  labor  were  often  deprived  of 
the  poor  facilities  afforded  for  instruction. 
Not  so  with  the  children  of  pioneer  John- 
son. He  not  only  labored  extra  hours  to 
enable  his  two  sons  to  attend  the  winter 
school,  but  taught  them  at  his  own  log 
cabin  fireside  the  rudiments  of  the  com- 
mon branches  and  the  sterling  virtues  that 
form  the  basis  of  a  well-ordered  life.  Al- 
though hampered  by  the  want  of  better 
opportunities,  the  young  lad  early  mani- 
fested a  desire  to  acquire  more  of  the  hid- 
den treasures  found  in  the  books,  and  was 
granted  the  privilege  of  attending  the  win- 
ter school  at  Oberlin,  a  few  terms,  which 
he  improved  with  willing  ardor.  Thus, 
between  hard  labor  udou  the  farm  and  dili- 
gent use  of  leisure  hours  in  study,  he  ac- 
quired sufficient  knowledge  to  become  a 
teacher  before  he  attained  his  majority. 

When  of  legal  age  he  did  not  lose  his 
love  for  this  employment  of  his  youth,  nor 


vy/ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


577 


his  affection  for  his  parents  whose  welfare 
was  ever  his  earnest  desire,  but  spent  some 
time  alternately  engaged  in  farm  labor, 
study  and  teaching.  Durinu;  this  time  he 
commenced  the  study  of  law  under  the 
tutelage  of  L.  A.  Slieldon,  Esq.,  who  was 
his  townsman,  and  who  subsequently 
distinguished  himself  as  a  General  in 
the  Union  Army,  Member  of  Congress 
from  Louisiana,  and  Governor  of  \New 
Mexico.  In  due  time  he  received  a  cer- 
tificate of  admission  to  the  bar,  in  Colum- 
bus, and  opened  an  office  in  his  native 
town. 

At  the  age  of  twenty -one  years  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  that 
office  with  entire  ap])robation  of  the  peo- 
ple for  ten  consecutive  years.  Devoting 
all  his  leisure  time  to  mental  rather  than 
pecuniary  gain,  he  had  but  little  oppor- 
tunity in  the  quiet  township  of  LaG range 
to  lay  by  a  store  for  the  increasing  wants 
of  his  family,  and  in  1868,  on  the  petition 
of  nearly  all  the  voters  in  the  township, 
regardless  of  party  affiliation,  he  consented 
to  stand  for  the  office  of  county  auditor. 
He  was  nominated  at  the  convention  that 
soon  followed,  receiving  twenty-eight  ma- 
jority on  the  first  ballot,  against  a  strong 
opponent.  He  was  elected  with  great  un- 
animity for  four  successive  terms,  but  in 
1876  he  resigned,  and  has  since  devoted 
his  energies  to  his  professional  duties  with 
ever-increasing  success  and  popularity. 
During  his  successive  terms  as  auditor  he 
was  brought  into  official  relations  with 
nearly  every  adult  person  in  the  county, 
and  by  his  courtesy,  ability,  unquestioned 
character  and  integrity,  he  gained  the 
confidence  of  the  people,  which  confi- 
dence, so  well  merited,  he  has  ever  since 
retained. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  found  time  during  the 
busy  years  of  his  professional  life  to  ably 
serve  other  interests  besides  that  of  the 
law.  Wedded  in  youth  to  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture,  he  has  never  lost  his  desire  for 
the  welfare  of  those  who  cultivate  the  soil. 
He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Lo- 


rain County  Agricultural  Society  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  and  for  thirteen  years 
was  its  popular  and  efficient  secretary. 
For  twelve  years  he  also  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  Executive  Com- 
mittee, during  which  period  he  displayed 
great  energy  in  promoting  the  Republican 
cause.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Repub- 
lican National  Convention  at  Chicago  in 
1884,  and  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  Congress  from  the  fourteenth  District 
of  Ohio  in  1892,  but  was  defeated.     His 

eatriotic  ardor  was  early  enlisted  in  the 
nion  cause.  He  was  among  the  first 
citizens  of  LaGrange  who  answered  the 
call  of  President  Lincoln  in  1861,  and  en- 
listed in  Company  A,  afterward  Company 
I,  Eighth  O.  V.  L,for  three  months.  He 
went  out  as  first  lieutenant,  but  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  re-en- 
listed with  the  major  part  of  his  company 
for  three  years,  while  in  Camp  Denriison, 
but  was  rejected  by  the  surgeon  who  de- 
clared him  to  be  physically  unable  to  per- 
form military  duty.  He  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  from  the  service,  and  it  was 
several  years  after  his  return  before  he 
fully  recovered  his  health. 

Mr.  Johnson's  career  at  the  bar  has 
been  one  of  unsullied  honor  and  rapid  ad- 
vancement, lie  at  once  took  a  position  at 
the  head  of  the  bar  in  Lorain  county,  and 
now  ranks  among  the  foremost  in  the  list 
of  able  attorneys  in  Northern  Ohio.  He 
has  been  engaged  in  many  important  capi- 
tal criminal  cases,  notably  his  defense  of 
John  Coughlin  at  Ravenna,  who,  with  the 
notorious  "Blinkey"  Morgan  (who  was 
convicted  and  executed),  was  charged  with 
the  murder  of  detective  Ilulligan.  Samuel 
Eddy,  at  tiiat  time  one  of  the  ablest  law- 
yers of  Ohio,  was  associated  with  Mr. 
Johnson.  Coughlin,  though  at  first  con- 
victed, secured  a  new  trial,  and  was  finally 
acquitted.  In  more  than  a  dozen  other 
capital  cases  Mr.  Johnson  has  w-on  a  wide 
reputation  as  a  successful  criminal  lawyer. 
He  is  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  form- 
ing  his  opinions  only   after  thorough  in- 


578 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


vestigation,  and  is  fearless  iu  expressing 
them  when  once  formed.  In  combating 
the  illogical  theories  and  "  isms  "  of  those 
who  defy  reason  and  the  law  of  nature  in 
their  attempt  to  correct  political  and  social 
evils,  he  has  incurred  the  displeasure  of  a 
few  self-constituted  modern  reformers,  as 
all  men  do  who  have  the  courage  of  their 
convictions.  He  has  \o\\^  been  an  active 
leader  in  social  and  political  reforms,  and 
now  stands  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  great 
army  of  true  progress.  His  whole  life  has 
been  characterized  by  an  open-hearted 
honesty  in  dealing  with  his  fellow  men, 
and  a  supreme  hatred  of  hypocrisy  and 
double  dealing. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  always  retained  his 
love  for  his  early  home  life  and  the  friends 
and  acquaintances  of  his  boyhood.  In 
1886,  in  company  with  Hon.  E.  H.  Hin- 
man,  he  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  visiting 
many  of  the  places  of  interest  both  in 
Great  Britain  and  upon  the  continent. 
Among  others  he  visited  the  famous  Lean- 
ing Tower  at  Pisa,  from  which  point  he 
wrote  Hon.  George  G.Washburn,  late  editor 
of  the  Elyria  Republican,  a  letter  in  which 
he  recalls  the  memory  of  his  boyhood  home, 
as  follows: 

After  breakfast  we  took  our  guide  book  and 
started  for  the  leaning  tower.  It  was  liut  a  short 
walk,  and  yet  it  seemed  a  mile,  so  greatly  had  our 
expectations  been  e.xcited.  It  seemed  im|)ossil)le 
that  we  were  to  set  our  eyes  upon  that  famous  col- 
umn. I  remember  of  hearing  my  mother  describe 
it,  as  we  sat  around  the  fire  of  a  long  winter  even- 
ing in  tlie  old  log  house,  which,  with  her,  long  ago 
crumbled  into  dust.  Oh  how  times  and  circum- 
stances do  change.  Then  as  she  told  me  the  story, 
I  thought  life  would  be  a  failure  unless  my  eyes 
should  behold  it,  and  I  resolved  that  some  day  I 
would  go  and  see  it  and  come  back  and  tell  her  of 
my  journey.  Here  I  am  at  the  tower,  but  where  is 
she  y  and  where  is  that  happy  circle  then  complete, 
and  those  happy  days  which  then  seemed  eternal? 
Memory  hoUls  them— all  else  is  gone. 

In  1887  Mr.  Johnson  made  a  trip  through 
the  West,  visiting  among  other  places  the 
National  Park,  which  he  reached  by  stage 
from  Beaver  Caiion  on  the  Utah  Central 
Railroad.  It  is  just  one  hundred  miles 
from  that  point  to  the  Park,  through 
a    wilderness.     From    his    stopping  place 


on  Snake  river  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Washburn 

a  letter  from  which  is  made  the  following 

extract: 

I  am  stopping  to-night  on  the  banks  of  Snake 
river,  and  now  sitting  by  a  stove  in  a  log  house 
which,  if  it  had  a  big  fireplace  across  one  end, 
would  be  almost  a  copy  of  the  one  where  tilty  years 
ago  I  first  saw  the  sun-light,  and  where,  though 
brief  were  the  years  passed  beneath  its  roof,  that 
siin-light  began  to  fade.  Out  of  the  door  I  can  see 
the  same  waving  forests,  only  that  was  of  beech 
and  maple  and  whitewood  and  oak,  while  this  is  of 
spruce  and  pine.  This  house  is  i)ut  just  erected, 
and  will  long  years  defy  the  ravages  of  rain  and 
frost,  while  that  house  is  only  one  of  memory's 
treasures.  The  voices  of  the  good  people  who 
have  opened  the  doors  to  give  us  welcome  greet 
my  ears,  while  along  the  tender  chords  of  memory 
come  the  sweet  voices  that  when  the  days  were 
young  made  that  old  house  the  home  of  mirth  and 
happiness.  As  I  sit  here  alone,  fancy  brings  that 
old  log  structure  back  out  of  the  dust,  peoples  it 
with  the  same  happy  throng  that  gathered  at  the 
family  altar  and  at  the  same  table ;  but  it  is  only  for 
a  moment,  for  faitliful  memory  will  not  let  me  for- 
get that  half  of  those  who  gathered  there  lie  in 
graves  which 

"Are  eevered  far  and  wide,   by  mount  and  stream  and  sea.'' 

Mr.  Johnson's  unselfish  generosity  and 
kindness  of  heart  are  proverbial  wherever 
he  is  known,  and  none  appeal  to  him  for 
aid  in  a  worthy  cause  without  receiving  his 
inite  according  to  his  means,  regardless  of 
color,  sect  or  nationality.  He  has  always 
been  a  liberitl  contributor  to  the  support  of 
the  M.  E.  Church:  and  on  one  occasion 
not  long  ago  its  worthy  pastor,  by  his  in- 
vitation, accompanied  him  on  a  vacation 
trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountain  region,  at  his 
expense.  Many  instances  might  be  cited 
of  like  acts  of  kindness,  showing  his  char- 
acteristic regard  for  the  happiness  of  others 
with  whom  he  only  sustains  the  relation 
of  neiglil)or  and  friend.  His  great  in- 
dustry, unquestioned  integrity  and  unim- 
peachable moral  character  have  won  the 
regard  of  his  host  of  friends,  who  stand 
hii;h  in  social  and  religious  circles. 

On  January  1,  1859,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
married  to  Lydia  D.  Gott,  also  a  native  of 
LaGrange,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Johnson  is  a  woman 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  wherever 
she  is  known  for  her  many  womanly  vir- 
tues. Mr.  Johnson  is  yet  in  the  prime  of 
his  usefulness,  and  few  men  have  more  de- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


579 


voted  friends  to  wish  him  snccess  in  all 
his  undertakings.  [This  sketch  for  the 
most  part  is  from  tlie  able  pen  of  Hon. 
George  G.  Washburn,  late  editor  of  the 
Elyria  Republican. — Ed. 


DAVID  D. 
who  in  hif 
prominent 


JOHNSON  (deceased), 
lis  lifetime  was  one  of  the 
It  and  well-known  citizens 
of  Elyria  township,  was  a  native  of 
England,  l)orn  December  2,  1S29. 

When  an  infant  of  nine  months  his 
parents  set  sail  for  the  New  World,  bnt  on 
tlie  voyage  the  father  died,  and  found  a 
grave  in  the  broad  Atlantic,  there  to  lie 
'•till  the  sea  shall  give  up  its  dead."  The 
widowed  mother  continued  on  with  her 
little  family  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
making  a  settlement  in  Avon  township, 
where  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated. 
He  followed  farming  pursuits  all  his  life, 
and  was  prosperous.  On  January  11, 1887, 
he  passed  from  earth  in  his  fifty- eiglith 
year. 

On  November  15,  1860,  Mr.  Johnson 
married  Mary  E.  Fowls,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Amherst  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  After  marriage  they 
resided  in  Elyria  township,  same  county, 
several  years,  and  then  came  to  Elyria, 
where  they  owned  a  good  farm  of  seventy- 
five  acres,  highly  cultivated  land.  Mr. 
Johnson  spent  seven  years  in  the  West. 
He  was  an  ardent  Republican.  Upright 
in  character  and  of  sound  integrity,  he  was 
honored  and  respected  by  all.  He  had  one 
son,  M.  B.  Johnson,  who  was  educated  in 
Elyria  and  at  Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  from 
which  latter  he  returned  to  Elyria,  at  the 
high  school  of  which  city  he  graduated. 
He  then  read  law  under  Metcalf  &  Web- 
ber, and  in  1884  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
after  which  he  located  in  Cleveland,  where 
he  has  since  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice. 
He    married    Miss   Mary  E.  Laundon,  of 


Elyria,  Ohio,  and  two  children — David 
Laundon  and  Arthur  Earnest — have  been 
born  to  them. 

After  leaving  Oberlin  Female  Seminary, 
where  she  had  finished  her  education,  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Johnson  taught  school  in  Lorain 
county  (Black  River  township),  afterward 
in  Angola,  Steuben  Co.,  Ind.,  and  in  Men- 
don,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  both  in  private 
and  public  schools.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Godfrey  and  Sarah  (Gardiner)  Fowls,  who 
wei'e  natives  of  Germany,  where  they  were 
married.  In  1828  they  came  to  the  United 
States  and  to  Ohio,  locating  in  what  is  now 
the  very  center  of  the  city  of  Cleveland, 
and  afterward  comintj  to  Amlierst  town- 
ship,  Lorain  county,  where  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  busy  lives  on  their 
farm,  the  father  dying  at  the  age  of  eicjhty- 
eight  years,  the  mother  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  cliil- 
dren,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity. 


f  OHN  H.  JOHNSON  (deceased),  a 
k.  I  typical  self-made  man,  one  who  iias 
\^J)  left  behind  a  record  worthy  of  emu- 
lation, was  born  August  11,  1815,  in 
Canal  township,  Venango  Co.,  Penn.,  a  son 
of  James  Johnson,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  May  6,  1785. 

When  yet  a  lad  James  Johnson  came  to 
the  United  States,  presumably  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  New  World.  After  landing 
he  made  his  way  westward  to  Venango 
county,  Penn.,  wherein  Canal  township  he 
settled  down  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  a 
farm  of  200  acres,  on  which  in  later  years, 
long  after  his  death,  oil  was  discovered, 
lie  died  in  Pennsylvania,  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  in  Church  relationship  an  Old- 
school  Presbyterian.  On  September  22, 
1814,  he  married,  in  Venango  county,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Cousins  (a  widow),  nee  Sutley, 
born  April  5,  1791,  in  that  county,  who 
bore  him  cliildren  as  follows:     John  H.; 


580 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


Sarah  A.,  born  March  24,  1821,  who  mar- 
ried John  Sinojleton;  Robert  H.,  born  De- 
cember IS,  1823,  died  in  Fulton  county, 
Ohio;  Harrison  E.,  born  May  18.  1825, 
died  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  was 
principal  of  schools  (he  was  a  graduate  of 
Ashtabula  College,  Ashtabula,  Ohio);  and 
Hugh,  born  June  23,  1828,  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  who  died  of  smallpox  while  on 
a  visit  at  his  niotiier's  house.  The  mother 
of  tliese,  after  the  death  of  the  father,  mar- 
ried Sylvester  Knowlton,  and  in  course  of 
time  moved  to  Huron  county,  where  she 
passed  from  earth;  she  was  interred  in  Rip- 
ley Methodist  cemetery. 

John  H.  Johnson  received  such  educa- 
tion as  the  early  schools  of  his  boyhood 
days  afforded.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm 
up  to  the  age  of  eighteen  j'ears,  and  then 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  After 
completing  his  apprenticeship  he  went  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  working  there  as  a  jour- 
neyman until  1841,  and  then  locating  in 
"Warren,  Penn.,  where  in  partnership  with 
a  half  brother,  William  Cousins,  he  siic- 
cessfuUv  followed  his  trade.  Here  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Snyder,  born  June 
1,  1823,  in  Penn  Yan,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y^,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (Pierce)  Sny- 
der, natives  of  Columbia  and  Onondaga 
counties,  N.  Y..  respectively,  and  who  af- 
ter marriage  settled  in  Elk  township,  War- 
ren Co.,  Penn.  In  June,  1845,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Johnson  came  to  Ohio,  to  Richland 
county,  leaving  their  only  child,  Theodosia, 
then  two  years  old,  in  care  of  its  grand- 
parents, Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Snyder  (a  son, 
Alston,  had  died  at  the  age  of  three 
months).  Their  trip  to  Ohio  was  made  in 
order  to  "  spy  out  the  land,"  and  being  sat- 
isfied with  it  they  returned  to  Pennsylvania 
for  their  household  effects  and  his  black- 
smithing  tools.  The  journeys  were  made 
entirely  by  M^agon,  the  trips  occupying  six 
days  each  way.  In  Bloominggrove  town- 
ship, Richland  county,  Mr.  Johnson 
bought  three  town  lots,  on  which  he  built 
a  shop  and  residence.  Here  for  a  time 
business  with  him  was  very  poor,  and   to 


add  to  other  causes  the  memorable  frost  of 
June  1,  that  year,  damaged  the  wheat  crop 
to  such  an  extent  that  the  price  of  it  ran 
up  to  three  dollars  per  bushel.  Later, 
however,  business  improved,  and  money 
became  more  plentiful.  For  six  years  they 
resided  at  Rome,  Ashtabula  county,  and 
from  Rome  moved  to  Ripley  township, 
Huron  county,  where  Mr.  Johnson  pur- 
chased a  tifty-acre  farm,  erecting  thereon 
a  "smithy,'"  in  connection  with  his  dwell- 
ing, and.  hiring  a  hand  to  work  his  farm, 
personally  conducted  his  shop,  at  which 
time  he  was  kept  quite  busy;  at  that  time 
horse  shoes  were  split  from  wagon  tires, 
and  nails  were  made  from  lighter  material, 
all  of  which  combined  to  make  work  for 
the  blacksmith  much  more  onerous  than 
at  the  present  day.  He  at  all  times,  how- 
ever, had  one  or  more  apprentices  working 
for  him,  which  materially  lessened  his  la- 
bor. Selling  out  his  business  in  Ripley, 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Greenwich 
township,  having  purchased  seventy-four 
acres  of  land,  and  moving  his  shop  to  this 
farm  here  continued  his  trade  until  the 
spring  of  1860,  when  he  came  to  Brighton 
townsiiip  and  located  on  the  farm  now  oc- 
cupied !)y  his  son  A.  C.  On  this  he 
erected  another  shop,  and  continued  w-ork- 
ing  at  his  trade  till  within  ten  days  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  February  25,  1864, 
after  a  ten-days'  illness  from  typhoid- 
pnenmonia;  his  remains  were  interred  in 
Brighton  cemetery.  He  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  but  during  the  later  years  of  his 
life  did  not  vote,  averring  that  he  was  of 
the  opinioti  his  party  had  changed  their 
principles;  in  matters  of  religion  he  was  a 
strict  Presbyterian.  Since  his  death,  his 
widow  has  continued  to  live  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Brighton  township,  a  highly 
respected  lady,  and  a  devout  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
H.  Johnson  were  as  follows — born  in 
Rome,  Richland  county:  Madora,  now 
the  wife  of  A.  S.  Gilson,  a  photographer  of 
Nor  walk,   Ohio;  Orestes,  of  Nor  walk,  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


581 


the  employ  of  the  A.  B.  Chase  Co. ;  and 
Adelbert  C,  sketcli  uf  whom  follows.  Born 
in  Ripley  township:  Frank  U.,  and  Em- 
ma O.,  wife  of  Charles  A.  Finley,  of  Kip- 
ton,  Ohio.  Born  in  Greenwich  township: 
Aravilla.  widow  of  George  Harris,  and  Al- 
bert,  fireman  on  the  Lake  Erie  &  Wheel- 
ing Eailway,  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  Born  in 
Brighton  township:  Ada,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  years;  Charley  S.,  in  tiie  saw- 
milling  business  at  Rochester,  Lorain 
county;  and  Eva,  deceased  at  the  age  of 
three  months.  The  eldest  daughter,  Theo- 
dosia,  married  William  Callin,and  lives  in 
Brighton  township. 

Adelbert  C.  Johnson,  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Laundon,  VVindecker  &  Co.,  manu- 
facturers of  cheese,  is  a  native  of  Rome, 
Ohio,  born  March  27,  1850,  the  fifth  child 
and  third  son  of  John  H.  and  Elizabeth 
P.  (Snyder)  Johnson. 

When  his  parents  removed  to  Green- 
wich township,  Huron  county,  our  subject 
was  but  an  infant,  and  he  was  tliere  reared 
on  the  iiome  farm.  With  the  exception 
of  one  year  during  which  he  was  fireman 
on  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railway, 
lie  was  never  absent  from  the  parental 
home  till  his  marriage,  after  wliich  he 
moved  to  Wood  county,  Ohio,  and  com- 
menced farming  on  a  piece  of  land  be- 
longing to  his  father-in-law.  There  he 
resided  four  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Brigliton  township,  and  for  four  years  car- 
ried on  agriculture;  then  went  to  Clarks- 
field,  Huron  county,  and  worked  in  a 
cheese  factory  for  John  Emmons,  where 
his  first  idea  of  the  cheese  business  was 
obtained.  After  about  a  year  he  came  to 
Brighton  and  emliarked  in  the  manufac- 
turintr  of  cheese,  at  which  he  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Laundon,  Windecker  &  Co.,  and 
he  is  superintendent  and  manager  of  the 
"Goss  Factory."  On  May  30,  1874,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  mairied  to  Julia  A.  Emmons, 
who  was  born  in  Brighton  township,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Julia  Emmons,  and  two  children,  Pearlie 


and  Lillie,  have  been  born  to  them.  Our 
subject  is  an  ardent  RepuijJican,  has  held 
township  offices  in  Brighton  e\er  since  his 
return  from  Wood  county,  Ohio,  and  has 
served  three  terms  as  trustee;  he  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  Lorain  County  In- 
firmary, which  position  he  has  occupied 
since  November  1,  1893.  He  has  an 
extensive  acquaintance  and  considerable 
political  infiuence.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Wellington,  Lo- 
rain county. 


q GEORGE  E.  NICHOLS,  dealer  in 
w,  real  estate  and  insurance,  is  a  na- 
il tive  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in 
L   Londonderry,  October  7,  1819. 

His  father,  Reuben  Nichols,  was 
born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  in  1787,  and 
in  1811  was  married  to  Miss  Asenath 
Senter  of  the  same  town.  He  was  the 
son  of  Jacob  and  Sally  George  Nichols, 
natives  of  Massachusetts,  who  removed  to 
Londonderry,  N.  IL,  where  they  died. 
They  had  twelve  children — seven  sons  and 
five  daughters — of  whom  Reuben  was  the 
youngest,  and  they  all  lived  to  be  from 
eighty-four  to  ninety-si.x  years  of  age  ex- 
cept one  who  died  young  from  the  effects 
ot  an  injury. 

\i\  October,  1827,  Reuben  Nichols, 
father  of  George  E.  Nichols,  left  New 
Hampshire  with  his  family,  and  started 
for  the  wilds  of  the  West,  to  seek  a  home. 
On  reaching  Pike  Hollow,  Allegany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  the  family  made  a  halt  while  the 
father  proceeded  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
on  iiorseback,  where  he  secured  a  farm  six 
miles  south  of  Elyria.  He  then  returned 
to  his  family,  and  they  set  out  for  their 
new  home,  reaching  Elyria  March  28, 
1828.  They  first  located  at  Butternut 
Ridge,  then  almost  a  dense  wilderness,  re- 
maining there  nearly  two  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Elyria,  where  in  1830  Reuben 
Nichols  purchased  the  "  Old  Eagle  Hotel." 


582 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 
I 


In  1832  he  commenced  building  the  new- 
hotel  called  the  "  Mansion  House,"  and 
this  he  kept  until  1839,  when  he  sold  it. 
At  that  time  it  was  one  of  the  finest  hotels 
west  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  While  keeping 
this  hotel,  he  hitched  four  horses  to  a  lum- 
ber wagon,  and  conveyed  John  J.  Ship- 
herd  and  others  to  the  present  site  of 
Oberlin,  their  first  trip  to  that  locality,  to 
found  a  school.  After  selling  out  the 
"  Mansion  House  "  he  moved  his  family 
to  Oberlin  in  order  to  have  his  children 
educated.  In  1842  he  returned  to  Elyria, 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  making  business  cliangesin  property 
from  time  to  time.  He  died  in  1871,  hav- 
ing lived  eighty-four  years,  an  honest,  up- 
right and  just  man;  a  lifelong  Democrat  in 
politics.     His  wife  died  in  November,  1870. 

George  E.  Nichols,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  after  receiving  a  good  edu- 
cation settled  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  Elyria,  where  he  remained  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  1852,  under  Franklin 
Pierce's  administration,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Elyria,  and  after  serving 
four  years  resigned  March  5,  1856,  for 
political  reasons.  During  this  period 
(185-i)  he  was  appointed  one  of  a  commit- 
tee to  proceed  to  Nebraska  to  try  and  have 
it  become  a  Democratic  State.  He  had  a 
land  ofhce  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  a 
lartre  amount  of  land  under  his  control; 
and  though  he  made  many  trips  to  Ne- 
braska, he  did  his  chief  land  office  work  at 
Washington.  This  he  continueil  in  sev- 
'eral  years,  having  influential  friends  and 
finding  good  opportunities  wliich  he  im- 
proved. He  was  interested'  in  bringing 
the  first  printing  press  to  Omaha,  and  as- 
sisted in  the  establishment  of  a  paper 
there.  Of  recent  years  Mr.  Nichols  has 
given  his  attention  mainly  to  the  real-es- 
tate business,  with  his  home  and  office  in 
Elyria,  Lorain  county,  and  has  met  with 
marked  success. 

In  November,  1843,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Angeline  D.  Elliott,  daughter  of 
Rev.   Joseph    Elliott,    Baptist   clergyman, 


and  two  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Ella  Gertrude,  wife  of  William  Mills- 
paugh,  of  Middletown,  N.  Y.,  and  Lelia 
May,  wife  of  Seymour  Cromwell  Prentiss, 
of  Detroit,  Mich.  They  have  four  grand- 
children— George  Marcus  Millspaugh  and 
William  L.  Millspaugh,  of  Middletown, 
and  Marion  Louise  Prentiss  and  Edith 
Rouse  Prentiss,  of  Detroit,  Mich. — and 
two  great-grandchildren.  On  November 
22,  1893,  Mr.  aiid  Mrs.  George  E.  Nichols 
celebrated  their  Golden  Wedding  at  the 
home  of  their  daughter,  Ella  Millspaugh, 
in  Middletown,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  refer- 
ring to  which  interesting  event  a  Middle- 
town  (N.  Y.)  paper  of  same  date  contains 
the  following: 

Fifty  years  ago  to-day,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  E. 
Nicbols,  of  Elyria,  Obio,  were  uoited  in  marriage. 
They  are  spending  the  winter  at  the  residence  of 
their  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Millspaugh,  on  Or- 
chard street  in  this  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millspaugh 
do  not  propose  to  let  so  important  an  event  pass 
without  proper  recognition,  and  accordingly  have 
invited  a  number  of  intimate  friends  of  the  family 
and  the  acquaintances  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  have 
made  during  their  visits  to  this  city,  to  join  with 
them  in  celebrating,  in  a  quiet  way,  the  golden  an- 
niversary of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols'  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  have  been  singularly 
blessed  during  their  half-century  of  married  life. 
They  have  been  permitted  to  enjoy  a  reasonable 
measure  of  worldly  prosperity,  and  have  reached 
the  allotted  age  of  man  in  good  physical  and  men- 
tal health.  Two  children  have  blessed  their  union 
— Mrs.  Millspaugh,  of  this  city,  and  Mrs.  Prentiss, 
of  Detroit;  they  liave  four  grandchildren  and  two 
great-grandchildren,  and  there  has  never  been  a 
death  in  their  family,  nor  in  those  ol  their  children. 
There  are  few  who  are  permitted  to  look  back  over 
fifty  years  of  married  life,  and  fewer  still  who  can 
survey  the  past  with  greater  reason  of  thankfulness. 
The  friends  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  in  this  city 
and  elsewhere  will  wish  them  many  happy  returns 
of  their  wedding  anniversary. 


USSEL  B.  WEBSTER.  A  bio- 
graphical record  of  Lorain  county 
V^  would  indeed  be  incomjjete  were 
mention  not  made  of  this  gentle- 
man, who  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Wellington  township,  and  who 
bore  an  honorable  and  influential  part  iu 
the  early  history  of  the  county. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


583 


Ilussel  B.  Webster  was  born  in  Otis, 
Mass.,  April  25,  1799.  He  came  to  Ohio 
in  1820  in  search  of  a  honie,  carrying  sev- 
enty pounds  of  baggage  upon  Jiis  back. 
He  located  a  farm  in  Wellington,  and  re- 
turned to  Otis,  Mass.,  wliere  he  married 
Orpha  Hunter,  and,  returning  to  his  foi'est 
home  with  his  bride,  brought  all  their 
possessions  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke 
of  oxen.  To  Russcl  and  Orpha  Webster 
were  born  the  following  named  children: 
Samuel  H,  now  a  retired  merchant  in 
Shelbyville,  111.;  Bidwell,  a  civil  engin- 
eer, who  died  in  Wellington,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1856;  Leander,  who  commanded 
a  company  in  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry duritig  the  Civil  war,  and  who  now 
resides  in  Castalia,  Iowa;  David  Philan- 
der, who  died  in  infancy;  Philander  P., 
who  commanded  a  company  in  an  Illinois 
regiment  during  its  term  of  service,  and 
who  died  in  Shelbyville,  111.,  April  14, 
1884;  William  W.,  who  emigrated  to 
Colorado  in  1859,  and  was  for  tour  years 
president  of  the  Upper  House  of  Colorado 
Territory,  and  now  resides  in  Pasadena, 
(Jal.;  Loret,  who  died  at  the  age  of  about 
three  years  as  the  result  of  a  fall;  Edward 
F.,  who,  after  four  years  of  service  dui'ing 
the  Civil  war,  returned  to  Wellington, 
where  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged 
in  business,  and  Leveret  F.,  who  died  Jan- 
uary 29.  1861,  as  the  result  of  an  accident. 

Mr.  Webster  was  a  perfect  type  of  the 
good  old  Massachusetts  Puritan  stock.  He 
was  a  man  of  remarkable  ph^'sical  powers 
and  endurance,  and  was  endowed  with  in- 
tellectual powers  and  a  mental  vigor  no  less 
remarkable.  He  joined  the  Congregational 
Church  during  his  early  residence  in  Wel- 
lington, and  during  a  long  and  useful  life 
was  an  earnest,  active  Christian  worker. 
He  was  thoroughly  devoted  to  all  that  was 
good,  and  sternly  opposed  to  all  that  he 
considered  wrong.  He  went  beyond  the 
requirements  of  the  ''  golden  rule "'  and 
throughout  his  life  was  constantly  doing 
for  others  far  more  than  he  would  have 
asked  others  to  do  for  him    under  similar 


circumstances.  In  the  early  pioneer  days, 
when  the  struggle  for  existence  was  so 
hard,  and  the  opportunities  for  "lending 
a  helping  hand"  were  so  numerous,  he 
often  taxed  his  physical  powers  to  their 
utmost  in  assisting  neighbors  and  friends, 
and  never  hesitated  to  contribute  his  last 
dollar  in  case  of  urgent  need.  He  was 
active  and  indefatigable  in  every  good 
work,  and  contributed  his  full  share  toward 
laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  of 
religious  order,  good  morals  and  good 
society  that  have  given  to  Lorain  county  its 
honorable  history.  In  the  early  days,  Mr. 
Webster  commanded  a  militia  company, 
and  thereafter  was  known  as  "  Capt.  Web- 
ster." In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  AVhig, 
while  that  party  existed,  and  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  "  wheel  horses  "  of  the 
party  in  the  county.  He  joined  the  Re- 
publican party  upon  its  organization,  and 
remained  steadfast  in  his  loyalty  to  it  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
Wellington  January  81,  1881,  honored  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  Orpha  Web- 
ster, survived  him  about  one  year. 

To  the  life,  work  and  example  of  the 
class  of  pioneers  to  which  Russel  and 
Orpha  Webster  belonged,  .Lorain  county 
owes  an  inextinguishable  debt  of  gratitude. 


ONE  AD  HAGEMANN,  one  of  the 

most     prominent    and    enterprisino- 
agriculturists    nf   Black  River  town- 
ship, was  born  in  liessia,  Germany, 
October  10,  1831,  a  son  of  John  and  Mar- 
tha (Heussnef)  Hagemann. 

The  family  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  toOhio,  settling,  in  1847,  in  Am- 
herst township,  Loraiii  county,  where  they 
followed  farming.  The  fatlier  was  born 
about  the  year  1800,  and  died  in  North 
Amherst  in  1877;  the  mother  passed  away 
in  1869  when  aged  about  seventy-two 
years.  They  were  sturdy,  hard-working 
people,  whe  strove  well  to  bring  up  tlieir 
family  to  usefulness  and  good  citizenship; 


584 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


they  were  both  members  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  They  liad  a  family  of 
eight  children,  as  follows:  John,  a  cabinet 
maker  by  trade,  died  in  North  Amherst, 
Ohio;  Adam  is  a  farmer  in  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Henry  is  a 
cabinet  makdr  in  Lorain,  Ohio  (he  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war);  George  died 
in  Lon  is  villa,  Ky.;  Conrad  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Antone  now  lives  in  Lide- 
pendence,  Iowa;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
Valentine  Klotzbach;  Matthew  was  a  sol- 
dier, when  twenty-three  years  old,  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  in  hospital  in  1862. 
Two  of  the  above-named  children — Henry 
and  Adam — had  preceded  tlie  rest  of  the 
family  to  America  in  1845. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended 
sch-ool  two  winters  after  comine  to  Lorain 
county,  and  spent  tiie  earlier  years  of  his 
life  working  on  the  farm  and  driving  team. 
Before  reaching  his  majority  he  went  to 
Iowa  for  the  purpose  of  buying  land,  but 
remained  there  only  one  year,  when  he 
was  obliged  to  I'eturn  home  to  take  care  of 
his  parents,  who  were  becoming  advanced 
in  years  and  needed  his  assistance.  With 
true  filial  piety  he  stayed  by  them  till 
their  death.  Mr.  Hagemann  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  118  acres  of  prime 
land  in  Black  River  township  the  year 
after  bis  marriage,  and  has  lived  on  it 
ever  since. 

On  September  16,  1S55,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catharine 
Claus,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Martha 
(Hildebrand)  Claus,  and  they  have  had  a 
family  of  fourteen  children,  namely:  Two 
died  in  infancy;  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Michael  Gegenheimer,  and  they  now  live 
in  Vermillion,  Ohio  (they  liave  three  chil- 
dren: Albert,  Franklin  and  Raipii);  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  John  Beller.  of  North 
Amherst,  and  they  have  four  children: 
•  Anna,  William.  Edna  and  Helen;  Paulina 
married  Henry  Kolbe.  and  died  leaving 
four  ciiiUli-en:  Frank,  August,  George  and 
Henry;  Edna  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Trin- 
ter,  and  they  have  five  children:  Philip, 


Elmer,  Lydia,  Edna  and  William;  Philip 
(unmarried)  runs  a  fishing  tug  at  Lorain; 
August  carries  on  a  brickyard  in  Lorain; 
Martha  resides  at  home;  AlL>ert  attended 
the  business  college  at  Oberliu,  and  is  now 
a  bookkeeper;  Robert,  who  also  attended 
business  college,  is  living  at  home;  Walter 
is  going  to  school;  Herman  is  at  school; 
Elmer  (yet  a  boy)  is  under  the  paternal 
roof.  Mr.  Hagemann  and  ail  his  grown-up 
sons  vote  the  Republican  ticket,  his  first 
vote  being  cast  in  1852  for  Gen.  Scott. 
The  family  are  associated  with  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Amherst. 


I  C.  HILL,  president  of  the  Savings 
K-  I  Deposit  Bank  Company  ot  Elyria,  was 
\^/  born  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  October 
27,  1837,  a  son  of  E.  P.  and  Sarah 
Hill,  natives  of  Connecticut.  His  educa- 
tion was  received  in  his  native  State,  first 
at  the  high  school  in  Berlin  Heights,  Erie 
county,  and  afterward  in  Antioch  College 
at  Yellow  Springs,  Greenecounty,  at  which 
latter  institution  he  was  under  the  pre- 
ceptorship  of  Horace  Mann.  His  father 
and  grandfather  were  prominent  pioneers 
of  Berlin  Heights,  and  the  former  was  a 
member  of  the  (Jhio  State  Senate  from 
Erie  county,  in  1852  and  1853. 

J.  C.  Hill  after  leaving  collea'e  studied 
law  in  Cleveland,  and  from  the  law  college 
in  that  city  tfiok  his  degree  of  LL.  B.  in 
June,  1861,  his  A.  B.  having  been  re- 
ceived at  the  literary  college  in  1860.  He 
then  practiced  law  one  year  in  Elyria  in 
company  with  Judge  J.  C.  Hale,  they 
having  come  to  the  then  village  from 
Cleveland  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Hill,  at 
the  expiration  of  the  year,  practiced  same 
length  of  time  alone,  and  then  formed  a 
second  partner.ship  with  Judge  Hale,  which 
continued  until  1864,  when  it  was  dis- 
solved. In  that  year  our  subject  and  W.  A. 
Braman  entered  into  a  copartnership  in 
live-stock    dealing,   which    continued    for 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


587 


three  years,  and  was  a  success  financially. 
For  several  years  after  this  he  was  engaged 
ill  the  nursery  business,  doing  an  extensive 
trade,  botli  wliolesale  and  retail.  On  No- 
vember 1,  1872,  Mr.  Hill,  in  company 
withT.  L.  Nelson,  organized  and  started  a 
private  banking  compatiy,  with  unlimited 
liability  of  stockholders,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  second  year  tiiere  were  twelve  mem- 
bers in  the  company  representing  a  re- 
sponsibility in  the  bank  of  half  a  million. 
This  secured  for  the  institution  the  un- 
bounded cunfideiice  of  the  public,  and  as  a 
result  the  bank  was  soon  enabled  to  double 
its  capital  from  its  own  earnings,  besides 
paying  regular  dividends.  It  was  known 
as  "The  Savings  Deposit  Bank  of  Elyria,'" 
and  without  doubt  was  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  and  safe  institutions  of  the 
kind  in  the  State.   In  1890  it  was  reorgan- 

o 

ized  and  incorporated  as  a  regular  stock 
batdv  with  a  paid-up  capital  of  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  and  surplus  amount- 
ing to  twelve  thousand  dollars.  In  March, 
1893,  the  bank  carried  loans  to  the  extent 
of  over  one  million  dollars,  and  had  deposit 
accounts  aggreijating  nine  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Hill  was  the  first 
cashier  and  nianager,  and,  at  the  death  in 
1890  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Nelson,  the  president, 
he  succeeded  to  the  presidency,  retaining 
the  managership.  At  the  time  of  the  re- 
organization, fifteen  new  directors  were 
elected,  w'lio  meet  twice  a  year,  and  a 
finance  committee  which  meets  once  each 
week. 

On  January  2,  1861,  Mr.  I^ill  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Etta  M.  Wi,lsori,  of  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.,  whom  he  first  met  as  a  schoolmate 
under  Horace  Mann,  and  who  lacked  only 
one  year  of  graduation  at  Antioch  College. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
of  whom  the  followino;  three  are  still  liv- 
ing:  Ralph  W.,  head  bookkeeper  in  the 
bank  already  referred  to;  Arthur  E., 
superintendent  of  the  Independence  Horse 
and  Cattle  Company,  North  Park,  Colo., 
and  Editha  L.,  at  present  attending  school 
in     Philadelphia,   Penn.      Mr.     Hill     is  a 


Republican  in  politics;  socially  he  is  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  Since  1S79  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Elyria, 
and  president  of  same  since  1888.  He  is 
the  leading  stockholder  in  the  Independ- 
ence Horse  and  Cattle  Company  of  North 
Park,  Colo.,  which  company  owns  a  large 
tract  of  valual)le  land  within  twelve  miles 
of  the  snow  line  in  that  State,  and  about 
eight  hundred  high-grade  Hereford  cattle. 

Mr.  Hill  is  a  man  of  broad  views,  keen, 
quick  perceptions,  sterling  integrity  and  a 
spotless  reputation — qualities  which  have 
secured  him  the  unlimited  confidence  of 
the  people  with  whom  he  has  come  in  con- 
tact. In  addition  to  his  duties  as  manager 
of  the  largest  moneyed  institution  in  the, 
county,  he  has,  as  executor,  settled  several 
large  estates,  discharging  his  duties  witii 
characteristic  fidelity.  An  honorable,  up- 
right life,  guided  liy  rare  mental  endow- 
ments, and  a  delicately  adjusted  mental 
balance,  rarely  fails  to  achieve  success. 
Success  in  this  case  has  not  been  to  the 
possessor  of  these  gifts  alone.  His  equip- 
ment and  business  sagacity  ha,ve  not  only 
been  turned  to  good  account  by  his  associ- 
ates in  business,  but  the  public  has  been 
a  generous  beneficiary  of  his  excellent 
common  sense  and  sound,  mature  judg- 
ment. 

Mr.  Hill  having  but  slightly  passed  the 
noon  mark  of  a  useful- cai-eer,  with  a  lovely 
honi,e,  and  pleasant  fanaily  and  social  sur- 
roundings, may  well  take  pride  in  the 
gathered  fruits  of  his  well-ordered  and 
correct  life. 


G.  BALLANTINE,  D.  D.,  LL. D., 

president  of  Oberlin  College,  was 
born  in  tiie  City  of  "Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  December  7,  18-48,  a 
son  of  Elisha  and  Betsey  A.  fWatkins)  Bal- 
lantine.  The  name  is  Scotcii,  and  the  first 
of  the  family  emigrated  to  America  about 
the  year  1648,  locating   in    Boston,  where 


588 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


tliej  and  their  descendants  lived  for  some 
generations.  The  iirst  Ballantine  gradu- 
ated from  Harvard  College  in   1G94:. 

Rev.  Elisha  Ballantine,  LL.  D.,  father 
of  subject,  M'as  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  received  his  literary  and 
classical  education  at  the  University  of 
Athens,  Ohio.  For  many  years  he  vras 
professor  of"  Greek  in  the  University  of 
Indiana.  He  died  in  1886  at  an  advanced 
age.  His  wife,  who  was  Miss  Betsey  A. 
Watkins,  was  born  in  Prince  Edward 
county,  Va.,  and  died  in  1873,  the  mother 
of  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  seventh. 

Bres.  Ballantine  received  his  elementary 
education  mostly  at  home.  He  took  the 
Freshman  and  Sophomore  years  at  Wabash 
(Indiana)  College;  in  1866  he  entered  the 
junior  class  at  Marietta  (Ohio)  College, 
graduating  in  1868  A.  B.  While  yet  a 
student  and  after  graduation  he  followed 
civil  engineering,  and  in  1869  became  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  State  Geological  Sur- 
vey. Subsequently  he  entered  Union 
Seminary,  New  York,  and  there,  under 
the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  Henry  B.  Smith, 
st\idied  theology,  graduating  in  1872.  In 
that  same  year,  desiring  to  drink  still  deeper 
of  the  Pierian  Spring,  he  proceeded  to 
Leipsic,  Germany,  for  the  purpose  of  study- 
ing Hebrew  under  Delitzsch.  In  1873, 
as  a  n)ember  of  the  American  Palestine 
Exploring  E.xpedition,  he  traveled  through- 
out the  Holy  Land  for  about  six  months,  the 
teriitory  east  of  the  Joi'dan  being  the  por- 
tion chiefly  visited  by  the  expedition.  On 
his  return  to  the  United  States  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  professorship  in  Ripon  (Wis.) 
College,  occupying  the  Chair  of  Chemis- 
try and  Natural  Science  from  1874  to 
1876;  was  assistant  professor  of  Greek  in 
Indiana  University  from  1876  to  1878,  and 
was  professor  of  Greek  and  Hebrew  Exe- 
gesis in  Oberlin  (Ohio)  Theological  Semi- 
nary from  1878  to  1880.  From  1880  to 
1891  he  was  Professor  of  Old  Testament 
Language  and  Literature  in  the  same  in- 
stitution.    For  some   time    the  Professor 


was  one  of  the  editors  of  tlie  "Bibliotheca 
Sacra."  In  1880  he  was  ordained  to  the 
Congregational  ministry;  in  1885  he  re- 
ceived the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from 
Marietta  College,  and  in  1891  the  degree 
of  LL.  I),  from  Western  Reserve  Univer- 
sity. On  January  28,  1891,  he  was  elected 
president  of  Oberlin  College.  It  will  thus 
be  seen  that  Prof.  Ballantine's  reading, 
study  and  teaching,  Iiave  been  of  a  remark- 
ably versatile  nature,  and  his  breadth  of 
knowledge  and  executive  ability  are  too 
well  known  to  here  require  any  comment. 
In  1875  Prof.  W.  G.  Ballantine  was 
married  in  Waupun,  AVis.,  to  Miss  Emma 
F.  Atwood,  and  four  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  namely:  Henry  W.,  Arthur 
A.,   Edward  and  Mary  F. 


EV.  JOHN  MILLOTT  ELLIS, 
A.M.,  professor  of  mental  and 
moral  philosophy.  Stone  professor- 
shi]),  Oberlin  College,  is  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  born  in  Jaf- 
frey,  March  27, 1831,  a  son  of  Seth  B.  and 
Lucy  (Joslin)  Ellis. 

The  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Keene, 
N.  II.,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated. 
At  the  age  of  fifty  he  came  west  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Oberlin,  where  he  carried  on  a 
planing  mill  and  lumber  yard.  He  died 
in  1865,  at  the  age  of  seventy- five  years, 
his  wife  when  seventy -seven  years  old,  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  came 
with  their  parents  to  Oberlin.  Timothy 
Ellis,  great-grandfather  of  subject,  was  a 
colonel  in  the  Revolution,  and  participated 
in  the  capture  of  Fort  Ticonderoga;  he 
was  ninety  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred   in  Keene,  N.  H. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  his 
elementary  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  boyhood  days,  after  which,  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  he  entered  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, where  he  graduated  in  1851.  He 
then  taught  school  for  a  time,  was  also 
professor  in  Mississippi  College,  Clinton, 


LORAIN  COUJUITY,  OHIO. 


589 


Miss.,  three  years.     In   1857    lie  was  ap- 

f»ointed  to  a  Greek  professorship  in  Ober- 
in  College,  which  he  filled  for  nine  years; 
after  this  he  occupied  the  Chair  of  piii- 
losophy,  rhetoric  and  composition,  etc.,  and 
more  recently  that  of  mental  and  moral 
philosopliy.  During  life  he  has  been  active, 
for  many  years  in  ministerial  work  as  pas- 
tor of  the  Second  Congrecjational  Church 
at  Oberlin,  and  supplyincj  churches  in 
Cleveland,  and  other  neighboring  towns. 
In  1862  Prof.  Ellis  was  married  to  Miss 
Minerva  Emeline  Tenney,  and  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  all  sons,  viz.: 
Albert  H.,  Theodore  H.,  John  T.  and 
Luman  M.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  graduate  of  the 
literary  course  of  Oberlin  College,  class  of 
1858.  Her  grandfather,  Judge  Harris, 
was  a  pioneer  of  Lorain  county,  and  her 
father.  Dr.  Luman  Tenney,  was  a  native 
of  Vermont. 


q George  fredeeick  weight, 
r,  D.  1).,  LL.  D.,  F.  G.  S.  A.,  profes- 
I  sor  of  the  Harmony  of  Science  and 
U  Eevelation  in  Oberlin  Theological 
Seminary. 
Concerning  tjiis  learned  gentleman,  we 
excerpt  from  an  article  in  a  recent  num- 
ber of  the  "  Popular  Science  Monthly  " 
the  following:  "  Prof.  George  Frederick 
Wright  has  come  within  a  few  years  to  a 
foremost  position  among  authorities  in 
geology  and  the  antiquity  of  man.  His 
studies  of  glacial  action  have  been  thor- 
ough, extended,  comprehensive,  and  fruit- 
ful of  results  be3'ond  those  of  almost  any 
other  single  observer,  and  make  singularly 
fitting  the  curious  designation  given  him 
by  Judge  Baldwin,  secretary  of  the  West- 
ern Reserve  Historical  Society,  as  '  the 
apostle  of  the  Ice  Age  and  Early  Man.'  " 
Prof.  Wright  was  born  at  Whitehall,  N. 
Y.,  January  22,  1838,  a  son  of  Walter  and 
Mary  (Peabody)  Wright — he  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  she  of  New  Brunswick. 
N.  J.,  and  both  descended  from  New  Eng- 
land families.     "  They  were  plain  people, 


in  moderate  circumstances,  not  exempt 
from  the  necessity  of  labor,  who,  parti- 
cipating in  the  sentiment  which  that  in- 
stitution then  represented,  sent  their  .son 
to  Oberlin  College,  five  hundred  miles 
away."  Here  in  1859  he  graduated  in  the 
classical  course,  and  in  1862  from  the 
Theological  Seminary.  While  taking  his 
Theological  course  he  served  as  a  private  in 
Company  0,  Seventh  O.  V.  I.,  in  which  he 
had  enlisted  on  the  first  call  of  President 
Lincoln  for  troops;  hut  a  severe  sickness 
led  to  his  discharge  after  iive  months  en- 
rollment. In  the  fall  of  1862  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Bakersfield,  Vt.,  an  incumbency  he  en- 
joyed for  about  ten  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  (1872)  he  accepted  a  call  to 
one  of  the  Congregational  Chni-ches  of 
Andover,  Mass.  From  the  magazine  al- 
ready quoted  from  we  glean  the  following, 
illustrative  of  Prof.  Wright's  multifarious 
labors:  "  Besides  attending  to  his  pastoral 
duties,  and  engaging  actively  in  revival 
work  in  his  own  church  and  in  the  sur- 
rounding towns,  he  entered  vigorously 
into  educational  movements;  started  and 
presided  over  a  vigorous  farmers'  club; 
studied  the  local  geology  and  wrote  articles 
for  the  country  papers  on  the  glacial 
phenomena  of  the  region;  read  his  He- 
orevv  Bible  through,  and  translated  'Kant's 
Critique  of  Pure  Eeason,'  besides  several 
of  Plato's  philosophical  works." 

While  in  the  discharge  of  his  ministerial 
duties  in  Andover,  Mass.,  he  enjoyed  the 
friendship  of  the  professors  in  the  Theolog- 
ical Sen^inary,  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Prof.  Asa  Gray,  of  Harvard,  and  com- 
menced .  an  active  literary  career.  His 
special  attention  was  directed  to  the  gla- 
cial phenomena  of  the  region,  and  as  early 
as  1876  his  observations  ware  volumi- 
nously reported  in  the  "  Proceedings  of  the 
Boston  Society  of  Natural  Philosophy." 
After  making  himself  familiar  witli  the 
glacial  phenomena  of  New  England,  "  he 
was  invited  in  1881,  by  Prof.  Lesley,  to 
survey,  in   company   with   the  late  Prof. 


590 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


H.  Carvill  Lewis,  the  boundary  of  the 
glaciated  area  across  Pennsylvania  to  the 
border  of  Ohio." 

DuriiiK  his  pastorate  at  Andover  he 
also  published  a  number  of  articles  in  the 
"  Bibliotheca  Sacra,"  notably  one  on  the 
tlieology  of  President  Finney,  and  four  on 
Darwinism.  Kumerous  articles  from  his 
pen  also  appeared  in  various  other  serials, 
and  in  1880  he  published  his  book  en- 
titled "The  Logic  of  Christian  Evidences." 
"Studies  in  Science  and  Religion,"  "The 
Relation  of  Death  to  Probation,"  and  "  The 
Divine  Authority  of  the  Bible,"  rapidly 
followed  each  other,  and  showed  to  the 
Christian  public  that  a  calm,  clear,  fear- 
less yet  fair  advocate  of  Revealed  Chris- 
tianity was  coming  to  tlie  front. 

In  1881  he  was  called  to  the  Chair  of 
New  Testament  Exegesis  in  Oberlin  The- 
ological Seminary,  and  almost  the  iirst 
question  he  askpd  after  his  arrival  in  Ober- 
lin was  a  geological  one:  "  What  is  the 
age  of  the  cailon  of  Plum  Creek?"  This 
stream  is  modest  enough  in  its  meander- 
in^s,  "  but  Prof.  Wright  made  it  and  its 
work  in  denudation,  in  his  'Ice  Age  in 
North  America,'  the  basis  of  an  important 
and  interesting  calculation  concerning  the 
antiquity  of  the  Great  Ice  Age."  During 
the  summers  of  1882-83  he  continued  his 
geological  survey  across  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
a  part  of  Illinois,  the  result  of  which  work 
was  published  by  the  Western  Reserve 
Jlistorical  Society  under  the  title  of  "  The 
Glacial  Boundary  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
Kentucky,"  which  attracted  wide  atten- 
tion. The  two  summer  vacations  pf  1884- 
85  were  spent  by  Prof.  Wright  under  the 
auspices  of  the  United  States  Government 
in  tracing  the  terminal  moraine  across  the 
western  States  to  the  Mississippi;  in  re- 
viewing the  field  of  Ohio  and  western 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  verifying  his  previous 
work.  Later  he  spent  a  summer  in  Alaska, 
camping  for  a  month  beside  the  great 
Mnir  glacier.  In  1887  he  was  invited  to 
give  a  course  of  eight  Lowell  Institute 
Lectures  at  Boston,  which  were  afterward 


repeated  in  Baltimore,  Md.,aiid  Brooklyn, 
N.  y..  and  were  enlarged  into  his  volume 
on  '•  The  Ice  Age  in  North  America." 

The  summer  of  1890  Prof.  Wright  spent 
in  the  lava  iields  of  the  West,  where  he 
obtained  additional  and  exceedingly  valu- 
able evidence  of  the  existence  of  man  in 
Idaho  and  California  prior  to  the  lava  out- 
pour. The  summer  of  1891  he  passed  in 
Europe,  where  he  was  warmly  greeted  by 
the  glacialists  of  England,  his  fame  as  a 
specialist  in  glacial  geology  having  pre- 
ceded him  there.  In  the  winter  of  1891- 
92  he  gave  a  second  course  of  lectures  in 
the  Lowell  Institute,  Boston,  to  uniformly 
large  audiences.  Besides  his  geological 
and  theological  publications  already  enu- 
merated, numerous  articles  from  his  pen 
have  appeared  in  various  serials.  His 
book  entitled  "  Logic  of  Christian  Evi- 
dences," already  referred  to,  at  once  at- 
tained a  wide  circulation,  and  is  used  in 
several  schools  as  a  text  book. 

In  1862  Prof.  G.  F.  Wright  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Sheffield  township, 
Lorain  county,  with  Miss  Hulda  M.  Day, 
daughter  of  William  Day,  and  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  named,  re- 
spectively, Mary  A.,  Ett^  M.,  Frederick 
B.  and  Helen  M. 


B.  EVERITT,  M.  D.,  a  successful 
medical  practitioner  of  Lorain  coun- 
ty, having  his  residence  in  Kipton, 
Camden  township,  claims  descent 
from  a  "Mayflower  family." 
lie  was  born  in  Litchfield  township, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  September  24,  1846,  a 
spu  of  Abner  Everitt.  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, t|Orn  in  Litchfield,  April  15, 
1798,  a  son  of  Abner  Everitt,  who  was 
born  May  12,  1764,  and  whose  father, 
Daniel,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1715. 
Abner,  father  of  subject,  was  mai-ried  in 
the  "Nutmeg  State,"  February  20,  1828, 
to  Hannah  Mallory,  who  was  born  in 
Litchfield  county,   May  7,  1809.      He  was 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


591 


by  occupation  a  tanner,  and  was  proprietorof 
a  grist  and  saw  mill.  About  1834  he  and 
his  family  came  to  Genesee  county,  N.  Y., 
and  from  tiiere  in  1836  to  Ohio,  making 
the  journey  l)v  ox-team.  They  located  in 
Litchtieldtownship,  where  the  fatlier  bought 
land,  totally  wild  and  unimproved.  Here 
they  had  to  blaze  the  trees  to  mark  out  the 
roads,  etc.,  and  in  the  midst  of  tlie  somber 
forest  they  built  them  a  log  house  of  a 
very  primitive  style  of  architecture,  but 
comfortable  and  commodious  enough.  Here 
the  parents  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
pioneer  days,  the  father  dying  April  2, 
1857,  the  mother  December  25,  1888,  and 
they  rest  from  their  labors  in  Litchfield 
cemetery.  They  were  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  Politically  Mr.  Everitt  was 
for  a  long  time  an  Old-line  Whig,  in  later 
years  a  Republican.  In  Connecticut  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them  as  follows:  Nnra- 
nia  E.,  born  September  24,  1829,  widow  of 
Hanson  Cole,  to  whom  she  was  married 
March  14,  1858.  in  Medina  county,  Ohio 
(she  now  lives  in  Fulton  connty);  Jedidah, 
born  April  29,  1831,  deceased  August  16, 
1834;  Augnsta  M.,  born  Noveml)er  17, 
1834,  died  August  15,  1866.  In  Litchfield 
township,  Medina  county,  the  following 
were  born :  A  son  born  February  6.  1837, 
died  February  22,  1837;  Jedidah  H.,  born 
May  10,  1838,  died  December  19,  1860; 
Aaron  M.,  born  March  7,  1841,  died  July 
30,  1842;  Ambrose  M.,  born  Noveml)er 
14,  1843,  enlisted  September  15,  1862,  at 
Cleveland,  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  was 
wounded  May  15,  1864,  at  Resaca,  Ga., 
and  died  June  8,  1864,  in  the  hospital  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Soldiers'  cemetery  (he  served  under  Capt. 
G.  W.  Lewis,  of  Medina,  Ohio,  and  took 
part  in  the  following  engagements:  Spring 
Hill,  Chickamauga,  Brown's  Ferry,  Or- 
chard Ridge,  Rock  Face  Ridge  and  Res- 
aca); Abner  H.,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Daniel  Quincy,  born  August  26, 1849, 
died  on  the  home  farm  July  5,  1872  (he 
was  a  school  teacher). 


From  history  written  by  Thirza  J. 
Strong;  aunt  of  our  subject  on  his  father's 
side,  the  following  is  taken:  "My  grand- 
parents on  my  mother's  side  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  the  early  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  to  enjoy  religious  freedom. 
In  England  they  of  my  grandmother's 
family  were  some  of  the  families  of  the 
Lords  or  Earls,  selling  all  of  their  landed 
possessions,  reserving  only  their  silver 
service  and  jewels  with  their  money.  Set- 
tled in  Massachusetts;  four  daughters  only 
of  the  family.  The  oldest  married  Col. 
Ethan  Allen,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  The 
second  married  Abraham  Brownson,  who 
was  my  grandfather.  He  was  killed  by 
being  Hung  from  a  horse  in  the  year  1785, 
My  grandmother  died  at  my  father's  in 
the  year  1815,  being  between  eighty  and 
ninety  years  of  age;  Abigal  Brownson  by 
name.  By  this  marriage  there  were  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  my  mother  being 
the  oldest  of  the  family.  Her  sister  mar- 
ried Elias  Merwin,  and  moved  to  the  far 
west.  Livona,  in  York  State.  She  soon 
after  died.  My  uncles  were  Deacon  Myers 
Brownson,  Abraham  and  Israel.  None  but 
Israel  had  any  family.  Three  brothers 
Brownson  came  from  England  and  bought 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Rox- 
bury.  Conn.  Two  of  the  brothers  died, 
leaving  my  grandfather  alone.  Then  he 
sold  and  iTioved  to  Bethlehem,  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut,  where  my  parents 
were  married." 

A.  B.  Everitt,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  a  farmer  boy,  and  re- 
ceived his  elementary  education  at  the 
common  schools  and  in  those  of  the 
"Nevins  District,"  which  well  prepared 
him  for  taking  up  the  profession  of  school 
teaching.  He  taught  in  Seneca,  Sandusky 
and  ]\Iedina  counties.  Later  be  attended 
Oberlin  College  for  about  three  terms,  but 
prior  to  this  he  had  been  reading  medicine 
at  home,  simply  to  gratify  a  natural  desire 
he  entertains  for  knowledge  of  that  nature. 
These  studies  he  continued  under  Dr.  R. 
V.    Gamble,  of    Liverpool,  Ohio,  and    in 


592 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


February,  1884,  lie  received  his  diploma 
from  Adelbert  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  in  the  first  class  after  the  consolidation 
of  the  Wooster  and  Adelbert  Colleges. 
In  1880  he  left  the  home  farm,  where  he 
had  hitherto  lived,  and  which  had  come 
into  his  possession,  and  made  his  residence 
in  the  village  of  Litchfield  until  1889,  in 
which  year  he  came  to  Kipton,  and  has 
here  since  resided.  During  his  stay  at 
Litchfield  he  practiced  medicine,  and  he 
has  been  very  successful  since  coming  to 
Kipton. 

in  March,  1880,  Dr.  Everitt  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Frankie  A.  Plank, 
who  was  born  in  Castorland,  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Plank,  a 
farmer.  She  was  on  a  visit  to  relatives  in 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  when  she  and  the 
Doctor  "  met  by  chance,  the  usual  way." 
To  Dr.  A.  E.  and  Frankie  A.  Everitt  was 
l)orn  November  19,  1885,  a  daughter, 
Mary  H.  Our  suliject  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  poli- 
tics Dr.  Everitt  is  a  straight  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  381,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  at  Litchfield,  Ohio;  of  Wellington 
Lodge  No.  44,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  Tent  No. 
92,  K.  O.  T.  M.,  Kipton. 


djAMES   W.    CHAPMAN, 
and    secretary  of  the  Ohio  Co-oper- 
'   ative    Shear    Company,    Elyria,   was 
born    in    Avon,    Lorain    Co.,    Ohio, 
July  5,  1846,  the  only  child  of  Amasa  and 
Catharine  (^Wood)  Chapman. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  of 
English  descent,  and  the  father  was  born 
in  Ashford,  Conn.,  December  3,  1813,  the 
mother  in  Chester,  Mass.,  January  22, 
1810.  The  maiden  name  of  tlie  grand- 
mother of  James  "W.  Chapman,  on  the 
mother's  side,  was  Betsey  Brewster,  and 
she  was  a  direct  descendant  of  William 
Elder  Brewster,  who  came  over  in  the 
"  Mayflower." 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  boy  of 
six  when  his  father  died.      When    he  was 


eleven  years  old,  his  mother  having  re- 
married, the  family  removed  to  Castile, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
of  age,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Eljria.  Here  he  was  engaged 
in  loaning  money,  and  attending  to  his 
property  interests  until  1882,  at  which 
time  the  Ohio  Shear  Company  was  organ- 
ized, and  he  was  elected  to  the  manager- 
ship, which  position  he  held  until  the 
company  was  dissolved  and  the  Ohio  Co- 
operative Shear  Company  organized.  He 
was  then  chosen  manager  of  tin's  company, 
and  continued  in  that  incumbency  until 
January,  1890,  when  he  was  chosen 
manager  and  secretary  of  the  company, 
which  position  he  occupies  at  the  present 
time.  In  politics  he  is  a  strong  protec- 
tionist and  a  stanch  Republican. 

On  July  25,  1867,  Mr.  Chapman  was 
married  to  Margaret  A.  Darling,  daughter 
of  Joshua  H.  Darling,  ])resident  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Warsaw,  N.  Y., 
who  was  the  son  of  Judge  Joshua  Darling, 
of  Llenniker,  N.  H.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chapman,  viz.: 
Robert  Mosher,  William  Brewster,  (xrace 
Darling,  Arthur  Wood  and  Alice  Darling. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Elyria,  and  are 
active  workers  in  that  organization. 

The  works  of  the  Onio  Co-operative 
Shkar  Company  are  situated  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town  of  Elyria,  on  the  Cleveland, 
Lorain  &  Wheeling  tracks  near  their  junc- 
tion with  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  South- 
ern R.  R.  The  buildings  consist  of  three 
large  structures,  in  addition  to  the  boiler 
and  engine  rooms,  the  whole  covering  an 
area  of  some  ten  thousand  feet,  and  the 
works  are  divided  into  ten  departments. 
The  main  building  is  two  and  a  half 
stories,  with  a  frontage  of  fifty  feet,  run- 
ning back  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  the 
rear  part  of  the  building  being  one  story 
hicrh.  The  engine  room  is  eighteen  feet 
square,  containing  a  seventy-five-horse 
power  engine  and  boiler.     There  are  two 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


593 


other  buikliiigs,  one  16  x  30,  the  other 
20  X  40,  it)  wLicli  are  kept  the  raw  mate- 
rials from  which  the  shears  and  scissors 
are  manufactured.  The  present  company 
was  organized  seven  years  ago,  and  started 
with  al>out  forty  employes.  The  business 
has  so  inci'eased  that  now  there  are  seventy- 
five  employes  with  a  monthly  pay  roll  of 
over  twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 


llOHN  SCOTT.  In  the  land  of  the 
w  I  Scots,  of  which  the  poets  have  so 
}^)  often  sung,  the  "  land  of  the  mountain 
and  the  Hood,"  and  in  the  county  of 
Dumfries,  was  born  April  8,  1819,  the 
gentleman  whose  name  here  appears. 

He  is  a  son  of  Walter  Scott,  also  a  native 
of  Dumfriesshire,  born  in  1780,  a  son  of 
John  Scott,  who  lived  to  be  over  ninety- 
seven  years  of  age,  and  who  was  a  shep- 
herd, on  the  muirs  and  hills  of  Scotland. 
Walter  Scott  married  Miss  Mary  Burton, 
of  the  same  county,  a  daugliter  of  Plenry 
Burton,  and  the  children  of  this  union,  all 
born  in  Scotland,  were  Helen,  deceased  in 
Scotland;  Jane,  widow  of  Robert  Brannan, 
of  Ionia,  Mich.;  Henry,  of  Kipton,  Lorain 
county;  John,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Wal- 
ter G.,  of  Kipton;  and  William,  who  died 
in  his  native  country.  The  father  was  by 
trade  a  stonemason,  wliich  he  followed  for 
several  years  in  his  native  land,  and  he  was 
also  a  "  carrier,"  doing  errands,  principally 
of  a  commercial  character,  buying,  carting, 
delivering  and  marketing  goods  for  the 
people  along  his  particular  route.  In  1826 
he  came  alone  to  the  United  States,  land- 
ing in  New  York  with  but  three  half-pence 
(three  cents)  in  his  pocket.  He  at  once 
obtained  work,  however,  at  his  trade,  but 
later  he  hired  out  as  a  hostler  for  a  country 
tavern,  aud  managed  to  save  some  money. 
Having  now  three  hundred  dollars,  he  de- 
cided to  send  for  his  wife  and  family,  and 
accordingly  proceeded  to  New  York  in 
order  to  secure  their  passage,  but  failing 
in  with  a  bogus  "  captain,"  the  latter 
swindled  him  out  of  every  cent  of  his  sav- 


ings. He  had  no  recourse  now  except  to 
go  to  work  as  before,  which  he  did,  saving 
his  money  until  he  had  another  sum  of 
three  hundred  dollars  laid  by.  In  1830  he 
returned  to  Scotland,  and  in  April  set  sail 
with  the  family,  arriving  in  Quebec  after 
a  passage  of  six  weeks  on  the  "  Mary  Ann." 
From  Quebec  they  moved  westward  to 
Montreal,  thence  to  St.  John's,  near  that 
city,  and  from  there  by  Lake  Champlain 
to  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  near  the  foot  of 
Seneca  Lake,  and  here  the  entire  family, 
except  our  subject,  were  seized  with  fever 
and  ague.  In  the  spring  of  1834  they  set 
out  for  Ohio  via  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie 
to  Huron,  Ohio.  In  Camden  township, 
Lorain  county,  Walter  Scott  bought  fifty 
acres  of  wild  land  for  two  dollars  per  acre, 
aud  here  erected  a  temporary  shelter,  very 
rough  and  primitive,  which  was  succeeded 
by  a  more  pretentious  cabin  in  which  they 
passed  their  first  winter  in  these  parts. 
Thisstoodon  thesiteof  oursubject's  present 
home,  and  here  the  parents  died,  the  father 
in  January,  1877,  the  mother  in  Novem- 
ber, 1847,  aud  they  lie  buried  in  Camden 
cemetery.  They  were  Presbyterians,  aud 
in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  and  received  the  greater  part  of  his 
education  in  his  native  country.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  expressed  a  desire  to 
leave  home,  but  his  father  prevailed  ou 
him  to  remain,  which  he  did,  and  with 
true  filial  piety  cared  for  his  parents  in 
their  declining  years,  at  his  father's  death 
falling  heir  to  the  home  farm  of  fifty  acres. 
This  he  has  since  increased  to  120  acres, 
and  has  in  all  his  labor  made  a  success. 

On  December  22,  1842,  Mr.  Scott  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Climena  J,  AVhit- 
ney,  who  bore  him  five  children,  viz.: 
Mary  L.,  Mrs.  Charles  Buckley,  of  Hen- 
rietta township;  Jane,  deceased;  Helen, 
Mrs.  Charles  Arnold,  of  Denver,  Colo.; 
Frances,  Mrs.  Leando  Bates,  of  Colorado 
Springs,  Colo.;  and  John  H.,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  On  August  27,  1854,  the 
mother  of  these  died,  and  she  now  reposes 


594 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  Camden  cemetery.  For  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Scott  married,  in  1855,  Sarah  A. 
Sbattiic,  who  died  in  September,  1880, 
and  in  1881  he  was  wedded  to  his  present 
wife,  Hannah  E.  (Brumby).  In  politics 
our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  held 
various  township  offices.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  is 
steward,  and  enjoys  tlie  respect  of  the  en- 
tire community.  Mr.  Scott  is  remarkable 
for  his  kind-heartedness  and  generosity, 
has  never  had  a  lawsuit,  never  sued  anyone, 
and  has  never  been  sued. 


^M.  A.  BEAM  AN,  a  leading  and 
progressive  citizen  of  Lorain 
county,  is  a  native  of  the  same, 
born  in  Carlisle  township  Octo- 
ber 4,  1836.  His  grandparents,  on  his 
father's  side,  had  come  from  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county,  in  1822. 

Anson  Braman,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  May  30,  1811,  in  Genesee  county, 
N.  Y.,  whence  in  1822  he  removed  to 
Avon  township,  Lorain  county,  and  from 
there  to  Carlisle  township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  vocation  of  farmer  and  nursery- 
man. In  1855  he  came  to  Elyria,  same 
county,  and  here  carried  on  the  nursery 
business  until  1872,  when  he  moved  to 
Northport,  Mich.  In  1835,  at  Carlisle, 
Lorain  county,  he  married  Miss  Emeline 
Vincent,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
October  10,  1818,  at  Mt.  Washington, 
Berkshire  county,  removing  witli  her  par- 
ents to  Carlisle,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1834. 
Their  eldest  child  is  the  subject  of  these 
lines. 

W.  A.  Braman  passed  the  lirsttwenty- 
one  years  of  his  life  on  the  home  farm,  at 
intervals  attending  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  then,  being  desirous  of 
securing  better  education,  he  worked  by 
the  month  on  other  farms;  teaching  school 
during  the  winter  gave  him  the  necessary 
funds  with  which   to   gratify  his   desires, 


and  thus  glided  past  six  more  years  of  his 
life.  In  1864  he  commenced  the  business 
of  live-stock  dealing,  which  he  followed 
until  1S70,  in  partnership  with  J.  E. 
Boynton  and  J.  C.  Hill;  then  with  J.  E. 
Boynton  was  engaged  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  cheese.  During  the  spring  of  1874 
was  founded  the  firm  of  Braman,  Ilorr  & 
Warner,  for  the  manufacture  of  and  gen- 
eral dealing  in  butter  and  cheese,  which 
firm  became  one  of  the  largest  in  nortl^rn 
Ohio. 

On  April  27,  1865,  Mr.  Braman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sophia  E. 
Patterson,  then  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
daughter  of  Hiram  Patterson,  and  children 
as  follows  have  been  born  to  them:  Theo- 
dore W.,  in  1867;  Charles  M.,  in  1869  (he 
is  cashier  of  the  Savings  Bank  at  Medina); 
and  Belle  Louise,  in  1872.  This  union  has 
proved  a  most  fortunate  and  happy  one. 
Mrs.  Braman,  a  most  estimable  woman, 
has  done  well  her  part  in  contributing 
to  the  happiness  of  their  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Braman  has  earned  success  by  his 
enterprise,  natural  shrewdness  and  well- 
established  reputation  for  integrity.  He 
stands  prominently  among  the  foremost 
business  men  of  the  county,  and  the  sev- 
eral institutions  with  which  he  has  been 
closely  in  touch  attest  his  eminent  quali- 
ties as  a  counselor  and  financier  in  their 
unbroken  line  of  successes.  He  enjoys  a 
very  wide  acquaintance  throughout  the 
coimty,  and  has  hosts  of  friends  who  have 
shown  their  appreciation  of  his  qualifica- 
tions for  ofScial  positions  by  electing  him 
from  time  to  time  to  various  offices  of 
trust  in  Lorain  county,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned:  County  commissioner,  one 
term;  county  treasurer,  four  years  from 
1876;  township  trustee  and  city  council- 
man for  several  years;  has  been  president 
of  the  Lorain  County  Agricultural  Society 
seven  years,  and  for  a  much  longer  period 
one  of  its  officers;  is  present  president  of 
the  Farmers'  Institute  of  Lorain  County; 
for  twenty  years  was  a  director  in  the 
Elyria    Savings    Deposit    Bank    Co.,    of 


^:r 


fss. 


^,a. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


597 


which  lie  was  one  of  the  founders,  has 
been  a  member  of  the  finance  coniinittee 
from  its  organization,  and  is  now  vice- 
president;  has  been  a  member  of  the  Union 
Schuol  board  nineteen  years,  and  president 
of  same  a  considerable  time.  In  the 
House  of  Representatives  he  served  four 
years  (1887-91),  tiiroughout  which  entire 
period  he  was  on  the  finance  committee, 
and  during  iiis  service  in  the  Sixty-eighth 
General  Assembly  many  bills  of  impor- 
tance were  introduced  and  passed,  includ- 
ing laws  affecting  Temperaijce  and  Sunday 
observance,  largely  through  his  influence, 
as  of  such  matters  he  is  a  pronounced 
champion.  Mr.  Braman  is  what  may  be 
termed  a  Temperance  Republican,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  all  moral  questions. 
Since  September  1,  1891,  he  has  been 
president  of  the  Republican  Printing  Co., 
•  and  editor  of  the  Elyria  Republican,  the 
oldest  newspaper  in  the  county,  and  en- 
joying the  largest  circulation,  which,  as 
well  as  its  general  business,  has  i-apidly 
increased  during  the  last  few  years  of  its 
existence. 

Mr.  Braman  has  dealt  largely  in  real 
estate,  and  has  been  very  active  in  all 
business  matters.  But  few  men  have 
come  more  directly  in  contact  with  the 
financial  interests  of  Lorain  county,  and 
none  have  commanded  more  completely 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  commu- 
nity at  large.  He  has  risen  by  his  own 
individual  efforts  and  may  justly  be  styled 
"a  self-made  man."  His  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  ac(^uaintances  confidently  be 
speak  for  him  a  long-continued  active 
career. 


LVIN  PELTON,  one  of  the  leading 
l\     and    most  liighly  esteemed  farmer 
^   citizens  of  Russia  township,  is  a  na- 
tive   of    Trumbull    county,    Ohio, 
born  in  the  town  of  (lustavus  De- 
cember 1,  1819. 

Harvey  Pelton,   father  of   subject,   was 
boru  in  Connecticut,  and  was  twelve  years 


old  when  his  fatlier,  Josiah,  brouijht  him 
to  Trumbull  county,  they  being  among  the 
first  settlers  there.  He  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, and  learned  the  trade  of  chair  maker. 
In  Ohio  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Bailey,  who  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Penn., 
where  her  parents  had  tarried  while  en 
route  to  Ohio.  After  marriage  the  young 
couple  located  on  the  old  homestead  farm, 
which  the  husband  worked  on,  at  same  time 
occasionally  following  his  trade.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  them  were  as  follows:  Seth.  in 
Cheboygan,  AYis.;  Alvin,  subject  proper  of 
sketch;  Russell,  a  retired  farmer  of  Wau- 
paca, Wis.;  Miranda,  widow  of  W.  F. 
Lawrence,  of  Sioux  City,  Minn.;  Mary  B., 
Mrs.  John  Cisson,  of  Minnesota;  Abi- 
gail E.,  who  married  Henry  Wilbur,  died 
in  Michigan;  Samuel  N.,  a  harness  maker 
of  Pomona,  Cal. ;  Martha,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Lake, 
of  St.  Louis.  Mo.;  and  Lydia  A.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eighteen.  The  father  died 
May  10,  1837,  of  rapid  consumption,  al- 
though he  had  been  in  feeble  health  for 
many  years,  and  was  buried  at  Russell, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  whither  he  had  moved 
in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  bought  a  piece  of 
new  land,  wliich  was  being  cleared  up. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  was  reared 
a  farmer  boy.  As  he  was  but  a  youth 
when  his  father  died,  and  next  the  eldest  in 
the  family,  he  went  to  work  pretty  early 
in  life,  in  order  to  provide  for  his  younger 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  his  widowed 
mother.  He  found  plenty  to  do  in  assist- 
ing to  clear  the  land  of  timber  and  brush, 
chopping  down  trees,  etc.,  for  which  he  re- 
ceived twenty-five  cents  per  day.  Thus  he 
remained  at  the  old  home  until  he  was 
married,  after  which  he  located  on  fifty 
acres  left  for  his  mother,  who  went  west  (o 
Cheboygan,  Wis.,  where  she  died  in  1858, 
and  was  there  bnried.  In  the  spring  of 
1855  our  subject  sold  his  farm  in  Geauga 
county,  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  bought  his 
present  valuable  farm  of  ninety-four  and  a 
half  acres.  Here  lie  has  since  resided,  with 


598 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  exception  of  three  and  one  half  years 
lie  lived  in  Oberlin,  same  county,  while 
having  his  younger  daughter  educated  at 
the  college  there.  For  the  past  eighteen 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  cheese,  and  has  met  with  every 
success  in  both  that  and  his  general  farm- 
ing operations.  , 

On  April  3,  1851,  Mr.  Pelton  was  mar- 
ried in  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  to  Caroline 
McFarland,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Olive 
(Randall)  McFarland,  natives,  the  father 
of  Massachusetts,  the  mother  of  New 
York  State.  The  latter  died  when  her 
daughter  Caroline  was  fifteen  years  old, 
and  the  orphan  girl  afterward  made  her 
home  with  some  of  her  sisters.  The  fol- 
lowing named  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alvin  Pelton:  Clarence  H., 
a  farmer  of  Russia  township;  Flora,  who 
was  married  to  Milliard  Franks,  and  died 
in  Michigan;  and  Carrie  M.,  now  Mrs. 
Harry  Cook,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Mr.  Pel- 
ton  is  a  Republican,  and  invariably  de- 
clines political  preferment.  Mrs.  Pelton 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


/ 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  W.  (RUS- 
SELL) LORD,  assistant  princi- 
pal of  the  Woman's  Department, 
Oberlin  (Ohio)  College,  was  born 
at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  April  28, 1819, 
the  eldest  child  of  Alphens  C.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Conant)  Russell,  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts, the  father  of  Hampshire  county, 
the  mother  of  Berkshire  county. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  her 
elementary  education  in  the  public  schools, 
after  which  she  became  the  pupil  of  Rev. 
Truman  Coe,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Kirtland,  Ohio.  In  1838  she 
came  to  Olterlin,  Lorain  county,  and  at  the 
college  located  there  finished  her  educa- 
tion. On  July  21,  1842,  she  was  married 
to  Dr.  Asa  D.  Lord,  and  they  returned  to 
Kirtland,  where  she  assisted  him  in  his 
work    in   the  Western   Reserve  Teachers' 


Seminary  at  that  place.  In  1847  they 
moved  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  order  to  es- 
tablish in  that  city  a  system  of  graded  pub- 
lic schools,  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the 
State.  When  the  high  school  opened, 
Mrs.  Lord  became  the  first  principal,  and 
she  and  her  husband  remained  in  connec- 
tion with  the  public  schools  until  1856, 
when  Dr.  Lord  was  given  charge  of  the 
Institution  for  the  Blind  there,  in  which 
labor  Mrs.  Lord  assisted  him  till  1868, 
when  he  left  that  institution  to  organize 
the  new  State  Institution  for  the  Blind  at 
Batavia,  N.  Y.  With  this  last  named 
they  were  connected  till  1875,  the  year  of 
his  death,  he  as  superintendent  and  she  as 
teacher,  and  Mrs.  Lord  then  succeeded  him 
as  superintendent.  Mrs.  Lord  performed 
the  duties  of  that  important  office  until 
the  fall  of  1877,  when  she  no  longer 
deemed  it  best  to  act  as  superintendent. 
Her  resignation  was  reluctantly  accepted, 
on  condition  that  she  remain  in  the  insti- 
tution. In  this  connection  we  here  rfive 
an  extract  from  the  superintendent's  report 
to  the  trustees  of  the  New  York  State  In- 
stitution for  the  Blind,  showing  in  a  meas- 
ure the  high  esteem  in  which  Mrs.  Lord 
was  held  by  all  concerned,  the  several  reso- 
lutions being  adopted  and  printed  as  a  part 
of  the  regular  report: 

'"■Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of 
this  board,  the  connection  of  Mrs.  Asa  D. 
Lord  with  this  institution  for  the  last  nine 
years,  first  as  teacher  and  afterward  as 
superintendent,  has  contributed  largely  to 
its  success,  and  by  her  wise  administration 
of  its  interests  she  has  shown  herself  emi- 
nently fitted  to  conduct  the  education  of 
the  blind. 

'■'■Resolved,  That  in  voluntarily  with- 
drawing from  the  institution  she  bears 
with  her  the  high  esteem  of  this  board  as 
a  conscientious  and  accomplished  Christian 
lady,  and  their  best  wishes  for  her  in  any 
station  of  usefulness  in  which  she  may 
hereafter  be  placed.  Permit  me  to  place 
on  record  along  with  these  resolutions  a 
fact  which  recently  came  to  my  knowledge. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


599 


viz.:  that  Mrs.  Lord  lias  certainly  taught 
more  blind  persons  to  read  than  any  other 
single  teacher  of  the  blind  in  this  land, 
and  probably  more  than  any  other  in  the 
world." 

After  a  few  months  with  her  only  child, 
Mrs.  Henry  P^isk  Tarbox,  of  Batavia,  N. 
Y.,  Mrs.  Lord  returned  to  the  institution, 
and  spent  five  more  years  in  labors  for  the 
blind.  In  1884  she  was  appointed  to  her 
present  position  of  assistant  principal  of 
the  Woman's  Department  of  Oherlin  Col- 
lege, a  position  in  which  she  gives  eminent 
satisfaction.  In  1890  she  gave  eleven 
thousand  dollars  toward  the  building  of 
Lord  Cottage  at  Oherlin.  Mrs.  Lord  is  a 
member  of  the  Second  Congregational 
Church. 

Dr.  Asa  D.  Lord  was  born  in  Madrid, 
St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  17,  1816, 
and  the  early  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
on  the  farm,  and  in  attending  the  district 
school.  The  death  of  his  father,  when  he 
was  but  two  years  of  age,  left  the  direction 
of  his  education  to  his  mother — a  gifted 
woman  and  an  experienced  teacher.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  taug-ht  his  first 
school,  and  subsequently  pursued  a  course 
of  study  at  Potsdam  (N.  Y.)  Academy. 
In  1837  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Willoughbv  opened  a  private  school, 
and  the  following  year  entered  the  Sopho- 
more class  in  Western  Reserve  College. 
In  1839  he  was  chosen  principal  of  the 
Western  Reserve  Teachers'  Seminary,  at 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  a  position  he  tilled  for 
eight  years  with  characteristic  ability  and 
skill.  In  18-13  he  formed  a  teachers' class, 
composed  of  teachers  in  the  vicinity,  and 
pupils  in  the  seminaiy  who  intended  to 
teach.  This  was  the  first  teachers'  insti- 
tute in  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  first  itl  the 
country.  Three  years  later  he  attended 
and  assisted  in  conducting  the  first  teach- 
ers' institute  in  Jackson  county,  Mich. 
While  principal  of  the  Western  Reserve 
Teachers'  Seminary  he  studied  medicine, 
attending  lectures  at  the  Willoughby  Medi- 
cal   College,    from    which    he    received    a 


diploma;  but  he  never  entered  upon  regu- 
lar practice.  In  1846  he  gave  t"  life  the 
"Ohio  School  Journal,"  publishing  the 
first  volume  in  Kirtland,  and  continuing 
it  in  Columbus.  He  remained  in  journal- 
istic work  in  the  cause  of  education  for  ten 
years— from  1846  to  1856— editing  in  the 
meantime  other  journals  of  a  kindred 
nature.  But  his  editorial  labors  did  not 
engross  the  whole  of  his  time.  In  1847 
he  accepted  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  public  schools  of  Columbus,  lie  was 
an  instructor  and  lecturer  in  the  first  In- 
stitutes held  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ohio  Teachers' 
Association.  At  the  close  of  1853  he  re- 
signed the  superintendency  of  the  Colum- 
bus schools  to  accept  the  position  of  agent 
for  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  but  in 
1855  was  again  elected  superintendent. 
In  1856  he  once  more  resigned  to  accept 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Ohio 
Institution  for  the  Blind,  which  under  his 
able  direction  soon  took  rank  among  the 
first  of  its  kind  in  the  land.  While  con- 
nected with  that  institution  he  studied 
theology,  and  in  1863  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Franklin. 
After  over  twelve  years'  experience  as  an 
instructor  of  the  blind  in  Ohio,  Dr.  Lord 
was  given  charge  of  the  new  State  Institu- 
tion for  the  Blind  at  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  remained  its  zealous,  kind-hearted, 
philanthropic  superintendent  and  instruct- 
or up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  7,  1875.  He  died  liieloved 
and  esteemed  by  all,  and  the  world  will 
truly  be  better  because  it  has  once  felt  the 
inspiration  of  his  life  and  presence. 


1?]^  EV.  CHARLES  II.  CHURCHILL, 
Y^^  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Physics  and 
I    V    Astronomy,  and  occupying  the  Jas. 

J)  F.   Clark  professorship   in   Oherlin 

College,  was  born  in  Lynie,  N.  H., 

August  21,  1824,  a  son  of  David  C.  and 

Polly  (Franklin)  Churchill. 


600 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


His  grandfather,  Francis  Churchill,  was 
a  carpenter,  and  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  who  tirst  saw  the  light  in 
1758,  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  where  his  an- 
cestors for  three  generations  had  also  been 
born.  The  grandfather  Franklin,  born  in 
1750,  was  a  blacksmith.  He,  too,  served 
in  the  Revolution.  These  all  were  God- 
fearing, faithful,  loyal  and  valued  citizens. 
David  C.  Churchill,  the  father,  was  an  as- 
sociate judge  in  Grafton  county,  N.  H., 
for  nearly  twenty  years.  All  his  twelve 
brothersand  sisters,  children  of  one  mother, 
were  married  and  had  large  families. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  his 
elementary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  fitting  for  college  at 
Meriden  Academy.  He  entered  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1841,  and  graduated  in 
1845.  He  has  since  been  made  a  member 
of  the  Pi  Beta  Piii,  an  honorary  Society  of 
Alumni.  For  the  following  five  years  he 
was  Principal  of  the  Academy  of  Brooklyn 
Center,  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  of  the 
first  High  School  in  what  is  now  West 
Cleveland.  Here  he  was  married  and  hisfirst 
child  was  born.  Then  entering  the  Seminary 
at  Oberlin,  he  studied  theology  under  Drs. 
Mahan,  Morgan  and  Finney;  supporting 
himself  and  family  by  teaching  music, 
drawing  and  languages.  Graduating  from 
Theology  in  1853,  he  was  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  and  French  in  what  soon 
after  became  Hillsdale  College,  occupying 
this  Chair  from  1853  to  1859.  From  his 
marriage  to  Mary  J.  Turner,  daughter  of 
Dea.  T.  P.  Turner,  of  Oberlin,  were  born 
Ciiarles  C.  Churchill,  at  Cleveland,  in 
1847;  Franklin  H.,  at  Oberlin,  in  1852; 
Frederick  A.,  at  Hillsdale,  in  1856,  and 
Mary  Lucretia,  at  Hillsdale,  in  1858. 
During  that  year  Mrs.  Churchill  died,  and 
the  bereaved  husband  was  called  to  the 
Chair  made  vacant  in  Oberlin  College  by 
the  transfer  of  James  H.  Fairchild  to  the 
Theological  department.  To  the  duties  of 
his  professorship  Mr.  Churchill  joined  the 
training  of  the  free  class  in  vocal  music 
sustained  by  the  college,  and  the  leadership 


of  the  great  choir  of  the  church,  then  the 
only  one  in  the  place,  upon  which  also  de- 
volved the  work  of  supplying  the  music  for 
commencement  occasions.  After  the  found- 
ing of  the  Oberlin  Conservatory  of  Music, 
Professor  Churchill  resigned  that  portion 
of  his  labors,  and,  as  he  had  always  done 
while  in  Michigan,  gave  himself  to  preach- 
ing on  the  Sabbath  wherever  the  oppor- 
tunity offered.  At  one  time  for  several 
months  he  ministered  regularly  to  the 
2d  Congregational  Church  in  Oberlin;  has 
preached  often  at  the  1st  Church,  and  often 
in  "Wellington,  Elyria,  Cleveland,  Brown- 
liehn,  Wakeman,  Pittstield,  Sandusky, 
Toledo  and  many  other  towns.  For  two 
years  he  preached  regularly  to  the  Congre- 
gational Church  in  New  London,  Ohio- 

In  the  fall  of  1859  Mr.  Churchill  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Henrietta 
Vance,  of  Lima,  Ind.,  a  daughter  of  Lewis 
and  Henrietta  Vance.  The  fruit  of  that 
mai-riage  has  been  four  sons  and  one 
daughter,  all  born  in  Oberlin:  Edward  P., 
who  graduated  in  1881,  is  now  a  busi- 
ness man  in  Weeping  Water,  Neb.;  Alfred 
v.,  who  left  college  to  pursue  art  studies 
in  Europe  three  years,  is  now  a  teacher 
of  art  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Nelson,  who  en- 
tered Oberlin  College  in  the  class  of  '92, 
died  in  his  Freshman  year,  at  twenty  years 
of  age;  Mary  has  recently  graduated  from 
the  Kindergarten  Normal  Training  class, 
Armour  Institute,  Chicago,  and  from  the 
Post-Graduate  class;  Carroll,  the  young- 
est, is  a  member  of  the  class  of  '97,  Ober- 
lin College.  Of  the  children  by  the  tirst 
marriage  Charles  C.  graduated  from  col- 
lege in  1867,  entered  soon  upon  the  work  of 
civil  engineering,  and  married  Miss  Ella 
Durand,  who  bore  him  a  daughter,  Grace 
(he  rtted  at  the  age  of  twenty-four);  Frank- 
lin H.  left  school  to  engage  in  business, 
and  married  Miss  Hattie  Reddington,  by 
whom  he  has  three  daughters  (he  is  now 
a  salesman  in  the  music  store  of  Lyon  &, 
Potter,  of  Chicago);  Frederick  A.,  gradu- 
ating from  college  in  1878  and  from  the 
Chicago  Homeopathic  Medical  College  in 


LORAiyf  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


601 


1S83,  married  Miss  JMartha  Blanke,  by 
wliom  he  has  two  ciiildren  (he  is  now 
a  practising  physician  in  Seattle,  Wash- 
inirtonV 

I'rofessor  Churchill  is  widely  known  in 
Ohio  as  a  lecturer  on  Astronomy  and 
other  scientific  subjects;  has  held  Teach- 
ers' Institutes  in  a  large  number  of  coun- 
ties, and  in  some  of  them  many  times. 
He  has  been  at  different  times  and  for 
years  president  of  the  Congregational 
Society  of  the  1st  Church  at  Oberlin; 
member  of  the  common  council,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  school  board.  He  is  now  one 
of  the  very  few  survivors  of  the  earlier 
members  of  the    Faculty    of  the  college. 


llOHN  WELLER  (deceased).  This 
k.  I  gentleman,  who  has  left  as  perma- 
\y/  nent  monuinents  to  his  memory  not 
a  few  trophies  of  his  architectural 
genius,  was  a  native  of  England,  born  in 
the  county  of  Susse.x,  May  8,  1833,  and 
died  in  Eiyria,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  October 
11,  1890. 

When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
came  to  America,  and  in  Ohio  learned  the 
trade  of  stone  mason,  at  which  he  worked 
by  the  day  and  job  till  1857,  when  he  com- 
menced business  as  a  stone  contractor. 
Among  the  evidences  of  his  handiwork 
may  be  mentioned  the  water-tower  at  Eiy- 
ria; the  east  and  west  viaducts  for  the 
Public  Highway  at  the  same  place,  the  east 
viaduct  being  said  by  civil  engineers  and 
architects  to  be  next  to  the  largest  stone 
arch  in  the  world,  of  its  height.  He  built 
also  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Eiyria,  which 
is  a  model  of  rustic  architecture,  and  he 
did  a  great  deal  of  other  similar  work  in 
various  parts  of  Ohio.  His  death  was  la- 
mented by  a  iiost  of  citizens  besides  the 
members  of  liis  family.  In  1857  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  McCollum,  born  in 
Steuben  county,  N.  Y.,  and  live  children, 
as  follows,  were  born  to  them:  May  E., 
wife  of  Alexander   Lamberton,  of  Eiyria, 


Ohio,  who  has  five  children — George  A., 
Robert  Wesley,  Edith,  Harold  and  Lucile; 
George  L.  (superintendent  of  the  Eiyria 
Water  Works,  sketch  of  whom  immedi- 
ately follows);  and  Wesley,  Alice  and 
John,  at  iiome.  The  childi'en  are  all 
marked  for  their  intelligence,  natural  acu- 
men and  industrious  habits.  The  boys 
have  inherited  the  mechanical  genius  of 
their  father,  and  are  following,  to  a  certain 
degroe,  in  his  footsteps.  Tiiey  are  stanch 
Republicans,  as  was  their  father  before 
theni,  and  believe  in  the  protection  of 
American  labor. 

Mrs.  Weller,  who  is  now  residing  with 
her  three  youngest  children  in  the  vicinity 
of  Eiyria,  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Mary  (Gilchrist)  McCollum,  both  natives 
of  A"rgyle,  N.  Y.,  the  father  born  in  1793. 
the  latter  on  December  3,  1801.  They 
lived  in  Steuben  county,  N.  Y'.,  till  about 
forty  years  ago,  when  they  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Eiyria,  where 
Mr.  McCollum  followed  his  trade,  that  of 
miller,  and  died  in  April,  1870.  He  and 
many  of  his  immediate  relatives  took  an 
active  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  he  beincr 
but  a  youth  of  nineteen  when  engaged  at 
the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  His  mother's  people,  McDougalls 
of  Argyle,  took  an  equally  active  part  in 
all  those  troublous  scenes  of  the  early  Co- 
lonial warfare;  and  it  is  recorded  that  they 
did  much  and  appreciated  work  at  th^forts 
along  the  Hudson  and  many  other  places. 
Both  of  Mrs.  Weller's  great-grandfathers 
were  born  in  Scotland,  and  the  McCollums 
were  among  the  early  colonists  of  Argyle 
township,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  it  hav- 
ing been  given  by  the  Duke  of  Argyle  to 
a  certain  number  of  Scotch  families.  Her 
great-grandfather.  Col.  Gilchrist,  came  to 
America  with  Gen.  Abercrombie.  and 
served  under  him  at  the  battle  of  Ticonder- 
oga  in  1758;  he  was  related  to  the  brave 
Gen.  Duncan  Campbell,  who  was  killed  in 
that  engagement.  After  the  war  Col.  Gil- 
christ settled  at  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y., 
where  he  died. 


602 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


George  L.  Wellee,  superintendent  and 
engineer  of  the  Elyria  Water- Works,  and 
niacliinist  for  the  Mussey  Stone  Co.,  is  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  born  in  the  city 
of  Elyria  March  28,  1864. 

From  early  boyhood  he  worked  with 
his  father,  attending  at  the  same  time  the 
public  schools  of  Elyria,  after  which  he 
took  a  business  course  at  Oherliu  College, 
and  one  in  penmanshij)  at  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  stone- 
mason with  his  father,  which  he  followed 
till  four  years  ago,  having  done  work  on 
all,  or  nearly  all,  the  large  stone  contracts 
in  Elyria  and  surrounding  country.  In 
1889  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion at  the  Elyria  Water- Works,  which  he 
is  eminently  qualified  to  till,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  his  duties  there  does  all  the  woi-k 
in  his  line  for  the    Mussey  Stone  Co. 

Mr.  Weller  was  married  July  19, 1893, 
to  Miss  Ida  Alma  Black,  of  Vermillion, 
Ohio,  an  accouiplished  young  lady  in 
music  and  the  art  of  home  making.  Mr. 
Weller  is  a  Republican,  but  has  no  time  to 
devote  actively  to  polities,  having  kept 
close  to  business  all  his  life.  He  has  in- 
vented a  rock-drillincr  tool  which  he  has 
assigned  to  others,  and  which,  it  is  claimed, 
saves  one-third  of  the  cost  of  quarrying 
rock.  He  has  also  recently  invented  a 
rock-drilling  engine,  which  is  proving  a 
very  successful    machine  for  quarry  work. 


ffffENEY  BASSETT  (deceased)  was  in 
I^H     his  lifetime  one  of  the  best  known 
I     1     and    most   highly    respected  of  the 
^  farmer    citizens  of   Lorain   county, 

iiavincr    been   a  resident  of   Eaton 
township  for  nearly  si.xty  years. 

Mr.  Bassett  was  born  in  Seneca  county, 
N.  Y.,  in  18l4r,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Phebe 
(Covert)  Bassett,  natives  of  the  same 
county,  where  they  were  married,  and 
whence,  in  1834:,  they  came  with  their 
family  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  making  a 
settlement  in  Eaton  township.    The  father 


died  at  LaPorte  ir^  1846,  the  mother  in 
Eaton  township  at  the  age  of  eighty- two. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in 
New  York  State,  and  was  twenty  years  old 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Eaton 
township.  Here  he  followed  farming  all 
his  life.  On  November  5,  1835,  he  was 
married  in  Carlisle  township,  Lorain 
county,  to  Miss  Betsy  E.  Slauter,  who  was 
born  in  1818,  in  Luzerne  county,  Penn.,  a 
daughter  of  Jared  and  Sarah  (Curtis) 
Slauter,  natives  of  Stockbridge,  Mass., 
where  they  married,  and  whence  in  an 
early  day  they  came  (vest  to  Luzerne 
county,  Penn.,  and  in  1826  to  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  county,  by  team,  Mrs. 
Bassett,  then  eight  years  old,  walking  the 
greater  part  of  the  way.  Here  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Slauter  passed  the  rest  of  their  days, 
he  dying  some  eight  years  after  his  wife. 
They  had  born  to  them  a  family  of  ten 
children,  viz.:  Ephraim,  who  went  to  Wis- 
consin, where  he  died;  Lydia,  deceased 
wife  of  Everett  Stoddard,  an  early  settler 
of  Eaton  township;  Mary  Ann,  deceased; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Henry  Warner,  who  moved 
to  Whitehall,  Wis.;  Betsy  E.,  widow  of 
Henry  Bassett;  Henry,  who  died  in  Wis- 
consin; Jared,  who  died  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  Jane,  wife  of  D.  L. 
Gil)bs.  of  Carlisle  township;  Olive,  wife 
of  R.  Gibbs,  also  of  Carlisle  township;  and 
Hiram,  a  resident  of  LaPorte,  Lorain 
county,  Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bassett  were  born 
thirteen  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  and  of  whom  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  (1)  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of 
Anson  Lines,  of  Grafton  township;  they 
have  two  children — Julia  and  Mina.  (2) 
Caroline  is  the  wife  of  John  Hart,  of 
Elyria.  (3)  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Sylvester 
Tompkins.  (4)  Charley  died  in  1879. 
(5)  Daniel  is  married,  and  resides  in  De- 
fiance county,  Ohio.  (6)  OIlie,  who  was 
married  to  Lemuel  fiarlow,  died  in  Lorain 
county.  (7)  Frankie  is  married  to  Na- 
thaniel Benedict,  of  Michigan.  (8)  Julia 
is    the  wife  of  Marion   Sutliff,  of  Elyria. 


LOKAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


603 


(9)  Edwin  is  married,  and  resides  in  Eaton 
township.  [\0)  George,  who  married 
Adelpha  Pemher,  resides  near  the  old 
home.  (11)  Cerepta  was  first  married  to 
P.  Croweil,  and  after  his  decease  to  Edwin 
Welton;  they  reside  in  Elyria.  (12)  Clara 
is  the  wife  of  Charley  Morse,  of  Elyria. 
(13)  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Jackson, 
of  Eaton  township. 

Mr.  Bassett  departed  this  life  in  1891, 
a  lifelong,  energetic  and  active  Republican, 
one  who  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  his 
township.  Mrs.  Bassett  taught  the  second 
school  in  Eaton  township,  and  is  widely 
known  and  respected.  She  has  lived  to  see 
seventeen  great-grandchildren. 


DG.  WILDER,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
member  of  the  medical    profession 
'    in  Oberlin,  was  born  December  15, 

1846,  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
son  of  Dr.  David  and  E.  A.  (Williams) 
Wilder.  The  father,  who  was  also  a  phy- 
sician, was  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
died  in  1850,  in  Chenango  county,  same 
State.  The  mother,  who  is  a  native  of 
England,  is  now  living  in  Madison  county, 
]SJ.  Y.  The  Wilder  family  were  originally 
natives  of  Massachusetts. 

D.  G.  Wilder,  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  brought  to  De  Ruyter,  Madison  Co., 
N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  resided 
there  until  he  reached  the  aye  of  nineteen. 
He  i-eceived  his  primary  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  place,  and  in  1866 
entered  the  Preparatory  department  of 
Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  He  then  studied 
medicine  for  one  year,  and  in  1870  en- 
tered Hillsdale  College,  where  he  took  a 
scientific  course,  eradnating  with  the  class 
of  1872.  He  next  went  to  Cleveland, 
wliere  he  continued  the  study  of  medicine 
in  the  office  of  Drs.  Boynton  and  Van- 
Norman,  until  February,  1S73,  when  he 
graduated  from  the  Homeopathic  Medical 
College,  Cleveland.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Cuya- 


hoga county,  and  after  residing  for  three 
years  in  Bedford  removed  to  Fremont, 
Ohio,  thence  to  Cleveland,  where  he  prac- 
ticed in  the  Western  Reserve  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  In  September,  1888,  he 
came  to  Oberlin,  Lorain  county,  wliere  he 
has  since  been  actively  engao-ed  in  the 
duties  of  his  profession  with  marked 
success. 

On  August  25,  1874,  the  Doctor  was 
married,  in  Cleveland,  to  Miss  Alma 
Hickox,  a  native  of  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  wlio  graduated  from  Bald- 
win University,  Berea,  Oliio.  Her  par- 
ents, Eri  and  Alma  (Hoadley)  Hickox, 
were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  in  a  very 
early  day  migrated  westward  to  Columbia 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Hickox  followed  farmiiiu-,  and  served  for 
many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace;  in  re- 
ligion he  and  his  wife  were  both  Method- 
ists. Mrs.  Wilder's  maternal  grandfather, 
Hoadley,  erected  the  first  frame  house  ia 
Columbia  township.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilder  have  been  born  three  children, 
namely:  David  Horace,  now  attending 
Oberlin  Academy;  Jennie  Elizabeth,  also 
attending  Oberlin  Academy;  and  Witt 
Hoadley.  Socially  our  suliject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Oberlin  Lodge  No.  678, 1.  O.  O.  F., 
and  also  of  Oberlin  Tent  No.  Ill,  K.  O. 
T.  M.,  and  is  at  present  commander  of  the 
Tent  and  Medical  Examiner.  He  is  also 
an  examiner  for  the  N.  E.  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  Co.,  and  the  State  Mutual  of 
Won^ester,  Mass.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Prohibitionist.  The  Doctor  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church  of 
Oberlin. 

HARLES  E.  SUTLIFF,  dealer  in 
coal,  contractor  and  owner  of  several 
teams  for  lieavy  hauling,  etc.,  is  one 
of  Wellington's  (Lorain  county) 
most  energetic  and  wideawake  enterpris- 
ing business  men.  He  was  born  in  Ionia, 
Mich.,  February  16,  1845,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam H.  H.  and  Phajbe  D.  (Gott)  Sutliflf. 


604 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Our  subject  attended  the  district  schools 
of  Ills  native  place  and  Wellington  town- 
siiip,  Lorain  county,  and  was  reared  on  a 
farm.  For  some  years  he  cai-ried  on  gen- 
eral agriculture,  including  dairying,  in  all 
of  which  he  was  very  successful,  and  mov- 
ing itito  the  town  of  Wellington,  he  here 
embarked  in  his  present  businesses,  the 
first  of  many  experimenters  in  the  coal  line 
to  make  a  permanent  success.  Although 
he  has  had  many  competitors  in  that 
branch,  yet  they  have  all  succumbed  to  his 
superior  business  attainments,  and  he  now 
controls  the  entire  coal  trade  in  Welling- 
ton  and  vicinity,  liaving  by  his  correct 
business  methods  won  the  confidence  of 
the  citizens. 

In  1868  Mr.  Sutliff  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Jane  liofftnan,  a  native  of  New  Lon- 
don, Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and  two  children 
have  come  to  brighten  their  home,  viz.: 
May  E.  and  Floyd  E.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  Kepublican,  and  although  his 
many  business  interests  will  not  permit 
him  to  participate  much  in  his  party's 
campaigns,  yet  he  is  looked  upon  as  a 
strong  man  on  the  Republican  ticket  should 
he  consent  to  nomination  for  office,  or 
otherwise.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  their  deeds  of 
ciiarity  to  the  poor  and  needy  are  too  well 
known  to  require  comment. 


BAVID  J.  N 
of  Commoi 
embracing 


NYE,  Judge  of  the  Court 
(imon  Pleas,  of  the  District 
Lorain,  Medina  and 
Summit  counties,  Ohio,  is  a  son  of 
Curtis  F.  and  Jerusha  (Walkup)  Nye,  na- 
tives of  Vermont. 

The  parents  of  Judge  Nye  were  married 
at  Otto,  N.  Y.,  April  12,  1841,  and  first 
settled  upon  a  farm  in  Chautauqua  county, 
whence  they  removed  to  Cattaraugus 
county,  and  settled  upon  the  farm  where 
tliey  remained  until  their  death.  They 
liad  four  cliildren:  Webster  Kimball  Nye, 
born    October    13,    1842;   David    J.   Nye, 


born  December  8,  1843;  Sidney  P.  Nye, 
born  November  22,  184f5;  and  AYilliam 
Curtis  Nye,  born  February  28,  1851. 
Webster  Iv.  Nye  and  Sidney  P.  Nye  both 
volunteered  their  service  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  Webster  K.  enlisted  in  the 
Second  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  was  afterward 
transferred  to  the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  Bat- 
tery, remaining  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  settled  in  Bradford,  Penn.,  where 
he  now  lives.  Sidney  P.  was  a  member  of 
the  Sixteenth  New  York  Cavalry,  and  died 
while  in  the  service  at  Alexandria,  Va., 
July  21,  1864.  William  Curtis  Nye  now 
lives  in  Texas. 

David  J.  Nye,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  at  Ellicott,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. 
Y.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  and  when 
seventeen  years  of  age  enlisted  in  the  first 
military  company  that  went  out  from  his 
town  in  1861;  but  owing  to  the  objection 
of  his  parents,  his  elder  brother  being 
then  in  the  army,  the  officer  refused  to 
muster  him  into  service,  and  he  returned 
home. 

Up  to  the  year  1862  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  at  his  home,  during  the  winter 
terms,  and  worked  upon  the  farm  in  the 
summer;  but  in  the  winter  of  that  year  he 
decided  to  secure  other  and  better  advan- 
tages. In  pursuance  of  that  purpose,  he 
entered,  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  the 
academy  at  Randolph,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
remained  until  his  money,  which  he  had 
earned  and  saved  for  that  purpose,  was  ex- 
pended; then  went  back  to  tlie  farm,  and 
worked  during  the  summer  in  haying 
and  harvesting,  returning  to  Randolph  in 
the  fall. 

The  following  winter,  1862-63,  he 
taught  school  in  one  of  the  districts  of  his 
neighborhood,  while  the  next  spring  and 
summer  again  found  him  engao-eil  in  work 
on  the  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  re- 
turned to  Randolph  Academy,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1863-64  he  taught  school  near 
Randolph.  Coming  to  Ohio  in  1864,  he 
immediately  engaged  in  teaching  in  Cuya- 
lioga  county.     After  closing  his  school,  he 


/r\ 


^zy 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


607 


returned  to  New  York  State,  where  lie  re- 
mained bnt  a  short  time,  when  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  again  took  a  school  at  Boston, 
Summit  county,  teaching  here  during  the 
winter  of  1865-00.  In  February  of  ISGO 
lie  entered  the  Preparatory  Department  of 
Oherlin  College.  Teaching  winters,  and 
pursuing  liis  studies  summers,  he  was  able 
to  enter  Oberlin  College  in  1867.  lie 
taught  school  every  winter,  excejjt  one, 
from  1862  to  1870. 

In  1870  Judge  Nye  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  superintendent  of  the  Public  School 
at  Milan,  Ohio,  where  with  his  labors  he 
found  time  to  study,  and  graduated  with 
his  class  at  Oberlin  in  August,  1871.  In 
the  Milan  schools  he  continued  another 
year,  and  in  addition  to  his  work  there 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  which  he  had 
early  cliosen  as  his  life's  profession,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Elyria,  Ohio, 
in  August,  1872.  As  before  stated,  he 
was  graduated  at  Oberlin  College  in  1871, 
receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts, 
and  in  July,  1883,  the  College  conferred 
upon  liiin  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

From  tile  time  that  Judge  Nye  entered 
Randolph  Academy  until  he  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar,  he  paid  his  way  with  the  fruits 
of  his  own  labors,  receiving  no  financial 
aid  from  any  other  source.  In  October, 
1872.  he  went  to  Emporia,  Kans.,  and 
opened  a  law  office,  reiuaining  thei-e  until 
March,  1S73,  when  he  returned  to  Elyria, 
Ohio,  and  went  into  the  office  of  Hon. 
John  C.  Hale,  where  he  remained  a  year, 
pursuing  his  legal  studies  and  doing  such 

Srofessional  business  as  came  to  hin^.  In 
tarch,  1874,  he  opened  a  law  office  in  the 
Ely  Block,  and  from  that  time  on  until  he 
went  upon  the  Bench  in  1892,  he  was  in 
the  constant  practice  of  his  profession, 
building  up  a  go,od  practice,  his  clients 
being  an^ong  Ll:^e  best  citizens  of  Lorain 
county. 

In  1873  he  was  appointed  county-school 
examiner,  a  position  he  held  four  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  council  of  the 
village  of  Elyria   four  years.     In  1881  he 


33 


was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Lorain 
county,  which  office  he  held  one  term.  In 
April,  1890,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  until  ho  went  upon  the  Bench. 
In  January,  1891,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  Bar  of  Lorain  county,  he 
was  selected,  as  the  choice  of  the  members 
of  the  legal  profession  of  his  own  county, 
as  their  candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas.  In  July  following  he 
was  nominated  for  that  office  at  Medina, 
was  elected  in  November,  and  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  February 
9,  1892. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1880, 
Judge  Nye  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Luna  Fisher,  at  Cleveland,  (])hio.  Mrs. 
Nye  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Alfred 
Fisher,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Cuya- 
hoga county,  who  emigrated  froni  Ver- 
mont in  1817.  Mrs.  Nye  is  a  true  and 
faithful  wife  and  a  devoted  mother.  Two 
children,  David  F.,  born  October  27, 1882, 
and  Horace  H.,  born  Angust4,  1884,  have 
come  to  brighten  their  home. 

Judge  Nye  always  has  a  word  of  en- 
couragement for  the  young,  and  in  his  own 
family  he  is  affectionate  and  indulgent. 
He  is  e.xtremely  fond  of  children,  and  his 
two  boys  are  his  constant  companions  when 
they  are  out  of  school  and  at  home. 

Early  in  life,  when  Judge  Nye  was  only 
a  boy,  he  became  impressed  with  the 
principles  of  Freemasonry,  and  conceived 
the  idea  of  becoming  a  member  of  that 
Order.  At  the  early  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  made  application  to,  and  joined, 
the  Lodge  nearest  his  iiome  in  New  York. 

Since  locating  in  Elyria  he  has  taken 
the  advanced  degrees  in  that  Order.  He 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Lodge  and  Chap- 
ter at  Elyria,  a  metpber  of  Oriental  Com- 
mandory  of  Knights  Templar  of  Cleve- 
land, and  of  the  Order  of  Ancient  and  Ac- 
cepted Scottish  Rites  of  the  same  city. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  faithful 
and  consistent  Republican,  and  from  his 
early  manhood  till  the  present  time  he  has 


608 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


advocated  the  cause  and  principles  to  Re- 
publicanism. In  this,  he  has  been  con- 
sistent and  straightforward,  believing  that 
the  success  of  that  party  was  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  country.  Although  he  is 
misvverving  in  his  devotion  to  his  political 
principles,  the  Judge  is  too  broad  and 
liberal  minded  to  let  party  affiliations  bias 
his  judgment  or  interfere  with  personal  re- 
lations. Some  of  his  warmest  and  most 
earnest  personal  friends  are  found  in  the 
ranks  of  other  political  parties. 

Judge  Nye  lias  now  been  iipon  the  bench 
only  two  years,  and  during  that  time  he 
has  presided  at  the  trials  of  very  many 
difficult  and  closely-contested  cases.  He 
has  shown  by  his  administration  that  he 
is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  position  which 
he  now  occupies.  He  is  entirely  unassum- 
ing in  his  manner  upon  the  bench,  and 
seldom  interferes  with  the  attorneys  dur- 
ing tlie  trial  of  their  causes.  He  has  been 
heard  to  say  that  he  did  not  propose  to  try 
either  side  of  a  case.  He  makes  himself 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  law  of  every 
ease  that  is  tried  before  him.  The  at- 
torneys are  always  treated  with  kindness 
and  courtesy,  and  their  arguments  are 
listened  to  aTid  considered  by  him  with 
patience  and  attention.  In  his  decisions 
he  is  open  and  frank,  but  he  is  always 
careful  not  to  irritate  or  offend  the  persons 
against  whom  he  decides.  He  has  a  mild 
and  gentle  expression,  and  is  always  con- 
siderate of  the  feelings  of  others.  There 
is  an  open  candor  about  his  decisions  that 
impresses  the  listetier  with  the  sincerity  of 
his  convictions.  He  is  thoroughly  honest, 
and  every  decision  made  by  him  is  the 
fruit  of  his  best  judgment  and  careful  con- 
sideration. 

In  the  trial  of  Jury  cases  he  is  especi- 
ally careful  in  all  his  rulings  and  conduct 
not  to  intimate  to  the  jury,  or  allow  them 
to  know,  what  he  thinks  about  the  case.  In 
his  charges  he  gives  the  law  to  the  jury  in 
a  plain,  clear  manner,  but  leaves  them  to 
determine  the  facts.  He  never  attempts 
to  control  their  decision,  but   rather   tries 


to  conceal  his  opinion  from  them;  and 
when  the  verdict  is  rendered,  the  parties 
and  attorneys  feel  that  they  have  had  a 
fair  and  impartial  trial.  Comparatively 
few  of  the  cases  that  are  tried  before  him 
are  taken  up  to  a  reviewing  Court.  His 
decisions  liave  seldom  been  reversed  when 
so  reviewed. 

Although  Judge  Nye  had  made  a  suc- 
cess at  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  law,  he 
had  many  misgivings  of  his  own  fitness 
and  adaptability  for  the  Bench.  But  his 
brief  term  as  a  judge,  his  patience,  candor, 
and  painstaking  manner,  have  given  the 
members  of  the  Bar  and  the  people  con- 
fidence in  his  ability  and  integrity.  His 
prospects  for  the  future  in  his  new  calling 
seem  very  bright.  His  industrious  habits 
and  untiring  energy  are  indications  of  a 
prosperous  career. 

Judge  Nye  is  a  man  of  gentlemanly 
demeanor,  always  meeting  his  associates, 
both  in  the  social  circle  and  in  business 
pursuits,  with  a  cordial  and  friendly  bear- 
ing, which  has  won  for  liim  the  respect 
and  friendship  of  every  one  who  knows 
him.  As  a  servant  of  the  Public,  he  has 
discharged  the  duties  of  every  position  in 
which  he  has  been  placed  with  a  pains- 
taking fidelity  that  has  secured  for  him 
the  unlimited  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  people  whom  he  has  faithfully  served. 


JB.  SMITH,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Wellington  (Lorain  county) 
Enterpvhe^  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Cardington  township,  Morrow 
county,  January  1,  1845. 

William  Smith,  fatherof  subject, was  born 
in  Berks  county,  Penn.,  September  4,  1809, 
and  was  reared  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
whither  his  parents  brought  him  in  1811. 
In  1831  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Speck, 
a  native  of  Guernsey  county,  born  there 
October  8,  1813,  and  in  1839  they 
moved   to    Morrow    county,    same    State,, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


609 


where   the   father  died   August  10,  1884. 
He  was  a  8troni>;  Abolitionist,  and  iti  reli- 
gion originally  a  member  of  the  Friends, 
but  having  married  outside  of  the  Society 
lie  forfeited  tnembership.     They  were  the 
parents   of    twelve    children,    as    follows: 
Cynthia,  wife  of  C  Farlee;  Finley,  a  car- 
penter by    trade,   in    Dakota;  Thomas  and 
Sarah,  both  deceased;  Mary  Frances;  Julia 
J.    B.,   subject  of  this  sketch;  Augustus 
deceased;  Emily,  wife  of  Elmer  Kingman 
Leander,  a  pharmacist,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Henry  C,  a  farmer  of  Cardington,    Ohio 
and  Ollie,  wife  of  E.  M.  James. 

J.  B.  Smith,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  his  first  start  in  life  was 
as  telegraph  operatorat  Greenwich,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio.  In  1883,  in  the  same  town,  he 
embarked  in  the  newspaper  business,  in 
wliich  he  remained  till  1885,  when  he 
came  to  Wellino'ton  and  bought  out  the 
Enterprise,  which  is  a  strictly  party  paper, 
radically  Republican  in  its  views,  newsy 
and  well  edited. 

In  187-t  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  with  Miss 
Adelaide  L.  Barker,  of  Fairfield  township, 
Huron  county,  and  two  children— Irma 
and  Fern — have  been  born  to  them.  So- 
cially, our  subject  is  a  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
On  his  father's  side  he  is  of  Encrlish  Penn- 
sylvania  stock,  and  on  his  mother's  he  is 
descended  from  German  ancestry. 


CHAPMAN  M.  WAUGH.     Promin- 
ent   among    the  pioneers  of   Henri- 
etta township  is  to   be  found  this 
gentleman,  a  well    known   and   pro- 
gressive agriculturist. 

Ezra  Waugh  was  one  of  the  three  broth- 
ers  who  early  in  the  history  of  America 
emigrated  from  Enirland,  their  mother 
country,  to  America.  Two  of  them  located 
in  Connecticut,  while  one  soiii'lit  his  for- 
tunes  amid  the  hills  of  Vermont.     This 


latter  one  was  Ezra,  the  grandfatlier  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Ho  subsequently 
removed  to  the  State  of  New  York,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming,  and  there  the 
balance  of  his  life  was  spent. 

Gideon  AVaugli,  son  of  Ezra,  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  and  was  there  reared 
upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  which  was 
small  and  afforded  a  mere  existence  for 
the  rather  large  family.  His  parents  dy- 
ing when  he  was  but  a  child,  he  was  early 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  also 
was  entrusted  with  the  care  of  those  of  the 
family  younger  than  himself.  His  services 
were  engaged  by  various  farmers  through- 
out the  neighborhood,  and  by  careful 
management  he  was  enabled  to  save  a 
small  amount  from  his  earnings,  with 
which,  after  his  marriage,  and  after  the 
younger  children  were  provided  for  com- 
fortably, he  bought  a  small  farm  in  Oswego, 
county,  N.  Y.,  upon  which  there  were  no. 
improvements.  He  married  Miss  Mi- 
nerva Miner,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
ciiildren:  Gideon,  Jr.,  Minerva,  Chapman 
M.,  Lansing  and  .fames.  In  1833  the 
family  removed  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
locating  upon  seventy-seven  acres  of  wild, 
unimproved  land  in  Camden  township.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  mother  died, 
our  subject  then  being  but  nine  years  old. 
In  1834  Gideon  Waugh,  Sr.,  married 
Mindwell  Shepai-d,  by  which  union  was 
born  one  child;  Minerva  Waugh  is  now 
living  and  is  the  wife  of  Silas  French,  of 
Wakeman  township,  Huron  county,  a  very 
industrious  farmer,  who  has  made  some 
valuable  improvements.  They  have  a  very 
nice  family  of  six  children — three  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

The  circumstances  of  the  family  were 
very  limited,  and  they  were  much  in  debt 
for  the  land  which  had  been  purchased  by 
them,  which  was  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  acre.  By  the  practice 
of  rigid  economy  and  careful  management, 
however,  the  indebtedness  was  in  a  few 
years   paid    oflf,  and    at  the    death  of  the 


610 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


father,  which  occurred  in  1869,  the  home 
was  well  improved.  Gideon  Wangh,  Sr., 
the  father  of  suhject,  was  a  Whig,  and  one 
of  the  first  members  of  the  Baptitt  Church 
of  Camden  township.  For  many  years  he 
was  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  township. 
He  was  widely  known,  and  universally  es- 
teemed and  respected. 

Chapman  M.  Waugh,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  in  Oswego 
county,  N.  Y.,  November  27,  1S23,  and  at 
the  age  of  nine  years  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Ohio  as  before  recorded.  The  first 
few  niglits  after  the  family's  arrival  upon 
the  ground  of  their  future  home  they  slept 
under  the  wagons,  while  a  great  fire  made 
of  brush  and  wood  served  to  keep  off  the 
animals  which  then  abounded.  During 
the  first  few  days,  in  the  clearing  of  a 
space  sufficient  to  admit  the  building  of  a 
log  cabin  16  x  20  feet,  the  father  severely 
cut  himself  upon  the  hand,  an  accident 
which  rendered  him  comparatively  help- 
less so  far  as  immediate  assistance  was 
concerned.  The  log  cabin  was  soon 
erected,  however,  finished  with  a  puncheon 
floor,  and  furnished  with  stools,  etc. 
While  the  house  was  in  course  of  erection 
a  tree  fell  upon  it,  but  so  strong  was  the 
frame  that  the  tree  was  broken  and  the 
frame  remained  uninjured.  The  original 
farm  just  spoken  of  was  at  last  sold,  and 
the  family  bought  another  near  Wakeman, 
Huron  county,  upon  which  they  resided 
for  some  six  years,  when  it  was  sold,  the 
family  returning  to  Lorain  county,  and 
buj'ing  a  farm  in  Carlisle  township  near 
Elyria.  Our  subject  then  bought  with 
his  savings  the  farm  of  sixty-seven  acres 
where  he  now  resides,  and  on  wliicli  tliere 
were  some  improvements. 

In  1843  he  married  Miss  Roxey  Cook, 
of  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  and  three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Newell,  Judson  and  Nancy,  the  last 
iinmed  being  now  deceased.  Newell  is  a 
resident  of  Camden  township,  Lorain 
county;  Judson  is  a  successful  merchant 
of  Lima,  Ohio.     Tlie  mother  of  these  died 


in  1855,  and  in  1856  Mr.  Waugh  married 
Mrs.  Polly  Cable,  a  widow,  daughter  of 
Eli  and  Lucy  AVaterhouse,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. Her  father,  who  was  a  cooper  and 
farmer  by  occupation,  came  to  Lorain 
county  among  the  first  settlers.  To  this 
union  one  child,  Emma  Dora,  was  born, 
but  died  in  infancy.  Politically  Mr. 
Waugh  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held 
minor  offices  of  trust.  In  1873  he  built 
the  handsome  residence  in  which  he  now 
resides,  upon  his  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  Henrietta  township.  One  great 
fact  is  apparent,  and  that  is  that  Mr. 
Waugh's  success  and  prosperity  have  been 
accomplished  by  dint  of  hard,  earnest  labor 
good  management  and  care,  which  proper- 
ties are  characteristic  of  him.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  Baptists  in  principle; 
their  many  Christian  acts  are  well  known 
and  will  exist  in  memory  long  after  they 
have  joined  the  array  upon  the  other  i-hore. 


Li 


YMAN  BECKLEY,  who  for  nearly 
his  entire  life  has  been  a  resident  of 
Lorain  county,  was  born  April  5, 
1827,  in  Stow  town.ship,  Summit 
Co.,  Ohio,  a  grandson  of  Selah  Beckley, 
who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1767, 
and  came  to  Ohio  in  1812,  locating  in 
Summit  count}'.  Li  1787  he  had  married 
Miss  Caroline  Beckley,  who  was  born 
in  1768,  and  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  them:  Hepzibah  (1),  Noel, 
Lotan,  Hepzibah  (2),  Kowena,  Elnathan 
S.,  Lois,  Edwin,  Aliira  and  Sally.  The 
father  of  these,  by  trade  a  blacksmith, 
died  in  1817,  in  Stow  township,  Summit 
count}',  and  is  there  buried. 

Elnathan  S.  Beckley,  father  of  Lyman, 
was  born  in  Berlin,  Conn.,  April  2,  1801, 
and  was  eleven  years  old  when  the  family 
"came  to  Ohio.  He  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural  pursuits,  and  was  a  farmer  all  his  life. 
On  June  1,  1825,  he  married  Miss  Polly 
Wilcox,  who  was  born  in  Berlin, Conn.,  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


611 


1805,  and  by  lier  had  two  children:  Ly- 
man, and  Eloise,  now  Mrs.  Madison  An- 
drews, of  lliintinjj;t()n  townsiiip,  Lorain 
county.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elnathan  S.  Beckiey  lived  near  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  Ohio,  and  then,  in  1842,  came  to 
Huntington  township,  Lorain  county,  mak- 
ing their  home  for  some  years  in  the 
southwest  part  of  the  township.  In  1863 
they  moved  to  Rochester  township,  same 
county,  where  Elnathan  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872,  and  was  buried  in  Huntington; 
his  widow  subsequently  made  her  home 
with  her  son  Lyman,  dying  in  May,  1890. 
She  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the 
Universalist  Church;  in  politics  he  was  a 
J)eniocrat. 

Lyman  Beckiey,  the  only  son  of  this  pio- 
neer couple,  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  district  schools,  and  when  tiftecu  years 
old  came  with  liis  parents  to  Lorain  county. 
They  stopped  for  a  few  weeks  with  an  un- 
cle's family  who  lived  in  a  single  roomed 
cabin  of  the  primitive  style,  with  shake 
roof,  puncheon  tloor,  stick  chimney  and  no 
window,  till  tiiey  could  clear  away  the  for- 
est from  a  portion  of  the  wild  land  they 
had  selected  for  their  future  home,  and 
build  a  shelter  of  their  own.  His  father 
being  in  poor  health,  he  had  a  grand  op- 
portunity to  finish  his  education  with  an 
axe  in  the  woods  by  day,  and  burning  logs 
for  evening  recreation.  (3n  October  26, 
184S,  he  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Sage,  born 
in  Huntington  township,  Lorain  county, 
October  6,  1831,  a  daughter  of  H.  P.  and 
Susan  (Mallory)  Sage,  who  came  from  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  to  Ohio  about  the  year 
1825.  Mr.  Sage  was  a  valuable  addition 
to  this  new  settlement,  being  a  man  of  cul- 
ture and  refinement.  He  taught  their 
public  schools  and  music  classes;  gave 
lessons  in  the  higher  mathematics  and 
other  branches,  including  theology  in  his 
home.  He  gave  but  little  attention  to 
party  politics,  yet  was  honored  with  several 
ofiices  of  trust.  He  gathered  the  people 
together  on  the  Sabbath  for  j)ul)lic  wor- 
ship, as  he  was  a  pioneer  minister  of  the 


Universalist.  faith,  formerly  an  Episcopa- 
lian. He  died  in  Ilnntiniiton  in  1887,  his 
wife  in  1870,  and  they  are  are  buried  in 
that  township. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman 
Beckiey  settled  on  the  farm  he  had  toiled 
to  improve.  In  1^63  they  moved  to 
Rochester,  where  he  gave  special  atten- 
tion to  dairying,  and  in  1869,  in  partner- 
ship witii  a  neighbor,  built  what  is  still 
known  as  the  Beckiey  Cheese  Factory.  In 
1876  he  sold  his  Rochester  farm  to  his 
oldest  son  and  bought,  of  D.  T.  Bush,  a 
farm  adjoining  his  first  location  in  Hunt- 
ington where  he  still  resides.  The  chil- 
dren,  four  in  number,  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lyman  Beckiey  were  Alma  R.,  born  Sep- 
teraiier  13, 1849,  died  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen months;  Harley  O.,  sketch  of  whom 
follows;  Ellis  S.,  born  in  1858, died  in  the 
latter  part  part  of  1N61,  and  I).  I.,  born 
May  26, 1861,  a  farmer  in  Rochester  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Universalist  Church,  and 
in  his  political  sympathies  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat.  He  is  a  well-kncnvn,  highly 
respected  citizen,  a  practical  dairy  farmer, 
and  by  industry  and  perseverance  has 
earned  a  comfortable  competence. 

Harlet  O.  Beckley  was  horn  June  6, 
1851,  in  Huntington  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  common  schools  of 
the  district,  afterward  attending  ^Yel- 
lington  (Ohio)  high  school  a  couple  of 
terms.  Up  to  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
worked  more  or  less  on  liis  father's 
farm,  chiefly  in  the  dairying  department, 
and  then  entered  the  Beckiey  Cheese 
Factory  under  George  Bush,  which  was 
located  near  his  home,  but  after  two 
years  returned  to  his  first  occupation.  On 
October  4,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Peet,  a  native  of  the  county,  born  in 
Rochester  township,  a  daughter  of  Homer 
and  Charlotte  (Kelsey)  Peet.  The  young 
couple  then  commence<l  housekeeping  in  a 
small  residence  on  his  father's  farm,  rent- 
ing same,  but  which  Harley  subsequently 


012 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


bought.  One  child  has  coine  to  bless 
this  union — Chloe  A.,  at  home  with  her 
parents. 

In  1876  Mr.  Beckley  came  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Rochester  township,  where  he 
has  been  extensively  engaged  in  the  dairy- 
ing business  in  connection  with  general 
agriculture,  and  has  met  with  more  than 
average  success.  In  1892,  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  he  built  one  of  the  most 
substantial  barns  to  be  found  in  the  soutli- 
ern  portion  of  Lorain  county,  and  by  far 
the  best  one  in  Rochester  township.  In  his 
political  predilections  our  subject  is  a 
Democrat,  taking  active  interest  in  ihe  af- 
fairs of  his  party.  Pie  and  his  wife  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Universalist 
Church,  in  which  he  is  trustee,  and  tor 
some  time  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school. 


^SCAR  HERRICK.  In  the  county 
auditor  of  Lorain  county  we  find  a 
typical  representative  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  Ilerrick  family,  of 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  worthy 
member,  comes  of  English  ancestry  who  in 
early  Colonial  days  immigrated  to  the 
New  World,  making  their  first  cis-Atlantic 
home  in  Massachusetts,  afterward  remov- 
ing to  New  York  State. 

Harlow  Herrick,  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  July  21,  1801,  iu 
New  York  State,  where  he  received  the 
limited  education  afforded  by  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  of  his  home,  and  was 
reared  to  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
While  a  young  man  he  moved  to  Ohio,  tak- 
ing up  a  farm  in  Medina  county,  where  he 
made  his  lionie  a  few  years,  and  then  came 
to  Lorain  county,  vrhere  the  remainder  of 
his  usefullife  was  spent.  In  Medina  county 
he  married  Miss  Laura  Ann  Briggs,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  and  to  this  union  chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born :  Helen  (Mrs. 
S.  W.  Gott)  and  Rollin,  both  living  in 
Michigan,  the  latter  in    the   town    of   Ed- 


more;  Harriet,  widow  of  Arad  Lindsley, 
who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Ball's 
Bluff  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  (she 
is  now  a  resident  of  Carson  City,  Mich.); 
Daniel,  who  died  in  Lowell,  Mich.,  in 
1870;  Oscar,  subject  of  sketch;  Ann,  re- 
siding in  Pueb'.o,  Colo.,  widow  of  Andrew 
Schnur,  who  died  in  1862  while  in  the 
Union  army;  Byron,  who  died  in  1862  at 
New  Creek,  Va.,  while  in  the  service; 
Henry  and  Eliza,  both  deceased,  at  the 
ages  respectively  of  one  and  one  half  years 
and  three  weeks;  and  Jane  (Mrs.  Walter 
Yeamans),  in  Ionia,  Mich.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  in  Michigan  May  31, 
1891;  the  mother  is  living  in  Ionia,  that 
State.  Politically,  Harlow  Herrick  was 
originally  a  Whig,  and  on  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  became  a  loyal 
member  and  earnest  supporter  of  same. 

Oscar  Herrick,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  notice,  was  born  in  Pen- 
field,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  April  20,  1838. 
His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  on  the 
home  farm,  a  few  months  in  the  winter 
seasons  beino-  devoted  to  attending  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  where  he  ob- 
tained his  rudimentary  instruction — the 
solid  substratum  of  his  after  study.  In 
earl}'  manhood  he  became  interested  in 
watchmaking  and  the  jewelry  business, 
and  entering  a  store  in  Medina  in  that 
line,  learned  the  trade  in  all  its  details. 
Having  thoroughly  prepared  himself  for 
journeyman  work,  he  set  oat  into  the 
world  with  buoyant  hopes  and  sanguine 
expectations,  destined  to  be  well  realized. 
He  worked  in  Medina,  Cleveland,  and 
Wellington  (Lorain  county),  at  which  latter 
place  he  opened  a  jewelry  establishment, 
conducting  same  some  twenty  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Herrick  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Victoria  C.  Bowers,  a 
model  wife,  one  whose  Christian  spirit 
and  amiable  demeanor  endeared  her  to  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  She  was  born  and 
reared  in  AVellino-ton,  where  she  held  an 
honored  place  in  society.  In  1892,  on  the 
sixth  day  of  July,  her  pure  spirit  took  its 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


613 


flight,  and  all  that  was  mortal  of  her  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  quiet  cemetery  at  Well- 
ington. 

Sylvester  Bowers,  father  of  the  late  Mrs. 
Oscar  Herrick,  wa?  born  October  1,  1805, 
in  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  married  Miss  Esther  Cheney, 
also  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in 
1804,  and  a  brief  record  of  the  children 
born  to  them  is  as  follows:  Henry  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Kuo.\;ville,  Tenn., 
durino-  the  Civil  war,  while  in  the  Union 
service;  Charles  H.  married  Miss  Emma 
J.  Webster,  and  they  reside  in  Wellington, 
Lorain  county;  Victoria  C.  was  the  wife  of 
Oscar  Herrick;  Hattie  I.  islivincrat  home 
with  her  aged  father,  who  came  to  Well- 
ington  township  about  the  year  1886. 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  Originally 
a  Whig,  he  has  of  late  years  been  a  Re- 
publican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  has  always  been  a  lib- 
eral contributor  to  public  enterprises,  and 
is  a  true  man. 

Mr.  Herrick  may  be  truly  classed  among 
the  self-made  men  of  Lorain  county,  and 
placed  in  the  front  rank  of  her  business 
citizens.  He  has  ever  been  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, at  all  times  advocating  and  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  his  party.  In 
1886  the  people  of  Lorain  county,  fully 
appreciating  his  well-known  business 
qualitications, 'elected  him  to  the  auditor- 
ship  of  the  county,  which  incumbency  he 
is  still  filling  with  characteristic  ability 
and  fidelity.  In  public  as  in  private  life 
he  is  an  exemplary  citizen,  holding  an 
enviable  position  in  the  esteem  and  respect 
of  all  who  know  him. 


EORGE  H.  NORTON.  This  gen- 
tleman, who  for  over  half  a  century 
has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  interests  of  Lorain  county,  and 
more  particularly  those  of  Penfield 
township,  is  a  native  of  Allegany  county, 
N.  y.,  born  December  18,  1824. 


His  father,  Hiram  Norton,  was  born  in 
1802  in  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  son  of  Joel 
Norton,  who  in  an  early  day  removed  to 
New  York  State,  locating  finally  in  Alle- 
gany county,  where  Hiraiu  was  reared. 
Here  lie  was  married,  when  a  young  man, 
to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Greene,  who  was  born  in 
Sodus,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  John  Greene, 
and  children  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows: George  H.,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch;  Edward  J.,  a  farmer  of  Michigan; 
Andrew  J.,  of  Clinton  county,  Mich.:  and 
Clarissa  M.,  now  Mrs.  William  Christy,  of 
Michigan.  In  the  fall  of  1836  the  family 
came  to  Ohio,  where  Hiram  had  come  sev- 
eral years  previously  on  a  visit  to  his  par- 
ents, who  resided  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
where  the  mother  died;  the  father  passed 
away  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio.  Hiram 
Norton  brought  his  family  west  in  a  cov- 
ered wagon  drawn  by  a  team  of  two  oxen, 
and  after  a  journey  of  three  weeks  paused 
in  Cuyahoga  county,  where  an  uncle  of  his 
resided.  The  roads  were  very  poor,  and 
assistance  was  found  necessary  in  several 
places  to  pull  the  wagon  along.  Mr.  Nor- 
ton rented  a  farm  in  Parma  township, 
Cuyahoga  county,  whence,  after  a  resi- 
dence of  two  years,  he  removed  to  Rich- 
field, Medina  (now  Summit)  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  two  and  a  half  years. 
Then,  in  February,  1841,  he  removed  to 
Penfield  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  purchased  (on  credit)  sixty  acres  of  land 
at  thirty  dollars  an  acre,  where  he  lived 
four  years,  and  then  came  to  the  farm  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  our  subject,  in 
partnership  with  whom  he  purchased 
sixty-four  acres  at  six  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  per  acre.  A  log  house  was  erected 
on  the  site  of  the  present  dwelling,  but  the 
land  was  totally  unimproved,  not  a  tree 
liavin^  been  cut,  and  here  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Norton  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  he  dying  in  1872,  she  on  April  15, 
1887.  They  are  both  interred  in  Center 
cemetery,  Penfield  township.  In  politics 
he  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  later, 
on  the  formation   of   the    party,   became  a 


614 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Republican,  and  in  religious  faith  he  and 
his  Mii'e  were  both  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Churcl).  While  in  New  York  heengafjed 
in  chopping  and  other  day  labor,  and  also 
earned  a  livelihood  by  hunting,  having  in 
his  day  killed  1,000  deer,  besides  large 
numbers  of  turkeys  and  other  game.  Even 
after  coming  to  Ohio  he  killed  many  deer, 
which  he  sliipped  to  Cleveland. 

Our  subject  received  in  his  early  yontii 
liut  a  limited  education,  and  was  twelve 
years  old  when  he  came  with  the  rest  of 
the  family  to  Ohio.  He  has  a  very  dis- 
tinct recollection  of  the  trip,  as  well  as  the 
various  towns  they  passed  through  en 
route,  especially  Cleveland,  and  he  well 
remembers  the  strife  between  Ohio  City 
(now  the  West  Side,  Cleveland)  and  the 
city  proper.  Locating  with  his  parents  in 
Cuyahoga  county  lie  did  such  farm  work 
as  his  age  permitted,  remaining  under  the 
parental  roof  till  reaching  his  majority, 
when  he  hired  out  to  Lathrup  Penlield  at 
eleven  dollars  per  mouth.  In  the  follow- 
ing winter  (1844)  he  invested  his  savings, 
forty  dollars,  in  a  tract  of  land  adjoining 
his  present  farm.  On  May  6,  1847,  Mr. 
Norton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  M.  Houghton,  wlio  was  born  May  5, 
1825,  in  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter 
of  Asa  and  Tamson  (Bigelow)  Houghton, 
who  came  in  183G  to  Bpencer  township, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the  former  con- 
ducted a  sawmill.  After  Ijis  marriage 
Mr.  Norton  rented  a  farm  in  Spencer 
township  for  one  year,  in  the  following 
year  removing  to  Peniield  township,  Lorain 
county,  on  a  small  farm,  living  in  a  frame 
house  which  he  had  erected.  After  ex- 
changing land  with  his  father,  he  came,  in 
1853,  to  his  present  farm-,  where  he  has 
since  continuously  resided  He  has  been 
a  lifelong  farmer,  and  in  connection  with 
his  agricultural  operations  has  for  years 
been  engaged  in  dairying;  he  now  owns 
one  hundred  acres  of  excellent  land.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norton  have  been  born  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Lucy  M.,  Mrs.  C.  D. 
W^ilson;  Mary,  Mrs.  Philo  Peniield;  and 


Frank  M.,  a  farmer,  all  three  of  Oceana 
county,  Mich.;  ElviraT.,  residing  at  home; 
and  Edwin  H.,  a  school  teaclier  of  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.  The  present  residence  of 
the  family  was  erected  in  1861,  and  the 
collection  of  buildings  on  the  farm,  all  of 
which  have  been  erected  by  Mr.  Norton 
himself,  would  be  a  credit  to  any  farmer. 
In  his  political  preferences  our  suliject 
was  a  Rejuiblican  until  1888;  ^ince  then 
he  has  been  in  the  ranks  of  the  Proliibition 
party;  he  has  never  used  either  tobacco  or 
spirituous  liquors.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  public  affairs,  and  has  served  four 
years  as  assessor,  one  term  as  township 
trustee,  and  for  thirty-five  years  as  justice 
of  the  peace.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  CInirch,  he  for 
forty-eight  years,  she  for  over  fifty  years. 
For  over  thirty-three  years  he  has  been  a 
local  minister  from  tlie  Cleveland  district, 
and  preached  for  years  at  Chatham  Center, 
Medina  county,  prior  to  which  time  he 
served  at  Brighton,  Wellington,  Hunt- 
ington, and  various  other  places  in  Lorain 
county. 


rAXON.  In  the  year  1601  there  was 
born  in  England  one  Thomas  Faxon, 
_^  who  immigrated  to  America  some 
time  prior  to  1647,  settling  in 
Braintree  (now  Quincj),  Mass.,  where  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  England,  and  had  three  children, 
of  whom  one  son,  Richard,  was  born  in 
that  country  al)out  1630,  and  died  in  1674 
in  Braintree,  Massachusetts. 

This  Richard  Faxon  had  a  son  named 
Josiah,  born  in  Braintree,  September  8, 
1660,  died  in  1731;  his  sou,  Tlioinas,  born 
February  8,  1602,  died  Marcii  19,  1729- 
30;  he  had  a  son,  Thomas,  born  in  Brain- 
tree, February  19,  1724,  married  August 
24,  1749,  Joanna  Allen,  who  was  the  de- 
scendant of  Samuel  Allen  the  emigrant; 
also  the  granddaughter  of  Abigail  Savil, 
the   granddaughter  of  William   Savil  the 


/^ '   ^^  <f<>-^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


617 


einiOTant.  Abigail  Savil  was  connected 
through  her  motlier,  Ilannali  (Adams) 
Savil,  witii  the  Adams  family,  from  wlwm 
was  descended  Samuel  Adams,  the  Signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
John  Adams,  President  of  the  United 
States.     [  Vide  Vinton   Memorial.] 

This  Thomas  Faxon  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  died  in  Deerfield, 
Mass.,  in  June,  1792.  Ho  had  a  son,  also 
named  Thomas,  born  February  19,  1755, 
died  January  3,  1827.  lie  had  a  son, 
Isaac  Davis  Fa.xon,  born  at  Conway,  Mass., 
November  16,  1791,  who,  at  an  early  day, 
came  west  to  Portage  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
died  August  5,  1821.  lie  held  several 
township  offices,  and  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Tliis  Isaac  Davis  Faxon  married 
September  13,  1814,  Coritina  Lewis,  born 
in  Farinington,  Conn.,  December  23,  1789, 
daughter  of  Oliver  and  Lucinda  (North) 
Lewis. 

John  Hall  Faxon,  eldest  son  of  this 
Isaac  Davis  Faxon,  was  born  at  Aurora, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  June  6,  1815,  and  was 
bnt  six  years  of  age  at  his  father's  death. 
He  was  then  taken  to  live  with  an  uncle, 
Oliver  H.  Lewis,  in  the  same  county, 
whence  they  removed  to  Ridgeville,  Lorain 
county,  where  the  lad  was  reared,  being 
brought  np  in  the  practical  lessons  of  farm 
life,  and  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  country  schools  of  that  early  period. 
About  the  year  1837,  John  Hall  Faxon 
proceeded  to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  there, 
through  the  kindness  of  another  uncle, 
Hon.  Theodore  S.  Faxton  (as  he  wr(jte  his 
name),  was  enabled  to  attend  an  academy 
in  that  city  for  eighteen  months,  in  which 
he  pursued  a  course  of  study  fitting  him 
for  his  chosen  pursuit  of  civil  engineer- 
ing. In  that  capacity  he  was  employed 
on  the  Erie  ('anal,  the  Auburn  &  Syra- 
cuse Railroad,  and  subsequently  the  Atlan- 
tic &  Great  Western,  and  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  in  Ohio. 

On  June  21,  1838,  he  was  married  to 
Esther  Terrell,  of  Ridgeville,  Lorain  Co., 


Ohio,  who  survives  him.  Six  children 
were  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  are  still 
living  and  are  well  known  residents  of 
Elyria.  Mr.  Faxon  held  many  offices  of 
trust  and  honor,  in  all  of  which  he  dis- 
chargeil  his  duties  with  ability  and  fidelity. 
He  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  in  18-40; 
was  elected  sheriff  in  1844,  re-elected  in 
1846,  serving  four  years.  He  was  elected 
sergeant-at-arms  of  the  Ohio  Senate  in 
1856,  and  served  two  years.  He  was  ap- 
pointed canal  collector  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
by  Gov.  Chase,  about  1857,  and  served  two 
years.  He  also  served  a  number  of  terms 
as  county  surveyor  and  city  engineer.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  representative  in  the 
Sixty-first  General  Assembly,  and  was  re- 
elected to  the  Sixty-second  in  1875,  where 
he  became  widely  known  as  a  faithful  and 
efficient  public  servant.  In  1875  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  by  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State,  but  never  engaged  in  active 
legal  practice.  Besides  these  official  posi- 
tions he  served  for  twenty-one  consecutive 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  a  few 
terms  as  mayor  of  Elyria  village.  He  was 
for  a  number  of  years  assistant  assessor  of 
Internal  Revenue  for  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Faxon  was  a  man  of  pronounced 
opinions  and  strong  convictions,  but  his 
genial  ways  always  made  him  a  pleasant 
gentleman  to  meet.  In  his  social  inter- 
course his  worthy  traits  of  character  gave 
him  the  esteem,  high  regard  and  support 
of  his  friends  and  neighbors,  while  his  ex- 
ecutive ability  and  maidy  vigor  placed  him 
high  in  public  favor.  His  sterling'quali- 
ties  as  an  honest,  industrious  citizen  gave 
him  the  comforts  of  life  for  which  his 
genial  disposition  was  well  suited;  his 
whole  life  was  one  worthy  of  emulation. 
He  was  an  old  and  honored  member  of  the 
Fraternity  of  Odd   Fellows. 

During  the  later  years  of  his  life  he 
was  president  of  the  Flushing  Coal  Com- 
pany, their  mines  at  Flushing,  Ohio, being 
owned  by  him  and  his  sons,  Isaac  I),  and 
Theodore  S.  Mr.  Faxon  died  July  4, 
1891. 


618 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Isaac  Davis  Faxon,  eldest  son  of  John 
H.  Faxon,  was  born  September  16,  1840, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  public 
schools  of  Elyria.  He  was  connected  for 
thirteen  years,  as  bookkeeper,  with  the 
Cleveland  Herald,  and  has  held  other 
positions  of  trust  in  Cleveland  and  else- 
wliere.  He  returned  to  Elyria  in  1878, 
and  until  recently  was  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits;  he  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  The  Flashing  Coal  Company. 

Mr.  Faxon  married  September  2,  1869, 
Miss  Laura  Margaretta  Briggs,  born  De- 
cember 31,  1845,  in  Painesville,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Joseph  William  and  Harmony 
(Gilmore)  Briggs.  Mr.  Briggs  was  the 
son  of  Rufus  Briggs,  the  eldest  son  of 
Allen  Briggs,  born  April  27,  1756,  in 
Cranston,  Khode  Island.  Among  the 
other  children  of  Alien  Briggs  was  George 
Nixon  Briggs,  born  April  12,  1796,  in 
South  Adams,  Mass.,  a  distinguished 
statesman,  governor  of  Massachusetts  and 
member  of  Congress  for  many  years. 
Joseph  William  Briggs,  left  an  orphan  at  an 
early  age,  was  brought  up  in  the  family  of 
his  uncle,  Gov.  Briggs,  and  having,  in  its 
infancy,  becomean  enthusiastic  advocate  of 
the  Free  Delivery  Letter  System,  he  re- 
ceived, unsolicited,  in  1864,  from  Post- 
master-General Blair  the  appointment  of 
superintendent  of  the  free  delivery  system 
throughout  the  country.  He  entered  upon 
his  duties  with  the  determination  to  make 
the  system  a  success,  and  literally  wore  his 
life  out  in  its  service,  dying  February 
23,  1872. 

Theodore  S.  Faxon,  son  of  John  H.  and 
Esther  (Terrell)  Faxon,  was  born  in  Ely- 
ria, Ohio,  January  18,  1846. 

His  education  was  obtained  at  the  high 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  went  to  Cleveland,  where  he 
was  employed  as  bookkeeper  in  a  whole- 
sale business  house  up  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years.  He  then  returned  to  his  na- 
tive town,  and  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  furniture,  subsequently  embarking 
in  the  lumber  business,  having  in  connec- 


tion therewith  a  planing-mill.  Selling 
out  his  interest  in  this  business  he  became 
the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  a  number  of 
coal  companies,  coutinuing  as  such  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  when  in  connection 
with  others  he  organized  the  Flushing 
Coal  Co.,  and  also  the  Brock  Hill  Coal 
Co.,  and  was  elected  as  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  both  companies,  which  positions  he 
held  for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  selling  his  interests  in  the  Brock  Hill 
Coal  Co.,  he  and  his  father  and  brother, 
Isaac  D.,  became  sole  owners  of  the  Flush- 
ing Coal  Co.,  of  whicli  he  became  general 
mauager,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
in  1891,  was  elected  president  of  the  com- 
pany, which  position  he  now  occupies. 

T.  S.  Faxon  and  Miss  Martha  E.  Bullock, 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  were  united 
in  marriage  June  20,  1871,  and  live  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Mary  Belle,  Theodore  E.,  Catherine  L., 
Isaac  Davis  and  Kobert  B. 

Our  subject  in  politics  is  a  Republican, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  served 
with  the  One  Hundred  Days  men,  being 
about  eighteen  years  old  at  the  time. 


EiRNEST    L.    DISBRO,    senior   pro- 
prietor and  editor  of    the    Oberlin 
I  Citizen,  has  been  engaged  in  the 

newspaper  business  since  1880,  a 
portion  of  the  time  as  foreman  on  the 
Oberlin  Neios.  In  1883  he  published  the 
Moravia  (Iowa)  Tribune;  for  a  time  filled 
the  position  of  foreman  on  the  Citizen, 
of  Centreville,  Iowa,  and  in  1888  was  for  a 
time  in  charge  of  the  New  London  (Huron 
county,  Ohio)  Record,  on  leaving  which 
he  returned  to  Oberlin,  and  four  years 
later  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Oberlin  Citizen,  a  lively  newsy  paper 
that  in  December,  1892,  bought  out  the 
Exponent. 

Mr.  Disbro  was  born  in  Elyria,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  October  15,  1860,  third  son  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


619 


Rev.  Dr.  AVilliani  1!.  and  Catherine  M. 
(Ilntchins)  Disbro,  the  former  a  native  of 
France,  the  latter  of  Herkimer,  N.  Y. 
The  other  children  are  W.  B.,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Woodward  Lnniber 
Co.,  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  Delia,  in  Atlanta,  Ga., 
and  one  deceased.  When  a  boy  the  father 
came  to  this  country,  making  his  first 
home  in  the  New  World  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 
He  was  educated  in  Cleveland,  aiid  gradu- 
ated from  the  Homeopathic  College,  after 
which  he  practiced  his  profession  for  sev- 
eral years  in  that  city.  In  1843  he  en- 
tered the  n)inistry  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
was  appointed  presiding  elder  in  the  San- 
dusky district,  and  afterward  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Cleveland  district,  where  he 
officiated  in  the  same  capacity,  his  resi- 
dence during  tiie  latter  time  being  in 
Elyria,  Lorain  county.  He  died  in  1865; 
his  widow  now  resides  in  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  passed 
his  early  boyhood  in  Berea,  Ohio,  and  re- 
ceived the  bulk  of  his  education  at  Bald- 
win University,  in  that  city,  his  father  at 
that  time  being  auditor  of  that  institution. 
He  then  became  identified  witli  journal- 
ism, as  already  recorded.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  though  his  paper,  the 
Citizen,  is  independent  in  its  views,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Central 
Committee.  Socially,  Mr.  Disbro  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  1885  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eva  E. 
Newell,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  daugh- 
ter of  Nelson  and  Fanny  (^Mungar)  New- 
ell, both  natives  of  Vermont,  who  in  1805 
settled  in  Kipton,  Lorain  county,  from 
Crawford  county,  Penn.,  where  the  father 
died  in  1891;  his  widow  is  now  passing 
her  days  in  Pennsylvania.  To  this  union 
there  is  one  daughter,  Marion. 

When  the  present  management  assumed 
charge  of  the  Citizen  it  was  a  Prohibition 
organ,  with  scarcely  any  patronage  and 
few  subscribers.  A  strict  adhei-enee  to 
business  principles  on  the  one  hand,  and 
a  constant  endeavor  to  place  before  the 
public   a   model    newspaper  on    the  other, 


have  gained  for  the  Citizen  a  large  circu- 
lation throughout  the  county,  there  not 
being  a  postoffice  in  the  entire  county  to 
which  a  package  of  the  papers  is  not 
mailed  weekly.  Independent,  fearless 
and  aggressive,  the  Citizen  occupies  a 
unique  field  in  country  journalism,  and 
demonstrates  the  possibilities  of  energy, 
push,  and  purpose.  By  action  of  tiie  coun- 
cil the  Citizen  has  recently  been  selected 
as  the  official  paper  of  the  city. 


QEORGE    E.  SMITH,    M.  D.,  phy- 
,   sician   and    surgeon,  is   a  native   of 
Lyme     township,     Huron     county, 
, .    Ohio,  born  in  1832. 

Dr.  Charles  Smith,  father  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Westfield,  Mass.,  and 
was  married  in  New  York  to  Miss  Mehet- 
abel  Seymour,  a  native  of  Otsego  county, 
N.  Y.,  born  of  a  Puritan  family  of  Con- 
necticut. In  1829  the  young  couple  came 
to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  making  a  new 
home  in  Lyme  township,  on  Strong's 
Ridge,  where  he  practiced  his  profession, 
and  cultivated  a  farm  of  twenty  acres. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  before  coming  to  Lyme  township 
taught  school  for  a  time  in  Granville, 
Ohio.  He  became  closely  identified  with 
the  early  history  of  the  county,  assisting 
in  many  ways  in  its  development.  Politi- 
cally lie  was  originally  a  Whig,  afterward 
a  Republican.  As  a  Presliyterian,  he  was 
an  active  churchman,  and  tor  years  was  at 
the  head  of  the  Sabbath-school,  and  was 
an  Elder  in  the  Church.  He  was  a  great 
temperance  advocate,  and  organized  the 
first  Temperance  Society  in  Huron  county, 
which  same  was  founded  in  Lyme  town- 
ship, October  6,  1830.  His  home  was  the 
first  one  built  in  the  township  without 
the  use  of  whisky.  He  was  connected 
with  the  Firelands  Society,  and  wrote  tiie 
"  History  of  Lyme  Township."  Dr. 
Charles  Smith  died  .March  2,  1861, 
his  wife   in   April,  1854.     Simon  Smith, 


620 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


paternal  grandfather  of  subject,  was  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier  from  Connecticut,  and 
later  settled  in  Westfield,  Mass.  Jona- 
than Seymour,  the  maternal  grandfather, 
was  an  ensign  in  the  lievolutionary  strug- 
gle, and  in  1793  settled  in  Otsego  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1819. 

The  subject  proper  of  these  lines  was 
reared  in  Lyme  township  up  to  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  and  received  his  education 
at  the  schools  of  Lyme  and  Milan,  after 
whicli,  in  1851,  he  entered  the  Western 
Reserve  College  at  Hudson,  where  he 
graduated  A.  B.  with  the  class  of  1855. 
He  taught  school  some  seven  years — two 
years  (1855-57)  in  Tennessee;  had  also 
charge  of  the  Western  Reserve  Teachers' 
Seminary,  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  for  two 
years  was  principal  of  the  gi-ammar  school 
at  Circleville,  same  State.  In  1858  he 
graduated  A.  M.  from  the  Western  Re- 
serve College.  After  leaving  college  he 
attended  three  courses  of  medical  lectures 
at  Cleveland,  Ann  Arbor,  and  the  Medi- 
cal College  of  Ohio,  where  he  graduated 
in  1862.  In  that  year  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Willoughbv, 
Ohio.  On  December  23,  1862,  lie  was 
commissioned  assistant-surgeon  of  the 
Seventy-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  and  joined  his 
regiment  at  Arkansas  Post  January  14, 
1863.  He  was  present  at  the  seige  of 
Vicksburg,  where  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
was  confined  in  the  Officers'  Hospital  at 
Memphis,  Tenn.  Obtaining  leave  of  ab- 
sence, he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  resigned 
his  commission.  He  was  then  appointed 
on  the  Government  contract  service  at 
Hillsdale,  Mich.,  as  e.xaniining  physician 
and  surgeon  of  Post  Hillsdale.  Here  he 
remained  from  July,  1863,  till  March, 
1875,  when  he  went  to  Fremont,  San- 
dusky Co.,  Ohio,  and  after  practicing  his 
profession  there  some  sixteen  years,  came, 
in  June.  1891,  to  Oberlin,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

In  1862  Dr.  Smith  was  married  at  Ply- 
mouth, Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Brinkerhoff,  a  native  of  New  York,  daugh- 


ter of  Gen.  Henry  R.  and  Sarah  (Swart- 
wout)  Brinkerhoff,  also  of  New  Y^ork. 
Gen.  Brinkerhoff  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  was  afterward  commander-in-chief 
of  the  New  Y^ork  Militia,  and  received 
Gen.  LaFayette  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  New 
York,  and  member  of  Congress  from  Iln- 
ron  county.  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1846.  To  our  subject  and  wife  have 
been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Isa- 
bella S.,  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  at 
Fremont,  Ohio;  Alice  Gertrude,  attending 
college;  Josephine,  attending  high  school, 
and  Roelif  B.,  assistant  secretary  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Dr.  Smitli  in  politics  is  a  Republican, 
and  while  in  Hillsdale.  Mich.,  he  served 
as  school  inspector  five  or  six  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Ober- 
lin; of  the  Knights  of  Honor  at  Fremont; 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Medicine, 
and  was  secretary  of  the  Southern  Michi- 
gan Medical  Society  two  years.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church,  in  which  he  is  deacon; 
while  a  resident  of  Fremont  and  Hillsdale 
he  was  superintendent  of  Sunday-school, 
and  was  president  of  the  Hillsdale  County 
Sunday-school  Association  at  the  time  of 
his  leaving  that  place. 


J\  B.  FOLLANSBEE,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Lanndon,  Windecker 
Ml'  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  cheese, 
proprietors  of  the  second  largest 
factory  in  tiiat  line  in  Wellington,  Lorain 
county,  is  a  native  of  Grafton,  N.  H.,  born 
April  25,  1830.  John  Follansbee,  his 
father,  who  was  of  the  same  town,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  married  Miss  Eliza 
Potter,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Offrinda,  who  died  about  twenty  years 
ago;  Daniel,  residing  at  East  Grafton,  N. 
H.;  John  E.,  living  in  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and 
W.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  The 
father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 


LORAIN  COUNTY ^  OHIO 


621 


tlie  mother  vvlieii  aged  feventy;  tliey  were 
both  descended  from  New  England  families. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  at 
tlie  schools  of  Grafton,  N.  H.,  and  before 
coming  west  had  some  experience  as  a 
traveling  salesman.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  came  to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
where  for  some  fourteen  years  he  followed 
the  meat  market  business  and  stock  deal- 
ing. He  then  moved  to  Columbia  town- 
ehip,  Lorain  county,  where  for  a  time  he 
again  engaged  in  stock  dealing,  as  well  as 
farming  and  the  cheese  business,  after 
which  became  to  Wellington,  same  county, 
where  he  now  resides,  engaged  in  the 
prosperous  business  alluded  to  at  com- 
mencement of  sketch.  He  is  also  a  part- 
ner in  the  Wellington  Brick  and  Tile 
Works,  another  of  the  leading  industries 
of  Wellington,  and  in  addition  to  the 
cheese  factory  in  that  towti  he  operates 
eight  to  ten  others  in  the  county. 

In  1861  Mr.  Follansbee  married  Miss 
Mary  Adams,  of  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  and  two  children  have 
come  to  cheer  their  home — William,  a 
bright  Ijoy,  wlio  graduated  with  honor  at 
the  Wellington  schools,  and  Howard,  who 
is  still  in  scbool.  In  his  political  predilec- 
tions our  subject  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum. 


'II.IRLES  C.  ENSIGN,  sheriff  of 
Ijorain  county,  is  a  native  of  the 
same,  horn  in  18(53,  a  son  of  Calvin 
and  Deborah  (Burdick)  Ensign,  both 
al.-o  natives  of  Ohio,  but  whose  parents 
wore  from  VeruKjut.  Calvin  Ensign  was 
a  farmer  by  occuj)atioii,  and  he  served  as 
sheriff  of  Lorain  county  two  terms — 1883 
-1887. 

Charles  C.  Ensign,  who  was  the  eldest 
child  and  only  son  in  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
liigh  schools  of  Elyria.  He  served  as 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  for  six  years  — 
two  years  under  his  father,  and  four  years 


under  his  father's  successor,  during  which 
latter  period  he  did  most  of  tlie  bard  work 
in  the  office.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  at 
the  ago  of  twenty-six,  he  was  nominated 
for  the  office  of  sherifi'.  and  in  the  fall  of 
1890  he  was  elected,  taking  office  in  .lanu- 
ary,  1891,  the  youngest  sheriff  in  the  State; 
he  has  since  been  reelected.  His  long  ex- 
perience as  deputy  sheriff  makes  him 
eminently  well  qualified  for  his  position, 
whilst  his  natural  ability  is  unquestioned 
and  his  popularity  unbounded.  He  is 
tall,  stalwart,  athletic  and  bi'ave,  and  as 
assiduous  in  his  duties  as  he  is  loyal  to  his 
county,  State  and  country. 

Mr.  Ensign  was  united  in  marriage, 
March  30,  1886.  with  Miss  Cora  F.  Hul- 
l)ert,  of  Elyria,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Nancy  (Fish)  llulbert,  who  are  natives  of 
Ohio;  and  two  children — Mabel  L.  and 
Walter  C. —  have  been  born  to  them. 
Politically  Sheriff  Ensii^n  is  an  ardent 
Ilepnhlican,  and  in  church  connection  he 
and  his  family  are  Baptists. 


THOMAS  G.  CHAPMAN,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Lorain  Tunes,  was 
born  in  Lorain,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
November  8,  1866,  a  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Piurk)  C!liapman. 
Mr.  Ch;q)man  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  graduating,  and  then  took  a  course 
at  Oberlin  Business  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1884.  He  then  returned  to 
Lorain,  and  for  a  tiirie  was  employed  in 
the  shipping  department  of  the  Lorain 
Brass  Works,  where  he  had  worked  for 
about  a  year  prior  to  his  enlistment.  Con- 
cluding to  enter  the  arena  of  journalism, 
he  secured  a  position  on  the  Lorain 
Times,  which  after  a  year  he  bouu-ht 
out,  and  since  1886  has  been  its  editor  and 
proprietor.  The  paper,  a  weekly,  is  Ro- 
pulilican  in  its  views,  liberal,  bright  and 
newsy,  and  Mr.  Chapman  has  materially 
improved  the  facilities  of  the  office  by 
changing  the  old  hand-press  for  a  steam- 


622 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


power  one.  Our  subject  has  held  the 
office  of  township  clerk  four  and  one-half 
years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1893  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  the  township.  Heistlooked 
upon  as  one  of  the  popular  rising  young 
men  of  his  section  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  served  a 
term  as  secretary  of  the  Lodge. 

Mr.  Chapman  was  united  in  marriage, 
December  2S,  1892,  with  Miss  Millie 
Bruce,  an  estimable  young  lady,  who  was 
born  at  LaPorte,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 29,  1872. 


J.  CAHOOX,  recorder  of  Lorain 
county,  with  residence  in  Eiyria,  is 
a  native  of  the  same,  born  in  Avon 
township,  May  11,  1837. 

O.  B.  Cahoon,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  Harkness  county,  N.  Y.,  May 
25,  1804,  and  when  ten  years  old  accom- 
panied liis  father,  Wilber  Cahoon,  to  Lo- 
rain count}',  Ohio,  they  being  the  first 
settlers  in  Avon  township,  where  subject's 
grandfather  followed  farming  the  rest  of 
his  active  life,  dying  tliere  in  1856;  he  was 
born  in  1772.  On  coming  iiere  he  had  to 
cut  his  way  eight  miles  into  tiie  woods, 
and  for  a  long  time  there  was  not  a  single 
settlement  between  his  place  and  the  town 
of  Cleveland.  lie  was  an  Old-line  Whig, 
and  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  elected  in 
Avon  township,  which  office  he  was  hold- 
ing at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  his  wife,  Prisciila 
(Sweet),  of  Rhode  Island.  Tliej  had  eight 
children,  all  of  wliom  lived  to  Toiddle  life 
except  one  that  died  at  the  age  of  si.xteeu. 
O.  B.  Cahoon  lived  in  Avon  township  on  a 
portion  of  his  father's  old  property.  In 
jiolitics,  until  the  agitati<in  of  the  slavery 
question,  which  precipitated  the  Civil  war, 
he  was  a  solid  Democrat,  but  his  views 
changing,  he  became  a  Republican,  and  so 
remained  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
18S1,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  the  father 
of  seven  children,  all  of  whom   lived   to 


maturity,  namely:  H.  J.,  Melissa  A.,  Jo- 
seph B.,  Wilber  D.,  Ora  B.,  Burritt  E. 
and  Charles  S. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, and  reared  on  a  farm.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  Forty-second  O. 
V.  I.  (Garfield's  regiment),  which  was  at- 
tached to  the  Southwestern  army,  most  of 
the  time  operating  on  the  Mississippi  river. 
Mr.  Cahoon  participated  in  tiie  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  but  being  seized  with  sickness 
he  was  sent  to  hospital  at  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks, where  he  was  detached  and  sent 
home,  to  resume  peaceful  labor  on  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Cahoon  was  united  in  marriage, 
February  10,  1861,  with  Elizabeth  Lucas, 
who  was  born  in  Avon,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio; 
her  parents,  Jonathan  and  Ann  Lucas,  were 
born  and  reared  in  England.  Five  chil- 
dren came  to  bless  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cahoon,  named  as  follows:  Carrie, 
Ella  (wife  of  Don  Johnson),  Fred,  Maud 
and  Anna.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  1891  he  was  elected  to  tiie  office  of 
recorder  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  is 
ex-adjutant  of  John  Harrison  Post  in 
Avon  township,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 


d[   E.  WILLARD,  treasurer  of  Lorain 
I    county,  comes  of  New  England  peo- 
'   pie    and    Revolutionary    stock,    his 
grandfather    having    served    in    the 
great  American  struggle  for  liberty,  dying 
in  1858  at  the  acre  of  ninety-seven. 

S.  R.  Willard,  father  of  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  was  a  Baptist 
minister.  When  the  son,  J.  E.,  was  yet  an 
infant,  the  parents  came  west  to  Ohio,  first 
locating  in  Bedford,  Cuyalioga  county, 
thence,  after  a  sojourn  of  some  seven  years, 
moving  to  Salem,  Columbiana  county, 
after  which  they  lived  in  various  other 
parts  of  the  State,  including  Lorain  county. 
In  1866  the  father  left   the   Baptists,  and 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


623 


united  himself  with  tiie  Disciple  Church, 
becoming  a  celrg>'maii  in  that  denomina- 
tion. From  La  Grange,  in  Lorain  county, 
the  family  proceeded  to  Wellington,  in 
the  same  county,  and  thence  to  Minnesota, 
then  back  to  Wellington,  from  there  mov- 
ing to  Summit  county,  same  State,  and 
then  retiirninu;  to  Wellington. -for  the  last 
time  as  far  as  concerned  the  father,  as  he 
died  there  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  having  been  born  in  1801. 
In  1829  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Trotter,  by  which  union  were  born  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  our  subject  being 
the  third;  there  were  also  two  daughters 
born  to  Mr.  Willard  by  a  former  marriage. 
The  motlier  of  J.  E.  Willard  was  called 
from  earth  in  1891,  aged  eighty-four 
years,  dying  in  Elyria;  she  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent. 

J.  E.  Willard,  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  was  born  August  25,  1836,  in 
Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  and  when  young 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  wliere  he  received  his  edu- 
cation. He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
lived  thereon  till  he  was  twenty-two  years 
old,  when  he  entered  a  dry-goods  store  at 
La  Grange,  Lorain  county,  remaining  there 
four  years.  In  1881  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment as  deputy  treasurer  of  Lorain 
county,  in  which  capacity  he  served  be- 
tween five  and  six  years,  at  the  end  of 
whicii  time  he  was  appointed  deputy 
auditor,  tilling  the  position  one  and  one- 
half  years.  In  1888  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  his  present  incum- 
bency— treasurer  of  the  county,  and  he  is 

now  servintr  his  second    term,   with    char- 
es ' 

acteristic  fidelity  and  ability. 

Mr.  Willard  was  married,  June  5,  1856, 
to  Delia  A.  Gott,  a  native  of  La  Grange, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  David  and  Emeline 
Gott,  both  of  whom  were  born  at  Worces- 
ter, N.  Y.  To  this  union  three  children 
have  been  born,  viz.:  Minnie  A.,Kittie  M. 
and  Archie  M.  In  political  sympathies  Mr. 
Willard  is  a  Republican,  and  socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.  and  G.  A.  R. 


During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1862,  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  which  served  on 
Johnson's  Island,  guarding  prisoners  there, 
and  he  was  discharged  June  9,  1865.  Mr. 
Willard  was  a  schoolmate  of  the  lamented 
President  Garfield,  at  Hiram,  Ohio,  and  he 
subsequently  had  various  business  com- 
munications witli  him,  having  yet  in  his 
possession  several  autograph  letters  of  his. 


/ 


SOI 


of 


tyifOSES  S.  TENNANT  (deceased) 
\rl  was  a  well-known  school  teacher 
||  and  agriculturist  —  at  one  time 
cultivating  the  plastic  minds  of 
the  young,  at  another  the  ductile 
the  eai-th.  He  was  born  May  22, 
1812,  in  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  tiie  eldest 
son  of  Seidell  and  Lydia  (Allen)  Tepnant. 
Selden  Tennant,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  1787,  and 
in  1793  came  to  Otsego  county,  N.  Y., 
with  his  parents.  When  a  young  man  he 
bought  hind  aear  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  but  not 
long  afterward  he  removed  to  Monroe 
county.  In  1846  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
bought  wild  land  in  Camden  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  he  became  a  well-to- 
do  citizen,  farming  being  his  life  vocation. 
In  Otsego  county  lie  had  married  Miss 
Lydia  Allen,  who  bore  him  children  as 
follows:  Moses  S.. subject  of  this  memoir; 
Betsy,  who  married  Charles  Kingsbury, 
and  died  in  Michigan;  Allen,  a  resident  of 
Kenton,  Ohio;  Lydia,  married  to  David 
M.  Tennant,  died  in  Oberlin  in  1892; 
David  «R.,  farmer,  of  Camden  township; 
and  Hannah  M.,  married  to  Moses  Hol- 
comb,  now  of  Cass  county,  Iowa.  The 
mother  died  in  1835  in  New  York  State, 
the  father  on  his  farm  in  (/amden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  in  1871.  Politically 
he  was  first  an  ardent  Whig,  afterward,  ou 
the  formation  of  the  party,  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. In  religious  connection  he  and 
Ills  wife  were  zealous  Baptists. 


624 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Moses  S.  Tennant,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  his  education  at  tiie 
common  schools  of  his  native  township, 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on 
his  father's  farm.  Being  a  studious  boy 
and  youth,  and  having  a  natural  inclina- 
tion for  reading  and  a  love  of  books,  he 
soon  had  himself  prepared  for  the  profes- 
sion of  teacher,  which  he  followed  several 
years  with  pronounced  success.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  shortly  after  his  marriage,  he 
came  with  his  wife  to  Ohio,  the  journey 
being  made  with  a  covered  wagon  and  oc- 
cupying two  weeks.  They  located  in 
Camden  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
having  out  of  his  wages — about  twelve 
dollars  per  month — saved  a  little  money, 
Mr.  Tennant  was  enabled  to  buy  one  hun- 
dri'd  acres  of  land  at  ten  dollars  per  acre, 
twenty  of  which  were  cleared  and  fenced, 
and  on  which  there  stood  a  comfortable 
log  house  with  a  brick  chimney,  the  first 
one  of  the  kind  built  in  the  township. 
Soon  after  settling  here,  he  agaiti  took  up 
school  teaching  at  a  salary  of  twelve  dol- 
lars per  inontii,  "  boarding  round "  at 
various  places  in  the  district,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1840  he  conducted  a  school  in 
his  own  house,  being  assisted  by  his  wife. 
For  several  winters  he  assiduously  fol- 
lowed this  vocation,  working  on  his  farm 
the  rest  of  the  year,  but  the  later  years  of 
his  life  he  applied  himself  exclusively  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  made  a 
pronounced  success,  being  a  good  manager 
and  financier.  He  died  April  8,  1890, 
and  was  interred  in  Kipton  cemetery. 
Politi(;allv  he  was  first  a  Whig,  later  a 
Republican,  an<i  lie  was  an  active  Aboli- 
tionist, a  "conductor'"  on  the  "Under- 
ground Railroad,"  and  many  a  fugitive 
slave  found  refuiie  at  his  home,  where 
he  and  his  wife  would  not  only  feed 
and  clothe  them  but  also  teach  them  to 
read.  In  religion  he  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which 
he  held  various  offices,  and  was  an  active 
worker  during  the  last  twenty  years  of 
his  life. 


On  August  14,  1839,  Mr.  Tennant  was 
married  at  Clarkson,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Billings,  who  was  born 
there  July  20,  1820,  a  daughter  of  Walter 
and  Xancy  (Gillis)  Billings,  and  children 
as  follows  came  of  this  union:  William 
S.,  born  February  7,  1842;  graduated  at 
Oberlin  College;  studied  law  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  practiced  his  profession  many 
years,  becoming  judge  of  the  circuit  court, 
in  Saginaw  (Mich.)  District,  but  was  so 
overworked  that  he  was  compelled  to  leave 
his  position;  and  Lettie  M.,  also  a  graduate 
of  Oberlin,  who  married  John  A.  William- 
son (a  grail uate  of  Yale),  of  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  and  died  when  thirty-five  years  of 
age.  G.  F.  (a  foster  son)  is  now  paymaster 
ontheC.L.&W.R.R.;  and  Edwin  A.  (also 
a  foster  son),  who  has  charge  of  the  home 
farm  in  Camden  township.  Since  the 
death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Tennant  has 
continued  to  reside  on  the  home  farm,  and 
visits  her  children  from  time  to  time.  Slie 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
for  the  past  fifty  years,  and  enjoys  the  es- 
teem and  respect  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


>HE  POND  FAMILY.  On  July  8, 
1776,  there  died  on  Long  Island,  of 
camp  fever,  brought  on  by  exposure 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  Kos- 
well  Pond,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of 
his  age,  a  faithful  soldier  in  the  Contin- 
ental army  under  Gen.  George  Washing- 
ton. He  had  married  in  Branford,  Conn., 
November  22,  1764,  Miss  Lydia  Rogers, 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.: 
(A)  Josiah  C.  September  27,  1765;  (B) 
Abigail.  December  18,  1769,  and  (C)  Ros- 
well,  Jr.,  July  15.  1772. 

(A)  Josiah  C.  Pond  married  Miss  Je- 
rusha  Bull,  September  6,  1792,  she  being 
then  twenty-seven  years  old,  and  children 
as  follows  were  born  to  them:  (1)  Nancy, 
born  at  Ilarwinton,  Conn.,  November  1, 
1793;    (2)   Sheldon,    born    May  3,    1795, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


627 


died  April  4,  1883;  (^3)  Josiali,  Jr.,  born 
December  31,  1796,  died  on  Christmas 
Day,  1883;  (4)  Jerusiia,  born  June  17, 
17U'J;  (5)  Oandace,  born  May  8,  1801;  (6) 
Cyntiiia,  born  September  8,  1803;  (7) 
Mary,  born  Marcli  4,  1806,  died  April  28, 

1890,  at  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  and  (8)  Jouatlian, 
born  December  1,  1809.  Of  tliese,  (1) 
Nancy  married  Co^ey,  and  died  Oc- 
tober 8,  1826;  her  son,  William  C,  died 
June  7,  1848.  (2)  Sheldon  married  No- 
vember 9,  1831,  Clarissa  Austin,  wiio  was 
born  February  3,  1804;  she  died  May  15, 

1891,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years; 
their  children  were  Ellen  L.  (born  Janu- 
ary 18,  1833),  Albert  S.  (born  August  27, 
1834,  died  Septemlter  17,  1875),  Mary  J. 
(born  July  24,  1838);  of  these  Ellen  L. 
married  Henry  Pond  November  5,  1851, 
in  Bristol,  Conn.;  Mary  J.  married  J.  H. 
Seovill  December  17,  1862,  and  they  live 
on  the  old  farm  in  Connecticut;  Albert  S. 
married  Hattie  A.  Harrington  November 
14,  1863,  and  died  September  17,  1875. 
(3)  Josiah  Pond,  Jr.,  married  May  5, 1819, 
Acta  Dyer,  who  died  June  4,  1844,  and 
their  children  were  Lucius  Dyer,  born 
March  20,  1820;  Mariette,  born  December 
18,  1829;  Flora  Ann,  born  November  15, 
1832,  married  Ferdinand  Trivoya  Novem- 
ber 6,  1853.  (5)  Candace  Pond  died  a 
maiden  August  11,  1847.  (6)  Cynthia 
married  a  Mr.  Belden,  and  died  February 
11,  1861.  (7)  Mary  Pond  married  Augus- 
tus Pf'ttibone,  who  was  born  Mayo,  1800; 
she  died  July  28, 1890,  leaving  live  daugh- 
ters. (8)  Jonathan  Pond  married,  but  had 
no  children.  The  parents  of  this  family 
both  died  at  Harwinton,  Coivi-,  the  father 
January  31,  1838,  aged  seventy- two  years, 
the  mother  February  29,  1836,  aged 
seventy-one. 

(C)  Tl  )swell  Pond,  Jr.,  married  January 
23,'  1800,  Efannah  Webster,  born  April  14, 
1778,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Webster,  of 
Harwinton,  Conn.,  and  related  to  Noah 
Webster,  the  Lexicographer.  To  this  union 
were  b(.)rn  children  as  follows:  (I)  lijswoll, 
born   February  16,  1801,  died    March   18, 

34 


1819;  (II)  Lydia,  born  July  1,  1803,  died 
February  24,  1889;  (111)  Lew  Anna,  born 
June  30,  1805,  died  in  Torrington,  Conn., 
June  13, 1888;  (lY)  Hannah  Webster,  born 
October  10,  1807,  died  January  10,  1871; 
(V)  Charles  Webster,  born  February  8, 
1810,  died  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  August  21, 
1885;  (VI)  Martin  Webster  (the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch),  born  March  12, 
1814;  (VII)  Edwin  Loomis,  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1816,  died  in  the  Sandwich  Islands 
November  12,  1889;  and  (VIII)  Julius 
Roswell,  born  February  11,  1822,  died  in 
Glencoe,  Oregon,  May  25,  1891.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  in  Harwinton, 
Conn.,  September  18,  1826,  the  motiier  at 
the  residence  of  her  son,  Martin  W.,  whom 
she  was  visiting,  at  Elyria,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1854. 

Of  the  cliildren  of  (C)  Roswell  Pond, 
Jr.,  (II)  Lydia  married.  May  19,  1825, 
Ezra  Stiles  Adams,  of  Canton,  Coim.,  and 
they  at  once  came  west  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Elyria,  then  but  a  small  village.  The 
record  of  their  children  is  as  follows:  Mary 
Laura  was  born  September  1,  1826;  Albert 
H.  was  born  May  8,  1830,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 23,  1831;  Alfred  Henry  was  born  De- 
cember 10, 1832,  and  died  March  15, 1833; 
Lydia  Ann  was  born  February  3,  1834; 
George  Hnrlbut  was  born  February  1, 
1837,  and  Ezra  StUes  was  born  June  4, 
1845.  Of  these,  Mary  Laura  married, 
April  21,  1846,  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  Charles 
E.  IV^ason,  a  native  of  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  born  May  4,  1823.  The  issue  of 
this  union  are  tliree  children:  (1)  Mary 
Adelaide,  born  in  Elyria.  June  16,  1847; 
(2)  Laura  Isabel,  born  in  Elyria,  February 
4,  1850,  and  (3)  George  Adams,  born  in 
Wellington  (also  in  Lorain  county),  July 
18,  1858.  Of  these,  (1)  Mary  Adelaide 
married,  June  16,  1868,  John  W.  Meaker, 
of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  their  children 
are  John  W.,  Jr.,  born  July  18, 1870;  Guy, 
born  September  0.  1873;  I>elle,  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1876,  and  M  izie,  born  November 
30. 1878,  all  born  in  Detroit,  Alich.,  except 
the  last  named,  who  tirst  saw  the    light  in 


628 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  "World's  Fair  City  "—Chicago.  (2) 
Laura  Isabel  Mason  was  married  June  24, 
1873,  in  Wellington,  Ohio,  to  Schuyler 
Davis,  and  their  children  are  George  S., 
born  in  Wellington,  August  24,  1874,  and 
Roy  Mason,  born  in  Cleveland,  November 
16,  1879. 

Lydia  Ann  Adams,  second  daughter  of 
Ezra  Stiles  and  Lydia  Adams,  was  married 
May  27,  1850,  to  George  F.  Bell,  of  Can- 
ada West  (now  Ontario),  and  they  had  one 
child,  Kate,  born  February  11,1853.  Mr. 
Bell  died  August  11,  1872,  in  Mercer, 
Penn.,  and  May  22,  1879,  his  widow  was 
inarried  to  Nelson  Case,  of  Orangeville, 
Ohio. 

George  Hurlbut  Adams,  youngest  son 
but  one  of  Ezra  Stiles  and  Lydia  Adams, 
was  united  in  marriage  December 25, 1868, 
with  Miss  Addie  Kemp,  who  died  August 
26,  1874,  and  for  his  second  wife  George 
H.  Adams  married.  May  27,  1878,  Miss 
Belle  J.  Henry,  of  Rockport,  Ohio. 

Ezra  Stiles  Adams,  Jr.,  youngest  son  of 
Ezra  Stiles  and  Lydia  Adams,  was  married 
January  19,  1870,  in  Wellington,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Jennie  L.  McClelland,  of  that  place, 
and  their  children  are  Louisa  M.,  born  in 
Cleveland,  October  20,  1871,  and  Georgia, 
born  March  15,  1873. 

(Ill)  Lew  Anna  Pond  died  at  Torring- 
ton.  Conn.,  June  12,  1888;  she  was  mar- 
ried at  her  father's  house  in  Burlington, 
Conn.,  December  15,  1825,  to  Edmund 
A.  Wooding,  and  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  them:  (a)  Adeline,  born  January 
8,  1827;  (b)  Julia,  born  at  Torrington, 
Conn.,  October  28,  1835,  and  (c)  Mary, 
born  at  Torrington,  February  25,  1838. 
Of  these  (a)  Adeline  married,  November 3, 
1846,  in  New  Hartford,  Conn.,  Augustus 
Merrill,  by  whom  she  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: (1)  Addie,  born  in  New  Hartford, 
November  15,  1849,  married  November 
25, 1868,AVilliamBakerGilbert,of  Thomas- 
ton,  Conn.,  and  has  one  child,  Grace,  born 
October  12,  1880.  (2)  Grace,  born  in 
Thomaston,  Conn.,  January  18,  1854,  mar- 
ried December  25, 1875,  Charles  S.  Spald- 


ing, of  Winstead,  Conn.,  and  has  three 
children,  viz.:  Jessie,  l)orn  July  22, 1878; 
Anna,  born  August  12,  1880,  and  Ethel 
May,  born  November  14, 1885.  (b)  Julia 
Wooding  married  May  17,  1877,  in  New 
York  City,  William  Burtis  Fowler,  (c) 
Mary  Wooding  was  married  at  her  father's 
house  in  Wolcottville,  Conn.,  November 
25, 1855,  to  Walter  Scott  Lewis,  of  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  and  two  children  were  born  to 
them,  viz.:  Lizzie,  March  28,  1857  (mar- 
ried to  Addison  A.  Ladley,  of  Philadel- 
phia, Penn.,  January  6, 1881),  and  Charles 
W.,  October  16,  1859,  both  born  in  Wol- 
cottville, Connecticut. 

(IV)  Hannah  Webster  Pond  was  mar- 
ried in  Wolcottville,  Conn.,  June  16, 1833, 
to  Jeremiah  D.  Root,  and  three  children 
were  born  to  them  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  as 
follows:  (1)  Edward  J.,  born  in  1837,  died 
March  16, 1842;  (2)  Albert  Homer,  born 
June  15,  1840,  died  February  19,  1S41; 
(3)  Frank,  born  in  April,  1834,  and  was 
killed  by  a  boiler  explosion  in  New  York 
harbor  while  in  the  U.  S.  service,  in  1864 
or  '65,  leaving  one  son,  Edward  Samuel, 
known  as  "Ned  Root,"  born  January  10, 
1855;  and  (4)  Ella,  born  October  15, 1842. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Webster  (Pond)  Root  died 
in  New  London,  Conn..  January  10,  1871. 
Jeremiah  D.  Root  died  in  New  York  City, 
August  6,  1875,  and  both  are  buried  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut. 

(V)  Charles  Webster  Pond  married 
October  21,  1846,  at  Smithville,  Canada 
West  (now  Ontario),  Miss  Martha  Smith, 
and  they  had  two  children:  Robert,  born 
in  Canada  July  28,  1850,  and  Ezra  Stiles, 
born     at    Auburn,    Mich.,    February    29, 

1856.  The  mother  died  at  Smithville,  C. 
W.,  in  May  following  the  birth  of  her  last 
child,  and  Mr.  Pond  married  for  his 
second    wife,   at   Detroit,   Mich.,   May  6, 

1857,  Miss  Catherine  Vantiplen,  and  their 
children  were  (1)  Charles  Henry,  l)orn  at 
Brighton,  Mich..  March  12,  1858,  and 
died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  December  19,  1881. 
Robert  Pond,  son  of  Charles  Webster  and 
Martha    (Smith)    Pond,  married    May    7, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


629 


1873,  in  Monroe  county,  Mich.,  Emeline 
Iliin^erford  of  Bedford,  Mich.,  and  their 
cliildren  were  May,  born  at  Bedford,  Midi., 
February  5,  1874;  Maud,  born  at  Toledo, 
Ohio,  August  1,  1877,  died  there  Fel)ru- 
ary  10,  1882,  and  Charles  E.,  born  at 
Bedford,  Mich.,  July  15,  187U. 

(VIII)  Julius  Ruswell  Pond  married 
July  2,  1850,  at  the  home  of  her  father, 
Royal  Watson,  in  New  Hartford,  Conn., 
Miss  Martha  A.  Watson,  a  Tiative  of  that 
town,  born  March  19,  1S21,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Edwin  Watson,  born  June  17, 
1853,  in  New  Hartford,  and  Cora  Lena, 
adopted  by  them  when  one  month  old,  and 
who  was  born  at  New  Hartford  March  24, 
18G8:  she  is  married  to  Edward  Bisack, 
and  they  live  in  JSIorwicli,  New  York. 

(VI)  Martin  Webster  Pond,  the  sub- 
ject proper  of  this  sketch,  removed  with  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Lydia  (Pond)  Adams,  to 
Elyria,  Ohio,  in  1825,  where,  December 
10,  1835,  he  married  Miss  Eliza  J.  Sayles, 
of  Mayville,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born 
there  March  26,  1817,  and  died  in  Elyria 
May  31,  1887.  Her  parents  were  from 
Rhode  Island.  The  children  born  to  this 
union  w.ere  (1)  Henry  Clay,  (2)  Martin 
Webster,  Jr.,  (3)  Horace  Roswell  Brown, 
(4)  Frank,  (5)  Franklin  Gaylord,  and  (6) 
Lizzie,  all  natives  of  Elyria,  Ohio,  tite  rec- 
ord of  whom  is  as  follows:  (1)  Henry 
Clay  was  born  in  Elyria  September  11, 
1839,  and  March  23,  1865,  married,  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  Lottie  Payne;  (3)  Martin 
W..  Jr.,  was  born  April  30,  1841,  and 
February  12,  1871,  was  married  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  to  Miss  Fannie  J.  Thrall,  of 
that  city,  their  children  being  George 
Horace,  born  at  Titusville,  Penn.,  October 
19,  1871,  died  at  Colorado  Springs  of  con- 
sumption October  6,  1889.  (3)  Horace  R. 
B.  was  born  October  31.  1842;  in  1S61  he 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  Eighth  Regiment 
O.  V.  I.,  and  died  at  his  father's  house 
May  14,  1870,  of  disease  contracted  in  the 
army;  be  married  September  5,  1867, 
Jennie  Keyes,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  one 
son,  Harry,  was  born  to   them   August  4, 


1868.  (4)  Frank  was  born  April  14,  1848, 
and  died  of  croup  February  7,  1851.  (5) 
Franklin  G.  was  born  Februai-y  25,  1849. 
(6j  Lizzie  was  born  February  21,  1854, 
was  tnarried  December  5,  1877,  to  Samuel 
Howe  Bowen,  of  Newport,  Herkimer  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Helen  Pond, 
born  in  Green  Spring  August  15,  1878, 
and  Scott  Howe,  born  November  27,  1886. 
Martin  Webster  Pond  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
State,  and  the  district  schools  of  Elyria, 
Ohio.  He  then,  at  about  theageot'si.xteen, 
entered  the  employ  of  his  brotiier-in-law, 
Ezra  S.  Adams,  as  an  apprentice  to  learn 
the  saddle  and  harness  making  business, 
which  he  completed  in  his  twenty-first 
year,  soon  after  which  he  left  Elyria  for 
the  purpose  of  perfecting  himself  in  his 
trade,  among  other  places  working  in 
Cleveland,  Detroit,  and  Wheeling  (W. 
Va.).  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  returned 
to  Elyria,  and  here  followed  his  trade  until 
1852,  during  which  period  he  formed  vari- 
ous partnerships:  first  with  B.  F.  Robin- 
son, then  with  Waterman  Morse,  and 
lastly  with  William  Doolittle.  In  June, 
1852,  he  started  on  a  trip  to  California, 
via  the  Nicaragua  route;  at  the  Isthmus, 
where  he  was  delayed  some  three  weeks, 
he  was  attacked  with  Panama  fever,  but 
finally  reached  San  Francisco,  in  a  very 
feeble  condition,  however,  after  a  tedious 
journey  of  si.xty-five  days  in  all.  Gradu- 
ally recovering  his  health  he  engaged  in 
mining,  his  headquarters  being  at  Nevada 
City.  In  June,  1853,  he  returned  to 
Elyria,  this  time  taking  the  Panama  route, 
and  again  entered  into  partnership  with 
Waterman  Morse  in  the  saddlery  and  har- 
ness business,  but  at  the  end  of  the  year  Mr. 
Pond  retired  from  the  firm.  In  1858  fire 
destroyed  a  building  owned  by  Mr.  Pond, 
and  immediately  he  began  the  erection  of 
a  finer  one,  and  upon  its  com])!etion,  in 
January,  1859,  he  resumed  his  old  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  until  1870,  when 
he  eno-afred  in  the  manufacture  of  a  harness 
pad,  for  which    lie  had  obtained  a   patent. 


630 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  1862  be  invented  the  first  successful 
tug  buckle,  to  the  sale  and  introduction 
of  which  he  gave  much  attention  until 
1870.  A  Kepublican  in  politics,  Mr.  Pond 
has  tilled  many  position  of  honor  and  trust 
conferred  upon  him  by  his  fellow  citizens. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
was  for  twenty-nine  years  treasurer  of 
Marshall  Chapter  No.  47.  In  1841 
he  assisted  in  forming  in  Elyria  a  Lodge 
of  the  "Mechanics  Mutual  Protection,"'- an 
Order  that  has  exerted  much  permanent 
influence  for  good  in  the  community.  Mr. 
Pond,  always  a  lover  of  education,  was  one 
of  the  most  active  workei's  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Elyria  Union  School.  In 
the  improvement  of  Elyria  he  has  taken  a 
conspicuous  part. 

Mrs.  Pond  died  May  31,  1887,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  Their  golden  wed- 
ding anniversary  had  passed;  for  n)ore 
than  fifty  years  their  joys  and  sorrows  had 
been  mutual.  Theirs  had  been  a  most 
happy  union,  in  which  communion  of 
souls  had  made  the  two  lives  as  one,  and 
the  existence  of  each  as  essential  factors 
of  the  other.  Since  Mrs.  Pond's  death, 
the  luisbaTid  has  lived  at  the  old  home- 
stead, only  waiting  God's  time  to  be  called 
to  the  final  reunion.  His  health  is  far 
from  good,  and  being  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  Elyria,  not  many  years  will  pass 
ere  the  summons  comes,  which  will  find 
him  ready  and  waiting. 


1^ 


HI  IE  AM    H.     HOWK,   familiarly 
I    known  among  his  many  friends  as 
J    "Uncle  Hiram,"  for  about   three- 
score years  a  resident  of  Wellington 
township,  is  a  native  of   Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  born  October  2,  1816. 

His  father,  David  Howk  ("Uncle  Da- 
vid, "  as  he  was  generally  known),  was 
I'orn  in  the  same  county,  where  he  married 
Polly  Bradley,  who  bore  him  six  children, 
as  follows:  Clarissa,  who  died  in  Che- 
nango county,  N.  Y.;  Ely  B.,  deceased  in 


Wellington,  who  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace;  Hiram  H.,  subject;  John,  who  is 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume; 
David;  and  Mary,  deceased  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Hamil- 
ton. The  family  moved  to  New  York 
State  when  our  subject  was  a  boy,  and 
came  to  Wellington  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  when  he  was  a  youth  of  eighteen 
years.  They  traveled  by  lake  to  Cleveland, 
the  rest  of  the  joui'ney  being  made  by 
wagon,  and  the  first  house  they  lived  in, 
built  of  logs,  was  12x20,  with  flat  roof, 
puncheon  floor,  and  without  either  door  or 
window,  curtains  being  hung  up  in  lieu 
thereof.  Deer,  wolves,  and  other  wild 
animals  were  plentiful,  while  human  be- 
ings were  on  the  other  hand  rare,  there 
being  no  family  in  the  woods  at  the  time 
the  Howks  came.  Here  they  carved  out  a 
home  from  the  dense  woods  and  deep- 
tangled  undergrowth,  and  here  the  parents 
pasted  the  remainder  of  their  pioneer  lives. 
Their  farm  was  located  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  township,  very  wild  land  at  the 
time,  and  the  first  brush  pile  in  the  sec- 
tion was  cut  by  "Uncle"  David  Howk. 
He  died  on  the  old  homestead  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  a  Whig  in  polities;  he  was  a 
hardy,  active  and  vigorous  man.  His  wife 
passed  from  earth  March  5,  1871,  at  the 
present  residence  of  the  family,  aged  about 
eighty-two  years.  On  the  father's  side 
the  family  are  of  Holland-Dutch  lineage; 
on  the  mother's  side  they  are  of  Massa- 
chusetts ancestry,  her  parents  being  of 
Lee,  Berkshire  county,  where  they  lived  all 
their  lives. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  but 
a  limited  education  at  the  old-time  log 
sclioolhouse,  as  his  boyhood  days  were  for 
the  most  part  occupied  in  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm — chopping  and  clear- 
ing. He  has  been  a  lifelong  agriculturist, 
and  has  met  with  well  merited  success. 
On  September  20,  1848,  he  married  Miss 
Electa  Butler,  born  in  Wheeling,  AV.  Va., 
and  three  children  were  the  results  of  this 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


631 


union:  John,  in  Wellington,  Lorain 
county  (has  two  cliildren:  Fred  and 
Arthur);  Almira,  who  died  in  1872  at  the 
home  of  her  father,  aged  twenty-two  years, 
leaving  one  child,  Eddie  II.  Burns;  and 
Grove,  also  in  Wellington  (has  one  child, 
Myrtle).  After  marriage  our  subject  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  the  old  homestead,  liv- 
ing there  in  all  about  thirty  years.  On 
April  8,  1863,  he  and  his  wife  moved  to 
Wellington  village,  and  made  their  home 
there  until  lately,  when  they  once  more 
came  to  their  farm,  a  life  of  ease  not  suit- 
ing "  Uncle  Hiram,"  as  he  is  a  man  of 
perpetual  activity,  and  bright  and  spry  for 
his  years;  in  that  respect  resembling  his 
thirty-three-ycar-old  horse,  of  which  he  is 
proud,  and  which  is  a  wonderful  animal 
considering  his  age.  In  addition  to  his 
farm  our  subject  owns  a  nice  property  in 
the  village  of  Wellington. 


|[  H.  LANG.  The  Lang  family,  of 
k.  I  which  this  gentleman  is  a  worthy 
\Ji  representative,  and  which  was  at  one 
time  quite  numerous  in  Huntington, 
Lorain  county,  can  trace  their  genealogy 
back  to  Plvmouth  Rock. 

The  earliest  known  member  of  the  fam- 
ily was  one  Robert  Lang,  a  seafaring  man 
who  came  from  Scotland  as  early  as  1630. 
He  built  a  house  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
some  time  between  1635  and  1650,  which 
is  still  standing  in  a  very  good  condition. 
It  was  built  or  New  Hampshire  Pasture 
Oak.  The  walls  are  bricked  up  between 
the  studs  with  brick  broucrht  from  Eng- 
land,  and  the  nails  were  hand  made.  This 
house  was  occupied  by  English  soldiers 
during  the  King  Philip  war;  was  also  oc- 
cupied by  Governor  Wentworth,  and  shel- 
tered General  Washington  when  he  visited 
New  England.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest 
houses  in  the  New  England  States,  and 
relics  of  it  are  tiow  in  the  possession  of 
some  of  the  younger  members  of  this  old 


family.  The  following  line  brings  this 
family  down  to  the  present  numerous  gen- 
eration: 

First  from  Robert  was  John,  then  a  sec- 
ond John,  who  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 
Then  Bickford,  and  a  second  Bickford,  who 
was  a  captain  of  militia  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  born  in  Rye,  N.  H.,  married  Abi- 
gail Locke,  and  settled  in  Epsom,  N.  H., 
where  he  reared  a  numerous  family.  His 
eldest  son  William  was  the  first  to  leave 
the  parent  nest,  and  go  to  what  was  then 
the  '•  Far  West."  His  brother  Reuel  soon 
followed,  and  both  settled  in  Huntington, 
Lorain  county,  about  the  year  1821,  being 
among  the  first  settlers  of  that  township. 
David,  another  son  of  Bickford,  followed 
about  1835,  and  the  father  came  in  1838, 
all  of  them  settling  in  Huntington.     An- 

O  IT) 

other  son,  John,  settled  in  Ashland,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  a 
prosperous  merchant  and  business  man, 
and  where  he  died  in  1847.  Benjamin, 
another  son,  graduated  at  Kenyon  College, 
Gambler,  Ohio,  and  was  for  some  time  a 
professor  of  that  college;  he  died  in 
Kansas  in  1885.  David  spent  the  most 
of  his  life,  after  coming  to  Ohio,  in  Hunt- 
ington, a  prosperous  farmer,  and  died  at 
the  home  of  his  son  John  in  Rochester  in 
1884.  Josiah  Crosby,  the  youngest  son 
of  this  family,  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  but  was  taken  sick  and  died  be- 
fore he  had  seen  any  active  service,  his 
death  occurring  in  1861.  Of  the  two 
boys  who  first  came  to  Ohio,  Reuel  was  a 
cabinet  maker,  and  worked  at  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner  for  many  years;  and 
many  of  the  first  frame  structures  of 
Lorain  county  show  his  handiwork.  He 
was  fen-  many  years  a  local  preacher  among 
the  Methodists.  The  last  years  of  his  life 
he  spent  in  Wellington,  surrounded  by 
many  of  his  children,  where  he  peacefully 
passed  away  in  March,  1891,  in  the  eighty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age.  William,  the  eld- 
est son,  is  still  living  with  his  son  John 
in  Wasioja,  Minn.,  in  his  ninety-sixth  year. 
Bickford,  Jr.,   was   the  only   one  of  this 


632 


LORAIN  COUNTY  OHIO 


numerous  family  who  did  not  "go  west." 
He  remained  in  his  native  State,  and  is 
still  living  at  Franklin,  N.  PI.  There 
were  four  girls  in  this  family:  Maria, 
who  married  Dr.  Babli,  and  died  at  Man- 
chester, N.  H.;  Lorenda,  married  to  Kim- 
ball Prescott,  and  died  at  Marinette, 
AVis.;  Sarah,  who  married  Morrill  Chesley, 
and  still  lives  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
Abigail,  who  married  Milton  Barker,  and 
died  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  Beyond  this  brief 
review,  this  history  will  have  only  to  do 
with  the  later  generation,  and  with  those 
who  have  been  more  intimately  connected 
with  the  history  of  Lorain  county. 

Of  the  descendants  of  this  family,  only 
the  children  of  Reuel  settled  in  this  county. 
Josiah  Bickford,  the  eldest,  married 
Lorena  Chapman,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  lived  in  Huntington,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  carpenter;  for  more 
than  twenty  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
tin,  stove  and  hardware  trade  in  Welling- 
ton. He  served  a  term  as  mayor  of  that 
village,  and  by  his  enterprise  and  counsel 
added  much  to  its  prosperity;  for  the 
last  few  years  his  home  has  been  in 
Cleveland;  he  had  four  children — -three 
eons  and  one  daughter,  viz.:  Watson  W. 
and  Charles,  both  in  business  in  Cleveland; 
Eva  A.,  now  the  wife  of  George  M.  Cad- 
well,  a  business  man  in  Cleveland ;  the 
tirst-born  son  was  killed  when  a  cliild  by 
the  kick  of  a  horse.  The  next  son  is  Jesse 
H.,  the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch,  of 
whom  further  mention  will  presently  be 
made.  Cyrus  Welcome,  the  third  son, 
lived  at  home  in  Huntington  till  the  age 
of  twenty,  when  he  visited  his  relatives  in 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  died  in  his 
twentieth  year.  Louisa  Maria,  the  eldest 
daughter,  married  Peter  S.  Wright,  lived 
a  short  time  in  Huntington,  a  number  of 
years  in  Oberlin,  moved  to  Vermontville, 
Mich.,  where  he  accumulated  some  prop- 
erty, and  about  ten  years  ago  returned  to 
Wellington,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr. 
Wright  was  famed  as  being  one  of  the 
most  ingenious  mechanics  in   the  country, 


He  enlisted  in  the  army  and  served  with 
honor,  and  is  now  retired  in  broken  health, 
on  a  small  pension.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
third,  Grace,  is  now  the  wife  of  Utley 
AVedcre,  and  resides  in  Cleveland.  Esther 
Abigail,  the  next  daughter,  married 
Charles  W.  Horr,  a  prosperous  business 
man  of  Wellington;  they  had  a  family  of 
four  boys,  the  eldest  of  which  is  a  lawyer 
in  Cleveland,  ai;d  the  rest  still  live  in  Well- 
ington. Charles,  the  fourth  son,  died  at 
Huntington  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his 
age.  Olive  Amy,  the  youngest  daughter, 
after  graduating  from  Oberlin  College, 
married  Dr.  Meriden  B.  Lukens,  who 
practiced  medicine  for  many  years  in  Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin,  and  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 
finally  drifted  to  Dalton,  Ga.,  where  they 
now  reside.  George  Locke,  the  next  son 
in  line,  grew  to  sixteen  years  of  age  in 
Huntington;  then  went  to  Wisconsin  and 
took  a  position  in  the  store  of  his  brother 
Jesse,  and  when  the  war  broke  out  he  en- 
listed in  Company  G,  Twelfth  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  in  which  he  served  gallantly 
and  faithfully;  was  severely  wounded  at 
the  siege  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  a  minie  ball 
being  permanently  left  in  his  right  lung; 
after  he  returned  from  the  war  he  studied 
telegraphy,  and  has  been  engaged  in  that 
occupation  ever  since;  he  is  now  engaged 
in  important  work  of  this  kind  in  the  East, 
with  a  residence  in  Boston;  he  married 
Lizzie  Viles,  at  Oberlin,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  now  married  and  residing  in 
Washington,  D.  C.  Merrill  Warner,  the 
youngest  of  this  family,  also  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Huntington,  married  and  settled 
in  Wellington,  where  he  now  resides,  an 
honored  citizen.  He  has  been  many  years 
a  member  of  the  village  council,  and  has 
had  much  to  do  with  the  aflfairs  of  that 
village;  he  has  one  son.  Burton  Lang,  who 
is  married  and  lives  in  Cleveland.  Five 
generations  of  Langs  have  lived  and 
flourished  in  Lorain  county — Watson,  the 
son  of  Josiah, having  two  children, and  Bur- 
ton, the  son  of  Merrill,  having  one.    Bick- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


633 


ford,  of  tlie  first  generation,  died  in  Hunt- 
ington at  the  age  of  about  ninety  years, 
and  Reuei,  of  tiie  next  in  line,  died  in 
Wellington  as  before  stated.  Of  David's 
family,  Albert,  the  eldest,  died  in  Hunt- 
ington; John,  the  second  son,  lives  in 
Rochester;  Lydia  Ann,  the  oldest  daugh- 
ter, is  now  the  wife  of  Horatio  Norton, 
and  lives  in  Huntington;  Henry,  a  younger 
son,  entered  the  army,  and  was  killed  in 
action.  The  names  mentioned  above  com- 
prise all  or  nearly  all  of  this  numerous 
family  who  have  been  identified  with 
Lorain  county.  While  this  family  has  nut 
produced  any  great  men,  there  never  has 
been  any  stain  on  its  moral  character,  none 
of  them  ever  having  been  in  either  Con- 
gress or  Penitentiary. 

Jesse  Hart  Lang,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Huntington  townsiiip, 
Loraiti  Co.,  Ohio,  December  21,  1827,  a 
sun  of  Reuel  and  Amy  (Hart)  Lang,  na- 
tives respectively  of  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont.  He  was  named  after  his  ma- 
ternal grandfather.  Mr.  Lang  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  town,  attended 
school  in  Oberlin  a  number  of  years,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  and  study  from  1844 
to  1848.  On  January  1,  of  the  latter  year, 
lie  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Fitch,  of  Shef- 
field township,  Lorain  county,  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  B.  and  Dolly  (Smith)  Fitch,  na- 
tives of  Massachusetts  and  early  settlers  of 
Shefiield  township,  Lorain  county.  The 
first  two  years  of  our  subject's  married  life 
were  spent  on  a  farm  in  Huntington  town- 
ship, after  which  he  removed  to  Olmsted 
Falls,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  managing  a  woolen  factory  for 
five  years.  In  1856,  with  his  young  wife 
and  one  daughter,  he  went  to  Grand  Kap- 
ids,  Wis.,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Government,  and  at  the  same  time 
studied  law.  While  there  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  the  Legislature,  but  was  defeated, 
the  District  being  largely  Democratic.  For 
ten  years  he  was  there  engaged  in  the 
businesses  of  land  surveyor,  lawyer  and 
merchant.     Returning  to  Oberlin  in  1870, 


he  has  here  since  resided,  engaged  in  the 
profession  of  attorney  and  general  busi- 
ness agency.  He  is  a  Republican,  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  the  Free-soil  party. 
Socially  he  is  a  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  They  had  si.x;  children,  all 
of  whom  died  young,  ttie  youngest,  Carrie, 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  Mr.  Lang 
published  a  work  entitled  ''Childrens' 
Pictorial  Bible,"  containing  twenty  thou- 
sand illustrations  (seven  hundred  of  them 
being  electro-plates)  and  a  topical  analysis. 
He  spent  twenty  years  on  the  work. 


dOHN  MOUNTAIN, lateleadingmer- 
chant  tailor  in  Elyria,  was  born  Sep- 
/  tember  27,  1834,  in  County  Fer- 
managh, Ireland.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Carson)  Mountain, 
also  natives  of  County  Fermanagh;  the 
father,  who  was  a  merchant  tailor,  died  in 
his  seventieth  year;  the  mother,  who  was 
of  Scotch  descent,  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
four  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  to  wit:  William,  who  entered 
the  British  army,  and  died  at  Bombay, 
India;  Christopher,  who  died  in  the  British 
army,  in  Turkey;  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas 
Timmington,  of  Fremont,  Ohio;  John,  our 
subject;  and  Margaret,  wife  of  Charles 
Wilmott,  of  Melbourne,  Australia. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  left  his  native  land  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  Western  world,  and 
coming  to  ('anada  completed  his  trade 
with  his  uncle  Joseph  Mountain,  which  he 
had  commenced  under  his  father's  tuition 
in  Ireland.  In  1859  he  came  to  Elyria, 
Lorain  county,  under  contract  to  do  cut- 
ting for  a  leading  house  in  that  town. 
After  working  at  his  trade  in  various  ca- 
pacities, the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  be- 
ing imbued  with  the  same  martial  spirit 
that  actuated  his  brothers  to  enlist  in  the 
British  army,  he,  in  18()2,  enlisted  as  filer 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  O.  V.   I. 


634 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  was  mustered  into  the  regiment  as 
drum  major,  and  after  serving  in  the  army 
of  Tennessee,  in  Kentiicky,  one  year,  was 
mustered  out  under  an  order  from  the  War 
Department  relieving  all  drum  majors 
from  the  service.  On  his  return  home  he 
worked  at  his  trade  until  1878,  in  which 
year  he  embarked  in  business  for  himself, 
in  Elyria.  Having  become  well  known  in 
and  gained  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity at  large,  he  soon  found  himself  in 
possession  of  the  leading  merchant  tailor- 
ing trade  in  the  city,  which  he  enjoyed  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  12,  1893. 

In  1853  Mr.  Mountain  married  Mies 
Elizabeth  Frazer,  by  whom  there  were 
three  children,  as  follows:  Libbie,  wife  of 
Dr.  P.  D.  Reefy,  of  Elyria;  Minnie,  wife 
of  Herbert  S.  Follansbee,  of  Elyria;  and 
Carson,  who  died  when  twenty-two  years 
old.  The  mother  died  in  1878.  Mr.  Moun- 
tain afterward  married  Miss  Dora  Dunton. 
One  child — Arthur — was  born  to  them. 
Politically  our  subject  was  a  Republican; 
was  also  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 


FROF.  JAMES  HARRIS  FAIR- 
CHILD,  ex-president  of  Oberlin 
College,  was  born  in  Stockbridge, 
Mass.,  November  25, 1817,  a  son  of 
Grandison  and  Nancy  (Harris)  Fair- 
child.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Shef- 
field, Mass.,  born  April  20,  1792,  and  died 
July  31,  1890,  in  the  ninety-ninth  year  of 
his  age;  the  mother  was  born  in  Rich- 
mond, Mass.,  November  29,  1795,  and 
died  August  31,  1875.  Daniel  Fairchild, 
grandfather  of  subject,  removed  from  Shef- 
field to  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  with  his  young 
family,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  busy  life  in  agricultural  pursuits;  his 
wife's  name  was  Buttles. 

In  1818  Grandison  Fairchild  came  with 
his  family  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  making 
a  settlement  in   what   is   now  Brownhelm 


township,  then  a  wilderness,  and  here  he 
cleared  a  farm  and  passed  the  rest  of  his 
life.  The  property  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  family.  Eight  of  the  children 
— four  sons  and  four  daughters — liorn  to 
Grandison  and  Nancy  Fairchild  grew  to 
maturity,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  (1)  CJharles  Grandison  remained 
on  the  old  homestead,  and  carried  on  the 
farm  until  his  death  in  188-4.  (2)  Edward 
Henry  was  educated  in  Oberlin  College, 
and  afterward  became  principal  of  the 
preparatory  department  of  same ;  at  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  president  of  Berea 
College,  Kentucky;  one  of  his  sons  is 
president  of  Rollins  College,  Florida;  an- 
other professor  in  Doane  College,  Ne 
braska;  another  is  connected  with  Berea 
College,  Kentucky.  (3)  James  Harris  is 
the  subject  of  this  memoir.  (4)  Catharine 
Baxter  is  the  wife  of  Chester  A.  Cooley. 
(5)  Emily  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  M. 
W.  Fairfield;  one  son  is  professor  at  How- 
ard University,  Washington,  D.  C.  (6) 
Mary  Plumb  was  married  to  Cyrus  Bald;. 
win,  now  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  died  leav- 
ing four  children;  one  of  her  sons,  Cyrus 
G.  Baldwin,  is  president  of  Pomona  Col- 
lege, Cal. ;  another  son.  Dr.  James  F.  Bald- 
win, is  Dean  of  the  Medical  University  at 
Columbus,  Ohio;  her  daughter  is  the  wife 
of  Prof.  Cook,  of  Michigan  Agricultural 
College,  Lansing,  Mich.  (7)  Harriet  Eliza 
married  Prof.  R.  C.  Kedzie,  of  Lans- 
ing, Midi.;  their  three  sons  became 
professors  of  chemistry.  (8)  George  T.  is 
president  of  the  Kansas  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, Manhattan,  Kansas. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  part  at  the  schools  of  Brown 
helm,  and  high  school  of  Elyria,  but 
chiefly  at  Oberlin.  The  school  at  Oberlin 
was  first  begun  in  December,  1833;  in 
May,  1834,  it  was  first  regularly  oi'ganized, 
and  in  the  following  October  the  first 
Freshman  class  was  formed,  comprising  at 
that  time  the  two  Fairchilds — James  H. 
and  his  brother  Edward  Henry — and  two 
others.       Pursuing    his    course    steadily. 


(l^y  ^r  f  k,^*-yh-^MUU/^ 


LOIiAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


637 


James  graduated  from  college  in  1838, 
alter  wliich  lie  entei'ed  at  once  upon  a 
theological  course,  which  he  completed  in 
1841.  In  1839  he  was  appointed  tutor  in 
Latin  and  Greek  in  the  college,  and,  on 
the  completion  of  his  course  in  Theology 
in  1841,  he  was  elected  professor  of  Latin 
and  Greek.  In  1847  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Philosophy,  and  in  1858  he  received  the 
appointment  of  professor  of  Moral  Philos- 
ophy and  Systematic  Theology.  In  1806, 
Prof,  Finney  having  resigned  his  position 
as  president,  Prof.  Fairchild  was  appointed 
Ills  successor,  and  held  the  position  until 
1889. 

In  November,  1841,  Prof.  Fairchild  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  F. 
Kellogg,  at  Minden,  La.,  whitiier  her 
father  had  removed  from  Jamestown,  N. 
Y.,  on  account  of  impaired  health.  She  was 
a  native  of  New  York  State.  This  event 
took  place  before  the  days  of  rail- 
roads, and  the  trip  from  Oberlin  to 
Minden  occupied  several  weeks.  The 
Professor  took  the  canal  to  the  Ohio, 
then  steamer  down  the  Ohio  into  the 
Mississippi;  down  that  river  to  New  Or- 
leans, then  up  the  Red  river,  to  the  Creole 
town  of  Natchitoches,  from  which  place 
he  proceeded  on  horseback  through  the 
pine  forests  seventy-five  miles  to  Minden. 
The  many  incidents  met  with  on  the  way, 
and  to  him  annoying  delays,  are  ofttimes 
recounted  by  the  Professor  in  his  own  in- 
imitable manner.  To  this  marriage  were 
burn  eio;ht  children — two  sons  and  six 
daughters — as  follows:  (1)  Lucy  Kellogg 
is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Kenaston,  of  Howard 
University;  (2)  George  Hornell  is  a  well- 
known  business  man  and  banker  in  North 
Dakota;  (3)  Mary  Fletcher  is  matron  in 
Baldwin  Cottage,  Oberlin;  (4)  Catharine 
Cooley  is  keeping  house  for  her  father, 
her  niotlier  having  died  in  1890;  (5)  Grace 
Augusta  is  a  teacher  in  the  art  department 
of  Oberlin  College;  (6)  James  Thome  is 
a  professor  in  Tabor  College,  Iowa.  The 
other  two  children  died  young. 


The  life  of  Prof.  Fairchild  has  not  been 
what  might  be  termed  eventful,  but  it  has 
been  a  busy  one — a  quiet,  yet  progressive 
life.  He  has  found  time  to  give  to  the 
world  not  a  few  of  the  productions  of  his 
pen,  among  which  niay  be  mentioned: 
"  Fairch  ild's  Elements  of  Theology ;"  "  Fair- 
child's  Moral  Science";  "Oberlin:  The 
Colony  and  the  College." 

In  a  '•History  of  Lorain  County,"  the 
following  is  truthfully  and  gracefully  said  of 
Prof.  Fairchild:  "As  a  public  speaker  he  is 
quiet  and  self-contained,  and  thongh  im- 
pressive, would  not  be  called  oratorical. 
Yet,  so  fraught  are  his  productions  with 
elevated  and  original  thought,  clothed  in 
a  style  clear  and  terse,  that  corresponding 
thoughts  are  awakened  in  his  auditors, 
which  tlo  not  pass  away  witii  the  hearing. 
His  public  addresses  on  special  occasions 
have  uniformly  possessed  so  high  a  degree  of 
e.xcellence  that,  almost  without  exception, 
they  have  been  requested  for  publication. 
That  which  best  e.xpresses  and  e-xplains 
his  life  is — fidelity  to  duty.  He  has  not 
been  ambitious,  or  eager  for  distinction; 
but  he  has  risen  to  a  high  position  in  the 
esteem,  respect  and  admiration  of  a  large 
number.  He  has  given  himself  to  his 
work  with  a  devotion  which  has  known  no 
abatement.  There  is  found  in  him,  in  no 
ordinary  degree,  botli  the  speculative  and 
the  practical.  His  mind  grapples  reso- 
lutely, and  works  actively  and  intensely 
on  the  great  subjects  of  thought;  but  high 
thoughts  do  not  so  absorb  his  attention  as 
to  make  him  neglectful  of  the  necessary  de- 
tails of  practical  affairs.  He  is  wise  in 
little  things  as  in  great. 

"  The  prevailing  bent  of  his  mind  is  un- 
questionably ethical.  Though  his  mind  is 
too  compreiiensive  to  allow  him  to  be  a 
mere  specialist,  yet  his  favorite  study  is 
ethics.  On  this  summit  of  human  thought 
he  has  long  dwelt;  and  the  result  of  his 
thinking  and  teaching  he  has  embodied  in 
his  treatise  on  moral  philosophy.  This  is 
an  admirable  exposition  of  the  moral  law 
of  love  or  benevolence;   first,  in  its  philos- 


638 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ophy  or  reason;  and,  secondly,  in  its  prac- 
tical application  to  liiiman  rights  and  du- 
ties. In  his  theological  teaciiing  he  is 
clear,  rational,  and  evangelical. 

"  Under  his  wise  and  discreet  manage- 
ment, Oberlin  College  has  undergone  a 
gradual  and  continual  improvement.  This 
improvement  is,  indeed,  its  natural  growth; 
yet  it  is  not  spontaneous,  but  must  be  pro- 
moted by  intelligent  effort,  in  which  many 
co-operate.  This  growth  consists  in  the 
enlargement  and  perfection  of  the  course 
of  study,  so  as  to  furnish  a  culture  broader 
and  higher;  and,  as  a  necessary  material 
basis  for  this,  an  adequate  college  endow- 
ment." 


fl(     C.   MOOKE,  M.  D.,  physician  and 
l/l\    surgeon,  is  in   the  van  of  his  pro- 
ir\^  fession,  not  only  in  North  Amherst, 
■fj  where  he  has  his  residence,  but  also 

in  the  entire  county  of  Lorain. 
He  was  born  in  Lake  county,  Ohio,  in 
1819,  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Philena  (Blish) 
Moore,  natives,  the  father  of  New  York, 
the  mother  of  Massachusetts.  In  1811 
Isaac  Moore  came  to  Lake  county,  Ohio, 
and  took  up  farming.  He  was  there  mar- 
ried, and  in  1831  moved  to  Cuyahoga 
county,  thence  in  1836  to  Mentor,  Ohio. 
He  died  at  Farmer  City,  DeWitt  Co.,  Ill; 
his  widow  passed  from  earth  while  living 
in  Cuyahoga  county.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig  and  Republican.  Grandfather  John 
Moore  enlisted,  for  six  months,  later  for 
the  entire  service,  during  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  lived  to  the  patriarchal  age 
of  ninety-three  years;  his  grandmother 
Blish  died  at  the  same  age.  To  Isaac 
Moore  and  his  wife  were  born  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  the  latter  of  whom 
are  deceased.  The  sons  are  C.  H.,  an  at- 
torney at  Clinton,  111.,  whither  he  had 
gone  in  1841;  Dr.  A.  C,  sul)jectof  sketch; 
Blish,  a  farmer  in  De  Witt  county.  111., 
where  he  settled  in  1845;  Milan,  a  jeweler 
in  Fai'mer  City,  111.;  and  H.  C,  now  in 
California. 


The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  at  the  West- 
ern Reserve  Teachers'  Seminary  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  after  which  he  attended  a 
medical  course  at  Willoughby,  now  the 
Starling  Medical  College  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  then  took  a  course  at  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  gradu- 
ating with  the  class  of  1848.  In  order  to 
secure  means  wherewith  to  prosecute  the 
study  of  medicine,  he  taught  school  several 
terms.  In  1849  he  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  and  has  now  been 
successfully  engaged  in  it  forty-four  years. 

In  May,  1855,  Dr.  Moore  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Lorain  county,  to  Elizabeth 
Onstine,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county, 
Penn.,  daughter  of  George  and  Rosanna 
Onstine,  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  who 
in  1820  came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  To 
this  marriaye  was  born  one  daughter,  Lulu 
C,  wife  of  H.  G.  Redington,  of  Amherst, 
an  attorney  at  law,  and  who  is  president 
of  the  Amherst  Savings  Bank,  and  has 
been  mayor  of  North  Amherst  four  terms. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Moore  died  in  March,  1893. 

Our  subject  in  politics  is  independent, 
and  he  is  a  strong  temperance  advocate. 
In  1875  he  was  mayor  of  North  Amherst, 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  health. 
In  matters  of  religion,  he  is  associated 
with  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  one  of 
the  stockholders  of  the  Amherst  Savings 
Bank,  and  is  a  highly  respected  and  popu- 
lar gentleman. 


HARLES  W.  JOHNSTON.  This 
gentleman  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  powerful 
of  the  clans  of  Scotland,  that  for 
centuries  kept  the  borders  of  that  country 
in  a  constant  ferment  of  bloody  strife.  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  in  his  "  Tales  of  a  Grand- 
father," says:  "There  had  long  existed  a 
deadly  feud  on  the  western  borders,  be- 
tween the  two  great  families  of  the  Max- 
wells and  Johnstons.  The  former  house 
was  the  most  wealthy  and  powerful  family 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


639 


ill  Dumfriessliire  and  its  vicinity,  and  Lad 
great  influence  amoni;;  the  families  inhabit- 
iiig  the  more  level  part  of  that  conntry. 
The  Johnstons  on  the  other  hand  were 
neither  equal  to  the  Maxwells  in  number 
nor  in  power,  but  were  a  race  of  uncom- 
mon hardihood,  much  attaclied  to  their 
chieftain  and  to  each  other,  and  who  re- 
sided in  tlie  strong  and  mountainous  dis- 
trict of  Annandale.  It  was  between  the 
houses  of  Johnston  and  Maxwell  that  the 
last  great  clan  battle  took  place.  It  is 
known  as  the  battle  of  Dryfe  Sands,  and 
was  fought  on  the  river  Dryfe,  near  Loch- 
mal)en.  The  Maxwells  had  besieged  the 
castle  of  Lockerby  (or  Locherby),  the  fort- 
ress of  a  Johnston  who  was  in  arms  with 
his  chief.  His  wife  defended  the  resi- 
dence until  the  approach  of  the  Johnston 
forces.  From  the  superior  skill  of  the 
Johnston  chief  the  Maxwells  were  de- 
feated, and  on  their  retreat  many  of  them 
were  slain  or  mutilated  on  the  streets  of 
Lockerby.  The  chief  Maxwell  had  been 
wounded  by  the  Johnstons,  and  left  upon 
tlie  field  of  battle  with  one  hand  cut  off. 
He  had  offered  '  ten  pound  ten  '  for  the 
hand  or  head  of  the  Laird  of  Johnston, 
and  Johnston  in  return  offered  to  bestow 
live-merk  land  upon  any  one  who  would 
bring  him  the  hand  or  head  of  Maxwell. 
As  a  result  Maxwell's  hand  was  cut  off; 
and  when  the  Lady  of  Johnston  came  out 
of  her  castle  to  see  how  the  battle  had 
gone,  she  found  Lord  Maxwell  on  the  field 
of  battle,  and  knocked  out  his  brains  with 
her  castle  keys.  So  badly  were  tlie  Max- 
wells cut  up  that  a  ])eculiar  mark  on  the 
face  was  afterward  known  as  '  Lockerby 
Lick.' " 

It  was  from  this  same  Lockerby  that 
Peter  Johnston,  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  descended.  He  was 
born  in  Scotland,  in  the  tovvn  of  Lockerby, 
Dumfriesshire,  and  came  to  America  in 
1773.  Before  leaving  his  Scottish  home 
he  received  from  the  magistrates  of  the 
town  of  Lochmaben,  in  the  same  coutity, 
a  credential  paper,  of  which  the  following 


is  a  copy:  "  By  the  magistrates  of  the 
Burgh  of  Lochmaben. — The  bearer  hereof, 
Peter  Johnston,  in  Lockerby  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, having  applied  to  us  and  repre- 
sented that,  from  the  inducements  given 
for  going  to  America,  he  intended  going 
there,  and  desired  a  certificate  of  his  char- 
acter, therefor  we  hereby  attest  that  the 
said  Peter  Johnston  and  his  family  have 
Maintained  a  blameless  character,  and  that 
he  has  honestly  supported  his  family  with- 
out being  a  trouble  to  any  one,  all  of 
which  is  attested  by  us  upon  proper  infor- 
mation. Given  at  Lochmaben,  the  Thir- 
tieth day  of  May,  One  Thousand  Seven 
Hundred  and  seventy-three  years.  [Signed] 
Will  Haggan  (Provost),  W.  M.  Law 
(Baillie),  John  Dickson  (Baillie)."  In 
1775  Peter  Johnston  was  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Continental  army,  and  participated 
during  the  Revolution  in  the  battle  of 
Saratoga  (or  "Stillwater");  also  was  pres- 
ent at  Burgoyne's  surrender. 

Steven  Cleveland,  maternal  grand- 
father of  Charles  W.  Johnston,  was  a  cap- 
tain in  the  Continental  army  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  and  in  that  rank 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Saratoga  under 
Gen.  Gates;  he  also  was  present  at  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Burgoyne.  He  died  at 
Bennington,  Vt.,  aged  101  years. 

Thomas  Johnston,  father  of  the  subject 
of  these  lines,  was  born  in  Saratoga,  N. 
Y.,  August  30, 1777.  He  was  a  volunteer 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  foucjlit  at  tlie  bat- 
tie  of  Plattsburg.  In  1832  he  came  with 
his  family  to  Ohio,  making  his  first  west- 
ern home  in  Medina  county,  whence  he 
moved  to  Lorain  county,  dying  there  July 
22,  1858.  He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  for 
many  years  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  prominent  in  public  and 
social  life.  He  married  Susannah  Cleve- 
land, a  native  of  Bennington,  Yt.,  born 
Octol)er  2,  1781,  and  died  in  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  July  19,  1873.  They  had 
twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  our  sulyject  being  the  youngest 
but  one. 


640 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Charles  W.  Johnston  was  born  in  Lee 
township,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  29, 
1823,  and  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  public  schools  and  in  an  academy.  As 
above  related  the  family  came  to  Ohio  in 
1882,  and  here  young  Charles  commenced 
the  study  of  both  medicine  and  law.  In 
medicine  he  graduated  from  the  Western 
Reserve  College,  and  practiced  the  profes- 
sion six  years  in  Ashland  and  Lorain 
counties,  but  abandoned  the  field  of  Galpn 
for  that  of  Blackstone.  In  law  he  studied 
in  the  office  of  Sheldon  &  Vincent,  Elyria 
(the  former  of  whom — L.  A.  Sheldon — 
was  afterward  governor  of  New  Mexico), 
and  in  185'J  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
Columbus,  Ohio,  supreme  court.  In  April, 
same  year,  he  commenced  the  practice  of 
law  in  Elyria  in  copartnership  with  Hon. 
P.  Bliss,  which  continued  till  1861,  in 
which  year  Mr.  Bliss  removed  to  Nebraska, 
having  been  appointed  judge  of  that  Ter- 
ritory. Mr.  Johnston  then  entered  into  a 
partnership  with-  Hon.  Albert  A.  Bliss, 
brother  of  the  judge  just  mentioned,  but 
at  the  end  of  a  year  Mr.  Bliss  retired  from 
the  firm  and  left  for  Michigan.  Our  subject 
then  continued  in  the  exclusive  practice  of 
law,  alone,  enjoying  a  wide  and  lucrative 
clientage.  In  1869  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  for  Lorain  county,  and  he 
then  received  Hon.  George  P.  Metcalf  as 
partner  in  his  business.  In  1S71  he  was 
acrain  elected  prosecuting  attorney,  posi- 
tively declining  to  allow  his  name  to  be 
again  brought  before  the  convention,  and 
his  partner,  Mr.  Metcalf,  was  nominated  in 
liis  stead.  From  that  time  on  Mr.  John- 
ston continued  practice  alone  until  in 
1881  he  formed  the  present  copartnership 
with  his  son-in-law,  James  H.  Leonard. 
The  business  of  the  firm  is  general,  but 
chiefly  in  civil  practice,  and  they  make  a 
specialty  of  the  investigation  of  land  titles. 
Mr.  Johnston's  law  business  ha*  not  been 
confined  to  Lorain  county  alone,  for  he  has 
practiced  more  or  less  in  Erie  and  Huron 
counties,  and  at  Cleveland  befoi'e  the 
United    States  court,  and   occasionally  in 


the  United  States  circuit  and  district  courts. 
In  1849  Charles  W.  Johnston  and  Mary  E, 
Fisher  were  united  in  marriage,  and  three 
children  were  born  to  thera,  viz.:  Mary  C, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Leonard;  Martha  L.,  wife  of 
W.  C.  Barnhart,  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Elevated  Railroad  Company,  Kansas 
City,  Kans.,  and  Carleton  F.,  in  the  U.  S. 
mail  service  from  St.  Louis  to  Omaha.  In 
politics  Mr.  Johnston  is  a  Republican,  and 
a  strong  Union  man,  liberal  of  his  means 
both  during  the  Civil  war,  in  assisting  the 
cause,  and  ever  since  those  dark  days,  in 
relieving  the  needy  old  soldiers,  widows  of 
soldiers,  an<l  their  orphans.  A  great  reader, 
keeping  well  abreast  of  the  times,  he  is  the 
possessor  of  a  good  library. 


THOMAS  GAWN,  leading  capitalist 
of  Lorain,  and  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Lorain  county, 
is  a  native  of  same,  born  December 
25,  1829.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  coming  to  this 
country  about  the  year  1822  settled  in  the 
northern  part  of  Black  River  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  carried  on 
farming  with  much  success.  The  father 
died  in  1868  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  the  mother  in  1881,  when  eighty- 
six  years  old.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Thomas  Radclif? 
and  our  subject  are  the  only  surviving 
members. 

Thomas  Gawn  received  such  an  educa- 
tion as  was  provided  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  his  boyhood  in  Lorain  county,  and  was 
reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of  the  farm. 
Apart  from  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
he  followed  for  some  time,  he  became  in- 
terested in  the  shipping  business  early  in 
1862,  since  when  he  has  had  heavy  invest- 
ments in  lake  vessels.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Lorain  Steamship  Company,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  stockholders  in 
some  of  the  best  steamships  that  sail  the 
lakes,  besides  smaller  vessels. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


641 


In  1854  Mr.  Gawn  was  married  to  Miss 
EIniina  Moore,  and  immediately  thereafter 
settled  on  a  farm  wliereon  part  of  the  town 
of  Black  River  (Lorain)  now  stands.  He 
has  seen  in  his  day  both  the  slow  and 
rapid  growth  of  his  section  of  the  county, 
Lorain  developing  from  a  village  to  a 
thriving  city,  and  was  a  man  in  business 
here  long  before  the  days  of  steam  and 
electricity.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  best  financial  institutions  of  Lorain 
from  their  inception,  and  is  a  stockholder 
and  one  of  the  main  supporters  of  the  Lo- 
rain Savings  Bank.  Politically  he  is  a 
lifelong  Republican. 


dj  AMES  DAY.  The  family  from  which 
this  venerable  and  honored  pioneer 
I  of  Lorain  county  traces  his  descent 
was  originally  from  Wales. 
The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica was  Robert  Day,  who  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years  set  sail  from  his  native  land, 
arriving  in  Boston  in  Ajjril,  1684.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  as  such  his  name  is  found  on 
the  monument  erected  to  their  memory  in 
that  city.  He  married  Editha  Stebiiins,  of 
Hartford,  to  which  union  were  born  two 
eons,  Thomas  and  John.  Thomas,  eldest 
son  of  Robert  Day,  removed  to  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Spring- 
field branch  of  the  Day  family.  John  re- 
mained in  Hartford  and  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Hartford  branch. 

Capt.  William  Day, grandson  of  Thomas, 
was  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Springfield  Oc- 
tober 23,  1715;  went  to  sea  in  his  boy- 
hood, ami  was  for  many  years  engaged  in 
seafaring  business.  He  was  in  the  service 
during  the  French  war,  holding  a  commis- 
sion under  the  British  Government.  His 
vessel  was  captured  on  one  occasion,  and 
he  was  carried  a  prisoner  to  France,  where 
he  was  confined  in  prison  two  years. 
When  he  was  released  he  begged  to  be  al- 


lowed the  privilege  of  taking  his  old  boots 
with  hiiTi,  which  was  granted,  and  why  he 
was  60  desirous  of  having  them  with  him 
was  because  the  heels  were  filled  with 
English  guineas.  For  meritorious  ser- 
vice during  the  war  in  capturing  four 
French  frigates  and  bringing  them  into 
Plymouth  harbor,  Capt.  Day  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Admiralty  of  England  with 
a  lai-ge  painting  by  Copley,  commemora- 
tive of  the  event.  "  He  is  represented 
standing  on  the  deck  of  his  ship,  spyglass 
in  hand,  calmly  viewing  the  scene  with  the 
conscious  pride  of  a  victorious  hero  swell- 
ing his  breast  and  lighting  up  his  fea- 
tures." When  about  fifty-five  years  old 
Capt.  Day  left  the  ocean,  locating  in  Shef- 
field, Mass.,  and  married  Rhoda  Hnbbell, 
of  Litchfield,  Cduii.,  to  which  union  were 
born  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  He  died 
March  22,  1797. 

John  Day,  father  of  James  Day,  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  Mass.,  February  3,  1774, 
and  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  When  twenty 
years  of  age  he  married  Lydia  Austin, 
daughter  of  Joab  Austin,  of  Sheffield. 
Her  grandparents  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Sheffield,  Mass.,  making  their 
wedding  journey  on  horseback  from  West- 
field,  Mass.,  over  the  lulls  to  their  new 
home  in  the  wilderness,  the  bride  taking 
her  bed  on  her  horse  with  her.  John  Day 
was  the  father  of  twelve  children,  eleven 
of  whom  lived  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and  nine  of  them  to  the  age  of  threescore 
years  and  ten. 

James  Day,  the  seventh  child  of  this 
family,  was  born  August  27,  1807,  in  the 
old  home  on  Brush  hill  in  Sheffield,  Mass., 
and  spent  nine  years  of  his  life  among  the 
Berkshire  hills.  In  January,  1815,  his 
father  and  Jabez  Ijurrell,  also  of  Sheffield, 
purchased  of  Gen.  AVilliam  Hart,  of  Say- 
brook,  Conn.,  the  township  now  known  as 
Sheffield,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  In  June  of 
that  year  they  explored  the  township,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1816  John  Day  reiiioved 
his  family  to  Ohio,  arriving  July  27,  and 
locating  at    the  center   of    Sheffield.     He 


642 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


died  October  8,  1827,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
three;  his  widow  died  October  9,  1854, 
aged  fourscore  years. 

James  Day  attended  the  first  school 
taught  in  ShefKeld  by  Dr.  Preston  Pond, 
of  Keene,  N.  H.,  in  the  winter  of  1817- 
18,  and  for  a  number  of  years  afterward 
attended  scliool  in  the  winter,  but  nat- 
urally his  education  was  more  highly 
developed  in  the  line  of  hunting  and 
fishing,  and  the  lore  of  the  unbroken 
forest.  While  a  mere  boy  lie  went  many 
long  journeys  on  horseback  through  the 
lonely  forest  trails  to  mill,  cai'rying  the 
grist  tied  to  his  saddle.  There  was  a  mill 
at  the  center  of  Ridgeville,  and  another  on 
Beaver  Creek  in  Black  River  township,  in 
1816,  and  later  one  in  Elyria.  Mr.  Day 
looks  back  on  the  e.xperiences  of  those 
early  days  as  the  happiest  of  his  life. 
After  his  father's  death  he  took  charge  of 
the  old  farm  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
then  settled  on  a  farm  of  his  own.  Ten 
years  of  his  active  life,  from  1845  to  1855, 
were  spent  in  the  lumber  business  in  com- 
pany with  his  brothers,  William  and  Nor- 
man, and  William  H.  Root.  Their  mill 
on  French  creek  was  swept  away  by  flood, 
and  never  rebuilt.  In  later  life  he  has 
iiad  ample  leisure  for  reading  and  the  eu- 
joyinents  of  life.  His  life  has  always  been 
identified  with  that  of  the  Congregational 
Cinirch  at  the  Center  of  Sheffield,  he  having 
been  a  member  since  early  manhood,  and  a 
constant  attendant  since  it  was  first  formed 
bv  Rev.  Alvin  Hyde,  assisted  by  Rev. 
William  Williams,  May  1,  1818.  This  is 
tlie  oldest  Church  in  the  county,  and  one 
of  the  oldest  in  northern  Ohio.  In  iiis 
political  preferences  Mr.  Day  was  first  a 
Whig,  and  since  the  formation  of  the 
party  has  been  a  stanch  Republican,  tak- 
ing an  active  interest  in  politics. 

In  June,  1876,  in  company  with  three 
others  who  came  from  Sheffield,  Mass.,  as 
boys,  in  1816,  he  revisited  his  native  town 
to  attend  the  one  hundredth  anniversary 
of  a  town  meeting  held  June  18,  1876,  of 
which     his    grandfather,    Oapt.    William 


Day,  was  moderator,  at  which  the  people 
of  Sheffield  pledged  their  lives  and  for- 
tunes to  support  the  Continental  Con- 
gress in  any  measures  they  might  see 
tit  to  take  toward  declaring  the  independ- 
ence of  the  Colonies. 

James  Day  married,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight,  Ann  Eliza  Austin,  a  native  of  Shef- 
field, Mass.,  born  March  15,  1815,  and  to 
this  union  came  eight  children,  fiv^e  of 
whom  are  living.  She  died  January  13, 
1873,  aged  fifty-seven  years.  During  a 
long  life  Mr.  Day  has  enjoyed  the  respect 
and  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
many  of  whom  have  known  him  from  boy- 
hood, and  have  watched  with  him  the  won- 
derful development  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve; a  development  in  which  they  have 
an  active  interest,  since  with  it  their 
whole  lives  have  been  identified.  Tiie 
Western  Reserve  may  well  be  considered 
a  monument  to  the  early  pioneers,  whose 
industry,  integrity  and  steadfast  purpose 
have  helped  to  make  it  what  it  is. 


J  I   V.  SAMPSELL,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
'    most  successful  physicians  of   Lorain 
'    county,  having  iiis  residence  in  Ely- 
ria, is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Ash- 
land county.  May  19,  1850,  a  son  of  Dr. 
J.  B.  F.  and  Catherine  (Luther)  Sampsell, 
both  now  deceased. 

The  Sampsells  in  Ohio  are  descended 
from  an  old  Maryland  German  family, 
who  became  early  settlers  of  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  Dr.  J.  B.  F.  Sampsell  has 
four  brothers  and  eight  cousins,  all  physi- 
cians of  repute,  while  our  subject's  mater- 
nal grandfather  was  an  M.  D.,  in  addition 
to  which  he  has  four  cousins  physicians, 
and  one  of  his  lady  cousins  is  married  to 
a  member  of  the  profession. 

Dr.  J.  V.  Sampsell  was  reared  in  Ash- 
land county,  Ohio,  receiving  his  elemen- 
tary education  at  the  common  schools,  and 
then  took  a  course  of  study  at  Bethany, 
W.    Va.       After  reading   medicine   for   a 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


643 


time  with  an  uncle,  our  subject  entered 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia, 
at  which  institution,  in  the  class  of  187G- 
77,  he  took  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  and  in 
the  latter  year  he  commenced  the  general 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Elyria,  where 
he  has  since  built  up  an  enviable  busi- 
ness, even  yet  on  the  increase,  his  ride  tak- 
ing him  for  many  miles  into  the  country, 
in  addition  to  his  city  practice.  Recently 
he  took  a  post- graduate  course  at  the  New 
York  Polyclinic. 

On  June  17,  1880,  Dr.  Sampsell  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leonnetta 
Nichols,  of  Elyria,  whose  father  was  born 
in  Ohio,  the  mother  coming  from  Jeffer- 
son county,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
JJational  Board  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, and  is  physician  and  surgeon  for 
the  Cleveland,  Lorain  &  Wheeling  Railroad 
Co.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter;  in  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  during  the  Cleve- 
land administration  he  was  president  of  the 
local   board   of  pension  examiners. 


ffJflRAM  TILLOTSON,  a  leading,  re- 
l''^  preseritative  agriculturist  of  Hunt- 
I  41  iiigton  township,  is  a  native  of 
•fj  same,  born  March  9,  1825,  a  son 
of  Daniel  Tillotson,  who  was  born 
January  5,  1794,  on  Wyalusing  creek, 
Pennsylvania. 

Thomas  Tillotson,  father  of  Daniel,  was  a 
farmer  and  shoemaker,  the  old  hammer  he 
used  in  his  work  being  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  his  grandson,  Hiram.  In  Henri- 
etta township,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Daniel 
married  Lovisa  Sage,  born  October  5, 
1795,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Polly  (Rice) 
Sage,  who  became  the  second  settlers  of 
Huntington  township,  Lorain  county,  the 
first  being  the  Labories.  In  June,  1818, 
Daniel  Tillotson,  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren— C'hloeand  Sally — came  to  Hunting- 
ton township,  they  being  the  fourth  family 
to  arrive.     Joseph  Sage,  a  brother  of  Isaac 


Sage,  already  mentioned,  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Huntington  township,  and 
from  him  Daniel  Tillotson  boutrht  a  few 
acres  in  the  woods,  where  yet  roamed  the 
Indian  and  wild  animals — deer,  turkeys, 
bears  and  wolves  being  frecjuently  seen. 
In  the  new  home,  a  log  house  having  Ijeen 
built,  were  born  the  rest  of  Daniel  Tillot- 
son's  children,  namely:  Enos  S.,  who  is 
said  to  have  Iteen  the  tirst  white  child  born 
in  the  township,  the  date  of  his  birth  be- 
ing December  18,  1818  (he  died  in  Michi- 
gan, December  5,  1872);  Sophronia,  now 
the  widow  of  E.  D.  Calkins,  living  in 
Wellington;  Alvin,  born  in  Sullivan  town- 
ship, now  of  Olivet,  Mich.;  Hiram,  subject 
of  sketch:  Lucetta,  who  married  Hamilton 
Fisher,  and  died  in  Brighton;  Jennette, 
who  married  John  Halleck,  and  died  in 
Rochester  township,  Lorain  county ;  Hulda 
Ann,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Baird,  of  Welling- 
ton ;  Lucy  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years:  Harriet  C,  also  deceased  at  the  age 
of  seven  years;  and  Elijah,  who  died  on 
the  home  farm  when  seven  years  old.  Of 
the  two  children  born  in  the  East,  as  al- 
ready recorded,  Chloe  married  Joshua  N. 
Colver,  and  died  in  AVisconsin;  Sally  \vas 
twice  married,  first  to  David  Smith,  after- 
M'ard  to  Luther  Mead,  and  she  is  now 
again  a  widow,  her  home  being  in 
Minnesota. 

Daniel  Tillotson  was  in  all  respects  a 
genuine  pioneer.  He  had  to  take  his  axe 
in  hand,  and  from  the  dense  primeval 
forest  literally  hew  out  a  home  for  him- 
self and  family.  He  was  not  only  a  man 
of  muscle  but  one  of  superior  natural  abil- 
ity and  bright  intellect.  For  twenty-one 
years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
proved  a  jurist  possessed  of  excellent 
judgment,  his  rulings  being  invariably 
sustained  by  higher  courts,  in  cases  of 
appeal.  He  was  also  an  ordained  minister 
in  the  Universalist  Church,  and  as  a 
farmer  he  met  with  more  than  ordinary 
success.  On  January  31,  183-J:,  he  came 
to  the  farm  now  owned  and  occujiied  by 
his  son  Hiram,  and  at  that  time  lying  in  the 


644 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


midst  of  a  vast  wilderness.  This  he  went 
to  work  to  clear,  and  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent had  succeeded  in  transforming  it  into 
a  fertile  spot  when  death  summoned  him 
from  the  midst  of  his  labors.  The  last 
thirteen  years  of  his  life  had  been  passed 
in  the  care  of  our  subject  and  wife;  and 
his  widow  for  thirty  years,  during  eighteen 
of  which  she  was  blind,  had  her  home  with 
her  son,  who  with  true  filial  devotion 
tenderly  cared  for  her  in  her  declining 
years,  which  even  in  her  aifliction  were 
enjoyed  by  her,  so  pleasant  was  the  treat- 
ment she  received  at  the  hands  of  her  son 
and  danghter-in-law.  She  passed  away 
February  1,  1875,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by 
the  side  of  her  husband  in  Huntington 
cemetery.  Mr.  Tillotson  was  reared  a 
Democrat,  but  in  after  years  became  a 
Republican,  remaining  as  such  the  rest  of 
his  life. 

Hiram  Tillotson  received  his  education 
at  the  subscription  and  district  schools  of 
his  time,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life  amid 
all  the  rugged  surroundings  of  a  pioneer 
home.  He  remembers  well  that  flour  was 
twelve  dollars  per  barrel,  and  could  not 
he  bought  nearer  than  Wooster,  Ohio; 
johnny-cakes  were  the  chief  article  of  food 
"in  his  boyhood  days,  and  be  made  many  a 
meal  of  them,  washed  down  with  plenty 
of  fresh  milk.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  lie 
left  school,  and  has  since  assiduously  ap- 
plied himself  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

On  September  29,  1847,  Mr.  Tillotson 
was  married  to  Miss  Solina  Fisher,  who 
was  born  March  13,  1830,  in  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Eleazer  and 
Polly  (Davis)  Fisher,  who  came  to  Ohio 
in  tlie  spring  of  1836,  locating  in  Brigh 
tun  township,  Lorain  county.  After  mar- 
riage, owing  to  the  declining  health  of  his 
parents,  our  subject  removed  with  his 
bride  to  the  old  homestead,  where  he  yet 
lives,  the  dwelling  being  the  third  one 
built  on  the  premises,  and  practically  on 
the  same  site  as  the  first  one.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Tillot- 
son were  as  follows:  Harriet  A.,  now  Mrs. 


D.  W.  Cole,  of  Huntington  township; 
Caroline  L.,  now  Mrs.  M.  R.  Sage,  of 
Huntington;  Myra  L.,  now  Mrs.  Lewis 
Labarie,  of  Huntington;  Rosella,  deceased 
when  twelve  and  a  half  years  old;  and  Ina 
and  Elvira,  both  deceased  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Tillotson  has  now  356  acres  of  prime  land, 
and  in  addition  t')  general  farming  has 
been  an  extensive  dealer  in  and  shipper  of 
live  stock.  He  has  lost  in  cash  over  four 
thousand  dollars  by  befriending  others  in 
the  way  of  endorsements.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  was  a  Democrat  until  Lin- 
coln's time,  when  he  enrolled  himself  under 
the  Republican  banner,  and  has  ever  since 
remained  loyal  to  the  cause.  He  and  his 
amiable  and  kind-kearted  wife  are  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  TJniversalist 
Church. 


Tames  MONROE  of  Oberlin  was 
L.  I  born  at  Plainfield,  Windham  Co., 
\Jj  Conn.,  July  18,  1821.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  common 
school,  at  Plainfield  Academy,  and,  after- 
ward, under  the  private  instructions  of 
Mr.  John  Witter,  a  highly  esteemed 
teacher  of  Plainfield. 

Before  reaching  the  age  of  twenty,  he 
was  engaged,  for  several  years,  in  teach- 
ing in  the  public  schools  of  Windham 
county.  From  October,  1841,  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1844,  he  was  employed  as  agent  of 
the  American  Antislavery  Society  and 
other  (iTganizations  of  similar  object, 
speaking  and  laboring  earnestly  for  the 
antislavery  cause.  He  thus  became  ac- 
quainted with  many  of  the  early  Abolition- 
ists. In  the  spring  of  1844,  feeling  the 
need  of  more  thorough  classical  training, 
he  went  to  Oberlin  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1846.  For  the  three  fol- 
lowing years  he  pursued  and  completed  a 
course  of  theological  study  in  that  institu- 
tion. After  having  served  for  several 
years  as  tutor,  he  was  elected,  in  1849,  to 
the  Chair  of  Rhetoric  and  Belles  Lettres 
in  Oberlin  College,  a  place  which  he  tilled 


*y-^/i.-x.t.^^e^  ^^/^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


647 


until  1862.  Beginning  witli  tho  winter  of 
1850-51,  lie  devoted  some  months  of  eacli 
year,  for  sever.il  years,  to  raising  money 
for  tiie  College.  Mr.  Monroe  was  elected, 
in  the  fall  of  1855,  to  the  first  Republican 
General  Assembly  of  Ohio.  lie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  that 
State  in  1856,  1857,  1858  and  1859.  and 
of  the  Senate  in  1860,  1861  and  1862. 
Wliile  in  the  Legislature  he  introduced 
and  carried  through  several  important 
measures,  such  as  a  bill  to  establish  Re- 
form Schools,  one  to  amend  the  Habeas 
Corpus  Act,  and  bills  to  protect  the  rights 
of  colored  citizens  and  for  other  purposes. 
He  was  chosen  President  pro  tempore  of 
the  Ohio  Senate  in  1861,  and  again  in 
1862.  In  the  meantime  he  did  not  neo-lect 
his  work  in  the  College,  as  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Assembly  were  held  at  the 
time  of  the  long  vacation  in  that  Institu- 
tion. 

In  the  fall  of  1862  he  resigned  his  place 
in  the  Ohio  Senate,  arid  also  his  Chair  in 
the  College,  to  accept  the  position  of 
United  States  consul  at  Rio  de  Janeiro 
tendered  him  by  President  Lincoln.  This 
office  he  held  until  the  spring  of  1870, 
having  also  served  for  some  months  in 
1869  as  Charge  d' Affaires  ad  interhn.  In 
October,  l!S70,  he  was  elected  from  the 
Oberliu  District  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  Washincrton.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber  of  this  body  for  ten  years,  from  March 
4,  1871,  to  March  4,  1881.  During  this 
period  he  served  upon  the  Committee  on 
Banking  and  Currency,  that  on  Foreign 
Affairs,  that  on  Education  and  Labor,  of 
which  he  was  Chairman,  and  that  on  Ap- 
propriations. At  the  close  of  his  Fifth 
Congress  he  declined  a  renomination.  On 
his  return  to  Oberlin  a  desire  was  ex- 
pressed that  he  might  be  placed  in  a  new 
Profes.sorship  of  "Political  Science  and 
Modern  History;"  but  the  College  had  no 
fund  for  its  sup])()rt.  Thereupon  his 
friends  in  Northern  Ohio  and  other  parts 
of  the  country  contributed  thirty  thousand 
dollars   to   Oberlin    College  on  condition 

35 


that  it  should  be  permanently  invested, 
and  that  the  interest  should  be  applied  to 
tlie  support  of  the  new  Chair  which  Mr. 
Monroe  should  be  invited  to  fill.  This 
arrangement  was  accordingly  carried  out, 
and  in  September,  1883,  Mr.  Monroe  re- 
sumed teaching  in  the  new  [)laee,  the 
duties  of  which  he  has  continued  to  dis- 
charge to  the  present  time. 

In  politics  Mr.  Monroe  has  been  a  Re- 
pnblicau  ever  since  the  organization  of  the 
party;  and,  in  his  religious  faith,  he  is  a 
Congregationalist. 


THE  HORR  FAMILY.  Among  the 
pioneer  families  planted  in  Lorain 
county  few  have  left  more  numer- 
ous descendants  than  the  one  now 
under  consideration;  and  in  no 
other  instance  have  so  many  brothers  risen 
to  public  note  and  business  prominence. 
For  several  generations  the  Ilorr  family 
had  lived  at  Pomfret,  Vt.  The  grand- 
father of  the  Ilorr  brothers,  now  living  in 
Ohio,  was  Deacon  John  Ilorr,  and,  back 
of  him,  the  heads  of  the  Horr  family  were 
a  line  of  deacons;  but  this  religious  ardor 
has  not  been  preserved  in  its  orthodox 
purity  to  tiie  present  generation. 

The  original  emigrants  of  the  Ilorr 
family  to  Ohio  were  Roswell  Horr  and  his 
two  sisters,  Mary  and  Lucina.  Mary 
Horr  married  Joseph  B.  Jainison,  of  Avon ; 
Lucina  Ilorr  married  Samuel  Robinson, 
formerly  of  Vermont.  She  died  in  Wis- 
consin without  issue. 

Roswell  Horr  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Vt., 
January  13,  1796.  He  had  but  meager 
educational  advantages  in  early  life,  atid 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  trade 
of  blacksmith,  which  he  made  his  chief 
vocation.  In  1834  he  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
and  locateil  in  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  bought  and  improved  a 
farm,  upon  which  he  afterward  erected,  as 
the  family  home,  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Dr.  Townsend  residence,  situated  about 


648 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


one  and  a  half  miles  cast  of  the  village  of 
French  Creek.  He  also  built  a  blacksmith 
shop  on  the  farm,  and  there  worked  at  his 
trade.  Notwithstanding  his  limited  edu- 
cation, and  the  fact  that  he  lived  only 
seven  years  after  coming  to  Ohio — his 
death  having  occurred  April  25,  1841 — 
he  had  laid  an  excellent  foundation  for  his 
future.  He  had  served  his  community  as 
justice  of  the  peace  and  postmaster  in  a 
creditable  manner,  and  he  left  hia  family 
a  home  of  seventy  odd  acres  unencum- 
bered, and  fifty  acres  more  that  was  nearly 
paid  for.  Common  sense  and  strict  in- 
tegrity marked  his  actions  both  public  and 
private.  For  his  first  wife  he  married 
Miss  Lucinda  Wheeler,  who  bore  him  two 
daughters:  Lucinda,  who  married  Bai'low 
G.  Carpenter,  of  Olmsted  Falls,  Ohio;  she 
now  resides  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  has  two 
children — Harry  H.,  of  Chicago,  HI.,  and 
Mrs.  Lucena  McNeil.  Lucina,  the  second 
daughter  of  Roswell  Horr,  married  Will- 
iam S.  Carpenter,  of  Olmsted  Falls;  she 
now  lives  with  her  son,  Newton  H.  Car- 
penter, of  Chicago,  111.,  who  is  secretary  of 
the  Art  Institute  of  that  city.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife,  lioswell  Ilorr  mar- 
ried, in  Waitsfield,  Vt.,  in  1829,  Miss 
Caroline  Turner,  a  native  of  Moretown, 
same  State,  born  in  1805,  who  is  still 
living,  residing  in  Wellington.  Mrs.  Horr 
was  a  woman  not  only  of  great  heart  and 
brain  qualities,  but  she  secured  a  more 
than  average  early  education,  and  before 
her  marriage  was  for  many  years  a  school 
teacher.  While  engaged  in  this  vocation 
she  taught  Senator  Carpenter,  of  Wiscon- 
sin, the  alphabet.  Her  mother  was  a  Miss 
Carpenter,  and  a  great-aunt  of  the  Senator. 
Mrs.  Horr  had  eight  sons,  all  of  whom 
reached  maturity  except  Henry  and  Frank, 
who  died  in  their  "  teens,"  while  attend- 
ing school  at  Oberlin.  The  eldest  of  this 
fjjmily  was  but  a  little  over  ten  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  fatiier, 
Koswell  Horr.  In  the  rearing  of  this  large 
family  of  boys  Mrs.  Horr  had  ample  op- 
portunity to  exercise  all  her  ingenuity  and 


moral  courage.  If  the  ambition  of  the  boy 
is  inspired  by  early  lessons,  or  his  genius 
quickened  by  early  incentives,  how  well 
she  has  succeeded  is  best  told  in  the  lives 
of  her  sons.  The  first  birth  occurred 
November  26,  1830,  and  by  this  she  bore 
two  sons — one  now  Hon.  Rollin  A.  Horr, 
of  Wellington;  the- other  Hon.  Roswell  O. 
Horr,  of  New  York  City. 

Hon.  Kollin  A.  Horr  received  an  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  commenced  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store 
in  Huntington,  Lorain  county.  He  sub- 
sequently entered  the  cheese  business  and 
farming  and  stock  dealing  there,  and  made 
that  his  home  for  fifteen  years.  He  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Wellincrton  in  18()4,  and 
the  spring  of  the  same  year  removed  to 
Wellington,  which  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  was  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  for  twenty-seven  years,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  its  vice-president. 
He  was  for  a  time  a  member  of  the  exten- 
sive lumber  firm  of  W.  R.  Santly  &  Co., 
and  besides  being  vice-president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  is  now  secretary  of 
the  Clarksfield  Stone  Comjtany.  He  was 
nominated  by  the  regular  Republican 
caucus,  and  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
from  the  Twenty-seventh  and  Twenty- 
ninth  Senatorial  Districts  in  1879,  serving 
during  the  sessions  of  1880-81  and  1882- 
83;  was  subsequently  the  Republican 
nominee  from  the  Fourteenth  Congres- 
sional District.  On  October  8,  1891,  he 
was  appointed  special  employe  of  the 
United  States  Treasury  Department  by 
Secretary  Foster,  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity until  June  1,  1898,  when  he  was  re- 
moved  by  the  Democratic  administration. 

Mr.  Ilorr  is  a  man  of  medium  height, 
but  large  proportions.  He  has  the  natural, 
easy,  pleasant  bearing  of  a  man  long  accus- 
tomed to  do  business  with  the  public.  He 
was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Ames,  from  which  union  were  born  seven 
children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy; 
those  living  are:    Abbie  C,  married  to  H. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


649 


B.  Hamlin;  IloUin  C,  who  was  educated 
in  Cornell  University,  and  is  now  in  the 
stone  business  in  Philadelphia,  Peiin.  (he 
is  servini^  his  third  term  as  member  of  the 
city  council  of  Philadelpliia);  Walter  Scott, 
who  graduated  from  Wellino'ton  nio;h 
School,  now  a  stenographer  and  book- 
keeper by  profession,  and  residing  in  IJii- 
luth,  Minn.;  Warner  M.,  also  a  graduate 
of  Welliniiton  Ilirrh  School,  now  a  book- 
keeper,  residing  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.; 
Charles  P.,  wiio  was  for  iive  years  book- 
keeper in  the  First  National  Bank  at 
Wellington,  and  is  now  a  paving  con- 
tractor of  Philadelphia,  Penn.;  Nellie,  a 
graduate  of  AVellington  High  School,  and 
still  at  home. 

Hon.  Roswell  G.  Horr  is  the  other  of 
the  twin  brothers.  He  is  of  national 
reputation  as  a  politician  and  lecturer. 
He  tirst  attended  the  public  schools,  tlien 
took  a  partial  course  in  Oberlin  College, 
after  which  he  attended  Antioch  College, 
and  in  1857  graduated  under  Horace 
Maun.  Returning  to  his  native  county, 
he  v;a8  elected  clerk  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  in  the  fall  of  1857,  and  re- 
elected in  1800.  While  acting  as  clerk  of 
the  court  he  read  law,  and  upon  stepping 
out  of  the  office  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
becoming  a  partner  with  Judge  J.  C. 
Hale,  and  pursuing  the  practice  of  law  in 
Elyria  for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1866  he  removed  to  southeastern  Missouri, 
engaged  in  mining  business,  and  while 
there  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
State  Legislature.  In  the  spring  of  1872 
he  removed  to  East  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and 
was  elected  from  the  Eighth  Congressional 
District,  serving  in  the  XLVI.,  XLVII. 
and  XLVIII.  Congresses  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  He  is  at  present  tariff 
editor  of  the  New  York  WeeJclij  aiul  Semi- 
Weckhj  Tribune.  AVhen  in  Congress  he 
participated  in  the  leading  debates  and 
legislation  of  the  day.  He  has  perliaps 
made  more  political  speeches  than  any 
otiiei'  man  living,  Ijesides  having  prepared 
and  delivered    a    number   of    lectures   on 


literary  and  scientific  subjects,  which  have 
given  him  a  national  reputation  as  a  public 
lecturer. 

Mr.  Horr  was  married  in  1859  to  Miss 
C.  M.  Pinney,  and  has  four  living  children 
— ^two  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz.:  Flora 
M.,  wife  of  Frederick  Hebard,  of  Plain- 
field,  N.  J.;  Frank,  a  merchant  of  Ithaca, 
Mich,  (he  was  educated  at  East  Saginaw 
and  Orchard  Lake  State  Military  Acad- 
emy); Katherine,  at  home,  engaged  in 
literary  work;  and  Rollin  A.,  residing  in 
Saginaw,  Michigan. 

James  C.  Horr,  the  third  cliild  of  Ros- 
well  and  Caroline  (Turner)  Horr,  was  born 
January  25,  1832.  He  received  iiis  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  liis  native 
place,  which  he  supplemented  with  a 
course  of  study  at  Oberlin  University. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  went  to 
Australia,  remaining  there  fourteen  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  to, 
Lorain  county,  and  there  remained  four 
years.  His  ne.xt  trip  was  to  California, 
and  after  spending  si\  years  there  he 
located  permanently  in  the  city  of  Olym- 
pia,  now  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington. He  served  a  term  in  the  Terri- 
torial Legislature,  and  was  for  four  years 
special  agent  of  the  United  States  Ti-easury 
Department  during  the  GartieldArthur 
administration.  He  has  served  as  mayor 
of  Olympia,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate  of  the  State  of  Washington. 
He  was  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  furniture 
trade,  but  now  operates  a  wholesale  and 
retail  feed  and  forwarding  store,  and  real- 
estate  business.  He  was  married  in  Aus- 
tralia to  Miss  Lizzie  Upton;  has  no  living 
children. 

John  Horr,  born  June  2,  1833,  in  Ver- 
mont, is  the  last  of  these  children  born  in 
Vermont.  He  went  to  Australia  with  his 
brother,  and  subsequently  to  New  Zealand, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  married  in  Aus- 
tralia, and  has  one  daughter.  But  little  is 
known  of  his  personal  history. 

Rulph  Turner  Horr  was  born  June  2, 
1835.     He  was  a  harness  maker  by  trade, 


650 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


which  he  followed  in  earlier  life.  Swbse- 
qiieutly  he  engaged  with  the  American 
Express  Company,  and  finally  entered  the 
United  States  Mail  service.  He  died  a 
few  years  since.  He  married  a  Miss 
Martha  Barker,  and  left  two  sons:  George, 
agent  of  the  Merchants  Despatch  Transpor- 
tation Company,  Chicago,  111. ;  and  Howard, 
in  the  employ  of  the  Troy  Laundry  Manu- 
facturing Company,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

C.  W.  HoRK,  leading  business  man  and 
capitalist  of  Wellington,  is  a  native  of 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born  in  Avon,  Janu- 
ary 25,  1837.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
during  the  brief  winter  months  attending 
the  schools  of  the  locality  till  he  was  about 
sixteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Cleve- 
land, with  but  a  few  dollars  in  his  pocket, 
there  to  seek  employment,  a  total  stranger 
in  the  place,  with  solely  himself  to  rely 
upon.  Casting  liis  eye  on  the  sign  of  a 
leading  hack  and  omnibus  line  office,  and 
understanding  something  of  horses,  he  im- 
mediately applied  for  and  found  employ- 
ment as  an  omnibus  driver.  Falling  into 
no  dissipation,  and  allowing  himself  no  in- 
dulgencies  of  any  kind,  he  succeeded  in 
saving  some  money,  and  at  the  end  of  five 
motiths  he  found  himself  in  a  financial 
position  sufiicieiit  to  enable  him  to  take  a 
term  at  Oberlin  College,  which  he  did. 
He  then  taught  school  at  Pittsfield  Center, 
Lorain  county.  At  the  age  of  eighteen, 
with  barely  enough  money  to  pay  expenses, 
he  took  stage  coach  from  Louisville  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  near  which  city  he  se- 
cured a  position  as  teacher  in  Zion  Semin- 
ary. In  1858  he  became  principal  of  the 
public  schools  of  Napoleon,  Ohio. 

In  1857  Mr.  Horr  entered  Antioch  (Ohio) 
College,  graduating  from  there  in  1860. 
On  August  12,  of  the  same  year,  he  mar- 
ried Esther  A.  Lang  of  Huntington,  Ohio, 
who  has  proved  the  kindest  and  wisest  of 
wives  and  mothers.  Indeed,  Mr.  Horr 
and  all  of  his  iTitimate  friends  would  agree 
in  regardintr  his  marriage  as  the  most  for- 
tunate  event  of  his  life.  In  the  fall  of 
1860,  with  his  wife  as  assistant,  he  became 


principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Vandalia, 
III.      In  that   town   he   became   a   leading 

o 

local  agitator  in  the  cause  of  the  Union, 
delivering  many  eloquent  and  patriotic 
speeches,  and  finally  he  organized  Com- 
pany B,  Thirty-fifth'  O.  V.  I.,  of  which  he 
was  made  captain.  With  his  command  he 
did  duly  in  Missouri,  and  served  under 
Fremont,  Halleck,  Curtis,  Jefferson  C. 
Davis,  and  other  leaders  of  the  movement 
in  Missouri.  During  the  larger  part  of 
his  service,  he  was  employed  as  forage 
master  or  as  brigade  comniissary  of  sub- 
sistence, and  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
sei'vice  he  was  attached  to  Gen.  Buell's 
army.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war 
he  was  a  Douglas  Democrat.  After  he 
left  the  army,  he  returned  to  Lorain  county, 
and  in  company  with  his  brother,  J.  C. 
Horr,  commenced  the  development  of  the 
cheese  industry,  building  in  Huntington 
township  the  first  cheese  factory  in  Lorain 
county.  The  firm  of  J.  C  Horr  &  Co. 
was  succeeded  by  Starr  &  Horr,  and  at  the 
end  of  a  year  that  firm  was  succeeded  by 
the  i)resent  cheese  and  butter  firm  of  Horr, 
Warner  &  Co.  Of  this  firm  Mr.  C.  W. 
Horr  has  always  been  the  recognized  head, 
and  its  great  success  is  largely  due  to  his 
ability  as  a  business  man,  and  to  his  saga- 
city as  a  financier. 

Mr.  Horr  is  also  a  memljer  of  the  firm 
of  Weati,  Horr,  Warner  &  Co.,  the  most 
extensive  onion  and  celery  growers  in  Ohio, 
and  probably  the  greatest  onion  growers  in 
the  world.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
well-known  Wellington  Milling  Company, 
and  has  for  years  been  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Wellington,  Ohio,  and  also  of  the  Savings 
Banking  Company  of  Elyi-ia,  Oiiio.  Mr. 
Horr  owns  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in 
Lorain  and  Medina  counties,  and  is  to  a 
large  extent  engaged  in  the  breeding  of 
fine  Holstein-Friesian  cattle.  In  1892  he 
was  president  of  the  National  Holstein- 
Friesian  Association,  and  he  has  recently 
>been  elected  president  of  the  National 
Dairy  Union. 


LORAIif  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


651 


In  his  earlier  days  Mr.  Horr  read  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  both  law  and  general  business  has 
been  of  invalnal)ie  service,  not  only  to  him- 
pelf  but  also  to  friends  and  others  who 
frequently  consult  him  on  matters  of  im- 
portance and  difficulty.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  few  campaigns  have 
taken  place  since  the  war  in  which  he  has 
not  taken  a  more  or  less  active  part,  as  he 
is  a  forcible  public  speaker,  and  keeps  well 
posted  on  all  political  and  public  questions. 
He  is  also  a  writer  of  ability,  a  master  of 
the  English  language,  and  an  accomplished 
rhetorician.  Although  deeply  immersed 
in  his  many  business  enterprises,  Mr.  Horr 
still  finds  time  for  the  study  of  literature 
in  the  quiet  of  liis  home,  where  he  is  sur- 
rounded by  every  comfort  and  finds  the 
purest  and  greatest  enjoyment  of  his  life. 
In  the  very  prime  of  manhood,  he  is  a  man 
of  tine  physique,  and  of  great  physical  and 
mental  energy.  He  is  by  no  means  the 
meekest  of  men;  he  is  positive  in  his  views 
and  aggressive  in  his  methods,  and  his 
power  and  influence  have  been  felt  in  many 
political  contests. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horr  have  had  live  sons, 
viz.:  Norton  T.,  a  graduate  of  Cornell 
University,  and  member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Boynton  &  Horr,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Charles  W.,  Jr.,  a  graduate  of  Cornell 
University,  now  engaged  in  various  busi- 
ness enterprises  with  his  father;  Clinton 
(deceased);  Alfred  E..,  at  present  a  member 
of  the  junior  class  of  Cornell  University, 
and  Harley  M.,  who  still  resides  with  his 
parents. 


FRANCIS    S.     WADSWORTH,     a 
thoroughly    representative    agricul- 
_^       turist  of  Lorain  county,  is  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,    born  in   Becket, 
Berkshire  county. 

Jonathan  and  Deidama  (Snow)  Wads- 
worth,  grandparents  of  our  subject,  were 
of  Connecticut  birth,  and  moved  to  Becket, 
Mass.,  where  their  family  of  children  were 


born,  and  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years;  his  wife  afterward  came 
to  Wellington,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died 
in  the  "American  House,"  where  she  was 
living  at  the  time  with  her  grandchildren 
— O.  S.  and  J.  L.  Wadsworth.  She,  as 
was  also  her  husband,  was  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

Lawton  Wadsworth,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  June  24,  1785.  in  Becket,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  and  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  early  manhood  he 
taught  school  in  the  neighborhood  of  Otis, 
Mass.,  where  he  first  met  the  young  lady 
who  became  his  wife,  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Nancy  Rowena  Lawton,  daughter  of 
Elijah  Lawton,  of  that  town.  They  were 
married  October  15,  180G,  in  Becket, 
where  they  settled  on  a  farm,  and  seven 
children,  as  follows,  were  born  to  tliem: 
Milo  L.,  born  October  2,  1807,  who  lived 
in  Wellington  township,  died  April  2, 
1889;  Oliver  S.,  born  May  2,  1809,  was  a 
farmer,  and  lived  for  a  while  at  the 
"American  House,"  in  Wellington,  sub- 
sequently returning  to  Massachusetts  (he 
was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident  at  Erie, 
Penn.);  Jabez  L.,  born  August  27,  1813, 
who  lived  for  a  number  of  years  at  the 
"American  House,"  in  Wellington,  and 
subsequently  followed  milling  (he  built 
a  brick  residence  in  Wellington,  whei-e  he 
died;  his  widow  now  resides  in  Welling- 
ton); Elijah  M.,  born  February  9,  1815, 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
took  a  college  and  theological  course  at 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  then  went  to  Wisconsin, 
and  later  went  to  Minneapolis,  Minn., 
where  he  now  resides;  Albert  O.,  born 
August  27,  1819,  who  has  always  followed 
farming,  first  in  Wellington,  Lorain 
county,  and  at  present  in  Saranac,  Mich.; 
Francis  S.,  born  April  27,  1821,  and 
David  L.,  born  June  1,  1825,  who  died  in 
October,  1892. 

F.  S.  Wadsworth,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  twelve  years  old  when  the 
family  arrived  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
whither  they  traveled  in  wagons  the  entire 


652 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


way,  the  trip  occupying  from  April  15  to 
May  9.  lie  received  a  liberal  education 
in  tlie  common  and  high  schools  (two 
terms  at  Wellington  select  schools),  and, 
when  he  was  of  age,  two  years  at  Oherlin, 
where  he  displayed  considerable  aptitude 
and  fondness  for  mathematics.  For  a 
trade  he  learned  that  of  carpenter  and 
joiner,  at  which  he  worked,  engaging,  at 
times,  also  in  painting,  and  lor  four 
winters  taught  school.  On  September  20, 
1854,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Leonard, 
born  January  6,  1833,  in  New  York 
State,  and  the  young  couple  then  located 
on  a  farm  about  one  and  one-half  miles 
from  their  present  home  in  Wellington, 
whither  they  removed  in  1884.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  viz. :  Ettie  R.,  April 
25,  1858,  who  was  married  to  B.  B.  Her- 
rick  (has  two  children,  viz.:  Sarah  E.  and 
Hobart);  and  Frank  L.  O.,  of  whom  special 
mention  is  made  farther  on. 

Mrs.  Wadsworth  is  a  daughter  of  Tru- 
man Leonard,  who  was  born  in  Worth- 
iugton,  Mass.,  March  23,  1784,  and  June 
1,  1811,  married  Miss  Koxanna  AUis,  born 
in  Chester,  Mass.,  September  15,  1786. 
After  marriage  they  tnoved  to  Middlesex, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  there  lived  until 
1835,  in  which  year  the  family,  including 
eleven  ciiildren,  moved  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Chatham,  Medina  county.  The  father 
died  February  24,  1846,  the  mother  on 
September  12,  same  year.  Their  daugh- 
ter, Sarah  A.,  received  a  fair  education  in 
the  common  and  high  schools,  well  prepar- 
ing her  for  the  vocation  of  a  teaclier,  which 
she  commenced  to  follow  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years.  For  the  past  quarter  of  a 
century  she  has  been  a  newspaper  corre- 
spondent, chiefly  for  the  Elyria  Repiihli- 
can;  also  contributed  to  the  Ohio  Farmer, 
and  the  Young  Ainerica,  iSIew  York.  A 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  she  shares 
with  her  husband  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Frank  L.  O.  Wadsworth,  their  son,  was 
born  October  24,  1866,  and  received  a 
superior  education.    He  is  the  recipient  of 


a  diploma  from  Wellington  (Ohio)  High 
School  (1883);  graduated  from  the  Ohio 
State  University,  Columbus,  June  30, 
1888,  in  Mining  Engineering,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  took  a  diploma  in  Mechanical 
Engineering,  and  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Science.  In  18S9  he  commenced  to  teach 
in  the  Ohio  State  University,  but  was  soon 
given  a  Fellowship  in  Clarke  University, 
Worcester,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  In  July,  1892,  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  senior  assistant  in  the  Astro- 
physical  Laboratory  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institute.  While  a  student  at  Clarke  Uni- 
versity he  assisted  Prof.  Michelson  in  per- 
fecting an  instrument  for  measuring  the 
length  of  a  meter,  to  establish  a  reliable 
standard  for  the  metric  system.  This  in- 
strument was  for  the  French  government. 
In  the  fall  of  1^92,  in  company  with  Prof. 
Michelson,  he  visited  Paris,  adjusting  and 
testing  the  instru7nent  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  all  parties  concerned.  At  the 
present  time,  in  connection  with  his  labor- 
atory work,  he  is  a  frequent  contributor  to 
several  scientific  papers  published  both  in 
this  country  and  in  Europe.  He  was  mar- 
ried September  6,  1893,  to  Miss  Laura 
A.  Poole,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 


DE.    N. 
knowr 
geon  ( 


H.  CORNWELL,  a  well- 
lown  practicing  physician  and  sur- 
of  North  Amherst,  was  born 
January  4,  1847,  in  Elyria,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio.  His  father,  N.  H.  Cornwell, 
was  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  married 
Mary  Onstine,  who  was  born  in  Amherst 
township,  daughter  of  George  and  Rosina 
(Ruhl)  Onstine,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  came  in  an  early  day  to  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they 
both  died.  Mr.  Cornwell  died  in  Elyria 
in  1847. 

N.  H.  Cornwell  was  reared  by  his  grand- 
father Onstine,  at  Amherst,  at  the  public 
schools   of   which    place    he   received  his 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


653 


early  education.  He  was  for  some  time 
engaged  in  tiie  lumber  business,  inspecting 
lumber  at  Cliicao;o  from  1873  to  187G. 
He  entered  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whence  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1880,  and  tirst  began 
practice  at  Port  Clinton,  coming  shortly 
afterward  to  Lorain  county,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Dr.  Cornweil  was  married, 
iu  1885,  to  Miss  Josephine  Barber,  who 
was  born  in  Amherst  township,  this 
county,  daughter  of  Joseph  Barber  (now 
deceased).  The  latter  was  an  early  settler 
of  northern  Ohio,  and  came  to  Lorain 
county  in  1863.  Socially  the  Doctor  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  and  K.  O.  T.  M., 
and  is  also  a  F.  &  A.  M. 


IDEON  L.  STARK,  who  for  many 
,  years  has  been  actively  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Pen- 
field  township,  is  a  prosperous,  self- 
made  agriculturist. 
He  is  a  son  of  Talcott  and  Mary  (Linds- 
le\ )  Starr,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Danbnry,  Conn.,  and  was  reared  to  farm 
life.  Talcott  Starr  was  married  in  Har- 
perstield,  I^elaware  Co..  N.  Y.,  in  which 
State  five  children  were  born  to  him,  as 
follows:  Matthew  L. ;  Maria,  who  was 
married  in  New  York  State  to  David 
Turner,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister, 
and  died  in  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y. ;  An- 
geline,  who  was  married  in  New  York  to 
Benjamin  Turner,  and  died  in  Rhinebeck, 
that  State;  Gideon  L..  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Alden,  of  Flint,  Mich.  Tal- 
cott Starr  had  made  three  trips  to  Penfield, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio  (driving  the  entire  dis- 
tance), where  tliree  of  his  brothers — Orrin, 
Raymond  and  William — had  located,  and 
in  1839  he  sold  his  farm  and  other  effects 
in  New  York  State,  and  set  ont  for  the 
West.  They  arrived  here  after  a  long, 
tedious  journey,  driving  a  team  of  two 
horses,  having  come  via  Cleveland  to 
Elyria,  where   they   remained   some  years 


on  a  farm  one  mile  east  of  his  brother 
Raymond,  who  conducted  a  mercantile 
business.  Later  Mr.  Starr  traded  that 
farm,  whicli  he  iiad  bought,  to  a  man 
named  Kemp  for  land  in  Penfield  town- 
ship, whither  the  family  removed  iu  1855, 
and  here  the  parents  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  the  father  dying  October  15, 
1872,  the  mother  May  10,  1876;  they  are 
buried  in  Center ,  cemetery.  They  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a 
very  successful  farmer,  and  was  quite 
well-to-do. 

Gideon  L.  Starr  was  born  Fel)ruary  13, 
1816,  in  Jefferson,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y., 
was  trained  to  farming  pur.-^uits,  and  ob- 
tained his  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools.  Later  he  attended  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  school  iu  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  preparing  himself  for  the 
profession  of  teacher,  whicli  he  followed  in 
Delaware  county  (N.  Y.)  and  elsewhere 
for  several  years.  He  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  journey  to  Ohio,  and 
drove  the  team,  but  after  a  short  sojourn 
there  returned  to  New  York  State,  where, 
in  Harpersfield,  Delaware  county,  he  was 
married,  November  10,  1839,  to  Miss 
Polly  Baird.  She  was  born  July  7,  1818, 
in  Harpersfield,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Abigail  (Dayton)  Baird,  early  residents  of 
that  place,  whither  they  had  come  from 
Watertown,  Conn.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Starr  settled  on  the  old  family  home 
in  Sciioharie  county,  N.  Y.,  which  he  had 
bought  (going  into  debt  for  the  same),  and 
here  followed  farming,  teaching  school  dur- 
ing the  winter  season.  Later  he  was 
elected  township  e.xaminer,  and  conducted 
tCHchers'  examinations. 

Wiiile  living  in  New  York  State  Mn 
and  Airs.  Starr  had  children  as  follows: 
Lemuel  T.,  born  November  30,  1840,  a 
farmer  of  Penfield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio;  Similde  A.,  born  October  5,  1844, 
who  ilied  February  8,  1857,  and  Emer 
Gene,  born  July  14,  1847,  who  married 
Charles    Catifield,    of    Litchfield,    Medina 


654 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  August  12,  1887.  In 
the  spring  of  1849  our  subject  traded  his 
farm  in  Schoharie  county,  and  set  out  with 
his  family  for  Ohio,  after  a  two  days' 
drive  reaching  Spraker's  Basin,  N.  Y., 
whence  lie  started,  by  way  of  the  Erie 
Canal,  for  Buffalo,  where  he  arrived  six 
days  later.  Here  he  took  the  lake-boat  tor 
Cleveland,  arriving  the  following  morn- 
ing in  that  city,  where  lie  was  met  by  his 
brother  Alden,  who  drove  the  family  to 
Elyria,  Lorain  county,  where  the  father 
lived.  After  some  visiting  in  and  around 
Elyria,  Mr.  Starr  arrived  on  May  2,  in 
Penfield  township,  passing  the  first  night 
at  the  home  of  Lewis  Llart.  Here  he  pur- 
chased land,  121  acres  in  lot  No.  51  east  of 
the  center,  and  forty-three  acres  west  of 
the  center,  locating  on  the  first-mentioned 
tract  in  a  log  house,  quite  different  from 
the  home  in  New  York.  Some  of  the  wood 
on  this  farm  had  been  cut  by  lumbermen, 
but  the  land  was  not  yet  fit  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  and  it  required  considerable 
hard  work  to  convert  it  into  a  fertile  farm. 
Some  time  later  another  house  was  erected, 
which  still  stands,  and  on  this  place  three 
children  were  added  to  the  family  circle, 
namely:  Munson  B.,  born  October  30, 
1849,  who  died  February  8,  1854;  Estella, 
born  February  27,  1855,  who  married  Ed- 
win Sears,  and  lives  in  LitchHeld,  Ohio 
(while  absent  from  home  December  27, 
LS93,  their  house  was  burned);  Lee  W., 
born  December  25,  1856,  a  farmer  of 
Litchfield,  Ohio,  who  was  married  June 
25,  1882,  to  Celia  Henderside.  Mr.  Starr 
was  obliged  to  go  into  debt  for  his  farm, 
and  in  the  face  of  the  predictions  of  older 
men,  who  had  lived  here  for  years,  to  the 
effect  that  he  would  never  pay  for  it,  he 
went  to  work  with  a  determination,  and 
met  with  a  marked  degree  of  success. 
Since  his  residence  here  farming  lias  been 
his  chief  vocation,  but  he  has  also  dealt 
extensively  in  stock.  He  is  a  hard  worker, 
a  good  manager,  and  an  excellent  judge  of 
stock,  wliich  knowledge  has  been  of  con- 
siderable  benefit  to  him  in  managine  vari- 


ous details  of  his  business  to  advantage. 
He  now  owns  300  acres  excellent  land. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  re- 
ligious faith  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
M.  E.  Church,  of  which  she  has  been  a 
member  sixty  years.  In  1885  they  re- 
moved from  the  farm  to  the  village  of 
Penfield,  where  they  now  have  a  pleasant, 
comfortable  home.  Mr.  Btarr  has  twelve 
grandchildren  and  two  great-grandchildren. 


P)AUL  W.  SAMPSELL,  M.  D.  (de- 
ceased), was  born  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio.  June  22,  1828.  He 
received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
common  schools,  after  which  he  at- 
tended the  Eclectic  Medical  School,  then 
the  Homeopathic  School  of  Medicine  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from  botli  of  which  in- 
stitutions he  graduated. 

He  first  practiced  his  profession  at  Ash- 
land, Ohio,  whence  he  removed  to  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  where  he  practiced  till  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  seek  a  change. 
Concluding  that  a  trip  to  the  Pacific  slope 
would  materially  assist  him  in  recuper- 
ating, he  crossed  the  Plains,  about  the  year 
1852,  in  a  wagon  in  company  with  the 
Studebakers  of  South  Bend,  then  young 
men  and  friends  of  the  Doctor.  On  the 
journey  they  had  in  charge  a  number  of 
wagons  and  several  families.  In  Cali- 
fornia he  remained  for  one  year,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  felt  sufficiently  well  to 
return  to  his  native  State,  which  he  did, 
and  in  1854  made  a  permanent  settlement 
in  Elyria,  wdiere  he  continued  in  eclectic 
practice  of  medicine  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  After  locating  in  Elyria  he  was 
offered  a  Chair  or  Professorship  in  one  of 
the  colleges  of  Cincinnati,  but  declined 
acceptance,  preferring  to  remain  in  active 
practice.  As  a  physician  Dr.  Sampsell 
had  no  superior,  and  during  his  career 
probably  had  not  a  peer.  He  was  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  Lirge  ofKce  practice  as  well 


/^^  'Py-^Cu.J^/^Ljf 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


057 


as  an  extensive  ride  both  in  and  outside 
tlie  city,  and  his  popiihirity  botli  profes- 
sionally and  socially  brought  him  a  wide 
circle  of  friends. 

In  1855  Dr.  Sanipsell  was  married  in 
Elyria  to  Miss  Evaliiie  Childs,  and  one 
son,  Warren  W.,  was  born  to  theiii.  bat 
died  Dec.  1,  1887.  The  doctor  was  called 
from  earth  May  8,  1888.  Mrs.  Sampsell 
is  a  native  of  Elyria,  and  comes  of  an  early 
and  mnch  res])ected  family.  She  is  a  lady 
of  high  culture,  and  commands  the  high- 
est esteem  in  the  county. 


J^ILLIAM  H.  H.  SUTLIFF,  re- 
tired, one  of  ihe  best  known  and 
most  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Wellington  township,  has  been 
closely  identified  with  Lorain  county  and 
vicinity  for  the  past  seventy-three  years. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
July  22,  1815,  in  Erie  county,  a  son  of 
Salmon  and  Anna  (Beeman)  Sutlifl,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1786,  the  latter  on  the 
Susquehanna  river.  In  August,  1820,  the 
family,  consisting  of  lather,  mother  and 
children,  set  out  from  their  home  in  the 
East  to  seek  a  new  one  in  the  theuwildsof 
Ohio.  The  journey  was  made  with  a  team 
of  horses  and  a  wagon,  convevinij  a  few 
household  goods;  two  cows  and  fifteen 
sheep  beinir  driven  along.  They  passed 
through  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  at  that  time  a  low- 
lying  village  consisting  of  a  few  dirty 
cabins  or  shanties.  On  their  arrival  at 
Cleveland  they  counted  thirteen  small  log 
houses,  with  not  an  acre  of  land  cleared  in 
any  one  place  on  Superior,  the  only  street 
in  the  place.  They  were  ferried  across  the 
Cuyaiioga  river,  landing  on  the  west  side, 
where  not  a  house  was  visible,  but  abun- 
dance of  land  for  sale  on  which  there  was 
not  a  stick  of  timber,  the  soil  being  simply 
yellow  saiul.  Proceeding  onward,  the  party 
in  due  cour.se  reached  Avon  township, 
Lorain  county,  wliere  they  tarried   a  short 


time  until  a  piece  of  land  coidd  be  pur- 
chased on  the  so-called  "Murray  Tract," 
in  (.Carlisle  township,  and  a  log  house  built 
for  the  family.  Into  this  they  moved 
January  1,  1821,  before  any  of  the  cracks 
were  chinked  or  niudded,  and  when  only 
one-half  of  the  floor  was  laid  with  puncheons 
or  split  logs.  This  cabin  was  afterward 
improved,  being  fully  floored,  chinked  and 
mudded,  a  chimney  built  and  hearth  and 
fireplace  constructed,  with  a  pole  placed  a 
few  feet  above  the  hearth,  from  one  side  of 
the  chimney  to  the  other,  on  which  to 
hang  the  pot  or  kettle.  Their  bread  was 
made  chiefly  of  cornmeal,  sometimes  rye- 
wheat  flour  being  kept  for  special  oc- 
casions; their  meats  were  for  the  most  part 
venison  and  young  fatted  pork;  tea  was 
scarcely  known,  and  "coffee"  was  made  by 
burning  an  ear  of  corn  black  and  then 
steeping  it  in  hot  water,  cooled  with  milk 
and  sweetened  witli  maple  sugar.  It  should 
be  mentioned  here  that  on  their  way  to 
their  new  home  they  passed  through  what 
is  now  the  thriving  town  of  Elyria,  Lorain 
county,  then  composed  of  three  little  huts 
iidiabited  respectively  by  Heman  Ely,  A. 
Beebe  and  a  Mr.  Sholes,  who  kept  a  small 
grocery. 

Salmon  Sutliff  was  a  great  hunter,  and 
the  deer  he  killed  supplied  the  family 
with  not  only  venison,  but  also  hides  which 
were  tanned  into  leather,  from  which  they 
made  shoes  for  all  the  family  and  breeches 
for  the  men's  winter  wear;  he  also  trapped 
wolves  for  the  Qoverment  bounty,  eight 
dollars  per  scalp,  in  addition  to  which  he 
could  get  one  or  two  dollars  for  each  hide. 
Bears  he  would  run  dowti  by  tracking  them 
in  the  snow  or  driving  them  up  trees; 
their  hides  were  also  of  value,  and  their 
meat  as  good  as  pork  for  family  use.  Trees 
were  cut  down  and  burned  in  large  heaps, 
the  ashes  being  saved  and  leached,  then 
liquid  being  made  into  black  salts,  same 
being  sold  for  $2.25  to  $2.50  per  one  hun- 
dred pounds — half  cash  and  half  trade,  the 
latter  being  in  goods  at  high  flgiires,  to 
wit:  calico  or  cotton,  twenty-five  cents  per 


658 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


yard.  In  those  days  men  raised  flax  and 
dressed  it,  then  the  women  spun  and  wove 
it  into  linen  and  clotli  for  domestic  use. 
Wild  fruits  of  all  kinds  were  found  in 
abundance,  especially  cranberries,  which 
would  fetch  seventy-live  cents  per  bushel. 
So  much  for  the  natural  history  of  the 
place  about  seventy  years  ago,  although 
a  vast  deal  more  might  be  written  of  in- 
terest  did  space  permit.  Something  has 
been  said  of  the  average  dwelling,  and  ne.xt 
i[i  importance  come  the  schoolhouses. 
They  were  built  of  logs,  chinked  and 
mudded  in  the  same  njanner  as  the  cabins 
were,  and  supplied  with  a  fireplace  and 
chimney.  The  furnitnre  consisted  of  slabs 
(with  pegs  stuck  into  them  for  legs)  placed 
flat  side  up  for  seats,  and  a  board,  laid  on 
pins  let  into  the  house  logs,  for  writing 
desk.  The  grim  dominie,  armed  with  an 
awe-inspiring  birch  rod,  sat  in  a  corner  by 
the  tireplace,  and  at  times  varied  the  mo- 
notony of  the  school  hours  l)y  flogging 
warmth  into  the  more  stupid  boys  at  the 
farther  end  of  the  class.  Five  years  elapsed 
after  the  coming  of  the  SntlifF  family  be- 
fore there  were  enough  children  in  the 
neighborhood  to  warrant  the  organizing  of 
a  school  district,  and  the  using  of  such  a 
building.  Before  the  Sutliffs  had  raised 
any  grain,  Salmon  would  have  to  walk  to 
Avon,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  and  there 
labor  for  a  bushel  of  corn,  which  he  would 
carry  on  his  shoulder  to  a  gristmill  known 
as  "  Hecock's  mill,"  which  after  he  had  got 
it  ground  he  would  carry  home  through  a 
dense  foi-est  teeming  with  wild  beasts.  On 
one  occasion,  accomi)anied  as  usual  by  his 
faithful  dog,  he  came  across  a  she  bear 
and  cubs,  and  the  dog  and  bear  had  a  tierce 
battle,  which  resulted  in  the  total  discom- 
fiture of  the  former,  he  being  badly 
"chawed  up,"  though  not  killed. 

In  the  early  farming  days  the  family 
would  sow  a  little  wheat  or  rye,  as  the  case 
might  be,  and  when  ripe  they  would  cut 
it  down  with  a  hand  sickle,  thresh  it  with 
a  couple  of  sticks  or  flails,  and  clean  it 
of     the    chaff,    etc.,     with    a    large     fan 


held  by  the  hands  and  knees.  In  many 
things,  especially  in  cases  of  sickness, 
they  imitated  the  customs  of  the  Inilians, 
and  in  this  respect  it  is  related  of  Salmon 
Sutliff  that  when  somewhat  advanced  in 
years  he  was  stricken  with  what  was  sup- 
posed to  be  consumption,  and  hearing  of 
an  alleged  cure  for  that  disease,  he  re- 
solved to  adopt  it,  viz. :  the  swallowing  of 
a  rattlesnake's  heart.  Accordingly  on  a 
certain  day  he  killed  a  yellow  "rattler," 
about  six  feet  long,  took  out  the  heart,  put 
it  into  a  bowl  of  cold  water,  and  swallowed 
it  all,  his  son,  William  H.  H.,  being  a 
witness  to  the  act.  It  is  not  known  how 
much  of  the  consumption  was  cured,  but 
he  lived  to  see  his  sevent3'-secoud  birthday 
pass,  dying  in  1858.  He  was  a  lifelong 
Whig  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church; 
he  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a 
great  admirer  of  Gen.  Harrison,  for  whom 
he  named  his  son,  our  subject.  His 
widow  was  called  from  earth  in  1870. 

Thirteen  children,  as  follows,  were  born 
to  this  honored  couple:  Silas  B.,  who  was 
captain  of  a  steamboat,  died  of  cholera  at 
Joliet,  111.;  William  H.  H.;  Asa  G.,  who 
died  in  Minnesota  about  twelve  years  ago, 
was  a  farmer  and  drover,  driving  cattle 
from  Texas;  O.  H.  P.,  a  resident  of  Car- 
lisle township,  Lorain  county;  Charles  B., 
who  was  killed  twelve  years  ago  in  a  rail- 
road accident  near  Elyria;  Ralph  O.,  a 
farmer  at  Chapin's  Corners,  Mich.;  Ln- 
setta,  wife  of  Eli  Wright,  now  residing  in 
Wood  county,  Ohio;  Warren  C,  a  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Carlisle  township;  Lucinda, 
Mrs.  Perkins,  who  died  of  dropsy  (she  was 
first  married  to  a  man  named  Lee);  Jessie, 
residing  in  Michigan;  Theodore,  residing 
in  Potterville,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.;  Miles 
W.,  in  Penfield  township,  Lorain  coimty; 
and  Rosetta,  wife  of  William  Gott.  The 
mother  of  this  family  was  left  an  orphan 
when  a  child,  and  was  brought  up  by  a 
family  named  Osborne;  she  was  a  daughter 
of  Silas  Beeman.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  Gad  Sutliff,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, whence  with   two   brothers   he   came 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


659 


to  America,  all  being  single  men,  and  here 
tiiey  separated,  all  trace  of  the  two  wlio  ac- 
companied Gad  being  lost;  the  latter  died 
at  Clyde,  Ohio,  aged  ninety  years. 

William  H.  H.  Sutiitf,  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county, 
attending  the  old  log  schoolhouse  of  the 
period,  and  experienced  all  the  sufferings 
and  privations  incident  to  three  quarters 
of  a  century  ago.  His  clothes  were  of  tiie 
most  primitive  iiome-make,  and  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age  before  he  had  a  pair 
of  boots  on  his  feet;  but  he  was  tough  and 
hearty,  and  underwent  all  kinds  of  hard- 
ships— working  on  the  farm  by  day,  and 
hunting  raccoons,  skunks,  porcupines, 
opossums,  etc.,  by  night.  At  the  time  the 
town  of  Oberlin  was  being  laid  out  he 
worked  there  the  better  part  of  three  years, 
chopping  down  the  timber  and  clearing  it 
off  the  land.  In  October,  1834,  a  Mr. 
Sill,  who  had  come  in  from  Black  Eock  to 
Oberlin,  where  he  lived  one  year,  bargained 
with  our  subject  for  the  latter  to  drive 
four  heavy  oxen,  pulling  a  load  of  goods 
(wagon  and  load  weighing  G562  pounds) 
to  Jonesville,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  the 
route  lying  through  a  totally  new  country. 
Mr.  Sill  drove  four  oxen  witii  a  lighter 
wagon,  containing  the  family,  and  they  ex- 
perienced many  difficulties,  at  one  place, 
near  Maumee,  the  mud  being  so  thick  and 
deep  that  they  Tnade  but  little  progress. 
They  passed  thirty-one  taverns  in  thirty 
miles,  but  required  to  stop  at  only  one  of 
them,  two  nights,  finally  reaching  Jones- 
ville in  safety;  Mr.  Sutiiff  then  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  did  hard  labor  until  March, 
1838,  when  he  engaged  to  drive  a  four-ox 
team  from  Carlisle  township  to  Ionia, 
Mich.  They  traveled  through  the  Maumee 
swamp  before  the  frost  had  jiassed  out  of 
it,  but  got  over  in  safety,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded with  comparative  ease  to  Jackson- 
burg  through  mud  and  storm,  but  were 
still  seventy-tive  miles  from  their  destina- 
tion. From  Jacksonburg  they  traveled  to 
Marshall,     the    county    seat    of    Calhoun 


county,  thirty  miles;  thence  to  Kalamazoo 
thirty  miles;  thence  seventy-five  miles 
northeast  to  Ionia  county,  the  entire 
journey  occupying  twenty-six  days.  Here 
Mr.  Sutiitf  assisted  in  hewing  out  a  new 
home  in  the  woods,  and  buildins  a  lojr 
house,  18x24,  into  which  the  family 
moved  within  eleven  days  after  their  ar- 
rival, during  which  time  they  were  living 
with  a  man  named  AVebster. 

In  the  same  year,  Mr.  Sutiiff  iiaving  de- 
cided to  revisit  Ohio,  he  shouldered  his 
knapsack,  and  set  out  alone,  on  foot,  in 
one  day  reaching  St  John's,  the  county 
seat  of  Clinton  county,  Mich.  From  there 
he  proceeded  to  Detroit,  taking  the  nearest 
route,  which  was  forty  miles  thrungli  the 
woods  along  an  old  Indian  trail.  About 
an  hour  before  noon  he  met  a  big  Indian, 
fully  equipped  with  a  rifle,  tomahawk 
and  knife;  but  Mr.  Sutiiff  gave  him 
a  very  brief  interview,  his  looks  be- 
ing much  more  suggestive  of  a  villain 
than  a  friend,  and  left  him  roasting  a 
muskrat  for  his  noon-hour  meal.  Our 
hero  arrived  in  safety,  however,  at  Liv- 
ingston, Berrien  county,  after  a  tramp 
of  forty  miles  between  sunrise  and  sunset, 
and  from  there,  after  a  rest,  made  his  way 
to  Detroit,  which  he  reached  in  due  time. 
From  Detroit  he  took  steamboat  to  Cleve- 
land, a  rough  voyage,  thence  home  by  way 
of  Carlisle,  &c. 

After  this,  in  the  same  year,  William 
H.  H.  Sutiiff,  Asa  G.  Sutiiff  and  Philo 
Murry  converted  their  effects  into  twenty 
head  of  cattle — oxen,  new  milch -cows,  &c. 
— and  started  for  Ionia,  Mich.  They  pur- 
sued the  same  route,  in  due  course  reach- 
ing Marshall,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
from  there  proceeded  northward  eleven 
miles,  to  the  village  of  Hastings;  thence  to 
Vermontville,  Eaton  county,  from  which 
place  they  plodded  their  way  through  an 
unbroken  wilderness,  taking  an  Indian 
trail,  one  of  the  party  leading  the  way  with 
an  axe,  with  which  now  and  then  he  had  to 
cut  an  opening  through  the  bush.  Some- 
times the  oxen  wouhl  be  "mired  down"  in 


(560 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


a  tainarac  swamp  they  bad  to  pass  through, 
and  then  they  would  have  to  be  assisted 
out,  and  the  entire  party  make  a  detour  of 
about  a  mile.  At  the  close  of  each  day  a 
halt  would  be  made  at  some  convenient 
spot,  a  fire  built,  the  cows  milked,  and  a 
qnilt  spiead  on  Mother  Earth,  whereon  the 
weary  wayfarers  would  rest  for  the  night. 
To  use  Mr.  Sutliff's  own  graphic  words  : 
"We  ate  and  drank  and  fared  sumptuously 
during  the  three  days  and  three  nights  we 
were  in  the  wilderness,  and  came  out  hale 
and  hearty!" 

In  September,  1840,  Mr.  Sutliff  was 
married  to  Miss  Phcebe  D.  Gott,  of 
LaGrange,  Ohio,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  March  22,  1821,  and  they  had 
twelve  children,  all  sons  except  one,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record  : 
William  H.,  born  October  7,  1841,  a  dray- 
man in  Lorain,  married  Emily  Allen,  and 
they  have  two  children  —  Milton  and 
Phfpbe;  George  B.,  born  January  9,  1843, 
died  July  21, 1845;  CharlesE.  (his  sketch  is 
on  page  603),  born  February  IG,  1845, 
married  Mary  Hoffman,  and  they  have  two 
children,  May  E.  and  Floyd  E  ;  George  War- 
ren, born  March  12,  1847,  now  residing  in 
California,  married  Em  ma  Bruce,  and  has 
four  children — Belle,  Brnce,  George  W. 
and  one  whose  name  is  not  given;  John 
Laverdo,  born  May  6,  1849,  died  October 
20,  1852;  Stephen  S.,  born  August  16, 
1851,  died  January  14,  1861;  Martin 
Beeman,  born  April  16,  1854,  died  Janu- 
ary 5,  1861;  James  Alvord,  born  August 
5,  1856,  died  September  12,  1892  (he 
farmed  on  the  home  place;  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Letina  Barber,  but  had  no  children); 
Frederick  Eugene  (a  hackman  in  Welling- 
ton), born  November  17,  1859,  married 
Prudence  Coding,  and  they  have  two 
sons — Walter  and  Wilber;  one  son  was 
still-born;  Emma  Jane,  born  August  7, 
1862,  wife  of  Bart  Whitehead,  residing 
in  Wellington  (they  have  one  child,  Phoebe 
Delilah);  and  Franklin  Pierce,  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1864,  a  farmer  who  married 
Frances  Dorchester. 


In  December,  1841,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sut- 
liff (the  latter  carrying  her  two-months- 
old  babe),  with  a  pair  of  oxen,  two  cows 
and  seven  sheep,  set  out  for  Michigan  to 
establish  a  new  home  on  his  property 
above  alluded  to,  where  they  arrived  in 
safety,  rich  in  youth  and  health  and 
strength,  but  poor  in  pocket,  not  having 
a  dollar  at  their  command.  The  young 
husband  and  father  soon,  however,  had  a 
good  log  house  put  up  and  furnished,  and 
he  continued  making  improvements  on  his 
land,  besides  working  for  others,  clearing 
away  the  timber  and  brush  and  assisting 
in  the  building  of  schoolhouses,  bridiies, 
and  logcrossways;  chopping  out  highways, 
and  lumbering  in  the  winter  season.  In 
this  wilderness  he  encountered  many  dan- 
gers, especially  from  wild  animals,  anil  he 
did  a  good  deal  of  trapping,  catching  in 
that  way  nine  large  grey  wolves;  he  also 
killed  a  bear,  first  by  the  aid  of  his  dog, 
driving  it  up  a  tree,  which  he  chopped 
down,  and  then  with  his  axe  finished  Bruin's 
earthly  career.  The  amount  of  small  game 
he  killed  was  something  that  would  make 
a  modern-day  Nimrod  gasp  with  wonder- 
ment. On  this  land  he  lived  from  Decem- 
ber, 1841,  to  February,  1852,  —  eleven 
years — at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was 
induced  to  return  to  Lorain  county,  to  care 
for  his  parents  in  their  declining  years. 
Accordingly  he  "  swapped  "  his  Michigan 
farm  for  one  in  Wellington  township,  and 
here  he  has  since  resided,  for  the  past  forty 
years,  in  the  town  of  Wellington.  One 
day  in  1842,  in  passing  through  a  piece  of 
heavily-timbered  land,  four  or  five  miles, 
with  a  team  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  when 
about  half-way  through,  he  found  a  dead 
man,  evidently  thrown  from  a  wagon,  the 
■  horse  having  taken  fright  at  something. 
Mr.  Sutliff  picked  the  body  up,  placed  it 
in  his  wagon,  and  conveyed  it  to  the  near- 
est house,  the  act  being  justified  by  the 
law,  which  provided  that  after  a  dead  body 
had  lain  in  the  woods  eighteen  hours,  sub- 
ject  to  mutilation  by  wild  animals,  the 
finder  of   the  corpse    may    remove   it.     A 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


661 


coroner's  jury  was  snininoned,  and  they 
endorsed  Ity  their  verdict  the  facts  as  re- 
lated by  Mr.  iSntliff. 

Our  subject's  first  wife  died  in  1888, 
and  in  December,  1891,  he  married  Mrs. 
Deiicy  Rugg,  a  native  of  LaGrange 
township,  l)orn  in  1831,  who  by  her  first 
husband  had  three  sons,  namely:  [\)  Orrin 
David  Kngg,  born  July  1,  1855,  who  is 
married  and  has  two  children — Leona  C. 
and  Edmund;  (2)  Frank  E.  Rngg,  born 
July  27,  1857,  residing  in  Huntington 
tovvnshij),  is  married  and  has  four  children 
— Ermie,  Earl,  Laverdo  and  Grace;  and 
(3)  Charles  Edison  Rugg.  residing  in 
Huntington.  The  father  of  these,  Ediunnd 
Rugg,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
whence  he  came  to  Ohio  when  eleven  years 
old.  In  February,  1854,  he  married  Miss 
Dency  Hulbert,  of  LaGrange  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Sutlitf's  Michigan  farm  comprised 
140  acres;  his  one  in  Wellington  township, 
126  acres.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Republican,  his  first  Pi-esidential  vote  be- 
ing cast  ft)r  W.  H.  Harrison;  in  mattersof 
religion  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church   since  he  was  sixteen  years  old. 


Hi     G.  COMINGS,  mayor  of  Oberlin, 
//l\     and  proprietor  of  one  of  the  most 
IrT^   extensive     bookstores     in      Lorain 
■fj  county,    is    a    native    of    Franklin 

county,  Vt.,  born  in  1856,  a  son  of 
A.  C.  and  Amanda  (Jones]  Coinings,  both 
also  of  the  "Green  Mountain"  State, 
where  they  were  married.  They  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  when  our  subject 
was  nine  years  old,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Russia  township,  one  mile  from  Ober- 
lin. They  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
all  educated  at  Oberlin,  A.  G.  being  the 
youngest;  he  has  one  brother  living,  pub- 
lisher of  a  paper  at  Springfield,  Mo.  The 
father  is  living;  the  mother  is  deceased. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch,  after  coming 
to  Russia  township,  attended  Oberlin  Col- 


lege till  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  after 
which  he  taught  school  ten  years,  in  course 
of  which  time  he  served  in  the  capacity  of 
principal  and  superintendent  at  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  and  other  places.  He  then  perma- 
nently settled  in  Oberlin,  and  in  1889 
bought  his  present  business,  which  has 
since  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
has  had  to  enlarge  his  premises. 

On  June  20,  1878,  Mr.  Comings  was 
united  in  marriai^e  with  Emelie  Royce, 
who  was  born  in  Oberlin  March  27,  1856, 
a  daughter  of  S.  and  Martha  Rojce.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Comings  two  children  have 
been  born:  Charles  and  Harriet.  In  his 
political  predilections  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, has  beeti  a  member  of  the  city 
council  two  years,  and  mayor  of  Oberlin 
since  April,  1892.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum. 


E.  BRAMAN,  county  coroner  for 
Lorain  county,  and  township  asses- 
sor of  Elyria  township,  is  a  native 
of  the  county,  born  at  Carlisle  Oc- 
tober 20,  1838. 
Anson  Braman,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  ISll  in  Genesee  county,  N. 
Y.  In  1822  his  parents  came  from  that 
county  to  Avon  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio.  In  1882  Anson  removed  from  Avon 
to  Carlisle,  where  he  followed  the  business 
of  a  farmer  and  nurseryman,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Elyria,  same  county,  where  he 
established  the  nurseries  now  owned  l)y  J. 
C.  Hill.  From  Elyria  he  went  to  North- 
port,  Mich.  He  was  married,  in  1835,  in 
Carlisle,  to  Miss  Emeline  Vincent,  who 
was  born  at  Mt.  Washington,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  October  10,  1818. 

R.  E.  Braman  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  and  educated  at  the  Elyria  j)ublic 
schools.  At  the  age  when  he  should  have 
been  entering  the  arena  of  professional 
or  business  life,  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 
and  fired  by  the  spirit  of  patriotism  he  en- 
listed,   August   9,    1861,   in   Company  I, 


662 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Eighth  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Columbus,  Ohio  On  the 
first  day  of  his  service  iie  was  promoted 
to  corporal,  afterward  to  sergeant,  and 
finally  to  lieutenant,  his  commission,  how- 
ever, not  being  issued  till  July  25,  18G4. 
Our  subject  participated  in  the  following 
battles  and  skirmishes:  Hanging  Rock, 
Va. ;  Romney,  Va.  (both  battles);  Blues 
Gap;  French  Store;  Blooming  Gap;  Cedar 
Creek;  Strasburgh;  Kernstown;  Winches- 
ter; Cedar  Creek  (second  battle);  Wood- 
stock; Edinburgh;  Mt.  Jackson;  Rood's 
Hill;  New  Market;  Front  Royal;  Harri- 
son's Landing;  Chickahominy  Swamps; 
Germantown  [M.  these  in  Virginia);  Mou- 
ocacy  Bridge,  Md.;  South  Mountain,  Md.; 
Cliancellorsville,  Va. ;  Gettysburg,  Pa.; 
Kilwinter,  Md.  After  which  he  was 
present  at  the  following  engagements  in 
Virginia:  Falling  Water,  Culpeper  Court- 
house, Robinson's  River,  Rappahannock 
Station,  Beaieton,  Auburn,  Bristol  Station, 
Centerville,  Kelly's  Ford,  Robertson's 
Tavern,  Mine  Run,  Morton's  Ford,  Wil- 
derness, Todd's  Furnace,  Po  River,  Spott- 
sylvania  and  Nortli  Anna.  At  the  last 
named  battle  lie  received  a  shot  through 
the  thigh,  which  crippled  him  for  life,  and 
he  remained  in  hospital  until  Augut-t  25, 
1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

In  1805  Mr.  Braman  married  Miss 
Helen  M.  Nickerson,  a  native  of  Welling- 
ton, Ohio,  and  four  children — Edith  M., 
Harry  E.,  Hattie  L.  and  Frank  R. — were 
born  to  them.  For  a  short  time  after  the 
war  Mr.  Braman  was  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  but  since  1868  he  has  almost 
constantly  been  holding  local  offices  of 
trust.  In  that  year  he  was  elected  town- 
ship assessor  of  Elyria  township,  an  in- 
cumbency he  has  filled  continuously  since, 
with  the  exception  of  the  period  he  was 
county  sheriff — 1872  to  1876.  He  was 
elected  county  coroner  in  1S81,  and  has 
filled  the  office  ever  since  without  interrup- 
tion. He  has  served  as  constable  of 
Elyria  township  several  years,  and  is,  at 
present,  deputy  city  marshal.      His  pen- 


sion for  services  in  the  war  was  originally 
thirty  dollars  per  month,  which  was  raised 
to  forty-five  dollars  by  special  Act  of  Con- 
gress. Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican; 'ocially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  65,  Elyria  (in  which 
he  has  been  senior  vice-commander),  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Honor. 


fr^  H.  ROBBINS,  ex-treasurer  of  Lor- 
I  J,  ain  county,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 
\^  September  25,  1826,  fourth  in  the 
^^  order  of  birth  of  the  nine  children 
of  Joseph  and  Mehitabel  (Ilurlbut) 
Robbins,  natives  of  Connecticut. 

The  parents  of  subject  moved  to  Jeffer- 
son county,  N.  Y.,  and  there  followed 
farming  until  1825,  when  they  came  to 
Ohio  and  settled  in  the  woods  of  La- 
Grange  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
they  cleared  a  farm  and  remained  till  the 
father  was  al)0Ut  seventy  years  old.  They 
then  retired  into  the  village  of  La  Granjfe, 
and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
busy  lives,  the  mother  dying  in  1878,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  the  father 
in  1880,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of  ninety- 
one.  He  was  in  politics  first  a  Democrat, 
then  a  Free-soiler,  and  lastly  a  Republican. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  was  a  deacon 
f)-om  1840  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  father  (grandfather  of  subject)  was  a 
native  of  Ashfoid,  Conn.,  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  died  in  La  Grange,  Lorain 
county,  when  his  grandson,  G.  II.,  was  a 
boy. 

The  subject  proper  of  these  lines  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  first  home, 
and  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  then 
entered  mercantile  business  in  the  town  of 
La  Grange,  and  continued  in  same  with 
encouraging  success  until  1880,  when  he 
was  elected  county  treasurer,  in  which 
office  he  served  two  terms  [iowT  years).  At 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


663 


the  time  of  his  receiving  the  incumbency 
lie  moved  into  Elyria,  and  lias  since  been 
one  of  its  most  prominent  and  respected 
citizens.  Since  1850  he  has  l)een  u  zeal- 
ous Republican,  prior  to  which  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

In  1853  Mr.  Robbins  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  F.  Perkins,  who 
has  borne  him  two  children,  Louise  L. 
and  Hettie  J.  Mary  F.  Perkins  was  born 
February  12,  1828,  at  Burlington,  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  eldest  daughter  and 
second  child  in  the  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  four  daughters — born 
to  Thomas  and  Lucy  (Fitch)  Perkins,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  place.  Her 
early  years  were  spent  in  Virgil,  Cortland 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1849  she  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Grafton,  Ohio.  For  several 
years  previous  to  her  marriage  she  was 
engaged  in  teaching,  in  which  profession 
she  was  very  successful.  Tlionias  Perkins 
was  a  descendant  of  John  Perkins,  one  of 
two  brothers  who  migrated  from  England 
to  Boston  about  the  year  1700. 


1^ 
born 


IfffENRY  E.  MUSSEY,  a  prominent 
I  ^  business  man  of  Elyria,  and  a  Icad- 
I  11  ing  financier  of  Ohio,  commands 
•fj  more  than   a  passing  notice  in   the 

pages  of  this  volume.  He  was 
August  18,  1818,  in  Washington 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  passed  his  early 
fcliool  days. 

Reuben  Mussey,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  born  in 
L)over,  October  14,  1785.  He  studied 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Albany, 
A'.  Y.,  in  181S,  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion at  Sandy  Hill,  N.  Y.,  in  partnership 
part  of  the  time  with  Judge  Skinner,  also 
law  partner  with  V,.  F.  Butler,  of  New 
York,  and  part  of  the  time  with  Hon.  Silas 
Wright,  subsequently  U.  S.  Senator  in 
New  York  State.  In  1825  he  came  to 
Elyria,  his    family    Jbllowing   August    10, 


1820,  and  here  he  remained,  devoting  him- 
self chiefly  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
teaching  school  in  the  county,  and  in  other 
occupations,  including  that  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  until  the  fall  of  1837,  when  he 
removed  with  all  his  family  (excepting  his 
son,  Henry  E.),  to  Rockford,  III.,  where 
he  continued  in  the  practice  of  the  law 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
14,  1843. 

Henry  E.  Mussey  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  Elyria  under  the  preceptorship  of 
Rev.  John  Monteith,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  commenced  the  battle  of  life  with 
no  capital  save  energy,  willing  heart  and 
hands,  and  sound  judgment.  He  takes 
pride  in  relating  how  he  chopped  cord 
wood  in  Elyria  at  eighteen  and  three- 
quarter  cents  and  twenty  cents.  Choosinu; 
the  arena  of  mercantile  trade,  he  became 
clerk  for  Kendall  &  Parsons,  where  close 
application  to  business,  steadiness  and  in- 
tegrity soon  brought  him  advancement  till 
we  lind  him  in  course  of  time  senior  partner 
of  Mussey  &  Fuller,  which  subsequently 
became  H.  E.  Mussey  &  Co.,  and  he  claims 
that  the  secret  of  the  unbounded  success  the 
firm  met  with  was  the  strictly  cash  basis 
upon  which  they  operated — buying  for 
cash  and  selling  for  cash.  In  1842  Air. 
Mussey  went  west  and  took  up  a  large 
amount  of  land  in  Minnesota.  He  was  in 
Chicago  when  land  there  that  is  now  worth 
millions  could  have  been  bought  for  a 
mere  song;  but  from  his  experience  he 
avers  that  money  loaned  at  six  per  cent 
per  annum  is  a  better  and  safer  invest- 
ment than  average  real-estate  investments. 
During  tiie  "  forties"  he  made  more  than 
one  trip  to  ]\Iichigan  and  elsewhere,  carry- 
ing with  him  different  bank  currencies,  and 
making  exchanges  at  various  places,  sell- 
ing at  a  discount  for  gold  and  trading  cur- 
rency  for  currency,  in  order  to  get  Ohio 
money  or  gold.  In  1857  he  suld  out  his 
mercantile  business  to  Baldwin,  Laundou 
&  Nelson,  and  engaged  in  lake  shipping, 
becoming,  from  tliat  time,  interested  also 
in  banking  and  real  estate. 


664 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  1843  Mr.  Mussey  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Caroline  M.  Kendall,  of 
Siiffield,  Conn.,  and  live  children  were  born 
to  them — three  sons  and  two  daughters — 
Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  and  Eugene  K.,  Reno  F.,  Caro- 
line E.  and  Flora  B.,  all  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  A  stanch  Democrat,  Mr.  Mus- 
sey has  at  all  times  been  loyal  to  his  party 
and  country,  but  has  never  aspired  to  of- 
tice,  nor  has  he  ever  taken  active  jjart  in 
political  contests.  For  thirty  continuous 
years  he  has  l>een  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  Elyria,  for  twenty-four  its  treas- 
urer, and  during  many  years  its  president. 
He  is  vice-president  of  the  National  Bank 
of  Elyria,  and  a  director  of  the  Cleveland 
National  Bank  of  Cleveland,  both  of  which 
institutions  he  assisted  in  organizing;  is 
president  of  the  Mussey  Stone  Company, 
one  of  the  largest  stone  interests  in  Ohio; 
is  largely  interested  in  the  Cambridge 
Consolidated  Coal  Company;  besides  in 
many  other  enterprises — linancial  and  oth- 
erwise— and  has  taken  pride  and  pleasure 
in  contributing  liberally  of  his  time  and 
means  to  whatever  tended  to  the  pros- 
]ierity  and  welfare  of  the  community  at 
large. 

Mr.  Mussey  is  possessed  of  a  most  re- 
tentive memory,  recalling  with  wonderful 
accuracy  the  details  of  incidents  which  oc- 
curred within  his  own  view  during  his 
long  life;  and  he  believes  that  memory  is 
the  divinest  attribute  of  man,  permitting 
him  to  live  over  again  the  liappy  days  of 
his  past  life.  He  has  in  his  possession  a 
budget  of  souvenirs  illustrative  in  a  meas- 
ure of  the  rapid  strides  this  country  has 
made  during  the  past  few  decades — such 
as  letters  written  in  the  "thirties"  before 
envelopes  came  into  use,  and  the  postage 
was  thirty-seven  and  one-half  cents  per 
half  ounce  between  Elyria  and  Indiana. 
He  saw  the  day  when  the  mail  for  Elyria 
was  brought  on  horseback  in  a  single  bag 
thi'ee  times  a  week,  and  has  witnessed  all  the 
improvements  since,  from  the  daily  stage  to 
the   present  age  of   steam,  telegraph    and 


telephone,  with  postage  gradually  reduced 
to  two  cents  per  ounce  to  any  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  single  mail  bag  of 
thi-ee  times  a  week  developed  into  many 
such — pouring  their  contents,  correspond- 
ence from  all  jjarts  of  tiie  civilized  world 
— several  times  a  day  in  every  day  of  the 
year.  He  has  also  been  a  witness  to  great 
political  changes  in  the  nation,  and  one  of 
the  greatest  improvements  that  he  marks 
was  the  transformation  of  a  State  currency 
to  a  National  one.  Mr.  Mussey  has  seen 
dark  periods  of  panics  and  financial  de- 
pression, but  by  keen  foresight  and  care- 
ful management  he  always  succeeded  in 
steering  his  affairs  clear  of  shoals  and  the 
impetiding  vortex.  During  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  he  was  true  to  his  colors,  grave 
much  of  his  time  and  means  toward  the 
defense  of  the  Union,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  local  military  committee.  In  re- 
ligious connection  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has 
ever  been  a  liberal  supporter.  Socially  he 
has  always  been  liberal,  frank  and  genial, 
in  business  never  else  than  scrupulously 
honorable  and  honest. 


[[   J    M.    PARKER,    A.   M.,    superin- 

r!^     tendeut  of  public  schools,  Elyria,  is 

I     1|    a  native   of  Licking  county,  Ohio, 

■JJ  born  in  December,   1835,   a  son  of 

John  and   Persis  (Follett)   Parker, 

natives    of   Franklin    county,    Vt.     They 

come  of  old  Puritan  stock,  and  the  tirst  of 

the  family    in    Ohio  came   about  the  year 

1835. 

His  grandfatiier  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution,  and  an  officer  in  the  war  of 
1812.  One  of  iiis  great-grandfathers  was 
killed  in  the  Revolution,  and  another  was 
an  officer  throughout  that  war,  and  judge 
of  the  first  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont. 

Our  subject  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  neighlior- 
hood  of  his  birthplace,  and  at  Marietta 
College,  Marietta,  Ohio,  from  wliich  insti- 


'.^. 


^^^^^, 


LORAIN  CaUNTY,  OHIO. 


667 


tution  lie  graduated  in  1859.  He  entered 
upon  tlie  profession  of  teacliing  at  the 
Granville  Male  Academy,  of  which  he  was 
principal  for  one  year.  He  served  two 
years  as  princij)al  of  the  Second  Ward 
Schools  in  Zaiiesville,  Ohio,  under  the 
superintendency  of  Gen.  M.  D.  Leggett. 
He  resigned  this  position  to  accent  the 
snperintendency  of  the  Elyria  I*ublic 
Schools,  from  which  work  he  was  called 
two  years  later,  1864,  to  take  charge  of 
the  Mansfield  Public  Schools,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  till  1873,  when  he  resigned 
to  return  to  tiie  Public  Schools  of  Elyria, 
where  he  still  remains.  Mr.  Parker  is  a 
member  of  the  National  and  the  Ohio 
State  Educational  Associations,  and  is  a 
regular  attendant  at  their  meetings;  he  has 
served  on  various  cotnmittees  thereof,  and 
as  president  of  the  Ohio  Association;  he 
was  a  member  of  the  State  examining 
board  three  years,  having  received  his  ap- 
pointment from  CoL  D.  F.  DeWolf. 
While  a  resident  of  Kichland  county, 
Ohio,  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
county  examiners,  and  since  coming  to 
Lorain  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
examiners  of  that  county,  some  twenty 
years.  At  a  convention  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees  of  Ohio,  held  at  Lakeside, 
Ohio,  in  July,  1892,  Mr.  Parker  was 
elected  Great  Commander  for  the  State. 
At  the  close  of  the  year  he  was  reelected 
to  the  same  responsible  position. 


)ILLIAM  HELDMYER,  promi- 
nent in  the  commercial  circles  of 
Elyria,  and  one  of  the  most  ex- 
-  tensive  hardware  merchants  in 
Lorain  county,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  born  in  Medina  county  April  13, 
1850.  lie  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Julia 
Heldmyer,  natives  of  Wittenberg,  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  in  1848,  set- 
tling in  Medina  county,  Ohio.  The  father, 
who  was  first  a  harness  maker  and  later  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  died  early  in  life; 
the  mother  is  yet  living  in  Elyria. 

36 


William  Heldmyer  at  about  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  left  home  and  worked  in 
various  cities  throughout  the  country, 
finally,  in  1867,  locating  in  Elyria,  where 
he  first  found  employment  on  the  L.  S.  & 
M.  S.  Railroad,  but  it  was  not  until  1880 
that  his  cai-eer  of  success  commenced.  At 
that  time  he  opened  out,  in  conjunction 
with  Mr.  Wright  and  Mr.  Semple,  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Elyria,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Heldmyer,  Wright  &  Semple,  and  three 
years  later  he  bought  out  the  entire  con- 
cern, carrying  same  on  for  some  three 
years  longer  as  sole  proprietor.  He  then 
received  into  partnership  Mr.  John  Krantz, 
and  for  the  past  several  years  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  firm  has  become  as  a  proverb  in 
the  community,  while  others  have  not  suc- 
ceeded so  well.  William  Heldmyer  &  Co. 
bought  out  the  entire  stock  of  H.  Brush 
&  Co.  (at  the  time  of  their  failure  in 
Elyria),  consisting  of  hai'dware,  imple- 
ments, etc.  About  this  time  the  firm  of 
W.  H.  Semple  &  Son  also  failed  in  busi- 
ness, and  our  subject  purchased  their  stock 
of  stoves,  etc.  The  firm  also  bought  out 
the  stock  of  W.  E.  Brooks,  one  of  the 
largest  implement  dealers  in  northern 
Ohio,  and  with  this  large  stock  of  goods — ■ 
the  practical  consolidation  of  four  separate 
businesses — William  Heldmyer  &  Co.  pre- 
sented themselves  to  the  public  as  the 
largest  general  hardware  dealers  in  Lorain 
county.  In  addition  to  the  articles  already 
enumerated,  they  include  in  their  stock 
agricultural  implements  of  all  kinds,  farm 
vehicles,  buggies,  wagons,  etc.,  as  well  as 
hardware  of  every  description,  seeds,  phos- 
phates, etc.  The  building  they  occupy, 
and  which  they  own,  is  50  x  165  feet,  three 
floors  of  which  they  use,  besides  a  ware- 
house filled  with  goods.  Mr.  Heldmyer 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Savings  Deposit 
Bank  Co.,  of  Elyria,  in  the  Lake  Erie 
Electric  Light  Company  at  Lorain,  and  in 
the  steamship  "Veca."  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  council  for  four  years.  lie  is  a 
representative  self-made   man,  all  that  he 


608 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lias  made  being  due  entirely  to  liis  own 
indomitable  perseverance  and  irrepressible 
energy. 

In  1874  Mr.  Heldmyer  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Beeee,of  Elyria, 
by  wliich  union  there  are  four  children: 
Jiorence,  Alice,  Leona  and  Harry,  all 
living.  In  the  spring  of  1893  Mr.  Held- 
myer purchased  the  "Metropolitan  Hotel" 
of  Elyria,  and  August  1,  same  year, 
bought  a  one-third  interest  in  the  "And- 
wnr  Hotel,"  an  elegant  hostelry  costing 
ninety  thousand  dollars.  His  home  is  sit- 
uated at  Middle  avenue  and  Fourth  street. 


H 


EMAN  E.  STARE,  who  for  the 
past  sixty  years,  or  nearly  so,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Pentield  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Orrin  Starr, 
a   representative  pioneer 


who  was 
citizen  of  same. 

Orrin  Starr  was  born  October  30,  1803, 
in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Elea- 
zer  and  Rebecca  (Olapp)  Starr,  old  settlers 
of  that  county,  where  he  passed  his  early 
years  on  the  home  farm.  He  received  his 
litei'arv  training  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  county,  but  when  seven  years 
old  he  was  left  tatherless,  and  the  duties 
of  assisting  in  the  support  of  the  family 
and  his  widowed  mother  devolved  upon 
him.  In  1834  he  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  the  family  estate,  and  migrating  to  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  settled  on  a  farm  a  mile 
and  a  half  northeast  of  Penfield  Center,  at 
which  time  the  present  territory  of  Pen- 
field  township  contained  but  two  frame 
dwellings.  On  September  12,  1825,  he 
had  married  Miss  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Ileman  pnd  Lucinda  Hickok,  of  Schoharie 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  passed  a  happy 
wedded  life  of  over  fifty-six  years,  when, 
on  April  30,  1882,  he  was  called  from 
earth:  he  was  buried  in  Penfield  cemetery. 
Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Starr 
has  resided  on  the  home  farm  with  her  son 


Clapp  R.,  who  now  owns  the  place.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Starr  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  viz.:  Melinda  (deceased),  Min- 
erva and  Maria  (twins),  Heman  E.  (our 
suliject),  Elizabeth  (who  died  in  Kansas), 
Alonzo  B.  (who  died  at  Mount  Vernon, 
Ky.,  of  disease  contracted  in  the  army), 
Hiram  H.,  Emma  L.  (deceased),  Edna, 
Clapp  R.,  and  Marian  A.  (deceased).  In 
politics  he  was  originally  an  Old-line 
AVhig,  later  a  Republican,  and  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  his  township,  but 
resigned  after  serving  a  year,  feeling  that 
his  personal  affairs  required  his  exclusive 
attention ;  he  was  also  elected  to  other  town- 
ship offices.  He  and  his  wife  were  botli 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  the  latter  having  joined  it  in  her 
youth.  He  was  a  very  successful  man, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  237^ 
acres  of  excellent  land  in  the  center  of 
Penfield  township. 

Heman  E.  Starr  was  born  March  30, 
1831,  at  Harperstield,  Delaware  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  and  when  three  and  a  half  years  old 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Penfield 
township.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  boyhood  home,  then  held  in  old  log 
houses,  his  first  teacher  being  Miss  Mary 
Hayes,  but  being  the  eldest  son  he  was 
unable  to  avail  himself  of  many  advanta- 
ges. He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  he  followed  on  the  home  farm 
until  the  age  of  twenty-one,  when  he  took 
uphishomewithan  uncle,  Talcott Starr;  but- 
after  residing  with  him  only  thirteen  days 
he  was  taken  ill,  and  he  did  not  recover 
for  a  year.  On  November  13,  1852,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amelia 
M.  Gaylord,  who  was  born  May  12,  1833, 
in  Harpersfield,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Milton 
and  Hannah  (Eells)  Gaylord,  who  came  to 
Penfield  township  in  1836,  and  later  set- 
tled in  Wellington  township.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  Rev.  William 
Runnals,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Starr 
resided  for  a  short  time  with  her  father  in 


LOEAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


669 


Wellintrton,  and  in  the  following  spring 
settled  on  tlieir  present  farm,  three-qnar- 
ters  of  a  mile  south  of  the  center  of  Pen- 
field  township.  At  the  time  of  their  com- 
ing but  a  small  portion  of  this  place  was 
cleared,  and  they  first  lived  thereon  in  a 
lionie  that  cost  twenty  dollars,  complete. 
Here  he  has  since  erected  a  pleasant  dwel- 
ling, and  now  owns  130  acres  of  excellent 
farm  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Starr  have  had 
three  children,  viz.:  Milton  G.,  a  farmer 
of  Penfield  township,  who  married  Miss 
Ilattie  Noble  (daughter  of  Mortimer  E. 
and  Helen  A.  (Olmstead)  Noble,  residents 
of  Swanton,  ()hio),  and  has  one  child, 
Winifred  L. ;  Lizzie,  who  died  young;  and 
Harry  E.,  a  hardware  meichant  of  Mc- 
Comb,  Hancock  Co.,  Oliio.  Our  subject 
has  always  followed  farming,  and  for  a 
number  of  3'ears  has  conducted  a  dairy 
business  in  connection  therewith.  In  his 
political  preferences  he  is  a  Repul)lican, 
and  has  served  as  trustee  and  in  various 
other  township  positions.  He  has  also 
held  dUices  in  the  Congregational  Church, 
of  which  lie  and  his  wife  are  members. 


V.ILLIAM  GPtAVES  SHARP  is  a 
native   of   Ohio,    born   at    Mount 
m     Gilead    March    14,  1859,  and  is 
descended   from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  families  in  Maryland. 

George  Sharp,  grandfather  of  subject, 
and  his  son  (also  named  George),  both 
natives  of  Maryland,  were  among  the  first 
editors  in  Ohio,  in  which  State  and  in 
Maryland  they  held  honorable  political 
jiositions.  The  grandfather  died  at  Mount 
Gilead,  and  is  buried  there.  The  father  of 
William  G.  married  Miss  Maliala  Graves, 
who  was  descended  from  an  old  Connecti- 
cut family.  They  had  but  two  children, 
William  G.  and  George  W.,  the  latter  of 
M'hom  was  the  youngest  senator  of  Michi- 
gan; he  is  a  graduate  of  Elyria  high  school 
and  Michigan  University,  and  is  now  an 
attorney  at  law  in  Michigan. 


The  subject  of  these  lines   received   a 

liberal  education,  in  part  at  the  comtnon 
schools,  and  in  part  at  the  high^schools  of 
Elyria,  from  which  latter  he  graduated. 
He  then  took  a  course  at  the  ITniversity 
of  Michigati,  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  18^1  in  law,  ami  part 
of  the  literary  course.  Wlien  he  left  col- 
lege he  found  himself  poor  in  a  financial 
point  of  view,  but  rich  in  a  harvest  of 
literary  and  legal  loitj.  He  then  made  a 
trip  west  to  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  and 
at  Fargo,  in  the  last  named  State,  entered 
newspaper  work,  becoming  local  editor 
and  finally  editor-in-chief.  Returning  to 
Ohio,  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Elyria,  and 
soon  afterward  we  find  him  forming  a 
partnership  with  Lester  McLean  in  Elyria. 
In  1884  he  was  elected,  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  to  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney, 
overcoming  an  adverse  majority  of  more 
than  2.000,  and  after  three  years  was 
nominated  for  State  senator  in  his  District, 
but  was  defeated,  although  he  ran  eon- 
siderably  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  1892  he 
was  a  Presidential  elector  for  Ohio  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  has  been  chairman 
of  County  and  Congressional  District 
Committees  at  various  times.  About  five 
years  ago  he  became  interested  as  attorney 
for  certain  Tennessee  business  corpora- 
tions, and  in  many  other  enterprises,  from 
which  connection  with  Tennessee  capital- 
ists he  was  enabled  to  organize  a  number 
of  large  manufacturing  concerns  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  He  also  vis- 
ited several  South  American  Republics 
for  the  same  purpose,  meeting  with  en- 
couraging success,  but  was  interrupted  by 
the  Chilean  war.  Mexico  was  also  visited^ 
by  him  in  similar  interests,  and  with  a 
like  result,  and  he  is  now  a  director  and 
stockholder  in  half  a  dozen  different  com- 
panies, requiring  more  or  less  attention. 
He  nu^ibers  among  his  friends  and  busi- 
ness associates  soine  of  the  most  prominent 
capitalists  in  this  country,  both  in  the  North 
and  South,  whose  conKdence  lie  enjoys  in 
the  highest  degree      In  the  meantime  his 


670 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


home  is  still  in  Elyria,  as  is  also  his  law 
office;  but  so  much  of  bis  time  is  given  to 
manufacturing  enterprises  that  he  has  but 
little  to  spaie  for  clientage.  While  in 
regular  practice  he  made  a  record  equal  to 
the  best,  being  successful  in  a  very  large 
proportion  of  the  State  cases  entrusted  to 
him  as  prosecuting  attoi'ney.  In  1891  he 
began  the  erection  of  the  W.  G.  Sharp 
block  in  Elyria,  which  is  built  of  pressed 
brick,  and  is  three  stories  in  height,  hav- 
ing the  interior  fitted  up  with  hardwood, 
marble  and  tile.  Mr.  Sharp  lias  traveled 
extensively  in  nearly  every  country  except 
the  extreme  Orient,  and  has  profited  much 
by  his  observation  of  men  and  things. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A. 
M.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  K.  O.  T.  M.  and  K.  of  P. 


FRANK  W.  BENNETT,  president 
of  the  Wellington  (Brick)  Machine 
^  Co.,  of  Wellington,  Ohio,  comes  of 
stalwart  English  ancestry,  and  of 
patriotic  Revolutionary  stock  in  this 
country. 

His  grandfather,  a  native  of  either  Ver- 
mont or  Massachusetts,  served  in  the 
Revolution.  He  was  a  Baptist  preaclier 
for  a  very  long  period,  and  died  at  the 
patriarchal  age  of  ninety-two  years  in 
Wellington,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his 
wife  also  ended  her  days.  They  came  to 
Ohio  with  their  family  some  time  in  the 
winter  of  1832-33.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren: Isaac,  father  of  subject,  and  Fannie, 
who  married  Peter  Bost,  of  Pentield,  Lo- 
rain county. 

Isaac  Bennett,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Vermont  in  1800,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio  when  he  was  about 
thirty-two  years  of  age.  He  taught  school 
both  before  and  after  coming  here,  but 
chiefly  gave  writing  lessons  in  Lorain 
county.  In  course  of  time  he  opened  out  a 
brick  manufacturing  business,  which  he  car- 
ried on  some  years;  also  owned  a  sawmill, 
and  made  rakes  and  such   like  agricultural 


implements  in  a  shop  he  built  for  the  pur- 
pose. For  seventeen  years  he  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  it  is  stated  by 
good  authority  that  no  decision  of  his  was 
ever  overruled  by  higher  courts.  He  was 
librarian  of  the  public  library  at  W^elling- 
ton  many  years,  and  in  every  public  enter- 
prise showed  himself  in  a  substantial  way 
to  be  a  useful,  loyal  citizen.  He  was  a 
zealous  Baptist  as  long  as  there  was  a 
church  or  congregation  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  the  neighborhood,  but  died  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church,  that  event 
taking  ])lace  in  1886,  when  he  was  aged 
about  eighty-seven  years;  his  wife,  Esther 
(Childs),  passed  away  in  1891.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Lewis,  of  whom  special  mention  will 
presently  be  jnade;  Tirzah,  who  married  a 
Mr.  Kirk;  W^illiam,  residing  in  Welling- 
ton; Charles,  also  in  Wellington;  Levi,  de- 
ceased, and  Frank  W.,  subject  of  sketch. 

Frank  W.  Bennett,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  December  5, 
1843,  in  Wellington,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  place  of  birth,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen laid  aside  his  Ovid  and  Sallust  for 
the  musket  and  sword.  In  1863  he  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Eighty-sixth  O.  V. 
I.,  six  months  service,  and  was  discharged 
February  10,  1864;  February  1,  1865,  he 
enlisted,  second  time,  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy- sixth  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  June  8,  1865.  In  the 
.first  company  he  served  he  was  a  corporal, 
and  during  his  last  enlistment  he  was  in 
the  regimental  band.  After  the  war  he 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  cheese 
boxes  in  Wellington,  Lorain  county,  which 
industry  he  conducted  until  purchasing  an 
interest  in  bis  present  business,  originally 
known  as  Bennett  Bros.  &  Co.,  but  since 
incorporated  into  a  stock  company  under 
the  title  of  the  Wellington  Machine  Co. 
This  company  is  extensively  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  machinery,  an 
industry  which,  under  their  management 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


671 


and  control,  has  grown  from  small  pro- 
portions to  one  of  considerable  magnitude. 
In  connection  with  this  they  own  the 
Quaker  Brick  Machine,  the  sale  of  wliich 
they  have  pushed  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  brickyard  sup- 
plies. In  18'.)0  they  put  up  their  present 
manufacturing  building,  whicii  contains 
about  half  an  acre  of  floor  space,  and  they 
employ  an  average  of  seventy-tive  men. 
In  1867  Mr.  Bennett  married  Miss  Ella 
Boys,  who  was  born  in  Norfolk,  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  in  1848,  and  came  to  Oliio 
with  her  parents  in  1857.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bennett  have  one  child — Roy  C.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  an  ardent  Bepublican. 
Lewis  Bennett,  eldest  brother  of  Frank 
W.,  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  born  Septem- 
ber 7,  1824,  and  received  nearly  all  his 
schooling  in  Lorain  county.  Till  he  was 
in  his  twenty-third  year  he  worked  in  his 
fatiier's  brickyard,  after  which  he  carried 
on  a  similar  business  for  his  own  account, 
some  thirty  years,  in  Wellington,  Lorain 
county,  making  by  hand  most  of  the  brick 
used  in  the  erection  of  all  the  best  houses 
in  the  town.  In  1871  he  built  the  "Park 
Hotel"  in  Wellington,  a  well  known  and 
popular  hostelry.  In  1847  he  married 
Miss  Fannie  Lewis,  a  native  of  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  born  in  September,  1830, 
and  two  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
both  now  deceased,  the  son  at  the  age  of  two 
years,  the  daughter  (who  bad  married,  but 
had  no  children)  when  thirty  years  of  age. 
Politically  Mr.  Bennett  is  a  lifelong  Re- 
publican, and  in  matters  of  religion  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church. 


T.  MAYNARD,  M.  D.,  a  leading 
physician  of  Lorain  county,  and  a 
resident  of  Elyria,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1851,  in  Ripley  town- 
ship, Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Polly  (Woodward)  Maynard, 
natives  of  New  York  State,  both  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  and  carrying  on  farming  in 


Ripley  township,  Huron  county,  where 
they  have  resided  ever  since  their  marriage, 
in   1850. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the 
comtnon  schools  of  the  Tieighborhood  of 
his  ])lace  of  birth.  So  hard  did  he  study, 
and  so  apt  was  he  as  a  student,  that  from 
being  a  scholar  he  became  a  teacher  be- 
fore he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  and  all 
the  money  he  earned  up  to  that  age  went 
toward  the  support  of  the  family.  After 
that  period  of  his  life  he  continued  teach- 
ing during  winter  time,  and  working  on  a 
farm  in  summers,  saving  his  money  in 
order  to  enable  him  to  follow  out  the  am- 
bition of  his  boyhood  and  youth — to  become 
a  ])hysician.  In  1873  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine,  the  same  year  entering 
the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  he  took  his  degree  of  M.  D. 
in  1875.  During  the  two  succeeding  years 
he  was  assistant  physician  in  the  North- 
western Ohio  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at 
Toledo,  Ohio.  In  the  general  practice  of 
his  profession  Dr.  Maynard  opened  out 
flrst  at  Middletown,  Ohio,  whence,  in 
1878,  he  moved  to  North  Amherst,  in 
Lorain  county,  and  here  he  practiced  over 
seven  years,  during  which  time  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  Medical  Col- 
lege, Western  Reserve  University,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  graduating  there  in  1884.  In 
1885  and  '86  the  Doctor  spent  six  months 
in  the  Polyclinic,  New  York,  taking  an- 
other post-graduate  course.  In  1886,  on 
his  return,  he  moved  to  Elyria,  Ohio,  and 
established  his  present  lucrative  practice. 
The  winter  of  1888-89  he  passed  in 
Europe,  visiting  various  medical  institu- 
tions in  London,  Paris,  Berlin  and  Vienna, 
spending  a  whole  year  in  post-graduate 
work;  in  addition  to  all  of  which  he  took 
a  short  course  at  the  Homeopathic  Medi- 
cal College,  Chicago,  in  1892,  and  spent 
six  weeks  at  the  Post-graduate  School  of 
New  York,  in  the  fall  of  1893.  This  is  an 
experience  of  study  that  few  medical  men 
in  Ohio  can  boast  of,  and  Dr.  Maynard  is 


672 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


justly  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
practitioners  in  his  county,  wliile  at  the 
same  tinne  he  is  alniobt  the  youngest  man 
there  in  the  profession. 

Dr.  O.  T.  Alaynard  was  married,  in  1877, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Lyman,  niece  of  Dr.  B. 
A.  Wright,  superintendent  of  the  North- 
western Ohio  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at 
Toledo,  already  mentioned.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  socially  is  a  member 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  I.  O.  F., 
the  Cuyahoga  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Society  of  Medical  Sciences  of  Cleveland, 
and  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Society.  He 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  ever  since  he  was  married,  having 
united  with  that  Church  at  Cincinnati 
during  his  student  life. 


CHARLES  E.  WILSON,  county  com- 
missioner  of  Lorain    county    (with 
^_^     residence  in   Elyria),  is  a  native  of 
same,  born   in   Avon  township,  Au- 
gust 26,  1840. 

His  father,  William  Wilson,  was  born 
in  1812  in  Northamptonshire,  England, 
whence  at  about  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  for  a  few  years.  He 
there  married  Miss  Elvira  Clisbee,  and  the 
young  couple  then  (1839)  moved  to  Avon 
township,  Lorain  county,  settling  on  a 
piece  of  land,  at  that  time  all  covered  by 
the  forest.  He  died  January  19,  1860, 
aged  forty-seven  years,  two  months,  nine- 
teen days,  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  Bap- 
tist in  religion.  His  father,  also  named 
William,  came  from  England  to  this  coun- 
try, and  died  in  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county;  he  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  <lying  i!i  England,  his  second  in  Avon 
township.  Our  subject's  mother,  who  is 
at  present  living  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  aged 
seventy-three  years,  comes  of  New  Eng- 
land stock.  She  is  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  is  brief  men- 
tion:     Charles  E.  is   the    subject   of  this 


sketch;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  N.  S.  Phelps, 
of  Glenwood,  Iowa;  Louis  E.  is  in  Atchi- 
son county.  Mo.;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  J. 
Graves,  of  Tabor,  Iowa;  Willis  S.  died 
when  twenty-three  years  old;  Alice  is  also 
deceased. 

Charles  E.  Wilson,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  Avon 
township,  w'hich  was  supplemented  with 
an  attendance  of  one  term  at  Oberlin  Col- 
lege. In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
First  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery,  which  served 
in  eastern  Tennessee.  He  remained  in  the 
army  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
in  active  service  at  the  time  of  Lee's  sur- 
render, after  which  he  came  home,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  drove  a  team  to 
Iowa,  where  he  resided  one  year  on  a  farm. 
Once  more  coming  to  Lorain  county,  he 
married  Miss  Elzina  Lucas,  and  then  set- 
tled on  the  old  homestead  which  at  that 
time  he  rented,  but  later  bought.  They 
lived  there  until  1886,  when  he  located  in 
Elyria.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Elyria 
Savings  Deposit  Bank  Co.;  has  been  a 
member  of  the  boai'd  of  directors  of  the 
Lorain  County  Agricultural  Society;  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  a  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  city  council 
and  of  the  board  of  education.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  were  born  two  children, 
viz. :  Alice,  who  was  married,  June  8, 1S93, 
to  F.  E.  Edwards,  and  lives  in  Medina,  Ohio, 
where  her  husband  is  a  leading  dry-goods 
merchant,  and  Grace,  who  departed  frotn 
earth  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


MITH  STEELE   is  a  son   of  John 

and    Pollie   (St.  John)   Steele,   and 

was  born  in  Avon  township,  Lorain 

Co.,  Ohio,  October  27,  1819. 

His  father,  a  native  of  Delaware  county, 

N.  Y.,  where  he  married,  was  a  tanner  and 

currier,  and  harness  and  saddle  maker.    In 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


673 


1818  he  came  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
Avon  townsliip,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  for  some  years,  and  then,  about  1826, 
removed  to  North  Amherst.  Here  he 
passed  from  earth  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  and  reared  in  Dela- 
ware county,  N.  Y.;  she  died  in  California. 
A  brief  record  of  their  children  is  as  fol- 
lows: Julia  Ann  married  O.  Williams,  of 
Avon  townsliip,  Lorain  county,  and  died 
there;  at  one  time  they  lived  in  Michigan. 
John  C,  a  farmer,  lived  in  Avon  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  for  a  time,  then  in 
North  Amherst,  where  he  died;  his  daugh- 
ter is  livinsx  on  his  late  farm.  R.  E.  went 
from  North  Amherst  to  California,  where 
he  had  ranches,  and  died  very  wealthy. 
Horace  S.,  who  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
and  also  a  farmer,  went  to  California,  and 
lived  on  a  ranch.  Nathaniel  was  a  resident 
of  North  Amherst,  and  died  while  visit- 
ing in  New  York  State.  Mary  B.  married 
S.J.  Finney,  a  professor  and  lecturer,  who 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly  of  California; 
she  died  in  Pescadero,  Cal.  The  seventh 
in  order  of  birth  is  Smith,  the  subject  of 
sketch.  Emeline  married  Isaac  Steele,  and 
is  reputed  wealthy;  they  live  in  Pescadero, 
California. 

Smith  Steele  received  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation, and  was  reared  to  the  arduous 
duties  of  farm  life.  In  1841  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Orms- 
by,  who  was  born  in  North  Amherst  Janu- 
ary 27,  1822,  and  whose  parents  were 
among  the  first  pioneers  of  North  Am- 
herst. After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steele 
remained  a  short  time  on  the  farm,  and 
then  moved  to  North  Amherst,  where  for 
six  years  he  carried  on  a  store,  and  for 
three  years  a  hotel,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  they  again  went  on  the  farm.  In 
186n  they  returned  to  North  Amherst, 
where  they  built  a  nice  residence.  Mr. 
Steele  had  twenty-two  acres  of  prime  land, 
and  followed  agriculture  until  his  retire- 
ment from  active  life  in  1878.  He  and 
his  wife  visited   California  three  times,  on 


one  occasion  spending  a  year  in  the  "Eu- 
reka State."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  Steele 
have  two  ciiildren  living — H.  N.  and  Eber 
— two  having  died — Mary,  born  January 
29,  1843,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Ilattie  May,  born  October  29,  1849,  died 
October  8,  1864.  H.  N.  was  born  De- 
cember 20,  1845,  and  was  educated  at 
Oberlin  College;  he  is  now  cashier  of  the 
Savings  Deposit  Bank  of  North  Amherst. 
Eber  was  born  December  16,  1847,  and 
educated  at  Oberlin;  he  is  now  secretary 
in  the  same  bank  as  his  brothei-.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  was  originally  a  Demo- 
crat, but  is  now  a  Republican;  he  and  his 
wife  are  Spiritualists,  lie  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  North  Amherst  Bank,  and  in  the 
Lorain  Steamship  Company. 

Rev.  Caleb  Ormsby,  father  of  Mrs.  Smith 
Steele,  was  born  at  Becket,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  August  10,  1789,  and  died  July  31, 
1864,  in  North  Amherst,  Ohio.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  town, 
and  in  New  York  State,  in  which  latter 
he  was  married  in  1811,  to  Catherine 
Stanton.  In  1820  they  came  to  Ohio  and 
made  a  settlement  in  Amherst  township, 
having  previously  bought  the  land  on 
which  the  village  of  North  Aniherst  now 
stands.  He  was  a  circuit  preacher  in  the 
M.  E.  Church  for  about  forty  years,  riding 
raanj'  miles  to  the  various  meeting  houses, 
and  he  had  a  wide  reputation  for  preaching 
funeral  sermons.  Besides  his  duties  as  a 
preacher,  Mr.  Ormsby  carried  on  farming, 
and  became  wealthy.  He  died  July  31, 
1864,  a  lifelong  Republican.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  died  in 
1872.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Isaac  C,  born  January  5,  1813,  died  in 
1875  (he  was  a  sailor  on  the  lakes);  Mary 
C,  married  to  John  Williams,  of  Avon 
township,  Lorain  county,  died  about  the 
year  1832;  Caleb  N.,  born  August  27, 
1824,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  June  29, 
1844. 

II.  N.  Stkele,  cashier  of  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank,  North  Amherst,  is  a  native 
of  that  town,   born    December  20,  1845,  a 


674 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


son  of  Sinitli  and  Lydia  (Ormsby)  Steele. 
He  received  his  education  at  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, after  whieli  he  commenced  business 
at  North  Amherst.  For  some  time  he  was 
in  the  milling  business,  and  for  about  five 
years  carried  on  agriculture.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Savings  Deposit 
Bank  in  North  Amherst,  and  March  12, 
1891,  he  was  appointed  cashier  of  same. 

Mr.  Steele  was  united  in  marriage,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1867,  with  Miss  Ellen  Gawne, 
and  four  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
as  follows:  Edgar,  Franklin,  Florence  and 
May.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  North  Amherst  Furniture 
Company,  and  in  tlie  Lorain  Steamship 
Company.  Mr.  Steele  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  capacity,  and  an  expert  in 
financial  matters. 


JOSEPH  L.  WHITON,  Jr.,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Amhei'St  township,  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  an  early 
pioneer  family.  His  grandparents 
were  Joseph  L.  and  Amanda  Whitoti,  and 
the  following  is  a  brief  record  of  their  chil- 
dren: Harriet,  born  March  7,  1796,  is 
row  deceased;  Amanda,  born  October  10, 
1797,  is  also  deceased;  Samantha,  born 
August  30,  1794,  came  to  Lorain  county, 
and  died  December  13,  1878,  in  St. 
Charles,  Minn.;  Joseph  L.  is  the  father  of 
our  subject;  Daniel  G.,  born  March  20, 
1801,  came  to  Lorain  county,  but  subse- 
quently went  to  Wisconsin,  and  died  there 
March  20,  1866;  Edward  V.,born  June  2, 
1805,  came  to  Lorain  county,  and  after- 
ward went  to  Janesville,  Rock  Co.,  Wis., 
where  he  became  prominent  in  the  early 
histoi-y  of  the  county, and  served  as  judge, 
deciding  the  Barstow  case  (he  died  April 
12,  1859);  Eliza,  born  April  16,  1807, 
died  June  15,  1885,  at  Clifton,  Va.;  Cath- 
erine, born  March  8,  1810,  died  August 
14,  1836;   and   Agnes,   born  August  12, 


1813,  is  deceased.  The  father  of  this  family 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
died  August  16,  1828. 

Joseph  L.  Whiton  was  born  July  14, 
1799,  in  Lee,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  locating  on  land  in  Black 
River  township.  He  afterward  returned 
to  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  married 
December  18,  1829,  to  Lavina  Wright,  a 
native  of  Springfield,  that  State,  and  in 
1830  they  came  to  Amherst  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  settling  in  the  then  wilderness, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  viz.:  Agnes,  who  married  Henry 
Allen,  of  New  York,  and  died  in  Amherst 
township  August  1,  1863;  Catherine,  wife 
of  M.  W.  Axtell,  of  North  Amherst,  and 
Joseph  L.  Mr.  Whiton  took  great  interest 
in  the  politics  of  his  day;  he  served  for 
twelve  years  as  justice  of  the  peace;  for 
seven  years  he  was  associate  judge  in  the 
court  of  common  pleas;  he  represented  his 
county  in  the  Legislature  during  the  winter 
of  1849-50,  and  was  always  very  active  in 
public  affairs.  He  died  April  26,  1869,- 
his  wife  surviving  him  till  April  8,  1874, 
when  she  too  passed  away. 

Joseph  L.  Whiton,  Jr.,  was  born  March 
28,  1848,  on  his  present  farm  in  Amherst 
township,  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools,  and  has  always  followed 
farming.  On  June  24, 1874,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Amherst  township  to  Miss  Annetta 
J.  Gawn,  a  native  of  Lake  Breeze,  Shef- 
field township,  Lorain  county,  whose 
grandparents,  John  and  Ann  Esther 
(Quailj  Gawn,  were  natives  of  the  Isle  of 
Man,  and  came  to  Lorain  county  in  a  very 
early  day;  they  died  in  Amherst  township. 
Their  son,  Daniel  Gawn,  who  was  also  born 
in  the  Isle  of  Man,  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter,  and  when  a  boy  of  sixteen  came 
to  Loi'ain  county,  Ohio.  He  was  married, 
at  Black  River,  to  Susanna  Spooner,  a  na- 
tive of  Maine,  and  to  their  union  were 
born  nine  children:  Annetta  J.  (Mrs. 
Whiton),  Thomas  E.  (living  in  Amherst 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


677 


townbliip),  Mary  E.  (wife  of  Charles  Grif- 
fin, of  Amherst  township),  John  L.  (a 
resident  of  Lorain),  Charles  L.  (living  in 
North  Amherst),  James  {\n  North  Am- 
herst), Susanna  C.  (^wife  of  Adam  Schu- 
bert, of  liOraiu  county),  Joseph  L.  (in 
Amiierst)  and  Daniel  C.  After  his  mar- 
riajje  Mr.  Gawn  operated  Lake  Breeze  farm, 
and  in  1867  moved  to  Amherst  township, 
where  he  died  January  22,  1876;  his  widow 
is  now  residing  in  Lorain. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whiton  have  been  born 
five  children:  Joseph  Edward,  Curtis 
Warren,  Edith  Lovina,  Agnes  L.  and 
Arthur  Lucas.  In  politics  Mr.  Whiton  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  served  repeatedly  as 
trustee,  assessor,  and  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  conducts  a  general  farming 
business,  giving  his  principal  attention, 
however,  to  stock  farming,  raising  Short- 
horn cattle. 


El  D WARD   WEST,  familiarly  known 
as  "  Deacon   West,"  is  a  capitalist 
I  and  farmer  of  no  small  prominence 

in  Lorain  county,  and  a  citizen  of 
unquestionable  loyalty  and  probity,  hold- 
ing many  offices  in  the  townsliip  where  he 
resided. 

He  was  born  October  3, 1818,  in  Green- 
wich, Mass.,  a  son  of  Roger  West,  who 
was  born  in  October,  1787,  in  the  same 
place,  and  died  August  21,  1837.  Roger 
West  married,  in  1813,  Miss  Cynthia 
Sears,  born  April  12,  1792,  and  died  July 
12,  1840.  Roger  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  his  native  town,  and  became  a  good 
bookkeeper  and  business  man.  By  occu- 
pation he  was  a  miller,  owning  saw,  card- 
ing and  grist  mills.  In  1831  he  came 
west  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  the  first  win- 
ter tarrying  in  Brooklyn,  Cuyahoga 
county,  near  Cleveland;  thence  in  March, 
1832,  moving  toStrongsville,  same  county, 
where  they  resided  two  years,  and  then 
came  to  Ridgeville,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  for  nearly  four  years  the  father  fol- 
lowed   farming.      Here  he  died,  and   the 


family  in  March  (1838)  following  pro- 
ceeded to  Huntington  township,  where 
they  made  a  permanent  settlement,  the 
mother  dying  there  July  12,  18-10.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roger  West  were  upright,  hon- 
orable people,  held  in  respectful  remem- 
brance for  their  manj'  virtues.  Tliey  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  a  record  of 
whom  is  as  follows:  (1)  Lyman  was  born 
July  3,  1814,  and  was  twenty- four  years 
old  when  the  family  settled  at  Huntington; 
here  he  was  shortly  afterward  converted, 
and  joined  the  Baptist  Church  at  Hunt- 
ington, of  which  he  was  an  active  member 
and  deacon  until  1867,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Michigan,  locating  on  a 
farm  in  DeWitt  township,  Clinton  county. 
He  united  by  letter  with  the  Baptist 
Church  at  that  place,  where  he  was  made 
deacon  in  September,  1867,  serving  until 
1877,  "when  he  removed  to  Lansing,  same 
State,  and  united  soon  after  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church  there.  He  finally  returned  to 
his  old  horaein  DeWitt  township,  Clinton 
county,  as  his  health  was  poor  and  he 
wished  to  be  near  his  son,  and  there  he 
died,  August  1,  1886.  (2)  Hannah  was 
born  Septeml)er  3,  1816,  and  in  February, 
1834,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Marvin 
E.  Stone,  who  was  killed  by  a  runaway 
horse  October  14,  1879,  when  he  was 
seventy-five  years  of  age.  He  had  lived 
in  Strongsville  for  almost  sixty  years. 
They  had  nine  children.  Mrs.  Stone  died 
November  18,  1893.  (3)  Edward,  of  whom 
special  niention  is  made  farther  on,  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  (4)  Turner  was 
born  March  5,  1821,  and  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  Lorain  county,  but  in  his  later 
years  he  went  to  Kansas  to  encourage 
and  help  his  sons.  lie  had  a  fall  in  a 
cornfield,  which  proved  fatal,  and  he 
died  September  26,  1875.  (5)  Al- 
plieus  was  born  June  18,  1823,  and 
died  August  1,  1828,  when  five  years 
old.  (6)  Henry  B.  was  born  July  3,  1832, 
at  Strongsville,  Cuyahoga  county,  and 
spent  three  years  in  study  at  Oberlin  Col- 
lege,  Ohio;    he    was    soon    after    chosen 


678 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


recorder  of  Lorain  county,  in  which  position 
he  served  for  nine  years,  holding  the  office 
three  years  lonoer  than  any  other  man  up 
to  that  time.  Shortly  after  the  expiration 
of  his  third  term  he  went  to  Put-in-liay, 
and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  being 
the  pioneer  in  that  line  there;  and  here  he 
continued  in  this  for  fifteen  years,  wlien 
the  "Piit-in-Eay  House"  was  destroyed  by 
lire.  Some  time  prior  to  this  event  Mr. 
West  had  become  interested  in  the  "West 
House,"  at  Sandusky,  and  after  the  fire  he 
removed  thither,  remaining  there  three  or 
four  years,  when  he  removed  to  Shelby, 
Ohio,  conducting  the  "Junction  House"  at 
that  place  two  or  three  years.  He  next 
went  to  Cleveland,  where,  as  stated  by  the 
Cleveland  press,  he  became  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  successful  liotelkeepers 
in  the  city,  and  died  there  July  12,  1888. 
(7)  Harriet  11.  was  born  July  3,  1834,  in 
Ridgeville  towtiship,  Lorain  county,  and 
in  1859  was  married  to  Fazelo  Hubbard, 
with  whom  she  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1860.  She  embraced  religion  when  very 
young,  and  was  always  a  meek  and  Chris- 
tian-liku  woman,  and  an  ardent  worker  in 
the  church,  ever  ready  to  do  her  Master's 
will.  She  died  at  Pana,  Illinois,  Novem- 
ber 11,  1870. 

Edward  West,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  a  fair  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  two 
and  a  half  years  at  Oberlin  College,  Ohio, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  his  woolen  mill, 
chiefly  in  the  carding  room.  He  was  also 
employed  on  a  faru)  till  1850,  when  he 
commenced  dealing  in  sheep  and  wool,  a 
business  he  followed  for  about  thirty  years 
in  connection  with  his  farm,  which  was 
locateil  in  Huntington  township  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  the  cen- 
ter. In  1881  he  came  to  Wellington,  with 
the  business  progress  of  whicli  town  he 
has  since  become  intimately  identified. 
Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  bank 
there  he  become  one  of  its  heaviest  stock- 
holders and  a  director,  and  has  been  con- 
nected   with    same   ever  since.     On  Sep- 


tember 24,  1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Eineline  C.  Chapman,  born 
August  26,  1821,  in  Montgomery,  Hamp- 
den Co.,  Mass.,  a  daughter  of  Abner  and 
Olive  (Fisher)  Chapman,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  respectively, 
and  a  record  of  whose  children  is  as  fol- 
lows: (1)  Luther,  born  November  20, 
1798,  came  to  Ohio  on  foot,  settling  in 
Geausa  countv,  where  he  was  married 
February  19,  1830,  to  Anna  Granger;  he 
died  March  30,  1886,  near  Troy,  Ohio, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
(2)  Calvin,  born  March  24,  1800,  was 
married  November  5,  1823.  to  Eliza  Van- 
Horn,  whose  father  was  a  cabinet  maker  iu 
Boston,  Mass.  Calvin  Chapman  died  June 
1,  1827.  (3)  Achsah,  born  February  10, 
1802,  died  January  10,  1804.  (4)  Olive, 
born  April  22,  1804,  died  January  10, 
1870,  in  Wisconsin;  she  was  married 
on  February  4,  1822,  to  Julius  Hatch. 
(5)  Achsah,  born  February  1,  1806,  died 
December  28,  1823.  (6)  Laura,  born 
February  29,  1808,  was  married  Decem- 
ber 19,  1823,  to  Sumner  Otis;  she  died 
January  9,  1832.  They  had  a  son  who 
was  a  major-general  in  the  regular  army, 
and  a  graduate  of  AVest  Point,  and  lived 
with  his  grandfather,  Abner  Chapman. 
(7)  Abner,  Jr.,  who  was  born  March  8, 
1810,  and  was  married  March  25,  1835, 
to  Eliza  A.  Cone,  who  died  February  5, 
1884.  He  resides  in  Wellington.  (8) 
William,  born  April  80,  1812,  was  mar- 
ried November  19,  1835,  to  Rowena  Bab- 
cock,  who  died  May  3,  1885,  in  Hunting- 
ton, a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church;  he 
died  December  26,  1880.  (9)  Eunice, 
born  July  3,  1814,  was  married  December 
7,  1840,  to  Lyman  West;  she  died  March 
18,  1887.  (10)  Hulda  A.,  born  June  19, 
1817,  was  married  October  5,  1841,  to 
Josiah  C.  Lang,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  November  17,  1861; 
she  died  September  20,  1872.  (11)  John 
Austin,  born  April  7,  1819,  was  married 
November  6,  1844,  to  Isabel  Lindsey;  he 
died  May  22,  1891.     (12)   Emeline'  C.  is 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


679 


the  wife  of  Edward  West.  Mrs.  Emeline 
C.  West  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  she 
came  to  Luraiii  county,  and  slie  attended 
school  in  Huntington  townsliip,  after 
which  she  taught  some  years.  At  about 
the  age  of  nineteen  she  united  with  the 
Baptist  Church,  but  two  years  after  her 
marriage  she  became  identified  with  the 
Congregatioualists.  Politically  our  sub- 
ject has  been  a  stanch  Hepublicau  since 
the  organization  of  the  party,  and  he  was 
always  a  pronounced  Abolitionist.  In 
February,  1840,  he  united  witli  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  in  which  he  was  dea- 
con for  many  years.  All  his  life  he  has 
been  an  active  and  zealous  church  worker, 
and  has  been  liberal  of  liis  means  in  the 
cause  of  education,  in  charities  and  in 
public  improvements,  giving  at  one  time 
a  thousand  dollars  to  Oberlin  College  and 
smaller  amounts  since  that  time,  and  aliout 
a  year  ago  he  gave  five  hundred  dollars  to 
the  village  library  of  Wellington. 


q^  EORGE  H.  ELY,  one  of  the  leading 
r,  spirits  of  enterprise  in  Eljria,  and 
I  one  of  her  most  prominent  citizens, 
^  is  a  native  of  that  beautiful  town, 
born  November  15,  1844,  a  son  of 
Heman  and  Mary  H.  (Monteith)  Ely. 

After  attending  the  common  schools  of 
the  place,  the  subject  of  this  brief  notice 
entered  Yale  Ccdlege,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1865.  On  his 
return  from  college  he  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Topliff  &  Ely,  in  Elyria, 
giving  his  entire  attention  to  the  develop- 
ment and  management  of  that  concern 
until  1888,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest. 
At  present  he  is  connected  with  several 
prominent  businesses  in  Elyria,  most  of 
which  owe  their  origin  to  his  enterprise 
and  forethought.  In  the  fall  of  1893  lie 
was  elected  senator  to  represent  the  27th 
and  2'Jth  Districts  in  the  71st  General 
Asseml)ly  of  Ohio.  For  many  years  ho 
has   shown    "reat    interest    in   the   Lorain 


County  Agricultural  Society,  and  is  at 
present  the  president.  Moreover,  rather 
as  a  diversion  from  the  cares  of  business 
than  otherwise,  he  has  for  some  consider- 
able time  been  interested  in  the  live-stock 
industry,  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  best  stock  farms  in  Ohio,  and  of  the 
far-famed  "Elyria." 

On  December  11,  1867,  George  H.  Ely 
and  Miss  Annie  Moody,  daughter  of  Loman 
A.  and  Louisa  (Patrick)  Moody,  of  Chico- 
pee,  Mass.,  were  married  in  that  town.  In 
his  political  preferences  Mr.  Ely  is  a 
Republican. 


and 


HARLES  COOLEY,  superinteiulent 
of  the  County  Infirmary,  was  born 
in  Browuhelm  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1835,  a  son  of  Moses  B. 
Jane  M.  (Peck)  Cooley,  lifelong 
farmers,  the  latter  of  whom  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Moses  B.  Cooley  was  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, born  in  Stockbridge  in  1800,  and 
in  1818  came  west  to  Ohio,  settling  as  a 
pioneer  in  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain 
county.  He  died  in  1889,  a  Republican 
in  politics,  originally  an  Old-line  Whig. 
The  pioneer  of  tlie  name  in  Lorain  county 
was  Hanson  Cooley,  who,  in  1818,  settled 
with  his  family  in  what  is  now  Brownhelm 
townsliip.  He  was  a  millwright  by  trade, 
and  built  the  old  Ely  mill,  the  first  one  in 
the  county. 

Charles  Cooley  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, and  at  Oberlin  College.  He  married 
Miss  Anna  Bacon,  who  died  in  1865,  leav- 
ing two  sons — George,  now  in  St  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  Charles.  For  his  second  wife  he 
married,  in  1870,  Miss  Addie  Applel)y, 
by  which  union  there  is  one  child.  Mrs. 
Cooley  is  a  lady  of  refinement,  possessed 
of  superior  personal  attainments  and  busi- 
ness qualitications,  and  by  her  popularity 
has     surrounded     herself    with     hosts    of 


friends.     After    his    first 


Mr. 


680 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cooley  remained  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Brovviihelm  township  for  five  years.  In 
1888  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion, since  when  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Elyria.  In  the  conducting  of  the  affairs  of 
the  County  Intirniary  he  is  assisted  by  his 
excellent  wife,  and  they  have  given  emi- 
nent satisfaction  in  every  particular.  In 
polities  Mr.  Cooley  is  a  Republican;  so- 
cially lie  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 
and  K.  of  P. 


1^ 


I   J[  ENRY  WURST.     Among  tiie  pre- 
'!^     eminently  self-made  men  of  Lorain 
Ij    county,  and  prominent  in  the  busi- 
ness circles  of  Elyria,  is  to  be  found 
this  ojentleman,  who  is  deserving  of 
more  than  a  passing  notice  in  the  pages  of 
tliis  volume. 

He  is  a  native  of  Hessen-Cassel,  Ger- 
many, born  November  7, 1849.  When  he 
was  about  one  year  old,  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  America  with  their  family, 
making  their  way  westward  to  Ohio,  where 
they  made  a  settlement  in  the  fair  town  of 
Elyria.  When  our  subject  was  six  years 
old  he  lost  his  father  by  death,  and  after 
a  few  years'  attendance  at  the  common 
schools,  at  the  early  age  of  eleven,  he  com- 
menced business  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  gro- 
cery store  of  C.  A.  Parks,  in  Elyria.  About 
1866  Mr.  Parks  went  out  of  business,  and 
young  Wurst  commenced  work  for  Mrs. 
C.  A.  Ely;  from  there  went  to  Mr.  D.  M. 
Fisher's,  and  from  there  to  Baldwin,  Laun- 
don  &  Nelson,  with  whom  he  stayed  until 
they  sold  the  grocery  and  crockery  and 
hardware  business  to  Harman  &  Obitts. 
With  this  tirm  he  remained  till  October  2, 
1875,  in  which  year  he  and  H.  H.  Andress 
jointly  purchased  the  grocery  and  crockery 
business.  After  a  short  time,  however, 
Mr.  Andress  retired,  Mr.  Wurst  purchasing 
the  entire  concern.  He  remodeled  the  store 
and  greatly  extended  the  trade,  which  soon 
became  one  of  considerable  magnitude, 
bringing  in  profitable  returns.  In  1880 
he  purchased   the   property  whereon    now 


I 


stands  the  Wurst  block,  but  in  1885  his 
buildings  were  destroyed  by  tire.  He  im- 
mediately rebuilt,  however,  the  result 
being  one  of  the  best  business  blocks  in 
Elyria,  and  known  as  the  "  Wurst  block," 
just  mentioned.  It  is  of  brick,  three 
stories  in  height,  the  main  building  being 
44  X  75  feet,  and  the  rear  one  18  x  70. 
Mr.  Wurst  continued  the  grocery  business 
till  June  15,  1892,  wheti  he  found  himself 
so  deeply  engaged  in  other  interests  in  the 
city  that,  in  order  to  give  his  undivided 
attention  to  affairs  of,  to  him,  more  ira- 
ortance,  he  sold  out  his  grocery.  He  and 
lis  former  partner,  Mr.  Andress,  had  pur- 
chased the  "  Beebe  House,"  the  leading 
hotel  in  Elvria,  which  at  considerable  out- 
lay they  repaired  and  reiitted,  and  it  now 
stands  second  to  none  in  the  State  as  a 
lirst-class  hotel.  Mr.  Wui-st  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Elyria  Savings  Bank;  the 
Electric  Light  Plant  Company  of  Lorain; 
the  Savings  and  Loan  Association  of  Elyria, 
and  of  the  National  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation  of  Cleveland. 

On  November  27,  1873,  Mr.  Wurst  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ella  Robin- 
son,  of  Ridgeville,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  she 
being  of  English  birth,  and  two  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Earl  H.  and 
Charles  J.,  both  now  attending  college  at 
Oberlin.  Politically  Mr.  Wurst  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 


rENELON  B.  RICE,  the  well-known 
director  of  the  Oberlin  Conservatory 
_^  of  Music,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
at  Greensburg,  Trumbull  county,  in 
1841.  He  is  the  iirst  son  of  Rev.  David 
L.  and  Emily  (Johnson)  Rice,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  May  1,  1820,  the  latter  in  Canaan, 
Litchfield  Co.,  Connecticut. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  his 
literary  education  in  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  and  studied  for  the  ministry  in 
Geauga  Seminary.     The  iield  of  his  cleri- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


681 


cal  labors  lay  in  Trumbull  and  Ashtabula 
counties,  Ohio,  exceptino;  twenty  years  in 
which  he  was  traveling  from  place  to  place 
in  the  country,  from  New  York  to  Iowa, 
Boliciting  subscriptions  or  donations  to- 
ward the  founding  of  Hillsdale  (Mich.) 
College,  visiting  ail  the  Freewill  Baptists 
on  his  route,  he  being  a  preacher  in  the 
church  of  that  denomination.  He  died  in 
Trximbnll  county  in  1886.  His  father, 
David  Rice,  came  from  his  native  place, 
North  Brooktield,  Mass.,  to  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  then  a  wilderness,  where  he 
lived  seven  years  ere  a  death  occurred  in 
their  township.  He  married  a  native  of 
Brookfield,  Vt.,  and  they  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Two  brothers, 
one  sister  and  quite  a  colony  of  relatives 
settled  there.  Enoch  Rice,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a 
farmer  and  mechanic,  and  built  grist  and 
saw  mills. 

Fenelon  B.  Rice  received  his  early  edu- 
cation at  Orwell  Academy  in  Ashtabula 
county,  Ohio  (Prof.  Tuckerman  being  then 
in  charge,  now  president  of  New  Lyme  In- 
stitute), and  at  Hillsdale  College.  In  1859 
he  went  to  Boston  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  music,  and  in  1863  he  graduated 
from  the  Boston  School  of  Music.  In  that 
year  he  took  charge  of  the  musical  depart- 
ment of  Hillsdale  (Mich.)  College,  where 
he  continued  until  1867,  at  which  time  he 
went  abroad  with  his  wife,  who  was  her- 
self musical  and  becatne  an  accomplished 
vocalist,  for  the  extension  of  their  musical 
culture.  His  time  was  spent  at  Leipsic, 
chiefly  \inder  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Pap- 
peritz,  Ignaz  Moscheles  and  Louis  Plaidy 
in  piano,  and  Prof.  Richter  in  theory.  He 
there  found  the  standard  of  criticism  higher 
than  any  he  had  hitherto  met,  and  set 
about  mastering  tiie  Leipsic  point  of  view, 
with  results  that  were  determining  for  his 
own  taste.  His  teachers,  also,  were  men 
of  high  moral  conceptions,  and  their  in- 
fluence fostered  Prof.  Rice's  natural  senti- 
ment in  favor  of  high  morals  in  company 
with  hiofh  art. 


On  his  return  from  Germany,  in  1869, 
he  began  his  professional  work  at  Oberlin. 
He  became  associated  with  Prof.  G.  W. 
Steele,  and  entered  into  a  joint  arrange- 
ment to  manage  the  Conservatory  of  Music 
in  that  place  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  Prof.  Steele  withdrew,  leaving 
Prof.  Rice  in  sole  charge.  His  connections 
at  Oberlin  proved  congenial,  both  to  him- 
self and  tlie  College.  With  the  char- 
acteristic moral  and  religious  sentiment  of 
the  place  he  could  heartily  sympathize; 
and  if  the  average  musical  feeling  was  not 
up  to  his  standard,  at  any  rate  there  were 
\'ti\Y  places  where  it  was  better,  or  where 
the  public  mind  was  more  tractable.  He 
set  about  his  work  with  the  Leipsic  Con- 
servatory for  his  model  of  organization, 
and  with  an  unbending  devotion  to  the 
lofty  art  ideals  which  had    won    his  heart. 

Prof.  Rice  has  been  director  of  the  Ober- 
lin Conservatory  of  Music  since  1871.  In 
1880  the  degree  of  Mus.  Doc.  was  given 
him  l)y  Hillsdale  College;  in  1S84  the 
honorary  degree  of  A.  M.,  by  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, and  he  has  been  twice  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Music  Teachers  National  As- 
sociation. The  Conservatory  has  experi- 
enced a  remarkable  growth  since  his  con- 
nection  with  it.  When  he  first  entered 
its  doors  in  a  professional  capacity  he 
found  the  institution  occupying  two  small 
leased  rooms,  and  employing  three  teach- 
ers. To-day,  mainly  tlirough  his  indi- 
vidual energy  and  enterprise,  Oberlin  Con- 
servatory of  Music  stands  among  the  very 
foremost  institutions  of  the  country,  as  a 
place  for  the  study  of  music.  The  school 
occupies  a  tine  sandstone  edifice,  the  muni- 
ficent gift  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Lucien  0.  War- 
ner, of  New  York  City.  It  was  erected  at 
an  expense  of  moretiian  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  is  one  of  the  fiiiest  and 
largest  structures  ever  built  exclusively  for 
the  use  of  a  school  of  music.  It  is  a  four- 
story  building,  with  a  frontage  of  150  feet 
on  North  Professor  street,  and  a  depth  of 
120  feet,  and  contains  a  tine  concert  hall, 
lecture    room,    orchestra    room,    library, 


682 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


offices,  and  more  than  eighty  instruction 
and  practice  rooms.  It  is  heated  through- 
out, liy  steam,  lighted  by  gas  and  electric- 
ity and  supplied  with  a  fine  passenger 
elevator,  and  many  other  modern  conveni- 
ences. The  three  teachers  of  a  few  years 
ago  have  multiplied  into  twenty-three  pro- 
fessors of  unquestioned  ability,  who  give 
instructions  to  more  than  six  hundred 
students  every  year,  all  under  the  immedi- 
ate direction  of  Professor  Eiee. 

In  1863  our  subject  was  married  in 
Detroit,  Mich.,  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Libby, 
wiio  was  born  in  Portland,  Me.,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Louis  M.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  "the  Second  Congregational  Church 
at  Oberlin,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  For 
the  last  twenty-three  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Faculty  of  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, and  for  the  past  eight  years  has  been 
on  tlie  executive  board,  which  has  largely 
to  do  with  the  finances  of  the  College. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Oberlin  Bank  since 
its  organization,  and  for  the  past  two  years 
vice-president  of  same. 


Iff  GRACE  WADSWORTH,  better 
I^H  known  in  his  locality  as  Deacon 
I  1[  Wadsworth,  senior  member  of  tiie 
■J)  firm  of  H.  Wadsworth  &  Son.  lum- 

ber dealers,  of  Wellington,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Tyringham, 
Berkshire  county.  May  26.  1822. 

Etios  Wadsworth,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  died 
in  Portage  county,  in  the  woods.  He  had 
gone  hunting  one  day,  and  not  returning, 
his  friends  and  neighbors  instituted  a 
fruitless  search.  Three  weeks  afterward 
a  neighbor  dreamed  that  he  saw  the  body 
lying  in  a  certain  swamp;  search  was  made 
at  the  place  indicated,  and  the  body  was 
there  found. 

Asa  Wadsworth,  son  of  Enos  and  father 
of  Horace,  was  born  in  Tyringham,  Mass., 
in  1794.  He  there  married  Electa  Russell. 


In  1819  he  brought  his  family  to  Ohio. 
This  was  the  third  family  to  enter  Free- 
dom, Portage  county,  at  that  time  a  per- 
fect wilderness.  Wild  animals  roamed  un- 
disturbed in  the  forests,  and  the  sound  of 
howling  wolves  was  often  heard.  Their 
first  home  was  built  of  round  green  logs, 
split  logs  forming  the  floor.  There  was 
no  chimney  till  the  kitchen  fire,  built  at 
the  end  of  the  house,  burned  an  opening 
large  enough  to  start  a  stone  chimney. 
Four  children  were  born  to  this  pioneer, 
in  their  forest  home:  Calista  A.,  Eliza- 
beth S.,  Emaret  and  Cyril.  Edwin,  the 
eldest,  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  Em- 
aret died  when  three  years  of  age;  the 
others  all  live  in  Wellington. 

At  this  home  the  subject  of  our  sketch 
spent  his  childhood  days.  The  sound  of 
the  axe  and  the  crash  of  falling  trees  were 
music  to  his  ears.  When  but  four  years 
old,  emulating  the  success  of  his  elders,  he 
wished  to  down  one  of  the  monarchs  of  the 
forest.  In  the  absence  of  his  fatlier  he 
started  for  a  large  tree  near  the  house,  think- 
ing to  astonish  his  mother  by  cutting  it 
to  the  ground.  On  the  way  he  slipped  on 
the  ice.  In  falling  he  cut  his  hand  badly, 
severing  one  finger,  thus  crippling  him  for 
life.  When  he  was  eight  years  of  age  lie  at- 
tended the  first  school  formed  in  the 
township.  The  family  lived  in  this  home 
twelve  years.  In  1835  they  moved  to  Well- 
ington, Lorain  county.  AVellington  was 
then  comparatively  new,  and  the  people 
lived,  with  few  exceptions,  in  log  houses. 
There  were  at  the  center  two  stores,  two 
hotels  and  a  l)lacksinith  shop;  a  third 
building  served  the  triple  purpose  of 
church,  town-house  and  school-house.  The 
first  M.  E.  Church  was  erected  and  en- 
closed the  year  of  their  arrival.  The 
family  made  a  settlement  on  land  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  the  center;  their 
home  was  a  log  house,  formerly  used  as  a 
Methodist  meeting-house.  The  father 
and  his  three  sons,  two  of  them  thirteen 
and  fifteen,  respectively,  formed  the  force 
necessary  to  clear  the  land  and  furnish  the 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


683 


means  of  subsistence.  The  elder  son  by 
reason  of  ill  health  was  for  a  nunnber  of 
years  unable  to  do  heavy  work.  The 
youngest,  but  a  child, was  at  this  time  un- 
able to  assist,  and  the  burden  of  the  work, 
therefore,  fell  upon  the  father  and  the 
second  son  Horace.  To  clear  the  land  and 
lit  it  for  cultivation  formed  the  task  of 
those  early  days.  At  that  time  ready 
money  Avas seldom  seen.  Wood  at  fifty  cents 
a  cord,  cut  from  the  farm,  was  exchanged 
at  the  store  for  clothing  and  provisions. 
This  called  for  work  with  the  axe  early  and 
late  to  provide  for  the  family  of  seven. 

During  the  winter  months  Horace  at- 
tended  school,  rising  and  doing  the  chores 
of  the  farm  before  daylight  and  swinging 
the  axe  till  nine  o'clock,  then  to  study. 
On  his  return  after  school  the  same  task 
was  continued.  This  routine  of  work  and 
study  was  persisted  in  for  a  number  of 
years  till  the  forest  was  replaced  by  culti- 
vated fields  of  wheat  and  corn,  and  he 
gained  an  education  fitting  him  for  his 
future  work.  The  youngest  son,  Cyril, 
with  increasing  years  became  old  enough 
to  assist  in  the  work,  and  in  1844  a  new 
frame  house  was  erected  and  finished  suf- 
ficiently for  the  family  to  enter.  The  out- 
look for  the  family  appeai-ed  bright,  but 
the  following  year,  the  father,  after  a  brief 
illness,  died.  This  left  the  management 
of  the  fMrm  upon  Horace,  then  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  The  next  year  the  frosts 
killed  the  wheat  and  corn.  With  nothing 
to  feed  the  stock  it  was  sold  at  a  very  low 
price.  With  a  debt  of  several  hundred 
dollars  upon  them,  they  were  still  further 
burdened  by  the  sickness  of  the  mother, 
who  became  and  reniained  a  helpless  in- 
valid, cared  for  by  the  two  daughters  till 
her  death  in  1865.  Hard  work,  however, 
cleared  the  farm,  and  good  crops  paid  the 
debts  and  finished  the  house  hitherto  in- 
complete. 

At  twenty-five  years  of  age  Horace, 
qualified  by  hard  study,  began  teaching  in 
the  common  schools.  He  taught  with 
good  success  for  ten  winters,  two  of  which 


were  in  the  satne  schoolhouse  which  he 
had  attended  as  a  scholar.  In  connection 
with  this  work  he  became  a  contractor  and 
builder,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  the 
leader  in  this  line.  In  1879  he  started  in 
the  lumber  business,  buying  a  small  es- 
tablishment which  he  enlarged,  addins 
thereto  a  planing  mill  and  factory  which 
was  afterward  sold.  In  1853  he  married 
Sarah  II.  Phelps,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  daughter  of  Daniel  Phelps.  A  mem- 
ber and  worker  in  the  Congregational 
(jhurch  and  Sabbath-sdiool,  she  was 
worthy  of  the  love  and  respect  of  all  who 
knew  her.  Mortimer  IL,  their  only  child, 
was  born  June  27,  1857,  and  was  educated 
and  graduated  at  the  high  school  at  Well- 
ington. He  is  now  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  lumber  business. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  origin- 
ally an  Old-line  AVhig,  and  his  first  vote 
was  cast  for  Henry  Clay.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  united  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  At  forty-one  he  was  chosen 
deacon.  He  has  been  an  active  worker  in 
the  Sunday-school  as  superintendent  and 
teacher,  and  is  a  ready  and  active  helper  in 
all  church  work.  Now,  at  seventy-two 
years  of  age,  he  is  in  good  health,  and  is 
always  interested  in  church  work  as  well  as 
public  improvement. 


/^ 


t  JJj    A.  POUNDS.    In  Lorain  county, 

^'1     Ohio,    was     born    September    17, 

-"li    1848,    the    subject    of  this    brief 

sketch,  who  is  ex-sheriff  of  Lorain 

county,  and  at  the  present  time  a 

well-known  horse  dealer  and  trainer,   than 

whom  there  is  no  one  in  the  county   more 

deserving  of  the  popularity  he  enjoys. 

He  is  a  son  of  L.  M.  and  Fidelia 
(Humphrey)  Pounds,  the  former  of  whom, 
now  living  retired  in  Elyria,  was  educated 
at  Dolaw^are,  Ohio,  and  became  a  promi- 
nent divine  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Orson  J.  and  Lucina  Hum- 


684 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


phrey.  Their  clnldreii,  five  in  number, 
are  as  follows:  M.  A.,  subject  of  sketch; 
L.  H.,  in  real-estate  business  in  Topeka, 
Kaiis.;  T.  M.,  engaged  in  banking  in  To- 
peka, Kans.;  Amelia,  wife  of  George  Bow- 
man, residing  in  Elyria;  and  Jessie,  wife 
of  William  Jones,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

Our  suliject  received  bis  education  at  the 
Elyria  high  schools  and  Berea  College,  and 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  but 
early  in  life  evinced  a  great  liking  for 
horses,  so  that  he  naturally  drifted  into 
the  buying  and  selling  of  such  stock.  He 
resided  in  Eaton  township,  Lorain  county, 
until  1886,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff, 
at  which  time  he  moved  to  Elyria,  here  to 
make  his  future  home.  As  sheriff  he 
served  the  county  two  terms,  or  four  years, 
acceptably,  and  since  retiring  from  the  in- 
cumbency he  has  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  breeding  and  rearing  fine  road 
horses,  besides  training  all  kinds  of  horses 
for  himself  and  others.  His  stables  are 
located  in  Elyria. 

On  November  24,  1870,  Mr.  Pounds 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Johnson,  and 
three  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Mabel,  Harry  and  Ruth.  Our  sub- 
ject is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  An- 
chor Lodge  No.  56,  Elyria. 


fff|IRAM  WOODWOKTH  (deceased). 

IsH     Among  the  leading  representative 

I     1|    families  of  Lorain  county,  none  are 

•fj  more  worthy  of  special   mention  in 

this  volume  than  the  one  of  which 

the    gentleman,    whose    name    opens    this 

sketch,  was  an  honored  member. 

Hiram  Wood  worth  was  a  native  of 
Madison  county,  N.  Y.,  born  in  the  town 
of  Fenner  February  14,  1802,  a  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Sophia  (Allen)  Woodworth, 
both  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State. 
Reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  trained  to 
the  arduous  duties  incident  all  the  year 
round  to  the  pursuits  of  agriculture,  our 
subject  remained    under  the  paternal  roof 


until  about  a  year  beyond  his  "coming  of 
age."  At  that  time  he  commenced  work- 
ing away  from  home,  by  the  month,  con- 
tinuing chiefly  in  that  line  of  his  choice 
for  some  six  years,  diligently  pursuing  his 
vocation  and  carefully  husbanding  his 
earnings.  By  this  time  he  was  able  out 
of  his  savings  to  purchase  one  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Randolph, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  two  years 
afterward  he  traded  tor  a  hotel  building  in 
the  town  of  Bristol,  Ontario  county,  same 
State. 

In  the  meantime,  in  September,  1828, 
Mr.  Woodworth  was  married  to  Caroline 
L.  Wales,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Alvin  and 
Polly  Wales,  and  a  native  of  the  same 
town  as  her  husband.  In  January,  1829, 
the  young  couple  moved  into  the  hotel  just 
spoken  of,  which  they  conducted  two  and 
one  half  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
our  subject  traded  the  hotel  for  335  acres 
of  land  in  what  is  now  Rochester  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  eighty  acres  in  what 
was  then  the  Territory  of  Michigan.  On 
May  22,  1832 — sixty-two  years  ago — Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woodworth  arrived  in  tlieir  new 
forest  home  in  Rochester  township,  the 
journey  being  made  via  the  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo,  thence  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland, 
and  from  there  by  wagon  to  destination. 

From  the  titne  of  their  arrival  till  the 
middle  of  September  following,  this 
pioneer  couple  lived  in  the  most  primitive 
of  primitive  homes,  the  rude  hut  being 
furnished  with  neither  door,  window, 
hearth,  chimney,  nor  even  a  chair  of  any 
sort,  much  less  any  other  kind  of  furniture. 
Nothing  daunted,  however,  they  cheer- 
fully set  to  work  to  render  their  home 
comfortable,  Mr.  Woodworth  making,  with 
such  tools  as  he  was  posessed  of,  some 
stools,  table,  etc.;  and  soon  tlie  surround- 
ings began  to  take  the  garb  of  civilization 
— the  monarchs  of  the  forest  disappeared 
neatli  the  sturdy  axe  of  the  woodman,  and 
the  stately  trees  were  superseded  by  smil- 
ing fields  of  golden  grain,  and  pasture  land 
redolent  with  clover.     The  improvenaents 


l4iJUA^^n.  /i^HMlivn^i^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


687 


were  not  only  attractive  in  appearance,  but 
also  of  the  most  substantial  kind,  and  dur- 
able, Mr.  Woodworth's  maxim,  in  all  his 
undertakings,  beiiij/:  "That  which  is  worth 
doiiiij  at  all  is  worth  doiiij;  well." 

Having  now  succeeded  in  "■ettiui;  the 
new  home  in  good  order,  and  in  comfort- 
able condition,  Mr.  Woodworth  embarked 
e.xtensivel}'  in  the  live-stock  business, 
which  in  time  grew  to  such  proportions 
with  him  that  there  was  no  room  left  for 
any  com]>etitor  in  that  line  in  northern 
Ohio.  Most  of  his  stock  was  driven  to 
Brighton,  Mass.,  where  the  animals  were 
sold,  the  round  trip  occupying  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  forty  days.  In  his  live-stock 
ventures  Mr.  Woodworth  was  remarkably 
successful,  nor  could  they  be  otherwise 
when  under  his  immediate  control,  and  his 
extensive  trade  gave  employment  to  a 
small  army  of  help,  scattered,  in  their 
various  lines  of  duty,  all  over  northern 
Ohio. 

After  a  residence  of  thirty  years  in 
Rochester  township,  the  old  homestead 
was  sold,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodworth 
came  into  Wellington  township,  he  having 
purchased  a  fertile  farm,  said  to  be  the 
"  premium  farm  "  of  Lorain  county,  which 
is  now  part  of  the  town  site  of  Wellington. 
From  here  after  a  three  years'  residence 
they  moved  into  a  hotel  in  the  town  of 
Wellington — now  known  as  the  "  Ameri- 
can  House  " — which  Mr.  Woodworth  had 
bought,  and  was  conducted  by  him  up  to 
his  death;  the  property  is  still  owned  by 
Mrs.  AYoodworth-  He  passed  from  earth 
October  10,  1873.  In  his  political  pre- 
dilections he  was  a  Republican,  and  while 
in  Rochester  he  served  as  postmaster  some 
six  years. 

Mrs.  Woodworth,  though  past  the 
eightieth  mile  post  on  the  highway  of  life, 
is  still  vigorous,  both  mentally  and  physi- 
cally. She  is  residing  in  her  pleasant  home 
on  ]\[aygar  street  in  the  town  of  Welling- 
ton, and  she  worships  at  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  The  record  of  her  chil- 
dren,   in    brief,    is  as    follows:     Roxania 

37 


(deceased)  was  the  wife  of  John  Braman, 
now  a  resident  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Rosen ia  is  the  widow  of  David  L.  Wads- 
worth,  and  resides  in  Wellington,  Ohio; 
Warren  A.  is  in  West  Virginia;  Roenia  is 
the  wife  of  F.  M.  Sheldon,  of  Hornells- 
ville,  N.  Y.;  Rosetta  is  the  wife  of  Stanley 
Wilcox,  of  Plattsburg,  Missouri. 


E.  BROOKS,  vice-president  and 
manager  of  the  Topi  iff  &  Ely 
Company,  manufacturers  of  spe- 
cial carriage  hardware,  Eljria,  is 
a  native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
Avon,  August  13,  1846.  His  parents 
were  James, E.  and  Eliza  (Sweet)  Brooks, 
both  natives  of  Vermont,  and  early  settlers 
of  Lorain  county.  The  father  died  June 
5,  1874;  the  mother  January  5,  1894. 

Our  subject  received  a  liberal  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  from  early  youth  was  brought  up  in 
the  general  hardware  business,  in  which 
he  was  engaged.  In  1870,  he  removed  to 
Elyria,  and  became  interested  in  the  agri- 
cultural implement  business  until  1888, 
in  which  year  he  sold  out  and  became  as- 
sociated with  the  Topliff  &  Ely  Company, 
which  was  founded  in  1806  l)y  G.  H.  Ely 
and  J.  A.  Topliff,  and  incorporated  in 
1888.  They  began  by  making  hubs  and 
spokes,  but  in  1874,  abandoning  that  line, 
they  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
tuhnlai-  bow  sockets,  for  carriage  bows, 
which  industry  has  grown  to  enormous 
proportions,  they  being  the  only  manu- 
facturers of  this  patent  in  the  world  for 
many  years.  They  ship  not  only  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States,  but  also  to 
Europe,  South  America  and  Australia.  In 
the  manufacture  of  bow  sockets  alone, 
there  are  employed  in  the  building  about 
one  hundred  hands  who  turn  out  from 
125,000  to  150,000  sets  per  annum. 

On  August  8,  1877,  Mr.  Brooks  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Fannie  Top- 


688 


LORAIN  COUNTY  OHIO 


lifl',  daughter  of  John  A.  and  Caroline 
(Beers)  Topliff,  tlic  former  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  the  latter  of  Connecticut, 
and  both  now  living  in  Elyria.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  children,  as  follows: 
Harold  T.  (who  died  January  27,  1893), 
Margaretta  E.  and  John  P.  The  mother 
of  these  died  December  4,  1893.  Mr. 
Brooks  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
K,  of  P.  and  Royal  Arcanum. 


DANIEL  T.    BUSH,    a    wealthy    re- 
tired farmer  and  a  citizen  of   Well- 
'    ington,  was  l)orn  in   Plymouth,  N. 

Y.,  August  28,  1814.  He  is  the 
son  of  Benjamin  T.  Bush  and  Elizabeth 
(Burst)  Bush,  and  a  grandson  of  Henry  T. 
Bush. 

The  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Al- 
bany county,  N.  Y.,  in  which  State  he 
married  Elizabeth  Burst,  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  In  1834  the 
family  came  to  Ohio,  the  journey  being 
made  by  wagon  from  Canandai^ua,  N.  Y., 
to  Rochester;  by  canal  to  Buffalo;  Lake 
Erie  to  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  from  there 
by  wagon  to  Huntington  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of 
fifty  acres  covered  with  dense  woods.  The 
mother  died  in  Rochester,  Ohio,  August 
29, 1844,  aged  seventy  years,  seven  months, 
and  two  days.  The  father  died  near  Lan- 
sing, Mich.,  August  28,  1855,  aged 
seventy-nine  years  and  eight  months. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. Children  were  born  to  this  pioneer 
couple  as  follows:  John  T. ;  Joseph  T.; 
Martin  T.;  Nancy  T.;  Eliza  T. ;  Daniel 
T.  (subject  of  this  sketch);  and  Amy 
T. ;  all  were  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  all  but  Martin  T.  died 
in  Michigan.  Martin  T.  went  south 
about  the  year  1825  or  1826,  and  has 
not  been  heard  from  since.  The  grand- 
father of  subject  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,     was    taken    prisoner    by  the 


British  and  conveyed  to  Canada,  where  he 
died  of  i>mallpox;  his  two  eldest  sons 
served  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
against  foreign  invasion,  the  younger 
entering  the  service  of  the  Colonies  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years,  and  serving  during 
the  entire  war.  The  rest  of  the  family  en- 
countered great  hardships  being  driven 
from  their  home  in  Cherry  Valley,  and 
becoming  eyewitnesses  to  the  destruction 
of  all  their  property. 

D.  T.  Bush  received  his  education  in  the 
little  red  schoolhouse  on  Baptist  Hill  in 
Bristol,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  On  February 
25,  1838,  he  married  Sophia  Clark,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  woods  one  mile 
south  of  his  father's  farm,  where  he  had 
to  literally  hew  out  what  is  now  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  Huntington  township, 
which  in  1871  contained  205-^  acres,  hav- 
ing thereon  a  large  and  comfortable  dwell- 
ing and  commodious  outbuildings.  This 
farm  was  purchased  in  different  parcels, 
covered  by  seven  deeds,  and  here  the  fol- 
lowing nine  children  were  born  to  them: 
Almond  D.  (died  in  infancy),  Melissa  J., 
George  C,  Martin  L.,  Mary  A.,  Edwin  D., 
Charles  A.,  John  O.,  and  Henry  W.  (died 
September  12,  1879,  aged  twenty-three 
years).  Selling  the  farm  in  1871,  Mr. 
Bush  moved  to  Wellington,  Ohio,  where 
he  now  resides  in  his  eightieth  year,  en- 
joying the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fel- 
low citizens,  and  a  loving  and  grateful 
posterity. 


GF.    LEE,    the    widely-known    and 
popular     photographer,    of     Elyria, 
^^ '   was  born   in    the    town   of  Vernon, 
Conn.,  August  26,  1843,  a  son  of 
George  and  Ida  Harris  (Skillman)  Lee. 

Georgo  Lee  was  also  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, born  in  the  town  of  Vernon,  in 
1806.  He  was  reared  to  the  woolen  manu- 
facturing business,  working  from  his 
earliest  boyhood  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Frank  Woolen  Mills.  His  business  ability 
was  marked  by  the  fact  that  in  subsequent 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


689 


years  he  succeeded  to  the  inaiiagemetit  of 
these    mills,    and    became   the    principal 
stockholder  and  proprietor   of  same.     In 
about  the  year  1853  a   disastrous  fire  de- 
strcved  the  plant,  and,  financially,  Mr.  Lee 
was    almost    ruined.      Concluding,   in   the 
hope  of  recuperating  his  fortunes,  to  come 
west,  he  set   out   with  sanguine  expecta- 
tions, tirst  locating  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where 
he    was    superintendent     of     the    Globe 
Woolen  Mills   for   about    two   years.     He 
then  made  a  trip  still   farther   west,   visit- 
ing different  points   in  Illinois   and    else- 
where, but  not  finding  satisfactory  induce- 
ments   to    remain,    returned    eastward   to 
Ohio,  and  made  a  settlement  in   Norwalk, 
remaining    there  until   1863.     Removing 
in  that  year  to  Cleveland,  he  there  engaged 
in  the  oil-refining;   b\isiness,    and   lortune 
once  more  smiled  on  his  enterprise  and  in- 
defatigable industry.     But  again    he  was 
doomed  to  become  a  victim  of  the  devour- 
ing element,  the  ravages  of  fire  once  more 
confronting  him  on  his   onward   march   to 
wealth,  his  oil  mills  being  burned    to   the 
ground   in    1870,  whereby   all  lie   had    a 
second  time  acquired   was   almost   utterly 
destroyed.     This  second  disaster    was  suf- 
ficient to  crush  the  ambition  of  most  men, 
and  Mr.  Lee,  finding  himself  too   far  ad- 
vanced   in   years   to  commence   life  anew 
the  third  time,  gathered  together  what  he 
could   from    the  ruins  of   his   estate,  and 
retired  to  Berlin  Heights,  in  Erie  county, 
where    he    passed     the  rest    of    his  days 
in    peaceful    retirement,    dying    in    1874 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.     Mr.  Lee 
was  a  lifelong   practical    Christian,  and  a 
deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church.    la 
his    political    sympathies    he,    in    earlier 
years,  was  an  Old-line  Henry  Clay  Whig, 
and  in  later  life  atiiliated  witli  the  Repub- 
lican paity. 

Ida  II.  Lee,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Riverhcail,  L6ug  Island,  N. 
Y.,  in  July,  1812;  in  1880  was  married  to 
George  Lee;  on  September  7,  1893,  died 
in  Elyria,  Ohio,  at  the  residence  of  her 
son,  C.  F.  Lee,  where   for  some  years  she 


had  made  her  home.  She  was  a  descend- 
ant of  one  Fanning,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
who  had  settled  in  Long  Island  in  an  early 
day.  To  George  and  Ida  H.  (Skiliman) 
Lee  were  born  six  children,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  sole  survivor. 

C.  F.  Lee  received  his  education  chiefly 
at  the  old  seminary  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  In 
1864  he  joined  the  Federal  army,  enlisting 
in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Si.xty- 
sixth  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  at  Norwalk, 
Ohio.  This  regiment  belonged  to  what 
was  known  as  the  "one  hundred  days 
service,"  and  was  sent  to  the  defense  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  At  the  close  of  his 
term  of  enlistment  Mr.  Lee  returned  home 
and  took  up  his  i-esidence  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  art  of  photo- 
graphy with  J.  F.  Ryder,  and  was  in  his. 
employ  most  of  the  time  until  1876.  In 
that  year  he  established  himself  in  his. 
present  business  in  Elyria,  where  he  has 
since  successfully  conducted  the  leading 
photographic  establishment  of  the  city. 

In  1868  Mr.  Lee  was  married  to  Miss. 
Ella  Louise  Morehouse,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  viz.:  George  E., 
Ida  V.  and  Xellie  M.  Politically,  our 
subject  is  a  Republican;  socially,  he  is 
past  master  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Elyria.  Ohio,  and  a  member 
of  Marshall  Chapter  No.  47,  R.  A.  M. 


'jT^j  EV.  JOHN    KEEP    was    born    in 
y^    Long    Meadow,     Mass.,    in    1781, 
I    ^  graduated   at    Yale   in    1802,   was 
J)  pastor  in  Blandford,  Mass.,  and  in 

Homer,  N.  Y.,  from  1805  till  1883, 
when  he  came  to  Cleveland  and  became 
pastor  of  a  new  church  on  the  West  Side. 
While  he  was  at  Homer  he  had  been  a 
trustee  of  Hamilton  College  and  of  Au- 
burn Theological  Seminary,  and  was  natur- 
ally intei-ested  in  any  educational  enter- 
prise in  the  neighborhood.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  a  trustee  at  Oberlin.  and  held 
the  position  until   his  death  in  1870.     By 


690 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


reason  of  his  years  and  experience  he  was 
made  president  of  the  Board,  and  had  the 
responsibility  of  the  casting  vote  on  the 
question  of  receiving  colored  students,  in 
1835.  From  that  day  he  took  Oberlin  on 
his  heart,  and  never  laid  it  off  unless  when 
he  laid  off  the  eaithly  life.  His  last  words 
pertained  to  a  letter  he  had  planned  to 
write  in  the  interest  of  the  college.  He 
traversed  the  land  to  gather  means  to  sus- 
tain it,  and  crossed  the  ocean  to  save  it  in 
a  crisis.  In  1850,  then  seventy  years  of 
age,  he  removed  to  Oberlin,  and  from  that 
time  his  home  was  here.  At  every  meet- 
ing of  the  trustees  he  was  present,  and 
encouraged  all  by  his  hope  and  his  faith. 
When  others  were  depressed  he  sustained 
and  bore  them  on  by  his  cheerful  courage, 
and  thus  he  held  on  to  the  end  of  his  days. 
When  more  than  fourscore  years  old  he 
would  often  come  out  at  evening,  with  his 
lantern,  to  find  some  one  burdened  with 
responsibility  and  care,  and  cheer  him  up 
with  a  word  of  encouragement.  His  sleep 
was  sweeter  after  such  a  service.  He  died 
in  his  eighty-ninth  year,  not  from  disease, 
but  because  life  was  completed.  [Taken 
from  "Oberlin:  The  Colony  and  The  Col- 
lege." by  the  kind  permission  of  the  author, 
Prof.  James  H.  Fairchild. 


J,  EV.  HENEY  COWLES  was  called 
to  the  professorship  of  languages 
at  Oberlin,  upon  the  resignation  of 
Mr.  Waldo,  and  came  in  Septem- 
ber, 1835.  He  was  born  in  Nor- 
folk, Conn.,  in  1803,  and  was  tiiirty-two 
years  of  age  when  he  came. 

He  had  graduated  at  Yale,  and  taken  his 
theological  course  there.  He  completed 
the  course  in  1828,  was  ordained  at  Hart- 
ford the  same  year,  and  came  at  once  to 
northern  Ohio  under  appointment  from 
the  Connecticut  Home  Missionary  Society. 
He  preached  in  Ashtabula  and  Sandusky, 
and  after  two  years,  having  received  a  call 
from   the    clinrch    in    Austinburg,  he  i-e- 


turned  to  his  l)ome  in  Connecticut,  was 
married,  and  commenced  his  work  in  Aus- 
tinburg. I'^rom  a  most  successful  pastorate 
of  five  years  he  came  to  Oberlin,  and 
found  himself  in  lull  sympathy  with  all 
the  leading  objects  and  aims  of  the  work; 
and  from  the  first  day  until  the  day  of  his 
death — a  period  of  forty-six  years — he 
gave  himself,  without  reserve,  to  these  ob- 
jects. There  seemed  to  be  no  thought  of 
himself  or  his  personal  interests;  no  anx- 
iety in  reference  to  position.  His  heart 
was  in  the  work,  and  all  he  asked  was  a 
place  to  lay  out  his  strength.  In  1888  he 
took  the  chair  of  Church  History  in  the 
seminary,  and  of  Hebrew  and  Old  Testa- 
ment Literature  in  1840.  In  1848,  in 
consequence  of  straitened  means  on  the 
part  of  the  college,  and  the  necessity  of 
reducing  expenses,  he  resigned  his  work 
in  the  seminary,  and  took  the  editorship 
of  the  Oberlin  Ev<in(jdi8t^  a  work  which 
he  had  shared  with  others  for  some  years 
preceding.  From  this  time  until  the  close 
of  1862  he  gave  his  thought  and  heart  to 
the  Evan<jelist^  and  made  it  greatly  what 
it  was,  a  treasury  of  religious  thought  and 
experience,  and  of  practical  life.  The 
twenty-four  volumes  of  the  Oberlin 
Evangelist,  with  which  Professor  Cowles 
had  more  to  do  than  any  other  man,  give 
a  better  exhibition  of  Oberlin  thought  and 
character  and  workduring  those  years  than 
any  definite  attempt  to  set  them  forth  can 
possibly  do. 

When  the  Evangelht  was  closed  up 
Professor  Cowles  was  about  sixty  years  of 
age,  and  he  migiit  naturally  feel  that  the 
cliief  work  of  his  life  was  done;  and  it 
would  have  been  a  satisfactory  work.  But 
the  habit  of  communicating  his  thoughts 
to  others  by  writing  was  strong  upon  him, 
and  by  what  seemed  a  divine  leading  he 
entered  upon  the  work  of  writing  com- 
mentaries upon  the  Scriptures.  He  com- 
menced with  the  parts  of  the  Old 
Testament  to  which  he  had  given  more 
particular  attention  as  an  instructor,  and 
went  on,  year  after  year,  adding  volume 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


691 


to  volume,  devoting  to  it  all  his  energies 
and  all  bis  resources,  tiirougli  a  period  of 
seventeen  j'ears.  In  1881  he  issued  the 
last  volnnie,  and  then  felt  that  the  Lord 
permitted  him  to  depart  in  peace.  His 
work  was  done;  the  result  remains  with 
U8 — a  commentary  on  the  entire  Scrip- 
tures, full  of  practical  wisdom  and  the  ripe 
fruits  of  scholarship.  He  died  in  Septem- 
ber of  the  same  year.  The  interests  of  the 
college  through  all  these  years  filled  his 
heart  and  hands.  He  was  a  member  of 
tiie  "  J'rudential  Committee"  and  a  trustee, 
in  constant  attendance  upon  these  duties, 
and  often  went  out  upon  financial  missions 
in  behalf  of  the  college.  His  last  public 
duty  was  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
trustees  in  1881.  [Taken  from  "Oberlin: 
The  Colony  and  The  College,"  by  the 
kind  permission  of  the  author,  Prof.  James 
H.  Fairchild. 


fr^^EV.  ASA  MAHAN  reached  Ober- 

L^"    lin     in     May,    1835,  having    been 

I    \^   elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  col- 

■JJ  lege,  and  entered  directly  upon  his 

duties.     He  was     then     thirty-six 

years  of  age,   a  native  of  Western   New 

York,  educated  at  Hamilton   College  and 

Andover  Seminary. 

He  came  from  the  charge  of  the  Sixth 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Cincinnati,  and 
his  earnest  and  vigorous  preaching  made 
at  once  a  strong  impression  upon  the  peo- 
ple of  Oberlin.  He  was  a  bold  and  ag- 
gressive advocate  of  all  the  Oberlin  ideas 
and  doctrines,  and  was  always  ready,  at 
home  or  abroad,  to  eive  a  reason  for  the 
faith  that  was  in  him  with  earnestness  and 
full  conviction.  He  w;as  an  enthusiastic 
teacher  in  his  own  department,  that  of 
philosophy,  and  gave  an  impulse  to  the 
study  at  Oberlin  which  it  has  never  lost. 
His  administration  of  the  college  was,  in 
general,  successful,  and  he  gave  his  heart 
and  strength  to  its  prosjterity  without  any 
reservation.  An  infelicity  which  often 
attends  great  strength  of  purpose  and  of 


character  was  sometimes  suspected  in  him, 
namely,  a  greater  facility  in  conviction 
than  in  conciliation.  While  he  had  many 
ardent  friends,  tiiere  would  be  another 
class  who  were  as  distinctly  not  his 
friends.  Some  of  his  colleagues  felt  at 
times  that  his  strong  aegressiveness 
awakened  unnecessary  hostility  against  the 
college;  and  in  1850,  some  of  his  friends 
having  planned  a  new-  university  at  Cleve- 
land, and  invited  him  to  take  tlie  direction 
of  it,  he  resigned  at-Oberlin,  having  held 
the  presidency  of  the  college  fifteen  years. 
With  President  Mahan,  Oberlin  lost  some- 
what of  its  positiveness  and  aggressiveness. 
The  enter[)rise  at  Cleveland  was  not  a 
success,  and  Mr.  Mahan  was  called  to  a 
professorship  in  Adrian  College,  Mich., 
and  at  length  to  the  presidency  of  the 
college.  The  last  ten  years  be  has  spent 
in  England,  in  abundant  labors  in  the 
special  work  of  promoting  the  "higher" 
Christian  experience,  and  now  [1883],  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three,  he  is  preaching  to 
large  congregations,  editing  a  magazine 
called  Divine  Life,  and  issuing  one  vol- 
ume after  another,  such  as  '•  The  Baptism 
of  The  Holy  Ghost,"  "  Out  of  Darkness 
into  Light,"  and  "  Autobiography,  Intel- 
lectual, Moral  and  Spiritual."  While  at 
Oberlin  he  pnblished  works  on  "  The 
Will,"  "Intellectual  Philosophy,"  and 
"  Moral  Philosophy."  Other  works,  since 
published,  are  on  Logic,  Spiritualism, 
ISfatural  Theology,  and  a  Criticism  of  the 
Conduct  of  the  War.  [Taken  from  "Ober- 
lin: The  Colony  and  The  College,"  by  the 
kind  permission  of  the  author.  Prof.  James 
H.  Fairchild. 


EV.  CHARLES  G.  FINNEY  came 


in  June,  1835,  about  a  month  after 


11^   Mr.  Mahan.     He  was  then   nearly 
J)  forty-two  years  of  age,  with  health 

somewhat  broken  by  the  exhaust- 
ing evangelistic  labors  of  the  preceding 
ten  years. 


692 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  went  again  in 

the  same  lenffth  of  time. 


He  found  a  theological  department  of 
thirty-live  stndents,  and  entered  at  once 
upon  his  work,  as  professor  of  systematic 
theology.  His  habit  was  to  preach  once 
on  the  Sabbath,  not  often  twice,  and  the 
year  following  he  was  called  to  the  pastor- 
ship of  the  church.  For  many  years  he 
gave  the  long  winter  vacation  to  preaching 
as  an  evangelist,  for  the  most  part  with  some 
church  at  the  East.  In  1849  he  went  to 
England,  and  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in 
similar  labors  in  London  and  other  cities 
of  England  and  Scotland.  Ten  years  later 
the  same  work  for  about 
^  In  1851  he  was 

elected  President  of  the  college,  and  held 
the  position  until  1865,  with  the  arrange- 
ment that  he  was  not  to  give  attention  to 
tlie  details  of  the  position,  but  only  to  the 
more  public  duties.  His  work  as  an  in- 
structor was  not changed  except  that  he  took 
the  Senior  college  class  for  some  years  in 
moral  philosophy.  In  1865  he  resigned  the 
presidency.  l)eing  then  seventy-three  years 
of  age.  He  had  already,  in  1858,  sur- 
rendered the  work  in  systematic  theology, 
retaining  the  pastoral  theology  and  liis 
work  as  a  pastor.  In  1872  he  laid  down 
the  pastoral  work,  but  continued  his  pas- 
toral lectures  until  the  year  of  his  death, 
1875,  having  completed,  lacking  a  few 
days,  his  eighty-third  year.  No  brief 
mention  can  characterize  him  or  set  forth 
his  work ;  nor  is  it  necessary.  He  belongs 
to  the  world,  and  not  to  Oberlin  alone. 
His  "  Sermons  on  Important  Subjects"  and 
"Revival  Lectures"  were  published  before 
his  coming  to  Oberlin.  His  "Lectures  to 
Christians"  appeared  a  year  or  more  after- 
ward, and  his  two  volumes  on  "Systematic 
Theology"  in  1846  and  1847.  These  were 
numbered  as  volumes  second  and  third, 
his  purpose  being  to  prepare  a  volume  on 
"  Natural  Theology  "  to  precede  them.  This 
volume  was  never  written.  Wiiile  he  was 
in  England  in  1850.  he  prepared  and  pub- 
lished an  edition  of  his  Theology  in  one 
volume,  involving  the  substance  of  the 
two  preceding  volumes.     His  latest  works 


were  a  volume  on  "  Masonry,"  published  in 
1869,  and  his  "Memoirs,"  written  by  him- 
self, and  published  after  his  death.  Upon 
the  jtnblication  of  iiis  Theology  very 
diverse  opinions  were  expressed  in  regard 
to  it,  according  to  the  standpoint. 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  Burleigh  closed  a  notice 
of  the  work  in  the  Charter  Oak,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  1846,  with  the  following  paragraph: 
"We  will  venture  the  prediction  that  fifty 
years  hence  this  volume  will  rank  among 
the  standard  works  on  theology,  and  the 
name  of  Finney  be  mentioned  with  those 
of  Edwards,  Dwightand  Emmons.  Sooner 
than  that  we  fear  he  will  not  be  generally 
ap]ireciated.  The  time  will  come  when 
Finney  will  have  justice  done  to  his  exalted 
talents,  and  when  the  liost  of  his  revilers 
— men  not  possessing,  in  the  aggregate, 
half  his  mental  grasp — will  be  lost  in 
oblivion  unless  he  should  preserve  their 
names  from  utter  extinction  by  an  inci- 
dental allusion  in  his  works." 

Dr.  Charles  Hodge,  in  the  BiMical  Re- 
pository,  1847,  wrote  as  follows:  "The 
work  is,  therefore,  in  a  high  degree  logical. 
It  is  as  hard  to  read  as  Euclid.  Nothing 
can  be  omitted;  nothing  passed  over 
slightly.  The  unhappy  reader  once  com- 
mitted to  a  perusal,  is  obliged  to  go  on, 
sentence  by  sentence,  through  the  long 
concatenation.  There  is  not  one  resting- 
place,  not  one  lapse  into  amplification 
or  declamation,  from  the  beginning  to  the 
close.  It  is  like  one  of  those  spiral  stair- 
cases, which  lead  to  the  top  of  some  high 
tower,  without  a  landing  from  the  base  to 
the  summit;  which,  if  a  man  has  once 
ascended,  he  resolves  never  to  do  the  like 
acain.  The  author  begins  with  certain 
postulates,  or  what  he  calls  first  truths  of 
reason,  and  these  he  traces  out  with  singu- 
lar clearness  and  strength  to  their  legiti- 
mate conclusions.  We  do  not  see  that 
there  is  a  break  or  a  defective  link  in  the 
whole  chain.  If  you  grant  his  principles, 
you  have  already  granted  his  conclusions. 
....  We  propose  to  rely  on  the  reductlo  ad 
ahsurdum,   and    make    his   doctrines   the 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


refutation  of  his  principles ....  We  con- 
sider this  a  fair  refutation.  If  the  prin- 
ciple that  obligation  is  limited  by  ability, 
leads  to  the  conclusion  that  moral 
character  is  confined  to  intention,  and  that 
again  to  the  conclusion  that  when  the  in- 
tention  is  right  nothing  can  be  morally 
wrong,  then  the  principle  is  false.  Even 
if  we  could  not  detect  its  fallacy,  we  should 
know  it  could  not  be  true." 

Dr.  George  Redford,  of  Worcester, 
England,  in  the  preface  to  the  London 
edition,  which  he  edited,  1851,  writes: 
"As  a  contribution  to  theological  science, 
in  an  age  when  vague  speculation  and 
philosophical  theories  are  bewildering  all 
denominations  of  Christians,  this  work  will 
be  considered  by  all  competent  judges  to 
be  both  valuable  and  seasonable.  Upon 
several  important  and  difficult  subjects  the 
author  has  thrown  a  clear  and  valuable 
light  which  will  guide  many  a  student 
through  perplexities  and  difficulties  which 
he  had  long  sought  unsuccessfully  to  ex- 
plain. The  editor  frankly  confesses  that 
when  a  student  he  would  gladly  have 
bartered  half  the  books  in  his  library  to 
have  gained  a  single  perusal  of  these  lec- 
tures; and  he  cannot  refrain  from  express- 
ing the  belief  that  no  young  student  of 
theology  will  ever  regret  the  purchase  or 
perusal  of  Mr.  Finney's  lectures."  [Taken 
from  "Oberlin:  The  Colony  and  The  Col- 
lege," by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
author.  Prof.  James  H.  Fairchild. 


Ij  ACOB  BAKTH,  a  representative  self- 
w  I'  made  and  progressive  agriculturist  of 
\y/  Grafton  township,  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, born  November  7,  1826,  in 
Wittenberg.  His  father,  John  Jacob  Earth, 
was  a  peddler  and  huckster,  and  also  owned 
a  small  piece  of  land,  which  his  wife  and 
family  of  ten  ciiildren  looked  after. 

When  our  subject  was  ten  years  of  age 
his  parents  hired  him  out  as  a  shepherd 
boy,  he   receiving    in  compensation  a  few 


clothes  and  his  board  for  a  summer's  work. 
Ill  the  winter  season  he  attended  school  a 
short  time,  but  home  labor  required  his 
attention  so  much  that  but  little  time  was 
left  for  his  education.  Up  to  his  fifteenth 
year  he  had  been  woi'king  round  at  various 
places,  and  at  different  kinds  of  work,  get- 
tinj'  but  small  wacjes.  At  the  age  of  tif- 
teen  he  commenced  to  learn  shoemaking, 
his  three-years  appi'enticeship  costing  him 
a  premium  of  some  twenty-five  dollars, 
after  which  he  followed  his  trade  as  a 
journeytnan  for  the  equivalent  of  one 
dollar  per  week.  He  also  found  employ- 
ment on  the  public  highways  then  being 
repaired,  receiving  therefor  twenty  cents 
per  day,  out  of  which  he  had  to  board 
himself.  After  he  had  passed  his  twenty- 
first  birthday  he  joined  the  regular  army, 
in  which  he  served  nearly  six  years. 

While  yet  in  Germany  he  married  Ro- 
sina  Merika,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
Jacob  L.,  in  the  Fatherland.  In  1853, 
leaving  his  little  family  behind,  he  set  sail 
for  America,  and  after  a  three-months' 
voyage  landed  at  New  York,  whence  he 
continued  westward  to  Liverpool,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  found  himself,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  with  a  capital 
of  just  two  cents.  However,  he  soon 
found  employment  in  Liverpool  at  his 
trade  at  five  dollars  per  month,  after  which 
he  w-orked  in  Litchfield,  same  county,  two 
years.  By  his  employers,  who  had  con- 
fidence in  him,  he  was  trusted,  and  being 
honest  and  industrious  he  never  lost  their 
confidence.  Having  saved  some  money  he 
sent  for  his  wife  and  son  Jacob  (now  fore- 
man of  the  Grafton  Stone  Sawmill)  to 
come  out  to  him,  which  they  did,  arriving 
in  due  course  at  Litchfield,  from  which 
place  they  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
York,  same  State,  where  for  nine  years  he 
followed  his  trade.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  they  went  to  Abbeyville,  Medina 
county,  where  Mr.  Barth  lionght  a  farm  of 
sixty-two  acres,  running  in  debt  to  the 
amount  of  three  hundred  dollars,  on  which 
he  paid  six  per  cent,  interest.     For  three 


694 


LOEAIN.  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


years  tliey  lived  here,  and  then  in  1866 
came  to  the  place  he  now  owns  and  lives 
on,  in  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county, 
running  in  debt  two  thousand  dollars,  on 
which  he  paid  ten  per  cent,  interest.  With 
the  assistance  of  his  sons  he  has  cultivated 
and  improved  this  property,  which  con- 
sists of  eighty-four  and  a  half  acres  (all 
paid  for),  equipped  with  good  buildings, 
in  the  aggregate  presenting  the  result  of 
indefatigable  perseverance,  honesty  of  pur- 
pose, energy  and  economy,  and  acciirau- 
lated  from  the  commencement  of  the  two 
cents  he  had  when  he  landed  in  Ohio. 

In  this  country  ten  children  were  born 
to  him,  as  follows:  Henry  F.,  of  Cleve- 
land, wliere  he  is  a  skilled  mechanic  in  the 
Steel  Works,  making  steel;  Frederick,  a 
molder,  in  llochester,  N.  Y.;  John  J.,  Jr., 
a  farmer  in  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Mary  C, 
Mrs.  Andrew  Hartung,  of  Chicago,  111.; 
Martha  L.,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Weaver,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  Catherine  L.,  Mrs.  Fred  Kel- 
ler, of  Liverpool,  Ohio;  William  A.,  of 
Belden,  Ohio,  an  engineer;  George  M.,  of 
Cleveland,  an  iron- worker;  Joseph  H.,  a 
farmer,  living  at  home  with  his  father; 
and  Charles  A.,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  liv- 
ing at  Cleveland.  Politically  Mr.  Barth 
is  a  Republican,  and  lie  and  his  wife  are 
inemliersof  the  Lutheran  Chnrch  at  Liver- 
pool, Ohio. 


FREDRICK  B.  MANLEY.  No 
greater  pleasure  can  be  enjoyed 
_^  by  the  aged  than  to  look  back  on 
a  life  usefully  spent  for  the  good 
of  others  as  well  as  themselves — a  happi- 
ness that  can  be  enjoyed  in  an  eminent 
degree  by  the  gentleman  whose  name  here 
appears. 

Mr.  Manley  is  a  native  of  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  born  in  the  town  of  Otis 
March  10,  1817.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Josiah  B.  and  Betsey  (Webster)  Manley, 
also  of  the  Bay  State,  who  came  to  Ohio 
in  1821,  the  journey  occupying  forty  days 


and  forty  nights.  The  father  located  land 
in  Wellington  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  immediately  entered  upon  the  labors 
of  "rolling  up  a  log  cabin,"  and  opening 
up  a  new  farm  in  the  "forest  primeval," 
at  which  and  similar  work  he  was  actively 
and  successfully  engaged  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  August  22,  1824.  Of  the 
noble  army  of  pioneers  he  was  the  first  to 
pass  away  in  Wellington  township,  and  he 
is  remembered  as  a  devoted  husband,  a 
kind  and  indulgent  father  and  a  true 
friend.  While  his  remains  were  being 
consigned  to  their  last  resting  place,  marks 
of  respect  and  esteem  were  abundantly 
shown  by  warm-hearted,  sorrowing  friends. 
His  widow  taught  school  for  three  succes- 
sive  seasons  in  her  log  house,  and  two 
terms  in  a  district  schooliiouse.  She  died 
at  the  home  of  her  son,  Fredrick  B.,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  was,  as 
will  be  seen,  about  four  years  old  when  iiis 
parents  brought  him  to  Lorain  county,  and 
he  was  reared  among  the  many  privations 
of  pioneer  life.  In  Wellington  township 
lie  attended  the  first  school  taught  there, 
continuing  his  attendance  thereat,  both 
summer  and  winter,  until  he  was  thirteen 
years  old,  after  whicii  he  availed  himself 
of  the  winter  term  only,  later  enjoying  the 
benefit  of  excellent  select  schools.  He  has 
followed  farming  for  the  most  part  all  his 
life,  and  is  well-trained  in  tlie  calling  of 
the  agriculturist,  occasionally  engaging, 
sometimes  fj^uite  extensively,  in  the  busi- 
ness of  speculation  in  live  stock.  The 
three-hundred-acre  farm,  which  by  careful 
thrift  and  assiduous  labor  he  has  brought 
to  an  excellent  stateof  cultivation  ;  the  com- 
modious dwelling  and  ample  and  comfort- 
able outbuildings — all  combine  to  attest 
to  the  characteristic  skill  and  sound  judg- 
ment of  the  owner.  And  a  true  description 
of  the  spot  would  be  incomplete,  were  a 
notable  and  far-famed  attraction  left  un- 
noticed— the  grand  old  elm — widely  known 
as  "Mauley's  famous  elm" — that  graces 
tlie  lawn,  spared   by  the  pioneer  axe-man 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


697 


on  account  of  its  majestic  appearance,  its 
heiglit  from  root  to  topmost  limb  being  at 
least  a  hundred  feet. 

"Woodman  spare  that  tree, 
Cut  not  a  single  bough  ; 
It  useti  to  shelter  me, 
And  I'll  protect  it  now." 

On  the  lOtlt  day  of  March,  1847,  Fred- 
rick B.  Mauley  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mi«s  Mary  L.,  eldest  daughter  of 
Major  Judson  and  Lucinda  Wad8worth,of 
Wellington.  By  this  union  there  is  one 
sou,  Henry  W.,  married,  and  the  father  of 
one  child— Floyd  UeWitt.  Mrs.  F.  B. 
Manley  died  March  25,  1883,  aged  fifty- 
nine  years. 

Our  snliject  in  his  political  views  is  a 
sotind  liepublican,  his  first  vote  having 
been  cast  for  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison.  He 
served  his  township  as  constable,  one  terra, 
and  assessor  eight  consecutive  years.  Soci- 
ally, he  lias  been  president  of  the  Union 
Agricultural  Society  by  seven  successive 
reelections,  faithfully  and  acceptably  dis- 
charging the  duties  imposed.  During 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  enrolling 
officer,  receiving  the  compliments  of  the 
managing  board  for  his  careftilly  prepared 
and  neatly-written  enrollment  paper,  and 
he  was  in  a  marked  degree  energetic  in 
securing  men  to    put  down  the  Rebellion. 

Mr.  Manley  is  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
settlers  in  Wellington  township,  none  now 
living  antedating  his  arrival.  During  his 
long  residence  of  over  seventy-two  years 
in  the  county,  he  has  ever  sustained  a  repu- 
tation for  integrity  and  good  citizenship, 
alike  creditable  to  his  judgment  and  char- 
acter. As  one  of  the  men  who  in  an  early 
day  took  part  in  subduing  the  wilderness, 
transplanting  in  its  place  the  fine  farms 
and  beautiful  homes  that  the  present  gen- 
eration enjoy  in  comparative  ease,  Mr. 
Manley  is  well  worthy  of  being  memorized 
in  the  biographical  record  of  Lorain 
county. 

Now  at  tlui  honored  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  well  preserved,  of  a  command- 
ing   presence,    possessed    of    a    vigorous 


mind,  good  practical  business  sagacity, 
and  a  reliable  memory  as  to  early  events, 
he  is  deeply  grateful  that  Time  has  dealt 
gently  with  him.  Ofttimes  he  ruminates 
upon  the  changes  that  have  taken  place,  in 
his  midst,  since  the  days  of  the  stick 
chimney  and  puncheon  floor,  and  the  twang 
of  the  thread  as  the  good  mother  faithfully 
plied  her  needle,  by  the  dim  light  of  a 
tallow  candle,  to  ''keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door."  Anon!  When  the  "hamlet  is  still," 
recalling  in  a  retrospect  the  marvel- 
ous work  of  the  first  settlers  of  Welliuir- 
ton,  their  memory  and  the  goodly  heritage 
al)ideth. 


CHARLES  E.  TUCKER,  a  member 
of  the  enterprising  firm  of  Hart  & 
^  Tucker,  proprietors  of  lumber  yard, 
planing-mill  and  coal  yai-d,  Elyria, 
is  a  native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born 
in  Carlisle  township,  February  11,  1860, 
a  son  of  William  H.  and  Clarissa  (An- 
drews) Tucker,  tlie  latter  of  whom  died  in 
Elyria  January  20,  1S7(). 

William  II.  Tucker  was  born  March  21, 
182t),  in  Windham,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  the 
youngest  son  of  Jacob  and  Chloe  Tucker. 
In  boyhood  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Lorain  coimty,  and  the  family  made  a  set- 
tlement in  the  wooiis  of  what  is  now  Eaton 
township.  He  received  as  liberal  an  ele- 
mentary education  as  the  home  schools  of 
\\w  times  afforded,  and  by  hard  work  and 
judicious  saving  was  enabled  afterward  to 
place  hitnself  in  a  select  school  at  Ridge- 
ville,  Ohio.  He  then  commenced  teach- 
ing, an  occupation  he  followed  the  long 
period  of  twenty-two  years  in  various  parts 
of  Ohio.  In  1864  he  was  elected  recorder 
of  Lorain  county,  a  position  he  tilled,  by 
two  re-elections,  for  nine  consecutive 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  mak- 
ing a  studv  of  law,  and  on  retiring  from 
the  recordership  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  a  sitting  of  the  district  court  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.  In  1864  he  came  to  Elyfia, 
where  lie  is  yet  residing.     Mr.  Tucker  was 


698 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


prominent  in  the  organization,  in  his 
adopted  town,  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and 
of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  has  tilled 
tlie  Iiighest  positions  in  both  these  Socie- 
ties in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Charles  E.  Tucker  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
afterward  attended  the  high  school  of  Ely- 
ria.  In  1882  he  entered  the  employ  of 
John  W.  Hart,  in  the  lumber  and  planing- 
mill  business,  and  by  faithful  attention  to 
his  duties,  steadiness  and  trustworthiness, 
soon  won  the  confidence  and  goodwill  of 
his  employer.  In  1892  he  and  L.  J.  Hart, 
son  of  John  W.  Hart,  purchased  the  entire 
plant  from  the  latter,  and,  by  close  appli- 
cation to  business  and  honorable  dealing, 
the  young  firm  have  succeeded  in  buildins; 
up  a  larij;e  and  lucrative  trade,  in  which 
thev  enjoy  the  utmost  contidence  of  their 
patrons. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  married,  September  20, 
1882,  to  Miss  Hatty  E.  Hart,  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Caroline  ().  Hart.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  F.  & 
A.  M.  and  Chapter.  Young,  energetic 
and  thoroughly  experienced,  our  subject 
is  sj)ecially  well  adapted  to  his  branch  of 
the  business — attending  to  the  sales  of 
lumber,  coal,  etc.,  and  the  outside  business. 


'[r^EY.  JOHN    MORGAN"  arrived  at 
L"^    Oberlin,in  company  with  Mr.  Fin- 
I    V    ney,  in  1835.     He  was  then  thirty- 
J)  two  years  of  age,  a   native  of  Ire- 

land, havincr  been  brouplit  to  tliis 
country  at  the  age  of  ten,  trained  as  a 
printer  in  eastern  cities,  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  graduated 
at  Williams,  as  valedictorian,  in  1826. 

He  had  taken  no  seminary  course,  but 
studied  theology  some  years  in  New  York. 
He  was  an  instructor  in  the  literary  or  pre- 
paratory department  of  Lane  Seminary,  at 
the  time  of  the  anti-slavery  excitement, 
there,  and  was  in  entire  sympathy  with  the 


students  in  their  withdrawal.  His  tirst 
appointment  to  Oberliu  was  as  professor 
of  mathematics,  but  the  call  which  he  ac- 
cepted was  to  the  chair  of  the  literature 
and  exegesis  of  the  New  Testament.  This 
work  he  entered  upon  at  once,  but  his 
broad  and  thorough  scholarship  enabled 
him  to  fill  many  a  gap,  upon  emergency, 
in  the  new  college.  There  was  not  a 
study  in  the  entire  curriculum  in  which  he 
could  not  give  instruction,  at  an  hour's 
warning,  as  successfully  as  if  it  were  his 
own  specialty.  But  the  New  Testament 
was  his  chosen  field,  and  for  this  field  his 
linguistic,  historical  and  philosophical 
gifts  and  attainments  abundantly  qualified 
liim.  He  was  no  mere  mechanical  or 
technical  interpreter,  but  reached  at  once 
the  soul  of  the  matter,  where  language 
and  philosophy  both  harmonize. 

The  influence  of  Professor  Morgan  in 
the  enterprise  was  conservative  in  tlie  best 
sense,  not  by  reason  of  any  inertia  or  im- 
mobilit}'  of  nature.  His  enthusiasm,  in 
any  well-considered  movement,  was  always 
prompt,  but  his  breadth  of  nature  and 
thought  and  knowledge  gave  him  a  view 
of  all  sides  of  every  question,  and  he 
could  not  hold  an  extreme  position,  or 
enjoy  any  extreme  action.  He  could 
patiently  tolerate  the  extravagances  of 
others,  because  of  his  kindliness  and  his 
hopefulness.  Probably  no  one  among  the 
many  instructors  who  have  been  at  Ober- 
lin  has  held  a  larger  place  in  the  hearts  of 
all.  For  many  years  he  was  associated 
with  Ml'.  Finney  in  the  pastorship  of  the 
church,  preaching  once  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  more  in  Mr.  Finney's  absence  or  ill 
health.  At  the  age  of  seventy-eight  he 
retired  entirely  from  his  work,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  residine  with  a  son  and 
a  daughter  in  Cleveland.  By  all  right  he 
belongs  to  Oberliu,  and  the  benediction  of 
his  presence  in  these  latest  years  ought  to 
rest  upon  us.  He  expended  his  interest 
and  his  labor  upon  his  classes,  and  rarely 
felt  that  he  was  ready  to  commit  his 
thoughts    to    writing.     Thus    far   he    has 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


699 


given  us  no  books.  A  few  valuable  essays 
are  all  tiiat  we  have  from  him  in  this 
form.  The  "  Baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit" 
and  "  Acceptable  Holiness  "  were  published 
in  the  Oberlin  Review,  and  an  article  on 
the  "Atonement,"  in  two  parts,  can  be 
found  in  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra  for  1877-8. 
[Taken  from  "Oberlin:  The  Colony  and 
The  College."  by  the  kind  permission  of 
the  author,  Prof.  James  H.  Fairchild. 


FREDERICK    A.     ROAVLEY.      In 
the  front  rank  of  tiie  galaxy  of  news- 
^       paper  men  in  Lorain  county  stands 
this    ojentieman,    thoroughly    repre- 
senting in  propria  persona,  the  hustling, 
enterprising  and  wide-awake  typical  Amer- 
ican journalist. 

By  birth  he  is  a  Hoosier,  having  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in 
Steuben  county,  Ind.,  April  17,  1860. 
His  father,  Martin  V.  Rowley,  was  born 
in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  is 
now  a  prominent  real-estate  dealer  of 
Oberlin,  Lorain  county.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Lydia  Clarke,  a  native  of  Cale- 
donia county,  Vt.,  also  still  living,  and 
they  had  five  children,  as  follows:  Lillian, 
who  died  in  youth;  Willis  A.,  who  has  a 
responsible  position  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company  at  Coshocton, 
Ohio;  Frederick  A.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Mary  E.,  deceased  when  eighteen 
years  old;  and  Kate  M.,  attending  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio.  Enos  Rowley,  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Montgomery  connty,  N.  Y.,  of  English 
ancestry,  and  the  Clarke  family  also  date 
back  to  England. 

Frederick  A.  Rowley,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch,  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  Huron 
county,  Oiiio,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
precipitated  himself  into  the  arena  of 
journalism  in  the  Arcadian  role  of  "devil" 
for  the  Times,  in  Carey,  Wyandot  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  served  his  apprenticeship. 


From  there  he  proceeded  to  Oberlin,  in- 
tending to  take  a  regular  course  in  college, 
but  after  a  short  time  turned  his  back — 
literally,  not  figurativehj — upon  the  col- 
lege, with  his  face  and  footsteps  toward 
the  town  of  Lorain.  Here  lie  again  took 
np  newspaper  work,  ultimately  establish- 
ing the  Lorain  Times,  which,  after  con- 
ducting it  successfully  some  si.x  years,  he 
sold  out.  He  then  sought  employment  in 
western  cities,  securing  positions  on  lead- 
ing newspapers,  finally  halting  at  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  where  he  found  employment  on 
the  local  staff  of  the  Times.  While  in 
that  city  he  was  elected  assistant  secretary 
of  the  Inter-State  Fair  Association,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  during  the  fall 
of  1877.  In  that  year  he  i-eturned  to 
Ohio,  and  was  engaged  for  a  time  as  court 
reporter  on  the  Cleveland  Press,  and  later 
he  launched  into  the  world,  for  weal  or  for 
woe,  the  Herald,  at  Lorain.  After  a  year 
the  Herald  became  a  semi-weekly  paper, 
and  is  a  bright  and  spicy  sheet,  clean  both 
in  type  and  in  matter,  newsy,  trenchant  and 
vigorous,  and  like  its  publisher  and  editor, 
uncompromisingly  Republican. 


''^^  OBERT  MERRIAM,  the  most  ex- 
L»^    tensive   farmer   and    landowner  in 
11  ^    Pittsfield  township,  is  a  native  of 
J)  same,  born  January  7,  1840.     His 

father,  William  A.  Merriam,  was 
born  April  5, 1811,  in  Pittsfield  township, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  receiving  in  his  youth  a  common- 
school  education. 

In  1836  AVilliam  A.  Merriam  married 
Miss  Lucy  H.  Fairfield,  a  native  of  the 
same  place,  and  in  the  following  spring 
(^1837)  the  young  couple  migrated  west- 
ward, journeying  by  way  of  canal  and  lake 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Their  boat  was  the 
first  to  make  the  trip  to  Cleveland  that 
spring,  and  the  passengers  were  obliged  to 
travel  for  eleven  miles  over  the  ice;  during 
this  journey  the  boat  took  tire,  and  they 


700 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


narrowly  escaped  being  burned.  Proceed- 
ine  from  Cleveland  to  Amherst.  Lorain 
county,  they  remained  at  the  latter  place 
one  summer,  and  then  removed  to  Pitts- 
field  township,  same  county,  where  he  in- 
vested in  110  acres  of  land  at  seven  dollars 
and  lifty  cents  per  acre.  This  tract  was 
completely  wild,  with  the  exception  of 
fourteen  acres  which  had  been  chopped 
but  not  cleared.  The  dwelling  was  a  log 
cabin,  with  puncheon  floor  and  Dutch 
chimney-place,  but  no  hearth,  and  here 
were  born  two  children:  Robert,  and  John 
F.,  a  well-to-do  retired  citizen  of  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.  Here  Mr.  Merriam  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  never  journeying  more 
than  forty  miles  from  home,  and  he  never 
traveled  by  rail.  He  was  a  hard-working, 
industrious  farmer,  and  was  well  known  in 
the  community  in  which  he  resided.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  passed 
from  earth  February  27,  1871,  his  widow 
on  August  12,  1890,  and  both  are  buried 
in  South  cemetery,  in  Pittslield  township. 
In  religious  faith  Mrs.  Merriam  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Robert  Merriam  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  Wellington 
Seminary,  and  later  took  a  commercial 
course  at  Oberlin  College,  when  S.  S. 
Calkins  was  at  the  head  of  that  depart- 
ment. He  was  afterward  a  student  at 
Wellington  Station,  on  the  C.  C.  C.  &  I. 
Railroad,  at  the  time  when  Noah  Hamil- 
ton M-as  agent  for  the  "Big  Four"  Rail- 
way at  that  place,  but,  being  dissatisfied 
there,  returned  home  and  followed  farm- 
ing with  his  father. 

On  June  2, 1869,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Chloe  M.  Sheffield,  who  was 
born  October  30,  1844,  in  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  daughter  of  Robert 
S.  Sheffield,  who  was  born  in  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.;  in  April,  1842,  he  came  westward 
to  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  married  Delia  Watkins,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Merriam  is  an  industrious,  persevering 
and  enterprising  man,  possessing  consider- 


able business  ability,  and  has  accumulated 
during  his  active  lifetime  a  comfortable 
competence.  Some  years  since  he  in- 
herited quite  a  sum  of  money,  which  he 
invested  in  land,  and  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  422  acres,  being  the  largest  farmer  in 
Pittsfield  township,  of  which  he  is  a  lead- 
ing and  influential  citizen.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  but  beyond  casting  his  bal- 
lot takes  little  active  interest  in  affairs  of 
State.  Mrs.  Merriam  is  a  higlilv  esteemed, 
intelligent  lady,  well-read  and  an  interest- 
ing conversationalist. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merriam  have  enjoyed 
many  pleasant  trips  to  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts,  visiting  the  old  homes  of 
their  parents,  besides  other  journeyings. 
In  August,  1892,  they  set  out  on  a  west- 
ern tour,  their  first  stopping  place  being 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Merriam  and  daughter,  and  Mrs.  Gray, 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Merriain's  mother,  joined  them 
for  the  remainder  of  the  trip.  From  there 
the  party  proceeded  to  Denver,  Colo., 
thence  to  Colorado  Springs,  stood  on  the 
summit  of  Pike's  Peak,  drank  of  the 
Manitou  Springs,  and  visited  the  "Garden 
of  the  Gods."  Thence  they  proceeded  to 
Pueblo,  where  they  visited  the  "  Mineral 
Palace,"  and  the  smelting  works,  witness- 
ing there  the  transforming  of  crude  ore 
into  perfected  steel  rails.  Salt  Lake  City 
was  their  next  point,  where  they  were  for- 
tunate enough  to  meet  a  Mormon  elder 
with  whom  they  had  some  previous  ac- 
quaintance, and  he  showed  them  many 
things  of  interest.  From  Salt  Lake  City 
they  journeyed  to  other  points,  including 
Madera,  Cal.,  from  which  town  they  went 
by  stage  (the  first  vehicle  of  the  kind  to 
make  the  trip  through  to  the  Yosemite 
Valley),  seven  days  being  occupied  enroute. 
Returning  to  Madera,  the  tourists  there 
took  train  for  Los  Angeles,  where  they 
made  a  stay  of  three  days,  visiting  the 
ostrich  farm,  etc.,  and  here  for  the  first 
time  they  had  a  glimpse  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  From  there  they  proceeded  to  Old 
Mexico;   thence  to  Oakland  and  San  Fran- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


701 


Cisco,  Cal.;  thence  to  Salem  and  Portland, 
Oreg. ;  thence  took  a  flying  trip  into  the 
new  State  of  Washington.  Then  turning 
homeward,  they  stopped  off  at  Shoshone, 
from  there  staging  twenty-eight  miles  to 
Shoshone  Falls  and  Blue  Lake.  Return- 
ing to  Shoshone  they  traveled  to  Denver, 
thence  iioine  via  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  just 
escaping  the  great  and  memorable  snow- 
storm, having  from  tlie  time  they  tirst  left 
St.  Joseph  been  traveling  seven  weeks, 
everywhere  sight-seeing  and  visiting  most 
of  the  accessible  places  of  interest. 


^J 


jJl  ENRY  RIMBACII,  furniture  dealer 
'5^1  and  undertaker,  one  of  the  fore- 
1|  most  business  men  of  Elyria,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Bnli'alo,  N.  Y., 
October  30,  1854. 
His  parents,  Henry  and  Catharine  (Bran- 
dau)  Rimbach,  natives  of  Hessia,  Germany, 
came  to  America  in  the  year  1852,  locating 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  vrhere  they  were  shortly 
after  married,  and  here  Mr.  Rimbach  fol- 
lowed his  trad*,  that  of  cabinet  making, 
until  late  in  the  year  1855.  when  they  and 
their  young  son,  Henry,  came  to  Elyria, 
Ohio.  For  a  period  of  ten  years  he  pur- 
sued his  business  in  the  employ  of  others, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  this  term  he  en- 
gaged in  business  on  his  own  account,  and 
this  he  conducted  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
when  his  son  Henry  succeeded  to  the  busi- 
ness. Henry  Rimbach,  Sr.,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 23,  1825,  and  died  December  20, 
1878;  a  man  whose  business  career  was 
successful,  and  whose  character  was  with- 
out stain  or  blemish.  Mrs.  Rimbach  was 
born  February  7,  1833,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 21,  1881.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Henry,  whose  name  prefaces  this 
sketch;  Anna,  wife  of  Charles  Friday,  of 
Elyria;  Ernst  C,  a  cigarmaker,  of  Elya-ia; 
George,  in  the  l)00t  and  shoe  business  in 
Elyria;  John;  and  Adam,  an  ordained  min- 
ister of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


Grandfather  Rimbach,  whose  name  was 
Christoplier,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
came  to  America  in  1854.  lie  was  a 
gifted  musician  and  a  professor  of  the 
violin  and  clarinet.  He  made  his  home 
in  Pennsylvania  till  the  year  1808,  when 
he  came  to  Elyria,  making  his  home  with 
his  son  Henry,  and,  after  the  latter's  death, 
with  his  grandson,  Henry;  he  died  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  eighty-eight  years;  he  was 
l)orn  in  1800.  Although  a  resident  of 
the  United  States  for  thirty-four  years  he 
never  spoke  English. 

We  cannot  well  conclude  this  notice 
without  some  favorable  mention  of  the 
eldest  surviving  member  of  this  family. 
Henry  Rimbach  was  early  taught  the  value 
of  books,  and  also  was  early  made  aware 
that  toil  and  frugality  were  both  essential 
to  success.  He  received  a  good  school 
training,  and  when  respited  from  his 
studies  he  was  taught  to  shove  the  plane. 
From  a  poor  boy  he  has  hewn  out  his  own 
prosperity,  and  to-day  takes  easy  rank 
among  established  and  older  business  men 
of  iiis  city.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  R.  A.,  and  a  member  of  the  Funeral 
Directors'  Association,  of  Ohio.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Democrat.  On  May  19, 
1880,  he  married  Miss  Christina  Herold, 
of  Berea,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two  children 
in  their  home:  Emanuel  and  Henry.  The 
business  house  of  Mr.  Rimbach  is  one  of 
the  most  substantial   structures  of  Elyria. 


JOSEPH  H.  LINCOLN,  deceased 
farmer  of  Pittsfield  township,  was  a 
native  of  Peru,  Bennington  Co., 
Vt.,  born  January  31,  1818.  He  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  was 
reared  to  the  duties  of  agricultural  life, 
and  when  a  young  man  migrated  west- 
ward with  his  parents  to  Ionia  county, 
Mich.  On  the  way  thither  Joseph  stopjx'd 
to  visit  a  short  while  with  his  brother,  S. 
W.  Lincoln,  who  had  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and 


702 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  1848,  sliortly  after  the  death  of  his 
lather,  whicli  occurred  in  Michigan,  he 
came  to  Pittsfield  township,  and  here  re- 
sided with  liis  brotlier  for  about  one  year. 
On  April  3,  1849,  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Hannah  N. 
Plielps,  a  native  of  New  Marlborough, 
Mass.,  who  w^s  born  January  9,  18l9, 
youngest  child  of  Bethuel  and  Levina 
(Norton)  Plieips.  The  parents  migrated 
westward,  settling  in  Pittsfield  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  same  farm  where 
their  daughter  Hannah  still  resides;  and 
at  the  time  of  their  settlement  the  country 
was  still  in  its  primitive  state,  the  forests 
abounding  with  bears,  wolves,  turkeys  and 
other  wild  animals.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Lincoln  settled  on  the  farm  of  his  father- 
in-law,  the  "  Phelps  Homestead,"  where 
he  passed  tiie  remainder  of  his  life,  suc- 
cessfully carrying  on  a  general  farming 
and  dairy  business.  He  owned  a  farm  in 
Ionia  county,  Mich.,  but  sold  it.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lincoln  were  born  two  children: 
Louisa,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two; 
and  Andrew  P.,  a  farmer  of  Pittsfield 
township.  The  father  died  in  February, 
1S62,  and  was  buried  in  South  cemetery, 
and  Mrs.  Lincoln  has  since  managed  the 
farm  (excepting  for  four  years  when  it  was 
rented),  displaying  in  this  capacity  consid- 
erable business  ability.  In  politics  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  an  ardent  Republican,  and 
lield  various  positions  of  trust  in  Pittsfield 
township. 


UARTLTS  GILLMOPtE  is  a  member 
of  one  of  the  early  families  of  Lo- 
rain county,  of  whicli  he  is  a  native, 
born  in  May,  1839,  a  son  of  Quartus 
and  Elizabeth  (Peid)  Gillmore.  The 
Gillmores  are  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  early 
settlers  of  Massachusetts. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  whence  in  the  spring  of 
1810  he  set  out  on  foot  for  Ohio,  where 
he  located  land  in  what  was  then  the  Con- 
necticut  Reserve,   which  land   is   now  in 


Lorain  county.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  he  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  in 
the  spring  of  the  following  year  once  more 
came  to  his  new  settlement  (this  time  in 
company  with  his  father,  Edmund  Gill- 
more),  and  here  passed  the  rest  of  his  days 
in  farming;  he  died  in  1869,  his  widow  in 
1876.  They  were  both  Methodists,  and 
in  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig,  then  a 
Free-soiler,  and,  in  his  later  years,  a  Re- 
publican. They  reared  a  family  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Gen.  Quincy  A.,  a 
native  of  Lorain,  Lorain  county  (after 
leaving  school,  and  up  to  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  taught  .school;  then  entered  the  Mili- 
tary Academy  at  West  Point,  where  in 
1849  he  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class; 
he  was  well  known  in  the  Civil  war,  and 
his  death  occurred  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in 
1888);  Elizabeth,  wife  of  W.  Prince,  of 
Cleveland;  Sophia,  wife  of  D.  S.  Leslie,  of 
Northport,  Mich.;  Roxana,  wife  of  A.  B. 
Spooner,  in  California;  Edmund,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lorain;  Alice,  wife  of  James  Con- 
nolly, of  Lorain  (she  died  in  January, 
1893);  Quartus,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Cornelius,  residing  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Quartus  Gillmore  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  public  sciiools  of  his  native 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  com- 
menced sailing  on  the  lakes,  a  vocation  he 
followed  several  years,  at  one  time  as  cap- 
tain of  a  vessel.  In  1866  he  gave  up  sea- 
faring life,  find  embarked  in  the  grape- 
growing  industry,  continuing  in  this  until 
1882,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
a  Mr.  Stang,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Stang  &  Gillmore,  dredgers  and  pier 
builders.  In  1888  they  dissolved  partner- 
ship, since  when  Mr.  Gillmore  has  carried 
on  the  same  line  of  business  alone. 

In  1859  our  subject  was  married,  in 
Lorain,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mary  Fitzgerald, 
who  was  born  in  Michigan,  but  reared  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Almond 
and  Mary  (Root)  Fitzgerald,  of  Massachu- 
setts, who  in  an  early  day  came  to  Lorain 
county,  where  they  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gillmore  have  been    born  four  children: 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


703 


Quartus  A.,  iiiarriecl  and  residing  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  Mary  Isabelle,  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Burgess,  of  Lorain,  who  is  employed 
on  the  C.  L.  &  W.  R.  II.;  Theodore  Leroy, 
married  and  residing  at  Coniieaut,  Ohio; 
and  William,  at  home.  Mr.  Gillraore  in 
his  political  preferences  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  his  first  vote  was  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and 
Royal  Arcannm.  He  is  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable property  in  Lorain. 


GYRUS  IVES,  for  nearly  sixty  years 
a   resident  of    Columbia    township, 
where   he  now  owns   a  magnificent 
tract  of  land  of  five  hundred  acres, 
divided  into  four  farms,  deserves    special 
mention  in  this  volume. 

He  was  born,  in  1825,  in  Genesee  (now 
Wyoming)  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Albert 
and  Betsey  (Russell)  Ives,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut and  Vermont,  respectively,  who 
in  1834  came  with  their  family  to  Lorain 
county,  locatirig  in  Columbia  Center,  later 
moving  to  the  southwest  part  of  Columbia 
township,  where  thej  hewed  out  for  them- 
selves a  new  home  in  the  solemn  woods. 
Tliey  were  the  parents  of  live  children,  to 
wit:  Cyrus,  our  subject;  Harriet  Maria, 
wife  of  Andrew  Osliorne,  residing  in  Co- 
lumbiatownship;  Ambrose, deceased;  Seth, 
residing  in  Columbia;  and  Sarah  Jane, 
who  married  Warren  Bracy,  and  died  in 
1891,  in  Columbia  township.  The  parents 
were  devout  and  zealous  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  the  father  for  several 
years  was  sexton  in  his  neighborhood.  He 
was  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  a  man  of 
■wide  reputation  for  his  sterling  principles. 
He  was  called  from  earth  in  1872,  his  wife 
in  1874. 

Cyrus  Ives  was  reared  iu  his  native 
county  until  ten  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  Ilia  parents  brought  him  to  Lorain 
county,  and  he  then  attended  the  schools 
of  Columbia  township.     Reared   to  agri- 


cultural pursuits,  he  has  been  a  lifelong 
farmer,  progressive  and  successful,  and  he 
and  his  father  were  the  prime  movers  in 
establishing  Columbia  township.  In  1849 
he  was  married  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Prudence  Stranahan,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
(Itlasou)  Stranahan,  also  of  that  State. 
The  mother  died  there,  and  the  father 
afterward  married,  in  Connecticut.  Miss 
Lucy  Farnham.  In  1830  they  came  to 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
took  up  a  farm.  This  wife  died,  and  Mr. 
Stranahan  then  married,  in  1854,  iliss 
Jeanette  Stone;  he  died  in  1856.  By  his 
first  marriage,  only,  there  are  surviving 
children,  as  follows:  Sheffield  J.,  who  re- 
sides in  Michigan;  Sfartha  Louisa,  wife 
of  Daniel  Bigelow,  of  Columbia  township; 
and  Prudence,  Mrs.  Ives. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ives  was  born  one 
child,  John  Cyrus,  who  was  cut  off  in  his 
twenty-fourth  year,  April  12,  1881,  after 
a  lingering  illijess  from  catarrhal  con- 
sumption. He  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
went  to  Denison  University  three  years, 
never  missing  either  a  recitation  or  chapel 
service  or  prayer  meeting  in  all  that  time. 
At  his  death  he  could  read  four  lauauages. 
On  the  Sabbath  he  was  called  to  his  re- 
ward. Communion  service  was  postponed 
until  the  follovving  Sabbath,  when  his 
father  officiated.  Politically  onr  subject 
is  a  Democrat,  taking  a  lively  interest  in 
the  affairs  of  his  party.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Ba])tist  Church  at 
Columbia  Center,  in  which  he  has  been  a 
deacon  forty  one  years,  and  during  all  that 
time  he  never  missed  attending  church  to 
officiate  excepting  one  Sabbath. 


d I  AMES  WHIPPLE  was  born  March 
16, 1811,  in  Pomfret  town,  Windham 
^    Co.,    Conn.       His    parents,    Charles 
and    Hannah    Whipple,     w^ere    both 
natives  of  North   Providence,  R.  I.,  born 
April  28,  1779,  and  November  14,  1786, 


704 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


^Wau-.  ■ 


respectively.  In  1807  they  moved  to 
Pomfret,  Conn.,  and  thence  in  1S15  to 
AVestmoreland,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
tliey  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Charles  Whipple  died  January  8.  1806, 
aged  eiglity-six  years;  his  wife,  Hannah, 
had  preceded  him  to  the  grave  December 
6,  1863,  when  aged  seventy-eight  years. 

On  Jlay  24,  1833,  James  Whipple  came 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  having  previously 
purclias'jd  in  IJrighton  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  known  as  the  Loomis  farm;  this 
farm  he  afterward  increased  to  two  hun- 
dred acres.  On  November  14,  1839,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Slelinda 
Dunbar,  who  was  born  September  6, 1819, 
at  Sandy  Lake,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  John  Dunbar,  who  was  born 
June,  1777,  at  Bridgewater,  Norfolk  Co., 
Mass.,  of  Scotch  and  English  descent.  lie 
resided  with  his  parents  at  Bridgewater 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  re- 
moved with  them  to  Grantham,  Sullivan 
Co.,  N.  H.  In  1800  he  was  married  to 
Sally  Annadown,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1776,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Dorcas  Annadown,  ot  Southbridge,  Mass., 
and  tliey  resided  at  Grantham  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1818,  when  they  removed  to  Sandy 
Lake.  In  1820  they  went  to  Ludlow, 
Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  thence,  iu  1831,  to 
Minerva,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y^.  In  the  latter 
part  of  May,  1835,  they  came  westward  to 
Ohio,  locating,  in  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
tember, in  Brighton,  Lorain  county,  where 
Mr.  Dunbar  passed  from  earth  January  8, 
1838,  when  aged  sixty-one  years.  He 
cairied  on  farming  on  a  place  situated 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
centei-  of  the  township.  His  widow  passed 
away  September  22,  1854,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years.  Melinda  Dunbar  received  in 
her  youth  a  common-school  education,  atid 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  she  came 
with  her  parents  to  Brighton  township, 
Lorain  Co..  Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  ]\Ii's.  James  AVhipple  were 
born  four  children,  viz.:  Jefi'erson  C, 
born   August  18,  1841;   Anzonette,   born 


February  8,  1851,  died  June  17,  1859, 
aged  eight  years,  four  months  and  nine 
days;  Emma,  born  April  2,  1857.  died 
June  12,  1859, aged  two  years,  two  months 
and  ten  days;  and  Manette  C,  born  Oc- 
tober 31,  1861.  The  family  homestead  is 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  Brighton.  Mr. 
Whipple  was  actively  identiiied  with  the 
early  religious  and  political  questions  of 
the  town,  taking  his  part  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  country'. 


DAVID      L.    WADSWORTH    and 
FAMILY.     David  L.  Wadsworth, 
'   youngest  and  seventh  son  of  Lawton 

and  Nancy  R.  Wadsworth,  was  born 
in  Becket,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  June  1, 
1825.  He  was  a  lad  of  fine  promise — 
bright,  witty  and  active — and  grew  up 
among  the  granite  hills,  la^'ing  the  foun- 
dation for  character  noted  in  after  years  for 
geniality  and  good  fellowship.  A  true  son 
of  sturdy  New  England  ancestry. 

On  April  15,  1883,  Lawton  Wadsworth 
and  family  started  from  Becket  on  a  west- 
ern journey,  moving  by  overland  route, 
with  horses  and  covered  wagons,  and  ar- 
rived in  Wellington,  Ohio,  May  9,  making 
the  journey  of  about  600  miles  in  twenty- 
four  days.  David  L.  was  then  in  his 
eighth  vear,  and  the  town  of  Wellington  in 
its  pioneer  stage.  Here,  for  fifty-nine 
consecutive  years,  he  dwelt  amonir  her 
people,  growing  with  her  growth,  strength- 
ening with  her  strength,  utitil,  step  by 
step,  he  moved  onvvard  and  upward,  with 
the  march  of  improvements  of  this  busy, 
bustlinij  town.  During  his  vouthful  days 
he  accjuired  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, which  was  supplemented  with  a  few 
terms  at  Oberlin  College,  preparatory  to 
following  the  vocation  of  school  teacher. 
For  seven  years  he  taught  in  district 
schools  during  the  winter  terms,  establish- 
ing a  good  record  as  instructor  and  discip- 
linarian. 


^^-C^^.^/?^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


707 


In  1840  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  llall,  of  Orange,  Ohio, 
but  acquiring  a  distaste  for  tiiis  profession, 
he  shortly  returned  to  the  parental  home- 
stead, and  gave  liis  attention  to  farming 
and  stock  dealing,  developing  a  spirit  of 
speculation  that  proved  lasting,  and  as 
years  passed  brought  forth  its  cainy:)lement 
of  unlimited  success.  On  October  22,  1850, 
D.  L.  Wadsworth  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Rusenia  C.  Woodwortli, 
of  Rochester,  Lorain  county,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  and  Caroline  L.  (Wales) 
Woodwortli,  born  November  5,  1831,  in 
Bristol,  N.  Y.,  and  who  came  with  her 
parents  to  Rochester  in  1832,  where  they 
settled  for  a  term  of  years.  Three  children 
were  the  fruits  of  this  marriage,  viz.: 
Kitty  May,  born  May  20,  1856,  and  died 
April  6,  1858  (^he  was  a  beautiful  child, 
sweet  and  lovable,  and  died  greatly 
lamented);  Georgie  M.,  born  September 
25,  1861,  and  Leon  H.,  born  October  13, 
1863.  In  1866  the  present  family  resi- 
dence, situate  on  North  Main  street,  was 
completed  and  occupied.  In  1868  Mr. 
Wadsworth  purchased  a  planing  mill,  and 
embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  doors, 
sash  and  blinds,  dealing  largely  in  lumber, 
shingles,  lath,  etc.  Afterward  other  in- 
dustries were  added,  to  wit:  a  cheese  and 
butter- box  factory;  and  later  on  he  estab- 
lished a  lumber  yard  and  planing-mill  in 
Greenwich,  Ohio,givingemployment  to  up- 
ward of  seventy-five  workmen.  He  was  a 
prominent  dealer  in  real  estate,  buying 
farms,  luiildinghonsesabouttown  fordwell- 
ings  and  other  purposes,  a  hundred  or  more, 
adding  much  to  the  general  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  village  wherein  he  dwelt. 

On  October  22,  1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wadsworth  celebrated  their  twenty-fifth 
wedding  anniversary  in  a  right  royal 
manner,  witl\  some  300  guests  in  attend- 
ance, who  presented  many  elegant  silver 
gifts  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  It  was  a 
fete  noted  for  its  social  and  enjoyable 
features,  and  ever  remembered  with  pleas- 
ure by  those  who  participated  therein. 

38 


Mr.  Wadsworth's  political  faith  dated 
from  the  famous  "  Rescue  Case  "  of  1858, 
after  which  time  he  was  a  Democrat.  In 
1861  he  became  an  ardent,  zealous  and 
enthusiastic  War  Democrat.  Ho  called 
the  first  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  secur- 
ing volunteers,  and  his  cry  of:  "  Boys, 
this  means  business,"  was  very  like  a 
clarion  note,  inciting  men  to  do  their 
duty,  and  to  do  it  well.  He  gave  gener- 
ously of  his  time  and  money  to  further  the 
cause  of  loyalty  to  the  Union,  and  was  ever 
a  true  and  firm  friend  to  the  "boys  in 
blue."  Although  the  district  in  which 
Mr.  AVadsworth  lived  has  always  been  Re- 
publican, yet  he  received  many  political 
honors.  On  April  1,.  1878,  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  Gov.  Bishop,  trustee  of  the 
Cleveland  Insane  Asylum,  holding  this 
position  five  years.  Gov.  Iloadley  ap- 
pointed him  trustee  of  the  State  Institu- 
tion for  the  Blind,  and  this  position  was 
held  during  the  remainder  of  that  gov- 
ernor's term  of  oflice,  also  the  entire  first 
term  of  Gov.  Foraker,  a  Republican  offi- 
cial. In  1875  he  was  nominated  to  fill 
the  office  of  State  treasurer,  and  was  de- 
feated by  only  two  votes;  in  1888  he  was 
nominated  for  a  representative  to  Congress, 
and  succeeded  in  reducing  the  Republican 
majority  in  his  own  county  over  four 
hundred.  In  1890  he  was  ottered  the 
same  nomination,  but  declined  the  honor. 
Although  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
his  public  spirit  led  him  to  contribute 
largely  to  the  building  of  churches  with- 
out regard  to  color  or  creed.  In  Free 
Masonry  he  attained  the  thirty-second 
degree. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  gave  his  children, 
Georgie  M.  and  Leon  II.,  every  facility 
for  educational  advantage.  After  this 
years'  attendance  in  the  Union  schools  of 
Wellington,  Georgie  was  given  one  year 
of  schooling  in  Oberlin,  and  two  years  in 
Miss  Mittleberger's  Select  School  for 
young  ladies,  in  Cleveland.  Leon  H. 
graduated  in  the  Ann  Arbor  (Mich.)  Law- 
School  in  1883.     On  October  14,  1885,  he 


708 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


married  Miss  Mary  E.,  only  daughter  of 
Capt.  William  and  Sophia  Trinter,  of 
Vermillion,  Ohio.  Tlie  wedding  was  cele- 
brated with  all  due  honors  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  parents,  and  wedding  gifts 
were  numerous  and  valuable.  On  Octo- 
ber 22,  1885,  on  tlie  thirty-lifth  anniver- 
sary of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  L.  Wadsworth's 
wedding,  their  daughter  Georgie  M.  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mr.  D.  B.  Ord- 
way,  of  Hornellsville,  N.  Y.  A  reception 
was  also  tendered  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leon  H. 
Wadsworth  at  the  same  time  and  place,  and 
once  again  the  elegant  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  D.  L.  Wadsworth  was  tilled  with 
many  guests  to  celebrate  this  triple  event 
in  the  history  of  the  family.  The  gener- 
ous collection  of  rare  flowers  used  for  dec- 
orations; the  elegant  home  furnishings; 
the  rich  costumes,  as  seen  under  gaslight, 
made  a  charming  picture,  worthy  of  being 
perpetuated  on  canvas. 

Previous  to  the  marriage  of  the  chil- 
dren homes  had  been  prepared  and  fur- 
nished, ready  for  occupancy.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ordway's  home  was  located  in  Hor- 
nellsville, N.  Y.,  while  that  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leon  H.  Wadsworth  was  near  the  paternal 
homestead,  and  he  was  given  an  interest 
in  his  father's  lumber  business.  In  March, 
1886,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ordway  returned  to 
Wellington,  taking  up  a  residence  in  the 
house  previously  occupied  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leon  H.,  the  latter  moving  to  Green- 
wich, Ohio,  and  taking  charge  of  the  lum- 
ber business,  previously  establit^hed  at 
that  place  by  his  father.  Mr.  Ordway 
was  given  a  position  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  Wellington  similar  to  that  of  Leon 
H.  On  October  25,  1886,  a  son  was  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leon  H.  Wadsworth,  and 
was  christened  William  Luther,  in  honor 
of  each  grandfather.  On  November  29, 
1886,  a  son  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D. 
B.  Ordway,  and  christened  James  Wads- 
worth Ordway. 

In  1890  D.  L.  Wadsworth  received  an 
appointment  from  Gov.  Campbell  as  a 
member  of  the  World's  Fair  Board  from 


Ohio.  He  was  a  most  active  and  tireless 
worker,  and  from  overexertion  in  this  cause 
was  attributed  the  fatal  illness  that  cut 
shoit  the  thread  of  life  in  so  summary  a 
manner.  Mr.  Wadsworth  died  at  his  home 
on  the  evening  of  October  7, 1892,  of  heart 
failure,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
His  illness  was  only  of  a  few  hours'  dura- 
tion. Dr.  E.  G.  Rust,  the  family  physi- 
cian, was  in  attendance,  and  his  family  all 
present.  The  funeral  service  was  con- 
ducted at  his  late  home,  Tuesday,  2  o'clock 
P.  M.,  October  11,  by  Rev.  Wi'lliam  Bar- 
ton, pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
assisted  by  Jacob  W.  Vanderwerf,  emi- 
nent commander  of  the  Order  of  Knights 
Templar,  Oriental  Commandery  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  of  which  Order  Mr.  Wads- 
worth had  been  a  member  for  twenty 
years.  The  jjerfection  ring  presentation 
was  conducted  by  Prelates  Ills.  Charles  A. 
Woodward  and  Brenton  D.  Babcock;  music 
was  rendered  by  a  Knights  Templar  quar- 
tet, the  ceremonies  being  all  most  solemn 
and  impressive.  Mr.  Wadsworth's  remains 
were  dressed  in  the  Knights  Templar  re- 
galia, as  were  the  tifty  or  more  Knights  in 
attendance.  The  casket  and  rooms  were 
adorned  with  choice  flower  pieces,  gifts 
from  the  various  Orders  to  which  the  de- 
ceased belonged,  also  from  relatives  and 
friends,  and  their  honied  perfume  made 
the  air  fragrant  with  sweetness.  The  day 
was  most  divinely  fair,  each  shrub  and  tree 
had  put  on  its  most  attractive  colors,  and 
the  rich,  mellow  sunshine,  softened  by 
cooling  breezes,  baptized  Mother  Earth 
with  a  glory  quite  indescribable.  All  the 
principal  business  houses  and  shops  in 
town  were  closed  during  the  funeral  obse- 
quies,  and  the  attendance  was  very  large. 
The  roomy  house  and  extensive  grounds 
were  tilled  to  overflowing.  No  greater 
trilmte  of  respect  was  ever  paid  a  deceased 
citizen  of  Wellington,  than  was  freely 
given  on  this  occasion,  by  not  only  the 
citizens  of  the  town,  but  by  all  surround- 
ing towns,  whence  came  many  people  to 
pay  their  last  respects  and  to  extend  their 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


709 


sympathy  to  the  bereaved  family.  The 
order  of  the  procession  was  as  follows: 
First  Wellintjtou  Brass  Band,  playing  a 
funeral  dirtfe:  carriao;e  contaiuintr  the 
clergy;  hearse,  guarded  by  six  Knights 
Templar,  bearing  reversed  swords,  fol- 
lowed by  titty  or  more  of  same  Order  on 
toot,  each  dressed  in  regalia  of  their  Order; 
Masons  of  all  grades;  workmen  employed 
in  the  various  industries  carried  on  by  the 
Wadsworth  firm;  carriage  containing 
mourners;  carriages  containing  citizens; 
citizens  on  fool,  numbering  several  hun- 
dred. The  service  at  the  grave  was  con- 
ducted by  Prelates  same  as  at  the  family 
residence,  and  the  remains  were  lowered 
into  their  last  resting-place  amid  a  sprink- 
ling of  evergreens  and  floral  blossoms. 
"Earth  to  earth,  and  dust  to  dust." 
His  widow  still  resides  in  the  now  lonely 
home,  where,  on  every  hand,  are  seen  evi- 
dences of  the  thoughtful  outlook  and  care- 
ful supervision  on  the  part  of  the  dear  de- 
parted, for  the  comfort  of  those  dwelling 
within  the  liome  circle.  Ah!  it  is  little 
wonder  the  bereaved  heart  continually  cries 
for  the  protecting  arms  that  were  wont  to 
shield  it  from  all  adverse  afflictions  and 
trials,  incident  to  liuman  life  whilst  making 
its  earthly  pilgrimage. 


/George  h.  andress,  a  promi- 

I  •  «-   nent      agriculturist    of     Henrietta 

\^l     township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 

J^  August  5,  1834,  a  son  of  Carlo  and 

Nancy  (Buckly)  Andress. 
Carlo  Andress  was  born  November  6, 
1804,  in  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to 
Ohio  in  1817.  On  March  1,  1832,  he  was 
married  in  Henrietta  to  Nancy  Bnckly,  who 
was  born  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  May  30,1812, 
and  they  lived  together  nineteen  years, 
when  she  died.  August  25,  1851.  They 
had  but  one  child,  George  H.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  Carlo  Andress  was  subse- 
quently, on  December  4,  1851,  married  to 
Weltha  Smith,  of  Elyria,  by   which  union 


he  had  two  children,  both  born  in  Hen- 
rietta, at  the  old  homestead,  viz.:  Alice, 
born  October  30,  1853,  and  Henry,  born 
June  19,  1855.  Carlo  Andress  died  of 
paralysis  November  8,  1870,  in  Oberlin, 
whither  he  had  removed  in  order  to  have 
his  children  educated;  his  wife  was  born  in 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  August  16,  1815, 
and  died  April  24, 1871. 

Carlo  Andress  commenceJ  life  as  a  pio-' 
neer  farmer,  working  early  and  late  with- 
out any  of  the  comforts  and  barely  the 
necessities  of  lite.  For  the  wife  of  his 
earlier  years  he  married  one  that  was  as 
willing  to  work  as  was  he,  and  together 
they  labored  and  managed  to  lay  the  foun- 
dation of  a  competency.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  peace  in  the  time  of  T.  Cor- 
win,  in  1842,  and  was  for  many  years  jus- 
tice in  Henrietta  township,  where  he  tried 
to  have  all  troubles  settled  without  any 
ill-will.  His  wife  was  a  Christian  woman, 
having  joined  the  Disciple  Church  while 
quite  young,  and  remaining  true  to  her 
early  faith  till  the  last.  She  was  noted  for 
her  goodness  to  the  poor  and  her  kindness 
to  the  sick,  and  her  sweetness  of  disposi- 
tion is  often  spoken  of  until  this  day  by 
the  people  who  knew  her  best.  Two 
brothers  of  hers  and  their  descendants  are 
living  in  Henrietta  township  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  His  second  spouse  was  a  model 
wife  and  mother,  devoting  her  entire  time 
to  her  family.  He  could  at  tliis  time  pro- 
vide for  his  family  far  differently  than  in  his 
younger  days.  He  and  his  wife  were 
deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  their 
children  and  the  people  that  were  of  their 
household. 

Our  subject  attended  the  primitive  coun- 
try schools  of  his  boyhood  days,  and  Berea 
(Ohio)  College  two  terms.  He  then  as- 
sisted his  father  in  the  farm  work,  clear- 
ing the  land  of  timber  and  undergrowth, 
and  converting  the  virgin  soil  into  fertile 
fields.  At  the  age  of  about  twenty-three 
years  lie  commenced  life  for  his  own  ac- 
count, as  a  full-fledged  fanner,  and  in  his 
vocation  has  been  highly  successful.     He 


710 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


now  owns  134  acres  of  prime  land,  one 
hundred  of  which  were  cultivated  by  his 
father. 

In  1859  Mr.  Andress  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Matilda  Eison,  and  three 
children  were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Maud  (Mrs.  Fred  Fowler,  of  Berlin  Heights, 
Ohio),  born  April  13,  1861;  Ernest,  born 
July  18,  1863,  died  January  16,  1873;  and 
•Leon,  born  March  13,  1865.  The  mother 
of  these  died  in  1868,  and  in  1870  our 
subject  intermarried  with  Adelaide  Ennis, 
by  which  union  there  is  one  child,  Frank, 
in  the  express  ofhce  in  Elyria.  In  1872 
Mr.  Andress  married  Amelia  Hutchison, 
daughter  of  William  Hutchison,  and 
children,  as  follows,  were  born  to  this 
union:  Edna,  at  present  at  Painesville 
(Ohio)  Seminary;  Elsie,  teaching  school 
at  Berlin  Heights,  Ohio;  Walter,  deceased; 
Henry,  Fred  and  Bessie,  at  home.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  but  in 
local  elections  he  invariably  vptes  for  the 
best  man  regardless  of  party. 


E 


DMUND  GILLMORE.  A  biograph- 
ical record  of  Lorain  county  would 
J  be  incomplete  were  prominent  men- 
tion not  made  of  this  gentleman, 
who  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1833,  in  Black  Hiver  township. 
Mr.  Gillmore  is  a  son  of  Qnartus  and 
Elizabeth  (lieidj  Gillmore,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  Chester,  Hampden 
Co.,  Mass.,  a  son  of  Edmund  and  Eliza- 
beth (Stuart)  Gillmore,  also  of  Massachu- 
setts, born  of  English  and  Scotch  ancestry, 
respectively.  From  their  native  State 
they  came  west  to  what  was  then  known 
as  the  "  Connecticut  Western  Reserve," 
locating,  in  1811,  in  what  is  now  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  wild  land 
which  he  cleared,  passing  the  rest  of  his 
days  thereon.  He  was  a  farmer  and  land- 
owner in  Amherst  and  Black  River  town- 
ships, and  he  and  his  wife  died   in    Black 


River  township,  in  1843  and  1844,  respect- 
ively. They  had  a  family  of  ten  children 
— nine  sons  and  one  daughter — a  brief  rec- 
ord of  them  being  as  follows:  (1)  Quar- 
tus,  born  in  1790,  has  mention  made 
further  on.  (2)  Aretus,  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts ill  1792,  died  in  Lorain  county, 
Ohio.  (3)  Orrin,  born  in  Mai-sachusetts 
in  1794,  died  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio. 
(4)  Simon,  born  in  1796,  died  in  Detroit, 
Mich.,  in  1833;  he  was  a  ship  carpenter 
by  occupation.  (5)  Truman,  born  in  1798, 
died  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  in  1881. 
(6)  Linas,  born  in  1801,  died  in  Lorain  in 
1881.  (7)  Roxanna,  born  in  1803,  was 
married  in  Lorain  county  to  Robert 
Wright,  and  died  in  Oregon.  (8)  Alanson 
was  born  in  1805.  (9)  Edmund,  born  in 
1801,  died  in  Minnesota.  (10)  James 
Madison,  born  in  1811,  died  in  Lorain 
county,  Ohio. 

Quartus  Gillmore  came  west  with  his 
parents,  the  journey  being  made  with 
teams.  In  what  is  now  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  he  married  Elizabeth  Reid,  who 
died  in  1876,  surviving  her  husiiand  seven 
years,  he  having  passed  away  in  1869.  In 
politics  he  was  an  active  Whig,  afterward 
a  Republican;  was  for  many  years  a  magis- 
trate, and  about  1837  was  appointed  the 
first  trustee  of  Black  River  township. 
Of  tlieir  family  of  children,  Quincy  A. 
was  born  in  Lorain  county  in  1825,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Nor- 
walk  and  at  Elyria  Academy;  was  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  for  three  years;  in 
1845  entered  the  Military  Academy,  where 
he  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class,  and 
ultimately  became  a  noted  general.  He 
died  in  Brooklyn,  M.  Y.,  April  7,  1888. 

Edmund  Gillmore  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  commenced  sailing  on  the  lakes, 
making  trips  to  Oswego,  Chicago,  and  all 
lake  ports,  which  vocation  he  continued  in 
for  ten  years.  He  also  worked  at  ship 
caulking,  and  while  so  engaged  on  one  oc- 
casion  received  a  severe  injury.     For  ten 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OUIO. 


711 


months  he  was  with  a  Itrother  in  New  York 
City,  acting  as  shipping  agent  and  assistant 
draughtsman. 

In  1858  Edmund  Gillmore  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Adelaide  E.  (xill- 
more,  a  native  of  Lorain,  Lorain  Co.,  (Jhio, 
and  daughter  of  Aianson  Gillmore,  of 
Lorain.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one 
child,  Quiiicy  A.  Gillmore,  a  prominent 
attorney  at  law  of  Elyria,  Ohio.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  a  pronounced  Republi- 
can, and  has  held  several  offices  of  trust  in 
his  locality,  such  as  assessorfor  some  time, 
township  clerk  for  fifteen  years,  justice  of 
the  peace  since  1863,  and  notary  public 
for  the  past  twenty  years. 


^UINCY  A.  GILLMORE,  a  leading 
attorney  at  law  of  Elyria,  was  born 
May    12,    1859,    in  Lorain   county, 
i\    Ohio,  a  son  of  Edmund  and  Ade- 
laide E.  (Gillmore)  Gillmore,  also 
natives  of  the  county,  who  are    now  resi- 
dents of  the  town  of  Lorain. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in 
Obyrlin  and  Delaware  Wesleyan  Colleges, 
graduating  in  1881.  Making  a  study  of 
law,  he  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati 
Law  School  in  1883,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1884  located  in  Elyria  for  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  well-merited  success.  In  1884  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Frankie  G.  Brown, 
and  one  child  has  come  to  brighten  their 
home,  named  Scott  E.  Politically  Mr. 
Gillmore  is  one  of  the  most  ardent  Re- 
publicans in  his  section,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  K.  P.  and  of  the  Lorain  County 
Bar  Association. 


rEORGE  W.  RICE.    This  gentleman 
,  is  descended   from  one  of  the  pio- 


y^Jl    neer  families  of  Lorain  county,  and 

Al   is  a  native  of  the  same,  having  first 

seen  the  light  on  his   father's   farm 

in  Amherst  township  February  19,  184t5. 


His  father,  Abram  Rice,  was  born  April 
21,  1801,  in  Fayette  county,  Penn.,  and  in 
1822  came  to  Lorain  county,  where  he 
took  up  one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Black  River  township.  Later  he  moved 
into  Amherst  township  and  l)ought  a 
partly-improved  farm  of  one  Moses  Mul- 
nick,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  pioneer  days,  dying  in  1876.  In  his 
political  preferences  he  was  a  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  and,  later,  a  Republican.  In 
religious  sentiment  he  was  a  Methodist. 
He  was  married  in  Fayette  county,  Penn., 
to  Miss  Margaret  Stacker,  who  died  in 
March,  1891.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  brief  sketch:  (1)  Mary  was  married  in 
Illinois  to  O.  P.  Kilmer,  of  New  York, 
who  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Forty-First 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  shot  at  Pittsburgh  Land- 
ing in  1862,  dying  two  weeks  later  in  Cin- 
cinnati; his  widow  died  February  28, 
1891.  (2)  Daniel  was  born  in  1824,  was 
reared  in  the  county,  and  here  married 
Mary  Smith,  of  Black  River  township, 
Lorain  county,  who  died  shortly  afterward; 
in  1850  he  went  to  California,  where  he 
married  and  had  six  children — five  daugh- 
ters and  one  son;  he  died  June  23,  1889, 
in  Arroyo  Grande,  Cal.  (3)  Samuel  A., 
born  in  1826,  became  ^n  early  pioneer  of 
Grant  county.  Wis.,  where  he  married  and 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  in  1855, 
leaving  a  widow  and  one  daughter,  now 
Mrs.  Ella  Jansen,  of  Clay  Center,  Kans. 

(4)  Ann  E.,  born  in  1827,  was  married  in 
1850,  in  Lorain  county,  to  Hiram  Wilber, 
of  New  York,  who  came  in  an  early  day 
to  Lorain  county,  where  he  died  in  1878; 
they  had  two  children :  Byron  E.,  in  Adams 
county,  Iowa  (married  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Stella  and  Jessie);  and  Eda  B.,  mar- 
ried to  M.Cunningham,  of  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and    has   two  children,   George  and   Roy. 

(5)  John  S.,  born  in  1829,  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucy  Hale,  of  Lorain  county,  some- 
time in  the  "fifties."  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  was  keeping  a  hotel  at  Berlin 
Heights,  Erie   Co.,   Ohio.     Later   he  sold 


712 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


out,  and  removed  to  Minnesota,  where  he 
was  residing  when  the  call  came  for  volun- 
teers to  suppress  the  Rtbellion.  He  en- 
listed in  the  Second  Regiment  Minnesota 
Infantry,  and  served  until  discliarged  on 
account  of  chronic  sore  eyes.  Afterward 
he  moved  to  Iowa,  and  still  later  went  with 
his  family  to  Arroyo  Grande,  Cal.,  where 
he  now  resides,  surrounded  by  his  family 
of  eight  sons  and  one  daughter,  besides 
numerous  grandchildren.  (6)  Melissa,  born 
in  1830,  was  married  to  H.  P.  Strickler,  of 
Pennsylvania;  she  died  in  1861,  leaving 
one  son  and  one  daughter;  the  son,  L.  D., 
and  daughter,  Mrs.  Meda  Sandrock,  reside 
with  their  families  in  Amherst  township. 
(7)  Adaline,  born  in  1832.  is  the  widow  of 
Wm.  Pearl,  and  resides  in  North  Amherst; 
she  has  three  sons:  Eugene  F.,CorriceC.  and 
Arthur  A.  (8)  Margaret  J.,  born  October 
7,  1833,  was  married  to  I.  G.  Hazel,  and 
to  them  were  born  live  children,  viz.: 
Emma  and  Alma,  lx)th  deceased ;  Alpha,  re- 
siding in  Oberlin;  Ruby,  wife  of  Everett 
E.  Walker,  of  North  Amherst,  and  Harry, 
attending  Oberlin  College;  Margaret  J. 
Plazel  died  in  North  Amherst  March  28, 
1890.  (9)  Nancy  O.,  Iiorn  January  6, 
1885,  married  R.  G.  Barney,  who  enlisted 
for  one  year  in  Company  E,  Sixth  Ohio 
Cavalry,  served  his  time  out,  and  died  No- 
vember 12,  1872;  tliev  had  two  children, 
Mrs.  Maggie  Root,  and  Mrs.  Mina  Guten- 
felder,  of  Cleveland;  Nancy  O.  Barney 
died  in  1869.  (10)  Susan,  born  in  1837, 
is  the  wife  of  John  K.  Hazel,  who  was  a 
member  of  Company  C,  Second  Wis- 
consin Cavalry;  they  live  in  Florida;  they 
have  three  children  living:  Loudon  C, 
Percy  and  Mark.  (11)  Abram  J.,  born 
January  17,  1840,  enlisted  in  1861  in 
Company  F,  Forty-tirst  O.  V.  I.,  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  April  7, 
1862,  and  was  buried  on  the  battlefield;  the 
G.  A.  R.  Post  located  at  Amherst  is  named 
in  honorof  him.  (12)  Wesley,  born  Janiiary 
29,  1842,  is  married  and  resides  in  Oberlin; 
he  has  two  children,  Alma,  wife  of  Charles 
J.  Maynard,  and  Mary  Faith.  (13)  Charles, 


born  December  5,  1843,  died  August  31, 
1886,  at  Amherst.  (14)  George  W.  is  the 
suliject  of  this  sketch.  On  the  father's 
side  the  family  were  of  French-German 
ancestry,  on  that  of  the  mother  they  claim 
German-Dutch  lineage.  Grandfather  Rice 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died 
in  Pennsylvania. 

George  W.  Rice,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  moderate  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  Amherst  township 
and  at  Berea  College.  In  his  boyhood 
and  youth  he  was  thoroughly  inducted 
into  the  mysteries  of  agricultural  pui-suits, 
which  have  been  his  life  work,  and  he  now 
owns  the  homestead,  consisting  of  ninety 
acres  of  prime  land,  all  iti  a  guod  state  of 
cultivation.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Amherst  Lodge  Nu.  74,  K.  of  P.,  and  is 
Master  of  Exchequer  in  same;  also  mem- 
ber of  Amherst  Lodge  No.  96,  I.  O.  G.  T. 
Politically  he  is  a  zealous  Republican,  and 
for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  board  of 
education  of  Amherst  township,  being  at 
present  president  of  the  same.  Up  to  date 
he  is  unmarried,  none  the  less  he  is  the 
leading  spirit  of  his  neighborhood,  socially 
and  politically;  his  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  old  and  young  never  flags. 


/p^EORGE  C.  JEFFERIES,  attorney 
I  m,  at  law  and  war  claim  agent,  Elyria, 
\J^  wf*^  born  June  22, 1837,  in  Spencer, 
1^  Lorain  (now  Medina)  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
son  of  Gilbert  and  Mary  A.  (Spencer) 
Jelieries,  the  latter  of  whom  was  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Col.  Spencer,  after  whom  the 
town  and  township  of  Spencer  (Medina 
county)  were  named.  She  died  the  day 
following  Thanksgiving  Day,  1891,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years,  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church. 

Gilbert  Jefferies  was  born  in  October, 
1811,  in  the  town  of  Webster,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1832  came  to  Ohio,  making  a  settle- 
ment in  Spencer,   Lorain    (now    Medina) 


LORAIN  OOUNTT,  OHIO. 


713 


county.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and 
died  June  22,  1870.  An  Old-line  AVbig 
originally,  he  united  with  the  KepiiMiean 
party  in  1854  (the  year  of  its  organ izatiou), 
and  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Thomas  Jeft'eries,  paternal  grandfather  of 
subject,  came  to  Medina  county  in  1847, 
and  passed  the  rest  of  his  days  with  our 
subject's  parents.  Gilbert  and  Mary  A. 
(Spencer)  Jefferies  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children — seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
tars — of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest, 
and  six  are  yet  living. 

George  C.  Jefferies  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  country  schools  and  at  Oberlin 
College  (where  his  mother  was  also  in  part 
educated).  After  reading  law  with  Hon. 
H.  G.  Blake,  of  Medina,  Ohio,  he  enlisted 
August  12,  1802,  in  Company  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty- fourth  O.  V.  I.  His 
regiment  was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  its  first  camp  was  made 
in  Elizabethtown,  Ky-,  wiience  it  was  sent 
to  Kashville  and  Franklin,  Tenn.,  at  which 
latter  place  a  battle  was  fought.  Tlience 
the  regiment  marched  to  Triune,  same 
State,  from  there  to  Readyville  and  Man- 
chester, Tenn.,  from  which  latter  it  moved 
to  the  Sequatchie  Valley.  On  September 
19,  1863,  it  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamanga,  where  Mr.  Jefferies  (then 
serving  as  first  sergeant)  was  so  severely 
wounded  that  he  liad  to  retire  from  the 
array.  On  his  return  home  he  completed 
his  law  studies,  and  in  1875  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  the 
United  States  bar.  In  1876  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  in  1878 
moved  into  Elyria.  Since  1885,  in  con- 
nection with  his  legal  business,  he  has 
given  special  attention  to  war  claims. 

On  July  7,  1870,  Mr.  Jefferies  was  mar- 
ried, at  Chatham,  MedinaCo.,Ohio,  to  Miss 
Mary  Hine,  and  three  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz.:  Gilbert  C,  born  in 
Spencer,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  August  8, 
1871,  now  a  stenographer  and  typewriter 
in  Elyria:  Edgar  C,  born  at  Elyria  Oc- 
tober 15,  1879,  now  at  school,  and  Thomas 


C,  born  at  Elyria  February  7,  1881,  also 
at  school.  Our  sul)ject  in  politics  is  a 
Republican,  in  religion  a  Methodist.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  U.  V. 
Legion.  The  first  of  tiiis  family  of  Jef- 
feries in  Ameria  was  the  first  governor  of 
Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Mary  (Hine)  Jefferies  was  born 
January  6,  1846,  at  Chester,  Wayne  Qo., 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Luce)  Hine,  the  latter  of  whom  died  when 
Mary  was  a  child.  The  father  in  early 
life  settled  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  became  one  or  the  largest  horse  and 
wheat  raisers,  and  there  resided  until  he 
was  well  advanced  in  years,  when  he 
moved  to  Chatham.  There  he  passed  from 
earth  in  November,  1876,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years. 


d(OHN  HARVIT,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative self-made  men  of  LaGrange 
^  township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
April  26,  1836,  in  Chester  township, 
Wayne  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Nancy  (Smith)  Harvit,  farming  people, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  1838,  leaving 
a  comfortable  home.  His  widow  subse- 
quently re- married. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  during  his  early  man- 
hood was  employed  as  a  farm  band,  mean- 
time saving  his  earnings.  On  November 
7,  1865,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Coleman,  born  May  30,  1847,  in  La- 
Grange  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  whom 
he  had  met  while  a  resident  of  Penfield, 
same  county,  whither  he  moved  with  his 
stepfather,  James  Brown,  who  was  a  well- 
to-do  farmer.  Mrs.  Harvit  was  the 
daughter  of  James  and  Harriet  Coleman, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  1849,  of 
cholera,  and  was  buried  in  the  Catholic 
cemetery  in  Eaton  township.  Mrs.  Cole- 
man was  subsequently  mari-ied  to  William 
Ormsby,  and  continued  to  reside  on  her 
former  home;  she  was  buried  in  the  ceme- 


714 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tery  in  LaGrange  township.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Harvit  located  on  the  James 
Coleman  homestead,  lot  No.  30,  LaGrange 
township,  where  he  has  always  followed 
farming,  in  which  he  has  met  with  en- 
couraging success.  He  has  a  natural  apti- 
tude for  carpenter  work.  In  1885  he 
erected  one  ot  the  most  comfortable  rural 
homes  in  the  township  on  his  place,  which 
consists  of  278^  acres  of  excellent  land, 
fully  equipped  with  good  farm  buildings. 
Mr.  Ilarvit  is  a  hard  worker  and  a  good 
business  manager,  and  the  results  of  his 
labor  are  shown  in  his  surroundings,  for 
his  farm  and  farm  buildings  are  amongf 
the  best  in  the  township.  In  party  affairs 
he  is  a  Republican,  but  is  not  an  active 
politician.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harvit  has  come  one  child,  Hattie,  born 
November  28,  1869,  now  the  wife  of  Don 
Scwartz,  a  leadinsj;  citizen  of  LaGrange 
township.  (They  have  one  son,  Harry, 
born  February  20,  1892).  Mrs.  Harvit  is 
a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  La- 
Grange. 


^ 


ON.  LUCIUS  HEERICK.  This 
gentleman,  who  is  a  prominent  and 
well-known  figure  in  the  arena  of 
agriculture  and  politics  in  Lorain 
county,  is  a  native  of  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  born  in  Honndsfield,  near 
Watertown,  November  8,  1820. 

Philo  Ilerrick,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Tyringham,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
whence  when  a  boy  he,  with  the  rest  of  the 
family,  nioved  to  Bridgewater,  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  his  father,  Amasa  Llerrick, 
afterward  taking  them  to  Honndsfield, 
same  State.  Here  Philo  Herrick  made 
his  home  till  the  spring  of  1835,  when, 
with  his  wife,  Sophia  (Blodgett),  and  fam- 
ily, he  came  to  Wellington,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  the  journey  being  made  with  an  old- 
tiiiie  "prairie  schooner."  Here  he  made 
a  land  purchase  of  158  acres  in  Welling- 
ton township  (which  has  since  passed  into 
the  hands  of  his  son  Lucius),  built  a  log 


house,  and  set  to  work  to  transform  the 
wild  woods  into  a  fertile  farm.  Tlic  fatlier, 
who  was  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  also  a 
shoemaker,  rented  a  tannery  in  Hunting- 
ton township,  but  soon  afterward  returned 
to  Wellington.  For  a  time  he  followed 
the  shoe  business  in  Winnebago  county, 
111.  He  dit'd  in  Wellington  in  186(i,  a 
strong  Republican  in  politics,  originally  a 
Whig,  his  first  vote  being  cast  for  James 
Monroe;  his  wife  was  born  September  27, 
1788,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-eio-ht 
years  less  five  days.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Loring,  now  a  resident 
of  Meckling,  Clay  Co,  S.  Dak.;  Amasa 
B.,  residing  in  Chicago;  Lucius,  and 
George  F.,  a  mechanic,  who  was  accident- 
ally killed  September  15,  1844,  at  Janes- 
ville,  Wisconsin. 

Lucius  Herrick,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  biographical  sketch,  enjoyed  but  lim- 
ited school  j)rivi leges,  but  the  loss  in  that 
he  partially  compensated  for  by  systematic, 
diligent  home  study.  In  1839  he  entered 
an  academy  in  Elyria,  where  he  made  his 
home  with  Deacon  Lane,  working  for  his 
tioard.  His  father  tried  to  induce  him  to 
take  up  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  but  he 
preferred  farming,  and  consequently  made 
it  his  life  w-ork.  In  1843  he  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Griffith,  who  bore  hitn  one  son, 
Luther  G.  This  wife  was  called  from 
earth  in  January,  1844,  and  in  1849  Mr. 
Herrick  married  Miss  Harriet  E.  Bidwell, 
and  one  son  blessed  their  union,  Bert  B., 
who  was  educated  at  the  common  schools 
of  Wellington  and  at  Oberlin;  he  is  now  a 
farmer  and  cheese  manufacturer;  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Etta  Wadsworth,  and  they  have 
two  children:  Ethel  and  Hobart. 

Formerly  a  Whig,  now  a  Republican, 
Mr.  Herrick  has  ever  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  He  served  as  in- 
firmar}'  director  two  years,  and  also  as 
township  trustee;  was  elected  county  com- 
missioner three  full  terms  consecutively, 
resigning  in  order  to  accept  nomination  to 
the  Legislature,  in  which  he  served  in  the 
Sixty-third  and  Sixty-fourth  General  As- 


#^^%^. 


C^.£^ 


^^-^tyt-ivY^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


717 


semblies;  and  lie  says  he  much  enjoyed  the 
variety  of  lieing  in  the  House,  but  tliat  it 
was  the  hardest  work  he  ever  did  in  his 
life.  He  has  in  his  possession  several  in- 
teresting public  documents,  and  in  his 
library  the  full  series  of  "Geological  Sur- 
veys of  Ohio,"  by  Newberry.  Mr.  Herrick 
is  the  owner  of  435  acres  of  land,  and  has 
seen  the  gradual  evolution  in  agricultural 
development  from  the  hand  sickle  to  the 
self-bindino;  harvesting  machine.  Mrs. 
Herrick,  with  whom  he  is  now  living,  was 
Miss  Sarah  West,  only  daughter  of  Francis 
West,  of  Berlin,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio.  The 
families  for  three  generations  at  least,  have 
been  members  and  supporters  of  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  Churches. 


TpJ    A.  CUYLEK,  a  well-known   fruit- 
1^      grower  of  Avon  townsiiip,  where  he 
IL^i  has  resided  for  almost  the  last  half 
century,  is  a  native    of   New  York 
State,    born    in    Essex,    Essex  county,   in 
August,  1822.     His  parents,  John  B.  and 
Phoebe  (Hoffnagle)  Cuyler,  were  also  na- 
tives of  New  York  State,  where  they  both 
passed  their  entire  lives,  the  father  dying 
in  1838,  the  mother  forty  years   later,  in 
Essex  county.     John  B.  Cuyler  was  a  ser- 
geant in  the  war  of  1812. 

E.  A.  Cuyler,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  was  reared  in  iiie  native  county 
up  to  the  age  of  twenty- one,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.  After 
coming,  in  1843,  to  Avon  township,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  he  commenced  sailing  on 
the  lakes,  in  which  he  continued  for  seven- 
teen seasons,  on  boats  plying  between 
Cleveland  and  Buffalo,  and  also  Detroit. 
In  an  early  day  he  opened  up  a  farm  in 
Sheftield  township,  Lorain  county,  wliere 
he  resided  for  some  years,  thence  remov- 
ing to  Avon  township,  where  he  has  since 
had  his  home.  In  1847  he  was  married, 
in  Avon  township,  to  Miss  Kuth  J.  Titus, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State,  daugh- 
ter of  Anson  and    Hannah   (Moore)  Titus, 


natives,  respectively,  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut,  and  early  settlers  of  Avon 
township,  where  they  died.  To  this  union 
were  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Mi- 
nerva, who  was  first  wedded  to  Lorenzo 
Miller,  and  after  his  decease  to  Frank  Nes- 
bitt  (she  had  two  children  by  her  first  hus- 
band, Vernon  and  Carrie,  and  one  by  her 
second  husband.  Little  Elbert,  named  for 
his  grandfather;  she  died  in  1892);  Jane, 
wife  of  AV^illiam  J.  Curtis,  living  in  Avon 
township;  Sumner,  who  was  drowned  when 
five  years  old;  and  Edward,  residing  on 
the  home  farm,  who  is  married  and  has 
two  children — Lou  and  Melinda.  The  wife 
of  E.  A.  Cuyler  died  in  1879.  In  his 
political  connections  our  subject  is  an 
active  Republican  (easting  his  first  vote  for 
James  G.  Birney),  and  has  served  three 
terras  as  trustee  of  Avon  township.  In  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  socially  he  belongs  to 
King  Solomon  Lodge,  No.  5G,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Elyria,  and  to  Marshall  Chapter  No. 
47.  Mr.  Cuyler  owns  a  fertile  farm  of 
sixty-two  and  a  half  acres  in  Avon  town- 
ship, and  twenty  acres  of  another  farm;  he 
has  twenty-one  acres  devoted  exclusively 
to  grape- culture. 


El    W.   PITTS.     This   gentleman  was 
born  February  18,  1833,  in  Spring- 
I  field  township,  Richland  Co.,  Ohio, 

a  son  of  William  and    Mary  (Buck- 
ingham) Pitts. 

William  Pitts,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  England,  and  when  a 
young  man  emigrated  to  America,  where 
he  married  and  rearedafaiDily  of  children, 
among  whom  was  one  son,  William.  The 
latter  was  born  April  15,  1803,  in  West- 
moreland county,  Penn.,  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  and  had  but  meager  educational  ad- 
vantages. When  a  youth  of  fifteen  he 
came  west  to  Ohio,  and  here  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  principally  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.     On  May  6, 1832, 


718 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  with  Miss  Mary  iJuckingham,  who 
was  horn  April  5,  1817,  in  Harrison 
countv,  same  State,  daughter  of  Jc^shua 
Buckingham  (who  was  born  March  28, 
1781),  and  his  wife  Margaret  (^Randall) 
(who  was  born  September  27,  1781,  in 
Baltimore  county,  Md.). 

Gov.  Buckingham,  of  one  of  the  New 
England  States,  was  a  full  cousin  to  Mrs. 
William  Pitts,  and  consequently  second 
cousin  to  E.  W.  Pitts,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch.  The  governor's  father  was 
a  Methodist  minister.  On  his  mother's 
side  E.  W.  Pitts  has  six  full  cousins  who 
are  physicians,  and  tveo  who  are  lawyers, 
one  of  whom,  by  name  William  Cantwell, 
born  near  Mansfield,  Ohio,  died  a  few  years 
ago  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.  On  our  sub- 
ject's father's  side  there  were  also  many 
relatives  of  prominence,  noted  men  in  Eng- 
land, holding  high  positions  there,  some  as 
"  merchant  princes." 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Pitts  were 
born  two  children:  Ezekiel  W.,  subject 
of  this  memoir,  and  Otis  W.,  a  liveryman 
of  Belleville,  Ohio.  Mr.  Pitts  was  obliged 
to  begin  life  for  himself  with  practically 
notliing,  and  was  at  first  employed  in 
chopping  wood,  being  paid  for  his  work  in 
money,  which  was  then  very  scarce  in  the 
backwoods  regions.  However,  he  became 
a  successful  farmer,  and  accumulated  a 
comfortable  property.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat  until  Abraham  Lincoln's  time, 
after  wliich  he  remained  a  member  of  the 
Republican  party;  in  religious  faith  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  his 
wife  of  the  Methodist  denomination.  He 
passed  from  earth  November  24, 1884,  and 
was  followed  to  the  grave  by  his  widow 
September  18, 1887,  and  they  now  rest  side 
by  side  in  Shelby  cemetery,  Richland 
county,  Ohio. 

Ezekiel  W.  Pitts  was  reared  to  the  duties 
of  agricultural  life,  and  when  but  five  years 
of  age  attended  school  in  his  native  county, 
at  which  time  the  now  thriving  city  of 
Shelby  could  boast  of  but  one  store.   When 


he  was  six  years  of  age  his  parents  moved 
to  Springfield  township  (Richland  county), 
where  he  went  to  school  with  his  mother, 
who,  having  had  no  literary  advantages  in 
her  early  life,  availed  herself  of  the  pres- 
ent opportunity.  Our  subject  attended 
school  regularly  till  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  in  1852  came  to  the  college  at  Oberlin, 
Ohio,  where  he  studied  nine  months,  tit- 
ting  himself  for  the  profession  of  a  teacher. 
To  pay  for  his  tuition  at  Oberlin  he  worked 
on  the  P.  F.  W.  ct  C.  R.  R.,  for  ninety 
cents  a  day,  and  lathed  at  Oberlin  for  ten 
cents  an  hour.  He  began  teaching  in  New 
Haven  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the 
Miller  District,  when  it  contained  seventy- 
five  pupils,  who  met  in  an  old  log  school- 
house.  The  school  had  been  without  a 
teacher  for  some  time,  and  Mr.  Pitts  was 
obliged  often  to  enforce  obedience,  but  he 
nevertheless  was  very  successful.  Wiiile 
attending  school  at  Oberlin  Mr.  Pitts  met 
Miss  Roseltha  A.  R.owell,  who  was  born 
July  16,  1837,  on  the  farm  her  husband 
now  owns,  daughter  of  Levi  L.  and  Laura 
M.  (Matchain)  Rowell,and  they  were  mar- 
ried September  26,  1855,  in  the  house 
where  he  still  resides.  Levi  L.  Rowell  was 
born  in  Granville,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  a 
son  of  Sullivan  and  Elizabeth  (AVool worth) 
Rowell,  and  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  Ohio.  He  migrated  hither  from 
Connecticut  in  1832,  settling  in  Pittsfield 
townsliip,  Lorain  county,  when  that  section 
was  in  truth  a  "howling  wilderness,'' 
abounding  with  wild  animals. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitts  lo- 
cated  in  Springfield  township,  Richland 
Co.,  Ohio,  on  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  costing 
nine  hundred  dollars,  which  atnount  he 
borrowed  from  his  neighbors.  The  house 
was  a  rude  frame  structure,  16  x  24  feet, 
and  containing  but  two  rooms,  and  here 
they  resided  for  ten  years,  when  they 
moved  to  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  had  purchased  some  land. 
In  1867  they  came  to  their  present  farm, 
which  at  one  time  comprised  300  acres; 
but  it   has  been  gradually  divided  among 


LORAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


719 


tlie  children,  until  now  he  has  but  132 
acres,  which  he  calls  his  own.  Mr.  Pitts 
lias  met  with  well-tnerited  success  in  his 
chosen  vocation,  and  he  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing fanners  in  the  county.  His  advice  on 
various  matters  is  often  sought  for  by  liis 
neighbors,  who  appreciate  his  good  com- 
mon-sense and  souiul  j  ndgment,  and  respect 
and  admire  him  for  his  many  sterling 
qualities.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pitts  have 
come  children,  a  brief  record  of  whom  is 
as  follows:  Effie  W.,  who  was  born  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
E.  V.  B.  Buckingham,  of  Chicago  Junc- 
tion, Ohio;  Levi  M.,  who  was  also  born  in 
Kichland  county,  Ohio,  was  drowned  June 
23,  1882,  when  aged  twenty- three,  being 
seized  with  cramps  while  bathing;  Alton 
J.  is  a  farmer  of  Pittstield  township;  Willis 
W.  is  also  a  farmer  of  Pittstield  township; 
Roseltha  M.  has  been  a  student  at  Oberlin 
College;  Grant  W.  is  farming  in  Pittstield 
township.  In  politics  Mr.  Pitts  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  served 
as  township  trustee,  m  which  position  he 
gave  universal  satisfaction ;  he  is  the  pres- 
ent school  director  in  his  district.  Mrs. 
Pitts  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


P)ETER  McRO BERTS,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Pittstield  township,  was 
born  February  10,  1804,  in  Spring- 
field, Vt.,  son  of  John  McRoberts, 
who  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1759, 
and  came  to  America  in  1775.  He  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  ('ontinental  army  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge.  He  died 
in  1813.  and  sleeps  in  an  honored  grave  in 
the  South  cemetery  of  Whiting,  Vt.  His 
wife,  Lucy  Bradford,  was  i)orn,  in  1761, 
in  Massachusetts,  a  descendant  of  the 
Bradfords  of  Puritan  fame;  she  died  in 
1845,  and  was  buried  in  Centre  cemetery 
of  Pittstield. 

Peter's  youth   and  early  manhood  were 
spent  in  farming,  laml)ering,  and  driving 


a  mail  coach  from  Castleton  to  Middle- 
bury,  Vt.  His  education  was  that  of  the 
common  school,  which  at  that  time  to 
those  in  his  station  was  limited  to  a  short 
term  in  winter.  His  text  books  were  a 
Spelling  Book,  Testament,  American  Pre- 
ceptor, for  a  reader,  while  Adams'  Arith- 
metic (in  which  he  e.xcelled)  completed 
the  outlit. 

Peter  McRoberts  was  married  Decem- 
ber 13,  1828,  in  Sudbury,  Vt.,  to  Eliza 
Waitc,  who  was  born  in  Shoreham,  Vt., 
August  23,  1803,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Waite,  who  died,  in  1805,  in  Shoreham, 
Vt.  Her  mother,  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Waite, 
was  born  in  1765  in  Massachusetts,  came 
to  Ohio,  and  died  in  Pittstielil  in  1835; 
she  was  Imried  on  the  Josiah  Jiarnard 
farm,  there  being  no  public  burying  place 
in  the  township  at  that  time;  some  years 
later  her  remains  were  removed  to  the 
Centre  cemetery  of  Pittstield  township, 
and  laid  by  the  side  of  Nahum  Clark,  a 
son  by  her  first  husband,  (^n  October  31, 
1831,  Peter,  with  his  wife,  two  babies  and 
sister  Cynthia,  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn 
by  two  horses,  started  from  Sudbury,  Vt., 
for  Ohio,  a  journey  of  seven  hundred 
miles,  and  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  they 
found  themselves  in  Madison  township, 
Richland  county,  where  Mrs.  McRoberts 
had  two  sisters  living — Mrs.  William 
Stewart  and  Mrs.  Horatio  Harmon.  On 
January  14,  1832,  he  contracted  with 
George  Mann,  of  Sullivan  township,  for 
the  purchase  of  the  whole  of  Lot  4  and  the 
north  half  of  Lot  17,  in  Pittstiehl  town- 
ship, at  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre, 
two  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars  in  hand 
paid,  the  balance  in  three  annual  payments 
in  neat  stock  or  wheat;  and  in  March, 
same  year,  the  family  moved  hither,  liv- 
ing with  a  neiglil)or  by  the  name  of  Beam 
until  a  log  house  could  be  built.  They 
moved  in  as  soon  as  the  roof  was  on,  the 
earth  serving  for  a  floor,  and  a  iilanket  for 
a  door.  They  were  the  twelfth  family 
in  Pittstield  township.  Mr.  McRoberts 
cleared  a  part  of  this  farm,  and  in  1834 


720 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sold  it  to  Josiah  Barnard.  He  then  pur- 
chased Lot  No.  18,  cleared  a  large  part  of 
it,  and  built  a  frame  house  and  barn.  But 
his  ambition  exceeded  his  endurance,  and 
his  health  failing  he  gave  up  farming  for 
merchandisincr,  movinj;  to  Wellinttton  vil- 
lage  in  1837.  For  a  time  he  did  business 
where  Benedict's  hardware  store  now 
stands,  in  a  building  owned  by  John  S. 
Reed,  later  moving  his  establishment  to 
where  the  postotiice  now  is,  in  a  building 
formerly  occupied  by  R.  H.  Foot.  He 
huilt  and  operated  an  ashery  for  manu- 
facturing ])earlasii  (crude  soda,  a  product 
of  wood  ashes),  and  continued  in  business 
till  1843,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mathew 
Allen,  and  came  back  to  his  farm  in  Pitts- 
field  township,  on  which  he  made  many 
improvements. 

Politically  Mr.  McRoberts  was  a  Whig, 
and  he  took  great  interest  in  public  affairs, 
helping  to  organize  the  County  Agricul- 
tural Society;  he  also  took  an  active  part  in 
building  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
though  not  a  member  was  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Society.  He  held  the 
offices  of  real-estate  assessor,  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  township  trustee;  having  some 
knowledge  of  law  he  could  tell  what  he 
knew,  and  advocated  many  cases  before 
justices  of  the  peace,  being  generally  suc- 
cessful. He  died  in  1847,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Centre  cemetery  of  Pittsfield  town- 
ship; his  wife,  now  in  her  niuety-tirst 
year,  has  lived  continuously  in  the  same 
house  for  more  than  half  a  century,  the 
sole  survivor  of  all  the  residents  of  Pitts- 
field  township  that  had  attained  their  ma- 
jority when  she  came  here  sixty-two  years 
ago.  As  wife,  mother  and  neighbor  she 
has  nobly  sustained  her  part  in  the  trials 
and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  the  rear- 
ing of  a  large  family;  and  now,  with  her 
mother  love  undimmed  (children  and 
grandchildren  supplying  her  wants),  with 
a  faith  that  never  faltered,  her  life  shadow 
lengthening  near  the  night, ^she  awaits  the 
coming  dawn  of  a  life  eternal  in  Heaven. 
Her  children,  seven    in   number,  were  all 


sons,  to  wit:  Henry,  born  October  31, 
1829,  in  Hubbardton,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt., 
lives  on  the  home  farm,  sketch  of  whom 
follows;  Albert,  born  August  9,  1831,  in 
Sudbury,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  is  a  farmer  of 
Pittsfield  township  (he  draws  a  pension 
for  disability  incurred  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  while  acting  as  iirst  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Forty-first  Regiment  O.  V. 
I.);  Pitt,  born  December  22,  1834,  in 
Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  is  a 
well-to-do  farmer  of  that  township,  living 
within  fifty  rods  of  where  he  was  born; 
Charles,  born  December  25,  1838,  in 
Wellington,  Lorain  county,  who  served 
two  years  in  Battery  E,  First  Regiment 
Ohio  Artillery,  was  killed  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  in  1872,  while  a  freight  conductor 
on  the  L.  S.  &  M..  S.  R.  R.  (he  was 
buried  in  the  Centre  cemetery  of  Pitts- 
field); Volney,  born  May  12,  1841,  in 
Wellington,  Ohio,  a  sketch  of  whom  fol- 
lows; Erwin,  born  February  14,  1844,  in 
Pittsfield,  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-seventh 
Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  months,  was 
captured  at  Harper's  Ferry,  was  paroled 
and  came  home,  being  discharged  at  Dela- 
ware, Ohio  (lie  re-enlisted  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  Regi- 
ment O.  V.  I.,  and  served  to  the  end  of 
the  war;  he  was  killed  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  in 
1870,  while  a  freight  conductor  on  the  L. 
S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Centre  cemetery,  Pittsfield,  by  Oberlin 
Lodge,  F.  tfe  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  a 
member);  and  Arthur,  born  September 
29,  1846,  in  Pittsfield  township,  where  he 
now  resides,  and  carries  on  farming  (so- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Oberlin  Lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.). 


I^- 


I ENRY  McROBERTS,  a  well-known 
resident  of  Pittsfield  township,  was 
born  October  31, 1829,  in  Vertnont, 
and  came  to  Pittsfield  township 
with  his  parents  in  1832.  His  edu- 
cation was  that  of  the  common  schools, 
and  he  lived  with  his  parents  and  an  uncle 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


721 


by  the  name  of  Hall  till  his  eighteenth 
year.  He  then  went  to  Elyria,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Baldwin,  Starr  ife  Co.,  dealers  in 
general  merchandise,  as  a  salesman,  re- 
maining there  two  years,  and  thence  going 
to  Chicago,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
William  Blair  &  Co.,  hardware  merchants, 
at  No.  176  Lake  St.,  as  salesman,  for  three 
years.  During  that  time  he  cast  his  first 
vote  at  a  municipal  election.  He  saw  the 
first  train  of  ears  go  out  of  the  city.  In 
1852  he  came  back  to  Pittsfield,  and  has 
lived  on  tiie  same  farm  forty-one  years,  as 
a  farmer,  dealer  in  tine-wool  sheep,  and 
patent  rights;  he  also  operates  a  stone 
quarry,  and  is  a  contractor  for  stone  work. 
In  politics  a  Eepublican,  he  has  held  the 
offices  of  President  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tior).  Township  Trustee  and  Assessor,  and 
is  serving  his  fourth  terra  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
he  was  one  of  the  "Squirrel  Hunters." 

On  April  19,  1860,  Mr.  McRoberts  was 
married  to  Harriet  Pomeroy,  who  was 
born  November  2,  1834,  in  Newfane, 
Windham  Co.,  Vt.,  daughter  of  John  M. 
and  Clarissa  (Gale)  Pomeroy;  the  parents 
came  to  Ohio  in  1839,  and  first  located  in 
Sullivan  township  (then  in  Lorain  county), 
whence  they  finally  moved  to  Pittsfield 
township,  where  they  settled.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McRoberts  have  come  the  following 
named  children:  Luella  P.,  Philip  L., 
William  S.,  Metta  C4.,  Erwin  R.,  Ola  E. 
and  H.  Blain,  all  born  in  the  same  house 
in  Pittsfield  township,  and  all  living.  Mr. 
McRoberts  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &A.  M., 
and  is  well-known  in  the  community  where 
he  resides. 


1  IJOLNEY  M.'ROBERTS,  an  influen- 
V/'    tial   citizen    of    Pittsfield    township, 
W,     was  born  May  12,  1841,  in  Welling- 
ton,   Lorain  Co.,    Ohio,    fiftii    in   a 
family    of  seven   sons   born    to   Peter  and 
Eliza    (Waite)    McRoberts.     In  1843  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  the  farm  in  Pitts- 


field township,  where  he  first  attended 
school,  his  first  teacher  being  one  William 
Horton. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  our  sub- 
ject went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  Orlando 
Hall.  He  received  his  primary  education 
at  the  common  schools,  and  later  took  a 
two  years'  course  at  Oberlin  College.  Re- 
turning to  the  home  of  his  uncle  he  re- 
mained there  until  July,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted,  at  Cleveland,  in  the  First  Ohio 
Battery,  which  was  sent  to  Kentucky  and 
stationed  on  the  Green  river,  along  the  L. 
&  N.  Railroad,  whence  they  were  driven 
back  by  Bragg.  Mr.  McRoberts,'  along 
with  a  number  of  others,  being  taken  sick 
near  Louisville,  he  was  discharged  in  the 
fall  of  1862,  and  returned  to  Pittsfield, 
Ohio. 

On  August  18,  1863,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Celia  Pomeroy,  a  native  of  Pitts- 
field township,  daughter  of  John  Pomeroy, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  four  children, 
namely:  Walter  V.,  foreman  in  a  stone 
sawmill  at  Bedford,  Lawrence  Co.,  Ind.; 
Cora  E.,  Mrs.  Charles  Reynolds,  of  Shef- 
field, Ohio;  Lena  M.,  wife  of  C.  C.  Carter, 
a  farmer  of  Pittsfield  township;  and  Pitt 
E.,  attending  the  business  college  at  Ober- 
lin. On  February  15,  1875,  the  mother 
of  these  children  passed  from  earth,  and 
was  buried  in  Pittsfield  cemetery.  On 
April  3,  1877.  he  married,  for  his  second 
wife,  Amelia  Johnson,  of  Penfield,  Ohio, 
who  was  born  September  29,  1850,  in 
Wellington  township,  daughter  of  Collins 
and  Eliza  (Gaylord)  Johnson,  who  came 
here  in  an  early  day  from  Jefferson  connty, 
N.  Y.  To  this  marriage  have  come  two 
children,  Celia  F.  and  Helen  I.,  both  liv- 
ing at  home.  After  marriage  Mr.  McRob- 
erts settled  on  Lot  21,  in  Pittsfield  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided,  principally 
engaged  inagriculture,iD  which  he  has  met 
with  no  small  degree  of  success.  His  farm 
is  an  excellent  one.  and  now  comprises 
137  acres  of  fine  land.  This  tract  contains 
a  stone  quarry,  which  he  operated  for 
seventeen    years,   and    he    has    done    con- 


722 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO, 


siderable  work  for  the  conntj,  giving 
Ills  cliief  attention  to  bridge-building, 
stonework,  etc.,  all  of  wliich  lie  laas 
executed  in  a  most  creditable  manner.  Poli- 
tically he  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  has  served  his  township 
in  various  otiicial  capacities;  he  cast  his  tirst 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  Socially  he  is 
a  meniber  of  Oberlin  Lodge  IMo.  380, 
F.  &  A.  M. 


rjfENRY    H.  WEEKS,  a   prominent 

f  sH     resident  of  CJamdeii  township,  is  a 

I     1    'native   of   New    York    City,    born 

^J  March   10,   1831,  a  son  of  Thomas 

T.  and    Mary    (Hoag)   Weeks,    the 

former    of    whom   was  born  in  Yorktown, 

Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1798,  a  son  of 

Benjamin    K.   Weeks,    who  was    born   in 

1773,  a  son  of  James  Weeks. 

Thomas  T.  Weeks  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion at  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
being  naturally  bright  was  a  clever  student 
and  an  apt  scholar.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1825,  when  he  moved  to  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  there  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  draying  (at  that  time  a  lucrative 
occupation)  for  a  large  wholesale  tirtn, 
until  1837,  in  which  year  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Ohio  by  river,  canal  and 
lake  via  Buffalo,  the  voyage  from  the 
latter  place  being  made  on  the  "Daniel 
Webster,"  the  tirst  boat  to  pass  through 
the  ice  that  spring — then  the  middle  of 
May.  Prior  to  tliis  he  had  visited  Ohio 
(in  1833  and  1835)  and  bought  320  acres 
of  land  in  the  extreme  southeastern  part 
of  Florence  township,  Erie  county,  a  part 
of  which  was  cleared,  with  a  log  house 
and  barn  and  a  small  orchard  thereon.  He 
lived  here  thirty-four  years.  In  1871  he 
sold  this  farm  and  bought  another  two 
miles  farther  west,  on  which  he  lived  in 
the  family  of  his  son,  Henry,  eleven  years. 
Thomas  T.  Weeks  was  twice  married: 
first  to  Miss  Mary  Hoag,  who  was  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1796,  daughter 


of  Abraham  and  Sarah. (Matthews)  Hoag, 
and  the  children  by  this  marriage  were: 
Sarah,  now  widow  of  James  Daley,  of 
Wakeman,  Ohio;  Lydia  M.,  wife  of  Edgar 
AVright,  a  wholesale  grocer  of  New  York 
City;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  1878,  and 
Henry  H.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
New  York  in  1833,  and  in  1836  Mr. 
Weeks  married  Mrs.  Freelove  Fowler,  nee 
Thorn,  widow  of  Henry  Fowler.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  were:  Theodore, 
who  died  in  infancy;  John  F.,  now  living 
at  Clyde,  Ohio;  Benjamin  K.,  a  farmer, 
who  died  in  Oberlin  in  1879;  James,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Martha  J.  and  Marietta, 
of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  and  Emma,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
Florence  in  1866.  Mr.  Weeks  died  March 
8,  1885,  at  the  home  of  his  daughters  in 
Oberlin,  where  he  had  been  temporarily 
sojourning.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  con- 
victions, fearless  and  outspoken,  a  success- 
ful farmer  and  good  business  man,  self- 
made,  and  highly  respected.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat  until  1856,  when  he 
became  a  Republican,  and  ever  after  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party. 

Henry  H.  Weeks,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  memoir,  attended  the  public  schools 
of  the  county  of  his  adoption,  and  also 
one  term  at  a  select  school  at  Birminti;- 
ham,  Erie  county.  He  remained  with  his 
father  until  his  marriage  in  1855,  teaching 
school,  however,  during  several  winters  in 
Florence,  Vermillion  and  Wakeman  town- 
ships. Soon  after  his  marriage  he  moved 
into  a  log  house  on  a  small  farm  which  he 
owned  in  Henrietta  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  lived  until  1858,  when 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Findlay, 
Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  a  grocery  and 
provision  business.  In  1861  he  returned 
to  Florence,  and  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Benjamin,  carried  on  the  home 
farm  four  years.  The  next  three  years  he 
lived  ip  the  city  of  New  York.  Return- 
ing from  there  in  1868  he  took  charge  of 
hie   father's    farm,  on  which  he  and   his 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


?23 


family  lived  until  the  spriug  of  1883, 
when  he  purchased  and  inoved  onto  the 
farm  wliere  he  now  resides  in  (Janiden 
township,  Lorain  county,  about  one  mile 
west  of  Kipton. 

JMr.  Weeks  has  been  twice  married: 
first  time  November  15,  1855,  to  Miss 
Cora  L.  Van  Camp,  of  Quincy,  Mich., 
and,  second,  October  14,  1872,  to  Mrs. 
Louise  J.  Shafi'er,  widow  of  George 
Shatter,  a  member  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  First  Regiment  O.  Y.  I., 
who  died  of  smallpox  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  in  1863.  She  was  born  at  Birming- 
liani,  Erie  county,  March  13, 1841,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Hazard,  a  native  of  the  city 
of  New  York.  By  the  first  marriage  were 
born  two  children:  Frank  E.,  now  a  prac- 
ticing physician  in  Clarkstield,  Huron 
county,  iind  Charles  H.,  who  was  accident- 
ally killed  at  the  age  of  ten  years.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  a  Republican,  has  held 
several  township  offices,  and  is  now  serving 
his  tenth  year  as  township  trustee. 

From  genealogical  records  in  his  posses- 
sion Mr.  Weeks  traces  his  lineacre  back  to 
Anneke  Jans-Bogardus,  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, who  with  her  husband,  Roelof  Jans, 
came  to  New  Amsterdam  (now  New  York) 
in  1630,  and  who  at  her  death  left  landed 
property  there  which  has  since  become 
very  valuable,  and  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Trinity  Chui-ch.  The  immediate  an- 
cestors of  our  subject  were  Friends,  or 
Quakeri?,  and  he  is  by  birthright  a  member 
of  that  Society,  but  in  belief  is  bound  by 
no  religious  creed. 


THOMAS  FOLGER,  a  leading  grape 
grower  in  this  section  of   Ohio,  and 
manager  of  the  grape  syndicate  that 
controls  the  sale  of  grapes  grown  in 
the  Lake  Erie   district,  is   a   native 
of  Medina  county,  Ohio,  born  February  14, 
1842.     He  is  a' son  of  H.   G.  and  E.  A. 
(Ingersoll)  Folger,    the   former  of  whom 


died  November  26,  1883;  the  mother  is 
yet  living,  and  is  making  her  home  with 
her  son  Thomas. 

Thomas  Folger,  grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  island 
of  Nantucket,  Mass.,  where  his  ancestors 
had  settled,  one  of  whom  was  many  years 
ago  one  of  the  seven  proprietors  of  that 
island.  Grandfather  Folger  was  a  whaler, 
owning  an  interest  in  several  whalimr 
ships;  and  wiien  the  English  Government 
passed  a  law  granting  a  bounty  on  whale- 
oil  products,  he  removed  to  London,  Eng- 
land, in  order  to  come  under  the  provis- 
ions of  said  law,  expecting  good  financial 
returns.  lie  there  married,  and  in  the 
city  of  London  our  subject's  father  was 
born.  After  the  rescinding,  by  the  Eng- 
lish Government,  of  the  whale-oil  bounty 
Act,  Thomas  Folger  returned  to  Nantucket, 
taking  his  family  with  him.  C.  J.  Folger, 
the  prominent  American  politician,  who 
was  IJ.  S.  Sub-Treasurer  under  Grant,  also 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  Arthur, 
and  held  many  other  high  offices  of  trust 
in  the  U.  S.  Government,  is  an  uDcle  of 
our  subject. 

Thomas  Folger  received  his  education 
in  part  at  the  public  schools,  and  in  part 
at  the  Western  Reserve  Collecfe.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted, 
in  August,  1861.  in  Company  H,  Twenty- 
fifth  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  in  July,  1865.  His  regiment, 
which  was  first  assigned  to  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Gettysburg,  Chancellorsville,  Cedar  Moun- 
tain and  several  minor  encfagements.  It 
was  then  transferred  to  tiie  army  of  the 
Southwest,  under  Sherman,  was  in  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  and  after  its 
return  homeward  took  part  in  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington.  Mr.  Folcfer  was 
promoted  from  the  ranks  to  lieutenant  and 
adjutant,  and  brevet  captain.  On  his  return 
to  the  pursuits  of  peace,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he 
embarked  in  the  produce  and  commission 
business,  which  he  carried  on  for  some  five 


724 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


or  six  years,  subsequently  becoming  a 
wholesale  commission  merchant.  About 
the  year  187S  he  abandoned  this  business 
for  grape  culture,  a  line  of  industry  for 
whieli  lie  has  a  special  liking,  and  to 
which  he  has  since  given  much  thought 
and  attention.  He  now  owns  and  operates 
a  vineyard  covering  some  forty  acres,  and 
is  one  uf  the  leading  organizers  of  a  syndi- 
cate whose  ol)ject  is  the  marketing  of 
grapes  grown  in  tins  part  of  the  country, 
Mr.  Folger  lieing  manager  of  same.  He 
attends  to  the  details  of  shipment,  as  well 
as  the  finding  of  suitalde  markets,  and,  in 
fact,  controls  the  entire  business  of  the 
corporation.  He  is  also  a  stockholder  and 
director  in  the  Lorain  Banking  Company. 
Mr.  Folger  was  united  in  marriage.  May 
2,  1SG7,  with  Miss  Delia  Beswick,  and 
four  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Anna  B.,  Josephine  D.,  Jennie  P.,  and  Ida 
A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  city  council  of  P]lyria  (of 
which  place  he  is  a  resident).  He  is  a 
F.  &  A.  M.,a  member  of  the  Chapter,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  A  man  of 
marked  business  faculties,  Mr.  Folger  is  a 
]>otent  factor  in  all  movements  tending  to 
the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  the 
county  of  his  adoption. 


IDNETSAEDUS  WARNER.  This 
gentleman,  proiuinent  in  the  bank- 
ine:,  raanufactui'iii";  and  farmincr  in- 
terests  of  Loi'ain  county,  comes  of 
English  ancestry,  who  left  the  Mother 
Country  many  years  ago  for  America, 
makinjj  a  settlement  in  New  England. 

Mr.  Warner  was  born  in  Snffield,  Conn., 
April  17,  1820,  and  in  1882  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Mantua,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  thence  in  1839  to  Iluntington,  Lo- 
rain  county.  There  he  made  his  home  un- 
til he  moved  in  1868,  to  Wellington,  where 
he  lias  since  resided.  His  father.  Chaun- 
cey   Warner,   born    in    SufKeld,   Conn.,   in 


1790,  was  a  man  of  culture,  high  mental 
attainments  and  irreproachable  character. 
He  married  Miss  Eliza  Kent,  who  was 
born  in  his  native  town  in  1792,  a  lady  of 
pronounced  intellectual  force,  undimmed 
even  in  her  old  age,  and  a  devoted  worker 
in  every  cause  tending  to  the  advancement 
and  enlightenment  of  the  human  race. 
They  both  attained  patriarchal  ages,  the 
father  dying  at  ninety- two,  the  mother  at 
ninety-seven  years.  With  such  intellec- 
tual, hale  and  stanch  parentage,  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at  that  at  an  early  age,  ere  he 
had  quite  reached  the  close  of  the  first 
decade  of  his  life,  the  son  should  begin  to 
develop  that  spirit  of  determination  and 
enterprise  that  has  since  characterized  his 
many  and  various  undertakings,  and  ele- 
vated him  to  the  pinnacle  of  success. 

When  thirty-two  years  old,  Mr.  Warner 
was  elected  to  represent  Lorain  county  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  Ohio,  on  the 
"Union  ticket;"  was  reelected  in  1863, 
and  has  ever  since  been  a  Republican.  His 
career  as  Representative  was  marked  by 
his  accuracy  of  judgment  and  political  sa- 
gacity, and  his  fearless  discharge  of  duty 
to  his  constituency  and  the  State  at  large; 
and  as  a  proof,  if  proof  were  indeed  needed, 
of  the  esteem,  and  respect  in  which  he  was 
held  by  the  people,  we  find  him  elected  State 
Treasurer  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1865,  again  in  1867,  and  yet  again  in 
1869,  serving  three  consecutive  terms. 
Mr.  Warner's  administration  was  charac- 
terized by  the  highest  efficiency  and  the 
most  scrupulous  honesty.  After  serving 
four  years  as  trustee  of  Cleveland  Hospital 
for  the  Insane,  he  was  reappointed  to  the 
same  position,  by  Gov.  Foster,  for  a  term 
of  five  years,  during  which  time  he  filled 
the  office  of  president  of  the  board.  Soon 
after  iiis  re-appointment,  however,  he  re- 
signed, in  1880,  to  head  the  Republican 
ticket  as  elector  at-large,  but  was,  after  the 
election  of  Garfield,  again,  December  31, 
same  year,  re-appointed  to  that  trust,  to 
preside  at  the  board  from  wiiich  he  had 
recently  resigned.     Mr.  Warner's  political 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


121 


career  has  been  marked,  at  every  step,  by 
persistent  energy,  strict  iiiteirrity  and  a 
hii^h  sense  of  justice.  In  187-4  he  was  a 
prominent  candidate  for  Governor  of  Ohio, 
and  would  probably  have  been  nominated 
liad  not  the  question  of  U.  S.  senatorship 
entered  the  convention  as  a  potent  factor. 
As  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Four- 
teenth  Congressional  District,  he  secured, 
tor  595  successive  ballots,  more  votes  than 
any  otlier  candidate  in  the  convention.  He 
withdrew,  however,  in  the  interest  of  liar- 
muny — naming  a  new  candidate  who  was 
nominated  the  first  ballot  thereafter.  Mr. 
Warner  has,  indeed,  been  highly  honored 
by  his  State;  and  it  can  be  said,  withont 
suspicion  of  flattery,  that  he  has  well 
merited  every  honor  he  has  received. 

Mr.  Warner's  business  enterprises,  while 
numerous  and  varied,  have  been  successful 
and  prosperous.  He  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  the  organization  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Wellington,  in  186-4, 
and  has  been  its  president  since,  a  period 
of  abiiut  thirty  years.  Since  1869  he  has 
been  a  member  of  one  of  the  largest  cheese 
firms  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  widely  known 
all  over  the  coimtry  under  the  name  of 
Horr,  Warner  &  Co.  During  its  exist- 
ence, he  was  president  of  the  Citizens 
Mutual  Relief  Association.  In  1881  he 
was  chosen  president  of  the  Clarkstield 
Stone  Company;  in  1883  he  assisted  in 
organizing  the  Cleveland  National  Bank, 
of  which  he  has  been  the  only  president. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  agricultural  firm  of 
Wean,  Horr,  Warner  &  Co.,  and  is  e,\- 
tensivelv  engao-ed  in  the  breedinu;  of  fine 
blooded  horses. 

In  1851  Mr.  Warner  married  Miss 
Margaret  Anna  Bradner,  of  Huntington, 
Lorain  county,  a  woman  of  the  same 
sturdy  New  England  stock,  whose  ability 
and  good  judgment  have  supplemented 
the  endeavors  of  her  husband,  and  whose 
accomplishments  have  kept  pace  with  his 
career.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  as  follows:  Orrie  Louisa, 
Sidney  Kent,   Albert  Rollin   and  George 


Bradner,  the  youngest  two  being  gradu- 
ates of  Cornell  University,  the  daughter 
of  Oberlin  College. 

Surrounded  by  his  interesting,  intelli- 
gent family,  Mr.  Warner  is  a  thoughtful, 
devoted  husband,  and  a  kind,  indulgent 
father.  Among  men  he  is  genial  and 
companionable;  manly  and  fearlessly  in- 
defiendent  in  character  and  thought;  con- 
sistent and  temperate  in  all  respects.  His 
social  standing  is  high,  his  integrity  in- 
corruptible. A  true  and  loyal  friend,  a 
man  of  taste  and  culture — with  broad  and 
liberal  views — Mr.  Warner  is  a  man,  all 
in  all,  of  large  body,  soul  and  mind. 


AMUEL  S.  ROCKWOOD,  assist- 
ant cashier  of  The  Savings  Deposit 
Bank  Co.,  Elyria,  is  a  native  of  that 
town,  born  October  6,  1861.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  public  schools 
of  Elyria,  and  he  graduated  from  the  High 
School  in  the  class  of  1880.  In  1882  he 
entered  inta  the  employ  of  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank  as  assistant  bookkeeper, 
from  which  position  he  has  been  promoted 
step  by  step  to  the  assistant  cashiership,  to 
which  incumbency  he  was  appointed  in 
1892,  and  is  at  present  tilling  with  char- 
acteristic ability  and  fidelity.  In  1886  Mr. 
Rockwood  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  L. 
Garford,  and  one  child,  named  Gertrude 
L.,  has  come  to  brighten  their  home. 

Onr  subject  in  his  political  sympathies 
is  a  Republican;  socially  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  National 
Union,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
The  parents  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  Augustus  F.  and  Diantha  (Spencer) 
Rockwood,  were  children  of  pioneers  of 
the  county,  born,  reared  and  educated 
there.  The  father,  who  was  by  trade  a 
carpenter  and  joiner,  died  in  187-4  from 
diseases  contracted  during  a  three  years' 
service  for  the  Union  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  They  were  tlie  parents  of  three 


728 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cliildreii:  Samuel  S.,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch;  Ancreline  S..  wife  of  J.  A.  Reubliii, 
and  Mary  D.,  wife  of  W.  G.  Watts,  Well- 
ington, Ohio. 

Henry  S.  Kockwood,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  the  county,  having  spent  most  of 
the  years  of  a  long  life  within  its  bounds. 
He  was  for  some  time  county  recorder,  and 
is  still  living  hale  and  hearty,  having 
passed  his  eighty-second  birthday.  He 
came  of  long-lived  stock,  his  own  father 
having  lived  and  died  in  the  connty  at  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  years.  Eliel 
C.  Spencer,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  came  to  Lorain 
county  when  a  mere  boy.  He  endured  all 
the  har(lshi[)8  and  privations  of  pioneer 
life,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  He 
was  an  indefatisable  worker,  and  of  him  it 
is  said:  '•  He  hewed  more  miles  of  public 
highway  through  the  virgin  forest  in  the 
towns  of  Pittstield  and  LaGrangethan  any 
other  man  in  those  parts." 


rA.  AVERY,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  North  Amherst  Argus,  is  a 
_^  native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born 
January  G,  1872,  in  Henrietta  town- 
ship. He  is  a  son  of  A.  P.  and  Lucinda 
(Wheeler)  Avery,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born,  in  1832,  in  Massachusetts,  came  west 
and  located  in  Wellington,  Ohio,  where  he 
married  Miss  Lucinda  Wheeler,  of  La- 
Grange  township,  Lorain  county. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  left  his  home 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  from  that 
time  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools,  also  at  the  Wellington  high  school, 
and  took  a  miscellaneous  literary  course  at 
the  Normal  College  of  Valparaiso,  Lid. 
In  Antwerp,  Ohio,  he  learned  the  printing 
trade,  and  after  serving  his  apprenticeship 
came  to  North  Amherst,  where  for  a  year 
and  a  half  he  was  manager  and  local  editor 
of  the  Reporter.     In  the  fall  of  1891  he 


severed  iiis  connection  with  that  paper  and 
worked  as  a  "jour"  compositor  on  various 
leading  newspapers  in  the  East  and  West 
until  October,  1892,  at  which  time  he 
established  the  ^/v/t/s,  a  clean,  bright, 
newsy  journal  which  is  bound  to  make  its 
mark  under  the  facile  pen  of  its  experi- 
enced tliough  yet  youthful  editor.  It  is  a 
paper  free  and  untrammeled,  being  open  to 
all  parties,  intluenced  by  none,  and  neutral 
in  politics. 


K.  STARR,  farmer  and  extensive 
landowner,  and  oldest  resident  of 
Rentield  township,  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam Starr,  who  was  born  October  3, 
17 — ,  near  Danbury,  Conn.,  son  of  Eleazer 
and  Rebecca  (Clapp)  Starr. 

William  Starr  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
and  when  a  young  man  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Harpersfield,  Delaware  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
181t),  with  Miss  Ada  Reardsley.  She  was 
born  April  18,  1795,  near  Danbury,  Conn., 
daughter  of  Gaylord  and  Charlotte  (Bass) 
Beardsley,  who  also  moved  from  Connecti- 
cut to  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.  Here 
William  and  Ada  Starr  had  children  as 
follows:  A  son  that  died  in  infancy  un- 
named; Axey  E.,born  September  20, 1818, 
who  married  Abel  Dougherty,  and  died 
in  Pentield,  Ohio;  Polly  Ann,  born  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1820,  now  the  widow  of  Jacob 
Smith,  residing  with  her  children  in  Erie 
county,  Penn.;  Clarinda  E.,  born  Novem- 
Iter  11,  1822,  who  married  for  her  first 
husl>and  Dr.  William  Jeffries,  and  for  her 
second  Charles  Sliepard  (she  died  October 
.5,  1885,  at  Adrian,  Mich.);  Orline  R., 
born  January  20,  1826,  now  the  widow  of 
J.  W.  Hamilton,  who  died  October  11, 
1877  (she  lives  in  Wellington,  Ohio); 
Jane  M.,  born  April  1,  1827,  of  Welling- 
ton, Ohio;  Ada  L.,  who  died  when  three 
months  old;  and  George  W.,  born  March 
20,  1831,  who  died  June  8,  1878,  at  Pen- 
field,  Ohio.  After  coming  to  Ohio  they 
had   two    more  children — Orrin    K.,  sub- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


729 


ject  of  this  sketch,  and  Gideon  E..,  a 
tanner  and  retired  merchant  of  Warren 
township,  Warren  Co.,  Penn.  In  1831 
tlie  family  came  l)y  canal  and  lake  to  (^hio, 
the  hired  man  driving  the  team  to  liiiti'alo, 
N.  v.,  from  which  place  they  came  on  the 
boat  "William  Penn"  to  Cleveland,  the 
trip  occupying  three  days  and  two  nights. 
During  this  journey  a  terrible  stonn  arose 
on  the  lake,  the  ship  being  twice  driven  to 
the  Canadian  shore.  From  Cleveland  they 
drove  with  a  team  to  Medina,  where 
Matliew  L.  Hamilton,  a  brother-in-law  of 
Mr.  Starr,  resided,  and  here  remained  two 
weeks,  when  they  removed  to  Pentield 
township,  Lorain  connt>';  at  this  time 
there  was  no  bridge  there  across  the  Black 
river,  and  JMrs.  Starr  crossed  it  on  a  foot- 
log,  carrying  her  infant  son  George.  They 
located  on  land  a  short  distance  west  of 
the  center  of  the  township,  which  Mr. 
Starr  purchased  from  Amzi  Penfielil.  and 
made  a  permanent  home  on  this  farm, 
which  still  remains  in  the  possession  of 
the  family,  being  now  owned  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  When  William  Starr 
catne  to  Ohio  his  means  were  somewhat 
limited,  and  he  was  obliged  to  go  into 
debt  for  his  farm,  only  a  few  acres  of  which 
were  then  cleared,  and  whicli  contained  a 
log  house,  but  no  barn.  Wild  animals 
abounded.  Improvements  were  begun  at 
once,  and  here  he  continued  to  follow 
farming  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  amassed  a 
comfortable  competence.  Politically  he 
was  a  Democrat  until  the  time  of  William 
H.  Harrison,  when  he  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party,  with  wliich  he  affiliated  the 
rest  of  his  days.  He  died  in  April,  1S64, 
preceded  by  his  wife  May  28,  185().  and 
both  are  buried  in  Peniield  cemetery.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Pentield. 

().  K.  Starr  was  born  December  3,  1833, 
in  Penfielil  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  life,  and  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  day.  re- 
ceiving his  tirst  literary  instructioti  under 


Jiles  Palmer.  After  his  seventeenth  year 
he  worked  away  from  home,  receiving 
eight  dollars  per  month;  later  was  em- 
ployed three  years  by  Hiram  Smith;  in 
1855  went  to  Adair  county,  Iowa,  and 
while  there  took  up  land  which  has  since 
remained  in  the  family.  In  1857  he  was 
married,  in  Pentield,  to  Miss  Matilda 
Wager,  who  died  a  few  years  later,  leaving 
one  child,  Ida,  now  Mrs.  Edwin  Norton, 
of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  For  his  second 
wife  our  subject  was  married,  February  28, 
1863,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Blanchard,  who  was 
born  in  1840  in  Palenville,  Greene  Co., 
N.  Y.  (among  the  Catskills),  daughter  of 
J.  H.  and  Jane  Parmelia  (Myers)  Blanch- 
ard, who  came  to  Pentield  township  in 
1850  from  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  whither 
they  had  migrated  from  New  York.  In 
company  with  his  brother  George  Mr. 
Starr  bought  out  the  other  heirs  of  the  old 
home  farm,  and  here  he  made  his  home 
until  1888,  when  he  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent farm.  To  his  second  marriage  have 
been  born  two  children,  namely:  Justice 
M.  (a  merchant  of  Pentield)  and  Alena  R. 
(wife  of  Fred  Andrews,  a  farmer  of  Pen- 
held).  Mr.  Starr  has  dealt  in  stock,  and 
has  bought  and  sold  wool,  meeting  in  all 
his  enterprises  with  no  small  degree  of 
success.  He  now  owns  213  .acres  of  excel- 
lent land.  In  his  political  predilections  he 
is  a  stanch  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  as  township  treasurer 
for  some  years.  Mrs.  Starr  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


lOHN     AUSTIN"    CHAPMAN    (de- 

V  I     ceased),  for  many  years  a  prosperous 

\Jj    farmer  and  dairyman  in  Huntington 

township,  was  born  in  Montgomery, 

Mass.,  April  7,  1817. 

Isaac  Chapman,  paternal  grandfather  of 
John  Austin  Chapman,  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  born  in  the  town  of  Groton, 
December  18,  1740.  His  wife,  Mary,  was 
born   July  13,  1742,  in  Plymouth,  Mass., 


no 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  died  May  25,  1806,  the  motber  of  nine 
children,  all  horn  in  Groton,  as  follows: 
Content,  Susanna,  Isaac,  Mary,  Ahiier, 
Elisha,  Nathan,  Bradford  and  Sarah.  John 
Fisher,  maternal  grandfather  of  John  Aus- 
tin Chapman,  was  horn  May  22,  1751,  and 
his  wife,  Muriel,  on  November  15,  1741. 
Of  their  children,  William,  Olive  (John 
A.  Chapman's  mother),  George,  Hulda  and 
Henry  all  lived  in  Vermont. 

Abner  Chapman,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  June  20, 
1772.  He  worked  on  the  farm  of  John 
Fisher,  in  Vermont,  whose  daughter,  Olive, 
he  married  January  19,  1796,  at  Ver- 
gennes,  same  State;  she  was  born  iS'ovem- 
ber  20,  1778.  All  their  children,  thirteen 
in  number,  were  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and  the  following  is  a. brief  record  of  the 
majority  of  them:  Luthei-,  born  in  1798, 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  in  Geauga 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  had  settled;  Calvin, 
born  November  24,  1800,  was  married,  and 
died  in  Boston,  Mass.,  June  1,  1857; 
Aclisah  (1)  died  in  infancy;  following  these 
come  Olive,  Achsah  (2),  Laura,  Abner, 
William,  Eunice,  Hulda  A.,  John  Austin 
(subject  of  sketch)  and  Emeline  (wife  of 
Edward  West),  of  Wellington,  Ohio,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  excepting  two.  In 
1833  the  family  came  from  Montgomery, 
Mass.,  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in 
Huntington  township.  Luther,  the  eldest, 
came  west  before  his  parents  and  the  rest 
of  the  family,  walking  the  entire  distance 
to  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  wliere  lie  settled, 
as  already  related.  The  father  died  Jan- 
uary 29, 1851,  the  mother  on  February  25, 
1854. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
November  6,  1844,  in  Huntington  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  to  Miss  Isabel  Lind- 
sey,  born  December  15,  1824,  in  Chester, 
Mass.,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(King)  Lindsey,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Massachusetts  (it  is  believed)  No- 
vember 15,  1803.  In  1836  Mr.  Lindsey 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling 
on  a  farm    in   Huntington    township.     He 


served  as  deputy  under  Sheriff  Gates,  of 
Lorain  county,  and  was  one  of  the  posse  of 
detectives  who  hunted  down  the  counter- 
feiters several  years  ago,  bringing  back  in 
custody  several  of  them  from  beyond  the 
Mississippi  river.  His  wife  was  born  July 
7,  1801,  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  and 
died  Jutie  2,  1845,  after  which  Mr.  Lind- 
sey removed  east,  but  after  a  time  again 
came  west,  for  a  couple  of  years  sojourn- 
ing in  Illinois,  where  he  had  business,  and 
where  he  died  in  September,  1852.  In  his 
political  predilections  he  was  a  strong 
Doujflas  Democrat.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lind.sey  there  were  born  six  children,  viz.: 
Isabel,  born  December  12,  1824,  widow  of 
John  A.  Chapman;  William  K.,  born  May 
18,  1826,  died  young;  Esther,  born  May 
25,  1828;  John  G.,  born  April  18,  1831, 
living  in  Allegan,  Mich.;  Margaret,  born 
June  6,  1835;  and  William  II.,  born  Sep- 
tember 28,  1839,  living  in  Michigan,  all 
born  in  Massachusetts  except  the  youngest, 
who  is  an  Ohioan.  Grandfather  William 
Lindsey,  who  lived  in  Chester,  Mass.,  was 
descended  from  Scotch  ancestry,  the  Chap- 
mans  being  of  English  descent.  Mrs. 
Chapman's  maternal  grandmother,  Mar- 
garet Morton,  married  William  King. 
Her  (Mrs.  Chapman's)  paternal  grand- 
mother was  Jane  Hubble,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, who  had  two  brothers  known  to 
Mr.<.  Chapman,  named  respectively  Ed- 
ward and  Silas;  she  was  twice  married: 
first  to  John  Lindsey  and  then  to  William 
Lindsey. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Austin  Chapman  settled  in  Huntington 
township,  Lorain  county,  on  the  Chapman 
liomestead,  taking  care  of  his  parents  in 
their  declining  years.  In  1876  they  came 
to  the  town  of  AVellington,  where  they 
built  the  eleorant  and  commodious  residence 
still  occupied  by  Mrs.  Chapman.  Here  he 
died  May  22,  1891,  leaving  a  comfortaide 
competence,  the  accumulation  of  years  of 
honest  toil  and  careful  thrift.  Prior  to 
the  Civil  war  he  was  an  Old-time  Dem- 
ocrat, but  became,  at  the  breaking  out  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


781 


that  struggle,  a  stanch  Republican,  re- 
maining in  the  ranks  of  that  party  till  the 
day  of  his  death.  Their  home  was  bright- 
ened hy  the  birth  of  three  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Oren  P.,  born  October  30,  1845,  married 
Miss  Ella  Perkins,  and  has  two  children, 
Mary  Isabel  and  Kobert  A.;  John  Lindsey, 
born  July  31,  1852,  married  Mabel  Noney, 
and  has  three  children:  William  Austin, 
Grace  and  Olive;  and  Josephine,  married 
to  Edward  Van  Cleaf,  has  two  sons:  Frank 
Chapman  and  Wint'erd  K. 


/^'EORGE  M.  HARRIS,  M.  D.    This 

I  J<  gentleman,  who  has  successfully 
^L>l     practiced    his    profession    for   some 

^|l  sixteen  years  in  Lorain,  comes  of  an 
old  pioneer  family  of  Lorain  county. 

He  was  born  in  North  Amherst,  Ohio, 
in  1854,  a  sun  of  Milo  and  Mary  J. 
(Tyrrell)  Harris,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Mas- 
sachusetts, respectively.  The  father  is  a 
prominent  man  in  Lorain  county,  toward 
the  growth  and  advancement  of  wliich  he 
has  materially  contributed.  In  1861  he 
was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  serving 
eighteen  months;  was  also  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  many  years  in  Amherst  and 
Black  River  townships.  He  was  twice 
married:  first  time,  in  1843, to  Miss  Caro- 
line Stocking,  of  Lorain  county,  by  which 
union  there  was  one  child,  Florence  (widow 
of  Hiram  Leslie),  now  living  in  California. 
Mrs.  Caroline  Harris  died  in  1852.  and 
Mr.  Harris  subsequently  married  Miss 
Mary  Tyrrell,  daughter  of  Homer  and 
Mary  F.  Tyrrell  (both  now  deceased),  all 
natives  of  Massachusetts.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  live  children,  of  whom 
the  following  is  a  brief  record:  George  M. 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Albert  T.  is 
a  physician  in  Howard.  Ivans.;  Lucia  M. 
is  the  wife  of  Georcre  M.  Parker,  of  North 
Amherst;  Homer  J.  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years;  Carrie  F.  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years. 


Josiah  Harris,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  born  November  30,  1783,  in  Becket, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and  died  March  26, 
1867,  aged  eighty-fotir  years.  In  1818 
he  came  on  foot  from  Massachusetts  to 
Lorain  county,  where  he  had  previously 
purchased  land  in  what  is  now  Amherst 
township.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
Legislature,  and  to  attend  to  his  duties 
there,  at  Columbus,  he  used  to  ride  on 
horseback  through  a  comparatively  wild 
country.  He  served  as  postmaster  (under 
appointment  of  Postmaster-General  Meigs) 
over  forty  years  continuously,  excepting 
when  in  the  Legislature. 

George  M.  Harris  received  his  primary 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  North 
Amherst,  after  which,  in  1875,  he  entered 
the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  at  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1877,  in  which  year  he  located  in  Lorain, 
a  town  then  of  but  some  1,500  inhabitants, 
and  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  May, 
1881,  the  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  Uhrichsville,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Dor- 
rell  M.  Leggett,  a  native  of  Uhrichsville, 
and  to  this  union  has  been  born  one  child, 
Florence.  In  politics  Dr.  Harris  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  town  council.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 


dl  O HN  CURREY,  a  successful  well-to- 
do  merchant,  and  well   known  as  one 
)    of  the  stanch  business  men  of  Roches- 
ter, is  a  native  of  Pentisylvania,  born 
in  Chester  county  February  10,  1823. 

William  Currey,  father  of  subject,  by 
trade  a  wagon  maker  and  wheelwright, 
was  of  the  same  locality  by  birth,  as  was 
also  his  wife,  Rachel  (Rickard).  They 
were  the  parents  of  children  as  follows: 
Jonathan,  who  died  in  Troy,  A.shland  Co., 
Ohio;  Ann,  who  married  Thomas  Wood, 
and  died  in  Ashland  county;  Isaac,  de- 
ceased in  Ashland  county;  Harriet,  who 
died  in  Pennsylvania  when  young;  John, 


732 


LOJtAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


subject  of  sketch;  Hannah,  Mrs.  James 
Walker,  of  Troy,  Ohio;  William,  of  Ash- 
lard  connty;  Matthew,  a  resident  of  the 
State  of  Washinfjton;  and  Angeline,  who 
died  young.  In  1837  the  family  came  to 
Ohio,  the  journey  to  Columbus,  their 
destination,  being  made  by  wagon,  and 
their  route  the  National  Pike.  In  Colum- 
bus the  father  died,  in  Aiigust,  1837,  and 
his  widow  about  three  mouths  afterward 
moved  to  Greenwich  township,  Huron 
county,  where  she  and  the  family  rented 
land,  on  which  they  lived  five  years.  In 
1842  they  moved  to  Troy,  Ashland  county, 
where  they  bought  fifty  acres  of  wild  land 
at  six  dollars  per  acre.  Here  the  mother 
died  in  1854,  her  remains  being  laid  to 
rest  in  Beckley  cemetery,  Rochester  town- 
ship. 

John  Currey,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  recei\'ed  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  was  four- 
teen years  old  when  the  family  came  to 
Ohio,  where  he  had  to  lay  his  hand  to  the 
axe  to  assist  in  the  hewing  out  of  a  new 
home  for  the  family.  In  1866  he  moved 
from  Troy  township,  Ashland  county,  to 
Rochester,  Lorain  county,  where  he  en- 
tered mercantile  life,  having  since  success- 
fully conducted  his  general  store,  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  is  interested  in  a 
hotel  business,  and  buys  and  sells  farm 
products.  He  owns  in  Troy  township, 
Ashland  county,  312  acres  of  excellent 
farmino;  land. 

Mr.  Currey  has  been  twice  married,  first 
time  in  1854  to  Miss  Almira  Carrier,  who 
was  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and 
shortly  thereafter  they  moved  to  Iowa 
City,  wliere  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
tlie  hardware  store  of  Hart,  Love  &  Co., 
which  was  not  his  first  experience  in  that 
line,  having  already  been  in  business  for 
himself  in  Troy,  Ohio.  While  in  Iowa 
City  his  wife  died,  and  about  three  months 
later  he  returned  to  Troy.  In  1856,  for 
his  second  helpmeet,  Mr.  Currey  wedded 
Miss  Matilda  Wicks,  a  native  of  New 
York,    born    of    English    parentage.      By 


this  marriage  came  children  whose  record 
is  as  follows:  Rachel,  now  Mrs.  Adelbert 
Mitchell,  of  Rochester;  Jane,  Mrs.  Charles 
Beardsley,  of  Rochester;  Emeline,  Mrs. 
George  Smith,  of  Brighton  township; 
Charles,  of  Troy,  Ohio;  Hattie,  Mrs. 
Dwight  Mann,  of  Rochester;  and  Nellie, 
residing  at  home.  Politically  our  subject 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  held  vari- 
ous township  oliices,  including  that  of 
treasurer  six  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  exemplary  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  Mr.  Currey  is  a  man  of  good 
judgment  and  sound  common  sense,  and 
his  advice,  where  truly  needed,  is  fre- 
quently sought  for  and  found  valuable. 


THADDEUS  W.  FANCHER,  post- 
master at  Lorain,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 25,  1839,  in  Greenwich,  Hunm 
Co.,  (Jhio,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  removed 
to  central  Michigan,  where  he  resided 
about  ten  years,  or  until  1873,  when  he 
canje  to  Lorain,  Ohio,  and  there  followed 
contracting  and  building  some  five  or  six 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  bought 
an  interest  in  a  hardware  business,  having 
as  a  partner  a  Mr.  Edison,  and  this  he  con- 
tinued in  until  his  appointment,  in  1880, 
as  jjostmaster  at  Lorain.  At  the  end  of 
seven  years'  well-merited  popularity  in 
this  office  he  was  deposed  by  the  incoming 
Cleveland  administration,  but  received  re- 
appointment on  the  accession  of  Harrison 
to  the  Presidency,  in  1890.  He  has  also 
served  in  various  municipal  offices, such  as 
member  of  council  and  mayor,  besides  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years. 

In  1862  Mr.  Fancher  was  united  in 
marriage,  iu  Greenwich,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
with  Miss  Ermina  Griflin,  of  the  same 
place,  daughter  of  Riley  and  Philena 
Griflin,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  iu 
1812  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y.;  iiis  wife, 
Philena  (Washburn),  was    born    in   Ulster 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


733 


county.  N.  Y.,  in  1817,  and  died  iu  1862. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fancher:  Elvadore  R.  and  Millicent 
A.  Our  subject  has  been  a  Freemason 
since  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Mary  (Vanscoy)  Fanclier, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  1811  in 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  whence  in  1819  he 
came  to  Greenwich,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
died  in  1887,  at  Camden,  Mich.,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years.  Our  subject's  mother 
was  a  native  of  Geauga  county,  Ohio. 


C.  WEEKS,    whose    industry    and 

thrift   have   united    in   placing  him 

in  the  front  rank  of  Lorain  county's 

A1   many  prosperous    agriculturists,   is 

the    owner    of    a    highly-improved 

farm  of  seventy-seven    acres   in  Rochester 

township. 

He  is  the  third  son  of  German  Weeks, 
who  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York 
March  13,  1804;  was  united  in  marriage 
January  7,  1830,  with  Jane  S.,  daughter 
of  Christina  and  Peter  Thompson.  She 
was  born  April  17,  1809.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weeks  were  born  thirteen  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  living  except  the 
third  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  They 
are  as  follows:  Matilda,  Schuyler,  George, 
Christina,  Peter  T.,  Andrew,  John,  Mary 
E.,  Martha  A.,  Eliza  J.,  Harriet  L.  and 
La  Rue.  Five  of  these  accompanied  the 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1840,  locating  first  in 
Rochester,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later  mov- 
ing two  miles  south  to  Troy,  Ashland 
county.  Here  he  bought  and  cleared  ui)a 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  and  here  he 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
25,  1886,  a  period  of  more  than  forty 
years.  His  faithful  and  beloved  wife  de- 
parted this  life  November  29,  1882, 
greatly  mourned  by  her  husband  and 
children. 

G.  C.  Weeks  was  born  September  10, 
1835,  and  received  a  fairly  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  schools  of  his  native  place.     At 


the  age  of  fourteen  he  left  the  paternal 
home,  and  worked  out  at  what  he  could 
find  to  do  on  neigfliborine;  farms.  At  the 
end  of  seven  years  he  returned  to  his  par- 
ents, and  with  filial  affection  assisted  and 
cared  for  them  until  he  was  thirty  years 
old,  at  which  time  he  boucrht  for  his  own 
account  fifty  acres  of  land  at  forty  dollars 
per  acre.  Directly  after  his  marriage  he 
added  to  this  purchase  twenty  other  acres 
adjoining,  and,  still  later,  seven  more, 
which  in  the  aggregate  comprise  his  pres- 
ent fine  farm. 

During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Weeks  en- 
listed, iu  February,  1865,  in  Company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-seventh  Regi- 
ment O.  V.  L,  serving  one  year.  Return- 
ing home  January  31,  1866,  he  married, 
May  31,  same  year,  Miss  Mary  B.  Ford, 
born  in  Clear  Creek  township,  Ashland 
Co.,  Ohio,  February  9,  1846,  a  daughter 
of  Elias  Ford,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ash- 
land county.  Politically  Mr.  Weeks  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  are  meml)ers  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  (Jhurch  at  Troy,  in  which  they 
take  an  active  interest. 


iARREN.     The  Warren  family  is 
one  of  the  oldest  in  Wellington 
township,  and  is  descended  from 
a  long  line  of  New  England   an- 
cestry. 

The  earliest  records  of  the  family  men- 
tion one  Warren,  born  about  1650,  who 
was  the  father  of  Joshua  Warren,  of 
Watertown,  Mass.  Joshua  married  Re- 
hecah,  dauiihter  of  Caleb  Church,  also  of 
Watertown.  The  next  in  line  was  Joshua,- 
Jr.,  who  married  Elizabeth  Harris,  of 
Brookline.  He  was  followed  by  Benjamin 
Warren,  born  in  Watertown,  November 
30,  1728;  his  wife  was  Hannah  Lewis,  and 
he  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

Benjamin  Warren,  Jr.,  was  burn  April 
19,  1772,  and  married  Lucy  Burr,  of  Nor- 
folk,   Conn.      He    brought    his    family  to 


734 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Wellington  in  1831.  Th'^ir  cliildren  were: 
Polly,  Harriett,  B(  tsey,  Alanson  and  Lu- 
ther Day.     Tlie  latter  was  born  March  2, 

1813,  and  msirried  Laura  Wait,  who  was 
born   in    P'redoiiia,   N.    Y.,    February,    6, 

1814.  Their  descendants,  who  still  live 
in  Wellington,  are:  Harriet  E.  Warren, 
M.  D.;  Frank  D.  Warren,  who  married 
Metta  Sajre  (they  have  one  child — Ella); 
Walter  D.  Warren,  wlio  married  Helen 
Conistock,  and  with  their  three  children — 
Clarence,  Albert  and  Emma — still  lives  in 
the  old  homestead  on  the  banks  of  the 
Charlemont. 


Iff  ENRY  HAERISON  WILLIAMS. 
IpH     one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Avon 
I     1_    township,    was    born    in    Norwich, 
^J  Conn.,  October  21,   1812,    one    of 

eight  children  born  to  John  and 
Clarissa  Williams,  both  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

In  1817  the  parents  moved  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Troy  (now  Avon)  township, 
Lorain  county,  bringing  with  them  their 
eight  children,  as  follows:  Laura,  Justin, 
Teinpa,  Eliza  Minerva,  John  Wendell, 
Mary  Harriet,  Henry  Harrison  and  James 
Dwight,  of  whom,  Justin  died  in  1846. 
Here  the  father  opened  up  a  farm  in  the 
woods,  whereon  he  made  a  permanent 
liome,  and  he  laid  the  first  board  floor  in 
the  township.  He  died  June  29,  1840, 
his  wife  October  28,  1839.  In  politics  he 
Was  a  Whig,  and  he  served  as  township 
treasurer.  Some  of  their  children  lived  to 
old  age:  Mrs.  Tempa  Garfield  died  Jannaiy 
13,  1894,  in  Sheffield,  in  her  ninety-fourth 
year;  Mrs.  Eliza  M.  Clary,  now  in  her 
ninety-first  year,  lives  in  Norwalk;  John 
W.  died  in  Avon  in  his  eighty-fifth  year; 
Henry  Harrison  is  now  in  his  eighty- 
second  year;  James  D.  died  in  Avon  in  his 
seventy-fifth  year. 

H.  H.  Williams  was  five  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  the  rest  of  the  family 
to  what  is  now  Avon  township,  at  which 
time  the  country  was  covered  with  timber. 


wolves,  bears  and  deer  beincr  numerous. 
One  of  the  male  members  of  the  family 
would  have  to  go  horseback  once  in  every 
two  weeks,  to  Olmsted,  to  have  their  mill- 
ing done,  and  as  there  were  no  roads  the 
journey  was  often  somewhat  perilous. 
Many  a  day  Harrison  spent  pounding  corn 
in  a  stump,  hollowed  out,  to  make  their 
bread.  Shoes  were  a  luxury,  and  the  chil- 
dren would  tramp  miles  to  school  in  win- 
ter time  with  their  feet  bound  up  in 
cloths.  Our  subject  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  day, 
wiiich  were  held  in  log  cabins,  and  subse- 
quently  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at 
French  Creek  for  fifteen  years.  In  1850 
lie  erected  the  first  steam  sawmill  in  the 
township,  which  he  conducted  for  some 
time,  and  then  bought  a  gristmill.  In 
1855  he  was  burned  out,  and  in  1856  he 
built  the  present  gristmill  at  French 
Creek,  which  he  operated  for  many  years. 
For  the  past  few  years  he  has  given  his 
attention  to  agriculture,  and  owns  a  good 
farm  adjoining  the  village.  On  Februarj' 
6,  1840,  he  was  married  at  Ridgeville, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Eunice  Amelia  Porter, 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Eunice  (Yale) 
Porter,  who  were  married  in  1800  at  Lee, 
Mass.;  in  1822  they  left  Jthere,  with  their 
family  of  eight  children,  for  Ohio,  the 
journey  being  made  with  covered  wagons, 
and  occupying  tluee  months.  They  spent 
the  first  winter  in  Dover,  Cuyahoga 
county,  and  in  tlie  spring  moved  to  Ridge- 
ville, where  Mr.  Porter  built  the  first  log 


house  on  Sugar  Ridge, 
farmer.     He    died     at 


He  was  a  lifelong 
his     residence    in 


Ridgeville  July  6,  1867,  at  the  patriarchal 
age  of  ninety-two  years.  Llis  wife  died  at 
the  same  place  November  19,  1847,  aged 
seventy-seven  years.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  Mrs.  Griscilda  Gardner,  de- 
ceased; Kimball;  Mrs.  Marcia  Smith,  de- 
ceased at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years; 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Chester,  Mrs.  Frances  Sex- 
ton, Mrs.  Charlotte  Tinker  and  Charles  J., 
all  deceased,  and  Mrs.  Eunice  A.  Will- 
iams.    To    Harrison    H.    and    Eunice  A. 


.15^ 


^z^^^. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


737 


Williams  were  born  five  children,  their 
names  and  dates  of  l)irth  being  as  follows: 
(1)  Howard,  January  21,  1841;  (2)  An- 
nette, January  23,  1S48;  (3)  Everett  E., 
March  2,  1846;  (4)  Montville,  November 
15,  1847  (died  December  16,  1847);  and 
(5)  Nellie  L.,  October  5,  1853.  Of  these, 
(1)  ri(iward  married  JIarcli  13,  1871,  Ada 
F.  McCarty;  he  is  in  the  slate  and  felt 
rooting  business  in  Toronto,  Ont.,  also 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  their  children  were  Alli- 
son Jay,  Annette  Morey,  Dwight  Mc- 
Carty (deceased),  Ralph  Clark  and  Frank- 
lin Howard  (of  these  Annette  Morey  was 
married  June  15,  1893,  to  T.  Corbert 
Thompson,  a  dry-goods  merchant  in  To- 
ronto, Ont.).  (2)  Annette  married,  June 
8,  1868,  Norris  Morey,  an  attorney  at  law 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  captain  in  the  New 
York  cavalry;  their  children  are  Isabel 
Kansom,  Joseph  Harrison,  Howard  Will- 
iams and  Arthur  Norris.  (3)  Everett  E. 
married,  at  Avon,  October  23,  1870,  Miss 
Laurett  A.  AVilliams;  he  is  assistant  cash- 
ier in  the  National  Bank  of  Elyria;  their 
children  are  Zella  Messenger,  Harrison 
Charles  and  Porter  Hastings.  (5)  Nellie 
L.  was  married  May  21,  1881,  to  Burton 
C.  Jameson,  formerly  of  Avon,  in  the 
gravel  and  composition  rooting  business  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  also  in  Toronto,  Canada; 
tlieir  children  are  Everett  Williams  and 
Norris  Morey. 

Howard  Williams,  eldest  son  of  H.  H. 
Williams,  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  then 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  Company  E, 
Forty-second  O.  V.  I.,  as  a  recruit.  For 
most  of  tlie  time  he  was  on  detached,  or 
special,  duty  until  April  3,  1863,  when, 
beiiicr  sick,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  Hos- 
pital.  Subsequently  he  was  given  a  com- 
mission as  second  lieutenant  of  Company 
B,  Fifth  U.  S.  Volunteers;  was  ordered  to 
Salena,  Kansas,  a  border  town,  to  guard 
army  trains  across  the  Plains,  where  In- 
dians and  others  were  troublesome.  Later 
he  was  sent  to  Denver,  Colo.,  and  there 
remained  till  the  close  of  the  war.  lie  is 
now  in  Toronto,  Ont.,  as  above  recorded. 


In  political  connection  Henry  11.  Will- 
iair)s  was  originally  a  Whig,  and  cast  his 
first  Presidental  vote  for  (len.  Harrison  in 
1840;  since  the  formation  of  the  party  he 
has  been  a  Repuljliean,  and  he  has  served 
as  treasurer  of  Avon  township,  and  also  as 
postmaster  at  French  Creek.  He  and  his 
wife  have  l)een  active  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  French  Creek,  she  for 
fifty-nine  years,  he  for  fifty-two  years,  and 
a  trustee  much  of  the  time. 


GOLDEN  WEDDING. 

"  Married  in  Ridgevillc  February  6,  1840, 
at  the  residence  of  E.  Porter,  Esq.,  by  the 
Rev.  Silas  Tucker,  Mr.  Henry  H.  Williams 
of  Avon  and  Miss  Eunice  A.  Porter. 

"The  printer's  fee  on  this  occasion  was 
a  full  loaf  of  cake  of  ample  dimensions, 
which  spoke  well  for  the  sweet  temper  of 
the  bride,  and  the  prospect  of  future  felic- 
ity to  the  happy  pair." 

The  above  notice  appeared  in  the  Elyria 
paper  of  February,  1840.  February  6, 
1890— Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams,  who  have 
been  spending  the  winter  in  Buffalo,  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  at  the  resi- 
dence  of  their  daugliter,  Mrs.  Norris 
Morey,  No.  200  Sumner  street.  The  four 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams,  with 
their  families,  were  all  present,  thirteen 
grandchildren,  making  twenty-three  in 
the  family:  Howard  Williams,  of  Toronto; 
Mrs.  Jameson,  of  Buffalo;  Mrs.  Morey; 
Mr.  Williams,  of  Elyria;  it  being  the  first 
reunion  of  the  family  at  which  every  mem- 
ber was  present.  Two  deaths  have  oc- 
curred during  the  fifty  years — an  infant 
son  and  a  grandson.  The  bride  and  groom 
of  half  a  century  received  many  golden 
gifts,  also  beautiful  flowers  and  books 
from  friends  in  Buffalo. 


E 


VERETT  E.  WILLIAMS,  assistant 
cashier   of    the    National    Bank  of 
I  Elyria,  is   a  son  of  H.  H.  and  Eu- 
nice A.  (Porter)  Williams,  and  was 
born    March   2,    1846,  in   Avon  township, 


738 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  He  received  his  liter- 
ary training  at  the  public  schools  of  Avon 
and  at  Oberlin  College.  At  the  conclu- 
sion of  his  studies  he  connnenced  the  mill- 
ing business  in  Avon,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  IJrm  of  Williams,  Barrows  & 
Co.,  merchant  millers,  Lorain,  Ohio.  In 
connection  he  is  interested  in  grain  eleva- 
tors as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Williams 
&  Breckenridge.  In  1885  he  was  unani- 
mously nominated  and  elected,  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket,  treasurer  of  Lorain  county, 
and  after  serving  his  county  in  this  capac- 
ity two  terms  (four  years),  he  became 
connected  with  the  National  Bank  of 
Elyria,  as  teller. 

Mr.  Williatns  was  married,  at  Avon, 
October  23,  1870,  to  Miss  Laurett  Will- 
iams, and  they  have  three  children,  namely: 
Zella  Messenger,  Harrison  Charles  and 
Porter  Hastings.  Mr.  Williams  is  among 
the  best  known  and  most  progressive  busi- 
ness men  of  Lorain  county,  and  enjoys  an 
enviable  popularity. 


^/ 


MILO  HAPtRIS,  a  leading  and  in- 
fluential citizen  of  North  Am- 
_[  herst,  where  he  carried  on  mer- 
cantile business  for  many  years, 
hut  is  now  retired  from  active  life, 
was  horn  April  21,  1822,  at  that  place,  the 
third  son  and  child  of  the  old  pioneer 
Josiah  Harris. 

Josiah  Harris  was  the  most  notable  man 
to  arrive  in  Lorain  county  in  1818.  He 
was  born  in  Becket,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
November  30,  1783,  and  died  March  26, 
1867,  aged  eighty-four  years.  He  made 
joui-neys  to  Ohio  in  1814-15,  and  pur- 
chased land;  in  1818  he  came  to  Amherst, 
and  soon  after  had  a  log  house  completed 
on  the  banks  of  Beaver  creek.  He  finally 
settled  on  the  Public  Square.  In  1821 
he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
served  thirty-six  years;  was  the  first  sheriff 
of  Lorain  county,  and  served  three  years 
as    associate    judge,    being   appointed     in 


1829;  was  a  member  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Ohio  in  1827,  representing 
Cuyahoga  county;  represented  Lorain  and 
Medina  counties  in  the  House,  and  after- 
ward was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from 
the  same  District.  Some  time  in  the 
"twenties"  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
by  Postmaster-general  Meigs,  and  held  the 
office  continuously  to  the  time  of  his  death 
(over  forty  3'ears),  except  when  in  the 
Legislature,  being,  probably,  the  oldest 
postmaster  in  the  United  States.  He  was 
agent  for  a  number  of  eastern  landowners, 
in  which  capacity  he  was  enabled  to  do 
many  a  kind  turn  for  the  new  comers,  and 
no  man  in  the  township  exerted  a  wider  or 
more  potent  influence  for  good.  He  had 
four  children,  viz.:  Josiah  A.,  now  de- 
ceased, for  many  years  editor  of  the  Cleve- 
land Herald;  Loring  P.,  in  Texas;  Mile, 
and  Emeline  C,  in  Philadelphia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
liberal  education  at  the  schools  of  North 
Amherst,  and  was  i-eared  to  commercial 
life.  In  1861  he  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Lorain  county,  serving  eighteen  months; 
he  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years  in  Amherst  and  Black  River  town- 
ships. In  1843  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Caroline  Stocking,  of  Lorain  county, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Good- 
rich) Stocking,  of  Massachusetts,  who  in 
an  early  day  came  to  Black  River  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  they  are  both  now 
deceased.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  was 
born  one  child,  Florence  (widow  of  Hiram 
Leslie),  a  resident  of  California.  Mrs. 
Caroline  Harris  died  in  1852,  and  on 
March  1,  1853,  Mr.  Harris  married,  in 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  county,  Mary 
Tyrrell,  daughter  of  Homer  and  Mary  F. 
Tyrrell  (both  now  deceased),  all  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  children  as  follows:  George  M.,  a 
physician  and  surgeon  in  Lorain,  Ohio; 
Albert  T.,  a  physician  in  Howard,  Ivans.; 
Lucia  M.,  wife  of  George  M.  Parker,  a 
member  of  the  Amherst  town  council  and 
superintenden  t  of  the  Malone  Stone  Quarry ; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


739 


and  Homer  J.  and  Carrie  F.,  who  died  at 
tlie  age  of  sixteen  and  three  years,  re- 
spectively. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican. 
Socially  he  has  been  a  member  of  Elyria 
Lodge,  No.  103,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  since  1852, 
and  was  a  charter  member  of  Plato  Lodge; 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  L  0.  G.  T. 
Mrs.  Harris  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  A  notable  fact  in  regard 
to  the  Harris  family  is  that  three  of  its 
members  have  held  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
Lorain  county:  Judge  Josiah  Harris  was 
the  first  sheriff;  his  son,  Josiah  A.,  held 
the  office  at  a  later  period,  being  third 
sheriff  in  the  county,  and  Milo  was  sheriff 
in  1861,  as  already  related. 


^J 


IT  ENRY  WALLACE,  the  well-known 

'5^     lake  captain  and  vessel  owner,  whose 

1[    residence  is  in  Lorain,  was  born  in 

County  Down,  Ireland,  in   1828,  a 

son   of  Samuel  and   Ann  (Finley) 

Wallace. 

In  his  native  land  he  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  and  educated  at  the  Protestant 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  place  of  birth. 
In  1850  he  came  to  America  and  to  Ohio, 
making  his  first  home,  in  the  New  World, 
in  Cleveland,  where  he  remained  till  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  when  he  came  to 
Lorain  (then  Black  River),  in  which  now 
flourishing  city  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Here  he  worked  in  shipyards  for 
several  years,  finally  becoming  interested 
in  vessel  property — small  boats  chiefly — 
the  firm  with  which  he  was  connected  being 
known  as  "AVallace,  Gawn  &  Co.,"  who 
became  very  successful  in  business.  For 
the  past  several  years  he  has  been  owner 
or  part  owner  of  some  of  the  A  1  vessels 
that  have  sailed  the  lakes,  and  among  those 
in  which  he  at  present  has  an  interest  may 
be  mentioned  the  propeller  '•  Vulcan " 
(built  of  steel),  and  the  steamer  "  Robert 
Wallace  "  and  sailing  vessel  "  David  Wal- 
lace," the  "  Thomas  Gawn  "  and  "  Lyons;" 


also  the  steel  propeller  "  Vega,"  which  was 
built  by  the  company  winter  of  1892-93. 
For  about  twenty-eight  consecutive  years 
he  sailed  the  lakes  as  captain,  and  for  ex- 
cellency of  seamanship  and  care  in  hand- 
ling liis  vessels,  his  reputation  stands 
without  a  blemish. 

On  Christmas  Eve,  1S56,  Capt.  Wallace 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Chloe 
Case,  a  native  of  Avon,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  threechildren  living,  namely: 
Eva,  wife  of  J.  H.  Hills,  superintendent  of 
the  Brass  Works  at  Lorain  (they  have  three 
children:  Alma,  Harry  and  Albert);  Eliz- 
abeth, and  Lillie,  wife  of  Welker  McEl. 
Frish. 

The  entire  family,  with  the  exception 
of  Mrs.  Hills,  who  is  a  Contrregationalist, 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Capt. 
Wallace  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  ().  F. 


HfENRY  J.  BARROWS  was  born 
March  15, 1851,  in  Avon  township, 
_  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  His  early  life 
was  spent  upon  a  farm,  and  he  re- 
ceived such  an  education  as  the  dis- 
trict schools  afforded,  later  studying  for  a 
time  in  the  Prepai-atory  l)epartment  of 
Oberlin  College.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  he  married  Miss  Anna  L.  Beers 
(daughter  of  Lewis  and  Susan  Beers), 
whose  native  place  was  Stratford,  Conn., 
and  two  daugliters,  Edna  and  Ellen,  were 
born  of  the  union.  Mrs.  Barrows  died 
April  5,  1893. 

In  1879  the  subject  of  this  sketch  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  Avon  Flouring 
Mills,  then  owned  and  operated  by  Willams, 
Warden  &  Co.  Mr.  Barrows  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  business  of  the  firm,  and  in 
1886  the  style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Williams,  Barrows  I't  Co.  Near  the  close 
of  the  year  1886  the  Avon  property  was 
sold,  and  possession  given  on  the  first  day 
of  January,  1887,  and  the  company  at  once 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  flouring 


740 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


mill  of  150  barrels  daily  capacity,  at  Lo- 
rain, Ohio,  which  was  completed  and 
started  up  Jniie  15,  that  year.  From  the 
start  tiie  new  venture  has  been  a  success. 
Mr.  Barrows  still  retains  a  share  of  and 
manages  the  business.  He  holds  a  direc- 
torship in  the  Citizens  Savings  Bank  Co., 
and  in  the  Lake  Erie  Electric  Ligiit  Co. ; 
is  president  of  the  board  of  Water  Works 
Trustees,  and  vice-president  of  the  Citizens 
Home  Savings  &  Loan  Association.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican. 
James  R.  Barrows,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  New  York,  and  at  the  age  of 
seven  years  came  to  Oiiio  with  his  father, 
Adiiah  Barrows,  who  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Avon  township,  in  what  was  at  that  time 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  Clarrissa  Day, 
his  wife,  lived  to  be  eighty-seven  years  of 
age.  James  R.  Barrows  married  Melvina 
P.  Sawyer,  and  they  had  a  family  of  four 
children,  of  whom  Warren  J.  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven;  Ellen  C.  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-four;  Henry  J.  and  Etta  M. 
are  still  livinfj.  Mr.  James  R.  Bari-ows  is 
now  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years, 
on  a  farm  in  Avon  township,  in  comfort- 
able circumstances.  His  tirst  wife  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-two. 


JOHN  LERSCH,  member  of  the  well- 
known  prosperous  dry-goods  firm  of 
Baldwin,  Lersch  &  Co.,  Elyria,  is  a 
native   of    the    Bavarian    Palatinate, 
Germany,  born  July  25,  1841. 

He  is  a  son  of  Carl  and  Louise  (Schweit- 
zer) Lersch,  natives  of  the  same  place,  who 
emio-rated  to  America  in  1851,  bringing 
their  young  son  John  with  them.  At 
Havre,  France,  July  25,  that  year,  they 
boarded  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  the 
United  States,  and  after  a  voyage  of  forty 
days  arrived  at  New  York  September  4 
following.  From  there  they  came  direct 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  they   sojourned 


about  six  months,  and  then  proceeded  to 
Mansfield,  same  State,  in  which  city  they 
resided  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
they  returned  to  Cuyahoga  county,  where 
the  father  purchased  a  farm  in  North  Dover, 
about  thirteen  miles  east  of  Elyria,  and  not 
far  from  the  Lorain  county  line.  They  did 
a  considerable  amount  of  their  trading  in 
the  town  of  Elyria,  and  one  day  while  there 
with  their  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
the  following  seemingly  trivial  incident 
occurred,  which  influenced  and  directed  the 
after  life  of  the  lad.  They  were  making  a 
purchase  in  the  old-established  store  of 
Mussey  &  Co.,  when  one  of  the  salesmen 
— a  Mr.  Bishop — asked  the  boy  how  much 
a  peck  of  the  article  his  father  was  pur- 
chasing would  cost  at  $2.62^  per  bushel. 
Undaunted  by  the  question,  young  Lersch 
gave  prompt  and  correct  answer.  "  Are 
you  sure  of  this?"  asked  Mr.  Bishop.  The 
boy  for  a  moment  looked  at  his  mother  for 
assurance,  and  then,  on  her  telling  him  to 
answer  if  he  really  knew,  he  replied:  •'  Tes, 
that  is  right."  Thereupon  Mr.  Bishop 
turned  to  Mr.  Gallup,  a  partner  in  the 
house,  with  the  remark:  "Here  is  a  boy 
we  want;  "  and  accordingly  then  and  there 
it  was  agreed  that,  as  soon  as  the  proper 
preliminaries  could  be  arranged.  Master 
John  Lersch  should  enter  the  store  of 
Mussey  &  Co.,  on  a  thirty-days  trial.  Thus 
on  April  13,  1854,  our  subject,  then  not 
thirteen  years  old,  found  himself  installed 
"  on  trial  "  with  the  lirm.  a  sudden  transi- 
tion truly  from  the  quiet  life  of  the  farm 
to  the  bustle  of  a  busy  town.  This  month 
of  probation  was  marked  by  a  strict  ap- 
plication to  business  on  his  part,  and  con- 
stant punctuality,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the 
prescribed  time  indentures  were  signed 
for  three  years.  The  compensation  he  re- 
ceiveii  for  his  first  year's  service  was  forty 
dollars  and  board ;  for  the  second,  fifty 
dollars;  for  the  third,  seventy-five  dollars; 
and  for  the  fourth,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  and  board,  his  salary 
being  advanced  in  proportion  to  his  pro- 
motion in  the  store. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


743 


In  1858  S.  W.  Baldwin,  T.  W.  Lann- 
don  and  T.  L.  Nelson  bought  out  the  firm 
of  H.  E.  Mnssey  &  Co.,  Mr.  Lersch  re- 
maining with  them  until  their  retirement 
from  business  in  1872,  when,  each  having 
made  liberal  fortunes,  they  sold  tlie  dry- 
goods  department  of  their  business  to  D. 
C.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  Mr.  Lersch  being  the 
Junior  partner.  By  hard  work  and  close 
attention  to  detail  their  busitiess  soon  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  retail  houses  in  the 
State.  As  years  rolled  by  Mr.  Lersch  be- 
came familiar  with  the  entire  business  of 
buyiner  and  felling,  so  that,  in  whatever 
capacity  he  acted,  his  services  were  alike 
valuable.  This  relationship  continued  until 
1880,  when  the  firm  was  changed  to  Bald- 
win, Lersch  &  Co.,  the  present  style  of  the 
lirrn,  although  Mr.  Baldwin  has  partially 
retired  from  active  business.  Most  of 
the  management  of  the  concern  devolves 
upon  Mr.  Lersch.  than  whom  few  men  so 
competent,  and  certainly  none  superior, 
could  be  found.  At  about  this  time  Mr. 
Lerech  established  the  N.  O.  Syndicate, 
composed  of  Baldwin,  Lersch  &  Co.,  Ely- 
ria.  Frier  «fe  Scheule,  of  Cleveland,  and  B. 
C.  Taber  &  Co.,  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  goods, 
chiefly  from  manufacturers  or  theiragents, 
thus  saving  Jobbers'  profits,  keeping  an 
agent  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  bar- 
gains, which  enables  them  to  sell  at  con- 
siderable advantage. 

In  186S  Mr.  Lersch  was  married  in 
Ellyria,  to  Miss  Pamela  Boynton,  third 
daughter  of  Joshua  Boynton,  and  the  alli- 
ance has  proved  a  happy  one.  Seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  all  of  whom 
have  had  good  educational  privileges.  They 
are  Carl  Theodore  aiid  Robert  Boynton 
(both  assistants  in  their  father's  store), 
Louise  De  Lano,  Carlotta  Pauline,  John 
Walter,  Arthur  Emerson  ami  Paul  Har- 
wood.  After  Mr.  Lersch's  marriage,  his 
parents  re.'iided  with  him  during  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives;  his  mother  died  in 
February,  1877,  iiis  father  in  March,  1887. 
Although  a  native  of  Germany,  and  speak- 


ing the  language  of  that  coimtry  equally 
as  well  as  he  does  English,  Mr.  Lersch  is 
a  typical  American.  He  is  broad  in  his 
views  and  conversant  with  all  public  ques- 
tions, believing  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
American  citizen  to  be  intelligent,  and 
well  informed  on  all  public  issues.  As  he 
is  an  ultra-protectionist,  it  goes  without 
saying  that  he  is  a  straight  Republican.  At 
the  present  time  Mr.  Lersch  is  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Elyria  Savings  Deposit 
Bank;  also  a  member  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee of  this  baid<.  Mr.  Lersch  attributes 
much  of  his  luisiness  success  to  the  admir- 
able training  he  received  at  the  hands  of 
Mr.  T.  W.  Laundon,than  whom,  probably, 
no  better  dry-^oods  man  ever  conducted 
business  in  Lorain  county.  Mr.  Lersch 
has  been  connected  with  practically  the 
same  store  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  has  lost  only  four  days 
on  account  of  illness;  and  the  only  vaca- 
tion he  has  taken  of  any  length  was  in 
1S.S2,  when  he  spent  the  months  of  Jnly 
and  August  in  Europe. 


m     W.    NICHOLS,  one  of    the    most 
ZlW    yji'ogressive  and  intelligent  of    Lo- 
Ir^   rain     county's    agriculturists,    and 
■//  whose     magniflcent    farm     of    two 

hundred  acres  is  among  the  most 
fertile  of  Grafton  township,  comes  of  Eng- 
lish-Welsh ancestry. 

He  was  born  July  3,  1828,  in  York  town- 
ship, Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Na- 
thaniel Nichols,  who  was  born  in  Rodman 
township,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  7, 
180H,  and  whose  father,  alsq  named  Na- 
thaniel, served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
The  father  of  subject  was  a  tanner  and 
shoemaker,  at  which  latter  trade  he  served 
a  regular  apprenticeship.  On  September 
16,  1827.  he  married  Dorcas  E.  Bailey, 
who  was  born  March  29,  1804,  in  Elmira, 
N.  Y.,  of  Huguenot  and  Dutch  extraction, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  (Burr) 
Bailey.      After  marriage  they  made  their 


744 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


new  home  on  a  piece  of  land  owned  by  liis 
brother  Albion,  where  for  a  time  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade.  While  they  were  residing 
in  Livingston  comity,  N.  Y .,  one  son,  A. 
W.,  onr  subject,  was  born  to  them.  Later 
they  moved  to  Cattarangus  county,  same 
State,  and  made  a  temporary  settlement  in 
Dayton  township,  where  the  father  honght 
tifty  acres  of  land.  Here  two  children 
were  born  to  them:  Martha  E.,  born  July 
2,  1831,  married  to  Milton  Adams,  and 
they  now  live  in  Eaton  county,  Mich.;  and 
Mary  A.,  born  December  27,  1834,  mar- 
ried first  to  Orange  Adams,  afterward  to 
Samuel  Denison,  a  ranchman  near  Well- 
born, Texas.  From  Cattaraugus  county 
the  family  moved  to  Nunda,  Allegany 
(now  Livingston)  Co.,  same  State,  \yhere 
two  more  children  were  born,  viz.:  Rollo 
A.,  born  June  7,  1888,  who  during  the 
Civil  war,  while  a  bookkeeper  in  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.,  was  forced  into  the  Confed- 
erate service,  and  rose  from  the  ranks 
till  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  C.  H. 
he  found  himself  an  officer  on  Gen.  Buell's 
staff;  at  that  engagement  he  was  taken 
])risoner  by  the  Federals,  and  in  the 
.spring  of  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Union 
ai'my,  in  which  he  served  till  the  close  of 
the  war;  afterward  he  served  as  commis- 
sary for  the  IT.  S.  (Tovernment,  and  died 
in  1880  at  Florence,  Ga.,  where  he  was 
buried.  The  other  child  who  came  to  them 
in  Allegany  county  is  Ellen,  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1843,  married  to  Don  Carlos  Van- 
Dusen,  now  of  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

In  1843  Nathaniel  Nichols  came  alone 
to  Ohio,  and  deciding  to  settle  in  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  county,  he  purchased  in 
the  eastern  part  fifty  acres  of  wild  land  at 
ten  dollars  an  acre.  In  the  following  fall 
the  family  joined  him,  and  they  set  to 
work  to  clear  the  land  and  make  all  neces- 
sary improvements,  building  a  substantial 
log  house  for  a  dwelling.  After  some 
years  the  father  moved  to  Columbia  town- 
ship, same  county,  whence  after  a  time  he 
returned  to  Grafton  township,  and  made  a 
final  settlement  in  the  southern  portion  of 


same.  For  a  season  he  was  a  resident  of 
La  Grange  township  (also  in  Lorain 
county),  and  he  died  in  1883  in  Hinckley, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  sojourn- 
.  ing  with  his  daughter  Elleu.  His  wife 
preceded  him  to  the  grave  some  years,  dy- 
ing in  La  Grange  township,  and  they  now 
lie  buried  in  the  Western  Cemetery  in  that 
township.  After  coming  to  Ohio  Mr. 
Nichols  followed  farming  chiefly,  and  to 
some  extent  his  trade,  shoemaking.  Po- 
litically  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  Imt died 
a  Democrat.  He  was  a  very  liberal  and 
hospitable  entertainer;  in  his  religious 
views  he  was  partial  to  the  M.  E.  Church, 
while  his  wife  was  an  Old-school  Presby- 
terian, and  their  home  was  always  open  to 
ministers  of  all  chnrches. 

A.  W.  Nichols,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  but  a  limited, educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  his  boyhood 
days,  and  was  i-eared  to  farm  work.  Be- 
ing bright  at  his  studies,  and  an  apt 
scliolar,  he  made  considerable  progress  by 
private  reading,  and  became  skilled  in 
mathematics.  When  he  was  a  small  boy 
he  was  adopted  by  a  bachelor  uncle,  Al- 
bion Nichols,  and  a  maiden  aunt,  Esther 
Nichols,  who  lived  together  and  carried  on 
farming.  In  1844  he  came  to  Ohio,  and 
spent  his  first  winter  in  Lorain  connty. 
In  the  following  year  his  uncle  and  aunt 
came  to  Grafton  township,  and  here  bought 
sixty  acres  of  wild  land  from  James  Tur- 
ner, being  the  farm  our  subject  now  owns 
and  lives  on,  and  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, for  he  at  once  made  his  home  with 
his  benefactors.  For  some  years  before 
their  death — they  lived  to  advanced  ages 
— he  had  the  entire  management  of  their 
farm,  and  when  they  died  he  succeeded  to 
the  property.  He  has  prospered  in  all  his 
undertakings,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  200 
acres  of  prime  land.  In  May,  1883,  his 
residence  was  burned  dowt;,  but  he  at  once 
set  to  work  and  built  a  yet  finer  one,  which 
he  calls  "Hurricane  Hall." 

On  February  22, 1870,  prior  to  the  death 
of  his  uncle  and  aunt,   Mr.    Nichols  was 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


745 


united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H. 
Durkee,  who  was  horn  April  14,  1885,  in 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Gamble,  a  native  of  York- 
shire, England,  and  his  wife.  Mar}'  Curtis, 
of  Boston,  Mass.  Politically  our  subject 
has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  party,  and  has  held  several 
township  offices  of  trust.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lodge  No.  399, at  La- 
Grange,  and  of  Marshall   Chapter,  Elyria. 


nr^)    CHESTER,     who    for  over    sixty 

jJ^^    years  has  been  a  resident  of   Avon 

I    V^    township,   where  for  nearly  half  a 

JJ  century  he  has  been  an  industrious 

and  frugal  farmer,  is   a   native   of 

England,    born    in  Northamptonshire,  in 

1823. 

He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Amelia 
(Perrin)  Chester,  natives  of  the  same 
county,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  Eng- 
land, and  his  widow,  after  marrying  John 
Fretter,  emigrated  with  her  family  in  1833 
to  the  United  States.  They  settled  in 
Avon  townsJiip,  Lorain  county,  where  they 
lived  on  rented  land  till  18-40,  in  which 
year  thev  moved  to  the  farni  wliere  our 
subject  now  resides.  The  mother  died  in 
Minnesota  about  the  year  1878,  her  second 
husband  passing  away  in  1846  in  Avon 
township.  Lorain  county.  There  were  tive 
ciiildren  born  to  her  lirst  marriage,  a  brief 
record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  William 
married  and  resided  in  Avon,  where  he 
died  in  1881;  John  died  in  Avon  township 
in  1879;  Job  is  married  and  resides  in 
Rice  county,  Minn.,  where  he  was  the  first 
settler;  R.  is  the  subject  of  these  lines; 
Matilda  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Blanch- 
ett  and  died  in  Avon  township  in  1887. 
Our  subject  had  two  stepsisters,  viz.:  Eliz- 
abeth, who  married  Luke  Cheney,  and 
moved  to  Rice  county,  Minn.,  where  she 
died  in  1880;  and  Lucy,  who  married 
Joseph  Spriggs,  and  also  moved  to  Rice 
county,  Minn,,  where  she  died  in  1885. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  ten 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Avon  town- 
ship, received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  home, 
and  when  he  was  old  enough  to  work  as- 
sisted in  clearing  the  home  farm.  For 
four  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  ex-Gov- 
ernor Wood  in  Rockport  township,  Cuy- 
ahoga county,  and  then  returned  to  Avon 
township,  in  1848  locating  on  his  present 
farm  of  245  acres,  which  for  the  most  part 
he  cleared  himself,  and  where  he  has  since 
been  assiduously  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. In  1852  he  was  married,  in  Elyria 
township,  Lorain  county,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Mitchell,  a  native  of  Northamptonshire, 
England,  and  children  were  born  to  them, 
as  follows:  Elizabeth  Ann,  who  died  in 
1864  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Clara,  who 
died  in  1892  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven 
years;  Job,  residing  at  home;  Mary  Ann; 
Agnes  Jane;  and  Reuben  Albert.  In  pol- 
itics Mr.  Chester  is  a  Republican. 


DR.  H.  L.  HALL,  a  well-known  young 
physician  and  surgeon  of  North 
Amherst,  was  born  May  17,  1860, 
at  Jefferson,  Ashtaluila  Co.,  Oiiio. 
His  grandfather,  Daniel  Hall,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  in  a  very  early  day 
came  westward  to  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio. 
O.  L.  Hall,  son  of  this  early  pioneer,  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  and  was  reared  in 
Ashtabula  county.  He  was  married  to 
Laura  Hyde,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
whose  father,  Gates  Hyde,  was  born  in 
Allegany  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  one  of 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  Lenox  town.ship, 
Ashtabula  county,  where  he  assisted  in 
clearing  a  farm.  Mr.  Hall  followed  the 
profession  of  a  teacher.  He  died  in  1885 
at  Macon,  Ga.;  his  widow  is  now  living  in 
Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Dr.  H.  L.  Hall  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  and  received  his  education  at  Grand 
River  Institute.  Austinburgh,  Ohio.  In 
1881  he  entered  the   Medical   Department 


746 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  tlie  "Western  Reserve  University,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  graduating  with  the  class  of 

1884,  ami  afterward  spent  eighteen  snonths 
at  tiie  Lakeside  Hospital,  also  in  Cleve- 
land,   graduating    therefrom    in    October, 

1885.  He  then  came  to  North  Amherst, 
wiiicii  he  has  since  made  his  home,  and 
where  lie  has  built  up  an  extensive  general 
practiff;  he  is  now  medical  examiner  for 
seven  old-line  life-insurance  companies. 

In  June,  1885,  the  Doctor  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Ashtabula  countj',  Ohio, 
with  Miss  Hattie  A.  Tinker,  a  native  of 
that  county.  Tiiey  are  both  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  in  which  he 
has  filled  several  offices.  In  politics  onr 
subject  is  independent,  and  he  takes  an 
active  interest  in  everything  tending  to  the 
advancement  of  his  community.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  North  Amherst  Lodge 
No.  74,  K.  of  P. 


/p^ORDON  W.  BAKER,  senior  mera- 
1  w,  ber  of  the  well-known  clothing  linn, 
\^  ill  Elyria,  of  Baker  &,  Foster,  is  one 
^^  of  the  oldest  established  merchants 
in  tlie  city.  lie  is  a  native  of 
Northamptonshire,  England,  born  June  2, 
1888,  a  son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Gau- 
derii)  Buker,  of  the  same  place,  who  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  when  the 
subject  of  these  lines  was  yet  a  boy,  lo- 
cating in  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Richard  Baker  enjoys  a  wide  repu- 
tation as  one  of  the  most  prominent 
stockmen  in  the  Buckeye  State.  He  was 
one  of  the  leaders  of  the  State  Fair  an- 
nually held  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  for 
several  years  was  president  and  a  director 
of  that  Association;  was  one  of  the  first  to 
introduce  into  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  the 
famous  Shorthorn  cattle,  and  it  is  said 
owned  the  first  herd  of  that  breed  exhibited 
in  these  parts.  To  tiie  rearing  of  not  only 
finebrcd  cattle  but  also  horses,  as  well  as 
general  agriculture,  has  Mr.  Baker  devoted 
the  greater  part  of  his  useful  life. 


Gordon  W.  Baker  received  iiis  primary 
education  at  the  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood of  his  place  of  birth,  which  he 
supplemented  in  this  country  with  con- 
siderable application  to  books  and  study  as 
opportunity  offei'ed.  Leaving  his  fatlier's 
farm  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  en- 
gaged his  services  as  clerk  to  a  genera! 
merchant  in  Elyria,  but  this  emijloyer 
going  out  of  business,  Mr.  Baker  soon 
found  another  opening,  with  Starr  Bros., 
which  position  he  filled  with  much  credit 
for  some  four  or  five  years.  He  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Baldwin,  Laundon  & 
Nelson,  the  then  leading  mercantile  house 
of  Elyria,  and  here  he  did  efficient  work 
for  several  years,  becoming  at  the  same 
time  thoroughly  conversant  with  all 
brandies  of  mercantile  trade,  making  his 
mark  for  application  to  business  and  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  all  departments  of  the 
same.  From  the  successors  of  the  above- 
named  linn  he  ])iirchased  the  clothing  de- 
partment of  their  business,  and  received 
into  partnership  Frank  H.  Foster,  the  style 
of  the  firm  becoming  Baker  &  Foster,  as  it 
at  ijresent  remains.  Throu<jii  his  lono; 
connection  with  mercantile  pursuits.  Mi"- 
Baker  gained  for  himself  a  very  extensive 
acquaintance,  and  his  sturdy  Anglo-Saxon 
qualities  of  integrity,  liberality  and  candor 
gained  for  him  a  host  of  personal  fi'ieiids 
and  the  utmost  confidence  of  the  public. 
He  soon  became  the  leading  clothier  of 
Elyria,  which  he  continues  to  be.  Mr. 
Baker  has  often  remarked  that  just  as  a 
mati  has  gained  sufficient  knowledo-e  of 
business  to  find  a  real  pleasure  in  it,  the 
best  part  of  his  life  has  passed,  and  he  is 
compelled  to  withdraw  into  retirement. 

In  1872  Mr.  Baker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  New  York  State,  with  Miss 
Charlotte  Alice  Linnell,  a  native  of  North- 
amptonshire, England,  to  which  country 
the  happy  couple  made  their  wedding  trip. 
To  this  union  were  born  two  children, 
named,  respectively,  Alice  Maud  Mary  and 
Annie  Louise.  The  family  reside  in  a 
handsome  home   on    Washington  avenue, 


^^^^^.  ^^7^'. 


/ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


749 


Elyria.  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Kepublican,  and 
he  attends  the  services  of  tlie  Episcopal 
Church.  In  political,  religious  and  all 
other  views,  public  or  private,  he  is  liberal, 
always  respecting  the  rights  of  every  man 
to  his  own  opinion  and  judgment.  He  is 
a  stockholder  in  and  director  of  the  Elyria 
Savings  Deposit  Bank  Co.,  and  a  member 
and  director  of  the  Elyria  Savings  and  Loan 
Company. 

Mr.  Baker  is  a  great  reader,  and  keeps 
himself  well  informed  on  all  public  ques- 
tions. He  has  a  special  fondness  for  live 
stock  of  all  descriptions,  and  is  a  good 
judge  of  same.  He  breeds  extensively, 
and  organized  a  company  for  the  purpose 
of  introducing  and  perpetuating  a  line  of 
fine  stock  in  Colorado,  whei-e  he  has  an  in- 
terest in  a  ranch,  and  a  considerable  amount 
of  means  invested.  A  traveler  of  no  little 
experience,  he  has  made  several  trips  to 
Europe,  visiting  his  old  home  in  England 
and  places  of  interest  on  the  Continent. 


TlOSEPH  H.  BALDWIN,  one  of  the 
w  I  leading,  intelligent  and  progressive 
\^)  agriculturists  of  Brownhelm  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Addison  county, 
Vt.,  in  1824,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Esther 
(Wilson)  Baldwin,  natives  of  the  State  of 
New  Jersey;  the  father  born  in  1785,  the 
mother  in  1794. 

Thomas  B:ildwin,  who  was  a  wawon- 
maker  by  trade,  left  the  paternal  roof  in 
early  life,  and,  for  a  time  sojourning  in  Ver- 
mont, married  there.  In  1832  he  removed 
to  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  whence  in 
1836  he  came  to  Brownhelm  town-hip, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  a  farm 
and  spent  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  died 
in  1868.  ills  widow  in  1881.  In  politics 
he  was  first  a  Whig,  afterward  a  Republi- 
can. Six  children  were  borii  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  Baldwin,  viz.:  Lucus,  now  a 
resident  of  Paulding  county,  Ohio;  Joseph 
H.,  the  subject  of  our  sketch;  Julia,  who 
died  in  1852;  and  three  children  who  died 

40 


in  infancy.  On  the  father's  side  the  fam- 
ily claim  Welsh  descent;  on  the  mother's 
they  are  of  Scotch  lineage. 

Up  to  the  age  of  twelve  years  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  was  reared  in  the  States  of 
Vermont  and  New  York,  and,  after  coming 
to  Ohio  in  1836  with  his  parents,  attended 
for  a  time  the  district  schools  of  Brown- 
helm township,  Lorain  county.*  Learning 
tlie  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  he  worked 
in  the  shipyards  at  Vermillion,  Erie 
county,  much  of  the  time  uiitil  1863,  when 
he  settled  on  the  old  homestead  farm,  con- 
sisting of  eighty-five  acres  in  Brownhelm 
township,  Lorain  county.  Wliile  engaged 
in  the  business  of  farming  Mr.  Baldwin 
has  increased  his  farm  by  purchase  of  ad- 
ditional land,  until  now  he  lias  a  well- 
improved  farm  of  163  acres  of  first-class 
land,  on  which  he  still  resides. 

Mr.  Baldwin  has  been  thrice  married, 
the  first  time  in  1851,  to  Miss  Sarah  M. 
Ashenhurst,  by  which  union  three  children 
were  born:  Henry  T.,  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  now  residing  at  Berlin  Heights, 
Ohio;  William  A.,  a  railroad  employe, 
who  was  killed  while  coupling  cars,  July 
7,  1883;  and  Charlie,  who  died  in  infancy. 
This  wife  died  September  5,  1864,  and  in 
December,  1865,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  wedded 
to  Miss  Adeline  Hardy,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  daughter  of  Ephraim 
Hardy,  a  pioneer  of  IJrie  county,  Ohio.  To 
this  union  two  children  were  born,  namely; 
Fi'ank  O.,  who  has  attended  school  and 
taught  for  the  past  five  or  six  years,  he 
having  graduated  from  the  Commercial  De- 
partment of  the  Ohio  Normal  University 
(September,  1SU2),  and  the  Business  De- 
partment of  the  Tri-State  Normal  College 
(October,  1893),  the  degree  of  B.  C.  S. 
being  conferred  upon  him  by  eacii  institu- 
tion; and  Charles  A.,  a  farmer  who  resides 
at  home  with  his  father.  The  mother  of 
these  departed  this  life  April  21, 1890,  and 
February  14,  1892,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  married  Mrs.  May  E.  Howey,  a  na- 
tive of  Missouri,  and  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement  (she  has,  by   her  former  bus- 


750 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


band,  one  child,  a  6on,  wlio  is  a  successfnl 
telegraph  operator  in  the  West). 

In  his  jiolitieal  faith  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a 
stanch  Republican;  he  has  served  as  town- 
ship trustee  several  years,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  his 
township. 


IjACOB  GOODMAN  (deceased)  was 
V.  Ii  born  September  13,  1818,  in  Seneca 
^/j  county.  N.  y.,  to  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Meyer)  Goodman,  who  about 
the  year  1833  came  to  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  from  the  East,  settling  in  the  woods 
of  Brunswick  township. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  early  day,  but  being  one  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  twelve  in  number,  did 
not  enjoy  many  educational  advantages. 
In  December,  1849,  he  married  MaryEuga, 
a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  born  Decem- 
ber 11,  1828,  daughter  of  Jacob  Euga, 
who  came  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States  in  lo34,  landing  in  New  York  after 
a  three  weeks'  passage.  Thence  they  pro- 
ceeded by  Hudson  river  and  Erie  Canal  to 
Buifalo,  N.  Y.,  from  which  city  they  came 
by  lake  to  Cleveland,  thence  by  road  to 
Liverpool  township,  Medina  county,  where 
the  father  bought  a  small  tract  of  land 
totally  unimproved,  on  which  he  erected  a 
log  house,  and  where  his  family  were 
reared.  Alter  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goodman  located  on  a  farm,  where  he  had 
previously  resided,  in  Grafton  township, 
Lorain  county,  and  here  a  new  log  cabin 
was  erected.  On  this  farm  cliildren  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Frederick  AYise,  of  Eaton  township;  Char- 
lotte, Mrs.  W.  E.  Saddler,  of  Bloomdale, 
Wood  Co.,  Ohio;  Adaline,  Mrs.  Charles 
Reisinger,  of  Grafton  township;  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  Edward  Killup  (her  tirst  hus- 
band, Henry  Reisinger,  was  killed  by 
lightning  in  Columbia  township),  and 
Charles.  About  the  year  1861  Mr.  Good- 
man built  the  frame  hou.se  in  which  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  Sep- 


tember 20,  1884,  after  a  lingering  illness; 
his  remains  were  interred  in  Belden  ceme- 
tery. He  was  a  lifelong  successful  farmer, 
and  his  death  was  hastened  by  overwoi-k, 
as  he  was  a  most  energetic  man  in  all  his 
undertakings.  In  politics  he  was  an  en- 
thusiastic Democrat,  and  though  not  a 
member  of  school  board,  was  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  free  schools  and  compulsory  edu- 
cation. In  matters  of  religion  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Belden.  as  is  also  liis  widow,  who  con- 
tinues to  reside  on  the  old  homestead, 
which  is  under  the  management  of  her 
son  Charles,  a  brief  sketch  of  whom  is 
here  given. 

CHAHLf:s  Goodman  was  born  in  March, 
1862,  in  Grafton  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  and  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  district  schools.  On  August  1,  1888, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Hattie  D. 
Bradley,  who  was  born  in  Monee,  111., 
February  17,  1870,  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Eleanor  (Harper)  Bradley,  and  three 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Mary  E., 
Bert  B.,  and  Henry,  who  died  in  infancy. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Goodman  continued 
to  reside  on  the  old  farm,  which  now  com- 
prises 244  acres  of  prime  land,  for  his  age 
controlling  more  land  than  any  other 
farmer  in  the  township,  and  he  long  since 
gave  evidences  of  his  competency  to  do  so. 
Pie  is  a  typical  "hustler,"  and  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  go-ahead  and  wide-awake 
young  farmers  of  Grafton.  In  politics  he 
follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  being 
an  uncompromising  Democrat. 


J  FRANCIS  HARMON,  the  well- 
known  druggist  of  Oberlin,  was  born 
'  in  Randolph,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
January  22,  1836,  a  son  of  Chaun- 
eey  and  Comfort  (Dickinson)  Harmon. 
The  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  in  1796,  and  in  1816 
came  west  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Randolph, 
Portage  county,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


751 


ing  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1862. 
In  1821  he  married  Comfort  Dickinson, 
wiio  was  born  in  Granville,  Conn.,  and  in 
1806  came  west  with  her  parents.  Both 
families  were  of  English  ancestry. 

J.  F.  Harmon  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  place,  and  at 
Oberlin,  whither  he  had  come  when  yet  in 
liis  "teens."  On  leaving  school  he  com- 
menced  to  learn  tiie  trade  of  printer,  and 
after  a  three-years  apprenticeship,  he  and 
V.  A.  Shankland  purchased,  in  1858,  the 
Evangelist,  a  weekly  paper  in  Oberlin, 
which  they  continued  to  pulilish  jointly  till 
during  the  Civil  war,  when  fired  with  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  Mr.  Harmon  entered 
the  service  of  the  Union,  having  previously 
sold  out  his  interest  to  his  partner;  l)ut  the 
paper  collapsed  during  the  war  period. 
There  was  another  periotlical  established  in 
1858,  and  published  in  tlie^««W(7«Zwi!office, 
entitled  The  Oherlin  Students'  Monthlij, 
the  students  of  Obei'lin  College  supplying 
the  editorial  matter,  and  this  also  ''came 
to  grief"  during  those  troublous  days. 
They  also  established  the  Lorain  County 
News  in  ISOO,  which  under  the  title  of 
Oberlin  News  is  still  publislied. 

Our  subject  enlisted  April  19,  1861,  in 
Company  C,  Seventh  O.  V.  I.,  in  the  three 
months  service,  and  went  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  as  corporal,  there  to  join  his  regi- 
ment. Thence  they  proceeded  to  Camp 
Dennison,  whei-e  they  were  drilled  till  the 
end  of  the  following  June.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  Mr.  Harmon  reenlisted 
for  three  years,  as  did  also  nearly  every 
member  of  the  company.  They  were 
then  ordered  to  West  Virginia,  where  they 
spent  their  first  summer  and  fall,  and  at 
tlie  affair  at  Cross  Lanes,  where  they  en- 
countered Gen.  Floyd's  force,  about  thirty 
of  the  company  were  taken  prisoners,  and 
some  died  of  their  wounds.  In  December, 
1861,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  central 
Virginia,  and  particijiated  in  the  engage- 
ment at  AVinchester  with  Gen.  "  Stone- 
wall" Jackson's  force,  in  whicli  four  or 
five  of    Company  C  were  killed;    thence 


they  moved  down  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
where  they  remained  during  April,  May 
and  June,  1862,  and  the  regiment  did 
good  service  at  the  battles  of  Port  Repub- 
lic and  Cedar  Mountain,  where  they  lost 
many  men,  killed  and  wounded.  They 
then  served  in  what  is  known  as  Pope's 
Campaign,  and  at  the  battle  of  Antietam 
they  again  lost  several  men.  Shortly  after 
this  last  battle,  the  brigade  to  which  the 
Seventh  was  attached  went  into  camp  on 
Bolivar  Heights,  Harper's  Ferry.  In  the 
spring  of  1863  the  Seventh  again  encoun- 
tered the  enemy,  this  time  at  Chancel lors- 
ville,  where  it  lost  heavily.  In  June,  same 
year,  they  were  at  Gettysburg,  Penn.,  and 
did  gallant  service.  From  there  they  were 
ordered  to  New  York  to  assist  in  quelling 
the  riots;  about  September  1,  following, 
they  returned  and  occupied  the  old  camp 
on  the  Rapidan.  Soon  after,  with  the 
Twentieth  Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  Hook- 
er, they  were  transferred  to  the  Western 
Department,  and  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge. 
.  Two  days  later,  at  Ringgold,  in  storming 
the  heights  of  Taylor's  Ridge,  the  gallant 
Seventh  were  severely  handled,  and  re- 
pulsed with  a  loss. of  nineteen  killed  and 
sixtv-one  wounded,  only  one  commissioned 
oflicer  being  left  uninjured.  In  January, 
1864,  the  regiment  returned  to  its  old 
camp  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  where  it  passed 
the  winter  in  comparative  quiet.  In  the 
spring  of  the  year  they  saw  some  service 
at  Resaca  and  elsewhere,  and  this  ended 
their  campaign,  for  in  June  they  were 
mustered  out,  and  returned  home.  Of  the 
original  1,000  men  of  the  Seventh  Ohio 
only  about  270  were  left,  and  of  the  one 
hundred  original  members  of  Company  C, 
only  seventeen  answered  their  iiames  at  the 
muster-out  roll. 

On  Mr.  Harmon's  return  home  he  bought 
an  interest  in  the  Oherlin  News,  and  a 
short  time  afterward  purchased  the  entire 
concern,  and  this  paper  he  conducted  dur- 
ino-  the  summer  of  1865,  when  he  sold  out. 
For  nine  years  thereafter  he  was  postmas- 


752 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ter  at  Oberlin,  at  the  close  of  which  in- 
cumbency (in  1874)  he  erabarkfd  in  the 
drug  business  in  the  same  town,  and  has 
continued  it  ever  since,  enjoying  an  excel- 
lent trade. 

In  1864  Mr.  Harmon  was  married  to 
Miss  Cecelia  C.  Yiles,  who  was  born  in 
Camden  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Dorlisca  (Heath)  Viles, 
and  by  this  union  there  is  one  son,  Will- 
iam, who  recently  graduated  at  the  Massa- 
chusetts School  of  Pharmacy  in  Boston. 
Mr.  Harmon,  in  his  political  predilections, 
has  always  been  a  straight  Republican,  and 
his  first  Presidential  vole  was  cast  for  Lin- 
coln. In  the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  304,  Ober- 
lin, he  has  been  quartermaster,  adjutant 
and  commander. 


\ILLIAM  H.  PHILLIPS.  This 
gentleman  is  the  oldest  living  set- 
tler of  Eaton  township,  having 
been  a  resident  of  same  for  the 
past  sixty-seven  years,  during  which  time, 
he  has  seen  the  wild  woods  give  place  to 
fertile  farms,  and  the  untutored  Indian 
and  tierce  animals  of  the  forest  vanish  be- 
fore the  inevitable  onward  march  of  civil- 
ization. 

Mr.  Phillips  is  a  native  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  born  in  Greene  county  in  1809, 
a  son  of  Henry  J.  and  Abigail  (Finch) 
Phillips,  also  of  New  York  State,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married.  In  1826 
they  migrated  westward  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  settling  in  October  of  that  year  in 
Eaton  township,  our  subject  being  then  a 
lad  of  seventeen  summers.  The  father 
was  a  wagon  maker  by  trade,  and  made  the 
first  wagon  used  on  Butternut  Ilidge.  He 
died  in  Eaton  township,  February  11, 1864; 
he  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  State  militia 
during  the  war  of  1812.  The  mother  had 
passed  away  July  13.  1833.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  as  follows: 
William  H.,  subject  proper  of  sketch;  De- 
borah, married,  who  died  some   years  ago 


in  Omaha,  Neb.;  Edward,  married,  who 
was  a  sailor  on  Lake  Erie,  and  was  wrecked 
October  24,  1851,  on  the  "Henry  Clay;" 
Catherine,  who  was  the  wife  of  William 
Webster,  and  died  in  Carlisle  township, 
Lorain  county;  Jeremiah,  who  died  in 
Boone  county.  111.,  in  1891;  Mary,  who 
was  the  wife  of  William  Webster,  and 
died  in  Texas  in  1891;  Martin  O.,  who 
died  in  Wisconsin;  Savilla  W.,  wife  of 
Samuel  Sweeley,  residing  at  Adel,  Iowa; 
and  Abbie,  who  is  the  wife  of  AVilliam 
AVhite,  of  Denison,  Texas. 

William  li.  Phillips  received  part  of 
his  education  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  part  in 
the  old  log  schoolhouse  of  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county.  He  learned  w-agon  making 
with  his  father,  and  followed  the  trade 
some  years;  he  made  for  his  own  use  the 
first  buggy  that  ever  ran  on  Butternut 
Ridge,  Eaton  township.  For  the  past 
sixty  years  or  so  he  has  given  his  attention 
exclusively  to  his  farm. 

In  1840  Mr.  Phillips  was  married,  in 
Carlible  township,  Lorain  county,  to  Maria 
S.  Slater,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State,  dauo-hter  of  Johiel  Slater,  who  died 
in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county. 
To  this  union  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: William  A.,  an  oculist  and  aurist  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  a  member  of  the 
Faculty  of  the  College  of  Homeopathy, 
Cleveland,  wlio  has  beeu  at  college  some 
twelve  or  fourteen  years,  and  graduated 
from  the  New  York  Institute  fur  the  Eye 
(he  married  Marian  Nickerson,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Roland);  Edgar  A.,  who  en- 
listed in  Elyria,  Lorain  county,  and  was  shot 
during  the  retreat  from  Martin's  Ferry, 
Va. ;  Edward  E.,  who  is  married  to  Mary 
Schuyler,  is  a  professor  in  Marietta  Col- 
lege (he  has  been  engaged  in  educational 
work  all  his  life,  and  has  visited  Europe); 
Corda  C.  is  the  wife  of  Ezra  Atwater,  and 
lives  in  Newburgh,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio; 
Lena  M.,  the  wife  of  D.  H.  Stevenson, 
resides  in  Eaton  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  has  one  child — Phil  W.  The  mother 
of  this  family  was  called  to  her  long  home 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


753 


in  1868.  Politically  Mr.  Phillips  is  a 
Republican,  formerly  a  Democrat,  and  he 
voted  for  Gen.  Jackson.  lie  served  as 
assessor  of  Eaton  township  tor  nearly 
thirty  years,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace 
about  twenty  years;  has  also  been  super- 
visor and  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church. 


Q 


D.  FOOT.  Dell  Foot,  the  courte- 
,  ous,  oliliging  and  popular  "  mine 
host"  of  a  leading  hotel  and  livery 
in  Wellington,  is  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  born  September  21,  1836, 
in  Huntington  township. 

Amos  Foot,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
March  5,  1812,  in  Chester,  Hampden  Co., 
Mass.,  and  in  1835  came  to  Ohio,  locating 
in  Huntington  township,  Lorain  county. 
He  brought  with  him  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  in  cash,  which  latter  lie  in- 
vested in  fifty  acres  of  land.  He  mari-ied 
Miss  JNlary  Chapman,  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery, Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  and  for 
years  thereafter  he  followed  farming;  then 
became  a  preacher  in  the  Wesleyan  Cliurch, 
holding  forth  for  a  considerable  time  in 
Avon,  Loraiu  county,  afterward  in  Olm- 
sted Falls,  Cuyahoga  county.  Returning 
east  he  preached  for  ten  years  at  Cochit- 
uate,  Mass.,  near  Boston,  where  his  wife 
died  April  20,  1869,  and  then  once  more 
came  to  Lorain  county,  where  he  married 
his  second  wife,  his  last  days  being  spent 
at  the  home  of  his  son,  our  subject.  He 
died  in  1888,  his  second  wife  in  1882.  He 
was  a  very  large  man,  in  his  prime  weigh- 
ing some  290  pounds,  and  he  had  a  voice 
remarkable  for  its  strength  and  volume. 
He  had  two  children — G.  D.  and  Emma 
J.  (wife  of  George  Royce,  of  Wellington) 
— by  his  first  wife,  none  l)y  his  second. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  with  whom  he  lived  until  18."36, 
■when  he  purchased  the  farm.  To  the 
original     tract     he    added    until    he    had 


500  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  could  be  found 
in  the  township,  and  carried  on  general 
farming,  including  dairying  and  stock- 
raising.  During  seven  years  he  milked 
an  average  of  one  hundred  cows,  and 
dealt  in  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  In  1873 
he  moved  to  Wellington,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged ill  the  hotel  and  livery  business,  his 
house  being  most  complete  in  every  re- 
spect, fitted  with  water  and  gas  sup|)ly, 
although  there  is  neither  system  in  the 
town — in  fact  it  is  essentially  a  metropoli- 
tan hotel. 

In  1856  Mr.  Foot  married  Matilda 
Rush,  who  was  born  in  Greene  coutity, 
Perm.,  and  they  had  five  children,  viz. : 
Celia,  Lucy,  Jessie.  Dell  and  Orrie,  of 
whom  Celia  married  E.  D.  Bush,  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  proprietor  of  a  meat 
market;  she  died  in  January,  1891.  aged 
thirty-six  years,  leaving  four  ctiildren, 
Walter,  Charles,  Fred  and  George.  Lucy 
married  George  Lambert,  one  of  tlie  firm 
of  the  AVelliiifjton  Milling  Co.,  and  has  two 
children,  Robert  and  Celia.  Jessie  married 
Chris.  McDermott,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Machine  Co.,  at  Wellington,  and 
has  three  children,  Lucile,  James,  and 
Louise.  Mr.  Foot  in  his  political  faith  is 
a  stanch  Republican.  Personally  he  is 
most  affable,  good-natured,  social,  and  is 
in  every  respect,  as  a  caterer  to  the  wants 
of  the  public,  "  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place." 


MORELL  E.  SEELT,  a  prominent 
and  well-to-do  farmer  of  Brighton 
township,  is  a  son  of  HumpliTey 
J)  S.  Seely,  who  was  born  November 

22,  1817,  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
and  whose  father,  Cornelius,  was  born 
in  the  same  county  September  3,  1796,  a 
son  of  Daniel.  During  the  Revolutionary 
war  the  last  named,  while  fishing  with 
some  other  boys,  was  kidnapped  by  the 
"Tories,"  and  induced  to  enter  the  British 
service,  which  he  did,  acting  in  the  capac- 
ity of  officer's  servant. 


754 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cornelius  Seely,  grandfather  of  subject, 
in  1817  married  Racliel  Smith,  who  was 
born  October  1,  1800,  in  New  York,  only 
daughter  of  Thomas  Smith,  a  farmer  and 
cooper.  The  children  by  this  union  were 
the  following:  Humphrey  S. ;  Joseph  W., 
who  died  in  Kansas;  Thomas,  an  M.  E. 
minister  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.;  Esther  A., 
widow  of  John  Cockrel,  deceased;  Almira 
H.,  widow  of  William  Hubbard,  a  tailor, 
who  died  in  the  service  during  the  Civil 
war;  Phebe,  who  married  Hart  Smith,  and 
died  in  New  York  State;  Daniel  F.,  a 
farmer  of  Waukesha,  Wis.  (he  was  form- 
erly in  the  lumber  business);  Phineas, also 
a  farmer  of  Waukesha,  Wis.;  Renette,  who 
died  of  scarlet  fever  when  six  years  old; 
Amanda,  deceased  in  infancy;  James  W., 
a  farmer  of  Ridgeville  township;  Floren- 
tine, who  married  Asa  Frary,  and  died  in 
Canaan,  AVayne  Co.,  Ohio;  Rachel  N.,  who 
died  in  ciiildhood  ;  Ursula,  wife  of  William 
Vandervere,  of  Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  Elroy 
Mc,  who  served  in  the  same  regiment  with 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Cornelius 
Seely,  who  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  came  in 
1821  to  Lorain  connty,  Ohio,  with  his  fam- 
ily, consisting  then  of  a  wife  and  three 
children,  the  journey  being  made  with  a 
covered  two-horse  wagon,  which  conveyed 
two  families,  for  his  brother,  Daniel,  wife 
and  child  accompanied  them.  (Thischild,by 
name  William,  became  a  Methodist  Epis- 
copal divine,  was  presiding  elder,  and  was 
superannuated).  Tiie  party  camped  outlay 
the  roadside  at  such  times  as  taverns  could 
not  be  reached  by  night,  and  they  were 
kindly  treated  wherever  they  went.  Their 
route  was  by  way  of  Cleveland,  where  they 
forded  the  Cuyahoga  river,  theu  traveled 
along  the  beach  of  Lake  Erie  to  Avon 
township,  where  the  brothers  secured  a 
tract  of  land  of  300  acres,  north  of  the 
ridge,  by  trading  his  farm  in  New  York 
State  for  it.  The  land  was  all  covered  with 
timber  and  underbrush,  but  by  dint  of 
hard  work  and  incessant  toil  they  succeeded 
in  making  a  clearing  for  their  farm,  and 


on  it  built  a  log  house  to  shelter  both 
families,  but  afterward  each  had  a  cabin. 
Money  was  a  scarce  commodity,  and  the 
brothers  would  make  a  journey  on  foot  to 
Cleveland,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  and 
the  same  day  after  arrival  each  cut  an 
average  of  four  cords  of  wood.  About  the 
year  1846  Cornelius  Seely  moved  to  Wis- 
consin, locating  for  some  time  near  Wan- 
kesha,  and  then  returned  to  Avon  town- 
ship. Here  he  died  March  4,  1866,  and 
his  remains  lie  buried  in  Avon  cemetery. 
He  was  a  pillar  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  serv- 
incr  as  class-leader  and  in    various  offices. 

O  ... 

Mr.  Seely  had  been  twice  married  ;  his  first 
wife,  Rachel,  died  October  18,  1843,  and 
for  his  second  spouse  he  wedded  Mrs. 
Mary  Cadwell,  nee  House,  widow  of  Capt. 
Cadwell  (her  first  husband  was  a  Mr.  Kin- 
ney), whom  she  married  in  New  York. 
She  died  in  her  ninety-third  year  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Leavitt  Tay- 
lor, in  Elyria,  Ohio.  Mr.  Seely  had  no 
children  by  this  union. 

Humphrey  S.  Seely,  father  of  subject, 
received  his  primary  education  at  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
after  reaching  maturity  attended  select 
school,  later  the  seminary  at  Norwalk,  the 
principal  thereof  being  Bishop  Thompson, 
who  died  while  on  a  trip  around  the  world. 
Mr.  Seely  was  a  maii  of  consideral)le  abil- 
ity, and  advanced  rapidly  in  his  studies. 
He  remained  on  his  father's  farm  till  after 
his  marriage,  when  he  located  on  that  of 
his  father-in-law  for  two  or  three  years. 
He  then  bought  wild  land  in  Brighton 
township,  same  county,  and  here  cleared  a 
farm,  remaining  on  same  until  1889,  when 
he  removed  to  Wellington  village,  in  the 
township  of  that  name,  where  he  is  now 
living  a  retired  life.  On  March  25,  1841, 
he  married  Miss  Cordelia  Loveland,  who 
was  born  November  12, 1823,  in  Brighton 
township,  a  daushtcr  of  Leonard  H.  and 
Margaret  V.  (Whitlock)  Loveland  (a  sketch 
of  whom  immediately  follows),  and  two 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Morell 
E.,  subject  of  this  memoir;  and  Amina  R., 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


755 


born  November  6,  1843,  now  Mrs.  John 
Eddy,  of  Wellington;  her  first  husband 
was  Oliver  Rnlisoii,  who  during  the  Civil 
war  served  in  the  Second  OhioClavalry,  and 
died  from  injuries  received  in  the  war. 
The  mother  of  these  died  March  23,  1852, 
and  was  buried  in  Loveland  cemetery, 
which  was  situated  on  the  home  farm.  For 
liis  second  wife  Mr.  Seely  married,  in 
1852,  Miss  Julia  Crosby,  l)urn  December 
28,  1825,  in  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county,  a  daughter  of  John  Crosby,  a  pio- 
neer of  same.  Two  children  came  to  tiiis 
union,  viz.:  DeFore.stC,  born  Octol)er  12, 
1858,  died  April  26,  1878;  and  Dwight 
F.,  born  July  9,  1800,  a  farmer  of  Brigh- 
ton townsiiip.  Tliis  wife  was  called  from 
earth  August  13,  1876,  and  was  buried  in 
Brighton  cemetery.  Mr.  Seely's  present 
wife,  whom  he  married  February  14, 
1877,  was  Mrs.  Julia  E.  Andrus  (?ir?'<j 
Smith),  widow  of  John  Andrus.  In  politics 
Mr.  Seely  is  a  Prohibition-Republican, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  respected  and  honored 
by  the  entire  community. 

Morell  E.  Seely,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  May  22,  1842,  in 
Brighton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  on 
the  farm  he  now  owns  and  lives  on.  He 
received  a  liberal  education  at  the  schools 
of  his  district,  his  first  teacher  being  Sarah 
Boardman,  and  under  his  father's  careful 
tuition  he  was  thoroughly  posted  in  the 
business  of  general  farming.  On  August 
5,  1862,  he  enlisted,  in  Brighton  town- 
ship,  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  sent  to  Camp 
Cleveland  for  purposes  of  drill,  joining  the 
command  at  Covington,  Ky.  At  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  November  25,  1863,  he  was 
wounded  so  severely  as  to  necessitate  being 
sent  to  hospital.  After  convalescence  he 
was  furlonghed,  and  April  18,  1865,  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service, 
and  returned  to  Brighton  township,  where 
he  worked  one  year  for  bis  father.  He 
then  came  to  his  present  farm,  where  his 
grandfather,    Leonard    H.    Loveland,  was 


then  living,  and  with  him  made  his  home 
until  the  death  of  the  latter,  when  the 
farm  was  transferred  by  inheritance  to  our 
subject.  He  has  now  214  acres  of  prime 
land,  on  which  he  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing, including  dairying  on  an  extensive 
scale,  and  he  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the 
best  managers  and  financiers  among  the 
agriculturists  of  his  township.  As  a 
steady,  progressive  farmer,  he  lias  no  su- 
perior, and  in  many  ways  is  a  leader  in 
the  community. 

On  September  30,' 1868,  Mr.  Seely  was 
married  to  Miss  liachel  Rulison,  who  was 
Ijorn  February  5, 1852,  daughter  of  James 
Rulison.  She  died  without  issue  March 
28,  1873,  and  was  busied  in  Brighton 
cemetery,  aiid  Mr.  Seely  married,  May  18, 
1874,  her  sister,  Cordelia,  born  March  18, 
1849.  The  children  by  this  union  are 
Herbert  E.,  born  March  2,  1875,  clerk  in 
a  bank  at  Oberlin,  Ohio;  and  Leonard  E., 
born  March  22,  1877,  residing  at  home, 
who  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  me- 
chanics, especially  in  electricity,  and  who 
is  somewhat  of  a  genius  in  that  direction. 
In  his  political  preferences  our  subject  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  frequently 
been  elected  to  otiice,  but  invariably  de- 
clined to  serve. 

Leonard  H.  Loveland  (deceased),  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  Morell  E.  Seely,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  South- 
field,  Berkshire  county,  October  3,  1794, 
a  son  of  Abner  Loveland,  with  whom  he 
lived  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and 
studied  in  spare  hours  at  night  by  the 
flickering  light  of  a  burning  pine  log,  thus 
(lualifying  himself  for  a  teacher,  a  voca- 
tion he  followed  two  years  with  marked 
success.  On  March  13,  1820,  he  married, 
at  South  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Margaret  V. 
Whitlock,  born  in  that  town  September 
10,  1802,  and  three  children  were  born  to 
them:  Abner,  Cordelia  and  Emeline.  The 
mother  of  these  died  October  3,  1860,  in 
Wellington,  Lorain  county,  and  on  August 
3,  1862,  Mr.  Loveland  married  Mrs.  Anna 


756 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Rulisoii,  who  was  born  December  22, 1809, 
in  Knox  county,  N.  Y.  He  passed  from 
earth  Angiist  18,  1887,  and  was  buried  in 
Brighton  cemetery.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat  until  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter, 
after  which  he  united  witli  the  Kepublican 
party.  He  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace  twenty  years,  county  commissioner 
two  terms,  and  had  charge  of  the  extensive 
land  interests  of  (X  Bliss.  As  a  consistent 
member  of  tiie  M.  E.  Church,  he  was  ever 
a  liberal  contributor  to  same.  He  was  a 
man  of  fair  legal  ability,  excellent  judg- 
ment and  sound  common  sense,  while  his 
unswerving  personal  integrity,  and  the 
general  rectitude  of  his  life,  gained  for 
liim  an  enviable, reputation  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  was  best  known. 


I(  ETHUR     LOVETT     GARFORD, 
l\     president  of  the  Garford  Manufac- 
turing Co.,  and  Cashier  of  the  Sav- 
ings Deposit  Bank  Co.,  Elyria,  is  a 
native  of  that  town,  born  August  4, 
1858,  and  comes  of  old  English  lineage. 

William  Garford,  his  grandfather,  was 
manager  of  a  large  estate  in  England — 
where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  genera- 
tions. His  eon,  George,  father  of  Arthur 
L.,  was  a  native  of  that  country,  born  in 
Northamptonshire,  where  were  passed  the 
earlier  years  of  his  life.  In  1851  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Hannah  Lovett,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Hannah  Lovett,  of  Keg- 
worth,  Leicestershire,  England.  Mr.  Lovett 
WHS  the  proprietor  of  a  large  silk  and  lace 
factory,  and  was  a  manufacturer  of  wide 
repute.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lovett  lived 
to  a  ripe  old  age,  and  died  in  Kegworth 
but  a  few  years  ago.  All  but  one  of  their 
children  survive  them.  The  eldest  son, 
John  Lovett,  is  at  present  manager  of  a 
large  factory  in  England,  and  is  a  genius 
of  high  merit.  James,  another  son,  served 
for  many  years  in  the  British  Navy,  and 
is  now  on  the  retired  list.  Five  sisters 
are  still  living  in  and  around  Derby,  Derby- 
shire, England. 


In  185B,  Geo.  Garford,  who  felt  that 
America  offered  more  favorable  opportuni- 
ties for  an  ambitious  young  man,  severed 
his  connection  with  Dr.  Daniels,  a  physi- 
cian of  large  practice  and  repute,  in  whose 
service  he  liad  been  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  came  alone  to  the  United  States  and 
to  Ohio;  his  wife  and  child,  Geo.  H.,  fol- 
lowing him  to  the  new  western  home  in 
1854.  They  settled  in  Elyria  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  he  had  engaged  in 
landscape  gardening,  and  later  on  in  stock 
farming.  Some  of  the  most  picturesque 
gardens  and  artificial  landscapes  in  Elyiia 
to-day  bear  tribute  to  the  early  efforts  of 
Mr.  Garford.  As  a  stock  raiser  he  achieved 
a  national  reputation.  For  a  number  of 
years  iiis  stock  was  to  be  seen  at  the 
Annual  State  Fairs,  where,  successively, 
he  bore  off  the  highest  awards.  For  nine- 
teen  years  prior  to  1882  he  occupied  the 
Elywood  Stock  Farm  of  nearly  three  hun- 
dred acres.  Since  1882  he  has  not  been 
actively  engaged  in  farming  personally, 
his  sons,  Geo.  H.  and  Charles  E.,  having 
charge  of  his  interest  in  a  large  farm  in 
Ashtabula  county,  which  he  now  owns. 
His  love  for  fine  stock  is  still  manifest, 
however,  as  he  continues  to  raise,  in  a 
small  way,  some  very  fine  horses  at  his 
attractive  home  on  Harrison  street,  in 
Elyria. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Geo.  Garford,  as  follows:  Geo.  H.; 
Elizabeth  A.,  wife  of  C.  H.  Miser,  Con- 
neaut,  Ohio;  Kate  S.,  wife  of  Edmund  F. 
Smith,  Bnckland,  Mass.;  Arthur  L. ;  Ella 
Louise,  wife  of  Samuel  S.  Rockwood,  as- 
sistant cashier.  Savings  Deposit  Bank  Co. ; 
Charles  E. ;  Edith  G.,  and  Carrie  M.  The 
mother  and  daughters  are  all  active  mem- 
bers  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  The  father, 
in  politics,  has  always  been  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  the  sons  have  grown  up  in 
like  mind. 

Artiiur  L.  Garford  was  named  after  C. 
Artiiur  Ely — the  original  owner  of  Ely- 
wood  farm — and  one  of  the  greatest  phi- 
lanthropists who  has  ever  lived  in  Elyria. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


759 


Thougli  a  young  man  when  lie  died,  in  1865, 
his  name  is  yet  revered,  and  his  memory 
kept  green  by  many  of  the  older  citizens 
who  knew  him,  and  by  the  later  generation 
because  of  his  gift  of  the  public  library, 
now  one  of  the  greatest  attractions  of  the 
town.  An  attraction  sprung  up  between 
William  Arthur  Ely — only  son  of  the  late 
Charles  Arthur  Ely — and  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  in  very  early  boyhood,  and  has 
continued  to  exist  without  interruption 
ever  since.  For  a  number  of  years  Arthur 
L.  made  his  home  with  his  friend,  and 
widowed  mother,  and  many  evidences  still 
exist  of  the  regard  in  which  he  was  held 
while  thus  intimately  associated  with  this 
family.  He  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  public  schools  of  Elyria,  where  he 
graduated  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  One 
year  later  he  entered  the  arena  of  business 
by  accepting  the  cashiership  in  the  large 
importing  house  of  Rice  &  Burnett, 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Here  his  natui-al  ability 
soon  asserted  itself,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  was  promoted  to  head  book- 
keeper, being  then  but  eighteen  years  of 
age.  In  this  capacity  he  remained  until 
April,  1880,  at  which  time  he  resigned  on 
account  of  ill  health — later  on  accepting 
the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank,  of  Elyria. 

In  1882  D.  B.  Andrews,  well  known  as 
one  of  the  most  expert  accountants  in 
northern  Ohio,  resigned  the  position  of 
teller  of  the  above-named  bank,  to  asso- 
ciate himself  with  the  Mercantile  National 
Bank,  of  Cleveland,  and  Mr.  Garford  was 
promptly  installed  in  the  vacancy,  which 
incumbency  he  tilled  until  January  1, 
1888,  when  he  was  promoted  to  assistant 
cashier.  On  the  re-organization  of  the 
bank,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Nelson, 
its  president,  in  January,  1891,  Mr.  Gar- 
ford  was  further  promoted  to  cashier,  and 
at  the  same  time  was  elected  a  director, 
positions  he  yet  holds. 

Outside  the  routine  of  office  Mr.  Gar- 
ford  for  several  years  found  pleasure 
and     invigorating    recreation    in     bicycle 


riding,  and  while  so  engaged,  not  being 
pleased  with  the  saddle  on  his  machine, 
his  inventive  faculties  were  brought 
into  play,  resulting  in  the  invention 
of  an  improved  bicycle  saddle.  He  had 
no  idea  at  first  of  turning  his  device 
to  any  account,  but  its  originality  and 
value  being  favorably  pronounced  upon  by 
friends,  he  applied  for  and  received  a 
patent,  which  he  at  once  took  steps  to  dis- 
pose of.  Receiving,  however,  but  little 
encouragement  from  proposed  purchasers, 
he  concluded  to  manufacture  his  invention 
himself,  beginning  in  a  small  way.  Pros- 
pects of  success  in  his  enterprise  brighten- 
ing, he  associated  with  him  H.  S.  FoUans- 
bee  and  Fred  N.  Smith,  a  partnership  be- 
ing formed  under  the  firm  name  of  "Gar- 
ford  Manufacturing  Co.,"  and  at  once 
proceeded  to  have  the  saddle  placed  on  the 
market,  the  goods  being  manufactured 
by  the  Topliff  &  Ely  Co.,  of  Elyria.  This 
was  in  1889-90,  from  which  time  the  busi- 
ness developed  so  rapidly,  and  the  demand 
for  the  goods  increased  so  fast  that  in  No- 
vember, 1891,  the  firm  found  it  expedient 
to  form  an  incorporated  company  under 
the  laws  of  Ohio,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  old 
company  turning  over  their  patents,  good- 
will and  business  to  the  new  concern  for 
that  amount.  On  May  4,  1892,  the  works 
of  the  Topliff  &  Ely  Co.  were  badly  dam- 
aged by  tire,  and  the  saddle  department 
completely  destroyed,  thus  causing  a  large 
loss  to  the  Garford  Mfg.  Co. 

After  mature  consideration  the  directors 
of  the  Company  concluded  to  build  a  fac- 
tory peculiarly  adapted  to  their  business; 
accordingly,  in  August,  1892,  they  began 
the  construction  of  their  present  factory  in 
Elyria,  the  main  Iniilding  of  which  is 
40  X  100  feet,  three  stories  and  ba.sement, 
and  is  admirably  located  directly  alongside 
the  tracks  of  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad,  a  spur  from  which  runs 
to  the  receiving  door  in  the  rear.  The 
basement  is  used  for  heavy  machinery,  the 
blacksmith  shoj),  spring  formers,  etc.  The 


760 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


first  floor  contains  the  offices — finished  in 
oak  throughout — the  tool-room  and  the 
polishinLj-rooni.  The  second  floor  is  de- 
voted to  nickel-plating,  buffing  and  leather- 
room,  in  which  latter  the  hide,  by  special 
process,  is  transformed  into  the  perfect 
saddle  top.  The  upper  floor  of  all  is  used 
for  shipping  purposes,  stock  and  assem- 
bling. The  engine  house  is  detached 
from  the  main  building,  and  the  engine 
lias  a  capacity  of  150  horse-power.  Al- 
though in  1893  the  output  reached  800 
saddles  per  day,  yet  the  supply  proved  in- 
adequate to  the  demand,  and  the  Company 
found  it  necessary  to  largely  increase  their 
capacity,  and  have  recently  built  an  addi- 
tion, containing  coal  sheds  and  enameling- 
room,  providing  ample  storage  accommo- 
dation. Over  one  hundred  men  are  now 
employed  in  all  departments,  and  during 
the.  past  six  months  the  factory  turned  out 
the  enormous  number  of  sixty  thousand 
saddles.  In  addition  to  their  own  goods, 
leather  furnishings  for  bicycles  and  sev- 
eral specialties  are  here  made.  The  pres- 
ent Company  at  its  organization  had  among 
its  stockholders  the  following  prominent 
citizens:  Hon.  W.  A.  Braman,  Hon. Geo. H. 
Ely,M.  M.  Ely,  J.  C.  Hill, Hon.  Parks  Foster, 
W.  A.  Ely,  G.  W.  Baker,  F.  H.  Foster,  F. 
P.  Hill,  H.  S.  Follansbee,  F.  N.  Smith, 
and  A.  L.  Garford;  the  directors  being 
Hon.  Geo.  H.  Ely,  Hon.  Parks  Foster,  A. 
L.  Garford,  F.  N.  Smith  and  H.  S.  Fol- 
lansbee.  Mr.  Garford  was  elected  presi- 
dent; H.  S.  Follansbee,  vice-president;  and 
F.  N.  Sraitli,  secretary  and  treasurer.  In 
February,  1893.  a  suit  for  infringement 
brought  against  the  Hunt  Manufacturing 
Co.,  competing  saddle  manufacturers,  of 
Westborough,  Mass.,  i-esulted  by  way  of 
settlement  in  two-thirds  interest  of  that 
company  being  passed  to  the  Garford  Man- 
ufacturing Co.,  and  the  Company  being  at 
once  re-organized  with  a  paid-up  capital  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  A.  L.  Garford  being 
elected  president  and  a  director  of  same. 
The  Garford  Manufacturing  Co.  is  by 
far  the  largest  and    most  extensive  exclus- 


ive bicycle  saddle  manufacturing  company 
in  the  world,  and  their  product  enjoys  the 
reputation  of  being  the  standard  of  excel- 
lence, and  is  used  almost  exclusively  by 
the  largest  and  best  manufacturers  of  bi- 
cycles in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Garford 
and  his  associates  have  become  very  widely 
and  favorably  known  among  the  Cycling 
fraternity,  and  prominent  manufacturers 
generally.  Tlie  following  clipping  from 
Cycling  Life,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
Cycling  journals,  under  date  of  October 
19,  1893,  illustrates  the  regard  in  which 
Mr.  Garford  is  held  by  the  fraternity. 

"  Upon  starting  out  in  life  A.  L.  Gar- 
ford must  have  had  conspicuously  in  front 
of  liim  the  inspiring  reflection,  now  an 
apothegm,  that  youth  must  be  served.  We 
behold  him  to-day  the  king  of  the  craft  of 
saddle  making,  and  hence  well  entitled  to 
a  place  in  our  gallery  of  '  Leaders  in  the 
Cycle  Industry.'  Yery  interesting,  indeed, 
is  it  to  trace  the  rise  of  Mr.  Garford.  The 
son  of  a  farmer,  he  must  have  early  be- 
come imbued  with  higher  ambitions  and 
aims  than  most  men,  for  when  scarcely  out 
of  his  'teens'  we  find  him  in  a  banking 
institution,  from  which  he  graduated  with 
such  distinction  as  falls  to  the  lot  of  few  men. 
At  financing  he  is  an  expert,  and  doubtless 
it  was  while  engaged  in  such  work  that 
be  acquired  that  solid  reputation  for  integ- 
rity which  is  inseparable  from  the  charac- 
ters of  those  who  are  successful  in  that 
line.  Some  will  ascribe  hissuccess  simply  to 
ability,  some  to  fortunate  circumstances 
and  some  to  the  close  practice  of  hon- 
orable business  principles;  but  we  prefer  to 
credit  him  with  being  the  rare  possessor  of 
all  three  qualifications,  and  choose  to  find 
the  secret  of  his  distinction  in  the  faithful 
practice  of  them.  It  is  said  of  Mr.  Gar- 
ford that  the  contemplation  of  his  own 
success  does  not  yield  him  as  much  pleas- 
ure as  it  may  afford  to  those  who  are  his 
biographers  in  a  small  way.  Perhaps  this 
is  because  he  feels  that  he  is  not  yet  spent 
— that  he  has  in  him  the  power  to  climb 
to  greater  heights." 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


761 


On  December  14,  1881,  Arthur  L.  Gar- 
ford  was  united  in  inari'iage  with  Miss 
Mary  Louise  Nelson,  second  daughter  of 
the  late  T.  L.  Nelson,  of  Elyria,  and  two 
children  have  come  to  briohten  the  Gar- 
ford  home — Mary  Katharine,  born  July 
17,  1883,  and  Louise  Ely,  born  July  19, 
1885. 

Mr.  Garford  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
though  frequently  approached  liy  friends 
to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  in  connection 
with  party  office,  he  has  invariably  declined 
all  profiFered  political  honors.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
having  occupied  all  the  Chairs  of  Elyria 
Council,  and  is  now  a  past  regent.  The 
high  school  of  Elyria  has  an  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation, of  which  he  has  served  as  presi- 
dent. In  addition  to  his  other  extensive 
interests  above  recounted,  he  is  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Repuljlican  Printing 
Co.,  of  Elyria,  and  of  the  Beal  Mining 
Core  Drill  Co.;  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Sunol  Bicycle  Co.,  of  Chicago,  and  of  the 
Topliff  &  Ely  Co.,  of  Elyria;  is  two-fifths 
owner  of  the  Fay  Manufacturing  Co.,  and 
a  stockholder  in  the  National  Bank  of  Ely- 
ria. He  was  city  treasurer  for  Elyria  some 
five  years,  resigning  in  1892.  At  the  death 
of  T.  L.  Nelson,  his  father-in  law,  he  was 
one  of  the  executors  of  the  will,  and  he 
lias  since  helper!  in  the  management  of  the 
entire  estate.  Busy  as  he  is  with  his  end- 
less variety  of  commercial  interests,  Mr. 
Garford  yet  finds  some  little  time  for  the 
farm,  and  he  is  the  proud  owner  of  some 
fine-bred  horses,  noted  for  both  blood  and 
speed,  and  he  is  the  possessor  of  consider- 
able real  estate  in  and  about  the  city  of 
Elyria. 

Mr.  Garford  is  a  typical  self-made 
American,  with  tiie  strain  of  British  blood 
in  his  veins  that  adds  to  his  American  pro- 
gressive impulses  an  indomitable  will  and 
a  tenacity  of  purpose  that  are  some  of  his 
more  pronounceil  characteristics.  From  a 
plain  farmer's  son,  he  has  risen  in  the 
commercial  world  by  his  own  marked  exe- 
cutive ability   and    untiring   energy';    and 


though  not  yet  past  the  heyday  of  young 
manhood,  he  is  already  prominently  iden- 
tified with  nearly  every  enterprise  located 
in  Lorain  county. 


DC.  NICHOLS,  one  of  the  well-to- 
do,  native-born  farmer  citizens  of 
LaGrange  township,  is  a  son  of 
James  Nichols,  who  was  born 
August  9,  1801,  in  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island.  When  six  months  old  James  was 
lirought  by  his  father,  Stephen  Nichols, 
to  Washington  county.  N.  Y.,  and  there  re- 
mained until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  His 
parents  followed  him  to  that  county  some 
time  afterward,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives. 

James  Nichols  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
and  his  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools.  He  was  married  in 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  to  Miss  Leonora  Johnson, 
who  was  born  in  that  county  February  14, 
1803,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Experience 
(Tibbals)  Johnson,  who  were  natives  of 
Connecticut,  and  early  settlers  in  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y. ;  the  father  died  at  the 
home  of  our  subject,  D.  C.  Nichols,  in 
LaGrange  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  the 
mother  died  in  Michigan.  While  resi- 
dents of  New  York  State  children  were 
born  to  James  and  Leonora  Nichols,  as 
follows:  Eliza,  now  the  widow  of  Bennett 
Rockwood,  of  Pittsfield,  Lorain  county; 
Cyrus,  who  died  in  LaGrange  township, 
October  19,  1891;  George,  who  died  when 
three  months  old;  Philander,  a  carpenter 
of  Wellington,  (J)hio;  Sarah,  who  married 
Dittamus  Johnson,  and  died  in  La(Trange; 
Alfred,  a  carjienter  of  Lorain,  Ohio;  and 
Cordelia,  Mrs.  William  Disbro,  of  Cass 
county,  Iowa.  James  Nichols  followed 
farming  in  New  York  State,  and  also 
worked  as  a  lumberman  in  the  pineries. 
He  owned  a  small  place,  which  he  sold, 
and  in  June,  1836,  came  west  to  Ohio, 
via  canal  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  lake  to 


762 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cleveland,  from  which  city  he  was  driven 
to  LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  his  father-in-law  had  located  some 
years  before.  The  roads  were  almost  im- 
passible, and  it  was  only  after  much  work 
that  they  reached  their  destination,  where 
for  a  short  time  they  made  their  home 
with  Joshua  Johnson.  Mr.  Nichols  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  containing  fifty 
acres,  on  which  he  made  payments,  and  by 
hard  labor  had  partly  cleared;  in  spite  of 
his  toil  he  lost  his  home  through  an  un- 
scrupulous land-dealer.  Not  being  dis- 
couraged by  his  misfortune,  however,  he 
purchased  tifty  acres  lying  south  (the  farm 
on  whicii  our  subject  now  resides),  which 
he  finally  succeeded  in  paying  for,  by  hard 
labor,  such  as  chopping  and  clearing  the 
land,  laising  what  crops  he  could,  and  also 
going  to  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
where  he  chopped  foui'-foot  wood  at  two 
shillings  per  cord. 

After  coming  here  the  family  was  in- 
creased by  the  following  children:  Mi- 
randa, a  resident  of  South  Dakota,  the 
widow  of  Garrison  Archer,  who  was 
drowned  while  going  to  the  war,  as  a  re- 
cruit; Ozias,  who  died  when  Hve  years 
old;  Stephen,  a  resident  of  Cass  county, 
Iowa;  and  D.  C,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch.  After  coming  to  Ohio  Mr. 
Nichols  engaged  exclusively  in  agricul- 
ture, made  for  himself  a  comfortable  home, 
and  became  a  respected,  well-to-do  citizen. 
He  died  on  the  homestead  in  May,  1872, 
liis  wife  September  5,  1864,  and  both  lie 
buried  in  LaGrange  cemetery.  Though 
Mr.  Nichols  never  made  any  profession  of 
religion  he  was  a  thorough  Christian ;  Mrs. 
Nichols  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. 

D.  C.  Nichols,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  opening  of  this  sketch,  was  born  May 
13,  1847,  in  LaGrange  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio.  He  received  his  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
of  his  birthplace,  and  then  remained  on 
the    home   place,  engaged  in   agricultural 


pursuits,  to  which  he  had  been  trained 
from  boyhood.  On  January  28,  1869,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jeanette 
Holcomb,  who  was  born  October  5,  1845, 
in  LaGrange,  a  daughter  of  Asahel  and 
Fannie  (Hastings)  Holcomb,who  were  from 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  After  mari-iage 
the  young  couple  located  on  the  farm 
where  they  yet  reside,  and  which  he  now 
owns,  consisting  of  113  acres  of  land 
highly  improved  and  equipped  with  all 
necessary  buildings,  etc.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nichols  have  been  born  children  as 
follows:  Charles  H.  (attending  school), 
Guy  S.,  Claude  M.  and  James  A.  (all  three 
living  at  home).  In  politics  our  subject 
was  a  Ilepublican  until  1876,  when  he  be- 
came a  Democrat. 


Ei  DGAR  H.  HINMAN,  probate  judge 
of  Lorain    county,  is   a    prominent 
I  figure  in   the  galaxy  of  legal  lights 

in  the  county.  He  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  December  16,  1846,  a  son  of 
Edward  and  Mary  B.  Hinman,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  the 
latter  in  Lee.  Mass.;  they  both  came  when 
children  to  Ohio  and  to  Portage  county, 
where  they  were  married,  and  here  Edward 
Hinman  carried  on  farming,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  7,  1875,  in 
Oberlin,  where  Mrs.  Hinman  still  makes 
her  home.  The  first  of  the  Hinman  family, 
in  America,  came  to  the  United  States, 
from  England,  in  1655,  making  a  settle- 
ment in  New  Etigland. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  niemoir  re- 
ceived his  literary  education  at  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio,  and  studied  law  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  O.  V. 
I.  (one  hundred-days  service),  which  regi- 
ment was  stationed  around  Washington, 
and  participated  in  the  defense  of  the  cap- 
ital at  the  time  it  was  attacked  by  the  Con- 
federates. On  leaving  the  army  Mr. 
Hinnian  went  to    Missouri,    and  for  one 


/ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


765 


year  was  deputy  clerk  of  the  supreme 
court  at  St.  Joseph,  after  whicli  he  was 
engaged  as  foreman  in  the  building  of 
dikes  along  the  Missouri  river,  preparatory 
to  building  a  brid(>-e.  In  1872  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  for  a  time  resided  in  Oberlin, 
where  he  commenced  tlie  practice  of  his 
profession,  but  soon  afterward  moved,  in 
1873,  to  North  Amherst,  in  the  same 
county,  where  he  opened  an  office,  prac- 
ticing law  for  nearly  nine  years.  For  two 
terms  he  was  mayor  of  Amherst,  resigning 
this  when  elected  probate  judge,  upon  the 
duties  of  which  office  he  entered  February 
9,  1882.  He  is  now  serving  his  fifth  con- 
secutive term,  and  is  also  president  of  the 
Elyria  Savings  and  Loan  Company.  His 
residence  is  now  in  Elyria,  and  has  been 
since  1882. 

Judge  E.  H.  Hininan  and  Miss  Ada  M. 
Fa.\on  were  united  in  marriage  in  Novem- 
ber,  1877,  and  the  following  named  four 
children  were  born  to  them:  Harold  F., 
Scott,  Lucile  and  Edgar,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Active  in  politics,  the 
Judge  has  been  chairman  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee  about  six  years,  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  State  and  Congres- 
sional conventions.  Socially  he  is  a  mem^ 
ber  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
K.  of  P.  One  of  the  pleasant  incidents  of 
Judge  Hiiimairs  life  was  a  trip  he  made 
in  1886  to  Europe  with  Hon.  E.  G.  John- 
son, of  Elyria.  Many  people  will  long  re- 
member the  humorous  letters  written  by 
Mr.  Johnson  to  home  papers,  giving  ac- 
counts of  their  adventures  abroad. 


T[  W.  WILBUR,  dealer  in  general  hard- 
k.  I  ware,  Wellington,  is  a  native  of  Can- 
l^fj  ada,  born  in  Markham,  near  Toronto, 
""     Ontario,  May  12,   1839. 

John  Watson  Wilbur,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  April  14,  1811,  in  Scliodack, 
N.  Y.,  whence  when  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority he  moved  to  Canada,  and  for  four  or 
live  years    following  farming  there.     He 


then  removed  to  Ohio,  stopping  in  Port- 
age county  for  a  few  months,  after  which 
lie  came  in  1841  to  Lorain  county,  and 
took  up  a  fai'Di  \n  Huntington  township, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  over  thirty- 
one  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  lie  re- 
tired and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  town 
of  Wellington,  dying  there  in  January, 
1891.  Politically  he  was  first  a  Whig, 
then  a  Free-soiler  and  finally  a  Republi- 
can ;  lie  was  a  strict  temperance  and  strong 
anti-slavery  man.  In  1837  he  married 
Miss  Lucinda  Chapman,  a  native  of  Can- 
ada, born  near  Toronto,  February  23, 1814, 
and  she  is  yet  living.  Five  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  J.  W  ,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biographical  memoir;  Henry, 
born  March  23,  1841,  residing  in  Welling- 
ton township;  George  W.,  born  June  7, 
1843,  a  farmer  in  Hartland  township,  Hu- 
ron Co.,  Ohio;  Josiah  L.,  born  October  10, 
1845,  residing  in  Wellington;  and  Martha 
M.,  born  September  12,  1849,  died  No- 
vember 5,  1852.  The  brothers  and  sisters 
of  John  Watson  Wilbur  were  the  follow- 
ing: Clark  T..  born  December  24,  1804, 
now  a  resident  of  Darlington,  Ontai-io; 
Mary,  -born  January  25,  1807,  died  March 
27,  1891  (she  married  a  Mr.  Leek,  who 
died  in  Canada);  Phoebe,  born  July  10, 
1809,  died  in  Wellington;  Eliza  Ann,  born 
February  23,  1813,  died  in  Schodack, 
N.  Y.;  George  W..  born  February  8,  1815, 
died  in  Canada;  Martha,   born  September 

8,  1817,  residing  in  Sullivan,  A.shland  Co., 
Ohio;  Israel,  born  Novemlier  29,  1819, 
residing  in  Canada;  and  Deborah,  born 
July  13,  1823,  died  April  30,  1891,  in 
Albany.  N.  Y.  The  father  of  these. 
Thomas  Wilbur,  was  born  October  18, 
1780,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  New  York 
State;  his  wife  was  Anna  Cline,  born  June 
24,  1783,  died  August  25,  1862.  John 
Chapman,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  January  27,  1783;  he  mar- 
ried Margaret  Fr^rris,  and  their  children 
were  as  follows:  Hannah,   born  September 

9,  1807,  deceased;  Jerusha  C,  born  July 
15,  1809,  died  January  20,  1889;   Martin 


766 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cbapman,  born  August  19,  1811,  living 
in  Lorain;  Lucinda,  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, born  February  23,  1814;  John  T., 
born  August  17,  1816;  Xathan,  born 
April  3,  1819,  residing  in  Huntington; 
Laura,  born  September  15,  1821,  deceased; 
Lorena,  born  June  24,  1824,  living  in 
Cleveland;  Lorenzo,  born  A'pril  8,  1827, 
living;  Thomas,  born  December  8,  1829; 
Joseph,  born  January  8,  183-. 

J.  W.  AVilbur,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketcli,  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools,  after  which  he  attended 
select  school,  working  also  on  the  farm  till 
he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  came 
to  Oberlin,  attending  school  there  some 
seven  months,  after  which  he  taught  school 
for  some  years.  On  June  15,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  1,  Forty-seventh 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in  West 
Virginia.  He  participated  in  several  en- 
gagements, and  was  ordered  to  A^icksburg, 
Miss.,  being  present  at  both  the  assaults 
there.  After  forty-seven  days  siege,  the 
regiment  proceeded  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  in 
the  capture  of  which  it  participated;  thence 
was  transferred  to  Memphis  and  Missionary 
Ridge;  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
and  marched  witii  Sherman  to  the  sea.  At 
Savannah  it  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
McAllister.  Here  it  was  that  the  dispute 
arose  between  the  Forty-seventh  and 
Seventieth  Ohio  as  to  whose  colors  were 
first  planted  on  the  fort,  but  several  of  Gen. 
Hagen's  staff,  who  were  overlooking  the 
entire  movement,  decided  that  the  colors 
of  the  Forty-seventh  were  the  first  to  ap- 
pear on  the  fort,  and  the  captured  flag  is 
now  in  the  State  House  at  Columbus.  The 
regiment  set  out  from  Ohio  with  870 men, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign 
there  were  only  120;  after  the  Atlanta 
campaign  it  was  re-enforced  by  400  drafted 
men  and  substitutes.  Our  subject  was 
mustered  out  November  11,  1864,  the  re- 
giment on  August  11,  1865.  He  entered 
the  service  as  a  private,  and  was  mustered 
out  as  second  lieutenant  of  his  company; 
when    he  arrived  at  home  he  weighed  but 


ninety  pounds.  After  the  war  be  resided 
in  Huntington  township  about  three 
months,  at  the  end  of  which  time  (Febru- 
ary, 1865,)  he  embarked  in  the  stove  and 
tinning  business  in  Wellington,  in  com- 
pany with  his  uncle,  J.  B.  Lord,  which  he 
has  since  continued  in. 

In  September,  1865,  Mr.  AYilbur  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  E. 
Collins,  born  October  16,  1841,  daughter 
of  Charles  and  Dorcas  (Abbott)  Collins, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  March  28, 
1811,  died  October  1, 1883,  the  latter  born 
February  25,  1811,  and  still  living,  liaving 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Wilbur. 
By  this  union  there  were  three  children, 
viz.:  Mabel  C,  born  August  14,  1866, 
married  to  D.  B.  Harris,  now  in  Califor- 
nia (they  have  one  child,  Zoe);  Carl  C, 
born  April  29,  1868,  a  musician,  now  in 
California;  and  Rollin  A.,  at  home.  In 
his  political  preferences  our  subject  is  a 
Republican;  socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  K.  of  H.,  Royal 
Arcanum  and  National  Union. 


T  W.  DOANE.  Columbia  township 
V.  I  has  good  reason  to  feel  proud  of  her 
i^/J  wealthy,  intelligent  farming  com- 
munity, of  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  a  leading  member. 

Mr.  Doane  was  born  March  21,  1831,  in 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Isaiah 
and  Betsy  E.  (Giddings)  Doane,  natives  of 
New  York  State,  whence  in  the  fall  of 
1833  they  moved  to  La  Fayette  township, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  making  a  clearing  in 
the  woods,  and  building  a  log  cabin. 
From  there  the  father  came  in  1846  to 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  in 
1852.  He  was  twice  married:  first  time 
to  Betsy  E.  Giddings,  who  died  in  Medina 
county,  in  1846;  afterward  to  Hannah 
Jewett,  who  passed  from  earth  in  1878,  on 
the   farm   of  the  subject  of    this  sketch. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


767 


Mr.  Doane  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812;  in  politics  he  was  a  pronounced 
Democrat,  and  for  many  years  served  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Medina  county. 
The  children  born  to  his  first  marriage 
were  as  follows:  Luther  W.,  who  died  in 
Medina  county  at  the  age  of  nineteen; 
Ilosella  L.,  widow  of  Dougal  McDouirall, 
of  Medina  county;  Diana  H.,  deceased 
wife  of  Levi  Herrington;  Frank  Johnson, 
residing  in  Harper  county,  Kans. ;  Mary 
M.,  widow  of  Don  A.  Clark,  who  died  in 
the  service  during  the  Civil  war;  William 
H.  H.,  married,  and  residing  in  Berrien 
county,  Mich.;  Altneda  E.,  widow  of  Ben- 
jamin Chamberlain,  of  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio;  Orlando  A.,  married,  and  residing 
in  Diirand  county.  Wis.;  J.  W.,  our  sub- 
ject; Frederick  W.,  who  enlisted  in  the 
Civil  war  in  Michigan,  and  died  some 
years  ago;  Lydia  A.,  who  was  the  wife  of 
A.  W.  Bishop,  of  Medina  county,  and  died 
in  Yoik  township,  Medina  county;  and 
Martha  B.,  wife  of  Gerome  Osborne,  of 
Benton  Harbor,  Michigan. 

J.  W.  Doane  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  Medina 
county,  and  was  fifteen  years  old  w^hen  he 
came  to  Columbia  township,  Lorain  county. 
His  lifework  from  his  early  boyhood  years 
has  been  agriculture,  and  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  good  farm  of  115  acres,  all  in 
a  higli  state  of  cultivation,  and  which  he 
lias  imjtroved,  erecting  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  commodious  barns. 

In  1854  Mr.  Doane  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  ('olumbia  township,  Lorain  county, 
with  Miss  Amelia  Hitchcock,  a  native  of 
that  township,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Amelia  ((Osborne)  Hitchcock,  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  in  1812  came  to  Lorain  county, 
where  they  died.  By  this  union  two  chil- 
dren were  born,  namely:  A  son  that  died  in 
infancy,  and  Alice,  wife  of  Judd  Artliur 
(she  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three).  The 
mother  of  these  was  called  from  earth 
January  3,  ISUO,  aiul  in  April,  lsn2,  our 
subject  married  Mrs.  Melissa  Lanphier, 
widow  of    Austin  Lanphier;  she  has  one 


child,  a  daughter  named  Clara,  married  to 
Charles  Hutchinson,  of  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county. 

Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat, 
and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as 
trustee  of  his  township.  He  has  been  a 
delegate  to  conventions,  and  has  proven  a 
most  useful  member  of  the  community, 
both  politically  and  socially.  For  about 
eleven  years  he  served  as  postmaster  at 
Columbia  Station. 


EiZRA  S.  JACKSON,  for  nearly  three- 
score years  a  resident  of  Avon  town- 
I  ship,  whither  he  had  come  in  1837, 

is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
in  Herkimer  county  in  1816.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Patience  (Payne)  Jackson, 
also  of  New  York  State,  where  the  father, 
who  was  a  farmer,  died  in  1863;  he  iiad 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  widow 
came  to  Avon  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  her  life  at  the 
home  of  her  son  Ezra  S.  Jackson,  dying  in 
1876.  She  had  another  son,  R.  P.,  who 
came  here  in  1S37,  but  moved  to  Michi- 
gan in  1SG3,  and  died  there  in  1864. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  received  a  lib- 
eral education  at  the  schools  of  Herkimer 
and  Cattaraugus  counties,  N.  Y..  and  in 
the  latter  county  learned  carpentry,  which 
he  followed  sevei'al  years.  In  1837  he 
came  to  Avon  tow'nship,  and  erected  many 
buildings  in  both  Lorain  and  Huron  coun- 
ties, after  which  he  engaged  in  the  bnsi- 
ness  of  millwright.  In  December,  1844, 
Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  Miss  Cordelia 
Q.  Moon,  a  native  of  Avon  township, 
daughter  of  Al)raham  and  Theresa  ( Dn- 
rand)  Moon,  early  settlers  of  Avon  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  w-here  they  died. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jackson,  the  following  being  a  brief 
record  of  same:  Theresa,  wife  of  II.  A. 
Kenney,  lives  in  Wisconsin;  Jennie  is  the 
wife  of  R.  E.  Loveland.  superintendent  of 
schools  at  Lodi,  Wis.;  Ernest  S.,  married, 


768 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


is  county  surveyor  and  resides  in  Elyria; 
and  Lena  is  living  at  home.  In  1845  our 
subject  settled  on  liis  present  farm  of  117 
acres  prime  land  in  Avon  township,  which 
he  improved  from  the  primeval  forest.  In 
his  political  sympathies  he  was  originally  a 
WhiCT,  later,  on  the  organization  of  the 
party,  a  stanch  Republican;  he  served  his 
township  as  trustee,  and  lias  been  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which 
he  is  steward. 


t /I  OSES    HERNER    LEYAGOOD. 

^J/\  This  prominent  citizen  of  Elyria 
1]  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
J)  business    circles,    not    alone    by 

reason  of  his  public  and  social 
positions,  but  al.so  for  his  frank,  genial  and 
cordial  disposition  and  scholarly  attain- 
ments. 

Mr.  Levagood's  ancestors  came  from 
England,  France,  Prussia  and  Holland 
some  two  centuries  ago,  and  a  more  im- 
mediate  progenitor  served  in  the  war  of 
1812  between  this  atid  the  mother  country. 
Our  subject  is  a  son  of  George  and  Sophia 
E.  (Hernei'l  Levagood,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  nati\'e  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of 
New  York. 

M.  H.  Levagood  was  born  February  2, 
1845,  in  \Yilmot,  Ontario,  Canada,  where 
he  received  his  literary  educMtion.  In 
18G3  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  entered  into  business; 
but  wishing  to  better  fit  himself  for  a  com- 
mercial  career,  he  entered  Bryant,  Stratton  & 
Goldsmith  Business  University,  at  De- 
troit, Mich.,  graduating  from  same  April 
15,  1869.  Thence  proceeding  to  Adrian, 
same  State,  he  taught  the  advanced  classes 
in  the  science  of  accounts  and  mathematics 
in  Evans  Business  College  in  that  city.  In 
1871  he  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  B.  P. 
Howe,  sewing  machine  manufacturer  in 
Detroit,  as  bookkeeper,  and  later  had 
charge  at  Cleveland  of  Mr.  Howe's  west- 


ern correspondence,  covering  the  territory 
west  of  the  Alleghany  •  Mountains  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  This  responsible  position 
Mr.  Levagood  tilled  with  tliorough  efficiency, 
but  resigned  in  order  to  associate  himself 
with  a  screw  factory  in  Cleveland,  which 
business  was  in  1874  removed  to  Elyria, 
Ohio,  its  present  title  being  "The  Western 
Automatic  Machine  Screw  Co."  With  this, 
the  second  largest  screw  manufactory  of 
its  kind  in  the  United  States,  our  subject 
has  been  actively  and  otKciallj  associated 
for  twenty-one  years,  and  its  high  position 
among  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the 
country  is  largely  due  to  his  enterprise, 
good  management  and  fidelity.  The  fol- 
lowing brief  sketch  of  this  prominent  in- 
stitution will  be  read  with  interest: 

The  Western  Automatic  Machine  Screw  Co., 
Elyria,  Ohio.  This  establishment,  which  well 
merits  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  Elyria's  most 
influential  and  valuable  trade  exemplars,  was 
founded  in  the  city  of  Cleveland  about  1870,  and 
in  1ST4  was  moved  to  Elyria.  Some  twelve  years 
ago  it  was  reorganized,  taking  the  above  name,  and 
with  abundant  capital,  combined  with  superior 
management,  has  become  a  gigantic  business  en- 
terprise, with  large  and  increasing  demands  for  its 
productions.  When  the  additional  buildings  erected 
this  year  are  fully  equipped  with  machinery,  em- 
ployment will  be  given  to  about  two  hundred  and 
twenly-five  men,  who,  in  character  and  skill  are 
very  much  above  the  general  average.  Under  its 
present  supervision  its  business  growth  has  become 
phenomenal,  so  much  so  that  it  now  ranks  as  the 
second  largest  screw  manufactory  of  its  kind  in 
America.  Screws  and  all  kinds  of  special  milled 
pieces  are  here  made,  and  in  almost  endless  va- 
riety, adapted  to  every  conceivable  use,  and  vary- 
ing in  size  from  the  infinitesimal,  requiring  1.5.000 
and  more  to  weigh  a  pound,  to  the  larger  sizes, 
weighing  three  or  more  pound.s  each.  The  build- 
ings are  all  of  brick,  and  present  an  imposing 
appearance.  The  main  factory  is  50  x  150  feet,  with 
an  L  4t  xtlS  feet,  four  stories  high  ;  blacksmith  shop 
22x70  feet;  case-hardening  shop  88  x -43  feet;  en- 
gine house  lGx37  feet;  boiler  house  34x82  feet, 
one  story  high;  machine  and  tool  shop  35  x  86  feet, 
and  ottice  and  warehouse  3.i  x  105  feet,  two  stories 
high.  The  power  is  supplied  by  three  engines 
aggregating  three  hundretl  and  twentv-tive  horse- 
power, and  three  boilers  aggregating  five  hundred 
horse-power.  To-day  this  institution  is  lh«  pride 
of  Elyria,  and  its  business  manager,  Mr.  Levagood, 
a  respected  and  honored  citizen  of  the  place. 

On  December  4,  1866,  Mr.  Levagood 
was  united  in  marriage,  at  Greenwood, 
Mich.,  with    Miss    Mary    J.    Nichols,    a 


\ 


^% 


^^-^^^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


771 


nativeof  Ontario,  daiiorhter  of  Henry  B.  and 
Mary  (Ayers)  Nichols,  both  of  whom  were 
frojii  New  York.  On  December  4,  1891, 
was  celebrateil  at  tlieir  residence  in  Elyria 
the  "  silver  wedding  "  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M. 
H.  Levagood,  on  wliich  occasion  a  large 
number  of  friends  responded  to  the  invita- 
tion to  be  present,  to  whom  their  host  and 
hostess,  iu  their  usual  frank  and  cordial 
manner,  gave  hearty  welcome.  When  the 
guests  dispersed  it  was  with  the  unani- 
mous feeling  that  this  social  event  was  one 
of  the  most  enjoyable  they  had  ever  at- 
tended, while  a  large  number  of  presents 
were  left  by  them  as  tokens  of  their  good- 
will and  respect. 

Through  all  the  disappointments  and 
trials  incident  to  human  life,  Mr.  Leva- 
good  is  always  the  same  genial,  hopeful 
and  good-natured  jnan,  which  makes  him 
an  honored  and  valued  member  of  several 
Fraternal  Orders,  and  in  this  respect  few 
in  the  State  have  greater  prominence.  He 
is  a  member  of  King  Solomon  Lodge, 
F.  &,  A.  M.,and  treasurerof  Marshall  Chap- 
ter No.  47  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Elyria, 
Ohio;  he  is  a  past  officer  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  Koyal  Arcanum  and  the  American 
Legion  of  Honor,  in  which  latter  he  lias 
held  the  responsible  State  offices  of  grand 
trustee  and  grand  treasurer,  served  two 
terms  as  grand  commander,  is  now  sitting 
past  grand  commander,  and  is  Ohio's  repre- 
sentative to  the  supreme  council.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  city  council,  now  serv- 
ing as  its  first  oresident;  as  vice-president 
and  a  director  of  the  Elyria  Savings  and 
Loan  Co.,  and  president  of  the  Elyria  Aid 
Society.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  Society,  and  is  actively 
identified  with  other  charitable  and  benevo- 
lent enterjirises.  With  a  generous  sym- 
pathy, kindliness  and  a  desire  to  live  a 
helpful  life,  regardless  of  class  or  condi- 
tion he  has  a  large  circles  of  friends,  and 
has  endeared  himself  to  those  in  his  em- 
ploy, where  mutual  confidence,  goodwill 
and  respect  prevail.  The  natural  fruitage 
of  such  a  life,  with  a  hearty  reciprocal  re- 

41 


sponse  from  the  members  of  his  family, 
produces  the  charm  of  his  home,  to  which 
he  retires  for  rest  and  pleasure,  when  the 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  day  are 
laid  aside. 

The  business  motto  of  Mr.  Levagood  is 
"never  postpone  until  to-morrow  what 
can  and  should  be  done  to-day;  business 
first,  pleasure  afterward."  With  these 
characteristics  governing  his  life,  his  suc- 
cess is  but  the  fulfilling  of  a  natural  law, 
and  has  earned  for  him  the  prominence  he 
has  attained  in  the  commercial  world. 


,ILLIAM  DOUGLASS,  the  well- 
known  retired  merchant  of  Kip- 
ton,  was  born  June  21,  1835,  in 
Camden  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  a  son  of  Robert  l^ouglass,  who  was 
born  in  Lyme,  Conn.,  September  27,  1795. 
Robert  Douglass,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  when  a  young  man  came  with 
his  father's  family  from  Scotland  to  Con- 
necticut, about  the  year  1775.  He  was 
there  married,  and  reared  a  family  of  six 
children,  viz.:  Nancy,  Lovisa,  Prudence, 
Robert,  William  and  John.  The  father 
of  these  died  in  Connecticut,  where  he  was 
an  extensive  farmer,  keeping  a  large  dairy; 
he  also  owned  and  kept  slaves  to  do  his 
work,  but  finally  sold  off  the  slaves,  the 
last  two  for  the  sum  of  eighty-five  dollars. 
After  his  death  the  widow,  with  her  six 
children,  removed  to  Hamilton,  New  York. 
Rol>ert  Douglass,  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  moved  with  his  widowed 
mother  to  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  soon 
afterward,  in  1817,  he  married  Susan  A. 
Waugli,  who  was  born  August  20,  1799, 
in  Camden  township,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Li  1838  he  came  to  Ohio,  traveling  by 
canal  and  lakes  to  Huron,  Erie  county, 
thence  by  road  to  Camden  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  accompanied  the  entire  trip 
by  Thomas  Lee  and  Gideon  Waugli,  also 
heads  of  families.  Mr.  Douglass  bought 
twenty-five  acres  of  wild  land  in  Camden 
township  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 


772 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


acre,  and  tlie  three  families  settled  to- 
gether, at  first  erecting  a  single  cabin  for 
the  shelter  of  all,  until  the  Lee  and  Waush 

o 

families  could  be  provided  for.  In  this 
cabin  two  years  afterward  was  born  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  on  this  farm 
the  parents  passed  the  lemainder  of  their 
days,  the  father  dying  April  19,  1863,  the 
mother  April  9,  1856,  and  they  now 
"•  sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  wakening  " 
in  Camden  cemetery.  Their  original 
twenty-five  acres  increased  from  time  to 
time  till  the  property  became  a  farm  of 
considerable  size,  but  prior  to  his  death 
Mr.  Douglass  sold  off  all  except  the 
original  twenty- five  acres;  and  the  old  log 
cabin  was  superseded  by  a  more  modern 
and  comfortable  residence.  The  record  of 
the  chiklren  born  to  this  honored  pioneer 
couple  is  as  follows:  Lovisa,  born  Janu- 
ary 6,  1818,  married  J.  G.  B.  Babcock, 
and  died  in  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Nancy,  born 
October  2,  1819,  married  B.  Bayless,  and 
died  in  Kipton,  Ohio;  Adeline,  born 
August  4,  1822,  died  in  New  York 
before  her  parents  removed  to  Ohio; 
Charlotte,  born  January  20,  1825,  mar- 
ried A.  Boswell,  and  died  in  Michigan 
(she  was  buried  in  Camden  cem- 
etery); Lucinda,  born  March  8,  1827, 
married  S.  B.  Williams,  and  died  at  Ver- 
million, Ohio  (she  was  also  interred  in 
Camden  cemetery);  Robert  H.,  born  April 
22,  1830,  is  a  resident  of  Kipton,  Ohio; 
Sally  Helen,  born  October  9,  1832,  mar- 
ried Bethel  Sabins,  and  died  in  Michigan, 
where  she  was  buried;  William,  sulg'ect  of 
sketch,  is  spoken  of  more  fully  further  on; 
John  G.,  born  February  2,  1838,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  Susan  A.,  born  June  5,  1840, 
Mrs.  A.  L.  Howe,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Harrison,  born  January  13,  1843,  who  en- 
listed at  the  age  of  eigliteen  in  Company 
H,  Forty  third  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  and 
was  killed  February  3,  1865,  at  River's 
Bridge,  S.  C,  after  having  served  through 
four  years  of  the  war.  Politically  Mr. 
Douglass  was  for  several  years  an  Old-line 
Whig,  in  later  years  a  stanch  Republican 


and  a  strong  Abolitionist,  sheltering  many 
a  fugitive  slave  on  his  way  to  freedom  in 
Canada.  He  held  several  township  offices, 
and  was  in  all  ways  a  most  useful  member 
of  the  community.  As  a  sportsman  he 
was  a  keen  shot,  and  as  thire  was  abun- 
dance of  game  of  all  sorts,  including  deer, 
turkeys,  etc.,  his  home  was  seldom  without 
a  well-stocked  larder,  and  his  neighbors 
were  abundantly  supplied  by  him  w'ith 
wild  meat.  He  and  his  wife  were  of  the 
close  communion  Baptist  faith,  as  early 
members  of  the  churcli  at  Center. 

William  Douglass,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  received  his  education  in 
a  primitive  old  log  schoolhouse  situated 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  his 
home,  and  this  was  the  only  one  he  ever 
attended.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old, 
when  he  found  employment  in  the  woods, 
making  staves;  and  iieing  a  powerful  young 
man,  he  was  able  to  earn  good  wages.  I^p 
to  his  twenty-fifth  year  he  divided  his  time 
between  helping  his  parents,  who  needed 
his  assistance,  and  making  a  little  money 
for  himself.  A  land  grant  his  father  had 
secured  for  services  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
which  consisted  of  160  acres  in  Mower 
county,  Minn.,  was  bought  by  our  subject, 
and  he  remained  thereon  for  some  time. 
In  1860  he  came  to  Kipton,  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  traded  this  land 
for  a  stock  of  groceries,  and  the  rent  of  a 
building  in  Kipton  for  two  years.  From 
the  time  he  opened  out  his  business,  he 
continued  in  it  thirty  successive  years,  and 
not  long  after  commencinij  he  bouijht  also 
the  building,  then  a  frame  one.  His  trade 
expanded  so  that  in  course  of  time  he  had 
to  put  up  a  substantial  brick  store,  which 
he  still  owns.  In  1888  he  disposed  of  his 
stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries,  since 
when  he  has  been  living  in  retirement.  A 
couple  of  months  each  year  he  spends  in 
an  elegant  lakeside  cottage  he  owns  at 
Linwood,  Ohio,  and  his  leisure  time  is 
spent  in  fishing  and  hunting. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


773 


On  July  3,  1862,  Mr.  Douglass  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Josepliine  Rnn- 
8oni,  born  January  IG,  1843,  at  Berlin 
Heights,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Rus- 
sei  M.  and  Caroline  (Tenant)  R-msoin,  and 
the  child  born  to  them  is  Cora  CI.,  born 
July  26,  1863,  wife  of  O.  L.  Wright,  of 
Toledo,  wlio  has  one  child,  Gnrtha  D., 
born  July  5,  1886.  Republican  in  his 
political  sympathies,  our  subject's  first 
Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  J.  C.  Fre- 
mont, and  he  has  frequently  been  solicited 
to  accept  office,  but  invariably  declines,  his 
business  interest  at  such  times  demaiidinir 
all  his  attention.  He  and  his  faithful  life 
partner  are  consistent  members  of  the 
Disciple  Church. 


CHARLES   ALEX.   TWINING,  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  and  wealthy 
of    tiie   prominent  farmers  of   Hen- 
rietta township,  is  a    native  of   the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  born   in  Hunterdon 
county  May  23,  182^. 

Samuel  Twininj;,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  February  22,  1796,  in  Hnnterdon 
county,  N.  J.,  and  moved  his  family  to 
Broome  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1823,  wiiere  he 
died  April  10, 1831.  On  September  23,1815, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Stout,  who  died  Oc- 
tober 17,  1882.  Her  people  were  wealthy, 
but  on  tlie  death  of  her  parents  she  lost  all 
that  she  became  heiress  to.  Saniuel  was 
a  farmer,  miller,  cloth-dresser  and  dis- 
tiller, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned 
fifty  acres  of  land  near  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 
He  left  five  children,  a  mother-in-law  and 
sister-in-law  for  onr  subject  to  assist  in 
Tjrovidinir  for,  and.  althouoh  the  latter  was 
but  ten  years  old  when  his  father  died,  he 
was  the  "  main  spoke  in  the  wheel."' 

Cl)arles  A.  Twininir,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion at  the  subscription  schools  of  the 
place  of  Ills  nativity.  On  October  18, 
1842,  he  was  married,  by  Squire  Jesse 
Richards,   to   Miss   Nellie  Schermerhorn, 


and  for  about  seven  years  thereafter  they 
continued  to  reside  in  Broome  county, 
N.  Y.  In  1849  they  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  and  Mr.  Twining,  having 
saved  some  five  hundred  dollars  from  his 
earnings,  bought  a  small  piece  of  land  in 
Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  count}',  where 
he  resided  three  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  he  sold  out  to  his  three  brothers  and 
returned  to  Broome  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  bought  the  old  home  farm  formerly 
owned  by  his  father.  After  residing  iiere 
three  years  he  sold  out,  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Camden  township, 
Lorain  county.  Sold  this  tarm  and  bouLrht 
in  Russia  township;  sold  this  and  bought 
a  farm  in  Henrietta  township,  which  he 
still  owns.  In  1888  he  built  a  comforta- 
ble modern  dwelling,  situated  in  Henrietta 
township,  and  his  property  has  increased 
from  time  to  time  till  he  now  owns  720 
acres  of  prime  farm  land,  divided  into 
seven  farms,  with  good  buihiings.  He  has 
owned  farms  in  lirownhelm  and  West 
Henrietta,  and  in  Erie  county,  in  Florence 
township;  three  farms  in  West  Clarksfield. 
Huron  county,  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  Wakeman,  Huron  county,  and 
resided  on  all  of  these  except  the  one  in 
Wakeman.  He  has  given  his  daughter 
Sarah  Ann  a  good  farm  in  Camden  town- 
ship, and  has  settled  his  si.\  living  sons  on 
good  farn^s,  and  has  also  dealt  quite  ex- 
tensively in  live  stock. 

Elever^  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tvvinino',  as  follows:  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann 
Gibson,  living  in  Clark.sfield,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio;  Herbert,  deceased;  Orlando,  de- 
ceased; William  T.,  living  on  the  home 
farm,  near  his  father;  Gertrude  E.,  de- 
ceased; Alva  P.,  Floyd  O.,  Virgil  L., 
Perry  E.  and  Fred  A.,  on  farms  near  their 
father;  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  The 
entire  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  except  Perry,  who  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  all  brongiit  up 
in  the  ])ath  of  Christian  rectitude,  which 
they  have  in  no  instance  deviated  from. 
Tlie  sons  have  never  used  liquor  or  tobacco 


774 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  any  form.  Mr.  Twining  in  his  political 
aifiliations  lias  always  been  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  served  his  county  to  the 
best  of  his  ability,  and  held  offices  of  trust. 
Mr.  Twining  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Church,  where  he  was  class- 
leader  and  superintendent  of  Sabbath- 
schools  for  a  number  of  years,  and  also 
held  an  exhorter's  license.  In  1866  Mr. 
Twining  spent  one  year  with  his  family  in 
Ocean  county,  N.  J.,  stopping  at  a  pleas- 
ure resort  in  Point  Pleasant. 


N 


// 


ATHANIEL  MARTIN,  who  for 
the  past  quarter  of  a  centurY  has 
been  identitied  with  the  agricul- 
tural  interests  of  Columbia  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  England,  born 
in  Devonshire  in  1830. 

His  parents,  Jolin  and  Sarah  (^Osborn) 
Martin,  were  also  natives  of  Devonshire, 
where  they  spent  their  entire  lives,  the 
mother  dying  in  1844,  the  father  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight  years.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  children  (four  of  whom  came  to 
America),  as  follows:  Mary  was  the  wife 
of  Edward  Spetigue,  and  died  in  England, 
leaving  a  family;  Maria,  who  was  the  wife 
of  John  Tubb,  went  to  Australia,  and  there 
slie  died  leaving  six  children;  Jeremiah, 
who  came  with  our  subject  to  Lorain 
county,  where  he  owned  a  farm,  and  thence 
moved  to  Jasj)er  county,  Mo.;  John,  who 
came  to  Lorain  county  in  1849,  located 
first  in  Ridgeville  township,  then  became  a 
resident  of  Eaton  township,  and  finally  of 
Columbia  (he  is  now  living  in  Pennsyl- 
vania); Nathaniel,  the  subject  of  this 
Bketch;  and  Jane,  wife  of  William  Palmer, 
of  Eaton  township. 

Nathaniel  Martin  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  in  1863 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Moyse,  a  native  of  Cornwall,  Eng- 
land, whence  in  1867  they  came  to  the 
United  States,  settling  at  once  in  Colum- 
bia   township,    Lorain    Co.,  Ohio.     Here 


Mrs.  Martin  died  in  1869,  leaving  three 
children,  viz.:  John  R.,  Elizabeth  E.,  and 
Anna  Maria,  who  is  now  teaching  in  Ant- 
werp, Ohio.  In  1870  Mr.  Martin  was 
married,  in  Columbia  township,  for  his 
second  wife,  to  Mrs.  Caroline  (^Kuple)  Heed, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Boltis  and  Clarissa  (0&- 
born)  Rnple,  natives  of  Connecticut,  who 
in  an  early  day  came  to  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  the  father  died  ; 
the  mother,  who  is  now  in  the  ninety- 
fourth  year  of  her  age,  still  survives. 

Since  coming  to  Lorain  conntv  Mr. Mar- 
tin  has  entjaaed  in  agriculture  and  he  now 
owns  a  good  farm  of  seventy-six  acres,  in  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation.  He  read  medi- 
cine in  Columbia  township,  and  al.so  at- 
tended Cincinnati  Medical  College,  gradu- 
ating therefrom  in  1879,  and  subsequently 
practiced  his  profession  for  some  years. 
He  now  conducts  a  general  farming  busi- 
ness, operating  216  acres  in  Lorain  and 
Medina  counties.  In  politics  he  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  In  religious  faith  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martin  are  both  members  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  at  West  View. 


dlOSEPH  H.  MULL,  junior  proprietor 
of  the  Obeilin  Citizen,  has  been 
)  identified  with  the  printing  business 
lor  the  past  seventeen  years,  rising 
from  "devil"  to  "boss."'  Eor  the  most 
part  he  was  employed  on  local  papers  in 
Oberlin,  and  in  job  offices,  and  in  1S92  be- 
came associated  with  Mr.  Disbro  in  the 
publication  of  the  Citizen,  a  fiourishiug 
weekly,  in  Oberlin. 

Mr.  Mull  was  born  in  November,  1857, 
in  Dubuque  county,  Iowa,  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Almira  (Sage)  Mull,  natives,  the  father 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  mother  of  Connecti- 
cut. In  the  early  days  of  Iowa  as  a  State 
they  moved  thither,  locating  in  Dubuque 
county,  whence  in  1860  they  came  to  Ohio, 
where  the  father  died  in  1891 ;  his  widow 
is  now  living  in    Pittstield  township,  Lo- 


LORAIS  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


775 


rain  county.  He  was  a  farmer  by  voca- 
tion, in  politics  a  Republican,  and  was  a 
member  of  tlie  Chriotian  Cliiirch. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  educated 
in  tiie  schools  of  Pittsfield,  and  in  the 
preparatory  department  of  Oberlin  College, 
after  which  he  embarked  in  the  printing 
business,  as  already  narrated.  In  1884  he 
was  married  to  Olivia  Stone,  and  they  have 
had  four  children,  two  being  deceased, 
Ernest  at  the  intereslinof  age  of  three 
years;  those  yet  living  are  George  and 
Julia.  In  his  political  sympathies  Mr. 
Mull  is  a  Republican ;  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Oberlin  F.  &  A.  M.  Lodge,  No.  380. 


FLOYD    M.  PELTON  is    a  son    of 
David    C.     Pelton,     who    was    horn 
_       February    4,     1800,    in     Hartford, 
Washington    Co.,  N.   Y.,  a    son  of 
James  Pelton,  who  was  among  the  earliest 
pioneers    of    LaGrange   township,    having 
settled  there  in  1S24. 

David  C.  Pelton  married  Lydia  Dodge, 
who  was  born  March  12,  1807,  and  they 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  lived  to  be 
named,  as  follows:  Maria,  Martha,  Mary 
and  Cliarles;  the  last  named  of  these  came 
to  Ohio  with  his  father,  and  is  now  a 
farmer  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  mother 
of  these  died,  and  in  1882  Mr.  Pelton  was 
married,  in  New  York,  for  his  second  wife, 
to  Hannah  Smith,  and  in  the  fall  of  1833 
started  with  his  wife  and  one  child  for 
Ohio,  where  his  father,  James,  had  been 
livincr,  as  will  be  seen,  for  some  few  years. 
They  came  by  way  of  canal  and  lake  to 
Cleveland,  and  thence  drove  to  Lorain 
county,  locating  in  the  eastern  part  of  La- 
Grange  township,  near  his  father.  He  re- 
mained there  eight  years,  and  then  re- 
moved to  the  western  part  of  the  township 
(then  a  very  wild  section,  and  all  new 
country,  the  roads  not  being  cut),  locating 
on  the  farm  where  our  sul)ject  now  resides. 
By  his  second  wife  he  had  ten  children, 
viz.:  Lydia,  Mrs.  Charles  Crowner,  of  La- 


Grange;  Mary,  married  to  Manford  Rip- 
ley, now  of  Eaton  county,  Mich.;  Clark, 
of  Cheboygan,  Mich.;  James  K.,  of  Wau- 
kesha, Wis.;  Joim,  of  Rising  Sun,  Wood 
Co.,  Ohio;  Grovener,  who  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany II,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Regi- 
ment, and  died  in  hospital  at  Hickman's 
Bridge,  Ky.,  where  he  was  buried;  Ade- 
line, Mrs.  Edward  Beaver,  of  LaGrange; 
Hannah,  Mrs.  Thomas  Cornell,  of  Eaton 
county,  Mich.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Lawi-cnce 
Van  Warner,  of  Elsie,  Mich.;  and  Win- 
field,  a  farruer  of  Eaton  county,  Mich.  The 
mother  of  these  died  June  30,  1852,  and 
was  buried  in  LaGrange,  and  for  his  third 
wife  he  married  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  Mrs.  Mary  (Tippin)  Burns,  widow  of 
Thomas  Burns.  By  this  union  there  were 
five  children,  as  follows:  One  that  died  in 
infancy  unnamed;  Clarissa,  who  married 
Augustus  Vanlinder,  and  died  in  New 
York  in  1885,  leaving  five  children;  Syl- 
vester, who  died  young  in  1864;  one  died 
of  spotted  fever  when  seven  or  eight  years 
old;  and  Floyd  M.,  subject  of  this  memoir. 
Mr.  Pelton  died  on  his  farm  February  11, 
1890,  being  then  over  ninety  years  old, 
and  was  buried  in  LaGrange  township. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  After 
his  death  his  widow  resided  on  the  home 
farm  with  our  subject;  she  died  September 
8,  1893,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
Floyd  M.  Pelton  was  born  June  18, 
1860,  in  LaGrange  township,  youngest 
of  the  twenty- one  children  of  David  C. 
Pelton.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  day,  and  was  reared  a  farmer  hoy, 
receiving  his  first  instnictions  under  the 
direction  of  his  father,  on  the  farm  he  now 
owns  and  resides  upon.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  June  18,  1879,  with  Miss  Lottie 
Johnson,  who  was  born  September  15, 
1864,  in  LaGrange,  daughter  of  Elijali  and 
Lvdia  (Haines)  Johnson,  and  they  have 
.had  four  children:  Cora  B.,  Mary  E., 
Clara  M.  and  Charles  W.  Since  his  father's 
death  Mr.  Pelton  has  had  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  which  he  now  owns,  and  to 
which  he  has  added  eighty  acres,  making 


776 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


him  in  all  a  tract  of  160  acres.  He  has 
met  with  some  misfortunes,  having  had 
his  barns  destroyed  by  fire  three  times,  but 
he  has  rebuilt  each  time,  and  in  1891  he 
erected  one  of  the  finest  and  most  conven- 
ient barns  in  the  township.  He  also  con- 
ducts a  dairy  in  connection  with  his 
farming  operations,  and  has  at  present 
thirty-eight  fine  Holstein  cattle.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Holstein-Friesian 
Association  of  America.  He  is  an  ener- 
getic, hard-working  man,  and  has  been 
very  prosperous.  Politically  he  is  a  Ee- 
piiblican,  and  has  held  various  township 
offices;  in  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  La- 
Grange. 


f[JfENE,Y  WISE,  one  of  the  progres- 
fs^     sive  German  agriculturists  of  Graf- 
I     Ij    ton  township,  was    born    in    Byron, 
•fj  October   5,    1847,   a    son  of   Peter 

Wise,  who  was  born  November  5, 
1810,  also  in  Byron,  and  married  a  native 
of  that  place  in  the  person  of  Miss  Louisa 
Miller,  born  May   18,  1817. 

In  1858  the  family,  consisting  of  father, 
mother  and  six  children — Louisa,  Fred- 
ericka,  Henry,  Lewis,  Frederick  and 
Ciiristian — set  sail  from  Havre,  France, 
for  the  United  States,  and  after  a  voyage 
of  twenty-one  days  landed  at  New  York 
toward  the  latter  part  of  December.  From 
that  port  they  came  west  to  Liverpool, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  by  way  of  Hudson 
river, Erie  Canal  and  lake  Erie  to  Cleveland, 
from  which  point  Peter's  brother  brought 
them  by  wagon  to  Liverpool  township, 
Medina  county,  where  they  arrived  on 
Christmas  Day.  In  Germany  Peter  Wise 
had  been  well-to-do,  but  through  going 
security  for  a  friend,  who  afterward  failed 
in  business,  he  lost  over  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. In  Liverpool  township,  Medina 
county,  he  rented  a  farm  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  removed  to  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  later  coming  to  Grafton 
township,  same  county,  where  he  bought 


fifty  acres  of  wild  land  on  credit,  and  here 
lived  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  moved  to  the  farm  whereon  he  died 
August  8,  1886;  his  wife  had  passed  away 
June  19,  1883,  and  both  are  interred  in 
Belden  cemetery.  In  Ohio  the  family  was 
increased  by  three  children,  as  follows: 
Hannah  J.,  born  September  11,  1857; 
Catherine  S.,  born  Septetnber  12,  1859; 
and  Jacob  J.,  born  July  25,  1864.  The 
parents  were  hard-working,  industrious 
people,  accumulating  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, and  they  were  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all. 

Henry  Wise,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  six  years  old  when  his 
father  and  family  came  to  America  and  to 
Ohio.  Before  leaving  Germany  he  had 
attended  a  Kindergarten  for  a  time,  and 
after  coming  here  he  received  the  rest  of 
his  education  at  a  German  school,  but  he 
never  entered  an  English  educational  in- 
stitution.  While  yet  a  lad  he  was  put  to 
work  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  at 
which  time  he  commenced  work  for  Ben- 
jamin Corning  at  six  dollars  per  month,  all 
his  earnings  being  turned  over  to  his  par- 
ents to  help  pay  for  the  home.  On  March 
28,  1870,  Mr.  Wise  married  Mary  Law, 
who  was  born  March  13,  1851,  in  Gi-afton 
township,  Lorain  county,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Law,  and  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  them:  Twins  (stillborn),  Rosa, 
Bertha,  Alice,  Edith,  Amanda,  Elmer, 
Anna,  Lorena,  Agnes,  Llenry  and  Ralph. 
In  1871  he  and  his  brother  Lewis  pur- 
chased land,  going  into  delit  nine  thou- 
sand si.x  hundred  dollars  for  it,  and  the 
predictions  of  many  were  that  "  the  Wise 
boys  would  fail."  But  these  ominous  words 
were  not  fated  to  come  true,  for  "  the  Wise 
boys  "did  not  fail;  on  the  contrary  they 
succeeded,  by  dinf  of  hard  work  and  judi- 
cious economy,  in  paying  off  every  dollar 
of  the  indebtedness.  At  the  end  of  thir- 
teen years  (in  1886)  the  brothers  effected 
an  amicable  division  of  the  jjroperty,  each 
one  settling  on  his  own  share.     Our  sub- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ill 


ject  has  an  excellent  piece  of  land  and  a 
good  home,  equipped  with  all  modern  im- 
provements, including  commodious  out- 
buildings. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Churcli  of  Liverpool,  Ohio. 


T|OSEPH  S.  WHITNEY,  retired  agri- 
k.  Ii  cultnrist,  well  known  and  highly  re- 
\^j  spected  in  Lorain  county,  now  re- 
siding in  Uie  town  of  Camden,  is  a 
typical  "Green  #/[ountain  Laddie,"  born 
July  10,  1814,  in  Bennington  county,  Ver- 
mont. 

Joseph  Whitney,  father  of  subject,  first 
saw  the  light  in  Westminster,  Mass.,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1785,  a  son  of  Elisha  Whitney, 
and  April  27,  1811,  was  married  to  Abi- 
gail Townes,  who  was  born  January  22, 
1791,  in  Andover,  Vt.,  where  she  was 
married.  After  their  marriage  they  con- 
tinned  to  live  in  Vermont  till  1838,  when 
they  came  to  Ohio,  making  a  settlement  in 
Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  county,  the 
entire  family  (excepting  two  sons,  who  had 
preceded  them)  making  the  journe}'  in  a 
wagon,  the  trip  occupying  three  weeks. 
The  head  of  the  family  had  in  1833  made 
a  prospecting  visit  to  Lorain  county,  com- 
ing by  way  of  the  lakes,  and  at  that  time 
l)ought  the  land  in  Pittsfield  township  to 
which  the  family  afterward  removed,  as 
above  related.  The  two  sons,  spoken  of  as 
having  preceded  the  rest,  came,  Joseph  S. 
in  1836  and  Aaron  in  1837;  and  in  pre- 
paring the  new  home  they  cleared  thirty 
acres  of  land,  and  erected  a  rude  frame 
house  in  which  the  family  lived  after  their 
arrival.  Here  the  parents  died,  the  father 
May  2,  1877,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of 
nearly  ninety-three  years,  the  mother  on 
May  3,  1872,  and  they  lie  buried  in  Pitts- 
field cemetery.  Mr.  Whitney  was  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  in  Vermont,  and  was  worth 
two  thousand  dollars  at  the  time  of  his 
comiiiiJ  to  Ohio;  when  he  died  his  estate 
was    valued    at    twenty   thousand    dollars. 


His  political  proclivities  were  of  a  pro- 
nounced type,  at  first  as  a  strong  Whig, 
and  later  as  a  stanch  Republican.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Their  children,  all  born 
\n  Vermont,  were  Hannah  T.  and  A1)igail 
(twins),  born  July  5,  1812,  of  whom  Han- 
nah married  Reul)en  Stone,  in  Vermont, 
and  died  in  Oberlin,  Ohio  (Abigail  died  in 
infancy);  Joseph  S.,  born  July  10,  1814, 
who  is  the  subject  proper  of  this  memoir; 
Aaron  T.,  born  July  5,  1816,  who  died  in 
1870,  in  CoUinwood,  Ohio;  Mark,  born 
December  17,  1818,  a  farmer  of  Russia 
townshij),  Lorain  county;  Augustine,  born 
December  27, 1820,  of  Pittsfield  township; 
Richard,  born  February  16,  1828,  of  Grin- 
nell,  Iowa;  Susan  A.,  born  July  20,  1825, 
who  married  John  Mills,  and  died  in  Pitts- 
field; Norman,  born  January  20,  1828,  of 
Anthony,  Kans.;  Ira,  born  September  13, 
1829,  of  Harper  county,  Ivans.,  where  he 
owns  over  1,200  acres;  and  Loren,  born 
February  26,  1833,  of  Texas. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  reeejved  but 
a  limited  education  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  his  native  place,  consisting  of 
two  months'  tuition  during  a  few  winters; 
but  what  he  lacked  in  that  respect  he  made 
up  for  by  after-study,  and  a  close  observa- 
tion of  men  and  things.  In  1836  his 
father  sent  him  to  Ohio  to  prepare  a  new 
home  for  the  family,  as  above  related,  and 
in  this  then  wild  locality  he  did  many  a 
hard  day's  work,  being  a  stout,  active 
young  man,  and  frequently  had  encounters 
with  wild  animals  who  were  disposed  to 
assert  their  prior  right  to  the  forest  wilds.' 
After  his  marriage  he  and  his  bride  settled 
on  100  acres  of  land  in  Pittsfield  township, 
which  he  had  bought  on  credit,  and  here 
they  lived  four  years,  their  house  being  an 
old  log  cabin,  very  much  the  worse  for  age 
and  exposure  to  the  elements,  and  through 
the  many  cracks  between  the  logs  would 
often  creep  into  "  the  sacred  penetralia  of 
the  home"  snakes  and  other  reptiles.  Buy- 
ing another  farm  near  by,  Mr.  Whitney 
lived  there  many  years;  then  for  two  years 


778 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


made  his  home  in  Brownhelm  township, 
same  county,  and  then  returning  to  Pitts- 
field  township  lived  tliere  till  1870,  in 
■which  year  he  came  to  Camden  township, 
taking  up  his  residence  at  Kipton,  where 
he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 

On  September  19,  183'J,  Mr.  Whitney 
was  married,  in  Sullivan,  Ashland  Co., 
Ohio,  to  Lucy  A.  Ward,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 7,  1818,  in  Orwell,  Vt.,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Lucy  (Abel)  Ward,  who 
came  to  Ohio  in  July,  1836,  locating  in 
Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  county.  The 
children  burn  to  this  union  are  four  in 
number,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Melva  A.  is  the  wife  of  Roswell 
Adams,  of  Wellington,  Ohio;  Agnes  A. 
is  the  wife  of  E.  Jones,  of  Fostoria,  Ohio; 
Everetta  H.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Sheffield, 
of  Pittsfield  township;  Mary  M.  is  an 
educated  young  lady  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Politically  our  subject  was  originally  a 
AVhig,  later  a  Republican,  and  he  held 
various  offices  of  trust  in  Pittsfield  town- 
ship. On  September  19,  1889,  Mr.,  and 
Mrs.  Whitney  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding; and  they  are  yet  hale  and  hearty,  en- 
joying in  their  declining  years  the  good 
will  and  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


rH.  FOSTER,  member  of  the  flour- 
isiiiug  clothing  firm  of  Baker  &  Fos- 
^  ter,  Elyria,  was  born  in  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 7,  184:9,  a  son  of  I.  B.  and  Hannah 
(Taylor)  Foster,  natives  of  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.,  the  fatiier  born  September 
12,  1822,  died  July  7, 1882,  and  the  latter 
born  March  2,  1828,  in  Enfield,  died  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1890. 

Both  parents  were  reared  on  farms,  and 
received  common-school  educations.  Tiiey 
were  married  in  their  native  county,  and 
moved  westward  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Car^ 
lisle  township,  Lorain  county,  about  the 
year  1847.     They  had  four  children,  viz.: 


F.  H.;  Frederick  K.,  now  a  farmer  at 
Saint  John's,  Clinton  Co.,  Mich.;  DeWitt, 
a  farmer,  now  residing  at  Oberlin,  Ohio; 
and  Charles  H.,  a  clerk  with  the  firm  of 
Baker  &  Foster.  Our  subject's  paternal 
grandparents  were  both  natives  of  Xew 
York  State,  where  they  passed  their  entire 
lives,  and  were  descended  from  old  Massa- 
chusetts stock.  The  maternal  grandpHr- 
ents  were  of  the  same  nativity,  and  tiie 
grandmother  is  yet  living,  now  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four  years. 

I.  B.  Foster,  father  of  subject,  was  by 
trade  a  carpenter  and  joiner  and  cabinet 
maker.  After  coming  to  Lorain  county 
he  followed  the  business  of  contracting 
and  building,  was  recognized  as  a  first- 
class  mechanic,  and  had  in  his  employ  at 
times  as  many  as  thirty  hands.  His  health 
failing,  however,  he  abandoned  this  line  of 
trade,  taking  up  fruit  culture,  including 
tree  grafting,  and  also  carried  on  a  mer- 
cantile business  in  a  small  way  at  La- 
Porte,  in  Lorain  county,  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  at  his  home  in 
LaPorte.  He  was  very  active  in  business, 
and  made  a  success  of  it.  In  politics  he 
was  a  strong  Republican,  and  a  pronounced 
temperance  advocate  and  Abolitionist, 
often  concealing  in  his  house  run-away 
slaves  during  the  "Underground  Rail- 
road "  period.  His  wife  was  a  slight, 
delicate  woman,  and,  like  her  husband, 
was  possessed  of  strong  religious  convic- 
tions. They  were  married  November 
1,  1846. 

F.  H.  Foster,  subject  of  these  lines,  re- 
mained with  his  parents  till  he  was  nine- 
teen years  old,  attending  during  the  winter 
months  the  schools  of  LaPorte,  Lorain 
county,  and  working  in  the  summer  sea- 
son, lie  got  some  ideas  of  mercantile 
business  in  his  father's  store,  and  always 
had  an  ambition  to  lead  a  commercial  life. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  the  paternal 
roof,  and  proceeded  to  Oberlin,  in  the 
same  county,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  J.  M.  Johnson  &  Son,  with  whom  he 
remained    two   years    and    four    months; 


i^^^^^^s^t-^^^r^^^^^^ 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


781 


then  came  to  Elyria,  and  for  seven  years 
clerked  with  Starr  Brothers  ifc  Co.,  general 
uierciiants.  In  b(jtii  these  houses  Mr. 
Foster  tilled  positions  with  ability  and 
energy  in  all  departments,  and  during  the 
last  three  or  four  years  he  was  with  the 
last  named  tirm  he  had  charge  of  tiie 
clothing  and  manufacturing  of  clothing, 
becoming  a  thorough  expert  in  all  the  de- 
partments of  that  branch  of  the  business. 
Leaving  the  firm  of  Starr  Brothers  &  Co. 
on  account  of  their  going  out  of  business, 
he  entered  into  an  equal  partnership  with 
G.  W.  Baker,  under  the  tii'm  name  of 
Baker  &  Foster,  and  in  1878  they  bought 
out  the  clothing  department  of  Baldwin, 
Lersch  &  Co. ;  since  then  they  have  been 
the  leading  clothiers  in  Elyria.  Both  are 
admirably  adapted  to  the  trade,  having 
had  long  experience  in  the  business,  and 
being  well  known  to  the  public.  They 
commenced  in  a  careful,  conservative  way, 
and  as  business  increased  enlarged  their 
premises,  making  three  additions  to  their 
rooms;  after  which  they  bought  out  Cogs- 
well &  Co.,  and  added  their  late  room  to 
their  own  store.  Mr.  Foster  is  one  of  the 
best  buyers  and  salesmen  to  be  found  any- 
where, and  in  discretion  and  judgment  in 
both  buying  and  selling  he  has  no  superior 
in  the  State.  He  does  all  the  buying  for 
the  firm. 

Mr.  Foster  was  married,  Novenilier  1, 
1871,  to  Miss  Emma  Inez  Prindle,  a  na- 
tive of  Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county, 
born  October  6,  1851.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  H.  H.  and  Chiistiana  Elizabeth  (Spaf- 
ford)  Prindle,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  about  the  year  1S22  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
and  died,  the  latter  born  in  Richfield, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  January  13,  1822,  and 
died  at  Elyria,  Ohio,  October  13,  1885, 
aged  sixty-three  years,  eight  months  and 
twenty-eight  days.  Mrs.  Emma  Inez 
Foster  was  educated  in  the  country  schools 
till  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  she  came  to 
Elyria  to  attend  the  high  school  there, 
making  her   home   during  that  time  with 


her  grandparents.  She  is  the  mother  of 
two  cliildren:  Clarence  H.,  l)orn  October 
21,  1877,  and  Maud  Inez,  born  December 
15,  1881. 

Politically  Mr.  Foster  is  a  Republican; 
socially  he  is  a  Master  Mason  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  inter- 
ested in  the  Independent  Horse  and  Cattle 
Company  at  North  Park,  Colo.,  and  for 
j'ecreation  and  the  benefit  of  his  health  he 
makes  frequent  trips  to  that  place.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 


EV.  J.  A.  SCHMIDT,  pastor  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in 
Elyria,  was  born  April  5,  1854,  in 
Shelby  county,  Ohio,  the  fifth 
child  of  J.  A.  and  Rosina  (Bertch) 
Schmidt,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  After  coming  to 
this  country  they  lived  in  Ohio  and  In- 
diana; the  motlier  died  in  1892;  the  father 
is  now  a  resident  of  Liverpool,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
literary  education  in  part  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.,  and  pursued  his  theological  studies 
at  Concordia  College.  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
he  graduated  in  1877,  in  July  of  which 
year  he  was  ordained.  Coming,  then,  direct 
to  Elyria,  he  took  charge  of  St.  John's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation.  The 
appointments  in  the  parish  were  poor,  a 
small  frame  edifice  serving  as  church, 
parochial  school  and  pastoral  residence.  By 
and  by  Mr.  Schmidt  agitated  among  his 
fiock  the  question  of  building  new  accomo- 
dations for  the  flock  and  pastor,  and  as  a 
result  of  his  labors  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran Church  building,  schoolhouse  and 
pastoral  residence  are  among  the  finest 
buildings  in  Elyria.  The  congregation 
have  never  solicited  aid  from  outside 
sources,  it  being  a  princi])le  of  the  denomi- 
nation that  to  donate  to  Church  work  is  a 
privilege  and  purely  a  matter  of  religion. 
Mr.  Schmidt  was  united  in  marriage, 
April    22,     1878,    with     Miss     Johanna 


782 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Scliwan,  who  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Eev.  H.  C.  Schwan,  D.  D.,  and 
Emma  (Bhun)  Schwan,  the  former  of  whom 
is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  the  latter 
of  Brazil,  South  America;  they  reside  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  the  following  named  fonr  children: 
Stella,  Flora,  Esther  and  George.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  independent.  At 
Grafton,  Ohio,  he  has  a  station  which  he 
visits  monthly  to  preach  the  good  tidings 
of  salvation. 

ViILLIAM  N.  SHOOP,  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  Grafton  town- 
ship, was  born  May  31,  1828,  in 
Fairview  township,  York  Co., 
Penn.,  son  of  Peter  and  Susan  (Nelson) 
Shoop,  wlio  were  of  German  extraction. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school 
education,  attending  school  during  the 
winter  season,  and  doincr  chores  for  his 
board,  his  duties  being  so  numerous  that 
he  was  obliged  to  labor  very  industriously 
to  ])erform  all  the  work  assigned  to  him 
before  school  began.  Thus  he  struggled 
on  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  commenced  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  working  for  one  year  under  John 
Whitmer.  of  White  Hill,"Cumberland  Co., 
Penn.,  and  then  for  two  and  a  half  years 
under  James  Denning,  on  Tiiird  street, 
Harrisburg,  Penn.  He  was  then  employed 
for  a  short  time  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  a 
shop  on  Utah  street,  when  failing  healtli 
compelled  him  to  give  up  the  trade,  and 
he  obtained  work  in  the  limekilns  along 
the  Lebanon  pike  from  Harrisburg,  Penn. 
In  1849  his  father  died,  and  was  buried  in 
Fairview  township,  York  Co.,  Penn.,  by 
the  side  of  the  mother,  who  had  preceded 
him  to  the  grave  in  1841.  They  left  live 
children,  of  whom  William  N.  was  the 
youngest;  the  latter  was  taken  sick  after 
his  mother's  death  with  a  disease  very 
much  like  la  grippe,  and  during  his  illness 
incurred  a  doctor's  bill  of  five  dollars,  to 
settle  which  he  gathered  roots  and  herbs 
after  iiis  recovery. 


After  the  death  of  his  parents,  being 
dissatisfied  with  his  wages,  Mr.  Shoop  con- 
cluded to  micrrate  to  Ohio,  and  came  to 
West  Salem,  Wayne  county,  but  failing  to 
find  work  there,  walked  to  Westtield  town- 
ship, Medina  county,  carrying  his  budget. 
He  worked  for  twelve  dollars  a  month  un- 
til October,  1854,  when  he  returned  to 
Harrisburg,  Penn.,  remaining  there  until 
the  following  spring,  when,  in  company 
with  three  other  young  men,  he  started  for 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  traveling  by  rail  to  Galena, 
111.,  and  thence  by  boat  to  their  destina- 
tion. He  found  employment  with  a  sur- 
veying corps  (then  laying  out  Stillman's 
addition  to  St.  Paul),  but  after  a  short 
time  returned  to  northern  Illinois,  work- 
ing near  Freeport,  Stephenson  county,  un- 
til the  spring  of  1856.  He  then  went  to 
Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa,  where  he  helped  to 
burn  the  brick  for  the  college  of  that  place; 
and  then  returning  to  his  native  State, 
remained  there  for  some  time.  In  the  lat- 
ter part  of  1858  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
locating  in  Westfield,  Medina  county,  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  for  about  one  year, 
when,  his  health  failing,  he  obtained  a  sit- 
nation  with  the  Ohio  Farmers  Insurance 
Company,  his  former  employer  signing  his 
bond  for  two  thousand  dollars.  He  com- 
menced his  career  in  March,  1860,  in 
Grafton  township,  Lorain  county,  making 
his  first  business  call  at  and  taking  his  first 
risk  on  the  house  in  which  he  was  after- 
ward married,  and  which  subsequently 
came  into  his  possession.  Though  he  had 
no  experience  whatever  in  the  insurance 
line,  during  the  first  year  alone  he  in- 
creased the  number  of  applications  from 
123  (the  highest  number  obtained  by  his 
predecessor)  to  365.  He  subsequently 
worked  in  portions  of  Erie,  Huron,  Cuya- 
hoga, Logan,  Union,  Knox  and  Champaign 
counties,  Ohio,  and  for  various  companies, 
continuing  in  business  until  1872. 

On  December  22,  1863,  Mr.  Shoop  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Thorp,  who  was 
born  May  15,  1843,  in  Grafton,  daughter 
of  Ira  S.  and  Sarah  (Johnston)  Thorp,  and 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


783 


to  their  union  has  come  one  child:  Jessie, 
Mrs.  John  G.  Gardner,  of  Grafton  town- 
ship. In  1867  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm,  and  here,  since  1872,  has  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  agriculture. 
In  political  faith  he  is  a  Repuhlican,  and 
has  served  in  various  township  ottices.  Mr. 
Shoop  is  one  of  the  representative  self- 
made  men  of  Grafton  township.  He  is  a 
leader  in  pulilic  affairs,  and  his  opinions  on 
agricultural  subjects  are  highly  valued.  As 
a  citizen,  he  is  public  spirited,  progressive 
and  enterprising,  and  is  ready  to  assist  in 
every  measure  tending  to  benelit  the  com- 
niunity  in  general. 


THOMAS  CHOPE,-a  representative 
prosperous  agriculturist  of  Colum- 
bia township,  of  which  he  is  a  native, 
was  born  in  April,  1841. 

His  parents,  Thomas  and  Ann 
(Rowlan)  Chope,  natives  of  England,  where 
they  mari'ied,  came  in  the  year  1835  to 
tlie  United  States  and  to  Ohio,  first  locating 
on  the  Public  Square,  Cleveland,  whence 
they  moved  to  Columbia  township,  Loraiti 
county,  where  they  settled  in  the  woods 
and  commenced  clearing  a  farm.  Their 
first  piece  of  land  was  thirty  acres  which 
they  improved,  and  they  added  thereto  from 
time  to  time  till  it  is  now  a  fine  property 
of  230  acres.  Here  they  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days,  the  father  dying  in 
1884,  a  lifelong  Whig  and  Republican,  the 
mother  in  1885.  They  had  a  family  of 
four  children,  all  now  deceased  except  our 
subject,  their  names  being  Thomas,  Will- 
iam (deceased  at  the  age  of  twenty-four), 
Mary  (deceased  when  twenty-two  years 
old)  and  Ann  (who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen). 

Thomas  Chope,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  educated  at  the  schools  of 
his  native  township,  and  learned  the 
butchering  business,  which  he  followed 
for  some  years  in  Cleveland  and  Chicago. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he   took   up 


farming,  which  has  since  been  his  life 
work,  and  he  is  now  the  ovrner  of  125 
acres,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation:  on 
it  he  erected,  in  1890,  a  commodious  barn, 
40  X  60,  standing  oti  twenty  posts.  In 
1863  he  was  married,  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, to  Miss  Addie  Van  Dorn,  by  whom 
he  had  five  children,  viz.:  Clara,  born  in 
1865,  married  in  1891  tt)  A.  Koth,  of  Co- 
Innihia  township;  Charles  AV.,  liorn  in 
1867,  married  to  Miss  Ida  Robins  in  1891, 
and  has  a  daughter,  Florence  M.,  born  in 
May,  1892  (he  resides  in  Strongsville, 
Cuyahoga  county);  Edward  T.,  born  in 
1872,  married  to  Miss  Percy  Viola  Hillman 
in  1890,  and  has  one  son,  Clyde  A.,  born 
in  1891  (they  reside  in  Cleveland);  one 
son,  born  in  1878,  died  at  the  ao-e  of  three 
months;  Henry,  born  in  1882,  is  living  at 
home.  Politically  ]\Ir.  Chope  is  a  straight 
Republican,  and  he  takes  a  lively  interest 
in  all  matters  tending  to  the  advancement 
of  his  township  and  county. 


<) 


\Al  KELLING.  The  Kingdom  of  Prus- 
yI     sia  has  given  to  the  United  States 
1     not   a   few  of   her    steadiest,    most 
progressive,  useful   and   loyal  citi- 
zens, and  this  volume  would  be  in- 
complete   were    prominent     mention    not 
made   of    the    gentleman    here    named,    a 
native  of  Prussia. 

Mr.  Kelling  was  born  March  22,  1829, 
a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Schuster) 
Kelling,  also  natives  of  Prussia,  farmers, 
who  in  1844  set  sail  with  their  family 
from  Antwerp  for  the  New  World.  Ar- 
riving after  a  voyage  of  fifty-two  days  at 
New  York,  they  proceeded  westward  to 
Ohio,  reaching  Sheffield  township,  Lorain 
county,  in  August,  same  year,  and  here 
they  settled  on  the  farm  whereon  our  sub- 
ject now  lives.  The  father  died  in  De- 
cember, 1845.  the  mother  in  March,  1887. 
The}'  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  as 
follows:  Georiie,  married,  and  residinij;  in 
Sheffield  township;   N.,  subject  of  sketch; 


784 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Michael,  married,  and  living  in  Sheffield 
township,  Lorain  county;  John,  married, 
and  now  in  Pennsylvania;  Joseph,  mar- 
ried, and  a  resident  of  Elyria,  Ohio;  Eliz- 
abeth, wile  of  Anton  Junc^las,  of  Salem, 
Mich.;  Anton,  married,  and  residing  in 
Elyria,  Ohio;  and  Jacob,  somewhere  in  the 
West. 

N.  Kelling,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  was  fifteen 
years  old  when  the  family  came  to  Amer- 
ica. In  their  new  home  in  Sheffield  town- 
ship he  assisted  in  clearing  up  the  farm, 
and  converting  the  forest  wild  into  smil- 
ing fields  of  golden  grain.  For  a  traae  he 
learned  tliat  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  at 
which  he  worked  some  ten  years  in  Cleve- 
land; three  years  at  Wellington,  Lorain 
county,  and  built  a  church  at  East  Avon; 
he  also  worked  for  a  time  at  boat  building. 
In  1865  lie  settled  down  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  bought  the  old  homestead  of 
fifty-three  and  tiiree-quarters  acres  of  land, 
to  which  he  has  since  added  till  he  now 
owns  120  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. In  1854  Mr.  Kelling  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Sheffield  township,  with 
Margaret  Diederich,  who  was  born  in 
Prussia  in  1833,  and  died  in  Sheffield 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1855.  To 
this  union  was  born  one  child,  Gertrude, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Chris  Laubentlial,  of 
Eidgevilie,  and  has  four  children.  In 
1858  Mr.  Kelling  married,  for  his  second 
wife.  Miss  Anna  Mary  Diederich,  who 
died  in  1875,  and  by  that  marriage  there 
were  six  children,  as  follows:  Katie,  wife 
of  Tiiomas  Monroe,  of  Elyria,  Ohio,  has 
three  children;  Margaret,  married  to  An- 
drew Ferner,  died  in  March,  1884,  leaving 
one  son;  Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Sclmeider, 
of  Kansas,  has  three  children;  Thursa, 
wife  of  Michael  Sterbenc,  has  one  child; 
John,  married,  resides  in  Elyria,  Ohio; 
and  Eva,  in  Atlanta,  Ga.  In  1875  Mr. 
Kelling  married,  for  his  third  wife,  Miss 
Ferner  Kunne.  a  native  of  Prussia,  and 
five  sons  have  been  born  to  them,  named 


respectively:  Andrew,  Peter,  Henry,  Con- 
rad and  Barney.  In  his  political  sympa- 
thies our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  he 
has  been  township  trustee  and  supervisor. 
He  has  been  postmaster  at  Crandall, 
Lorain  county,  since  1878,  the  office  being 
at  his  residence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelling 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


D.  KEEFY,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Elyria,  is  an  Ohioan  by 
birtii.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education  at  the  district 
school,  which  he  attended  three 
months  in  the  winter,  working  on  the 
farm  the  balance  of  the  year. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  while 
yet  a  boy  in  his  "  teens,"  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  Nineteenth  0.  V.  I.,  as  pri- 
vate, and  served  from  September  7,  1861, 
to  November  25,  1865,  with  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland.  He  was  engaged  in  all 
the  battles  fought  by  that  army,  from  Shi- 
loh  to  its  last  general  battle  at  Nashville, 
in  December,  18()4,  participating,  alto- 
gether, in  eighty-four  engagements.  He 
held  every  rank  from  private  to  captain; 
served  as  adjutant  of  his  regiment  for  one 
year;  commanded  a  company  two  years; 
served  on  the  staff  of  Maj.-Gen.  Wood 
as  mustering  officer  of  the  Third  Division, 
Fourth  Army  Corps;  served  as  ordnance 
officer  of  the  Central  Disti'ict  of  Texas, 
and  as  assistant  adjutant-general  on  the 
staff  of  Maj.-Gen.   Sam.  Beatty. 

Immediately  after  the  war  our  subject 
spent  two  years  at  school,  and  in  1867  he 
went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  studied 
medicine,  and  graduated  in  1869.  At 
Bellevue  Hospital,  N.  Y.,  he  spent  half  a 
year,  and  in  1871  graduated  from  Cleve- 
land Medical  College.  In  1873  he  went 
to  Europe,  and  studied  in  Vienna  and  Ber- 
lin, returning  to  Ohio  in  1874,  since  when 
he  has  been  in  active  practice  at  Elyria. 

In  1877  Dr.  Reefy  was  married  to  Lib- 
bie  Mountaine,  to  which  union  have  been 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


181 


added  two  rollicking  cliiklren,  Karl  and 
Bessie.  In  politics  and  religion  the  Doc- 
tor is  strictly  independent;  neither  party 
nor  creed  can  liold  him  in  alliance,  but  he 
acts  on  the  impulse  of  his  own  opinion, 
caring  little  for  the  conventionalities  of 
society  or  their  influence. 


EOEGE  BRYANT,  retired,  well 
|,  known  and  highly  respected  in  the 
community,  is  a  native  of  England, 
born  in  the  parish  of  King  Stanley, 
Gloucestershire,  November  1,1814. 
John  Bryant,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
in  Wales,  and  was  there  married  March 
18,  1813,  to  Miss  Pamelia  Collins,  who 
bore  him  six  children,  as  follows:  George, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Jane,  deceased  wife 
of  A.  H.  Redington;  Ann,  wife  of  George 
Collins,  of  Anilierst;  J.  C,  residing  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of 
the  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College; 
H.  B.,  founder  of  the  Bryant  &  Stratton 
Business  Colle<j;e;  and  Pamelia,  wife  of 
Henry  Dwight  Stratton,  of  the  lirm  of 
Bryant  &  Stratton,  proprietors  of  the  well- 
known  business  colleges.  The  father,  who 
was  all  his  life  a  farmer,  came  with  his 
family  to  this  country  in  1830,  arriving  in 
South  Amherst,  Lurain  Co.,  Ohio,  October 
18,  1880,  and  here  bought  the  farm  prop- 
erty owned  by  his  son  George.  He  died 
in  1880,  aged  ninety-one  years  and  six 
months;  his  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  in  August,  lsG4,  when  seventy-six 
years  old.  Her  father  was  a  clergyman  in 
the  Church  of  England  in  the  mother 
country,  very  prominent  as  a  "High 
Church'"  ecclesiastic.  Nathaniel  Bryant, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  coachman 
to  the  Duke  of  Wellington  for  some  time; 
he  died  at  Anihcrft,  Lorain  county,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

George  Bryant,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was,  as  will  be  seen,  si.xteen 
jears  old  when  the  family  came  to  Lorain 
county.     With    the    exception     of     three 


weeks'  schooling  in  South  Amhei'st,  he 
received  all  his  education  in  his  native 
])arish  in  England,  at  the  same  time  being 
thoroughly  trained  to  agricultural  pursuits 
under  the  immediate  tuition  of  his  father. 
He  followed  farming  all  his  active  life,  and 
made  a  thorough  success  of  it. 

In  1836  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ade- 
line L.  Webb,  born  February  6,  1817,  in 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  county,  and  six 
children,  as  follows,  were  born  to  them: 
Ellen  T.,  deceased  wife  of  Darius  Plumb; 
Mary  D.,  who  married  James  H.  liedfern, 
and  had  one  child,  Lottie  B.,  whu  died 
when  eighteen  and  a  half  years  old  (our 
subject  now  resides  with  this  daughter); 
George  W.,  who  has  three  children — 
Maude  L.  (wife  of  John  Harper),  Adeline 
L.  and  Sadie  G.;  Pamelia,  who  married 
George  Camp,  and  died  without  issue;  E. 
C,  who  had  four  children — Charles,  Nina 
May,  Harvey  (deceased)  and  Delia;  and 
Ciiarley  C,  residing  on  the  old  home  farm, 
who  has  one  child,  Eva.  Mrs.  Adeline  L. 
Bryant  was  a  schoolteacher  before  mar- 
riage, and  afterward  she  aided  her  husband 
very  materially  in  improving  his  educa- 
tion. It  may  be  here  mentioned  that  his 
schooling  in  this  country  was  abruptly 
terminated  by  hiuiself,  as  the  other  boys 
''made  too  much  fun  of  his  (Tloucester- 
shire  accent;"  but  in  after  years  his  clever 
wife  came  to  his  assistance,  and  imparted 
to  him  an  interest  in  study,  wliereby  he 
became  a  great  reader  and  one  of  the  best 
infoi'med  men  in  the  community.  Mrs. 
Bryant  died  February  29,  18S8.  A  lie- 
publican  in  politics,  formerly  a  Whig,  Mr. 
Bryant's  first  vote  was  cast  for  Andrew 
Jackson.  He  is  now  retired  from  active 
life,  and  makes  his  home  with  his  daugh- 
ter and  son-in  law — Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
H.  Kedfern.  [Since  the  above  was  written, 
we  have  received  information  of  the  death 
of  Mr.  George  Bryant,  which  occurred 
August  13,  1893.— Ed.] 

H.  B.  Bryant,  brother  of  our  sul>ject, 
was  the  founder  of  the  famous  Bryant  & 
Stratton    Business  College,  the  nucleus  of 


788 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wliich  was  a  small  class  gathered  together 
by  liiin  for  a  Mr.  P^olsotue  in  Cleveland, 
with  whom  he  became  a  partner,  nitiinately 
succeeding  him;  and  from  this  small  be- 
ginning he  developed  the  great  commercial 
school,  establishing  no  less  than  forty-nine 
business  colleges  in  various  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 

James  11.  Redfern,  son-in-law  of  George 
Bryant,  was  born  February  13,  1840,  near 
Toronto,  Ontario  (Canada),  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Ellen  (McClarendon)  Redfern. 
In  his  boyhood  he  came  to  Ohio,  where, 
at  Olmsted  Falls,  N'orth  Amherst,  and 
Soutli  Amherst,  he  completed  his  educa- 
tion. For  a  trade  he  learned  harness- 
making  in  South  Amherst,  and  followed 
same  till  1862,  in  which  year  he  enlisted 
in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
O.  V.  I.  He  served  in  the  army  of  the 
West,  and  participated  in  the  following 
battles:  Armstrong's  Hill,  Knoxville 
(Tenn.),  Atlanta  and  Eesaca,  besides 
many  others;  he  was  promoted  to  corporal, 
and  received  his  discharge  June  20,  1865. 
After  the  war  he  applied  himself  to  his 
trade  about  one  yeai',  part  of  the  time 
keeping  a  shop  of  his  own,  and  then 
worked  on  a  farm  in  Amherst  township 
till  1878,  when  he  paid  a  visit  to  Hays 
City,  Kans.,  taking  up  a  claim  whereon  he 
remained  about  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
whicli  time  he  returned  to  Lorain  county, 
and  engao-ed  in  his  present  coal  business 
in  Elyria. 


FITT  McROBERTS,  one  of  the  most 
prominent    citizens   and    well-to-do 
farmers   of    Pittstield    township,    is 
descended  from   a   well-known  pio- 
neer family  of  Lorain  county.       He 
was  born  December  22,  1834,  in  Pittsfield 
township,  son   of  Peter  and  Eliza  (Wait) 
McRoberts. 

Onr  subject  was  i-eared  to  farm  life,  and 
received  snch  education  as  the  common 
schools  of  his  time  afforded;  the  old  school- 
house  which  he  attended  stood  in  the  midst 


of  a  forest,  which  has  since  become  a  pro- 
ductive field,  and  now  forms  part  of  his 
farm.  The  father  died  when  Pitt  was  but 
twelve  years  of  age.  and  he  then  went  to 
live  with  Orlando  Hall,  a  wealthy  farmer, 
with  whom  he  remained  several  years.  On 
December  12,  1860.  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Abbie  Barnard,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont,  daughter  of  Wood  Barnard,  and 
they  located  in  Pittsfield  township  on  a 
farm  of  forty  acres,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased. In  1856  they  went  to  live  with 
the  widow  of  Orlando  Hall,  and  here  they 
have  since  remained.  This  farm  comprises 
140  acres,  and  Mr.  McRoberts  owns,  alto- 
gether, 239  acres,  divided  into  two  farms. 
He  is  an  industrious,  hard-working  farm- 
er, and  has  attained  considerable  success 
in  his  life  vocation.  He  is  a  man  of  prac- 
tical education,  has  a  good  memory,  and  is 
quite  an  extensive  reader,  keeping  well  up 
with  the  times.  In  1892  he  took  a  trip 
through  the  South,  viewing  southern  bat- 
tle lields  and  other  places  of  interest.  In 
his  political  tendencies  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  an  intliiential  man  in  his  party,  but 
does  not  dabble  much  in  affairs  of  state. 


I[  ACOB  KNELLMER,  one  of  the  lead- 
>■  I  '"8  representative  farmers  of  Brown- 
^^  helm  township,  is  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  born  in  Henrietta  township, 
April  12,  1852,  a  son  of  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (Battenhousen)  Knellmer. 

The  parents  were  born  in  Germany,  and 
soon  after  their  marriage  emigrated  to  the 

-r-r-r  ^ 

Western  World,  making  a  settlement  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  tirst  in  Henrietta 
township  and  finally  in  Brownhelm,  in 
which  latter  township  the  father  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four  years;  the  mother  is 
yet  living,  now  aged  seventy-eight.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church;  her 
husband  was  associated  with  the  Evangeli- 
cal Church,  and  in  politics  was  a  Republi- 
can. In  the  Fatherland  he  lived  the  Ar- 
cadian life  of  a  shepherd,  and  in  this 
country  he  followed  farming. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


789 


The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived a  liberal  common-school  education, 
and  was  reared  toagricnltnreon  his  father's 
farm.  In  187G  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Schnuck,  who  was  born  in  1849  in 
Brownhelm.  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Barbara  (Clous)  Schnuck,  na- 
tives of  Germany,  and  seven  children  have 
come  to  bless  their  home,  viz.:  Melissa, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Albert,  Emma,  Bertha, 
Ella  and  Clara.  After  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Knellmer  settled  on  their  present 
farm  of  165  acres,  where  they  have  met, 
thanks  to  their  industry  and  judicious 
thrift,  with  well-merited  success.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  served  his  township  as 
trustee  and  assessor. 


CHARLES  STONE,  a  prominent  and 
highly   respected    citizen  of   Lorain 
county,    is   a   native   of   same,  l)orn 
October     12,    1837,    in    Pittstield 
township. 

His  father,  Reuben  Stone,  son  of  Samuel 
Stone,  was  born  in  1812,  in  Bennington 
county,  Vt.,  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  aftervcard  taught  school. 
When  a  young  man  he  married  Hannah 
T.  Whitney,  who  was  also  boi-n  in  1S12, 
in  Vermont,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Abigail  (Townes)  Whitney.  Li  1835  the 
young  couple  came  to  Pittsfield  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  here  bought  101 
acres  of  timber  land  at  three  dollars  ])er 
acre,  upon  which  he  erected  a  small  frame 
house.  At  the  time  of  their  settlement 
the  country  was  still  in  a  primitive  state, 
and  wild  animals  al)ounded.  Here  their 
children  were  all  born,  as  follows:  Frank- 
lin, who  became  marshal  of  Oberlin,  and 
was  killed  in  1880,  while  attempting  to 
arrest  a  colored  boy;  Charles,  subject  of 
sketch ;  Eliza  L..  wife  of  Wesley  Hill,  of 
Madison,  S.  Dak.;  Betsey  A.,  Mrs.  Scott 
Mongar,  of  Nuckolls  county.  Neb.;  Al- 
merou  R.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  Abbie 


A.,  wife  of  Dr.  R.  J.  Cummer,  of  the 
National  Vapor  Stove  Co.,  in  Cleveland. 
Mr.  Stone  became  a  successful  farmer,  and 
I'cmained  in  Pittsfield  township  until 
ISGO,  when  he  removed  to  Oberlin  and 
embarked  in  the  luini)er  and  sawmill  busi- 
ness. Mrs.  Stone  died  in  1878,  her  hus- 
band in  1884,  and  both  are  buried  in 
Oijerlin.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Wiiig,  then  a  Free-soiler  and  finally  a  Re- 
publican, and  served  in  various  local 
offices  in  Pittsfield  township  and  later  in 
Oberlin.  He  was  pr)ssessed  of  good  com- 
mon sense  and  sound  judgment,  and  was 
selected  to  fill  many  positions  of  trust,  in 
which  capacity  he  settled  up  a  number  of 
estates,  and  transacted  considerable  busi- 
ness of  a  like  nature.  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Charles  Stone  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  later  at- 
tended Oberlin  College,  but  did  not  cou)- 
plete  a  course  there,  though  liis  parents 
desired  him  to.  For  two  years  he  worked  for 
A.  Whitney,  of  Pittsfield  township,  and 
while  ill  his  employ  spent  a  winter  in  the  lum- 
ber regions  of  Mississippi  and  Tennessee. 
On  September  IS,  1860,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Lucy  H.  Ives,  who  was  born 
in  1839  in  Pittsfield  township,  (laughter  of 
John  and  Rebecca  (McCloen)  Ives.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Stone  bought  118  acres  of 
land  in  Pittsfield  township,  going  into 
debt  for  same,  and  went  to  work  on  this 
farm  (a  comparatively  new  one,  and  heav- 
ily timl)cred).  which  he  sold,  however,  in  a 
a  few  years.  He  then  bought  the  ''old  home- 
stead farm"  from  his  father,  and  resided 
there  until  1876,  when  he  bought  land  one 
mile  south  of  Oberlin  in  Pittsfield  town- 
ship; in  1S79  he  erected  a  fine  residence 
on  this  place,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  In  1876  he  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Lorain  county,  and  served  during  1877  and 
1878,  when  faili?ig  health  caused  him  to 
retire  from  that  office,  having  lu)  desire  to 
remain.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stone  have  one 
foster-child,  Nellie   L.,  who  enjoys  all  the 


790 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


advautatfes  of  an  elejjaiit  home  and  fine 
school  at  Oberlin.  Since  his  retirement 
to  private  life  Mr.  Stone  has  completely 
recovered  his  health,  but  does  not  engage 
in  active  farm  work.  He  deals  extensively 
in  bogs  and  sheep,  and  is  also  somewhat  of 
an  auctioneer,  being,  altogether,  a  very  suc- 
cessful business  man.  In  his  political  af- 
filiations he  is  an  ardent,  lifelong  Repub- 
lican, and  is  a  leading,  highly  esteemed 
member  of  the  community.  Our  subject 
is  a  great  lover  of  sport,  every  now  and 
then  allowing  himself  a  hunting  expedi- 
tion in  the  Northwest;  and  he  frequently 
makes  a  short  angling  tour  through  Mich- 
igan, being  a  devoted  follower  of  Izaak 
AValton. 


to 


HAPMAN  FAMILY.  Nothing  defi- 
nite is  known  of  Robert  Chapman, 
the  first  of  the  family  under  con- 
sideration in  the  country,  previous 
his  emigration  hither.  According  to 
the  family  tradition,  he  came  from  Hull, 
England,  to  Bo>ton  in  1635,  from  which 
place  he  sailed,  in  company  with  Lyon 
Gardiner,  for  Saybrook,  as  one  of  the  com- 
pany of  twenty  men  who  were  sent  over 
by  Sir  Richard  Salstonstall,  to  take  pos- 
session of  a  large  tract  of  land,  aind  make 
settlement  near  the  mouth  of  the  Connecti- 
cut river  under  the  patent  of  Lord  Say  and 
Seal.  At  this  time  he  is  supposed  to  have 
been  about  eighteen  years  old. 

After  the  Indians  were  subdued,  they 
proceeded  to  clear  up  the  forests  and  form 
a  permanent  settlement.  For  about  ten 
years  afrer  leaving  England  he  kept  a  jour- 
nal. The  colony  records  show  that  each  of 
his  three  sons  were  representatives  to  the 
Legislature,  to  which  he  himself  had  also 
been  elected  forty- three  times.  The  eldest 
son  served  there  twenty-two  Sessions,  the 
second  eighteen  Sessions,  and  the  third 
twenty-four  Sessions. 

Robert  Chapman  seems  to  have  been  a 
soldier,  as  his  name  appears  as  a  sentinel  in 
the  Pequot  war  in  1637.     It  appears  from 


the  records  of  Saybrook,  that  he  was  a 
very  large  landholder  in  the  town  of  Say- 
brook, and  East  Haddam.  He  left  at  his 
decease  1,500  acres  to  each  of  his  three 
sons,  which  had  been  received  by  him  as 
one  of  the  legatees  of  Uncas,an  Indian  chief. 
Robert  himself  resided  on  a  tract  of  land 
in  the  Oyster  River  Quarter,  about  two 
miles  west  of  Saybrook  Fort,  which  has 
descended  in  the  line  of  the  youngest  son 
of  each  family,  never  having  been  bought 
or  sold,  and  which  in  1854  was  occupied 
by  George  H.  Chapman,  Esq.,  the  young- 
est of  the  fifth  generation.  Robert  Chap- 
man was  a  man  of  exemplary  piety,  and 
but  a  short  time  previous  to  his  decease  he 
wrote  an  address  to  his  children,  who  were 
all  members  of  the  church,  in  which  he 
exhorted  them  to  a  devoted  life,  and  to 
abide  by  the  Covenant  into  which  they  had 
entered  with  God  and  his  church.  Rob- 
ert's parents  were  Puritans,  whose  religi- 
ons zeal  had  been  transmitted  to  him. 
There  are  several  letters  on  file  in  the 
ofiice  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  written  to 
Robert  Chapman. 

Robert  Chapman  was  married  to  Ann 
Bliss,  April  2'J,  16-12.  According  to  the 
family  tradition  he  was  born  in  1616,  and 
died  October  13,  1687,  aged  seventy-one 
years.  He  had  seven  children,  as  follows: 
John,  Robert,  Anna,  Hannah,  Nathaniel, 
Mary  and   Sarah. 

Robert  Chapman,  Jr.,  the  second  son  of 
the  first  settler,  was  born  in  September, 
1646,  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  was  an  ex- 
tensive aiiriculturist,  owning  at  the  time 
of  his  decease  not  less  than  2,000  acres  of 
land.  The  town  records  show  him  to  have 
been  a  man  of  extensive  influence  in  civil 
affairs.  He  was  for  many  years  clerk  of 
Oyster  River  Quarter,  as  well  as  commis- 
sioner and  survej'or  for  the  town  of  Say- 
brook. He  was  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture from  1692  to  1711.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  that  drafted  the 
Saybrook  Platform  in  1708,  a  work  that 
has  preserved  the  purity  of  the  Congrega- 
tional  Churches  of   Connecticut   for   185 


■^V^^^^^i^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


793 


years.  Mr.  Chapman  was  twice  married, 
first  to  Sara  (iriswold,  of  Norwich,  Conn., 
July  27,  1071,  by  whom  he  had  nine  cliil- 
dren.  This  wife  died  April  7,  1692,  and 
October  29,  1694,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Sheather,  by  whom  he  had  fourchil- 
(h-en.  His  children  by  the  first  marriage 
were:  Samuel,  Robert,  Sarah, Francis,  Dor- 
cas, Steven,  one  son  that  died  in  infancy, 
Sarah,  and  a  son  tliat  died  an  infant.  By 
the  second  marria^^e  there  were  Benjamin, 
Steven,  Mehetabel  and  Abacjail.  Mr.  Chap- 
man died  suddenly  in  the  Hartford  court- 
room November,  1711.  He  was  buried 
in  tiie  old  burial  ground  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  in  the  rear  of  the  Centre  Church, 
where  his  tombstone  now  stands,  about  a 
rod  north  of  the  monument  on  which  are 
inscribed  the  names  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Hartfoi'd,  with  this  inscription — "  Here 
lyeth  the  body  of  Robt,  Chapman  who 
departed  this  life  November  ye  10th  1711 
aged  65  years.  " 

Capt.  Samuel  Chapman,  eldest  son  of 
Robert  (Jhapmati,  Jutiior,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1672.  On  December  0,  1693;, 
he  married  Margaret  Griswold,  a  daughter 
of  Capt.  Samuel  Griswold,  of  Norwich, 
Conn.,  and  by  her  he  had  ten  children. 
Mrs.  Chapman  died  December  21,  1750. 
Mr.  Chapman  was  a  prominent  man  in 
civil  aniJ  military  affairs.  He  resided  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Westbrook,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  fourteen  persons  organized 
into  a  church  at  that  place  June  29,  1726. 
The  date  of  his  death  is  not  known.  His 
children  were  Sarah,  Martraret,  Samuel, 
Martha,  Temperance,  Jedediah,  Mehetabel, 
Caleb,  Lucy  and  Aaron. 

Jedediah  Chapman  fl),  the  second  son 
of  Capt.  Samuel  Chapman,  was  bom  at 
Westbrook,  Conn.,  October  9,  1703,  and 
was  married  to  Miss  Hester  Kirtland,  June 
5,  1723,  by  whom  be  had  eight  children. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  the  so- 
ciety of  Westlirook  in  military,  civil  and 
religious  affairs.  He  was  a  major  of  in- 
fantry, a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  held 
the  position  of  deacon  in  the  church  from 


1732  until  his  death,  which  took  place  at 
Westbrook  February  10,  1764,  in  the 
sixty-first  year  of  his  age.  The  following 
were  his  children:  Hester,  Temperance, 
Jedediah,  Ann,  Reuben,  Charity,  Chloe 
and  Tabitha. 

Jedediah  Chapman  (2),  eldest  son  of 
Maj.  Jedediah,  was  born  at  Westbrook, 
December  15,  1726,  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Grinnell  in  175.J.  He  was 
deacon  of  the  church  of  Westbrook  from 
1771  until  his  death,  which  transpired 
February  29,  1816,  a  period  of  forty-four 
years,  and  was  for  twenty  years  justice  of 
the  peace.  At  his  decease  he  was  ninety 
years  of  age.  His' children  were  Dan, 
Jedediah,  Constant,  Hester,  Lucilla,  Mary, 
Ann  and  Aaron. 

Constant  Chapman,  son  of  Deacon  Jede- 
diah Chapman  (2),  was  born  at  Westbrook, 
Conn.,  December  27,  1760,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jemima  Kelsey,  of  Killing- 
worth,  Conn.,  January  27,1785,  by  whom 
he  had  nine  (diildren.  At  the  early  age  of 
si.xteen  he  entered  the  Revolutionary  army, 
was  for  six  years  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Washington,  and  was  for 
some  time  one  of  his  body-guard.  He  was 
at  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  Germantown, 
Princeton,  and  Trenton,  experienced  all 
the  rigors  of  Valley  Forge,  and  was  at  the 
final  surremler  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown. 
He  also  followed  the  sea  for  many  years, 
rising  to  the  position  of  captain  of  a 
merchant  vessel,  trading  on  the  coast  of 
South  America,  and  to  Lisbon,  and  other 
foreign  ports.  In  1793  the  vessel,  of 
which  he  was  commander,  was  captured  by 
the  French  off  Porto  Rico,  scuttled  and 
sunk,  while  he  and  his  crew  were  carried 
i)risoners  to  the  French  Island  of  Guade- 
loupe, and  after  fotir  months  he  was  libera- 
ted. The  hitler  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in 
Brimtield,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  in  1850,  aged  ninety  years.  His 
children  were  Lydia  K.,  Thurot  F.,  John 
K.,  Anna  M.,  Cloe  P.,  Mary  C,  Josepii 
G.,  Jemima  T.  and  Henry  C.  The  chil- 
dren   of   Constant    Chapman,    it  will   be 


794 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Been,  all  had  middle  names,  while  none  of 
liis  ancestry  were  thus  favored. 

Tlnirot  F.  Chapman,  eldest,  sen  of  Con- 
stant Chapman,  was  born  at  Old  Killing- 
worth,  Conn.,  December  7,  1789,  and  was 
twice  married:  first,  November  17,  1810, 
to  Lydia  Andross,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child;  second,  October  16,  1833,  to  Eliza- 
beth Furray,  by  whom  he  had  thi'ee  chil- 
dren. In  the  war  of  1812  he  enlisted  in 
Col.  Van  Kensselaer's  Regiment  of  New 
York  Militia,  crossed  the  Niagara  river 
into  Canada,  and  was  at  the  battle  of 
Queenston  Heights,  and  taken  prisoner 
there  but  afterward  paroled.  Mr.  Chap- 
man was  for  some  time  a  sailor  in  the 
coasting  trade,  and  also  in  the  business  of 
codtishing  off  Newfoundland  and  the 
Straitsof  Belle  Isle.  He  was  a  man  of  ster- 
ling integrity  and  of  the  most  generous  im- 
pulses. The  poor  and  the  oppressed  were 
never  turned  away  empty  from  his  door, 
and  many  a  poor  slave  escaping  from 
bondHge  was  by  him  fed,  sheltered  and 
helped  on  his  way  to  freedom.  Mr.  Chap- 
man first  set  up  his  family  home  in 
Smithville,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but 
emicrrated  to  the  wilderness  of  the  Ohio 
Western  Reserve  in  1817, where  he  followed 
clearing  land  a  number  of  years,  having 
chopped,  cleared  and  fenced  nearly  300 
acres  of  land.  He  here  died  December  16, 
1860,  aged  seventy-one  years,  a  practical 
Christian  of  the  Congregational  school. 
His  children  were  Alonzo  A.,  a  sketch  of 
whom  follows;  Emily  A.,  wife  of  Lucius 
R.  Fields,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Degrass  S., 
who  enlisted,  during  the  Civil  war,  in 
Company  K,  Twenty-third  O.  V.  I.,  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  and 
died  six  days  later  in  the  field  hospital, 
aged  twenty-four  years;  and  Harlan  P., 
special  mention  of  whom  will  presently  be 
made.  The  mother  of  the  three  last  named 
children  was  born  in  New  Durham,  Greene 
Co..  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1804,  and  was  killed 
by  accident  in  Oberlin  June  12,  1876. 

Alonzo  A.  Chapman,  eldest  son  of  Thu- 
rot    F'.    Chapman,  was    born    August   25, 


1811,  at  Smithville,  N.  Y.,  and  was  mar- 
ried September  30,  1832,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Taylor,  by  whom  he  hiid  seven  chil- 
dren. He  was  for  many  years  a  farmer  in 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  residents  of  that  town- 
ship, coming  there  with  his  parents  in 
1817.  He  was  called  upon  to  fill  various 
positions  of  trust  in  civil  and  religious 
affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  over  fifty  years,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  class  organized  at  LaPorte, 
Ohio.  He  moved  his  family  to  Ridge- 
ville,  Henry  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1<S66,  and  was 
for  n)any  years  in  the  lumber  business. 
Mr.  Chapman  died  at  Ridgeville  Corners, 
Ohio.  August  5,  1890,  aged  seventy-nine 
years.  His  children  were  as  follows: 
William  T.,  Mary  L.,  Henry  L.  (1), 
Emory  N.,  Pamila  A.,  Facelia  S.  and 
Henry  L.  (2). 

William  T.  Chapman,  eldest  son  of 
Alonzo  A.  Chapman,  was  born  in  Eaton 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  on  Butternut 
Ridge,  July  10,  1833,  and  was  married 
March  21,  1854,  to  Miss  Fidelia  S.  Banis- 
tee,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children. 
His  vocation  has  been  that  of  teacher, 
having  entered  that  profession  in  the  fall 
of  1852,  and  continuing  therein  until  the 
spring  of  1890,  a  period  of  thirty-eight 
years.  He  has  taught,  in  all,  fifty-seven 
terms  in  the  followincr  connties  of  Ohio: 
Eighteen  terms  in  Lorain,  one  in  Cuya- 
hoga, two  in  Defiance,  two  in  Lucas, 
twenty-three  in  Henry  and  eleven  in  Ful- 
ton. In  1867  he  removed  with  iiis  family 
to  Henry  county,  settling  in  Ridgeville, 
where  he  now  (1893)  resides.  On  August 
4,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in 
the  Union  army  to  assist  in  putting  down 
the  slaveholders'  Rebellion,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  the  company  he  was  made 
a  sergeant.  In  December,  1862,  he  was 
made  orderly  sergeant,  and  in  June  fol- 
lowing received  a  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  II,  One  Hundred 
and  Third  O.  Y.  I.;  in  March,  1864,  he 
was  discharged   for  physical  disability  by 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


795 


order  of  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 
His  cliildren  are  Minnie  E.,  Myra  O.  and 
Myrta  J. 

Emory  N.  Chapman,  second  son  of 
Alonzo  A.  Cliapnian,  enlisted  August  11, 
1862,  in  Company  11,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  O.  V.  I.;  disciiarged  September  17, 
1864,  on  account  of  wound  received  at 
Resaea,  Ga.,  May  14,  1S()4. 

Henry  L.  Chapman,  fourth  son  of 
Alonzo  A.  Chapman,  enlisted  December 
24,  186B,  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fourtli  0.  V.  I.;  was  left  in 
tobacco  shed  witli  the  smallpox  at  Con- 
cord Station,  East  Tenn.;  both  feet  were 
frozen  so  that  the  toes  came  off;  discharged 
for  same  May  31,  1865. 

Haelan  p.  Chapman,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  family  sketch,  and  the  youngest 
child  born  to  Thurot  F.  and  Elizabeth 
(Furray)  Chapman,  was  born  on  Butternut 
liidge,  in  Eaton  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  September  6,1844.  In  his  boyhood 
and  early  youth  he  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  vicinity,  and  Oberlin  Col- 
lep;e  two  terms,  in  the  meantime  being 
reared  on  the  farm.  On  August  4,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Regiment  O.  Y.  I.,  which  was 
first  sent  to  Camp  Cleveland,  thence  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whence  they  marched  to 
Kentucky,  wintering  at  Frankfort.  In 
April,  1863,  they  moved  across  the  State 
to  the  Cumberland  river,  where  they  liad 
several  skirmishes  with  tile  Confederates, 
and  following  August  were  placed  under 
Burnside,  after  which  they  crossed  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  into  East  Tennes- 
see. Mr.  Chapman  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Blue  Spring,  Knoxviile  and 
Armstrong's  Hill,  at  which  latter  engage- 
ment, which  took  place  Thanksgiving  Day, 
November  25,  ^863,  he  received  a  serious 
wound,  from  which  he  never  fnily  recov- 
ered, a  musket  ball  beino;  left  imbedded  in 
the  hip  joint;  after  nine  months'  confine- 
ment to  hospital,  he  returned  home  on 
furlough.  Before  he  was  ordered  back  to 
hospital   he  was   married  March  31,  1864, 


to  Mifss  Mary  C.  Pitkin,  of  Brunswick, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  he  was  not  called 
upon  for  further  service  in  the  army. 
After  his  discharge,  June  27,  1804,  he 
settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Carlisle 
township,  village  of  LaPorte.  Here  were 
born  to  him  and  his  wife  three  children, 
viz.:  Erie  D.,  educated  at  Elyriaand  Oi)er- 
lin;  Otto  B.  and  Oleo.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  sound  Republican,  and  for 
three  years  served  as  postmaster  at  La- 
Porte;  in  November,  1892,  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  Lorain  county,  and  was  duly 
installed  into  said  otfice  on  September 
4,  1893. 


THOMAS  WILFORD,   a  representa- 
tive farmer  of  Amherst  township,  is 
a  native  of  "  Merrie  England,"  born 
in   Clipston,   Northamptonshire,   in 
1827,    a    son  of   John    and   Sophia 
(Falkner)   Wilford,    of    the    same  county. 
The    mother  died  at  Clipston,  England,  in 
1835. 

John  Wilford,  who  was  a  slioemaker,  in 
1838  came  to  the  United  States  and  to 
Elyria,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
his  trade.  From  there  he  moved  to  North 
Amherst  with  one  Thomas  Quirk,  and  to- 
gether they  carried  on  a  boot  and  shoe 
business  till  in  1840,  when  he  bought 
Quirk  out.  He  then  went  to  Lorain,  same 
county,  where  he  opened  out  both  a  shoe 
store  and  a  meat  market,  and  passed  the 
rest  of  his  days,  dying  in  1872.  In  North 
Amherst  he  had  married  Nancy  Stanton, 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them,  viz. : 
Richard  (married),  living  in  Cleveland; 
Lucy,  wife  of  George  Peach,  of  Toledo, 
Oiiio;  and  George,  married  and  living  in 
North  Amherst,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  came  with 
his  father  to  the  United  States  and  to  Lo- 
rain county,  and  received  his  education 
partly  in  the  schools  of  England,  partly  in 
those  of  Lorain  county.  In  1862  he  en- 
listed in  North  Amiierst,  in  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  O.  V.  I., 


796 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and 
served  on  Jolinson's  Island  to  the  close  of 
the  struggle — twenty-one  months  in  ail. 
Returning  to  Lorain  county,  he  recom- 
menced the  pursuits  of  peace,  cultivating 
his  farm,  and  he  now  owns  a  good  property 
of  sixty  acres  in  a  prime  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. Mr.  AViltbrd  in  politics  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist;  at 
one  time  he  joined  the  Murphy  movement, 
and  he  is  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance. 
He  is  a  menilter  of  Rice  Post,  No.  148 
G.  A.R.,at  North  Amherst.  When  a  young 
man  he  sailed  the  lakes  two  or  three  sea- 
sons, and  spent  two  years  in  Kankakee 
county,  111.,  working  at  day  labor. 


J 


(AMES  JACKSON,  who  for  the 
past  half  century  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  agricultural  inter- 

O 

ests  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
October  5,  1816,  in  Champion,  Jefi'erson 
county.  New  York. 

He  is  a  grandson  of  Reuben  Jackson,  and 
son  of  Daniel,  who  was  born  in  1775  in 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he  learned  the 
blacksmitli's  trade  under  his  father.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  State  to  Patty 
Kellogg,  w'ho  was  born  in  Pittsfield  in 
1785,  and  while  residing  in  Massachusetts 
three  children  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows: Jane,  who  married  Harvy  Birdseye, 
died  in  Trenton,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  when 
aged  eighty-four  years;  Pliny,  born  in 
1806;  and  Sally,  who  married  William 
Giliett,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  in 
Pentield,  Ohio.  Between  1812  and  1815 
the  family  removed  west  to  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  the  farm  where- 
on the  parents  passed  the  remaining  years 
of  their  lives,  the  father  engaging  chiefly 
in  agriculture,  although  he  also  followed 
his  trade  to  some  extent.  In  New  York 
State  were  born  the  following  named  chil- 
dren: Susan,  who  married  William  Chap- 
man, and  died  in  Chicago  at  an  advanced 
age;  Maria,  who  married  Ferdinand  Turni- 


cliff,  and  died  in  Pittsfield,  Ohio;  Jason, 
a  farmer,  who  died  in  Champion,  Jeflerson 
Co.,  N.  Y.;  Daniel,  also  deceased  iu 
Champion,  N.  Y. ;  James,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Charille,  who  married  Hiram 
Hopkins,  and  died  in  Wellington,  Ohio; 
Jesse,  a  farmer  of  Humboldt  county,  Iowa; 
and  Belah,  who  died  after  reachino;  adult 
age  in  Champion,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Jackson  was  a  very  successful  farmer. 
He  was  a  man  of  wonderful  vitality,  ac- 
tive and  capable  of  performing  a  hard  day's 
work  to  the  very  end  of  his  life:  he  died 
suddenly,  while  chopping  wood,  in  his 
eighty-fourth  year.  He  frequeutly  re- 
marked that  he  did  nut  know  what  it  was 
to  feel  tired.  In  politics  he  was  an  Old- 
line  AVhig,  a  stanch  member  of  the  party. 
His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-three 
years,  and  lies  buried  by  his  side  in  Cham- 
pion cemetei-y;  they  were  devout  members 
of  the  Old-school  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  he  was  a  man  so  highly  respected,  es- 
teemed and  loved  everywhere,  that  it  could 
almost  be  said  he  had  not  an  enemy  in  the 
world. 

James  Jackson  attended  the  common 
schools,  but  in  his  youth  cared  so  little  for 
study  that  he  preferred  to  stay  at  home 
and  assist  witii  the  duties  on  the  farm. 
His  first  knowledg;e  of  ao-ricnlture  was  ob- 
tained  under  his  father  on  the  ho:ne  place, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age.  In  June,  18-13,  he  set 
out  for  Ohio,  traveling,  on  the  first  railroad 
he  ever  saw,  to  Butt'alo,  where  he  took 
passage  on  a  lake  boat  for  Black  River 
(now  Lorain),  Lorain  county,  his  destina- 
tion being  Pittsfield,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  had  a  brotlier-in-law.  named  Turnicliif, 
with  wiiom  he  resided  for  some  time. 
Then,  in  company  with  his  brother  Daniel, 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  a  tract  of  fif- 
teen acres  in  Pittsfield  township,  which, 
after  many  days  of  hard  labor,  clearing  and 
preparing  the  land,  which  was  all  in  the 
woods,  they  sowed  to  wheat;  but  just  a 
few  weeks  before  harvest  time  a  heavy 
frost    destroyed    the    crops,  and    eighteen 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


797 


months  of  labor  were  lost.  Ou  February 
10,  1848,  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jael  K.  Coats,  who  was 
horn  January  22,  1819,  in  the  town  of 
Amherst,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
Josiah  and  Diautlie  (Harmon)  Coats,  who 
came  to  Ohio  in  1836,  locating  first  in 
Clarksfield.  Huron  county,  and  later  re- 
moving to  New  London  township,  same 
county,  where  the  parents  died  and  were 
buried.  After  marriage  Mr.  Jackson  took 
up  his  home  in  a  small  trame  house,  18  .\  22, 
which  he  had  erected,  and  there  resided 
until  1859,  when  he  came  to  Penfield 
township,  and  purchased,  from  David  Cur- 
tice, 114  acres  of  land,  which  then  con- 
tained no  improvements  but  a  log  house 
and  barn.  Here  he  has  since  resided,  and 
he  has  cultivated  and  improved  the  land, 
and  put  up  all  thefarai  buildings  thereon, 
as  well  as  a  comfortable  residence,  whicii 
was  erected  in  1873.  Havina-had  but  lit- 
tie  assistance  in  life,  his  present  prosperity 
is  all  the  direct  result  of  his  own  efforts. 
In  his  political  preferences  he  was  origin- 
ally an  Old-line  Whii;,  easting  his  first 
vote  for  William  H.  Harrison,  and  is  now 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
never  missing  an  election,  though  he  is  not 
an  active  politician.  In  religious  matters 
he  is  a  member  of  the  U.  B.  Church,  his 
wife  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  with  wiiicli  she 
united  in  1838.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson 
are  the  parents  of  children  as  follows:  Al- 
bert K.,  a  resident  of  Curtice,  Ottawa  Co., 
Ohio;  Sally,  who  died  young;  Antoinette, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years; 
Charles  E.,  of  Farnam,  Dawson  Co.,  Neb., 
a  carpenter  by  trade;  and  Emma  L.  (at 
home)  and  Amy  E.  (Mrs.  August  Griffis, 
of  Farnam,  Neb.),  twins. 


'LAYTON  J.  BELL,  a  well-known 
wide-awake  and  go-aheail  young 
farmer  of  Brighton  township,  is  a 
native  of  same,  born  June  4,  1859, 

on  the    farm    which    he    now    owns    and 

lives  on. 


John  Bell,  grandfather  of  subject,  was 
born  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in 
1800,  and  in  early  boyhood  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  carpenter;  but  not  liking  the 
trade  he  ran  away  from  his  employer  be- 
fore completing  his  apprenticeship.  In  his 
native  land  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Grundale,  also  born  in  1800,  and  in  1831 
they  came  to  the  United  States,  bi-inging 
their  little  son.  John,  and  locating  near 
Clarksville,  N.J. ,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment, first  as  a  common  laborer,  later  as 
gate  tender  on  tiie  Morristown  Canal,  he 
doing  the  night  work,  his  wife  the  day 
work.  There  were  born  to  them  children 
as  follows:  Mary  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Sheldon 
Clark,  of  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county;  Montgomery,  a  farmer  of  Eaton 
County,  Mich.;  Amanda  M.  (deceased), 
married  to  Michael  Backins;  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  Newton  Snow,  of  Bedford,  Ohio; 
Henry,  born  in  1842.  a  farmer  in  Eaton 
county,  Mich.;  and  Margaret  (Mrs.  Lucas), 
of  Camden,  Ohio,  now  forty-four  years  old. 
In  1842  the  family,  attracted  hither  by  an 
old  friend,  Isaac  Griggs,  who  .some  years 
before  had  settled  in  Brighton  township, 
Lorain  county,  followed  him  to  that  town- 
ship, where  the  father  bought  land.  Here 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  May 
2,  1863,  and  was  buried  in  Brighton  ceme- 
tery; his  widow  still  survives  him,  now 
aged  ninety-three  years,  wonderfully  hale 
and  hearty  considering  her  patriarchal 
years.  Mr.  Bell  was  a  iiard-working  man, 
one  who  prospered  and  made  his  ujark  in 
the  community  in  which  he  lived.  Politi- 
cally he  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but 
during  the  later  years  of  his  life  voted 
under  the  banner  of  the  Republican  party; 
in  his  native  country  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Church  of  England,  but  did  not 
unite  with  any  denomination  in  the  United 
States. 

John  Bell,  Jr.,  father  of  Clayton  J.  Bell, 
was  born  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland, 
in  December,  1830,  and  was  but  aji  infant 
when  his  parents  brought  him  to  America. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  he  came  with  the  rest 


798 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  tlie  family  to  Ohio,  and  when  old 
enough  worked  out  as  a  farm  hand,  thus 
securine  a  fair  start  in  life  as  an  agricul- 
turist.  Hy  untiring  energy,  patient  toil 
and  judicious  economy  he  found  liimself 
the  owner  of  115  acres  of  prime  land,  on 
which  he  built  a  comfortable  residence  and 
cominodious  outlionses.  On  March  17, 
1879,  he  departed  this  life,  and  was  buried 
in  Brighton  cemetery;  his  wife  was  called 
from  earth  March  20,  1889.  She  was  Miss 
Sophronia  Kingsbury,  born  in  Brighton 
township,  Lorain  county,  of  an  old  pioneer 
family,  and  their  children  were  two  sons: 
Clayton  J.  and  Elmer,  both  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity;  Elmer  died  when  twenty- 
three  Years  old,  and  was  buried  in  Brigh- 
ton cemetery. 

Clayton  J.  Bell  received    his  education 

at  the  common    schools   of   the   neighbor- 
ly 

hood  of  his  place  of  birth,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life  from  early  boyhood.  On  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1879,  the  charge  of 
the  farm  fell  to  him,  and  he  has  ever  since 
retained  it,  owning  the  entire  homestead, 
and  representing  the  third  generation  who 
have  lived  on  it  as  owners.  On  November 
9,  1887,  he  married  Ella  Dugan,  who  was 
borii  August  15,  1868,  in  Oberlin,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Coughlin)  Dugan,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  1826,  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  and  died  April  8,  1881,  the  latter 
born  in  1836,  in  County  Kilkenny,  L-e- 
land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  have  one  son, 
"Walter  J.,  born  June  25,  1889.  In  politi- 
cal predilections  Mr.  Bell  is  a  Democrat; 
Mrs.  Bell  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church  at  Wakeman,  Ohio. 


N.  GARVEK,  M.  D.,  Lorain,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  AVayne 
county  in  1858,  a  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Shoemaker)  Garver,  also 
natives  of  Wayne  county,  where  the 
father  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all 
his  life,  dying  in  1871.  The  mother  is 
now  residing  in  West  Salem,  Ohio.    They 


were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Grandfather 
David  Garver  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  an  early  pioneer  of  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  life  in  farming. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
literary  education  in  his  native  county,  and 
at  Lodi,  ]\[edina  Co.,  Ohio.  In  AVayne 
county  he  followed  teaching  for  a  time, 
and  then,  in  1876,  entered  AVooster  (Ohio) 
Medical  LTniversity,  where  he  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1879.  The  Doctor  then 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Medina  county,  where  he  continued 
until  1882,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Lorain  county,  and  here  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  successful  practice,  his  office 
being  now  in  the  "South  End."  His 
residence  is  on  Bank  street. 

In  1879  Dr.  Garver  was  married,  in 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Alice  Dris- 
kell,  a  native  of  same,  and  daughter  of 
Hugh  and  Florilla  (Alien)  Driskell,  of 
Ohio,  the  father  deceased  in  Medina  county 
in  1876;  the  mother  now  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Garver.  To  our  subject 
and  wife  have  been  born  two  children: 
Birt  and  Lou.  Dr.  Garver  in  his  political 
predilections  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which 
he  is  a  trustee. 


T[T|  ENEY  MOLE.    Among  the  repre- 
IpH     sentative    self-made    agriculturists 
I     1     of   Grafton    township,  who,  begin- 
J)  "i"g  life  with  little  or  no  aid,  have 

reached  the  top  round  of  the  ladder 
of  success,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  born  July  20,  1824,  in  Devon- 
shire, EnjrlHnd,  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Bauman)  Mole. 

He  was  reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of 
farm  life,  and,  his  parents  being  poor  peo- 
ple, he  had  but  limited  educational  oppor- 
tunities, as  he  could  not  be  spared  from 
the   farm.     AVhen    a   young  man    he  was 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


799 


married  March  20,  1850,  in  his  native 
country,  to  Ann  Gardner,  and  same  year, 
deciding  to  try  !iis  fortune  in  America, 
sailed  from  Plymouth,  England,  on  the 
vessel  "  Cornwall."  During  the  early  part 
of  the  voyaaje  a  storm  arose,  and  the  ves- 
sel put  back  into  port  until  it  subsided, 
but  their  passage  to  New  York,  which 
lasted  three  weeks,  was  very  rough.  They 
immediately  proceeded  to  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  Co..  Ohio,  and  on  his  arrival  Mr. 
Mole  had  about  tif  ty  dollars  in  cash,  which 
he  had  saved  from  his  meaner  earnincrs. 
Here  he  purchased  land  (going  into  debt 
for  same),  and,  as  the  forest  thereon  was 
very  dense,  a  great  amount  of  labor  was 
required  to  clear  it  for  crops.  After  a  ten 
years'  residence  on  this  farm  he  disposed 
of  it  at  a  profit,  and  bought  land  in  other 
parts  of  the  same  township,  acquiring  dif- 
ferent tracts,  wliicli  he  improved,  and  in- 
variably sold  at  a  good  profit.  In  1870  he 
came  to  Grafton  township,  locating  on  his 
present  farm,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
successfully  engaged  in  general  agricnlture 
and  dairying.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mole 
were  born  eight  children,  namely:  John, 
deceased;  William,  a  farmer  in  Grafton 
townsliip;  Henry  and  James,  both  farming 
in  Michiijan;  George,  farming  in  Eaton 
township;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Perry  D. 
Mennell,  of  Grafton;  Charles  and  Rosa. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  No- 
vember 14,  1874,  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mi".  Mole 
married,  April  5,  1879,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Cousins,  who  died  in  April,  1881.  For 
his  third  wife  he  married,  August  31, 
1881,  Mrs.  Melvina  (Holly)  Adams,  who 
was  born  February  18,  1849,  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Mole  is  an  energetic, 
hard-working  industrious  man,  and  has 
accumulated  considerable  property.  He 
has  given  each  of  his  children  a  good  start 
in  life,  expending  therefor  about  nine 
thousand  dollars  in  cash;  but  he  still  re- 
tains 122  acres  of  choice  land.  He  has 
paid  several  visits  to  his  native  country, 
and    in  his  atHuence  he  has  not  forgotten 


his  relatives  who  have  been  less  prosper- 
ous, as  is  shown  by  his  frequent  remit- 
tances to  them.  He  is  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  does  not 
mingle  in  politics;  while  not  a  member  of 
any  church,  he  is  a  devout  believer  in  the 
principles  of  Christianity,  and  contributes 
liberally  toward  its  support. 


/y 


MAX  MOREHOUSE,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Morehouse  & 
Starr,  dealers  in  Ladies'  Furnish- 
ing Goods,  Elyria,  and  the  young- 
est merchant  in  the  place,  is  a 
native  of  Elyria,  Ohio,  born  ()ctober  15, 
1866. 

He  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  city  of  his  birth,  and  in 
Oberlin.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he 
entered  the  dry-goods  store  of  Mr.  Mar.x 
Straus,  a  leading  merchant  of  Elyria,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1890,  when  he  commenced  lousiness  on  his 
own  account.  It  may  be  said  of  him  that 
he  literally  "rose  from  the  ranks,"  having 
made  a  beginning  as  errand  boy,  closing 
his  industrious  career  with  Mr.  Straus  in 
the  position  of  head  buyer  and  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm.  When  Mr.  Morehouse 
and  Mr.  Starr  commenced  business  to- 
gether the  amount  of  their  stock  did  not 
exceed  three  thousand  dollars,  while  to-day 
it  averages  fully  eight  thousand  dollars. 

In  November,  1892,  Mr.  Morehouse 
opened,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Carter 
and  Mr.  Beese,  a  dry-goods  store  in  Lo- 
rain (the  leaditjg  house  of  the  kind  there), 
the  style  of  the  firm  being  Morehouse, 
Carter  &.  Beese.  The  store  is  40x80  feet 
in  size,  and  seven  clerks  handle  the  fifteen- 
thousand-dollar  stock,  which  is  all  bought 
by  Mr.  Morehouse  himself,  everything  be- 
ino-  under  his  personal  supervision;  and 
both  enterprises  are  doing  a  good  business. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Edith  (Brown)  Morehouse. 
His  father  died  in  1883,  since  which  time 


800 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  has  entirely  Bupported  his  mother,  and 
proven  himself  one  of  the  kindest  and  most 
devoted  of  sons.  His  life  has  all  been 
spent  in  Lorain  coiinty,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  years  in  Allegan,  Mich.,  when  a 
small   child. 

Although  leaving  school  at  an  early  age, 
Mr.  Morehouse  has  attained  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, and  a  large  amount  of  culture,  by 
being  a  close  student  of  men,  and  tlie  read- 
ing of  many  good  books  He  in  a  pro- 
nounced champion  of  education,  particu- 
larly a  practical  one  for  all  boys,  and  he 
hiu)self  is  a  living  example  of  what  may 
be  accomplished  by  solid  integrity,  strict 
attention  to  business,  industry  and  judi- 
cious economy.  Politically  he  is  an  Inde- 
pendent, believing  in  voting  for  good  men 
and  right  principles  rather  than  party.  He 
has  not  yet  enrolled  himself  in  the  noble 
army  of  Benedicts. 

His  grandfather,  Thomas  Brown,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  pioneers  now  living  in  the 
county,  haviiiir  settled  in  Lorain  in  1829. 
He  is  remarkably  well  preserved,  and  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  is  still  active,  and  a 
regular  attendant  at  the  county  fairs. 


4^ 


Hi  ENKY  J.  EADY,  proprietor  of  a 
well-known  and  popular  drug-store 
J  in  Elyria,  is  a  native  of  England, 
born  in  Cottesbrook,  Northamp- 
tonshire, April  28,  1846. 
Samuel  Eady,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  an  innkeeper  at  Brixworth,  a  village  in 
England,  during  good  old  stage  times, 
where  he  married  Elizabeth  Underwood, 
by  whom  he  had  six  children — four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  viz.:  Thomas,  John, 
Francis,  Henry,  Elizabeth  (unmarried), 
and  Mary  (wife  of  Thomas  Barker,  aprotn- 
inent  horse  dealer  of  London).  The  sons 
were  all  farmers  in  England,  farming  lands 
near  each  other,  and  Erancis  was  not  only 
a  large  farmer,  but  an  innkeeper  as  well, 
doing  a  prosperous  business. 


Thomas  Eady,  father  of  Henry  J.,  was 
born,  in  1806,  at  Brixworth,  in  Koitliamp- 
tonshire,  where  he  was  reared.  In  1827 
he  married  Susan  Holt,  of  the  same  vil- 
lage, where  they  were  neighbors  and  chil- 
dren together.  Their  children,  six  in 
number,  were:  William  (in  New  Zealand), 
John  (deceased), Francis  and  Thomas  (both 
in  England),  Mary  Ann  (wife  of  John 
Lantsbery,  of  Carlisle  township,  Lorain 
county),  and  Henry  J.  (the  subject  of  this 
sketch).  The  father  died  in  1802 ;  he  had 
been  an  officeholder  in  the  villages  of 
Cottesbrook  and  Creaton;  the  mother 
passed  away  in  1884  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years. 

Henry  J.  Eady,  M'hose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place,  taking 
also  a  grammar-school  couise  at  Guils- 
borough.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  in  his  early  youth  was  of  no  lit- 
tle assistance  to  his  parents  in  the  maiiy 
duties  incident  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil  and  the  harvesting  of  crops.  In  1864, 
in  company  with  liis  sister  and  her  hus- 
band, he  came  to  the  United  States,  land- 
ing in  New  York  November  25,  the  day  the 
attempt  to  set  fire  to  that  city  was  frus- 
trated. Soon  afterward  he  came  to  Ely- 
ria, Ohio,  and  for  a  year  or  two  worked  on 
a  farm,  after  which  he  entered  the  factory 
of  Topliff,  Sampsell  &  Ely,  in  the  same 
town,  studying  evenings  in  the  office  of 
his  friend.  Dr.  P.  W.  Sampsell.  In  1868, 
having  developed  a  liking  for  the  drug 
business,  he  commenced  learning  same 
with  W.  H.  Park,  in  his  store  in  the  old 
Beebe  Block,  now  Andwur,  Elyria.  where 
he  remained  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  embarked  in  the  business  for  his 
own  account,  his  first  store  being  in  an  old 
wooden  building.  No.  8  Cheapside  east  of 
the  park.  In  1870  he  paid  a  visit  to  iiis 
native  land,  spending  the  winter  there,  and 
in  the  following  spring  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  to  Elyria.  Since  1873 
he  has  been  continuously  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness  in   the  same  location,    and   is   now  a 


X/yyjvy  '^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


803 


registered  pharmacist;  also  has  held  prom- 
inent positions  in  the  State  Association. 
His  success  has  been  almost  phenomenal, 
and  he  has  gradually  increased  his  trade 
until  to-day  he  is  proprietor  of  the  leading 
drug  business  in  Elyria.  In  1885  he 
erected  the  handsome  three-story  business 
block,  on  the  same  lot  as  his  old  store. 
Also,  in  1892,  he  built  the  block,  No.  16 
Chcapside,  one  of  the  handsoiriest  build- 
ings in  the  town,  the  first  tloor  of  which  is 
rented  for  a  carpet  store,  and  the  upper 
floors  as  his  own  residence.  Indeed,  for 
his  means,  Mr.  Eady  has  done  more  build- 
ing than  any  other  person  in  Elyria.  For 
twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Agricultural  Association  of  Lorain,  and 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  farm.  In  1881  he  took 
another  trip  to  P]ngland,  spending  the  sum- 
mer among  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood. 

On  February  16,  1876,  Mr.  Eady  was 
married  to  Charlotte  Ellen  ("Nellie") 
Noakes,  daughter  of  Kev.  B.  T.  Noakes, 
D.  D.,  the  then  Episcopal  clergyman  at 
Elyria,  now  of  the  First  Reformed  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Cleveland.  The  Noakes 
family  trace  their  lineage  to  Sussex,  Eng- 
land, where  many  of  the  name  are  still 
prominent.  Eev.  Dr.  Noakes  married  Miss 
Sarah  Piper,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
five  children,  viz.:  Charlotte  Ellen  (Mrs. 
H.  J.  Eady),  Florence  T.  (Mrs.  N.  P. 
Woo8ter,of  Elyria),  Fannie,(Mrs.  J.  S.Van- 
Epps,  Cleveland),  and  Grace  and  Gertrude 
(still  under  the  paternal  roof).  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eady  was  born  one  child  that  died 
in  infancy  unnamed.  Politically  Mr.  Eady 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  but  his  business 
demanding  and  receiving  all  his  time,  he 
is  not  an  officeholder.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  &.  A.  M.,  I.( ).  O.  F.,  and 
K.  of  H.,  of  which  last-named  Order  he 
has  been  treasurer  since  1879;  also  for 
several  years  was  treasurer  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F. 
at  Elyria.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  treas- 
urer of  St.  Andrews  Episcopal  Church  of 
Elyria,  of  which  he  and  liis  wife  are  con- 
stant attendants.     Mr.   Eady   is  a  strong 


advocate  for  the  support  of  home  indus- 
tries, and  has  given  liberally  of  his  means 
toward  the  improvement  of  the  city  of  his 
adoption.  He  has  brought  around  him  a 
host  of  friends  in  and  about  Elyria,  whose 
confidence  he  well  merits,  and  is  one  of 
the  best  known  business  men  of  the  place. 


^  EORGE  L.  COUCH,  mayor  of  Well- 
ington, and  a  well-known  furniture 
dealer,  is  a  native  of  that  town,  born 
September  4,  1850. 

A.  G.  Couch,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  December,  1819,  in  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  and  in  1843  came  west  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Welling- 
ton, where  he  established  the  present 
business  owned  by  his  son  George  L. ;  and 
until  recent  years  he  was  interested  in  the 
extensive  furniture  factory.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  E.  Durkee,  who  was 
l)orn  in  Pittstield,  Mass.,  in  1824,  and 
children  as  follows  were  born  to  them: 
Julia  A.,  Ella  N.,  George  L.,  Walter  E. 
and  Nellie  E.  In  politics  the  father  was 
originally  an  Old-line  Whig,  and  of  later 
years  has  been  a  straight  Republican; 
prior  to  and  during  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion he  was  a  strong  Abolitionist. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  in  early  boyhood 
commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  cabinet 
maker  in  his  father's  shop,  which  he  now 
successfully  operates.  Some  twenty  years 
ago  he  became  a  partner  with  his  father  in 
the  business,  and  eigiit  years  later  bought 
out  the  entire  business.  In  1880  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  May  H., 
daughter  of  Rev.  E.  H.  Bush,  and  two 
children  have  been  born  to  tiiem,  viz.: 
Treva  May  and  Florence  E. 

Politically  Mr.  Couch  has  always  been 
an  uncompromising  Repul)lican,  and  since 
tiie  Grant-Greelev  campaign  has  been 
active  in  the  interests  of  the  party,  attend- 
ing nearly  every  National,  State  and  county 


804 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


convention  since  the  Hayes  administration. 
For  more  than  ten  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  county  committee,  and  in  1885  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Central 
Committee;  during  the  following  fouryears 
he  served  on  Gov.  P^oraker's  military  staff. 
In  municipal  affairs  he  has  always  taken  a 
great  interest,  but  declined  to  become  a 
candidate  for  any  office  until  1890,  at 
which  time  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
mayor.  So  acceptably  did  he  fill  the  office 
as  to  be  twice  re-elected  without  opposi- 
tion, which  office  he  continues  to  hold. 
He  is  a  leading  man  in  every  way,  admira- 
bly adapted  to  the  exalted  position  he 
holds  in  his  native  town.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encamp- 
ment, and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


C.  CRAGIN,  the  well-known  farmer 
and  dairyman,  is  one  of  the  most 
active  men  of  his  age  in  Grafton 
towiisliip,  where  he  is  owner  of 
eighty-one  acres  of  fine  land  and  a  pleas- 
ant home.  Though  now  nearly  seventy- 
two  years  of  age,  he  can  still  do  a  good  day's 
work  in  the  field,  "holding  up  his  end" 
with  the  hired  men,  for  his  health  and 
strength  have  been  preserved  by  consider- 
ate care  and  temperate  habits. 

Our  subject  was  born  November  15, 
1821,  in  Weston,  Windsor  Co.,  Yt.,  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Cragio,  a  farmer,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Mahala  Boyington.  In  the  Green 
Mountain  State  they  had  children  as  fol- 
lows: Lorena,  who  married  Oliver  Bell, 
died  in  LaGrange,  Ohio;  Benjamin,  a  re- 
tired farmer  of  LaGrange;  Charles  C,  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir;  Adna  A.,  who  died  in 
LaGrange,  Lorain  county;  Esther,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen;  Horace,  who 
died  in  LaGrange;  Harrison,  a  farmer  of 
LaGrange;  Elizabeth  (born  in  Ohio),  widow 
of  George  Chamberlain,  living  in  Milwau- 
kee. In  September,  1835,  the  family  set 
out  from  Vermont  in  a  wagon  for  Buffalo, 
N    Y.,  whence  they  proceeded  by  Lake  Erie 


to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  from  there  by  road  to 
Lorain  county.  Here,  while  stopping  with 
an  acquaintance  to  rest  after  their  long 
journey,  they  became  so  impressed  with  the 
country  that  they  decided  to  remain,  and 
Mr.  Cragin  purchased  a  part  of  Lot  No.  61, 
Grafton  township,  containing  155  acres  of 
woodland,  at  four  dollars  per  acre;  there 
was  no  house  of  any  kind  on  the  place,  but 
it  was  not  long  l)efore  a  dwelling  22x32 
feet,  and  one  and  one- half  stories  high,  was 
erected,  all  the  timber  for  it  being  cut  by 
Mr.  Cragin  himself.  Here  this  pioneer 
toiled  and  prospered,  assisting  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  country,  and  witnessing 
the  onward  march  of  civilization  close  on 
the  heels  of  the  retiring  lied  Indian  and 
the  yet  more  fierce  panther,  wolf  and  bear. 
He  died  July  31,  1865,  his  wife  in  1855, 
and  they  were  buried  in  West  Grafton 
cemetery.  They  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  was  trus- 
tee, steward  and  class-leader,  and  in  politics 
he  was  originally  an  Old-line  Whig,  after- 
ward a  Republican.  He  was  a  very  robust 
man,  and  at  sixty  years  of  age  could  rake 
and  bind  all  day  after  a  cradler  in  the  har- 
vest fields. 

C.  C.  Cragin,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  part  of  his  education  in 
his  native  State,  and  part  in  Lorain  county, 
Edward  Perkins  being  his  first  teacher  in 
the  latter.  He  attended  about  three  months 
in  the  year,  the  remainder  of  his  boyhood 
being  devoted  to  the  farm,  under  his 
father's  tuition.  For  six  years  after  his 
marriage  he  had  charge  of  the  home  farm, 
and  then  bought  thirty-three  acres  in 
Grafton  township,  on  which  there  was  a 
log  house,  where  the  family  lived  two 
years,  when  a  more  substantial  residence 
was  erected.  In  1863  Mr.  Cragin  came  to 
iiis  present  farm,  bought  from  Josiah 
Turner,  and  which  is  a  part  of  the  original 
Turner  tract.  Here  he  built  new  out- 
buildings, and  otherwise  improved  the 
property.  For  the  past  thirty  years  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  dairying  business  in 
addition  to  general  farming. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


805 


On  May  8,  1844,  Mr.  Cragiii  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  Wilkins,  who  was  born 
April  18,  1826,  in  western  Vermont,  a 
daughter  of  Silas  and  Hannah  (^Tenney) 
Wilkins,  wiio  came  with  tlieir  family  to 
Ohio  in  1884,  driving  to  Troy,  N.  Y., 
thence  taking  canal  to  Buffalo,  lake  to 
Cleveland,  and  wagon  to  LaCTrange  town- 
ship, Loraiti  county,  where  Miss  Wilkins 
was  wooed  and  won  by  our  subject.  The 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  0.  C.  Cra- 
gin  were  four  in  number:  Andrew  J.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Estlier 
LL.,  who  died  when  thirteen  months  old ; 
Ellen  A.,  who  died  when  three  years  old; 
and  Juliette,  residing  with  her  parents. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, although  his  first  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  held 
several  township  ofKces,  such  as  assessor, 
declining  many  others.  Mrs.  Cragin  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Bel- 
den,  and  they  are  respected  far  and  near 
as  good  neighbors  and  kind-hearted  people. 


ri(  RTHUR  W.  NICHOLS  (deceased) 
f/_|\  was  born  in  Eaton  township,  Lo- 
fr%,  rain  Co.,  Ohio,  July  2,  1854,  a  son 
■fj  of  Mason  E.  and  Joann  (Mead) 
Nichols,  the  father  a  tjative  of 
Crown  Point,  Lake  Chaniplain,  whence  in 
1832  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  to  Eaton  township  in  1851, 
and  to  Elyria  in  1876.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  vocation,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
a  member  of  the  Disciple  (Jhurch.  He 
married  Miss  Joann  Mead,  who  was  born 
in  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y.,  July  16, 
1833,  and  they  had  a  family  of  live  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  died  in  infancy;  the 
others  are  all  living,  with  the  exception  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Joann 
Nichols  died  November  9,  1864,  and  in 
1865  Mason  E.  Nichols  was  unit(Ml  in  mar- 
riage with  Mahala  Cousins. 

Arthur  W.  Nichols  received  his  elemen- 
tary education  at  the  common  schools  of 
his   native    township,   after   which    he   at- 


tended school  at  Oberlin  and  Delaware, 
Ohio.  After  pursuing  a  law  course  in  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  he  located  in  Elyria,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where,  in  1880,  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  law,  carrying  on  at  the  same 
time  an  insurance  and  money- loaning  busi- 
ness; and  had  he  lived  he  would  have  made 
his  mark  in  the  legal  profession.  He  died 
December  26,  1886.  Mr.  Nichols  was  a 
member  of  the  1.  O.  O.  F.,  Royal  Ar- 
canum, Chosen  Friends  and  Good  Temp- 
lars, in  which  latter  Society  lie  was  grand 
secretary  of  the  State  Lodge  for  several 
years,  and  he  visited  Washington,  D.C.,  and 
Toronto,  Canada,  as  a  delegate  of  the  Order. 

T  1  •        • 

In  religious  connection  he  was  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

On  October  18,  1882,  Mr.  Nichols  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nettie 
Squires,  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1862  near  Elyria,  a  daughter  of  Anson  and 
Lydia  (Richardson)  Squires,  the  father 
born  on  the  Canadian  shore  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  N.  Y.,  in  1822;  when  a  small  boy 
he  came  with  liis  parents  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days, 
dying  April  U,  1872,  in  Elyria,  to  which 
town  he  had  retired  from  his  farm.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mrs.  Ni- 
chols has  one  child.  Mason  A.,  a  bright  and 
interesting  boy,  who  was  born  September 
9,  1883. 

If  S.  METCALF.  This  gentleman,  a 
resident  of  Elyria,  now  some  five  or 
_[  six  years  retired  from  active  business, 
the  father  of  a  large  and  highly  re- 
spected family,  comes  of  old  Puritan  stock 
on  both  sides  of  the  house.  Tiie  first,  in 
this  country,  was  Michael  Mctcalf,  who 
came  in  1637,  settling  near  Boston,  Mass. 
His  forefathers,  of  an  old  Saxon  and  Dan- 
ish family,  were  originally  Roman  Catho- 
lics, and  lost  their  property  and  titles  in 
the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  being  ad- 
herents of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots;  but 
afterward  they  seem  to  have  become  rigid 
Puritans. 


806 


LORAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
January  29,  1822,  in  Worcester  coiiuty, 
Mass.,  a  sou  of  Isaac  and  Anna  (Stevens) 
Metcalf,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  Elyria, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Worcester 
county,  Mass.,  and  was  there  reared  and 
educated.  After  leaving  school  he  became 
a  teacher  iu  his  native  State,  for  a  time 
having  an  excellent  private  school  in  Bos- 
ton, in  which  city  lie  died  in  1831.  at  the 
age  of  fifty  years,  leaving  seven  children. 
The  son,  I.  S.,  pasted  his  boyhood  in  Bos- 
ton, whence  he  moved  to  Bangor,  Maine. 
At  Bowdoin  College,  in  Brunswick,  Maine, 
he  graduated  in  1847,  after  which  he  pur- 
sued civil  engineering  on  railroad  surveys 
and  constructions  for  ten  years,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, New  Hampshire  and  Illinois. 
He  came  west  in  1850,  to  take  part  in  the 
first  survey  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. In  1856  he  settled  in  Elyria,  where 
he  has  ever  since  been  somewhat  promi- 
nently connected  with  most  public  inter- 
ests, moral  and  religious,  in  matters  of 
education  and   business. 

Mr.  Metcalf  has  been  twice  married: 
first  time  July  5,  1852,  in  Dunbarton, 
N.  H.,  to  Miss  Antoinette  Putnam,  a  na- 
tive of  that  town,  to  which  union  nine 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  W.  S.,  now 
in  business  in  Lawrence,  Kans. ;  Charles, 
with  his  brother  W.  S. ;  Marion,  for  about 
ten  years  a  teacher  in  Wellesley  College, 
Mass.,  now  in  Hampton,  Va.,  trainiug 
colored  students  for  the  ministry;  Anna, 
wife  of  PnTfessor  Root,  of  Oberlin;  John 
M.  P.,  professor  in  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, Oberlin;  P.  H.,  who  studied  theology 
at  Oberlin,  and  is  now  assistant  pastor  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Des- 
Moines,  Iowa  (he  is  a  musician  of  repute); 
Grace  Ethel,  a  graduate  of  Oberlin,  and 
now  studying  at  Moody's  School,  in  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  for  missionary  work;  Henry  M., 
a  graduate  of  Oberlin,  now  clerking  for 
his  brother  in  Lawrence,  Kans.;  and  An- 
toinette P.,  a  graduate  of  Oberlin,  spring 
of  1893.     Tbe  mother  of  this  family  died 


August  14,  1875,  and  March  25,  1878, 
Mr.  Metcalf  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Miss  Harriet  Howes,  of  English  parentage, 
to  which  union  six  sons  have  been  born, 
viz.:  Ralph  Howes,  Joseph  Mayo,  Eliab 
Wight,  Isaac  Stevens  Jr.,  Keyes  De  Witt 
and  Thomas  Nelson.  Eight  of  Mr.  Met- 
calf's  children  are  college  graduates,  either 
of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  or  of  Wellesley,  Mass., 
and  at  least  two  more  are  now  studying 
with  a  view  to  a  similar  education.  Po- 
litically our  subject  was  originally  a  Whig, 
and  since  the  formation  of  the  party  has 
been  a  stanch  Republican.  He  i-s  a  con- 
sistent member  and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  an  officer  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  is  a  strictly  conscientious  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  temperance. 


FREDERICK    S.    REEFY    (original 
spelling     Riffe)  is  a  native  of  the 
_^       Canton   of  Bern,  Switzerland,  born 
September  1,  1833,  in  the  village  of 
Boezingen. 

In  the  following  year  the  family  immi- 
grated to  America,  making  their  first 
home  in  the  L^nited  States  on  a  farm  near 
Mt.  Eaton,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
young  Frederick  passed  his  boyhood,  work- 
ing in  the  fields  during  the  summers,  and 
attending  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  in  the  winter  months,  at 
the  same  time  receiving  instruction  from 
his  parents  in  German.  Being  an  apt 
and  studious  scholar,  he  made  rapid  prog- 
ress with  his  books,  and  in  a  few  years 
mastered  the  branches  taught  in  the  dis- 
trict  schools.  In  1848  the  family  moved 
to  Tuscarawas  county,  same  State,  near 
Wilmot,  and  here  for  four  years  more  our 
subject  attended  school  and  worked  on  the 
farm.  He  also  began  teaching  in  the  win- 
ter, during  the  suiumer  pursuing  the 
higher  branches  of  education,  which  course 
— teacher  and  student  alternately — con- 
tinued seven  years,  and  thereby  he  ulti- 
mately became  a  successful  educator. 


;f< 


u^^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


809 


In  the  spring  of  1860  Mr.  Eeefy  went 
to  Roanoke,  Ind.,  where  he  organized  the 
Roanoke  Educational  Society,  and  by  its 
aid  founded  Roanoke  Seminary,  at  the 
head  of  which  he  remained  eight  years, 
dining  wiiich  time  it  was  one  of  tlie  most 
popular  schools  in  northern  Indiana.  In 
1S6S,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he 
abandoned  teaching  for  a  time,  and  subse- 
quentiy  inoved  to  Blufi'ton,  Ind.,  organ- 
ized the  graded  schools  of  that  place,  and 
remained  in  charge  as  superintendent  un- 
til 1872,  when  be  resigned,  and  with  his 
family  removed  to  Elyria,  Ohio,  where  lie 
became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Elyria 
Constitution,  now  the  Elyria  Democrat. 
In  1862  Mr.  Reefy  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Shearer. 


IfAMES  JEWELL.  In  all  the  great 
k.  I  "Buckeye  State"  there  is  no  county 
\J^  that,  for  its  population,  can  boast  of 
a  greater  number  of  self-made  men 
who  have  risen  to  comparative  opulence  than 
Lorain,  and  among  this  class  stands  no  one 
more  prominent  than  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Mr.  Jewell  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
May  18,  1828,  in  Belmont  county,  thirteen 
miles  west  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  He  is 
a  son  of  Parkinson  Jewell,  who  was  a  son 
of  Zachariah,  whose  father  was  the  first  of 
the  family  to  land  on  the  shores  of  Amer- 
ica. This  earliest  known  progenitor  of  tiie 
Jewell  family  came  from  England  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which  he  served, 
being  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
just  seven  years  after  his  arrival  in  the 
New  World.  He  left  a  widow  and  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  and  in  cour.se  of 
time  the  sons  were  "bound  out"  as  ap- 
prentices to  various  trades. 

Zachariah,  one  of  these  sons,  found  his 
lot  cast  with  a  Southern  [ilanter,  who  took 
him  to  his  estate  in  Virginia,  and  placed 
him  as  overseer  of  some  300  slaves  owned 


by  him,  and  who  labored  on  his  plantation. 
Here  Zachariah  remained  some  3 ears,  in 
the  meantime  losing  sight  of  all  his  broth- 
ers  and  sisters — never  again  hearing  of 
them.  While  in  \^irginia  he  married, 
and  some  children  were  there  born  to  him. 
In  1805  he  migrated  west,  coming  to  Ohio, 
and  had  his  residence  some  years  in  Bel- 
mont county,  thence  moving  to  Tuscar- 
awas county,  later  to  Coshocton  county, 
and  finally  to  Lorain  county,  where  in 
Brighton  township  he  died  at  an  advanced 
age. 

Parkinson  Jewell,  a  son  of  Zachariah, 
was  about  four  years  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  Ohio,  and  he  was  reared  near 
Stillwater  creek  in  Belmont  county.  There 
he  married  Jane  Clark,  who  bore  him  seven 
children — five  daughters  and  and  two  sons. 
From  Belmont  he  moved  to  Tuscarawas, 
thence  in  1837  to  Coshocton,  from  there 
in  1848  to  Lorain,  and  finally  to  Paulding, 
all  counties  in  Ohio,  and  in  each  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  In  the  last-named  county 
he  and  his  wife  died,  and  their  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  Antwerp  cemetery.  A 
brief  record  of  their  children  is  as  follows: 
James  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir;  Mar3' 
died  July  20,  1872,  at  the  home  of  our 
subject  (she  was  the  wife  of  Dennison 
Hughes,  who  now  lives  in  Kansas);  Re- 
becca married  James  Hayes,  and  died  iu 
Defiance  county,  (_)hio;  Martha  J.  was  first 
married  to  Jacob  Brnner,  who  was  killed 
in  the  Rebellion,  and  she  is  now  the  wife 
of  John  Miller;  Sarah  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Michigan;  Nancy  E.  is  the  wife 
of  Zene  Hart,  of  Paulding  county. 

James  Jewell,  of  whom  this  sketch  more 
particularly  relates,  received  such  educa- 
tion as  the  subscription  schools  of  his  boy- 
hood days  afforded,  limited  at  the  most  to 
a  few  months  attendance  during  the  win- 
ter seasons.  On  reaching  his  majority  he 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand,  his  wages  vary- 
ing fi'om  ten  to  twelve  dollars  a  month. 
After  his  marriage  he  removeil  to  Paulding 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  had  bought  163 
acres  of  unimproved   land    at  seventy-five 


810 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cents  an  acre,  which  after  a  few  years,  hav- 
ing improved  the  property,  he  sold  at  a 
profit.  He  tlien  came  to  Lorain  county, 
where  in  Ilutitington  towushij)  he  pur- 
chased sixty-two  acres  of  wild  land;  later 
moved  to  Spencer  township,  Medina 
county,  from  where,  in  1870,  he  came  to 
Koehester  township,  Lorain  county,  buying 
his  present  farm  of  Thomas  Oummings,  and 
here  he  has  since  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  This  fine  property 
he  has  groatly  enhanced  the  value  of,  hav- 
ing in  addition  to  other  improvements 
erected  substantial  and  commodious  out- 
buildings. 

On  October  30,  1851,  Mr.  Jewell  was 
married  to  Mary  Ensign,  of  Huntington 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  children  as 
follows  were  the  result  of  this  union: 
Florence  E.,  now  Mrs.  Nathan  Snyder,  of 
New  London,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Cariie  M., 
Mrs.  Joel  Snyder,  also  of  New  London :  Cora, 
Mrs.  Calvin  Hill,  of  New  London;  Alice, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Landis,  Jr.,  of  Kuggles  town- 
ship, Ashland  Co.,  Ohio;  and  Harley  and 
Calvin,  Iwth  at  home.  Mr.  Jewell  is  a 
conservative  Ivepnl)lican,  as  quiet  in  liis 
political  manifestations  as  he  is  in  his  do- 
mestic circle,  and  he  is  respected  and  hon- 
ored by  all  who  know  him.  He  and  his 
amiable  wife,  as  well  as  their  children,  ai'e 
exemplary  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 


ELNATHAN  PEABODY.     In    No- 
vember,  1833,    there    migrated  to 
,  Henrietta    township,     Lorain     Co., 

Ohio,  from  New  Hampshire,  one 
Andrew  Peabody,  who  was  born  about  the 
year  1795,  and  was  one  of  the  nation's  de- 
fenders in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a 
militiaman,  and  while  not  in  active  service 
stood  ready  to  respond  to  his  country's 
call.  A  brother  was  mustered  into  the 
service  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  when  but 
twenty-tliree  years  of  age,  and  served 
through  all  the  notable  encounters  of  that 
memorable  war. 


Andrew  Peabody  was  a  shoemaker,  and 
while  yet  a  resident  of  New  Hampshire  he 
married,  and  reared  a  number  of  children. 
The  first  few  years  of  his  life  in  "the 
woods  "  of  Lorain  county  he  was  employed 
at  his  trade,  and  by  exercising  great  care 
and  economy  he  was  in  1836  enabled  to  pur- 
chase a  small  heavily- wooded  piece  of  wild 
land.  The  greater  share  of  the  labor  of 
clearing  this  piece  of  land  fell  upon  his 
sons.  During  the  winter  season  and  earlier 
months  of  spring  the  timber  was  felled, 
and  then  in  August  the  brush  was  fired. 
Grain  was  planted  in  the  clearing,  amid 
the  stumps  of  the  fallen  trees,  and  when  it 
was  ripened  it  was  cut  with  the  cradle  and 
threshed  with  the  fiail.  At  this  time  a  yoke 
of  oxen  brought  the  maonilicent  sum  of 
forty  dollars,  while  dairy  animals  brought 
ten  dollars,  chiefly  in  orders  upon  some 
neighborintr  mercantile  establishment,  as 
money  was  a  scarce  commodity.  Andrew 
Peabody  married  Asenath  Gillis,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  a  nativeof  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  to  them  were  born  ten  children, 
of  whom  those  living  are  Elnathan,  Os- 
man,  Frederick,  M.  BT,  Mary,  Melissia  Gill 
(a  widow)  and  Clara  J.  Pety,  all  residents 
of  Henrietta  township,  Lorain  county.  The 
father  of  these  died  in  1878,  the  mother 
in  1846. 

Elnathan  Peabody  was  born  October  23, 
1830,  in  New  Hampshire,  on  the  Merri- 
mac  river.  Wiien  he  was  but  three  years 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  and  he 
was  therefore  reared  in  the  "Buckeye 
State."  His  early  boyhood  was  passed  in 
lending  all  assistance  possible  to  his  par- 
ents, and  in  attending  such  schools  as  the 
period  afforded,  which  being  but  meager, 
his  education  was  necessarily  limited.  His 
first  schoolbooks  consisted  of  an  English 
reader,  United  States  history,  and  the 
Bible.  In  1855  he  married  Elizabeth 
Petty,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Petty,  who 
was  a  pioneer  of  Lorain  county,  and  of 
English  nationality.  The  children  born  to 
their  union  are  H.  B.,  in  Henrietta  town- 
ship; L.  F.,  at  home;  C.  M.,  near  Oberlin; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


811 


Mary  A.  (Mrs.  Aruett),  residing  near 
Oberlin;an(i  Caj)itola  V.  Rliodos,  livirii; 
two  miles  east  of  Oberlin.  At  about  the 
age  of  twenty-three  onr  sultject  possessed 
but  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  with 
which  he  in  part  paid  for  twenty-tive  acres 
of  land,  going  in  debt  for  the  balance.  This 
land  he  cleared,  and  had  just  finished  pay- 
ing for  same,  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out; 
he  enlisted  in  August,  1864,  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  ().  V.  I., 
Capt.  Ed.  Eickey,  and  served  till  the  close 
of  the  conilict.  He  wa.s  one  of  those  called 
"Tennessee  Woodticks,"  who  rendered 
such  valuable  service  n«?ar  New  Berne, 
N.  C.  Mr.  Peabody  is  a  Eepubiican,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  altliough  while  in  the  service  he 
was  an  adherent  of  Methodism,  was  a 
regular  attendant  at  the  services  held  by 
Chaplain  James  Mitchel. 


,^ILLIAM  M.  FRENCH,  for  near- 
ly threescore  years  a  farmer  citi- 
zen  of  Columbia    township,  is  a 
native  of  Herefordshire,  England, 
born  in  1824. 

John  French,  father  of  subject,  who 
was  born  in  Gloucesfershire,  England,  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Morton,  a  native 
of  Herefordshire,  wliose  mother  was 
Welsh.  In  1842  the  family  emigrated  to 
Canada,  whence  in  June,  following  year, 
they  moved  to  the  United  States  and  to 
Ohio,  ^ettling  on  a  farm  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  they  cleared  a 
farm,  and  lived  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The 
mother  died  in  January.  1855,  the  father 
in  August,  same  year.  Their  faniily  num- 
bered three  children,  as  follows:  William 
M.;  Thomas,  who  went  west  some  years 
awe;  and  Sarah  Esther,  Mrs.  N.Jl.  Ingalls, 
of  LaGrange,  who  died  in  May,  1891. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  his  native  land,  and  came  with 
the  rest  of  the  family  to  America.      At  the 


age  of  twenty- two  he  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  cooper  in  Cleveland,  where  he 
followed  it  nine  years,  and  afterward  for 
some  years  in  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county.  In  1852  he  bought  in  that  town- 
ship thirty-five  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
added  from  time  to  time,  until  he  now 
owns  ninety-five  acres  in  Columbia  and 
forty  acres  in  Olmsted  township,  Cuyahoga 
county.  In  1852  Mr.  French  married,  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  Miss  Rosina  Ma.xfield, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  six  children,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  brief  record:  William  Morton,  mar- 
ried, who  died  in  1880;  Sarah  I^lizabeth, 
wife  of  Perry  I).  Spencer,  of  LaC range, 
has  four  children — Demby  Morton,  Rosa, 
Laura  and  an  infant;  Lucy,  wife  of  Luther 
Blodgett,  of  Olmsted  township,  has  three 
children :  Lee  G.,  Gertie  and  Edith ;  (ieorge, 
a  physician  and  surgeon  of  Columbia  Sta- 
tion, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  who  is  married  and 
has  one  child — Emma;  Alice,  wife  of  John 
T.  Sheer,  of  Olmsted,  has  four  children — 
Allie,  Essie,  Ray  and  an  infant;  Park  M., 
married,  resides  on  the  home  farm.  Polit- 
ically our  subject  is  a  Republican,  his  first 
Presidential  vote  being  cast  for  John  C. 
Fremont;  he  has  served  on  the  school 
board  with  zeal  and  fidelity,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Colum- 
bia Center. 


rC.  SMITH,  than  whom  there  is  no 
more  industrious  or  honorable  citi- 
_^       zen   in  Grafton    township,  was  born 
July  7,  1842,  in  Liverpool  township, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

Frederick  Smith,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  wjiere  he 
learned  the  trade  of  harness  maker  and 
whence,  when  a  young  man,  he  came  to 
America,  the  voyage  to  New  York  occu- 
pying six  weeks.  From  there  he  came  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  till  1835,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
Liverp(jol  township,  Medina  county,  buy- 
ing land  there  two  miles  south  of   the  cen- 


812 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ter.      In  Cleveland  he  had  married  Barbara 

,  and  the  children  Ijorn  to  them   in 

that  city  were  Louisa  (^married  to  Adolph 
Ganzart,  a  farmer,  now  deceased),  and 
Caroline  (now  Mrs.  William  Zizelman,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio).  In  Liverpool  township 
the  family  was  increased  by  three  mcire, 
namely:  Frederick  C.  (subject  of  sketch); 
Adolph  (who  was  a  member  of  Coinpany  H, 
Eighth  O.  V.  I.,  in  wliich  he  served  three 
and  one-half  years;  he  died  in  LaGrange 
township. Lorain  Co.,  Ohio);  and  Mary  (de- 
ceased when  young).  In  1858  the  mother 
of  these  died  and  was  buried  at  LaG range. 
This  event  broke  up  the  family,  and  the 
fatlier  afterward  made  his  home  among  his 
children,  chiefly  with  Mrs.  Ganzart  and 
our  subject.  He  died  in  1885  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  latter,  and  was  buried  in  Nes- 
bit  cemetery.  Politically  he  was  a  Whig 
and  Republican. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  until  the  age  of  thirteen, 
when  he  left  home  and  found  work  with 
F.  W.  Preston,  who  lived  near  Rawson- 
ville,  receivinij  for  his  services  four  dollars 
per  month.  On  leaving  there  he  worked 
at  various  places  until  his  enlistment  in 
Elyi'ia,  Ohio,  August  15, 18(52,  in  Company 
II,  Eighth  O.  V.  I.,  from  which  he  was 
transferred  as  sergeant  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fourth  O.  Y.  I.,  Company  E. 
They  were  sent  to  Kentucky  and  tlien  to 
Tennessee,  where  our  subject  was  shot 
through  the  leg.  May  11,  1804.  He  was 
sent  to  Cleveland  Hospital,  where  he  lay 
six  months;  was  discharged  February  6, 
1805,  and  returned  to  Grafton,  where  he 
found  work  witii  his  former  employer.  F. 
Preston.  On  the  latter's  leaving  for  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  Mr.  Smith  took  control  of  the 
farm,  and  conducted  it  five  years  on  his 
own  account,  at  tlio  end  of  which  time  it 
was  sold,  he  buying  forty  acres  of  it.  Here 
he  lived  until  his  removal  in  1872  to  tiie 
town  of  Grafton,  where  in  1874  he  built 
bis  present  elegant  home.  He  now  conducts 
a  livery,  coal  and  ice  business,  in  addition 


to  carrying  on  his  farm,  and  in  all  his  un- 
dertakings he  has  met  with  well-merited 
success. 

On  January  8, 1868,  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Alfarette  Ackley,  born  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  Ohio,  in  1849,  daugiiter  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Dickson)  Ackley,  and  children 
as  follows  have  been  bui-n  to  thetn:  Charles 
H.,  bookkeeper  for  the  Walter  A.  Wood 
Harvester  Co.,  Chicago;  Hattie  M.,  James 
D.,  Clara  A.,  Ida  E.  and  Clayton  F.,  all  at 
home.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, has  served  as  township  trustee  six 
years,  and  in  the  town  of  Grafton  has  been 
treasurer  of  both  the  schools  and  the  cor- 
poration, serving  with  credit  to  himself  and 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 


FJRED  NORTON  SMITH.  The 
manufacturing  interests  of  Elyria 
^  are  well  represented  by  this  gentle- 
man, who  is  one  of  the  most  active 
and  pushing  men  in  the  county.  He  is 
a  son  of  William  L.  and  Juliette  (Hamlin) 
Smith,  the  former  a  native  of  England, 
and  at  the  present  time  a  resident  of  the 
State  of  Washington,  the  latter  a  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Hamlin,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Elyria. 

Fred  N.  Smith  was  born  in  Mowsley, 
Leicestershire,  England,  August  18,  1848, 
and  first  came  to  this  country  with  his 
father  when  less  than  one  year  old,  return- 
ing again  to  his  birthplace  at  the  age  of 
fourteen.  The  following  six  years  were 
chiefly,  spent  in  school,  after  which  he 
again  returned  to  the  United  States,  where 
he  completed  his  education  in  Oberlin 
College,  his  father  having  graduated  from 
this  well-known  institution  in  1847.  Af- 
ter teaching  school  about  one  year,  on  the 
1st  of  April,  1873,  he  accepted  a  situation 
as  bookkeeper  with  Topliff  &  Ely,  manu- 
facturers of  carriage  hardware  in  Elyria. 
In  1887  this  tirm  sold  their  business  to  a 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


815 


stock  company  of  which  Mr.  Smith  was 
one  of  the  incorporators.  He  was  elected 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  new  com- 
pany (The  To])litl'&  Ely  (!o.),  and  I'etained 
this  position  until  ls;)2,  when  he  resigned 
to  till  a  like  position  intheGarford  Manu- 
facturing Co. 

In  1889  he  became  a  partner  with  Mr. 
A.  L.  Garford  and  Mr.  II.  S.  Foliansbee, 
in  a  business  known  as  the  Garford  Manu- 
factnring  Co.,  and  has  since  been  actively 
identified  with  its  growth.  Since  the  in- 
corporation of  the  Garford  Manufacturing 
Co.,  in  1891,  he  has  been  its  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

Tiie  present  building  occupied  by  this 
company  is  100  feet  by  40  feet,  three  sto- 
ries and  basement.  This  factory  was  com- 
pleted about  January  1,  1893,  employs 
upward  of  one  hundred  men,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  about  one  thousand  saddles 
per  day.  The  plant  is  fitted  up  with  new 
and  modern  machinery  tlirougliout,  and  is 
undoubtedly  the  most  complete  saddle  fac- 
tory in  existence  to-day. 

In  1880  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss 
Louise  M.  Porter,  principal  of  the  Elyria 
High  School,  by  whom  he  has  one  child, 
Caryl  Porter.  Mr.  S.mith  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  a  thorough  Protectionist. 


CHARLES    W.    COTTON,   a   leader 
among    the  native-born    agricultur- 
ists  of   Lorain  county,  was  born   in 
Sheffield    township   May  7,   1826,  a 
son    of    George    AV.  and  Rachel    (Smith) 
Cotton. 

Benjamin  Cotton,  grandfather  of  Charles 
W.,  was  born  May  1,  1758,  in  Coos  (now 
Grafton)  county.  New  Hampshire.  On 
October  12,  1785,  he  married,  in  Went- 
worth,  N.  11.,  Dolly  Smith,  also  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire,  burn  Ajiri!  3,  1706, 
and  the  names  and  dates  of  birtii  of  their 
children  are  as  follows:  Hannah,  April  11, 
1786,;  Benjamin  N.,  August  25,  1787; 
Solomon,  February  11,1789;  Dolly,  Sept- 


ember 24,  1790;  Lydia,  June  4,  1793; 
Abigal,  March  22,  1795;  Jonathan,  De- 
cember 8,  1796;  George  AV.,  September 
18,  1798;  David,  April  27,  1800;  Tlieo- 
dore,  September  24,  1802;  "Wiseman, 
July  23,  1803;  Elizabeth,  June  13,  1805; 
Joseph,  April  6,  1807;  and  William,  No- 
vember 18,  1810.  About  tlie  year  1834 
tiie  grandparents  of  our  subject  came  to 
Ohio,  first  settling  in  Medina  county,  and 
they  died  in  Wayne  county,  each  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years;  lie  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

George  W.  Cotton,  father  of  subject, 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  whence  in 
1817  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Shef- 
field township,  Lorain  county.  His  wife, 
Rachel  (Smithi,  was  a  daughter  of  Joshua 
and  Martha  (^Hall)  Smith,  and  all  were  na- 
tives of  Berkshire  county,  Mass.  They 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in 
Sheffield  township  in  1812,  and  here 
Joshua  Smith  died  in  1810;  he  was  the 
first  white  man  buried  in  that  township; 
his  wife  died  in  1859.  On  March  26, 
1833,  George  W.  Cotton  moved  to  Elyria 
township,  and  there  died  in  April,  1865, 
his  wife  in  1849.  Their  family  numbered 
five  children,  as  follows:  Jerome  (deceased 
in  1852),  Charles  W.  (subject  of  sketch). 
Martha  (widow  of  Frank  Younglove,  of 
Virginia),  N.  L.  (of  North  Amherst,  Lo- 
raiu  county)  and  George  J.  (residing  in 
Lansing,  Michigan). 

Charles  W.  Cotton  received  a  limited 
district-school  education,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he 
followed  some  years.  In  1872  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Arman,  a  na- 
tive of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  daughter 
of  J.acob  Arman,  of  German  birth.  To 
this  union  were  born  five  children,  viz.: 
George  W.,  Edwin,  Erman,  Dora  and 
Daisy.  In  1887  Mr.  Cotton  bought  a 
farm  in  Elyria  township,  and  has  since  been 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  fruit  growing.  In  August,  1S62,  he 
enlisted  in  Battery  E,  First  Ohio  Liglit 
Artillery,  for  three  years,  and  was  attached 


816 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  the  army  of  Tennessee.  He  partici- 
pated in  tlie  battles  of  Cumberland  Gap, 
Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  and  many  other 
minor  engagements.  In  1865  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  and  re- 
turned home  to  the  pursuits  of  peace. 
Politically  he  is  a  strong  Republican;  he 
is  a  member  of  Richard  Allen  Post  Ko. 
65,  G.  A.  R.,  Department  of  Ohio. 


^/ 


H{  D.  ROOT.  This  gentleman,  who 
has  been  a  shipbuilder  for  the  past 
forty  years,  and  whose  name  is 
"  familiar  as  household  words " 
among  mariners  and  others,  is  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
Elack  River  township  in  1833. 

He  is  the  younger  of  two  children  born 
to  Oresten  and  Julia  Ann  (Dutton)  Root, 
natives  of  Farmington,  Conn.,  the  father 
born  in  1800.  Oresten  Root  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  his  place  of  birth, 
and  early  in  life  went  to  Georgia,  where 
he  was  in  business  for  a  time,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  married, 
and  there  remained  until  1828,  in  which 
year  he  proceeded  to  Cleveland,  thence  to 
AVellington,  Lorain  county.  He  had  bought 
land  in  the  Reserve,  and  in  1830  he  settled  in 
131ack  River  township,  on  what  is  known  as 
the  Gregg  farm.  Later  he  was  engaged  for 
several  years  in  the  commission  and  for- 
warding business,  having  a  warehouse  at 
Black  River,  near  the  lake.  He  also  owned 
an  interest  in  the  schooners  "President" 
and  "  Vincennes,"  and  was  entire  owner  of 
the  "  Equator,"  built  in  1842,  which  was 
lost  on  the  lake,  near  Buffalo,  uncovered 
by  insnrance.  He  was  drowned  in  1852 
when  the  propeller  "  Henry  Clay "  was 
lost.  Mr.  Root  was  an  Old-line  Whio;,  ac- 
five  in  politics,  and  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  many  years.  His  widow  died  in 
Lorain  in  1871.  They  had  another  son 
besides  our  subject,  Samuel  J.,  who  was 
born  in  Lorain  county,  educated  in  Lorain, 
was  a  sailor  all  his   life,   and   served  as  a 


man  before  the  mast  up  to  captain.  In 
1889  he  was  skipper  of  the  yacht  "Leo," 
which  was  lost  that  year  in  Lake  Erie, 
near  Cleveland,  with  all  on  board — nine 
in  number;  he  left  a  widow  and  three 
children. 

H.  D.  Root,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  schools 
of  Lorain,  and  at  about  the  age  of  fifteen 
commenced  the  life  of  a  sailor;  at  twenty 
he  was  captain,  and  he  sailed  the  lakes 
continuously   for    thirteen     years.  He 

learned  shipbuilding  under  William  Jones, 
one  of  the  earliest  shipbuilders  of  Lorain, 
and  in  1853  embarked  in  that  business  at 
the  same  place,  since  when  he  has  built 
the  following  vessels  there:  First  scow, 
"Cousin  Mary;"  1857— "E.  S.  Taylor;" 
1861— "E.  K.  Kane;"  1862— "  Conrad 
Reid;"  1863— "  H.  D.  Root;"  1865— 
"Henry  Chapman;"  1866-67— brig  "E. 
Cohen;"  1867 — scow  "Fannie  L.  Jones," 
and  another  scow;  1868 — schooner  "  Ver- 
nie  Blake;"  the  "Ida  J.  Root;"  "Ger- 
man;" "Growler;"  and  rebuilt  scow 
"Ferret;"  1873  —  steam  barge  "Mary 
Groh; "  1873-74— schooner  "  Three  Broth- 
ers;" 1874-75 — schooner  "Our  Son;" 
1875 — tug  "Myrtle;"  1876— the  "Theo- 
dore Voyes;"  1877— the  "Col.  Gates;" 
1878 — tug  "  Telephone  "  and  schooner 
"  Ohio  Grover;  "  1879 — steam  barge  "  Lu- 
ella  Worthington  "  and  tug  "  George  W. 
Lorimer;  "  1880— "  W.  H.  Doon  "  and 
schooner  "Conrad  Reid;"  1881 — rebuilt 
the  "C.  L.  Hutchinson  "  tow-barge;  1881- 
82 — the  "DeGinty"  and  tow-barge  "  R. 
Botaford;"  1882— steam  barge  "  H.  S. 
Hubbell"  and  tugs  "C.  E.  Bolton"  and 
"Chamberlain."  At  Vermillion,  Erie 
county,  he  built  the  following:  1882 — tug 
"J.  F.  Weyland,"  the  "Marquette,"  the 
"J.  S.  Petton."  At  Cleveland  he  built 
the  steam  barge  "  J.  P.  Farnhani,"  the 
"  Margaret,"  the  "  Olwell  "  and  the  "  Fire 
Tug."  At  Lorain  he  rebuilt  the  steam 
barges  "John  Martena,"  the  "  W.  T."  and 
the  "Albert  Y.  Gowen;"  built  the  "Fair- 
port  "  and  the  tug  "  Daisy   Moore,"    for 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


817 


self;  1891— the  tug  "J.  E.  Erwin;"  1892 
— tlie  tug  "  Susie  B.,"  besides  doina  a  vast 
amount  of  repairing,  keeping  employed  as 
many  as  eighty  men  at  one  time. 

In  1855  Capt.  Root  was  married  in 
Cleveland.  Ohio,  to  Jeanette  A.  Fuller,  a 
native  of  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  county, 
a  daughter  of  W.  A.  and  Chloe  (McNeil) 
Fuller,  of  Connecticut,  and  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry, the  mother  a  distant  relative  of 
John  Quiucy  Adams.  In  about  1820  they 
came  to  Lorain  county,  where  the  mother 
died;  the  father  passed  away  at  Arcadia, 
Neb.  To  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Iloot  were  born 
three  children,  viz.:  Ernest,  who  died  at 
Lorain  in  1SS5,  leaving  a  widow  and  six 
children;  W.  O.,  married,  and  residing  in 
Cleveland,  where  he  is  head  draftsman  for 
the  Hill  Clutch  Works;  and  Nettie  K, 
wife  of  Walter  Goodell,  of  Lorain.  In 
politics  Capt.  Root  has  been  a  lifelong 
Republican,  his  tirst  vote  being  cast  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  he  has  served  in 
the  town  council  of  Lorain-  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Tent  No.  1,  K.  O.  T.  M..  and  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  with  which  the  entire  fam- 
ily are  associated. 


f 


)\  J.   KREBS,  an   inftiiential,   lead- 
ing citizen  of  Pentield  township, 
was  born  December  13,  1816,  in 
Orange   township.   Ashland    Co., 
Ohio,  a  gramlson  of  Christian   Krebs. 

His  father.  Daniel  G.  Krebs,  was  born 
July  14,  1814,  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  He 
was  married,  in  Orange  township,  Ash- 
land county,  to  Catherine  Rickett.  who 
was  born  May  27,  1818,  in  East  Bethle- 
hem township,  Washington  Co.,  Penn., 
daughter  of  Christopher  Rickett.  also  a 
native  of  that  place,  where  he  married 
Mary  Horn;  they  came  to  Ohio  in  June, 
1823,  and  were  the  third  family  to  settle 
in  Oranire  township,  Ashland  county.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krebs  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  W.  J.  is  the  second  son  and 
third  child.     Mr.  Krebs  died  January  19, 


1857,  of  typhoid  fever,  and  was  buried  in 
St.  Luke  cemetery.  Orange;  township.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  widow, 
who  is  still  living,  makes  her  home  with 
a  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Crawford,  of  Lodi, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

After  the  father's  death  the  family  were 
left  in  limited  circumstances,  and  Mrs. 
Krebs,  who  had  learned  the  weaver's  trade, 
was  engaged  in  the  summer  season  inak- 
inghomespun,  thussupporting  the  younger 
children.  At  this  time  our  subject  left 
home  to  work  for  Peter  Snyder,  a  farmer, 
receiving  five  dollars  a  month  for  his  serv- 
ices,  and  he  continued  to  follow  farming 
during  the  summers,  one- half  of  his  wages 
going  to  his  widowed  mother,  and  in  the 
winter  seasons  attending  the  common 
schools  of  the  period.  He  was  a  very  in- 
dustrious youth, and  worked  at  any  honest 
labor  he  could  iind,  practicing  economy 
and  savino-  all  he  could.  He  remained  in 
Orange  township,  Ashland  county,  until 
the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  moved  with 
his  motiier  to  Rochester,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 
On  November  17,  1872,  he  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Rochester  township,  Lorain 
county,  with  Miss  Sarah  H.  Andrews,  who 
was  born  August  4,  1850,  in  Wiltshire, 
Encrland,  daughter  of  Thomas  Andrews, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  1S52, 
locating  in  Spencer  township,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio.  After  marriage  Mr.  Krebs  removed 
to  a  farm  in  Rochester  townshij),  which  he 
rented  from  A.  B.  Strodger,  and  there  re- 
mained three  years,  when,  having  sold  to 
his  brother,  K.  W.,  a  one-third  interest, 
which  he  had  at  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
in  140  acres  of  land  (whereon  the  family 
had  removed  in  1867),  he  purchased  ninety 
acres  and  made  his  home  thereon  one  year, 
when,  anticipating  a  decline  in  the  value 
of  land  (which  actually  came),  he  sold  it. 
On  March  1,  1877,  he  came  to  Pentield, 
Lorain  coutity,  where,  in  company  with 
his  brother  R.  B.,  he  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business,  conducting  same  with 
well-earned  success  for  twelve  years,  since 
when  he  has  lived  a  semi-retired  life. 


818 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


During  Hayes'  administration  Mr.  Krebs 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Pentield, 
serving  as  such  for  a  period  of  six  years, 
and  on  July  21,  1^93,  he  again  received 
the  appointment,  under  Grover  Cleveland. 
In  State  and  National  contests  Mr.  Krebs 
is  a  stanch   adherent  of  the   Democratic 

Earty,  but  in  township  and  county  affairs 
e  is  influenced  more  by  the  ability  and 
fitness  of  candidates  than  by  party  lines. 
He  is  strictly  temperate  in  his  habits, 
never  using  either  tobacco  or  liquor  in  any 
way.  In  religious  connection  he  and  his 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  in  which  he  is  trustee,  and  where 
he  has  also  held  other  offices;  for  some 
time  he  was  secretary  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krebs  have  two 
children,  namely:  Stella,  a  popular  young 
lady  teacher,  connected  with  the  primary 
department  of  the  Pentield  graded  schools, 
where  she  was  the  first  instructor;  and 
Carrie  M.,  at  home. 

Though  a  resident  of  Penfield  township 
for  a  comparatively  brief  space  of  time, 
Mr.  Krebs  has  made  an  enviable  record, 
and  fully  merits  the  respect  and  esteem 
which  are  everywhere  accorded  him.  He 
was  elected  township  clerk  of  Penfield 
township  in  1880,  and  so  satisfactorily  did 
he  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office  that 
he  was  re-elected  ten  terras  in  succession. 
He  was  also  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1883,  and  has  held  that  office  ever  since. 
He  is  now  serving  his  toixrth  term  as  jus- 
tice with  credit  to  himself  and  to  his  con- 
stituents. J5y  his  faithful  attention  to 
business,  hard  work  and  economy  he  has 
accumulated  property,  aTid  has  placed  him- 
self in  good,  comfortable  circumstances. 


LB.  PRATT,  retired,  having  his  resi- 
I   dence   in    the   town  of  Wellington, 
\  where  in  1883  he  built  a  comfortable 

home,  is  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
born  in  Deertield,  Oneida  county,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1821. 


Benjamin  Pratt,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  whence  in  his  youth 
he  moved  to  New  York  State,  making  a 
settlement  in  Oneida  county,  where  he 
married  Miss  Lucy  Biddlecomb,  a  native 
of  that  county,  who  bore  him  four  children, 
viz.:  Daniel,  who  resided  in  Huntington, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  passed  the 
greater  part  of  his  life,  dying  near  Medina, 
in  Medina  connty,  Ohio;  Caroline,  who 
married  Louis  Gill)ert,  of  Oneida  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  now  lives  near  Utica,  same 
State;  Benjamin,  a  farmer  in  Huntington 
township,  and  L.  B.  Mr.  Pratt  conducted 
a  meat  market  for  several  years  in  Deer- 
field,  Oneida  county,  where  he  and  his 
wife  both  passed  away,  he  in  1828,  she  in 
her  forty-fifth  year. 

L.  B.  Pratt,  of  whom  this  sketch  more 
particularly  relates,  was  seven  years  old 
when  he  lost  his  father,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence his  school  advantages  were  some- 
what limited;  but,  nevertheless,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  receiving  a  good  practical  ele- 
mentary education.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
in  his  native  county  till  1844,  in  which 
year  he  came  west  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
and  bought  a  piece  of  wild  land  in  Hunt- 
ington township,  which  he  cleared  up  and 
converted  into  a  fertile  farm.  With  his 
grandfather,  Daniel  Biddlecomb.  in  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  he  had  commenced  the 
study  of  veterinary  surgery,  a  profession 
be  pursued  during  recent  years.  His  first 
experience  was  with  a  disease  among  cat- 
tle known  as  "  bloody  murrain,"  and  he 
was  so  successful  in  his  treatment  of  it 
that  he  was  encouraged  to  continue  the 
study,  finally  becoming  as  skillful  a  veter- 
inarian as  any  in  the  county.  In  1885  he 
retired  from  the  farm  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  town  of  Wellington,  where  to 
some  extent  he  still  practices  his  pi-ofession. 
Mr.  Pratt  has  been  twice  married,  first 
time  to  Miss  Bachel  Camilla  Warner,  by 
which  union  there  is  one  child,  a  son, 
Otis,  a  gifted  artist  in  sculpture,  who 
studied    with   Hiram  Powers  and    Larkin 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


819 


Mead;  he  lias  traveled  over  the  world,  and 
resided  four  years  in  Paris;  he  now  lives 
in  Ocean ville,  N.  J.  This  wife  died  in 
1879,  and  for  his  second  our  subject  mar- 
ried, in  1883,  Miss  Hattie  Johnston.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Pratt  is  a  Democrat,  formerly 
a  Republican. 


LJ.  HART,  one  of  the  youngest  and 
j    most    enterprising   of   the   business 
[   men  of  Elyria,  and  member  of  the 

tirm  of  Hart  &  Tucker,  proprietors 
of  planing- mills  and  lumber  yard,  in  that 
town,  is  a  native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
horn  June  30,  1865,  a  son  of  John  W.  and 
Caroline  (Bassett)  Ilart. 

Our  subject  received  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  high  schools  of  Elyria,  after- 
ward taking  a  course  at  the  Business  Col- 
lege  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  joined  his  lather  in  the  stone 
quarry  business  at  Grafton,  in  Lorain 
county,  but  selling  out  his  interest  in  this, 
he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  E. 
Tucker,  bought  the  present  lumber  busi- 
ness and  planing-mill  from  John  liart, 
subject's  father,  and  they  have  since  suc- 
cessfully operated  same,  the  style  of  the 
firm  being  Hart  &  Tucker.  \n  connec- 
tion with  their  interests  in  this  they  do  an 
extensive  contracting  and  building  busi- 
ness,  altogether  employing  an  average  of 
one  hundred  hands.  Politically  Mr.  Hart 
is  a  Democrat,  and  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


JOSEPH  BLANTERN.     England  has 
given    to    the    United    States  a  large 
proportion    of    her  industrious,  loyal 
and  prosperous  citizens,  among  whom 
may   be   justly  numbered   the  gentleman 
whose  name  here  appears. 

Mr.  Blantern  is  a  native  of  Shropshire, 
England,  born  August  28,  1827,  a  son  of 
Robert  Blantern,  also  an  Englishman  by 
birth,  born  January  30,  1772,  and  who  was 


reared  a  farmer  boy.  When  yet  a  youth 
he  left  the  paternal  roof  to  make  his  home 
with  a  wealthy  bachelor  uncle,  a  Shrop- 
shire farmer,  and  with  him  he  lived  until 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Turner, 
who  was  born  in  England  in  June,  1787. 
He  then  located  on  tliirty  acres  of  land  in 
Shropshire,  to  which  he  had  fallen  heir 
through  the  death  of  a  relative.  While 
living  on  this  farm  children  were  born  to 
him  as  follows:  Hannah,  residing  at  Graf- 
ton, widow  of  Thomas  Hopwood,  to  whom 
she  was  married  in  England;  ]\Iary,  who 
was  married  in  England  to  Richard  Ridge- 
way,  and  died  in  Ridgeville  township, 
Lorain  county;  a  son  who  died  in  infancy; 
Fannie,  wiio  was  married  in  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  to  Henry  Swartz,  a  tailor  of  Elyria, 
and  died  in  Toledo;  Robert,  a  tatmer,  of 
Litchfield,  Medina  county;  Sarah,  who 
married  Samuel  Lynds,  and  died  in  1891 
in  Paulding  county,  Ohio;  Martha,  widow 
of  John  Pierce,  residing  in  York  township, 
Medina  county;  a  son  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Joseph,  subject  of  this  memoir. 

Having  decided  to  come  to  the  United 
States,  our  subject's  father  had  to  get  a 
decree  from  the  English  Government  to 
sell  his  land,  on  account  of  the  "law  of 
entail."  Having  settled  evei-ything,  in 
March,  1831,  he  and  his  family  set  sail 
from  Liverpool  on  the  vessel  "  Ceres," 
which  experienced  a  lengthy  voyage,  some 
six  weeks,  during  which  she  was  driven  so 
far  north  that  Greenland  was  visible  from 
her  masthead,  and  the  passengers  saw  sev- 
eral whales  spouting  and  sporting  in  the 
water.  The  sailors  caught  a  porpoise,  and 
our  subject,  then  not  four  years  old,  dis- 
tinctly remembers  seeing  it  cut  up  for  the 
cook's  "kettle."  On  the  ocean  Robert 
Blantern's  youngest  child  was  born,  and  at 
the  request  of  the  Captain  was  named 
"  Ceres,"  after  the  vessel ;  two  years  and 
nine  months  afterward  the  little  one  was 
carried  off  by  scarlet  fevei'.  From  New  York 
the  family  journeyed  to  (Cleveland  via  the 
Hudson  river,  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie. 
Here  Mr.  Blantern  was  informed  by  a  Mr. 


820 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Dryer,  tliat  Grafton  township,  where  his 
home  was,  would  be  a  good  place  to  locate, 
and  offered  to  convey  thither  the  entire 
family  and  chattels,  which  offer  was  read- 
ily accepted.  After  arrival  Mr.  Blaotern 
purchased  eighty-live  acres  partly  cleared 
land,  having  thereon  a  log  cabin,  that  after 
two  years  gave  place  to  a  better  one,  which 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  utilizes  as  a 
granary.  Here  the  parents  passed  the 
rest  of  their  pioneer  days,  the  father  pass- 
ing away  February  IJ,  1849,  his  widow  on 
December  1,  1879,  aged  over  ninety-two 
years,  having  lived  with  her  son  Joseph 
from  tile  time  of  the  death  of  her  husband. 
They  were  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Joseph  Blantern,  of  whom  this  slietch 
moi'e  particularly  relates,  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  early  schools  of  Grafton  town- 
ship, which,  however,  he  attended  but  four 
months  in  the  year,  as  his  services  were 
too  valuable  at  home  in  assisting  in  clear- 
ing up  the  land.  His  father  for  many  years 
before  his  death  was  a  sufferer  frouj  rheu- 
matism, and  on  young  "Joe"  devolved  a 
great  deal  of  the  hard  work,  especially  as 
his  only  brother,  Rol)ert,  had  left  home  to 
learn  a  trade.  At  odd  times  wiiile  on  the 
farm  he  picked  up  carpentry,  at  which 
he  worked  for  a  time  in  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  and  while  there  he  married, 
July  24,  1852,  Miss  Laura  Ames,  of  that 
place.  To  this  union  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Elmer,  a  barber  of  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  formerly  superintendent  of 
Leetonia  (Ohio)  school",  Charlotte,  who 
died  when  aged  live  years  four  months  and 
two  days,  and  was  buried  in  Nesbit  ceme- 
tery; Sarah,  Mrs.  William  Mole,  of  Graf- 
ton; and  Llewellyn,  a  farmer  and  school- 
teacher of  Grafton  township.  After  mar- 
riage the  young  couple  lived  on  the  home 
farm  in  Grafton  township  some  years,  of 
which  he  still  owns  thirty-five  of  the 
original  eighty-five  acres  bought  by  his 
father,  having  paid  off  all  the  legacies. 
For  the  past  fourteen  years  he  has  lived 
on  his  present  place,  on  which  in  1882  he 


erected  a  pleasant  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, and  he  now  owns  iti  all  182  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county,  all  accumulated  by  incessant  toil 
and  assiduous  perseverance.  In  addition 
to  this  he  has  assisted  the  several  members 
of  his  family  to  good  homes  of  their  own, 
and  a  fair  start  in  life.  Mr.  Blantern  and 
his  first  wife  were  divorced  in  1878,  and 
in  1879  he  married  Miss  Helen  Ferry, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Democrat,  but  in  township 
matters  he  invariably  votes  for  the  man 
best  suited  to  the  position,  regardless  of 
party.  He  is  a  well-known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen,  his  religion  being  the 
"  Golden  Rule  of  Life,"  has  never  had  a 
lawsuit,  and  deals  "fair  and  square"  with 
every  one. 


S.  NICHOLS,  proprietor  of  meat 
market,  Elyria,  was  born  August 
21,  1829,  in  Cortlan.l  county,  N.Y., 
a  son  of  Asa  and  Harriet  (Smith) 
Nichols,  natives  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  where 
they  were  married  and  where  some  of  their 
children  were  born. 

In  1885  they  came  west  from  Cortland 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  they  had  followed 
farming,  and  settling  in  Lorain  county 
the  father  there  carried  on  a  stone  quarry- 
ing business.  He  was  born  in  1792,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years;  a  Whig 
originally  in  politics,  he  afterward  voted 
the  straight  Republican  ticket.  The  mother 
lived  to  be  seventy-live  years  old.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children  (nine  of 
them  grew  to  maturity,  four  yet  survive), 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

O.  S.  Nichols  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  district  schools,  finishing 
at  select  school.  His  first  work  was  on  a 
farm,  but  disliking  agricultural  pursuits 
he  ran  away  from  home,  and  making  his 
way  eastward  to  the  seacoast,  at  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass.,   being  fond  of  adventure,  he 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


821 


resolved  to  go  to  sea.  Shipping  aboard  a 
merchantship,  his  first  voyage  was  into  the 
Indian  Ocean  and  to  tiie  Sandwich  Islands; 
thence  sailed  to  the  Behring  Sea,  and  the 
Arctic  Ocean;  thence  to  China,  and  home- 
ward again  by  way  of  San  Francisco,  at 
which  port  he  concluded  to  remain.  Here 
he  resided  for  some  years,  working  at  first 
in  the  capacity  of  stevedore.  He  'then  as- 
sisted in  fitting  out  the  first  ship  for  a  line 
running  between  San  Francisco  and  China. 
In  1861  he  returned  to  liis  old  home  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  same  year  came 
to  Elyria,  where  in  1864  he  opened  out  his 
present  prosperous  meat  market. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  married  April  14, 
1862,  to  Miss  Delia  Rockwood,  and  two 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  James 
and  Dora.  In  his  political  preferences  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  possessed  of 
good  business  ability,  has  an  e.xcellent 
trade,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  the  public  at  large.  He  claims 
lineal  descent  from  "  Mayflower  "  Puritans, 
and  his  grandfather  Nichols  fought  val- 
iantly in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 


DM.  ADAMS,  who  for  many  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  stock  buyers  of 
.     the  southern  part  of  Lorain  county, 

was    born     February   11,    1819,  in 
Hector,  Seneca  county.  New  York. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  son  and  fourth 
child  of  John  M.  Adams,  who  was  born  in 
1785,  son  of  Benjamin  Adams.  The  fam- 
ily came  originally  from  England,  lo- 
cating^ first  in  Massachusetts,  then  in 
Litchfield  county.  Conn.,  and  thence  mov- 
ing to  New  York  State,  where  they  first 
lived  in  Dutchess  county,  and  finally  set- 
tled in  Danby,  Tompkins  county.  Benja- 
min Adams  was  a  distant  relative  of  John 
Adams  and  John  Quincy  Adams.  He  was 
a  tailor  by  trade.  John  Murray  Adams, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  tailor,  and 


moved    about"  with  his  father,  Benjamin, 
from  place  to  place.      He  was  married,  in 
Connecticut,    to   Polly  Ann   Wheeler,  and 
they  had  twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living,   viz.:  D.  M.,  subject  proper  of 
this    sketch;   Elizabeth     Ann,    widow    of 
Orrin    Parsons,   of  Wardsborough,  Wind- 
ham Co.,  Vt.;  Eveline  M.,  widow  of  Henry 
Murphy,    also    living    in   Wardsborough, 
Windham    Co.,  Vt.;  Charles  B.,  a  farmer 
of    Lawrence,   Kans. ;  and    Maria    A.,  re- 
siding in  Chicago,  III.,  widow  of  John  W. 
Starr,   who    was  a  real-estate    broker,  and 
died    in    Washington,    D.    C.      John    M. 
Adams    died   of    cholera    during  the   epi- 
demic, on  August  10,  1854,  in  Shlloh,  Rich- 
land Co.,  Ohio,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  son, 
Benjamin.     His  widow  passed  away  No- 
vember 4,  1872,  in    Breckenridge,  Mo.,  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  The  Adams 
family  is  an  illustrious  one,  and  among  the 
prominent    members    thereof  we   mention 
Alonzo  W.   Adams,    who  enlisted   in  the 
Black  Horse  Cavalry,  and  during  his  serv- 
ice   rose    from  the  ranks  to  general.      He 
subsequently   practiced    law  in  New  York 
and  in  Washington,  D.  C,  but  being  taken 
sick  in  the  latter  place  came  to  the  home 
of  our  subject  to  recuperate;  however,  he 
died    in  Cleveland  on   the  return   trip  to 
Washington,  and   was  buried  in  LaGrange 
cemetery,  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  in  a  lot  pro- 
vided by  Mr.  I).  M.  Adams. 

D.  M.  Adams  passed  his  earlier  years  on 
a  farm  in  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  whither 
he  had  been  brought  when  an  infant,  and 
where  he  remained  until  si.xteen  years  old. 
He  received  his  education  at  the  comniDn 
schools;  he  was  naturally  a  bright  scholar, 
and  was  also  possessed  of  considerable  me- 
chanical genius,  being  able  to  work  at  al- 
most any  trade,  and  proving  especially 
adept  at  painting  and  carpenter  work. 
When  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  his  par- 
ents came  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  commenced  to  work  at  his  trade  of 
tailor,  and  later  came  to  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county,  remaining,  however,  but  a 
short  time,   when    he    aorain    resumed    his 


822 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


trade  in  Cleveland.  Our  subject  remained 
for  some  time  in  Eaton  township,  and  then 
went  to  the  town  ot  Boston,  in  Cuj'ahoga 
county,  where  with  a  capital  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars  he  opened  a  grocery  store,  and 
also  carried  on  a  hat  store.  Subsequently 
he  traded  his  business  to  a  man  from  New 
York  named  Perry,  for  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
went  east  to  look  after  his  farm,  which  he 
lost,  as  the  title  proved  to  be  worthless. 
Not  discouraged  by  this  experience,  he  be- 
gan again,  and  in  1839  started  on  the 
return  trip  to  Ohio,  stopping  en  route  at 
Erie,  Penn.,  where  he  worked  at  the  car- 
penter trade  for  a  year.  He  then  came  to 
Fortage  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried, in  October,  1840,  to  Jane  A.  Trotter, 
born  December  25,  1819,  in  Messina  vil- 
lage, Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of 
Richard  Trotter,  who  afterward  came  to 
Portage  county,  Ohio.  The  young  couple 
commenced  housekeeping  in  Aurora  town- 
ship. Portage  county,  where  he  purchased 
130  acres  of  land,  on  which  they  resided 
until  1850,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to 
LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county.  Here 
he  purchased  from  Z.  Ensign  his  present 
farm,  comprising  225  acres  of  good  land, 
upon  which,  in  1859,  he  built  at  a  cost  of 
seven  thousand  dollars  a  very  comfortable 
residence,  then  the  finest  in  the  township; 
he  drew  the  plans  for  this  house  himself, 
made  all  the  l)rick,  and  took  upon  himself 
the  overseeing  of  the  building,  there  being 
no  contract  work  on  the  place.  While  en- 
gaged in  the  business,  and  while  residing 
in  that  place,  he  bought  and  sold  more 
stock  than  any  other  man  in  the  business 
in  Lorain  county.  He  was  among  the 
original  promoters  and  stockholders  of  the 
Lorain  Plank  Road,  had  a  contract  for 
seven  and  a  half  miles  of  same,  and  it  was 
mainly  through  his  efforts  that  LaGrange 
village  secured  this  road;  otherwise  it 
would  have  gone  by  Grafton.  He  was 
superintendent  of  this  road  five  years,  and 
also  served  the  same  length  of  time  as 
manager  and  collector.  He  had  made  many 


trips  to  New  York  City,  and  itwasduring 
one  of  these  that  be  met  with  the  accident 
— falling  through  a  railroad  bridge — 
which  caused  him  to  give  up  the  business. 
He  had  a  most  extensive  acquaintance. 

To  the  union  of  D.  M.  and  Jane  A. 
Adams  came  children  as  follows:  Velorias 
L.,  of  Belden,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Benjamin 
F.,  a  farmer  of  LaGrange;  Eliza  J.,  now 
Mrs.  L.  G.  Parsons,  of  Greenville,  Ohio; 
and  Ella  A.,  now  Mrs.  D.  D.  Gott, 
of  Greenville,  Ohio.  The  mother  of 
these  died  October  31,  1877,  and 
was  buried  in  LaGrange  cemetery,  and 
on  August  4,  1880,  Mr.  Adams  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ella  M.  Moorehouse,  of  Cort- 
land, N.  Y.  Politically  he  was  originally 
a  Whig,  then  a  Republican  until  1872, 
when  he  became  a  Democrat,  and  in  1S92 
he  joined  the  Farmers  Alliance;  he  takes 
little  interest  in  party  aifairs,  and  has  re- 
fused various  township  offices.  He  is  a 
very  temperate  man,  and  never  uses  either 
tobacco  or  intoxicating  liquor  in  any  form. 
Owing  to  his  eminent  qualities  as  a  busi- 
ness manager,  Mr.  Adams  acts  as  guardian 
for  a  number  of  orphans,  and  has  settled 
up  various  estates;  he  is  now  engaged  in 
collecting  the  celebrated  Award  in  favor  of 
the  La  Abra  Silver  Mining  Company,  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  against  the  Re- . 
public  of  Mexico. 


'jr^jICHARD     De    WITT     PERRY, 

li*^    superintendent    of    The    Western 

I    ^   Automatic  Machine  Screw  Co.,  Ely- 

^  ria,    is   a  representative    self-made 

man,  and  a  living  example  of  what 

willing  heart  and  hands  and  indomitable 

perseverance  can  accomplish. 

He  is  a  son  of  Clinton  DeWitt  and 
Celia  (Spencer)  Perry,  and  was  born  in 
South  Manchester,  Conn.,  January  12, 
1857.  His  parents  are  also  natives  of  the 
Nutmeg  State,  the  father  born  in  North 
Manchester,  the  mother  in  South  Man- 
chester, and  after  marriage  they  wereresi- 


OJ^' 


LORAIiT  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


825 


dents  of  Hartford,  where  the  father  was 
engaged  in  general  business;  they  still  re- 
side there.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
subject  was  a  physician,  and  the  patro- 
nymic of  his  maternal  grandparents  was 
Spencer  (the  grandmother's  maiden  name 
being  Hollister).  C.  M.  Spencer,  uncle 
of  Richard  DeW.  Perry,  was  the  inventor 
of  the  widely-known  Spencer  ritle,  and  also 
of  the   Spencer  automatic  machine  screw. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was  educated 
in  his  native  town,  and  learned  his  trade 
with  the  Hartford  Machine  Screw  Com- 
pany, with  whom  he  remained  many  years, 
tilling  nearly  every  position  in  the  me- 
chanical department,  and  becoming  thor- 
oughly efficient  in  each.  In  1883  he 
w'as  appointed  manager  of  The  AVestern 
Automatic  Machine  Screw  Company,  at 
Elyria,  and  has  ever  since  had  charge  of 
all  the  mechanical  work  done  in  that  in- 
stitution, which  is  by  far  the  largest  manu- 
facturing concern  of  its  kind  in  the  West. 
Since  Mr.  Perry's  connection  with  it,  its 
trade  has  expanded  vastly,  and  new  build- 
ings have  been  added  to  accommodate  the 
fast  increasing  business,  all  of  which  de- 
velopment  is  mainly  due  to  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  Inisiness,  and  his  nat- 
ural energy  and  progressiveness. 

In  1883  Mr.  Perry  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jennie  Swan,  and  three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  viz.: 
Philip  W.,  Hester  and  Richard  De  Witt, 
Jr.  In  his  political  preferences  our  sub- 
ject is  a  Republican,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1893  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education  of  Elyria.  He  has  re- 
cently erected  a  handsome  residence  on 
West  Third  street,  which  has  been  equipped 
with  all  modern  improvements. 


EiRASTlIS  BRADLEY,  who  in   his 
lifetime  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  of 
I   Pittstield  township,  was   born  July 

6,  180G,  in  Lee,  Mass.  His  father, 
Jesse  Bradley,  was  born  December  9, 1703, 
at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  on  December  9, 


1790,  married  Lucy  Munson,  by  which 
union  there  were  nine  children,  of  whom 
Erastus  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  lurth. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school 
education,  and,  as  his  father's  family  was 
a  large  one,  w-as  obliged  to  begin  life  for 
himself  at  an  early  age,  going  to  New 
York,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  cloth 
dresser.  Mr.  Bradley  was  twice  married 
in  New  York  State,  but  of  the  children 
born  to  both  marriages  none  lived  to  adult 
age.  About  1840,  his  brother  Jesse  having 
died  in  Knox  county,  111.,  Mr.  Bradley 
made  a  journey  thither  to  settle  up  the 
estate,  and  while  en  route  made  a  short 
visit  in  Pittstield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  met  the  lady  who  sub- 
sequently became  his  wife.  After  adjust- 
ing the  affairs  of  his  brother  in  Knox 
county.  111.,  he  returned  to  Pittstield  town- 
ship, where  on  August  23,  1842,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Orpha  I. 
Phelps,  who  was  born  February  27,  1814, 
in  Norfolk,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  In  1836 
her  parents,  Bethuel  and  Levina  (Norton) 
Phelps,  migrated  from  Norfolk,  Litchtield 
Co.,  Conn.,  to  Ohio,  coming  by  way  of 
canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland,  thence  to  Lo- 
rain county,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm 
on  the  north  and  south  center  road,  two 
miles  south  of  the  center  of  Pittstield 
township;  here  the  father  died  in  1880,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-three  years.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Bradley  lived  for  some  time 
with  his  father-in-law,  and  theti  bought  a 
farm  in  Huntington  township,  returning, 
however,  to  Pittstield  township,  where  in 
later  years  he  bought  the  farm  whereon 
he  died,  and  where  his  widow  still  resides. 
By  this  union  there  were  children  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  born  July  13,  1843,  who  died 
when  three  years  old;  and  Delphine,  born 
May  6, 1845,  who  died  when  aged  twenty- 
seven  years. 

Mr.  Bradley  passed  from  earth  April 
1(),  1888,  and  was  buried  in  the  South 
cemetery  of  Pittstield  township.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican,  and  took  con- 
siderable interest  in   local  affairs,  serving 


826 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


as  treasiii-er  and  iu  other  positions  of  trust 
ill  his  township.  Though  not  engaging  in 
active  farm  work  to  any  great  extent,  he 
conducted  successfully  a  general  farming 
and  dairying  business,  which  his  widow 
now  manages,  and  she  has  proved  herself 
a  woman  of  unquestioned  business  sagac- 
ity. She  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  at  Oberlin,  as  was 
also  her  husband.  Mrs.  Bradley  is  one  of 
the  most  highly  respected  and  intelligent 
ladies  of  Pittsfield  township,  and  though 
already  past  her  threescore  years  and  ten, 
is  still  in  full  possession  of  her  mental 
faculties;  she  takes  great  delight  in 
reading. 


rW.'  EDISON,    proprietor    of    the 
leading    hardware    store   in   Lorain, 
_^       uncle  of    Edison,  the    world-famed 
electrician  and  inventor,  is  a  Cana- 
dian by  birth,  having  first   seen   the  light 
in  the  county  of  Elgin,   Ontario,   in   July, 
1832. 

His  father,  Samuel  Edison,  was  born  in 
Newark,  N.  J.,  March  5, 1761,  of  Holland- 
Dutch  (Amsterdam)  ancestry,  and  in  1805 
removed  to  Nova  Scotia,  thence  to  what  is 
now  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  where 
he  died  March  27, 1865.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Elizabeth 
(Yocuin),  by  whom  he  had  five  children, 
our  subject  being  the  youngest  but  one; 
she  was  born  in  Philadelphia  May  8, 
1799,  and  died  in  March,  1891. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  place,  and  served  an  apprenticeship 
at  the  tinner's  trade.  In  1854  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  where  for  nearly  fifteen 
years  prior  to  his  marriage  he  was  a  jour- 
neyman tinsmith,  in  the  literal  sense,  for 
he  traveled  continuously  all  over  the  conn- 
try,  working  at  his  trade.  At  the  time  of 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  was 
in  Kentuckv,  and  from  there  came  nortli, 
at  various  tunes  visiting  and  sojourning 
in    Port    Huron    (Mich.),    Cleveland    and 


Detroit.  From  the  latter  place  he  re- 
turned in  1865  to  his  home  in  Canada, 
and  married  an  old  schoolmate.  Miss  Emily 
Johnston,  who  was  then  teaching  school; 
on  the  day  of  her  wedding,  she  taught 
school  up  to  noon,  and  at  two  o'clock  was 
married!  The  young  couple  then  resided 
in  Port  Huron,  Cleveland  and  Detroit,  re- 
spectively, until  March  15,  1872,  when 
they  came  to  Lorain,  where  Mr.  Edison 
opened  out  a  tin- shop,  and  commenced  a 
flourishing  business;  in  1878  he  put  iu  a 
full  line  of  hardware,  etc.,  having  now  one 
of  the  best  assorted  stocks  of  the  kind  in 
the  county.  Mrs.  Emily  Edison  died  in 
1881,  the  mother  of  three  children:  Ho- 
mer, Harry  and  Grace,  and  in  1884  our 
subject  married,  in  Michigan,  Martha 
Bell.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican ;  he 
is  a  Chapter  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and  the  Order 
of  Tonti. 


rjf  EM  AN  BAREOWS  (deceased),  who 
tsH     had  been  a  resident  of   Avon  town- 
I     1     ship,    since    early   childhood,   was 
Jj  born  in  1826  in  Riga,  Monroe  Co., 

]S.  Y.,  a  son  of  Adnah  and  Clar- 
issa (Day)  Barrows,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  the  latter  of 
Bennington,  Vermont. 

Adnah  Barrows,  who  was  born  January 
17,  1797,  when  a  youth  removed  to  New 
York,  in  which  State  he  remained  until 
1828,  when  he  came  by  water  to  Avon 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  taking  up  a 
farm  in  the  woods  of  Section  10,  near 
French  Creek,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  days.  He  died  October  3,  1856,  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics;  his  wife,  born 
October  3,  1800,  died  November  26, 1882. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as 
follows:  James  R.,  married,  who  resides  in 
Avon  township;  Lyman,  who  died  in 
Michigan  about  1889;  Heman,  subject 
proper  of  this  memoir;  Lydia,  widow  of 
Jacob  Walker,  of  North  Amherst;  Mary, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


827 


who  died  about  1836;  and  Eliza,  wife  of 
Edward  S.  Fitch,  of  Avon  township. 
Grandfather  Benjamin  Day,  who  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution,  serving  with  General  Wash- 
ington; was  with  liim  at  Valley  Forge,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  saw  Major  Andre  exe- 
cuted; he  also  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  died  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-three. 

Ileman  Barrows,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  two  years  of  age  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Avon  township, 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  log-cabin 
schools  of  the  da}'.  He  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  to  agricultural  life,  in  which  he 
has  always  continued,  and  he  now  owns  a 
fertile  farm  of  twenty-live  acres,  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  where  he  has  resided 
since  1888.  On  September  23,  1843,  he 
was  married,  in  Avon  township,  to  Miss 
Cordelia  Gillett,  a  native  of  same,  dautriiter 
of  Gresliam  and  Betsy  (Moe)  Gillett,  early 
pioneers  of  the  township,  where  both  died. 
To  this  union  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: Chester,  who  was  born  August  9, 
1845,  and  died  in  Avon  township  May  15, 
1868;  Frank,  born  November  30,  1847, 
now  residing  in  Huron,  Erie  county,  is 
married  and  has  four  children — Eugenia, 
Samuel,  Nona,  and  one  whose  name  is  not 
given;  Miles,  born  August  15,  1852,  died 
September  6,1853;  Horace,  born  in  1854, 
married  January  1,  1877,  Sarepta  Moon, 
and  died  January  31,  1879,  in  Avon  town- 
ship; Charley,  born  April  18,  1859,  died 
November  9,  1860;  and  Ada,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1863,  wife  of  Arthur  Buck,  of 
Atchison  county,  Kansas.  The  mother  of 
these  died  in  1872.  and  June  14,  1884,  our 
subject  was  again  married,  this  time  to 
Mrs.  Sarepta  Bari'ows,  a  native  of  Van- 
Buren  county,  Mich.,  daughter  of  John  L. 
and  Mary  Anna  (^Bonsor)  Moon,  the  father 
a  native  of  Avon  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  the  mother  of  England,  from  which 
country  she  came  when  eight  years  old; 
both  died  in  Avon  township.  To  this  sec- 
ond marriage  was  born  October  24,  1889, 


one  child,  Clara  Day.  John  L.  Moon  was 
born  April  9,  1829,  and  died  June  16, 
1886;  JIary  Anna  Bonsor  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1836,  and  died  July  30,  1882. 
Tiiey  were  married  September  18,  1858, 
and  six  children  were  born  to  them,  as  fol- 
lows: (1)  Sarepta,  (2)  George  H.,(3)  Ellen 
R.,  (4)  Lucy  A.,  (5)  John  L.  and  (6|  15ird. 
Of  tiiese,  (2)  George  H.  was  married  in 
1887  to  Miss  Flora  llalliday,  and  two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Hazel,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  months,  and  Howard 
J.,  born  in  1892.  (3)  Ellen  R.  was  mar- 
ried to  Charles  A.  Pardee  in  1879,  and 
died  December  17,  same  year;  they  had 
one  child  named  Nellie  Moon.  (5)  John  L. 
married  Miss  Mary  Halliday  November 
16,  1888. 

Heman  Barrows,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  died  November  26,  1893.  He  was 
a  well-known  character  in  the  town  in 
which  he  lived,  and  had  an  extensive  ac- 
quaintance throughout  the  country.  He 
held  many  offices  of  public  trust,  and  in 
all  of  them  did  he  perform  his  duty  with 
fidelity.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary natural  ability,  and  he  had  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities.  Respected 
by  all  his  acquaintances  while  living,  his 
memory  will  be  honored  by  them  now  that 
he  has  passed  away.  In  politics  he  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  ia 
Avon  township  for  twenty-four  years;  as 
assessor,  ten  years;  real-estate  assessor, 
two  terms;  and  as  township  trustee,  twenty 
years.  He  was  also  a  notary  public  in  the 
township  for  years. 


(ALKER  S.  TERRY,  farmer  of 
Grafton  township,  is  a  son  of 
Eleazer  Terry,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  born  in  1791  in  the 
town  of  (Jolel)rook,  whence  he  moved  to 
New  York  State  and  then  to  Ohio,  in 
both  of  which  States  he  followed  farming. 
He  married  Miss  Hannah  Sawyer,  born  in 


828 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1794,  and  the  children  born  to  them  be- 
fore coiniuij  to  Ohio  in  1834  or  1835  were 
as  follows:  Ransom,  deceased  in  Michigan; 
Lewis  and  Orrin,  both  of  whom  died  in 
California;  Philinda,  married  to  J.  M. 
Doan,  and  died  in  California;  Lucinda, 
an  invalid,  living  with  our  subject;  Austin, 
deceased  in  Michigan;  Lois,  now  Mrs. 
William  Johnston,  of  California;  Amanda, 
married  to  Frank  Doan,  died  in  1853  en 
route  to  California;  and  William,  who 
died  in  Texas.  After  coming  to  Ohio 
three  children  were  added  to  the  family, 
all  of  whom  were  born  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, to  wit:  Gardner  A.,  now  living  in 
Michigan;  Walker  S.,  and  Jonathan,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  in  Grafton.  The  father 
departed  this  life  in  1871,  the  mother  on 
October  5,  1881,  and  they  sleep  their  last 
sleep  in  Belden  cemetery.  Prior  to  com- 
ing to  Ohio  Eleazer  Terry  had  worked  in 
an  eastern  distillery,  and  when  he  arrived 
here  had  but  limited  means,  but  when  he 
died  was  comparatively  opulent.  In  Lo- 
rain county  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Grafton 
township,  where  our  subject  now  lives,  the 
place  at  that  time  being  wild  woodland. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburgh;  was 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  the  entire 
family  were  looked  upon  as  unassuming 
Christian  people.  Asa  Terry,  father  of 
Eleazer,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

W.  S.  Terry,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  was  born  February  7,  1836,  and 
received  his  education,  during  the  winter 
months,  in  the  public  schools  of  the  early 
days  of  Grafton  township,  np  to  the  age  of 
fifteen.  He  was  reared  a  true  pioneer 
farmer  boy,  and  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  to  Michigan,  where,  in 
St.  Joseph  county,  he  worked  in  a  sawmill 
nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  Ohio.  In  1857  he  married 
Eowena  D.  Benton,  and,  then,  with  his 
young  wife,  once  moi'e  proceeded  to  Michi- 
gan, this  time  working  at  the  milling 
business  and  on  a  farm,  also  buying  land 


there.  In  1870  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
has  since  been  carrying  on  general  farm- 
ing, being  now  owner  of  the  homestead 
farm  in  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county, 
in  connection  with  which  he  operated  a 
threshing  machine  for  several  years.  In 
December,  1863,  Mr.  Terry  enlisted  at 
Leonidas,  Michigan,  in  the  Eleventh 
Mich.  V.  I.,  and  was  sent  to  recruit  the 
ranks  of  that  regiment  thinned  by  the 
bullet  and  disease;  he  was  assigned  to 
Company  F.  They  were  ordered  to  Chatta- 
nooga, participated  in  the  battle  of  Resaca, 
and  the  march  to  Atlanta  with  Sherman; 
then  returned  to  Chattanooga  as  a  detach- 
ment.  After  a  service  of  twenty-two 
months  Mr.  Terry  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, and  returned  to  Michigan. 

By  his  first  wife  there  were  no  children, 
and  she  died  in  1889.  In  1891  he  mar- 
ried Florence  Giesey  Benton,  who  was 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1864,  daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  Giesey,  a  native  of  Paris, 
France,  where  he  was  educated  for  the 
priesthood.  Politically  W.  S.  Terry  is  a 
Populist,  formerly  a  Republican. 


L 


EONARD    G.    HAMILTON.      In 

March,  1647,  there  was  born  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  one  Sir  William 
Hamilton,  who  came  to  America  in 
1668,  married  an  English  girl  named 
Mary  Berry,  and  settled  in  North  Kings- 
ton, Rhode  Island. 

Their  children  were  as  follows:  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  a  Mr.  Roberts,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years; 
Joseph,  born  in  1693,  died  in  Redding, 
Conn.,  aged  eighty-six  years;  Thankful, 
married  to  a  Mr.  Sweet,  and  died  aged  one 
hundred  and  two  years;  William,  Jr.,  who 
settled  in  Rhode  Island,  and  died  when 
ninety-eight  years  old;  David,  born  in 
North  Kingston,  Conn.,  April  11,  1697, 
died  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  in  1779,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years;    Benjamin,  born  in 


^^ 


-^■^-^-i 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


831 


1701,  died  aged  ninety-five ;  Elisha,  drowned 
at  an  early  age;  Nathaniel,  killed  by  a  fall 
from  a  tree;  John,  died  young.  The  father 
of  these  children,  like  the  majority  o! 
them,  lived  to  a  patriarchal  age,  dying 
when  five  score  and  two  years  old. 

William  Hamilton,  Jr.,  eldest  son  of 
Sir  William,  had  five  children,  viz.:  Will- 
iam, who  married  Sarah  Bene<lict;  Silas, 
married  to  Elizabeth  Knapp;  Joseph  (2), 
born  in  1730,  married  to  Thankful  Taylor; 
Ruth,  wife  of  John  Knapp,  and  Catharine, 
wife  of  Nathaniel  Gregory.  Of  these  Silas 
and  Joseph  (2)  settled  in  Danbnry,  Conn., 
and  Joseph  and  Thankful  (Taylor)  Hamil- 
ton had  children  as  follows:  Joseph,  Jr., 
Eden  (grandfather  of  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  L.  G.  Hamilton),  Asel,  Eliakim 
and  Ezra. 

Eden  Hamilton,  son  of  Joseph,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  New  Fairfield,  five  miles  north  ot 
Danbnry,  Conn.,  in  17G3,  and  was  an  eye- 
witness to  the  burning  of  that  town  by  the 
British  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  married  Zilla  Lindsley,  and  removed 
to  North  Harpersfield,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y., 
■where  he  remained  till  1S20,  in  which  year 
he  came  as  a  pioneer  to  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  agricniture. 
He  was  born  in  17G3,  and  died  in  1850; 
his  wife  was  born  in  1700,  and  died  in 
1828.  He  was  an  Old-line  Whig  in  poli- 
ties, in  Church  connection  a  Bapti'st.  The 
following  are  the  names  and  dates  of  birth 
and  death  of  their  children,  who  were  all 
born  in  Harpersfield,  N.  Y.:  Talmon,  born 
September  18,  1782,  died  October  20, 
1878;  Ira,  born  1784,  died  September  28, 
1795;  Anson,  born  1780,  died  May  18, 
1860;  Adna,  born  17!J0,  died  1850;  Arsa, 
born  1792,  died  October  22,  1838;  Phwbe, 
born  1795,  died  July  26,  1846;  Matthew 
Lindsley,  born  January  20,  1797,  died 
Novembers,  1881;  Elizabeth,  born  1800, 
died  1822;  Eden  (father  of  subject),  born 
1802,  died  September  17,  1849. 

Eden  Hamilton,  Jr.,  youngest  in  the 
family  of  Eden  and  Zilla  (Lindsley)  ILam- 
ilton,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  town, 


where  he  was  educated  and  reared  to  farm 
life.  About  the  year  1820  he  migrated  to 
Ohio,  wliere  he  made  a  settlement  in  the 
wilds  of  what  is  now  Medina  county,  and 
here  followed  farming  to  the  close  of  his 
life.  He  was  among  the  first  settlers  in 
that  section  (the  first  being  Zenos  Hamil- 
ton, his  cousin,  who  came  in  1S14),  iiis 
nearest  neighbor,  for  some  eighteen  months 
after  his  location  there,  being  seven  miles 
distant.  Eden,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Celestia 
Fletcher,  and  the  children  born  to  them 
were  as  follows:  Leonard  G.,  Hiram  F., 
Marcus  N.  and  Nancy  A.  Li  politics 
Eden,  Jr.,  was  an  Old-line  Whig,  and  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Several  of  the  Hamilton  family  moved  to 
Ohio,  amono;  them  beine  Matthew  Linds- 
ley  Hamilton  (uncle  of  subject),  who  came 
in  1816  and  took  up  land,  returned  to  his 
old  home  to  be  married  to  Achsa  Beardsly, 
and  made  his  final  settlement  in  ^ledina  % 
county,  in  1817.  Li  fact,  all  of  subject's 
uncles,  excepting  Talmon,  removed  to  Me- 
dina county  between  the  years  1816  and 
1820,  and  his  aunts  located  on  the  Cleve- 
land and  Wooster  stage  road,  all  in  about 
the  same  neighborhood.  Hamilton's  Cor- 
ners,  about  four  miles  north  of  the  town  of 
Medina,  was  named  for  them. 

Leonard  G.  Hamilton  was  born  Novem- 
ber 26,  1828,  at  Hamilton's  Corners,  Me- 
dina Co.,  Ohio,  and  received  but  limited 
school  advantages.  He  worked  from  boy- 
hood on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  when  he  returiu-d  to  the  old 
home  of  iiis  people — North  Harpersfield, 
Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y. — where  he  attended 
select  school  during  the  winter.  In  the 
following  summer  he  chopped  wood  in 
order  to  earn  sufficient  money  to  take  him 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  in  hopes 
of  finding  an  opportunit}'  to  learn  the  car- 
penter's trade,  or  get  some  kind  of 
work.  Failing,  however,  in  his  expecta- 
tions, he  returned  to  North  Harpersfield, 
working  all  the  way,  his  route  being  over 
the  Catskill  Mountains;  then  set  out, 
again    on    foot,    for    Binghamton,  N.  Y., 


832 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


fully  expecting  to  fiud  work  on  the  Erie 
Railroad,  which  was  then  in  course  of  con- 
struction, but  walked,  instead,  down  to 
Owego,  where  lie  hired  out  as  a  raftsman 
on  the  Susquehanna  river.  At  Peach 
Bottom  he  received  an  injury  while  raft- 
ing, from  which  he  has  never  fully  recov- 
ered. The  river  was  so  shallow  that  the 
raftsmen  had  to  temporarily  abandon  their 
work,  and  he  was  trying  to  pull  a  boat  out 
of  a  shoal,  the  rope  being  fastened  round 
his  waist,  when  by  some  means  he  got 
hurt.  In  those  days  he  was  a  powerful 
man.  At  Port  Deposit,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Susquehanna  river,  they  made  their 
rafts  into  floats,  which  they  took  up  Elk 
river  and  Back  creek  to  Chesapeake  City, 
Md.;  thence  (after  having  converted  the 
floats  into  lockins — which  form  they  were 
made  into  so  they  could  be  towed  through 
the  locks  of  the  canals)  via  the  Chesapeake 
and  Delaware  Canal,  and  thence  (having 
put  all  the  timber  into  floats  again)  up  the 
Delaware  river  with  the  tide  to  Philadel- 
phia, thence  to  Bordentown,  N.  J.  At  that 
place  they  entered  the  Rarideu  Canal 
which  carried  tlieir  timber  to  the  city  of 
New  Brunswick  (where  subject  was  seized 
with  cholera),  where  it  was  again  made 
into  floats  on  the  river  Rariden,  down 
which  it  was  floated  to  Ainboy  Bay,  thence 
by  the  tide  up  Staten  Sound  to  New  Yoik, 
where  it  was  finally  marketed.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton remained  in  that  city  a  short  time, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Danbury,  Conn. 
While  there  his  father  died,  and  our  sub- 
ject then  came  west  to  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm  for  a 
few  years,  but  had  to  abandon  it  on  ac- 
count of  his  old  hurt  troui)ling  him. 
From  Medina  county  Mr.  Hamilton  pro- 
ceeded to  Randolph,  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  for  two  terms  he  attended 
school  and  an  academy.  Again  coming  to 
Medina  county,  he  became  salesman  for 
his  uncle,  J[ohn  Fairchild,  who  was  a  man- 
ufacturer of  wooden  bowls;  but  in  1852  he 
went  to  Iowa  and  took  up  680  acres  of 
land    in    Washington    county,     which   he 


held  about  thirty  years.  On  his  return 
home,  his  uncle  (just  referred  to)  gave  him 
an  interest  in  a  bowl  manufactory  at  Berea, 
Cuyahoga,  Co.,  (Jhio,  and  he  had  just  got 
down  to  business  when  the  premises  were 
burned  to  the  ground.  Commencing 
anew,  however,  he  carried  on  the  business 
several  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
closed  out  and  embarked  in  the  general 
mercantile  business.  While  he  and  his 
uncle  were  carrying  on  the  bowl  industry, 
Mr.  Hamilton  would  make  trips  westward 
to  sell  the  wares,  and  in  the  course  of  his 
travels  met  with  many  adventures.  He 
passed  two  summers  up  and  down  the 
Missouri  river  with  teams,  selling  his  bowls 
among  the  so-called  "  border  rutflans";  on 
his  return  east  he  fitted  up  an  old-fashioned 
flat  boat  at  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  which  he 
loaded  with  bowls  and  grindstones,  and 
took  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans,  two 
thousand  miles;  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind., 
where  he  had  a  shop,  he  filled  up  his  boat 
and  went  to  luakingr  sales  at  all  the  towns 
along  the  river,  he  himself  piloting  the 
vessel  from  about  six  miles  above  Wlieel- 
ing,  W.  Va.  He  reached  New  Orleans 
just  about  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  there  sold  the  balance  of  the  ven- 
ture at  wholesale,  getting  good  prices. 
Our  subject  then  returned  northward,  by 
boat,  via  the  Mississippi  river.  The  firm 
of  Fairchild  &  Hamilton  had  bowl  fac- 
tories opened  out  at  Berea,  Ohio;  Colum- 
bia, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Jeffersonville,  Ind.; 
St.  John's,  Mich.;  and  Chatham,  Canada. 
Having  been  appointed  treasurer  of  the 
Berea  Savings  and  Loan  Bank,  he  held 
that  position  with  ability  and  sntisfaction 
four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  (1884) 
he  came  to  Elyria  and  bought  out  his 
present  furniture  business.  Before  coming 
to  Elyria  he  was  the  assistant  of  the  treas- 
urer of  Cleveland. 

Leonard  G.  Hamilton  and  Miss  Cassie 
A.  Marsh  were  united  in  marriage,  in 
May,  1802,  and  five  children  were  born  to 
them,  as  follows:  Carrie  C;  May  B.,  wife 
of  Henry  Ingersoll,  an  attorney   at  law  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


833 


Elyria,  Ohio;  Leonard  Walter,  in  business 
with  his  father;  Eden,  deceased;  and 
Harry  G.,  at  sciiooL  In  politics,  Mr. 
Hamilton  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  ().  C).  F. 

From  another  branch  of  the  family 
comes  David,  whose  son,  Alexander,  was 
born  January  11,  1757,  in  the  island 
of  St.  Ohristofer,  "West  Indies.  The  Ilani- 
iltons  can  be  traced  back  to  the  twelfth 
century,  producing  some  eminently  scien- 
tific men,  dukes  and  lords  of  Scotland  and 
England,  and  martyrs  of  the  Keformation. 


E 


LIZEK  G.    HASTINGS,  a  lifelong 
farmer  of  LaGrange  township,  is  a 
J  native  of  same,  born  June  20,  ls27, 
a    son    of  Curtis    H.    and    Pattie 
(Graves)  Hastings. 

Our  subject  received  an  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  life,  receiving  his  first  train- 
ins  in  that  direction  under  his  father. 
He  remained  on  the  hotne  farm  till 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  then  went 
to  work  for  Mathew  Starr,  receiving  for 
his  services  twelve  dollars  a  month.  In 
December,  1850,  he  was  married,  in  La- 
Grange,  to  Miss  Hannah  Crane,  and  they 
had  three  children,  viz.:  Susan,  Mrs. 
Almon  Taylor,  of  Saiulusky,  Ohio  (her 
first  husband  was  Royal  Merriam) ;  George, 
a  farmer  of  LaGrange;  and  Evaliue.  now 
Mrs.  David  McFadden,  of  Sandusky,  Ohio. 
In  1851  Mr.  Ilastinirs  went  to  work  for 
Adison  Foster;  in  1852  he  worked  for 
Richard  Loomis;  in  1853  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  Darius  Iloicomb,  and  in  1854 
lie  worked  at  the  car[)enter  trade.  In 
1855  he  moved  onto  a  piece  of  land  owned 
by  his  father,  and  which  he  worked  on 
shares,  he  having  one-third.  In  1858  Mr. 
Hastings  moved  with  his  family  to  Van- 
Wert  county,  Ohio,  l)Ut  ague  and  bilious 
fever  being  prevalent  there,  they  had  to 
return  to  their  native  place.     In  1861  he 


moved  onto  the  old  farm,  which  he  worked 
on  shares  until  the  death  of  his  father, 
which  occurred  December  22,  1877.  Our 
subject  now  owns  142i  acres  and  a  com- 
modious house;  he  has  erected  various 
outbuildings  on  the  place,  and  a  new 
dwelling  across  the  road   from  his  own. 

Mrs.Hannah  Hastings  died  May  7, 1870, 
and  Mr.  Hastings  was  married,  January 
27,  1875,  to  Mrs.  H.  L.  Davis,  who  was 
born  February  11,  1829,  in  Hampshire 
county,  Mass.  Our  suliject  has  been  an 
active,  hard  working  man,  and  has  always 
been  fond  of  his  home.  In  1883  a  sick 
spell  left  him  almost  a  physical  wreck,  and 
since  then  he  performs  only  light  farm 
labor,  the  remainder  of  the  work  being 
attended  to  by  his  son  George,  who  was 
married  to  Miss  Hattie  Barnes,  of  Pen- 
field,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Hastings  is 
a  Democrat  in  his  ])oiitical  prefei-ences. 


JOHN   ALEXANDER.     This  gentle- 
man, one  of  the  leading  agricultur- 
ists of  Eaton   township,   is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and   Sarah  (Frankum)  Alex- 
ander, natives  of  Gloucestershire,  England, 
who    immigrated    to  tiie  United  States  in 
1830,  locating  first  in  New  York  State. 

In  1838  they  moved  to  Elyria,  Lorain 
Co.,  Oliio,  where  they  remained  some  time, 
thence  removing  to  (rrafton  township, 
same  county,  and  in  1844  to  Eaton  town- 
ship, where  they  were  well-known  agricul- 
turists; the  home  farm  is  still  in  the  fam- 
ily. Samuel  Alexander  died  in  1880  at 
the  age  of  eighty;  his  wife  died  in  1883, 
aged  seventy-nine.  Politically  he  was  a 
Whig  and  Republican.  They  had  a  family 
of  eigiit  children,  as  follows:  Martha,  who 
married  Edwin  Martin,  and  died  in  La- 
Porte,  Lorain  county,  in  1884;  Samuel, 
who  married  Barliara  Slatershiue,  of  Mich- 
igan, and  is  a  resident  of  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  Ann,  wifeof  AVilliain 
Lawson,    of     Grafton    township,    Lorain 


884 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county;  Sophia,  wife  of  Cyrus  Wallace,  of 
Winnebago  county,  111.;  John,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Job,  a  farmer  of  Eaton  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  who  married  Ann 
Pierce;  Albert,  who  married  Addie  Goland, 
and  who  resides  in  Eaton  township;  and 
Amanda,  who  died  in  her  youth. 

John  Alexander,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  November  12,  1836,  in 
Grafton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
received  his  education  at  the  country  schools 
of  Eaton  townsliip.  In  1873  he  bought 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Eaton  town- 
ship, which  he  has  since  much  improved, 
having  erected  a  comfortable  residence, 
commodious  barns,  etc.,  and  has  increased 
the  area  of  his  farm  till  it  now  comprises 
186  acres,  fifty-four  of  which  are  in  Carlisle 
township. 

On  October  6,  1876,  Mr.  Alexander  was 
married,  in  Oberlin,  Lorain  county,  to 
Miss  Hannah  Diniick,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  State,  a  daughter  of  Alanson 
and  Ilannali  (Hill)  Dimick,  tlie  fatlier  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
one  hundred  years,  the  mother  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five,  both  passing  away  within  a  year,  at 
the  home  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  has  been  born  one 
child,  Grace.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
Republican. 


T^    C.    GRISWOLD.     The  family,  of 

r^      which  this  gentleman  is  a  prominent 

IL^i   member,  claim  German  descent,  the 

first  of  tiie  ancestry,  of  whom  there 

is    record,  having  come  to  England  with 

the     Prince    of  Orange.     The    name  was 

originally  spelled  Griswolde. 

Edward  and  Matthew  Griswold  (the  lat- 
ter of  whom  was  the  direct  ancestor  of 
the  two  Governors  Griswold)  were  brothers. 
They  resided  in  Kenilworth, Warwickshire, 
England  (the  ancestral  seat  being  known 
as  Malvern  Hall,  the  coat-of-arms  two 
greyhounds  eourant),  where  another 
brother,  Thon:as,  also  lived.     In  1639,  in 


a  vessel  sent  out  by  Mr.  William  Whiting, 
they  came  to  America,  in  company  with 
Rev.  Epliraim  Huit  and  several  other  mem- 
bers of  his  congregation,  who  settled  in 
Windsor,  Connecticut. 

(1)  Edward  Griswold,  born  in  England 
in  1607,  married,  while  young,  Margaret 
— .  After  his  arrival  in  America  he 
located  in  a  part  of  Windsor  called  Po- 
quonnack,  but  afterward  became  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Killingworth,  Conn.,  where 
he  appears  to  iiave  been  a  man  of  much 
enterprise  and  influence.  In  March,  1663, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to 
lay  out  the  undivided  lands  in  Massaco 
(Simsbui-y)  to  each  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Windsor  as  desired  or  needed.  In  Killing- 
worth  he  was  a  commissioner  and  large 
landholder.     His  first  wife  died  in  Kiliincr- 

o 

worth  August  23,  1670,  and  he  then  mar- 
ried Sarah,  widow  of  James  Bemis,  of  New 
London.  He  died  about  1690.  His  chil- 
dren were  Francis,  George,  JohnandSarah, 
all  four  born  in  England  (Sarah  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Samuel,  son  of  William 
Phelps,  November  10,  1650,  and  second 
to  Nathaniel,  son  of  Humphrey  Piniiey, 
July  21,  1670);  Anne,  born  in  America, 
June  19,  1642;  Mary,  born  October  5, 
1644  (married  Timothy,  son  of  AVilliam 
Phelps,  March  19,  1661);  Deborah,  born 
June  28,  1646  (married  Samuel,  son  of 
William  Buel,  and  went  to  Killingworth); 
Joseph,  born  March  2,  1647;  Samuel,  born 
November  13,  1649.  died  at  Killingworth 
July  6,  1672;  John, born  August  15;  1652. 

(2)  Geoi'ge  married  Mary  Holcomb  Oc- 
tober 3,  16  —  ;  she  died  April  4, 1708.  He 
settled  in  Windsor,  was  holder  of  con- 
siderable land,  part  of  which  he  bought  of 
the  Indians,  and  was  a  man  of  high  re- 
spectalnlity.  His  children  were  Daniel, 
born  October  1,  1656;  Thomas,  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1658;  Edward,  born  May  19, 
1060;  Mary,  born  September  28,  1663; 
George,  born  December  3,  1665;  John, 
born  September  11,  1668;  Benjamin,  born 
August  16,  1671;  Deborah,  born  May  20, 
1674    (married  Thomas  Moore  December 


/  V^^'V^^f     1^^^ 


r^-^^Jc^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


837 


12,  1695);  Abigail,  born  October  3,  1676, 
died  March  7,  1682;  Samuel,  l)orii  No- 
vember 5,  1681,  died  June  1,  1682. 

(3)  Daniel,  born  October  1,  1656,  mar- 
ried Mind  well,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Bissell,  February  3,  1680,  who  died  De- 
cember 31,  1728.  Their  children  were 
David  and  Nathaniel  (twins),  born  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1684;   Peletiah,  born  September 

13,  i689;  Mary,  born  1692;  Edward,  born 
March  8,  1696;   Deborah,  bt)rn  November 

7,  1698;  David,  born  August  6,  1701. 

(4)  David,  born  August  6,  1701,  mar- 
ried Huldah  Brown,  1731.  Their  children 
were  David,  born  May  25,  1733,  died 
March  6,  1736;  Joel,  born  1734;  Ezekiel, 
born  February  21,  1737;  Huldah,  born 
April  23,  1739;  Sybil,  born  April  17, 
1742;  Deborah,  born  March  15,  1745; 
David,  born  February  15,  1748;  Asinah, 
born  September  6,  1750. 

(5)  Joel,  born  1734,  married  May  11, 
1758,  Mary  Ebens.  Their  children  were 
Joel,  born  November  4,  1758;  Elijah, 
born  August  20,  1762;  Luther,  Ealph, 
and  Rufus. 

(6)  Elijah,  born  August  20,  1762,  mar- 
ried July  6,  1787,  Lydia  Adams,  born 
August  30,  1767.  Their  children  were 
Elijah  Finder,  born  June  12,  1788;  Lydia, 
born  July  24,  1790;  Chauncey  Gay,  born 
September  16,  1792;  Sophia,  born  Jan- 
uary 4,  1794;  Julia,  born  March  17,  1796; 
Fanny,  born  March  5,  1798;  Thirza  Maria, 
born  December  29,  1800;  Edwin  Elijah 
(father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch),  born 
August  20,  1802;  Edson  Adams,  born 
June  27,  1804;  Mary  Catherine,  born  May 

8,  1806;  Luther  Dwight.  born  February 
7,  1809. 

Edwin  Elijah  Griswold,  the  last  but 
three  mentioned  in  the  above  genealogical 
record,  was  born  in  the  township  of  Sims- 
bury  (of  Old  Windsor,  now  Bloomfield), 
Coun.,  and  received  his  education  at  the 
subscription  schools  of  the  vicinity,  and 
also  in  a  private  school.  He  was  a  cler- 
gyman of  the  MethodistEpiscopal  Church, 
and    filled    incumbencies   in  Connecticut, 


New  York  State  and  New  York  City, 
many  of  his  appointments  being  the  best 
held  in  the  several  localities.  Daniel 
Drew  and  the  well-known  publishers. 
Harper  iirothers,  were  among  his  parish- 
ioners. For  seventeen  years  he  was  pre- 
siding elder,  part  of  the  time  officiating  in 
New  York  City.  After  nearly  forty-five 
years  of  active  service  in  the  ministry  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  his 
own  request  he  was  released  from  his  du- 
ties, and  returned  to  his  home  in  Danbury, 
Conn.  He  was  a  D.  D.  of  Mt.  Union  Col- 
lege. On  April  20,  1825,  he  married 
Miss  Nancy  Webster,  who  was  descended 
by  direct  Hue  from  John  Webster,  one  of 
Hartford's  early  settlers  and  the  fifth  Gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut  Colony,  and  the  rec- 
ord of  their  children  is  as  follows:  Fanny 
F.,  born  February  22.  1826;  E.  C.  (sub- 
ject of  sketch);  Harriet  W.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1830,  died  May  5,  1893;  Ann 
Augusta,  born  September  18,  1836;  atid 
Mary  Victoria,  born  November  27,  1838, 
died  November  8,  1839.  Mrs.  Griswold 
died  April  3,  1870,  and  Mr.  Griswold  was 
subsequently  married  to  Artemesia  W. 
Pease  (widow  of  a  preacher),  who  still 
survives.     He  died  April  3,  1878. 

Edwin  Chauncey  Griswold  was  born  in 
Farmington,  Conn.,  May  18,  1827,  and 
received  his  elementary  education  in  a 
preparatory  school,  after  which  he  took 
a  course  of  study  at  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity, Middlet'own,  Conn.,  where  he 
graduated  in  1847,  being  then  twenty 
years  of  age.  After  teaching  school  for  a 
time,  he  became  connected  with  the  Peo- 
ples Line  of  Steamers  of  the  Hudson  river, 
and  was  in  that  service  some  four  years. 
He  then  became  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Book  Concern,  in  New  York 
City,  having  charge  of  the  mailing  depart- 
ment, but  his  health  becoming  impaired, 
he  concluded  to  move  westward.  Accord- 
ingly, in  February,  1854,  he  came  to 
Elyria,  Ohio,  and  established  a  book  store, 
which  he  carried  on  for  about  twenty-four 
years,  or  until  1877,  when  he  sold  out.  He 


838 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


has  since  been  connected  with  various 
business  enterprises,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  Lakeside  Company,  of  which 
he  is  president,  and  one  of  its  heaviest 
stockholders;  had  also  at  one  time  charge 
of  their  hotel  at  Lakeside.  He  owns  grape 
growing  and  farming  interests,  and  oc- 
cupies much  of  his  time  in  assisting  to 
manipulate  stock  companies  of  various 
kinds. 

On  February  2,  1852,  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  Mr.  Griswold  was  married  to  Miss 
Anne  Sweetland,  a  native  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  and  at  Mt.  Holyoke  Serai- 
nary,  Massachusetts,  she  received  her  edu- 
cation. The  following  is  a  brief  record  of 
their  children:  (1)  Ellen  Augusta,  born 
November  23,  1852,  in  New  York  City;^ 
after  graduating  at  Elyria  High  School 
she  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  at 
Baldwin  University,  Berea,  Ohio,  and  had 
reached  the  Senior  class,  when  failing 
health  caused  her  to  leave;  she  afterward 
graduated  at  Cleveland  Normal  School; 
she  was  married  to  Rev.  Lucius  C.  Smith, 
July  12,  1878,  and  died  December  28, 
1878,  in  Copiapo,  Chili,  S.  A.,  her  hus- 
band being  a  missionary  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  one  of  the  "Taylor  missionaries." 
(2)  Edwin  Luther  w-as  born  February  11, 
1855,  and  died  September  2G,  1881;  he 
entered  upon  a  course  of  study  at  Wesleyau 
University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  but  un- 
avoidable circumstances  prevented  his 
completing  the  course;  he  was  engaged  in 
the  book  business  with  his  father,  and 
later  in  Cleveland.  (3)  Fannie  Martha, 
born  September  4,  1857,  graduated  at  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio, 
was  married,  March  29,  1882,  to  G.  W. 
Rice,  and  now  resides  in  Hamilton,  Ohio; 
(4)  William  Sweetland  was  born  June  20, 
1862,  and  was  educated  at  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  then  one  year 
in  Berea,  Ohio,  and  afterward  at  the  Case 
School  of  Applied  Science,  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  He  is  now  in  Lansing,  Mich.,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  artificial  stone  busi- 
ness and   selling  coal.     He   was   married 


October  7, 1885,  to  Miss  Martha  H.  Wales, 
of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two 
children,  viz. :  Edwin  Chauncey,  borti  June 
9,  1887;  and  Marie  Sweetland,  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1892. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Griswold  is  a  strong  Republi- 
can; he  served  as  clerk  of  Elyria  township 
thirteen  years,  and  for  years  was  also  town- 
ship trustee ;  for  several  years  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education  and  clerk  of 
the  same.  In  1876  he  was  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  General  Conference  that  met  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  has  for  many  years 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Elyria.  He  also 
holds  important  relations  with  several 
educational  institutions. 


|ILLIAM  GREEN,  a  prominent, 
well-to-do  farmer  of  Pittsfield 
llj'  township,  was  born  October  4, 
1848,  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Marshall)  Green. 
William  Green,  Sr.,  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  followed  the  trade  exclusively  in  Eng- 
land, where  he  married  and  had  three 
children:  Henry,  who  died  in  England; 
Ann,  who  died  in  Wood  county,  Ohio, 
wife  of  William  Bailey,  and  William.  In 
1854  the  family  embarked  at  Liverpool, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed 
in  New  York  City.  They  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  William  Marshall,  brother  of 
Mrs.  Green,  had  previously  located,  and 
there  purchased  a  partially  improved  tract 
of  fifty  acres,  where  the  father  began  farm- 
ing. Here  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  Mrs.  Green  dying  in  1877,  her 
husband  in  1884,  and  they  both  rest  in 
Pittsfield  cemetery.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  politics 
he  was  a  Republican. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  was  reared*to  farm  life,  re- 
maining at  home   with   his   parents   until 


LOR  Am  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


839 


his  marriage.  On  October  5,  1871,  lie  was 
7iiarried  to  Rowena  Cole,  who  was  bom 
in  Wellington  township,  Lorain  county, 
daughter  of  Horace  Cole,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  two  children:  Lou  Emma,  Mrs. 
Frank  Whitney,  of  Pittstield  township; 
and  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy.  Tiie 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  November, 
1878,  and  was  buried  in  Pittstield  ceme- 
tery. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Green  mar- 
ried January  1,  1880,  Miss  Anna  Jordan, 
who  died  February  3,  1883.  some  time 
afterward,  without  issue.  In  1884  Mr. 
Green  married  Catherine  Rogers,  and  to 
this  union  has  come  one  child,  Walter 
Henry.  After  marriage  our  subject  lo- 
cated on  the  home  farm,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1883,  when  he  removed  to 
his  present  farm,  in  the  center  of  Pitts- 
field  township,  which  he  had  purchased  the 
preceding  fall.  Here  he  has  since  resided, 
carrying  on  general  agriculture  and  dairy- 
ing, and  he  has  met  with  a  considerable 
degree  of  success,  being  an  energetic,  sys- 
tematic farmer.  Politically  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  religious  faith  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  which 
he  has  served  as  trustee  and  in  various 
other  positions. 


FLAVIFS  A.  HART,  proprietor  of 
a  leading  furniture  establishment  in 
^  Oberlin,  and  undertaker,  comes  of 
English  ancestry.  The  first  of  this 
branch  of  the  family  in  America  was  one 
of  three  lirothers  who  came  from  England 
in  1646  or  '48,  one  of  whom  settled  in 
Connecticut,  one  went  west  and  was  never 
heard  of  again,  and  the  third,  from  whom 
our  subject  descends,  made  a  settlement 
in  Lynn,  Massachusetts. 

Sylvester  Hart,  father  of  Flavins  A., 
was  born,  in  1806,  in  Vermont,  the  eldest 
son  of  Georcro  Hart,  and  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  settling  in  Carlisle 
township,     where   he  carried   on    farming 


operations.  He  died  in  1874,  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, having  originally  been  an  Old- 
line  Whig.  He  married  Miss  Relief 
Baldwin,  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  born 
in  1806,  and  died  in  1892.  They  had  a 
family  of  five  children,  of  whom  Flavius 
A.  is  the  youngest. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  December  2, 1849. 
When  si.x  years  old  he  came  to  Oberlin, 
where  he  received  his  education,  first  at- 
tending the  public  schools  and  then  Oberlin 
College.  For  a  time  he  read  law  in  that 
town,  in  order  the  more  thoroughly  to 
qualify  himself  for  business,  and  then 
turned  his  attention  to  agriculture,  which 
he  followed  till  some  sixteen  years  since, 
and  he  still  owns  a  farm  in  the  township. 
On  givintr  up  agricultural  pursuits  he 
opened  out  a  furniture  factory  in  Oberlin, 
and  also  a  store  for  sale  of  the  products. 
The  factory  he  carried  on  three  years, 
since  when  he  has  confined  himself  to  the 
retail  business  and  undertaking.  He  car- 
ries a  large  stock  of  furniture,  and  enjoys 
a  wide  business  connection. 

In  1877  Mr.  Hart  was  married  in 
Oberlin  to  Miss  Olive  A.  Grain,  who 
was  born  in  Florence  township,  Erie 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  which  union  three  children 
have  been  born:  Burton  S.,  Merton  S.  and 
Eugene  A.  In  politics  our  subject  has 
been  an  ardent  Democrat  ever  since  he 
first  exercised  his  franchise  at  the  ballot, 
and  has  twice  been  Democratic  candidate 
for  county  treasurer,  also  Democrat  candi- 
date for  mayor  of  Oberlin.  On  December 
20,  1893,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at 
Oberlin  by  President  Cleveland;  confirmed 
by  Senate  January  9, 1894,  and  commenced 
his  duties  as  postmaster  February  1, 1894. 
lie  is  past  master  in  the  A.  F.  v.\:  A.  M., 
and  past  noble  grand  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.; 
is  a  member  of  the  Oberlin  Society  which 
(Toverns  the  Congregational  Church. 

Zerubable  Hart,  paternal  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  tills  sUetcli.  was  a 
native  of  Lynn,  Mass.  He  owned  the  best 
yoke  of  oxen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bos- 


840 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ton,  and  prior  to  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
lie  hauled  hogsheads  of  sand  up  that  and 
Breed's  Hill  for  the  making  of  military 
breastworks;  his  brother,  John  Hart,  was 
one  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence;  their  father,  Jonathan  Hart, 
was  captain  of  a  privateer,  and  was  captured 
on  the  Mediterranean  Sea  by  the  Moors. 
He  had  to  work  as  a  slave  in  the  mines  of 
Africa  for  nine  long  years  without  ever 
seeing  the  light  of  the  sun;  but  one  day 
he  and  two  other  prisoners  succeeded  in 
escaping  by  first  killing  the  overseer  with 
their  picks,  and  another  man  with  the  guard's 
gun.  Havinsf  now  regained  their  liberty, 
they  put  to  sea  in  an  open  boat,  and  were 
picked  up  by  a  Portuguese  vessel,  and  ulti- 
mately reached  their  respective  homes. 


rJRANK   A.  COATES.     Among  the 
more     intelligent     and     highly    re- 
spected  citizens  of  Henrietta  town- 
ship, this  gentleman   must  certainly 
be  classed. 

He  is  a  son  of  Stephen  Coates,  M'ho  was 
born  in  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  in  1812,  and 
was  there  reared  to  manhood.  His  school 
advantages  were  much  limited,  and  his 
education,  therefore,  consisted  of  but  the 
common  branches.  During  his  youth  he 
learned  the  trade  of  shoeniaking.  In  1845 
lie  migrated  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  Sub- 
sequently he  married  Caroline  Bodfish,  a 
daujjhter  of  JSathan  Bodfish  and  a  native 
of  Vermont,  to  whicli  union  were  born  six 
children,  as  follows:  Delia,  Janet,  Au- 
gusta, Frank  A.,  Caroll  and  Herbert,  of 
whom  there  are  living,  Augusta,  now  the 
wife  of  M.  William  Thomas,  of  Oberlin; 
Herbert,  a  farmer  of  Huntington,  Lorain 
county;  Caroll,  the  well-known  landlord 
of  a  popular  hotel  in  Sullivan,  Oliio,  and 
Frank  A.  Upon  the  location  of  the  family 
in  their  new  home  in  Ohio,  the  father 
found  employment  at  his  trade,  and  by 
careful  manai^ement  and  observance  of 
rigid  economy,  he  was  enabled  to  save  a 


portion  of  his  earnings.  After  a  few  years 
lie  purchased  a  small  plat  of  land,  which 
he  cultivated,  and  worked  at  his  trade. 
This  bit  of  land  he  subsequently  sold,  and 
bought  200  acres  which  he  divided  equally 
between  the  four  children  at  the  time  of 
his  removal  to  Oberlin.  His  career  was 
in  every  respect  eminently  successful,  and 
at  his  death  he  was  possessor  of  more  than 
200  acres,  the  clearing  of  which  was  nearly 
all  his  own  handiwork.  Some  years  prior 
to  his  death  he  purchased  a  large  farm  in 
Henrietta  township,  upon  which  he  resided 
for  a  number  of  years,  keeping  a  dairy, 
cuttincr  timber,  etc.  He  then  removed  to 
Oberlin,  where  he  departed  this  life  in 
March,  1889,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  foi-  a  number  of  years  he  filled  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  of  Henrietta 
township.  His  wife  had  preceded  him  to 
the  grave  in  1887;  she  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 

Frank  A.  Coates,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  in  Birmingham,  Ohio, 
March  4,  1846,  and  was  there  reared, 
accompanying  his  father  to  his  various 
locations  as  above  recorded.  He  was  the 
recipient  of  a  superior  education,  having 
at  one  time  attended  Oberlin  College.  In 
1867  he  married  Miss  Mira  Thomas, 
daughter  of  William  Thomas,  Sr.,  who 
died  in  Vermont;  his  widow  came  to  Ohio 
in  1855.  To  our  subject  and  wife  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Nellie, 
Carrie  (Mrs.  Cor.  Courier),  Jennie  (Mrs. 
Arthur  Court),  Lizzy  and  Harold.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  our  subject  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  fifty  acres  of  land,  bequeathed  to 
hin^  by  his  father,  upon  which  he  erected 
buildings,  and  added  all  improvements; 
his  handsome  brick  residence  was  erected 
in  1877.  Mr.  Coates"  children  have  all  re- 
ceived exceptional  educations,  Mrs.  Courier 
{nee  Carrie)  being  a  graduate  of  Oberlin 
Conservatory  of  Music. 

Politically  Mr.  Coates  is  a  Prohiljition- 
ist,  and  is  now  occupying  the  office  of 
justice  of   the   peace.     He  is  a  prominent 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


841 


member  of  the  Baptist  (llinreh.  Wlien 
but  a  boy  of  fifteen  years  he  sufiereil  an 
illness  which  left  him  a  cripple  for  life, 
yet  tlespite  this  physical  disadvantage  his 
success  has  been  indeed  marked.  He  suc- 
cessfully cultivates  his  farm  of  seventy- 
nine  acres,  and  devotes  much  attention  to 
the  cultivation  of  small  fruits. 

Mrs.  Coates  and  her  daughters  are  justly 
popular  ladies  in  their  community,  and 
their  many  e.\cellent  qualities  are  highly 
appreciated  by  their  large  circle  of  friends. 


FW.    KOCKWOOD,    a    prosperous, 
intelligent    farmer    of     La  Grange 
_^       township,  is  a  native  of   the  "Em- 
pire State,"  born  January  18,  1817, 
in  Champion,  Jefferson  county. 

His  father,  David  Kockwood,  was  born 
in  1777  in  New  Hampshire,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life.  When  a  young  man  he  came 
with  some  of  liis  older  half-brothers  to 
Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  and  as  they  kept 
"bachelors'  hall"  he  was  their  cook.  In 
later  years  their  pai-ents  came  to  New  York 
State,  also  locating  in  Cherry  Valley, 
and  David  and  his  half-bi-other,  William, 
moved  into  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
bought  land.  Here  David  Rockwood  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ruby  Rounds, 
a  native  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y., 
and  while  living  in  New  York  State  they 
had  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz.: 
Henry,  of  Elyria;  Benjamin  S.,  who  went 
west  years  ago,  and  has  never  since  l^een 
heard  from;  Emeline,  widow  of  David 
Gott;  F.  W.,  subject  proper  of  this  sketch; 
Giles  C,  of  Wood  county,  Ohio;  David 
P.,  of  La  Grange  Center;  and  Almon  A., 
of  California.  Another  child,  Pauline, 
now  the  widow  of  Hiram  Buswell,  was 
born  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Rock- 
wood  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  in  New 
York,  and  traded  his  farm  there  for  (500 
acres  in  La  Grange  township,  Lorain  ('o., 
Ohio,  for  which  place  he  set  out  in  June, 


1826,  driving  a  team  of  horses.  P^ive 
sons  and  the  daughter  came  with  tiie  par- 
ents, the  other  son  traveling  by  the  water 
route  with  the  household  goods.  Asal 
Rockwood,  a  brother  of  David,  came  at 
the  same  time.  The  journey  from  New 
York  occupied  ten  days,  and  they  came 
via  Cleveland,  where  at  that  time  there 
was  no  bridge  across  the  Cuyahoga  river, 
and  where  lie  was  offered  land — now 
the  site  of  the  Public  Square — at  four 
dollars  an  acre,  or  land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  city  at  twenty  shillings  an 
acre.  However,  they  pushed  on  to  Ely- 
ria, and  thence  to  La  Porte,  where  the 
family  remained  while  the  father  went 
out  to  look  over  the  land  he  had  bargained 
for  at  LaGrange.  Upon  seeing  this  he  was 
so  disappointed  that  he  concluded  to  re- 
turn to  Cleveland,  and  invest  in  land  there, 
Init  was  dissuaded  from  this  by  Belden, 
Ingersol  and  Meunels,  three  of  the  leading 
men  in  Grafton  township,  who  induced  him 
to  remain  in  LaGrange  in  order  to  more 
thoroughly  settle  up  the  country.  He  re- 
mained on  the  600-acre  farm,  a  portion  of 
which  he  traded  to  Nathan  Clark  for  a  like 
amount  in  Lot  No.  49,  and  built  thereon  a 
a  rude  house  of  logs,  covered  with  elm- 
bark,  into  which  he  moved.  This  was 
shortly  afterward  supplanted  by  a  better 
one.  Mrs.  Rockwood  died  and  was  buried 
in  LaGrange  township,  and  he  married, 
for  his  second  wife,  Polly  Graves,  who  bore 
him  five  children,  all  of  whom  died  young. 
He  was  always  a  farmer,  and  after  moving 
on  his  farm  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
LaGrange  township,  sold  some  of  it,  giving 
it  out  for  work  on  other  parts  of  the  tract. 
He  was  stirring  and  energetic,  and  was 
active  up  to  the  age  of  sixty-five,  when  he 
retired.  His  death,  which  occurred  in 
1877,  when  he  was  one  hundred  years  and 
one  month  old,  was  the  result  of  old  age. 
In  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later 
a  Democrat,  and  in  religious  connection 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
F.  W.  Rockwood  received  his  education 
iu  the  common  schools  of  his  boyhood  days, 


842 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


when  eleven  years  old  corning  to  Ohio, 
where  he  also  attended  the  schools,  wliich 
were  held  in  log  buildings.  From  early  boy- 
hood he  was  reared  to  farm  life,  doing  any 
woi'k  he  could  about  the  place,  and  when 
fifteen  years  old  went  to  learn  the  trade  of 
cabinet  maker  nnder  his  brother  Henry,  in 
LaGrange,  remaining  there  five  years,  and 
then  working  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
On  October  27,  1840,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Clarissa  Wack,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1821,  in  Danby,  Vt.,  daughter  of 
Frederick  A¥.  and  Hannah  (Loomis)  Wack, 
natives  of  Connecticut,  who  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  in  1834,  locating  in  Car- 
lisle township.  After  his  marriage  he 
moved  into  Oberlin,  where  he  followed  his 
trade  for  three  years,  and  then  came  to  his 
present  farm,  where  he  himself  erected  a 
house,  and  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
has  two  children,  namely:  Edgar  D.  and 
William  W.  For  the  last  twenty  years  he 
has  given  up  his  trade,  but  previous  to 
that  time  did  much  of  the  building  in  his 
section.  He  now  owns  460  acres  of  land, 
situated  in  various  parts  of  the  country — 
Ohio,  Iowa  and  South  Dakota;  his  farm 
in  Ohio  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  Lo- 
rain county,  as  it  contains  an  exceedingly 
good  deposit  of  building  stone.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  been 
a  party  leader  in  his  section.  He  has  a  very 
pleasant  home,  rendered  doubly  attractive 
by  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Rockwood,  who  is 
a  most  estimable,  kind-hearted  lady.  Mr. 
Rockwood  keeps  himself  well  informed  on 
the  leading  questions  of  the  day,  both  by 
reading  and  observation. 


T'  H.  MUMFORD,  a  prominent,  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Russia  town- 
ship, was  born  in  1840  in  Darling- 
ton county,  South  Carolina. 

In  July,  1857,  he  left  his  native 
and  he  has  since  been  identified 
■with  the  interests  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 
He  attended  the  Union  schools  at  Oberliu, 


State, 


and  for  some  time  thereafter  followed  the 
trades  of  painting  and  paper  hanging.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-fourth  Mass- 
achusetts Infantry,  and  in  1864  reenlisted, 
this  time  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  for  one  year  or 
during  the  war,  being  assigned  to  the  army 
of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated  in 
the  engagements  at  Nashville  (Tenn.)  and 
Kingston  (N.  C),  and  was  also  in  many 
skirmishes.  In  1865  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  at  Charlotte,  N.  C,  and 
returned  to  Oberlin,  where  he  has  since 
continuously  resided. 

Mr.  Mumford  was  married  at  Oberlin, 
October  5,  1865,  to  Miss  Evelene  Oswalt, 
and  they  have  had  three  children,  namely: 
William  D.,  Sumpter  Marion  and  Zula. 
In  religious  faith  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mumford 
are  both  members  of  the  First  Conareo-a- 
tional  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, deeply  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  party,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
township  trustee  for  the  past  seventeen 
years,  having  been  first  elected  in  1876. 
Mr.  Mumford  takes  an  active  part  in  every 
project  tending  toward  the  improvement 
and  advancement  of  the  interests  of  Lorain 
county.  He  is  a  member  of  Henry  Lincoln 
Post  iSfo.  564,  G.  A.  R. 


J 


ACOB  LAW,  a  leading  and  successful 

agriculturist  of  Grafton   township,  is 

a  German  by  birth,  having  first  seen 

the  light  of  day  November  17,  1828, 

in  Wittenberg,  Prussia. 

He  is  a  son  of  Mathias  Law,  a  shepherd 
in  the  Fatherland,  who  married  Mary 
Metzger,  by  whom  there  was  one  child,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  young  mother 
was  called  from  earth  when  Jacob  was  but 
a  child,  and  the  father  afterward  married 
Margaret  Ritchley.  Deciding  to  seek  a 
new  home  in  the  Western  World,  the  fam- 
ily, at  that  time  consisting  of  our  subject 
and  his  father  and  stepmother,  in  1834  set 
out   from    Wittenberg     for     the    port  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


843 


Bremen,  a  journey  of  fourteen  days,  and 
there  on  April  1,  same  year,  set  sail  on  a 
''  full-rigged  ship  ''  for  the  shores  of  Amer- 
ica. After  a  voyage  of  about  forty-three 
days  they  landed  at  New  York,  whence 
they  proceeded  westward  by  the  Hudson 
river  and  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  from  there 
sailing  on  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland,  re- 
maining in  that  town  one  week.  Mr.  Law 
there  bought,  for  four  dollars  per  acre, 
thirty-two  acres  of  unbroken  land  in 
Liverpool  township,  Medina  county,  with- 
out a  house  or  cabin  of  any  kind  on  it,  but 
with  some  five  hundred  feet  of  lumber  and 
three  cut  forked  sticks  he  soon  erected  a 
rude  shanty  under  the  branches  of  a  noble 
beech  tree,  where  the  little  family  made 
their  home  from  June  18  to  October,  same 
year,  by  which  time  a  commodious  and 
substantial  log  house  was  erected.  Mr. 
Law  had  but  a  small  capital  to  start  on — 
one  hundred  dollars — and  many  difficul- 
ties to  contend  against  in  clearing  the  land, 
not  the  least  of  which  was  the  continual 
encroachments  of  wild  animals  on  his  lit- 
tle domain.  In  the  fall  of  1834  he  sowed 
his  tirst  wheat,  which  was  harvested  the 
following  year,  and  the  prospects  after 
1836  (which  was  a  bad  year  for  farmers) 
began  to  brighten.  In  1842  the  log  house 
gave  place  to  a  frame  one,  and  to  the  farm 
fifty  acres  were  added,  lying  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  lot  No.  70,  Grafton  township. 
In  1877  this  honored  pioneer  passed  from 
earth  after  a  brief  illness,  his  wife  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1889,  and  they  lie  buried  in  Liver- 
pool cemetery,  Medina  county. 

Jacob  Law,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  as  will  be  seen  was  ten  years  old 
when  he  came  to  America,  so  had  at- 
tended sciiool  for  some  four  years  in  his 
native  land;  after  his  arrival  in  Lorain 
county  he  liad  the  benefit  of  sucii  English 
education  as  the  then  primitive  schools  af- 
forded. His  early  youth  was  passed  in 
hard  work  on  his  father's  farm,  and  when 
but  sixteen  years  of  age  he  worked  on  a 
canal  at  Coshocton,  Ohio,  all  his  earnings 
being  given  his  father;  he  also  labored  on 


other  canals.  After  his  marriage,  which 
will  be  spoken  of  presently,  his  father  gave 
him  thirty  acres  of  land  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, where  he  resided  up  to  1863,  in 
which  year  he  came  to  his  present  farm  in 
the  same  township.  At  one  time  he  owned 
468  acres,  but  having  given  much  of  it  to 
his  children,  has  now  215  acres. 

On  June  13,  1848,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Airiies  Lanndenberger,  also  a  native 
of  Wittenberg,  Germany,  born  August  20, 
1830,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lanndenber- 
ger, who  came  from  Bremen  to  the  United 
States  in  1833,  arriving;  in  New  York  af- 
ter  a  lengthy  passage  of  ninety-one  days. 
From  there  he  proceeded  westward  to 
Canton,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade,  that  of  blacksmith,  as  well 
as  farming.  Later  he  came  to  Liverpool 
township,  Medina  county,  where  Mr.  Law 
met  his  daughter  Agnes  for  the  first  time. 
The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife 
were  as  follows:  John,  a  farmer;  Mary, 
Mrs.  Henry  Wise;  Henry,  a  farmer; 
Catherine,  Mrs.  Louis  Wise;  Carrie,  de- 
ceased; August,  a  harness  maker,  of 
Erhert,  Ohio;  Jacob,  a  farmer;  Louisa, 
deceased;  William,  a  farmer;  and  Joseph, 
residing  at  home.  Politically  Mr.  Law  is 
a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  held 
office  some  years.  He  and  his  esteemed 
wife  are  highly  respected  in  the  commun- 
ity in  which  they  live,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  a  leader  among  the  sturdy  and  prosper- 
ous yeomen  of  Lorain  county. 


j)ETER  SCIIULLER,  one  of  the  pro- 


gressive   agriculturists  of  Sheffield 


p 

I  township,    is    a    native    of    Lorain 

y)  county,  Ohio,  born  May  17, 1853,  in 
Sheffield  township. 
Matthias  Schuller,  his  father,  who  was  a 
German  by  birth,  was  married  in  his  na- 
tive land  to  Miss  Katherine  Klein,  and  two 
of  their  children  were  born  there.  Coming 
to  the  United  States,  the  family  settled  oil 


844 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


a  farm  in  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  the  father  died  in  1871  at  the 
age  of  sixty-tliree  years,  the  mother  on 
March  4,  1885,  aged  seventy-two.  They 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
in  politics  Mr.  Schiiller  was  a  Democrat. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
two  of  whom  are  yet  living,  viz.:  Michael, 
born  in  Germany,  now  living  in  Sheffield 
township,  and  Peter. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his 
education  at  the  public  and  parochial 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1880 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mag- 
gie Kelling,  and  to  them  seven  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  George,  Henry, 
John,  Matthias,  Minnie,  Frank  and  Julia. 
Mr.  Schuller  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics  as  emphasized  in  the  principles 
embodied  in  the  platform  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  school 
board;  was  also  for  some  live  or  six  years 
road  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  Owner  of  a  good  farm 
of  eigbtj-six  acres,  Mr.  Schuller  does  a 
successful  general  agricultural  business. 


R.  WEBBER,  prosecuting  attorney 
for  Lorain  county  for  six  years  (his 
term  ending  January  2,  1894),  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Hinckley, 
Medina  county,  January  21,  1852, 
of  old  English  stock,  his  great-grandfather 
and  family  having  been  immigrants  from 
the  mother  country  to  the  New  Eno-land 
States  many  years  ago.  His  grandfather, 
Richard  Webber,  was  a  pioneer  of  Hinck- 
ley, and  a  man  of  great  worth,  a  preacher 
of  rare  gifts  and  power,  wielding  great 
influence  in  his  community. 

George  E.  Webber,  father  of  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  a  son  of 
Richard  Webber,  and  a  molder  by  trade. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  moved  westward 
to    Ohio,    with     his    father,    locating    in 


Hinckley,  in  Medina  county,  where  he 
aided  in  clearing  the  forest  to  make  way 
for  farms,  and  cutting  out  the  public  high- 
ways. When  eighteen  years  old  he  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts  and  learned  the 
trade  of  molder,  which  having  completed 
he  again  came  to  Medina  county,  and 
started  a  foundry  in  the  town  of  Hinckley, 
operating  same  for  twenty  years.  After 
this  he  farmed  for  six  years,  owing  to 
poor  health,  and  then  moved  into  the  town 
of  Medina,  where  he  opened  out  the  pres- 
ent Hollow-ware  foundry,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  hollow-ware,  which  now 
employs  sixty  Ave  men.  He  is  a  man  of 
great  push  and  force  of  character,  and  ex- 
tensive reading.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Woodruff,  a  native  of  New  York, 
who  taught  school  for  many  years  in 
Hinckley,  and  was  ever  known  for  her 
sweet  disposition  and  deeds  of  charity  and 
kindness.  They  had  a  family  as  follows: 
Julius  F.  Webber,  A.  R.  Webber,  Julia 
Walker,  Lana  Webber,  H.  B.  Webber  and 
John  Webber.  Julius  and  Lana  are  dead; 
John  and  Julia  reside  in  Medina;  H.  B.  is 
an  able  attorney  in  Canton,  Ohio. 

A.  R.  Webber  received  his  education  at 
the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at 
Baldwin  University,  Berea,  Ohio.  He  then 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  Judge  Lewis,  Medina,  Ohio;  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1876,  and  at  once 
opened  a  law  office  in  Elyria,  Lorain  coun- 
ty, in  partnership  with  a  Mr.  C.  H.  Brint- 
nall,  which  copartnership  continued  for 
some  six  months,  when  it  was  dissolved. 
Mr.  Webber's  next  partner  was  Mr.  C  W. 
Johnston,  at  one  time  prosecuting  attor- 
ney, and  this  copartnership  terminated  at 
the  end  of  two  years,  the  next  partner 
being  Hon.  George  P.  Metcalf,  for  some 
years  prosecuting  attorney  for  Lorain 
county.  Since  the  latter's  death  in  1887, 
Mr.  Webber  conducted  the  business  of  his 
office  alone  till  two  years  ago,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Lee  Stoup,  a 
young  man  who  read  law  in  his  office.  In 
1887  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


847 


position  of  prosecuting  attorney,  taking 
ottice  in  January,  1888.  Mr.  Webber  does 
a  general  practice,  and  has  a  very  large 
clientage. 

A.  K.  Webber  and  Miss  Ida  C.  Finch 
were  united  in  marriage  May  17, 1875,  and 
two  children  have  come  to  brighten  their 
home:  Gilbert  G.  and  Lawrence  11.  Mrs. 
Webber  is  a  lady  of  culture,  and  among 
the  foremost  in  works  of  ciiarity  and  tem- 
perance in  her  city.  Our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees, lie  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Savings 
Bank,  and  in  the  Republican  newspaper 
company.  He  enjoys  the  enviable  dis- 
tinction of  being  one  of  the  ablest  and 
best  informed  lawyers  in  Lorain  county;  is 
a  close  student,  ever  keeping  well  abreast 
of  the  times;  was  a  strong  prosecutor  and 
is  an  able  jury  lawyer,  as  well  as  a  reliable 
and  safe  counselor.  lie  has  but  few  peers 
in  the  county,  and  certainly  no  superior. 


\ILLIAM  SHERMAI^  POWELL 
was  born  July  28,  1833,  in  Char- 
lotte,   Chittenden    Co.,    Vt.,    in 
which    State    his    j^^rents    were 
also  born. 

Calvin  Powell,  father  of  William  S.,  was 
born  August  19,  1799.  On  January  6, 
1819,  he  was  married  in  Charlotte,  Vt.,  to 
Maria  Gray,  who  was  born  September  29, 
1801.  In  Charlotte  they  resided  until 
1838,  when  they  sold  out  and  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  with  their  family. 
The  journey  from  Yermont,  a  distance  of 
seven  hundred  miles,  was  made  in  a  covered 
wagon  with  four  horses  attached,  the  trip 
taking  four  weeks.  Here  they  purchased 
134  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land.  Mr. 
Powell  by  hard  labor  and  perseverance 
cleared  up  the  entire  farm,  and  he  resided 
there  until  his  death.  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calvin  Powell  were  as 
follows:    Alma    M.,   born     February    27, 


1821,  died  March  3,  1880  (wife  of  J.  W. 
Rockwell);  Henry  Sherman,  born  July  25, 
1823,  died  April  25,  1888;  Harriet,  bora 
September  20,  182G,  died  May  4,  1893 
(wife  of  C.  J.  Case);  Polly  Ann,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1828  (Mrs.  William  Rockwell, 
residing  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.);  Elvira,  born 
May  9,  1831,  died  June  14,  1890  (wife  of 
Albert  Eldred);  William  S.,  subject  of 
sketch;  Lorenzo  C,  born  June  23,  1837, 
a  resident  of  Frankfort,  Kans. ;  Amelia, 
born  August  12,  1839  ('Mrs.  George  Hub- 
bard, of  Decatur,  Mich.);  and  Mary,  born 
October  9,  1842  (Mrs.  M.  Tuscott,  of  La- 
nark, 111.).  Calvin  Powell  was  a  man  of 
prominence,  and  held  various  township 
offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Elyria,  a  constant  attendant  and 
earnest  supporter.  He  died  January  26, 
1860.  Mrs.  Powell  was  also  a  faithful 
member  of  the  same  church.  Her  death 
occurred  August  17,  1883,  at  the  home  of 
her  youngest  daughter,  in  Lanark,  Illinois. 
W.  S.  Powell,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
spent  his  early  life  in  Amherst  township, 
whei'elie  attended  the  common  schools, first 
in  the  log  schoolhouse,  afterward  at  the 
select  schools,  where  he  obtained  a  practi- 
cal education.  He  remained  at  home  until 
he  was  twenty- two  years  of  age.  He  then,  in 
1856,  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
five  months,  and  then  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  On  Novem- 
ber 25,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Betsey  M.  Bender,  daughter  of  Peter 
Bender,  a  resident  of  Elyria.  After  his 
marriage  he  remained  on  the  home  farm 
two  years,  then  rented  a  farm  on  Lake 
Avenue,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
When  his  father  died  he  again  rented  the 
home  farm,  which  he  carried  on  two  years. 
He  then  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southwest 
part  of  Amherst  township,  and  here  re- 
sided four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  sold,  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  three  miles  north  of  Oberlin,  where 
he  lived  eight  years,  in  the  meantime 
adding  fifty-two  acres  of  land.  He  then 
sold,  and    removed    to  his    present   farm. 


848 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


which  contains  about  150  acres,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Lorain 
county,  sixty- two  acres  being  iu  the  cor- 
poration of  Elyria. 

His  children  were  as  follows:  Ella  M., 
born  June  18,  1861,  died  June  2,  1863; 
Orpha  E.,  born  October  10,  1864,  married 
March  17,  1886,  to  John  Stang,  and  now 
living  in  Elyria  township  (they  have  one 
child,  Herbert  Ralph,  born  June  15,  1890); 
Elnora  T.,  born  November  12,  1866,  mar- 
ried March  17,  1891,  to  M.  B.  Sonnels, 
who  holds  a  position  as  locomotive  en- 
gineer on  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad,  and  they  reside  in 
Elyria;  Mary  May,  born  November  20, 
1871;  Edwin  Sherman,  born  August  21, 
1873;  and  Arthur  William,  born  Septem- 
ber 7,  1878. 

Mr.  Powell  is  a  self-made  man,  having 
made  his  own  financial  success.  He  is 
now  carrying  on  his  farm,  and  although 
Bixty  years  of  age  is  vigorous  and  active. 
For  many  years  lie  has  been  prominent  in 
all  public  affairs  relating  to  both  the  town- 
ship and  county  of  his  residence.  He  has 
always  been  a  pronounced  Democrat  of  the 
Jacksonian  school,  ready  at  all  times  to 
express  his  opinions,  but  at  the  same  time 
disposed  to  be  charitable  to  his  opponents. 
Equipped  by  nature  witli  strong  intel- 
lectual endowments  and  rugged  physical 
powers,  possessing  a  sterling  honesty 
which  characterizes  his  conduct  in  all  the 
otfices  of  life,  lie  has  won  a  high  place  in 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen. 


I  P.  BYRD  is  one  of  the  most  pros- 
k.  I  perous  and  substantial  agriculturists 
\yj  of  Brownhelm  township,  whither  he 
had  come  in  1866.  He  was  born 
in  Huntsville,  Ala.,  in  1833,  a  son  of  John 
and  Susan  (Page)  Byrd,  natives  of  Eng- 
land and  France,  respectively,  in  which 
latter  country  they  were  married. 

In  an  early  day  they  immigrated  to 
Richmond,    Va.,  thence    moving    to  near 


Huntsville,  Ala.,  where  John  Byrd  was  a 
planter,  and  where  he  died  in  1840,  as  did 
also  his  wife  some  years  later,  at  the  age 
of  seventy  years.  Grandfather  Page  was 
a  native  of  France,  and  coming  to  this 
country  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
under  LaFayette;  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  a  senator  from  Albemarle  county, 
Va.,  of  which  State  he  was  a  pioneer. 

J.  P.  Byrd,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
received  his  education  at  the  public  schools 
of  the  vicinity  of  Huntsville,  Ala.,  and 
learned  thetradeof  merchant  tailor.  When 
a  young  man  he  came  north,  and  in  1862 
located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whence  in 
1866  he  came  to  Lorain  county,  as  already 
recorded,  and  after  marriage  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Brownhelm  township,  which  now 
comprises  111^  acres  of  land,  where  he 
carries  on  general  agriculture,  including 
the  breeding  of  high-grade  Shorthorn 
cattle.  He  has  an  excellent  stone  resi- 
dence, two  stories  high,  28  x  30  feet. 

In  1865  Mr.  Byrd  was  miirried  in  Ely- 
ria fo  Miss  D.  E.  Cable,  a  native  of  Brown- 
helm, Ohio,  daughter  of  O.  A.  and 
Caroline  (Peck)  Cable,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  came 
to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when  she  w^as 
eight  years  old.  Stephen  Cable,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Byrd,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, whence  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Cleveland,  from  there  comins  to  Lorain 
county,  settling  in  Ridgeville  township  in 
1811.  O.  A.  Cable,  his  son  (Mrs.  Byrd's 
father),  was  born  in  1813,  in  Ridgeville, and 
was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  the 
county  of  Lorain.  He  was  about  one  year 
old  when  his  father  moved  to  Amherst, 
where  he  lived  al)out  three  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Henrietta  township,  where 
Stephen  Cable  died  when  O.  A.  was 
about  eight  years  old.  The  latter  died  in 
Brownhelm  in  1879;  his  wife,  Caroline  P. 
Cable,  died  in  the  same  township  in  1887. 
Mrs.  Byrd's  grandfather,  Elisha  F.  Peck, 
came  to  Brownhelm  in  1817,  and  took  up 
480  acres  of  land — three  quarter  sections. 
He  was  a  native  of   Connecticut,    born    in 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


849 


Berlin.  His  grandfather  came  from  Eng- 
land. Mrs.  Byrd  was  educated  in  Ober- 
lin,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1861; 
later  she  taught  school  in  Pittsfield  and 
LaGrange  townships,  Lorain  county. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  P.  Byrd  were  born 
three  children,  as  follows:  Nina  P.,  now 
wife  of  Harry  E.  Sage,  of  Brownhelin 
township;  Leon  F.  and  John  O.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  a  Republican,  but 
in  municipal  matters  he  invariably  votes 
for  the  best  man,  irrespective  of  party 
principle. 


DE    GRASSE    AND    HARRIET 
THOMAS.     The  Thomases  were 
'   of  old    New    England  stock.     De- 

Grasse  Thomas  was  the  oldest  child 
of  Edraond  and  Asenath  Thomas,  and  of  a 
family  of  six — two  boys,  De  Grasse  and 
Orrin,  and  four  girls.  Mannett,  Jeanett, 
Julia  M.  and' Jane. 

Edmoiid  Thomas  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Rutland,  Vt.,  one  of  a  large  family 
born  to  Wesson  and  Patience  (Hall)  Thom- 
as^ who  came  to  Vermont  from  Massachu- 
setts. Wesson  Thomas  was  a  soldier  and 
pensioner  of  the  Re\olution.  Originally 
the  Thomases  came  to  Massachusetts  from 
Wales.  When  Edmond  was  about  twelve 
years  of  age  his  father  moved  to  the  town 
of  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  where  he  married 
Asenath  Crapo,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Crapo,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  of  an 
old  and  honorable  family  in  the  old  Com- 
monwealth, originally  from  France.  In 
1835  Edmond  moved  his  family,  then  con- 
sisting of  wife  and  live  children,  to  Ohio, 
coming  by  lake  from  Sacket's  Harbor  to 
Genesee,  thence  on  a  primitive  railroad, 
where  the  cars  were  drawn  liy  horses,  to 
Rochester,  N.  Y.;  from  there  to  Buifalo 
by  the  Erie  Canal,  and  by  steamer  to 
Cleveland,  from  that  point  to  Pittsfield  by 
wagon.  Settling  in  that  township,  a  farm 
was  cleared  out  of  the  woods,  and  after 
nine  years  the  family  moved  to  the  western 


part  of  Rochester  township,  wliere  another 
farm  was  hewn  from  the  forests,  which 
then  covered  all  that  country  in  every 
direction  except  only  where  farms  were 
being  cut  out  here  and  there.  Here  the 
two  sons  took  land  for  themselves,  cleared 
them  up,  and  day  by  day,  year  by  year, 
have  grown  old  together  with  the  neigh- 
borhood their  work  has  done  so  much  to 
redeem  from  the  forest.  Here  the  good 
old  mother  was  found  on  May  18,  1877, 
by  the  silent  Reaper,  in  the  eighty -first 
year  of  her  age,  and  here  the  father  lingered 
until  January  19,  1889,  passing  away  in 
his  ninety-second  year;  he  was  a  soldier 
and  pensioner  of  tlie  war  of  1812. 

Harriet  Thomas,  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  Fancher,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Mendon,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1822,  one  of  a  family  of  thirteen 
children.  John  Fancher,  the  father  of 
James,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution, 
and  married  a  niece  of  Gen.  Daniel  Schuy- 
ler; they  lived  in  the  township  of  Florida, 
near  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  James  was  born 
and  where  he  married  Sarah  Doty,  of  Spen- 
cer township,  whose  father  was  also  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  of  Dutch 
descent.  When  Harriet  was  nine  years 
old  the  mother  left  Mendon  for  Ohio,  to 
join  her  husband,  who  had  preceded  her. 
She  traveled  with  the  children  from  Pitts- 
ford  to  Buffalo  by  canal,  then  on  Lake 
Erie  by  steamer  to  Huron,  Erie  county, 
wliere  the  father  met  them  and  took  them 
to  a  temporary  home  in  New  London, 
Huron  county,  whence  they  soon  moved 
to  the  neighborhood  known  as  East  Creek, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  where 
other  children  were  born  to  them.  Here 
the  final  summons  found  the  father  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  James 
Fancher  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812 
and  a  pensioner.  At  the  old  home  in 
Mendon  they  were  near  neighbors  of 
Eber  Ivimbail,  Joseph  Smith  and  Brigham 
Young.  Before  her  seventeenth  year  Har- 
riet married  Gustavus  Noble,  to  whom  she 
bore  live  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to 


% 


850 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


maturity:  Sarah  A.,  the  wife  of  George 
Chadwick,  by  whoiu  she  had  one  child,  a 
son,  Frank;  Eliza,  tiie  wife  of  Ho- 
mer E.  Barrett,  to  whom  has  been  born 
one  child.  Earl;  Perry  A.,  who  married 
Ella  J.  Mann,  daughter  of  Bradley  Mann, 
of  Rochester,  and  whose  family  consists 
of  three  girls,  Grace,  Bertha  and  Mary, 
and  two  sons,  Wayne  and  Perry  Allen; 
and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  AVilbur 
W.  Hall,  and  who  after  a  few  brief  years 
passed  on  to  another  world,  leaving,  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  a  sweet  mother,  two 
children — Clayton  G.  and  Kate. 

Harriet  Fancher  Noble  married  De- 
Grasse  Thomas,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  three  children,  two  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity:  Alma  M.,  wife  of  Walter  D. 
Hall,  to  whom  have  come  two  chihlren — 
Ethel  and  Ford;  and  Fred  Fancher,  a 
sketch  of  whom  follows. 


rRED  F.  THOMAS,  the  subject  of 
tliissketcli,sonof  DeGrasse  and  Plar- 
_^  riet  Thomas,  was  born  Sunday,  May 
29,  1859,  on  the  homestead  farm  in 
Rochester  townshij),  Lorain  county.  He 
attended  the  school  of  his  district  until 
his  fourteenth  year;  then  the  graded 
school  at  liochester  until  the  fall  of  1876, 
when  he  entered  the  Wellington  High 
School.  The  superintendent  was  W.  R. 
Wean,  a  strict  disciplinarian  and  excellent 
instriictor;  the  principal  was  Mrs.  Wean, 
a  lovely  lady  and  good  teacher,  to  whom  it 
was  a  delight  to  recite,  and  whose  memory 
is  cherished.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
winter  term  of  1877  he  entered  the  Prepa- 
ratory Department  of  Oberlin  College, 
and  remained  in  that  institution  until  the 
spring  of  1879,  when  impaired  health  com- 
pelled him  to  suspend  for  a  time  work  of 
that  kind.  After  a  summer  spent  at  home 
on  the  farm,  he  entered,  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  the  law  office  of  George  P.  Metcalf 
and  Amos  R.  Webber.  Here  the  time 
passed   swiftly    and   pleasantly    until    the 


winter  of  1881,  when  he  matriculated  at 
the  University  of  Michigan.  The  follow- 
ing fall  he  entered  the  class  of  1882  Law 
Department,  and,  carrying  tlie  work  of  two 
years  in  one,  graduated  with  the  class. 
On  the  organization  of  the  class  he  was 
elected  secretary,  and  on  graduation  was 
chosen  alternate  Alumni   Orator. 

Returning  to  Elyria,  he  opened  an  ofhce 
in  the  old  Snearer  building,  where  Sharp's 
block  now  stands.  Here  he  remained, 
slowly  but  surely  gaining  business  until 
the  winter  of  1885,  when,  becoming  con- 
vinced that  there  were  superior  advantages 
for  getting  on  in  the  world  offered  young 
men  in  the  South,  he  moved  to  Monroe 
county,  Ark.,  and  engaged  in  cattle  ranch- 
ing on  Grand  Prairie.  This  venture  not 
proving  a  success,  in  November,  1887,  he 
accepted  the  position  of  attorney  for  the 
U.  S.  Antimony  Co.,  a  mining  corporation 
composed  of  Philadelphia  capitalists.  Re- 
signing this  position  in  December,  1888, 
he  returned  to  the  prairie  country,  and 
after  several  months  opened  an  office  for 
the  practice  of  law  in  the  Fourth  Judicial 
District  of  Arkansas.  His  health  becom- 
ing impaired  on  account  of  malaria  so 
prevalent  in  that  climate,  he  determined 
to  move  back  to  Ohio  while  yet  there  was 
time  to  re-establish  himself  in  his  profes- 
sion at  his  old  home. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1893,  he 
opened  an  office  in  Elyria  for  the  second 
time,  and  was  happy  to  be  once  again 
among  such  people  as  compose  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Western  Reserve.  Entering 
the  contest  for  the  nomination  to  the  office 
of  prosecuting  attorney,  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  he  was,  after  a  spirited  contest,  on 
the  third  day  of  June,  1893,  nominated  in 
what  up  to  that  timewas  the  largest  county 
convention  ever  held  in  Lorain  county,  re- 
ceiving on  the  seventh  ballot  153  votes  out 
of  a  total  of  217,  and  the  nomination,  which 
on  motion  of  Charles  A.  Metcalf,  his  strong- 
est opponent,  was  made  unanimous. 

Mr.  Thomas'  ancestors  were  of  old  New 
England     stock,     his      great-grandfathers 


^y  ^/^l^. 


a4y^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


853 


being  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  and  bis 
grandfathers  soldiers  and  pensioners  of  the 
war  of  1812.  He  is  a  Kepublican  and 
Protectionist  of  the  most  pronounced  type, 
believing  America  should  so  shape  its  in- 
dustrial policy  as  to  afford  American  citi- 
zens the  opportunity  to  supply  American 
markets  with  American  manufactures, and 
the  products  of  American  farms  at  Ameri- 
can prices.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church  or  sect,  reserving  to  himself,  as  he 
grants  to  all  others,  perfect  freedom  of 
belief.  He  is  a  member  of  Wellington 
Lodge  ISTo.  127,  F.  ct.  A.  M.,  and  a  char- 
ter member  of  Myrtle  Lodge  No.  61, 
K.  P.,  of  Stuttgart,  Arkansas. 

On  the  evening  of  October  28,  1885,  at 
the  family  home  in  Elyria,  Mr.  Thomas 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Fannie  E. 
Smith,  daughter  of  William  L.  Smith  and 
Frances  (Pen-y)  Smith,  the  latter  a  daugh- 
ter of  Horatio  Perry,  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers of  the  Western  Reserve.  There  is 
one  child  from  this  marriage:  Mary  Smith 
Thomas,  born  at  the  old  homestead  in 
Rochester,  March  26,  1889.  Mrs. 
Thomas  is  an  alumna  of  Lake  Erie  Semi- 
nary, graduating  with  the  class  of  1879, 
and  a  member  of  Elyria's  oldest  literary 
society — "The  Fortnightly." 


1815, 


Iff  ENRY   HOBART   HITCHCOCK 
fp4     was    born   in    Montville  township, 
I     1|    Medina    county,    Ohio,    December 
Z'  14,  1843,  a  sou  of  Daniel  B.  Hitch- 

cock, who  was  born  January  13, 
and  came  from  Oswego  county, 
N.  y.,  to  Ohio  in  1S36.  He  was  a  wheel- 
wright and  chair  maker  by  trade,  wliich 
businesses  he  followed  after  coming  to 
Ohio.  He  settled  on  a  farm  he  had  bought 
about  five  miles  south  of  Medina,  and 
tilled  the  soil  in  connection  with  his  other 
vocations. 

Daniel    B.    Hitchcock    married     Miss 
Sarah  E.  Welton,  March  14,  1841,  and  the 


children  born  to  them  were  Henry  H.,  and 
Mary  (now  Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Rosenbnry,  of 
Kalamazoo  county,  Midi.).  The  father 
died  in  Montville,  Ohio,  in  1865,  at  tlie 
age  of  fifty  years,  the  mother  in  Kalama- 
zoo county,  Mich.,  in  1885,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  and  they  are  buried  in 
Montville  township  cemetery.  They  were 
both  consistent  members  of  the  First 
Episcopal  Church  at  Medina,  where  they 
and  their  family  regularly  attended  wor- 
siiip.  In  politics  he  always  stood  with 
the  Republican  party. 

Henry  H.  Hitchcock,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  attended  the  school  in  the  dis- 
trict at  home  until  attaining  years  of  ma- 
turity, when  he  finished  his  education  in 
the  Medina  schools.  He  was  reared  in 
agriculture,  and  after  finishing  school  ap- 
plied himself  to  its  pursuits.  On  August 
17,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Eleanor  S. 
Breckenridge,  youngest  child  of  Justin  and 
Elizabeth  K.  Breckenridge.  Eleanor  S. 
was  born  July  4,  1844,  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  always  lived 
at  the  place  of  her  birth,  excepting  about 
two  and  one-half  years  she  spent  in  Mont- 
ville after  her  marriage. 

Justin  Breckenridge  was  born  in  Ben- 
nington, Vt.,  August  7,  1798.  In  early 
life  he  went  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1841, 
when  he  moved  to  Pittsfield  township,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio;  in  July,  same  year,  he 
came  to  Grafton,  Lorain  Co  ,  Ohio.  On 
January  13,  1824,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  K.  Pohlman,  of  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y.  Justin  Breckenridge  died 
January  80,  1874,  aged  seventy-five  years 
and  six  months;  Elizal)eth  K.  Brecken- 
ridge died  March  17,  1872,  aged  sixty- 
eight  years.  They  are  buried  in  the  Nes- 
bitt  cemetery,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east 
of  tlieir  former  home. 

To  Henry  H.  and  Eleanor  S.  Hitchcock 
have  been  born  four  sons,  viz.:  Clarence 
P.,  born  August  30,  1868,  in  Montville 
township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio  (he  is  follow- 
ing insurance  as  a  business);    Willis  N., 


854 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


born  October  14,  1870;  Howard  II.,  born 
June  18,  1874;  and  DwightB.,  born  April 
19,  1880.  After  their  marriage  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  located  in  Montville  town- 
ship, Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  farm 
formerly  owned  by  his  fatlier,  and  which 
after  tlie  latter's  decease  was  purchased  by 
said  Henry  H.  Hitchcock,  he  buying  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs.  Here  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hitchcock  made  their  home  un- 
til April  10,  1870,  at  which  time  they  lo- 
cated on  the  Breckenridge  homestead  at 
Grafton,  consisting  of  225  acres  where  they 
still  reside,  having  bought  the  farm  from 
Justin  Breckenridge.  In  the  year  1892 
were  added  twenty  acres  more  by  purchase, 
on  the  north  end  of  the  farm.  Henry  H. 
Hitchcock  has  held  township  office,  for 
six  years  as  trustee.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Ilejniblican,  and  in  Church  denomination 
a  Congregationalist.  He  is  a  thrifty,  well- 
to-do  farmer,  living  one  mile  east  of  Graf- 
ton, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 


'APTAIN  JOHN  BOOTH,  a  promi- 
nent representative  citizen  of  Car- 
lisle township,  was  born  July  30, 
1823,  in  Lancashire,  England,  of 
which  country  his  parents  were  also  natives. 
His  father,  John  Booth,  born  in  1777, 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  1798,  with 
Miss  Betsy  Lord,  who  was  born  ISTovem- 
ber  27,  1781,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Eliza,  wife 
of  William  Woodward,  of  Cottage  City, 
Martha's  Vineyard;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Husband, 
of  Providence,  R.  I.,  deceased;  Jane,  wife 
of  Thomas  Featherston,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.;  Mary,  Mrs.  Brown,  deceased;  Ann, 
residing  in  Oberlin,  Ohio;  William,  wlio 
died  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio;  James,  who 
died  at  Cape  Cod,  Mass.;  Richard,  who 
died  in  Texas;  a  son  and  daughter  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  John,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  This  family  of  eleven  left 
England  in  July,  1827,  landing  in  Boston 
in  August.     They  lived  in  Pawtucket  and 


Smitlifield  a  short  time,  then  moved  to 
Taunton,  Mass.,  where  they  resided  for 
twelve  years,  when,  in  1839,  they  moved  to 
East  Liverpool,  Ohio.  The  father  died  in 
April,  1863,  when  aged  eighty-six  years; 
the  mother  died  in  1872,  when  in  her 
ninety-second  year.  In  religious  faith 
they  were  Ijotli  members  of  tlie  Episcopal 
Church.  Grandfather  John  Booth  was  a 
farmer,  and  passed  his  entire  life  in  Eng- 
land, his  native  country. 

Capt.  John  Booth,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  received  part  of  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Bristol  County  Academy,  whicli 
he  attended  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  reared  to  farm  life.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Regiment  O.  V.  I.,  was 
mustered  into  the  service  as  lieutenant, 
and  served  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Blue 
Springs  and  Knoxville,  and  in  many  minor 
engagements.  In  1863  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain,  and  was  mustered  out  in 
April,  1864,  owing  to  physical  disability, 
immediately  returning  to  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  Ohio  (whither  he  had 
come  from  East  Liverpool),  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

In  1868  Capt.  John  Booth  was  married 
to  Miss  Nellie  King,  and  they  have  three 
children,  namely:  John,  Mary  and  Bessie. 
Our  subject  has  been  extensively  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
was  formerly  engaged  in  buying  sheep, 
which  were  driven  from  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  to  Missouri,  in  1844,  thence 
from  St.  Louis  county,  in  1845,  to  Saline 
county,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State. 
He  takes  an  active  part  in  politics. 


OLONEL  J.  W.  STEELE,  the  ge- 
nial and  popular  postmaster  at  Ober- 
lin, was  born  at  Middlebury  (East 
Akron),  Ohio,  December  21,  1836, 
a  sou  of  Alexander  and  Maria  (Whedon) 
Steele.     The    father  was  a  native  of  New 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


855 


Hampshire,  and  died  April  6,  1872;  the 
mother,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
is  still  living  at  Oberlin. 

Alexander  Steele  received  his  elemen- 
tary education  at  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  place,  after  which  he  attended  a 
medical  school  at  Castleton,  Vt.,  from 
which  he  graduated  M.  D.  In  1835  he 
came  to  Ohio,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Middlebury  (East 
Akron),  from  which  place  he  came  to 
Oberlin,  Lorain  county,  when  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  about  three  months  old. 
Here,  the  first  regular  practitioner  in  the 
town,  he  practiced  until  1872. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  liis 
education  at  Oberlin,  and  after  leaving 
school  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  G. 
M.  Barber,  in  Cleveland.  In  1859  he 
graduated  at  the  Cleveland  Law  School, 
after  which  he  continued  to  reside  in  Cleve- 
land until  the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Olierlin.  On  September  16  of 
that  year,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Forty-first  O.V.  I.,  raised  in  Lorain  county, 
which  was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland.  For  the  first  year  he  served 
with  his  regiment,  and  was  then  placed  on 
Gen.  J.  M.  Palmer's  stafi",  as  judge  advo- 
cate, also  as  engineer  officer.  By  President 
Lincoln  he  was  appointed  aide-de-camp  with 
rank  of  major,  and  assigned  to  duty  with 
Gen.  D.  S.  Stanley,  commander  of  the 
Fourth  Army  Corps.  In  July,  1865,  he 
was  sent  to  Texas  to  oppose  Gen.  Kirby 
Smith,  and  in  his  entire  service  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Perry  ville. 
Stone  River,  Chickamanga,  etc.,  the  At- 
lanta Campaign,  engagements  at  Franklin, 
Nashville,  and  others.  On  March  23, 
1866,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  and 
A.  D.  C,  U.  S.  v.,  and  returned  home. 

In  1867  he  was  elected  probate  judge  of 
Lorain  county,  and  reelected  in  1871, 
serving  about  one  year  of  ids  second  term, 
at  wdiich  time  he  resigned  on  account  of 
impaired  health.  He  then  commenced  the 
business  of  railroad   contractor,  construct- 


ing sixty-five  miles  of  the  Canada  South- 
ern Railway,  which  occupied  about  one 
and  one-half  years,  and  on  completion  of 
this  he  was  engaged  on  a  survey  in  South 
America,  for  a  railway  thi-ough  the  valley 
of  the  upper  Amazon.  Following  this  he 
contracted  on  other  railroads  in  the  north 
and  west.  In  1888  the  Colonel  was«ap- 
pointed  postmaster  at  Oberlin,  under  the 
Harrison  administration,  and  has  since 
tilled  the  position  with  eminent  ability. 

In  1867  Col.  J.  W.  Steele  and  Miss 
Ella  F.  Clark  were  married.  They  have 
had  born  to  them  four  children,  as  follows: 
Ella  Louise,  a  teacher  in  Oberlin  college; 
Margaret  and  Marion,  hoth  at  school;  and 
John,  living  at  home.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  secretary  of 
the  Society  of  the  Cumberland,  to  which 
position  he  was  elected  in  1870. 


ff^  EV.  J.   P.    BARDWELL,  who  in 

l^^    his  lifetime  was  one  of  the  well- 

I    ^  known  and   prominent  citizens  of 

^  Oberlin.  intimately  connected  with 

its   early  history,  was  born   in   the 

town   of   Edmiston,    Otsego    Co.,   N.    Y., 

September  16, 1808,  of  English  lineage. 

Mr.  Bardwell  was  converted  under  the 
preaching  of  Rev.  Spalding,  and  in  order 
to  qualify  himself  for  the  ministry  came 
to  Oberlin,  where  he  attended  the  college, 
and  studied  theology  under  Rev.  Finney. 
In  1835  he  married,  in  New  York,  Miss 
Cornelia  C.  Bishop,  a  lady  of  English  an- 
cestry, and  they  went  out  as  missionaries 
to  the  Indians,  their  station  being  at  Leech 
Lake,  northern  Minnesota.  Prior  to  this, 
however,  he  had  spent  some  time  in  the 
South  locating  teachers  among  the  negroes, 
and  he  was  frequently  assaulted  and  in- 
sulted while  in  the  discharge  of  his  good 
work,  at  one  time  a  friend  losing  his  life 
in  an  endeavor  to  protect  him.  He  was 
connected  with  the  A.  M.  A.,  and  collected 
funds  for  the  same,  besides  working  hard 


856 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


for  the  cause,  so  mucli  so  that  his  health 
became  much  impaired.  His  death  oc- 
curred, in  1872,  at  Leech  Lake  (his  last 
illness  being  brought  on  by  hardship  and 
exposure),  and  his  body  was  brought  to 
Oberlin  for  burial.  Tliree  children  were 
born  to  Rev.  and  Mrs.  J.  P.  Bardwell,  as 
follows:  (1)  John  N.,  who  is  married,  and 
had  two  daughters,  the  elder  one  being 
dead;  (2)  Cornelia  E.,  wife  of  Henry 
Chapman,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio  (they  have 
three  children:  Henry  Bai'dwell,  a  grad- 
uate of  Oberlin  and  Cambridge  Colleges, 
now  in  Cleveland;  Harriet,  a  graduate  of 
Wellesley  College,  and  who  also  attended 
Oberlin  College;  and  Willie,  now  in  col- 
lege); and  (3)  Alonzo,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years. 


LTON  HENRY  MOOERS,  a  rep- 
resentative self-made  man,  an  hon- 
ored and  respected  citizen  of  Elyria, 
and  proprietor  of  the  chair  factory 
in  northern  Ohio,  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  born  in  Ithaca,  May 
2,  1830. 

Phineas  Mooers,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  of  Scotch 
ancestry,  the  first  of  whom  to  come  to  this 
country  (in  1730)  settled  in  New  York. 
The  names  and  places  of  settlement  of  the 
brothers  and  sisters  of  Phineas  Mooers 
are:  James,  in  Kingston,  Canada;  Jona- 
than, in  Wilkes-Barre,  Penn.;  Henry,  in 
Toledo,  Ohio;  Daniel,  in  New  Orleans,  I^a. ; 
Kate  (Mrs.  William  Young),  in  Toledo; 
Nancy  and  Mary,  spinsters,  passed  all 
their  lives  in  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  dying  thereat 
over  ninety  years  of  age;  Julia  A.  (Mrs. 
Armstrong)  lived  at  Niagara  Falls.  In 
the  order  of  birth  Phineas  comes  ne.xt  to 
Jonathan.  He  passed  his  early  life  in 
New  Jersey,  receiving  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  that  locality.  While 
yet  a  youth  he  moved  to  AVatertown,  N.  Y., 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  chair  maker, 
becoming  a  journeyman,  and  from   there 


in  course  of  time  he  moved  to  Ogdensburg, 
same  State.  Here  in  1825  he  married 
Elizabeth  Shaw,  a  native  of  that  town,  and 
soon  afterward  the  young  couple  made 
their  home  in  Ithaca,  Mr.  Mooers  carrying 
on  a  shop  there  for  his  own  account;  but 
after  some  time  they  proceeded  to  Water- 
town,  remaining  there  some  five  years. 
From  Watertown  they  came  by  canal, 
lake  and  team  to  Birmingham,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  opened  out  a  chair  factory, 
carrying  same  on  till  1839,  in  which  year 
they  removed  to  Sandusky  City.  Here 
Mr.  Mooers  carried  on  the  same  business 
ten  years,  but  on  account  of  cholera  break- 
ing out  there,  he  returned  to  Birmingham, 
whence  after  a  two  years'  residence  they 
came  to  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain 
connty,  passing  the  rest  of  their  days  in 
peaceful  retirement  at  the  home  of  their 
son,  A.  H.  The  father  died  January  26, 
1855,  the  mother  September  30,  1879. 
Mr.  Mooers  in  his  political  predilections 
was  originally  a  Democrat  until  the  elec- 
tion of  Van  Buren  for  President,  when  he 
united  with  the  Whig  party,  later  becom- 
ing, on  its  organization,  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, remaining  in  the  ranks  of  the  party 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  served  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Erie  county.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  brief  record  of  the  children  born 
to  Phineas  and  Elizabeth  (Shaw)  Mooers: 
Oscar  D.  is  deceased;  Matilda  T.  married 
Jonathan  Taylor;  Julia  B.  married  Han- 
son S.  Mitchell;  A.  H.  is  the  subject 
proper  of  this  memoir;  Mary  J.  married 
Charles  Arbogast;  Charles  is  a  resident 
of  Chicago,  111.;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Tucker;  George,  who  enlisted 
in  the  Indiana  Heavy  Artillery,  three-years 
service,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Port 
Hudson;  Frank  enlisted  in  the  Twelfth 
Ind.  V.  I.,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  and  died  at  Danville,  Va.; 
Emeline  and  AVilliam  are  both  deceased. 

Alton  H.  Mooers  recei%'ed  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  in  his  father's  factory  learned  chair 
making.     At  the  age   of  twenty-two    he 


^J^  ^^^ 


'>^TZ^-^^2^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


859 


came  to  Elyria,  and  there  followed  his 
trade  until  1853,  in  which  year  he  came 
to  Ilidgeville,  and  emharked  iu  his  present 
business.  The  chair  factory,  probably 
the  most  extensive  of  any  kind  in  the 
county,  has  a  capacity  of  eighty  thousand 
chairs  per  auiuini,  and  is  still  growing, 
promising  to  become  in  the  near  future  an 
establishment  of  mammoth  proportions. 

In  September,  1854,  Mr.  Mooers  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Arlette, 
daughter  of  Wyllys  Terril,  of  Kidgevillc 
township,  and  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  them:  Etta  (Mrs.  Charles  Inger- 
8ol),  deceased;  Nettie  (Mrs.  B.  H.  Starr); 
Frank  C.  (Mrs.  Clayton  Chapman); 
Phineas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
months;  Fred,  deceased  when  ten  days  old, 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  In  politics 
Mr.  Mooers  was  a  Democrat  until  1885, 
when  he  joined  the  Kepublican  party.  He 
has  held  various  township  offices;  was 
school  trustee  seventeen  years,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  education  five  years; 
was  township  trustee  and  treasurer  five 
consecutive  years  each,  and  was  superin- 
tendent of  roads  two  years.  For  fourteen 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Lorain 
County  Agricultural  Society — eight  in  the 
capacity  of  president,  and  one  as  treasurer. 
In  religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Society  at  Ridgeville,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  trustee  eighteen  years. 

An  active,  enterprising  citizen,  and  a 
man  of  the  steadiest  probity,  Mr.  Mooers 
commands  the  respect  of  every  one  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


/^ 


HORACE  J.  CLARK,  dealer  in  gen- 
eral merchandise,  and  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  citizens 
of  Oberliu,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Medina  county  January  27, 
1839,  a  son  of  John  and  Betsey  (Tyler) 
Clark,  and  of  Massachusetts  descent 
through  his  paternal  grandfather. 


John  Clark,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  whence  in  the  pioneer 
days  of  Ohio  he  came  to  Medina  county, 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a  very  ac- 
tive, aggressive  and  prosperous  man,  a 
Whig  in  politics,  and  in  religion  a  Con- 
gregationalist.  He  married  Miss  Betsey 
Tyler,  a  native  of  Poultney,  Yt.,  who  with 
him  and  their  children  came  west  to  Ohio, 
driving  an  ox-team.  After  his  death  in 
1845  Mrs.  Clark  with  her  children  re- 
visited the  old  home,  traveling  the  same 
route,  this  time  with  a  horse  team.  Mrs. 
Clark  lived  to  be  seventy-seven  years  old, 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
— William  P.,  Mary  E.,  Merrit,  Lucinda 
B.  and  Horace  J. — reached  mature  age, 
and  of  these  the  following  is  a  brief  record : 
William  P.,  who  now  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  for  many 
years  owned  and  conducted  a  select  school 
at  Medina,  and  afterward  was  superintend- 
ent of  Norwalk  (Ohio)  public  schools,  and 
also  of  the  public  schools  at  Hillsdale, 
Mich.;  Mary  E.  is  unmarried,  and  now 
lives  on  the  old  homestead  with  her 
brother;  Merrit  married  and  settled  in 
Covington,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1852; 
Lucinda  B.  died  in  1846  at  Medina,  Ohio, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

Horace  J.  Clark,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation in  the  select  school  of  his  brother 
at  Medina,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  entered  Wastern  Reserve  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1861. 
After  this  he  had  charge  of  the  Shaw 
Academy  at  East  Cleveland  two  years; 
then  had  charge  of  the  Tallmadge  (Ohio) 
Academy,  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  huding  his  health  impaired,  he 
abandoned  teaching  for  a  time,  and  em 
barked  in  the  business  of  manufacturing 
stoneware,  building  the  first  works  of  the 
kind  in  Tallmadge,  Ohio.  On  regaining 
his  health  at  the  end  of  two  years,  he  ac- 
cepted the  positi(Ui  of  principal  of  the 
Poland    (Ohio)    Union    Seminary,  an    in- 


46 


860 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


cumbeucy  he  filled  during  the  greater  part 
of  a  decade.  For  eight  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  examiners  of 
Mahoning  county.  For  the  next  two  j'ears 
he  was  traveling  agent  for  the  publishing 
house  of  Van  Antwerp,  Bragg  &  Co.,  at 
the  close  of  which  engagement,  in  1879, 
he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  public 
schools  at  Oberlin,  Lorain  county,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  three  and  one  half 
years,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  reap- 
pointed by  election  to  his  old  position  in 
the  Poland  Seminary.  At  the  end  of  two 
years,  however,  he  resigned  this  position, 
and  returned  to  Oberlin  in  order  to  o-ive 
his  children  the  advantages  of  Oberlin 
College.  Here  for  the  past  eight  years  he 
has  successfully  carried  on  a  general  mer- 
chandise business. 

In  1861  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Hudson,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Lizzie 
P.  Blackman,  who  was  born  in  Mt.  Ver- 
non, Ohio,  and  whose  parents  emigrated 
from  England  before  the  days  of  steam- 
ships, being  nine  weeks  on  the  ocean.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  five  children,  as 
follows:  (1)  Mary  A.  is  a  graduate  of 
the  classical  course  of  Oberlin  College, 
class  of  1886,  has  since  been  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  was  at  one  time  assistant 
principal  of  the  high  school  in  Welling- 
ton, Ohio.  (2)  Frank  S.  is  a  graduate  of 
the  classical  course  of  Oberlin  College, 
class  of  1887;  he  took  the  medical  course 
in  the  Medical  School  of  Western  Reserve 
University,  Cleveland;  he  was  for  one  and 
one-half  years  in  charge  of  Lakeside  Hos- 
pital, for  one  year  of  the  time  as  house 
physician ;  for  one  year  had  charge  of  the 
Charity  Maternity  Hospital,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  staft'  of  St.  Alexis  Hospi- 
tal, Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  is  practic- 
ing medicine.  (3)  Edward  W.  is  also  a 
graduate  of  the  classical  course  of  Oberlin 
College,  in  the  class  of  1889;  for  two  years 
he  has  been  employed  as  tutor  of  Latin  in 
the  College;  is  now  pursuing  his  studies 
in  Leipsic,  Germany,  perfecting  his  prepa- 
ration  to  teach    College  Latin   and    Ger- 


man; he  married  Miss  Lottie  Life,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  S.  Life,  of  Oberlin,  and  one 
child  has  come  to  brighten  their  home, 
named  Gertrude.  (4)  Anna  Ida  died  at 
the  age  of  live  years  at  Poland,  Ohio,  and 
(5)  Alice  Gertrude  died  in  Oberlin  in 
1886,  when  seven  years  old.  Politically 
our  subject  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church. 


W.  SHERBONDY,  a  wide-awake, 
active  farmer,  and  one  of  the  most 
extensive  grape-growers  in  Avon 
township,  has  resided  on  his  present 
farm  since  1851. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  1823  in  West- 
moreland county,  Penn.,  son  of  Peter  and 
Martha  (Reagan)  Sherbondy,  natives  of 
Virginia,  who  in  an  early  day  removed  to 
Westmoreland  county,  Penn.,  thence  mi- 
grating to  Portage  (now  Summit)  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  both  died,  the  mother  in 
1830,  the  father  in  1884.  They  had  six 
children,  namely:  Malachi,  who  died  in 
Summit  county  in  1888;  A.  W.,  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch;  John,  who  went  to 
California  in  1849;  Peter,  married,  who 
resides  in  Akron,  Ohio;  Ella,  wife  of  Jason 
Brown,  of  Akron,  Ohio;  and  Esther,  wife 
of  Nelson  Hawkins,  of  Summit  county, 
Ohio.  The  Sherbondy  family  are  of 
French  extraction. 

A.  W.  Sherbondy,  who  was  always  of 
rather  feeble  health,  was  reared  in  Summit 
county,  on  a  farm,  working  thereon  till  his 
nineteenth  year,  in  the  meantime  receiving 
his  primary  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  day.  He  then  attended  an 
academy  for  portions  of  two  seasons,  after 
which  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  grocery 
store  in  Akron,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  for  a 
term  of  years,  continuously,  except  that  in 
the  intermediate  time  he  taught  two  terms 
of  district  school  in  Summit  county.  He 
was  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
in   Akron   until    1851,  also    continuously, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


861 


excepting  that  in  the  meantime  he  tanght 
five  successive  terms  of  district  school  in 
Lake  township.  Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  He  then 
moved  from  ISuminit  county  to  Avon  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  was  tliere  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  seven  years,  after 
which  he  boucrht  the  Moore  farm  of  seven- 
ty-five  acres,  one  of  the  first  settled  tracts 
in  the  township.  Here  he  has  erected  a 
good  barn  and  comfortable  residence,  and 
is  successfully  conducting  a  generaF  farm- 
ing and  grape-growing  business;  his  vine- 
yard covers  an  area  of  twenty-five  acres. 

In  1847  Mr.  Sherbondy  was  married,  in 
Portage  county,  to  Kebecca  A.  Buckman, 
who  was  born  in  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Ahram  and  Kebecca  A.  (Lip- 
pincott)  Buckman,  who  were  natives  of 
New  Jersey,  whence  in  an  early  day  they 
came  to  Ohio,  locating  first  in  Stark  and 
later  in  Portage  county.  The  father,  who 
was  a  farmer,  died  there  in  1879,  preceded 
to  the  grave  by  his  wife  in  187G.  Mr. 
Sherbondy  is  president  of  the  Lorain  county 
Grape-growers  Association,  a  growing  or- 
ganization, which  was  founded  in  1889, 
and  now  has  a  membership  of  about  one 
hundred.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  1854  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Avon  township,  which  office, 
with  the  e.xception  of  two  terras,  he  has 
since  continuously  held;  lie  has  also  served 
as  notary  public  and  township  trustee,  and 
he  was  postmaster  at  Avon  Lake  for  eigh- 
teen years. 


AMUEL  BUSBY.  Among  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  LaGrange 
township,  none  stand  higher  in  the 
esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens  than 
the  gentleman  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch.  He  was  Ijorn  July  29,  1840,  in 
Bedfordshire,*  England,  son  of  William 
and  Harriet  (Ilussell)  Busby,  farming 
people  in  moderate  circunj stances. 

(hir  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
being  denied  tlic  full  advantages  of  the 
day  schools,   attended  the    night  schools, 


where  he  learned  to  write.  When  five 
years  old  he  was  put  to  work,  picking 
stones  from  the  land,  and  also  pulling  a 
weed,  there  called  '*  twitch-weed,"  which 
grew  very  profusely  in  his  native  country. 
When  sixteen  years  old  he  left  home  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  first 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  five  shillings  a 
week,  boarding  himself.  By  being  eco- 
nomical and  saving  he  struggled  along 
until  1870,  when  he  concluded  to  leave 
England  and  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
United  States.  At  this  time  his  employer 
was  owing  him  a  sum  of  money,  sufficient 
to  bring  him  to  America,  which,  on  learn- 
ing his  intentions,  he  refused  to  pay  him; 
but  Mr.  Busby  was  determined  to  come, 
and  by  borrowing  from  his  friends  he 
managed  to  get  enough  to  pay  his  way 
across,  sailing  from  Liverpool  in  the  ves- 
sel "Tripoli,"  and  after  a  voyage  of  twelve 
days  landing,  on  April  27,  1870,  at  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  He  had  a  ticket  for  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  his  destination  being  La- 
Grange,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his 
friends  had  located  some  time  before,  and 
he  arrived  there  with  eight  dollars  in  his 
pocket,  and  anxious  for  work.  He  secured 
employment  with  William  Stevenson  at 
twelve  dollars  a  month,  and  gave  good 
satisfaction,  for,  though  small  in  stature, 
he  was  not  only  an  excellent  worker  but  a 
steady-going  young  man.  He  afterward 
worked  for  various  people,  among  them 
Warren  Miller,  L.  G.  Parsons,  and  Dr. 
George  C.  Underbill,  the  latter  employing 
him  for  eighteen  months  at  twenty-two 
dollars  per  month,  the  highest  wages  then 
paid  for  farm  lalior.  He  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Dr.  Merriam  over  four  and  a  half 
years,  and  then  worked  nearly  two  years 
for  A.  R.  Underhill,  always  receiving  the 
highest  compensation  for  his  services.  On 
March  21,  1882,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Leruah  Miller,  who  was  born, 
August  7,  1846,  in  Bidgeville  township, 
Lorain  county,  daughter  of  Marcus  Ter- 
rell. In  1880  he  had  purchased,  from 
Chancey  D.  Brown,  his  present  farm,  con- 


862 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sisting  of  ninety-one  acres  of  fertile  land, 
■where  he  has  ever  since  resided,  success- 
fully engaged  in  fanning.  He  is  a  sys- 
tematic agriculturist,  and  a  self- made  man, 
having  won  success  in  the  face  of  every 
obstacle,  and  he  deserves  no  small  amount 
of  credit  for  his  perseverance  and  indus- 
try. Politically  he  is  a  stanch  member  of 
the  Republican  party.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  LaGrange  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias. 


El    F.  LOOMIS,  a  successful  and  well- 
known   agriculturist  of    La  Grange 
I   township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 

March  10,  1845,  a  son  of  Richard 
N.  Loomis. 

Russel  Loomis,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  November  28,  1786,  in 
Westmoreland,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  the 
fifth  generation  of  his  family  in  the  United 
States,  and  a  descendant  of  Joseph  Loomis, 
who  came  in  1638  from  Braintree,  Essex 
county,  England,  to  Windsor,  Conn.,  and 
from  whom  the  genealogy  of  the  family 
dates.  This  genealogy  was  compiled  in 
recent  years,  and  was  completed  in  1870 
by  Elias  Loomis,  LL.  D.,  professor  of 
Natural  Pliilosophy  and  Astronomy  in 
Yale  College.  The  name  has  been  vari- 
ously spelled — Lomas,  Lomis,  Lomys,  etc. 
Hussel  Loomis  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  come  to  Ohio,  he  settling  in  LaGrange 
township,  Lorain  county,  in  1831.  He 
was  married  March  1,  1810,  in  Oneida 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Betsey  French,  who  was 
born  in  1788,  and  died  October  21,  1860, 
in  LaGrange  township.  Previous  to  his 
settlement  Mr.  Loomis  had  come  to  Ohio 
on  horseback,  and  selected  land  here,  be- 
coming one  of  the  very  first  settlers.  He 
had  a  family  of  four  children,  all  born 
in  New  York  State,  as  follows:  Erastus, 
born  December  2,  1810,  a  lumber  worker, 
who  died  July  8,  1889,  in  the  South; 
Sarah,  born  January  22,  1813,  who  was 
mari-ied  in  LaGrange  to  James  K.  Pelton, 


and  died  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio;  Rich- 
ard N.,  father  of  our  subject;  and  Mary, 
born  May  8,  1S19,  who  died  June  4,  1825, 
in  New  York  State.  Russel  Loomis  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  LaGrange 
township,  dying  in  1880  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four  years;  he  was  interred  in  La- 
Grange cemetery. 

Richard  N.  Loomis  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  when 
fourteen  years  old  came  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared  to  farm  life. 
On  May  23,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Pelton,  who  was  born  February  4,  1820, 
in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  daugliter  of 
James  and  Harriet  (Clark)  Pelton,  the 
former  of  whom  lived  to  be  seventy-six 
years  old,  the  latter  eigiity-fonr.  James 
Pelton  was  the  second  permanent  settler 
in  LaGrange  township,  his  brother-in-law, 
Nathan  Clark,  being  the  first.  After  his 
marriage  Richard  N.  Loomis  took  up  his 
residence  on  the  homestead  farm  with  his 
father,  who  lived  with  him,  and  there 
made  his  permanent  liome.  At  one  time 
there  were  four  generations  of  the  Loomis 
family  living  in  the  same  house.  Richard 
Loomis  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  attained 
no  small  degree  of  success  in  his  chosen 
vocation.  He  died  March  19,  1883,  and 
was  buried  near  his  parents.  To  him  and 
his  wife  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Susan,  born  June  23,  1842,  who  was  mar- 
ried May  20,  1865,  to  Harrison  Smith,  and 
died  in  October,  same  year;  Erastus  F., 
subject  of  this  memoir.;  Calvin,  borp  April 
28, 1853,  a  farmer  of  LaGrange  township; 
and  Sarah  M.,  born  June  23,  1855,  now 
Mrs.  George  Rawson,  of  Elyria,  Ohio. 
Politiciiliy  Mr.  Loomis  was  originally  a 
Wliig,  afterward  a  Republican,  and  he  was 
actively  interested  in  the  success  of  his 
party;  he  held  various  local  oflices  of  honor 
and  ti'ust.  Since  his  decease  Mrs.  Loomis 
has  been  living  with  her  son  on  the  houie- 
stead  farm,  where  they  have  a  very  pleas- 
ant and  coinfortable  home. 

Erastus  F.  Loomis,  whose  name  opens 
this    sketch,   was  born    March   10,   1845, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


863 


received  a  liberal  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  tlie  neigliborhood,  and  was 
reared  to  farm  life  under  the  direction  of 
his  father.  lie  was  united  in  marriage, 
June  16,  1866,  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Myn- 
derse,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Mynderse,  who  is  now  a 
resident  of  LaGrange  Center.  For  four 
years  after  marriage  Mr.  Loomis  lived  at 
home  with  his  parents,  and  afterward 
located  on  twelve  acres  of  land  he  owned 
in  LaGrange  township.  He  has  been  a 
lifelong  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  now  owns 
114  acres  of  good  land,  upon  which  he 
has  erected  various  farm  buildings.  In 
his  political  preferences  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  has  held  several  offices  in  his 
township,  serWng  as  trustee  tliree  terms. 
He  has  prospered  in  his  business,  and  now 
has  acomfortable  competence.  Mrs.  Loomis. 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at 
LaGrange.     They  have  no  children. 


Tl   C.  LEHMAN,  one  of    the    leading 

k.  I     farmers    and    well-known    successful 

}^)    mechanics  of  Grafton  township,  was 

born  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 

March  1,  1838,  in  London,  England. 

His  father,  Joseph  Lehman,  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  where  he  married 
Hannah  Malay,  also  a  native  of  that  coun- 
try. He  was  reared  a  farmer  boy,  but  for 
nine  years  sailed  the  seas,  visiting  proba- 
bly every  commercial  port  in  the  world. 
Immediately  after  his  marriage  he  pro- 
ceeded to  London,  England,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1887  he  sailed  from  Liverpool  for  the 
United  States,  landing  in  New  York,  the 
voyage  occupying  sixty  days.  From  that 
city  they  moved  west  to  Cleveland  by 
river,  canal  and  lake,  and  from  the  last 
named  place  they  made  an  overland  trip 
by  wagon  to  Liverpool  township,  Medina 
county,  in  which  vicinity  Frederick  Malay, 
father-in-law  of  Joseph  Lehman,  had  pre- 
viously located.     In  that  section  the  latter 


bought  a  small  piece  of  land.  Here  chil- 
dren were  born  to  him,  as  follows:  Mary, 
married  to  Frederick  Garling,  and  died  in 
Liverpool;  Louisa,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Hud- 
son, of  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  a  son  that  died  in  infancy.  In  course 
of  time  Joseph  Lehman  moved  from 
Liverpool  township  to  Grafton  township, 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying 
in  1866,  his  wife  following  him  to  the 
grave  in  1884,  and  both  rest  from  their 
labors  in  the  cemetery  at  Liverpool,  Me- 
dina county.  They  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Churcli,  and  highly  respected, 
industrious  and  frugal  citizens;  in  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat. 

The  subject  proper  of  these  lines  was 
between  four  and  live  years  of  age  when  the 
family  came  to  America,  and  in  Liverpool, 
Ohio,  he  received  a  fair  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  locality.  His 
parents  were  strict  Church  people,  the 
rules  of  wliich  they  observed  very  closely, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  con- 
firmed by  the  Bishop  at  Liverpool,  the  first 
confirmation  ever  held  in  the  place.  Im- 
mediately after  that  he  left  school  and 
home  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  world. 
His  first  work  was  on  the  farm  of  Eli 
Warner,  at  six  dollars  per  month,  and  then, 
an  acquaintance  at  Cuyahogti  Falls,  Ohio, 
having  induced  him  to  go  there,  he  set  out 
on  foot,  with  nothing  wherewithal  to  ap- 
pease his  appetite  on  the  journey.  He 
reached  liis  destination,  however,  in  safety, 
and  remained  there  three  years,  after  which 
he  went  to  Cleveland  to  learn  the  trade  of 
carpenter.  Having  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  two  years  thereat  (receiving  six 
dollars  per  montii  for  first  year,  and  six- 
teen dollars  per  month  for  second  year), 
he  found  he  had  attained  such  proficiency 
as  to  be  able  to  earn  one  dollar  and  iifty 
cents  per  day,  and  thus  he  continued  at 
his  trade  several  years,  working  one  year 
in  Chicago,  and  three  years  in  Indianapolis, 
Ind.  Coming  to  Grafton  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  he  here  continued  liis  trade 
till    1888,    when  he  retired  from  it.     For 


864 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


twenty  yeai's  he  followed  this,  in  connec- 
tion with  farming,  durincr  the  proper  sea- 
sons, erecting  some  of  the  best  residences 
and  barns  in  his  section  of  the  State,  be- 
sides churches,  town  halls  and  other  pub- 
lic buildings,  frequently  having  under  him 
as  many  as  tliree  gangs  of  carpenters.  He 
liad  no  superior  as  a  calculator  on  esti- 
mates, and  it  was  due  to  this,  coupled  with 
an  accurate  idea  as  to  cost  and  amount  of 
material  necessary,  that  he  made  such  an 
enviable  success.  In  1868  he  bought  in 
that  township  twenty  acres  of  land  at 
thirty-tive  dollars  per  acre,  and  afterward 
eighty-tive  acres  from  Josiah  Taylor  heirs, 
to  which  lie  from  time  to  time  added  until 
he  now  owns  312  acres  of  excellent  land. 
He  has  been  thoroughly  economical,  and 
assisted  liis  parents  to  pay  for  their  home, 
giving  them  all  his  earnings,  up  to  tiie 
time  he  came  of  age,  and  not  a  little  after- 
ward. His  aged  mother  made  her  home 
with  him  for  thirty  years. 

On  February  24, 1868,  Mr.  Lehman  was 
married  to  Amelia  Lyndes,  who  was  born 
Septeml)er  26,  1840,  in  Grafton  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Orville  and 
Mary  Lyndes,  who  came  from  Vermont 
and  Massachusetts,  respectively,  to  Lorain 
county,  he  in  1823,  and  she  in  1816.  Chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born  to  this  union: 
Cassius  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six  years;  and  Clayton  De  Witt,  Clifford 
E.  and  Corinna  B.,  at  home.  Politically 
our  subject  was  a  Republican  up  to  1873, 
since  when  he  has  been  a  Democrat. 


^AEENCE  HUGH  SLATEP.,  pro- 
)rietor  of  a  bus  and  dray  line,  at 
Lorain,  is  a  prominent  representative 
native-born  citizen  of  that  place. 
His  grandfather,  Robert  Slater,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  ISll  came 
to  Loraip  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
his  trade,  that  of  carpenter,  erecting  some 
of  the  early  residences  in  Lorain.  His 
death  occurred  in  the  South. 


Hugh  Slater,  son  of  Robert  Slater,  was 
born,  in  1826,  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
wiiere  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  for  a 
while  carried  on  a  farm  in  Shetheld  town- 
ship, after  his  marriage  settling  in  Lorain. 
In  1849  lie  was  united  in  marriage,  at 
Elyria,  with  Miss  Tirzah  Bedortha,  and 
they  had  one  child,  Clarence  Hugh.  Mr. 
Slater  was  an  active  politician,  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  lie  served  as  lighthouse- 
keeper  of  Lorain  three  years.  He  died  in 
1863,  Mrs.  Slater  in  1891,  aged  sixty- 
three  years. 

Clarence  Huo-h  Slater  was  born  August 
10,  1850,  in  Lorain,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  at 
the  public  schools  of  which  place  he  re- 
ceived his  education.  He  commenced  life 
.  as  a  sailor,  working  for  live  years  under 
Capt.  Church,  and  after  leaving  the  lakes 
engaged  for  five  years  in  the  fishing  busi- 
ness. For  the  next  five  years  Mr.  Slater 
was  employed  in  the  shipyards  at  Lorain 
under  H.  D.  Root;  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Sheffield  township,  and  afterward 
ran  the  first  milk  wagon  in  Lorain,  con- 
ducting the  Ayrshire  Milk  Dairy.  He 
was  then  engaged  in  the  building  of  the 
new  courthouse  at  Elyria,  Lorain  county, 
thence  going  to  Marion,  Ind.,  and  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  the  courthouse  there. 
After  his  return  to  Elyria  Mr.  Slater 
worked  for  a  time  in  the  Elyria  Screw  and 
Tap  Factory,  and  then  coming  to  Lorain 
engaged  with  F.  M.  Whitman  in  the 
Sussex  Sauce  Works.  He  next  ran  a 
pleasure  yacht  to  Randall's  Grove  and 
Lake  Breeze,  and  then  embarked  in  the 
dray  business,  which  he  sold  out  after 
three  years,  since  which  time  he  has  con- 
ducted his  present  bus  line  between  Lorain 
and  Oak  Point. 

On  January  20,  1874,  Mr.  Slater  was 
married  to  C.  N.  Wallace,  a  native  of 
Elyria,whovvas divorced  in  1887,leavingliim 
one  child,  Maud.  In  1889  he  married,  for 
his  second  wife.  Miss  Ida  Gleeson,  a  native 
of  Lorain,  daughter  of  Frank  Gleeson,  a 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


865 


resident  of  Lorain,  and  to  tliis  union  was 
also  born  one  child,  Goldie.  Mr.  Slater 
owns  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Black  River 
township,  situated  on  the  Lake,  two  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  Lorain,  which  he  devotes 
to  the  raising  of  fruit.  He  also  owns  four 
residences  in  Lorain.  In  politics  he  votes 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  takes 
an  active  interest  in  everything  tending  to 
promote  the  welfare  and  advancement  of 
his  county.  Socially  he  is  a  meml)er  of 
the  0.  U.  A.  M.,  and  of  Lorain  Lodge  No. 
680,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Order  of  Rebekah. 
In  religious  faith  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slater  are 
Methodists.  Mr.  Slater  lias  watched  the 
progress  and  growth  of  Lorain  from  its 
very  beginning,  and  he  remembers  the 
time  when  there  was  but  one  house  across 
the  river. 


FTfENRY    H.  CLOUGH.      The  gen- 
t''^     tleman  here    named  is  one  of  the 
I     1     most  prominent  and  progressive  of 
•^  Lorain  county's  prosperous  citizens. 

He  is  a  grandson  of  Deacon  John 
and  Judith  (Gerrish)  Clough,  the  for- 
mer of  \vhom  was  born  in  Canterbury, 
N.  H.,  the  latter  being  a  descendant  of  Sir 
Matthew  Hale,  of  England. 

Baxter  Clough,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Canterbury,  N.  H.,  in  1807,  and 
was  reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of  agri- 
culture on  his  father's  farm  till  1830,  when 
lie  came  westward,  and  after  some  misad- 
ventures located  in  Solon  township,  Cuya- 
hoga county,  at  that  time  an  unbroken 
wilderness.  Subsequently  he  moved  to 
Cleveland,  thence  to  Berea,  Cuyahoga 
county,  and  finally  to  Lorain  county,  his 
attention  having  been  called  to  the  Free- 
stone quarries  in  North  Amherst,  whither 
he  moved  in  1852,  and  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  P.  &  L.  Dean,  which  was  of 
sliort  duration,  however,  he  having  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interests.  He  then 
commenced  the  manufactureof  grindstones, 


which  industry  from  small  beginnings  de- 
veloped into  gigantic  proportions.  About 
1860,  there  having  sprung  up  a  demand 
for  block  stone  for  building  purposes,  Mr. 
Clough  turned  his  attention  more  particu- 
larly to  that  branch,  which  in  course  of  a 
few  years  increased  to  a  business  of  enor- 
mous magnitude.  Docks  were  built  by 
him  »t  the  lake,  and  a  railroad  was  con- 
structed to  the  dock,  which  supplied  a  di- 
rect outlet  of  his  own  to  ship  by  water. 
He  also  purchased  and  developed  what  was 
known  as  the  Independence  and  Columbia 
quarries,  where  he  also  manufactured  great 
quantities  of  block  stone  and  grindstones. 
On  July  19,  1832,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Hannah  Gerrish,  formerly  of  Boscowan, 
N.  H.,  at  that  time  residing  with  her 
brother  in  Solon,  and  eight  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  whom  Henry  H.  is  the 
seventh.  The  father  died  in  November, 
1872,  the  mother  on  January  21,  1893,  in 
her  eighty-seventh  year,  having  been  born 
April  20,  1807.  They  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Henry  H.  Clough,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
August  22,  1846,  and  when  a  child  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  North  Amherst,- 
where  he  was  reared.  His  elementary  edu- 
cation he  received  at  the  common  schools 
of  the  town,  which  was  supplemented  with 
a  course  of  study  at  Oberlin  College,  on 
leaving  which  he  became  connected  with 
the  Clough  Stone  Company.  At  the  death 
of  their  father,  the  sons  J.  B.  and  Henry 
H.  succeeded  to  the  business,  and  the  lat- 
ter became  president  of  the  company.  On 
December  16,  1868,  Henry  H.  Clough  was 
united  in  marriacre  with  Miss  Margaret 
Barney,  of  Black  River  township,  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  and  si-x  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  Hallie  M., 
Mattie  B.,  Otis  H.,  Karl  B.,  AlI)ertG.  and 
Henry  Hale,  of  whom  Albert  G.  died  in 
infancy.  For  four  years  Mr.  Clough  was 
president  of  the  pool  which  controlled  all 
the  stone  quarries  in  his  section.  He  is 
secretary-treasurer    of    the    Giles-Clough 


866 


L0IiAI2i  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Fruit-jar  Mamifacturiiig  Company  at  Red- 
key,  Ind.  Of  late  lie  has  been  interested 
in  banking,  and  he  is  now  president  of  two 
banks — one,  the  National  Eank  of  Bowl- 
ing Green,  Ohio,  the  other,  the  Volusia 
County  Bank  of  De  Land,  Fla. ;  he  is  also  a 
director  of  the  Savings  and  Deposit  Bank 
of  Elyria.  In  politics  he  is  a  Kepublican. 
Mr.  Clough  is  one  of  the  leading  capital- 
ists of  Elyria,  and  out  of  the  stone  busi- 
ness has  amassed  a  fortune.  His  eleeant 
stone  residence,  the  architecture  of  which 
is  especially  recherche,  and  which  is  built 
after  his  own  design,  commands  the  admi- 
ration of  all. 


[[JfERBEET  S.    FOLLANSBEE. 

f!^     Prominent  among   the  progressive 

I     r    citizens  and  enterprising   manufac- 

■^  turers  of  Lorain  county  stands  this 

gentleman.       He    is    a    native   of 

Massachusetts,  born  in  Taunton,  February 

15,  1857. 

The  FoUansbees  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Araesbury,  Mass.,  several  gen- 
erations of  the  family  having  been  born 
there  down  to  and  inclndincr  Joshua  Fol- 
lansbee,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He,  Joshua,  was  a  tradesman  in 
the  leather  business,  in  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  married  in  Warren,  K.  L,  to  Miss 
Hannah  Adams,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Polly  (Hunter)  Adams,  the  father  be- 
ing of  the  early  Massachusetts  family  of 
that  name  so  famous  in  American  history. 
Mrs.  Polly  (Hunter)  Adams  was  of  an' old 
Massachusetts  family,  and  some  of  her  an- 
cestors owned  a  large  tract  of  land  that  is 
now  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of  Providence, 
R.  I.  A  copy  of  the  deed  for  this  land, 
which  bears  the  date  of  1708,  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Follansbee. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joshua  Follansbee  resided  in  Massachu- 
setts and  Rliode  Island  alternately,  finally 
settling  in  Pawtucket,  that  State,  where 
they  died,  he  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  seven- 


ty-si.\  years,  she  in  1880.  aged  lifty-six. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children: 
One  died  in  infancy;  the  remaining  chil- 
dren are  all  now  residents  of  either  Massa- 
chusetts or  Rhode  Island,  except  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  the  only  one  in  the  family 
to  settle  in  the  AVest. 

Herbert  S.  Follansbee  was  an  infant 
wlien  his  parents  i-emoved  to  Rhode  Island, 
six  years  old  when  they  took  up  their 
home  again  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  ten 
when  they  moved  to  Central  Falls,  R.  I., 
where  he  received  the  main  part  of  his  edu- 
cation, at  the  high  school  of  which  place 
he  graduated.  From  Central  Falls  the 
family  removed  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I., 
where  for  a  short  time  he  was  engaged  in 
real-estate  and  insurance  interests,  after 
which  he  was  employed  in  various  lines  of 
business,  including  two  years  in  a  printing 
office,  and  seven  years  as  clerk  and  sales- 
man. At  the  end  of  this  time  he  accepted 
a  position  with  Reed  &  Barton,  of  Taun- 
ton, Mass.,  extensive  silverware  manufac- 
turers, and  spent  ten  months  in  their  fac- 
tory learning  the  business — the  mode  of 
manufactiiring,  etc.  He  was  then  offered 
by  the  firm  a  position  to  represent  them 
as  traveling  salesman,  which  offer  he  ac- 
cepted, and  for  ten  years  he  was  "  on  the 
road"  as  salesman.  Elyria,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  was  one  of  his  stopping  places,  and 
on  one  of  his  trips,  he  here  met  the  young 
lady  who  subsequently  l)ecame  his  wife, 
in  the  person  of  Miss  Minnie  Mountain, 
of  that  town,  and  they  were  united  in 
marriage  October  1,  1885.  About  one 
year  later  Mr.  Follansbee  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  A.  L.  Garford  and  Mr. 
F.  N.  Smith,  of  Elyria,  and  a  close  friend- 
ship springing  up  between  them  they  de- 
cided to  unite  themselves  in  business,  the 
result  being  the  establislunent  of  the 
bicycle  saddle  manufacturing  concern  in 
Elyria,  Mr.  FoUansbee's  special  duties 
beino-  to  introduce  the  saddle  to  the  east- 
ern  and  western  trade.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  this  business  the  firm  consisted  of 
A.  L.   Garford,   F.  N.   Smith   and  H.  S. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


869 


Follant^bee,  and  tlie  style  thereof  was  "  Gar- 
ford  ILaiuifactiiring  Co."  After  about 
one  and  one-half  years  the  business  was 
incorporated  under  State  laws,  with  A.  L. 
Gart'ord,  president;  H.  S.  FoUansbee,  vice- 
president,  and  Fred  N.  Smith,  secretary 
and  treasurer,  retaining  the  original  title. 
The  present  stock  company  consists  of 
some  of  the  brightest  business  men  in  the 
county,  and  men  of  high  financial  stand- 
ing. Mr.  FoUansbee  was  up  to  October  1, 
1892,  for  ten  years,  identified  with  the 
Reed  &  Barton  Co.,  before  mentioned,  but 
had  to  resign  his  position,  the  business  of 
the  Garford  Mainifacturing  Co.  having 
grown  to  such  proportions  as  to  demand 
his  undivided  attention. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  FoUansbee  has 
made  his  home  in  Elyria.  Pie  and  his 
wife  had  one  child,  named  Stanley,  that 
died  in  1890.  They  are  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Elyria,  of  which  he 
is  a  vestryman.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Cleveland  Commercial  Travelers  Associa- 
tion; a  stockholder  in  the  Savings  Deposit 
Bank,  of  Elyria,  and  in  the  Hunt  Manu- 
facturing Co.,  of  Westborough,  Mass.,  of 
which  Mr.  Garford  is  president. 


TjOHN  BEEG,  one  of  the  best-known 
*►  I  and  most  successful  citizens  of  Russia 
^^  township,  was  born  February  5, 1842, 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  son  of  Jacob 
(a  coal  miner)  and  Elizabeth  (Morgen- 
stern)  Berg. 

The  parents  had  four  children  born  to 
them  in  Germany,  namely:  John;  Charles, 
a  farmer  and  mason  in  Russia  township; 
Jacob,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  and  Catherine, 
wife  of  James  Mcllrath,  of  Oceana  county, 
Michigan. 

In  April,  1854,  the  family,  with  the 
help  of  friends,  started  for  the  United 
States,  sailing  from  Antwerp,  hut  were  de- 
tained when  only  twenty-four  miles  from 
home,  as  their  passports  had  been  improp- 


erly made  out.  Owing  to  this  delay  they 
were  obliged  to  cross  in  a  merchant  vessel, 
the  "  Golden  Spring,"  which  sailed  one 
week  later,  and  after  a  voyage  of  forty-two 
days  landed,  about  June  1,  in  Quebec. 
From  the  latter  place  they  proceeded  by 
boat  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  thence  over 
the  C.  C.  C.  &  I.  Railway  to  Grafton, 
where  they  hired  a  team  and  were  driven 
to  the  German  settlement  in  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  Here  the  father 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand,  and  shortly 
afterward  purchased  ten  acres  of  land  at 
twelve  dollars  per  acre,  for  which  he  was 
obliged  to  go  into  debt.  Mr.  Berg,  who 
was  used   to   mining,   suffered   much  after 

o 

coming  here  from  the  change  of  climate; 
he  died  in  1858,  and  was  buried  in  Car- 
lisle cemetery.  His  widow  is  still  living. 
After  coming  to  Lorain  county  they  had 
one  child,  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  the  Fath- 
erland, and  then  for  six  months  after  com- 
ing to  Lorain  county,  which  completed  his 
literary  education,  tie  was  but  sixteen 
years  old  when  his  father  died,  at  which 
time  he  was  working  for  eight  dollars  a 
month,  and  being  the  eldest  his  wages  had 
to  go  toward  the  support  of  the  family. 
When  nineteen  years  old  he  commenced  to 
learn  the  stone  mason's  trade  under  Will- 
iam and  George  Evans,  receiving  eight  dol- 
lars  a  month  the  first  year,  and  twice  that 
amount  the  second  year.  In  May,  1862, 
he  enlisted,  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  Com- 
pany C,  "  Hoffman  Battalion,"  which  af- 
tervvard  became  Company  C,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  being  stationed  on 
Johnson's  Island,  near  Sandusky.  After 
receiving  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
Russia  township,  and  then  resumed  his 
trade. 

On  December  16,  1S68,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Griem,  who 
was  born  October  20,  1849,  in  Germany, 
daughter  of  Joachim  Griem,  who  came  to 
the    United    States    in    1854,  locating    in 


870 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Amherst  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  Af- 
ter marriage  Mr.  Berg  located  on  a  farm 
of  thirty-four  acres  in  Russia  township, 
which  he  had  previously  purchased  for  a 
home  for  the  family.  He  has  since  given 
his  chief  attention  to  masonry  and  con- 
tracting, in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. He  has  a  pleasant  residence  north 
of  Oberlin,  where  he  makes  his  home  dur- 
ing the  winter,  in  summer  time  living 
wherever  his  work  takes  him.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  member 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Church  at 
North  Amherst. 


JB.  THOMPSON,  capitalist,  a  typi- 
cal "  hustler,"  and  one  of  the  live 
young  business  men  of  Lorain  county, 
of  which  he  is  a  native,  was  born  iri 
Columbia  township  in  1861. 

His  grandparents,  John  and  Amanda 
(Osborn)  Thompson,  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, and  about  the  year  1810  came  to 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
they  passed  the  rest  of  their  lives,  the 
grandfather  dying  in  January,  1893,  the 
grandmother  in  1890.  Grandfather  Asel 
Osborn,  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Columbia  town- 
ship, and  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of 
Lorain  county.  S.  B.  Thompson,  father 
of  subject,  was  born  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  married 
Miss  Eniular  Osborn,  and  they  are  still 
living  in  the  township.  They  had  two 
children :  W.  B.,  in  Lorain,  Ohio,  and  J.  B. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  at  Berea  College,  after  which  he  went 
on  the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  a 
Cleveland  cloak  firm;  later  for  a  New  York 
house,  his  residence  during  that  period 
(two  years)  being  in  that  city.  He  then, 
in  1888,  euiliarked  in  tlie  live-stock  busi- 
ness on  a  small  scale  at  West  View,  Cuya- 
hoga   county,    buying    and    selling,    from 


which  modest  beginning  he  has  already 
risen  to  be  one  of  the  prominent  business 
men  of  the  locality.  In  1889  he  com- 
menced the  real-estate  business,  buying 
seventy  acres  adjacent  to  West  View,  and 
buildings  thereon;  it  will  soon  be  incor- 
porated in  the  southeast  addition  to  that 
village.  He  has  already  thirty-seven  lots 
platted  on  the  east  side  of  Rocky  river, 
and  purposes  to  plat  his  entire  farm.  Al- 
ready he  has  put  up  twelve  residence 
houses,  store  and  Ijlacksmith  and  carriage 
shop,  which  he  rents,  and  is  still  building. 
In  addition  to  all  this  he  owns  ten  tine 
residences  in  Cleveland,  one  in  Wadsworth, 
and  a  good  farm  near  Medina,  all  in  Ohio. 
The  Columbia  Stone  Quarries  adjoin  his 
farm,  and  their  business  is  expanding 
rapidly  in  Columbia  township,  which 
tends  to  enhance  the  value  of  his  property 
as  well  as  increasing  the  advantages  of  the 
village  of  West  View. 

In  1886  Mr.  Thompson  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  with  Miss 
Nellie  Charter.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  party. 


EiDWARD  HILDEBRAND.  Among 
the    most    progressive    of    Lorain 
I  county's    native-born    young    men, 

none  stands  more  prominent  than 
this  gentleman.  lie  was  born  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  Black  River  township  July 
27,  1856,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza 
(Applemann)  Hildebrand,  natives  of  Hes- 
sen,  Germany. 

The  father,  who  was  by  trade  a  ship 
carpenter,  when  a  young  man  came  in  1844 
with  his  father,  Edward  David  Hilde- 
brand, to  America  and  to  Ohio,  settling  on 
a  farm  in  Black  River  township,  where  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  in  1879; 
he  was  an  active,  intelligent,  thorough- 
going man,  commanding  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  who  elected  him  to  the  re- 
sponsible   position    of    township    trustee. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


871 


His  widow  is  yet  living.  They  bad  a 
fainily  of  six  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  brief  record:  Rowena  is  the 
wife  of  William  Fullmer,  of  Amherst 
township;  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
Uickel,  late  of  Black  River  township, 
Lorain  county;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of 
Henry  Plato,  of  North  Amherst;  Chris- 
tina is  the  wife  of  Adam  Jaeger,  also  of 
North  Amherst;  Minnie  died  young;  Ed- 
ward is  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
memoir. 

Edward  Hildebrand  has  always  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  including  stock  rais- 
ing, and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  tine  stock 
farm  of  eighty-eight  acres  in  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  county,  well  watered  by 
Beaver  and  Wind  creeks.  In  July,  1878, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
Wernert,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Dora  (Hett)  AYernert, 
who  came  from  the  Fatherland  with  their 
family  in  1872;  the  father  died  in  1888, 
and  the  mother  is  yet  living  in  North 
Amherst.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward 
Hildebrand  have  been  born  seven  children, 
namely:  Lizzie,  Montana,  Phillip,  Henry, 
Paulina,  Willie  and  Esther.  The  parents 
are  members  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran 
Church  of  North  Amherst.  Mr.  Hilde- 
brand is  a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.  and 
I.  ().  G.  T. ;  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  in  local  matters  he  invariably  votes  for 
tlie  man  on  his  individual  merits  without 
regard  to  his  political  status. 


rjf  ALSEY  GARFIELD,  a  prosperous 
p^     representative  agriculturist  of  Slief- 
I     11    held  township,  is  a  native  of  same, 
/)         born  December  24,  1823. 

His  father,  Milton  Garfield,  was 
born  in  1792,  in  Tyringham,  ]\[ass.,  whore 
he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  whence  in 
1815  he  came  to  Ohio,  first  locating  in 
Lake  county,  and  then,  in  1816,  settling  in 
Siietiield  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  bought  a  quantity  of  unimproved  land. 


He  was  married  in  Avon  township,  in 
May,  1820,  to  Miss  Tempe  Williams,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1800,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Clarissa  (Hamlin) 
Williams,  also  of  Massachusetts,  who  came 
with  their  family  to  Avon  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  the  father  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  during  the  rest  of  his 
days.  He  died  in  November,  1862;  his 
widow  is  yet  surviving,  now  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-three  years,  though 
still  retaining  her  mental  faculties  to  a 
wonderful  degree.  H.  H.  Williams,  of 
Avon  township,  is  her  brotlier.  "  Col." 
Garfield  (as  he  was  best  known)  was  ori- 
ginally a  Whig,  afterward,  on  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party,  a  Republican,  and  he 
served  as  county  commissioner.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Milton  Garfield  were  born  six 
children — three  sons  and  three  daughters 
— of  whom  the  followiuo;  is  a  brief  rec- 
ord:  (1)  Henry  AV.  was  reared  in  Lorain 
county,  and  in  1849  went  to  California, 
whence  he  returned  home  in  1809;  he 
died  in  1892.  (2)  Halsey  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  (3)  Eliza  Paulina  is  the 
wife  of  George  F.  Smith,  and  they  occupy 
the  old  homestead.  (4)  Fannie  M.  was 
the  wife  of  Graham  Harris;  she  died  in 
1870.  (5)  Daniel  W.  is  a  farmer  in  Shef- 
field township.  (6)  Julia  C.  is  the  wife 
of  Edward  Root,  also  of  Sheffield  town- 
ship. 

Halsey  Garfield  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  schools  of  Sheflield  township, 
and  in  his  youth  taught  both  in  Huron 
and  Lorain  counties,  Ohio;  he  also  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter.  Afterward  he  was 
for  years  engaged  in  selling  goods  at 
l^Vench  Creek,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  since 
1863  he  has  carried  on  farming  operations 
in  Sheffield  township.  In  all  his  under- 
takings he  has  deservedly  prospered. 

In  1855  he  was  married,  in  his  tpwn- 
ship,  to  Miss  Harriet  Root,  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Sarah  Eliza  (Case)  Root, 
natives  of  Sheffield,  Mass.,  the  father  born 
in  1808,  died  in  1889;  the  mother  was 
called    fron)   earth   in    1833,    when     Mrs. 


872 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Harriet  Garfield  was  an  infant.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Garfield  were  born  four  children: 
Jessie,  a  teacher  of  music,  and  who  is  a 
pupil  of  the  Oberiin  Conservatory  of 
Music;  Shirley;  William  M.,  a  graduate 
of  Oberiin  College,  class  of  1889;  and 
Tempe  F.,  also  a  graduate  of  Oberiin 
College,  class  of  1891,  and  who  is  now  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Batavia,  111.  The 
mother  of  these  passed  away  March  7, 
1889.  In  politics  Mr.  Garfield  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  his  township  as 
trustee  three  terms,  and  as  assessor  two 
terms. 


L.  FAY,  attorney  at  law,  as  one 
of  the  influential  citizens  of  Lorain 
county,  deserves  a  place  in  this 
volume. 

The  first  of  the  Fay  family  to  land  in 
America  was  John  Fay,  who  came  from 
England,  A.  D.  1656  in  the  good  ship 
"Speedwell,  "  and  settled  in  Massachusetts. 
From  him  descended  in  a  direct  line  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  as  follows:  Jolm, 
Jr.,  James,  Daniel,  Aaron  (great-grand- 
father, who  married  Rebecca  Winslow), 
Lyman  (grandfather,  born  in  Vermont), 
Wiuslow  (father),  and  Winslow  Lamartine 
(subject),  the  eighth  of  his  generation  in 
America. 

Dr.  Lyman  Fay  (grandfather)  came  to 
Ohio  in  1815,  and  soon  after  located  at 
Milan,  Erie  county.  lie  soon  gained  a 
wide  reputation  as  a  physician  and  busi- 
ness man.  In  addition  to  his  professional 
labors  he  kept  a  drug  and  general  store,  a 
large  grain  warehouse,  and  was  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  Milan  Canal  which,  before 
the  days  of  railroads,  made  Milan  the  prin- 
cipal grain  market  of  northern  Ohio.  He 
accumulated  a  large  property,  and  died  of 
cholera  September  2,  1854.  On  July  21, 
1816,  he  married  Catherine  Kellogg,  who 
survived  him,  dying  December  3,  1862. 

Joseph  Brooks  (maternal  grandfather) 
came  to  Ohio  from  eastern   New  York  at 


an  early  day;  his  wife  was  Rachel  Barnum 
of  Dan  bury.  Conn.,  related  to  Phineas  T. 
Barnum,  the  great  showman. 

WixsLow  Lamartine  Fay,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Clarkstield, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  September  12, 1848,  a  son 
of  Winslow  and  Mary  Ann  (Brooks)  Fay, 
the  former  of  wliom  was  born  April  21, 
1817,  on  the  Huron  river,  at  Avery,  near 
Milan,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  August  4, 
1884.  He  (the  father)  was  the  oldest  of  a 
family  of  ten  children.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant during  the  greater  part  of  his  life, 
but  during  his  later  years  was  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married  January  6, 
1839,  to  Mary  Ann  Brooks,  who  was  born 
at  Florence,  Ohio,  December  30, 1818,  and 
died  May  4,  1878.  The  mother  was  edu- 
cated at  the  seminary  conducted  by  Dr. 
Monteith  of  Elyria,  who  at  that  early  day 
was  widely  known  as  a  successful  and 
thorough  instructor.  W.  L.  was  the  second 
of  three  sons  who  grew  to  manhood.  He 
received  a  liberal  education  at  Oberiin 
College,  and  during  his  vacations  taught 
school  for  a  number  of  years  in  Huron  and 
Lorain  counties.  When  just  past  sixteen 
years  of  age,  becoming  dissatisfied  with 
farm  life,  he  asked  the  consent  of  his 
father  to  be  allowed  to  start  out  and  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world;  the  consent  was 
kindly  granted,  and  without  further  aid, 
by  perseverance  and  hard  study  and  close 
application,  he  provided  means  to  secure  his 
own  education,  and  obtain  his  profession. 
He  read  law  with  Hon.  John  C.  Hale,  then 
of  Elyria,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1870  under  twenty-two  years  of  age; 
for  four  years  thereafter  he  practiced  his 
profession  with  his  preceptor,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  opened  an  office  on  his  own 
account.  Up  to  1879  he  did  a  successful 
general  practice;  but  close  confinement  to 
office  and  professional  work  seriously  af- 
fecting his  health,  he  gradually  gave  his 
attention  to  other  matters  less  confining, 
until  now  his  law  practice  occupies  only  a 
small  portion  of  his  time.  He  is  the  in- 
ventor of  the  Fay  Sulky  Scraper  for  mov- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


875 


ing  earth,  and  was  enijaged  in  its  mann- 
facture  for  several  years.  Afterward  he 
invented  the  "Fairy  Tricycle"  for  ladies, 
girls  and  cripples,  which  he  manufactured 
in  large  numbers,  and  which  have  been 
sold  extensively  all  over  tliis  country,  and 
many  shipped  to  foreign  lands.  He  or- 
ganized the  Fay  Manufacturing  Co.,  and 
was  principal  owner  of  same  until  he  sold 
his  entire  interest  in  December,  1891.  A 
short  time  previous  to  this  he  bought  the 
controlling  interest  in  The  Elyria  Stone 
Co.,  wliicli  has  extensive  quarries  at  Graf- 
ton, Ohio,  and  he  now  holds  tlie  ofKces  of 
secretary,  treasurer  and  manager  of  said 
Company.  Since  his  connection  with  this 
Company  tlie  plant  has  been  greatly  en- 
larged and  improved,  and  the  business  very 
much  increased.  He  is  also  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  Eabbitt  metal  under 
the  firm  name  and  style  of  W.  L.  Fay  & 
Co.,  wliich  business  he  has  conducted  since 
1876.  He  has  also  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing all  his  life,  he  now  owning  an  inter- 
est  in  a  large  grape  farm  on  Avon  Point, 
Lorain  county;  he  also  has  vessel  interests 
on  tlie  lakes,  and  has  many  other  invest- 
ments that  require  more  or  less  time.  In 
addition  to  his  business  Mr.  Fay  has  found 
leisure  to  travel  quite  e.xtensively,  ho  hav- 
ing visited  and  traveled  over  the  greater 
portions  of  this  country,  of  interest,  and  a 
considerable  part  of  Europe. 

Mr.  Fay  was  first  united  in  marriage  in 
May,  1878,  to  Emma  A.  Vincent,  who 
died  in  June,  1879,  leaving  to  his  care  an 
infant  daughter — Mary  Emma.  He  was 
married,  the  second  time,  in  1886,  to 
Ophelia  Goss  Lawrence,  a  daughter  of 
Eev.  John  Lawrence,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 
His  present  wife  was  the  fifth  of  a  family 
of  eight  children,  and  was  l)orn  at  Wilton, 
Me.,  during  her  fatiier's  pastorate  at  that 
place.  Her  father.  Rev.  John  Lawrence, 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Lawrence, 
born  at  Wisset,  England,  in  1609,  and  who 
soon  afterward  came  to  this  country  and 
settled  in  Watertown,  Mass.  Her  mother 
was  Nancy  Temple  Wakefield,  of  Reading, 


Mass.  By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Fay 
has  four  children:  Lamartine  Brooks,  and 
Lawrence  Temple  (twins),  Raciiel  Char- 
lotte, and  Florence. 

Politically  our  subject  is  one  of  the 
stanchest  Republicans,  although  he  has 
never  been  an  office  seeker.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  Lodges  of  his  place, 
and  in  this  has  followed  in  the  line  of  his 
forefathers  as  far  back  as  he  has  any  record; 
is  also  a  member  of  a  number  of  other 
secret  Societies.  He  is  the  examiner  of 
the  Savings  Deposit  Bank  of  Elyria;  one 
of  the  directors,  secretary  and  attorney  for 
the  Elyria  Savings  and  Loan  Co.,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  founders;  is  also  director 
in  a  number  of  other  enterjjrises  of  which 
he  is  a  member.  Whatever  business  he 
has  undertaken,  he  has  made  a  success  of, 
and  those  that  know  him  best  are  his  best 
friends.  Mr.  Fay  is  a  thorough  believer 
in  temperance,  and  at  all  times  is  ready 
and  willing  to  lend  his  aid  in  anytliing 
that  will  help  remove  the  curse  of  this 
evil  from  the  land,  although  he  does  not 
follow  all  the  ideas  that  are  advocated  by 
extremists  in  this  direction;  he  is  also  a 
believer  in  tlie  Gospel  of  Christ,  but  has 
never  united  with  any  Church.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Gospel  News  Co.,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  publishers  of  the  Gospel 
JVeios,  a  weekly  religions  paper  which  was 
started  for  the  jiurpose  of  furnishing 
Christian  reading  matter  to  the  masses,  at 
a  low  price. 


Hi   NTON  JUNGBLLTTH,  a   prosper- 

r\\    ous   farmer  of   ShefKeld    township, 

lr%,   where  he  owns  and  operates  a  highly 

^  cultivated  farm  of  250  acres,  is  a 

native  of  Germany,  born  in   1848. 

Anton  Jungbluth,  father  of  subject,  wa& 

born  in  Prussia  during  Christmas  week  of 

1802.     In  his  native  land  he  was  a  grape 

grower,  a  business  he  followed  there  with 

considerable  success.  In  1852  he  emigrated 

to  the    United    States,  coming  to    Loraia 


876 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


coimty,  Ohio,  where  in  Sheffield  township 
he  settled  on  a  farm  of  twenty-tive  acres, 
then  all  in  the  woods,  which  he  cleared 
and  improved,  and  where  he  carried  on 
general  farming.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, in  religion  a  Catholic.  He  married 
Maggie  Schuver,  and  their  children  were 
as  follows:  John,  living  with  subject; 
Nicholas,  in  saloon  business  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio;  Peter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty 
years;  and  Anton.  The  lather  is  yet  living 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health;  the 
mother  dieil  February  13,  1892. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
good  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Sheffield  township,  Lorain  county,  whither 
he  had  come  when  about  four  years  old, 
and  he  has  been  an  agriculturist  from  the 
time  he  left  school.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
live  years  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Catherine  Young,  born  in  Sheffield 
townsliip,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  by  her 
has  had  six  children,  as  follows:  Anna, 
Mary,  Catherine,  John,  Bernard  and 
Francis.  Mr.  Jungbluth  has  been  very 
successful  at  his  occupation,  and  the  old 
homestead  of  twenty-five  acres  which  he 
bought  he  has  added  to  from  time  to  time 
till  he  has  now  250  acres,  as  ali-eady  re- 
lated. He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  in  politics  a  Democrat,  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  school  board. 


JE.  BARKOWS,  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous of  the  well-to-do  agriculturists 
of  Avon  township,  came  here  in  July, 
1828,  from  Genesee  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  born  in  1821.  He  is  a  son 
of  Adnah  and  Clarissa  (Day)  Barrows, 
natives,  respectively,  of  Connecticut  and 
Bennington,  Vt.  Joseph  Day,  grandfather 
of  subject,  who  was  originally  from  Massa- 
chusetts, served  as  a  soldier  throughout 
the  entire  Revolutionary  war,  and  after  the 
close  of  the  struggle  settled  in  Bennington, 
Vermont,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three  years. 


Adnah  Barrows,  father  of  subject,  when 
a  boy,  in  1811,  moved  to  New  York  State, 
and  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  for  which 
he  received  a  pension.  He  was  married  in 
that  State  to  Miss  Clarissa  Day,  and  in 
1828  they  came  to  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county,  settling  in  the  woods  where  they 
cleared  a  farm.  Here  the  father  passed 
from  earth  October  3,  1856,  the  mother 
November  26,  1882.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity, as  follows:  J.  R. ;  Lyman,  who  went 
in  1883  to  Shiawassee  county,  Mich.,  where 
he  died  about  1889;  Heman,  residing  in 
Avon  towiishi]v,  Lydia,  widow  of  Jacob 
Walker,  of  Amherst  township;  and  Eliza, 
wife  of  Edward  S.  Fitch,  of  Avon  town- 
ship. 

J.  R.  Barrows,  our  subject,  as  will  be 
seen,  was  seven  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Avon  township,  where  he  received  such 
education  as  the  primitive  district  schools 
of  those  early  times  afforded.  He  was 
cai'efuUy  trained  to  the  pursuits  of  the 
farm,  and  has  made  agriculture  the  vocation 
of  his  life,  remaining  on  the  old  home- 
stead until  1852,  in  which  year  he  took 
possession  of  his  present  farm  in  the  sanie 
township.  His  property  at  Hrst  numbered 
fifty-three  acres,  to  which  he  from  time  to 
time  added  until  now  he  is  the  owner 
of  Hi  acres,  all  in  an  advanced  state  of 
cultivation.  In  1844  our  subject  was 
married  in  Avon  township,  Lorain  county, 
to  Miss  Melvina  P.  Sawyer,  daughter  of 
John  Sawyer,  of  New  York  State.  To  this 
union  were  born  four  children,  viz.:  War- 
ren J.,  who  died  in  1872  in  Erie  county, 
N.  Y.;  Ellen  C,  who  married  John  S. 
Blackwell,  and  died  in  1882;  Henry  J., 
residing;  in  Lorain;  and  Marietta,  wife  of 
F.  H.  Richardson,  of  Tampico,  Wliiteside 
Co.,  111.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
1860,  and  in  1861  Mr.  Barrows  wedded 
Mrs.  Eunice  (Royce)  Griswold,  widow  of 
L.  S.  Griswold,  and  she  dying  in  1882,  our 
subject  married,  in  1883,  for  his  third 
wife,  Mrs.  Aurelia  (Terrell)  Sawyer, 
daughter     of     Willis    Terrell    (an    early 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


877 


pioneer  of  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain 
county),  and  widow  of  Pliilip  Sawyer. 
Tliere  are  no  children  by  the  last  two  mar- 
riages. In  his  political  prefernieuts  onr 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
trustee  and  assessor  of  his  township  several 
terms.  In  Church  relationship  he  is  a 
Baptist,  Mrs.  Barrows  being  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church. 


/J 


HI  M.  ANDRESS,  the  popular  anden- 
'  terprising  liveryman  of  Elyria,  is  a 
J  native  of  Henrietta  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  born  in  1855,  a 
son  of  Carlo  and  Weltha  (Smith) 
Andress.  The  father,  who  was  a  farmer, 
was  born  in  Esse.x  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1804, 
one  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  came  to 
Ohio  in  1817,  and  died  November  8, 1870; 
the  mother  died  April  24,  1871. 

II.  M.  Andress  received  a  liberal  com- 
mon-school education,  and  in  early  youth 
commenced  commercial  life.  For  a  time 
he  owned  a  half  interest  in  a  grocery, 
which    he   sold  ont  to   Henry  Wnrst,  and 

gtirchased  a  share  in  a  livery,  with  Jno.  T. 
[oughton;  but,  his  partner  subsequently 
retiring,  our  subject  was  left  with  his  in- 
terest, and  has  continued  the  business  alone 
ever  since.  The  livery  is  one  of  the  best 
equipped  in  Northern  Ohio,  and  enjoys  a 
wide  and  lucrative  patronage.  Soon  after 
commencingin  this  line  Mr.  Andress  opened 
an  emporium  for  vehicles,  handling  all  kinds 
of  carriages,  buggies, road  wagons,  farm  wag- 
ons, sulkies,  etc.,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
well-merited  success,  selling  both  wholesale 
and  retail.  He  has  also  traded  consider- 
ably in  horses — buying  and  selling.  In 
connection  he  also  opened  out  a  harness 
shop  in  the  lower  story  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
Block,  in  the  fall  of  iS'Jl,  which,  like  all 
his  other  enter])rises,  is  a  pronounced  suc- 
cess. In  company  with  Henry  Wurst  he 
purchased  the  "Beebe  House,"  the  leading 
hotel  in  Elyria,  which  at  considerable  out- 


lay they  repaired  and  refitted,  and  it  now 
stands  second  to  none  in  the  county  as  a 
iirst-class  hotel. 

H.  M.  Andress  and  Miss  M.  G.  Boyn- 
ton,  also  a  native  of  El3'ria,  were  united  in 
marriage  July  9,  1878,  and  three  ciiildren 
have  been  born  to  them :  Maude,  Jeaue  and 
George. 

Joshua  Boynton,  father  of  Mrs.  H.  M. 
Andress,  was  born  in  Wiscasset,  Maine,  in 
1811;  her  mother,  Barbara  (Arman)  Boyn- 
ton, was  born  in  Germany.  Of  Mr.  An- 
dress it  can  be  truthfully  said,  that  as  a 
"hustler"  in  business,  and  in  hnanciering, 
he  is  a  leader  in  the  county,  and,  although 
yet  a  young  man,  he  is  owner  of  consider- 
able property  besides  his  business  intei'- 
ests.  He  claims  he  has  "  never  yet  been 
guilty  of  voting  for  a  Democrat,  except 
for  corporation  or  county  offices;"  so  to 
particularize  his  politics  would  indeed  be 
superfluous. 


I^ 


L.  IIECOCK,  a  rising  and  popular 
young  attorney  of  Lorain,  comes  of 
an  old  family  in  Lorain  county,  his 
grandfather  having  been  a  pioneer 
of  Sheffield  township. 
Onr  subject  was  born  February  24, 
18G9,  in  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  a  son  of  I.  B.  and  Mary  (Drake) 
Hecock.  He  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  also  at 
the  Union  schools  of  Elyria,  where  he 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1889.  He  taught 
school  during  the  winter  1889-90,  and  iu 
1890  commenced  the  study  of  law  under 
Mayor  Thompson,  of  Lorain.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  December,  1892.  By 
dintof  hard  study  and  close  reading  of  books, 
both  literary  and  legal,  Mr.  Hecock  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  good  professional  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  same  time  assisted  in  the 
support  of  his  parents.  He  has  manifested 
a  special  aptitude  for  mastering  the  techni- 
calities of  law,  and  has  succeeded  in  win- 
ning the   confidence   and   friendship   of  a 


878 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  which  speaks 
well  for  his  prospects  in  his  business,  and  he 
already  enjoys  a  creditable  clientage.  He 
is  an  advanced  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
being  a  member  of  Subordinate  Lodge, 
Encampment,  and  Daughters  of  Rebekab, 
and  a  member  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.  In 
the  spring  of  1893  he  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics  since  the  time  that 
he  commenced  to  study  law.  On  Septem- 
ber 30,  1893,  Mr.  Hecock  was  married  to 
Miss  Annabel  Burrell,  formerly  of  Shef- 
field, the  daughter  of  I.  H.  Burrell  and 
Hauna  (Hall)  Burrell. 


EiLEAZER  ABBE,  one  of    the   best- 
known  and  most  highly  respected  of 
I   the  retired   agriculturists  of  Lorain 

county,  was  born  December  28, 
1805,  in  Lisle,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son 
of  Abel  Abbe,  who  was  born  in  Windham, 
Conn.,  August  7,  1767. 

Solotnou  Abbe,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  a  native  of  the  "Nutmeg  State,"  where 
he  married  and  had  three  children,  viz.: 
One  son,  Abel,  and  two  daughters,  Esther 
and  Rena.  Abel  Abbe  was  married  August 
26,  1789,  in  Connecticut,  toMariam  Bing- 
ham, a  native  of  Mansfield,  Conn.,  born 
April  29,  1772,  and  the  children  of  this 
union  were  as  follows:  Lura,  born  January 
20,  1791,  died  in  1888;  Rena,  born 
August  31,  1792;  Linda,  born  July  5, 
1794  ;  Origin,  born  April  20,  1796; 
Charles,  born  May  3,  1798;  William,  born 
April  15,  1800;  Phrebe,  born  February 
11,  1802;  Foster,  born  January  23, 1804; 
Eleazer,  subject;  Abel,  born  February  15, 
1808;  Luther,  born  August  5,  1811,  and 
Matilda,  born  June  11,  1813.  The  parents 
both  died  in  Ohio,  the  father  in  1815  at 
the  home  of  his  son  Eleazer,  the  mother 
in  1854,  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  Ma- 
tilda, in  Elyria.  Abel  Abbe  followed 
farming   in    Connecticut,    whence    in    the 


early  part  of  this  century  he  moved  to  New 
York  State,  where  he  carried  on  a  sawmill 
and  woolen  mill.  In  1817  he  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  what  is  now  Lake  county, 
and  opening  in  Madison  township  a  black- 
smith shop,  but  agricultural  pursuits  were 
his  chief  life  work.  In  his  political  af- 
filiations he  was  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and 
in  his  military  experience  he  was  a  captain 
of  cavalry  in  the  Connecticut  militia. 

Eleazer  Abbe,  tlie  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  his  education  at  a  pub- 
lic school  taught  by  his  sister  Linda,  first 
held  in  a  log  schoolliouse,  afterward  in  a 
frame  one.  On  reaching  maturity  he  com- 
menced life  for  his  own  account.  In  1831 
he  came  to  Lorain  county,  and  purchased 
a  sixty-acre  tract  of  land  in  Elyria  town- 
ship, where  he  nowresides,  and  also  twenty- 
one  acres  adjoining,  on  credit.  In  addition 
to  his  farming  interests  he  did  considerable 
teaming,  and  among  numerous  other 
articles  he  brought  from  a  distance  was  the 
first  stove  seen  or  used  in  Elyria,  and  also 
a  pair  of  forge  hammers  and  collars,  haul- 
ing the  latter  articles  from  the  Geauga 
furnace.  He  also  carried  loads  of  the  prod- 
uct of  the  Elyria  furnace  to  Ashland, 
Wayne  county,  which  he  would  trade  for 
produce.  In  this  manner  he  succeeded  in 
paying  for  his  land  purchase.  He  and  his 
brother  also  hauled  timber  to  Elyria,  to  be 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  earlier  build- 
ings, and  in  1839  they  were  among  the 
contractors  for  the  macadamizing  of  the 
Maumee  road.  Mr.  Abbe  also  furnished 
wood  for  the  Geauga  furnace,  as  well  as 
ore.  To  Pittsburgh  he  carried  produce  by 
team,  the  trip  usually  consuming  some 
nine  or  ten  days. 

In  1849,  the  year  of  the  "gold  fever," 
he  embarked  at  Cleveland  on  the  sailing 
vessel  "  Eureka,"  for  a  voyage  to  Califor- 
nia. They  went  through  the  canals  and 
down  the  St.  Lawrence  river  to  Quebec, 
where  they  remained  a  couple  of  weeks,  and 
then  proceeded  down  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence to  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  When  they 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Horn,  tliey 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


881 


fouful  that,  owing  to  a  dense  fog  prevail- 
ing, tbey  had  to  "double'"  it,  instead  of 
passing  through  the  Straits  of  Magellan, 
the  shorter  route.  Finally,  after  a  voyage 
of  nine  months,  our  subject  reached  San 
Francisco,  from  where  after  landing  he 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  gold  mines,  and 
after  a  time  returned  to  San  Francisco  for 
the  winter.  In  the  following  spring  he 
ascended  the  Yuba  river;  thence  to  Featiier 
river;  thence  to  Nelson  creek,  spending 
the  ensuing  winter  again  in  San  Francisco. 
In  1851  he  couclnded  to  return  home,  and 
took  passage  on  the  steamer  "  Republic " 
at  'Frisco  for  Panama.  A  short  time  after 
taking  the  steamer,  she  sprang  a  leak  in 
mid-ocean,  owing  to  her  having  run  against 
a  rock  on  the  previous  trip.  She  was  kept 
afloat  by  hard  pumping,  and  was  run  ashore 
at  Acapulco  bay,  right  on  the  beach,  for 
repairs.  The  passengers  were  sent  ashore 
with  ail  their  bedding.  In  an  hour  after- 
ward her  stern  went  down.  There  on  the 
beach  they  saw  the  old  bark  "  Eureka  "; 
they  say  that  the  passengers  were  about  to 
mutiny  with  their  captain.  He  (the  cap- 
tain) gave  np  his  bark,  and  ran  off  fi,cross 
Mexico.  Mr.  Abbe  and  the  rest  went  to 
Panama  on  a  Panama  boat  of  the  same 
line,  which  left  San  Francisco  two  weeks 
later.  They  crossed  the  Isthmus,  thence 
Mr.  Abbe  sailed  for  New  York,  and  from 
there  traveled  by  rail  homeward.  He  was 
absent  about  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  made  good  wages,  but  experienced 
great  hardships  and  many  trials.  After  his 
return  he  devoted  himself  almost  exclu- 
sively to  agricultural  pursuits,  up  to  the 
time  of  his  retirement  from  active  life,  and 
his  tine  farm  of  300  acres  in  Elyria  town- 
ship is  now  carried  on  by  his  sons,  Horace 
and  Norman. 

On  October  31,  1835,  Mr.  Abbe  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betsy  Wil- 
cox, a  native  of  Cornwall,  Conn.,  born 
March  21,  1807,  but  a  resident  of  Elyria, 
Ohio,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage.  A  rec- 
ord of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.    Abbe  is   as  follows:  Mary  D.  (Mrs. 

4G 


John  li.  Taylor,  of  Kidgeville)  was  born 
April  3,  1837;  Horace,  born  November 
24,  1840,  was  married  February  16,  1870, 
to  Mary  A.  Aston,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren: H.  Nelson,  Norah  D.,  Eula  B.  and 
Jane  A.;  Norman,  born  March  19,  1842, 
was  married  October  15,  1868,  to  Mabel  A. 
Taylor,  of  Perkins  township,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio  (they  live  on  the  homestead) ;  George 
was  born  September  30,  1843.  and  John 
on  December  30,  1845.  In  his  political 
preferences  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  an 
old -school  Democrat. 

NoEMAN  Abbe,  the  well-known  stock- 
man and  farmer,  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  schools  of  Elyria,  and  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  and  his 
brother  Horace  operate,  and  where  they  are 
engaged  in  the  breeding  of  fine  cattle,  in 
addition  to  carrying  on  general  agriculture. 
Politically  Mr.  Abbe  is  a  Democrat,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple  Church. 


J  JOSEPH  BALDAUF,  one  of  the  fore- 
most among  the  German  residents  of 
'  Russia  township,  was  liorn  December 
23,  1843,  in  Bavaria,  Germany.  His 
father,  also  named  Joseph,  died  when  our 
subject  was  three  years  of  age,  and  the 
motiier  afterward  married  Joseph  Haller. 
In  1852  the  family,  consisting  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Haller,  two  sons  and  five  daughters, 
immigrated  to  America,  sailing  from  Bre- 
men and  landing  in  New  York  after  an 
ocean  voyage  of  four  weeks.  From  New 
York  they  came  westward,  by  canal  and 
lake  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  thence  to  Avon 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  Mr.  Haller 
bought  twenty-five  acres  of  land. 

Joseph  Baldauf  had  attended  school  in 
his  native  country,  but  after  tiieir  emi- 
gration to  the  United  States  received  no 
educational  advantages  whatever,  though 
at  that  time  he  was  but  eiglit  years  of 
age.  He  was  put  to  work,  giving  such 
assistance  on  the  farm  as  he  was  able,  and 


882 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wlien  fifteen  years  old  started  out  in  life 
for  his  own  account.  For  two  years  he 
was  employed  by  George  Bryant,  of  Am- 
hei'st  township,  then  going  to  Oherlin 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand  in  llussia  town- 
ship, receiving  twenty  dollars  a  month  for 
three  years.  On  November  22,  1864,  he 
married  Theresa  Schmidt,  a  native  of 
Grafton  township,  Lorain  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Schmidt,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage bought  a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  the 
"  Schmidt  Homestead,"  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  1878  he  erected  his  pleasant 
residence,  and  has  made  many  other  im- 
provements on  the  place,  increasing  the 
area  of  the  farm  until  he  now  has  180 
acres  of  choice  aral)le  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldauf  are  the  parents 
of  the  following  named  cliildren:  Mar- 
garet (wife  of  Joseph  Klinkshirn,  a  farmer 
of  Avon  township),  Anna  (wife  of  Anton 
Klinkshirn,  of  Avon  township),  John  (a 
farmer),  Catherine,  Frank,  Willie,  Mary, 
Charley,  Elizabeth  and  Theresa,  all  living. 
Mr.  Baldauf  has  been  an  energetic,  in- 
dustrious farmer,  economical  from  boy- 
hood, and,  though  starting  in  life  with 
nothing,  he  has  amassed  a  comfortable 
compatence.  Though  having  few  oppor- 
tunities for  an  education,  he  has,  by  ob- 
servation and  study,  acquired  a  very  fair 
store  of  practical  knowledge,  and  is  pos- 
sessed of  sound  judgment  and  good  com- 
mon sense.  Politically  he  is  a  lifelong 
Democrat,  and  in  religion  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  Chnrch  at  Eiyria.  During 
the  summer  of  1893  Mr.  Baldauf  paid  a 
visit  to  the  World's  Fair,  Chicago. 


LEWIS    WISE,    a   typical    self-made 
,   man,  and  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
\  ons  farmers    in    Grafton   township, 

was  born  January  30,  1850,  in 
Wittenberg,  Prussia,  a  son  of  Peter  Wise, 
who  was  born  November  7,  1810,  also  in 
Wittenberg,  and  married  a  native  of  that 
city  in  the  person  of  Miss  Louisa  Miller. 


In  1854  the  family,  consisting  of  father, 
mother  and  six  children — Louisa,  Fred- 
ericka,  Henry,  Lewis,  Frederick  and 
Crist — set  sail  from  Havre,  France,  for 
the  United  States,  and  after  a  voyage  of 
twenty-one  days  landed  at  New  York, 
toward  the  latter  part  of  December.  From 
that  port  they  came  west  to  Liverpool, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  traveling  by  rail  to 
Cleveland,  from  which  point  Peter's 
brother  brought  them  by  wagon  to  Liver- 
pool township,  Medina  county,  where  they 
arrived  on  Christmas  Day.  In  Germany 
Peter  Wise  had  been  well-to-do,  but 
through  going  security  for  a  friend,  who 
afterward  failed  in  business,  he  lost  over 
two  thousand  dollars.  In  Liverpool  town- 
ship, Medina  county,  he  rented  a  farm  for 
a  short  time,  and  then  removed  to  Co- 
lumbia township,  Lorain  county,  later  com- 
ing to  Grafton  township,  same  county, 
where  he  bought  fifty  acres  of  wild  laud 
on  credit,  and  here  lived  seven  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  moved  to  the 
farm  whereon  he  died  August  8,  1886; 
his  wife  had  passed  away  June  19,  1883, 
and  both  are  interred  in  Belden  cemetery. 
lu  Ohio  the  family  was  increased  by  three 
children,  as  follows:  Hannah  J.,  born 
September  11,  1857;  Catherine  S.,  born 
September  12,  1859.  and  Jacob  J.,  born 
July  24,  1SG4.  The  parents  were  hard- 
working, industrious  people  accumulating 
a  comfortable  competence,  and  they  were 
honored  and  respected  by  all. 

Lewis  Wise,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  four  years  old  when  the 
family  came  from  Germany  to  America. 
In  course  of  time  he  and  his  brother  Henry 
purchased  land,  going  in  debt  nine  thou- 
sand six  hundred  dollars  for  it,  and  the 
predictions  of  many  were  that  "the  AVise 
boys  would  fail."  But  these  ominous 
words  were  not  fated  to  come  true,  for  the 
"Wise  boys''  did  not  fail;  on  the  con- 
trary, they  succeeded,  by  dint  of  hard  work 
and  judicious  economy,  in  paying  off  every 
dollar  of  their  indebtedness.  At  the  end 
of  fifteen  years  (in  1886)  the  brothers  ef- 


LOR  Am  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


883 


fec'ted  an  amicable  division  of  tlie  property, 
each  one  settling  on  his  own  share.  Our 
sniiject  has  an  excellent  piece  of  land  and 
a  comfortable  residence,  surrounded  with 
commodious  outbuildings,  including  a  very 
tine  barn,  and  everything  pertaining  to  a 
well-regulated   farm. 

On  January  6,  1874,  Mr.  Wise  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Liverpool,  Ohio,  by 
Ilev.  Scheliha,  with  Miss  Catherine  M. 
Law,  who  was  born  November  29,  1854, 
in  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Law.  The  children 
born  to  them  were  as  follows:  George  H., 
born  November  27,  1S74;  Clara  L.,  born 
September  19,  1876,  deceased  December 
11,  1876;  Charles  W.,  born  October  26, 
1877;  Herman  J.  P.,  born  July  29,  1886; 
Louisa  A.,  born  March  21,  1884,  deceased 
July  13,  1886;  Eddie  J.,  born  October  6, 
1888;  and  Arthur  L.,  born  April  23, 1893. 
Politically  Mr.  Wise  is  a  Detnocrat,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  he 
has  been  trustee  for  over  ten  years. 


TjEKOME  MANVILLE,  a  well-known 

k.  I    member  of  the  agricultural  commun- 

^^J    ity  of  LaGrange  township,  was  born 

May  28,  1823.   in   Jetferson    county, 

New  York. 

His  father,  Henry  Manville,  was  one  of 
a  large  family  of  children  born  to  David 
Manville,  who  removed  from  Meriden, 
Conn.,  to  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  Henry 
Manville,  who  was  a  farmer,  married  Miss 
Matilda  Wait,  and  they  had  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter,  as  follows:  Henry  W., 
of  Crawford  county.  Penn. ;  George  C,  of 
Amboy,  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio;  a  son  that 
died  in  infancy  unnamed;  Hiram  D.,  of 
Minnesota;  Jerome,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Milton,  a  farmer  of  Crawford  county, 
Penn.;  Chester  C,  of  Elyria,  Ohio;  and 
Mary  M.,  deceased  in  Michigan,  who  tirst 
married  David  Ambrose,  and  later  Myron 


Bronson.  Mr.  Manville  built  a  sawmill 
on  his  farm  (^which  was  a  good  one),  and 
just  had  his  business  in  o;ood  running 
order,  when  he  died,  on  February  23, 
1833,  aged  thirty-six  years.  After  the 
father's  decease  the  family  becatne  scat- 
tered, and  the  widow  was  married  in  La- 
Grange,  Ohio,  to  R.  Humphrey,  moving 
to  Crawford  county,  Penn.  By  this  union 
she  had  three  children,  viz.:  James  R.,  of 
Kansas;  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy, 
and  Orson,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The 
mother  died  July  3,  1866,  and  was  buried 
in  Center  cemetery. 

Jerome  Manville  attended  the  common 
schools  until  ten  years  of  age,  when  his 
father  died,  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave 
home  and  live  among  strangers  and  rela- 
tives, like  the  rest  of  the  family.  He 
spent  his  tirst  season  with  one  Rotiers,  a 
farm  agent,  and  then  made  his  home  for  a 
time  with  Nathan  P.  Johnson,  who  moved 
to  Ohio.  Our  subject  next  resided  with 
Dorastus  Waite,  and  in  February,  1835, 
came  with  him  to  Ohio,  walking  the 
greater  part  of  the  way.  After  his  arrival 
here  he  went  to  live  with  his  former  em- 
ployer, Nathan  P.  Johnson,  with  whom  he 
remained  till  he  was  nearly  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  working  hard  and  saving  his 
earnings.  On  October  20,  1847,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cynthia  M. 
Merriam,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Sylvester  and 
Cynthia  (Johnson)  Merriam,  who  settled 
in  LaGrange  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
prior  to  1830.  After  his  marriage  our 
subject  rented  the  farm  of  his  father-in- 
law,  and  made  his  home  thereon  until 
1849,  when  he  purchased  his  present  place, 
then  comprising  forty  acres,  which  he  has 
since  increased  to  110  acres. 

To  Jerome  and  Cynthia  M.  Manville 
were  born  children  as  follows:  Charles  D., 
born  July  16,  1848,  at  one  time  a  tele- 
graph operator  in  the  employ  of  the  "  Big 
Four"  Tlailway,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight  years;  and  Adelbert  B.,  born 
May  9,  1853,  Frederick  E.,  born  January 


884 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


31,  1855,  Rector  J.,  bom  November  19, 
1857,  and  Jennie  M.,  born  January  5, 
1862,  all  fonr  deceased  when  young.  The 
mother  of  these  died  November  80,  1890, 
and  was  buried  in  Center  cemetery,  and  on 
March  29,  1892,  Mr.  Manville  married 
Miss  Mary  J.  Thickstuu,  a  native  of  Craw- 
ford county,  Penn.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Rachel  (Freeman)  Thickstun. 

Mr.  Manville  has  also  two  houses  and 
lots  and  four  vacant  lots  in  LaGrange  vil- 
lage. Since  residing  on  his  present  place 
he  has  made  many  improvements  thereon. 
In  spite  of  his  lack  of  educational  advan- 
tages in  early  life,  he  has  acquired  a  good 
])ractical  business  training,  and  this,  com- 
,  bined  witli  good  judgment  and  conanion 
sense,  has  brought  him  success.  He  is  a 
man  of  much  natural  intelligence  and 
ability.  In  political  connection  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  holds  the 
office  of  steward;  Mrs.  Manville  is  a  mem- 
ber ot  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist. 


T  ACOB  P.  BRECKENRIDGE,  more 
k.  I  familiarly  known  by  his  many  friends 
\Jj  as  "  Jake  Breckenridge,"  a  name  as 
widely  known  as  his  many  kind  acts 
and  hospitable  deeds  are,  deserves  more 
than  a  passing  notice  in  this  Commemora- 
tive Record. 

He  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  born  April  3,  1827,  in  Morristown, 
St.  Lawrence  county,  a  son  of  Justin  and 
Elizabeth  K.  (Pohlman)  Breckenridge,  the 
latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Lower  Canada 
(now  Province  of  Quebec)  in  August, 
1803,  of  German  parents.  Justin  Breck- 
enridge was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt.,  July 
30,  1798.  a  son  of  Daniel  Breckenridge, 
who  in  his  family  of  children  had  Hve 
sons — Norman,  Lewis,  Justin,  Daniel  and 
James— three  of  whom,  Norman,  Lewis 
and  Justin,  came  to  Lorain  county,  locat- 
ing in  Camden  township. 


Justin  Breckenridge  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  but  he  was  a  natural  mechanic,  doing 
all  kinds  of  carpenter  work,  including  the 
building  of  barns,  etc.,  though  he  never 
learned  the  trade.  While  living  in  New 
York  State  eight  children  were  born  to 
this  old  pioneer  and  his  wife:  Daniel,  de- 
ceased in  Grafton  township;  Jacob  P., 
subject  of  this  memoir;  Cecilia,  who  mar- 
ried Frank  Marlatt,  died  in  Michigan; 
Lewis,  an  attorney  of  Elyria,  (^hio,  who 
died  in  Cleveland,  where  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  library  for  some  time;  Nar- 
cissa,  wife  of  James  Golden,  residing  in 
Santa  Barbara,  Cal.;  Benjamin,  who  died 
in  Minnesota;  John,  a  wholesale  merchant 
and  well-to-do  citizen  of  Baltimore,  Md. 
(he  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Civil  war);  and 
llannal),  Mrs.  William  Durand,  of  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio.  In  1841  the  family  came  to 
Ohio,  the  trip  from  Ogdensburg  (N.  Y.) 
to  Cleveland  being  made  by  boat,  and  from 
there  they  proceeded  by  road  to  Camden 
township,  Lorain  county,  making  a  stay  at 
the  home  of  one  of  Justin's  brothers.  Soon 
afterward  the  father  pui-chased  a  farm  in 
Pittstield  township,  but  after  a  two  months' 
residence  there  he  removed  to  Grafton 
township,  settling  about  half  a  mile  south 
of  Rawsonville.  One  child  was  born  to 
him  in  Lorain  county,  named  Eleanor  S., 
now  Mrs.  Henry  H.  Hitchcock,  of  Grafton 
township.  Justin  Breckenridge  died  Jan- 
uary 30,  1874,  his  wife  in  1871,  and  they 
sleep  their  last  sleep  in  Nesbit  cemetery. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican, 
originally  a  Whig,  and  one  of  the  precinct 
voting  places  in  the  fall  of  1840,  for  the 
election  of  W.  H.  Harrison,  was  at  his 
house  in  New  York  State.  He  was  a  hard- 
working man,  strong  and  muscular,  and 
possessed  of  wonderful  endurance. 

The  subject  proper  of  our  sketch  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his 
place  of  birth,  and  early  in  life  was  in- 
ducted into  the  mysteries  of  agricultural 
pursuits.     At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


885 


came  to  Oliio,  and  the  rest  of  his  boyhood 
and  his  youth  were  passed  in  the  then 
wilds  of  Grafton  township,  Lorain 
county,  which  he  materially  assisted  in 
clearing  and  subduing  to  a  condition  of 
fertility.  Until  184:4  he  continued  to  live 
M'ith  his  parents,  and  then  moved  to  his 
present  farm,  which  at  that  time  was 
covered  with  heavy  timber  and  under- 
growth, which  he  at  once  set  to  work  to 
clear.  He  has  cut  logs  on  this  farm  six 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  butt,  and  fifty-four 
feet  eight  inches  in  length,  to  the  first 
limb,  when  the  diameter  was  thirty-nine 
inches.  On  February  22,  1853,  Mr. 
Breckenridge  was  married  to  Fanny  Wood- 
mansee,  who  bore  him  three  children:  A 
daughter  that  died  in  infancy;  Lucy,  now 
Mrs^  Mathews,  of  Albion,  Mich.;  and 
Charles,  a  farmer  of  Grafton  township, 
Lorain  county.  Mr.  Breckenridge  was  di- 
vorced from  this  wife,  and  he  subsequently 
married  Mrs.  Lucinda  (Darwin)  Blanchard, 
a  widow  lady  of  LaGrange  township,  Lorain 
county.  Politically  our  subject  is  an  out- 
and-out  Republican,  and  he  says  that  as  a 
reader  for  many  years  of  the  Cleveland 
Leader  and  Elyria  Repuhllean  he  is  thor- 
oughly convinced  that  his  political  lean- 
ings are  in  the  right  channel. 


IfffERBERT  CHAPIN,  a  representa- 
I^H  tive  wide-awake  native-born  agri- 
I  1[  cnlturist  of  Lorain  county,  first  saw 
■J)  the  light  of  day  in  North  Amherst, 
February  25,  1854. 
He  is  a  son  of  A.  and  Julia  (Broughton) 
Chapin,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, born  in  1816,  tlie  latter  of  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  born  in  1831. 
The  father  came  to  Lorain  county  in  1835, 
and  in  1851  married  Julia  Broughton, 
who  bore  him  children  as  follows:  Emma; 
Herbert;  Charles;  Anna,  wife  of  Frank 
Starr,  of  Camden  township,  Lorain  county; 
Mary,  at   home;  and    William,   attending 


college  at  Oberlin.  The  father  of  this 
family  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  some  years  in  North  Amherst, 
and  then  removed  to  Brownhelm  township 
where  he  is  yet  living  with  his  son  Her- 
bert. His  wife  died  in  1886.  Aaron 
Chapin,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  came 
to  Lorain  county  in  an  early  day,  and  died 
here;  grandfather  Broughton  was  also  an 
early  settler  of  this  county. 

Herbert  Cha])in  since  four  years  of  age 
has  lived  in  Brownhelm  township,  where 
he  received  his  education  and  was  inducted 
into  the  mysteries  of  the  farm.  He  is  one 
of  the  active  young  tnen  of  his  township, 
and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  advancement  and  pros- 
perity of  the  county,  advocating  good 
schools,  good  roads  and  all  else  tending  to 
public  improvement.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  affiliations,  and  a  member 
of  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  Mr.  Chapin  is 
owner  of  a  snug  farm  of  seventy-five  acres, 
all  under  fine  cultivation. 


\ILL1AM  BACON  is  one  of  the 
earliest  born  citizens  of  Lorain 
county,  having  first  seen  the  light 
in  1819,  in  Brownhelm  township, 
on  the  farm  whereon  he  now  lives,  located 
between  Brownhelm  postotfice  and  Bacon's 
mills,  on  the  Vermillion  river. 

He  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Bacon,  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Old  Stock- 
bridge,  whence  in  1818  he  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  making  a  settlement  where 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  lives,  hav- 
ing liought  wild  land  from  one  Henry 
Brown.  In  1820  he  erected  a  mill  at  what 
is  known  as  "  Mill  Hollow,"  on  the  Ver- 
million river,  and  about  1835  increased  its 
capacity  from  one  set  of  burrs  to  two  sets. 
Ten  years  later  he  equipped  it  with  modern 
improvements.  He  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, first  time  to  Ruth  Gifford,  who  was 
born  in  Lee,  Mass.,  in  1797,  and  died  in 
1819.     By  this  union  there  were  two  chll- 


886 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


dren:  William,  and  Mary  C,  wifeof  J.  A. 
Perry.  For  his  second  wife  Benjamin 
Bacon  married  Lydia  Atwater,  and  two 
children — Lydia  aud  Samuel — were  born 
to  them.  For  his  third  wife  he  wedded 
Miss  Anna  W.  Graham,  a  native  of  West 
Hartford,  Conn.,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren: T,  H.,  Julia  and  Sarah.  The  father 
passed  away  in  18G8  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years. 

William  Bacon,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  received  such  education  as  was 
obtainable  at  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  primitive  days  of  his  boyhood.  In 
1841  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Cooper, 
and  four  children  were  the  results  of  their 
union,  as  follows:  (1)  William  S.,  married 
and  has  three  children — Leonard,  Ella  and 
Gertrude;  (2)  Lemuel,  now  living  in  Dover, 
Ohio;  (3)  Mary  R.,  wife  of  W.  H.  Moul- 
ten,  has  one  child — Ruth;  and  (4)  Benja- 
min A.,  has  two  children — Lottie  E.  and 
Edna  L.  Mr.  Bacon  in  his  political  pre- 
dilections was  in  his  early  days  an  Old- 
line  Henry  Clay  Whig,  and  of  late  years 
has  been  a  stanch  Republican. 


L 


IVA  BROWN,   a    highly  respected 

citizen  of  Brownlielm  township,  is  a 

native  of  New   York  State,  born   in 

Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  December  8, 

1830,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Adaline  (Peck) 

Brown. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
New  York  State,  and  about  1836  came  to 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  the  town  of 
Florence  for  a  time,  but  later  movintr  to 
Vermillion,  same  county,  thence  to  Brown- 
helm  township,  Lorain  county.  In  1851 
he  moved  to  Marshall,  Mich.,  where  he 
died  in  1886  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  He  was  an  active  politician,  voting 
the  straight  Democratic  ticket.  His  wife 
died  when  thirty-three  years  old.  Five 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Mary, 
widow  of  James  Raney;  Liva;  Jane,  who 


married  A.  Thompson,  aud  afterward  mar- 
ried Nuten  Case  (she  lives  in  Marshall, 
Mich.);  Jerry,  in  Wisconsin;  and  Sallie, 
wife  of  Charles  Bodtish,  of  Vermillion, 
Ohio.  Both  the  paternal  and  maternal 
grandparents  of  our  subject  died  in  New 
York  State. 

Liva  Brown,  whose  name  appears  at  the 
opening  of  this  sketch,  was  about  six  years 
old  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  Ohio, 
lie  received  a  fair  education  at  the  public 
schools,  and  was  trained  to  farming  pur- 
suits, but  for  about  thirty-one  years  de- 
voted his  time  chiefly  to  the  buying  and 
selling  of  wool,  live  stock,  etc.;  for  the 
past  few  years,  however,  he  has  withdrawn 
from  that  work  and  contiued  himself  to 
farming,  as  better  suited  to  his  health.  In 
1851  Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Clarissa 
Harris,  who  was  born  at  Berlin,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio,  February  13,  1832,  and  four  chil- 
dren— one  son  and  three  daughters — have 
been  born  to  them,  as  follows:  (1)  Jerry, 
born  December  6,  1851,  married  October 
11.  1882,  to  Lillie  L.  Penson  (they  have 
four  children:  Manda  S.,  Liva,  Orrin  D. 
and  Blanche);  (2)  Ara,  married  January  1, 
1872,  to  Wilber  Wood,  of  Brownhelm, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio  (two  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  a  daughter.  Bertha,  born 
February  20,  1873,  and  a  son,  Liva,  born 
in  1875,  and  died  in  1879;  Ara  Wood 
died  at  Cheboygan,  Mich.,  January  25, 
1885);  (3)  Bertha,  born  May  16,  1859, 
married  May  23,  1880,  to  John  Hull,  of 
Brownhelui,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died 
June  23,  1880;  and  (4)  Clara,  born  Octo- 
ber 13,  1869.  In  his  political  affiliations 
Mr.  Brown  is  a  Democrat. 


A.  STITRTEVANT,  dealer  in  real 
estate,  in  the  town  of  Lorain,  is  de- 
scended, on  his  father's  side,  from  an 
old  New  York  Dutch  family  who 
originally  spelled  their  name  Stuyvesant, 
of  whom  Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  last  Gov- 
enor  of  New  Netherland  (New  York),  was 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


887 


a  tneniber.  A  "  Tree  "  of  the  family,  now 
in  possession  of  one  of  them,  shows  their 
lineage  back  over  six  hundred  years. 

Aslier  Sturtevant,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y., 
and  married  an  Englishwoman  who  lived 
to  be  one  hundred  and  five  years  old.  Our 
subject's  paternal  great-grandmother  was 
a  full-blooded  French  woman,  while  on  his 
mother's  side  he  comes  of  Welsh  and  Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

Horace  Sturtevant,  father  of  C.  A.,  was 
born  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Sarah  "Weeks,  his  sec- 
ond wife;  they  moved  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  be  passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  farmer,  and  afterward  a 
watchman  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company 
in  C'leveland.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  Seventy-Sixth  O.  V.  I.,  and  was 
under  Gens.  Osterhouse  and  Sherman. 
Afterward  he  was  transferred  to  Washing- 
ton,  D.C.,  and  was  one  of  the  soldiers  who 
guarded  Lincoln  after  he  was  shot.  He 
served  in  the  army  nearly  live  years,  and 
then  received  an  honorable  discharge.  His 
widow  is  now  aged  seventy-two  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  all  yet 
living. 

C.  A.  Sturtevant  was  born  in  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  November  5,  1852,  and  came  west 
with  his  parents  when  seven  years  old. 
He  received  a  fair  district-school  educa- 
tion, and  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and 
nineteen  had  to  work  hard  on  his  father's 
farm,  for,  being  the  eldest  in  the  family, 
and  his  father  much  disabled  through  ex- 
posure while  in  the  army,  a  great  deal  of 
the  duties  about  the  home  place  devolved 
on  him.  When  nineteen  years  old  he 
commenced  to  work  for  the  Standard  Oil 
Co.  in  Cleveland — first  as  timekeeper  and 
then  as  foreman.  On  leaving  this  he 
learned  the  trade  of  plumber,  gas  and 
steam  fitter;  but  abandoning  this  business 
he  took  up  tliat  of  contractor  and  builder, 
making  a  good  success,  erecting  as  many 
as  forty-two  houses  in   one  year,    besides 


the  Gas  Works.  He  then  merged  into 
the  real-estate  business.  He  came  to  Lo- 
rain in  May,  1881,  and  has  been  identified 
with  a  number  of  interests  since  living 
here. 

He  was  married  in  1876,  and  has  five 
children:  Ida,  Ada,  Ira,  Eva  and  Ora. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  Harrison  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
had  a  half-brother  who  died  in  1862  in 
Helena,  Ark.,  while  a  soldier. 


B 


Q)  ENJAMIN    WADSWORTH,    the 
largest  landowner  among;  the  agri- 


culturists of  Lorain  county,  and  a 
most  progressive  and  enterprising 
citizen,  was  born  in  Becket,  Mass.,  May  16, 
1821,  a  son  of  Lorin  Wadsworth,  also  a 
native  of  Becket,  where  he  was  born  in 
1800. 

Benjamin  Wadsworth,  grandfather  of 
subject,  came  from  the  East  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  and  took  up  land  in  Well- 
ington township,  whereon  he. lived  seventy 
years,  and  which  is  yet  known  as  the  old 
family  homestead.  His  son  Lorin  came 
west  in  aboait  the  year  1821,  and  made  his 
first  home  in  Lorain  county  in  the  log 
cabin  his  father  had  erected  in  Wellington 
township.  Here  he  carried  on  agriculture 
till  within  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1862.  He  was  in  poli- 
tics originally  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican, 
and  in  church  atiSliation  he  was  a  Presby- 
terian. At  the  time  of  his  coming  to 
Wellington,  now  a  flourishing  city,  there 
were  only  four  or  five  houses  in  the  place. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
liberal  public-school  education,  and  worked 
on  his  father's  farm  till  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  old,  when  he  embarked  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  his  own  account,  his 
first  farm  comprising  ninety-fivo  acres  of 
wild  land,  to  which  he  from  time  to  time 
added  until  now  ho  is  the  owner  of  1,014 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


acres,  making  hitn  tbe  largest  landowner 
in  the  farming  community  of  the  county. 
For  many  years  lie  reared,  grazed  and  sold 
sheep,  at  one  time  effecting  a  sale  amount- 
ing to  four  thousand  dollars.  In  May, 
1851,  he  married  Miss  Maria  E.  Ames, 
who  was  born  in  Becket,  Mass.,  in  1825, 
and  they  have  two  children,  viz.:  Elmer, 
married,  and  living  on  one  of  his  father's 
farms;  and  Jane,  married  to  Frank  J. 
Eckels,  also  living  on  one  of  the  farms. 
Their  family  numbers  si.x  children,  named 
as  follows:  Elmer  P.,  Jennie  W.,  Ilerron 
Ames,  Frank,  Jr.,  Maria  and  James  Starr. 
In  his  political  predilections  Mr.  Wads- 
worth  is  a  strong  Republican,  originally  an 
Old-line  Whig.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  gave  four 
thousand  dollars  to  assist  in  building  their 
handsome  twenty  -  four  -  thousand  -  dollar 
church  in  Wellington.  For  the  Civil  war 
he  furnished  a  substitute,  paying  four 
hundred  and  twenty-live  dollars  for  the 
same,  besides  helping  the  cause  in  many 
other  ways.  Though  blind,  he  went  to 
the  "World's  Fair,"  and  has  a  very  good 
idea  of  its  wonderful  magnitude. 


/^EORGE  CLIFTON.  ISTot  in  Avon 
I  l!  township,  nor  indeed  iu  all  the 
\^  county  of  Lorain,  is  there  to  be 
)^  found  any  citizen,  in  any  sphere  of 
life,  who  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
higher  degree  of  respect  than  was  in  his 
lifetime  the  gentleman  whose  name  here 
appears. 

Mr.  Clifton  was  born,  in  1813,  in 
Northaniptonshire,  one  of  the  midland  coun- 
ties of  England,  a  son  of  William  Clifton, 
a  native  of  the  same  county,  where  during 
nearly  all  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  gardening.  William  was 
there  married,  and  children  were  born  to  him 
as  follows:  William,  George,  John,  Fanny, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Rosana,  and  one  other 
daughter  whose  name  is  not  remembered. 
The  parents  died  in  England. 


At  about  the  age  of  eighteen  or  twenty 
George  Clifton  immigrated  to  America, 
and  after  landing  came  at  once  westward 
to  Oliio,  making  a  halt  in  Avon  township, 
Lorain  county.  Here  he  entered  the  serv- 
ice of  Joel  Townshend,  remaining  with 
him  some  years,  earning  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  employer  by  his  steady 
habits  and  plodding  industry.  Leaving 
Mr.  Townshend,  he  next  found  employ- 
ment on  a  lake  vessel  in  the  capacity  of 
steward,  winning  during  his  stay  on  the 
ship  the  utmost  confidence  of  the  captain 
and  others,  by  his  characteristic  devotion 
to  his  duty,  and  his  obliging  manner  to  all 
alike. 

After  a  residence  of  a  year  or  two  in 
this  country,  our  subject  revisited  his  na- 
tive land,  where  he  married  Miss  Ann 
Moore,  a  resident  of  Northamptonshire. 
The  young  couple  then  set  out  for  their 
new  home  in  the  "  Far  West,"  coming  di- 
rect to  Lorain  county  and  to  Avon  town- 
ship, in  the  eastern  part  of  which  they 
made  a  settlement.  Here  he  took  up 
agriculture,  which  he  followed  successfully 
until  retiring  from  active  work.  Moving 
to  the  present  homestead,  he  here  erected 
large  and  substantial  buildings,  and  here 
some  of  the  family  are  yet  living.  Tiie 
children  born  to  George  Clifton  were  one 
son  that  died  in  infancy,  and  one, daugh- 
ter, Rosana,  now  Mrs.  E.  P.  Burrill,  of 
Sheffield  township.  The  mother  of  these 
dying  in  1856,  in  September,  1857,  Mr. 
Clifton  married  Miss  Bessie,  daughter  of 
John  Charlton,  of  Leicestershire,  England, 
by  which  union  there  were  three  children, 
viz.:  Alice  and  Lena  (deceased  in  in- 
fancy) and  S.  G.  (who  now  conducts  the 
home  farm). 

Mr.  Clifton  was  a  representative  self- 
made  man — a  pioneer  of  the  truest  type — 
whose  courage  and  perseverance,  coupled 
with  sound  judgment,  judicious  economy 
and  untiring  industry,  aided  him  in  his 
hard  struggle  to  found  a  home.  "  He 
filled  the  otfice  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
several  terms,  was  auditor  of   the  county 


Qv<r>-r^   ^y^J^rz^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


891 


four  years,  and  was  also  county  commis- 
sioner tor  a  term  or  two,  all  of  which  offices  he 
tilled  with  ability  and  integrity.  *  *  He 
was  withal  a  ^reat  reader,  and  kept  him- 
self thoroughly  informed  not  only  on  the 
affairs  of  this  country,  but  of  European 
countries  as  well.  A  stanch  Republican, 
he  always  gave  our  Government  his  hearty 
support.  In  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he 
was  very  active  in  the  work  of  procuring 
recruits,  giving  more  than  any  other  man 
in  the  township  toward  raising  the  quota 
of  soldiers,  though  on  account  of  his  age 
not  subject  to  the  draft.  On  account  of 
his  knowledge  of  law,  and  also  his  abili- 
ties  as  a  financier,  his  advice  was  sought 
by  many  who  always  found  him  a  willing 
and  safe  adviser.  Much  more  might  be 
truly  said  in  praise  of  him,  but  time  for- 
bids. His  place  is  not  easily  filled."  In 
1861  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
equalization.  Mr.  Clifton  died  February 
7, 1883. 


^J 


NATHANIEL  TOMPKINS,  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  the  early  pioneer 
families  of  Eaton  township,  was 
born  in  1829  in  Tompkins  county, 
N.  Y.  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Betsy  (Tellis)  Tompkins,  were  born  in 
1805  in  Newfield,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  in  early  pioneer  days  came  thence  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Eaton 
township. 

Nathaniel  Tompkins  was  about  four 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Eaton  ti)wnship,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  Mr.  Tompkins  was  first 
married  in  New  York,  in  1861,  to  Mary 
O.  Benedict,  who  died  in  Lorain  county 
in  1881,  and  in  1885  he  married,  in 
Eaton  township,  for  his  second  wife.  Miss 
Esther  A.  Earl,  a  native  of  Lorain  county. 
Mrs.  Tompkins  is  a  daughter  of  liecom- 
pense  Crowell  Earl,  who  was  born  March 
10,  1799,  in  Essex  county,  N.  J.  In 
1813  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Tomp- 


kins county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  till 
1825,  when  he  married  Miss  Anna 
Fauver.  In  1836  they  canie  with  their 
five  children  to  Eaton,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  in  1828  Mr.  Earl  had  purchased 
twenty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1885. 
Mr.  Tompkins  rents  the  twenty  acres  of 
land  which  his  father-in-law  purchased, 
now  well  cultivated  and  highly  improved, 
where  he  carries  on  general  farming.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  In  1864  he 
went  to  Michigan,  where  he  resided  for 
some  years. 


fr^j  ICHARD  WELLS  POMROY,who 

l^^    is  prominent  in  social  and  Insur- 

I    ^  aiico  circles,  is  a  native  of  Bristol, 

Jj  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whei'e  he  was 

born  June  3, 1825,  the  son  of  Sain- 

uel  and  Penelope  (Allen)  Pomroy. 

His  father  was  a  native  of  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  was  a  man  of  remarkable  vigor, 
being  ninety-four  years  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Mr.  Pomroy  came  of  a  family 
remarkable  for  their  longevity,  the  grand- 
father and  one  uncle  living  to  be  ninety- 
four  years  of  age,  while  two  other  uncles 
reached  the  age  of  ninety-three  and  ninety- 
five  respectively. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his 
education  at  the  Academy  at  Canandaigua, 
N.  Y.  He  then  taught  school  for  a  time, 
after  which  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  his  own  town,  remaining  in 
the  same  until  1857,  in  which  year  he 
came  to  Ohio.  Here  he  was  engaged  in 
the  same  business  until  1870,  when  he 
abandoned  that  line  and  took  up  the  In- 
surance business,  to  which  he  has  since 
given  his  entire  attention.  He  commenced 
exclusively  in  Life  Insurance,  which 
branch  he  carried  on  for  three  years,  since 
when  he  has  been  in  Fire  Insurance  alone, 
having  built  up  a  large  business. 

Mr.  Pomroy  was  married  April  10, 
1853,  to  Miss  Annie  L.  Sisson,   daughter 


892 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  General  Horatio  and  Clotilda  Taylor 
Sisson,  natives  of  Ontario  county,  N.  Y., 
and  seven  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Frances  L.  is  the  wife 'of  Dr.  H.  Pomeroy, 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Grace  S.  is  the  wife 
of  Watson  E.  Boise,  clerk  of  the  State 
Legislature  of  North  Dakota;  Mary  E. 
and  Alice  C.  are  both  teachers;  Charles 
W.,  the  only  son,  is  connected  with  the 
Western  Automatic  Screw  Company,  of 
Elyria;  Annie  M.  is  a  teacher  of  music  in 
the  Conservatory  at  Grand  Forks,  North 
Dakota;  and  Harriet  A. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Pomroy  was  originally 
a  Whig,  and,  since  the  formation  of  the 
party,  has  been  a  stanch  Republican. 


El   THEW,  for  over  forty  years  a  resi- 
dent of   Columbia    township,  is    a 
]   native  of  New  York   State,  born   in 

Clinton  county  in  1816,  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Electa  (Nichols)  Thew,  also  of 
that  State,  who  both  died  in  Clinton 
county.  They  reared  a  family  of  eleven 
sons  (three  of  whom  served  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion),  their  names  being  as  fol- 
lows: Robert,  Eleazar,  Gilbert,  Garret, 
Henry,  Charles,  Nathan,  John,  Josephus, 
Betbuel  and  James. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his 
education  at  the  schools  of  Clinton  county, 
N.  Y.,  in  those  early  days  held  in  a  log 
cabin  with  very  primitive  furnishings. 
He  was  thoroughly  trained  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  has  been  a  lifelong  farmer, 
having  now  a  well-cultivated  piece  of  land 
of  some  ninety-five  acres  in  Columbia 
township.  He  was  married,  in  1837,  in 
Clinton  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Mary 
Calkins,  a  native  thereof,  and  in  1852 
they  came  to  Lorain  county,  where  Mr. 
Thew  bought  a  partly -improved  farm,  on 
which  he  erected  a  good  residence  and 
barn.  Two  children,  both  now  deceased, 
were   born    to    this    union,  viz.:  Cornelia, 


married  to  Lemuel  Osborne,  and  Eliza- 
beth. The  mother  of  these  died,  and  in 
1872  Mr.  Thew  wedded  Miss  Amanda 
McNichols,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who 
came  when  a  child  to  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  where  she  was  reared.  Politically 
Mr.  Thew  is  a  Democrat,  and  served  his 
township  as  trustee  one  term. 


'HARLES  W.  SUMNER,  a  retired 
school  teacher,  now  a  prosperous 
agriculturist  of  Eaton  township,  was 
born  inMedinacounty,Ohio,in  1854. 
Clement  Sumner,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Vermont,  and  about  1853  came  to 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  For  some  years 
he  had  taught  school  in  Ashland  and 
Holmes  counties,  same  State.  In  Medina 
county  he  married  Mrs.  Almira  (Hier) 
Gardner  (widow  of  Lewis  Gardner),  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  their  only  child 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  They  died 
in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  the  father  in 
1873,  the  mother  in  1888.  Clement 
Sumner  had  been  previously  married,  and 
his  children  by  that  union  were  Catherine, 
wife  of  Edwin  Helbert,  of  Ashland  county, 
Ohio;  Phebe,  wife  of  Samuel  MuUin,  of 
Jewell  county,  Kans. ;  and  Solon,  married, 
residing  in  Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y. 
Mrs.  Almira  (Hier)  Sumner  by  her  iirst 
husband  had  five  children,  as  follows: 
Andrew  (married),  a  farmer  of  Brunswick, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio;  Lucas  (married),  a 
farmer  of  Page  county,  Iowa;  Lewis  (mar- 
ried), a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Lucinda,  wife 
of  William  Johnson,  of  Preemption,  Mer- 
cer Co.,  111.;  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  Christian 
Winegar,  of  Saranac,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich. 
Grandfather  Sumner  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, while  grandfather  Hier  was  from 
Germany,  in  an  early  day  immigrating  to 
Massachusetts,  thence  moving  with  an  ox- 
team  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  in  1868,  being  preceded  to  the  grave 
by  his  wife. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


893 


Charles  W.  Sumner  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years  commenced  teaching 
in  the  same  county,  continuing  three  suc- 
cessive terms  at  the  home  district  school, 
later  in  township  schools  in  Eaton  and 
Columbia  townships,  moving  to  Eaton 
township  in  1889.  In  Columbia  town- 
ship he  resided  some  ten  years.  In  1888 
he  gave  up  teaching,  and  has  since  applied 
his  attention  solely  to  farming,  on  his 
place  of  ninety  acres,  which  he  owns. 

In  1878,  in  Eaton  township,  Mr.  Sum- 
ner was  married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Long- 
bon,  a  native  of  the  township,  daughter  of 
John  J.  and  Ellen  (Walker)  Longbon, 
early  pioneers  of  Eaton,  where  the  father 
died  in  1888.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sumner 
were  born  children  as  follows:  Ellen,  Irvin, 
Mary,  Earl  (deceased  at  the  age  of  five 
years)  and  Grace  (deceased  at  the  age  of 
three).  Originality  and  good  judgment 
are  the  most  prominent  characteristics  of 
Mr.  Sumner,  who  is  a  Repuldican  in  his 
political  sympathies,  and  is  a  highly- re- 
spected citizen. 


rW.  PIEECE.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life, 
_^  one  among  the  most  active  business 
men  in  the  town  of  Lorain. 
His  ancestors  were  of  New  England 
origin.  His  father,  Philemon  Pierce,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
married  Miss  Diantha  Hovey,  of  the  same 
State,  and  to  them  were  born  five  children, 
viz.:  George,  Ann,  Eliza,  John  and 
Fred.  W.  Those  sterling  characteristics 
of  the  New  England  people  Philemon 
Pierce  possessed  to  a  great  degree — in- 
genuity, industry  and  economy.  Plis  trade 
was  that  of  a  carriage  builder,  which  he 
followed  through  life.    In  1850  he  left  the 

El  ace  of  his  birth  to  seek  for  himself  a 
ome  in  Ohio,  which  was  then  considered 
the  ''  Far  West."  Locating  in  Brunswick, 
Medina  county,  he  here  lived   and    worked 


at  his  trade  until  his  removal  to  Carlisle, 
Lorain  county,  where  ho  resided  until  his 
deaths  which  occurred  in  1862. 

It  was  in  the  year  1855,  amid  those 
stirring  times  just  preceding  the  Civil  war, 
that  Fred.  W.  Pierce  was  born,  on  the  first 
day  of  November.  Early  bereft  of  his 
father,  he  was  required  to  depend  on  his 
own  resources  for  a  livelihood.  When  fif- 
teen years  of  age  he  went  to  Owosso,  Mich., 
where  he  went  to  school  for  two  years. 
With  this  education,  and  that  other  equally 
important,  the  knowledge  of  a  good  trade, 
he  was  well  prepared  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life.  When  he  came  back  from 
Michigan'he  located,  in  1872,  in  Lorain. 
His  natural  inclination  leading  him  into 
mechanical  pursuits,  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship as  a  regular  carriage  builder;  but 
not  satisfied  with  this  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  Gradually  he  discontinued 
the  trade  of  carriage  b\iilding,  and  came  to 
devote  his  whole  time  to  building  and 
contracting,  which  has  absorbed  his  whole 
attention  for  the  last  seven  years.  His 
skill,  industry  and  integrity  have  won  for 
him  his  well-deserved  success,  which  has 
come  during  these  busy  years.  The  many 
buildings  which  he  has  erected  stand  as 
substantial  evidence  of  the  work,  for  which 
he  has  no  reason  to  be  ashamed.  Proini- 
nent  among  these  are  the  school  building 
in  South  Lorain  and  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  the  finest  building  in  the 
city,  erected  in  1892.  Mr.  Pierce  has  the 
knowledge  of  how  work  ought  to  be  done, 
and  the  fidelity  to  see  that  it  is  done  as 
the  contract  defines.  AVhile  thus  occupied, 
opportunities  for  some  lousiness  in  real 
estate  were  presented,  which  he  has  im- 
proved to  great  advantage,  so  that  as  a 
result  he  has  come  into  the  possession  of 
some  very  valuable  property,  which  in 
that  growing  town,  with  values  increasing, 
will  tend  to  enhance  his  wealth  largely  in 
the  future.  At  times  his  business  assumed 
large  proportions,  when  he  had  under  his 
employ  twenty  men  working  on  public 
jobs  ainoutiting  to  thousands  of  dollars. 


894 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


That  wliich  is  not  the  least  item  of  im- 
portance is  the  home  which  he  has  been 
permitted  to  build  and  enjoy.*  The  young 
lady  of  his  choice,  Miss  Addie  Bayless, 
resided  at  Kipton,  Ohio,  and  they  were 
united  in  marriage  in  Sandusky,  Ohio, 
July  3,  1877.  In  both  toils  and  successes 
the}'  have  been  partners,  and  thus  know 
how  to  enjoy  the  results  of  their  labor  and 
success.  The  truest  independence  is  to 
make  your  own  fortune,  and  enjoy  it.  Tiie 
number  of  Mr.  Pierce's  family  is  exactly 
equal  to  that  of  his  father,  viz.:  five.  They 
bear  the  names:  Pearl,  Ray,  Frank,  Clai'a 
and  Blanche. 

Like  all  wide-awake  citizens  of  this  Re- 
public, Mr.  Pierce  possesses  his  positive 
convictions  and  party  affiliations.  This 
seems  unavoidable,  where  politics  are  iu 
the  food,  and  in  the  very  air  we  breathe. 
We  grow  tliat  way.  Or  perhaps  tlie  well- 
known  law  of  heredity  may  account  for 
some  of  it.  His  father  was  identified  with 
that  party  which  had  the  honor  of  electing 
one  of  the  best  men  who  ever  occupied  the 
Presidental  chair — the  party  which  made 
the  most  brilliant  history  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that 
it  was  the  Republican  party  which  had  on 
its  roll  snch  respectable  and  heroic  politi- 
cians as  Stanton,  Chase,  Sumner  and  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  Hence  we  need  not  be 
surprised  that  a  son  of  Philemon  Pierce,  a 
Republican,  should  likewise  be  a  Republi- 
can. Mr.  Pierce  is  thus  a  well-established 
and  fixed  quantity  in  the  city  of  Lorain. 
It  is  no  small  honor  which  belongs  to  him, 
for  he  enjoys  tiie  confidence  of  its  people. 
In  obedience  to  their  call  he  is  serving  them 
oil  the  board  of  councilmeu.  They  know 
that  such  a  trust  will  be  held  in  his  hands 
with  safety.  One  of  the  most  useful  and 
beneficial  Orders  of  Lorain,  in  a  business 
line,  is  that  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  and 
there  are  many  widows  and  orphans  in 
the  town  to  bear  witness  to  its  benefits. 
Mr.  F.  W.  Pierce  was  the  twenty-fifth 
charter  member  of  the  Lorain  Lodge  of 
this  Order. 


Truly  the  outlook  for  Mr.  Pierce  is  en- 
couraging. Yet  but  a  young  man,  he 
occupies  a  good  position  among  his  fel- 
lows; he  stands  on  the  advantage  ground 
of  his  past  achievements,  and  certainly  has 
mucii  to  hope  for,  and  look  forward  to,  in 
the  years  to  come.  No  doubt  with  the 
same  careful  and  industrious  course  in  the 
future,  Time  will  dispense  his  gifts  with 
equal  generosity. 


DEACON  JOHN  SEWARD  CASE, 
one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Well- 
ington  township,  is  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut,  having  been  born   in   the 
town   of  Granby,   Hartford   county,  Julv 
11,  1808. 

He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Gideon  Case,  who 
was  born  in  Canton,  Conn.,  and  who  be- 
came an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon, 
educated  probably  in  Simsbiiry,  that  State. 
Lie  practiced  in  his  native  State  until  he 
came  to  Ohio,  in  1818,  when  he  resumed 
practice  in  Hudson,  Portage  county.  He 
was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse,  about 
the  year  1822.  His  entire  journey  from 
Connecticut  to  Ohio  was  made  in  a  three- 
horse  wagon.  He  married  Miss  Persis 
Seward,  a  native  of  Granville,  Mass.  (and 
daughter  of  Capt.  John  Seward,  of  Revo- 
lutionary fame),  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  John  Seward  is  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketchy  Gideon  W.  resides 
near  Nauvoo,  111.;  Otis  P.  resides  in 
Aurora,  Portage  county,  on  the  old  Grand- 
father Seward  homestead;  Jane  married 
Mr.  Nix,  and  died  in  Portage  county, 
Ohio;  Lucia  married  Mr.  Demming,  of 
Rootstown,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio  (she  is  now 
deceased);  Albert  died  in  Michigan  a  year 
or  two  ago;  Dr.  Almon  Case  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Legislature  of  Tennessee 
in  the  period  of  the  Civil  war,  during 
which  time  he  was  killed  by  bushwhack- 
ers, it  is  presumed  on  account  of  his  anti- 


^^^  ~dl    I  ^  c;^..AJ^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


897 


slavery  views.  The  mother  married,  for 
her  second  husband,  Arial  Case  (no  rela- 
tive of  her  first  husl)and),  and  they  after- 
ward lived  in  Kootstown,  Portage  Co., 
Ohii),  where  two  sons  were  born  to  them. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was,  as  will 
be  seen,  ten  years  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  Portage  county,  Ohio.  After  his 
school  days  he  commenced  learning  the 
trade  of  tanner  and  currier,  finishing  the 
same  at  Kent,  Portage  county.  In  No- 
vember, 1829,  he  came  to  Lorain  county, 
and  commenced  the  tanning  business,  in 
1830,  in  the  town  of  Wellington,  opposite 
where  the  ice  house  now  stands,  and  suc- 
cessfnlly  operated  the  same  until  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago,  when  he  re- 
tired from  business.  He  taught  school 
during  the  winter  of  1829-30  in  an  old 
log  house,  wliere  Mallory's  store  now 
stands,  which  cabin  was  also  used  as  a 
church  at  the  same  time.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  became  associated  with  the 
Congregational  Church,  in  which  he  has 
been  a  deacon  since  1846,  and  to  which  he 
has  contributed  liberally  of  his  means,  as 
well  as  to  all  charitable  institutions.  Mr. 
Case  has  been  twice  married:  First  time 
in  October,  1832,  to  Miss  Diantha  Blair, 
a  daughter  of  James  Blair,  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  sister  to  the  mother  of  Gov. 
Faircliild,  of  Wisconsin.  The  record  of 
the  children  of  this  union  is  as  follows: 
(1)  Celia  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Stewart,  and 
lives  in  Eomney,  Tippecanoe  Co.,  Ind.; 
she  taught  school  for  many  years  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  in  Romney.  (2)  Helen  mar- 
ried Mr.  Luther  Miller,  of  Cedar  Hill, 
Ohio,  but  nearly  all  of  her  married  life 
was  spent  in  Romney,  Ind.,  where  she  was 
buried  in  18 — ;  she  was  the  mother  of 
three  children:  Mary,  now  Mrs.  U.  Z. 
Moore,  of  Columbus;  Frank  Case,  a  recent 
graduate  of  the  Ohio  State  University,  and 
a  civil  engineer  in  Columbus;  andCassius, 
named  after  Gen.  Cassius  Fairchild,  of 
Wisconsin,  a  farmer  of  Cedar  Hill,  Ohio. 
(3)  Col.  Frank  S.  (now  deceased)  was 
an  officer  in  the  Second  Ohio  Cavalry  dur- 


ing the  Civil  war,  being  captain  of  a  com- 
pany, and  was  shot  through  the  lungs; 
after  the  war  he  was  colonel  in  the  Sev- 
enth Ohio  State  Guards,  and  on  Gov. 
Foster's  staff;  he  was  present  at  Garfield's 
inauguration  at  AVashington,  D.  C,  and 
his  was  the  largest  regiment  out  at  the 
funeral  of  that  President  in  Cleveland. 
He  was  born  December  21,  1838,  received 
his  education  at  Wellington  and  Oberlin. 
He  was  a  good  stump  speaker,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Republican  committee  of 
Logan  county.  He  died  August  9,  1887, 
from  wounds  received  in  battle.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  treasurer  of 
Logan  county,  Ohio.  His  widow,  for- 
merly Miss  Clara  Burr,  of  Brighton,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1864  while  home 
on  leave  of  absence,  now  resides  in  Belle- 
fontaine.  (4)  Emma  married  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Manchester,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Broad- 
way M.  E.  Church,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  they 
have  children  as  follows:  William  C. 
(twenty-one  years  of  age)  and  Frank  S. 
(aged  seventeen).  The  mother  of  this 
family  was  born,  in  1807,  in  Blandford, 
Mass.,  and  died  October  19,  1848.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Case  married  Miss 
Lucinda  A.  Ely,  of  Elyria,  who  was  born 
December  25,  1819,  in  Deerfield,  Ohio, 
and  died  January  24,  1893.  To  this  union 
there  were  two  children,  both  of  whom 
died  young — one  in  infancy,  the  other, 
Mary,  at  the  age  of  six  years.  In  his 
political  preferences  Deacon  Case  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  originally  an  Old-line 
Whig,  his  first  vote  being  cast  for  John 
Quincy  Adams. 


jri(   DAM  KOLBE,  a  prominent  farmer 
f/_\\    of   Black  River  township,  was  born 
I/IA    near    Hersfeld,    Germany.    August 
JJ         18,1848.  •'■         ^ 

He  is  a  son  of  Henry  W.  and 
Elizabeth  Kolbe,  who  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  named  as  follows:  Eliza* 
(Mrs.  Spiegelberg),  Henrietta  (Mrs.  Bech- 


898 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


stein),  Christina  (Mrs.  Smithkons), 
Adam  (subject  of  sketch),  Henry,  Cath- 
arine (Mrs.  Holstein),  Mary  (Mrs.  Neid- 
ing),  Emma  (Mrs.  IJechtel)  and  Williain. 
In  1856  the  family  came  to  the  United 
States,  first  locating  in  the,  then,  village  of 
Lorain,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  afterward,  in 
1867,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Black  River 
township,  same  county,  where  the  parents 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  till  advanced 
age  compelled  them  to  retire  from  active 
life.  The  father  died  October  8,  1893: 
the  mother,  now  in  her  seventy-seventh 
year,  is  living  with  her  son  Adam  on  the 
farm  in  Black  Biver  township.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Association, 
as  was  also  her  husband. 

Adam  Kolbe  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  public  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's  farm. 
In  1873  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Faber, 
who  died  in  May,  1891,  leaving  one  child, 
a  son  named  Lawrence  A.  Mr.  Kolbe  has 
remained  on  a  farm  ever  since,  and  in  the 
town  of  Lorain,  in  the  same  county,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  fishery  business  for  about  four 
years,  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Kolbe 
Bros.  &  Co.,  in  which  he  was  financially 
successful.  In  1889  he  withdrew  from  the 
firm,  and  has  since  been  living  on  the  farm 
in  Black  River  township.  In  religious 
faith  Mr.  Kolbe  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church;  socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Lorain  Lodge,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees; 
politically  he  is  a  Republican. 


E'    L.    BURGE,  an   enterprising    pro- 
gressive   citizen    of     Oberlin,    was 
I  born  in  September,  1837,  in  Orange 

township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  passed  his  early  life. 

His  father,  John  Y.  Burge,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  an  early  day 
came  to  Richland  (now  Ashland)  county, 
Ohio,  where  ho  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He 
married    Mary    Lowry,  a  native   of    Vir- 


ginia, and  they  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Benjamin,  a  farmer  of 
Greenwich,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  John  Y.,  a 
fanner  of  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county;  E.  C,  also  farming  in  Brighton 
township;  Rachel,  a  resident  of  Ashland, 
Ohio;  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Goldsmith,  of 
Richland  county,  Ohio;  and  E.  L.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  in  1841,  the 
mother  in  1878. 

E.  L.  Burge  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  county, 
and  in  1859  came  to  Lorain  county,  which 
has  since  been  his  home.  He  followed 
farming  for  a  few  years  in  Brighton  town- 
ship, and  in  August,  1861,  enlisted,  at 
Wellington,  Ohio,  in  Company  H,  Second 
Ohio  Cavalry,  for  three  years.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  Cleveland,  and  served  for  a 
while  on  the  frontier,  in  January,  1862, 
being  stationed  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kans., 
and  later  at  Ft.  Scott.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Pea  Ridtre  and  Diamond 
Grove,  was  next  in  Kentucky,  and  after- 
ward took  part  in  the  Morgan  raid  at 
Knoxville,  Tenn.  In  1864  he  veteranized, 
at  Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  in  the  same  com- 
pany and  regiment,  and  was  subsequently 
in  the  engagements  of  the  Wilderness  and 
Cedar  Creek,  also  serving  under  General 
Sheridan  In  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Mr. 
Burge  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
Wasliington,  thence  going  to  Springfield, 
Mo.,  and  on  September  20,  1865,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 
He  returned  to  Brighton  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1882, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  Oberlin. 

On  March  8,  1864,  Mr.  Burge  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Harriet  J.  Tucker,  a  native  of 
Camden  township,  Lorain  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Matthew  and  Rosanna  (Martin) 
Tucker,  early  pioneers  of  the  county;  the 
father  died  in  1878;  his  widow  is  now  re- 
siding in  Pittsfield,  Lorain  county.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buree  was  born  one  daugh- 
ter,  May  B.,  who  graduated  from  Oberlin 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


899 


College  in  the  class  of  1891;  she  is  now 
principal  of  a  school  at  Delta,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Bnrge  is  actively  interested  in  polities, 
and  supports  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party;  he  has  been  delegate  to  va- 
rious conventions,  served  one  term  as 
deputy  sberitf  of  Lorain  county,  and  in 
1889  was  elected  city  marshal  of  01)erlin,a 
position  he  still  occupies.  Socially  he  is 
a  memher  of  Henry  Lincoln  Post  No. 
564,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  religion  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Second  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Oberlin. 


OWELL  CALVIN  ADAMS,  dealer 
in  agricultural  implements,  seeds 
of  all  kinds,  fertilizers,  etc.,  Wel- 
lington, is  a  native  of  Wellincton 
townsliip,  born  February  1,  1838, 
of  an  old  Connecticut  family- 
He  is  a  son  of  Calvin  and  Eunice 
(Smith)  Adams,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  the  "  Nutmeg  State,  "  whence 
prior  to  his  marriage  he  came  west  to 
Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Wellincrton 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  till  a 
short  time  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1864.  lie  was  twice  married, 
and  by  his  first  wife,  Eunice  (Smith),  he 
liad  five  children,  namely:  Edwin,  de- 
ceased in  childhood;  Fayette,  who  died 
when  young;  Marcia,  now  the  widow  of 
R.  F.  Jones,  of  Wellington,  Ohio;  Rowell 
Calvin,  and  Lois,  who  died,  unmarried,  in 
1879. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch 
received  a  liberal  education  at  district 
school  No.  4,  AVellington  township,  attend- 
ing a  few  winter  terms,  the  remainder  of 
the  year  being  occupied  on  his  father's 
farm,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till 
1865,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Hunt- 
ington township,  and  here  bought  a  farm 
of  11;}  acres  prime  laud,  where,  until  about 
1882,    he    carried    on     general     farming, 


including  dairying,  buying  and  selling 
stock,  etc.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Well- 
ington, after  a  time  opening  out  his  pres- 
ent prosperous  business.  On  September 
29,  1859,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Melva 
A.  Whiting,  born  in  Pittstield  township, 
Lorain  county,  October  15,  1840,  and 
four  children  have  come  to  this  union: 
Rosa  M.,  wife  of  Delmer  I.  Beckley;  Mrs. 
E.  L.  Wilcox;  Grace  M.,  and  Leon  li.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Adams  is  a  lifelong  Republi- 
can, and  two  years  ago  he  united  with  the 
Prohibitionists.  He  is  not  identified  with 
any  particular  cliurch;  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  en- 
listed three  times,  but  on  each  occasion 
he  was  rejected  on  account  of  piiysical  dis- 
ability caused  by  an  accident  he  met  with 
when  fourteen  years  old,  whereby  his  leg 
was  broken,  and  he  has  been  slightly  crip- 
pled ever  since.  He  is  doing  an  excellent 
business,  thoroughly  understanding  the 
wants  of  the  community  in  his  line  of  trade. 


FRANCIS  N.  ELDRED  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  native-born  agri- 
_^  culturists  of  Elyria  township,  where 
in  1850  he  first  saw  the  light. 
He  is  a  son  of  Noah  and  Harmony 
(Redington)  Eldred,  the  former  of  whom 
was  horn  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
whence,  in  company  with  his  father,  Moses 
Eldred,  he  came  to  Ohio  in  1811,  settling 
in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county. 
Grandfather  Eldred  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution ;  by  occupation  he  was  a  farmer, 
and  he  also  kept  a  tavern  in  Ridgeville 
township;  he  died  in  Elyria,  his  wife  in 
Ridgeville.  Noah  Eldred,  father  of  sub- 
ject,  received  a  limited  education  at  the 
subscription  schools  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship. In  Amherst  township  he  married 
Harmony  Redington;  then  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  and  here 
he  died  in  1882,  his  wife  having  pieceded 
him  to  the  grave  in  1854. 


900 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his 
place  of  birth,  and  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  which  have  been  his  life- 
work.  He  has  a  neat,  compact  farm  of 
eighty- two  acres  devoted  to  general  farm- 
ing. In  1876  he  was  married  in  Elyria 
township  to  Miss  Nettie  Cochran,  a  native 
of  same,  and  daughter  ot  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (^Thompson)  Cochran,  pioneers  of 
Lorain  county  from  Vermont.  Six  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows,  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  Ray,  Nina,  Irwin,  Alta,  Lewis 
and  Orlo.  In  his  political  associations  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


Mr. 


E.  JUMP  has  been  a  resident  of 
Oberlin  for  the  past  thirty-five 
years,  having  established  himself 
in  the  town  in  1858,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  stndy  in  Oberlin  College. 
Jump  was  born  in  Westchester 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1832,  a  son  of  Ira  and 
Sarah  (Dan)  Jump,  natives  of  New  York, 
who  in  1835  moved  to  Norwalk,  Huron 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  from  there,  about  1843,  to 
Vermillion,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  where  both 
died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Ira  Jump  was  a 
basket  maker,  and  his  son,  R.  E.,  was 
brought  up  to  that  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  time  in  Oberlin.  Mr.  Jump 
received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools  in  Erie  county,  and  in  the  Prepara- 
tory Department  of  Oberlin  College.  Fail- 
ing health  prevented  him  from  continuing 
his  studies.  He  taught  several  terms  in 
the  schools  of  Erie  county,  Ohio,  and  in 
Indiana.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company 
F,One  Hundred  andTwenty-eighth  O.V.  I., 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  serv- 
ing nnder  Gen.  Hooker,  on  Johnson's  Is- 
land and  Cedar  Point,  guarding  and  ex- 
changing prisoners  at  Fortress  Monroe  and 
other  points,  and  on  detached  duty  at  To- 
ledo, on    service   as   provost-guard,  and  in 


recruiting  service.  Mr.  Jump  was  hon- 
orably discharged  from  the  service  at  Camp 
Chase,  in  July,  1865. 

In  1852  Mr.  Jump  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  Chapin,  a  native  of  New  York,  but 
reared  and  educated  in  North  Amherst, 
Ohio,  and  to  this  union  one  son  was  born, 
C.  Ellis  Jump. 

Mr.  Jump  in  politics  is  a  Republican, 
having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  voted  with  that  party  since.  He 
is  a  member  of  Henry  Lincoln  Post,  No. 
364,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  held  the 
rank  of  surgeon  and  junior  vice-commader. 
During  the  past  fifteen  years,  in  his  leis- 
ure time,  he  has  done  considerable  taxider- 
mist work,  and  has  now  a  very  fine  collec- 
tion of  stuffed  animals  and  birds.  He  is 
practically  interested  in  agriculture,  being 
the  owner  of  thirty  acres  of  well-improved 
land,  half  of  which  lies  within  the  corpor- 
ate limits  of  Oberlin.  He  also  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  bee  and  small  fruit  cul- 
ture. He  was  engajj-ed  in  the  Oberlin  and 
Wellinoton  Rescue  case. 

o 

Mrs.  Julia  Chapin  Jump,  M.  D.,  was 
born  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1832,  the 
second  child  of  John  and  Eliza  (Clark) 
Chapin,  natives  of  New  England,  who  re- 
moved to  Brownlielm,  Ohio,  in  1836,  and 
from  there  to  North  Amherst,  Ohio,  in 
1839.  [Seethe  following  sketch  of  John 
Chapin. J 

Dr.  Jump  received  her  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  North  Amherst, 
Ohio.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  she  began 
to  teach.  This  profession  she  followed 
thirty  years.  For  the  first  two  or  three 
terms  she  taught  for  one  dollar  a  week  and 
''  boarded  round."  In  1852  she  married 
R.  E.  Jump,  of  Erie  county,  Ohio.  They 
had  one  son,  C.  Ellis  Jump.  In  1858  they 
removed  to  Oberlin,  for  the  purpose  of  se- 
curing a  liberal  education.  During  the 
last  three  years  of  her  couse  of  study  Dr. 
Jump  taught  in  the  Academy.  After  six 
years  of  study,  she  graduated  from  Ober- 
lin Colleoje,  Lit.  in  1865.  She  then  taught 
seventeen  consecutive  years,  nearly  five  in 


/^f^-t-t.^^^ 


cA 


JC-^-^^.-^^'Ci^     -(^5!^Tg^^y-^i«<?-»-        i'^i^^^S-T-^^'  ,    -^  .  ^T/' 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


903 


the  Grammar  School  of  Oberlin,  and  over 
twelve  years  in  the  Public  Schools  of 
Cleveland.  She  then  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  The  Cleveland  Homeopathic 
Hospital  College,  from  which  she  gradu- 
ated in  1884:,  since  which  time  she  has 
been  practicing  medicine  in  Oberlin. 

The  honorarv  deirree  of  A.  M.  was  con- 
ferred  on  her  byObeilin  College,  in  1891, 
and  that  of  F.  H.  S.  by  the  Medical  Col- 
lege from  which  she  received  her  diploma. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  Censors 
of  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic  Hospital 
CoUetje;  a  member  of  the  American  In- 
stitnte  of  Homeopathy,  The  Ohio  State 
Homeopathic  Society,  and  The  Lorain 
County  Homeopathic  Society.  Dr.  Jump 
is  a  member  of  tlie  First  Congregational 
Church,  and  of  the  W.  E.  C.  of  Oberlin, 
Ohio. 


JOHN  CHAPIN  was  born  in  Sheffield, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  in  1804.     At 
the  age  of  eighteen    he  was    appren- 
ticed to  a  Mr.  Catlin,  of  the  adjoin- 
ing town  of    New  Marlboro,  to   learn    the 
trade  of  tanner  and  currier. 

In  1827  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza 
Clark,  a  native  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  though 
reared  in  New  Marlboro.  They  had  live 
dauohters  and  two  sons.  In  1836  Mr. 
Chapin  moved  to  Ohio,  then  the  "  Far 
"West,"  and  lucated  in  Brownhelm.  In 
1839  he  removed  to  North  Amherst,  where 
he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  Mr.  Chapin 
and  his  wife  united  with  a  few  others  to 
organize  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  North 
Amherst,  and  Mr.  Chapin  was  elected  dea- 
con, an  office  which  he  held  till  his  death 
in  1852.  Deacon  Chapin  was  a  man  of 
strong  convictions,  a  thorough  temperance 
man,  and  an  Old-line  Whi(£.  He  was 
strongly  anti-slavery  in  his  views  and  took 
the  ground  before  his  death,  which  became 
the  platform  of  the  Free-Soil  party  in  ISofi. 
The  Deacon  was  a  strong,  well-built  man, 
and   was    considered    very   desirable    help 

47 


at  the  raising  of  buildings  in  those  days. 
Whiskey  was  usually  served  freely,  and 
at  the  tirst  important  "  raising "  to 
which  he  was  invited  the  men  were  nearly 
all  under  the  influence  of  whiskey  before 
the  work  was  half  done.  Deacon  Chapin 
and  a  Mr.  Rose  wer^  the  only  total  abstain- 
ers in  the  party.  On  raising  a  heavy 
"bent"  of  the  frame  the  men  allowed  their 
pikes  to  slip,  and  theljent  fell,  crushing  Mr. 
liose  under  the  heavy  timbers.  His  back 
was  broken,  and  though  he  lived  many 
years,  he  was  a  cripple.  When  the  men 
were  sober.  Deacon  Chapin  urged  them  to 
give  up  the  use  of  strong  drink,  citing  the 
accident  to  Mr.  Rose  to  give  weight  to  his 
arguments.  Soon  after  this  the  Deacon 
prepared  to  build  a  large  tannery.  The 
timbers  were  very  heavy,  and  tlie  building 
was  two  stories  on  one  side  and  three  on 
the  other.  While  the  timl)ers  were  being 
prepared  there  was  another  raising — ^a 
small  l)arn.  Three  brothers  owned  the 
property.  They  always  drank  freely  at 
raisings,  but  decided  from  motives  of  econ- 
omy to  furnish  no  whiskey  for  their  own 
raising.  When  the  men  who  had  been 
invited  to  assist  arrived,  some  of  them 
called  for  whiskey  before  beginning  work. 
AVhen  told  that  none  would  be  furnished, 
the  men  said  the  timbers  might  rot  before 
they  would  touch  them  without^  whiskey. 
The  whiskey  was  sent  for  at  once,  and  the 
frame  went  up.  People  who  knew  Deacon 
(Jhapin's  strong  temperance  principles,  and 
that  he  never  tasted  whiskey,  wondered 
what  he  would  do  at  his  raising.  In  those 
early  days  the  raising^of  such  a  building 
was  quite  an  event.  The  builder  in  charge 
one  day  asked  the  Deacon  if  he  should 
furnish  whiskey  for  the  raising.  On  re- 
ceiving a  reply  in  the  negative,  he  said  he 
would  not  be  responsible  then  for  the  rais- 
ing of  it,  as  it  could  not  be  raised  without 
li(]Uor.  The  Deacon  then  re|)lied  that  the 
raising  would  be  "  a  cold-water  raising  ''' 
or  none.  Many  friends  in  the  adjoining 
town  of  Brownhelm  sympathized  with 
Deacon    Chajiin   in   his   temperance  prin-. 


904 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ciples,  and  sent  him  a  message  saying  that  if 
the  Amherst  people  failed  him,  they  would 
come  to  his  aid.  When  the  time  for  the 
raising  drew  near,  the  Deacon  started  on 
his  round  of  invitations.  Nearly  every 
man  invited  asked  if  he  would  have  whis- 
key, and  on  receiving  a  negative  reply, 
answered: '' Then  I  will  not  come."  As 
every  one  declined  the  invitation,  the  Dea- 
con invited  every  available  man  in  the  vil- 
lage and  the  adjacent  country.  Mrs.  Clia- 
pin  prepared  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
men  by  brewing  a  barrel  of  root  beer,  and 
the  brick  oven  was  kept  full  of  good  things 
— bread,  biscuits,  cakes  of  all  kinds,  pies, 
puddings,  chicken  pies  and  pork  and  beans, 
iloast  meats  of  all  available  kinds  were 
prepared  in  abundance.  The  day  set  for 
the  raisino;  dawned  bright  and  still.  At 
an  early  hour  the  invited  men  began  to  ar- 
rive singly  or  in  small  parties  until  every 
man  who  had  been  invited  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance. With  much  joking  about  a 
"  cold-water  raising  "  they  set  to  work  with 
hearty  good  will.  The  small  or  root  beer 
was  passed  in  pails,  and  one  man  told  the 
Deacon  that  he  had  a  chunk  of  ice  as  big 
as  his  list  in  his  throat  from  drinking  the 
beer,  and  he  wanted  somethino;  to  thaw  it 
out.  When  the  bents  had  all  been  raised, 
and  were  supposed  to  be  securely  fastened 
in  place,  several  men  went  to  the  top  to 
fasten  the  large  wooden  plates  to  the  bents 
to  bind  them  in  position  and  to  support 
the  rafters.  Deacon  Chapin  and  Staunton 
Merriman,  a  carpenter,  were  on  the  bent 
on  the  east  side  of  the  building,  which  was 
three  stories  high.  The  around  on  that 
side  was  covered  with  broken  stone,  the 
refuse  from  dressing  the  stone  for  the 
foundation.  Soon  after  they  reached  the 
top  the  bent  began  to  sway  with  them,  but 
the  men  on  the  ground  were  all  sober,  and, 
rallying  with  their  pikes,  held  the  heavy 
timbers  in  position  till  they  were  securely 
fastened.  All  knew  that  the  fall  of  the 
bent  would  be  certain  death  to  the  men. 
When  the  work  was  completed  the  Deacon 
said:  "Comedown  to  the  house  now  and 


we  will  have  something  to  thaw  the  ice 
out  of  your  throats."  Mrs.  Chapin  was  a 
good  cook,  and  her  heart  was  in  her  work. 
Long  tables  were  loaded  with  every  good 
thing  which  she  could  devise,  and  with  tea 
and  coffee  in  abundance.  Many  of  the  men 
said  to  the  Deacon:  "If  this  is  what  you 
call  a  cold-water  raising,  I  would  like  to 
go  to  one  every  day."  They  said  they 
came  because  they  knew  he  was  acting  from 
principle,  that  although  he  was  one  of  the 
best  workers  always  at  a  raising  he  never 
drank  whiskey.  Deacon  Chapin  died  in 
1852  of  typhoid  fever;  Mrs.  Chapin  lived 
to  be  eighty-six  years  old. 

The  family  was  well  represented  in  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion.  John  Clark  Chapin, 
the  youngest  son  of  Deacon  Chapin,  enlisted 
in  the  Forty-first  O.  V.  I.,  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment,  for  three  years;  re- 
enlisted  with  the  regiment,  was  engaged 
in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment 
fought  except  Chickamauga,  and  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Two  sons-in-law,  J.  J.  Pillen  (the  husband 
of  the  eldest  daughter,  Eunice),  and  R.  E. 
Jump  (who  married  the  second  daughter, 
Julia),  were  also  in  the  Union  army,  and 
were  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of 
the  war. 


ir^  EORGE  L.  SEARS,  florist  and  man- 
I  J,  ufacturer  of  pottery,  Elyria,  is  a 
^LJ  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in 
^^  New  Lenox,  March  8.  1854,  a  son 
of  L.  L.  Sears,  a  prominent  agricul- 
turist of  Elyria  township. 

In  1861  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  and 
for  a  time  located  in  Medina  county,  then 
in  1867  settling  in  Lorain  county,  on  a 
farm  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Elyria. 
Our  subject  has  since  resided  in  Elyria, 
and  in  1881  he  commenced  business  as  a 
florist,  in  which  vocation  he  has  risen,  by 
industry  and  good  management,  to  consid- 
erable prominence.  He  now  owns  seven 
large  greenhouses,  and  ships  all  kinds  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


905 


flower  germs  to  every  part  of  the  United 
States.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  wedding 
and  funeral  decorations,  his  taste  in  designs 
being  considered  "  nulli  secnndus."  Hav- 
ing couclnded  to  manufacture  liis  own 
flower-pots,  of  which  his  extensive  business 
demands  a  vast  number,  he  opened  up  a 
pottery,  and  he  now  makes  from  18,000  to 
20,000  flower-])ots  per  week,  supplying 
not  only  his  own  requirements,  but  also 
markets  in  Cleveland,  Chicago,  and  all  the 
great  cities  of  the  West. 

In  1878  Mr.  Sears  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma  Eradbur,  and  three  children  have 
come  to  briahten  their  home,  named 
respectively:  Harry,  Roy  and  Grace  W. 
Our  subject  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  in  politics  he 
is  a  Republican. 


NSEL  JENNE,  for  over  half  a  cen- 
i\    tury  a   resident  of   Lorain   county, 
^  and    one   of    the    best   known  and 
most    prosperous    agriculturists    of 
Amherst    township,    was    born    in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1825. 

His  father,  also  named  Ansel  Jenne, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  where  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Brown,  and  from  there 
moved  to  Cayuga  county,  same  State,  in 
1825.  In  1826  he  and  the  family  came  to 
Ohio,  making  their  home  in  Cuyahoga  coun- 
ty until  liS41,  in  which  year  they  removed  to 
Lorain  county,  arriving  on  March  9,  locat- 
ing on  Middle  Ridge;  but  in  1845  they 
removed  to  a  farm  where  the  parents 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days,  the 
father  dying  in  July,  1872,  the  mother  in 
August,  1885,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of 
uinety-one  years.  They  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Alfred,  married  and  living 
in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio;  Ansel,  of 
whom  this  sketch  more  specially  relates; 
Bethia,  wife  of  F.  A.  Griffin,  of  Elyria 
township,   Lorain  county;    and  John    P., 


married  and  residing  in  Amherst  township, 
same  county.  The  deceased  are  Arad  Joy 
(the  eldest  in  family),  born  July  9,  1819, 
died  September  5,  1820;  Eliza,  born  Ajiril 
25,  1827,  who  was  married  to  Solon 
McElrath,  and  died  in  Lorain  county, 
September  18,  1871;  and  Annette,  born 
August  27,  1830,  died  in  1832. 

Ansel  Jenne,  whose  name  opens  this 
biographical  sketch,  received  his  education 
at  the  primitive  log  schoolhouse  of  the 
early  days  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  came  with  the  rest 
of  the  family  to  Lorain  county,  and  has 
ever  since  been  a  resident  of  Amherst 
township,  owning  now  tiie  old  homestead, 
consisting  of  sixty  acres  prime  land.  He 
and  his  brother  John  P.  cleared  jn  all  some 
400  acres  in  Amherst  township. 

On  December  9,  1859,  Mr.  Jenne  was 
married,  in  Amherst  township,  to  Phoebe 
Wing,  a  native  of  Wyoming  county,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  (Wes- 
cottj  Wing,  natives  of  New  York,  where 
the  father  died  in  September,  1857.  In  1858 
the  widowed  mother  came  to  Lorain  county, 
and  made  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Jenne,  for  the  rest  of  her  days,  dying  in 
1868.  Two  of  her  children  came  to  Lorain 
county  besides  Mrs.  Jenne,  viz.:  Sterling, 
who  died  here  in  1874,  and  Dora,  wife  of 
Luman  Van  Tassel,  of  Bowling  Green, 
Ohio.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ansel  Jenne  were 
born  five  children,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  brief  record:  Sarah  Ellen  married 
Bird  Richmond,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Frank  Harrison;  William  Henry  is  mar- 
ried, resides  in  Amherst  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  has  one  child,  Blanche;  George 
is  married,  has  his  home  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
and  has  two  children,  Willie  and  Wintield; 
Frank  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years; 
Albert  K.  is  married,  resides  on  the  home 
farm,  and  has  two  children,  Bertie  and 
Lncile.  In  politics  Mr.  Jenne  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. AVhen  he  came  to  Lorain  county 
fifty-two  years  ago,  the  now  flonrishing  city 
of  Elyria  was  but  a  hamlet  consisting  of 
nine  cabins,  surrounded  by  dense  woods, 


906 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wherein  roamed  the  Indian  and  wild  ani- 
mals innumerable.  He  has  seen  in  his 
township  the  old  rickety  stage  coach  rele- 
gated into  retirement  by  the  palatial  cars 
of  the  aggressive  railroads,  and  the  mail- 
carrier's  weekly  or  semi-weekly  visits  meta- 
morphosed into  the  modern  mail  of  three 
or  four  deliveries  and  collections  every  day 
in  the  week;  not  to  speak  of  the  advent  of 
the  magic-like  universal  telegraph  and 
telephone,  which  had  their  birth  within 
comparatively  recent  years. 


fiDWIN  PvOBSON,  a  representative 
and  prosperous  agriculturist  of  Car- 
I  lisle  township,  is  a  native  of  York- 
shire, England,  born  in  1839. 
Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Edward  and 
Ann  (Tran)  Rol)son,  of  the  same  place, 
who  in  1843  came  to  the  United  States 
and  made  a  settlement  in  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  are  yet  liv- 
ing. They  were  the  parents  of  a  large 
family,  as  under:  Emma,  who  married 
Seth  C.  Felt,  and  died  in  Huron  county; 
Edwin,  snbject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  Jane, 
who  died  unmarried;  James,  deceased  in 
childhood;  David,  deceased  when  young; 
Henry,  also  deceased  when  young;  Will- 
iam, deceased  in  Grafton  township,  Lorain 
county;  John,  married,  residing  in  Graf- 
ton; and  Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles  Johnson, 
of  Grafton  township. 

Edwin  Robson  was,  as  will  be  seen,  four 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Lorain  county 
with  his  parents,  and  at  the  common 
schools  of  Eaton  township  he  received  a 
liberal  education,  in  the  meantime  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm.  He  now  owns  a 
line  property  of  225  acres  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  On  November  14,  1866, 
he  was  married,  in  Oberlin,  Russia  town- 
ship, to  Miss  Ann  Johnson,  a  native  of 
same,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (At- 
kinson) Jolmson,  who  were  early  pioneers 
of  Lorain    county,  coming  here  in   1826; 


the  father  died  in  Elyria  in  1888,  the 
mother  in  Cleveland  in  1864.  To  them 
children  as  follows  were  born:  Jane,  wife 
of  Leroy  Rogers,  of  Henry  county,  Ohio; 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  John  Bucher,  of  Ely- 
ria; Thomas,  who  died  during  the  Civil 
war,  in  Lexington,  Ky. ;  Ann,  Mrs.  Rob- 
son;  John,  a  resident  of  Eaton  township; 
James,  deceased  at  the  age  of  eighteen; 
George,  married,  living  in  Elyria;  Mary 
Ellen,  wife  of  M.  A.  Pounds,  of  Elyria; 
and  Mary  and  "William,  both  deceased  in 
infancy.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robson  have 
been  born  seven  children,  to  wit:  Charles 
Edmund,  James  Edward.  Adalbert  John- 
son, Mary  Louise,  Thomas  Putnam,  Thad- 
deus  Warren  and  Leroy  Walter.  Our 
subject  and  wife  ai-e  meml)ers  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  LaPorte.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board,  of  which  he  is  now  a  director 
in  his  district. 


yj 


\  Jf    WIGHT,  owner  of  a  fertile  farm 

'^H     in   Eaton    township,  where   he    has 

1[    resided  for  nearly  threescore  years, 

is  a  native    of    New    York    State, 

born    in    St.    Lawrence  county  on 

Christmas  Day,  1821. 

He  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Susannaii 
(Van  Buren)  Wight,  the  mother  a  native 
of  New  York.  The  father  was  born  in 
Oxford,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass..  and  in  1794 
moved  to  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  with 
his  father,  John  Wight,  who  was  born 
November  2,  1752,  and  married  Betsy 
Robinson,  born  in  1765,  and  died  in  1S58. 
They  had  a  family  of  children,  of  whom 
the  following  is  a  brief  record:  Uzziali 
was  horn  in  1781,  and  died  in  17S4; 
Abner  died  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y,; 
Jason  was  born  in  1785,  died  January  20, 
1835;  Reuben  was  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject; Abigail  died  in  New  York  State  in 
1849;  Betsy  died  young;  John  died  in 
New   York   State   in  1863;  Alvin,  a  car- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


907 


penter  and  builder,  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  in  lS35,and  died  in  Ottawa  county, 
Oiiio,  Jaiiuarj'  1,  1857;  Harvey  died  in 
Green  county,  Wis.,  in  1876. 

Reuben  AViirlit  was  reared  and  educated 
in  New  York  State,  and  was  married  in 
what  is  now  Fulton  county,  same  State, 
July  14:,  1814.  In  1834  the  family  came 
to  Ohio,  arriving  August  9  in  Cleveland, 
but  settling  at  Kockport,  in  the  same 
county,  where  the  father  died  of  cholera 
same  year.  He  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  after  his  death  his  widow  en- 
joyed a  pension.  In  1836  the  widowed 
mother,  with  her  children,  came  to  Lorain 
county,  making  her  final  home  in  Eaton 
township,  where  she  died  April  21,  1882, 
aged  eighty-nine  years,  having  been  born 
in  1793.  The  following  is  a  record  of  the 
children:  Leonard  was  married  in  Eaton 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  in  1858 
moved  to  Gratiot  county,  Mich.;  Almina 
is  the  widow  of  Daniel  Pearce,  and  resides 
in  Eaton  township,  Lorain  county;  Will- 
iam, who  became  one  of  the  early  teachers 
of  Lorain  county,  married  in  Eaton  town- 
ship, and  died  in  1853;  Segatia  died  in 
Cleveland  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
the  next  in  order  of  birth  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  of  whom  further  mention  will 
presently  be  made;  Adeline  C.  is  the  wife 
of  James  Duffy,  of  Charlotte,  Eaton  Co., 
Mich.;  Julius,  a  widower,  is  a  resident  of 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  county;  Reuben  is 
married,  and  dwells  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  Mary  S.  is  the  wife 
of  James  W.  Fitch,  of  Milan,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio;  Ziel,  who  was  an  engineer,  born 
August  13,  1832,  married,  and  on  No- 
vember 12,  1892,  died  in  Delaware  county, 
Ohio;  Rosella  is  the  widow  of  John  King, 
of  Clark  county,  Wisconsin. 

H.  Wight,  of  whom  this  sketch  more 
particularly  relates,  was  reared  to  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  in  New  York  State,  and 
was  there  educated,  his  school  training  be- 
ing much  improved  by  his  native  ability, 
close  application  to  books,  and  general 
study  of  men  and  things.  He  was  remark- 


ably quick  at  figures  and  geometry,  and  he 
is  widely  known  throughout  northern  Ohio 
for  his  ability  as  a  mathematician.  In  his 
younger  days  he  taught  school  in  Lorain, 
Medina  and  Cuyahoga  counties,  and  then 
embarked  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1834  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  in  1836  set- 
tled in  Eaton  township,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  Politically  he  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican since  the  organization  of  the  party, 
and  he  served  as  real-estate  assessor  in 
1870,  and  on  the  school  board  several  years. 


Mr. 
son 


MATHI  AS  NUHN,  one  of  the  many 
industrious,  honest  and  loyal  citi- 
_    zens  the  Fatherland  has  given   to 
fj  Lorain    county,   is    a    prosperous 

farmer  of  Ridgeville  township,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  resident  since  1845. 

Nuhn  was  born  in  Germany  in  1838, 
of  Peter  and  Anna  Mary  (Moss) 
Nuhn,  the  father  a  native  of  France,  the 
mother  of  Prussia.  Peter  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  seven 
years  in  Paris,  France,  after  which  for  two 
years  he  was  coachman  for  Napoleon's 
nephew.  In  1824,  while  working  at  his 
trade  in  Prussia,  he.  married.  In  1845  he 
and  his  wife  and  family  emigrated  to 
America,  sailing  from  Havre,  France,  the 
voyage  to  New  Y^ork  occupying  sixty-two 
days.  From  there  they  proceeded  west- 
ward to  Ohio,  by  way  of  the  Hudson 
river,  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie  to  Cleve- 
land, and  from  that  city  by  wagon  to 
Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
Mr.  Nuhn  bought  twenty-five  acres  of  land 
which  he  cleared  and  improved,  at  the 
same  time  working  at  his  trade.  To  this 
first  purchase  of  land  he  added  forty  acres, 
and,  later,  twelve  acres.  Of  the  nine  cliil- 
dren  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Nuhn  we  give 
record  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Mary, 
wife  of  Peter  Donenfelcer,  died  in  1854; 
Nicholas,  married,  resides  in  Ridgeville 
township;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Anton 


908 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Smith,  of  Center,  Eidgeville  township; 
Hannah  is  the  wife  of  John  Roth,  of 
Lorain;  Catlierine  is  the  wife  of  Peter 
Smith,  of  Avon  township;  Mathias  is  the 
subject  of  tliis  memoir;  and  Peter,  married, 
lives  in  Lorain.  The  father  died  March  8, 
1874,  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  member  of 
the  school  board  and  supervisor;  he  was 
buried  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
marriage;  the  mother  was  called  from  earth 
in  1875. 

Mathias  Nuhn,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was,  as  will  be  seen,  about  six 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Lorain  county, 
and  during  his  first  summer  his  home  was 
in  a  barn  in  Stony  Ridge,  Ridgeville  town- 
ship, while  a  log  house  was  being  ei'ected 
for  the  family.  He  i-eceived  his  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  locality,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
wliich  he  followed  exclusively  up  to  the 
time  of  the  breaking;  out  of  the  Civil  war; 
he  then  combined  farmino-  with  his  trade, 
and  he  has  met  with  well-merited  success. 
In  1862  Mr.  Nuhn  enlisted  in  Company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  O.  V.  L, 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  his 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the 
Potomac.  At  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  confined 
first  in  Libby,  afterward  in  Belle  Isle, 
whence  he  was  taken  on  parole  to  Camp 
Annapolis,  Md.,  and  then  detailed  to  the 
pioneer  corps  that  served  through  Ten- 
nessee; to  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
stationed  at  Chattanooga  and  Kinorston. 
In  1865  he  was  discharged,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  returned  to  liis  home  in  Ridge- 
ville township,  Lorain  county,  where  he 
resumed  the  pursuits  of  peace. 

In  1S60  Mr.  Nuhn  was  married,  in 
Liverpool,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Mary 
Magdalene  Kolb,  who  was  born  in  that 
county,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sophia 
(Gravensteter)  Koll),  natives  of  Germany, 
who  about  the  year  1838  immigrated  to 
the  United  States,  settling  in  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  where  the  father  died  in 
1878,  and  the  mother  is  yet  living.     To 


this  union  childi-en  as  follows  were  born: 
Rosa,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Douglas,  constable 
of  Lorain,  has  three  children — Mathias, 
Edith  and  Nora;  Catherine,  wife  of  Ma- 
thias Burkhart,  of  Lorain,  also  has  three 
children — Clara,  Lillian  and  Frank;  Mary, 
wife  of  Charley  Perry,  of  Cleveland,  has 
one  child;  Ilannali,  wife  of  John  Alfen,  of 
Cleveland,  has  two  children — Willie  and 
Mabel;  John,  married,  resides  in  Ridge- 
ville townsiiip;  Elizabeth,  a  -widow,  resid- 
ing with  her  father,  has  two  children — 
Olive  and  Bertha;  Lena;  Clara;  and  Ma- 
thias. Politically  our  subject  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  in  township  matters  he  votes  for 
whom  he  considers  the  best  man  for  office, 
regardless  of  party.  lie  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  eighteen  consecu- 
five  years,  such  is  the  confidence  his  con- 
stituents repose  in  him,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  at  Ridgeville.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  Wesley  Kibby  Post  No.  708, 
G.  A.  R.,  North  Ridgeville,  and  has  served 
as  assistant  quarter-master  two  terms.  He 
is  owner  of  nearly  sixty  acres  of  land  in  an 
excellent  state  of  cultivation,  on  which  in 
1888  he  built  his  present  residence — a 
two-story  frame  house,  35  x  28 — also  a 
commodious  barn,  56x36,  and  granary 
(with  workshop  combined),  16  x  22  feet. 


LONZO  WRIGHT,  a  highly  re- 
spected and  prosperous  agriculturist 
of  Russia  township,  hard-working, 
and  scrupulously  honest  in  all  his 
dealings,  is  a  native  of  Essex  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  born  November  11,  1825. 

His  father,  Alonzo  AVright,  Sr.,  was 
brought  up  to  farm  life,  and  served  for  a 
time  in  a  woolen  factory.  He  married 
Philomilla  Andrews,  who  was  born  in 
Stillwater,  N.  Y.,  and  children  as  follows 
were  born  to  them:  Charles  A.,  who  died 
in  California;  Bushnell  A.,  a  physician  of 
San  Jacinto,  Cal.;  Alonzo,  Jr.,  subject  of 
this  memoir;  Harriet,  deceased  in  youth; 
Sarah  D.,  who  was  first  married  to  Charles 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


909 


Lyman,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Lewis  Oz- 
niun  (tliej  reside  in  Amherst  township); 
Laura  B.,  who  married  Edwin  Durand, 
and  died  in  Wellington,  Ohio.  In  June, 
1834,  the  family  set  out  for  Ohio,  maiving 
the  trip  partly  by  sailing  vessel,  partly  by 
canal  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to 
Black  River  Harbor  (now  Lorain),  Ohio, 
by  steamer,  thence  to  Oberlin  by  wagon. 
In  Russia  township  the  father  bought 
ninety  acres  of  land  at  ten  dollars  per 
acre  (nine  hundred  dollars),  which  amount 
he  paid  in  cash,  part  of  the  proceeds  of  his 
farm  in  New  York  State,  which  he  had 
sold  prior  to  coming  west.  He  had  pre- 
viously visited  Ohio,  in  order  to  select 
land,  got  as  far  as  Cleveland,  but  returned 
east  without  succeeding  in  his  purpose. 
For  some  time  after  their  settling  in  Rus- 
sia township  the  family  lived  in  an  old  log 
cabin,  till  a  new  one  was  built.  Here  was 
born  one  more  daughter,  Mary,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  On  this  farm 
the  father  passed  away  in  1883,  having 
been  preceded  to  the  grave  by  his  wife  in 
1862.  They  lie  buried  in  South  Amherst 
cemetery.  He  was  a  Whig  and  Republi- 
can in  politics,  and  a  member  of  and  dea- 
con in  the  Congregational  Church. 

Alonzo  Wright,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  the  earlier  part  of  his 
education  at  the  public  schools  of  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  place  of  birth,  and  after  coming 
to  Lorain  county  attended  District  school 
No.  1,  his  first  teacher  here  being  Samuel 
Rossiter.  Later  he  attended  a  few  terms 
at  Oberlin  College.  He  then  taught  school 
several  terms,  and  subsequently  attended 
the  Eclectic  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati 
three  years.  He  had  previously  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  James  Fisher,  of  Tif- 
fin, Ohio;  and  thus  it  will  be  seen  he  was 
well  prepared  for  the  arena  of  medicine, 
which,  however,  he  never  entered.  After 
completing  his  course  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  in  1848  commenced  agriculture 
on  his  father's  farm,  which  he  now  owns; 
of  late  years  he  has  added  the  cultivation 
of  small  fruits  to  general  farming. 


In  1861  Mr.  Wright  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Adelia  C.  Whipple,  and  chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born  to  them:  Dong- 
lass,  deceased  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Delia,  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of 
Findlay,  Ohio;  Eddie,  deceased  in  infancy; 
Henry,  farming  on  the  home  place,  and 
Jessie,  still  living  with  her  parents.  The 
surviving  children  have  all  enjoyed  excel- 
lent educational  opportunities.  In  politics 
Mr.  Wright  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
until  the  organization  of  that  party  was  a 
Whig;  his  wife  and  children  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church. 


B.  BEDORTHA,  an  attorney  at 
law,  of  Oberlin,  was  born  May  5, 
1854,  in  Russia  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  the  only  child  of 
Luther  and  Eliza  A.  (Brown)  Bedortha, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Shef- 
field, Mass.,  the  latter  of  the  city  of  New 
York. 

Luther  Bedortha,  father  of  subject,  came 
to  Lorain  county  with  his  parent*  in  1824, 
and  they  made  a  settlement  in  Sheffield 
township.  He  was  tvvice  married,  first 
time,  in  Sheffield  township,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Strong,  soon  after  which  they  moved  to 
Iowa,  where  they  remained  a  few  months 
and  then  returned  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Bedortha 
in  1852  establishing  his  residence  on  a 
farm  in  Russia  township,  Lorain  county. 
To  this  first  marriage  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: B.  S.  Bedortha,  Esq.,  of  Bridgman, 
Mich.,  and  Dr.  B.  T.  Bedortha,  of  London, 
England.  The  mother  of  these  died  at 
Joliet,  111.,  while  en  route  on  the  return 
trip  to  Ohio  from  Iowa,  and  on  February 
17,  1853,  Luther  Bedortha  married  Eliza 
A.  Brown,  who  had  come  to  Oberlin  in 
1852;  she  survives  him,  he  having  died 
December  29,  1864,  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  to 
which  place  he  had  removed  but  a  short 
time  previous  to  his  death. 

W.  B.  Bedortha  received  his  education 
at   the  public  schools  of  his  luitive  town- 


910 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ship,  and  in  1868  entered  tlie  office  of  the 
Lorain  County  News,  at  Oherlin,  where 
he  learned  the  printer's  trade,  continuing 
iu  the  printing  business  either  as  employe 
or  proprietor  for  about  ten  years.  In  1877 
he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  J.  W.  Steele,  the  present 
postmaster  at  Oberlin,  and  in  October, 
1880,  was  adjnitted  to  the  bar,  where  he  at 
once  commenced  the  general  practice  of 
his  profession. 

On  February  8,  1881,  W.  B.  Bedortha 
was  married  to  Fannie  J.  E.  Jenney.  He 
is  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


\ILLIAM  RUSriNGEE.  Whatever 
may  be  tiie  form  of  government 
under  which  men  live,  it  is  the 
men  of  opinions  who  rule.  They 
have  circumscribed  the  power  of  kings, 
and  in  representative  governments  they 
are  the  leaders  of  the  common  people  in 
both  public  and  private  concerns.  They 
seldom  till  official  po.sitions.  Our  ablest 
statesmen  have  never  tilled  the  Presidential 
chair.  It  is  the  Utopian  ideal  of  Demo- 
cratic governments  that  broad,  intelligent, 
honest,  partrician  citizenship,  with  financial 
independence,  unfettered  by  official  bur- 
dens, is  the  goal  of  the  best  man's  am- 
bition. When  this  idea  is  adopted  by  our 
educators,  and  thoroughly  implanted  in  the 
bosoms  of  the  youth  of  our  land — when 
we  cease  to  be  hero  worshipers,  and  Na- 
poleon and  Alexander  become  object  les- 
sons of  less  importance  than  the  patrician 
citizen,  we  will  have  taken  the  first  great  step 
toward  the  millennium.  As  a  type  of  the 
character  of  the  men  foreshadowed  above, 
we  introduce  a  brief  sketch  of  Mr.  William 
Rininger,  merchant  and  capitalist,  of  Well- 
ington, Ohio. 

Mr.  Rininger  descends  from  German 
stock.  His  grandparents  emigrated  from 
Germany,  locating  in  Center  county,  Penn., 


when  the  father  of  our  snliject,  Peter  Rin- 
inger, was  a  boy.  There  tlie  grandjiarents 
lived  and  died.  Peter  Rininger  married 
Miss  Mary  Miller,  and  to  their  union  were 
born  two  cliildren:  William,  the  subject 
of  this  memoir,  and  Eliza.  The  latter  mar- 
ried iu  Pennsylvania,  and  died  some  years 
since,  leaving  two  children.  Peter  Rin- 
inger  died  when  his  son  William  was  only 
two  years  of  age.  By  the  subsequent  mar- 
riage of  his  mother,  our  subject  was  thrown 
upon  the  charities  of  the  world  when  a 
mere  child.  He  was  born  April  2,  1823, 
and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  was  given  the 
choice  of  remaining  in  Pennsylvania  or 
emigrating  to  Ohio  with  his  uncle,  Will- 
iam Miller.  He  chose  the  latter  expedient, 
and  thev  located  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio. 
His  uncle  William  subsequently  purchased 
the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Attica, 
and  laid  out  the  plat  for  a  town.  It  was 
with  this  uncle  that  the  boy  William  Rin- 
inger found  the  only  semblance  of  what 
his  early  days  knew  as  a  home.  He  alter- 
nated between  work  and  school,  and  was 
in  return  for  his  services  clothed  and  fed. 
His  uncle  entered  a  variety  of  businesses 
liesides  farming.  He  operated  an  ashery, 
built  and  carried  on  a  hotel,  and  finally 
kept  a  general  merchandise  store.  Com- 
ing in  contact  with  a  variety  of  pursuits, 
William  Rininger  familiarized  himself  with 
the  leading  features  of  each,  n:eanwhile 
applying  himself  assiduously  to  mastering 
the  essential  elements  of  an  English  edu- 
cation. 

Thus  early  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, he  learned  the  most  important  les- 
son in  life — the  lesson  which  only  those 
strongly  endowed  by  nature  can  learn — to 
think  independently,  to  think  for  himself 
— and  through  life  this  has  been  his  lead- 
ing personal  characteristic.  All  arbitrary 
laws  in  religion,  politics  and  elsewhere — 
all  theories  advanced  that  are  not  based 
upon  reason  and  humanity — have  ever  ap- 
peared to  him  the  schemes  of  duplicity 
formulated  to  dominate  the  minds  of  the 
weak  and  the  credulous. 


"^////z  <J7/^^^'¥^'^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


913 


Mr.  Rininger  made  bis  first  money  with 
a  paint  brush.  He  had  watched  tlie  painters 
around  the  hotel,  and  took  up  tlie  trade. 
He  worked  at  that  business  for  a  sahiry  of 
one  dollar  per  day,  subsequently  working 
in  tbe  harvest  field.  Saving  his  money  he 
went  to  making  brick,  and  subsequently 
made  investments  in  various  limited  ways, 
and  each  proved  a  success.  He  not  only 
made  money,  but  saved  it,  and  invested  to 
the  best  possible  advantage.  By  making  the 
best  of  his  opportunities,  in  1844  he  found 
himself  possessed  of  a  few  hundred  dollars 
in  cash,  which  he  invested  in  a  store  in 
Attica  in  connection  with  his  uncles,  Will- 
iam and  Samuel  Miller.  From  that  time 
forward  he  felt  his  success  assured.  He 
remained  personally  in  connection  with 
his  business  at  Attica,  Ohio,  until  1866, 
when  he  left  his  partner,  one  John  Silco.x, 
in  charge  there,  came  to  Wellington  with 
a  view  of  establishincf  liimself  in   business 

o 

here,  and  bought  the  store  of  Charles 
Foote.  In  Wellington  he  had  a  partner, 
for  about  a  year,  William  Barnard, 
but  bought  out  the  latter's  interest,  and 
has  since  operated  his  general  merchandise 
store  with  the  assistance  of  clerks.  He 
still  retains  his  interest  in  the  store  at 
Attica.  Mr.  Eininger's  practice  in  buying 
has  been  to  purchase  for  cash,  although  he 
has  constantly  had  to  tide  customers  over 
hard  periods,  as  his  books  will  show.  He 
is  generally  recognized  as  a  just  but  lenient 
creditor. 

Mr.  Rininger  was  formerly  a  Repub- 
lican, but  says:  "  When  that  party  diverged 
from  its  original  principles,"  he  did  not 
follow  it.  He  believes  in  principles  and 
in  men,  but  not  in  party  dominance.  He 
is  not  a  church  member,  being  an  indepen- 
dent thinker  in  this  as  in  all  other  matters; 
but  he  is  philanthropic  in  its  broadest'sense, 
believing  that  to  be  just  and  humane  is 
the  highest  condition  of  consciousness. 

During  the  years  that  have  passed,  Mr. 
Rinincrer  has  been  an  intelligent  witness 
of  the  greatest  political  and  commercial 
changes  the  country  has  ever  experienced, 


and  is  one  of  the  soundest  and  best  versed 
men  in  its  financial  history  and  conditions 
that  can  be  found. 

Although  his  life  has  been  one  of  inde- 
fatigable work  and  constant  application  to 
business,  and  he  has  always  had  the  cour- 
age of  his  convictions  and  e.xpressed  his 
opinions  freely,  it  is  not  in  pul)lic  but 
within  the  domestic  circle  of  his  home — 
with  his  family  gathei'ed  around  his 
hearth-stone — that  Mr.  Rininger  has  felt 
the  cup  of  life  most  nearly  full.  He  was 
married,  September  9,  1844,  to  Miss  Eliza 
J.  King,  who  was  born  in  Scipio,  Cayuga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1820.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  are  five  daughters  and  one  son, 
viz.:  Lillian,  wife  of  Edward  Phelps,  now 
of  Scranton,  Iowa  (they  have  five  children: 
Mabel,  Edna,Homer,  Raymond  and  Hazel) ; 
Delphene,  wife  of  J.  L.  Smith,  of  Dela- 
ware, Oiiio  (they  have  three  children: 
Ward,  William  R.  and  Louise);  Natella, 
wife  of  William  C.  Miller,  of  Gallipolis, 
Ohio,  now  at  Cincinnati  (they  have  one 
son,  Frank);  Augusta,  at  home;  Frank, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years:  and 
Celestia  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one 
year. 

Mr.  Rininger  is  a  representative  self- 
made  man,  his  life  bearing  testimony  to 
what  it  is  possible  to  accomplish  with  will- 
ing heart  and  hands,  steadfast  integrity 
and  honest  toil.  In  brief,  he  started  in 
life  penniless;  to-day  he  commands  the 
highest  quotation  in  Dunn's  Commercial 
Agency  of  any  individual  merchant  in  the 
State  of  Ohio. 


J 


Joseph  WESBECHER,  a  member 
of  the  prosperous  firm  of  Wesbecher 
&  Co.,  dealers  in  hardware.  North 
Amherst,  is  a  native  of  Germany. 
He  was  born  February  25,  1852,.  in  Mug- 
ensturm.  Duchy  of  Baden,  the  seventh  in 
a  family  of  eight  children  born  to  Aloysius 
and  Matta  (Melcher)  Wesbecher,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Mugenstnrm,  Baden,  Ger- 


914 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


many,  where  tliey  were  reared  and  married; 
the  father  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  the 
Fatherland;  the  mother  is  yet  living.  Of 
their  family  three  sons  came  to  America: 
John,  now  in  Botkins,  Ohio;  George,  a 
resident  of  Greensburgh,  Penn.,  and  Jo- 
seph, our  subject. 

Josepli  Wesbeclier  was  educated  in  his 
native  land,  and,  not  wishing  to  enter  the 
Gei-man  army,  in  1869  came  to  America. 
He  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  and  after 
working  at  different  places  for  three  years, 
came,  in  1872,  to  North  Amherst,  Ohio, 
where  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade 
until  1876,  when  he  embarked  in  the 
hardware  business  on  his  own  account;  the 
style  of  the  firm  was  Cook  &  Wesbecher 
until  1880,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
Wesbecher  &  Co.  Mr.  Wesbecher  was 
married  November  28,  1878,  in  North 
Amherst,  toMiss  Matilda  C.  Plato,  and  they 
have  had  five  children:  Henry,  Edd,  Carl, 
Leo  and  Frank.  Politically  our  subject  is 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  in  reliction  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  aives 
his  entire  attention  to  his  business,  and  by 
industry  and  perseverance  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  good  trade. 


TOMPKINS,  a  well-known,  highly 
respected  agriculturist  of  Eaton 
township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
same  for  over  sixty  years.  He  was 
born  in  1833  in  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y., 
son  of  Samuel  and  Betsy  (Tellis)  Tomp- 
kins, natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  were 
reared  and  married  in  Newfield,  Tompkins 
county,  N.  Y.  In  1833  they  came  with 
their  family  to  Eaton  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  opened  up  a  farm. 
The  father  died  many  years  before  the 
mother,  who  passed  away  in  1885.  They 
reared  a  family  of  four  children,  namely: 
John, married,  who  settled  near  his  parents; 
Natlianiel,  married,  who  resides  in  Eaton 
township;  S.  Tompkins,  subject  of  this 
memoir;  and 'Mary,  wife  of  Joseph  Dew- 
hurst,  of  Eaton  township. 


The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Eaton  township,  and  has 
always  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
owns  a  highly  cultivated  farm  of  eighty- 
four  acres.  Mr.  Tompkins  was  married 
in  Eaton  township,  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane 
Bassett,  a  native  of  same,  and  to  this  union 
have  come  six  children:  Otis;  Charley, 
married,  residiiigin  Eaton  township;  Ellen, 
wife  of  Bird  Farr,  residing  in  Amherst 
township  (they  have  two  children);  Fred,. 
Ira  and  Ida,  all  three  residing  at  home.  la 
politics  Mr.  Tompkins  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party. 


APTAIN  THOMAS  WILFORD,  a 

well-known  lake  captain  and  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Lorain,  has  been 
identified  with  sailing  interests  on  the 
Lakes  for  the  past  thirty-four  years,  and  is 
still  ill  active  demand.  His  father,  Joseph 
Wilford,  a  nati  veof  Northampton8hire,Eng- 
land,  married  Mary  Ellen  Griffin,  also  a 
native  of  that  county,  and  they  had  a  family 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  Thomas  was  the 
eighth  in  order  of  birth.  They  came  to 
America,  locating  in  North  Amherst,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  where  the  father  followed 
farming,  which  was  his  life  vocation.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three;  his  widow 
passed  away  when  aged  seventy-three. 

Thonias  Wilford  was  born  June  21, 
1841,  in  Northamptonshire,  England,  and 
remained  in  his  native  country  until  twelve 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  North  Amherst.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  for 
two  years  afterward  worked  on  a  farm.  He 
began  life  on  the  Lakes  as  a  common  sail- 
or, and  then  became  mate,  from  which 
position  he  was  promoted  to  captain.  He 
was  master  of  sailing  vessels  for  eight 
years,  first  of  the  schooner  "  Exile,"  and 
next  serving  for  two  years  on  the  steamer 
"John  M.  Osborne."'  In  1884  the  latter 
collided    with   the  steamer    "  Aberta,"   in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


915 


Lake  Superior,  and  went  down  in  five 
minutes,  three  of  the  crew  being  lost;  and 
it  was  only  due  to  Capt.  "Wilford's  prompt- 
itude, in  ordering  tlie  "Alierta"  to  keep 
forward  and  not  pull  off,  that  any  of  the 
passengers  were  saved.  He  had  on  board 
his  wife,  his  two  little  cirls,  and  a  young 
lady  friend  from  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  and  lie 
succeeded  in  saving  liis  wife,  the  two  little 
girls  being  rescued  by  the  mate.  Capt. 
Wilford  spent  part  of  the  next  season  in 
superintending  the  building  of  tlie  steamer 
"  J.  II.  Devereaux,"  which  he  commanded 
for  five  years,  and  next  superintended  the 
building  of  the  steamer  -'J.  H.  Wade," 
which  he  commanded  for  two  years.  He 
afterward  had  charge  of  tlie  Iniilding  of 
the  steamer  "  Samuel  Mitchell,"  of  which 
he  is  still  in  command. 

Capt.  Wilford  was  married  December 
29,  1870,  in  Lorain,  to  Miss  Fannie  Gill- 
more,  a  native  of  that  place,  daughter  of 
Alanson  Gillinore,  and  they  have  had  two 
children:  Cora  E.,  wife  of  Charles  F.  Bar- 
tenfeld,  and  F.  Adelaide,  who  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever  May  28,  1893,  aged  sixteen 
years  two  months  and  seven  days.  In  po- 
litics our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum and  also  of  tlie  Ship  Masters  Asso- 
ciation. He  has  been  a  resident  of  Lorain 
since  1861. 


f^- 


A.  DEMING,  a  highly  respected 
citizen  of  Camden,  now  retired 
|[  from  active  public  life,  is  a  native  of 
Washington,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass., 
born  June  27,  1822.  He  is  the 
youngest  in  the  family  of  nine  children  of 
Absalom  and  Sarah  (Fames)  Deming,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  par- 
ents were  both  of  Puritan  stock,  he  being 
able,  on  his  father's  side,  to  trace  ids  an- 
cestry back  to  John  Deming,  Esq.,  who 
was  active  in  the  early  settlement  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.     Upon  his  mother!s   side   iiis 


lineage  runs  back,  by  direct  line,  to  George 
William  Bradford,  who  came  over  in  tlie 
"  Mayflower,"  hence  he  was  of  pure  English 
extraction. 

Our  subject  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  public  schools  of  his  early 
day,  after  which  he  attended  an  academj'  at 
AVestfield,  Mass.,  and  in  this  way  prepared 
himself  for  teaching,  which  lie  followed 
for  sixteen  terras  in  his  native  State.  He 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  well 
trained  to  agricultural  pursuits.  When  lie 
had  attained  his  majority  (18-13)  his  father 
died,  and  young  Deming  took  charge  of 
the  home  place,  renting  the  portion  belong- 
ing to  the  other  heirs,  and  here  remained 
until  1855,  when  he  removed  to  Hinsdale, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  and  continued  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. Finding  his  health  failing  at  the 
end  of  one  year,  he  gave  up  the  farm,  and 
entered  a  dry-goods  store  in  Hinsdale,  as 
a  clerk  and  bookkeeper,  but  after  a  time 
he  embarked,  for  his  own  account,  in  the 
flour  and  feed  business.  Abandoning  this, 
he  accepted  the  position  of  bookkeeper 
in  a  furniture  factory.  In  December,  1809, 
he  moved  to  Mattoon,  111.,  and  bought 
property,  and  here  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother  as  loan  agents,  in 
which  they  continued  till  September,  1882, 
when  our  subject  came  to  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
in  order  that  his  adopted  daughter  might 
enjoy  the  best  of  school  advantages. 
While  living  here,  in  retirement,  he  spent 
one  winter  in  Florida,  and  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois  passed  a  winter  in  Mary- 
land. In  1889  he  came  to  Kipton,  a 
village  in  Camden  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

Mr.  Deming  has  been  twice  married, 
first  time  December  4,  1850,  to  Isabel 
Miliken,  born  March  80,  1827,  in  Hins- 
dale, Mass.,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Miliken. 
This  wife  died  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  January 
25,  1886,  and  on  April  3,  1889,  Mr.  Dem^ 
ing  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Carrie  Rowland,  born  in  Rochester,  Lo- 
rain county,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  and 


916 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Harmony  (Blair)  Rowland.  Mr.  Deming 
has  an  adopted  daughter,  Carrie  B.,  born 
July  3,  1864,  now  5Irs.  E.  E.  Hopkins,  of 
Lorain,  Ohio.  Politically  our  subject  was 
originally  a  Whig,  then  a  Republican,  and 
finally  a  Prohibitionist.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board  at  Washington,  Mass.,  on 
which  he  served  ten  years;  at  twenty- five 
he  was  elected  assessor,  overseer  of  the 
poor  and  select  man  of  the  town  during 
his  residence  in  Washington.  While  a 
citizen  of  Hinsdale  he  served  on  the  school 
board  thirteen  years  continuously,  as  as- 
sessor si.x  years,  and  treasurer  of  the  town 
three  years.  During  his  stay  in  Mattooii, 
111.,  he  was  a  member  of  the  city  council 
four  years,  and  of  the  school  board  three 
years;  and  he  took  a  leading  part  in  or- 
ganizing the  First  Congregational  Church, 
in  which  lie  was  an  active  Deacon  for  ten 
years.  Mr.  Deming  has  been  a  great 
reader  in  his  day,  is  well  posted  and  pos- 
sessed of  sound  judgment,  is  very  popular 
and  is  universally  respected. 


CHARLES  LI.  IIOETON.  This  gen- 
tleman, the  widely-known  inventor 
and  manufacturer,  and  formerly 
superintendent  of  the  Wellington 
(Brick)  Machine  Co.,  of  Wellington,  is  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  born 
April  25,  1845,  in  Holley,  Orleans  county, 
a  son  of  Chauncey  and  Nancy  (Masten) 
Horton.  The  father  was  born  in  the  New 
England  States,  and  died  while  our  sub- 
ject was  young;  the  mother  passed  from 
earth  in  Rochester,  Lorain  county.  Our 
subject's  maternal  grandfather  and  grand- 
mother were  of  French  and  Yankee  birth, 
respectively;  his  father's  grandfather  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

C.  H.  Horton  was  reared  on  a  farm  to 
the  age  of  sixteen  years,  receiving  during 
the  winter  months  a  liberal  education  at 
the  common  schools,  chiefly  in   Hunting- 


ton township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  whither 
he  had  come  when  nine  years  old.  Later 
he  removed  to  Ripley,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
where,  in  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  Fifty-fifth  O.  V.  I.  (for  three 
years  service,  or  during  the  war),  which 
regiment  was  sent  first  to  West  Virginia, 
and  afterward  assigned  to  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  Eleven  til  Army  Corps.  It  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run,  Cedar 
Mountain,  Cliaiicellorsville  and  Gettys- 
burg, after  which  it  was  transferred  to  the 
army  of  the  West.  Mr.  Horton  was  in 
the  battles  of  Chattanooga  and  Buzzard's 
Roost,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  Resaca, 
but  recovering  i-apidly  rejoined  his  com- 
pany, and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march 
to  the  sea.  He  participated,  in  all,  in 
twenty-eight  engagements,  chiefly  in  the 
rank  of  sergeant,  to  which  he  was  promoted 
soon  after  his  enlistment.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  his  regiment  took  part  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
where,  in  July,  1865,  he  received  his  dis- 
charge, having  been  in  the  service  about 
four  years.  He  returned  home  and  for  a 
time  lived  in  Rochester,  Lorain  county, 
and  then  came  to  Wellington,  which  has 
since  been  iiis  place  of  residence.  Mr. 
Horton  is  an  inventor  of  considerable  re- 
pute, and  his  first  invention  was  a  thresh- 
ing machine  which  had  a  self-reo-isterinu: 
grain  measure.  This  patent  he  sohl,  and 
the  machine  was  afterward  manufactured 
and  sold  very  extensively.  He  then  had 
the  sale  of  threshing  machines  and  en- 
gines for  several  years  till  becoming  a 
member  of  the  Wellington  Machine  Co. 
He  is  tiie  inventor  of  the  "  Monarch  Brick 
Machine,"  which  is  made  of  iron,  its 
capacity  being  six  thousand  bricks  per 
hour,  and  is  the  chief  article  turned  out  by 
the  Wellington  Machine  Company,  of 
whose  shops  Mr.  Horton  was  superinten- 
dent from  the  organization  of  the  com'- 
pany  until  July  1,  1893,  when  he  sold  his 
interest  therein. 

On  November  8,   1877,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Amelia  Callin,  daughter 


m 

1 

«^^ 

r^f 

i 

^"^IB^K^       ^^"^^ 

" 

LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


919 


of  James  and  Many  Callin,  of  Monroe- 
ville,  Ohio.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican, 
socially  a  Knight  Templar,  and  a  memiier 
of  Hamlin  Tost,  G.  A.  R.,  AVellington.  lie 
lias  been  a  member  of  the  city  council  since 
the  spring  of  1893,  at  which  time  he  was 
elected.  In  1889  he  built  a  fine  block  in 
Wellington,  north  side  of  Mechanic  street. 


GW.  HARRINGTON,  a  leading 
farmer  of  Columbia  township,  is  a 
^^ '  native  of  same,  born  February  29, 
1848,  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Jane  Har- 
rington, of  Vermont  birth,  who  in  an  early 
day  migrated  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Columbia  township.  They  died 
here  on  their  farm,  the  mother  in  1858, 
the  father  in  January,  1884;  he  dealt  con- 
siderably iti  live  stock,  was  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  served  as  trustee  of  his 
township.  They  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  George  (deceased  when 
three  years  old),  Hiram  (who  resides  with 
his  brother,  C.  W.),  C.  W.,  Wallace  (mar- 
ried, living  in  Columbia  township),  Julia 
(who  died  unmarried)  and  Sarah  (who  also 
died  unmarried).  The  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject had  fourteen  sons  and  two  daughters. 
C.  W.  Hari-ington  received  a  liberal 
school  training  in  his  native  township,  and 
attended  an  educational  institute  in  Cleve- 
land one  term.  Brought  up  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  he  has  made  farming  his 
life  Work,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  ninety- 
four  and  three- fourths  acres  of  well-cul- 
tivated land  in  Columbia  township,  on 
which  he  settled  in  iStiS.  He  has  con- 
siderably improved  the  property,  erecting 
a  coinfortal)le  residence,  etc.  In  December, 
1867,  Mr.  Harrington  married  Miss  Susan 
Maria  Heath,  born  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Green)  Heath, 
natives  of  Vermont,  and  who  mijrrated 
westward  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Columbia 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  they  are 
yet  residing.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harring- 


ton have  been  born  seven  children — four 
sons  and  three  daughters — as  follows: 
Wallace  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
months  and  fourteen  days;  AVillie  E.,  who 
resides  in  Chicago;  Bertha  G.,  who  died 
when  two  years  and  six  months  old  ;  Afton 
B.,  deceased  when  two  months  old;  Eva 
M.,  married  to  Charles  Putt,  and  has  one 
child,  Mamie;  Julia  Frances,  who  died 
when  fourteen  years  and  six  months  old 
(she  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  when 
nine  years  old,  and  was  a  faithful  worker 
for  the  Lord  at  the  time  of  her  death;  she 
was  an  alto  singer  in  the  choir  from  the 
time  she  was  nine  years  old  up  to  her 
death);  and  Warren  C,  who  resides  at 
home.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  his  wife  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
They  are  rearing  an  adopted  child  named 
Lester  Leon  Lockwood. 


GH.     SNOW,     county    surveyor    of 
Lorain  county,  is  a  native  of  Lorain 
^^'   county,  Ohio,   born  in   the   town  of 

Avon,  September  22,  1848. 
His  father,  Edwin  Snow,  was  born 
in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Julia  Lewis,  a  native  of 
New  York  State.  They  became  settlers 
of  Lorain  county,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits,  ownino-  a 
farm  of  400  acres,  200  of  which  he  cleared 
with  his  own  hands.  This  was  in  Avon 
township,  and  one  of  the  roads  there,  still 
knoivn  as  "  Snow's  road,"  was  named  after 
him.  Edwin  Snow  was  a  leading  farmer, 
enjoying  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  en- 
tire community.  He  died  in  1886,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In  his  politi- 
cal preferences  he  was  a  Republican.  His 
widow  is  still  living  in  Elyria,  now  aged 
seventy-four  years. 

C.  H.  Snow,  who  is  the  third  of  five 
children  born  to  Edwin  and  Julia  Snow, 
received  a  liberal  education,  in  part  at   the 


920 


LOEAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


common  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  in 
part  at  Oberlin  College.  His  scliool  days 
over,  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 
there  spent  one  year  in  civil  engineering 
work.  Returning  to  Lorain  county,  he  mar- 
ried, May  24,  1880,  Miss  Mary  Sweet, 
and  settled  down  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
which  he  followed  several  years,  at  inter- 
vals working  at  his  profession.  In  this 
he  continued  from  1874  till  about  1886, 
in  June  of  wliich  latter  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed, without  any  solicitation  on  his 
part,  county  siirveyor  of  Lorain  county, 
was  elected  in  the  following  fall  on  the 
Eepublican  ticket,  and  is  now  serving  his 
second  term.  He  still  operates  his  farm, 
although  attending  closely  to  his  profes- 
sional duties.  Since  1887  he  has,  by 
special  appointment,  been  serving  as  civil 
engineer  for  the  city  of  Elyria. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Snow  have  been 
born  two  children:  Franklin  and  Bricena. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


IfffENEY  SPICER,   one  of  the  well- 
fsH     known  old  residents  of  LaGrange 
I     1     township,  was  born  January  4,  1829, 
J)  in  Lancashire,  England. 

He  is  the  sou  of  Richard  and 
Harriet  (Upton)  Spicer,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  teamster,  and  drove  in  his 
day  the  usual  six-horse  team.  Their 
children  were  named  as  follows:  Alfred, 
Thomas,  Jesse,  Henry,  Mary  and  Harriet, 
of  whom  Alfred  and  Thomas  now  reside 
in  Charlotte,  Mich.;  Jesse  is  in  Iowa; 
Mary  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Jesse  Con- 
over;  and  Harriet  is  the  deceased  wife  of 
Sheldon  Seares,  who  was  her  second  hus- 
band (she  was  lirst  married,  in  England,  to 
John  Pickwood).  In  1832  Richard  Spicer 
came  to  the  LTnited  States  (bringing  our 
subject  but  not  the  entire  family),  landing 
at  New  York,  and  thence  proceeding  by 
I'iver,  canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
from  which  city  he  came  to  Lorain  county, 


locating  east  of  tlie  center  of  Ridgeville 
township.  By  that  time  he  had  only  a 
small  sum  of  money  left,  and  he  rented 
land  and  earned  his  livelihood  by  thresh- 
ing (in  the  old-fashioned  way),  in  which 
line  he  was  quite  expert,  being  able  to 
thresh  ten  bushels  of  grain  and  clean  up 
after  it  in  one  day,  a  feat  at  that  time 
looked  upon  as  almost  phenomenal.  Later 
he  removed  to  Butternut  Ridge,  _where  he 
resided  some  time,  and  then  lived  for  a 
while  at  Grafton  Station,  Grafton  town- 
ship, moving  thence  to  Carlisle  township, 
where  he  bought  fifty  acres  of  land,  then 
all  in  the  woods.  He  removed  his  family 
thereon,  but  after  cleariug  it  and  making 
some  improvements  lie  sold  the  tract  and 
invested  in  land  in  the  northern  part  of 
LaGrange  township,  on  which  a  vast 
amount  of  clearing  also  had  to  be  done. 
He  was  a  hard-working,  industrious  man, 
and  though  beginning  life  poor  he  owned 
at  the  time  of  his  death  one  hundred  acres 
of  land,  all  accumulated  by  his  own  untir- 
ing efforts.  He  and  his  wife  both  died  on 
the  farm  in  LaGrange. 

Henry  Spicer  was  but  three  years  old 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  United 
States  and  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  the  day. 
He  could  attend  even  these  for  only  a  short 
period,  however,  as  his  eyes  became 
affected,  which  compelled  him  to  abandon 
study.  He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
during  his  boyhood  he  frequently  saw  wild 
animals — bears,  deer,  wolves,  turkeys,  etc., 
which  were  then  still  abundant  in  the 
region — in  the  clearings  on  the  farm.  He 
remained  on  the  home  place  until  his 
marriage,  January  8,  1850,  to  Lucinda  P. 
Hastings,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Otis  Hastings, 
a  pioneer  of  LaGrange  township.  At  this 
time  Mr.  Spicer's  circumstances  were 
somewhat  limited.  Locating  in  one  of  the 
wildest  portions  of  LaGrange  township,  he 
purchased  a  tract  at  eight  dollai's  per  acre, 
being  obliged  to  go  into  debt  for  the  land, 
which  was  heavily  timbered  and  difficult 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


921 


to  clear.  He  next  removed  to  Henrietta 
township,  where  he  afterward  sold  out  at  a 
protit,  and  in  1870  came  to  his  present 
farm,  in  LaGrange  township,  then  com- 
prising 111  acres,  part  of  which  he  has 
since  sold,  having  now  eighty-six  acres. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spicer  have  had  the  follow- 
ing cliildren:  llichard,  who  died  after 
reaching  adult  age;  Elbridge,  a  farmer  of 
LaGrange  township;  Perry,  also  a  farmer 
of  LaGrange;  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  Lewis 
Curtice,  of  LaGrange;  and  Carrie,  Mrs.  O. 
Nichols,  of  Lorain.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Spicer  was  a  Democrat  until  1890,  since 
when  lie  has  been  a  Kepublican.  In  re- 
ligious connection  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  For  seventeen  years  he 
has  conducted  a  threshing  business,  and  he 
is  unusually  well  acquainted  in  his  section. 
He  is  a  much  respected  member  of  his 
community,  and  fully  merits  the  esteem 
and  regard  in  which  he  is  held  l)y  his 
fellow  citizens.  From  a  start  of  compara- 
tively nothing  he  has  made  a  success  in 
life,  reared  his  family  well,  and  now  enjoys 
a  comfortable  competence. 


j^OBEET    SALISBUEY,    a   typical 
/    self-made  man,  and  one  of  the  lead- 


ing agriculturists  of  Grafton  town- 
ship, is  an  Englishman  by  birth, 
born  near  Hull,  Yorkshire,  July  7, 
1821,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Graspy) 
Salisbury.  They  had  three  children  born 
in  England,  viz.:  Robert,  subject  of  sketch; 
Hannah,  now  Mrs.  John  Dunn,  of  ISTe- 
braska;  and  Graspy,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  five  years,  and  is  buried  in  Belden 
cemetery. 

In  1827  the  family  took  passage  in  a 
sailing  vessel  from  Hull  for  the  New 
World,  and  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks 
and  tiiree  days  they  landed  at  New  York. 
From  there  they  proceeded  by  river,  canal 
and  lake  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  thence  to 
Grafton     township,     Lorain     county,     by 


wagon,  the  driver  being  a  man  who  had 
come  from  Spencer,  Medina  county.  The 
father  of  our  subject  had  borrowed  ten 
dollars  from  a  companion  on  the  voyage, 
and  this  was  expended  in  bringing  tiie 
family  to  Grafton.  One  John  Langdon,  a 
friend  of  Mr.  Salisbury,  had  previously 
located  in  the  township,  and  the  latter  was 
on  that  account  the  more  resolved  to  come 
here,  although  wliile  at  Cleveland  he  re- 
ceived some  inducement  to  stay  there,  be- 
ing offered  not  only  work,  but  also  land  at 
four  dollars  per  acre,  which,  however,  he 
declined  for  the  reason  stated.  On  their 
arrival  in  Grafton  the  family  were  in 
needy  circumstances,  but  Mr.  Jonathan 
Rawson,with  whom  they  staid  over  night, 
supplied  them  with  provisions  enough  to 
last  them  two  or  three  days.  At  last  Mr. 
Salisbury  secured  work  as  a  farm  hand, 
working  for  Judge  Wells  for  twenty  acres 
of  laud,  which  he  afterward  tiaded;  then 
bought  and  sold,  each  time  to  advantage, 
until  he  and  his  son,  our  subject,  found 
themselves  possessors  of  218  acres.  After 
coming  to  the  United  States  two  more 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Salisbury,  as  follows:  Betsey,  now  Mrs. 
Nelson  Knowles,  of  LaGrange,  Lorain 
county;  and  Miney,  now  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Eyan,  also  of  LaGrange.  The  father  died 
in  1869,  the  mother  on  February  15, 1881, 
and  they  are  buried  in  tlie  cemetery  at 
East  LaGrange. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  six  years 
old  when  the  family  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  he  well  remembers  crossing 
the  ocean,  and  of  being  corrected  by  the 
captain  of  the  ship  for  climbing  the  rig- 
ging. In  Grafton  township  he  attended 
tiie  first  schoolhouse  built  there,  a  very 
primitive  one,  constructed  of  logs  and 
rudely  furnished.  He  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, and  has  made  it  his  life  work,  for  a 
considerable  time  he  and  his  father  work- 
ing together,  clearing  land  in  various 
places;  he  also  learned  the  trade  of  cooper, 
and  has  followed  it  in  connection  with 
agricultural  pursuits.     At  the  age  of  ninei- 


922 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


teen  he  met  with  an  accident,  from  the  re- 
sult of  wliicli  lie  has  since  suffered  nut  a 
little.  One  night  he  was  coon-bunting, 
and  having  climbed  a  tree  after  cue  of  the 
animals,  he  lost  his  hold,  falling  to  the 
ground,  a  distance  of  thirty-eight  feet,  and 
through  this  mishap  be  became  the  first 
patient  of  Dr.  G.  C.  Underbill,  in  Grafton 
or  LaGrange  township. 

On  September  19,  1857,  Mr.  Salisbury 
was  united  in  marriage,  by  Elder  Nesbit, 
with  Miss  Nancy  L.  McKenzie,  a  native 
of  Grafton,  Ohio,  and  three  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  Charles  F.,  mar- 
shal of  Grafton;  Franklin  G.,  deceased  at 
the  age  of  three  years;  and  a  son  that  died 
in  infancy,  unnamed.  After  marriage  our 
subject  continued  to  reside  on  the  home 
place,  which  is  situated  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  Grafton  township,  and  bis  parents 
passed  their  declining  years  with  him.  At 
one  time  be  owned  235  acres  of  land,  but 
having  given  away  and  sold  some,  he  has 
now  168  acres  left,  besides  three  residences 
in  the  village  of  Grafton.  A  Republican 
in  polities,  he  is  a  stanch  member  of  the 
party.  He  and  his  wife  have  been  members 
for  twenty-seven  years  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  in  which  be  has  held  vari- 
ous offices. 


djOHN  HOWK,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent and  affiuent  of  Lorain  county's 
'    retired   agriculturists,  is  a   native  of 
New  York  State,  born   in   Chenango 
county  December  13,  1820. 

David  Ilowk,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
in  Lee  township,  Berkshire  county,  Mass., 
of  Holland- Dutch  descent,  his  father  hav- 
ing come  from  that  land  of  pure  butter 
and  cheese  and  variegated  flowers  to 
America  in  an  early  day,  settling  in  Lee 
township,  above  referred  to.  Grandfather 
Howk  brought  his  wife  with  him,  and  in 
their  new  home  in  tlie  New  World  they 
reared  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The 
grandfather  died  at  the   age  of   sixty-two 


years.  His  son,  David,  married  Miss  Pol- 
lie  Bradley,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and 
they  had 'six  children,  as  follows:  Clara 
(who  died  in  infancy),  Eli  B.  (who  died  in 
February,  1884),  Hiram  H.,  John,  David, 
and  Mary  (who  died  in  1884).  After  mar- 
i-iage  David  Howk  moved  to  New  York 
State,  locating  near  Oxford,  in  Chenango 
county,  and  there  resided  till  July  15, 
1834,  when  the  family  came  to  Welling- 
ton township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  making 
the  trip  by  canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland, 
thence  by  wagons  to  their  destination. 
They  were  pioneers  in  the  literal  sense,  for 
they  had  to  hew  their  way  in  the  woods, 
and  found  no  neighbor  less  than  two  and 
one-half  miles  distant,  excepting  wolves, 
bears,  panthers  and  many  other  wild  ani- 
mals. Here  the  father  died  in  1853  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  the  mother  in  1872  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one;  they  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Whig. 

John  Howk,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  fourteen  years  old  when  be 
came  to  Lorain  county,  with  the  rest  of  the 
family,  and  nobly  did  bis  share  toward  the 
clearing  up  of  the  wild  woods.  After  bis 
marriage  be  settled  on  a  farm  in  Welling- 
ton  township,  which  now  comprises  236 
acres  of  prime  land.  On  September  27, 
1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Esther  A. 
Baird,  born  April  11,  1825,  a  daughter  of 
Bidwell  and  Sophia  (Cheney)  Baird,  who 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts,  the  father 
born  in  Berkshire  county  in  1796,  and  died 
November  28,  1876;  the  mother  born  in 
1801,  and  died  August  21,  1891.  They 
came  to  Ohio  in  1832,  settling  in  Well- 
ington  township,  Lorain  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  ohildren,  viz.: 
Kendal  W.,  Esther  A.,  Catiierine  S., 
Robert  H.,  Sylvester  B.  (deceased),  Al- 
inena  A.,  Albert  E.  (deceased),  LucindaE., 
Adelaide  P.,  and  Abram  P.  (deceased). 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife 
were  as  follows:  Addie  M.,  wife  of  H.  O. 
Barber  (they  have  three  children:  Jessie 
Bell,  Clara  May  and  John  L.);   Hattie,  in 


^IVii': 


c^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


925 


the  auditor's  office,  Cincinnati,  Oliio;  and 
Mary  Ella,  Emma  A.,  Willie  Perry  and 
Freddie  E.,  all  four  deceased.  Politically 
our  subject  was  first  a  Whicr,  then  a  Re- 
yiublican,and  since  S.  J.  Tilden  ran  for  the 
Presidential  chair  he  has  been  a  Democrat. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  Congressional 
conventions,  also  senatorial  comnjittees, 
and  served  as  trustee  of  his  township  nine 
consecutive  years,  part  of  the  time  during 
the  Civil  war.  In  church  matters  he  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  For  the 
past  twelve  years  Mr.  Howk  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life  in  the  town  of  Wellington,  hon- 
ored  and  respected  by  all. 


[[[[    E.   CLARK,    who   was    born    May 

I'H     15,    1846,    in    Pittsfield  township, 

I     If    Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  was  a  grandson 

■^  of  Nathan  Clark,  who  was  one  of 

the  tirst  two  settlers  in    LaGrange 

township. 

JoTiathan  L.  Clark,  son  of  Nathan,  was 
born  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and  when 
eight  years  old  came  with  his  parents  to 
LaGrange  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  to  farm  life.  He  mar- 
ried Rlioda  Dale,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Julia,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years;  H.  E.;  Carrie,  Mrs. 
Richard  Gibbins,  of  Pittsfield  township, 
and  John  G.,  an  attorney  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.  He  died  in  1877, 
and  was  buried  in  Pittsfield  cemetery. 
His  widow  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age. 

H.  E.  Clark  I'cceived  a  common -school 
education,  in  the  same  district  where  his 
children  now  attend  school,  and  resided  at 
home  until  his  marriage.  On  March  28, 
1873,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Mary  Rogers, 
who  was  born  April  2s,  1S42,  in  Pittsfield 
township,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Ann 
(Bailey)  Rogers;  the  latter  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children — one   son  and  two 

48 


daughters — and  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  from  Cornwall,  England.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Clark  settled  on  the  present 
farm,  where  he  was  principally  occupied  in 
general  farming  and  dairying;  he  also 
took  considerable  interest  in  stock  raising, 
and  was  formerly  engaged  in  breeding 
fancy  poultry,  Oxford -Down  registered 
sheep,  Ayrshire  cattle  (registered)  and 
Poland-China  hogs,  having  experimented 
with  various  strains,  all  eligible  to  record. 
He  also  raised  fine  dogs — Scotch  collies, 
Newfoundland  dogs  and  English  pugs — 
as  well  as  ferrets,  sending  his  stock  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  He 
owned  four  imported  horses,  one  Percheron 
and  one  Norman  stallion  (French  coach 
stallions),  and  two  mares.  The  farm  now 
comprises  253  acres,  and  the  stock  enter- 
prises netted  him  no  small  amount  of 
clear  annual  profit.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  he  carried  on  a  creamery  of  his 
own,  having  regular  customers  who  bought 
the  products  of  the  same.  His  extensive 
business  was  built  up  entirely  by  himself, 
and  his  fair,  honest  dealing,  business-like 
methods,  and  complete  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  were  important  fac- 
tors in  his  success.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  had  been  born  four  children: 
Rhoda  A.,  Carrie  M.,  Edward  L.,  and  Ro- 
sclla  M.  (who  died  when  five  years  old). 
Mr.  Clark  died  July  21,  1893,  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  as  is  also  his 
widow. 


fr^  J.  BRAMAN,  a  well-known  and 
I  J.  popular  citizen  of  Lorain,  is  a  native 
>^l  of  Lorain  county,  born  in  1839,  a 
^  son  of  Daniel  and  Belinda  (Fal- 
coner) Braman,  the  father  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  the  mother  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  an  early  day  the  parents  came 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  but  in  1851  they 
migiated  to  Allamakee  county,  Iowa,  so- 
journing there  until  1856,  in  which  year 
they    moved    to    Jackson    county.    Wis., 


926 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


where  tliey  passed  the  rest  of  their  days  in 
farming  pursuits.  The  father  died  in 
1883,  the  mother  in  1891;  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  took  some  interest  in  politics. 

G.  J.  Jjraman  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Lorain  county,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  moved  with  his  parents  to  Iowa, 
where  in  1852  he  carried  the  chain  on  a 
survey  locating  the  boundary  line  of  Iowa 
and  Minnesota.  In  1857  he  located  at 
Red  Wing,  Minn.,  and  was  a  pilot  on  the 
Mississippi  river  until  1860,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Lorain  county,  and  again  at- 
tended school,  also  followine  the  trade  of 
carpenter.  In  May,  1861.  he  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  Twenty-third  O.  V.  I.,  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  serving  un- 
der Col.  K.  B.  (afterward  General)  Hayes, 
assigned  to  the  Eastern  army.  He  was 
first  under  lire  September  10,  1861,  at  Car- 
nifex  Ferry,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Sewell  Mountain,  Cotton  Mountain 
(Va.),  and  Newberne  (K.  C);  after  that 
he  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  was  in  the  battles  of  Fairfax 
Courthouse,  South  Mountain,  and  Antie- 
tam ;  he  was  then  ordered  to  the  Kanawha. 
While  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  be  was 
detailed  in  charge  of  transportations.  Mr. 
Braman  was  honorably  discharged  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  in  July,  1864,  and  returned 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
till  1873,  in  that  year  moving  to  Michi- 
gan. For  a  time  he  was  engaged  as  su- 
perintendent of  a  bridge  gang  in  Texas, 
but  in  1SS2  he  again  came  to  Lorain 
county,  making  his  home  in  Lorain,  and 
was  engaged  on  the  C.  L.  &  W.  for  some 
time.  Mr.  Braman  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Lorain  police  force  since  1889.  and 
constable  since  1890. 

On  December  25,  1864,  Mr.  Braman 
was  united  in  marriage,  at  Grafton,  Ohio, 
with  Miss  Belle  M.  Crittenden,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Lorain  county,  daughter  of  William 
H.  and  Clara  (Arnold)  Crittenden,  of 
Massachusetts,  who  became  early  settlers 
of  Lorain  county.  To  this  union  was 
born    one    daughter,    Rena     Belle,     now 


the  wife  of  William  H.  Ault,  of  Lorain 
county.  Mr.  Braman  is  a  Republican, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics; 
in  18S8  lie  served  as  a  member  of  the 
town  council.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Q. 
A.  Giilmore  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Lorain,  and 
of  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 


F.  CARTER,  proprietor  of  a  flour- 
ishing hardware  establishment  in 
Oberlin,  one  of  the  leading  business 
houses  in  that  line  in  Lorain  county, 
is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born  in 
Cattaraugus  county  in  1838. 

Thomas  Carter,  his  father,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  and  when  he  was  a  child 
his  parents,  also  natives  of  the  "Nutmeg 
State,"  came  to  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y., 
from  there  moving  to  the  western  part  of 
the  same  State.  The  father,  who  was  a 
tanner  and  shoemaker,  died  at  the  patri- 
archal age  of  eighty-three  years.  In  1854 
Thomas  Carter  and  his  family  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
Russia  township.  By  trade  he  was  a  tan- 
ner and  shoemaker,  but  after  comina  to 
Ohio  lie  followed  farming  exclusively.  An 
Old-line  Whig  in  his  younger  days,  he 
has,  since  the  organization  of  the  party, 
been  a  stanch  Republican.  His  wife, 
Abi  (Hotchkiss),  died  in  1864,  the  mother 
of  six  children.  He  now  lives  with  a 
daughter  at  Riceville,  Penn.,  at  the  great 
age  of  ninety-five  years. 

O.  F.  Carter,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  sketch,  is  fourth  in  order 
of  birth  in  his  father's  family.  His  school 
training  was  received  in  part  in  his  native 
county,  and  in  part  at  Oberliti,  Ohio.  He 
remained  on  his  father's  farm,  assisting 
thereon  until  his  mother's  death,  after 
which  he  .bought  the  old  homestead  and 
cultivated  same  till  1866,  when  he  sold 
out  Hud  returned  to  Cattaraugus  county, 
N.  Y.  Here,  in  Ranc^olph  township,  he 
embarked  in  the  hardware  business  with  a 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


927 


brother,  but  some  little  time  afterward  re- 
turned to  Lorain  county  and  opene<l  in 
Oberlin  liis  present  hardware  store,  the 
style  of  the  firm  being,  tirst — ''  Carter, 
Franks  &  Co.,"  and,  for  the  past  four 
years — "  Carter  &  Huckus." 

In  1860  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Emily  M.  Brown,  and  one 
child,  Carrie  J.,  was  born  to  them;  she  is 
the  wife  of  Elmer  M.  Kice,  of  Riceville, 
Penn.,  and  has  one  child,  named  Robert 
Hughes.  Politically  Mr.  Carter  is  an 
active  Republican,  and  has  been  a  regular 
delegate  to  State  and  county  conventions 
for  several  years.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of 
Honor.  In  church  relationship  he  is  a 
Congregatio  n  all  St. 


dlOHN"  DAGUE,  a  lifelong  farmer  and 
a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Penfield 
_^'   township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
November  16,  1820,  in  Milton  town- 
ship,   Wayne    county,     son    of   Frederick 
Dague.     Michael    Dague,  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  of  German   extraction. 

Frederick  Dagne,  father  of  John  Dague, 
was  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Penn., 
where  he  was  married  to  Catherine  Harsh, 
also  born  in  Washington  county,  daughter 
of  Henry  Harsh,  and  in  1820  the  young 
couple  migrated  westward  to  Ohio.  The 
road  were  very  rough,  but  they  canie  in  a 
wagon,  and  located  in  Wayue  county,  then 
a  very  wild  section,  where  wild  animals — 
deer,  bears,  wolves,  etc. — abounded.  Here 
Mr.  Dague  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  all 
heavily  timbered  and  without  improve- 
ments of  any  sort,  erecting  thereon  a  rude 
cabin,  with  puncheon  floor,  stick  chimney, 
etc.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  six 
of  whom  still  survive,  viz.:  Frederick, 
John,  Henry,  Levi,  Sarah  and  Ann.  The 
father  of  these  passed  his  remaining  years 
on  the  pioneer  farm  in  Wayne  county,  liv- 


ing to  see  the  transformation  of  bis  prop- 
erty from  the  primeval  forest  to  a  fertile 
farm.  Much  hard  labor  was  necessarily 
involved  in  accomplishing  this,  but  he  was 
assisted  in  the  work  by  his  family,  every 
member  of  which  worked  with  a  will  to 
secure  a  home,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  the  property  was  worth  several  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  made  many  substantial 
improvements  thereon  in  the  way  of  build- 
ings, putting  up  a  fine  barn  and  outbuild- 
ings, also  a  handsome  brick  residence,  and 
was  progressive  in  every  way.  He  acquired 
and  retained  universal  respect  and  esteem, 
and  instilled  into  the  minds  of  his  children 
those  sterling  principles  so  characteristic 
of  his  life,  and  now  so  apparent  in  theirs. 
He  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  Mrs.  Cather- 
ine Dague  died  July  12,  1834,  and  Mr. 
Dagne  subsequently  married  Margaret 
Baker,  who  had  come  from  Maryland; 
there  were  no  children  by  this  union. 

John  Dague  received  in  his  youth  a 
meager  training  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  early  day,  his  attendance  being  re- 
stricted to  five  days  during  one  winter 
term.  From  early  boyhood  he  engaged  in 
the  arduous  duties  of  farm  life,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  reaching  his  ma- 
jority,  assisting  in  the  clearing  of  the  pio- 
neer farm,  where  he  labored  zealously  to 
help  his  father  secure  a  home.  On  Jan- 
uary 20,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Barbara  Waltner,  who  was  born 
in  December,  1816,  in  Adams  county, 
Penn.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Bowser)  Waltner,  who  came  by  wagon  to 
Ohio  in  1834,  the  family,  which  then  con- 
sisted of  three  daughters,  walking  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  to  Milton  town- 
ship. Wayne  county,  where  they  located. 
For  nine  years  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dague  rented  land,  and  he  worked 
for  fifty  cents  a  day,  clearing  land  for 
others,  laboring  from  sunrise  to  sunset, 
his  wife  helping  all  the  while.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1852,  they  came  to  Penfield  town- 
ship, purchasing  102  acres  at  five  dollars 
per  acre,  and  there  made  their  home  in  a 


928 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lop;  liouse,  the  walls  of  which  were  so  open 
that  the  snow  blew  through  the  cracks. 
Children  as  follows  were  born  to  them: 
Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one 
years,  unmarried;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Alfred 
Bronse,  of  Penfield;  Margaret,  Mrs.  Har- 
vey Bronse,  of  Pentield;  Jacob,  a  farmer, 
deceased;  Hattie,  Mrs.  Robert  Davidson, 
of  Wellington,  Ohio;  Fred,  a  farmer  of 
Penfield;  John,  also  a  farmer  of  Penfield; 
and  William,  a  farmer  of  Spencer,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio.  About  twenty-five  years  ago 
Mr.  Dague  lost  almost  entirely  the  use  of 
his  arm,  but  his  ciiildren  have  taken  hold 
of  the  manual  labor,  and  the  affairs  of  the 
farm  have  progressed  finely.  At  one  time 
he  owned  over  200  acres  of  land,  and  now, 
after  having  started  his  children  in  life,  he 
has  an  excellent  farm  and  a  most  beauti- 
ful home,  and  enjoys  a  comfortable  com- 
petence. His  noble  wife  deserves  no  small 
amount  of  credit  for  the  part  she  has 
taken,  and  now,  though  over  seventy-seven 
years  of  age,  she  is  still  in  the  enjoyment 
of  remarkably  good  health.  Mr.  Dague 
is  extremely  fond  of  his  home,  seldom 
leaving  it  for  more  than  a  day  at  a  time. 
He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every  respect, 
and  from  small  beginnings  has  made  a 
complete  success,  having  acquired  during 
his  business  career  an  enviable  record  for 
fair,  honest  dealing.  In  politics  he  sym- 
pathizes with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
in  religious  connection  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  German   Baptist  Church. 


Co., 


'HARLES  A.  FOWLER  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Charles  and  Eliza  (Ba- 
ker) Fowler,  and  was  born  January 
28,  1834,  in  Chestertown,  Warren 
N.  Y.  (w^here  he  spent  his  boyhood 
days),  a  very  picturesque  village  situated  a 
short  distance  from  the  Adirondack  Moun- 
tains. 

Here  during  his  leisure  hours  he  roamed 
at  will  down  through  the  deep  glens  or 
over  the  rugged  mountains.    After  having 


graduated  at  the  high  school,  and  receiv- 
ing a  thorough  business  education,  he  en- 
tered  his  father's  mercantile  establishment, 
where  he  became  familiar  with  tlie  practi- 
cal works  of  a  merchant.  About  the  year 
1854  he  came  to  Ohio  to  look  after  an  ex- 
tensive land  estate  in  the  townships  of 
Grafton  and  Eaton,  Lorain  county.  This 
estate  was  purchased  from  Jonathan  Raw- 
son,  it  being  a  large  tract  of  land  situated 
on  both  sides  of  Black  river,  and  covered 
nearly  all  the  territory  on  which  the  pres- 
ent prosperous  village  of  Grafton  Station 
now  stands.  After  remaining  in  Grafton  for 
a  short  time,  Mr.  Fowler  went  to  Michi- 
gan and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, but  in  about  one  year  returned  to 
Grafton  to  take  care  of  the  property  there, 
which  was  deeded  to  him  by  his  father. 
He  spent  his  time  in  general  farming, 
stock  raising  and  so  forth.  There  was  a 
sawmill  on  the  premises  which  he  operated 
until  the  year  1862,  when  it  was  carried 
away  by  a  flood,  after  which  he  devoted 
his  spare  time  to  local  politics,  and  filled 
some  of  the  most  important  offices  of  the 
place  with  great  credit;  was  mayor  of 
Grafton  one  term,  and  is  still  quoted  as 
the  honest  and  business-like  mayor.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Democrat.  While  he  was 
very  outspoken,  he  was  very  kind-hearted, 
generous  and  charitable  to  a  fault.  In 
1891  he  rebuilt  his  home,  which  now  ranks 
among  the  finest  in  northern  Ohio.  Mr. 
Fowler  died  December  30,  1891,  in  La- 
Grange,  from  injuries  received  while  step- 
ping from  a  moving  train.  His  remains 
rest  in  the  cemetery  in  Elyria,  in  a  vault 
erected  by  his  wife  at  an  enormous  ex- 
pense, it  being  the  finest  in  Lorain  county. 
The  business  part  of  the  community  feel 
the  loss  of  a  good  councilor  and  citizen, 
and  the  poor  mourn  him  as  a  benefactor. 
On  February  15,  1857,  in  the  city  of 
Adrian,  Micii.,  Charles  A.  Fowler  was 
iinited  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J. 
Hendee,  who  was  born  April  6,  1835,  in 
Spencer,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Anna  (Hoover)  Hendee,  early 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


929 


settlers  in  Medina  county,  formerly  resi- 
dents of  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Hen- 
dee  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  a  man  of 
moilerate  means.  He  had  a  family  of 
eiglit  children,  of  whom  five  at  this  date 
are  yet  living.  Mrs.  Fowler  is  a  lady  of 
sound  judgment,  and  manages  her  farm  of 
140  acres  in  a  manner  that  well  exempli- 
fies her  innate  lousiness  sagacity  and  acu- 
men. Her  residence  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  county,  and  is  elegantly  fnrnisiied, 
all  its  surroundings  giving  evidence  of  the 
exquisite  taste  and  refinement  of  its  owner. 


Fl(  LFEEl)  FAUYER, ex-commissioner 
l/\\  of  Lorain  county,  and  retired  agri- 
lP^  cuiturist,  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
•fj  born  in  Eaton  township  in  the  year 
1835. 
In  his  boyhood  and  early  youth  Mr. 
Fauver  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
at  which  he  was  working  when  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  broke  out.  He  was  the  first 
to  volunteer  into  the  service  of  the  Union 
from  Eaton  township,  enlisting  in  the 
Eighth  O.  V.  I.,  whicli  regiment  was  sent 
to  Camp  Dennison  from  Cleveland,  and 
there  being  no  accommodation  prepared 
for  tliem  the  men  had  to  bivouac  in  a  field 
among  the  snow  and  mud;  in  consequence 
of  such  exposure  our  subject  was  seized 
with  pneumonia,  but  did  not  leave  the 
service.  The  regiment  then  proceeded  to 
West  Virginia,  to  guard  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railroad,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  where  Mr.  Fauver 
received  a  musket-ball  and  three  buckshot 
in  the  leg,  which  wounds  necessitated  his 
confinement  in  hospital  at  Winchester  for 
some  time.  Returning  home  when  con- 
valescent, he  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service  August  19,  1862.  He 
then  settled  down  to  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Eaton  township,  which  he  carried  on 
successfully  till  1891,  in  which  year  he  re- 


tired from  active  life,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Oberlin,  in  order  the  better  to 
educate  iiis  children. 

On  October  24,  1863,  Mr.  Fauver  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  King,  of  Eaton  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  by  which  union  there 
are  six  children — five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, as  follows:  Lester  A.,  graduate  of  a 
civil  engineering  school,  and  now  city  en- 
gineer of  Lorain;  Louis  13., attending  Ober- 
lin College;  Clayton  K.,  in  college;  Edwin 
and  Edgar  (twins),  both  in  high  school  at 
Oberlin;  and  Mabel.  In  politics  Mr.  Fau- 
ver is  a  stalwart  member  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  in  1884  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  in  which  incumbency  he 
served  nine  years  and  one  month.  He  has 
been  active  in  the  interests  of  the  county 
in   many  ways,  and  was  a  member  of  the 

fuberuatorial  convention  that  nominated 
'oster  for  governor  of  Ohio.  He  assisted 
in  tiie  organization  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Lorain,  and  is  one  of  its  directors; 
he  is  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Savings 
Bank  of  Elyria. 


^ILLIAM  H.  SAXTON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential 
of  the  prospei-ous  agriculturists  of 
Russia  township,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1827,  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y., 
a  son  of  Elisha  Saxton,  also  a  native  of 
New  York  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  married  Miss 
Ardelia  Cottrel,  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  they  then  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
where  he  was  reared.  He  had  served  in 
the  capacity  of  coachman  (rising  to  that 
position  from  one  of  day  laborer)  for 
Joseph  Bonaparte,  a  heavy  landowner  and 
prominent  man,  who  at  the  time  of  his 
death  gave  each  of  his  employes  fifty  acres 
of  land,  Elisha  Saxton  Ijeing  one  of  the 
beneficiaries.  This  he  commenced  farm- 
ing on,  but  it  was  new  land  and  proved  to 
be  not  worth  much,  and  later  he  moved  to 
Otsego  county,  same  State,  to  a  town  then 


930 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


called  Butternuts.  Thence  he  proceeded 
to  Jefferson  county,  locating  for  a  time  in 
Denmark,  and  from  there  the  family  came 
in  1835  to  Ohio,  by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal 
from  Syracuse  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  boat 
to  Huron,  Ohio,  from  which  place  they 
were  conveyed  by  wagon  to  Richland 
county,  where  they  sojourned  a  month  or 
two.  From  that  county  they  moved  to 
LaG range  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
Mr.  Saxton  bought  for  cash  seventy-five 
acres  at  about  five  dollars  per  acre.  Here 
be  lived  for  some  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  removed  to  Wellington 
township,  same  county,  whence  after  a 
time  he  returned  to  La  Grange  town- 
ship, where  he  died  in  July,  1863; 
his  widow  passed  from  earth  in  1870,  in 
Ohio,  at  the  home  of  her  son  ISTelson.  They 
are  buried  side  by  side  in  Pittsfield  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  He  was  a  successful 
hard-working  farmer,  and  by  industry  and 
frugality  accumulated  a  comfortable  com- 
petence. Politically  he  was  a  Democrat 
until  the  Anti-slavery  movement,  when  he 
turned  Abolitionist;  he  held  various  offices 
of  trust  in  his  township.  When  he  lirst 
came  to  Ohio  he  was  a  Baptist,  but  later 
became  an  adherent  of  the  Universalist 
faith,  remaining  so  to  the  close  of  his  life. 
The  children  bcrn  to  him  prior  to  his  re- 
moval to  Ohio  were  as  follows:  Elzina, 
who  married  Hiram  Jones,  and  died  in 
LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county;  Will- 
iam II.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Daniel,  who 
died  soon  after  coming  to  Ohio;  Xelson,  a 
minister  of  the  Universalist  faith,  who  died 
in  1890;  and  Emily,  who  married  Cyrus 
Batchelor,  and  died  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship. Those  born  in  Ohio  are  Albert  D., 
now  a  resident  of  Eaton  Rapids,  Mich.; 
and  John,  a  farmer  of  Deerfield,  Michigan. 
William  H.  Saxton,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  at 
the  subscription  school  of  LaGrange  town- 
ship, which  was  held  in  an  old  log  cabin, 
with  slab  seats,  puncheon  floor  and  greased 
paper  for  windows  in  lieu  of  glass,  the  first 
teacher  being  Lura  Cross.     Here  our  sub- 


ject drank  of  the  "Pierian  Spring"  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  until  lie  was  eigh- 
teen years  old,  working  on  the  fRrm  in  the 
summer  season.  He  lived  at  home  till  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  land  containing  fifty 
acres,  price  three  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars, paying  one  hundred  dollars  down,  and 
in  a  few  years  by  hard  labor  and  judicious 
economy  he  was  enabled  to  pay  for  it  in 
full.  He  built  thereon  a  log  cabin,  al- 
most  entirely  with  his  own  hands,  the 
chimney  being  made  of  mud  and  sticks, 
and  an  old  "hard-head  boulder"  consti- 
tuted the  back  of  the  fireplace. 

In  May,  1849,  Mr.  Saxton  was  married 
to  Mary  Allyn,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  in  June,  1824,  daughter  of  Matthew 
Allyn,  and  they  commenced  their  wedded 
life  in  the  humble  log  house  iust  described. 
The  first  road,  in  those  parts,  between 
Cleveland  and  Toledo,  came  near  their 
home,  and  so  they  kept  boarders,  which 
helped  Mr.  Saxton  toward  paying  for  his 
farm;  and  he  also  sold  cross  ties  from  the 
land  he  was  clearing.  This  property  of 
originally  fifty  acres  he  has  from  time  to 
time  added  to,  and  he  now  owns  in  all 
over  700  acres — some  in  Ohio,  some  in 
Michigan  and  some  in  Iowa.  For  five 
years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Saxton  lived  in  the  old  log  cabin,  and  then 
moved  into  a  frame  house.  Their  children 
were  born  as  follows:  Clara,  Mrs.  Raphael 
Rogers,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Judson,  a 
farmer  of  Humboldt  county,  Iowa;  Will- 
iam, a  farmer  of  LaGrange  township,  Lo- 
rain county;  Arthur,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
and  Edith,  Mrs.  M.  Mason,  of  Oberlin, 
Ohio. 

Mr.  Saxton  has  been  a  great  reader  in 
his  day,  and  has  a  very  retentive  memory 
for  everything  he  finds  of  use  from  books.  » 
He  also  takes  a  deep  interest  in  various 
branches  of  industry,  and  has  been  a  patron 
of  all  the  leading  industrial  Expositions 
held  in  the  United  States  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years,  including  the  Centennial 
at  Philadelphia,  the  New  Orleans  Exposi- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


931 


tion,  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago,  etc.  la 
1889  he  and  his  wife  made  a  trip  to  the 
Pacific  Slope,  visiting  among  other  places 
San  Francisco  and  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and 
Seattle,  Wash.;  they  also  traveled  through 
the  New  England  States,  visiting  his  wife's 
place  of  birth.  In  the  summer  of  1892 
lie  visited  the  Western  States,  proceeding 
as  far  north  as  Alaska,  and  traveling 
through  various  parts  of  that  new  Terri- 
tory. In  his  political  preferences  Mr. 
Saxton  was  a  Republican  up  to  the  time 
of  Horace  Greeley's  campaign,  since  when 
lie  has  been  a  Prohibitionist. 


QH.  ARNET,  retired,  who  enjoys  the 
,  record  of  being  one  of  the  most 
painstaking  and  successful  farmers  of 
,L  Russia  town.-^hip,  a  shrewd  manager 
and  sound  financier,  is  a  native  of 
Western  New  York,  born  July  17,  1827, 
in  Jerusalem  township,  in  the  lake  country. 
James  S.  Arnet,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  November  26, 17SB,  and  about  theyear 
1835  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Hartland 
township,  Huron  county,  in  the  pioneer 
days  of  that  locality.  After,  some  years 
residence  there  he  moved  to  Illinois,  but 
returning  to  Ohio  he  passed  tiie  rest  of  his 
days  among  his  children.  He  died  in 
Townsend  township,  Huron  county,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1868,  and  w-as  buried  at  Hartland 
Ridge  by  the  side  of  his  second  wife.  Po- 
litically he  was  for  several  years  a  Whig, 
afterward,  on  the  organization  of  the  party, 
a  steadfast  Republican.  He  had  been  twice 
married,  first  time  September  11,  1804,  to 
Julia  Terry,  who  was  born  March  81, 
1785,  and  died  when  her  son  G.  PL,  our 
subject,  was  two  months  old.  Mr.  Arnet 
then  removed  to  Sheffield  township,  War- 
j-en  Co.,  Peim.,  where,  on  August  12, 
1830,  he  married  Rebecca  Shipman,  who 
died  in  Hartland  townsiiip,  Huron  county. 
G.  H.  Arnet,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  beinc  l)ut  an  infant  when  his 
mother  died,  was  brought  up  by  his  sister 


Caroline,  and  attended  the  subscription 
schools  of  the  period.  At  about  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  began  fo  work  out  for 
himself,  with  a  lumber  company  (four 
years)  and  in  sawmills,  etc.,  in  Huron  and 
Lorain  counties.  On  December  28,  1854, 
Mr.  Arnet  was  married  to  Elizabeth  West, 
who  was  born  September  7,  1831,  in  Gen- 
eva, N.  Y.,  and  in  1^41  came  to  Welling- 
ton township,  Lorain  county,  with  her 
parents,  Horace  and  Susan  (Weiser)  West. 
Tlie  children  born  to  this  union  are  Mel- 
vin  D.,  born  Octolier  13,  1859,  a  farmer 
in  Russia  township;  Helen  S.,  born  March 
17,  1803,  married  to  Manasses  Baker,  of 
Oberlin,  Ohio;  and  George  W.,  who  died 
young. 

Prior  to  his  marriage  our  subject  had 
bought  on  credit  121  acres  of  wild  land  at 
eight  dollars  per  acre,  where  he  is  yet  liv- 
ing, and  this  he  has  improved  and  from 
time  to  time  added  to  until  he  now  has  180 
acres  of  as  good  farming  land  as  can  be 
found  in  the  county.  For  some  years  he 
has  lived  retired  from  active  life,  his  son, 
Melvin  D.,  iiaving  charge  of  tiie  place;  but 
he  can  not  remain  idle,  for  at  all  times  he 
is  to  be  seen  doing  light  work  of  one  kind 
or  another  about  the  premises.  He  has  a 
bright,  pleasant  home,  where  he  and  his 
estimable  wife  are  quietly  and  comfortably 
passing  the  declining  years  of  their  lives. 
Politically  Mr.  Arnet  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, formerly  an  Old-line  Whig. 


T[    f[    G.  HUSTED,  senior  member  of  the 
pH     well-known  firm  of  H.  G.  and  D.  S. 
I     1|    Husted,  dentists,   in   Oberlin,  is  a 
J)  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the 

earliest  pioneer  families.  Plis  grand- 
father, Samuel  Husted,  came  in  a  very  early 
day  from  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  erected  tlie 
first  flour  mill  in  the  county.  Hoyt  Husted, 
father  of  subject,  was  born  in  Danbury, 
Conn.,  and  learned  the  milling  business, 
which  he  followed  for  many  years  in  Clarks- 
field  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.     For  his 


93'J 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


first  wife  he  married  Sarah  Gray,  a  native 
.  of  New  York  State,  who  came  with  her 
parents  to  Ohio  fn  1825,  settling  in  Clarks- 
lield,  Huron  county.  His  second  wife, 
Anna  C.  Stone,  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
and  removed  witli  her  parents  to  Clarks- 
iield  when  but  a  child. 

H.  G.  Husted,  son  of  Hoyt  and  Sarah 
(Gray)  Hiisted,  was  born  April  (5,  1851,  in 
Clarksfield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  was  reared  to  farm  life,  receiving  his 
primary  education  in  the  common  schools. 
For  three  and  one-half  years  he  studied 
dentistry  under  a  pi'eceptor,  in  Norwalk, 
and  since  September,  1878.  he  has  resided 
in  Oberlin,  where  he  has  built  up  a  good 
practice.  Mr.  Husted  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, November  11,  1879,  in  Norwalk, 
Huron  county,  with  Miss  Alberta  Jackson, 
a  native  of  Norwalk,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  three  children:  Walter, 
Clara  and  Hubert.  Politically  our  subject 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  two  terms  as  mem- 
ber of  the  town  council.  In  religious  faith 
he  is  an  adherent  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Northern 
Ohio  Dental  Association. 


D 


I\    8.  HUSTED,  junior  member  of  the 
ll   well-known  dentist  firm,  in  Oberlin. 


of  H.  G.  and  D.  S.  Husted,  is  de- 
scended from  an  early  pioneer  family 
of  this  section.  His  grandfather,  Samuel 
Husted,  came  in  a  very  early  day  from 
Danbury,  Conn.,  and  erected  the  first  flour 
mill  in  the  county.  Hoyt  Husted,  father 
of  subject,  was  born  in  Danbury,  Conn., 
and  learned  the  miller's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  many  years  in  Clarksfield 
township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  For  his  first 
wife  he  married  Sarah  Gray,  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  who  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Ohio  in  1S25,  settling  in  Clarks- 
field, Huron  county.  His  second  wife, 
Anna  C.  Stone,  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut, and  came  to  Clarksfield  with  her 
parents  when  but  a  child. 


D.  S.  Husted,  son  of  Hoyt  and  AnnaC. 
(Stone)  Husted,  was  born  March  17,  1861, 
in  Clarksfield  township,  Huron  county, 
where  he  was  reared,  and  where  he  received 
his  primary  education  at  the  common 
schools.  In  1885  he  was  graduated  from 
the  Dental  Department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Troy,  Miami  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  Later 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother, 
H.  G.  Husted,  and  they  are  now  conduct- 
ing an  extensive  practice  in  Oberlin.  The 
Doctor  was  manied,  April  25,  1889,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Hurlburt,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  had  two  children,  namely: 
Howard  and  Edith.  Politically  Mr. 
Husted  is  a  Prohibition-Republican,  and 
in  religion  he  is  an  adherent  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Northern 
Ohio  Dental  Association. 


'jtNx  AVID  BURKE   is  one  of  the  most 
I     I    prominent    representative    agricul- 
H  J!   tui'ists   of  Lorain   county,  his  resi- 
dence being  on    Butternut    Ridge, 
Eaton  township. 

He  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
in  1827,  in  the  town  of  De  Kalb,  a  son 
of  David  and  Isabella  (McUwe)  Burke,  the 
former  of  whom,  a  native  of  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  when  a  young  man  sailed  from 
Belfast  for  this  country,  and  after  his  ar- 
rival proceeded  to  De  Kalb,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  married,  and  his  children  were  born. 
From  there  in  March,  1834,  the  family 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in 
Ridgeville  township,  where  the  father 
opened  up  a  farm,  subsequently  purchas- 
ing the  Alcott  property  in  the  same  town- 
ship. He  died  in  August,  1875,  his  wife 
having  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1872. 
They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  all 
of  whom  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Samuel 
Burke,  married,  residing  in  Indiana;  Mat- 
thew Burke,  married,  living  in  Chicago; 
Judge    Stevenson     Burke,    of    Cleveland; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


935 


David  Burke,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Henry  Smith, 
of  Ohusted  Falls,  Ohio;  James  Burke, 
married,  a  resident  of  Ridgeville  township, 
Lorain  county;  and  K  chel,  wife  of  Henry 
Marsh,  of  Summit  county,  Colorado. 

David  Burke  received  his  education  at 
the  common  schools  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  whither  he  had  come 
with  his  parents  when  seven  years  old.  In 
early  life  he  went  on  the  lakes,  lirst  as  fire- 
man on  a  steam  vessel,  in  course  of  time  be- 
ing promoted  to  engineer,  remaining  in  all 
nine  years,  during  "  the  cholera  year,'' 
working  on  the  Sandusky  line.  On  leav- 
ing the  lakes,  he  came  to  Eaton  township, 
and  bought  six  acres  of  wild  land,  to 
which  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he 
now  owns  360  acres  in  Eaton  township, 
and  fifty  in  Ridgeville  township.  All  his 
property  he  has  greatly  improved,  and  the 
barn  he  built — 86  x  46  feet — 24  foot  posts 
— has  a  capacity  of  200  tons  of  hay,  with 
basement  for  cattle  and  horses.  In  addition 
to  general  farining  operations,  Mr.  Burke 
trades  considerably  in  horses,  matching 
teams,  and  so  forth. 

In  1850  he  was  married  in  Ridgeville 
township  to  Miss  Hannah  Kemp,  who  was 
born  in  Kenninghall,  England,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Hannah  (CoUey)  Kemp,  also 
natives  of  England,  who  came  to  America 
and,  in  1830,  made  a  permanent  settle- 
ment in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burke  have  been 
born  two  children:  Albert  (married),  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  Lyman,  attending 
school  in  Elyria.  In  his  political  predilec- 
tions our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


DANIEL  Al 
upright  cit 
is  a  native 


AUBLE,  a  widely  respected, 
itizenof  Pentield  township, 
ve  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  born 
July  6, 1828,  near  Greentown,  Stark 
county.  His  father,  Christopher  Aublo, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  grand- 
father, Conrad  Auble,  was  a  native  of 
Germany. 


Christopher  Auble  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  to  Miss 
Mary  Crumbaugh,  also  born  in  that  State, 
of  German  parentage,  and  in  an  early  day 
they  came  west  to  Stark  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  resided  for  some  years.  In  1829 
they  moved  to  Wadsworth  township,  Me- 
dina county,  where  he  purchased  160  acres, 
all  in  the  woods,  erected  a  small  log  house, 
and  immediately  set  to  work  clearing  the 
land,  where  he  made  his  home  for  many 
years.  In  their  later  life,  after  their  chil- 
dren had  all  married,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Auble 
removed  to  Spencer  township,  Medina 
county,  where  he  passed  from  earth  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  she  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two,  both  members  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Church.  They  now  lie  buried  in 
Spencer  cemetery.  Mr.  Auble  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812,  and  drew  a  pen- 
sion for  his  services.  He  was  an  honest, 
industrious,  hard-working  farmer,  who  ac- 
cumulated an  ample  share  of  this  world's 
goods,  and  lived  to  enjoy  a  comfortable 
competence.  He  was  actively  interested 
in  religious  work,  and  became  a  minister 
in  the  Albright  Church,  being  a  naturally 
briifht,  intelligent  man.  His  children,  ten 
in  number,  all  became  successful,  well-to- 
do  citizens. 

Daniel  Auble  was  but  an  infant  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Medina  county, 
wiiere  he  was  reared  to  mandood  on  the 
home  farm,  receiving  an  education  in  the 
common  schools.  As  soon  as  he  was  old 
enough  to  help,  he  was  put  to  work  clear- 
ing the  land,  and  he  continued  to  do  gen- 
eral farm  work,  remaining  at  home  until 
reaching  his  majority,  and  turning  overall 
his  earnings  to  his  parents.  On  Septem- 
ber 19,  1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Ruth  E.  Space,  who  was  born 
January  10,  1848,  in  Spencer  township, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Benja- 
min) Space,  and  they  first  located  on  a 
rented  farm  in  Spencer  township.  They 
then  rented  various  other  places  for  about 
five  years,  when  Mr.  Auble  purchased  a 
small    tract  of   land  near   Spencer   Mills, 


936 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


whence  in  1866  they  came  to  Pentield 
township,  Lorain  county,  locating  on  the 
Smith  road.  Here  they  resided  for  about 
twenty-five  years,  and  in  1891  came  to  the 
present  farm,  which  comprises  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  excellent  land.  The  children 
horn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anble  are  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  E.,  Mrs.  William  Haulk,  of 
Wellington ;  Alice  L.,  Mrs.  George  White, 
of  Pentield;  Ida  J.,  Mrs.  Frank  England, 
of  Huntington;  Aaron,  Francis  and  Lucius 
L.,  at  home;  and  Christopher,  deceased. 
By  hard  toil  and  the  practice  of  economy 
Mr.  Auble  has  met  with  encouraging  suc- 
cess in  his  life  vocation,  and  though  be- 
ginning life  with  almost  nothing,  he  is 
now  a  well-to-do  farmer  citizen,  highly 
esteemed  for  his  square,  honest  methods 
in  dealing  with  his  fellow-men.  In  his 
political  predilections  he  is  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  re- 
ligious faitli  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Church. 


J[OHN  STANG,  railroad  and  Govern- 
!  ment  contractor,  Lorain,  is  a  native 
'  of  Germany,  born  February  19,  1836, 
at  Kurhassen,  where  he  was  educated, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  manufacturer  of 
broadcloth.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
immigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  after 
landing  came  directly  to  Lorain,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  first  in  a  shipyard,  in 
the  meantime  making  himself  master  of 
the  English  language.  With  characteristic 
energy  and  his  well-known  ability  he  soon 
advanced  himself,  and  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore he  was  largely  interested  in  contract- 
ing and  building,  including  bridge  build- 
ing for  the  county,  as  well  as  for  railroads, 
in  connection  with  which  latter  the  first 
bridges  he  contracted  for  wei-e  on  the 
Cleveland  &  Akron  road,  and  on  the  Nickel 
Plate;  he  also  constructed  foundations  for 
iron  bridges.  Prior  to  this  he  had  done 
Government   work,   chiefly  building  piers 


and  breakwaters,  from  which  he  drifted, 
in  1881,  into  harbor  dredging.  Nor  did 
Mr.  Stang  confine  himself  to  contracting 
and  biiildino;,  for  in  1864  we  find  him  al- 
ready  deep  in  the  timber  business,  shipping 
to  New  York,  Buffalo  and  Cleveland,  and 
to  Quebec  (Canada)  for  foreign  shipment; 
and  he  is  still  interested  in  that  line  of 
trade  in  Ottawa  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
has,  in  connection,  sawmills,  stores  etc. 
Hemoreclosely  confines  himself  to  Govern- 
ment contracts  for  the  building  of  dry- 
docks,  coal-docks  etc.,  also  the  raisino-  of 
sunken  vessels,  and  other  such  work  on  the 
lakes. 

Mr.  Stang  has  been  twice  married,  first 
time,  in  1863,  to  Miss  Mary  Brown,  by 
whom  he  has  four  children:  Christina  M., 
wife  of  H.  Little;  W.  F.  and  John  J.,  at- 
tending to  their  father's  timber  interests, 
and  Lizzie,  wife  of  P.  Jackson.  The 
mother  of  these  dying  in  1875,  Mr.  Stang 
married,  in  1876,  Miss  Catherine  Brown. 
In' his  political  sympathies  our  subject  is 
a  Republican;  socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Koyal  Arcanum,  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees and  Knights  of  Honor.  In  matters 
of  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  Mr.  Stang's  parents, 
Augustus  and  Margaret  (Herwig)  Stang, 
were  also  natives  of  Kurhassen,  Germany, 
where  they  passed  their  lives,  and  where 
the  father  carried  on  a  merchant  tailoring 
business.  They  were  Presbyterians.  Their 
family  consisted  of  six  children — four  sons 
and  two  daughters — of  whom  the  subject 
of  this  sketch   is  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 


T'HOMAS  ROACH,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Eaton  township,  is  a 
native  of  Northamptonshire,  Eng- 
land, born  November  29,  1848,  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Ames) 
Roach. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  also 
natives  of  the  same  county  in  England, 
and   in   1853  came  to  the  United    States, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


937 


locating  first  on  rented  land  in  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  In  1854  the 
family  removed  to  Ridgevilie  township, 
and  thence  in  1850  to  Eaton  township, 
settling  on  the  farm  where  Thomas  Roach 
now  resides,  which  at  that  time  was  hut 
jiartly  improved.  The  father  afterward 
resided  in  Carlisle  township.  He  died  in 
1888;  the  mother  preceded  him  to  the 
grave,  having  passed  away  in  the  fall  of 
1853,  in  Amherst  township.  They  reared 
a  family  of  seven  children,  all  born  in 
England,  a  brief  record  of  whom  is  as  fol- 
lows:  Mary  was  married  in  England  to 
Samnel  Maddock,  and  now  resides  in  De- 
fiance county.  Ohio;  Joseph  is  married, 
and  resides  in  Nebraska;  Ann  is  the  wife 
of  Henry  Townsend,  of  Carlisle  township; 
William  enlisted,  in  1861,  m  Amherst 
township,  as  a  member  of  Company  K, 
Twenty-third  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years,  and 
was  accidentally  shot  and  killed  the  same 
year;  Betsy,  the  wife  of  Henry  Montague, 
resides  in  Neosha  county,  Kans. ;  Sophia 
is  the  wife  of  Peter  Watts,  of  Knights- 
town,  Ind.;  Thomas  is  the  subject  of  this 
memoir.  John  Roach  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics,  and  held  various  local 
offices  of  trust,  serving  as  township  trustee, 
member  of  the  school  board  and  road 
supervisor.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church. 

Thomas  Roach  was  reared  in  England 
until  five  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Eaton  township,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  agriculture,  which  lie  has 
made  his  life  vocation.  He  now  owns  the 
homestead  farm,  consisting  of  fifty  acres 
of  good  land,  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
In  September.  1879,  Mr.  Roach  was  mar- 
ried, in  Eaton  township,  to  Miss  Jennie 
Artress,  a  native  of  England,  daughter  of 
AVilliam  and  Mary  (Johnson)  Artress,  who 
were  also  born  in  England;  they  came 
from  their  native  country  to  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  removed  thence 
to  Elyria,  aild.from   Elyria  to  Grafton  (all 


in  Lorain  county),  finally  returning  to 
Elyria,  however,  where  Mrs.  Artress  still 
resides.  William  Artress  died  in  1884. 
Mrs.  Roach  died  July  1,  1891,  leaving  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth  Ann.  In  politics  Mr. 
Roach  is  a  Republican. 


LORENZ    HORN,    furniture    dealer, 
j    undertaker,  and  postmaster  at  North 
\  Amherst,  was    born   December  23, 

1839,  in  Hessia,  Germany,  a  son  of 
Andrew  and  Sophia  (Bechstein)  Horn,  also 
natives  of  Hessia.  Their  parents  were 
born  in  France,  and  removed  to  Germany, 
where  our  subject's  father  and  mother  are 
yet  living.  Andrew  Horn  served  in  the 
German  army  ten  years,  and  afterward  as 
a  Government  employe. 

Lorenz  Horn  left  the  paternal  roof  in 
the  Fatherland  on  March  23,  1S5B,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  forty-two  days  landed  in 
New  York,  whence  he  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  arriving  in  North  Amherst 
on  June  7  following.  Here  he  made  a  stop 
of  one  week,  and  then  proceeded  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  following  same  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  at 
which  time  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- 
second  Regiment,  Kentucky  Volunteer 
Infantry,  in  which  he  served  sixteen 
months;  then  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-eighth  Regiment,  O.  V.  I., 
for  nineteen  months.  He  was  attached  to 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland;  was  at  the 
siege  of  Charleston,  and  in  pursuit  of 
Morgan  at  the  time  of  his  raid.  On  his 
return  to  the  pursuits  of  peace,  Mr.  Horn 
followed  his  trade  of  shoemaker  until  1871, 
when  he  commenced  in  his  present  busi- 
ness, which  has  grown  to  considerable  pro- 
portions, and  proved  very  successful. 

Mr.  Horn  was  married,  August  16, 
1863,  in  North  Amherst,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Ray,  a  lady  of  Scotch  and  German  parent- 
age, and  six  children — one    son  and  five 


938 


LOBAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


daughters — were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
•Lucy,  Emma,  Catherine,  Daisy,  Franklin 
G.  and  Pansy.  The  entire  family  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  all  assist  in  the  choir.  Mr.  Horn  is 
an  active  Republican,  and  has  served  his 
town  and  county  in  various  offices  of  trust, 
such  as  member  of  the  council,  three 
terms;  president  of  the  school  board,  three 
years;  treasurer,  six  years,  and  also  clerk. 
In  July,  1887,  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  at  North  Amherst, 
which  incumbency  he  is  yet  tilling.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  1.  O.  O.  F.  and  G.  A.  K. 


I 


D.  HANCE,  a  leading  native-born 

farmer  of  Eaton  township,  first  saw 

the  light  December  13,  1836,  a  son 

of  Hiram  and  Rhoda  Ann  (Ames) 

Hance,  the  former  of  whom   was  born  in 

New  York,  the  latter  in  Massachusetts. 

Hiram  Hance  came  to  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county,  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  On 
January  2,  1836,  he  was  married  in  Graf- 
ton township,  same  county,  to  Rhoda  Ann 
Ames,  and  they  at  once  settled  on  a  farm, 
his  previous  business  having  been  distill- 
ing, which  he  carried  on  for  some  time  in 
Newburg,  Cuyahoga  county.  Children  as 
follows  were  born  to  this  pioneer  couple: 
Ed.,  subject  of  this  memoir;  Grove,  mar- 
ried, residing  in  Eaton  township;  Jerome, 
who  died  in  Eaton  township  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  (he  attended  Oberlin  College, 
and  was  a  teacher  in  Lorain  county ;  he  died 
from  over-study);  Abbie,  residing  in  Phil- 
adelphia, Penn.;  Florence,  deceased  April 
7,  1883,  in  Eaton  township;  and  Oscar, 
married,  residing  in  the  township.  The 
father  died  January  22, 1886,  aged  seventy- 
six  years;  the  mother  July  2,  1885,  aged 
sixty-five.  Li  politics  Mr.  Hance  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  his  first  Republican 
vote  being  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont, 
from  which  time,  however,  he  was  a 
Republican. 


Jeremiah  and  Abbie  Hance,  grandpar- 
ents of  subject,  wei-e  natives  of  Holland, 
whence  in  an  early  day  they  immigrated 
to  America,  settling  on  Long  Island.  He 
was  a  saltwater  sailor  for  over  twenty  years 
in  the  merchant  service,  and  after  leaving 
the  sea  carried  on  a  shoemaking  business 
in  Long  Island  and  Jersey  City,  in  which 
latter  place  he  was  burned  out.  In  1821 
he  came  with  his  family  to  Eaton  town- 
ship, making  a  settlement  in  the  woods, 
where  they  cleared  a  farm.  Here  he  died 
in  1866,  aged  ninety-seven  years,  his  wife 
passing  away  in  1871.  The  names  of  the 
children  they  brought  with  them  to  Ohio 
are  Riley,  Hiram,  Ira,  Charles,  Abigail, 
Sterling,  Mary  (widow  of  Theron  Jackson, 
of  Delta,  Ohio),  and  Lloyd  (married  and 
residing  in  Liverpool,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio). 
Of  these  Hiram  died  January  22,  1886, 
Ira  January  25,  1886,  and  Abigail  Jan- 
uary 26,  1886. 

Ed.  Hance,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
biographical  sketch,  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  southern  part  of  Eaton 
township.  He  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion at  the  district  schools  of  the  vicinity, 
giving  only  seven  months'  attendance,  but 
experience  and  self  application  brought 
him  up  to  a  fair  standard  among  his  con- 
freres. His  first  business  experience  was 
as  a  boatman  on  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
rivers,  and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  after  which  he 
took  up  general  farming,  and  has  since 
followed  same  with  marked  ability,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  stock  raising.  In  1864 
he  bought  130  acres  of  land  in  Eaton 
township,  on  which  he  lias  erected  a  com- 
fortable residence  and  commodious  barn, 
and  to  which  he  has  added  from  time  to 
time  till  he  is  now  owner  of  300  acres  of 
prime  land  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 

In  September,  1864,  Mr.  Hance  was 
married  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Letitia  Emerson,  a  native  of  sanie, 
and  daughter  of  Asa  and  Louise  (Free- 
man) Emerson,  natives  of  Maine  and  Mas- 
sachusetts, respectively,  and  early  pioneers 
of  Cuyahoga  county;  Mr. ^Emerson  died 


C.^uiMri2.n^*-^ej>^-^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


941 


there  June  17,  1890.  To  this  union  chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born:  George  (a 
sailor,  who  was  drowned  November  12, 
1886,  at  Avon  Point),  Jerome,  Willfred, 
Hubert,  Lucretia  and  Lloyd  (twins,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years),  and  Anna.  The  mother  of  these 
passed  from  earth  March  11,  1890.  She 
was  a  lady  of  superior  literary  abilities, 
and  was  a  writer  of  considerable  merit, 
several  of  her  productions  appearing  in 
Washburn's  paper.  She  was  also  an  ex- 
cellent judge  of  tine  art,  and  served  on 
committees.  On  December  23, 1891,  Mr. 
Hance  wedded  Mrs.  Lucy  (Crane)  Sprague, 
widow  of  Charles  Sprague. 

In  his  political  associations  our  subject 
is  a  straight  Republican,  and  has  served 
as  trustee  of  Eaton  township  eleven  years 
— nine  in  succession.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  County  Association 
twenty-two  years;  president  of  the  County 
Fair  two  years,  where  he  invariably  makes 
an  exhibit,  and  has  been  superintendent  of 
exhibits  at  Columbus.  He  is  the  possessor 
of  the  largest  individual  collection  of 
stone-age  implements  in  the  county,  and 
has  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  study 
of  their  use  and  history. 


GHAELES    S.    FERGUSON,   editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Lorain  JVews, 
^'   the  only  Democratic  newspaper  pub- 
lished  in  that   town,   is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Milan,  Erie  county,  July  15, 
1S63,  and   comes  in  a  direct  line  from  an 
old  Scotch  family. 

P.  M.  Ferguson,  his  fatlier,  was  born 
November  12,  1833,  in  Luzerne  county, 
Penn.,  and  received  his  education  at  the 
schools  of  Dallas  in  the  same  county.  In 
1S55  he  came  west  to  Ohio,  and  made  a 
new  home  in  the  town  of  Milan,  Erie 
county,  where  for  a  time  he  followed 
butchering,  then  worked  in  a  shipyard, 
and  afterward  became  a  farmer.     In  1887 


he  moved  to  Lorain,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 
In  1862  Mr.  Ferguson  married,  at  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  Miss  Mary  A.  Smitli,  and 
three  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Charles  S.,  Nettie  M.  and  Ada  P. 
In  politics  the  son  of  whom  we  write  in 
no  way  differs  from  the  father,  who  is  a 
"true  blue"  Democrat. 

Charles  S.  Ferguson  received  a  liberal 
education  at  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town,  and  at  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, Ann  Arbor,  three  years.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  took  up  the  profession  of 
civil  engineering  and  became  surveyor  for 
Erie  county,  an  incumbency  he  tilled  from 
1885  to  1888,  ill  which  latter  year  he 
came  to  Lorain,  and  in  1889  established 
the  tii-st  and  only  Democratic  newspaper 
in  the  place.  The  Neios  is  a  bright,  newsy 
weekly,  and,  under  Mr.  Ferguson's  sole 
proprietorship  and  editorship,  it  is  Ijound 
to  succeed  and  make  its  mark  in  the  arena 
of  journalism. 


ock. 


APT.    ALEXANDER   McPHAIL, 

a  well-known  captain  on  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  a  citizen  of  Lorain,  was 
born  September  7,  1831,  at  Green- 
on  the  Clyde,  Scotland,  son  of 
Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (McKennon)  ]\Ic- 
Phail,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of 
Scotland.  The  father  was  a  sailor,  and 
died  in  his  native  country  in  1838,  and  in 
1873  his  widow  came  to  America,  locating 
in  Lorain,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she 
died  in  1889. 

Alexander  McPhail  was  reared  on  the 
banks  of  the  Clyde,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  country. 
At  the  age  of  about  fourteen  he  coiri- 
menced  to  lead  a  sea-faring  life,  and  he 
has  made  sailing  his  life  vocation.  For 
seven  years  he  served  on  vessels  sailing 
from  IJverpool  and  Glasgow  to  the  East 
and  West  Indies,  and  he  also  made  a  trip 
around  the  world.  In  August,  1851,  he 
left  the  vessel  at  Montreal,  and  coming  to 


942 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Cleveland,  Ohio,  has  since  been  identified 
with  the  Great  Lakes,  for  many  years  as 
captain,  sailing  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago, 
and  aloDLr  the  entire  chain  of  the  lakes. 
Since  1852  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Lorain. 

On  December  20,  1858,  Mr.  McPhail 
was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Ludlnm,  a  na- 
tive of  Lorain,  this  county,  whose  father, 
Henry  Ludlum,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  was  a  mason  by  trade.  He 
married  Annie  Howsworth,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  they  located  in  Kidgeville, 
Ohio,  in  an  early  day,  thence  coming  to 
Lorain,  where  they  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  To  the  union  of  Alexander 
and  Annie  McPhail  were  born  six  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  Frances, 
wife  of  Lewis  Hoffman,  of  Lorain;  Charles, 
an  engineer,  residing  at  home;  Henry,  at 
home,  and  Elizabeth.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  November,  1891.  In  poli- 
tics the  Captain  supports  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  religious 
faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
with  which  he  has  been  identified  since 
1857. 


DAVID  A.  RAWSON,  one  of  those 
noble   old    pioneers  who   has    been 
'   spared  by  the  ravages  of  time,  was 

born  October  12,  1819,  in  Grafton, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Grindall  Raw- 
son,  was  born  in  West  Southliriduje,  Mass., 
in  1792,  a  son  of  Samuel  Grindall  Raw- 
son,  who  was  by  trade  a  wagon-maker,  and 
from  Massachusetts  moved  to  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  whence  after  about  one 
year  he  came  (in  1816)  to  Ohio,  landing 
first  at  Cleveland,  then  a  collection  of 
huts.  From  there  he  walked  to  Liver- 
pool, Medina  county,  thence  to  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  county,  at  that  time  a 
primeval  wilderness,  where  yet  roamed  the 
Indian   and    many  a  savage  wild    animal. 


His  father  had  traded  land  in  Connecticut 
for  a  tract  in  Grafton  township,  and  his 
sons  Grindall  and  Jonathan  selected  160 
acres  each  near  where  the  villase  of  Graf- 
ton  now  stands,  after  which  Grindall  re- 
turned to  Genesee  county,  N.  T.,  and  for 
some  time  made  his  home  with  one  Han- 
ford  Boughton. 

In  1817  Grindall  Rawson  once  more 
came  to  Ohio,  and  permanently  located  on 
his  160  acres,  bravely  setting  to  work  to 
clear  the  land,  erecting  at  first  a  rude  log 
cabin.  Here  he  married  Maria  Ashley,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  daughter  of 
David  Ashley,  who  came  as  a  pioneer  to 
Grafton  township,  settling  near  the  Center. 
To  this  union  were  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: David  A.,  the  subject  of  sketch; 
Angelo  D.,  a  farmer  of  Eaton  township;  a 
son  that  died  when  two  months  old ;  Henry, 
a  farmer,  who  died  in  San  Diego,  Cal., 
where  he  had  gone  in  search  of  health; 
Rachel,  Mrs.  Satnuel  Wilson,  of  AYindsor, 
Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio;  Adaliue,  of  Pres- 
cott,  Wis.;  Phebe,  Mrs.  Cassana  Lovejoy, 
of  Cleveland,  and  Theodore,  who  died 
when  a  young  man.  Mr.  Rawson  followed 
his  trade  in  connection  with  farming-,  and 
was  one  of  the  leadincr  men  of  his  time. 

o 

When  he  first  came  to  Grafton  township, 
in  order  to  get  his  milling  done  he  had  to 
go  to  the  Tuscarawas  river,  a  nine-days' 
trip  through  the  woods,  and  oxen  were  the 
only  beasts  of  burden.  He  cleared  all  his 
land,  which  at  the  time  of  his  death 
amounted  to  over  300  acres,  and  he  was 
looked  upon  as  a  hard-working,  thrifty 
man.  He  died  May  21,  1876,  his  wife 
about  two  years  afterward,  and  both  lie 
buried  in  Center  cemetery.  Politically  he 
was  originally  an  Old-line  Whig,  later  a 
Republican. 

David  A.  Rawson,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  was  educated  at  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  the  period,  one  Samuel 
Curtis  being  his  first  teacher,  and  his  at- 
tendance was  limited  to  a  few  months  in 
the  winter  season.  In  January,  1845,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  M.  Jadwin, 


LOEAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


943 


a  native  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 
daughter  of  Rensselaer  Jadwin,  who  came 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  in  pioneer  times. 
After  inarriajre  our  suhject  and  his  young 
wife  located  on  eighty-four  acres  of  land 
which  he  paid  for  out  of  his  savings,  the 
amount  being  four  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars.  Here  he  has  since  continued  to 
live,  and  has  seen  his  property  converted 
from  a  howling  wilderness  into  a  smiling, 
fertile  farm.  To  him  and  his  wife  were 
born  four  children,  to  wit:  J.  Henry,  who 
died  when  four  years  old;  J.  A.,  a  leading 
farmer  of  Grafton;  Eva,  Mrs.  George 
Cragin,  of  Grafton;  and  William  T.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  The 
mother  of  these  departed  this  life  in  May, 
1876,  a  consistent  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  In  his  political  preferences  Mr. 
Kawson  is  a  stanch  Republican,  formerly 
an  Old-line  Whig,  and  while  not  a  mem- 
ber of  church,  he  is  a  Universalist  in  senti- 
ment. He  has  always  been  a  hard  worker, 
has  managed  well,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
successful  farmers  in  Grafton  township. 


G.  COLE,  prominent  among  the 
successful  agriculturists  of  Colum- 
bia township,  is  a  native  of  same, 
born  December  31.  1842,  a  son  of 
William  A.  and  Electa  A.  (Smith)  Cole. 

William  A.  Cole  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut in  1816,  a  son  of  John  and  Bethany 
(Cole)  Cole,  natives  of  the  same  State,  who 
in  1828  came  with  their  family  to  Lorain 
county,  settling  in  Columbia  township  on 
600  acres  of  wild  land.  The  journey  from 
Connecticut  to  Cleveland  w^as  made  by 
water  and  occupied  three  weeks,  the  rest 
of  the  trip  being  made  on  foot.  John  Cole 
died  in  1851,  his  wife  about  si.x  months 
later.  A  brief  record  of  their  children  is 
as  follows:  Constant  G.,  who  married  and 
lived  in  Elyria,  was  county  surveyor  for 
nine  years,  and  was  drowned  in  the  Black 
river;  W.  G.,  married,  resides  in  Ridgeville 


township;  William  A.  is  spoken  of  further 
on  in  this  sketch;  John  resides  in  Colum- 
bia township;  Mary  (twin  sister  of  John), 
who  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Church- 
wood,  died  in  Berea,  Ohio;  Nathaniel  N. 
resitles  in  Columbia  township. 

W.  A.  Cole  was  twelve  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Lorain  county,  so  the  greater 
part  of  his  education  was  received  in  Con- 
necticut, the  remainder  in  Columbia  town- 
ship. He  is  a  lifelong  agriculturist,  and 
he  is  now  owner  of  ninety-seven  acres  of 
prime  land,  upon  which  he  makes  his 
home.  In  1841  he  was  married,  in  Colum- 
bia township,  to  Miss  Electa  A.  Smith,  a 
native  of  New  York,  whose  father  was  a 
sheriff  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  killed 
while  making  an  arrest.  Five  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  viz.:  S.  G.,  sub- 
ject proper  of  sketch;  Ezra,  residing  in 
Michigan,  who  is  married  and  has  seven 
children — Mary,  Stella,  Dolly,  Viola,  Ma- 
bel, Earl  and  Inez;  Ora,  married  and  re- 
siding in  Kansas,  who  has  one  son,  Clar- 
ence; Zelora,  residing  in  Eaton  township, 
who  is  married  and  has  two  children,  Roy 
and  Ralph:  and  Nettie,  the  wife  of  George 
Allen,  of  Columl)ia  township,  who  has  two 
children,  Ray  and  Floyd.  When  Mr.  Cole 
first  came  to  Columbia  township,  there 
were  only  a  few  people  in  it,  and  his  fam- 
ily is  now  the  oldest  extant.  He  and  his 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  for  over  fifty  years. 

S.  G.  Cole  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
three  years  at  Oberlin.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  early  man- 
hood commenced  teaching  school,  a  voca- 
tion  he  followed  for  twenty  winters  in  Co- 
lumbia township,  all  the  time  in  adjoining 
districts,  his  summers  being  occupied  in 
farming.  He  owned,  at  first,  twenty-five 
acres,  which  has  since  been  added  to  until 
he  has  now  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres 
of  excellent  land.  On  December  25, 
1865,  Mr.  Cole  was  married,  in  Columbia 
township,  to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Robinson,  a 
native  of  Summit  county,  Ohio,  daughter 


944 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Daniel  and  Julia  (Wilson)  Robinson  — 
he  a  native  of  New  York,  she  of  New  Jer- 
sey; in  an  early  day  they  came  to  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  married,  after- 
ward, in  1842,  moving  to  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  settling  on  a  farm 
where  the  father  is  yet  living;  tiie  mother 
died  in  1874.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole,  as  follows: 
Willie  D.,  married,  and  living  on  a  farm 
(he  has  one  son,  Leon);  and  George  H., 
living  at  home,  who  was  married  December 
25,  1893,  to  Miss  Jennie  Longbon.  A 
Democrat  in  politics,  our  subject  has 
served  his  township  as  clerk,  also  as  trustee 
several  terms,  and  he  has  been  a  justice  of 
the  peace  for  three  years.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Columbia  Center,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 


dfOHN  PORTER,  a  retired,  honored 
resident  of  the  town  of  Rochester,  is 
I  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born  in 
Montgomei-y  county  July  18,  1810. 
William  Porter  (father  of  subject),  also 
a  native  of  Montgomery  county,  N.  Y., 
was  born  July  19,  1789,  a  son  of  John 
Porter.  He  (William)  learned  the  trade 
of  fanninrr-mill  maker  of  an  uncle,  Aaron 
Porter,  and  this  business  he  -worked  at, 
more  or  less,  during  the  rest  of  his  life. 
On  April  24, 1808,  in  Montgomery  countj^ 
N.  Y.,  he  married  Dolly  Smith,  who  was 
born  June  13,  1790,  a  daughter  of  John 
Smith,  and  here  their  firstborn,  John,  the 
subject  of  these  lines,  came  into  the  world. 
In  1813  this  little  family  moved  to  Au- 
relius  township,  Cayuga  county,  same 
State,  locating  on  a  twenty-five-acie  tract 
about  six  miles  southwest  of  Auburn, 
which  land  William  cultivated, at  the  same 
time  following  his  trade.  Here  the  home 
circle  was  increased  by  two  more  children 
— Martha,  born  September  29,  1812,  mar- 
ried to  Jacob  Hershey  in  Genesee  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  died  February  20,  1839,  in 
Ruggles  township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio;  and 


Sanford,  born  June  4,  1815,  who  died 
April  6,  ls62,  in  Jasper  county,  Iowa.  In 
the  early  part  of  1819  the  family  removed 
to  Livonia,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  wiiere 
Mr.  Porter  bought  twenty-five  acres,  hav- 
ing sold  his  property  in  Cayuga  county; 
and  here  he  labored  chiefly  on  his  farm, 
doing  but  little  at  his  trade.  Another  ray 
of  sunshine  entered  the  Porter  home  in 
the  coming  of  the  fourth  child  in  the  per- 
son of  Maria  A.,  who  was  born  April  25, 
1819,  and  died  August  26,  1849,  in  Rue- 
gles,  Ashland  county.  After  a  three-years 
residence  in  Livonia  the  family  again 
moved,  this  time  to  Lima,  same  county, 
and  for  a  period  of  nine  years  the  husband 
and  father  continued  at  his  trade,  meetintr 
with  very  fair  success.  The  remainder  of 
his  family  were  born  there,  to  wit:  Enoch, 
born  July  1,  1821,  now  of  New  London, 
Ohio;  William  George,  born  January  15, 
1823,  who  died  in  Ruggles,  Ashland  Co., 
Ohio,  February  7,  1882;  and  Jacob,  born 
February  16,  1825,  who  died  November 
20,  1857,  in  Ruggles,  Ohio. 

About  the  year  1830  William  Porter, 
having  purchased  a  farm  in  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  removed  his  family  thither, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1832  they  came  to  Ohio. 
In  the  previous  spring  the  father,  together 
with  his  eldest  son  (our  subject)  and  a 
brother-in-law,  Jacob  Hershey,  had  come 
to  Ohio  for  the  purpose  of  looking  up  land. 
To  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  the}'  traveled  by  team, 
thence  by  lake  vessel  to  Sandusky,  Ohio, 
from  which  town  they  walked  through  the 
woods  to  Ruggles,  Huron  (now  in  Ashland) 
county,  "  blazing  "  their  way  as  they  went. 
In  what  was  then  the  northwest  corner  of 
Ashland  county,  and  is  now  the  southeast 
corner  of  Huron  county,  Mr.  Porter  bought 
200  acres  of  the  wildest  of  wild  land — 
a  four-mile  journey  from  the  nearest  gleam 
of  civilization — for  which  he  paid  two  dol- 
lars per  acre.  Returning  to  Genesee  county, 
N.  1.,  in  the  following  fall,  these  "  avant- 
couriers  "  made  the  necessary  preparations 
to  transport  the  entire  Porter  family  to 
their  new  Ohio  home.     They  all  made  the 


1/ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


947 


journey  in  a  wagon,  driven  by  William  Por- 
ter, except  our  subject  and  Mr.  Ilersliey,  who 
came  by  water,  arriving  in  advance  of  tlie  rest 
of  the  jjarty.  The  latter  arrived  in  the  sec- 
tion of  where  tlieir  new  home  was  to  be  on 
a  certain  dark  night,  without  the  slightest 
knowledjre  of  their  whereabouts;  but  find- 
ing  the  cal)in  of  a  settler,  by  name  Leebow, 
tliey  enquired  of  him  how  they  should  pro- 
ceed to  reach  the  settlement  of  Jacob  liohr- 
back,  wliich  was  to  be  their  temporary 
abiding  place.  Making  a  torch  out  of  a 
kindled  strip  of  hickory  bark,  the  only 
light  to  be  had,  Leebow  set  out  in  front  of 
the  benighted  travelers;  but  thoutjh  com- 
paratively  well  acquainted  witii  the  local- 
ity he  lost  his  way,  and  in  the  dense,  dark, 
wild-beast-haunted  forest  they  wandered 
about  until  dawn,  when  at  last  they  found 
the  lon<;;-6ought  haven.  At  Rohrback's 
place  they  remained  a  short  time,  while 
John  and  Hershey  were  building,  for  their 
reception,  on  their  own  land,  a  rude  log 
cabin,  at  that  time  having  neither  door, 
floor  nor  window,  but  which  later  was  made 
more  complete  and  comfortable.  When 
the  family  .  came  to  Ohio  Mrs.  Porter 
brought  along  enough  soap  to  last  them 
through  the  first  year,  and  when  that  had 
been  exhausted  they  found  that  they  could 
get  no  grease  to  make  another  supply. 
Tills  difficulty,  however,  was  overcome  by 
young  Porter,  who  supplied  the  grease  by 
killing  hedgehogs,  and  dressing  them  and 
rendering  the  fat.  During  tlieir  first  win- 
ter in  this  forest  home  the  family  cleared 
four  acres,  and,  following  spring,  planted 
corn,  sowing  it  in  depressions  made  in  the 
soil  by  sinking  an  old  axe  in  it  between 
the  numerous  befech  stumps  that  almost 
covered  the  surface  of  the  clearing.  Con- 
sidering tlie  primitive  condition  of  things, 
a  remarkably  good  crop  was  gathered  the 
succeeding  fall;  and  so  year  by  year  these 
brave  pioneers,  nothing  daunted,  kept  im- 
proving their  little  farm,  clearing  it  gradu- 
ally of  both  trees  and  stumps,  and  erecting 
outbuildings  as  necessity  demanded.  The 
father  lived    to    see  that    entire    section 


transformed  from  its  primeval  state  into 
prosperous  farms  surrounded  with  blossom- 
ing gardens  and  smiling  fields  of  grain. 
He  died  February  7,  1872,  and  was  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  New  London,  Huron 
county,  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  who  had 
preceded  him  to  the  "  Land  of  the  leal  " 
June  1,  1866.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Porter,  in  his  politi- 
cal sympathies,  was  originally  an  Old-line 
Whig,  and,  after  its  organization,  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Republican  party. 

John  Porter,  whose  name  introduces  tiiis 
sketch,  being  the  eldest  in  iiis  father's  fam- 
ily, had  the  lion's  share  of  hard  work  to 
do,  but  he  fo\ind  time,  prior  to  coming  to 
Ohio,  to  secui'e  a  good  subscription-school 
education,  besides  learning  the  trade  of 
fanning-mill  njaker.  After  cominj;  to 
Ohio  he  bought  of  his  father  (on  credit) 
one  hundred  acres  of  the  latter's  original 
purchase,  and  this  by  untiring  energy  and 
hard  work  he  succeeded  in  clearing  and 
convertingintoa  well-cultivated  farm.  Im- 
mediately  after  marriage  he  and  his  bride 
took  up  their  residence  in  a  newly  erected 
log  cabin  on  his  farm,  and  this  he  left  in 
1881,  coming  with  his  wife  into  the  town 
of  Rochester,  Lorain  county,  which  has 
since  been  his  home. 

On  September  26,  1837,  Mr.  Porter 
married  Miss  Sally  Clarke,  born  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Nathatiiel 
Clarke,  who  came  to  Troy  township,  Ash- 
land county,  in  an  early  day.  To  this  union 
children  as  follows  w^ere  born:  William,  a 
Methodist  minister  of  Kansas;  Franklin, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years  in 
Rowlesburgh,  Ashland  Co.,  <3hio,  where  he 
was  a  merchant;  Leander  R.,  of  Troy, 
Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  a  horseman;  Martha 
E.,  who  died  when  three  years  old;  and 
Alice  F.,  Mrs.  Joseph  Yacomb,  of  Welling- 
ton, Ohio.  Mrs.  Sally  Porter  died  May 
24,  1876,  and  was  buried  in  the  fam- 
ily lot  at  New-  London,  Huron  county. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Porter  married 
June  16,  1878,  Miss  Martha  Beck,  a  native 
of  Harrison  county,  Ohio. 


49 


948 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  Porter  is  a  living  example  uf  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  industry,  resolu- 
tion and  thrift.  His  methods  through  life 
have  always  been  most  exemplary,  and  the 
motto  -'  The  Golden  Rule "  he  has  as- 
siduously observed.  He  never  was  sued, 
and  never  sued  any  one.  Although  a  time- 
honored  Whig  and  Republican  from  prin- 
ciple, his  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  Andrew  Jackson,  but  that  was  his  last 
polling  for  a  Democratic  administration. 
In  both  Ruggles  township  and  Rochester 
he  has  served  in  offices  of  trust  faithfully 
and  satisfactorily.  In  religious  faith  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Ohurcli,  of  which  he  is  trustee. 


HRISTIAN  SCHWARZ,oneof  that 
class  of  indefatigable  Germans  who 
prosper  better  after  reverses,  and 
whose  motto  and  watchword  is 
"Verzage  nicht,"  was  born  March  14, 
1833,  in  Fraudenthal,  Wtirtemberg,  a  son 
of  Christian  Schwarz,  who  in  the  Father- 
land was  by  trade  a  confectioner.  There 
were  eleven  children  in  the  family,  eight 
of  whom  grew  to  be  men  and  women. 
The  father  died  in  1849,  the  mother  two 
and  one-half  years  before  him.  They  were 
much  respected  people,  honest  and  indus- 
trious, and  in  good  circumstances. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  all 
his  education  in  his  native  country,  not 
having  attended  any  schools  since  coming 
to  America,  but  nevertheless  he  can  read 
and  write  English  fairly  well.  In  his  boy- 
hood he  partly  learned  the  trade  of  butcher, 
and  after  his  father's  death  he  returned  to 
it,  to  serve  a  regular  apprenticeship,  the 
premium  paid  by  him  for  same  being 
sixty-live  guilders,  equal  to  about  twenty- 
five  dollars  United  States  money.  At  the 
end  of  nine  months  he  passed  an  examina- 
tioH,  and  then  in  August,  1851,  with  some 
money  he  had  received  from  his  guardian, 
he  started  for    the    United   States,    sailing 


from  Havre,  France,  on  the  ship  "  Balti- 
more" for  New  York.  He  was  without 
any  friend  or  relative  when  he  cast  his  last 
look  on  the  Fatherland,  but,  though  yet 
a  lad  of  seventeen  summers,  was  possessed 
of  a  stout  heart,  a  strong  determination 
and  a  willing  pair  of  hands.  At  the  end 
of  thirty  days  he  found  himself  in  New 
York — a  stranger  in  a  strange  land — and 
hastening  on  westward  he  reached  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  on  September  25,  one  dollar 
in  debt,  for  he  had  been  assisted  by  a 
friend  whose  acquaintance  he  made  on  the 
voyage.  In  that  city  he  obtained  work  at 
his  trade,  and  for  five  years  was  with 
George  Ross.  Later  he  embarked  in  the 
butchering  business  for  his  own  account, 
and  prospered  beyond  his  expectations, for 
at  one  time  he  was  worth  as  much  as 
twenty  thousand  dollars;  but  later,  owing 
to  the  fall  in  price  of  cattle,  of  which  he 
had  a  quantity  en  route,  he  suffered  severe 
loss.  In  Cleveland  he  remained  till  1869, 
in  which  year  he  came  to  Liverpool, 
Medina  county,  whence  after  three  years 
he  moved  to  Grafton  township,  Loraiu 
couuty,  where  he  has  since  resided,  en- 
gaged in  the  butchering  business  and 
farming.  He  has  bought  a  great  deal  of 
cattle  in  his  day,  his  experience  eminently 
qualifying  him  for  being  an  expert  in  that 
line,  and  made  a  great  deal  of  money;  but 
reverses  came  sufficient  to  discourage  al- 
most any  other  man,  yet  he  was  never  dis- 
couraged. He  now  owns  in  Grafton  town- 
ship 150  acres  of  prime  land,  equipped 
with  good  buildings,  his  good  wife  having 
nol)ly  done  her  share  toward  the  accumu- 
lation and  improvement  of  the  property. 
Politically  he  is  a  zealotis  member  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

In  1857,  while  residing  in  Cleveland, 
Mr.  Schwarz  was  married  to  Christina 
Bleil.  born  in  Liverpool  township,  Medina 
Co..  Ohio.  December  22,  1835,  daughter 
of  John  Bleil.  She  is  a  typical  German- 
American  ladv,  and  has  been  of  invaluable 
assistance  to  her  husband  in  both  pros- 
perity and  adversity.      She  was  on  a  visit 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


949 


to  a  married  sister  in  Cleveland  wlien  she 
met  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Sciiwarz.  Her 
father  was  among  the  early  residents  of 
Liverpool  township,  whither  he  had  coirie 
from  Germany  in  1831.  In  1840,  with 
his  wife  and  six  children,  all  stowed  in  a 
two- horse  wagon,  he  made  a  trip  to  Wis- 
consin with  the  intention  of  settling  there, 
and  arrived  at  the  end  of  a  three- weeks' 
pretty  rongh  journey.  After  a  two-years' 
residence  in  Rock  county,  they  concluded 
to  return  to  Ohio,  and  on  their  way  spent  a 
Sundayin  Chicago,  the  "World's  Fair  City," 
then  a  very  unpromising  muddy  little  town, 
which  Mrs.  Schwarz  remembers  well.  The 
children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife  were 
as  follows:  Charles,  a  butcher  by  trade, 
and  working  on  the  farm;  Fredcriclc,  a 
carpenter,  of  Missouri;  Albert,  a  farmer, 
also  of  Missouri;  Ida,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Mennells, 
of  California;  Caroline,  deceased;  llosa, 
residing  at  home;  and  Bertha,  Mrs.  John 
Bezing,  of  Grafton. 


FJ  A.  GREENE,  a  retired  ship  captain, 
and  farmer  of  LaGrange  township, 
_^  was  born  March  10,  1836,  in  St. 
Lawrence  county,  New  York. 
He  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Betsey 
(Beverly)  Greene,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  farmer  in  New  York  State,  and  later 
moved  to  near  Watertown,  Jetl'erson 
county,  whence  in  1843  he  came  to  Ohio. 
He  had  four  children,  viz.:  Fordico  B., 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Federal  army,  and 
died  in  the  service;  Vint  Roy,  now  of 
Mendon,  Mich.;  Aurora,  now  Mrs.  Syl- 
vester Parsons,  of  Michigan;  and  F.  A., 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Frederick  Greene 
brouijht  his  family  in  a  covered  wagon 
drawn  by  one  horse,  and  they  located  in 
Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  bad  bargained  for  forty  acres  of  land. 
He  intended  to  pay  for  thai  land  and  make 
a  home  there,  but  one  day  while  chop[)ing 
in  the  woods  his  axe  was  so  caught  while 
he  was  carrying  it,  in  getting  away  from  a 


falling  tree,  that  it  struck  him,  the  wound 
causing  his  death.  He  was  buried  in 
Ridireville  cemetery.  The  mother  kept  the 
family  together  a  short  while,  but  she  too 
was  soon  called  from  earth,  dying  June 
30,  1849. 

Being  thus  left  an  orphan  at  an  early 
age,  our  subject,  through  force  of  circum- 
stances, left  home  to  battle  with  the  world 
alone.  For  six  months  he  lived  with  Levi 
Tomlinsun,  but,  being  dissatistiud,  left  and 
went  to  Avon  township,  concluding  after 
a  short  stay  there,  however,  that  Cleveland 
would  be  a  better  place  for  him.  Taking 
all  his  eartidy  effects,  which  he  easily  car- 
ried in  a  handkerchief,  he  set  out  on  foot 
for  the  city,  which  was  twenty-two  miles 
distant;  and  so  anxious  was  he  to  reach 
his  destination  that  he  ran  more  of  the 
way  than  he  walked.  Shortly  after 
going  to  Cleveland  he  shipped  on  board 
the  propeller  "  Oneida,"  bound  for  Chi- 
cago, carrying  principally  immigrants, 
and  made  eitjht  trips  on  her  that  season. 
He  next  went  out  on  the  scow  "  Commo- 
dore Lawrence,"  as  cook,  where  he  served 
satisfactorily,  and  during  the  winter  sea- 
son, when  navigation  closed,  he  found  em- 
ployment cari-ying  cross  country  mails 
from  Vermillion  to  New  London.  For  a 
long  time  he  made  his  home  with  Capt. 
Judson,  of  Vermillion,  becoming  very 
much  attached  to  him  and  his  family. 
For  many  years  he  was  employed  by  Mr. 
Bradley,  then  so  well-known  among  vessel- 
men,  with  whom  he  remained'  thirty-five 
years,  serving  as  cook,  mate  and  captain, 
and  proving  etKcient,  thorough,  faithful 
and  trustworthy  in  all  these  positions.  In 
the  season  of  1892  he  shipped  for  three 
months  on  the  vessel  "  Ida  Keich,"  and 
this  was  the  last  work  he  did  on  the  lakes. 
Mr.  Greene  has  been  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful men  on  the  lakes;  he  was  sailing 
for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  during  that 
time  never  lost  a  doller  for  either  the  un- 
derwriters or  his  employers. 

On  December  22,  18()3,  Mr.  Greene  was 
married   to  Miss  Lucy  Underbill,  who  was 


950 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


born  inLaGrange,danghterof  Dr.G.C.Un- 
derliill,  the  well-known  medical  practi- 
tioner in  that  place;  they  had  met  at 
Eerea  University,  which  institution  both 
attended.  To  this  marriage  came  three 
children,  as  follows:  Hettie  E.,  now  the 
wife  of  Eev.  W.  W.  Long,  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  minister,  of  Ashland  county, 
Ohio;  Mary,  who  died  in  1881;  and  George 
Judson,  residing  at  home.  After  his  mar- 
riage our  subject  located  at  Vermillion, 
thence  removing  to  Cleveland  and  later  to 
LaGrange.  In  1875  he  moved  to  Ober- 
lin.  returning  to  LaGrange  in  1886,  in 
which  village  he  erected  a  very  comforta- 
ble house,  which  he  afterward  sold,  erect- 
ing another  dwelling,  which  he  still  otvns, 
and  which  is  one  of  the  pleasaTitest  resi- 
dences in  the  town.  He  now  resides  on 
eighty  acres  of  land,  bought  from  the  tract 
of  Dr.  G.  C.  Underbill,  where  he  now  finds 
pleasure  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Mr. 
Greene  is  a  self-made  man,  having  by  hard 
work  and  incessant  toil  risen  to  his  present 
prosperous  position,  undergoing  all  the 
hardships  incident  to  the  lot  of  a  twelve- 
year-old  boy  on  board  a  vessel,  and  en- 
deavoring to  obtain  an  education.  Mr. 
Greene  is  a  Democrat,  but  takes  little  in- 
terest in  politics;  he  was  formerly  a  great 
admirer  of  Stephen  Douglas.  Mrs.  Greene 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


LESTER    J.    RICHMOND,   a   pros- 
[   perous,  self-made  citizen  of  Penlield 
]  township,  was  born    November   22, 

1842,  in  Akron,  Ohio,  son  of  Charles 
B.  and  Matilda  (Welton)  Richmond.  He 
was  one  of  twins,  the  other  named  Lucy  J. 
Our  subject  received  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  before  reaching  the  age  of 
sixteen,  in  the  meantime  being  reared  to 
farming  pursuits  on  the  home  place,  and 
also  woi'king  out  for  other  farmers.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted,  at  Penfield,  in- 
Company  B,  First  Ohio   Light  Artillery, 


and  went  into  camp  at  Cleveland,  whence 
the  command  was  sent  to  Louisville,  Ky. 
They  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Perrys- 
ville.  Wild  Cat,  Mnrfreesboro,  and  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  thence  wejit  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  where  they  remained  for  some  time. 
Mr.  Richmond  was  never  wounded,  but 
he  lav  sick  three  months  with  fever  and 
other  camp  ailments  at  Hospital  No.  1, 
Nashville,  where  he  was  his  own  physician. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  discharged 
at  Nashville,  and  returned  to  Pentield, 
where  he  resided  with  his  parents,  and  in 
the  following  season  went  to  Geneva,  Ash- 
tabula county,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand. 

On  November  13,  1866,  Mr.  Richmond 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A. 
Dolgleish,  who  was  born  December  lU,  1843, 
in  Pentield  township,  daughter  of  Robert 
Dolgleish,  who  came  hither  from  Scotland. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Richmond  lived  tor  a 
short  time  with  his  father,  and  then  rented 
a  farm  in  LaGrange  township,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  one  year.  He  next  re- 
moved to  the  center  of  Pentield  township, 
where  he  vvas  employed  one  year  in  a  saw- 
mill, thence  going  to  Wellington  township, 
where  he  acted  as  superintendent  on  the 
farm  of  Edwin  Hensdale.  He  then  took 
up  his  home  in  Wakeman  township, 
Huron  county,  and  for  three  years  took 
contracts  for  furnishing  cordwood  for  the 
Lake  Shore  Railway  Company.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  he  purchased  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Ross  township,  Wood  Co.,  Ohio, 
which  he  cleared  and  improved,  and 
whereon  he  resided  for  seveti  years,  when 
he  rented  it  and  returned  to  Pentield  town- 
ship, taking  charge  of  the  home  farm  for 
a  year.  He  next  rented  a  farm  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  Pentield  township, 
later  removing  to  Wellington  village  for 
the  i)enetit  of  his  children's  education,  and 
tinally,  in  March,  1889,  returning  to  Pen- 
field  township,  and  locating  on  the  farm 
of  198  acres  which  he  still  occupies.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richmond  have  been  born 
children  as  follows:      Elmer  A.,  who  lives 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


951 


on  the  home  place,  which  is  the  oldest 
lariu  in  the  township,  having  been  taken 
up  by  Peter  Pentield,  after  whom  the 
township  was  named  (^the  first  sawmill 
built  and  operated  in  the  township  is 
on  tiiis  place);  Frank  E.,  of  Huntington; 
Nora,  Mrs.  Waller  Hull,  of  'VVellingtou, 
Ohio;  Mamie,  who  died  young;  and  Vic- 
toria and  Kobert,  at  home.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious 
connection  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  in  which 
he  is  a  deacon. 


I  AMES  GAWN  (deceased)  was  born 
k.  I  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  in  August,  1829, 
^^  and  died  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
January  23,  1885. 

When  three  years  old  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States,  and  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio.  In  Black  River  township 
he  followed  blacksmithing  and  farming 
till  1848,  in  which  year  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  E.  Barnes,  and 
the  young  couple  then  for  seven  years 
made  their  home  in  the  village  of  North 
Amherst.  In  1855  Mr.  Gawn  purchased 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Amherst 
township,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days,  and  where  his  widow  now  re- 
sides. Three  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage,  viz.:  Ellen,  wife  of  H.  N.  Steele, 
of  North  Amhertit  (they  have  four  chil- 
dren); Henry  J.;  and  Marion  E.,  who  died 
September  6,  1888. 

Henry  J.  (-Jawn,  only  son  of  James  and 
Louisa  E.  (Barnes)  Gawn,  was  born  in 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  June 
25,  1855.  He  received  his  education  at 
the  common  schools  on  Middle  Ridge, 
Amherst  township,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  blacksmith  with  his  father,  at  which  he 
works  a  little,  but  is  chiefly  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1888  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Melissa  Swartwood,  of  Amherst  township, 
and   one  child,   Frank,  has   been   born  to 


them.  Henry  J.  Gawn  operates  a  nice 
farm  of  thirty-six  acres  devoted  to  general 
agriculture.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  county 
affairs. 

Mrs.  Louisa  E.  Gawn  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Amherst  township,  when 
there  was  little  else  than  wild  woods,  and 
settlers  were,  literally,  "few  and  far  be- 
tween." She  was  born  August  27,  1828, 
a  daughter  of  Ezekiel  G.  and  Elvira  (Har- 
rington) Barnes,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  September  1,  1799,  in  Old  Becket, 
Mass.,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Am- 
herst, Lorain  county,  in  1817.  In  1825 
he  revisited  the  East,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried same  year  to  Miss  Elvira  Harrington, 
who  was  born  March  5,  1805,  in  Massa- 
chusetts. Returning  to  Amherst  town- 
ship, he  continued  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  became  prosperous.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  viz.:  Gil- 
bert H.,  a  resident  of  Amherst  township; 
Louisa  E.,  widow  of  James  Gawn;  G. 
Moni-oe,  who  died  in  1891,  leaving  a 
widow;  Henry  D.,  deceased  in  1869,  and 
Sardis  N.,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Amherst 
township.  The  father  was  called  from 
earth  December  18,  1881,  the  mother  on 
January  29,  1888. 


David: 
wart  SOI 
thewid( 


BRICKNELL.      The    stal- 

sons  of  England  are  to  be  found 
de  world  over,  ever  aggressive, 
plodding,  loyal  and  honest.  Such 
an  one  is  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch. 
Mr.  Bricknell  was  born  March  S,  1840, 
in  Northamptonshire,  England,  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  Bricknell,  who  both  died 
in  that  county.  He  received  his  education 
at  the  country  schools  of  his  native  parish, 
and  was  brought  up  a  farmer  lad.  He 
hired  out  twelve  years  as  farmers'  serv- 
ant, and  in  1866  he  married,  in  England, 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Townsend,  who  was  born 
May  13,  1841,  a  native  of  Warwickshire, 


952 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


a  daugliterof  William  Townsend.  For  six 
and  one-halt'  years  he  tilled  the  position  of 
under  gardener  for  one  emplojer,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  two  children  bad  been  born 
■—Ellen  and  Emily.  In  1875  Mr.  Brick- 
nell  immigrated  to  the  United  States,  com- 
ing to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  living  and 
working  in  Elyria  the  tirst  year.  He  then 
rented  a  small  farm,  and  also  worked  in 
Elyria  as  gardener.  For  the  next  tive 
years  he  rented  farms,  and  during  that  time 
two  more  children  were  born — Rosa  and 
Daisy  Josephine.  In  1882  he  bought  his 
present  farm  of  tifty  acres,  all  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  and  here  he  success- 
fully carries  on  general  farming.  Of  the 
cliildren,  Ellen,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Bowman,  resides  in  Eaton  township  (they 
have  one  child,  Cora  May);  Emily,  wife  of 
Kichard  Tran,  of  Grafton  township,  has 
three  children:  Goldie  May,  Sylva  Bell  and 
Roy  Richard. 

In  his  political  preferences  Mr.  Brick- 
nell  is  independent;  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Disciple  Church  at  North 
Eaton.  He  is  a  typical  self-made  man, 
having  from  a  commencement  of  nothing 
accumulated  all  he  owns  by  hard  labor, 
honest  toil,  and  judicious  economy. 


\i 


EG  RAND  ROOT,  the  only  one  left 
of  the  old  settlers  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Wellington  township,  is 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in 
Litchfield,  March  18,  1831,  a  son  of  Will- 
iam R.  and  Serena  (Terrell)  Root. 

Grandfather  Root  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  immigrated  to  the  Amei'ican 
Colonies  before  the  Revolutionary  war. 
In  that  struggle  he  enlisted  in  the  cause 
of  the  patriots,  and  participated  in  the  en- 
gagement that  led  to  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Biirgoyne;  also  served  as  one  of 
Washington's  aids,  and  was  captured  by 
the  British,  but  subsequently  exchanged. 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  leading 


his  regiment  on  a  march,  and  in  crossing  a 
bridge  the  structure  gave  way,  killing  him 
and  several  of  his  men.  His  son  William 
R.,  father  of  subject,  was  born  about  the 
period  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle  in  one 
of  the  New  England  States.  He  married 
Miss  Serena  Terrell,  and  when  their  son, 
Legrand.  was  four  years  old,  they  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  tirst  in  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county,  then  in  Wellington  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  now  owned  by  onr  sub- 
ject. Finally  Mr.  Root  moved  to  Allegan 
county,  Mich.,  where  be  and  his  wife  died 
during  the  tame  year,  she  at  the  age  of 
eixty-nine  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  the  following  is 
a  brief  record:  Eliza  married  L.  L.  West, 
of  Minnesota,  where  they  reside;  Legrand 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Leroy  lives 
in  Kansas  (during  the  Civil  w'ar  he  entered 
the  Union  army,  and  was  with  Sherman 
on  his  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea); 
Amarilla,  who  married  H.  Oliver,  resides 
in  Michigan;  Charlotte,  who  was  the  wife 
of  John  Everatts,  died  in  Michigan ;  Finette 
died  when  about  eighteen  years  old; 
Rosette  is  married  to  A.  D.  Wallers,  and 
resides  in  Dakota;  Sarah  Ann,  who  was  a 
school  teacher  in  Kansas,  married  Abner 
Folk,  of  Rich  county,  that  State;  George 
is  deceased;  Benjamin  Franklin  died  in 
childhood. 

Legrand  Root,  of  whom  this  sketch  more 
particularly  relates,  was  married  in  1855 
to  Miss  Lucinda  Kelsey,  born  in  Hunting- 
ton townsliip,  Lorain  county,  in  September, 
1835,  and  the  young  couple  then  settled 
on  his  present  farm  of  220  acres  well-im- 
proved land.  Prior  to  this  he  had  lived 
for  a  time  in  Eaton,  then   in    Huntington 

o 

township,  same  county,  and  in  1851  went 
to  California  on  a  prospecting  tour,  but 
soon  retiirned.  In  addition  to  general 
farming  Mr.  Root  carries  on  dairying  to  a 
considerable  extent,  and  he  is  progressive 
and  prosperous.  The  children  born  to  this 
marriage,  seven  in  number,  were  as  fol- 
lows: Those  deceased  are  Leroy,  who  died 
when   aged  four  years;  Aner,  when  aged 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


953 


two  years;  Albert,  when  aged  twenty- 
seven  years  (he  was  married  and  had  one 
chihi);  Dennis,  wiien  aged  sixteen  years 
(this  was  the  youngest  chihl);  tiiose  living 
are:  Emery,  married,  who  has  one  child, 
Elmer;  Mary,  wife  of  Arnold  Taylor,  of 
Lodi,  Ohio;  Ada,  residing  at  home,  who 
w'as  educated  in  Wellington  township,  and 
is  now  teaching  school  in  Huntington 
township.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and,  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  Rebellion,  showed  his  loyalty 
to  the  Union  cause  by  subscribing  to  tlie 
Government  liberally  of  his  means.  Mr. 
Root  is  a  man  of  more  than  average  edu- 
cation and  ability,  and  is  well  informed  on 
ail  tlie  public  issues  of  the  day. 


ff^^  AYMOND  HAVEN,  for  forty-six 

Y^C^    years  a  resident  of  Eaton  township, 

I    ^   where    his    name    is    "familiar    as 

J)         household    words,"   is  a  native  of 

Portage    county,     Ohio,     born     in 

Shalersville  in  1823. 

He  is  a  son  of  John  Haven,  a  native  of 
Vermont,  who  came  on  foot  to  Ohio  when 
a  young  man,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Port- 
age county,  and  becoming  prosperous  and 
comparatively  wealthy.  He  here  married 
Miss  Julia  Sanford,  and  reared  the  follow- 
ing family  of  children:  Annis,  deceased 
in  Portage  county;  Raymond;  John,  de- 
ceased in  Portage  county;  Julia,  living  in 
Ohio;  George,  married,  residing  in  Bloom- 
ingdale,  Mich.  The  fatlier  of  these  died 
in  1882,  the  mother  in  1853.  Politically 
Mr.  Haven  was  a  Republican,  and  served 
as  township  trustee. 

Raymond  Haven  received  a  liberal 
school  training  in  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
was  brought  up  a  practical  farmer,  and  has 
always  made  general  agriculture  his  busi- 
ness, principally  dairying,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  unqualiKed  success.  In  1847  he 
came  with  a  team  from  Shalersville  to 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  county,  and  bougiit 


eighty  acres  of  partly  improved  land, 
having  thereon  a  log  house  and  barn,  in 
lieu  of  which  Mr.  Haven  in  course  of  time 
erected  a  one  and  one-half  story  house, 
24  X  40,  with  two  L  one-story  wrings;  also 
a  commodious  barn.  To  his  original  pur- 
chase of  eighty  acres  he  has  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  321  acres. 
In  1845  Mr.  Haven  married,  in  Portage 
county.  Miss  Lucinda  C.  Scouten,  a  native 
of  that  county,  daughter  of  John  Scouten, 
an  early  pioneer  of  same.  To  this  union 
children  as  follows  have  been  born:  Ellen, 
wife  of  Locks  Lemert,  of  Kansas;  Alice, 
who  married  Laban  Lemert,  and  died  in 
Ohio,  July  23,  1873;  George,  who  died 
April  30,  1865;  Julia,  wife  of  Oscar  Dur- 
kee,  of  Eaton  township;  Frank,  married, 
residing  in  Eaton  township,  who  owns  a 
good  farm  given  him  by  his  father;  New- 
ton, married,  residing  in  Eaton  township 
(he  owns  a  good  farm);  Hattie,  wife  of 
AYilliam  Sawyer,  of  Eaton  township;  Jen- 
nie, who  died  January  23, 1867;  and  Myra, 
wife  of  Charles  Sawyer,  a  merchant  of 
Grafton.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  has  served  as  trustee  of 
Eaton  township.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  tiie  Disciple  Church,  in  which 
he  has  been  a  deacon  for  some  forty-tive 
years.  He  has  made  all  he  owns  by  in- 
dustry and  frugality,  and  is  listed  among 
the  most  successful  of  Lorain  county's 
farmer  citizens. 


fl(  RTHUR  WALKDEN,  a  leader  in 

/[_ \\    the  agricultural  community  of  Co- 

lr\^   lumbia  township,  is  a  native  of  Eng- 

•fj  land,  a  "Lancashire   lad,"   born  in 

that    county    in     November,  1823, 

third  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Blundell) 

Walkden. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  Avere  natives 
of  Devonshire,  England,  whence  in  1826 
they  emigrated  to  this  coimtry,  locating 
first  in   Lowell,  Mass.,  where  they  worked 


954 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  factories,  moving  in  1833  westward  to 
Oiiio,  living  in  Newburgh  one  year,  and 
then  settling  on  a  farm  in  Cuyahoga 
connty.  The  father  died  in  Berea,  Ohio, 
in  April,  1873,  aged  ninety-two,  the 
mother  in  September,  1357,  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years. 
Mr.  Walkden  had  been  twice  married,  and 
by  his  first  wife  had  three  children,  viz.: 
John,  who  remained  in  England;  Jane, 
Mrs.  John  Bainbridge,  wlio  died  in  Ridge- 
ville  township;  and  William,  who  came  to 
Lorain  county  in  1848,  died  on  the  ocean 
in  1879.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Blundell  he  had  children  as  follows:  Alice, 
who  died  in  1890  in  Cuyahoga  county; 
James,  who  died  in  1875  in  Lowell,  Mass.; 
Thomas,  residing  in  Cuyahoga  connty; 
Ann,  widow  of  Eastman  Bradford,  of 
Berea;  Mary,  widow  of  Joseph  Chevalier, 
of  Berea;  Arthur,  residing  in  Colombia 
township;  Peter,  wlio  came  to  Lorain  in  an 
early  day,  and  died  in  Ridgeville  township 
in  1880;  Richard;  Peggy,  deceased;  and 
Margaret,  widow  of  Henry  Woods,  of 
Cuyahoga  county. 

Arthur  Walkden  was  a  three-year-old 
boy  when  his  parents  brought  him  to  the 
United  States,  and  was  about  ten  years 
old  when  they  came  to  Cuyahoga  county, 
where  he  was  educated  and  learned  the 
trade  of  blacksmith,  which  he  followed  for 
some  years  after  coming  to  Columbia 
township  in  1843.  Here  he  made  a  settle- 
ment in  the  woods,  having  bought  thirty- 
seven  acres  of  improved  land,  to  which 
he  has  from  time  to  time  added  until  now 
he  has  226  acres  all  in  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation.  In  1846  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Tirzah  Wetton,  a  native  of  Derbyshire, 
England,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Holden)  Wetton,  of  the  same  county, 
who,  in  1833,  came  to  Hamilton,  N.  Y., 
and  thence  in  1842  to  Columbia  town- 
sliip,  Lorain  county,  settling  where  our 
subject  now  resides.  The  father  died  in 
1879,  aged  seventy-eight  years;  the  mother 
survived  him  till  March  31,  1893;  they 
were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and 


politically  Mr.  Wetton  was  a  Republican. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Tirzah.  Mrs.  Walkden;  Harriet,  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Chamberlain,  and  died  in 
Columbia  township  in  1856;  and  Saman- 
tha,  wife  of  John  Median,  of  Denver, 
Colorado. 

After  marriage  our  subject  resided  on 
his  present  farm  till  1857,  in  which  year 
he  went  to  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  there  re- 
mained two  and  one-half  years,  working 
at  his  trade,  at  the  end  of  vvhich  time  he 
returned  to  Columbia  township.  Politically 
Mr.  Walkden  is  a  prominent  Republican, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  at  West  View, 
Cuyahoga  county,  in  which  he  has  been 
steward  tor  several  years,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  trustee. 


V.  R.  HOWARD.  Prominent  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  wealthy  and 
intelligent  agriculturists  of  Roches- 
ter  township  is  found  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  is  here  recorded. 

He  is  a  son  of  Morris  Howard,  a  farmer, 
who  was  born  in  Andover,  Windsor  Co., 
Vt.,  where  he  married  Hannah,  daughtei" 
of  William  Smith.  To  them  were  born 
seven  children — three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. In  1836  Morris  Howard  came  to 
Ohio  with  his  family,  making  the  journey 
with  three  horses  and  two  wagons,  their  first 
tarrying  place  being  Elyria,  Lorain  county, 
whence  after  a  month's  residence  with  a 
relative  there,  they  moved  to  Richland 
county,  now  Ashland  county,  locating  for 
a  year  near  the  town  of  Ashland.  The 
father  at  this  time  made  a  trade  with  one 
Smith  for  a  farm  in  Rochester  township, 
Lorain  county,  the  same  one  whereon  our 
subject  now  resides.  At  that  time  but  a  few 
acres  were  cleared  on  it,  and  for  some  years 
Morris  Howard  lived  there.  Later  be 
moved  to  Racine,  Wis.,  and  died  there  at 


•!f\ 


I 


^^7,  (A^'^i-trionAAp 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


957 


the  age  of  seventy-seven  years;  his  wife 
had  passed  away  in  her  fifty-seventh  year. 
S.  V.  R.  Howard  was  born  September 
3,  1817,  in  Andover,  "Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  at 
the  subscription  schools  of  which  town  he 
received  his  education.  lie  was  reai'cd  to 
farm  life,  and  in  early  youth  worked  from 
home  at  fifty  cents  per  day,  at  that  time 
considered  fair  wages.  He  was,  as  will  be 
seen,  nineteen  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Ohio  with  the  rest  of  his  father's  family, 
and  when  yet  a  young  man  he  set  out  on  foot 
for  Illinois,  his  purpose  being  to  make  a 
tour  of  that  then  new  territory,  but  re- 
turned eastward,  satistied  that  there  was  no 
place  like  home.  On  December  11,  1843, 
he  married  Miss  Barbara  Bowman,  who 
was  born  June  11,  1821,  in  Orange  town- 
ship, Ashland  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  ot 
John  N.  Bowman,  and  his  next  residence 
was  in  a  house  erected  by  himself  imme- 
diately opposite  his  present  home.  Chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  marriage,  the  fol- 
lowing  being  a  brief  record  of  same:  Mary 
J.  is  the  wife  of  H.  K.  Kob,  of  Findlay, 
Ohio;  Laurilla  is  the  wife  of  Chester  Cbor- 
pening,  of  Benton  Harbor,  Mich.;  Lydia 
is  married  to  E.  M.  June,  of  Greenwich, 
Ohio;  Lillian  is  married  to  Thomas  Whit- 
ney, of  Benton  Harbor,  Mich.;  Charles  G. 
is  a  farmer  of  Rochester  township,  married 
to  Miss  Emma  Fast,  of  Troy  township, 
Ashland  Co.,  Ohio;  Cynthia  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Landis,  of  Rochester.  The  mother 
of  these  died  October  11,  1882,  and  was 
buried  in  Rochester  cemetery;  she  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  On  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1885,  Mr.  Howard  married  Miss 
Emily  Bowman,  born  April  18,  1835,  in 
Green  township,  Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Reed)  Bow- 
man, who  came  from  Washington  county, 
Penn.,  to  Ohio,  being  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Ellsworth  township,  Mahoning 
county,  at  that  time  an  unknown  forest. 
Mrs.  Howard,  who  is  well  educated  and 
highly  cultivated,  taught  district  scliool  no 
less  than  twenty-nine  terms  in  Mahoning 
and  Columbiana  counties,  Ohio. 


Mr.  Howard's  first  purchase  of  land  was 
seventy-five  acres  at  eleven  dollars  per 
acre,  which  still  forms  a  part  of  his 
splendid  farm  of  over  five  hundred  acres, 
lying  partly  in  Lorain  county,  and  partly  in 
Huron.  He  is  a  typical  self-made  farnjer, 
enjoying  the  most  robust  health,  and  still 
capable  of  doing  a  long  day's  work.  In 
his  political  predilections  he  was  originally 
a  Whig,  of  later  years  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  the  oflice  of  township  trustee  sev- 
eral years.  Mrs.  Howard,  well-known, 
most  popular  and  highly  respected,  is  an 
exemplary  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


/George  E.  hill.  Prominent 
I  J,  among  the  citizens  of  Ridgeville 
\J^  township,  in  both  public  and  private 
^^  life,  stands  this  gentleman,  who  is 
a  native  of  the  county,  born  in 
Eaton  township,  October  16,  1852. 

Mr.  Hill  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Jane 
(GuUiford)  Hill,  natives  of  England,  who 
in  the  year  1849  immigrated  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Eaton  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  the  father  died  SeptcTn- 
ber  10,  1889;  the  mother  is  yet  residing 
at  the  old  homestead.  The  subject  of  our 
sketcli  received  a  good  practical  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
was  reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of  the 
farm.  In  1889  he  left  Eaton  township, 
and  moved  to  his  present  place  in  Ridge- 
ville township,  comprising  some  seventy- 
six  acres  of  highly-cultivated  land,  the 
property  being  known  as  the  "  Homer 
Terrell  Farm,"  though  it  was  improved  by 
Franklin  Terrell.  In  1874  he  was  mar- 
ried, in  Columbia  Center,  Lorain  county, 
to  Miss  Evalyn  Terrell,  a  native  of  Ridge- 
ville township, who  was  born  July  26,1855, 
daughter  of  Homer  and  Mary  (Kelley) 
Terrell,  the  f(jrmer  of  whom  was  born  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject;  the 
latter  was  born  August  11,  1828,  in  Taun- 
ton,   Mass.;    the   father   died  on  his  farm 


958 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


here  August  16,  1888,  the  mother  July 
29,  1869.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three  cliildren,  namely:  Evalyn  (Mrs. 
Hill);  Irving,  born  September  24,  1857, 
married,  and  residing  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; and  Edward,  born  December  29, 
18(34,  residing  in  Elyria. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill 
settled  on  the  Wescott  farm  in  Eaton  town- 
ship, containing  148  acres  prime  land 
which  he  yet  owns,  and  here  remained  till 
1889,  as  already  related.  To  them  have 
been  born  live  children,  as  follows: 
Freddie,  born  January  26,  1875,  died 
March  16,  1875;  George,  born  October  6, 
1879,  died  March  24,  1880;  Kaymond, 
born  June  14,  1881;  Mary  Jane,  born 
January  23,  1884;  and  Ella  E.,  born 
January  25,  1888.  In  politics  our  sub- 
ject is  a  Republican,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  party.  He 
has  served  on  the  school  board,  and  been 
trustee  of  Ridgeville  township  since  1889. 


ri(     BAKER,    the    well-known,    wide- 
iy_\\    awake  and  enterprising  clothier  and 
Ir^   tailor,   of   North   Amherst,  is  a  na- 
■/J  live  of  Germany,  born  in  Meehlen- 

burg  May  22,  1857. 
At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  the  United  States  and  to 
Illinois,  where  for  about  one  year  they 
lived  on  a  farm  near  Mascontah,  St.  Clair 
county,  after  which  they  moved  to  town, 
where  our  subject  attended  school  one 
year.  About  this  time  he  was  attacked 
with  hip  disease,  which  caused  permanent 
lameness,  although  he  went  to  St.  Louis 
for  treatment.  The  family  then  moved  to 
Elyria,  Ohio,  and  here  Mr.  Baker  finished 
his  school  days  in  the  German  Lutheran 
Parochial  School.  He  then  commenced 
business  life  in  a  woolen  factory,  where  he 
partly  learned  the  cloth  manufacturing 
business,  which  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
followed   l)ut    for    his   lameness.     Having 


now  learned  how  to  make  cloth,  it  was  a 
natural  transition  for  him  to  learn  tailor- 
ing. He  served  two  years  with  Moebius 
&  Wimmers,  and  after  they  dissolved  part- 
nership, Moebius  came  to  Amherst,  Mr. 
Baker  remaining  with  Wimmers  as  a 
journeyman  tailor,  for  another  year.  He 
then  concluded  to  go  to  Cleveland  for  the 
purpose  of  learning  more  about  his  trade; 
and  after  working  for  some  of  the  best 
tailors  in  the  city  four  years,  he  set  out 
on  a  business  tour  throughout  the  States, 
in  course  of  which  he  worked  in  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee,  St.  Paul,  Omaha,  Den- 
ver, Kansas  City,  St.  Louis,  Memphis, 
Vicksburg,  Little  Rock,  Xatchez,  New 
Orleans,  Mobile,  then  back  to  New  Or- 
leans, thence  down  to  Houston,  Texas. 
After  this  he  returned  home  to  spend 
Christinas,  and  then  traveled  east,  stopping 
for  a  time  in  New  York  to  attend  a 
cutting  school,  and  befoi-e  he  had  quite 
finished  was  given  a  situation  on 
Third  avenue  as  cutter.  While  holding 
this  latter  position  he  attended  the  Peter 
Cooper  Institute  in  the  evening.  On  ac- 
count of  his  widowed  mother,  who  was 
still  living  in  Elyria,  he  came  nearer  home, 
and  accepted  a  position  as  cutter  in  Clyde, 
Ohio;  after  about  live  months  he  secured 
a  position  as  cutter  in  Cleveland.  Not 
being  satisfied  with  this  situation  of  things, 
Mr.  Baker  concluded  to  start  in  business 
for  himself,  and  after  many  trials  and 
difficulties,  all  of  which  he  bravely  over- 
came, in  the  fall  of  1882,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five,  he  opened  up,  in  Elyria,  a 
merchant  tailoring  establishment  with  a 
capital  of  three  dollars,  and  a  line  of 
woolen  samples  furnished  by  a  Cleveland 
woolen  house. 

This  was  in  a  room  upstairs  in  the 
M.  W.  Pond  building,  opposite  the  old 
''  Beebe  House,"  and  here  he  remained 
about  two  years;  then  moved  in  the  old 
Perry  building,  where  now  stands  the  ele- 
gant Sharp  block.  Here  he  remained 
about  three  years,  by  which  time,  with 
hard    work    and    economy,  he    had   saved 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


959 


enouorh  to  build  him  a  nice  house  on  Mid- 
dle avenue.  He  now  traded  his  property 
for  a  ciotliing  store  in  North  Amherst, 
with  his  old  boss,  Mr.  Moebins.  It  is 
here  that  Mr.  Baker  begins  to  take  an 
active  part  in  business  and  public  affairs. 
He  talks  and  writes  in  public,  and  often 
differs  with  men,  but  he  has  the  respect  of 
his  community  for  honesty  and  fairness. 
He  is  a  hard  worker,  and  although  he 
should  now  have,  all  his  work  done,  he 
still  sticks  to  the  work-bench,  and  in  a 
little  time-book  to  advertise  his  business 
he  writes  and  encourages  all  laboring  men 
to  economize,  and  tells  them  that  he  him- 
self never  thought  that  he  would  some 
day  be  able  to  buy  out  his  boss.  He  is 
yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  unless  some 
unforeseen  misfortune  overtakes  him,  we 
predict  for  him  a  prosperous  future.  We 
know  that  the  men  who  move  onward  step 
by  step  are  the  safest  and  surest  in  the 
long  run. 

In  the  spring  of  1883  Mr.  Baker  was 
iinited  in  marriatre  with  Miss  Hattie 
Rosenwald,  a  native  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  five  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Mabel,  Cora,  Alphabet,  Lillie  and 
Esther.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Ke- 
publican,  and  he  is  very  active  in  munici- 
pal and  county  affairs.  In  1S91  he  built 
a  block  in  North  Amherst,  two  stories  in 
height,  of  which  he  occupies  one  of  the 
lower  rooms,  rents  the  other,  while  the 
upper  room,  a  hall,  is  occupied  by  Jaeger 
Lodge,  I.  0.  ().  F. 


a  son  of  George  Bunt,  who  was  a 
native  of  eastern  New  York.  His  father 
came  from  Holland,  and  died  when  George 
was  but  six  years  old. 

'  George  Bunt  was  married  in  early  man- 
hood   to  Elizabeth  Cottrell,  and  followed 


farming  in  his  native  State,  where  children 
as  follows  were  born  to  him:  Stephen, 
Philip,  Henry,  and  David  C,  our  sul)ject, 
who  is  the  only  survivor.  In  1833  the 
family  removed  to  Ohio,  coming  by  water 
to  Cleveland,  and  thence  being  driven  to 
LaGrange  township,  where  Mr.  Bunt 
rented  land  for  six  years;  and  while  living 
there  one  child  was  added  to  the  family, 
Lucy  Ann,  who  married  Alvin  Nichols 
and  died  in  Michigan.  He  then  piirchased, 
at  six  dollars  per  acre,  twenty-live  acres  of 
land  in  Pentield  township  where  our  sub- 
ject now  resides,  settling  thereon  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1889,  at  which  time  the  place  was 
entirely  in  the  woods,  and  abounded  with 
wild  animals.  At  the  time  of  their  com- 
ing there  was  no  bridge  over  the  stream 
which  they  were  obliged  to  cross  en  route 
to  Penfield  township,  but  they  contrived 
to  float  over.  Mr.  Bunt  lived  to  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  preceded  to 
the  grave  by  his  wife,  who  passed  away 
when  aged  seventy-two;  both  are  buried  in 
Penfield  township  cemetery.  In  religious 
connection  they  were  members  of  thej\I.  E. 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Whig,  later  a  Republican. 

D.  C.  Bunt  was  but  an  infant  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
ceived such  an  education  as  the  common 
schools  of  those  pioneer  days  afforded,  his 
first  teacher  being  Caroline  Blanchard.  On 
April  14,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  J.  Mosher,  who  was  born 
August  29,  1842,  in  New  York  State, 
daughter  of  Elihu  and  Rebecca  (Freeman) 
Mosher,  who  came  to  Ohio  in  1844,  set- 
tlingin  LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  the  father,  who  was  a  cooper,  fol- 
lowed his  trade.  Our  subject  held  an  in- 
terest in  some  land  with  his  father,  with 
whom  he  took  up  his  residence  after  mar- 
riage, and  here,  with  the  exception  of  four 
years,  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Though 
having  but  twelve  acres  at  the  start,  he  now 
owns  a  fine  tract  of  170  acres,  highly  im- 
proved and  cultivated,  whereon  he  has 
erected  a  number  of  substantial  buildings. 


960 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bunt  liave  had  four  children, 
as  follows:  Josephine,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years;  Grant  W.,  of  New  Mex- 
ico; Frank  C,  who  died  when  twenty-one 
yearei  of  age;  and  Elmer  M.,  residing  at 
home.  Mr.  Bunt  has  been  engaged  all  his 
life  in  agriculture,  of  which  he  has  a 
thorough  knowledge,  and  for  some  time 
also  conducted  a  dairy  business;  he  has 
been  successful  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word. 
He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the 
M.  £.  Church,  and  in  his  political  pref- 
erences he  is  a  stanch  Republican;  his  first 
vote  was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont.  He  is 
actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his 
party,  and  has  served  as  trustee  and  in 
various  other  township  offices.  He  is  very 
popular  and  highly  respected  and  esteemed 
in  his  community. 


R.  McCONNELL,  owner  of  a 
highly-cultivated  farm  in  Roches- 
ter township,  where  he  is  well  and 
favorably  known,  is  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  born  in  Belfast  township, 
Allegany  county,  December  17,  1825. 

His  father,  James  McConnell,  was  born 
in  Yates  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
reared  to  pioneer  farming,  and  in  early 
manhood  married  Miss  Margaret  Roora- 
back,  daughter  of  John  Rooraback.  The 
children  of  this  union,  eight  in  number, 
were  as  follows:  Martha,  who  married 
Jonathan  Bridge,  and  died  in  Quincy, 
Mich.;  Mary,  who  married  John  Corey, 
and  died  in  Quincy,  Mich.;  Nancy,  who 
married  Amos  Darby,  and  died  in  New 
London,  Ohio;  Betsy,  who  married  Henry 
Close,  and  died  in  Williams  county,  Ohio; 
Alexander,  deceased  in  Clyde,  Ohio;  John, 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  who  enlisted 
from  Williams  county,  Ohio,  and  died  in 
Rochester  township  at  the  home  of  our 
subject;  W.  R.,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch;  and  Jane,  who  married  John 
Rooraback,    and    died    in    New    London, 


Ohio.  After  marriage  James  McConnell 
and  his  bride  moved  to  Allegany  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  for  some  years  he  conducted 
a  farm,  small  in  extent,  as  he  was  a  man 
of  but  limited  means.  In  1833  the  family 
came  to  Ohio,  making  a  fresh  home  in 
New  London  township,  Huron  county, 
where  Alexander,  a  brother  of  James  Mc- 
Connell, as  well  as  several  brothers-in-law, 
had  previously  made  a  settlement.  The 
family  made  the  long  journey,  which  was 
a  tedious  one  of  three  weeks'  duration,  by 
wagons  to  Buffalo,  thence  to  Eljria, 
Lorain  county,  thence  to  Wakeman,  Huron 
county,  and  from  there  to  New  London 
township,  where  the  father  bought  fifty- 
six  acres  of  land  at  five  dollars  per  acre.  The 
family  found  a  temporary  home  at  Alex- 
ander McConnelTs,  while  a  rude  log  cabin 
was  being  built  for  their  reception,  kind- 
hearted  and  willing  neighbors  giving  all 
the  assistance  in  their  power  toward  its 
completion.  The  land  was  entirely  new, 
not  a  tree  having  been  cut  from  the  dense 
growth  of  beech,  maple  and  black  walnut, 
and  wild  animals  were  abundant;  but 
bravely  did  the  family  set  to  work  to  make 
a  clearing,  and  before  long  they  had  a 
small  tract  ready  for  a  garden  which  the 
following  spring  produced  divers  kinds  of 
vegetable  foods.  Coming  to  the  new  home 
in  October,  there  was  no  time  to  grow  any 
of  the  necessaries  of  life  that  year,  and  the 
entire  support  of  the  family  for  the  ensu- 
ing winter  fell  on  the  father.  For  two 
days'  labor  for  a  neighbor  he  received  a 
bushel  of  corn,  which  he  had  to  carry  to 
a  mill  in  Ruggles  township  to  be  ground, 
his  journey  there  and  back  taking  him 
along  the  Vermillion  river.  The  first  corn 
he  planted  on  his  farm  was  dropped  into  a 
"  gash  "  made  in  the  soil  with  an  old  axe, 
but  it  grew,  ripened,  and  was  harvested, 
and  was  found  to  make  a  few  grists  from 
which  some  sturdy  johnny-cakes  were 
made.  The  abundance  of  sugar  maples 
around  the  clearing  afforded  them,  by 
tapping,  some  revenue,  and  game  being 
plentiful,  there  was  after  a  time  no  lack  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


961 


provisions  of  all  kinds.  On  this  farm  they 
lived  till  1849,  in  which  year  they  removed 
to  Rociiester  township,  settling  on  the  100- 
acre  tract  where  yet  lives  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Here  James  McConnell,  the 
brave  pioneer,  died  September  28,  1867, 
his  loving  and  faithful  wife  having  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave  October  28,  1862; 
they  sleep  their  last  sleep  in  New  London 
cemetery.  Politically  James  McConnell 
was  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  in  Church 
connection  he  and  his  wife  were  devout 
Methodists. 

W.  R.  McConnell,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  his  boyhood  at  the  subscription 
schools,  and  in  later  life,  when  other  educa- 
tional systems  were  introduced,  he  attended 
school  a  short  time  longer,  but  he  was  a 
studious  j'outh,  an  apt  scholar,  and  gar- 
nered not  a  little  useful  practical  instruc- 
tion. Reared  to  pioneer  habits  and  cus- 
toms, when  but  a  young  boy  he  was  put  to 
work  at  chopping  in  the  clearing,  experi- 
encing all  the  hardships  incident  to  back- 
woods life. 

On  February  26,  1852,  he  married  Miss 
Lydia  L.  Carvy,  born  May  3,  1833,  in 
Rochester  township,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Eunice  (Thomas)  Carvy,  early  settlers 
in  that  township  from  New  York  State. 
The  young  couple  then  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  a  14  .\  IS  addition  of  logs,  built 
to  the  old  home  cabin  of  his  parents  on  the 
100-acre  farm  already  alluded  to.  The 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  R.  Mc- 
Connell were  as  follows:  Stewart  N.,  a 
farmer  of  Rochestei-  township;  Newell  J., 
who  died  of  diphtheria  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years;  Edwin  L.,  a  farmer  of  Rochester 
township;  Etta  L.,  at  home;  Ransom  C.,at 
home;  Newell  C,  who  attended  Berea 
(Ohio)  College,  deceased  when  twenty-three 
years  old;  and  Nellie  E.,  at  home.  Mr. 
McConnell  has  now  410  acres  of  as  tine 
farm  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county, 
representing,  in  the  aggregate,  years  of 
honest  toil,  good  management  and  judi- 
cious thrift.     Besides  the  cereal  and  root 


crops  he  for  some  years  was  extensively 
engaged  in  dairying,  and  he  has  always 
made  the  rearing  of  sheep  a  specialty.  A 
straight  Whig  and  Republican,  his  first 
vote  was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  he 
has  never  missed  his  franchise  at  the  polls 
except  once,  on  which  occasion  he  was  visit- 
ing outside  the  State.  Popular  in  his 
party  and  the  community  at  large,  he  has 
been  entrusted  with  various  township 
offices,  such  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
trustee, filling  all  with  characteristic  ability 
and  honesty. 


D,  C.  HOLLADAY,  a  retired  agricul- 
turist of  Grafton  township,  was 
.'  born  October  25,  1827,  in  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  son  of  James 
Holladay,  also  a  native  of  Berkshire  county, 
where  he  followed  farming.  James  Holla- 
day  served  four  years  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  justly  deserved  a  place  among  the 
patriots.  When  forty-five  years  of  age  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Gibson,  and  to  their 
union  was  born  one  child,  D.  C,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir.  The  mother  died  in 
December,  1827,  the  father  in  182'J,  and 
both  are  buried  in  Massachusetts. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was  reared  by 
a  maiden  aunt,  Ruth  Holladay,  who  died 
in  1856.  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  whither 
she  had  gone  to  pass  her  declining  years. 
When  seven  years  old  he  came  vvest  to  Ohio 
with  his  aunt  and  an  uncle,  Moses  Holla- 
day, the  journey  being  made  by  canal  and 
lake  as  far  as  Cleveland,  whence  they  were 
driven  to  Litchfield,  Medina  county-,  where- 
they  settled.  Mr.  Holladay  was  early  put 
to  farm  work,  and  attended  school  but  little 
in  Medina  county,  as  the  schoolhouse  was^ 
four  miles  distant.  He  was  subsequently 
reared  by  relatives  who  came  to  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  county,  in  1836,  and  re- 
sided at  Kingsley's  Corners,  remaining 
with  them  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  soon  afterward  united  in  marriacre 
with  Miss  Roxina  Sheldon,  who  was  born. 


962 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  Johnstown,  Penn.,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  namely:  Alvira, 
Mrs.  James  Tucker,  of  Eaton  township,  and 
Erastus,  on  the  home  farm  in  Grafton  town- 
ship. Shortly  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
HoUaday  purchased  the  farm  he  jet  resides 
on.  where  he  was  for  many  years  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  agriculture;  of 
late  years,  however,  he  has  retired  from 
active  farm  work,  leaving  the  manao-einent 
of  the  place  to  his  son.  Mrs.  Holladay 
passed  from  earth  February  17,  1886,  and 
her  remains  are  interred  in  Nesbit  ceme- 
tery. Our  subject  is  a  stanch  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  but  has  no  desire  for 
political  preferments,  having  declined  to 
serve  as  justice  of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Holladay  is  an  excellent  type  of 
those  sturdy  old  pioneers  who  have  passed 
their  lives  in  Grafton  township,  to  whom 
too  much  credit  cannot  be  given  for  the 
assistance  they  have  rendered  in  the  im- 
provement and  advancement  of  the  coun- 
try. He  has  seen  the  dense  forest  give 
Elace  to  fertile  fields  of  grain,  and  has 
imself  been  instrnmentalin  effecting  these 
changes. 


i^ILLIAM  H.  JOHNSON,  an  en- 
terprising agriculturist,  and  rep- 
resentative  citizen    of    LaGrancje 

o 

township,  is  the  oldest  male 
representative  of  his  father's  family, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
Lorain  county.  He  was  born  May  30, 
1834,  in  LaGrange  township,  a  son  of 
Hon.  Nathan  Porter  and  Laura  (Waite) 
Johnson. 

Hon.  Natlian  P.  Johnson  was  of  New 
England  stock,  his  parents,  Stephen  and 
Phebe  Johnson,  having  been  born  in  Old 
Haddara,  Conn.,  whence  in  1785  they  re- 
moved to  Hartford,  Washington  'Co., 
N.  Y.,  finally  in  April,  1801,  migrating  to 
Champion,  Jefferson  Co.,  same  State. 
Nathan  P.  was  born  in  Hartford,  N.  Y., 
January  30,   1801,  and   was,    as    will    be 


seen,  an  infant  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Jefferson  county.  He  received  but 
a  limited  education,  the  schools  of  those 
early  days  being  very  primitive  in  their 
character,  but  being  an  apt  scholar,  and  of 
a  bright  and  studious  disposition,  he  made 
wonderful  progress.  In  Jefferson  county 
he  was  married  October  20,  1822,  to  Miss 
Laura  Waite,  who  was  born  in  February, 
1804:,  in  Champion,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of 
Dorastus  and  Sally  (McNittj  Waite. 
Willie  residing  in  New  York  State  the 
following  children  were  born  to  tliera, 
their  names,  dates  of  birth,  etc.,  being 
given:  Sarah  L.,  September  14,  1823. 
now  living  in  LaGrange,  the  widow  of 
William  F.  Hubbard;  William  H.,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1825,  died  October  11,  1829; 
Cynthia  A..  September  25,  1827,  wife  of 
Charles  A.  Wilcox,  of  LaGrange;  Mary 
L.,  June  29,  1830.  now  the  widow  of 
Spencer  Lincoln,  of  LaGrange;  and  Phojbe 
M.,  April  24,  1832,  married  Henry  Ster- 
rot,  and  died  April  4,  1866.  In  Ohio 
were  born  as  follows:  William  H.  (subject 
of  sketch);  Elizur  G.,  November 24,  1836, 
living  in  Elyria;  Ellen  M.,  January  25, 
1840,  married  Henry  Noble,  and  died  in 
LaGrange;  and  Ann  Eliza,  February  11, 
1842,  twice  married;  first  time  to  Andrew 
J.  Lemore,  second  time  to  Harry  Nichols, 
and  died  in  New  York  State  December  4, 
1869. 

In  1833  Nathan  P.  Johnson  traded  land 
in  New  York  State  for  a  tract  in  Lorain 
county,  Oiiio;  in  November,  same  year, 
came  here  with  his  family,  a  twohorse 
wagon  conveying  them,  while  their  house- 
hold effects  were  transported  by  water  as 
far  as  Cleveland.  The  journey  occupied 
twenty-one  days,  and  on  their  arrival  in 
Lorain  county  they  made  their  temporary 
home  at  the  house  of  Sylvester  Merriams, 
a  brother-in-law  of  Nathan  Johnson.  In 
the  meantime  a  log  house  was  erected  on 
the  farm  south  of  the  center  of  LaGrange 
township,  into  which,  when  completed, 
the  family  removed.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
originally    an    ardent    Whig    of    the    old 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


963 


school,  later  a  Republican,  and  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  in  1844,  reelected  in 
1845;  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Senate, 
1847-48,  from  the  Districts  composed  of 
Lorain  and  Medina  counties;  was,  after  his 
removal  in  1862  to  the  villao;e  of  La- 
Grange,  appointed  postmaster  there  by 
Abraham  Lincoln ;  In  fact  he  was  a 
thoroughly  representative  man,  a  useful 
citizen,  honored  and  respected.  lie  died 
December  22,  1874,  and  was  interred  in 
LaGrange  cemetery.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  but  was  in  the  earlier  days  of  his 
life  a  Cougregatiotiiilist.  Mr.  Johnson's 
first  wife  died  in  184G,  and  he  afterward 
married  Miss  Mary  Hart,  of  Elyria,  by 
whom  there  was  no  issue. 

William  H.  Johnson,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  his  primary  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  towMiship, 
his  sister  Sarah  L.  being  his  first  teacher, 
and,  later,  he  attended  the  higher  schools 
of  Oberlin  and  Elyria.  He  was  reared  to 
farming  pursuits,  and  lived  on  his  father's 
farm  until  his  marriage,  at  which  time  he 
moved  to  his  fine  property  situated  south 
of  LaGrange,  and  there  remained  till  1891, 
in  which  year  he  came  to  his  farm,  lying 
in  the  center  of  LaGrange  township,  and 
which  comprises  141  acres  prime  land, 
highly  cultivated.  On  September  15,  1856, 
Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Par- 
sorre,  born  in  Windham,  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Laura  V.,  now  wife  of  M.  W.  Ingalls,  and 
Mary  A.,  at  home.  Tiie  mother  of  these 
was  called  from  earth  in  1860,  and  in 
1862  our  subject  married  Mrs.  Lucy  II. 
Bruce  {nee  Bradley),  widow  of  O.  Bruce. 
By  this  union  there  were  three  children, 
viz.:  William  II.  (1)  (deceased  in  infancy), 
William  H.  (2)  (also  died  in  infancy),  and 
Anita  S.,  now  Mrs.  C.  H.  Curtis,  of  Berea, 
Ohio.  In  politics  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  leader 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  held  various  township  offices  with 
credit  and  ability,  such  as  assessor,  trustee, 
etc.  Formerly  he  was  a  Congregationalist, 


but  of  late  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  is  a  class- 
leader.  He  is  remarkably  temj)erate  in 
his  habits,  never  having  used  tobacco  in 
any  form,  and  alcoholic  liquor  only  occa- 
sionally for  its  medicinal  properties. 


B.  BELDEN  is  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  born  in  Brownhelm  town- 
ship in  1846.  His  father,  Martin 
Belden,  was  a  native  of  Landislield, 
Mass.,  born  in  1810,  and  was  mar- 
ried May  1,  1833,  in  Colebrook,  Conn.,  to 
Eliza  Murray,  who  was  born  in  Delhi, 
N.  Y.,  in  1811.  In  1834  they  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Amherst 
township  till  1842,  in  which  year  tiiey 
moved  to  Brownhelm  township,  same 
county,  and  in  1854  proceeded  to  the  vil- 
lage of  North  Amherst,  where  for  two 
years  the  father  was  engaged  in  the  dry- 
goods  business.  In  1860  they  moved  to 
Wood  county,  Ohio,  where  they  resided 
till  1872,  in  which  year  they  returned  to 
Lorain  county.  The  father  died  Novem- 
ber 6,  1888;  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
served  as  county  commissioner.  The 
mother  is  yet  living.  They  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  namely:  Eliza  Ann,  wife  of  Albert 
Aldrich.  of  East  Amherst,  Ohio;  Pru- 
dence B.,  a  graduate  of  the  LTnivursity  of 
Pliiladelphia,  who  is  a  practicing  physi- 
cian in  Chicago.  111.;  R.  B.,  the  subject  of 
sketch;  Clara  L.,  the  wife  of  Warren 
Bulsey,  a  druggist  of  Napoleon,  Henrv 
Co.,  Ohio.  ^ 

R.  B.  Belden  received  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  North  Amherst,  and 
was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  which  he 
has  successfully  followed.  He  has  re- 
sided in  Lorain  county  all  his  lite  with  the 
exception  of  nine  years  spent  in  Trumbull 
and  Portage  counties,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  cheese  business.  He  now 
devotes  his  attention  exclusively  to  his 
farming  interests. 


964 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  April  20,  1887,  Mr.  Belden  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Arthur  Carr, 
a  native  of  Huron  county,  Oliio,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Mary  (Wright)  Curtis,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Vermont,  the 
latter  in  New  York  State.  Robert  Curtis 
came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  locating  in 
North  Fairfield  township,  where  he  kept 
hotel;  he  died  in  1873  in  the  village  of 
North  Fairfield.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  in  1866.  Mr.  Belden  is  a  Democrat, 
and  has  served  as  trustee  of  Amherst.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Stoning- 
ton  Lodge  No.  503,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Plato  Lodge,  No.  203,  having  passed  all 
the  Chairs.  Mrs.  Belden  is  a  member  of 
the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  Lodge  No. 
257,  of  which  she  is  a  charter  member; 
she  is  also  a  mem  ber  of  the  Ladies  of  the 
Maccabees. 


JT.  HENDERSON.  The  Oberlin 
Business  College  has  for  many  years 
held  an  exalted  place  among  the 
business  schools  of  this  country,  and 
many  young  men  and  women,  now  prom- 
inent in  the  business  world  or  as  teachers, 
received  their  trainino;  in  this  school.  We 
are  pleased  to  be  al)le  to  present  to  the 
readers  of  this  book  a  brief  biography  of 
J.  T.  Henderson,  whose  portrait  appears 
upon  the  opposite  page,  and  whose  ability 
as  a  teacher,  good  judgment  and  character 
as  a  man  have  had  much  to  do  in  building 
up  this  useful  school. 

About  four  miles  north  of  McConnels- 
ville,  Morgan  Co.,  Ohio,  is  found  a  quiet 
country  home,  surrounded  by  fertile  hills 
and  valleys,  in  which  was  born  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  May  18,  1862.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Cecelia  (Richardson) 
Henderson,  also  nativ^es  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  Morgan 
county  in  1884,  where  his  widow  is  yet 
residing.  His  early  life  was  very  much  as 
that  of  other  country  boys,  the  summers 
being  spent  in  work   upon   the  farm,  and 


the  winters  in  the  district  school,  except 
that  he  early  manifested  an  unusual  inter- 
est in  his  studies,  and  made  such  rapid 
progress  in  thom  that  before  he  was  six- 
teen years  old  he  had  secured  a  county 
teacher's  certificate.  This  opened  the  way 
for  him  to  a  broader  and  more  useful  life, 
and  after  this  the  farm  had  little  attrac- 
tion for  him. 

He  began  teaching  when  seventeen  years 
old,  and  continued  to  teach  in  country 
schools  for  several  years,  with  a  degree  of 
success  not  often  attained  by  even  older 
instructors.  As  evidence  of  this  success, 
he  was  retained  in  his  first  school  sfeven 
terms.  During  these  years  he  developed 
an  extraordinary  fondness  for  fine  writing, 
and,  by  long  and  faithful  practice,  consider- 
able ability  to  execute  the  same.  To 
gratify  this  fondness,  and  to  improve  him- 
self in  this  chosen  profession,  he  was  induced 
to  attend  the  Muskingum  Valley  Normal 
School  for  four  summers  in  succession. 
This  school  was  under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  Prof.  Jacob  Schwartz,  for  twenty 
years  superintendent  of  penmanship  in  the 
public  schools  of  Zanesville,  Ohio.  This 
gentleman  was  a  penman  of  rare  ability, 
and  to  his  competence  as  a  teacher  is  due 
the  great  number  of  penmen  and  business 
educators  which  Morgan  county  has  pro- 
duced. As  might  well  be  supposed,  in 
this  association  Mr.  Henderson  found 
plenty  of  fuel  for  his  burning  passion  for 
penmanship,  and  his  indefatigable  labors 
were  rewarded  at  the  close  of  the  last  term 
by  receiving  the  prize  for  being  the  best 
penman  in  the  school,  consisting  of  about 
one  hundred  competitors.  This  seems  to 
have  been  the  flood-tide  in  the  affairs  of 
this  energetic  young  man,  for  the  prize 
was  a  scholarship  in  the  Zanesville  Busi- 
ness College.  We  find  that  Mr.  Hender- 
son  completed  the  business  course  in  this 
institution  in  the  spring  of  1883,  thereby 
climbing  one  round  higher  on  the  ladder 
which  has  brought  him  such  abundant 
success.  The  summer  of  1883  was  spent 
in  traveling  through  different  parts  of  the 


Principal  (if  Obcrlin   Business  College 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


967 


East,  visiting  Chautauqua,  Niagara  Falls, 
Ocean  Grove,  Coney  Island,  Asbury  Park, 
Long  Branch,  New  York  and  other  cities, 
a  part  of  his  expenses  being  defrayed  by 
card  writing  at  the  summer  resorts. 

The  year  1883-1884  found  our  subject 
occupying  liis  first  position  as  teacher  of 
commercial  branches  in  JJaldwin  Univer- 
sity, Berea,  Ohio.  While  coimected  with 
this  college  he  devoted  his  spare  time  to 
further  study,  completing  such  branches 
as  Geometry,  English  Literature,  Rhetoric, 
etc.  Pres.  Schuyler  says  of  his  work  in 
this  institution:  "He  understands  his  busi- 
ness, is  an  excellent  teacher  and  a  worthy 
man."  During  the  latter  part  of  this  year 
he  was  employed  in  the  First  National 
Bank  of  that  city  as  bookkeeper,  which 
position  was  filled  ably  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  management  of  the  bank. 
The  dream  of  his  life  now  began  to  take 
definite  siiape,  and  possessing  a  mind  quick 
to  perceive  and  ready  to  appropriate  useful 
information,  he  here  obtained  much  prac- 
tical knowledge  that  has  been  of  inestima- 
ble value  to  him  in  the  work  upon  which 
he  was  soon  to  enter — that  of  a  business 
educator.  In  the  fall  of  1884  he  purchased 
of  Uriah  McKee  a  half-interest  in  the 
Oberlin  Business  College,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  devoted  his  whole  time  and 
energy  to  building  up  and  improving  this 
old  and  well-known  institution. 

Business  education  has  had  an  interest- 
ing history  in  Oberlin.  The  history  of  such 
work  dates  back  to  the  very  earliest  period 
when  such  instruction  was  given  anywhere, 
and  many  men  who  are  now  occupying 
eminent  places  in  the  world  have  been  as- 
sociated with  the  work  in  this  place  as 
teachers,  among  whom  we  might  mention 
William  Warren,  author  of  tlie  Warrenian 
System  of  Penmanship;  Piatt  R.  Spencer, 
autlior  of  the  Spencerian  System  of  Pen- 
manship, now  famous  the  world  over; 
Charles  Griffeth.  S.  S.  Calkins,  Drake 
Brothers,  Piatt  R.  Spencer,  Jr.,  W.  F. 
Lyun.  Mr.  Howland,  Mr.  Cobb,  U.  Mc- 
Kee, and  many  others.     It  was  the  mantle 


of  sued)  men  as  these  that  fell  upon  the 
shoulders  of  Mr.  Henderson,  who  has  for 
ten  years  demonstrated  his  ability  to  carry 
to  a  successful  issue  the  work  for  which 
these  men  laid  the  foundation. 

In  June,  1885,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  with  Miss 
Ada  Lawrence,  a  native  of  that  county, 
and  four  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Fred  (who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years),  Elmer  Clinton,  Llarold  Lawrence 
and  Alice  Estelle.  In  politics  Mr.  Hender- 
son is  a  Republican-Prohibitionist,  and  lie 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  of  which  he  is  treasurer,  as  well 
as  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school. 

The  partnership  between  McKee  and 
Henderson  continued  until  June,  1892, 
when  Mr.  McKee  was  compelled  to  with- 
draw from  the  school  on  account  of  failing 
health,  his  entire  interest  being  purchased 
by  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  who 
since  that  time  has  had  the  entire  manage- 
ment  of  the  institution.  Since  Principal 
Henderson  was  first  associated  with  the 
Oberlin  Business  College,  the  patronage 
has  almost  dout)led,  and  its  present  prom- 
inent position  among  similar  colleges  is 
largely  due  to  his  untiring  efforts.  He 
has  been  a  close  student  of  all  subjects 
bearing  upon  hig  work,  and  for  several 
years  has  been  giving  his  students  the 
benefit  of  his  researches,  in  what  is  termed 
the  "  Wednesday  Afternoon  Lecture 
Course,'' when  such  subjects  as  ''Elements 
of  Success  in  Life,"  "  Life  Insurance," 
''Building  and  Loan  Associations,"  "Our 
Domestic  System  of  Exchange,"  "  Post 
Office  Money  Order  System,"  "  Banking," 
"  New  York  Clearing  House,"  etc.,  are 
discussed  in  a  manner  which  has  long 
been  popular  with  the  students,  not  so 
much  because  of  rhetorical  flourish  as  be- 
cause of  the  abundant  practical  informa- 
tion contained. 

Mr.  Henderson  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  occu- 
pies a  high  place  in   the  estimation  of  his 


968 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


fellow  citizens.  The  mayor  of  Oberlin 
said  of  him  recently:  "He  is  known  here 
as  an  upright  and  conscientious  teacher,  a 
patriotic  citizen,  and  an  enthusiastic 
woi-ker  in  the  Church  and  benevolent  Socie- 
ties of  the  place."  For  several  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
tlie  Oberlin  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  for  some  time 
past  an  efficient  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Board  of  Associated  Charities 
for  Oberlin,  and  lias  recently  been  elected 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  His 
superior  skill  as  a  penman,  his  practical 
experience  in  the  banking  business,  to- 
gether with  his  ability  as  a  teacher  and 
cliaracter  as  a  man,  render  him  an  able  in- 
structor in  the  college  over  which  he  pre- 
sides, a  useful  citizen  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lives,  and  place  him  in  the 
front  rank  of  business  educators  of  the 
present  time. 


^?f\EV.   NICHOLAS   PFEIL,    pastor 
L^    of    Holy    Trinity    Church,   Avon, 
I    V^  was    born    November   4,    1S59,  in 
■^  Cleveland,    on    the   so-called    West 

Side,  formerly  known  as  Ohio  City. 
The  house  in  which  he  for  the  first  time 
saw  the  light  of  day  is  still  standing  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  intersection 
of  Penn  and  Chatham  streets.  He  is  the 
second  youngest  of  seven  children — five 
boys  and  two  girls — all  of  whom  with  their 
parents  are  still  among  the  living.  They 
reside  in  and  about  Cleveland,  except  his 
youngest  brother,  who  at  present  is  so- 
journing in  England,  near  Liverpool,  being 
a  priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 

His  parents  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
Cleveland,  having  immigrated  in  the  fall 
of  1847.  They  came  from  the  northern 
part  of  Baden,  in  Germany,  and  are  de- 
scendants of  that  loyal  race  of  sturdy 
Franks,  who  through  all  the  storms  of 
centuries  remained  faithful  to  the  Catholic 
Church,  ever  since  the  days  of  Franconia's 


apostle,  St.  Kilian,  who,  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  seventh  century,  converted  the 
Franconiati  people  from  heathenism  to 
catholicity. 

His  father,  Lawrence  Pfeil,  hails  from 
the  town  of  Koenigsheim  on  the  Tauber, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Franciska  Reinhart,  comes  from  Gissig- 
heim,  a  picturesque  little  village  in  the 
uplands  of  the  so-called  Taubergrund. 

Lawrence  Pfeil  was  a  baker  by  profes- 
sion, and  upon  arriving  in  Cleveland  began 
to  ply  his  trade  for  a  time;  but,  seeing  that 
ship  carpenters  were  in  greater  demand 
and  better  paid,  he  joined  their  ranks,  to 
earn  a  living  for  his  little  family.  After 
several  years  of  trials,  sickness  and  suffer- 
ing, wiiich  were  the  common  lot  of  pio- 
neers in  those  terrible  days  of  fever  and 
ague,  he,  being  assisted  by  his  saving  and 
diligent  wife,  succeeded  in  acquiring  a 
little  home  on  Pear  street  hill.  Later  on 
he  invested  his  hard-earned  savings  in  a 
more  comfortable  home  on  Chatham  street. 

Here  the  subject  of  this  sketch  spent 
his  early  youth,  watched  over  by  a  pious 
mother  who  taught  him  the  first  kuow- 
ledtre  of  God,  and  folded  his  hands  in 
childlike  prayer.  When  seven  years  of 
age,  he  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's  school  on 
Jersey  street,  then  as  now  taught  by  the 
Ciiristian  Brothers  of  Dayton,  who  enjoy 
a  wide  reputation  as  clever  teachers. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  "  sixties,"  the 
family  removed  from  Chatham  street  on  to 
a  little  farm  near  the  crossing  of  Lorain 
and  Henley  streets.  Though  the  distance 
to  the  parochial  school  was  now  three  miles, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  very  seldom 
missed  a  day,  despite  rain  and  storm,  foot- 
ing it  regularly  there  and  back,  summer 
and  winter,  and  often  through  what  now- 
a-days  would  be  called  impassible  roads. 
From  his  eleventh  year  on  he  attended  St. 
Stephen's  school,  which  was  opened  on 
Courtland  street  in  tlie  spring  of  1870. 
Here,  in  1872,  he  made  his  First  Com- 
munion under  the  guidance  and  direction 
of  a   pious  and   zealous   pastor,   the  Rev. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


969 


Casimir  Reichlin,  for  whom  he  entertains 
filial  affection  and  devotion  to  tliis  day. 
Fur,  next  to  the  grace  of  God,  it  was,  in 
great  measure,  owing  to  the  beautiful, 
priestly  life  of  this  good  man  that  he 
gradually  felt  an  earnest  desire  of  conse- 
crating himself  one  day  to  the  service  of 
God  by  entering  the  priesthood. 

Agreeably  to  his  request,  Nicholas,  with 
his  younger  brother,  was  sent  by  his  par- 
ents, in  the  fall  of  1873,  to  Cauisius  Col- 
lege, Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  under  the  able  man- 
aeement  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  where,  for 
five  years,  he  applied  liiinself  closely  to 
the  study  of  Christian  doctrine,  Latin, 
Greek,  German,  English,  French,  mathe- 
matics and  other  branches  usually  taught 
during  a  collegiate  course.  He  was  gradu- 
ated in  June,  1878,  and  the  following 
September  entered  St.  Mary's  Theological 
Seminary  on  Lake  street,  Cleveland.  Here 
he  I'emained  five  years,  studying  philosophy 
and  theology,  church  history,  exegesis, 
canon  law,  rubrics,  etc.,  in  preparation  for 
the  reception  of  Holy  Orders — the  dream 
of  his  life. 

After  so  many  years  of  patient  and 
laborious  study  he  received  minor  orders 
on  the  17th  of  March,  subdeaconship  on 
the  17th,  and  deaconship  on  the  18th  day 
of  May,  and  priesthood  on  the  1st  of  July, 
1883,  being  then  in  his  twenty-fourth  year. 
On  the  following  Sunday,  July  8,  he  cele- 
brated his  first  public  Mass  in  St.  Stephen's 
Church,  amidst  great  solemnity  and  a  vast 
outpouring  of  people,  who  had  known  him 
from  i)oyhood  days  up. 

His  first  pastoral  charge  was  St.  Patrick's 
congregation,  Hubbard,  Trumbull  county, 
where  he  remained  seven  months,  when  he 
was  transferred  to  the  pastorate  of  Holy 
Trinity  congregation,  Avon,  Lorain  county. 
It  is  now  closely  upon  ten  years  that  he 
has  directed  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
affairs  of  this  congregation,  having  arrived 
February  29,  1884. 

During  this  period  he  also  attended  St. 
Peter's  congregation.  North  Ridgeville,  for 
somewhat  over  four  years,  holding  services 


in  both  congregations  every  Sunday  and 
Holy-day.  He  is  now  solely  pastor  of 
Avon,  having  been  relieved  of  the  arduous 
work  of  the  Kidgeville  mission  by  Bishop 
Horstmann,  November  12,  1893. 

The  present  pastor  of  Trinity  Church 
loves  to  spend  his  leisure  moments  in  his 
library  among  his  books.  He  is  fond  of 
solitude  because  of  the  opportunity  it  af- 
fords him  for  reading  and  mental  improve- 
ment, but  he  also  loves  the  company  of 
his  friends,  and  highly  appreciates  a  good 
joke  when  he  hears  it.  Although  born  in 
the  city,  he  prefers  to  live  in  the  country, 
regards  with  affection  its  plain  people 
and  their  simplicity  of  life,  delights  in 
flowers  and  birds,  and  is  passionately  fond 
of  music.  His  great  pleasure,  however,  is 
to  come  to  the  relief  of  some  poor  suffer- 
ing soul,  and  is  ever  ready,  at  any  hour  of 
the  day  or  night,  to  exercise  his  priestly 
ministrations. 


T[  M.  VANTILEUPtG,  M.  D.,  a  pop- 
k.  I  ular  physician  and  surgeon  of  Lorain, 
}^)  was  born  January  19,  1849,  in  Ash- 
land county,  Ohio,  and  is  descended 
from  one  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of 
that  county. 

His  grandfather,  Daniel  Vantilburg, 
was  horn  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and 
in  1812  entered  land  in  Ashland  county, 
same  State.  He  returned  to  Jefferson 
county,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Margaret  Clinton,  and  in  1813 
settled  permanently  in  Ashland  county, 
where  he  became  a  prominent  citizen,  re- 
siding on  his  farm  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1866.  He  took  part  in  the 
war  of  1812,  serving  six  months  in  an 
Oliio  regiment.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vantilburg 
reared  a  family  of  six  children — three  sons 
and  three  daughters;  two  of  the  sons, 
John  and  Henry  (twins),  are  practicing 
physicians  in  Ashland  county.     The  Van- 


970 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tilbnrgfamilj  was  originally  from  ndland, 
and  Grandfather  Vantilbiircr  was  of  Penn- 

o 

sylvan ia-German  descent. 

Daniel  Vantilburg,  son  of  this  old 
pioneer,  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Ashland 
county  (one  mile  south  of  Ashland),  where 
lie  passed  his  entire  life.  He  was  married 
in  Jefferson  county,  this  State,  to  Miss 
Clarinda  Myers,  a  native  of  same,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  four  children  (three  yet 
living),  namely:  Margaret,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Dr.  Charles  Campbell,  of  Ashland, 
and  died  in  1879;  J.  M.,  subject  of  sketch; 
William,  residing  at  Ashland,  and  George, 
living  on  the  hofne  farm  in  Ashland 
county.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in 
1878,  in  Ashland  county,  where  his  widow 
still  resides. 

J.  M.  Vantilburg  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive countj-,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Ashland  and  in  the 
college  at  Hayesville.  In  1864  he  en- 
listed, for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
in  Company  G,  Twenty-third  O.  V.  ]., 
under  Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Captain  William 
McKinley  (afterward  Governor  McKinley). 
He  was  mustered  into  serviceat  Columbus, 
Ohio,  being  assigned  to  the  army  of  West 
Virginia,  and  participated  in  the  engage- 
ment of  Cedar  Creek  and  in  many  skir- 
mishes. He  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Cumberland,  Md.,  in  July,  1805,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Ashland  county, 
Ohio.  In  1885  he  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  and  in 
October,  1888,  came  to  Lorain,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
actively  engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession. From  1881  to  1883  the  Doctor 
resided  in  western  Texas  and  Mexico, 
assisting  for  some  time  in  the  construction 
of  the  Texas  and  Pacific  Railroad  from  Ft. 
Worth  west.  For  nine  months  he  was 
engaged  on  the  construction  of  the  Mex- 
ican Central  Railroad,  from  El  Paso  to 
Zacatecas,  and  then  located  for  a  short 
time  in  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  Mexico, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Ashland  county. 

Socially  Dr.  Vantilburg  is  a  member  of 


Q.  A.  Gillmore  Post  No.  752,  G.  A.  R., 
and  lias  been  commander  of  same  since  its 
organization  (this  post  at  the  present 
writing  has  twenty-three  members);  he  is 
also  a  member  of  Woodland  Lodge  No. 
226,  K.  of  P.,  of  Uniformed  Ratik  No. 
117  Loyal  Legion,  and  Lorain  Lodge  No. 
552,  F.  and  A.  M.  For  many  years  be 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Ohio  National 
Guards,  of  which  he  was  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. Politically  he  is  a  Rejjublican, 
and  has  served  as  member  of  the  town 
council. 


I  OHN  SAYE,  farmer  and  keeper  of 
^  I  boarding  stable,  Ridgoville  township, 
}^)  is  an  Englishman  by  birth,  born 
December  7,  1839,  in  Yoi-kshire,  a 
son  of  James  and  Ann  (Colley)  Saye,  of 
the  same  county,  where  thev  married.  In 
1850  they  came  to  the  United  States, 
crossing  the  ocean  in  six  weeks,  and  from 
their  port  of  landing  came  westward  to 
Ohio,  taking  the  Hudson  river,  Erie  Canal 
and  Lake  Erie  to  Cleveland,  thence  pro- 
ceeding by  wagon  to  their  destination — 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
they  lived  many  years;  they  died  in  Ridge- 
ville  township,  the  father  in  February, 
18S1,  the  mother  in  1871.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are 
yet  living,  viz. :  Watson,  residing  in  Ridge- 
ville  township;  Ann.  widow  of  Albert 
Adams,  of  Saginaw,  Mich.;  Harriet,  wife 
of  John  Watson,  of  Ridgeville  township; 
Mary,  wife  of  Ambrose  Snow,  of  Cali- 
fornia; John,  our  subject;  and  Hannah, 
widow  of  Joseph  Peterson,  of  Berea,  Ohio. 

John  Saye,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  wasaboy  when  he  came  with  therest 
of  the  family  to  America,  and  his  education 
was  received  partly  in  England  and  partly  in 
Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  was  also  trained  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1872  he  bought  his  present  fine  farm 
of  forty-five  acres  in  Ridgeville  township, 
and  here  he  has  since    been    successfully 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


971 


gaged  in  general  farming  and  boarding 
horses,  in  connection  witii  vvliieli  latter 
branch  of  his  business  he  iias  iiad  the  care 
of  horses  of  all  kinds,  from  various  parts 
of  the  county.  Mr.  Saye  has  been  twice 
married:  first  time  in  1863  to  Miss  Miriam 
Parker,  a  native  of  Henrietta  township, 
Lorain  county,  by  which  union  were  born 
three  children — all  daughters — viz.:  Amy, 
Ella  (wife  of  Douglas  Proudtbot;  tliey 
have  one  child,  Lester),  and  Miriam.  The 
mother  of  these  died  in  1879,  and  in  1883 
Mr.  Snye  married  Miss  Ellen  Gayton,  a 
native  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  useful,  loyal  citizens  of  his  locality. 


L( 


OREIN  EMMONS,   member  of  an 

early   pioneer  family  of  Ridgeville 

township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 

in  December,  1823,  son  of  Chauncey 

and  Charlotte  (Porter)  Emmons. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both 
natives  of  Connecticut,  the  mother  born 
August  26,  1789,  and  in  1810  they  mi- 
grated westward,  coming  with  an  ox-team 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  they  passed 
the  rest  of  their  long  lives.  They  located 
in  Ridgeville  township,  first  on  Butternut 
Ridge,  and  subsequently  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Chauncey  Emmons  took  an  active  interest 
in  the  politics  of  the  day.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Ridgeville  township,  June  24, 
1874,  his  wife  dying  September  21,  1847. 
These  pioneers  reared  a  family  of  eight 
children,  a  brief  record  of  whom  follows: 
Marilla  was  first  married  to  Newton 
Adams,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Brandy- 
burg;  they  live  in  Lansing,  Mich.  Beecher 
Porter  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  died 
in  1890.  Caroline  is  the  widow  of  Fred- 
erick Hall,  of  Olean,  N.  Y.  Susan  is  the 
widow  of  David  Brainerd,  of  Wisconsin. 
Edmond  died  in  Lorain  county.     Lorrin 


is  the  subject  of  this  biographical  memoir. 
Harlow  Chauncey  resided  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  Elyria;  his  death  occurred  in 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  Spencer  died  in  Elyria. 
Lorrin  Emmons  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive township,  and  received  bis  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Ridgeville 
Center.  He  has  made  farming  his  life 
vocation,  and  now  owns  the  old  homestead 
of  twentv-tive  acres,  to  which  he  has  added 
twenty-five  more,  making  a  fine  farm  of 
fifty  acres  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
On  March  27,  1849,  Mr.  Emmons  was 
married,  in  Ridgeville  township,  to  Miss 
Mary  Bnrrell,  daughter  of  Higby  and  Ann 
(Conrad)  Burrell,  natives  of  New  York 
State,  who  in  an  early  day  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio;  the  father  died  in  Ridgeville 
township  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  the 
mother  ma!iy  years  before.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lorria  Emmons  have  come  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Lois,  wifeof  Orrin  Herrick, 
of  Cleveland,  has  four  children;  Ada  A., 
who  married  Elson  Dye,  died  in  January, 
1893,  leaving  two  children;  Alice,  wife  of 
Howard  Knevels,  of  Elkhart,  Ind.;  and 
Arthur  L.,  married  and  living  in  Omaha, 
Neb.,  in  the  employ  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad.  Mr.  Emmons  is  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  has  been  elected 
to  the  offices  of  assessor  and  trustee  of  his 
township,  serving  in  the  latter  position 
many  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church. 


H.  SHAW,  a  leading  agriculturist 
of  Ridgeville  township,  and  a  repre- 
sentative citizen,  is  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  born  in  Bristol 
township,  Ontario  county,  in  1829,  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Charlotte  (Hale)  Shaw,  also 
natives  of  the  Empire  State. 

In  the  fall  of  1829  the  family  migrated 
to  Ohio,  making  a  settlement  in  Bath 
township.  Summit  county,  the  fourth  or 
fifth  family   to   come    into    that    locality. 


972 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Here  the  father  died  January  31,  1837, 
and  in  1839  his  widow  married  Lyman 
Doolittle,  who  died  in  Summit  county, 
Ohio.  To  Samuel  and  Charlotte  Shaw 
were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  Allen, 
who  died  young;  S.  H.,  our  subject;  Cor- 
inthia,  who  died  young;  Lorenzo,  who  mar- 
ried and  lived  in  Summit  county,  died 
about  1890;  Dency,  who  married  Walter 
Simmons,  and  moved  to  Medina  county, 
died  in  September,  1891  (he  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1890);  and  Richmond,  married, 
residing  in  Bath  township,  Summit  county. 
By  the  mother's  second  marriage  there 
were  five  children,  to  wit:  Eliza,  who 
married  William  Wylie  (they  came  to 
Ridgeville  township,  where  she  died  in 
1875);  Erwin,  who  died  young;  Lucy,  who 
died  young;  Orpha,  wife  of  Virgil  R. 
Shaw,  living  on  the  old  home;  and  Gen- 
evieve, wife  of  Virgil  E.  Shaw,  also  resid- 
ing on  the  old  homestead. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  boyhood  home,  and  was 
reared  to  farming  pursuits.  In  1851  he 
came  from  Summit  county,  Oiiio,  to  Ridge- 
ville township,  Lorain  county,  where  he 
cleared  a  farm  from  out  of  the  woods,  at  a 
time  when  wild  animals,  including  all 
kinds  of  game,  were  yet  plentiful.  He 
bought  eighteen  acres  of  land,  and  after 
improving  it  sold  out  and  moved  into  Me- 
dina county,  where  he  resided  till  1856; 
then  returned  to  Lorain  county  and  bought 
a  ten  acre  tract  of  wild  timber  land,  which 
he  cleared,  and  from  time  to  time  added  to 
till  now  he  is  the  owner  of  sixty-five  acres 
all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  has 
a  comfortable  residence,  ample  barn  and 
other  outbuildings,  and  confines  himself 
now  exclusively  to  mixed  farming,  although 
at  one  time  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  and  for  twelve  years 
followed  the  business  of  buildincr  mover. 

In  1851  Mr.  Shaw  was  married,  in  Sum- 
mit county,  to  Miss  Juliette  Wylie,  a  native 
of  Erie,  Penn.,and  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Anna  (Shaw)  Wylie,  both  of  Connecticut 


birth,  who  in  an  early  day  moved  to  Erie, 
Penn.,  and  thence  in  1839  to  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Bath  township. 
The  father  died  in  Erie  in  1838,  the  mother 
in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county,  in 
1872.  Their  family,  seven  in  number, 
were  as  follows:  Andrew,  who  has  resided 
on  his  present  farm  in  Medina  county  since 
1848;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Isaac  Warren, 
residing  in  Oklahoma;  Warren,  who  died 
young;  William, deceased  in  1887  in  Ridge- 
ville; Favian;  Jane,  who  died  young;  and 
Juliette,  Mrs.  Shaw.  To  Mr.'  and  Mrs. 
S.  H.  Shaw  were  born  seven  children,  a 
brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  Zimri, 
agent  at  Shawville,  where  he  resides,  is 
married  and  has  two  sons,  Archer  and 
Stanley;  Arthur,  agent  at  Olmsted  Falls, 
is  married  and  has  one  son,  Glenn;  Dora 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Diana,  wife 
of  Lafayette  Phillips,  residing  in  Carbon, 
Ind.,  has  one  son,  Claude;  Oscar,  married, 
resides  in  Clarksville,  Tenn.  (he  has  two 
children,  Hattie  and  Cecil);  Alfaretta,  wife 
of  Morris  Bills,  residing  at  Collins,  Ohio, 
has  two  children,  Grace  and  Stella;  Lola  is 
a  graduate  of  Elyria  High  School.  Po- 
litically our  subject  is  an  ardent  Republi- 
can, and  has  served  as  township  trustee 
and  in  other  ofHces  of  trust.  At  one  time 
there  was  in  Ridgeville  township  a  post- 
office,  Shawville,  named  for  the  family, 
which  was  changed,  however,  but  there  is 
still  a  station  on  the  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R. 
of  that  name. 


^ILLIAM    F.   ESKERT.     Among 

the  well-known  agriculturists  of 
Elyria  township  stands  prominent 
this  gentleman.  He  is  a  native 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  born  July  26,  1849,  a 
son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Abbenzeller) 
Eskert,  who  came  from  Germany  to  tlie 
United  States,  and  were  married  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  The  father,  who  was  a  rope 
maker  by  trade,  died  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-nine  years;  the  mother  is  yet  living 
in  Elyria. 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


973 


The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  received  his 
ediicHtion  in  Boston,  and  learned  tlie  trade 
of  boiler  maker,  which  he  followed  in  his 
native  city  till  186S,  in  wiiich  year  he 
came  to  Lorain  county,  and  commenced 
farming,  a  vocation  he  has  since  prospered 
in.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  County  Iiitirmary  directors  since  1890, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  he  was  trustee  of  Elyria  town- 
ship for  several  years. 

On  April  30,  1870,  Mr.  Eskert  married 
Miss  Frances  Hoadley,  daughter  of  Luther 
and  Hannah  (Smith)  Hoadley,  who  are 
among  the  oldest  pioneers  of  Lorain  county. 
One  child  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eskert:  Helen,  wife  of  Allen  E.  GrifBn,of 
Oberlin,  Ohio.  Mr.  Eskert  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 


If   If  ENRY  WARNER  was  born   Octo- 

hH     ber  17,  1801,  in  Middletown,  Mid- 

I     1|    dlesex  Co.,  Conn.     On    April    21, 

■^  1825,  he  was   united   in    marriage 

with  Miss  Elizabeth  Whitcom,  of 

Wayne    county,    N.    T.,  by  which    union 

there  were  eleven  children,  viz. :      William 

H.,  John  v.,  Esther  A.,  Maria  J.,  Malita 

A.,  Augustus  A.,  Jerome  B.,  Cyrenius  P., 

Vandalia  S.,  Irving  N.,  and  Valeria  E., 

two  of  whom  are  living,  Augustus  A.  and 

Cyrenius  P. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  moved  to 
Brownhelm,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1847, 
having  previously  purchased  the  stone 
quarry  now  owned  by  the  Worthiiigton 
Brotliers.  From  this  quarry  he  slii{)ped, 
it  is  believed,  the  first  stone  that  was 
shipped  from  Lorain  county;  this  shipment 
was  to  Canada.  Some  time  in  1854  or 
1855  he  was  associated  with  Baxter  Cloiigh 
in  the  quarry  l)usiness,  and  was  owner  of 
the  Haldeman  quarry  in  1859.  He  spent 
his  days  on  the  farm  where  he  died,  which 
is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son-in- 


law,  J.  R.  Miller,  and  located  about  one 
mile  west  of  North  Amherst  village,  on  the 
Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road. Mr.  Warner  died  January  25,  1876, 
in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His 
wife  died  August  25,  1872. 


Tfff  ENRY  FOWL,  one  of  the  represent- 

Tr^     ative   native-born   agriculturists  of 

I     11    Lorain  county,  first  opened  his  eyes 

Jj  to    the    light    of  day  in   Amherst 

township  in  1843. 

His  father,  Henry  Fowl,  came  from 
Germany  to  Ohio  when  about  eleven  years 
old,  with  his  father,  Godfrey  Fowl,  and  for 
a  year  they  had  their  residence  in  Cleve- 
land, thence  moving  to  Amherst  township, 
Lorain  county.  Here  Henry  Fowl  re- 
mained till  1864,  when  he  came  to  Elyria 
township,  settlingon  thefarm  nowoccupied 
by  our  subject.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Baker,  who  came  to  Lorain  county  when 
five  years  old,  and  they  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  Henry  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Charles  E.  is  on  a  farm  in  Elyria 
township  ;  Catherine,  the  wife  of  L. 
Haserodt,  of  Elyria,  died  March  8,  1873 
Lucy,  who  married  Conrad  Brandt,  of  Ely 
ria  township,  died  in  November,  1883 
Leonard  died  in  January,  1S92;  Lena  is 
the  wife  of  Emanuel  Eckler,  of  Elyria 
Andrew,  married,  resides  in  Elyria;  Philip 
lives  in  Carlisle  township.  The  parents 
both  died  in  1890,  of  "  la  grippe,"  the 
father  on  May  13,  the  mother  on  Septem- 
ber 22. 

Henry  Fowl  was  reared  in  Amherst 
township,  and  received  his  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  at  the 
same  time  being  trained  to  the  practical 
duties  of  farm  life.  In  1889  he  came  to 
his  present  place  in  Elyria  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  general  agriculture.     In  1870  he 


974 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Pangborn,  a  na- 
tive of  Amherst  township,  Lorain  county, 
an  adopted  daughter  of  Anson  and  Ida 
(Squires)  Pangborn,  he  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, she  of  Whitehall,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Pang- 
born came  to  Lorain  county  in  1816,  Mr. 
Pangborn  in  1827,  and  they  both  died  in 
Elyria  township  in  1880  and  1888  respect- 
ively. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fowl  have  been 
born  six  children,  as  follows:  Sydney,  Elfa 
(wife  of  E.  Den  man,  of  Elyria,  who  has 
one  child,  Ena  P.),  J.  M.,  Ida,  Leonard 
and  Urr  C.  Our  subject  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  in 
his  political  sympathies  he  is  a  strong 
Prohibitionist. 


yj 


HfENRY  A.  PLATO,  vice-president 
of  the  Savings  Deposit  Bank,  and 
dry-goods  merchant.  North  Am- 
herst, is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
Decemlier  28,  1845,  a  son  of  John 
and  Wilhelmina  (Bodmann)  Plato,  also 
natives  of  Germany. 

In  1856  they  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  to  Ohio,  making  a  stay  of  four  or  live 
months  in  Vermillion,  Erie  county;  then 
came  to  Amherst  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  they  followed  farming  alwut  three 
years,  after  which  they  moved  into  the 
village  of  North  Amherst.  Here  for 
some  eight  or  ten  years  the  father  operated 
a  livery,  assisted  by  his  sons;  also  erected 
a  grocery  store,  and  conducted  a  business 
there  till  his  retirement  from  active  life, 
at  which  time  his  sons  took  charge  of  the 
grocery.  He  died  in  December,  1890, 
aged  seventy-six  years;  his  widow  is  yet 
living,  now  sixty-nine  years  old.  Their 
family  comprised  three  sons  and  one 
daughter,  viz.:  Henry  A.,  John  E.  (part- 
ner in  business  with  Henry  A.),  Herman  J. 
and  Matilda  C,  wife  of  Joseph  Wesbecher, 
partner  in  the  hardware  business  with 
Henry  A.  and  John  E.  Henry  A.  com- 
menced   the    grocery    business    with     his 


brother,  John  E.,  in  1869,  and  continued 
therein  about  twelve  years,  or  till  1881,  in 
which  year  his  brother-in-law  (Joseph 
Wesbecher)  being  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness, our  subject  and  brother,  J.  E.,  bought 
an  interest  in  same.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Plato,  in  conjunction  with  his  partners, 
built  a  brick  block,  and  up  to  January  1, 
1892,  he  saw  to  the  interest  of  the  brothers 
in  the  hardware  branch,  which  grew  to  be 
a  thriving  concern,  while  J.  E.,  the  brother, 
attended  their  dry-goods  store;  but  being 
sickly  changed  positions  with  his  brother, 
and  went  back  to  the  dry- goods  store  on 
January  1,  1892,  at  the  same  time  retain- 
incr  his  connection  with  the  hardware  busi- 
ness.  About  two  years  ago  the  Savings 
Deposit  Bank  was  organized  in  North 
Amherst,  and  Mr.  Plato  has  ever  since 
been  vice-president  of  same.  About  four 
years  ago  he  was  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing the  North  Amherst  Furniture  Co., 
whicli  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  enter- 
prises of  the  kind  in  Northern  Ohio, 
putting  up  the  building  which  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  concern. 

In  1866  Henry  A.  Plato  and  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Hilderbrand  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  six  children  were  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Matilda,  a  clerk  in  her  father's  store; 
Albert  D.,  who  was  educated  at  Notre 
Dame,  Ind.,  and  is  connected  with  his 
father  in  the  dry-goods  business;  Wil- 
helmina, also  educated  at  Notre  Dame, 
Ind.;  Cecelia,  Louisa  and  Florence,  all  of 
whom  have  had  the  best  possible  educa- 
tional advantages.  They  are  possessed  of 
rare  musical  abilities,  and  form  within 
their  own  circle  a  talented  band.  They 
have  for  some  years  furnished  the  music 
in  the  Catholic  Church  at  Amherst,  and 
are  in  inucii  demand  at  both  public  and 
private  entertainments.  The"  Plato  Band," 
as  it  is  sometimes  called,  consists  of  two 
violins  (played  by  son  and  one  of  the 
daughters);  piano  and  cornet  (two  other 
daughters),  and  flute  (Mr.  Plato  himself). 

Mr.  Plato  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  a 
leader  of   the   party   in    his    vicinity.     Iti 


"'S-i 


>.- 


..xS^J^^^ 


LOliAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


977 


1887  be  was  elected  township  clerk,  a  po- 
sition he  still  tills.  In  1861  (then  but 
sixteen  years  of  age)  he  wished  very  ninch 
to  enlist  as  a  fifer,  but  his  father  pre- 
vented his  going  out,  being  too  young; 
however,  in  December,  1(S63,  he  enlisted, 
this  time  iu  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-eighth  O.  V.  I.,  and  served 
till  July,  i8G5,  when  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Camp  Chase,  the  war  coming  to  a 
close. 


n(  DAM  BERRES,  Jr.,  one  of  the  in- 
f|_\\  dustrious  and  progressive  farmer 
Ir^  citizens  of  Ridgeville  township,  is 
■^  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany,  l)orn 

in  1837,  a  son  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Jacobs)  Berres,  also  natives  of  the  Father- 
land. 

In  1857  the  family  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  and  settling  on  a  farm  in 
Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
the  parents  passed  tiie  rest  of  their  lives 
there,  the  father  dying  January  28,  1892, 
the  mother  in  1877.  Their  children,  nine 
in  number,  were  as  follows:  Peter,  mar- 
ried, a  resident  of  Wood  county,  Ohio; 
John,  married,  residing  in  Ridgeville 
township;  Adam,  our  subject;  Gertrude, 
wife  of  Joseph  Schneider,  of  Michigan; 
Matt,  a  farmer  of  Avon  township;  Mary, 
wife  of  Mathias  Myers,  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; Joseph,  a  farmer  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; William,  residing  in  Elyria;  and 
Casper,  who  resides  in  Ridgeville  township. 

Adam  Berres,  Jr.,  was  twenty  years  old 
when  he  came  with  the  rest  of  the  family 
to  this  country,  and  he  has  always  followed 
farming.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  an  ex- 
cellent property  of  ninety-one  acres  of 
land  all  in  an  advanced  state  of  cultivation, 
his  first  residence  thereon  being  a  log 
shanty,  which  was  superseded  by  a  house 
18  X  36,  two  stories  in  height,  with  an 
"L"  16x26,  two  stories:  there  is  also  a 
commodious  and  well-built  barn  24x32. 
In  1862  our  subject  enlisted  in  Company 


G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  O.  V.  I., 
army  of  the  Potomac,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  but  served  only  eleven 
months,  being  honorably  discharged  in 
1863  in  the  convalescent  camp  near  Alex- 
andria, Va.,and  returning  home  to  Lorain 
county,  where  he  has  since  carried  on 
general  farming.  In  1867  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Catherine  Myer,  a. native  of  Ger- 
many, and  daughter  of  Andreas  Myer, 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  ten  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  Peter,  Gertrude, 
Mathew,  Joseph,  William,  Casper,  Kate, 
Jacob,  Christiau  and  Frank.  Politically 
Mr.  Berres  is  a  Democrat.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Ridge- 
ville, and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 


JACOB    MYERS,    well  -  known    and 
highly  respected  as  a  well-to-do  farmer 
citizen  of  Lorain  county,  was  born  in 
Tompkins  county,  N.   Y.,  in  1814.  a 
son  of  Joseph  and   Mary  Snyder   Myers, 
who  were  of  Dutch  descent. 

Joseph  Myers  was  born  March  11, 1760, 
in  Xew  Jersey,  and  was  there  married  to 
Mary  Snyder,  who  was  born  iu  the  same 
State  January  27,  1770.  In  an  early  day 
they  removed  to  New  York  State,  where 
the  father  died  April  24, 1829,  the  widowed 
mother  afterward  removing  to  Ohio,  and 
dying  in  Elyria  township  in  1853.  Five 
children  were  born  to  them,  named  re- 
spectively: Margaret,  Andrew,  Catherine, 
Julia  and  Jacob.  Of  these,  the  youngest, 
who  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  subscription 
schools  of  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.  In 
the  winter  of  1833  he  came  on  foot  to 
Ohio,  first  locating  in  Carlisle  township, 
Lorain  county,  thence,  in  1834,  moving  to 
Elyria  township.  He  leiirned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  and  in  course  of  time 
became  a  contractor  and  builder,  a  business 


978 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lie  followed  for  years.  In  1835  he  boiicrht 
his  farm  in  Elyria  township,  whereon  he 
now  resides,  and  built  himself  a  modern 
comfortable  home. 

On  November  15,  1835,  Mr.  Myers  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Bur- 
rell,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and 
daughter  of  Arnold  and  Mary  (Hitchcock) 
Biirrell,  of  Vermont  birth,  who  removed 
to  New  York  State,  whence,  in  1833,  they 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  becoming 
pioneers  of  Sheffield  township,  where  they 
both  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Myers 
were  born  seven  children,  to  wit:  Andrew, 
who  died  when  eight  years  old;  Mary  L., 
wife  of  Judson  Kinney,  of  Sheffield  town- 
ship (tliey  have  three  children :  Lena,  Elmer 
and  Edith);  Lorin,  married,  living  in  Ely- 
ria; Esther,  wife  of  William  Cox,  has  two 
children — Francis  and  Lorin;  Andrew, 
living  on  a  farm,  who  is  married  and  has 
three  children — Alta,  Grace  and  Miles; 
Alonzo,  residing  at  La  Porte,  Ohio,  who  is 
married  and  has  two  cliildren — Jacob  and 
Eva;  and  Alligan,  wife  of  Charles  Cox, 
has  four  children — Lottie,  Mary,  Sumner 
and  George.  The  parents  celebrated,  in 
1885,  their  "golden  wedding,"  in  the  old 
home  where  they  had  first  settled  as  man 
and  wife,  and  Judge  Day,  who  officiated 
at  the  marriage,  was  among  those  present. 
Politically  Mr.  Myers  is  a  pronounced  Pe- 
publican,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Van- 
Buren,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
township  school  board. 


I 


DWAED  S.  FITCH,  who  for  three- 
score   years    has    been    a    resident 
J  of  Avon   township,   Lorain  county, 
where   he   has    prospered  well  as  a 
general  farmer,   is   a   native  of    Rutland, 
Vt.,  born  in  1829. 

He  is  a  son  of  Cyiis  and  Camilla  (Gar- 
rett) Fitch,  also  of  Vermont,  where  they 
were  married,  and  whence  in  1834  they 
migrated  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locating 


in  the  woods,  and  there  cleared  the  farm 
now  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
They  purchased,  at  first,  sixty  acres,  built 
a  log  house,  and  continued  to  live  there  the 
rest  of  their  days,  the  father  dying  in  1875; 
he  was  prominent  in  political  affairs,  first 
as  a  Whig,  later  as  a  Republican.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  district  where  the  latter  now 
lives,  for  the  first  six  months  of  that  oner- 
ous work  receiving  no  salary;  she  died  in 
April,  1892,  aged  eighty-four  years.  Three 
children  were  born  to  this  pioneer  couple, 
viz.:  James, deceased  when  young;  Edward 
S.,  subject  of  sketch;  and  Candace,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 

Edward  S.  Fitch,  who  is  the  only  living 
representative  of  the  family,  was  reared  on 
his  present  farm,  and  educated  at  the 
schools  of  Cuyahoga  county.  In  1856  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Barrows,  daugh- 
ter of  Adnah  and  Clarissa  (Day)  Barrows, 
and  three  children  were  the  result  of  this 
union,  namely:  (1)  Daniel,  married 
and  residing  in  Avon  township  (has  two 
children:  Scott  and  Camilla  Louise);  (2) 
Charles,  deceased  in  1878;  and  (3)  Delia, 
wife  of  Michael  Henson  (they  reside  in 
Avon  township,  and  have  one  child, 
George).  Politically  Mr.  Fitch  is  a  Re- 
publican, taking  a  lively  interest  in  the  af- 
fairs of  his  party. 


^ 


MIL  LAMPMAN,  prominent  in 
mercantile  affairs  in  Lorain  coun- 
_\  ty,  and  proprietor  of  a  general 
merchandise  store  in  the  town  of 
Lorain,  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  Avon  township  April  16,  1844. 

M.  Z.  Lampman,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York  of  Ger- 
man parents,  and  his  father,  who  was  a 
hatter  by  trade,  came  west  many  years  ago, 
dying  in  Wisconsin.  M.  Z.  Lampman  in 
early  life  came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and 
found  employment  on  the  lakes,  at  one 
time  sailing  on  the  old  steamship  "  Bun- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


979 


ker  Hill,"  long  since  passed  away.  After 
leaving  the  lakes  he  married  Elizabeth 
Churchill,  who  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
in  1820,  and  he  then  carried  on  farming 
till  1850,  in  that  year  reniovintrto  a  hotel 
at  French  Creek,  which  lie  kept  till  the 
spring  of  1853,  when  he  came  to  Lorain. 
Here  he  kept  hotel  for  some  time,  first 
in  a  building  which  stood  opposite  the 
new  "Gritlin  House;"'  lie  then  boughtthe 
place  where  the  "Griffin  House"  now 
stands,  and  in  that  hostelry  did  a  flourish- 
ing business  till  about  1872.  Mr.  Lamp- 
man  was  collector  for  the  port  of  Lorain  for 
about  twenty-one  years,  from  Buchanan's 
time,  and  he  kept  a  store  in  the  town  for 
some  twenty-five  years,  up  till  1865  or  '67. 
About  three  years  before  his  death  he 
opened  a  hotel  at  Lake  Breeze,  Lorain 
county,  and  he  also  owned  a  farm  there. 
Politically  he  was  first  a  Jackson  Demo- 
crat, and  then  a  Republican  from  the  time 
of  Buchanan.  He  died  at  Lake  Breeze  in 
1875,  aged  sixty-seven  years,  his  widow  in 
the  fall  of  1892.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity,  viz.:  C.  A.,  deceased  wife  of  E.  K. 
Porter;  M.  H.,  subject  of  sketch;  Augusta 
M.,  wife  of  Harry  Jones,  and  George,  born 
in  1847,  a  painter  by  trade,  who  was  un- 
married, and  died  in  Lorain  in  April, 
1892. 

M.  H.  Larnpnian,  whose  name  opens 
tins  sketch,  received  a  thoroughly  practi- 
cal school  training,  and  from  the  age  of 
sixteen  till  two  years  after  his  marriage 
was  engaged  as  store  clerk.  In  1869  he 
went  into  the  butchering  business  for  a 
time,  then  worked  at  carpentry,  remaining 
in  the  C.  L.  &  W.  R.  R.  shops  at  Lorain 
nine  and  one-half  years,  or  till  1887,  since 
when  he  has  been  conducting  his  present 
business,  in  which  he  has  met  with  un- 
qualified success.  In  1867  Mr.  Lampman 
married  Miss  Julia  A.  Miller,  who  was 
born  in  1842  in  Avon  township.  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Peter  Miller,  who 
is  said  to  have  been  the  hero  of  tiie  story 
related    in    the  old-time    school     primers. 


to  wit:  There  was  once  a  bear'that  chased 
a  boy  up  a  tree,  following  him  so  closely 
that  he  was  enabled  to  grab  the  boy's  foot 
in  his  mouth,  whereupon  the  latter  let  go 
his  hold  on  the  tree  and  came  topplino- 
down  to  the  ground,  bear  and  all,  but  boy 
on  top;  and  so  great  was  the  surprise  of 
Bruin,  who  was  partially  stunned,  that  lie 
was  unable  to  pursue  the  lad,  who  it  is  un- 
necessary to  add  took  to  his  heels  without 
wishing  his  bearship  any  ceremonial  adieu. 
In  his  political  predilections  Mr.  Lamp- 
man  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  and  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
K.  P.  and  K.  O.  T.  M. 


Tr^    A.  SMITH,  for  nearly  half  a  century 

Ip      an  honored    resident    of    Ridgeville 

IL^i  township,    whither    lie    came   from 

Connecticut  in  1840,  is  a  native  of 

that  State,  born  in  1823. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Sally 
(Ilotchkiss)  Smith,  also  of  the  "  Xutmeo- 
State,"  the  former  of  whom  died  there  in 
1823.  The  widowed  mother  continued  to 
reside  at  her  old  home  till  our  subject  was 
seventeen  years  old,  so  that  he  received  his 
elementary  education  at  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  of  his  place  of  birth.  In 
1840,  as  above  intimated,  the  family  came 
west  to  Ohio,  making  for  themselves  a  new 
home  in  the  wild  woods  of  Rido-eville 
township,  Lorain  county;  and  here  our  sub- 
ject labored  with  the  rest  in  clearing  away 
the  timber  and  underbrush,  and  convertino- 
the  somber  forest  into  sunny  fields.  He 
had  learned  the  trade  of  bone  and  horn  but- 
ton maker,  which  he  followed  in  Rido-e- 
ville township.  He  is  now  owner  of  fifty- 
nine  acres  of  land,  all  highly  cultivated 
and  well  improved.  In  1855  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Ridgeville  township  to  Miss  Mel- 
vina  Terrell,  a  native  of  same, and  daughter 
of  Willis  and  Sarepta  (Phelps)  Terrell,  of 
Connecticut  birth,  who  many  years  before 


980 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


marriao-e  became  settlers  of  Ridgeville 
township,  Lorain  county.  Mr.  Terrell 
came  here,  when  a  boy,  with  his  father. 
Major  Willis  Terrell,  and  clearly  remem- 
bered the  news  of  Perry's  victory  on  Lake 
Erie.  He  died  in  1881:  his  widow  is  yet 
living  in  Ridgeville  township.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Smith  one  child  has  been  born, 
named  Charles  P.,  now  married  and  re- 
siding in  Ridgeville  Center.  Politically 
our  subject  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat, 
and  has  served  his  township  as  trustee,  real- 
estate  assessor  (1870-1890)  and  treasurer. 


JB.  SHEAHAlSr,  of  North  Amherst, 
is  a  native  of  Hamilton  county,  On- 
tario, Canada,  born,  June  21,  1863,  a 
son  of  John  and  (Ann)  Fo.x  Sheahan. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Limerick,  Ireland,  and  about  the  time  of 
liis  marriage  went  to  Canada  by  way  of 
Quebec,  whence  he  and  his  wife  came 
farther  west.  About  the  year  1850  they 
came  to  the  United  States,  where  he  fol- 
lowed various  pursuits,  all  of  a  mechanical 
nature,  till  1856,  when  they  returned  to 
Canada,  and  part  of  the  time  resided  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ontario,  until  1865. 
In  that  year  they  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  locating  west  of  North  Amherst  till 
1872,  when  they  removed  to  East  Quar- 
ries, where  the  father  died  in  1876.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
The  mother  of  subject,  who  was  born  in 
Limerick,  Ireland,  November  1  (All  Saints 
Day),  1839,  is  yet  living,  a  resident  of 
North  Amherst.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  the  following  is 
a  brief  record:  Cornelius  is  foreman  in 
quarries  in  Jackson  county,  Mich.;  is 
married  and  has  one  child,  Geraldine. 
Stephen  is  in  Chicago,  yardmaster  for  the 
Chicaoro  &  Great  Western  Railroad,  oper- 
ated by  the  Chicago,  Kansas  City  &  Ne- 
braska R.  R.  Co.;  is  married  and  has  five 


children,  viz.:  Mamie,  Charley,  John, 
Annie  and  Maggie.  Maggie  is  living  at 
home.  The  fourth  in  order  of  birth  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Lizzie  and  Jere- 
miah are  still  living  at  home.  Patrick  F. 
died  in  Michigan  in  1888,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  Mamie  is  a  teacher  in  the 
parochial  school  at  North  Amherst.  Dan- 
iel died  May  24,  1893,  when  eighteen 
years  of  age. 

J.  B.  Slieahan  received  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  North  Amherst.  For 
eight  years  he  operated  a  stone  sawmill  in 
Miciiigan,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  Lorain  county,  in  March,  1893, 
and  is  now  in  business  in  North  Amherst. 
He  is  popular  in  the  town,  and  is  an  ac- 
tive member  of  and  official  in  Catholic 
Societies,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
the  C.  M.  B.  A.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. Mr.  Sheahan  was  married  Septem- 
ber 7,  1886,  and  has  two  children:  Edith, 
aged  five  years,  and  Bernard,  aged  two  years. 


*^ 


S\  T[OAH  H.  PECK,   one  of  the  prom- 

Yl     inent  representative  farmer  citizens 

1     of  Ridgeville  township,  is  a  native 

of  New  York  State,  born  in  Oswego 

county,  August  17,  1833,  a  son  of 

Harmon  and  Lydia  (Conkling)  Peck. 

Hartnon  Peck  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Noah  and  Belinda 
(Roe)  Peck,  who  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  named  as  follows:  Hiram,  Ed- 
ward, Harmon,  Lewis,  James,  Albert,  La- 
vina  G.  T.  The  father  of  these  died  in 
New  York  State;  he  was  a  farmer,  also  a 
shoemaker,  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Harmon  Peck,  who  followed  the 
same  vocations  as  his  father,  married  in 
New  York  State,  and  from  there  in  1833 
moved  to  Ohio,  via  water  to  Cleveland, 
and  thence  by  wagon  to  Lorain  county, 
where  he  bought  wild  prairie  land  in 
Pittsfield  township.    This  he  improved  and 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


981 


later  sold,  pnrcliasing  a  farm  in  Eidgeville 
township,  whither  he  tnoved  in  184^2;  he 
died  in  1870,  iiis  wife  in  1880.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  them  were  as  follows:  Noah 
H.,  James,  Harriet  (now  Mrs.  George  Biir- 
rell),  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Noah  H.  Peck,  the  subject  of  this  sketcli, 
was  an  infant  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  Lorain  coiintj',  and  he  received  his 
education  at  the  schools  of  Ridtjevilie 
township.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  have  been  his  life  work, 
and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  sixty  acres  of 

Erime  land,  all  well  improved.  In  1860 
e  was  married  to  Miss  Vesta  Blain,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Blain,  and  children  as  fol- 
lows have  been  born  to  them:  Edith  (now 
Mrs.  Joseph  Cutler,  of  Eidgeville  town- 
ship), Ida,  Ella  (deceased),  Lydia  (wife  of 
Albert  Hoftizer).  Ernest  (in  Cleveland), 
Eddie  and  Lora,  at  home.  Mr.  Peck  is 
independent  in  liis  political  sympathies, 
and  in  matters  of  religiou  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Disciple  Church. 


ri(     D.  JOY,  a  prominent  progressive 
|/\\    agriculturist  of    Carlisle  township, 
ir\\  engaged  also  in   housemoving,   is  a 
■fj  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born  in 

Aurora,  Portage  county,  March  22, 
1836,  a  son  of  Nehemiah  and  Elizabeth 
(Frost)  Joy,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  in  1811.  He  came  in 
1831  to  Parkman,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married  in  1834-  toEli-iabeth 
Frost,  a  native  of  Vergenne.s,  Yt.,  who 
came  with  her  parents  to  Portage  county. 
In  1837  Nehemiah  Joy  came  with  his 
family  to  Lorain  county,  making  a  settle- 
ment in  Carlisle  township,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  till  1871,  at  which  time  he 
moved  to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  where  he  died 
in  1883;  his  wife  had  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  in  Carlisle  townshij),  Lorain  county, 
in  1882.  They  reared  a  family  of  three 
children,  viz.:   A.  D. ;    Marcia   M.,  wife  of 


Rev.  William  King,  a  minister  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  now  in  Michigan;  and 
Orlando  F.,  married,  and  residing  in  Car- 
lisle townsliip. 

Noah  and  Marcia  (William-^)  Joy,  pa- 
ternal grandparents  of  our  subject,  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts,  whence  they  came 
to  Elyria,  Ohio,  in  1837.  He  was  a  mill- 
wright by  trade,  and  in  1849  went  to  Wal- 
worth county.  Wis.,  where  his  wife  died 
the  following  year;  later  he  returned  to 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  where  he  passed  the 
rest  of  his  days.  Levi  and  Elizabeth 
(Slocnm)  Frost,  maternal  grandparents  of 
our  subject,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and 
in  about  1831  came  to  Portage  county, 
Ohio;  subsequently  they  moved  to  St. 
Charles,  111.,  where  they  both  died;  he  had 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

A.  D.  Joy,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
schools  of  Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county. 
For  a  trade  he  learned  carpentry,  which  he 
worked  at  for  some  time;  for  about  seven 
years  he  was  railroading,  from  1852  to 
1858,  commencing  as  brakeman  on  the 
Cleveland  &  Nor  walk  Railroad;  then  went 
west,  and  was  employed  on  the  Illinois 
Central,  after  which  he  was  on  the  St.  Paul 
&  Fond  du  Lac  Railway,  as  lireuian.  and 
later  as  engineer  on  the  Racine  &  Missis- 
sippi  Railway.  In  1858  he  returned  to 
Lorain  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  carpentry,  and  since  1863  has  done 
a  considerable  amount  of  business  in  house- 
moving.  He  owns  a  farm  of  fiftv-one  and 
a  half  acres,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, ami  has  accumulated  w^liat  he  owtis  by 
his  unaided  efforts,  sound  judgment  and 
judicious  economy. 

Mr.  Joy  has  been  thrice  married,  first 
time  in  1858  to  Miss  Groveline  C.  Thorpe, 
a  native  of  Carlisle  township,  daughter  of 
Abel  M.  and  Emily  (Squires)  Thorpe, 
early  pioneers  of  that  township,  both  of 
whom  are  yet  livin;?.  To  this  union  were 
born  three  sons:  Elba,  married,  and  resid- 
ing in  Elyria;  William,  married,  and  liv- 
ing in  Denver,  Colo.;  and  Frank,  married. 


982 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


manager  of  tlie  Denver  (Colo.)  College. 
The  mother  of  these  departed  this  life  May 
4,  1865,  and  in  1874  Mr.  Joy  married 
Miss  Charlotte  Saylor,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, daughter  of  David  and  Margaret 
Saylor,  who  were  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 
and  came  to  America,  settling  in  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they 
l)oth  died.  Tlie  children  by  tiiis  marriage, 
six  in  number,  are  named  as  follows:  Ida, 
Charles,  Alice,  Edwin,  Edith  and  Amy. 
Mrs.  Charlotte  (Saylor)  Joy  died  April  14, 
1887,  and  on  September  25,  1887,  Mr. 
Joy  married,  for  his  present  wife,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Pember.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat. 


IM 


ATHIAS  MYEES,  one  of  the 
leading  native-born  residents  of 
Ridgeville  township,  of  which  he 
is  a  trustee,  tirst  saw  the  light  in 
1848. 
His  father,  Mathias  Myers,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Coblentz,  Germany,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Dehn,  of  the  same  place, 
and  they  then  set  sail  from  Antwerp  for 
the  United  States.  After  a  voyage  of 
seventy-two  days  they  landed  in  New 
York,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship in  1847,  the  place  being  at  that  time 
wild  woodlands.  Here  they  opened  up  a 
farm  of  six  acres,  clearing  and  improving 
it  until  it  became  one  of  the  best  in  the 
county.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mathias;  Philip,  a  car- 
penter of  Elyria;  Peter,  married,  residing 
in  Ridgeville  township;  Emma,  wife  of 
M.  Pitts,  Jr.,  residing  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; Joseph,  married,  also  in  Ridgeville 
township;  Maggie,  wife  of  Joseph  Blazer, 
of  Dover,  Cuyahoga  county;  Adam,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  his  death  re- 
sulting from  the  kick  of  a  horse;  Clara, 
deceased  when  three  or  four  years  old; 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Tiie  father 
was  called  from  earth  in  March,  1893 ;  the 
mother  is  yet  living. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  French  Creek,  and  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  commenced  working  by  the 
month,  since  when  he  has  continued  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  successfully  conduct- 
ing the  homestead  farm,  which  has  been 
added  to  till  now  it  comprises  fifty-three 
acres.  In  1874  he  married,  in  Elyria, 
Lorain  county.  Miss  Mary  Berres,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Mary  Berres,  who  about  the  year  1858 
immigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Ridge- 
ville township,  Loraiy  Co.,  Ohio.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  two  children — John 
Matthew  and  Amelia.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Myers  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  at  Ridgeville,  of  which  he  is 
treasurer;  politically  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  is  now  serving,  in  a  Republican  town- 
ship, his  second  term  as  trustee  of  same. 


E'  NORTON,  a  representative  farmer 
of  Amherst  township,  is  a  native  of 
I  Connecticut,  born  in  1810  to  Sey- 
mour and  Anna  (Clark")  Norton. 
The  parents  were  also  natives  oi  the  Nut- 
meg State,  and  in  1813  moved  to  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y..  where  the  father  ftdlowed 
farming,  and  died  at  the  advanced  acre  of 
ninety  years;  his  wife  passed  away  aged 
seventy-eight.  Seymour  Norton  was 
drafted  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  father 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
received  his  education  at  the  schools  of 
the  vicinity.  In  1833  he  came  to  Lorain 
county,  and  niade  his  iiome  for  a  time  in 
Elyria.  For  some  years  he  lived  in  the 
South,  and  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  was 
foreman  of  a  large  foundry  about  three 
years;  then,  in  1848,  started  one  in  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.  He  is  the  inventor  of  various 
kinds  of  cotton  machines.  He  also  traded 
in  coal,  having  shipped  the  first  coal  from 
East   Tennessee    to    Chattanooga  by   flat- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


983 


boats,  and  was  tlie  first  to  make  coke  in 
Tennessee.  From  the  South  lie  went  to 
New  York,  and  thence  in  18()0  came  ao-ain 
to  Lorain  county,  and  in  1803  took  up 
and  iniproved  the  farm  whereon  lie  now 
resides,  in  Amherst  township,  a  fine  piece 
of  property  of  one  hundred  acres,  all  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation. 

In  1856  Mr.  Norton  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Adaline  Matthews,  of  At- 
tica, N.  Y.,  and  to  this  union  four  children 
have  lieen  horn,  as  follows:  Grove,  a  real- 
estate  agent,  who  is  a  resident  of  Utah; 
Charles  E.,  in  the  real-estate  business  at 
Los  Angeles,  CaL;  Eliiora,  wife  of  George 
Snyder,  of  Lorain,  and  Seymour,  at 
home.  Mrs.  Norton  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Norton,  in  his  po- 
litical predilections,  is  a  straight  Democrat. 


rRED  WISE,    a    leading    and     well- 
known    general    farmer    and    stock 
^       breeder,    of    Eaton  township,    is   a 
native    of    Germany,    born    in    the 
Duchy  of  Baden  in  1851,  son  of  Peter  and 
Louisa  (Miller)  Wise,  also  of  Baden. 

The  parents  of  sniiject  immigrated  to  tlie 
United  States  about  1854,  and  coniino;  to 
Ohio  made  their  home  in  Medina  county 
four  years;  then  moving  to  Grafton  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  active  lives  in  farm  work, 
the  father  dying  in  1888,  the  mother  pass- 
ing away  in  Grafton  township  in  1882. 
The  record  of  their  family  of  children, 
nine  in  number,  is  in  part  as  follows: 
Recka  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Clinet,  of 
Grafton;  Louisa,  who  married  John  Kline, 
died  about  1873  in  Cuyahoga  county; 
Henry  (married)  lives  in  Grafton  town- 
ship; Louis  (niarried)  is  a  farmer  of  Graf- 
ton township;  Fred  is  the  subject  of  sketch  ; 
Chris  (niarried)  resides  in  Illinois; 
llannali  resides  in  Grafton;  Katie  is  the 
wife  of  William  Law,  of  Liverpool  town- 
ship, Medina  county;  Jacob  (unmarried) 
resides  at  Grafton. 


The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  two  and 
a  half  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Ohio, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  schools 
of  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county,  gain- 
ing as  well  a  thorough  insight  into  the 
arduous  duties  of  farming,  which  he  has 
made  his  life  vocation.  In  1884  he  moved 
to  Eaton  township,  and  here  bought  of 
W.  H.  Rowe  the  farm  he  now  owns,  com- 
prising some  ninety-two  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  he  improved  and  subsequently 
added  to  until  he  now  owns  one  hundred 
acres  of  prime  land,  all  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  He  is  proprietor  of  the 
full  registered  Belgian  stallion,  "Gen. 
Chanzy,"  imported  by  Douglas  &  Howell. 

In  1873  Mr.  Wise  was  married  in  Graf- 
ton township,  Lorain  county,  to  Sarah 
Goodman,  a  native  of  Gi-afton,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Jacol)  and  Mary  (Eiiga)  Goodman, 
early  settlers  of  Grafton  township,  both 
now  deceased,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Seneca  Falls,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1818.  By  this  union  there  are  four 
children:  Nellie,  Charles,  Burt  and  Ella. 
Our  subject  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
politics,  invariably  voting  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket;  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
of  Leonard  Tent  No.  31,  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  in  which  he  has  held  ofiBce. 


d I  AMES  M.  JAY^COX,  a  well-known 
fruit  grower  of  Avon  township,  is  a 
^1   native  of  same,  born  in  1849,  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Madison)  Jaycox, 
both   of  whom    were   born    in   New    York 
State. 

George  Jaycox,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  in  his  native  State  up  to  the  age 
of  fifteen  years,  and  in  1828  migrated 
west  with  his  parents,  Samuel  and  Sarah 
Jaycox,  who  were  also  natives  of  New 
York.  They  settled  in  an  early  day  in 
Avon  townshij),  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
they  pas.sed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
George  Jaycox  al  o  took  up  a  farm  in  the 


984 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


woods  of  Avon  township,  where  he  be- 
came a  prominent  citizen.  He  was  a  life- 
long Kepublican,  an  active  member  of  the 
party,  and  lield  various  township  otiices. 
He  died  in  1873,  his  wife  surviving  him 
three  or  four  years.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  viz.:  Charles,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Jane,  wife 
of  J.  Bnre,  or  Avon  township,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war;  Eliza,  wife  of  O. 
Moore,  of  Avon  township,  who  also  served 
in  the  Civil  war;  James  M.;  Emily,  wife 
of  J.  Ketcham,  residing  in  Lorain;  Alice, 
wife  of  H.  G.  Brown,  of  Lorain;  Anson, 
married,  who  makes  his  home  in  Dover 
township,  Cuyahoga  county;  Henry,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lorain;  Minnie,  wife  of  J.  Brown, 
of  Lorain;  and  William,  living  in  Avon 
township. 

James  M.  Jaycox  was  brought  up  on 
the  home  farm  in  Avon  township,  in  the 
common  schools  of  which  place  he  received 
his  education,  and  later  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business  in  Lorain.  He  now  gives 
liis  attention  to  the  culture,  as  well  as  the 
buying  and  selling,  of  grapes,  and  since 
embarking  in  this  business  has  handled 
over  400,000  baskets  of  that  fruit.  Since 
1880  he  has  resided  on  his  present  farm 
in  Avon  township,  where  he  has  eight 
acres  devoted  to  grapes,  and  he  also  raises 
other  fruit;  he  is  the  owner  of  forty-one 
acres  of  land  in  Avon  township.  In  1879 
Mr.  Jaycox  was  married,  in  Elyria,  to 
Miss  Ida  L.  Hilliard,  a  native  of  Wiscon- 
sin, daughter  of  Joseph  W.  Hilliard,  who 
w-as  a  blacksmith,  and  an  early  settler  of 
Avon  township,  whence  be  subsequently 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  died.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaycox  have  been  born  three 
children,  namely:  Ethel,  Lora  and  Frances. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  held  the 
position  of  postmaster  at  Avon  Lake  for 
seven  3'ears.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Avon  Tent  No.  1,  K.  O.  T.  M.,  French 
Creek.  He  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Lorain  County  Grape-growers  Ship- 
ping Association,  which  organization  has 


a  membership  of  125,  and  in  1893  shipped 
150  carload.s  of  grapes  from  Avon  Station. 
Our  subject  and  wife  are  both  active 
workers  in  all  religious  movements;  Mrs. 
Jaycox  is  an  ardent  worker  in  the  temper- 
ance cause,  and  is  president  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  of  Avon  Lake.  They  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  Mr. 
Jaycox  holds  the  offices  of  steward  and  trus- 
tee, and  he  has  served  as  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath-school  for  many  years. 


fjOHN  E.  PLATO,  of  the  hardware 
V  li  firm  of  J.  Wesbecher  &  Co.,  in  North 
}^)  Amherst,  was  born  in  tlie  Kingdom 
of  Hanover  November  11,  1848,  a 
son  of  John  and  Wilhelmina  (Bodinann) 
Plato,  also  natives  of  Hanover. 

The  family  came  to  America  in  1857, 
and  after  landing  proceeded  westward  to 
Ohio,  locating  iirst  at  Vermillion,  Erie 
county,  later  settling  permanently  in  North 
Amherst.  The  father  was  a  professional 
musician,  in  his  native  land,  but  in  this 
country  he  conducted  a  livery  business. 
He  died  December  5,  1890,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years;  his  widow,  now  in  her 
seventy-sixth  year,  is  living  with  her  son 
John  E.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth,  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  parochial  schools  of  New  York, 
his  attendance  there  covering  some  four 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  North 
Amherst  and  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. Later  he  commenced  in  the  grocery 
and  dry-goods  business,  and  for  the  past 
ten  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Plato  Bros.,  in  that  line;  also  one  of  the 
firm  of  J.  Wesbecher  &  Co.,  in  hardware, 
at  North  Amherst,  und  connected  with  the 
North  Amherst  Furniture  Co.  Of  all 
these  interests  Mr.  Plato  now  gives  his 
sole  attention  to  the   hardware   business. 


^^'^2-'  ^^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


987 


The  firm  carry  a  full  and  complete  line  of 
shelf  and  heavy  goods.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Savings  Deposit  Bank  of 
North  Amherst. 

On  November  29,  1877,  Mr.  Plato  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lena  Menz, 
who  was  born  at  North  Amherst,  Ohio, 
July  26,  1856,  a  daughter  of  John  Peter 
and  Matilde  Menz,  natives  of  Bavaria, 
Germany,  who  came  to  America  May  2, 
1853.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plato  have  been 
born  five  children,  namely:  Leonora, 
Agatha,  John,  Henry  and  Kntli.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Plato  are  stanch  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  influential  pillars 
thereof.  In  politics  he  has  always  bee!i  a 
Democrat,  and  is  active  in  municipal 
affairs. 

Mr.  Plato  has  for  years  been  one  of  the 
leadino;  business  men  of  North  Amherst, 
and  is  progressive  and  public-spirited. 


THOMAS  FOX,  an  enterprising  and 
wide-awake  farmer  of  Sheffield  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  County  Roscom- 
mon, Ireland,  born  in  1883,  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (Dowd)  Fox, 
farmers  in  that  county,  where  they  both 
died.  They  reared  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio — Thomas  and  John,  the  latter  of 
whom  arrived  in  about  18-1:6,  settling  in 
Sheffield  township,  where  he  cleared  a  farm 
and  passed  the  rest  of  his  days. 

Thomas  Fox  came  from  his  native  Ire- 
land to  Lorain  county  in  1854,  and  worked 
by  the  month  for  some  time.  In  1858  he 
bought  thirty-five  acres  of  land  in  Shef- 
field township,  to  which  he  has  added  from 
time  to  time  till  he  now  owns  sixty-six 
acres  of  highly  improved  land.  The  old 
\o^  cabin  in  which  he  and  his  wife  first 
lived  has  given  place  to  a  comfortai)le  two- 
story  house,  18  X  28,  with  an  "  L  "  14  x  24, 
equipped  with  a  good  barn  and  outhouses, 
and  all  modern  improvements. 


In  1858  Mr.  Fox  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Coughlin,  and  two  children — 
Anna  and  Katie — have  been  born  to  them. 
The  mother  was  called  from  earth  March 
14,  1889.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church. 


T'  J.  SQUIRES,  a  representative  agri- 
culturist of  Carlisle  township,  is  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  born  in 
1885  in  Elyria  township. 

He  is  a  son  of  Amasa  and  Jerusha 
(Carter)  Squires,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  New  York  State,  the  latter  of 
Vermont.  In  early  maidiood  Amasa  Squires 
came  westward  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
during  pioneer  days,  and  here  followed 
farming  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying 
at  the  age  of  seventy  eight  years.  Mrs. 
Squires  died  in  Lorain  county  when  aged 
fifty-five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Jegertha,  de- 
ceased when  sixteen  years  old;  Grazelda, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  T.  J., 
subject  of  this  memoir;  Fitzgerald,  who 
was  shot  during  the  Civil  war;  Amasa, 
who  died  on  Johnson's  Island;  Marcella, 
married  to  Thomas  Sherwood;  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  The  father  of  this  family 
was  an  active  politician,  and  was  an  ardent 
member  of  the  Democratic  party. 

T.  J.  Squires  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  to  the  manifold  duties  of  agricultural 
life,  in  the  meantime  receiving  an  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  district. 
When  twenty-three  years  old  he  went  to 
Nebraska,  thence  to  Colorado,  remaining 
in  the  West  eight  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  engaged  in  mining,  and  also 
in  cattle  dealing  and  droving,  crossing  the 
plains  twelve  times  with  stock.  Mr.  Squires 
was  united  in  marriage,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three,  with  Miss  Perscis  Farr,  a  native  of 
Carlisle  township,  and  they  have  five  chil- 


si 


988 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


dren,  namely:  Arthur,  Eubie,  Orlin,  Greta 
an(i  Elvvin.  Since  liis  return  to  Lorain 
county  our  subject  has  been  engaged  in 
general  agriculture,  and  is  now  owner  of  a 
well-improved  farm  of  163  acres.  In  his 
political  affiliations  he  is  a  stanch  member 
of  the  Democratic  party. 


ff  RS.  PHEBE  L.  FAKR,  who  has 
been  a  resident  of  Lorain  county 
||  for  the  past  three-quarters  of  a 
century,  and  has  been  an  eye- 
witness to  its  full  development, 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice  in  the 
pa^es  of  this  volume. 

She  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
in  1812  in  the  town  of  Ovid,  a  daugliter 
of  Henry  and  Eliza  (Glazier)  Halford,  who 
were  married  in  New  York  State.  In 
1817  the  family  set  out  with  a  team  on  a 
journey  to  the  then  "Far  West,"  arriving 
in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  in  February,  1818, 
and  settling  in  what  is  now  Carlisle  town- 
ship, where  they  followed  agriculture.  The 
father  died  in  Carlisle  townsliip  in  1859, 
the  mother  in  1862,  in  her  eightieth  year. 
To  Henry  and  Eliza  Halford  were  born 
nine  children,  as  follows:  ReuV)en,  married, 
died  in  Lorain  county  in  1858;  Phehe  L. 
is  the  subject  proper  of  this  memoir; 
Henry  S.  was  married  in  Lorain  county, 
and  died  in  Michigan  in  1892;  Jeremiah, 
a  widower,  resides  in  Eaton  township; 
Louisa  and  Laura  are  both  deceased; 
Humphrey  served  in  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  died  from  the  effects  of  a 
wound;  Rebecca  is  deceased,  and  Lorenzo 
died  young.  Grandfather  Edwin  Halford 
was  a  native  of  England,  whence  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  New  York.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  both  the  Revolution  and 
the  French  and  Indian  war. 

Phebe  L.  Halford  was  about  six  years 
old  when  she  came  to  Lorain  county  with 
her   parents,  and   she   was  educated  at  the 


schools  of  the  locality.  In  1832  she  was 
married,  in  Carlisle  township,  to  Lowell 
Farr,  son  of  Abel  and  Polly  (Smith)  Farr, 
all  natives  of  Vermont,  who  in  1S17  came 
to  Lorain  county,  where  they  passed  from 
earth,  Mrs.  Farr's  husband  in  1861.  Our 
subject  is  the  mother  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Eliza  is  the  widow  of  William  Pember,  of 
Eaton,  Lorain  county,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren: Odelpha  and  William;  Rosalie  is 
the  wife  of  Elias  Disbro,  of  Michigan,  and 
they  have  six  children:  Minerva,  Phebe, 
Emma,  Ellsworth,  Euba  and  John;  Han- 
nah is  the  widow  of  George  Seeley,  and 
has  four  children:  Esther,  Lemuel,  Eliza 
and  Frank;  Perscis  is  the  wife  of  T.  J. 
Squires,  of  Carlisle  township;  Lowell, 
married,  resides  in  Pittstield  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  and  has  three  children:  Cora, 
William  and  George;  Ephraini  is  married, 
lives  in  Michigan,  and  has  tive  children: 
Eddie,  Emma,  Florence,  Lena  and  Hazel; 
Lauren  is  married  to  Hermina  Drusen- 
dohl,  and  they  have  four  children:  Edna, 
Earl,  Herscliel  and  Ruby  (they  all  reside 
at  the  old  home);  Phebo  was  married  to 
Lafayette  Dumas,  and  died  in  1871; 
Laura  died  in  childhood;  Bird  is  married, 
has  two  children — Ethel  and  Phebe — and 
lives  in  Amherst  township,  Lorain  county. 


CHESTER  A.  PRESTON,  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Carlisle  township,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  York  town- 
ship, Medina  county,  in  1840. 
Adolphus  Preston,  father  of  subject,  of 
Connecticut  birth,  married,  in  New  York 
State,  Miss  Charlotte  Shaw,  a  native  of 
same,  and  in  an  early  day  they  came  to 
Ohio.  For  a  time  they  resided  in  Me- 
dina county,  in  1847  moving  to  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  county,  later  locating  in 
LaGrange  township  and  finally  in  Carlisle, 
where  they  died,  the  father  in  1878,  the 
mother  in  1874.     He  served  in  the  war  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


989 


1812  ill  a  battery  of  artillery.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  iiainely:  Eliza, 
who  riiMrried  Josluia  Wilbur,  and  died  in 
1856  in  Medina  county;  Emily,  who  died 
in  Medina  county  in  1843;  Horace,  who 
died  in  1852  in  Grafton  township,  Lorain 
county;  and  Chester  A.,  subject  of  this- 
sketch.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Kevolulionary 
war,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British  and 
conveyed  to  Van  Dieman's  land;  after  the 
war  he  was  released  and  sent  home,  and 
died  in  Kew  York  State. 

Chester  A.  Preston  received  a  good 
practical  school  training  in  the  educational 
institutions  of  the  vicinity  of  his  boyhood 
home,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  have  been  his  life  work.  He 
now  owns  a  good  farm  of  eighty-two  acres 
in  Carlisle  township.  In  1865  he  was 
jnarried,  in  LaGrange  township,  to  Miss 
Mary  Goodman,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  State,  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Betsy  (Leversee)  Goodman,  of  New  York, 
who  came  to  Ohio  in  1852,  settling  in 
Grafton  village,  Lorain  county,  where  the 
father  died  in  March,  .1866,  the  mother 
some  years  before.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pres- 
ton have  been  born  three  children:  Mary, 
Bertie  and  Grace.  In  his  political  sym- 
pathies our  subject  is  a  Republican.  Mrs. 
Preston  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Church. 


CA.  REAMER,  general  merchant, 
and  one  of  the  most  energetic  and 
^^  enterprising  citizens  of  North  Am- 
herst, is  a  native  of  Huron  county, 
Ohio,  born  near  Norwalk  September  16, 
1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Anthony  and  Mary 
(Eisenbeis)  Reamer,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Peru  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio.  He  was  a  merchant  in  Norwalk  for 
some  si.xteen  years,  then  in  Monroeville, 
same  county,  eighteen  or  twenty  years, 
from  which  place  he  moved  to  Toledo, 
where  he  now  lives. 


The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  the 
greater  part  of  his  education  in  Monroe- 
ville, after  which  he  lived  in  Tiffin,  Ohio, 
for  two  years.  In  1884  he  came  to  North 
Amherst,  worked  si.\  months  at  the  dry- 
goods  business,  and  then  entered  into  a 
partnership  with  Plato  Bros.,  in  mercan- 
tile business,  which  continued  three  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  commenced 
for  his  own  account  in  North  Amherst. 
In  1889  he  put  up  his  present  brick  build- 
ing, and  in  1891  added  thirty-four  feet  to 
it,  the  dimensions  at  present  being  30  x  90 
feet,  two  stories  in  height,  while  his  stock 
in  trade  consists  of  dry  goods,  carpets,  cur- 
tains, wall-paper,  boots  and  shoes,  etc. 
Five  clerks  do  the  selling  for  this  large 
concern.  Mr.  Reamer,  himself,  speaks 
German  as  well  as  English. 

On  April  28,  1885,  C.  A.  Reamer  and 
Miss  Maggie  Weisenberger  were  united  in 
marriage,  and  the  following  named  four 
children  were  born  to  them:  Esther,  Leona, 
Norbert  and  Victor.  In  politics  our  sub- 
ject is  independent,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  active  in  all 
public  afFai7-8,  and  wields  much  influence 
in  the  community. 


fr^  EORGE  WICKENS,  funeral  director 
I  w.  and  furniture  dealer,  Lorain,  and 
\LJi  president  of  the  Funeral  Directors 
1^  Association  of  Ohio,  was  born  July 
19,  1852,  in  the  south  of  England. 
At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  commenced 
working  in  a  furniture  store,  learning  the 
trade  of  cabinet  maker  and  joiner,  and 
fully  completing  his  apprenticeship  when 
about  nineteen  years  old.  At  that  time 
(1871)  he  came  to  America,  and  for  a  time 
sojourned  in  St.  Catherines,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, whence  in  1878  he  came  to  Lorain, 
Ohio,  making  here  a  permanent  settle- 
ment. He  first  engaged  in  carpenter  work 
— contracting  and  building — which  he  car- 
ried  on   till   1883,  in  which  year  he  em- 


990 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


barked  in  his  present  undertaking  and  fur- 
niture business  in  Bowens  Hall.  He  then, 
in  order  to  further  qualify  himself  for  the 
profession  of  funeral  director,  attended 
lectures  at  the  Einbaluiincr  College,  Cleve- 
land,  Ohio,  and  at  Clark's  School  of  Em- 
balming, from  which  he  graduated  in 
August,  1888.  He  had  also  become,  in 
1886,  a  member  of  the  Funeral  Directors 
Association  of  Ohio,  and  at  the  meeting 
of  June  2,  1892,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  was 
elected  its  president.  In  1891  he  erected 
on  Broadway,  Lorain,  a  brick  building, 
B6xllJ-,  three  stories  high  with  basement, 
two  floors  of  which  are  occupied  with  his 
business,  the  upper  floor,  which  is  a  hall, 
being  rented  by  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

In  1875  Mr.  Wickens  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Celia  E.  Chapman, 
and  they  had  one  child,  George  B.  This 
wife  dying  in  1876,  our  subject  married, 
in  England,  in  1877,  for  his  second  wife, 
Miss  Mary  A.  Colly,  and  three  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  viz.:  William  A., 
Elizaljeth  M.  and  Edward  M.  In  politics 
Mr.  Wickens  is  a  Republican,  and  for  many 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  and  local 
preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  the  Sun- 
day-school of  which  he  has  been  superin- 
tendent for  many  years.  He  has  visited 
liis  native  land  many  times,  on  one  occa- 
sion remaining  there  four  years.  Mr. 
Wickens  is  a  representative  self-made  man, 
one  who  from  absolutely  nothing  has,  by 
intelligence,  energy,  business  acumen  and 
unquestionable  probity,  worked  his  way 
from  the  bottom  rung  of  tlie  ladder  to 
prosperity  and  comparative  aftiueiice.  He 
is  now  a  leader  in  both  branches  of  his 
business,  in  northern  Ohio,  and  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  en- 
tire State.  "  In  all  local  matters,  he  is 
always  to  be  found  on  the  right  side,  aiming 
constantly  to  build  up  and  improve  the  in- 
terests of  his  fellows  and  the  city  in  which 
he  lives.  In  addition  to  his  many  duties  in 
connection  with  several  Fraternal  organiza- 
tions, he  is  faithful  in  thedischarge  of  the  re- 
sponsibilities which  come  to   him   as  a  di- 


rector in  the  Lorain  Savings  and  Banking 
Co.,  and  also  of  the  Citizens  Home  and 
Loan  Association  of  Lorain.  In  all  things 
Mr.  AVickens  has  endeavored  to  exemplify 
all  that  is  contained  in  onesentence,  namely : 
An  industrious  Christian  gentleman." 


fff/ENIlY  BICKEL,  a  prominent,  well- 
f^H     to-do  agriculturist  of  Black  Kiver 
I     1     township,  was.  born  on   his  present 
yj  farm  March  27.  1844. 

He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Eliza- 
beth (Wetzel)  Bickel,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many to  Ohio  at  an  early  day  where  the 
father  worked  for  a  time  on  the  Maumee 
Canal  and  at  other  employment.  They  then 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Black  River  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  they  passed  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  When  they  came  here  Indians 
and  wild  animals  roamed  the  forest,  and 
the  country  was  a  comparative  wilderness. 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years  and  eleven  months;  the  mother  is  yet 
living,  now  aged  seventy-one  years.  Of 
their  children  our  subject  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor. 

Henry  Bickel  received  his  education  in 
the  public  and  district  schools,  and  when  a 
youth,  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
was  drafted  into  the  array,  but  had  not 
proceeded  toward  the  seat  of  hostilities 
farther  than  Cleveland,  when  he  secured  a 
substitute,  and  returned  home.  On  March 
22,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Sophia  C.  Hilde- 
brand,  who  was  born  in  Black  River  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  March  16,  1846,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza  (Appe- 
mann)  Hildebrand,  natives  of  Germany. 
Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bickel,  viz.:  Frances  E.  (wife  of 
George  Horn,  car  inspector  for  the  C.  L. 
&  W.  R.  R.  Co.),  Emma  E.,  Charley  F., 
George  M.,  Reuben  E.  and  Ai'tluir  H. 
Mr.  Bickel  iu  his  political  predilections  is 
a  Democrat,  and  he   is   a   member   of   the 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


991 


Evangelical  Church.  He  has  been  town- 
ship trustee  for  three  years,  and  school  di- 
rector, twenty-two.  His  tine  farm  of  123 
acres  gives  evidence  of  the  care,  thrift  and 
sound  judgment  of  the  owner,  who  Justly 
enjoys  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his 
neighbors. 


GYRUS  L.  WHITTLESEY, of  Brown- 
helm  township,  is  a  native  of  same, 
having  been  born  on  his  present 
farm  August  8,  1831.  He  is  a  son 
of  Solomon  and  Sarah  (Sherman)  Whit- 
tlesey, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Stockhridge,  Mass.,  April  30,  1786,  the  lat- 
ter in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  March  23, 1796. 
Solomon  Whittlesey,  father  of  subject, 
was  twice  married,  first  time  in  1811  to 
Miss  0.  Kirby,  who  was  born  in  1784, 
They  came  to  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  settled  on  the  farm  on 
which  tliey  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  By  this  marriage  there  were  four 
children,  viz.:  Mary,  born  February  6, 
1812,  now  the  widow  of  Rev.  L.  D.  Butts, 
and  residing  in  Erie,  Penii.;  Edmund, 
born  June  17,  1814,  married  and  residing 
in  Winnebago  county.  111.;  Eliphalet,  born 
April  7,  1816,  married  and  residing  in 
Calhoun  county,  Iowa;  and  Calista,  born 
May  29,  1819,  deceased  wife  of  H.  Wood- 
ruff. The  mother  of  this  family  died  in 
1823,  and  in  1824  Mr.  Whittlesey  married 
Miss  Sarah  Sherman.  Solomon  Whittlesey 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  re- 
ceived bounty  land.  In  an  early  day  he 
worked  in  an  ashery  in  Lorain  county,  and 
he  was  a  noted  hunter.  In  politics  he  was 
originally  an  Abolitionist,  but  in  his  later 
years  lie  voted  the  straight  Republican 
ticket.  Among  other  public  offices  he  held 
the  position  of  township  trustee.  He  died 
February  22,  1871;  his  widow  was  called 
from  earth  in  1873.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  David,  born 
September  15,  1825,  died  at  the    age    of 


nineteen:  Solomon,  born  February  27, 
1827,  died  aged  fifteen  years;  Parmelia, 
born  May  24,  1829,  wife  of  Henry  Stod- 
dard, lives  at  Olmsted  Falls,  Cuyahoga 
Co.,  Ohio;  Cyrus  L.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Sarah,  born  March  11,  1833,  was 
married  to  Irvin  French,of  Winnebago,  111., 
and  died  in  May,  1890;  John  M.,  born  April 
19,  1837,  died  in  March,  1838;  and  Jatnes 
Monroe,  born  November  10,  1840,  died 
March  5,  1842. 

Cyrus  L.  Whittlesey  enlisted  in  1861  in 
the  Union  army,  three  irionths'  service,  and 
when  the  call  was  made  for  three  years' 
men  he  enlisted  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in 
Company  K,  Twenty-third  O.  V.  I.  His 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  our  subject  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Carnifex  Ferry,  the  second 
fought  in  West  Virginia;  was  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Morgan;  Second  Bull  Run;  South 
Mountain;  Antietam;  on  scouting  service 
in  West  Virginia,  thence  to  Stanton,  Va., 
after  which  they  took  prisoners  to  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.  He  was  shot  through  the  hand 
while  in  pursuit  and  capture  of  Morgan. 
He  was  discharged  at  Columbus,  July  6, 
1864,  and  returned  home. 

In  1869  Mr.  Whittlesey  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Bi'ownhelm  township,  Lorain 
county,  with  Miss  Lucy  Bacon,  a  native  of 
that  township,  and  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Ruth  (Davis)  Bacon,  the  father  a  na- 
tive of  Stockhridge,  Mass.,  the  mother  of 
Connecticut;  he  was  a  manufacturer  in  the 
East,  and  coming  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
in  1828,  followed  farming  until  his  death 
in  1865;  his  widow  followed  him  to  the 
grave  in  1875.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  viz.:  Jane  II.,  wife  of  Ed- 
mund West,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  George, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  Henry, 
deceased  at  the  age  of  three;  Samuel,  who 
died  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  when  forty 
years  old;  Eliza,  residing  in  Oberlin, 
Ohio;  Benjamin,  who  during  the  Civil 
war  enlisted  in  the  one  hundred  days'  serv- 
ice, and  now  lives  in  Anderson  county, 
Kans. ;  Henry  Clay,  who  in  1862  enlisted 


992 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  Bi-ownhelm  township.  Lorain  county,  in 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the  army  of  the  West 
with  Sherman  (he  now  lives  in  Wood 
county,  Ohio);  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth 
is  Lucy,  wife  of  our  subject;  Charles  B., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  and  Ruth 
A.,  whose  home  is  now  in  Oberlin,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whittlesey  have  one  child 
living,  Hayes  B.,  at  home. 

In  his  political  preferences  our  subject 
is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  is  a  member,  and 
has  been  commander,  of  Rice  Post,  No. 
148  G.  A.  R.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  as- 
sociated with  the  Congregational  Churcli. 
They  have  a  fine  farm  of  112  acres  con- 
fined to  general  agriculture.  Mr.  Whit- 
tlesey is  a  crack  rifle  shot,  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county,  and  takes  great  delight 
in  hunting. 


[[If    B.  MARTIN  DALE,  member  of  the 
I^H     well-known   firm  of    Martindale  & 
I     1|    Leonard,  dealers    in    general    mer- 
JJ  chandise,    hardware,    tinware,    to- 

bacco, etc.,  French  Creek,  where  they 
commenced  lousiness  in  1890,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Avon  township  since  1873. 
He  was  born  in  1849  in  Lake  county,  Ohio, 
son  of  Harrison  L.  and  Ann  E.  (Brown) 
Martindale,  also  natives  of  that  county, 
where  the  father  still  resides;  the  mother 
died  in  1859.  Grandmother  Laura  M. 
(Babbett)  Reynolds,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
David  Babbett,  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
who  came  to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Mentor,  Lake 
county,  where  she  yet  resides  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-five. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Lake  county,  where  he  received  his  early 
education,  and  then  engaged  in  farming 
and  tree-grafting  until  1873,  when,  as  above 
related,  he  came  to  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  now  owns  a  snug  little 
farm  of  eleven  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cul- 


tivation. In  1879  Mr.  Martindale  was 
married,  in  Avon  township,  to  Miss  Carrie 
L.,  daughter  of  David  L.  Sawyer,  an  early 
pioneer  of  the  township,  and  to  their  union 
have  been  born  two  children:  Laura  E. 
and  Mary  Eleanor,  who  died  when  twenty- 
three  months  old.  In  politics  our  subject 
is  a  Republican,  and  is  at  present  serving 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  wliich  position  he 
lias  held  for  seven  years.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  King  Solomon  Lodge  No.  56, 
Elyria;  and  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  Tent  18, 
French  Creek,  in  which  he  is  past  com- 
mander. 


BL.SA 
far  me 
has  r< 


,.  SAWYER,  a  well-known  pioneer 
ler  of  Avon  townsiiip,  where  he 
■esided  since  September,  1838, 
was  born,  in  1821,  in  Schoharie 
county.  New  York. 

John  and  Rhoda  (Lynes)  Sawyer,  parents 
of  this  gentleman,  were  also  natives  of  New 
York  State,  where  they  were  married,  and 
whence,  in  1838,  they  removed  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  settling  near  French  Creek 
in  Avon  township,  where  they  made  a  per- 
manent home.  The  father,  who  was  a 
blacksmitli,  died  in  1868,  the  mother  in 
1872.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
a  brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  D.  L. 
is  the  subject  of  these  lines;  James  died  in 
Avon  township  in  1848;  Polly  became  the 
wife  of  Riley  Barrows,  of  Avon  township, 
where  she  died;  Philip  died  in  Elyria, 
Lorain  county;  Henry,  who  was  a  sailor, 
was  drowned  in  the  St.  Clair  river;  Am- 
bi'ose,  married,  resides  in  Lorain;  Betsy 
Ann  died  unmarried;  Sturgia  died  in  Avon 
township;  Adeline  lives  in  Avon  township; 
Phebe  died  in  Michigan.  Grandfather 
Lynes  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  and 
was  with  Gen.  St.  Clair  at  the  time  of  his 
defeat. 

D.  L.  Sawyer  received  his  literary  train- 
ing in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
State,  and  was  reared  in  New  York  up  to 
his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  came  with  his 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


993 


parents  from  Oneida  county  to  Avon  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  has  prin- 
cipally engaged  iu  farming.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  thirty  years,  since  when  he  has  given 
his  exclusive  attention  to  agriculture.  He 
owns  a  good  fruit  farm  of  twenty-seven 
acres,  besides  another  tract,  his  lands  com- 
prising in  all  seventy- two  acres.  On  Oc- 
tober 19,  1843,  Mr.  Sawyer  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Avon  township,  with  Miss 
Eliza  Lyon,  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
daughter  of  Elexander  and  Alice  Lyou, 
who  came  frum  New  York  to  Lorain  county', 
Ohio,  in  1830,  being  among  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  LaGrange  township.  The 
lather  subsequently  removed  to  Nauvoo, 
111.,  and  thence  to  Ogflen,  Utah,  where  he 
now  resides.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  have 
been  born  five  children,  namely:  David, 
married,  who  resides  in  Avon  township; 
Carrie  L.  and  Emma  (twins),  the  former 
of  whom  is  the  wife  of  H.  B.  Martindale, 
of  Avon  township,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
Rev.  F.  N.  Phelps,  a  Baptist  minister  of 
Tiro,  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio ;  Delia;  and  James, 
married,  a  resident  of  Ridgeville  township. 
In  his  political  preferences  Mr.  Sawyer  is 
an  ardent  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
township  trustee;  he  cast  his  first  ballot  for 
James  G.  Birney,  and  later  voted  for  John 
C.  Fremont.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
King  Solomon  Lodge  No.  56,  Elyria.  In 
religious  connection  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  French 
Creek. 


CHARLES  H.  GLENN,  a  well-known 
contractor   and    bnilder,  of  Oberlin, 
was    born    December    20,    1857,   at 
Delphos,  Allen   Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of 
George    M.    and   Augusta    L.  W.  (King) 
Glenn,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  the 
latter  of  Prussia. 

He  received  his  education  at  the  public 
schools  of  Oberlin,  then  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter  and  joiner.     In  1884  he  em- 


barked in  the  contracting  business  with 
the  firm  known  as  Gleim  &  Copeland,  in 
which  he  has  since  continued,  and  he  has 
done  contracting  in  various  places,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  Colorado  Springs, 
his  work,  however,  lying  chiefly  in  Ober- 
lin, where  he  resides.  He  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  dwelling  houses,  and  conducts 
quite  an  extensive  business,  giving  em- 
ployment to  from  five  to  thirty  men. 

Mr.  Glenn  was  united  in  marriage  De- 
cember 20,  1881,  with  Miss  Efiie  V.  Tuck, 
who  was  born  in  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  and 
reared  in  Oberlin,  a  daughter  of  John  C. 
and  Eliza  (Dyer)  Tuck.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  three  children,  namely; 
Lncretia,  Wilhelniina,  Frankie  D.  and 
Charles  A.,  of  whom  Frankie  died  at  the 
age  of  ten  months.  Our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics;  he  ia  now  serving  a  second  term 
as  member  of  the  city  council.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Glenn  are  both  members  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  at  Oberlin. 


[(  RTEMAS  BEEBE,  proprietor  of 
\\  book-store  and  dealer  in  books; 
stationery  and  mouldings,  Elyria, 
is  a  native  of  that  city,  born  May 
26,  1869,  a  grandson  of  Artemas 
Beebe,  who  came  of  an  old  New  England 
family,  and  son  of  Artemas  and  Nancy 
(Fisher)  Beebe. 

Artemas  Beebe,  second  son  of  the  late 
Artemas  Beebe,  who  came  here  from  Mas- 
sachusetts in  1817  with  the  late  Heman 
Ely,  and  assisted  in  making  an  opening  in 
the  wilderness  where  Elyria  now  stands^ 
died  at  his  farm  residence  on  Cleveland 
street,  August  27,  1891.  Deceased  was 
born  in  Elyria,  October  10,  1825,  and 
spent  all  of  his  nearly  sixty-three  years  in 
Elyria.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
until  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  entered  the  dry-goods  store  of 
the  late   Seymour   M.  Baldwin,  where  he 


994 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


was  employed  as  clerk  for  a  few  years,  and 
then  engaged  in  fanning  pursuits.  On 
November  25,  1847,  he  married  Miss 
Nancy  L.  Fisher,  of  Grafton,  and  soon 
after  moved  to  his  farm  near  the  city, 
where,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  he 
spent  his  remaining  life.  On  the  death  of 
his  father  in  1880,  he  became  the  owner  of 
the  "Beebe  House,"  which  he  leased  until 
1886,  when  he  took  possession  as  manager 
and  remained  two  years,  then  returning  to 
his  farm,  which  comprised  200  acres,  and 
was  located  entirely  inside  the  corporation 
of  Elyria.  The  children  born  to  him  were 
William  A.,  Mary,  Frank  and  Arteraas. 
His  widow  is  still  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

The  origin  of  Mr.  Beebe's  illness  dated 
from  the  winter  of  1890,  when  he  suffered 
from  a  severe  attack  of  La  Grippe,  from 
which  he  recovered  in  a  few  weeks;  but  in 
January,  1891,  he  had  a  recurrence  of  the 
same  disease,  his  heart  becoming  affected, 
resulting  in  dropsy,  which  terminated  his 
life. 

In  all  his  duties  of  husband,  father  and 
neighbor,  he  occupied  a  high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens;  and  while 
his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  will  more  deeply 
feel  their  bereavement,  the  Church  and 
moi-e  especially  the  Sunday-schools  of  Lo- 
rain county,  in  which  for  many  years  he 
has  taken  an  active  interest,  will  miss  his 
presence  and  counsel.  Mr.  Beebe  was  a 
member  and  a  regular  attendant  of  the 
Congregational  Sunday-school  of  Elyria 
for  sixty  years.  For  ten  years  he  was  its 
assistant  superintendent.  He  has  also  for 
many  years  been  the  Chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  the  Lorain  County 
Sunday-school  Union,  and  the  success  of 
its  annual  meeting  has  been  owing  more 
to  his  constant  and  efficient  labor  than  to 
any  other  cause.  Mr.  Beebe  was  an  active 
and  honored  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Elyria  for  thirty-three 
years.  In  his  official  duties;  in  his  inter- 
course with    his    fellow-members;    in    the 


largeness  of  his  Christian  charity  and  fel- 
lowship, as  well  as  in  his  daily  social  and 
business  life,  he  aimed  to  be  true  to  his 
high  calling  of  God. 

Artemas  Beebe,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1890.  In  April, 
1891,  he  opened  out  his  present  business, 
and  has  met  with  well-merited  success. 
On  December  16,  1891,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  Mapes,  also  a 
native  of  Elyria,  and  who  had  been  a 
schoolmate  of  Mr.  Beebe's.  In  political 
preferences  our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  church  connection  he  is  a  Congre- 
gationalist. 


Hf  G.  EEDINGTON,  a  prominent 
and  widely  esteemed  attorney  at 
law  of  North  Amherst,  is  one  of 
the  rising  young  barristers  of 
Lorain  county,  of  which  he  is  a 
native,  born  July  10,  1858. 

His  father,  E.  N.  Redington,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  came  to  Amherst  town- 
ship in  1819,  being  at  the  time  three  years 
old.  He  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  He 
married  Miss  M.  E.  Tyler,  who  was  born 
in  1823  of  Connecticut  people,  and  she  is 
yet  living;  she  is, as  was  also  her  husband, 
a  member  of  the  Disciple  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch 
received  his  elementary  education  at  the 
district  schools,  afterward  attending  Ober- 
lin  College,  where  he  completed  the  junior 
year;  thence  went  to  Cornell  (N.  Y.)  Uni- 
versity, one  term,  after  which  he  com- 
menced to  read  law  with  Hon.  J.  F. 
Burket,  now  on  the  supreme  court  bench. 
On  June  4,  1884,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  at  once  opened  an  office  in  North 
Amherst,  Lorain  county,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.     He   has    successfully  carried 


&^(4^ 


e 


'^^t-t 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


997 


tlirougli  cases  vcrsxis  railroads,  involving 
a  considerable  amount  of  liticration,  and 
succeeded  in  securing  the  compromise  be- 
tween North  Amherst  and  the  Lake  Shore 
A:  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company, 
the  nature  of  which  was  as  follows:  The 
question  involved  was  whether  the  railway 
company  conld  raise  the  grade  of  its  rail- 
way through  the  village  and  over  the 
streets  and  narrow  the  streets  at  the  inter- 
sections, without  consent  of  the  village  or 
the  payment  of  damages  to  abntting  own- 
ers. The  question  was  decided  in  favor 
of  the  village,  that  the  railway  company 
could  not. 

In  1885  Mr.  Rodington  was  elected 
mayor  of  North  Amherst,  serving  till 
1893,  in  all  four  continuous  terms.  He  is 
president  of  the  Savings  Deposit  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  chief  organizers; 
is  president  of  the  North  Amherst  Shear 
Company,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the 
North  Amherst  Furniture  ('ompany,  of 
which  he  is  a  stockholder.  Politically  he 
is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  a  pro- 
nounced Cleveland  man  on  the  Tariff  ques- 
tion. Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.,  the  K.  0.  T.  M.,  and  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  was  District 
Deputy  Grand  Master. 

In  1884  Mr.  Redington  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lulu  ('.  Moore, 
daughter  of  Dr.  A.  C.  Moore,  of  North 
Amherst,  and  three  childi'cn  have  been 
born  to  them:  Harry  M.,  Blanche  (t.  and 
Horace  Raymond. 


^/ 


^|\  iff  ICIIAEL    EPPLEY,   one  of   the 

^'1     thrifty    and    prosperous    agricul- 

Ij    turists  of    Elyria    township,   is   a 

native  of  Wittenberg,   (lermany, 

born   December  7,  1821,  a  son  of 

Jacob  and  C!atherine  (Keller)  Eppley,  also 

natives  of  the  Fatherland. 

In  April,  1832,  the  family  set  sail  from 
Holland  for  the  New  World,  and  after  a 


voyage  of  fifty-five  days  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia. From  thei'e  they  proceeded  west- 
ward to  Ohio,  locating  at  Zanesville,  Mus- 
kingum county,  where  tiie  parents  passed 
from  earth,  the  father  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six,  the  mother  when  seventy-six  years  old. 
They  had  eleven  children — nine  sons  and 
two  daughters — and  seven  of  the  sons  are 
now  living,  all  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  ex- 
cept our  subject,  while  the  two  daughters 
reside  in  Michigan. 

Michael  Epplej  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  received  his 
education,  and  worked  hard  to  make  a 
little  money  which  he  saved  in  his  boj'- 
liood.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  com- 
menced carpentry,  a  trade  he  followed  for 
twenty-one  years;  also  farming,  in  con- 
nection doing  a  considerable  amount  in 
contracting  and  building.  He  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  constructing 
dams  and  docks  in  the  Muskingum  river. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Rosina  Ilarsch 
(daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Ilarsch), 
a  native  of  Wittenberg,  Germany,  coming 
with  her  parents  to  America  when  six 
years  old.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to 
this  union — five  sons  and  eight  daughters 
— namely:  William,  who  went  west  and 
died  (he  was  married  to  Mary  Mauer;  left 
two  children);  Mary,  wife  of  Mose  J3eal, 
also  died  at  an  early  age  (left  seven  chil- 
dren) ;  Katherine,  wife  of  Samuel  Beal,  has 
eight  children;  Caroline,  wife  of  Jacob 
Schaible,  has  two  children;  Jacob,  mar- 
ried to  Kate  Martin,  has  four  children; 
Rosa,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
Solomon,  married  to  Nellie  Bender,  and 
has  one  child;  Christena,  wife  of  Henry 
Martin,  has  four  children;  Abram,  mar- 
ried Mary  Martin,  has  four  children; 
Matilda,  wife  of  Ernest  Drunagle,  has  one 
child;  Mose,  married  to  Mary  Spiegelberg, 
and  has  one  child;  Lydia,  wife  of  William 
Spiegelberg,  and  Cora,  residing  at  home. 

Shortly  after  marriage  Mr.  Eppley 
purchased  a  farm  in  York  township. 
Morgan  county,  containing  240  acres  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


land,  whicli  lie  improved  and  then  sold 
just  before  coming  to  Elyria.  He  came 
to  Lorain  county  in  1874,  and  bought  his 
present  farm,  containing  one  hundred 
acres  "(in  Elyria  township),  bordering 
on  the  town  of  Elyria  (on  Mui-ry 
Ridge,  southwest  of  town),  paying  one 
hundred  and  twenty  dollars  cash  per  acre 
for  same.  After  two  years  the  mother 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years,  which 
was  a  sore  loss  to  the  whole  family,  and 
here  he  has  since  remained  as  a  widower 
(his  daughter  Cora  keeping  house  for  him). 
Mr.  Eppley  always  was,  and  is  to  this 
day,  for  his  age,  an  active  man  as  well  as 
ambitious;  honest  in  all  his  dealings.  In 
religion  he  is  an  earnest,  steadfast  follower 
of  Clirist,  and  has  Ijeen  from  early  life. 
He  is  a  tnember  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
Ills  greatest  aim  is  to  reach  his  heavenly 
home. 


ri(  LFRED    E.    HALE,    farmer    and 

/ /  \\     cheese    manufacturer     of     Carlisle 

tf^^   township,    is    a  native   of   Lorain 

Jl         county,  born  March    23,  1862,   on 

Henrietta  Hill.       He  is  a   son    of 

George  and  Anna  M.   (Smith)  Hale,   the 

former  of  whom  was  among  the  pioneers 

of  Carlisle  township,  having  settled  there 

when  his  son,  Alfred  E.,  was  but  ten  days 

old. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's 
farm,  received  his  literary  training  in  the 
common  schools  of  Carlisle  township  until 
sixteen  years  of  age,  and  then  studied  for 
one  term  at  the  Elyria  high  school.  For 
the  next  two  years  he  was  employed  in 
the  Hart  Cheese  Factory,  at  that  time 
operated  by  William  A.  Braman,  and  then 
worked  in  Sullivan  and  Ashland  counties, 
Ohio.  When  nineteen  years  old  he  pur- 
chased, in  partnership  with  a  brother,  the 
farm  on  which  his  brother  resides,  and  on 
which    they    have  since  made  many    im- 


provements, and  there  Mr.  Hale  carries  on 
a  prosperous  cheese-making  business,  keep- 
ing twenty  cows.  He  manufactures  a  full 
cream  cheese,  and  receives  New  York 
State  prices  for  all  his  dairy  products,  for 
which  there  is  a  constant  demand. 

Li  1886  Mr.  Hale  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Buda  Bell  Peabody,  and 
they  have  two  children,  namely:  Gilbert 
N.  and  Cassie  B.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ilepublican  party,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  (juestions.  He 
is  recognized  as  one  of  thethorough-gointr, 
progressive  business  men  of  Carlisle  town- 
ship, where  he  has  established  himself  in 
a  profitable  line  of  trade. 


HAELES  n.  W A RBITRTON,  mas- 
ter mechanic  for  the  Cleveland, 
Lorain  &  Wheeling  Railroad,  at 
Lorain,  was  born  September  17, 
1846,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  His  father, 
Thomas  Warbnrton,  a  native  of  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  married  Martha  Rummage,  who 
was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  five  children — four  sons 
and  one  daughter — of  whom  Charles  II.  is 
the  eldest.  The  mother  died  in  1878,  the 
father  is  now  residing  at  Birmingham, 
Ohio. 

Charles  II.  Warburton  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  city,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  same.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  engaged  with  the 
Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road Company  to  learn  the  trade  of  ma- 
chinist, and  served  some  five  and  a  half 
years.  For  some  time  after  he  worked  as 
contractor  in  the  Wilson  Sewing  IMachine 
Shops  at  Cleveland,  but  again  returned  to 
the  railroad  business.  In  1873  he  came 
to  Lorain  county,  engaged  with  the  Cleve- 
land, Lorain  &  Wheeling  Railroad  as  gang 
boss,  and  afterward  as  general  foreman,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  1882,  after 
which  time  he  held  the  position  of  master 


LOEAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


999 


mechanic,  being  superintendent  of  334 
men.  In  July,  1893,  be  resigned  bis  posi- 
tion on  tbe  railroad  to  embark  in  bis  pres- 
ent business  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  part- 
nersbip  witb  E.  C.  Angell,  tbe  style  of  tbe 
firm  being  "  Viaduct  Macbine  and  Tool 
Co." 

On  November  13,  1873,  Mr.  Warbur- 
ton  was  married,  at  Cleveland,  to  Miss  May 
J.  Angell.  and  to  their  union  have  been 
born  six  children:  Charles,  Lewis,  Henry, 
Katie,  Cora  and  Frank.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  prominent  member  of  tbe  Re- 
publican party,  in  whose  welfare  be  takes 
an  active  interest;  be  has  served  in  various 
positions  of  trust,  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  council,  and  for  five  years  was 
president  of  the  City  Water  Works.  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  Woodland  Lodge 
No.  226,  K.  of  P.,  and  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.; 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
K.  T.,and  of  the  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 


IlOHN  RILEY,  Jr.,  one  of  the  promi- 

V  I     nent  representative  young    men    of 

V/i    Amherst   township,  is  a  native-born 

Obioan,  having  first  seen  the  light  of 

day  in  Erie  county  in  1856. 

He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Bridget 
(Welch)  Riley,  the  father  born  in  Ireland. 
Coming  to  America  in  1844  be  made  his 
home  in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  a  number  of 
years.  About  1868  be  removed  with  his 
family  to  Lorain  county,  and  he  now  re- 
sides in  Elyria  township.  He  has  been  a 
lifelong  farmer,  and  in  politics  a  stanch 
Democrat.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
John  and  Bridget  Riley,  all  yet  living. 

John  Riley,  Jr.,  received  bi§  education 
in  tbe  public  schools  of  Elyria  and  Berlin 
Heights.  For  some  years  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  be  now  owns  a 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  Am- 
herst township.  In  1882  he  commenced 
contracting  for   the  Toledo    &    Cleveland 


Railroad,  northern  and  southern  division, 
and  later  has  been  employed  in  getting 
out  ship  timber. 

Mr.  Riley  has  been  twice  married :  first 
time  in  1880  to  Miss  Jennie  Davis,  who 
died  in  1883,  and  he  subsequently,  in  1889, 
married  Miss  Carrie  Armert.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  is  a 
strong,  useful  member  of  the  Democratic 
party.  Since  September,  1893,  he  has 
been  the  efBcient  and  courteous  postmas- 
ter at  North  Amherst. 


^/ 


HfENRT  HITCHCOCK,  prominent 
in  tbe  farming  community  of  Co- 
J  lumbia  township,  of  which  he  is  a 
native,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Amelia  (Osborne)  Hitchcock. 
Samuel  Hitchcock  was  born,  in  1786,  in 
Waterbury.  Conn.,  whence  in  1810  he 
came  to  Columbia  township,  Lorain  coun- 
ty, traveling  the  entire  distance  with  a 
team,  the  journey  occuping  some  six 
weeks.  Here  be  opened  up  t^iree  farms, 
and  became  a  prosperous  agriculturist.  In 
politics  lie  was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a 
Republican.  His  wife,  Amelia  (Osborne), 
was  also  born  in  (Connecticut,  and  died  in 
April,  1892,  a  daughter  of  Asel  and  Mary 
(Hoadley)  Osborne,  who  came  to  Colum- 
bia township,  Lorain  county,  from  Con- 
necticut in  1810.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Hitchcock  were  born  seven  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Alma,  who  married  James  R.  Ruple,  died 
in  Olmsted  township,  Cuyahoga  county, 
in  June,  1892;  Julia,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Cyrus  Ruple,  died  in  about  1882;  Mi- 
nerva, tbe  wife  of  James  Warnock,  died  in 
1893;  Marietta,  widow  of  Winslow  Shaw, 
resides  in  Michigan;  Amanda,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Abner  Houston,  died  in  Ridge- 
ville  township  at  the  age  of  twenty-five; 
Amelia,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Doane,  died  in  Janu- 
ary, 1890;  and  Henry  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 


1000 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Henry  Hitchcock,  tlie  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  1836,  and  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  his  schooling 
being  obtained  in  the  primitive  log  cabin 
of  ttie  period,  in  Columbia  Center.  He 
has  always  followed  farming,  and  has  met 
with  well-merited  success,  being  now  the 
owner  of  108  acres  of  excellent  land  in  one 
tract,  and  also  a  twenty-four-acre  farm 
elsewhere,  wliile  Mrs.  Hitchcock  owns  a 
good  farm  of  thirty-two  acres;  he  is  also 
guardian  for  thirty-two  acres.  In  1867 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  with 
Emeline  Peachey,a  native  of  tliat  township, 
and  daughter  of  Tliomas  and  Philemela 
(Smith)  Peachey,  of  Massachusetts  birth, 
early  settlers  of  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  they  died.  To  this 
union  two  children  were  born,  viz.:  Aman- 
da, wife  of  William  Martin,  residing  on 
the  home  farm;  and  Charley,  living  at 
liome.  In  his  political  affiliations  Mr. 
Hitchcock  is  a  Republican;  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


ijr^\  OBERT  N.   GOODWIN,   one    of 
l^^    the  best  known  and  most  popular 
I    ^   citizens  of  Lorain  county,  is  a  na- 
^  tive    of    Ohio,   born     in   Granger, 

Medina  county.  May  13,  1828. 
Nathaniel  A.  Goodwin,  father  of  our 
subject,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  whence 
he  first  moved  to  Genesee  county,  N.  Y., 
and  then  to  Ohio,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Granger  township,  Medina 
county,  traveling  the  entire  distance  from 
Genesee  county  with  an  ox-sled,  it  being 
the  winter  season;  at  that  time  there  was 
only  one  other  family  in  the  township,  and 
his  sister  Deborah  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Granger  township.  He  married 
Miss  Levinia  H.  Lowe,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  who  bore  him  ten 
children,  of  wiiom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Charles  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 


seventy-four  in  Medina  county,  was  for 
some  time  a  resident  of  Michigan;  Alvira, 
who  married  Earl  Salsberre,  died  May  3, 
1893,  aged  seventy-nine  years;  Mary  L. 
is  tiie  widow  of  William  Hopkins,  of 
Sharon  township,  Medina  C(junty,  and  is 
now  seventy-eight  years  old;  Seth,  who 
lived  in  Sharon  township,  Medina  county, 
died  of  paralysis  at  the  age  of  sixty- six 
years;  Deborah  died  in  1871  at  the  age  of 
fifty-three  years;  Levinia  is  the  widow  of 
Foster  Young,  of  La  Porte,  Iowa,  and  is 
nearly  seventy-one  years  old;  Hiram,  now 
sixty-seven  years  old,  resides  in  Medina, 
Ohio,  and  is  clerk  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas;  Robert  N.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  William  G.,  now  sixty-three  years 
old,  is  a  farmer  in  Iowa,  and  resides  near 
La  Porte,  that  State;  Marshall  W.,  born 
in  1836,  now  a  farmer,  lives  in  Granger, 
Medina  county,  Ohio.  The  father  died  of 
cancer  January  21,  1843,  aged  fifty-five 
years,  the  mother  February  5,  1867,  aged 
seventy-six  years. 

The  subject  under  present  consideration 
attended  school  in  his  boyhood  winters,  at 
the  nearest  log  schoolhouse  (in  which  the 
seats  were  made  of  slabs,  with  wooden  pins 
for  legs),  which  was  a  mile  away  from  his 
home,  his  summers  being  passed  in  work- 
intr  on  the  farm.  He  also  learned  the  trade 
of  cooper,  which  he  followed  for  some 
years  both  in  his  native  town  and  five 
years  in  Lorain  county,  whither  he  came 
in  1861.  He  then  clerked  in  a  grocery 
store  in  the  town  of  Wellington,  at  the 
same  time  attending  to  some  insurance 
business,  which  was  the  nucleus  to  his 
present  extensive  connection  in  that  line. 
Mr.  Goodwin  has  served  in  various  public 
capacities  with  characteristic  ability  and 
fidelity,  and  among  the  positions  he  has 
held  may  be  mentioned:  secretary  of  an 
agricultural  society,  twelve  years;  justice 
of  the  peace,  two  terms;  city  clerk  (Well- 
ington), fourteen  years;  township  and  cor- 
poration assessor,  nineteen  consecutive 
years  (he  is  elected  each  year  as  assessor, 
and  every  two  years  as  city  clerk).  Politi- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1001 


cally  lie  is  a  straight  Republican.  Dnr- 
iiicr  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  live  men  were 
dratted  on  his  street,  he  being  one  of  them, 
and  he  reported  himself  at  Elyria,  but 
they  were  not  ready  to  receive  him,  and  he 
tiiially  sent  a  substitute,  lie  had  made 
preparations,  however,  to  fill  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  commissary  office,  but  was 
taken  ill  with  fever,  and  reluctantly  had  to 
remain  at  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Congrecrational  Church.  His  grandfather, 
Seth  Goodwin,  served  throughout  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  a  portion  of  that  of 
1812,  being  a  lieutenant  at  the  time  of  the 
burning  of  Buffalo  by  the  British.  His 
father  served  throughout  the  war  of  1812 
as  a  lieutenant,  and  saw  an  Indian  killed 
by  an  officer  of  the  army,  for  touching  a 
torch  to  a  building,  setting  it  on  tire. 

In  1850  Mr.  Goodwin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  M.  Harris,  a 
native  of  New  York  State,  born  in  Gene- 
fee  county,  June  2,  1830.  No  children 
have  been  born  to  them.  He  and  his 
wife,  Louisa  M.  Goodwin,  have  resided  in 
Wellington,  Ohio,  since  1861,  wdien  there 
were  only  2-15  buildings  that  were  used  in 
any  part  for  dwellintjs;  at  this  time  (1894) 
there  are  many  elegant  dwelling  houses, 
besides  the  many  beautiful  churches, 
sclioolhouses,  business  l)uildings  and  as  tine 
a  town  hall  as  is  not  often  seen  in  cities.  As 
he  has  tine  property  in  Wellington,  he  ex- 
pects to  remain  there  during  his  natural  life. 


ViLLARD     HART,     than     whom 
there  is  no  better  or  more  favor- 
ably   known   resident  of  Penfield 
township,    is    a    native  of   same, 
born   October    12,    1840,    son  of  Hawley 
Hart. 

Hawley  Hart  was  born  February  10, 
1807,  in  Litchtield  county,  Conn.,  son  of 
Samuel,  who  was  a  farnier  by  occupa- 
tion. The  father  of  our  subject  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  during  his 


early  manhood  was  engaged  in  peddling 
clocks  for  Lewis  Hart,  throughout  the 
Western  Reserve,  in  1834  coming  through 
Pentield  township,  Lorain  county.  On 
January  12,  1840,'  he  married  Miss  Lucy 
Hart,  who  was  born  September  17,  1821, 
in  the  town  of  Winchester,  Litchtield  Co., 
Conn.,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Persus 
(Swift)  Hart,  who  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  settling,  in  June,  1838,  in  Pentield 
township,  where  the  marriage  took  place, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Justice 
Samuel  Knapp.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hart  always  followed  farming,  and  made 
his  home  in  Pentield  township;  he  tirst 
took  up  a  farm  in  Lot  No.  45,  which  con- 
tained but  a  few  rude  improvements,  and 
resided  for  two  years  on  that  place,  where 
two  children  were  born  to  him,  namely: 
Willard,  our  subject,  and  Chester,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  From 
this  farm  he  removed  to  Lot  37,  and 
there  remained  for  eight  years,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Lot  No.  47, 
living  there  for  some  time.  Then,  in 
later  years,  he  moved  to  a  place  two  miles 
south  of  the  center  of  Pentield  township, 
where  he  died  August  5, 1S81,  of  apoplexy, 
and  was  buried  in  Center  cemetery.  He 
was,  in  politics,  a  Jacksonian  Democrat, 
and  attended  the  elections  regularly.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer.  Since  his  decease 
his  widow  has  made  her  home  with  her 
son  Willard.  She  has  been  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  since  1869. 

Willard  Hart  attended  during  his  boy- 
hood the  common  schools  of  the  district, 
and  received  his  tirst  knowledge  of  agri- 
cultural  work  under  the  direction  of  his 
father.  On  January  15,  1861,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ann  E. 
Sooy,  a  native  of  Spencer,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  and  this  union  was  blessed  with  one 
child,  Carrie  L.,  wlio  is  now  the  wife  of 
W.  B.  Lindsley,  a  farmer  of  Pentield  town- 
ship, and  has  two  children,  Marion  A.  and 
Dot  H.  Our  subject  has  always  followed 
farming,  and  after  his  marriage  took  up 
his  residence  with  his  parents  on  the  home 


1002 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


place,  where  he  has  ever  since  contin- 
nously  made  his  home,  and  he  now  owns 
the  excellent  farm  he  resides  on,  besides 
two  hundred  acres  which  he  rents.  In 
addition  to  farming  he  has  also  conducted 
an  extensive  dairying  business,  an  industry 
in  which  he  has  met  with  well-deserved 
success,  and  which  has  proved  exceedingly 
profitable.  He  has  constantly  on  his  farm 
about  thirty-five  milch  cows,  and  it  is  due 
chiefly  to  his  efforts  that  Lorain  is  one  of 
the  principal  dairy  counties  in  the  State. 
He  was  the  first  to  introduce  Holstein 
cattle  into  the  county.  Mr.  Hart  is  a  life- 
long Democrat,  takes  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs,  has  served  as  township 
trustee,  and  is  now  filling  the  ofiice  of 
township  treasurer.  He  is  a  warm  friend 
of  the  public-school  system,  and  has  served 
as  director  of  his  special  school  district, 
where  he  labored  hard  for  the  schools 
they  now  have,  in  the  advancement  of 
which  he  takes  great  interest.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  in  which,  since  his  union  there- 
with in  1869,  he  has  been  a  leading 
factor,  holding  numerous  offices  in  the 
Church,  and  being  also  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  Sunday-school.  He  is 
highly  thought  of  in  his  community. 


ffffENRY  BRADFORD,  one   of   the 

r'^     most  prominent  and  afiluent  of  the 

I     1     many   prosperous   agriculturists   of 

•fj  Lorain    county,   and    the  owner  of 

one  of  the  finest  and  best-equipped 

farms   in    Rochester   township,  is  a  native 

of  the   county,  born   August  14,  1849,  in 

Columbia  township. 

Hiram  N.  Bradford,  his  father,  was  born 
May  31,  1821,  in  Olmsted  Falls,  Cuya- 
hoga Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Hosea  and  Han- 
nah (Eastman)  Bradford,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont, who  moved  to  Canada,  and  from 
there  to  Ohio.     They  were  the  parents  of 


ten  children,  seven  of  whom — five  sons  and 
two  daughters — grew  to  naturity,  their 
names  being  Philo,  Lester,  Eastman,  Hiram 
N.,  Myron,  Cynthia  and  Laura. 

Hiram  IST.  Bradford  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  being  a  natural  me- 
chanic, in  early  youth  turned  his  attention 
in  that  direction,  learning  the  trade  of 
stonemason.  His  first  work  in  this  line 
was  laying  the  walls  for  wells,  which  was 
considered  ordinary  labor;  but  his  ability 
soon  assertinar  itself,  he  was  given  more  dif- 
ficult  work,  such  as  laying  cellar  walls,  in 
which  in  course  of  time  he  became  very 
proficient,  and  he  was  widely  known  as  a 
skilled  mechanic.  He  made  his  home  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage  (at  which  time 
he  was  a  comparatively  poor  man),  after 
which  he  and  his  young  wife  made  their 
home  in  Columbia  township,  Lorain  coun- 
ty, for  a  short  time;  then  lived  with  his 
wife's  parents,  who  were  getting  advanced 
in  years,  and  here  Mr.  Bradford  died 
March  2(1,  1856,  his  remains  being  inter- 
red in  Columbia  township.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church,  and  in  politics  was  originally  a 
Whig,  at  the  time  of  his  death  a  Repub- 
lican, which  party  had  just  been  organized. 

On  July  20,  1842,  Hiram  N.  Bradford 
and  Eunice  Eddy  were  united  in  marriage. 
She  first  saw  the  light  February  22,  1822, 
in  ColuTnbia  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Sher- 
dine)  Eddy,  born  February  1,  1783,  in 
New  Jersey,  and  April  1,  1785,  in  "Wash- 
ington county,  Penn.,  respectively.  Mrs. 
Eddy's  father  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 
David  Eddy  came  to  Ohio  before  his  mar- 
riage, and  being  in  Cuyahoga  county  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812,  assisted  in  building 
blockhouses  there.  He  died  in  Columbia 
township,  Lorain  county.  At  Hiram  N. 
Bradford's  death  he  left  three  children, 
viz.:  Sylvia,  now  Mrs.  Herbert  Mills,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio'  Viola,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  and  Henry,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Mrs.  Bradford  kept  the  chil- 
dren together  on  the  farm  left  by  her  bus- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1003 


band,  and  February  1, 1860,  married  Samuel 
Hanley,  a  farmer  of  Lorain  county.  P^ora 
short  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanley  made  their 
home  in  New  London  township,  Huron 
county;  then,  April  15,  18G0,  removed  to 
the  farm  in  Rochester  township  her  sou 
Henry  now  owns  and  lives  on.  Mrs.  Han- 
ley is  a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  her  declining  years  is 
honored  and  respected  by  all. 

Henry  Bradford,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiv- 
ing his  elementary  education  at  the  public 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  home, 
later  attending  select  school.  When  a 
young  man  he  made  a  trip  to  Michigan, 
and  in  the  "  pineries "  there  worked  for 
some  time;  retui'iiing,  he  labored  in  the 
lime  quarries  of  northwestern  Ohio.  On 
October  16,  1872,  having  once  more  come 
to  his  native  county,  Mr.  Bradford  married 
Miss  Ella  A.  Storrow,  born  April  12, 1853, 
in  Brighton  township,  same  county,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sophia  (Baird) 
Storrow,  and  the  young  couple  then  com- 
menced housekeeping  in  Brigiiton  town- 
siiip.  From  there  at  the  end  of  a  year 
they  removed  to  Rocliester  township, 
where  Mr.  Bradford  bougiit  the  home- 
stead  of  his  stepfather.  The  children 
born  to  our  subject  and  wife  are  Alton 
L.,  Lansing  A.  and  Carrie  V.  —  all 
living. 

Mr.  Bradford  enjoys  the  reputation  of 
being  a  systematic  and  thoroughly  practi- 
cal farmer  and  stockman,  as  well  as  an  ex- 
tensive wool  grower.  In  1876  he  became 
identified  with  the  Poland-China  Hog 
Breediiig  Association,  from  which  time 
he  has  vastly  improved  his  own  stock,  be- 
sides increasing  its  number;  and  he  can 
boast  of  not  only  iiaving  some  of  the  finest 
animals  on  his  farm,  but  also  of  having 
been  the  means  of  improving  the  breed 
of  swine  all  over  northern  Ohio.  In  1889 
he  built  at  a  cost  of  about  three  thousand 
dollars,  one  of  the  handsomest  farm  resi- 
dences in  Rochester  township,  furnished 
throughout   in  hardwood,  and  in  elegance 


and  comfort  surpassing  anything  of  the 
kind  in  his  part  of  the  county.  In  his 
political  preferences  Mr.  Bradford  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  is  now  serving  his 
township  as  trustee. 


F.  HOPKINS,  a  worthy  member  of 
one  of  the  early  families  of  Brown- 
helm  township,  is  a  native  of 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  born  Decem- 
ber 5.  183S,  a  son  of  Fred.  M.  and  Phila 
M.  (Barnes)  Hopkins. 

The  family  came  west  to  Ohio  in  1849, 
settling  in  the  ridge  in  Brownhelm  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  the  father  had 
bought  a  partly-improved  farm,  clearing 
the  remainder  himself.  He  was  a  pro- 
nounced Abolitionist,  and  took  part  in  the 
agitating  movements  of  that  period.  He 
died  in  September,  1866,  his  wife  in  May, 
1867.  Two  children  were  born  to  them: 
C.  F.,  and  George  M.,  who  is  chief  engineer 
on  a  lake  steamer,  having  his  home  in  Bay 
City,  Michigan. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  his 
education  in  part  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
and  in  part  in  Brownhelm  townsliip,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio.  In  his  youth  he  assisted 
in  improving  the  home  farm,  and  has  fol- 
lowed fruit  farming  and  gardening.  In  the 
spring  of  1863  he  bought  his  present 
property,  then  consisting  of  thirty-four 
acres,  which  he  has  since  increased  to 
eighty  acres,  and  which  he  has  planted 
with  apples,  cherries,  peaches,  all  varieties 
of  berries,  etc.  In  1863  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Sophronia  Vincent,  adauorh- 
ter  of  Levi  and  Polly  (Austin)  Vincent, 
natives  of  Canada,  and  early  pioneers  of 
Henrietta  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 
The  father  died  in  1886  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five,  the  mother  surviving 
him  three  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  F. 
Hopkins  have  been  born  children  as  fol- 
lows: Edna  C.  (wife  of  Charles  L.  West, 


1004 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Oberlin),  Frederick  M.,  Thyrza  H., 
Gertrude  S.,  Eleanor  V.  (wife  of  E.  S. 
Cook,  of  Bowling  Green,  Wood  Co.,  Ohio), 
Marcia  J.  and  Ada  G.,  the  latter  of  wiiom 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Mr.  Hop- 
kins is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Stonington  Lodge  No. 
503,  North  Amherst,  also  of  Marshall 
Chapter  No.  47,  Elyria,  Ohio. 


ENJAMIN  REDFERN,  retired 
harness  manufacturer  and  farmer, 
is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
South  Amherst.  He  is  a  native  of 
County  Armagh,  Ireland,  born  March  31, 
1827,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Ellen  (Mc- 
Clarneu)  Redfern,  both  also  natives  of  the 
Land  of  Erin. 

The  father,  who  was  a  weaver  by  trade, 
in  1830  emigrated  with  liis  family  to 
Canada,  locating  near  Toronto,  Ontario, 
where  they  resided  till  1852,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Olmsted  Falls,  Ohio,  whence 
after  about  two  years  they  came  to  Hen- 
rietta township,  Lorain  county,  making 
their  new  home  on  a  farm.  In  1868  they 
moved  to  Amherst  township,  same  county, 
where  the  mother  died  in  1883,  the  father 
in  1886.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Benjamin  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Barbara  R.  is  the  widow  of  Alfred 
Chandler,  and  lives  in  Elyria;  Margaret  S. 
is  the  wife  of  David  B.  AVright,  of  Olmsted 
Falls,  Ohio;  Robert  is  married,  and  resides 
in  Columbia  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio; 
James  H.  is  married,  and  has  his  home 
in  Elyria  (he  enlisted  in  Amherst  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  in  1862,  in  Com- 
pany F,  One  Hundred  and  Third  O.  V.  I., 
for  three  years,  and  served  to  the  close  of 
the  war);  Mary  was  the  wife  of  Jefferson 
Ormsby,  who  was  killed  by  lightning  in 
1871  (she  died  in  1892);  Elizabeth  A.  is 
the  wife  of  Anson  Cooper,  of  Strawberry 
Point,  Iowa;  Ellen  died  in  Canada  in  1851. 
Benjamin  Redfern,  whose  name  opens 


this  sketch,  received  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Canada,  learned 
the  trade  of  harness  maker,  and  worked  at 
same  there  until  1849,  when  he  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and,  locating  first  in 
Elyria,  remained  in  that  town  till  1852, 
in  the  spring  of  which  year  he  moved  to 
North  Amherst,  whence  in  1856  he  came 
to  South  Amherst.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Lorain  county  till  1863,  and  then  coiii- 
menced  agricultural  pursuits,  having  pur- 
chased a  farm.  In  1865  he  bought  out  the 
store  of  Henry  Jackson,  in  South  Am- 
herst, and  conducted  a  general  mercantile 
and  harness  business  till  1867,  when  he 
abandoned  that  line  and  resumed  fanning 
till  1887,  retiring  in  that  year.  Mr.  Red- 
fern owns  twenty-two  and  one-half  acres 
of  land  in  South  Amherst,  besides  a  good 
farm  of  ninety  acres  in  that  town,  although 
he  has  sold  several  lots  off  this  property. 
On  January  17,  1852,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Hy- 
land,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Martha 
(West)  Hyland,  all  natives  of  Sussex,  Eng- 
land, who  in  1841  immigrated  to  Canada, 
locating  at  Port  Stanley,  Ontario,  whence 
in  1848  they  came  to  Elyria,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship.  The  father  died  in  September,  1849; 
the  mother  is  yet  living  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, now  aged  eighty  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows: 
Ellen,  wife  of  Benjamin  Redfern;  Henry, 
married  in  Lorain  county,  and  moved  to 
Ionia,  Mich.,  where  he  died  in  February, 
1893;  Mary,  wife  of  William  Stall,  of  Car- 
lisle township,  Lorain  county;  D.  W.,  who 
was  married  in  Michigan,  and  now  resides 
in  Elyria,  Lorain  co\inty  (he  enlisted,  in 
1862.  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years,  and  served 
to  close  of  the  war);  and  Sarah  A.,  wife  of 
J.  Jonas,  of  Carlisle  township,  Lorain 
county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Red- 
fern have  been  born  two  children:  Eva, 
wife  of  G.  W.  Hazel,  of  Fostoria.  Ohio, 
and  Ella  May,  wife  of  William  E.  Par- 
sons, of  Amherst  township. 


')j2yOA^ 


e^-yyiAAA^  (-j-^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1007 


Mr.  Redfern  in  his  political  sympathies 
is  a  Republican,  and  hasserred  his  town- 
ship as  trustee  lour  terms;  socially  be  is  a 
member  of  Plato  Lodge  No.  203, 1.  O.  O.  F. 
He  has  l)een  a  Notary  Pul)lic  for  some 
seven  years.  Although  practically  retired, 
he  still  carries  on  a  snug  business  in  gen- 
eral insurance,  representing  among  other 
companies  the  "  Phoenix "  of  Hartford, 
Conn.  In  Church  connection  be  and  his 
wife  are  Baptists.  In  their  lifetime  in  Lo- 
rain they  have  been  eyewitnesses  to  many 
nineteenth -century  changes,  some  of  them 
marvels  of  science,  for  at  the  time  of  their 
settlement  here,  less  than  half  a  century 
ago,  tliere  was  no  railroad  west  of  Elyria. 
Mr.  Redfern  has  always  been  active  in 
public  matters,  and  has  taken  a  genuine 
interest  in  everything  tending  to  tlie  ad- 
vancement and  prosperity  of  bis  county. 


^J 


MAURICE  GOSS.  Among  the  many 
progressive  and  skilled  agricultur- 
ists of  Brighton  township,  tliis 
gentleman  holds  a  prominent 
place.  He  is  of  the  seventh  gen- 
eration of  a  family  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1G31,  same  time  that  Gov.  AVin- 
throp's  party  came  from  England. 

Mr.  Gosa  is  a  son  of  David,  a  son  of 
Philip,  who  was  born  July  13,  1755,  and 
married  Esther  Yale,  who  bore  bim  nine 
children,  of  whom  three  sons — Clark, 
David  and  Philip — came  to  Ohio.  Philip 
Goss,  grandfatlier  of  subject,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  Gen.  Washimr- 
ton,  and  at  White  Plains  was  commissioned 
major;  he  died  June  23,  1840.  David, 
one  of  bis  three  sons  who  came  to  Ohio, 
was  educated  at  the  subscription  schools  of 
the  period  in  his  native  town  (Boston, 
Mass.),  where  he  afterward  worked  as  a 
drayman.  In  1832  he  married  Aurelia, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Porter,  of  Dummers- 
town,    Vt.,    soon    after    which    event    the 


young  couple  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Cuyahoga  county.  He  was  then  compara- 
tively poor,  for  be  had  lost  all  his  prop- 
erty by  signing  for  others.  In  later  years 
he  moved  to  Brighton  township,  where  he 
and  his  wife  passed  the  rest  of  their  pio- 
neer days,  dying  August  6,  1871,  and  Oc- 
tober 17,  1874,  respectively;  their  remains 
were  interred  in  Brighton  cemetery.  In 
Cuyahoga  county  were  born  to  them  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Maria,  deceased  at  the  age 
of  thirty-four  years;  Maurice,  subject  of 
this  memoir;  Edmund  G.,  deceased  Jan- 
uary 20,  1855:  Otis  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Brighton  township;  Julia  S.,  Mrs.  J.  E. 
Field,  of  Carbondale,  111.;  Ellen  A.,  Mrs. 
J.  J.  Lawrence,  of  St.  Mary's,  Ohio.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Goss  was  a  Free-soiler  and 
Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
His  chief  vocation  was  that  of  farming,  and 
in  connection  therewith  he  also  conducted 
a  saw  and  grist  mill  in  Brighton  township. 
Though  unfortunate  in  business  in  early 
life,  yet  he  succeeded  by  incessant  toil  in 
accumulating  a  comfortable  competence. 

Maurice  Goss,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  Noveuiber  20,  1835,  in 
.  Middleburgh  township,  Cuyahoga  Co., 
Ohio,  at  the  common  schools  of  which  lo- 
cality he  received  a  meager  education.  He 
was  early  in  life  inducted  into  tiie  mys- 
teries of  farm  labor,  and  a  considerable 
portion  of  his  time  was  passed  in  his 
father's  gristmill,  the  buhrstones  for 
which  were  found  along  Charlemont  creek 
in  Wellington  township.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  be  was  nine- 
teen years  old,  when  he  commenced  life 
for  bis  own  account.  His  first  business 
transaction  was  the  sale  of  a  calfskin  his 
father  had  given  him,  with  the  proceeds 
of  which  he  bought  two  sheep,  which  in- 
creased in  value,  and  gradually  adding 
others  he  soon  found  himself  the  possessor 
of  a  tine  flock.  He  then  rented  land,  and 
before  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  had 
bought  fifty  acres  on  credit,  which,  being 
industrious  and  indefatigable,  he  soon  was 


1008 


LOEAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


enabled  to  pay  for.  This  tract  of  fifty 
acres  he  disposed  of  at  a  profit  some  time 
after  his  marriage,  and  he  then  boug:lit 
seventy  acres  on  which  lie  built  a  house 
and  barn,  and  where  he  remained  until 
1863,  at  whicli  time  he  removed  into 
Pittslield  township.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
he  returned  to  Brighton  township,  and 
from  his  uncle,  Philip  Goss,  he  purchased 
his  present  farm,  which  has  been  added  to 
until  it  now  contains- 195  acres  of  excel- 
lent farming  land,  since  much  improved, 
new  biiikiino;s  having  been  erected,  and 
the  old  ones  enlarged  and  remodeled. 
Some  years  ago  Mr.  Goss  erected  a  cheese 
factory  on  his  farm,  which  he  successfully 
operated  for  some  years,  wlien  he  disposed 
of  it  to  Richmond  &  Tracy,  who  retained 
his  services  as  superintendent  for  one  year. 
After  various  changes  this  factory  again 
fell  into  Mr.  Goss'  hands,  and  later  was 
sold  to  Laundon,  Windecker  &  Co.,  of 
Wellington,  Ohio.  In  1871  he  erected  a 
warehouse  at  Kochester,  Ohio,  a  one- half 
interest  in  which  he  sold,  and  the  style  of 
the  firm  is  now  M.  Goss  &  Co.  In  1886 
our  subject  moved  to  Rochester,  where  he 
made  his  home  till  1893,  in  which  year  he 
returned  to  Brighton  township,  where  he 
now  resides,  retaining  his  interests  at 
Rochester. 

On  December  8,  1856,  M.  Goss  and 
Josephine  M.  Judd  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. She  was  born  in  January,  1834,  in 
Brighton,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Erasmus 
Judd,  and  children  as  follows  were  born  to 
them:  Nettie,  who  was  married  to  F.  Twin- 
ing, and  died  in  Henrietta  township,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Maud;  Herbert  S.,  a  farmer 
of  Spink  county,  S.  D. ;  May,  residing  at 
home;  and  Lindsey  E.,  who  died  young. 
The  mother  of  these  died  November  5, 
1883,  and  was  buried  in  Brighton  town- 
ship. In  1885  Mr.  Goss  married  Mrs. 
Ezilda  Bridgman,  a  widow,  sister  of  liis 
first  wife,  and  she  died  in  1891,  her  re- 
mains beino-  t'lken  to  Atchison,  Kans., 
where  tliey  were  laid  to  rest.  Mr.  Goss  in 
his  early  political  preferences  was  a  straight 


Republican,  and  as  such  served  witii  credit 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace;  of  late  years  he 
has  been  a  zealous  Prohibitionist.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon.  A  typi- 
cal self-made  man,  he  is  a  leader  and  ad- 
viser in  tiie  community,  being  possessed 
of  good  judgment  and  sound  common  sense. 


[(  LBERT  H.  SMITH,  manager  and 
l\  city  editor  of  the  Eiyria  Republican, 
was  born  in  Chepstow  (originally  a 
Norman  stronghold  and  fortifica- 
tion), Monmouthshire,  England, 
June  11,  1848,  a  son  of  George  Frederick 
and  Elizabeth  (Chidgey)  Smith,  the  former 
of  whom  was  descended  from  Norman- 
Welsh  ancestry,  the  latter  of  Saxon  or 
English  stock.  George  F.  Smith,  who  was 
a  custom-house  officer,  died  when  the  sub- 
ject of  these  lines  was  a  lad  of  some  nine 
summers. 

A.  H.  Smith  after  leaving  school  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  West  Somerset  Free 
Press,  a  well-known  weekly  paper  pub- 
lished at  Williton,  Somersetshire, England, 
and  here  he  learned  the  profession  of 
printer  and  journalist,  subsequently  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  paper.  In  June,  1870, 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and,  locating  in 
Corry,  Erie  Co.,  Penn.,  took  charge  of  a 
daily  paper  there  till  the  fall  of  1872, 
when  he  moved  to  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  manager  of  the 
Standard  of  the  Cross,  the  Episcopal 
organ  for  the  diocese  of  Ohio.  With  this 
pajier  he  was  coimected  till  1875,  a  period 
of  about  three  years,  during  which  time 
it  was  removed  to  Cleveland.  Mr.  Smith 
then  came  to  Eiyria  and  bought  a  half 
interest  in  the  Rejpuhlican,  which  he,  how- 
ever, sold,  remaining  with  the  paper  as 
city  editor.  Again  becoming  a  stock- 
holder, in  September,  1891,  a  joint-stock 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1009 


company  was  organized,  and  our  subject 
lias  since  continued  in  tlie  dual  capacity  of 
general  nianaorer  and  city  editor. 

In  1871  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to 
Amanda  H.  Fuller.  In  church  connec- 
tion he  is  an  Episcopalian,  in  politics  a 
Republican,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &.  A.  M.  and  I.  0.  O.  F. 


HOMAS  LINE.  Ranking  among 
the  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Columbia  township  is  this 
gentleman,  who  is  an  Englishman 
by  birth,  having  been  born,  in  1823, 
in  West  Haddon,  Northamptonshire. 

He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Facer)  Line,  who  in  1848  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  sailing  from  Liverpool, 
and  arriving  at  New  York  after  a  voyage 
of  five  weeks.  From  there  they  proceeded 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
cleared  a  farm  out  of  the  dense  forests  and 
became  a  prosperous  agriculturist;  he  was 
a  builder  by  trade,  but  in  this  country  fol- 
lowed farming  exclusively  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  September  11, 
1872,  when  he  was  eighty-two  years  old, 
his  wife  passing  away  February  27,  1887, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Charles,  who  died  in  Ridgeville  township 
in  18!)2;  Thomas;  John,  a  resident  of 
Columbia  township;  and  Sarah,  wife  of 
George  Robinson,  postmaster  at  North 
Ridgeville,  Lorain  county. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  at 
the  schools  of  his  native  parish  in  Eng- 
land, and  learned  the  trade  of  mason.  He 
was  married  in  that  country  February  8, 
1848,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gare,  and  the  same 
year  they  emigrated  with  the  rest  of  his 
family  to  the  United  States.  Bj  this 
union  there  were  four  children,  viz.:  Sarah 
J.,  wife  of  John  Cole,  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; Fred  William,  residing  at  Millbury, 


Wood  Co.,  Ohio;  John  T.,  married,  who  is 
in  the  hardware  business  at  Matta  Bend, 
Mo.;  and  Lue,  wife  of  Ernest  Mitchell,  of 
Ridgeville  township.  Tlie  mother  of  these 
died  May  1, 1882,  aged  tifty-si.x  years,  four 
months,  and  September  1,  1884,  Mr.  Line 
married,  in  New  York,  Miss  Martha 
Watts,  also  a  native  of  England.  Our 
subject  worked  at  his  trade  in  Lorain 
county,  in  the  South,  and  in  various  other 
places,  till  settling  down  to  farming  pur- 
suits. He  now  owns  a  well-cultivated 
place  of  eighty-one  acres  in  Columbia 
township  where  he  lives,  and  seventy-four 
in  Eaton  township.  He  has  erected  on  his 
farm  a  good  l)rick  residence.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  was  postmaster  at 
North  Eaton  some  years.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  male  members  of  the  family  have  been 
masons  for  hundreds  of  years  back. 


rRANK  D.  JOHNSON,  foremost  in 
the  ranks  of  the  leading  engineers 
_^       in  the  employ  of  the  Wheeling  & 
Lake   Erie  Hailroad    Company,  is  a 
native  of  Huron  county,  Ohio,  born  March 
30,  1852,  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Elizabeth 
P.  (Snyder)  Johnson. 

Our  subject  received  a  liberal  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
working  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
twenty  years  old.  At  that  time,  being 
dissatisfied  with  the  life  of  a  husbandman, 
he  left  the  paternal  roof,  and  proceeding 
to  Cleveland  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Atlantic  &  Great  Western  Railroad  Com- 
pany, remaining  ten  years.  At  first  he 
fired  an  engine,  and  then  was  promoted  to 
engineer,  in  which  capacity  he  has  since 
served  with  characteristic  carefulness  and 
fidelity.  Removing  to  Norwalk,  Huron 
county,  he  at  once  commenced  as  engin- 
eer for  the  Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  Railroad 
Company,  his  present  position. 


1010 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


On  June  17,  1876,  Mr.  Johnson  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  E.  Miller,  born  September 
20.  1852.  in  Chester  county,  Penii.,  and 
thiee  children  have  come  to  brighten  their 
home,  as  follows:  Flora  V.,  Oliver  E.  and 
Edessa  M.  Politically  oiir  suliject  is  a  Ke- 
publican,  a  hearty  worker  in  his  party,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  is  a  man  of  magnificent 
physique,  standing  six  feet  in  his  stockings, 
and  weighing  220  .pounds.  He  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  trustworthy  engineers 
on  the  road,  none  more  popular,  and  his 
agreeable  and  jovial  disposition  makes  him 
friends  wherever  he  goes.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  Norwalk  Lodge  K.  of  P. 
His  residence  is  No.  82  Prospect  street, 
Norwalk,  Ohio. 


V 


t  if  RS.  L.  A.  OSBORNE,   a    resident 

\^     of    North   Amherst,   was   born   in 

-^1]    Orwel,  Vt.,  daughter  of  Ira  W. 

and   Lucy  Smith,   also  natives  of 

Vermont,  where  they  were  married, 

and    where     ten     children    were    born    to 

them. 

In  the  fall  of  1832  Ira  W.  Smitji  came 
west  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio  (the  trip  being 
made  for  the  most  part  by  water),  and  pur- 
chased a  considerable  amount  of  land  about 
one  mile  from  the  present  village  of  Noi'th 
Amherst.  Later  on  the  rest  of  the  family 
joined  him;  but  he  was  not  fated  to  long 
enjoy  his  new  honje.  for  in  the  spring  of 
tlie  following  year,  just  six  weeks  after 
the  arrival  of  his  wife  and  children,  he 
was  killed  hy  a  falling  tree  while  out  in 
the  woods  making  a  roadway  through,  on 
his  land,  which  is  now  called  the  Middle 
Ridge.  He  was  in  his  fifty-second  year  at 
the  time,  and  his  sudden  taking  off  was  a 
terrible  blow  to  the  family;  his  widow  died 
about  twenty  years  ago  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren,   of  whom    the    following  is  a  brief 


record:  (1)  Lucy  married  Daniel  Cuts,  and 
settled   in  Windham,    Portage   Co.,   Oliio, 
where    she  died.     (2)    Ira  "\V.  was  a  land- 
owner, farmei-  a^id   stockman  at  Kankakee, 
Ilk,  and   died    there  leaving  a  numerous 
family.      (3)   M.   D.   was  a   stockman  and 
landowner  at  Wellington,  Ohio,   where  he 
died    leaving    a    large  family.     (4)   Sarah 
Ann  married   a   Mr.  Streator  in  Vermont, 
and   died    in    Licking    county,  Ohio.      (5) 
Mariette  is  the  wife  of   Orluni  Winton,  of 
North  Amherst,  Ohio.      (6)   Russell  was  a 
ranchman,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  the 
city  of  Stockton,  Cal.   (7)  John  (deceased) 
was  a  farmer  in  Iowa.      (8)  Jane  married 
Samuel  Vining,  and    died  in  Illinois.      (9) 
Charles  died   in  Kansas.      (10)   L.  A'.,   the 
subject    proper    of  this   memoir,   born   in 
1832,  was    married  in  1850,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  to   William    Walker,  who   was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  reared 
at  North  Amherst,  Ohio.     He  died  sixteen 
years  after  marriage,  leaving  three  children, 
viz.:    Zuleina    L.,  wife  of  A.  V.  Kent,  of 
Toledo,  Ohio,  by  whom  she  has  three  chil- 
dren: Loula  L.,  Grace  E.  and  Amos  Ross; 
Charles,  a  farmer  on   Middle  Ridge,  Am- 
herst  township,  Lorain   Co..  Ohio  (he  has 
one   child,  Bertie);  and    William  K.,  vvho 
died  in  October,  1892.  aged  thirty-two  years. 
Oursubject  was  married,  the  second  time, 
in  1868,  to  Henry  A.  Osborne,  a  native  of 
Lorain  county,  born  in  Avon,  but  most  of 
whose    early  life  was    passed    in   Pennsyl- 
vania.    After   marriage    they  made    tlieir 
home    in    Amherst    township.      He  was  a 
soldier    during   the  war   of  the  Rebellion, 
and  in  the  service   contracted  consumption 
of  which    he  died    July  26,   1871.     One 
child    was  born   to  this  union:  Maude  E., 
now  the  wife   of  J.  H.  Wright,  of  Grind- 
stone City,  on  Lake   Huron.     For  the  past 
sixteen    years  Mrs.    Osborne  has  lived  on 
Church  street,  North  Amherst,  and  among 
her    children.     She    is   identified  with  the 
Congregational  Church;   her  second   hus- 
band was  a  member  of   the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mrs.   L.    A.   Osborne's    early  education 
was  limited  to  tlie  common  schools,  but  an 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1011 


ambition  to  excel  caused  her  to  attain  in- 
telligence and  culture  rapidly,  and  this, 
coupled  witli  a  liandsome  appearance  and 
genial  disposition,  made  her  an  early  favor- 
ite in  society.  Her  first  husband  was  an 
excellent  business  man,  and  tlie  Walker 
family  became  known  as  one  of  the  pros- 
perous and  leading  families  of  Lorain 
county.  Mrs.  Osi)orne  had  grave  respon- 
sibilities left  upon  her  by  her  first  hus- 
band's death;  but  she  succeeded  well.  She 
is  still  young  looking,  and  still  among  the 
social  leaders  of  North  Amherst.  She  is 
an  active  church  worker,  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Ladies'  Relief  Corps  of 
North  Amherst. 


HARLES  BO  WEES,  well  known 
and  highly  respected  iri  Wellington 
and  vicinity,  where  for  several  years 
he  has  industriously  pursued  his 
trade,  that  of  carpenter,  is  a  native  of  the 
town,  liorn  August  13.  1836,  a  son  of 
Sylvester  and  Esther  (Cheney)  Bowers. 

Sylvester  Bowers,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, born  in  1805,  came  west  to  Ohio  in 
1834,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Wellington 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  here  reared 
a  hardy  and  intelligent  family.  Of  late 
years  he  has  lived  a  retired  life  in  Well- 
ington, on  Tayler  street.  Politically  he 
was  originally  a  Whig,  and  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  party  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican; in  Church  connection  for  some  years 
he  was  a  Baptist,  but  for  a  considerable 
time  back  has  been  a  Congregationalist. 
His  wife,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born 
in  1804,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  Their  children,  four  in  number, 
were:  John,  who  joined  Company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Third  O.  V.  I.,  and  was 
killed  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville;  Charles. 
our  subject;  Victoria,  deceased  wife  of 
Oscar  Herrick,  county  auditor,  living  in 
Elyria;  and  Harriet,  residing  with  her 
father. 


Charles  Bowers,  of  whom  this  sketch 
more  particularly  relates,  attended  in  his 
boyhood  the  district  schools,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  in  his  native  town. 
In  June,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Eighty-sixth  Regiment  O.  V.  L,  which 
was  ordered  to  Cumberland  Gap;  he  was 
discharged  there  at  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service,  and  returned  home.  The 
following  season  he  served  in  the  Govern- 
ment employ  as  carpenter  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  after  the  war  he 
worked  six  months  longer  for  the  Govern- 
ment, since  when  he  has  been  a  constant 
resident  of  Wellington,  Lorain  county.  In 
1870  Mr.  Bowers  married  Miss  Emma  J. 
Webster,  who  was  born  in  Wellington, 
Ohio.  October  13,  1838,  and  tliey  have 
two  children:  Ida,  married  to  David 
Gammell,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  and  Clayton. 
Mrs.  Bowers  is  a  daughter  of  Oliver  and 
Melissa  (Babcock)  Webster,  New  England 
people,  the  latter  of  whom  was  eighty- 
five  years  of  age  in  November,  1893.  The 
father,  who  passed  away  in  1870  at  the 
acre  of  sixty-two  years,  was  a  Whig  and 
Republican,  and  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  Their  children  were: 
Emerson,  in  Denver,  Colo.;  Henry,  in 
Wellington,  Lorain  county;  Alonzo, 
Amelia,  Phileua  (deceased)  and  Emma. 
Mrs.  Bowers'  paternal  grandfather,  David 
Webster,  came  to  Lorain  county  in  a  very 
early  day,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post;  in 
Church  connection  he  and  his  wife  are 
Congregationalists. 


J.  COLE,  the  genial  and  popular 
clerk  of  Columbia  township,  was 
born  on  his  present  farm  August  19, 
1860,  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Ban- 
croft) Cole,  natives  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts,  respectively. 

John  Cole  carae  to  Columbia  township 
when  a  boy  of  nine  years,  along  with  seven 


1012 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


other  members  of  the  family,  and  was  here 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Bancroft,  who  liad 
migrated  hither  in  her  girlhood,  settling  in 
Ridgeville  township.  They  are  yet  livin;;, 
the  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  Eliza- 
beth A.,  wife  of  A.  H.  Perry,  of  Colum- 
bia township;  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  F.  J. 
Hinman,  of  Cleveland;  Fred  E.  (married), 
died  in  Kansas  in  1S84;  and  C.  J.,  our 
subject.  The  father  was  a  fanner  by  oc- 
cupation, a  Prohibitionist- Democrat  in 
politics,  and  filled  various  township  othces, 
including  those  of  clerk  and  trustee. 

C.  J.  Cole,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  re- 
ceived his  elementary  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  township,  and  aft- 
erward attended  Oberlin  College  six  years, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1886.  On  ac- 
count of  failure  in  health  he  returned  to 
his  father's  farm  immediately  after  grad- 
uating, where  he  has  since  remained.  His 
chief  occupation  has  been  farming  and 
school  teaching,  which  latter  he  followed 
some  five  years  in  Olmsted  and  Columbia 
townships,  and  he  is  the  owner  of  sixty-five 
acres  of  prime  land,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cul- 
ti  vation.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican; has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
some  years,  and  as  township  clerk  six  years, 
with  ability  and  fidelity,  having  been  elec- 
ted to  the  ofiice  in  1887.  Mr.  Cole  is 
justly  recognized  as  a  useful  member  of 
society,  and  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
citizens  of  his  township.  He  is  deeply 
interested  in  educational  matters,  and  an 
avowed  advocate  of  free  schools  and  free 
speech. 


URIEL  M.  BEMIS,  a  well-known  re- 
spected citizen  of  Lorain,  was  born  in 
1829  in  Massachusetts.  His  parents, 
Charles  H.  and  Azubah  (Perry) 
Bemis,  were  also  uatives  of  Massachusetts, 
and  in  1850  moved  westward,  locating  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio.  They  had  children 
as  follows:  LTriel  M.,  our  subject;  Francis, 
of  Amherst,  Lorain  county,  who  enlisted 
in  1863  in  an  Ohio  Regiment,  and  served 


through  the  remainder  of  the  war;  Marcus, 
now  living  in  Iowa  county,  Mich.;  Henry, 
deceased;  Charles  and  Luther,  who  both 
died  in  the  army.  The  father  of  this  fam- 
ily died  in  Tennessee  in  1857;  the  mother 
died  in  1881,  in  Lorain  county. 

Uriel  M.  Bemis  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  State,  and  when  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  locating  in  Black  River  township, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  also 
operated  a  sawmill.  In  1865  he  removed 
to  Sheffield  township,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  milling,  and  in  1886 
came  to  Lorain,  where  he  has  since  been 
employed  as  engineer  in  the  car  shops.  In 
1853  he  was  united  iu  marriage,  in  Shef- 
field township,  with  Miss  Mary  Standen, 
a  native  of  England,  daughter  of  James 
and  Julia  (Upton)  Standen,  also  natives  of 
England,  and  who  came  to  Shefiield  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  in  an  early  day. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bemis  have  been  born  the 
following  named  children:  Eva  M.,  wife 
of  Thomas  C.  Burlingame;  Ella,  widow  of 
Edwin  Abels;  Celia,  married  to  James 
White;  Hattie,  married  to  Daniel  Dodge, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Nettie,  wife  of  Fred 
Olkey,  of  Lorain;  and  Harry  L.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Bemis  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
takes  an  interest  in  everything  tending  to 
improve  and  advance  the  community  in 
which  he  resides. 


T^HOMAS  C.  BURLINGAME,  fore- 

I       man  of    the    Car  Shops  at   Lorain, 
I        is  the  oldest  employe  in    same,  hav- 
J)       ing  worked   there   the   past   twenty 
years. 
His  father,  William  Burlingame,     was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  and  in  about  1836 
came  to    Lorain    county,   Ohio,  where    he 
followed  farming,  also  conducting   a  saw- 
mill for  a  few   years.     He  was    united    in 
marriage,    in     Sheffield   township,  Lorain 
county,   with    Melissa    Baker,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  they   reared  eight  chil- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1013 


dreu,  as  follows:  Sarah,  married  to  Will- 
iam Smith,  of  Lorain;  Henry,  vvlio  resides 
in  Wisconsin;  Tiionias  Corwin;  Eunice, 
wife  of  Daniel  Ball,  Cleveland;  Maria, 
wife  of  Harry  Packhain,  of  Chicago;  Lucy, 
wife  of  B.  Shaw,  of  Geneva,  Ohio;  Will- 
iam, Jr.,  of  Geneva;  and  Martha,  Mrs. 
Braiiiard,  of  Geneva.  They  have  a  half- 
sister  named  Mina.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  in  Sheffield  township  in  1865, 
and  in  1872  the  father  moved  to  Ashta- 
bula county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1892. 
Politically  he  was  first  a  Whig,  and  after- 
ward, on  the  formation  of  the  party,  a  Re- 
publican, being  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  his  party;  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  early  history  of  the  county. 

Thomas  Corwin  Burlingame  was  born 
December  22,  1846,  in  Sheffield  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  He  followed  milling  in  the 
township  in  an  early  day,  and  in  1873 
moved  into  Lorain,  here  enterinoj  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Cleveland,  Lorain  &  Wheeling 
Railroad  Company.  On  November  28, 
1871,  he  was  married,  in  Sheffield  township, 
to  Miss  Eva  M.  Bemis,  a  native  of  Lorain, 
and  they  have  had  one  child,  Gertie.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  a  Repuldican. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Tent  No.  1, 
K.  O.  T.  M.,  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  of 
the  Order  of  Tonti,  of  which  he  is  treas- 
urer. In  religion  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burlingame 
are  members  of  the  Disciple  Church. 


El    G.  SPRAGUE,  a  well-to-do  farmer 
citizen  of  LaGrange   township,  is  a 
I   native  of  Livingston  county,  N.  Y., 

born  August   2,  1841,  in  the  town 
of  York. 

His  father,  William  G.  Sprague,  son  of 
William,  was  born  February  23,  1812,  in 
Covington,  N.  Y..  and  on  November  17, 
1886,  married  Miss  Pamelia  Root,  who 
was  born  January  1,  1819,  in  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  whence    her    parents,  Chester  and 


Clarissa  Root,  moved  to  New  York,  where 
she  met  and  married  Mr.  Spragne.  The 
latter  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  and  fol- 
lowed it  in  New  York  State,  where  three 
children  were  born  to  him,  viz.:  Chester, 
born  February  15,  1838,  who  died  Febru- 
ary 8,  1840;  William  Chester,  born  Janu- 
ary 30,  1840,  who  was  killed  by  a  horse 
March  1,  1891;  and  Edward  G.,  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch.  In  the  spring  of 
1842  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  whither  the 
father  had  preceded  them  a  few  months, 
spending  the  winter  near  Columbus,  Ohio, 
where  he  had  better  health.  When  the 
family  joined  him  in  the  spring,  he  pur- 
chased land  in  Copley,  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
residing  thereon  for  ten  years,  and  then 
removing  to  Lorain  county,  where  he  in- 
vested in  135  acres  of  land.  Here  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  except 
one  year,  when  he  lioiight  and  conducted 
a  gristmill  at  La  Porte.  He  died  on  his 
farm  February  3,  1893,  preceded  by  his 
wife  Jnne  23,  1883,  and  they  now  lie 
buried  in  East  cemetery,  LaGrange  town- 
ship. The  children  born  to  them  after 
coming  to  Ohio  were  Oliver  R.,  born 
March  14,  1846,  in  Copley,  who  died  May 
28,  1864;  and  Charley,  born  December  6, 
1848,  in  Copley,  who  died  October  12, 
1879  Mr.  Sprague  was  an  active  man, 
and  traveled  considerably,  visiting  the 
Centennial  E.xposition  at  Philadelphia  in 
1876;  he  owned  some  property  in  Michi- 
gan, which  he  also  visited  frequently.  He 
was  well  informed  on  various  questions, 
and  though  he  had  but  limited  educational 
advantages  in  his  youth  he  acquired  much 
pracrical  learning  by  reading,  travel  and 
observation.  He  conducted  systematically 
anything  which  he  undertook,  and  was 
much  respected  in  his  community.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  held  the 
office  of  township  trustee. 

E.G.  Sprague  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  during  his  boyhood  and 
youth  was  inducted  into  the  mysteries  of 
farm  life.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he 
left  home  and  went  to  Michiijan,  where  he 


1014 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


worked  in  the  joineries,  but  being  dissatis- 
fied returned.  On  March  14,  1867,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Malissa  Dale, 
who  was  born  November  16,  1846,  in 
LaGrauge  township,  daughter  of  Orrie 
and  Charille  (Clark)  Dale,  and  for  one  year 
thereafter  they  lived  on  land  in  Grafton 
township,  which  he  rented  from  his  father- 
in-law.  They  then  moved  into  LaGrange 
township,  where,  with  the  exception  of  a 
year  and  a  half  they  lived  in  LaPorte,  they 
have  ever  since  had  their  residence,  on 
April  7,  1892,  coming  to  the  home  fai'm, 
where  they  now  are.  He  is  administrator 
of  his  father's  estate,  and  controls  over 
three  hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  G.  Sprague  have  children  as  fol- 
lows: Linnie,  born  March  5,1872;  George 
E.,  born  July  1,  1877;  and  Ora  M.,  born 
February  26,  1883.  In  politics  our  sub- 
ject is  a  Republican,  but  is  not  active  in 
party  affairs.  He  has  been  a  lifelong 
agriculturist,  and  besides  general  farming 
is  extensively  engaged  in  raising  horses 
and  sheep,  a  large  number  of  which  he 
usually  has  on  hand. 


FE.  GRIFFIN,  a  thoroughly  repre- 
sentative self-made  man,  and  a  pros- 
_^       parous    agriculturist    of     Amherst 
township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 
October  15,  1847,  a  son  of  Frederick  A. 
and  Bethia  L.  (Jenne)  Grifiin. 

Frederick  A.  GrifBn,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, stands  prominent  among  the  practi- 
cally self-made  agriculturists  of  Lorain 
county.  He  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  5,  1824,  a  son  of  Morris  and 
Maria  (Brownell)  Grifiin,  natives  of  the 
same  place.  The  father  was  a  farmer,  and 
died  in  New  York  about  the  year  1827; 
the  widowed  mother  then  married  Paul 
Nichols,  and  they  lived  in  Cayuga  county 
till  1875,  when  they  came  to  Lorain  county 
and    made   their   home  with  Frederick  A. 


The  mother  died  in  Michigan  in  1890. 
Grandfather  Samuel  Brownell  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  followed  droving  between 
that  city  and  the  West;  he  died  in  Wyoming 
county,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 
On  the  maternal  side  of  the  house  the  fam- 
ily are  of  Holland  extraction,  and  on  the 
paternal  side  they  are  of  Scotch.  Three 
Grifiin  brothers  came  from  Scotland  in 
Colonial  days,  and  settled  in  New  York. 

Frederick  A.  Griffin  was  reared  in  part 
in  Cayuga  and  in  part  in  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  at  the  schools  of  which  place  he  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education.  In  1844  he 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locating  on 
rented  land  in  Amherst  township.  In 
1847  he  moved  into  Erie  county,  thence 
in  1852  to  Russia  township,  where  lie 
cleared  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  wild  land. 
Here  he  lived  until  1878,  when  he  came 
to  Elyria  township,  and  settled  on  his 
present  farm.  On  September  4,  1846,  Mr. 
Griffin  was  married  in  Ridgeville,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Bethia  L.  Jeiine,  a  na- 
tive of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  Ansel  and  Elizabeth  (Brcwn)  Jenne,  of 
whom  mention  is  made  elsewhere.  Two 
sons  have  been  born  to  this  union,  viz.: 
Frederick  E.,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  and  Charles  B.,  married  to  Mary 
Gawn,  and  residing  in  Amherst  township 
rthey  have  four  children,  viz.:  Charles, 
Frederick  A.,  Gertrude  and  Eugene).  In 
politics  Mr.  Griffin  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and 
he  is  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance 
principles.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Elyria.  Mr.  Griffin 
at  one  time  owned  good  farms  in  Rus- 
sia and  Amherst  townships,  aggregating 
200  acres,  which  he  sold  prior  to  coming 
to  Elyria  township. 

Frederick  E.  Griffin  attended  in  his  boy- 
hood and  early  youth  the  public  schools  of 
his  township,  and  was  reared  to  farming, 
which  has  been  his  life-work.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Emma  Bassett,  who  was  born  April  26, 
1847,  in  Russia,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Charles  and   Emma  (Parsons)  Bassett, 


^ 


%^i¥^ 


LOEAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1017 


the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  towu 
of  Chili,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  10, 
1820,  the  latter  in  AViltshire,  England, 
July  28, 1819.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick 
E.  Grifhii  has  been  born  one  child,  Allen 
E.  Mr.  Griffin  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics,  and  is  an  ardent  Re- 
publican; recently  be  was  nominated  for 
the  County  Republican  Committee.  At 
the  last  election  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  county  commissioner  of  Lorain 
county,  and  took  office  January  1,  1894. 
In  matters  of  religion  be  was  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a  productive  farm  of  ninety 
acres,  all  well  improved,  wliereon,  in  addi- 
tion to  cereals,  etc.,  he  raises  sheep  and 
fine-bred  horses. 


W.  KEENER,  leading  capitalist, 
and  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
business  men  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  same,  born  June 
20,  1850. 

Peter  Kelner,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  came  to  this  country  from  Ger- 
many in  about  1787,  and  first  made  a 
temporary  location  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey.  In  1788  he  brought  his  family  to 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and  took  up  his 
residence  near  the  town  of  Champion, 
where  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  Of  their  children 
four  sons  and  one  daughter  grew  to  ma- 
turity, among  whom  was  one  named  Will- 
iam, the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 

William  Kelner  was  born  September  1, 
1787,  in  New  Jersey,  and  was  reared  to  the 
multitudinous  duties  of  farm  life  in  Jef- 
ferson county,  N.  Y.  He  had  but  limited 
educational  opportunities,  and  learned  to 
read  after  bis  marriage,  having  attended 
school  in  his  youth  but  six  weeks.  In 
1818  he  was  married  in  Jefferson  county, 
N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Phelps,  a  native  of 


that  county,  born  November  13, 1792,  and 
they  became  the  parents  oi*  two  children, 
namely:  Elmii'a,  born  June  20,  1819, 
who  was  married  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
to  Sandrus  Rockwood,  and  after  his  decease 
to  James  Waite  (she  died  in  LaGrange 
December  24,  1848);  and  Charles,  born 
January  3,  1823.  Mr.  Kelner  was  a  well- 
to-do  farmer,  and  owned  a  good  place  in 
Jefferson  county.  In  the  spring  of  1835 
he  set  out  for  Ohio,  with  a  view  of  locat- 
ing, walkiu}^  the  entire  distance,  and  after 
looking  over  the  land  and  making  a  selec- 
tion returned  to  New  York,  where  he  sold 
his  farm  and  iarining  utensils.  Mrs.  Kel- 
ner died  June  2,  1835,  and  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  started  for  Ohio  with  his 
tw'o  motherless  children,  making  the  trip 
in  a  covered  wagon  drawn  by  two  horses. 
After  a  wearisome  journey  they  arrived  in 
LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
for  a  short  time  they  were  guests  of  Nathan 
Clark,  LaGrange  township's  first  perma- 
nent settler,  later  making  their  home  with 
one  Joseph  Phelps,  a  brother-in  law.  Mr. 
Kelner  purchased  one  hundred  acres  in 
Lot  19,  N.  W.  Section  of  LaGrange  town- 
ship, for  which  tract  he  paid  one  thou- 
sand dollars  in  cash,  and  which  land  he 
cleared  and  improved,  also  adding  to  it  as 
circumstances  permitted.  He  was  twice 
married  after  coming  to  Lorain  county: 
first  to  Miss  Mary  Chase,  who  was  born 
November  26,  1783,  and  died  November 
23,  1842,  but  had  no  children  by  either 
union.  He  passed  from  earth  March  28, 
1878,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of  ninety  years, 
dying  in  LaGrange  township,  where  he  was 
buried.  He  was  a  successful  farmer,  and 
accumulated  a  very  comfortable  compe- 
tence, being  a  most  active  man  even  in  his 
old  age,  never  content  unless  occupied  with 
labor  of  some  kind.  He  was  constantly 
reading  and  studying  the  Scriptures,  and  in 
religious  connection  was  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  which  he  joined  in  his  later 
years. 

Charles    Kelner,   father  of  our  subject, 
was  about  twelve  years  old  when  he  came 


1018 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


with  his  father  to  Ohio,  and  drove  the 
horses  during  most  of  the  journey.  He  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  received  an  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  then  worked 
on  the  home  place  until  his  marriage.  On 
October  19,  1840,  he  wedded  Miss  Martha 
A.  Clark,  who  was  born  May  13,  1820,  in 
Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  third  daughter  and 
fifth  child  of  Nathan  and  Anna  (Loorais) 
Clark,  who  came  to  LaGrange  township  in 
1825,  and,  as  previously  stated,  were  the 
first  permanent  settlers  there.  To  the  union 
of  Charles  and  Martha  A.  Kelner  came 
children  as  follows:  George  H.,  born  June 
6,  1842,  a  cheese  maker  and  fanner  of  La- 
Grange  township;  Cynthia  M.,  born  Oc- 
tober 7,  1844,  now  Mrs.  Richard  Rounds, 
of  Barry  county,  Mich.;  Emma  M.,  born 
November  3,  1846,  now  Mrs.  Nelson  Wil- 
son, of  Penfield,  Ohio;  Stowell  W.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Frank,  born  July  29, 
1855,  a  farmer  of  LaGrange  township;  and 
Charlie,  born  August  13,  1860,  a  resident 
of  LaGrange  township.  The  family  re- 
sided on  the  homestead  many  years,  mak- 
ing their  home  thei-e  until  1875,  when  he 
built  in  LaGrange  village  the  finest  resi- 
dence in  the  township,  and  there  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  August 
14,  1880.  He  was  buried  in  a  cemetery 
near  the  home  farm  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship. In  his  political  affiliations  he  was 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  held  the  office  of  township  trustee 
when  the  town  hall  was  built.  He  was 
very  successful  in  his  agricultural  affairs, 
and  accumulated  a  very  comfortable  com- 
petence, leaving  to  his  widow  an  elegant 
home,  which  she  now  shares  with  our  sub- 
ject. 

Stowell  W.  Kelner  receiv^ed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
place,  his  first  teacher  being  William  A. 
Sraman.  He  was  reared  to  farming  pur- 
suits, and  remained  at  home  with  his  par- 
ents until  December  17,  1872,  when  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah 
E.  Nichols,  who  was  born  December  8, 
1853,  in  LaGrange,  daughter  of  Cyrus  and 


Henrietta  (Pierce)  Nichols,  who  came  from 
Watertown,  N.  Y.,  to  LaGrange  township 
in  an  early  day.  Children  as  follows  have 
blessed  the  union  of  Stowell  W.  and  Han- 
nah E.  Kelner:  Two  sons  that  died  in  in- 
fancy; Cassie  M.,  born  October  30,  1881; 
Mattie  M.  H.,  born  August  1,  1885;  Earl 
W.,  born  June  14,  1889;  and  Rowan  B., 
born  January  26,  1891.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Kelner  settled  on  the  home  place, 
which  had  been  divided  between  two  sons, 
and  for  five  years  conducted  the  stone 
quarry  which  had  been  discovered  on  the 
farm.  But  in  1884  a  switch  from  the 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  was  built  from  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio,  and  the  stone  business  (a  very 
profitable  one)  and  the  farm  of  140  acres 
were  sold  to  the  Cleveland  Stone  Co.  at  a 
handsome  figure.  Mr.  Kelner  had  also 
erected  buildings,  and  carried  on  a  general 
store,  which  were  disposed  of  at  the  same 
time.  He  still  owns  fifty  acres  of  valuable 
stone  land.  Li  the  fall  of  1883  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  the  village  of  LaGrange, 
and  here  he  has  since  resided  in  the  beauti- 
ful and  luxuriously  furnished  home  erected 
by  his  father.  He  buys  and  sells  wool, 
and  also  deals  in  various  kinds  of  stock, 
being  a  shrewd,  well-known  business  man, 
popular  in  the  commercial  circles  of  Lorain 
county.  He  is  amemberof  the  Democratic 
party,  but  takes  no  particular  interest  in 
political  affairs.  Mrs.  Kelner  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


JOSEPH  TURLEY,  retired  merchant, 
and  a  representative  self-made   man, 
having  his  residence  in  Wellington, 
is  a  native  of  Manchester,  England, 
born  in  1814. 

He  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Alice  (Eckels- 
ley)  Turley,  of  Irish  and  English  birth, 
respectively,  the  former  of  whom  went  to 
England  when  a  young  man,  aud  there 
married.  He  was  a  weaver,  a  trade  he  fol- 
lowed in  England  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  seventy  years  of  age; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1019 


his  wife  also  died  in  the  motlier  country, 
aged  about  sixty-five.  Of  their  children 
the  following  is  a  brief  record:  James 
Lionel  is  a  weaver  in  Manchester,  England; 
John  was  also  a  weaver  in  Manchester, 
where  he  died;  Joseph  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Frank  resided  in  Manchester; 
Isabel  O.  died  in  England;  and  one  died 
young. 

Joseph  Tnrley  received  his  education  at 
the  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  worked 
in  a  large  cotton -factory  there.  At  the  aj);e 
of  thirty-five  years  he  immijjrated  to  the 
United  States,  landing  at  Boston,  Mass., 
and  worked  in  the  East  some  two  years 
before  coming  West,  part  of  the  time  as  a 
mechanic  at  Springfield,  Mass.  While  so 
employed  he  received  a  hurt  in  an  acci- 
dent, and  it  was  then  that  he  turned  his  at- 
tention, through  a  friend,  to  Wellington, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  This  was  in  1850,  al- 
most half  a  century  ago,  when  the  bear, 
the  panther,  the  wolf  and  many  other  wild 
animals  still  roamed  the  imperial  forest. 
Here  Mr.  Tnrley  resolved  to  go  into  the 
grocery  business,  and  after  securing  a  suit- 
able building  found  he  had  only  twelve 
dollars  left  wherewith  to  buy  goods;  from 
which  small  beginnings,  by  close  applica- 
tion to  business,  shrewdness  and  economy, 
he  made  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  a  com- 
fortable competence.  His  first  week's  re- 
ceipts amounted  to  between  twenty  and 
thirty  dollars,  and  the  last  bill  he  paid,  for 
sugar  and  molasses  alone,  amounted  to  two 
thousand  dollars.  In  1860  he  visited  Eng- 
land, being  about  fifty  weeks  thei-e,  and 
after  his  return  located  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  for  two  years  he  operated  a  grain 
and  produce  business.  At  the  end  of  tliat 
time  he  opened  a  cooperative  store  in  Wel- 
lington, and  one  in  01)erlin,  but  in  about 
a  year  and  a  quarter  he  retired  from  busi- 
ness. In  March,  1893,  he  again  visited 
England,  but  returned  in  the  following 
June,  having  been  taken  sick  there.  On 
both  his  trips  he  happened  to  be  the  oldest 
passenger  on  board  the  vessel,  although  he 
was  one  of  about  twelve  hundred  souls. 


Mr.  Tnrley  was  married,  on  May  18, 
18-10,  to  Miss  Anna  Smith,  who  died  in 
1851,  and  in  1852  he  wedded,  for  his 
second  wife.  Miss  Anna  Vincent,  who  died 
November  15,  1892.  In  politics  our  sub- 
ject is  strictly  independent;  in  church 
matters  he  is  a  Congregationalist.  He 
has  been  liberal  in  his  contributions  to 
various  charitable  institutions.  Aside  from 
a  temporary  affliction,  he  is  remarkable  for 
mental  and  pliysical  vigor. 


THOMAS  COX,  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury a  resident  of  Elyria  township, 
where  he  has  been  a  prosperous 
farmer,  is  a  native  of  England,  born 
in  Northamptonshire,  in  November, 
1816,  in  the  village  of  Naseby,  near 
where  was  fought,  in  June,  1645,  the 
ujemorable  battle  between  Cromwell  and 
the  Eoyalists,  in  which  the  latter  were  de- 
feated with  the  loss  of  five  thousand  men. 
Thomas  Cox,  father  of  our  subject,  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  place,  and  by  occupation 
a  laborer  and  farmer,  sailed  in  1833  for  the 
United  States  with  his  family,  landing  in 
Philadelphia  July  8,  of  tliat  year,  and  first 
locating  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn.  From 
there  he  proceeded  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  made  a  settlement  in  Elyria  town- 
ship, east  of  the  river.  In  England  he  had 
married  Miss  Catherine  Luck,  of  the  same 
county,  and  they  had  five  children,  viz.: 
William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn.;  Robert, 
who  resided  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn., 
and  died  at  about  the  age  of  seventy-two; 
Joseph,  living  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn.; 
John,  in  Elyria  township,  and  Thomas,  our 
subject.  The  mother  died  in  England  be- 
fore the  family  came  to  this  country;  the 
father  died  in  August,  1851,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years. 

The    subject  proper  of  these  lines  re- 
ceived his  education  in  Pennsylvania,  and 


1020 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  all  his 
life.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  has 
prospered  well.  In  1840  he  married  Miss 
Isabella  Aldridge,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  March,  1820,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  (Crisp)  Aldridge,  natives  of  War- 
wickshire, and  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1831,  landing  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  thence 
proceeding  to  Pittsburgh,  Peiin.,  where 
they  both  died  i  n  185-1,  of  cholera.  They  had 
two  sons:  Thomas,  living  in  Steuben ville, 
Ohio,  and  John,  who  died  in  Newport,  Ky. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  have  been  born  two 
children,  namely:  Samuel,  who  is  married 
and  has  two  children,  Burton  and  Howard; 
and  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Richard  Henson,  also 
has  two  children,  Thomas  H.  and  Alfred 
C.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  straight  Re- 
publican, and  cast  his  lirst  vote  for  W.  H. 
Harrison.  [Since  the  above  was  written 
we  have  been  informed  of  the  death  from 
La  Grippe  of  Thomas  Cox,  the  subject  of 
the  sketch,  the  sad  event  taking  place  De- 
cember 20,  1893. 


J.  RICHMOND,  one  of  the  thor- 
ough-going representative  farmers 
of  Amherst  township,  is  a  native  of 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  boi'n  in  Black 
River  township,  iVpril  15,  1881. 
He  is  a  son  of  Freeman  and  Eunice  Rich- 
mond, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  August  29,  1791,  the 
latter  in   New  York. 

The  father  was  twice  married,  the  first 
time  to  a  Miss  Nancy  Arnold,  of  Chau- 
tauqua county,  N.  Y.  Soon  after  marriage 
they  moved  to  Sheffield,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
arriving  there  December  1,  1815.  One 
child,  Philinda,  was  born  September  14, 
1817,  being  the  first  white  child  born  in 
Sheffield.  Mrs.  Nancy  Richtnond  died 
August  12, 1819.  The  daughter,  Philinda, 
married  Schuyler  Strong,  and  died  Novem- 


ber 4,  1844.  In  the  course  of  time  Mr. 
Richmond  was  married  to  Mrs.  Eunice 
Fox,  a  widow  with  four  children — Gill)ert, 
Orpha,  Hannah  and  Nancy.  The  children 
of  the  second  marriage  are  six  in  number, 
viz.:  Sylva,  born  July  15,  1824,  and  mar- 
ried to  Albert  Arnold;  Minerva,  wife  of 
Isaac  Sliupe,  born  July  21,  1826;  Jane, 
born  February  19,1829;  Albert,  born  April 
15,  1831;  Milo,  born  January  2,  1837; 
Eimeda,  wife  of  James  Rankin,  born  July 
24,  1839.  Freeman  Richmond  moved 
from  Sheffield  to  Black  River  township 
February  15,  1825,  and  afterward  removed 
to  Amherst.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety- 
one,  his  wife  surviving  him  two  years. 

A.  J.  Richmond,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  his  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  Amherst  township,  where 
he  was  reared  to  farming,  which  has  al- 
ways been  his  occupation,  excepting  in  his 
younger  days,  when  he  worked  for  a  time 
at  vessel  calking  at  Lorain,  Milan  and 
Huron. 

On  October  9,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Mary  L.  Gilmore,  daughter  of  Aretus  and 
Orra  Gilmore,  early  pioneers  of  Black 
River  township,  Lorain  county,  and  to  this 
union  one  son.  Bird,  was  born. 

Bird  Richmond  was  liorn  October  16, 
1853,  and  was  married,  October  16,  1877, 
to  Sarah  E.  Jenne,  daughter  of  Ansel  and 
Phebe  Jenne,  by  which  union  one  son, 
Frank,  was  born  July  16,  1880. 

A.  J.  Richmond's  wife  died  October  11, 
1886,  and  in  1888  Mr.  Richmond  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Emaretta  Tenery,  of  Clyde, 
Ohio.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  always  taken  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  the  county,  of  which 
he  is  a  useful  and  loyal  citizen. 


T    A.  MEREDITH  is  a  son  of  William 

k.  I     Meredith,  who  was  born    August  8, 

\J)    1813.    in     Herefordshire,     England, 

eldest  child  of  James  Meredith,  who 

was  a  farmer. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1021 


William  Meredith  was  reared  to  the 
duties  of  agricultural  life,  and  received  but 
a  connnoii-school  education,  his  opportuni- 
ties in  that  direction  being  limited,  as  his 
parents  were  poor.  For  a  time  he  found 
employment  working  in  noblemen's  gar- 
dens, etc.,  but  in  1848  left  England,  sail- 
ing from  Liverpool  in  the  vessel  "  Cala- 
grimcha,"  which  was  some  time  afterward 
burned  at  sea.  Aionof  with  William  came 
a  friend,  Thomas  Jones,  who  had  been 
here  before,  and  after  land  in  u;  at  New  Vork 
they  proceeded  to  Pittsfield  township,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Meiedith  in- 
vested in  forty-seven  acres  of  land  at  nine 
dollars  per  acre,  for  which  he  was  obliged 
to  go  into  debt.  On  April  23,  1849,  he 
married  Esther  Gurney,  who  was  born 
February  8, 1816,  in  Worcestershire,  Eng- 
land, and  passed  the  earlier  part  of  her  life 
in  Herefordshire,  same  country.  She  w'as 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Wheeler) 
Gnrnev,  who  were  poor  people,  and  Esther 
was  early  in  life  obliged  to  work  for  a 
living,  being  thus  deprived  of  even  the 
smallest  opy)ortunity  to  obtain  an  educa- 
tion. She  had  met  Mr.  Meredith  in  Eng- 
land, where  they  were  engaged,  and  he 
started  for  the  United  States  to  seek  a 
home,  concluding,  if  satisfactory  arrange- 
ments could  not  be  made  here,  to  return  to 
England.  But  in  about  a  year  he  had 
made  a  home,  and  sent  for  Miss  Gurney, 
who  sailed  from  Liverpool  on  a  vessel  of 
the  "Black  Star  Line,"  landing  in  New 
York  after  a  voyage  of  thirty-three  days. 
She  immediately  proceeded  to  Pittsfield 
township,  where  she  was  joined  l>y  Mr. 
Meredith,  and  here  immediately  alter  mar- 
riage they  began  life  in  a  rude  frame 
house,  where  they  resided  seven  years, 
after  which  they  moved  to  the  farm.  To 
their  union  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Mary  Ann,  deceased  in  infancy;  James  A., 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Alice,  Mrs.  John 
White,  of  Wellington,  Oiiio;  and  Keuben 
and  Arthur,  botli  farmers  of  Pittsfield 
township.  He  was  a  strong  Republican, 
and  took  great   interest  in  political  issues. 


reading  considerably  and  keeping  himself 
well  posted.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  July  3,  1885,  he  owned 
280  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  he  had  ac- 
quired by  patient,  honest  toil,  working 
part  of  the  time  as  a  farm  hand.  He  and 
ills  wife  were  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  England.  Mr.  Meredith  was 
buried  in  the  South  cemetery  at  Welling- 
ton. Since  his  death  the  widow  has  re- 
sided on  the  home  farm,  and  is  a  highly 
respected  lady  in  her  community. 

J.  A.  Meredith  was  born  July  29,1854, 
in  Pittsfield  township,  and  received  his 
literary  training  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  reared  to  the  arduous  duties  of 
agricultural  life,  and  remained  on  the 
home  f^rm  until  his  marriage,  working 
out  in  the  summer  seasons.  On  Decem- 
ber 25,  1870,  he  wedded  Miss  Alice  Par- 
sons, a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Armitta 
(Corkins)  Parsons,  and  immediately  there- 
after settled  on  his  present  farm,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  carrying  on  a  general 
farming  and  dairying  business.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  and  progressive 
young  farmers  in  his  section,  and  is  a 
well-known  member  of  the  locality.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  held 
various  township  offices,  refusing  others. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Lorain  Lodge, 
No.  281,  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  Camp  No.  247. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meredith  have  come 
children  as  follows:  Clara  E.,  Frank  A., 
Charles  (deceased),  Mai)el  A.,  Lena  A., 
Bessie,  Belle  R.  and  Howard  Edmund. 


A.  WIRE,  late  superintendent  of 
the  C.  L.  &  W.  R.'R.  docks,  Lo- 
rain, deservedly  one  of  the  most 
popular  of  men.  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  born  April  17,  1831. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Abigail  (Sher- 
man) AVire,  the  former  of  whom  was  for 
some  time  a  contractor  on  the  New  York 
Central  Railroad.     He  was  also  a  preacher 


1022 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  having 
coiuinenced  exhorting  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
one.  When  our  subject  was  three  years 
old  the  family  moved  to  Ashtabula  county, 
Ohio,  ]ocatir)g  on  a  farm  for  a  time,  after 
which  they  again  returned  to  New  York 
State,  and  for  six  years  made  their  home 
in  the  town  of  Canandaigua.  The  mother, 
who  was  of  Scotch  lineage,  died  in  Potter, 
Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  father  then  re- 
sided for  a  short  time  in  Wayne  county. 
He  lived  to  be  eighty-one  years  old,  and  a 
short  time  before  his  death  was  cradling 
grain,  sometiiing  not  to  be  so  much  mar- 
veled at  when  it  is  remembered  that  he 
came  from  a  long-lived  hardy  Scotch-Irish 
race.  His  grandfather  was  one  of  Wash- 
ington's body  guard  during  tiie  Revolu- 
tionary war. 

W.  A.  Wire,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
in  his  boyhood  attended  school  in  New 
York  State,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
commenced  railroading,  first  as  a  fireman 
for  a  locomotive  on  the  Cleveland  &  Co- 
lumbus Railroad;  at  the  end  of  a  year  he 
was  appointed  brakeman  on  the  Cleveland 
&  Erie  Railroad,  which  position  he  filled 
also  one  year.  For  the  following  eighteen 
years  he  was  conductor  on  the  Cleveland 
&  Erie  road,  after  which  for  three  years  he 
ran  the  yard  at  nights  in  Cleveland  for 
the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road. His  next  experience  was  in  tiie 
Pennsylvania  oil  fields,  two  years  speculat- 
ing in  oil.  From  there  he  came  to  Lorain, 
having  received  tlie  appointment  of  yard- 
master  for  the  Cleveland,  Tuscarawas  Val- 
ley &  Wheeling  (now  the  Cleveland, 
Lorain  &  Wheeling)  Railroad.  On  his 
retirement  from  this  incumbency  in  the 
spring  of  1884,  to  go  to  Cleveland,  Mr. 
Wire  was  presented  by  the  city  and  rail- 
road employes  with  a  handsome  gold 
watch  as  an  expression  of  esteem.  His 
call  to  Cleveland  at  that  time  was  to  ac- 
cept the  position  of  dockmaster  on  the 
"  ]3ig  Four,"  remaining  thereon  for  seven 
and  a  half  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time, 
Novennber  1, 1888,  he  returned  to  Lorain  to 


fill  the  then  vacant  position  of  assistant 
superintendent  for  the  C.  L.  &  W.  road, 
in  which  capacity  he  remained  one  year, 
and  was  then  given  charge  of  the  docks  as 
superintendent.  In  April,  1893,  he  left 
the  railroad  business,  and  moved  to  Glen- 
ville,   Ohio. 

In  1853  Mr.  Wire  was  married  in  Lake 
county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Caroline  Rosette 
Powers,  of  Perry,  Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  a  lady 
of  French  origin,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Samuel,  a  machinist  in 
the  employ  of  the  C.  L.  &  W.  Railroad 
Company  (he  is  married  to  a  daughter  of 
Capt.  Coney,  of  Lorain),  and  Laura,  who 
is  a  singing  Evangelist,  traveling  through- 
out the  country.  Mr.  Wire  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  K.  of  H.  and  R.  A., 
and  of  the  Disciple  Church.  In  politics 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


^J 


VTflCHOLAS   GRABENSTETTER,  a 

yJ     well-known  farmer  citizen  of  Graf- 

1     ton   township,  was  born   June  29, 

1820,    in   Baden,  Germany,  son  of 

Paul  and  Rosa  (Gross)  Grabenstet- 

ter,  farming  people  of  that  place. 

In  June,  1833,  the  family,  which  then 
consisted  of  the  parents  and  three  children 
—  Nicholas,  Sophia  and  Alice — left  their 
native  country,  the  father  having  saved 
enough  from  his  earnings  to  bring  them  to 
the  United  States.  They  embarked  at 
Havre,  France,  in  a  full-rigged  sailing 
vessel,  and  after  a  voyage  of  thirtj^-five 
days  landed  in  New  York,  where  they  re- 
mained one  week,  strangers  in  a  strange 
land.  They  then  took  a  steamboat  to  Al- 
bany, thence  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  remained  over  winter,  the  father 
doing  any  honest  labor  he  could  there  find, 
but  as  times  were  hard  Nicholas  could  find 
nothing  to  do.  In  May,  1834,  they  left 
Rochester,  traveling  by  canal  to  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  thence  by  steamboat  to  Cleveland, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1023 


Ohio,  where  they  remained  two  weeks, 
searching  for  latid.  As  his  capital  was 
small,  Mr.  Grabenstetter  concluded  to  go 
to  Stark  county,  and  traveling  by  canal  to 
Bethlehem  (near  Massillon),  that  county, 
remained  three  weeks,  but  finding  himself 
unable  to  purchase  land  there,  returned  to 
Cleveland,  taking  the  same  route.  He 
then  went  to  Liverpool  township,  Medina 
county,  wliere  he  purchased  forty-seven 
acres  at  four  dollars  per  acre,  which  land 
was  entirely  in  the  woods,  not  a  tree  having 
been  cut,  or  a  single  improvement  made 
thereon.  A  rude  house,  constructed  of 
rough  boards  and  a  couple  of  forked  stocks, 
was  put  up,  which,  though  wet  and  un- 
comfortable, served  as  a  shelter  all  sum- 
mer. Setting  to  work  they  began  to  clear 
the  land,  though  during  the  first  year  they 
could  raise  nothing  but  garden  stuff,  and  a 
log  house  was  built,  which  was  later  sup- 
planted by  one  of  hewn  logs.  Although 
wild  game  was  plentiful,  the  forest  teem- 
ing with  deer,  turkeys,  etc.,  they  could  not 
take  advantage  of  the  abundance,  as  they 
could  not  afford  firearms,  and  thus  they 
were  obliged  to  struggle  on  till  crops  grew 
better.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grabenstetter  re- 
sided on  this  farm  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  dying  at  the  ages  of  eighty-five  and 
eighty-three  years,  respectively,  and  were 
buried  in  the  Catholic  cemetery  in  Liver- 
pool township.  They  were  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  In  Eochester,  N.  Y., 
the  family  was  increased  by  one  child, 
Frank,  w-lio  is  now  a  farmer  in  Litchfield, 
Medina  county. 

Nicholas  Grabenstetter  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  attended  school  in  his  native 
country  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  the  woods 
of  Liverpool  township,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  became  inured  to  hard  work,  and 
he  resided  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage. Our  sul)ject  was  not  only  employed 
at  farm  labor,  l)ut  also  worked  on  the  canal 
then  in  course  of  construction  at  Milan, 
Ohio,  before  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 


He  was  afterward  employed  on  various 
other  canals,  the  Tuscarawas  Canal,  the 
Erie  Canal,  the  Mauraee  Canal,  etc.,  toiling 
from  sunrise  to  sunset  for  fifty  cents  a 
day,  and  all  his  earnings  went  to' assist  his 
father. 

In  1841  he  was  wedded  to  Mary  Yeager, 
a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  daughter  of 
Lawrence  Yeager,  who  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Liverpool  township, 
Medina  county,  in  pioneer  times.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Grabenstetter  located  on  the 
farm  of  his  mother-in-law,  remaining 
there  for  eight  years,  wdien  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  forty-five  acres  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  this  land  cost  fire 
hundred  dollars,  and  he  was  obliged  to  cro 
four  hundred  dollars  into  debt  for  same, 
but  by  hard  work  the  loan  was  soon  paid 
off.  He  resided  thereon  until  1863,  when 
he  purchased  his  present  place,  then  com- 
prising ninety-eight  acres,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  following  agricultural  pur- 
suits. To  our  subject  and  wife  were  born 
eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  livino-, 
namely:  Odelia,  Sophia,  Aloiiys,  Andrew, 
Rosa  and  John.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren died  May  6,  1870,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Catholic  cemetery;  she  was  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Grabenstet- 
ter has  been  a  hard  working  man,  and  by 
his  industry  has  accumulated  a  cotnfort- 
able  property.  He  is  an  excellent  farmer, 
and  an  honest,  upright  business  man, 
highly  respected  and  esteemed.  He  is  a 
lifelong  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
hut  does  not  mix  in  politics;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Church. 


JM.  SEELYE,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of 
liidgeville  township,  where  he  owns 
forty-four  acres  all  in  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  is  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  born  in  Avon  township,  July 
26,  1836. 


1024 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


He  is  the  son  of  Cornelius  and  Rachel 
(Smith)  Seelye,  who  were  natives  of  New 
York  State,  where  they  were  married,  and 
whence  in  an  early  day  tliej  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  the  woods  of  Avon  township, 
Lorain  county,  near  French  creek,  where 
Mrs.  Seelye  died  in  1843.  They  remained 
here  till  1847,  and  then  moved  to  Craw- 
ford county,  Wis.,  where  the  father  con- 
tinued to  live  until  1854,  in  which  year  he 
returned  to  Lorain  county,  taking  up  his 
home  in  La  Porte.  He  died  in  Avon  town- 
ship in  1866.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Seelye  married,  in  Avon  township,  Mary 
Cad  well,  who  died  in  Elyria  in  1888.  By 
his  lirst  marriage  he  had  fourteen  children 
— seven  sons  and  seven  daughters — as  fol- 
lows: Humphrey,  married,  residing  in 
Wellington;  Esther,  wlio  married  John 
Cockrell,  and  died  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio; 
Joseph,  deceased  in  Iowa;  Thomas,  who 
resides  in  Michigan;  Phebe,  deceased  wife 
of  Hart  Smith,  of  New  York;  Elmira, 
who  was  the  wife  of  William  Plubbard, 
died  at  French  Creek;  Daniel,  married, 
residing  in  Crawford  county.  Wis.; 
Phineas,  also  residing  in  Crawford  county, 
Wis.;  J.  M.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Flor- 
entine, who  married  Asa  Frary,  and  died 
in  Wayne  county,  Ohio;  Ursula,  wife  of 
William  Vandeveer,  of  Kalamazoo,  Mich.; 
McKindre,  who  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  in 
Avon  tovvnship,  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service;  and  two 
others  whose  names  have  not  been  given. 
By  his  second  marriage  there  were  no 
children.  Politically  Mr.  Seelye  was  first 
a  AVhig,  later  a  liepublican. 

J.  M.  Seelye,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  I'eceived  his  education  in  part  at 
the  schools  of  Avon  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  in  pai't  at  those  (jf  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  whither  he  had  removed  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years.  After  a  four 
years'  residence  there  he  returned  to  Lo- 
rain county,  and  in  Ridgeville  township 
worked  by  tlie  month  for  Randall  Stetson 
for  about  eight  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  moved   to  Crawford  coutity.  Wis., 


sojourning  there  one  winter,  and  then 
coming  back  to  his  old  home  in  Ridgeville 
township.  Again  he  worked  for  Mr.  Stet- 
son, getting  out  lumber,  until  May,  1860, 
when  he  went  to  California,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  the  dairy  business  till  1864,  in 
whicli  year  he  once  more  found  himself  in 
Ridgeville  township.  In  1866  he  made  a 
trip  to  Michigan,  where  in  Van  Buren 
county  he  bought  120  acres  of  land,  and 
farmed  three  years;  then  in  the  city  of 
Lawrence,  same  county,  he  conducted  a 
butchering  business  eight  years.  Next  we 
find  our  Protean  friend  in  the  lumber 
business,  buying  and  selling  until  1889, 
when  he  once  more  came  to  Ridgeville 
township  to  finally  remain. 

In  1866  J.  M.  Seelye  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Jane  M.  Stetson,  born 
in  Ridgeville  township.  Lorain  county,  a 
daughter  of  Randall  and  Adeline  Stetson, 
and  by  this  union  there  was  one  son,  Ran- 
dall, who  died  in  Michigan  at  the  age  of 
six  years.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a 
straight  Denjocrat,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
school  board. 


ng  farmers  of  Rochester  town- 
her    best   known 


H[  ENRY  A.  BARNES.     One  of  the 
lead 
ship,  and    one   of 

and  most  honored  citizens,  the  sub- 
ject of   this  sketch  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  second  to  none  in   these 
respects. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
born  in  Worcester  county  April  23,  1827, 
a  son  of  Moses  Barnes,  whose  nativity  was 
Becket,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  When  the 
latter  was  nine  or  ten  years  old  his  father 
died,  leaving  ten  children,  some  of  whom 
were  bound  out  as  apprentices,  while 
Moses  and  other.s  of  the  younger  members 
of  the  family  were  kept  at  home.  In  his 
boyhood  he  suffered  from  a  severe  attack 
of  fever,  which  resulted  in  his  being  left 
a  cripple  for   life.     When   a   young  man, 


s,**-^ 


~r5^  CL  ,/oca.^i^nL^ 


LOHAm  COUXTY,  OHIO. 


1027 


after  leaving  school,  lie  learned  the  trade 
of  cloth  dresser.  In  1833  Mo^es,  with  his 
wife  and  children,  set  out  for  Lorain  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  making  direct  for  Rochester 
township,  he  and  his  brother  Sumner  hav- 
ing traded  land  in  Massachusetts  for  200 
acres  in  that  township,  receiving  also  two 
hundred  dollars  as  "  boot  money."  The 
journey  was  made  via  canal  and  lake,  and 
they  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Black 
river  in  Lorain  county,  where  they  hired 
an  ox-teani  to  convey  them  to  Huntington 
township,  and  here  the  party  remained  at 
the  home  of  Jesse  Johnson,  an  acquaint- 
ance, during  the  illness  and  death  of  Silas, 
a  son  of  Moses  Barnes  (Silas  was  the  first 
to  be  buried  in  Huntington  cemetery). 
They  then  settled  on  their  own  property  in 
'  Rochester  township,  where  they  had  hasti- 
ly built  a  log  cabin,  which  at  first  had 
neither  door  nor  chimney,  but  was  soon 
afterward  much  improved,  both  in-pppear- 
ance  and  comfort.  The  land  was  all  cov- 
ered with  timber,  chiefly  beech  and  maple, 
and  wild  animals  were  numerous.  For 
their  milling  they  had  to  go  to  Hayesville, 
Ashland  county,  the  trip  occupying  two 
days. 

When  a  young  man  Moses  Barnes  had 
married,  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  Miss  Eliza 
Stone,  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and 
who  worked  in  a  cotton  factory,  and  in 
that  State  were  born  to  them  children  as 
follows:  Henry  A.  (subject  of  sketch), 
Milo,  Silas  (ali-eady  referred  to),  and  Orin, 
who  died  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  Milo  had 
rather  an  adventurous  life.  At  the  time 
of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he 
was  living  in  Arkansas,  where  he  was  ar- 
rested hy  the  Confederates  as  a  spy,  and 
was  confined  to  prison  three  months  and 
five  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was 
released  on  condition  of  his  enlisting  in 
tile  Southern  army,  which  he  did,  serving 
one  year  as  a  teamster.      But  securing  a 

5)as8  one  day,  he  escaped  to  Fort  Scott, 
i!ans.,  where  he  found  the  Third  Wiscon- 
sin Cavalry,  for  whom  he  acted  as  guide, 
but  was  shot  at  by  some  Confederates  and 

S3    . 


wounded;  after  convalescence  he  enlisted 
in  the  Twelfth  O.  V.  I.  His  regiment 
was  sent  to  Johnson's  Island  at  the  time 
of  the  "  Canada  scare,"  and  he  was  on  duty 
eight  hours  that  cold  New  Year's  night  of 
1863,  which  brought  on  a  violent  cold  that 
settled  on  his  lungs,  causing  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  Island. 

In  Rochester  township  there  were  born 
seven  children  to  Mo.ses  Barnes,  namely: 
Rachel,  who  married  Charles  Day,  and 
died  in  New  London,  Ohio;  William,  de- 
ceased at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years'; 
Alvira,  deceased  when  young;  John,  who 
died  during  the  Civil  war  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  of  smallpox,  while  a  member  of  the 
Tiiird  Ohio  Cavalry;  Johan,  deceased  when 
five  years  old;  Lecta,  deceased  in  infancy, 
and  Lewis,  now  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead, Rochester  Station,  Lorain  county. 
The  father  died  in  September,  1888,  in 
his  eighty-seventh  year,  the  mother  in 
March,  same  year,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years,  and  they  are  buried  in  Roch- 
ester cemetery.  They  were  exemplary 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  of  the 
first  class  formed  in  Rochester;  politically 
Mr.  Barnes  was  original!}'  a  Whig,  after- 
ward a  Republican. 

Henry  A.  Barnes,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  six  years  old  when  the 
family  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Lorain 
county,  consequently  his  education  was 
limited.  Ho  attended  the  first  school 
taught  in  Rochester  township  by  Martha 
Fay,  she  receiving  one  dollar  a  week,  and 
boarding  from  house  ta4iouse;  the  funds 
were  raised  by  subscription.  Her  walk 
to  the  schoolhouse,  never  less  than  two 
miles,  was  through  the  woods,  the  direc- 
tion being  found  by  marked  trees.  The 
old  school-building  was  made  of  logs  about 
sixteen  feet  square.  Mr.  Barnes'  school- 
ing consisted  of  about  three  months  a  year 
until  he  was  eitrhteen.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen  he  began  working  away  from  the  pa- 
ternal roof,  first  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  Seager, 
of  ClarksfieM  township,  Huron  county, 
later  for  Benjamin   Perkins,  of  Rochester, 


1028 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ohio,  four  years,  and  then  working  nearly 
a  year  at  the  building  of  the  Cleveland 
&  Columbus  Railroad.  After  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  seventy  acres  of  dense  timber- 
covered  land  in  Rochester  township,  for 
which  he  paid  seven  dollars  per  acre,  and 
liere  he  built  a  rude  log  cabin,  12x16 
feet  inside.  This  was  the  happiest  era  of 
his  life,  and  from  time  to  time  he  added 
to  this  purchase  till  he  now  owns  180 
acres  of  as  rich  farm  land  as  can  be  found 
in  this  vicinity,  for  a  part  of  this  he  paid 
fifty  dollars  per  acre,  and  had  placed  on  it 
all  of  the  modern  improvements. 

On  January  23,  1848,  Mr.  Barnes  was 
married  to  Miss  Polly  Day,  who  was  born 
in  New  London  township,  Huron  Co., 
Ohio,  June  20,  1832,  and  died  May  31, 
1892,  in  her  sixtieth  year.  She  was  the 
youngest  child  of  Dr.  Samuel  Day,  who 
was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  New 
London  township.  She  was  left  an  or- 
phan at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  after 
which  she  took  care  of  herself,  making  her 
home  mostly  with  her  half-sister,  Mrs. 
Hendrix,  until  she  was  married  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  in  Rochester  township, 
Lorain  county.  Here  by  their  united  ef- 
forts they  built  up  the  beautiful  home  and 
surroundings,  and  here  she  was  residing 
at  the  time  of  her  death.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  viz.:  Samuel 
M.,  who  is  now  a  farmer  in  Michigan; 
Eliza  (now  Mrs.  A.  G.  Fisher),  Rosina 
(Mrs.  John  Dagnan),  and  Matilda  (Mrs. 
Nelson  Robinson),  all  living  in  Welling- 
ton, Lorain  count}',  Ohio;  Henry  W.,  a 
farmer  on  the  homestead;  Clarence,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  two  de- 
ceased in  infancy.  Five  of  these  yet  re- 
main to  comfort  their  father. 

Mrs.  Barnes  experienced  religion  thirty- 
seven  years  ago,  and  united  with  her  hus- 
band in  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Rochester, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  Although  in  poor 
heHlth,  and  being  prevented  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  from  attending  public 
worship,  she  ever  lived  a  faithful  and  con- 
sistent Christian  life.      She   was  a  loving 


and  devoted  wife  and  mother.  Realizing 
that  her  end  was  near,  she  made  needful 
preparations  for  her  funeral,  which  was 
held  at  her  late  home  June  2,  1892,  and 
was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  rela- 
tives and  friends,  after  which  she  was  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  at  Rochester. 

In  his  political  associations  our  subject 
is  a  Republican,  and  he  served  his  township 
as  trustee  four  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
and  steward  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  of  the 
Sabbath-school  of  which  he  was  superin- 
tendent some  five  years.  On  September 
10,  1893,  Mr.  Barnes  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lina  Braman  (the  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Belinda  Braman),  a  resi- 
dent of  Rochester  and  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church. 


TASSO  DELOS  PHELON,  a  resi- 
dent of  Huntington  township,  is  a 
native  of  same,  born  August  31, 
1843,  a  son  of  Delos  and  Louisa  M. 
(Perkins)  Phelon. 
Thefatherof  oursubjectwasborn  in  1812, 
in  Hartford  county.  Conn.,  whence  in  1833 
he  came  to  Ohio,  and  built  the  first  ware- 
house at  the  mouth  of  Black  river,  where 
is  now  the  thriving  town  of  Lorain  (he  had 
previously  visited  Cleveland  with  the  in- 
tention of  remaining,  but  returned  to  Con- 
necticut). At  this  place  he  carried  on  a 
forwarding  and  commission  business  from 
1833  to  1837,  after  which  he  had  his  resi- 
dence for  a  time  in  Sheffield  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  and  then  moved  to  Hunting- 
ton township,  where  he  kept  a  general 
merchandise  store,  and  also  farmed,  dying 
October  4,  1888^  his  wife  had  passed  away 
June  19,  same  year,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years,  seven  months,  ten  days;  she 
was  born  in  Becket,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.  Mr.  Phelon  in  his  political  asso- 
ciations was  originally  an  Old-line  Whig, 
but  in  later  years  changed  to  a  Democrat. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1029 


The}'  were  the  parents  of  children  as  fol- 
lows: Daniel  AV.,  who  resides  iu  Kansas; 
Joseph  Y.,  in  Huntington;  Deette,  wife  of 
L.  Chapman,  of  Rochester;  Mary,  wife 
of  G.  W.  Wilbur,  of  Hartland,  Huron 
county,  had  one  child,  George  J.,  who  died 
when  about  twelve  years  old;  and  T.  D. 
Grandfather  Phelon  was  born  in  Suffield, 
Conn.,  and  died  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 

T.  D.  Phelon,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  Huntington,  his  summer  months 
being  occupied  in  learning  the  practical 
lessons  of  farm  life.  In  December,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-eighth  O.  V.  L,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  conflict,  when  he  was 
mustered  out  by  order  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment, July  13,  1865.  On  his  return  home 
after  the  war  he  took  up  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  has  since  successfully  con- 
tinued in  same.  In  1869  he  married  Miss 
Adelaide  Noony,  born  in  Hnntinjjton 
township,  Lorain  county,  August  12,  ISIB, 
and  one  child,  Flora  1^.,  still  under  the 
parental  roof,  was  born  to  them.  Mr. 
Phelon  is  a  Republican,  and  served  his 
township  as  trustee  two  or  three  terms;  he 
is  in  his  tenth  year  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  vvas  school  director  some  fifteen  years. 
In  1888  he  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner, an  incumbency  he  is  yet  filling  with 
ability  and  fidelity.  Mr.  Phelon  owns  a 
large  tract  of  land,  on  which  part  of  the 
village  of  Huntington  now  stands.  He  is 
regarded  as  one  of  Lorain  county's  strong- 
est and  most  popular  citizens,  and  is  a 
prosperous  representative  agriculturist. 


^RRIN  T.  BAKER,  retired  agricul- 
turist,   and    a    leading    prominent 
citizen  of  Lorain  county,  is  a  native 
of    the    State  of    N"ew  York,   born 
in  1818. 

His  father,  Elisha  Baker,  was  born  in 
Vermont  July  25,  1782,  and  died  in  New 


York  State  vvhen  his  son   Orrin  T.   was  a 
child.    He  married  Miss  Ruth  Davids,  who 
was  born  November  11,  1787,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years.     They   were  the 
parents  of  children  as  follows:  Mary,  born 
December  28,  1812,   who  was   married   to 
Lucas  Adams,   and   resided    in   Michigan, 
where  she  died  January  11,    1891;   David, 
born  January  10, 1814,  who  died  in  Illinois; 
Elisha,  born  September  18,  1815,  who  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  died  shortly 
afterward,  in  Illinois,  from   the    effects   of 
exposure;  Hiram,  born  October  16,  1816, 
who  lives  in  Chittenden  county,  Yt.-,  Orrin 
T.  (the  subject  of   this  sketch)  and    Alvin 
(twins),  born  in   1818;    and   George,   born 
February  6,  1819,  who  lives  in   Michigan. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated 
at  the  public  schools  of  the  locality  of  his 
place  of  birth,  and  at  the  age   of  fourteen 
was  bound  out  to  learn    the   trade  of  car- 
penter and  joiner  with  A.    L.  Cook,  serv- 
ing a  seven  years'  apprenticeship  in  Hunt- 
ington    township,     Chittenden    Co.,    Yt., 
whither  he  had  removed,  his  residence  be- 
ing in  an  adjoining  township.    In  1835  he 
came  to  Ohio  with  Mr.  Cook,  and  located 
in  Fitchville,  Huron  county,  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Huntington  and 
resumed  work  with   his   former   employer. 
In  course  of  time  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Cook,  and  at  the  end   of   a  year 
commenced  journeyman  work  for  himself. 
On   October    11,   1844,    he    married    Miss 
LydiaO.  Perkins,  a  native  of  Becket,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  born  in  1824,  a  daughter 
of  Col.  Darius  and  Polly  (Dewey)  Perkins, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born   in   Connec- 
ticut.   He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and 
in  1833  came  to  Ohio,  making  a  settle- 
ment in  Huntington  Center, Lorain  county, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm    out   of    the  wild 
woods,  game  at  that  time  being  plentiful 
and    wild    animals  numerous.     Here  Mr. 
Perkins    died    at    the    age    of    eighty-one 
years,    his    wife    when    seventy-two  years 
old;  they  were  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Perkins 
was  a  Whig.     They  were  the  parents  of 


1030 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


seven  children,  to  wit:  Milton  D.,  who 
married,  and  died  in  1873,  leaving  a 
family;  Marj  L.,  who  married  *  Delos 
Phelon,  botii  now  deceased;  Orrin  M.,  who 
died  young;  Lydia  O.  and  Abel  Dewey 
(twins),  of  whom  Abel  died  in  1892; 
Samuel  John,  who  died  in  1879;  and  Sarah 
J.,  wife  of  W.  W.  Wells. 

After  marriage  our  subject  and  wife  re- 
mained in  Huntington  township,  Lorain 
county,  till  1868,  when  they  came  to  the 
town  of  Wellington,  same  county,  and 
have  lived  in  their  present  home  twenty- 
two  years.  During  his  entire  life  Mr. 
Eaker  has  followed  his  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  made  sasli,  doors  and 
blinds  in  the  winter  season,  also  contract- 
ing for  the  building  of  houses,  etc.  When 
he  first  commenced  business  in  Huntington 
township,  there  were  some  fifteen  carpen- 
ters, but  they  all  left,  leaving  him  in  un- 
disputed possession  of  the  tielil,  and  as  a 
result  he  put  up  more  buildings  in  Hunt- 
ington than  any  other  man.  In  that  town- 
ship he  owns  115  acres  of  land,  besides 
the  five  acres  on  which  his  home  stands  in 
Wellington.  Politically  Mr.  Baker  is  a 
Eepublican,  his  first  Presidential  vote 
being  cast  for  William  Henry  Harrison, 
while  in  principle  he  has  always  been 
anti-slavery  and  a  Prohibitionist.  In  mat- 
ters of  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  his  wife -of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  She  is  a  charter  member 
of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  and  was 
first  noble  grand  of  Lilywood  Lodge,  of 
Wellington.  Socially  Mr.  Baker  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Lorain  Lodge  ISTo.  281,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  has  passed  all  the  Chairs  of  the  Sub- 
ordinate Lodge.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  this  honored  couple,  namely:  Ed- 
gar D.,  a  sketch  of  whom  follows,  and 
Eosa  Ophelia,  born  in  April,  1S52,  and 
married  to  M.  N.  Hill,  of  Kipton,  Ohio 
(they  have  two  children:  Leo  JST.  and  Ora). 

Edgar  D.  Baker  was  born  in  Huntington 
township,  Lorain  county,  September  6, 
1845,  and  in  his  boyhood  winters  attended 
the  common  schools  of  the   neighborhood. 


On  December  10,  1863,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  1,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
eigiitli  O.  V.  L,  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  term  of  service  did  duty  on 
JohuBon's  Island  as  a  private  orderly;  he 
was  discharged  in  July,  1865,  and  returned 
home.  In  1867  he  married  Miss  Ella 
Moore,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
three  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Maude  (born  August  31,  1870,  mar- 
ried to  Arthur  D.  Eglin,  of  Wellington, 
Ohio),  Lelia  Belle  and  Ray  0.  Mr.  E.  D. 
Baker  is  now   farming  on    the   homestead 

TT  • 

in  Huntington  township.  He  is  a  straight 
Repni)lican,  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
in  which  he  has  filled  various  ottices.  He 
is  agent  for  the  P.  A.  W.  Railroad,  and 
po.'tmaster  at  Baker's  Crossino-. 


JAMES  WYATT,  who  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  has  been  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Amherst  township, 
is  an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  in 
Devonshire  in  1825,  a  son  of  James  and 
Hannah  (Rich)  Wyatt,  also  of  Devonshire, 
where  they  were  married,  and  where  the 
latter  died  in  1854. 

In  1854,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  the 
bereaved  father  came  to  the  United  States 
with  his  children,  making  a  settlement  in 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died 
the  same  year.  He  was  the  father  of  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Francis,  married,  and  liv- 
ing in  Minnesota;  James,  subject  of  sketch; 
John,  married,  a  resident  and  pioneer  of 
Dodge  county.  Minn.;  Mary,  wife  of 
Samuel  Kingston,  living  in  Decatur  coun- 
ty, Iowa;  Harriet,  wife  of  Edward  Dow, 
of  Corry,  Penn.;  Nancy,  widow  of  Charles 
Hines,  of  Evansville,  Wis. ;  Anna,  married 
and  living  in  Dodge  county,  Minn.;  and 
Samuel  S.,  married,  and  a  resident  of  Clay 
county,  Iowa. 

James  Wyatt,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1031 


native,  county  in  England,  and  in  1854 
came  with  his  father  to  America,  and  to 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  till  1807;  he  then  came 
westward  to  Huron  county,  Ohio,  whence 
in  1869  he  moved  to  Lorain  county,  wiiere 
he  has  since  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1855  our  subject  was  married  in 
Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Mrs.  Phinna 
N.  (Culver")  Arnold,  widow  of  Chauncey 
Arnold,  and  a  native  of  New  York.  Two 
sons  were  horn  to  this  union,  viz.:  George 
C,  married,  and  residing  in  Butler  county, 
Iowa  (he  has  three  children),  and  Frank 
D.,  married,  and  living  on  a  farm.  Tiie 
mother  of  these  passed  away  July  9,  1892. 
and  on  November  fi,  1893,  Mr.  Wyatt 
married  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Wilber.  Mr.  Wyatt 
in  National  elections  votes  the  Kepublican 
ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


OYAL  HARRIS,  a  prosperous  and 
substantial  agriculturist  of  Brown- 
helm  township,  is  a  native  of  same, 
born  on  his  present  farm,  April  4, 
1849. 

Thomas  Harris,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1797  in  Vermont,  whence 
when  eifihteen  years  old  he  came  to  Erie 
county  (then  a  part  of  Huron  county), 
Ohio,  with  his  parents.  His  father,  Nathan 
Harris,  after  a  residence  of  some  years  in 
Ohio,  removed  to  Indiana,  wiiere  lie  died. 
Thomas  Harris  came  to  Lorain  county  in 
1847,  making  a  settlement  in  the  woods, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm.  He  was  married 
to  Sarah  Call,  a  native  of  Essex  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief 
record:  Betsy  married  Ambrose  Willard, 
and  died  in  Kansas  in  1890;  Harriet  mar- 
ried Henry  Barber,  of  Marshall  county, 
Iowa;  Sarah  was  the  wife  of  Richard  Dim- 
mick,  and  died  in  March,  1883;  Susan 
married  Obed  Noble,  of  Clay  county, 
Kans. ;  Clara  is  the  wife  of  L.  Brown,  of 


Browniielm  township,  Lorain  county;  Al- 
ma is  tile  wife  of  Daniel  Ilunicker,  of 
California;  Adelaide  is  married  to  David 
Neal,  of  Dallas  county,  Iowa;  Angeline  is 
the  wife  of  James  Bacon,  of  Marshall 
county,  Iowa;  Fannie  died  at  the  age  of 
tjiree  years;  Cyrus  died  when  one  year 
old;  Esse.x  resides  in  Brownhelm  townsliip, 
Lorain  county;  Charles  died  wiien  aged 
thirteen  years;  Royal  is  the  subject  proper 
of  this  memoir. 

Royal  Harris  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  iiis  native  township, 
and  was  reared  to  farming,  which  has 
been  his  life  vocation.  In  1877  he  was 
married  to  Ella  Tappenden,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  daughter  of  Stepiien 
and  Eliza  (Moody)  Tappenden,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Kent.  England,  the  latter  in  Monto-omery 
county,  N.  Y.  The  father,  who  was  a 
cabinet  maker  by  trade,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  immigrated  to  New  York, 
whence  in  1872  he  removed  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  in  1873  to  Brownhelm  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  died  in  1892 
at  the  age  of  seyenty-seven  years;  his  wife 
had  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1889. 
Mrs.  Royal  Harris  was  their  third  child. 
To  our  subject  and  wife  was  born  one 
child,  Jessie.  Mrs.  Ella  Harris  died  in 
1878,  and  in  1882  Mr.  Harris  married 
Alice  Tappenden,  sister  to  his  first  wife, 
and  second  child  of  her  parents.  By  this 
union  there  are  two  children — Earl  and 
Nellie.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  is  a  member  of  Ely  Lodge, 
No.  424,  F.  &  A.  M. 


NL.  COTTON,  widely  known  as  a 
prosperous  fruit  grower  and  gar- 
dener, having  his  residence  in  North 
Amherst,  was  born  in  Sheffield 
township,  Lorain  county,  in  1829, 
a  son  of  George  Washington  and  Rachel 
(Smith)  Cotton. 


/^ 


1032 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Warren,  New  Hampshire,  in  1798.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  started  from  his  na- 
tive  place  on  foot  for  Truxton,N.Y.,  whence 
he  paid  his  way  to  Ohio  by  driving  and 
caring  for  cattle.  After  his  arrival  he  did 
farm  labor  for  Jabez  L.  Burrell.  In  Shef- 
field township  he  married  Rachel  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass., 
and  in  1832  they  moved  to  Elyria  town- 
sliip,  same  county,  and  opened  up  a  fine 
farm.  He  died  there  in  1865;  his  wife 
was  called  from  earth  in  September,  1850; 
in  politics  he  was  a  strong  Whig.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Jerome  G.,  born  in  Sheffield  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  died  in  Elyria  town- 
ship, in  1852,  was  one  of  tlie  first 
shorthand  reporteis,  and  at  one  time  owned 
the  paper  in  Elyria.  now  edited  by  William 
A.  Braman  {he  was  employed  as  a  reporter 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  about  three  years, 
for  the  New  York  Tribune  and  Cleveland 
//e/'«^c?);  Charles  W.,  also  born  in  Shef- 
field township  (he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war, 
in  Company  E,  First  Ohio  Battery,  three 
years'  service);  Martha  R.  (widow  of 
Francis  A.  Younglove),  residing  in  Vir- 
ginia; N.  L.,  subject  of  sketch;  and  George 
J.,  born  in  Elyria  township,  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
O.   V.  I.,  now  residing  in    Lansing,  Mich. 

Grandfather  Benjamin  Noys  Cotton,  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire,  was  a  Kevo- 
Intionary  soldier,  serving  eight  years;  was 
with  Gen.  Warren  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  and  was  present  through  the  winter 
at  Yalley  Forge;  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  present  at  Washington's 
farewell  address.  He  represented  his 
District  in  the  New  Hampshire  Legisla- 
ture four  times,  and  was  known  as  "old 
'76."  He  came  to  Lorain  county  in  1836, 
making  his  home  in  Elyria  township,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  Wayne  county, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

N.  L.  Cotton  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  of  Elyria  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  at  the  academy  in  the  town  of  Elyria, 


after  which  he  taught  school  for  a  time  in 
Avon  township,  same  county.  Moving  to 
Kendall  county.  111.,  he  was  there  engaged 
in  farming  about  two  years.  On  August 
6,  1862,  Mr.  Cotton  enlisted  in  Sheflield 
township,  Lorain  county,  in  Company  F, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  O.  V.  I.,  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  at  Camp  Mitch- 
ell, Ky.,  September  7,  1862.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Blue  Springs 
(Tenn."),  Armstrong  Hill,  Resaca,  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Norse  Creek,  Atlanta,  right 
of  Atlanta,  and  Spring  Hill.  After  the 
Atlanta  campaign  his  regiment  was  made 
head-quarters  guard  for  the  Twenty- third 
Corps,  their  colonel  being  provost-marshal 
general  of  the  Department  under  General 
Scofield,  whose  corps  moved  from  Flor- 
ence, Tenn.,  to  Cincinnati ;  thence  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C;  thence  by  steamer  to  Fort 
Fisher;  thence  through  Wilmington  and 
Goldsboro  to  Raleigh,  N.  C,  where  it  was 
mustered  out.  Our  subject  was  discharged 
June  23,  1865,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 
returned  home  to  Lorain  county,  and  to 
the  pursuits  of  peace.  For  some  years  he 
farmed  in  Sheffield  township,  and  in 
March,  1882,  he  moved  to  Amherst,  where 
he  embarked  in  his  present  business. 

On  November  27,  1851,  Mr.  Cotton 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  Sheffield  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  with  Miss  Caroline 
M.  Hecock,  a  native  of  Herkimer  county, 
N.Y.,  and  daughter  of  George  W.and  Sarah 
(Davis)  Hecock,  of  New  York  State,  who 
settled  in  Sheffield  township  in  1834.  The 
father  served  in  the  war  of  1812  as  a 
drummer  boy;  he  died  in  1876,  his  wife 
in  1875.  Grandfather  Silas  Hecock,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  and  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  died  in  New  York; 
Grandfather  Davis  also  served  in  that 
struggle.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  L.  Cotton 
were  born  children  as  follows:  Clara  M., 
wife  (if  Thomas  C.  Foote,  of  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  county;  Elmer  F.,  mar- 
ried and  livingin  Sheffield  township;  Cora 
B.,  wife  of  William  E.  Hart,  of  Lincoln, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1033 


Neb.;  Nellie  B.  and  Lillie  D.  (twins),  the 
former  of  whom  is  the  wife  of  Stilltnan 
Cotton,  and  resides  in  Cleveland,  Ohio 
(Lillie  D.  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years) ; 
Martha  R.,  married  to  Charles  Straw,  of 
Elyria,  Ohio;  Ina  S.,  a  teacher,  and  Minnie, 
attending  school  at  Granville,  Ohio  (she 
bad  been  teaching  for  a  time  in  Lorain 
connty).  In  his  political  sympathies  Mr. 
Cotton  is  a  Republican;  for  ten  years  he 
served  as  trustee  of  Sheffield  township,  and 
for  several  years  as  j  ustice  of  the  peace.  He 
is  a  member  of  Rice  Post  No.  148,  G.  A.  R., 
of  wliich  he  has  been  commander  and  chap- 
lain. In  church  relationship  he  and  his 
wife  are  Baptists. 

Joshua  Smith,  maternal  grandfatlier  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  came  to  Lorain  county  in  1812, 
and  was  the  first  white  man  to  die  in  Shef- 
field township,  the  year  of  his  death  being 
1813.  His  daucrhter,  the  mother  of  Mr. 
Cotton,  was  the  first  white  woman  to  come 
into  the  township  of  Sheffield. 


ffjf  E.  PARKER,  M.  D.,  the  pioneer  of 
fsH     the    medical  profession  at   Lorain, 
I     1     since  it  became  a  town  of  any  prom- 
■fj  inence,   was     born    November  20, 

1851,  at  Berea,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio, 
son  of  Dr.  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Sher- 
wood) Parker. 

The  father  was  born  in  Brunswick,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared,  and  received  his  medi- 
cal edncation  at  a  college  in  Cincinnati, 
where  he  graduated.  He  at  once  settled  in 
Berea,  Ohio,  and  there  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  in  wliich  to  some  ex- 
tent he  still  continues.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention which  nominated  John  C.  Fre- 
mont for  President.  Grandfather  Parker, 
who  was  an  early  pioneer  of  Cuyahoga 
connty,  was  descended  from  emigrants  of 
the  same  name  who  came  from  England 
during  the  seventeenth  century,  settling  in 
Massachusetts. 


Dr.  H.  E.  Parker  was  reared  in  Berea, 
Ohio,  at  the  public  schools  of  which  place, 
and  at  Baldwin  University,  he  received  his 
early  education.  He  attended  his  first 
course  of  lectures  in  1876,  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  Hudson  School,  Cleveland, 
and  then,  in  1877,  began  a  course  at  the 
Bennett  Medical  College,  Chicaijo,  whence 
he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1878.  He 
commenced  practice  at  Berea,  in  partner- 
ship with  his  father,  and  continued  in  same 
for  three  years,  or  until  June  7,  1881, 
when  he  located  iu  Lorain,  South  End, 
where  he  has  siuce  resided.  The  Doctor 
is  practically  the  pioneer  of  the  South  End, 
having  erected  the  first  house  in  that  sec- 
tion, before  the  streets  were  even  opened, 
and  all  the  improvements  have  been  made 
since  his  settlement.  On  March  5,  1878, 
he  was  married, in  Medina  county,  to  Miss 
Cora  I.  McConnell,  a  native  of  that  county, 
where  her  parents  (both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased)  were  early  settlers.  To  this 
union  has  been  born  one  child.  Lulu  V. 
Socially  our  subject  is  a  member  of  Wood- 
land Lodge  No.  226  K.  of  P.,  in  which  he 
is  past  chancellor.  In  his  political  predi- 
lections he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  seryed 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 


f[   T[    W.  SEMPLE,    proprietor  of    fash- 
l»     ionable  tonsorial  parlors  in  the  town 
I     1     of  Wellington,   is  a  native    Virgin- 
J)  ian,  born    in    Fredericksburg,  May 

10,  1857,  a  son  of  James  and  Rosa 
(Atkins)  Semple.  His  father,  by  profes- 
sion a  French  chef  de  cuisine,  is  yet  living; 
his  mother  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  named  respectively:  John,  Delila, 
Daniel,  Maria,  James,  H.  W.  and  Lucinda. 
In  1858,  while  yet  an  infant,  our  sub- 
ject was  taken  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
here  he  was  reared  and  educated,  graduat- 
ing in  1877;  he   also   learned  and  worked 


1034 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


at  his  trade  in  tliat  city.  In  1879  lie  en- 
tered the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey,  and  liis  first 
experience  in  tliat  branch  of  the  public 
service  was  in  New  York  with  Prof.  Agas- 
siz,  of  the  Zoological  Comparative  Mu- 
seum, at  Cambridge,  N.  Y.  Hethen  went 
to  South  America,  Hayti,  Jamaica,  and 
other  West  India  islands,  also  New  Or- 
leans and  many  other  seaports  and  water- 
ing places,  serving  over  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  was  offered  a  posi- 
tion in  the  State  Department  in  Washing- 
ton, but  arrived  there  a  day  too  late,  where- 
by lie  not  only  did  not  get  the  new  position 
hut  lost  the  old  one.  In  consequence  of 
this  he  returned  home,  coming  by  way  of 
Detroit,  where  he  had  relatives,  and  on  his 
arrival  in  Wellington  he  i-esnmed  his  trade, 
working  for  eight  years  for  one  man,  after 
which,  August  26,  1889,  he  opened  out  liis 
present  place  of  business,  and  has  met 
with  unprecedented  success,  having  already 
four  chairs  in  his  establishment.  While  a 
resident  of  Washington  he  shaved  many 
prominent  men.  In  1884  Mr.  Semnle 
married  Miss  Laura  A.  Shepherd.  A  Re- 
publican in  politics,  he  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  workings  of  his  party ;  in 
matters  of  religion  he  and  his  wife  are 
Baptists. 


E'   H.  HASTINGS,  who  is  one  of  the 
most    successful    native-born    agri- 
I   culturists    of  LaGrauge    township, 

was    born    June    20,  1827,    son    of 
Curtis  H.  Hastings. 

The  father  was  born  December  1,  1796, 
in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  eldest  of  ten 
children  born  to  Thomas  Hastings,  who 
first  saw  the  light  April  3,  1776.  Curtis 
H.  Hastings  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  was  married  in  his  native  county  to 
Miss  Pattie  Graves,  who  was  born  October 
23,  1800.  While  residents  of  New  York 
State  they  had  children  as  follows:  Ashley, 
who  died  when  eighteen  or  nineteen  years 


old;  Wesley,  of  Penfield  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  Diana  S.,  now  Mrs.  Lyman 
C.  Crane,  of  Chatham,  Ohio.  In  June, 
1826,  he  came  to  LaGrange  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.,  into  which  he  drove  the 
tirst  horse-team.  He  had  visited  Lorain 
county  before  settling,  walking  the  entire 
distance  from  New  York,  and  later  traded 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  that  State  for  a  farm 
in  LaGrange  township,  whereon  he  located. 
But  little  of  this  land  had  been  cleared,  and 
his  cabin  was  the  third  in  tiie  township, 
but  on  this  farm  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  After  coming  to  Ohio  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hastings  had  children  as  follows:  E. 
G.  and  E.  H.  (twins),  who  were  the  first 
white  male  children  born  in  LaGrange 
township:  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy 
unnamed;  Samuel,  afarmer  of  LaGrange; 
another  daughter  that  died  in  infancy  un- 
named; and  J.  Edson,  a  farmer  of  La- 
Grange. The  mother  of  these  died  at  the 
age  of  forty  years,  and  Mr.  Hastings  then 
married  Miss  Asenath  Amy,  by  whom  he 
had  one  son,  Frank,  who  married  and  died 
leaving  four  children. 

E.  H.  Hastings  was  born  one-fourth  of 
a  mile  from  his  present  farm,  and  during 
liis  youth  attended  the  common  schools  of 
the  vicinity  a  few  weeks  each  year.  He 
was  reared  to  agricultural  life  on  the  home 
farm,  and  wlien  eighteen  years  old,  being 
of  a  roving  disposition,  he  left  home  and 
hired  out  at  ten  dollars  a  month  to  John- 
ston Rawson,  by  whom  he  was  employed 
for  five  seasons.  Then,  being  anxious  to 
return  to  school,  lie  went  home,  but  after 
attending  for  only  a  few  days  found  he  had 
not  time,  as  he  was  busy  threshing;  thus 
he  continued  to  work,  and,  saving  his 
money,  was  able  by  hard  work  to  pay  for 
some  land.  Having  caught  the  "  gold 
fever,"  he  started,  on  December  29,  1851, 
for  California,  going  from  LaGrange, 
Ohio,  by  rail  to  New  York,  where  he  took 
passage  on  a  boat  going  around  Cape  Horn, 
with  two  companions,  William  Rockwood 
and  L.  L.  West,  who  went  as  far  as  Riode 


■■^.. 


?.  ^ 


^^;#1^/^6Z^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


1037 


Janeiro,  Brazil,  where  they  took  passage 
on  another  vessel,  while  the  "Racehonnd" 
lay  in  that  port  twelve  days  for  repairs. 
After  a  voyage  of  six  months  and  three 
days  onr  subject  landed  at  San  Francisco, 
where  he  was  taken  sick,  and  found  him- 
self, after  paying  a  week's  board  in  ad- 
vance, nearly  out  of  fiiu<ls.  He  entered 
the  State  Marine  Hospital  until  he  re- 
covered, and,  while  in  California,  he  had 
some  rather  hard  experiences,  being  with- 
out money  among  strangers.  Later, 
through  the  etlbrts  of  a  fanner,  he  secured 
Avork  as  an  overseer,  and  remained  away 
from  home  five  years,  also  working  in  the 
lumber  business  (on  Government  land), 
in  which  lie  made  money.  On  the  way 
home  he  crossed  the  Istlimus  uf  Panama 
at  Aspinwall,  and  after  remaining  in  his  na- 
tive place  for  two  weeks  he  returned  west 
in  company  with  three  others,  going  to  Mis- 
souri. Here  they  purchased  five  thousand 
head  of  sheep,  which  were  driven  across 
the  plains  to  California,  and  during  the 
trip  they  occupied  fifteen  days  in  crossing 
one  river,  the  South  Platte.  The  entire 
journey,  which  took  six  months,  was  very 
satisfactory,  being  comparatively  free  from 
loss,  and  after  reaching  their  destination 
Mr.  Hastings  kept  the  sheep  one  year.  Re- 
turning to  Lorain  connty,  Ohio,  he  passed 
the  winter  in  Pentield  township,  where  he 
had  fifty  acres  of  land. 

Tliere  lie  was  married,  September  15, 
1859,  to  Rosanna  Dalton,  who  was  born  in 
New  York,  daugliter  of  Benjamin  Dalton, 
and  the  young  couple  began  married  life 
in  a  log  house,  on  a  farm  in  Penfield  town- 
ship. In  the  spring  of  18(50  they  located 
in  LaGrange  township,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  now  owns  226  acres  of  land 
in  LaGrange  township,  a  house  and  three 
lots  in  Wellington  township,  and  one  and 
three-fourths  acres  in  the  corporation  of 
Wellington.  Mr.  Hastings  is  a  successful 
business  man  and  slirewd  financier.  He 
voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  but  otherwise 
he  is  always  a  Democrat  in   National  af- 


fairs. On  April  12,  1891,  Mrs.  Hastings 
passed  from  earth,  and  was  buried  in  the 
East  cemetery  in  LaGrange  township;  she 
was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


EORGE  W.  NOBLE,  a   resident  of 

,   Elyria,  was  born  August  10,  1821, 

in  the   town  of  Warren,  Herkimer 

-11  Co.,  N.   Y.,  a  son  of  Hervey  and 

Phoebe  (Wilkinson)  Noble.     He  is 

descended  from  one  of  three  brothers  who 

in  a  very  early  day  came  from  England  to 

the  New  World,  settling  in  Massachusetts. 

Hervey  Noble,  also  anativeof  Herkimer 
county,  5f.  Y.,  born  April  1,  1795,  moved 
from  there  in  1819  to  Wilna,  Jefferson 
Co.,  same  State,  and  there  resided  till  June, 
1827,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  LaGrange, 
in  LaGrange  township,  and  there  followed 
farming.  He  died  June  16,  1871.  On 
December  15,  1815,  he  married  Miss 
Phffibe  Wilkinson,  who  died  in  LaGrange, 
Lorain  county,  April  23,  1870.  They  had 
a  family  of  eight  children,  our  subject  be- 
ing second. 

George  W.  Noble  received  a  limited 
education  at  the  district  schools  of  La- 
Grange township,  and  remained  on  the 
home  farm  till  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  commenced  house 
building,  and  many  other  kinds  of  mechani- 
cal work;  for  eight  years  he  was  engaged 
in  a  carriage  works  in  LaGrange;  then,  for 
five  years,  was  in  a  store.  After  that  he 
bought  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  at 
Liverpool,  Ohio,  conducting  same  nine- 
teen years,  doing  all  kinds  of  foundry 
work,  including  the  complete  making  of 
engines.  He  has  made  carriages,  wagons, 
plows,  and  wood-sawing  machines,  with 
great  success,  a  large  number  of  them  being 
sold.  In  this  he  continued  until  December 
6,  1881,  when  he  had  to  abandon  work  on 
account  of   his  failing  eyesight,  and  con- 


1038 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sequently  sold  out.  He  then  moved  to 
Berea,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  eiglit  years, 
thence  proceeding  to  Cleveland  and  there 
remaining  till  October,  1891,  when  he 
came  to  Elyria,  Lorain  county. 

In  1845  Mr.  Noble  married  Miss  Jane 
E.  Garritt,  who  was  born  in  Saratoga  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  January  15,  1829,  and  three 
daughters  were  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Amanda  Helen,  now  the  widow  of  Erotus 
M.  Dixon,  has  her  residence  at  130  Herald 
St.,  Cleveland,  Ohio  (she  has  no  children); 
Melissa  Ellen,  the  wife  of  William  Edgar 
Parmelee,  of  Elyria,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  has 
two  daughters  and  one  son;  Charlotte 
Phoebe,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Rufus  V.  Gam- 
ble, of  New  London,  Ohio,  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Grace.  Politically  our  subject  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican,  but  says  that  he 
"  is  now  utterly  disgusted  with  all  parties." 
He  believes  in  "equal  rights  of  man  and. 
woman  ";  Liberty  for  all.  He  belongs  to 
no  Church,  Creed,  or  Lodge,  "  To  do 
good''^  being  his  only  religion:  Hoping, 
doubting,  and  trying  to  investigate  the 
great  mysteries  of  this  and  a  future 
existence. 


EiDWIN   HALL,  a   well-known    and 
widely- respected   retired   citizen  of 
,  Elyria,    now    in    his   seventy-ninth 

year,  was  born  in  the  old  town  of 
Meriden,  Conn.,  in  April,  1815,  and  when 
seven  years  old  was  brought  by  his  father 
to  Ohio. 

Avery  and  Lucy  (Bacon)  Hall,  parents 
of  Edwin  Hall,  were  of  New  England  de- 
scent, and  the  more  remote  ancestors  of 
the  father  came  from  England,  while  those 
of  the  mother  (who  was  from  Connecticut), 
claimed  the  land  of  Scott  and  Burns  as  the 
place  of  their  nativity.  Avery  Hall  was 
born  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  in  1776,  whence 
he  removed  with  his  wife  (whom  he  had 
married  in  Meriden)  to  Berkshire  Hills, 
Mass.,  and  from  there  to  New  Connecti- 
cut,   "Western     Reserve"     (now    Ohio). 


where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-tive 
years.  He  had  been  an  industrious  and 
well-to-do  farmer  all  his  life.  He  was  a 
member  of  and  for  a  long  time  chorister 
in  the  Congregational  Church,  of  which 
denomination  at  Meriden  his  great-grand- 
father had  been  a  preacher.  Politically  he 
was  an  Old -school  Democrat,  and  his  tirst 
vote  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson.  At 
the  time  of  the  burning  of  New  London, 
Coim.,  by  the  British  during  the  war  of 
1812,  he  was  living  at  Meriden,  and  with 
others  went  to  see  the  conflagration. 

Tiie  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  primitive 
schools  of  Lorain  county,  whither,  as 
already  related,  he  had  come  when  a  lad. 
The  country  was  wild  and  uncleared  of  the 
timber  and  underbrush,  and  Mr.  Hall  re- 
members of  iiaving  been  chased  by  wolves 
on  two  different  occasions,  but  he  came  to 
learn  the  habits  of  these  animals  and  so 
knew  how  to  elude  them.  He  remained 
a  few  years  on  the  farm  with  his  father  in 
what  is  now  the  southern  extremity  of  Lo- 
rain county,  and  then,  having  a  desire  to 
revisit  the  scenes  of  his  early  boyhood,  re- 
turned to  Connecticut;  but  his  health 
failing  after  a  short  time,  by  the  advice  of 
his  physician  he  set  out  on  a  sea  voyage  on 
a  merchantman,  for  China.  This  trip 
lasted  one  and  one-half  years,  and  in  1837 
he  returned  to  Lorain  county,  again,  how- 
ever, after  a  short  sojourn,  to  pay  a  visit 
to  his  native  place  in  Connecticut.  In 
1838  he  once  more  returned  to  Lorain 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
In  1840  he  entered  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  remained  a  number  of  years. 

In  1840  Mr.  Hall  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Beebe,  daughter  of  A.  Beebe,  who 
was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Elyria, 
who  built  the  "  Beebe  House,"  whicii  had 
a  good  reputation  among  the  traveling 
men.  Mr.  Hall  was  the  successful  pro- 
prietor of  this  house  for  more  than  twelve 
years,  and  was  known  as  a  temperance 
man  in  principle  and  practice,  never  using 
or  selling  liquor  himself,  or  renting  any  of 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1039 


his  buildings  for  tlie  sale  of  it.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plall,  viz. : 
Mary  Beebe,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
live  years;  and  Helen  F.,  who  married 
Rush  R.  Sloane,  and  has  two  children, 
Helen  and  Mary.  Politically  Mr.  Hall  is 
a  stanch  Republican.  He  and  his  wife 
live  on  the  spot  in  which  they  began  life 
together  in  1840,  enjoying  life  amid  the 
scenes  of  early  days. 


JAMES  S.  BALDWIN,  one  of  the 
leading  fanners  of  Pittsfield  town- 
'  ship, was  born  August  5, 1839,  in  Corn- 
wall, Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  He  is  the 
fifth  son  and  seventh  child  in  a  family  of 
nine  children  born  to  William  and  Julia 
(TrafFord)  Baldwin,  as  follows:  William  H., 
a  lumber  dealer  of  Lee,  Mass. ;  Mary  E.,  de- 
ceased at  the  age  of  twenty;  Noah,  died  in 
infancy;  Lecta,  who  married  Joseph  W. 
Gaines,  of  Cleveland  (both  are  now  de- 
ceased); Horace  F.,  a  retired  citizen  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.;  Russell  P.,  of  Pen- 
field,  Ohio;  James  S.,  who  will  receive 
mention  farther  on;  Edward  D.,  a  grain 
dealer  of  Detroit  City,  Minn.;  and  Frank 
C,  a  mechanic  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 
James  S.  Baldwin  received  his  education 
in  the  commoTi  schools,  and  was  reared  to 
the  duties  of  agricultnral  life.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty-one  years 
old,  and  then  resided  for  some  time  with 
John  Adams,  of  Salisbury,  Conn.,  working 
a  farm  on  shares.  On  December  31, 1863, 
he  was  married  to  Delphene  L.  Gray,  who 
was  born  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  daughter  of 
Augustus  B.  Gray,  a  farmer,  and  after 
marriage  the  young  couple  spent  two  years 
in  their  native  State,  one  year  on  a  farm, 
the  other  in  Falls  Village.  In  the  spring 
of  1866  they  migrated  to  Ohio,  and  rented 
a  farm  in  the  western  part  of  Pittsfield 
township,  where  they  resided  two  years. 
They   next   took    up    their    residence     in 


Wellington  township,  where  they  remained 
three  years,  and  in  1872  bought  eighty 
acres  in  Pittsfield  townshiji,  from  Horatio 
Gates,  to  which 'they  removed;  Mr.  Bald- 
win has  since  added  to  this  farm,  which 
now  comprises  205  acres  of  excellent  land. 
He  has  erected  several  farm  buildings,  and 
his  residence  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  in 
the  township.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a 
Republican,  though  not  strictly  partisan, 
and  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
in  various  other  local  positions  of  trust. 
He  and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  and  he  also 
takes  great  personal  interest  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  business  men  of  his  township; 
he  deals  extensively  in  poultry,  shipping 
mostly  to  New  Haven.  Conn.,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  men  in  Lorain  county  in  this 
line.  He  also  deals  in  stock  and  produce, 
which  he  ships  to  larger  markets;  he  has 
reared  some  fine-bred  Chester  White  hogs 
and  registered  cattle,  and  his  stock  of  all 
kinds  is  e.xcellent.  His  father  being  a 
poor  man,  Mr.  Baldwin  started  in  life  with 
a  capital  of  thirty-seven  cents,  and  his  suc- 
cess has  been  due  to  his  energetic,  pro- 
gressive and  industrious  habits,  his  enter- 
prise being  well  known  throughout  the 
county.  He  is  fond  of  reading,  and  keeps 
himself  well  abreast  of  the  times. 


^J 


NICHOLAS  DIEDERICH,  one  of 
the  leading  representative  agricul- 
turists of  Shefiield  township,  is  a 
native  of  same,  born  in  1849. 
His  father,  John  Diederich,  was 
born  November  28, 1805,  in  Germany,  and 
was  there  married  October  29,  18*32,  to 
Gertrude  Sauerence,  also  a  native  of  the 
Fatherland,  born  June  22,  1814.  In  1843 
the  family  sailed  from  Antwerp  to  New 
York,  whence  they  proceeded  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  reaching  the  city   August  4. 


1040 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  November  of  the  same  year  the  father 
bought  and  settled  on  the  farm  in  Sheffield 
township,  now  occupied  by  his  son  Nicho- 
las. Nine  children — fofir  sons  and  five 
daughters — were  born  to  John  and  Ger- 
trude Diederich,  as  follows:  Matthias, 
born  November  15,  1833,  now  a  ship  car- 
penter in  Cleveland;  Catherine,  in  Shef- 
field; Peter,  in  Cleveland;  Margaret,  who 
died  in  December,  1874,  in  Tennessee; 
Nicholas;  Gertrude,  in  Milan,  Ohio;  Anna 
C,  wife  of  Anton  Born,  of  Avon  town- 
ship, Lorain  county;  Frank,  at  North 
Kidgeville;  and  Mary  C,  living  in  Cuya- 
hoga county,  Ohio.  The  parents  are  yet 
living. 

Nicholas  Diederich,  the  subject  proper 
of  these  lines,  received  a  fair  common- 
school  education,  and  was  trained  to  the 
pursuits  of  the  farm.  He  now  owns  a  tine 
property  of  seventy-six  acres  highly  cul- 
tivated land,  and  does  an  extensive  general 
farming  business. 

In  1878  Mr.  Diederich  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  Burkhart,  who  died  November 
7,  1880,  and  in  1885  our  subject  wedded 
Catherine  Schneider,  to  which  union  six 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  Theresa, 
October  2,  1885;  Juliet,  January  11, 1887, 
died  March  17,  same  year;  Lidwina,  July 
3,  1888;  Zitta,  October  20,  1889;  Amanda, 
November  6,  1891,  and  Leonardo,  March 
23,  1893.  In  politics  Mr.  Diederich  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  served  as  township 
trustee  since  1881,  having  been  recently 
reelected  for  another  term;  for  several 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board. 


T[  F.  HASEEODT,  a  popular  and 
k.  I  pi-ogressive  citizen  of  Elyria,  where 
\Ji  he  carries  on  a  prosperous  harness 
business,  was  born  in  Medina  county, 
Ohio,  July  8,  1836,  a  son  of  H.  C.  and 
Margaret  (Berdz)  Haserodt,  natives  of 
Prussia. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to 
America  in  1834,  and  made  a  permanent 


settlement  in  Medina  county,  Ohio,  where 
the  father  carried  on  harness  making  and 
farming;  he  was  born  in  1799,  and  died 
in  1887,  aged  eighty-eight  years  and  four 
months;  the  mother  was  born  in-  1807, 
and  passed  away  in  1891.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  them,  of- whom  our  subject 
is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Hase- 
rodt received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools,  which  was  supplemented  with 
considerable  private  study  and  close  obser- 
vation of  men  and  things.  He  learned 
his  trade  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  being  ap- 
prenticed to  it  at  the  age  of  about  seven- 
teen years.  In  1857  he  proceeded  to  Mem- 
phis, Tenn.,  and  there  remained  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
when  he  came  north  to  Pittsburgh,  Penn., 
and  after  a  sojourn  there  of  some  eigiit 
months  returned  to  Cleveland,  Ijecoming 
foreman  of  a  harness  shop  in  that  city. 
His  business  was  such  that  he  could  not 
join  the  Union  army,  but  he  furnished  a 
substitute.  In  1867  he  went  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Medina  county,  and  there  remained 
thirteen  years,  in  1880  moving  thence  to 
Elyria,  where  he  opened  out  his  present 
business.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  light 
harness,  and  his  trade  is  not  confined  to 
Lorain  county,  for  he  ships  full  harness 
sets  to  Chicago,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
and  other  cities.  Mr.  Haserodt  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  expert  harness 
makers  in  the  country,  and  commands  a 
wide  custom. 

In  1862  he  was  married,  in  Cleveland, 
to  Miss  Johanna  M.  Meyer,  and  eleven 
children  have  blessed  their  union,  viz.: 
Lillie,  George,  Henry,  Edmund,  William, 
Otto,  Oscar,  Paul,  Violet,  Manuel  and 
Elmer.  Mr.  Haserodt  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  in  1889  he  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  from  the  Fourth 
Ward,  to  which  position  he  has  since  been 
twice  reelected,  his  third  term  expiring 
in  1895.  In  church  connection  he  is  an 
Evangelical  Lutheran,  and  has  occupied 
the  position  of  elder  in  St.  John's  Evan- 
gelical  Lutheran  Church  for  six  years,  at 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1041 


present  serving  his  third  term.  On  Mr. 
Haserodt's  settlement  in  Elyria,  lie  bought 
a  lot  on  which  Ins  father  built  a  house. 
He  then  removed  his  aged  parents  to  the 
house,  adjoining  his  own.  Hud  to  the  day 
of  their  death  he  cared  for  them  with  true 
filial  devotion. 


L 


A.  BARNES,  M.  D.,  a  practicing 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Lorain,  is 
a  native  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  born  in 
1853,  a  son  of  Dr.  L.  and  Julia 
(Moulton)  Barnes,  the  father  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  the  mother  of  Vermont. 

When  a  boy  Dr.  L.  Barnes  came  from 
his  native  State  to  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared,  and  where  he  mar- 
ried. He  has  been  a  practicing  physician 
for  over  forty  years,  and  he  and  his  wife 
now  reside  in  Lorain,  Ohio,  whither  they 
had  come  in  1888.  Grandfather  Mai  lory 
Barnes,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  became  an 
early  pioneer  of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  of 
which  he  was  in  his  day  a  prominent  citi- 
zen, closely  identified  with  its  best  inter- 
ests. He  and  his  wife  both  died  there. 
The  parents  of  subject  reared  a  fanuly  of 
nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing. One  son,  Leroy,  enlisted  in  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  in  1861,  in  Company  C, 
Fourth  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  four  years  in 
the  army  of  the  West;  he  is  now  a  prac- 
ticing physician  in   Laramie,  Wyoming. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  elementary  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  Delaware  county,  Ohio, 
after  which  he  attended  the  college  at 
Delaware.  On  completing  his  course  there, 
he  enteied  Columbus  (Ohio)  Medical  Col- 
lege in  1878,  and  afterward  further  con- 
tinued the  study  of  medicine  in  Cleveland 
Medical  Institute,  where  he  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1880.  The  Doctor  then  prac- 
ticed his  chosen  profession,  iii  connection 
w|th  his  father,    in    Delaware,    two  years, 


and  continued  in  same,  alone,  at  Mechanics- 
burg,  Champaign  county,  same  State, 
until  1882,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  locating  in  Kipton,  whence, 
in  1888,  he  removed  to  Lorain,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  now  been  some  thir- 
teen continuous  years  in  the  profession,  and 
is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice. 

In  1882,  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
Dr.  L.  A.  Barnes  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Emma  Davis,  of  that  county, 
daughter  of  Martin  Van  Buren  and  Eliza- 
beth (Miller)  Davis,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Maine,  respectively,  and  early 
pioneers  of  Champaign  county,  where  the 
father  died  in  1891;  the  mother  now  re- 
sides in  Mechanicsburg.  To  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Barnes  have  been  born  three  daughters: 
Clara,  Ida  and  Lucille.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees, 
Tent  No.  1,  Lorain,  and  is  examining 
physician  for  theOrder;  is  also  a  member 
of  Woodland  Lodge  No.  226,  Lorain, 
Knights  of  Pythias. 


El  C.  FOSTER.     The  gentleman  here 
named   is  one  of   the   most   widely 
I   known,  well-to-do  citizens  of  North 

Amherst.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
township,  born  September  1,  1827,  a  son 
of  Elisha  Foster,  Jr.,  and  Anna  Maria 
(Mason)  Foster. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  Oc- 
tober 15,  1795,  in  Vermont,  whence  when 
a  young  man  he  moved  to  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.  Here  he  resided  until  1815, 
when  he  came  west  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Avon  township,  Lorain  county,  havino- 
purchased  fortj'^  acres  of  land,  which  he 
cleared  and  cultivated;  but  in  about  a 
couple  of  years  (in  1817)  he  came  to  Am- 
herst township,  where  he  passed  the  rest 
of  his  days,  dying  January  23,  184:2,  the 
owner  of  309  acres  of  excellent  farm  land. 


1042 


LORAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  his  political  preferences  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat.    His  widow  is  j'et  living  on  the  home 
farm  with  her  daughter,  Mary  M.,  and  is 
one  of   the  oldest  inhabitants  of   Amherst 
township.     They  had  live  children — three 
sons  and  two  daughters — viz. :  Leonard, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  E.  C, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Parks,  a  resident  of 
Elyria;  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Ezra  Straw,  liv- 
ing on   the  old    homestead;   and    Martha, 
wife  of  S.  Porter,  of  St.  Louis,  Michigan. 
Elisha   Foster,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  a   native   of  IJoston,   Mass.     He 
came  from    Herkimer   county,    N.    Y.,  to 
Lorain  county,  in  1815,  with  his  wife,  three 
sons  and  one  daughter.     He  died  in  1833 
aged  sixty -eight  years,  his  wife  having  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave  in  September,  1828. 
E.  C  Foster,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  libei-al  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  place 
of  birth,  and  was  reared    to  farming  pur- 
suits, which  he  followed   until    1867.     In 
that  year,  he  and  his  bother.  Parks,  bought 
out  a  stone  quarry  which  they  successfully 
operated   some   time,  and   then   sold  out. 
On   June  10,    1847,    Mr.   Foster   married 
Miss  Mary    M.  Aiken,    who   was   born   in 
Brooklyn   township,    Cuyhoga   Co.,   Ohio, 
August  25,  1831.  Four  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  namely:  (1)  Orlando  E.,  now 
on  a  farm  in  Amherst  township,  was  born 
March   23,  1848,  married  Sophia  Lesley, 
and  has  two  children:  Edwin  E.  and  Cora 
U.,  of  whom  Edwin  E.  was  educated  in  the 
common     schools     and     at    Elyria    High 
School,  and  is  now  teaching  school;  (2)N. 
Franklin  was  born  June  23,  1849.  married 
Lillian  A.  Wolcott   March    17,   1872,  and 
lives  on  the  old    homestead;  (3)   Ella  U., 
born  May  22,  1851,  was  married   to  Will- 
iam   Hutton,  foreman    in  a   stone  quarry, 
and  they  have  two  sons:  Willie  and  "Frank; 
(4)  Mrs.  F.  M.  Barber,  of  Amherst,  whose 
husband  is  a  traveling  man,  has  one  son, 
Joseph    E.    Barber,   now   in   Elyria  High 
School. 

Mr.  Foster  has  been  eminently  success- 
ful in  all  his  business  enterprises,  of  which 


there  were  some  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  also 
real-estate  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Lorain  Steamship  Company,  etc. 
Politically  he  has  been  a  Republican  since 
the  birth  of  that  party,  and  he  is  an  hon- 
ored citizen,  respected  for  his  integrity 
and  moral  worth,  and  for  the  valuable  as- 
sistance he  has  rendered  in  developing  the 
resources  of  his  native  county. 


L.  SEARS,  prominent  and  influen- 
tial among  the  prosperous  agricul- 
turists of  Elyria  township,  is  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Lenox, 
Berkshire  county,  April  8,  1825. 

The  family,  of  which  our  subject  is  a 
worthy  member,  come  of  English  ances- 
try, two  brothers,  Paul  and  Silas  Sears, 
having  emigrated  from  England  to  Amer- 
ica about  the  year  1600,  and  from  Paul  our 
subject  is  descended.  Zachariah  Sears, 
father  of  L.  L.,  also  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
married  Miss  Almira  Butler,  also  of  the 
Bay  State,  and  they  both  died  there.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  three 
are  yet  living,  viz.:  James,  who  resides  in 
Pittstield,  Mass.;  Polly,  who  was  married 
to  George  Whittaker,  and  resides  in  Marl- 
borough, Mass.;  and  L.  L.,  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

L.  L.  Sears,  of  whom  this  sketch  more 
particularly  relates,  was  educated  in  his 
native  S'ate,  and  was  trained  to  the  duties 
of  the  farm.  He  has  been  twice  married: 
first  time  in  1848  to  Miss  Sarah  Schotield, 
by  whom  he  has  one  son,  George  L.,  a  flo- 
rist and  manufacturer  of  potteiy  in  Elyria. 
Mr.  Sears'  second  wife  was  Miss  Charlotte 
Schofleld,  whom  he  wedded  in  1858,  and 
by  this  union  there  is  one  child,  Lillian,  a 
young  lady  of  bright  natural  ability,  and 
well  educated;  she  is  a  popular  school 
teacher,  having  taught  first  in  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  county,  then  in  the  high 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1043 


school  at  Mentor,  same  State,  and  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  in 
Mentor.  Siie  graduated  in  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
class  of  1890. 

In  1861  Mr.  Sears  came  to  Ohio,  first 
locating  in  Medina  county,  then  in  1867 
settling  in  Lorain  county  on  a  farm  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  Elyria,  which  he 
subsequently  sold,  purchasing  his  present 
fine  property.  A  Republican  in  politics, 
he  is  one  of  tlie  active  and  influential  adher- 
ents of  the  party,  is  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  has  served  as  township  trustee. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  Elyria. 


dlOSEPH  GANNETT,  Wellington. 
This  gentleman  is  descended  from 
^  '  Benjamin  Gannett,  one  of  three 
—  stalwart  brothers  who  in  an  early  day 
came  from  England  to  America,  he  settling 
in  Suffolk  county,  Mass.,  the  other  two  iji 
Virginia,  but  of  whom  nothing  is  known 
than  that  they  both  died  bachelors,  intes- 
tate, and  their  property  went  to  the  State. 
Jacob  Gannett,  grandfather  of  subject, 
M'as  born  in  Suffolk  county,  Mass.;  he  was 
a  millwright  by  trMde,  went  to  New  York 
State,  and  died  there  at  tlie  advanced  age 
of  eighty  four  years.  Joseph,  his  son, 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  July  3,  177(3, 
and  died  March  10,  1847,  in  Spencer, 
Medina  Co.,  Ohio.  "When  a  child  his 
parents  moved  to  New  York  State,  where 
lie  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Ontario  county, 
near  Palmyra,  receiving  but  a  limited  sub- 
scription-school education.  He  was  mar- 
ried there  to  a  Miss  Craft,  by  which  union 
there  were  three  children:  Ellit,  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  A.  Hill,  and  resided  in  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  and  Genesee  county,  N.  Y., 
finally  moving  to  Spencer,  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  where  she  died;  Ruth,  who  married 
R.  Smith,  and  they  lived  near  Spencer, 
Medina  county,    afterward  in  Wisconsin, 


where  she  died;  and  Olive,  the  deceased 
wife  of  S.  Smith,  lived  in  Wellington  vil- 
lage. The  mother  of  these  died,  and  the 
father  then  married  Miss  Martha  Stone, 
by  whom  there  were  four  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Joseph,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch;  Hannah,  who  was  married  to  Mr. 
Nooney,  and  died  of  pneumonia  in  No- 
vember, 1893;  Alvin,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  si.xty-eight  years,  resided  in  Spencer, 
Medina  county  (he  left  a  family),  and  Mary 
Jane  (who  never  married),  killed  in  a  run- 
away when  she  was  thirty-four  years  of 
age.  When  the  family  came  to  Ohio,  the 
journey  was  made  in  a  wagon,  the  dis- 
tance being  over  300  miles,  and  occupying 
about  three  weeks.  They  arrived  in  the 
month  of  November,  and  at  once  located 
in  Spencer  township,  Medina  county,  the 
father  having  taken  up  one  thousand  acres 
of  land  there  bv  trading  his  New  Y'ork 
farm  for  same.  Here  the  parents  of  our 
subject  passed  the  rest  of  their  days,  the 
mother  dying  in  1869  aged  eighty-four 
years,  having  been  born  in  1785;  the 
father  was  a  Close  Communion  Baptist, 
and  in  his  political  sympathies  a  Whig  and 
Republican.  He  was  a  very  strong  man, 
of  fine  physique,  standing  six  feet  in  his 
stockings. 

Joseph  Gannett,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y^., 
near  Palmyra,  February  6,  1819.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  came  with  the  rest  of  the 
family  toSpencer  township,  Medina  county, 
and  after  leaving  school,  which  in  those 
early  days  was  of  a  very  primitive  nature, 
he  took  up  the  private  study  of  sciences, 
including  philosophy,  astronomy,  etc.  In 
Medina  county  he  carried  on  mixed  farm- 
ing, includino;  dairying,  and  owned  160 
acres  of  good  land.  In  1871  he  moved 
from  there  to  Wellington  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  bought  his  present  farm  of  228 
acres,  all  in  one  body,  located  in  the  corner 
of  the  corporation  of  the  village  of  Welling- 
ton. In  1841  Mr.  Gannett  was  married  to 
Miss  Orra  Warner,  sister  to  S.  S.  Warner, 
ex-treasurer  of   Ohio,  and    they   had  one 


1044 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


child,  Channcey  Warner,  who  married,  and 
li;id  four  children:  Orra  E.,  Jo,  Elmer  K. 
and  Channcey  W.;  be  died  Jnne  5,  1890, 
aged  thirty-nine  years.  This  wife  was 
called  from  earth  in  September,  1850,  at 
the  early  age  of  twenty-six  years,  and  in 
1851  Mr.  Gannett  wedded  her  sister.  Miss 
Emma  0.  Warner,  by  which  union  there 
were  two  ciiildren;  Cora  E.  and  Mary  Eliza, 
the  youngest  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  months.  Politically  our  subject 
was  a  straight  Whig  and  Republican  till 
the  last  State  election,  when  he  voted  the 
Prohibition  ticket;  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
W.  H.  Harrison,  and  supported  Birney  and 
Hall.  In  matters  of  religion  he  is  liberal, 
with  leanings  toward  the  Unitarian  faith. 
[Since  the  above  was  written  we  have  been 
informed  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Joseph  Gan- 
nett. He  died  November  2,  1893,  of 
pneumonia,  after  three  days' illness;  hiseis- 
ter,  Hannah,  died  of  the  same  disease  two 
weeks  later. — Editor. 


BPtECKENEIDGE.    Norman  Breck- 
,    enridge,  a  native  of  Vermont,  when 
'   a  young  man   came  to    New  York 

State,  and  in  Orange  county  mar- 
ried Triphena  Rosencrans,  who  was  born 
in  that  State. 

In  Oswego  county  Norman  Brecken- 
ridge  carried  on  farming,  and  here  three 
children  were  born  to  him,  as  follows: 
Alonzo  L.,  living  in  Kipton;  Norman,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Twenty-third  O.  V.  I., 
and  was  killed  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  : 
and  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Arnold,  of  Oberlin, 
Ohio.  In  1834  the  family  came  to  Ohio 
by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie, 
first  locating  in  Wakeman  township.  Huron 
county,  and  then  in  the  spring  of  1835  re- 
moving to  Camden  township,  Lorain 
county,  settling  east  of  the  center,  where 
the  father  bought  sixty-six  acres  of  wild 
land  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre, 


which  by  steady  industry  he  was  not  long 
in  converting  into  a  fine  farm.  Here  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  in  1860. 
Mrs.  Breckenridge,  after  the  death  of  her 
husband,  removed  to  Oberlin,  Ohio,  where 
she  remained  until  her  death  in  1876,  and 
they  now  repose  side  by  side  in  Camden 
cemetery.  The  children  born  to  them  in 
Ohio  are  as  follows:  Daniel  W.,  B,  F., 
J.  A.,  Henry  C.  and  Frances  (Mrs.  R.  H. 
Lamphier),  all  in  Michigan  (except  B.  F.), 
where  the  first  named  is  a  merchant.  Po- 
litically the  father  was  a  stanch  Whig  and 
Republican,  and  served  with  fidelity  and 
ability  in  various  offices  of  trust  in  his 
township.  He  was  a  devout  and  liberal 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church  (which 
was  removed  from  the  center  of  Camden 
township  to  Kipton),  and  was  a  highly 
esteemed  citizen. 

Alonzo  L.  Breckenridge  (eldest  son  of 
Norman  Breckenridge),  well  known  in 
the  commercial  circles  of  northern  Ohio, 
more  especially  in  Lorain  county,  where 
his  business  foe  the  most  part  has  been 
conducted,  is  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
born  in  Oswego  county  October  20,  1831. 

Ill  1834,  then  a  three-year-old  boy,  he 
was  brought  to  Ohio  by  his  father,  the 
family  locating  in  Wakeman  township. 
Huron  county,  and  then  in  the  spring  of 
1835  removing  to  Camden  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  the  father  bought  sixty- 
six  acres  of  wild  land  at  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  acre,  which  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  family  he  ere  long  converted 
into  a  fertile  farm.  Here  young  Alonzo 
attended,  a  few  months  in  the  winter  time, 
the  primitive  subscription  schools  of  those 
early  days,  his  first  teacher  being  a  Miss 
Parker,  while  his  summer  months  were 
devoted  to  working  on  his  father's  farms. 
At  tiie  age  of  eighteen  he  hired  out  to 
farm  work  at  nine  dollars  per  month. 
After  his  marriage  he  located  in  Henrietta 
township  on  a  farm  of  seventy-eight  acres, 
which  he  bought  at  twenty-eigiit  dollars 
per  acre,  going  into  debt  one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  here  lived  ten  years, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1045 


at  the  end  of  which  time  he  came  to  Kip- 
ton  and  commenced  the  business  of  fur 
buying,  conducting  at  tlie  same  time  a 
firocery  store  for  SDme  years.  Tiie  firm  of 
Brecken ridge  Bros.,  general  storekeepers, 
was  then  formed,  and  ccmtinued  twelve 
years,  our  subject  then  embarking  in  the 
elevator  business,  and  buying  grain,  etc., 
in  which  lie  has  since  continued;  has  also 
a  half  interest  in  an  elevator  in  Elyria.  Of 
late  years  he  has  been  somewhat  retired 
from  active  work,  but  superintends  his 
business  affairs.  Forty  years  ago  lie  re- 
ceived a  kick  on  the  leg  from  a  horse,  and 
the  hurt  has  ever  since  troubled  him, 
keeping  him  at  times  from  attending  to 
business. 

On  June  15,  1857,  Mr.  BreckenridCTc 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Aravilla  Bo- 
hall,  who  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  N.  Y., 
in  1828,  a  daughter  of  John  Bohall,  and 
to  this  union  there  is  one  child,  Nina,  now 
Mrs.  Williard  Granger,  of  Kipton.  Po- 
litically our  subject  is  a  Republican,  his 
first  vote  being  cast  for  John  P.  Hale,  and 
he  has  held  various  offices,  such  as  town- 
ship treasurer  over  eighteen  years. 

B.  F.  Bkeckenbidge  (fourth  son  of  Nor- 
man Breckenridge),  one  of  Lorain  county's 
leading  merchants,  carrying  on  a  prosper- 
ous business  in  the  town  of  Kipton  and 
elsewhere,  was  born  in  Camden,  Ohio, 
November  11,  1840. 

For  a  time  he  attended  the  comtnon 
schools  and  Oberlin  College,  which  pre- 
pared him  for  teaching,  a  profession  he 
followed  some  time.  \\\  1863  he  bought 
a  fai'm  in  Camden  township,  Lorain 
county,  on  which  he  went  to  live,  leaving 
the  paternal  roof,  and  this  he  conducted 
until  1868,  when  he  moved  into  the  town 
of  Kipton,  and  purchased  the  general  store 
of  Thomas  La  Nell,  which  he  at  once  took 
charge  of,  and  under  his  direction  and 
management  the  business  has  increased  to 
mammoth  proportions.  He  has  erected 
several  good  business  blocks  in  the  town, 
and  his  own  store  occupies  a  substantial 
and  commodious  room.  In  addition  to  this 

B4 


extensive  concern  Mr.  Breckenridge  is  in- 
terested in  several  other  stores  in  Kipton, 
and  is  owner  of  one  in  Lorain. 

On  June  4,  1864,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Arnold,  born  in  Cam- 
den township  in  1844,  daughter  of  Oeorge 
and  Mary  Ann  (Moore)  Arnold.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Breckenridge  adopted  the  following 
children:  Earl  N.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years,  and  Georgie  M.,  a  higiily  edu- 
cated young  lady.  Politically  Mr.  Breck- 
enridge was  a  Republican  till  1872,  when 
he  voted  for  Horace  Greeley,  since  when 
he  has  been  a  straight  Democrat.  He  in- 
variably declines  oflice,  as  his  various 
commercial  interests  demand  and  receive 
his  undivided  attention. 


TfOHN  HAWKE,  an  extensive  agri- 
w  I  culturist  and  landowner  of  Eaton 
\^)  township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Lo- 
rain county  since  1858.  He  was  horn 
in  1833  in  Cornwall,  England,  son  of 
Richard  and  Grace  (Hugglow)  Hawke,  both 
natives  of  England,  where  the  father  died; 
in  1858  the  widowed  mother  came  with  her 
son  John  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  whence 
she  subsequently  moved  to  Jefferson  coun- 
ty, Wisconsin. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  country.  In  1858  he 
was  married,  in  England,  to  Miss  Ann 
Sheer,  who  was  also  born  in  that  country, 
daughter  of  John  and  Margery  (Denis) 
Sheer,  natives  of  Cornwall,  who  lived  and 
died  in  their  native  land.  In  the  year  of 
their  marriage  the  young  couple  came  to 
the  United  States,  locating  first  in  Ridge- 
ville  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
they  lived  some  years,  and  then  coming  to 
Eaton  township,  settling  near  North  Eaton. 
Here  Mr.  Hawke  purchased  a  cleared  farm, 
where  he  has  since  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  his  place 


1046 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


now  comprisee  200  acres  of  land  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  upon  which  he  has 
erected  a  good  barn.  Mrs.  Ann  Hawke 
died  in  1878,  and  in  1890  he  married,  in 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county.  Miss 
Clara  Holbrook,  who  was  born  in  Eaton 
township;  her  parents,  Charles  and  Fhebe 
(Hathaway)  Holbrook,  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts,  who  in  an  early  day  came 
to  Lorain  county,  where  the  father  died 
August  1,  1893;  the  widowed  mother  now 
makes  her  home  on  the  old  farm.  To  the 
union  of  John  and  Clara  Hawke  have  come 
two  children :  One  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Esther.  Mr.  Hawke  has  also  reared  an 
adopted  child,  Ernest  James,  now  of  Cleve- 
land. In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Kepub- 
lican,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  party;  Mrs.  Hawke  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


EORGE  LYON,  a  prominent  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Elyria  town- 
ship, was  born  in  1836,  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Tluirston)  Lyon. 
John  Lyon,  father  of  subject,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Eockland  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  married  Elizabeth  Thurston.  In 
an  early  day  they  moved  westward  to  Buf- 
falo, whence  they  proceeded  by  lake  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  fi-om  there  by  road 
to  Huron  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing and  carpentry.  Aftei'  a  time  they  re- 
moved to  Cleveland,  where  the  mother 
died.  She  had  children  as  follows:  Jane 
(deceased  in  Cleveland),  who  was  married 
to  George  W.  Shepherd;  Eleanor,  who 
died  in  Michigan;  Jacob,  deceased  in  Cuya- 
hoga county,  Ohio,  about  1850;  George, 
subject  of  sketch;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
died  in  Cleveland.  John  Lyon  married, 
for  his  second  wife,  Clarissa  Huntington, 
and  by  her  had  two  children:  Melissa,  who 
died  in  Brooklyn  township,  Cuyahoga  Co., 


Ohio,  and  Charles,  married,  and  residing 
in  Elyria  township,  Lorain  county.  The 
father  was  called  from  eartli  in  1880,  in 
his  eighty-ninth  year. 

George  Lyon,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  sketch,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  boy- 
hood period.  In  April,  1861,  he  enlisted 
for  three  months  in  an  independent  com- 
pany at  Cleveland,  which  served  chiefly  in 
western  Virginia.  Lie  participated  in  the 
engagements  at  Carrick's  Ford  and  Laurel 
Hill,  and  in  July,  1861,  received  his  dis- 
charge in  Columbus,  Ohio.  In  1864  he 
re-enlisted,  this  time  in  Capt.  Babcock's 
Light  Artillery,  which  was  sent  to  San- 
duaky  and  to  Johnson's  Island,  guarding 
prisoners;  at  Sandusky  he  was  discharged 
in  November,  186-1:,  and  returned  to 
Cleveland.  In  1860  he  came  to  Elyria 
township,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm 
of  fifty-five  acres,  where  he  has  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  general  agriculture, 
including  the  rearing  of  Hereford    cattle. 

In  1866  Mr.  Lyon  was  married,  in  Me- 
dina county,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Blanchard,  to  which  union  were  born  three 
children:  Ulysses  G.,  married,  and  living 
in  Elyria,  Ohio;  Ida  A.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years,  and  William  K.,  at  home. 
The  mother  of  these  died  in  1882,  and  in 
1888  Mr.  Lyon  married  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 
Fitzirerald,  a  native  of  Canada.  Foliti- 
cally  our  subject  is  a  Republican;  socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Elyria,  and  of  the  American 
Hereford  Cattle  Breeders  Association. 


dl    B.  CHAPMAN,   vessel  owner    and 
I    hardware  man,  Lorain,  is  a  native  of 
^<    that   town,  born  in  the  year   1859,  a 
son  of  James  and   Elizabeth   (Burk) 
Chapman. 

He  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  place  of  birth,  and 
at  the  age  of  nine  years  commenced  sail- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OUIO. 


1047 


ing  on  the  lakes  as  cook  on  his  father's 
boat.  After  leaving  the  water,  at  the  ago 
of  fourteen,  lie  entered  a  hardware  store  in 
Lorain,  in  which  he  remained  twelve  con- 
secutive years,  less  one.  For  some  tinae 
past  he  has  been  engaged  in  F.  W.  Edi- 
son's hardware  store  in  Lorain,  and  is  at 
present  employed  there.  He  has  held  in- 
terests in  the  following  vessels:  The"C. 
H.  Burton,"  '•  Itasca."  "  St.  Lawrence," 
"  Gen.  Sigel,"  and   the  "  Selkirk." 

Mr.  Chapman  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Carrie  R.  Bemis,  of  Lorain, Ohio. 
In  ])olitic8  he  is  a  Kepublican,  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  party  ever  since 
casting  his  first  vote,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  city  council.  Socially  he  belongs 
to  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 


// 


fJjARRISON  A.  CRAGIN,   a   pros- 
'5^1    perous    farmer,    an     unpretentious 
1}    citizen  and  an   agreeable  neighbor, 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
popular  men    in   LaGrange    town- 
ship, of  which  he  may  be  said  to  be  a  life 
resident. 

Mr.  Cragin  was  born  in  May,  1835,  in 
"Weston,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Cragin,  a  farmer,  who  married  Miss 
Mahala  Boyington.  In  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State  they  had  children,  as  follows: 
Lorena,  Benjamin  N.,  Charles  C,  Adna  A., 
Esther,  Plorace  B.,  and  Harrison  A.;  in 
Oiiio  was  born  Elizabeth,  the  youngest  in 
the  family. 

In  September,  1835,  tiie  family  set  out 
from  Vermont  in  a  wagon  for  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  whence  they  proceeded  by  Lake 
Erie  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  from  there 
by  road  to  Lorain  county.  Here,  while 
stopping  with  an  acquaintance  to  rest  after 
their  long  journey,  tliey  became  so  im- 
pressed with  the  country  that  they  decided 
to  remain,  and  Mr.  Cragin  purchased  a  part 
of  Lot  No.  01,  in  Grafton  township,  con- 


taining 160  acres  of  woodland,  at  four 
dollars  per  acre;  there  was  no  house  of  any 
kind  on  the  place,  but  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore a  dwelling  22x32  feet,  and  one  and 
one-half  stories  high,  was  erected,  all  the 
timber  for  it  being  cut  by  Mr.  Cragin  him- 
self. Here  this  piotieer  toiled  and  pros- 
pered, assisting  in  the  develo])ment  of  the 
country,  and  witnessing  the  onward  march 
of  civilization  close  on  the  heels  of  the 
retiring  Red  Indian  and  the  yet  more  fierce 
panther,  wolf  and  bear.  He  died  July  31, 
1865,  his  wife  in  1855,  and  they  were  buried 
in  West  Grafton  cemetery.  They  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  which 
he  was  trustee,  steward  and  class-leader, 
and  in  politics  he  was  originally  an  Old- 
line  Whig,  afterward  a  Republican.  He 
was  a  very  robust  man,  and  at  sixty  years 
of  age  could  rake  and  bind  all  day  after  a 
cradler  in  the  harvest  held. 

Harrison  A.  Cragin,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  was  about  five  montlis  old 
when  the  family  came  to  Lorain  county. 
He  received  such  education  as  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  those  early  times  afforded, 
was  reared  to  the  onerous  duties  of  farm 
life,  and  has  passed  his  entire  life  on  the 
old  homestead. 

On  September  6,  1855.  he  wedded,"  in 
Wood  county,  Ohio,  Miss  Fanny  Richard- 
son, born  in  February,  1837,  in  Franklin 
county,  Maine,  a  daughter  of  Asa  and  Jane 
(Staples)  Ricnardson,  wiio  came  to  Ohio  in 
1850,  and  later  moved  to  Michigan,  where 
the  father  died  in  1878,  and  the  mother 
is  yet  living.  The  record  of  the  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  A.  Cragin 
is  as  follows:  Flora,  born  March  24,  1856, 
now  Mrs.  Frank  Foster,  of  LaGrange;  Fred, 
born  December  11, 1860,  of  Grafton  town- 
ship; Earl,  born  July  7,  1863,  a  farmer  of 
LaGrange  township;  and  Ernest,  born  Oc- 
tober 24,  1874,  who  resides  at  home.  Mr. 
Cragin  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  prime 
land,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming 
until  a  few  years  ago,  since  when  he  has 
lived  a  comparatively  retired  life.  He  had 
bought  the  old  home  farm,  satisfying  the 


1048 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


claims  of  the  other  heirs,  and  has  con- 
siderably remodeled  and  improved  tjie 
dwelling  and  ontbnildings.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C. 
Fremont,  but  is  no  politician,  though  he 
has  never  missed  a  vote  since  his  first 
ballot.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  has  held 
various  offices,  for  a  considerable  time 
serving  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school. 


State, 
1839. 
His 
(Cainl 


OBERT  J.  COWLEY,  whose  name 
on  the  Great  Lakes,  wherever  they 
can  be  navigated,  is  the  synonym 
of  carefulness  and  superior  seaman- 
ship, is  a  native  of  the  Bnckeje 
born   in   Cleveland,    I^Jovember   2, 


parents,  Robert  A.  and  Catherine 
Cowle3',  were  natives  of  the  Isle  of 
Man,  the  father  born  in  the  town  of  Peel, 
the  mother  in  the  village  of  Ballaugh. 
They  immigrated  to  America  about  the 
year  1826,  and  settled  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  the  father  followed  shipbuilding. 
He  was  the  youngest  of  seven  brothers,  all 
of  whom  were  sea-faring  men;  he  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years,  the  mother  when 
sixty-seven  years  old. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  biographical 
notice  received  a  sound  practical  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  Cleveland, 
and  when  old  enough  learned  the  trade  of 
shipbuilder,  which  he  followed  afterward, 
for  some  time,  during  the  winter  months; 
sailing  the  lakes  as  a  man  before  the  mast 
in  the  summers  of  open  seasons.  In  1858 
he  removed  from  Cleveland  to  Black  Lake, 
near  Graiid  Haven,  Mich.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  fishing  and  Inmbering  for 
three  years.  Late  in  the  summer  of  the 
year  preceding  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war,  he  went  South,  first  to  St.  Louis, 
then  to  New  Orleans,  working  at  his  trade 
in  shipyards,  and  he  was  in  the  latter  city 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion.     As 


soon  as  possible  in  the  spring  of  1861  he 
returned  North,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Black  River  (now  Lorain).  In  the 
summer  of  1864  he  entered  the  navy  in 
the  service  of  the  U.  S.  Government,  and 
assisted  in  the  blockade  of  the  West  Gulf 
under  Commodore  Farragut.  While  at- 
tempting the  capture  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  the 
gunboat  on  which  our  subject  served  was 
blown  up  by  a  torpedo,  causing  a  loss  of 
one  half  the  crew  in  killed  and  wounded, 
Capt.  Cowley  himself  having  a  narrow 
escape.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
turned to  Lorain,  and  in  the  summers 
sailed  the  lakes,  in  winter  time  working  at 
his  trade,  iintil  1879,  in  which  year  he 
entered  into  an  engagement  with  the 
Menominee  Transportation  Co.,  with 
whom  he  was  employed  winters  until 
1885,  superintending  repairs  on  their  ves- 
sels; during  the  summer  seasons  sailing 
one  of  their  steamers.  Since  then  he  has 
been  employed  by  Corrigan  &  Co..  and 
also  by  H.  J.  Webb  &  Co.,  both  of  Cleve- 
land, on  their  steamers  as  master.  The 
first  steamship  he  ever  sailed  on  was  the 
"David  W.  Rush,"  and  many  a  fine  pro- 
peller has  he  since  commanded. 

In  1866  Capt.  Cowley  was  married,  in 
Lorain,  to  Miss  Celia  E.  Lyons,  who  was 
born  in  Lorain,  as  were  alfo  her  parents, 
Winfield  Scott  and  Mary  (Brooks)  Lyons. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  this 
union,  viz.:  Scott  L.,  Rittie  C.  and  Robert 
H.  In  politics  the  Captain  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 


L.  FISHER,  a  prominent  and  enter- 
prising farmer  and  dairyman  of  Hun- 
tington township,  was  born  June  11, 
1839,  in  Brighton  township,  Lorain 

Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Danfoith  and  Lucinda 

(Wilcox)   Fisher. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  sketch  was 

born  in  Burlington,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 

9,  1807,  and  was  married  in  Henderson, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1049 


Jefferson  county,  January  1,  1832,  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Wilcox,  born  in  tliat  county  April 
14,  1812.  In  New  York  State  they  had 
born  to  tliein  two  children,  and  then,  in 
1836,  they  came  by  water  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  the  southeast  corner  of  Brighton  town- 
ship, then  a  wilderness,  and  here  were  born 
to  them  nine  children.  In  1863  the  par- 
ents removed  to  Michigan,  and  made  their 
final  home  in  Johnstown,  Barry  county, 
dying  there,  the  mother  May  12,  1888,  the 
father  April  16,  1889.  Mrs.  Fisher  was  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church ;  Mr.  Fisher 
was  a  strong  Republican  in  his  political 
preferences.  Their  family  numbered  in  all 
eleven  children,  one  of  whom  Phcfibe  Alice 
died  in  infancy,  the  rest  being  as  follows: 
Eliza,  wife  of  Joseph  Powers,  residing  in 
Michigan;  H.  Clinton,  who  was  a  resident 
of  Michigan,  now  deceased;  Edward  B.,  a 
farmer  of  Huntington  township,  served  one 
year  in  the  Tenth  Michigan  Cavalry;  O.  L., 
subject  of  sketch;  Alma,  who  was  married 
to  Hiram  Wilson,  and  lived  in  Cleveland, 
and  who  is  now  a  widow,  residing  in  Cali- 
fornia; Newton  D.,  late  a  resident  of  Cleve- 
land, where  he  was  a  lumber  merchant,  who 
served  four  years  in  the  Second  Ohio  Cav- 
alry (he died  November  17, 1893);  George 
F.,  a  carpenter,  of  Chicago;  Oren  D.,  who 
was  educated  at  Oberlin  College,  at  Olivet 
(Mich.)  College,  and  later  at  Yale  College, 
and  is  now  a  minister  in  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Toledo,  Ohio;  Peter,  a  farmer 
in  Michigan;  and  Wilbur,  in  the  lumber 
business  at  Cleveland. 

0.  L.  Fisher,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  attended  during  the  winter  months 
the  district  schools  of  Wellington  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  summers.  In  1862,  in 
Brighton  township,  he  enlisted  in  Battery 
I,  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery,  and  was  sent 
to  Eastern  Virginia.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg, 
Lookout  "Valley,  Rocky  Face,  Resaca,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  bombardment  of  Fredericks- 
burg. Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta,  Ga., 
in  fact  all  the  engagements  bis  battery  took 


part  in.  On  June  13,  1865,  he  was  dis- 
charged, after  having  been  in  hospital  five 
months,  and  returned  to  his  liotne  in 
Brighton  township,  Lorain  county,  whence 
after  a  month's  stay  he  went  to  Michigan, 
whither  his  parents  had  gone,  as  above 
stated.  At  the  end  of  si.x  years  he  again 
came  to  Lorain  county,  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  127  acres  in  Huntington 
township,  where  he  successfully  carries  on 
general  farming,  including  a  lucrative 
dairying  business.  On  December  27,  1865, 
Mr.  Fisher  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Led- 
yard,  a  native  of  Huntington  township, 
born  July  11,  1846,  and  they  have  two 
children,  viz.:  Louis,  at  present  residing  at 
home,  and  Erva. 


j  LLEN  SANDERS.  Among  the 
l\  several  prosperous  and  enterprising 
native-born  agriculturists  of  Lorain 
county,  none,  probably,  is  deserving 
more  prominent  notice  in  this  vol- 
ume than  the  gentleman  whose  name  here 
appears. 

Mr.  Sanders  was  born  in  LaGrange 
township  in  1835,  a  son  of  Horace  and 
Maranda  (Clark)  Sanders,  natives  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  who  came  before  mar- 
riage to  Ohio.  They  were  wedded  in  La- 
Grange  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased 
in  1826.  Here  they  passed  the  rest  of 
their  pioneer  lives,  the  father  dying  in 
1879  aged  seventy-two  years,  the  mother 
in  1883,  also  aged  seventy-two.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Horace  Sanders  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  W.  B.,  Allen,  Melinda 
(deceased),  De  Loss  (deceased  in  LaGrange 
township),  Eber  (a  farmer  of  LaGrange 
townshipj,  and  Clark  (who  died  in  New- 
burgh,  Ohio).  Grandfather  Sanders  was 
born  in  New  York  State,  and  Grandfather 
Nathan  Clark  was  a  pioneer  of  LaGrange 
township,  subsequently  moving  to  Eaton 
county,  Mich.,  where  he  died. 


1050 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Allen  Sanders,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  LaGrange  township,  and 
was  practically  reared  to  farm  life.  Up 
till  1883  he  was  engaged  in  farinino;  in  La- 
Grange  and  Pittstield  townships,  and  then 
came  to  Elyria  township,  buying  an  im- 
proved farm  known  as  the  "Cochran 
farm."  In  1858  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amelia  Tiiorpe,  a  native  of  Carlisle  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  daughter  of 
Maletus  and  Emily  (Sfj^iiires)  Thorpe,  na- 
tives of  Vermont,  who  came  to  l^orain 
county  at  an  early  day,  and  died  here.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanders  was  born  one  child 
that  died  at  the  age  of  three  months.  In 
politics  our  sul>ject  is  a  Democrat  of  in- 
fluence, active  in  the  affairs  of  his  party, 
and  he  is  noted  for  his  industry  and  fru- 
gality, and  liberality  toward  schools, 
churches  and  all  public  enterprises. 


EiDWm     H.    BACON,    than    wiiom 
probal)ly  no  one   in    Lorain  county 
I   is     better    known,    is    a    native    of 

Brownhelm  township,  born  Novem- 
ber 19,  1838,  only  son  of  John  C.  and 
Mary  (Peck)  Bacon. 

The  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, June  10,  1811,  and  died  in 
Brownhelm  township,  Lorain  county, 
whitlier  he  had  come  in  the  spring  of 
1818,  being  brought  by  his  parents.  His 
father,  George  Bacon,  bought  land  from 
the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  carried  on 
farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  eighty  years 
old.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
His  fathei',  also  named  George  (great- 
grandfather of  E.  H.  Bacon),  received  a 
life  pension  for  services  rendered  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  part  of  which  was, 
being  disguised  as  an  Indian,  the  throwing 
of  the  tea  overboard  the  English  ships  in 
Boston     harbor.     John    C.    Bacon    was    a 


well-known  business  man  in  Brownhelm 
township,  and  built  up  tjje  place  known  as 
Bacon's  Corners.  He  married  Mary  Peck, 
by  whicli  union  there  was  but  one  child — 
Edwin  H.  John  C.  Bacon,  in  his  political 
predilections,  was  a  Republican,  ever  active 
in  the  interests  of  his  party. 

Edwin  H.  Bacon  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his 
place  of  birth.  In  September,  1861,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Celia  S.  Haw- 
ley,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Browniielin 
township,  Lorain  county,  born  February 
19,  1862.  She  is  a  daughter  of  J.  K.  and 
Margaret  (Wells)  Hawley,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  February  19,  1807,  in 
JefJ'erson.  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  the  latter 
on  July  11,  1808,  in  Hartford,  Conn.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacon  have  come  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Alice  M.,  wife  of  John 
Shotton;  Edith  M.;  Elizabeth  F.;  Edna 
C,  wife  of  L.  A.  Busche;  Bertha  M., 
wife  of  W.  E.  Fisher;  Minerva  S.,  Grace 
A.  and  Edwin  K.  After  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bacon  made  their  home  on  a 
farm  in  Brownhelm  township  for  three 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Wood  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  a  few  years,  re- 
turning to  Brownhelm  township,  and  re- 
suming farming  there.  After  about  fif- 
teen years  they  proceeded  to  Vermillion, 
Ohio,  but  at  the  end  of  four  years  returned 
to  Lorain  county  and  took  charge  of  the 
"  Farrell  House "  in  the  town  of  Lorain, 
for  two  and  one-half  years.  In  1891  they 
moved  into  Elyria  (where  they  yet  reside), 
and  for  one  year  kept  the  old-established 
"Beebe  House"  in  that  town.  Politically 
Mr.  Bacon  is  a  Republican. 


HflRAM  PRENTICE,  one  of   Cam- 
den    township's    most    highly    re- 
_[    spected  citizens,  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New   York,  born  Septem- 
ber   15,   1824,  in   Lewis  county,  a 
son  of  William  and  Sallie  (Bates)  Prentice. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1051 


William  Prentice,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  miller  by  trade  in  New  York  State,  con- 
diictiiig  saw  and  grist  mills.  In  1835  he 
came  to  Ohio  with  liis  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren, the  journey  being  made  with  wagons, 
and  they  brought  with  them  such  house- 
hold goods  as  were  necessary  for  them  by 
tlie  way,  the  bulk  of  the  effects  being  con- 
veyed by  water  to  Huron,  at  that  time  a 
port  on  Lake  Erie.  Coming  to  Camden 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  the  family 
located  one  half  mile  south  of  the  present 
village  of  Kipton,  where  Mr.  Prentice 
bought  one  hundred  acres  of  uncleared 
latid  for  eight  hundred  dollars  cash,  and 
had  sufficient  nu)uey  left  to  equip  the  farm 
with  all  necessary  outhouses,  etc.,  for  there 
was  nothing  in  the  way  of  buildintrs  on  it 
save  two  small  huts.  He  also  conducted 
a  gristmill.  On  May  1,  1836,  less  than 
one  year  after  settling  on  his  purchase,  he 
passed  from  earth,  and  was  buried  on  iiis 
rami,  but  his  remains  were  afterward  re- 
moved to  Camden  cemetery.  His  widow 
died  in  February,  188P),  at  an  advanced 
age,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  his  side.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  all  born 
in  New  \ork  State,  as  follows:  Diantha. 
widow  of  Obediah  Bowen,  of  Elyria; 
Obadiah,  late  a  physician  of  Norwalk; 
"William,  of  Rice  county,  Minn.;  Hiram, 
subject  of  this  memoir;  and  Harvey,  of 
New  York  City. 

On  Friday,  December  29,  1893,  died 
Dr.  Obadiah  Prentice,  at  his  home  in  Nor- 
walk.  He  was  born  at  Lowville,  Lewis 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  November  6,  1819.  In  1835, 
with  his  parents,  he  moved  to  Camden 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  he  lived 
for  many  years.  In  1848  he  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Cincinnati  Medical  College, 
and  began  to  practice  in  Ashtabula,  where 
he  remained  for  six  years;  thence  removed 
to  Monroeville,  where  he  lived  until  1881, 
at  which  time  he  came  to  Norwalk,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  In  1844  he  married 
Miss  Harriett  D.  Webster,  of  JeffersoTi, 
Ohio.  His  wife  and  two  children  —  Dr. 
C.  M.  C.  Prentice,  of  Chicago,  and   Mrs. 


L.  D.  Lindsley,  of  Norwalk — survive  him. 
His  life  is  too  well  known  to  need  eulogy, 
for  by  his  death  the  community  has  lost  a 
helping  friend  in  all  kinds  of  trouble. 

"  Life's  work  well  done, 
Lite's  race  well  run, 
Life's  crown  well  won, 
Now  comes  rest." 

The  remains  were  interred  in  Camden 
cemetery,  where  his  fatiier  and  mother  are 
sleeping,  Camden  being  his  old  bijyhood 
home. 

Hiram  Prentice,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  a  farmer  boy,  and  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at  the  public 
schools.  A  good  deal  of  his  boyhood  time 
was  spent  in  his  father's  mills,  and  being 
a  briglit  mechanic  he  was  able  to  dress  buhrs 
in  the  gi-istmill  before  he  was  twelve  years 
old.  Li  1835  he  came  to  Ohio  with  the 
rest  of  the  family,  as  above  related,  and 
was  at  once  put  to  work  at  the  plow,  driv- 
injj  and  steering  the  oxen  between  the 
many  stumps  that  remained  in  the  ground. 
AYilil  animals  were  still  plentiful,  and  deer, 
turkeys  and  occasional  bears  were  to  be 
seen  in  the  woods.  He  was  at  that  time 
aged  about  twelve  years,  and  when  a  little 
older  he  entered  Oberlin  College,  where  he 
made  considerable  progress  in  his  studies. 
Having  htted  himself  for  teaching,  he  fol- 
lowed the  profession  in  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  also  in  Lyme 
township,  Huron  county.  For  seven 
years  he  studied  medicine  under  the  pre- 
ceptorship  of  his  brother,  in  Ashtabula, 
Ohio,  but  circumstances  compelled  him  to 
give  it  up  and  return  to  the  home  farm, 
which  gradually  fell  into  his  possession, 
he  buying  out  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs,  and  he  lias  resided  thereon  ever 
since. 

On  March  17,  1853,  Mr.  Prentice  was 
married  to  Laura  A.  Webster,  who  was 
born  October  3,  1831,  in  Kingsville,  Ash- 
tabula Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Smith  and 
Margaret  (P.lodgett)  Webster.  She  is  a 
well-educated  lady,  and  for  seven  or  eight 
terms  taught  school  in   Ashtabula  county, 


1052 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


at  which  time  it  was  she  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mr.  Prentice.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  this  union  were  Eugene  S., 
agent  for  the  Michigan  Southern  and  Lake 
Shore  Kailroad  at  Kipton;  Minnie  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and 
Jennie  E.,  at  home.  Politically  Mr.  Pren- 
tice was  originally  a  Whig  (his  first  Pre- 
sidential vote  being  cast  for  John  P.  Hale), 
then  a  Free-Soiler,  later  a  Kepublican 
until  1884,  when  he  united  with  the  Pro- 
hibitionists. While  under  the  Republican 
banner  he  served  his  township  in  several 
offices.  He  and  hie  wife  are  leading  mem- 
bers and  liberal  supporters  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Kipton,  in  which  he  is  an  elder. 


llOHN  WOLF.  One  of  the  represen- 
k.  I  tative  thorough  business  men  and 
\Jj  shrewd  financiers  of  Lorain  county, 
and  not  the  least  of  Rochester  town- 
ship's systematic  and  progressive  farmer 
citizens,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  here 
appears. 

Mr.  Wolf  was  born  July  27,  1832,  iu 
Knox  township,  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
grandson  of  Adam  Wolf,  who  in  1805 
came  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  and  died  in 
Indiana.  William  Wolf,  father  of  John, 
WHS  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  Londonn 
county,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
where  in  Columbiana  county  he  married 
Miss  Catherine  Fetterhoff,  who  was  born  in 
the  Keystone  State,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Fetterhoff.  In  1848  the  family  removed  to 
Troy  township,  Ashland  Co.,  same  State, 
thence  after  a  time  to  Steuben  county,  Ind., 
where,  near  Pleasant  Lake,  William  died 
in  1888;  he  lies  buried  in  Mt.  Zion  Church 
cemetery  in  that  county.  His  widow,  now 
well  advanced  in  life,  resides  in  DeKalb 
county,  Ind.,  with  her  eldest  daughter, 
Susanna  Smith.  Of  their  large  family  of 
seventeen    children,    fifteen    married,   and 


fourteen  are  yet  living  in  various  parts  of 
the  United  States,  the  sons  for  the  most 
part  being  farmers. 

John  Wolf,  of  whom  this  sketch  chiefly 
relates,  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  day,  which  in  some  re- 
spects, he  avers,  are  superior  to  those  of 
the  present  time.  He  was  practically 
trained  to  farming  under  the  tuition  of  his 
father,  and  at  the  same  time  learned  car- 
pentry, although  not  apprenticed  to  the 
trade.  From  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
reared  in  Tro^'  townsiiip,  Ashland  Co., 
Ohio,  and  remained  under  the  paternal 
roof  till  he  was  twenty-two,  at  which  time 
he  commenced  working  out  as  a  farm  hand. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Troy  town- 
ship, Ashland  county,  in  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Second  O.  V.  I.,  which  went 
into  camp  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  was  then 
detailed  to  do  guard  and  scout  duty  in 
Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Alabama.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, and  returned  home,  arriving  in 
July,  1865.  Not  prepared  to  at  once  set- 
tle down  to  the  pursuits  of  peace,  he  mar- 
ried, in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  Miss 
Eliza  A.  Sponsler,  born  in  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  November  24,  1839,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Sponsler,  at  that  time  a 
farmer  of  Sullivan  township,  Ashland  Co., 
Ohio.  The  children  born  to  this  union  are 
as  fallows:  Cliarlie,  a  farmer  of  Rochester 
township;  Piiosbe  E.,  deceased  in  infancy; 
Carrie,  Mrs.  Winter  Close,  of  Orange 
township,  Ashland  county;  John  F.,  a 
farmer  of  Rochester  township,  and  Min- 
ner,  Mrs.  Emmer  Hileman. 

In  Troy  township.  Ashland  county,  Mr. 
Wolf  bought,  out  of  liis  savings  at  the  time 
he  was  working  by  the  month  at  thirteen 
dollars  per  month,  a  farm  which  he  after- 
ward resold.  Later,  out  of  his  savings 
from  ills  pay  while  in  the  army,  he  pur- 
chased ninety-seven  acres  near  his  father's 
place.  In  the  following  year,  after  making 
a  home  on  bis  last  purchase,  he  bought  of 
Cephas  Clark  a  farm  of  153  acres  in 
Rochester  township,  Lorain  county, whereon 


^:% 


'^f*" 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1055 


be  now  lives,  and  to  this  he  has  since 
added  until  he  now  has  190  acres  of  as  fine 
agricultural  land  as  can  be  seen  in  his  sec- 
tion. This  has  all  been  accnmulated,  not 
by  speculation,  but  by  assiduous,  honest 
toil,  hacked  by  sound  judgment  and  care- 
ful economy,  in  which  he  has  been  loyally 
and  valuably  assisted  by  his  amiable  and 
thrifty  wife.  They  are  worthy  leading 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  in 
which  be  is  trustee.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  in  Rochester  township, 
though  largely  Republican,  he  has  filled 
the  office  of  trustee  for  a  number  of  terms 
with  acknowledged  ability. 


FW.  MARTIN,  for  about  sixteen 
months  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
__  Martin  &  Smith,  of  Elyria,  Ohio, 
and  still  of  Martin  Brothers,  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  and  now  doing  business  as  F.  W. 
Martin,  at  Elyria,  is  a  native  of  Rhenish 
Bavaria,  born  May  4,  1861,  about  four 
miles  from  Landau. 

In  that  city  he  was  reared  and  educated 
np  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  at  which  time 
he  emigrated  to  America.  Having  no 
knowledge  of  English,  he  proceeded  to  Illi- 
nois in  order  to  attend  the  Noi-thwestern 
College  at  Naperville  in  that  State.  At 
the  end  of  one  term  he  left  that  institution, 
expecting  to  spend  the  vacation  in  Chicago 
and  then  return  to  school;  but  instead  he 
came  to  Elyria,  where  he  had  a  brother  liv- 
ing, a  clergyman  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Church.  After  attending  school  six  weeks 
here,  in  order  to  liecome  better  acquainted 
with  the  English  language,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  D.  C.  Baldwin  &  Co.,  with 
whom  he  remained  fifteen  months,  and  then 
found  employment  in  the  dry-goods  estab- 
lishment of  Goldberg  Brothers,  Elyria. 
With  them  he  also  remained  some  fifteen 
months,  after  which  he  accepted  a  position 
with    Strauss   »fe   Knpfer,   till   September, 


1885,  when  he  commenced  business  on  his 
own  account,  in  carpets,  wall  paper,  curtains, 
oil-cloth,  etc.  He  had  purchased  the  stock  of 
Strauss  &  Knpfer,  and  commenced  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  F.  W.  Martin  & 
Co.,  his  father-in-law,  W.  F.  Hurlbut,  being 
associated  with  him.  At  the  latter's  death 
Mr.  Martin  changed  the  firm  to  F.  W. 
Martin,  which  so  continued  from  Decem- 
ber 18,  1880,  to  October  1,  1892,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  H.  H.  Smith, 
and  opened  out  an  establishment  on  Cheap- 
side,  in  Elyria,  at  which  place  he  was  in 
business  until  January  12,  1894.  He  sold 
his  interest  in  this  firm,  and  opened  np  in 
the  same  line  at  No.  27  Broad  street  as 
F.  W.  Martin.  Mr.  Martin,  early  in  1888, 
opened  a  branch  business  in  Lorain,  but  in 
May  his  health  tailed,  so  that  he  could  not 
properly  atlend  to  it,  and  he  consequently 
sold  this  branch  out  the  following  July. 
In  September,  1891,  he  commenced  busi- 
ness in  Chicago,  111.,  at  No.  503-5  West 
Madison  street,  the  firm  name  being  Mar- 
tin Brothers  (he  having  received  his  broth- 
er into  partnership),  their  line  of  trade 
being  furniture  and  household  goods  on 
the  installment  plan.  On  May  1,  1892, 
he  opened  another  branch  in  that  city,  at 
No.  307  Ogden  avenue,  for  the  sale  of 
wall  paper,  paints,  oils,  etc.,  which  latter 
he  discontinued   after  one  year's  trial. 

On  January  13,  1885,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Alice  G.  Hurlbut. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Blue 
Lodge.  Mr.  Martin  continues  to  reside  in 
Elyria,  as  his  Chicago  house  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  and  does  not  require  his 
personal  attention. 


El    C.  BURGE.    This  well-known  resi- 
dent   of    Brighton    township    is    a 
J  native    of    Ohio,    born    in    Orange 
township,  Richland   (now  Ashland) 
county,  September  11, 1830,  a  son  of  John 
Y.  and  Mary  (Lowry)  Burge. 


1056 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Loudoun  county,  Va.,  a  son  of  William 
Burge,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  early 
days,  residing  for  some  years  in  Greene 
county.  In  the  early  part  of  this  century 
he  moved  to  Ohio,  finally  settling  in  Rich- 
land county,  where  he  died.  He  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the 
following  is  a  brief  record:  John  Y.  is 
the  father  of  our  subject;  Henry,  who 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  remained  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  died;  Mary  mar- 
ried Andrew  Newman,  and  died  near 
Jeromesville,  Ohio;  Benjamin  M.  died  in 
New  Haven  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio 
(he  was  accidentally  killed  in  the  following 
manner:  He  and  others  were  logging, 
and  had  several  logs  rolled  together.  They 
were  pntting  a  single  log  on  the  top  of  the 
pile,  and  Benjamin  Bui-ge  had  one  end  of 
it  lield  up  with  a  handspike,  one  end  of 
this  lever  being  under  the  log,  the  other 
resting  on  his  shoulder.  "When  the  rest 
of  the  men  were  lifting  iip  the  far  end  of 
the  log,  Burge's  foot  slipped  and  he  fell, 
the  handspike,  being  suddenly  released 
from  his  shoulder,  striking  him  on  the 
neck  with  great  force,  dislocating  it  and 
producing  death);  Ruth  married  LTsher 
Goldsmith,  and  died  near  Mansfield,  Ohio; 
Sarah  married  Christopher  Lamberton,  a 
lawyer  of  Mansfield,  Ohio;  William  L., 
who  was  well  educated,  died  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri. 

John  Y.  Burge  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  cooper  under  his 
father.  He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania 
to  Mary  Lowry,  who  was  born  in  Loudoun 
county,  Ya.,  a  member  of  one  of  the  lead- 
ing families  of  that  State.  After  marriage 
they  remained  in  the  Keystone  State  some 
time,  and  then  came  with  his  family  to 
Ohio,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Stark  county, 
where  Mr.  Burge  stopped  temporarily,  and 
engaged  with  a  farmer  to  work  his  place 
for  a  period  of  three  years;  then  moved  to 
Richland  county,  whither  his  parents  had 
preceded  him,  and  in  the  township  of 
Orange   he   and    his   wife   passed    the   re- 


mainder of  their  lives.  They  had  a  family 
of  fourteen  children,  as  follows:  Lemuel 
G.,  who  died  in  Orange  township  after 
reaching  adult  age;  William  W.,  who  died 
in  infancy,  in  Stark  county,  Ohio;  Samuel 
W.,  who  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  Orange 
township;  Benjamin  M.,  of  Greenwich, 
Pluron  Co.,  Ohio;  John,  a  farmer  of 
Brighton  township;  Elizabeth,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-iive  years;  Sarah,  who 
married  John  Goldsmith,  and  now  lives  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio;  Ruth,  who  died 
unmarried;  Mary,  who  died  in  youth; 
E.  C,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Rachel,  un- 
married, residing  in  Ashland  county.  Ohio; 
Ezra  L.,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Ellzey  K.,  who 
died  in  Lawrence  county,  Penn.;  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy  unnamed.  Mr.  Burge 
followed  his  trade,  coopering,  with  much 
success  in  the  various  places  where  he 
lived,  and  succeeded  in  accumulating  a 
pleasant  home,  comprising  153  acres  of 
prime  land,  and  an  elegant  house.  In  his 
political  associations  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

E  C.  Burge,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  Lorain  county 
with  his  brother  John  Y.  He  took  up  his 
residence  in  Brighton  township,  where  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  first-class  wages, 
and  after  his  marriage  located  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Orange  township,  Ashland 
county,  then  consisting  of  153  acres,  con- 
siderably encumbered,  however,  and  here 
resided  three  years.  In  1850  he  again 
came  to  Brighton  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  worked  as  a  hired  man  until  1859,  sav- 
ing money  sufKcient  to  buy  the  land  where 
he  now  lives,  and  in  1860  he  moved  there- 
on. Here  he  has  since  carried  on  general 
farming,  and  built  a  new  residence,  barn, 
etc. ;  for  some  years  he  has  also  done  a  very 
profitable  dairy  business.  In  addition  to 
all  this  Mr.  Burge  taught  school  during 
the  winter  months  in  various  parts  of  Ohio 
— Lucas,     Ashland,    Huron     and     Lorain 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1057 


counties — in  all  thirty-three  terms,  giving 
eminent  satisfaction  to  all  concerned;  but 
he  had  to  retire  from  the  profession  on 
account  of  impaired  eyesight. 

On  October  17,  1852,'  Mr.  Burge  was 
married  to  Nancy  Thompson,  who  was  born 
February  13, 1836,  in  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  (Kearnes) 
Thompson,  and  the  children  born  to  them 
are  as  follows:  John  Y.,  a  school  teacher; 
Martha  A.,  Mrs.  John  Burrows,  of  Brigh- 
ton; Mary,  Mrs.  O.  L.  Rolfe,  of  Brighton; 
and  Vernie,  a  school  teacher,  also  of  Brigh- 
ton. Our  subject  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held  va- 
rious offices  of  trust  in  his  township.  In 
matters  of  religion  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episconal 
Church.  He  is  in  all  things  remarkably 
temperate,  and  never  drinks  intoxicating 
liquors. 


(SALTER  SMITH,  a  native-born 
\J/  agriculturist  of  Lorain  county, 
\L[  was  born  September  5,  1S43,  in 
Penfield  township,  on  the  same 
farm  which  he  now  owns  and  resides  upon. 
Levi  Smith,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  December  23,  1815,  in  Camden, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Joel  B.  Smith, 
a  cabinet  maker,  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life.  During  the  winter  season 
he  attended  the  common  schools,  but 
he  was  actively  engaged  as  well  in  farm 
work  even  in  his  early  boyhood,  when  he 
was  so  small  that  he  could  not  hold  the 
plow  handles,  or  yoke  the  oxen  without 
standing  on  a  box;  and  from  the  time  he 
was  sixteen  years  old  he  had  charge  of  a 
small  farm  which  his  father  owned. 
About  1836  he  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio  (the  passage  over  Lake  Erie  being 
very  rough),  accompanied  by  his  parents, 
who  first  located  in  Andierst  and  then  in 
Penfield  township.  He  remained  with 
them  until  1840,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  county    in    New    York,   and    there 


married  Miss  Harriet  Johnson,  an  old 
schoolmate,  who  was  born  July  9, 1819,  in 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Russell 
Johnson,  a  farmer.  Immediately  after 
marriage  the  young  couple  set  out  for  the 
home  in  Ohio,  where  they  located  on  a 
tract  of  forty-six  acres,  all  of  which,  with 
the  exception  of  tlie  riverland,  was  in  the 
woods,  and  here  erected  the  house  our  sub- 
ject now  resides  in.  Llere  were  born  to 
them  two  children,  as  follows:  George, 
who  enlisted  August  9, 1862,  at  Cleveland, 
in  Battery  B,  First  Ohio  Light  Artillery, 
and  died  December  9,  1862,  of  typhoid 
fever,  in  Hospital  No.  9,  Nashville,  Tenn., 
where  he  was  buried  in  the  National 
cemetery,  the  day  before  his  father  arrived; 
and  Walter,  who  is  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  lifelong 
farmer,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned 
228  acres  of  land,  which  property  he  had 
accumulated  by  hard  work  and  good  man- 
agement, and  he  kept  500  head  of  sheep 
when  wool  sold  at  one  dollar  per  pound. 

Levi  Smith  was  one  of  the  best  finan- 
ciers of  his  time,  and  was  a  close  oI)server 
of  men  and  events.  Politically  he  was  ori- 
ginally a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  was  a 
regular  attendant  at  all  elections,  and 
served  for  many  years  as  township  trus- 
tee. He  was  very  patriotic,  and  during 
the  Civil  Avar  contributed  much  toward 
freeing  the  township  from  the  draft.  When 
about  forty-five  years  of  age  he  united  with 
the  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  remained  a 
member  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  6, 1884.  After  his  decease  his  widow 
removed  to  Wellington,  where  she  passed 
a  retired  life  until  her  death,  December 
11,  1888,  when  she  was  buried  by  the  side 
of  her  husband  in  Center  cemetery.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for 
over  forty-five  years. 

Our  sul)ject  obtained  such  an  education 
as  the  common  schools  of  his  time  afforded, 
meantime  receiving  his  airricultural  train- 
ing  on  the  home  farm.  On  August  23, 
1866,  he  married  Alice  M.  Crane,  also  a 
native  of  Penfield  township,  and  they  had 


1058 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


two  children, as  follows:  Blanche,  now  Mrs. 
E.  M.  Smith,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and 
George,  now  a  resident  of  California.  The 
mother  of  these  died  in  1870,  and  in  1872 
Mr.  Smith  married,  for  his  second  wife. 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Pierce,  who  was  born  near 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  James  M. 
Pierce,  who  removed  to  Ohio  in  his  later 
years.  To  this  union  came  four  children, 
namely:  Guy  E.,  Mary  Etta,  Harry  H. 
and  Levi.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith 
located  in  Peniield  township,  and  worked 
the  farm  owned  liy  his  father,  after  whose 
death  he  moved  to  his  present  place,  where, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  passed  in 
Wellino'ton  for  the  benefit  of  his  children's 
education,  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  member  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  is  well  posted  on 
the  issues  of  the  day.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


in 


dl  C.  SMITH,  one  of  the  most  success 
ful  business  men  in  Pentield  town 
I  ship,  was  born  April  9,  1827, 
Camden,  Oneida  Co.,  New  York. 
Joel  B.  Smith,  father  of  our  sul>ject, 
was  born  February  2,  1788,  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  when  a  young  man  was  bound  out 
for  six  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter and  joiner.  He  was  married  in  Con- 
necticut, on  February  13,  1811,  to  Miss 
Harriet  Bronson,  who  was  born  in  that 
State  January  1,  1791,  and  they  shortly 
afterward  removed  to  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
locating  in  the  town  of  Camden,  where  he 
worked  steadily  and  industriously  at  his 
trade.  He  purchased  property  and  owned 
a  farm,  and  here  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  him:  Myron  B.,  born  November 
30,  1811,  now  of  Lapeer,  Mich,  (he  was  at 
one  time  State  surveyor  of  Michigan): 
Levi,  born  October  13,  1812,  who  died 
November  27,  1812;  Sarah  S.,  born  March 
6,  1814,  who  was  married  in  New   York 


State  to  Edward  Ackley,  and  died  June  6, 
1839  (she  was  the  second  woman  interred 
in  Penfield  cemetery);  Levi,  born  Decem- 
ber 23,  1815;  Hervey  P.,  who  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Michigan  many  years  ago,  but  left 
that  State  to  locate  some  coal  mines  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  never  since  been 
beard  from;  George  L.,  a  farmer,  who  died 
in  Lapeer,  Mich. ;  Harriet,  who  married 
William  Hart, and  died  in  Grafton;  Hiram, 
a  very  successful  lumberman,  who  died  in 
Flint,  Mich.;  J.  C,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Henry,  of  Cleveland,   Ohio. 

During  the  winter  of  1836-37  Joel  B. 
Smith  had  come  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
and  passed  a  short  time  in  Amherst  town- 
ship with  his  brother  Isaac,  who  was  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  niinister,  while  there 
making  some  arrangements  for  the  pur- 
chase of  a  farm,  while  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground.  He  next  went  to  Michigan  on  a 
visit  to  his  son  Myron  B.,  and  then  returned 
to  his  liorae  in  New  York,  in  the  spring  of 
1837  bringing  his  family  to  Lorain  county. 
They  came  by  way  of  the  Erie  Canal 
from  Utica  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y^.,  and  thence 
by  Lake  to  Cleveland;  during  their  pas- 
sage through  the  ice  in  the  lake  the  paddle- 
wheel  of  the  vessel  was  broken,  but  Joel 
Smifh,  being  a  carpenter,  repaired  it.  Their 
progress  was  still  very  slow,  however,  three 
days  and  three  nights  being  occupied  in 
traveling  twenty  miles,  but  they  finally 
landed  at  Black  River  (now  Lorain),  from 
which  town  they  drove  their  own  team  to 
the  home  of  Isaac  Smith  in  Amherst  town- 
ship. By  this  time  the  snow  had  melted 
from  the  ground,  and  Mr.  Smith,  seeing 
that  the  land  he  had  partially  bargained 
for  was  stony,  declined  to  take  it,  but  hear- 
ing of  a  farm  for  sale  in  Penfield  township 
he  came  hither  and  bought  150  acres  at 
thirty  dollars  per  acre,  the  place  on  which 
our  subject  now  resides.  The  bottom-land 
on  this  tract  had  been  partly  cleared,  but 
the  rest  was  all  in  the  woods,  and  here  Mi". 
Smith  resided  until  his  death,  from  heart 
disease,  on  May  13,  1850.  He  was  buried 
in  Center  cemetery,   and  his  widow  then 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1059 


made  her  home  with  her  eon  J.  C.  for 
seven  years.  She  next  went  to  Michigan, 
to  live  with  her  son  Myron  B.,  wliere  she 
died  in  IS-tO;  she  was  buried  by  the  side 
of  her  husband.  After  coming  west  Mr. 
Smith  followed  his  trade,  and  erected  the 
residence  on  his  own  farm  and  various 
other  buildings  in  the  township.  He  was 
also  able  to  make  tine  furniture  and  manu- 
factured a  number  of  colfins.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  old 
musket  he  carried  at  Sacket's  Harbor  is 
still  in  the  possession  of  our  subject.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics,  formerly  a 
Whig,  and  kept  himself  posted  on  the 
issues  of  the  day. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighboriiood  of  his  boyhood  home 
up  to  the  age  of  ten  years,  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  at  which  time 
there  was  no  schoolhouse  in  his  district. 
Later,  however,  he  attended  a  school  one 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  his  home,  taught 
by  J.  B.  Wilson,  in  the  meantime  being 
trained  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  the 
home  farm,  where  he  remained  until  his 
marriage.  On  April  9,  1851,  he  was 
wedded  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Knapp,  a  native 
of  Pentield  township,  daughter  of  Schubie 
Knapp,  an  early  pioneer  of  same,  who  was 
killed  by  the  falling  of  a  hollow  log,  which 
struck  him  on  the  head  while  he  was  build- 
ing a  smoke-house.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Smith 
died  March  3,  1852,  leaving  one  child, 
Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Lang,  of  Pen- 
field,  and  on  April  24,  1853,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Miss  Minerva  Starr,  who  was 
born  November  6,  1827.  in  HarpersHeld, 
Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Orrin 
and  Abigail  (Hickok)  Starr,  pioneers  of 
Bentield  township.  To  this  union  were 
born  children  as  follows:  Burton,  of  Graf- 
ton, Ohio,  in  the  employ  of  the  C.  C.  C. 
&  St.  L.  R.  R.  Co.;  Josephine  M.,  now 
Mrs.  William  Mander,  of  Toledo.  Ohio; 
Alonzo  B..  a  farmer  of  Van  Buren  county, 
Mich.;  and  Marian,  widow  of  Edward- 
Worrell,  of  Port  Clinton,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Smith  has  made  farming  his  principal  vo- 


cation in  life,  and  for  live  years  also  en- 
gaged in  droving,  buying  cattle  throughout 
southern  Ohio.  For  forty  years  he  con- 
ducted a  dairy,  and  for  two  years  was  also 
in  the  milling  business  at  Grafton  Station, 
having  won  success  in  all  his  business  en- 
terprises. During  the  season  he  makes 
maple  syrup  and  molasses.  Politically  he 
is  a  lifelong  Republican,  but  is  not  an  as- 
pirant for  public  office.  He  and  his  wife 
are  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
in  which  he  has  held  various  positions 
of  trust. 


B.  CHAPMAN,  a  well-known  early 
resident  of  Lorain  county,  is  a  son 
of  James  Chapman,  who  was  reared 
in  Lorain  county.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Bark,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  America  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and 
they  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living,  namely:  C.  B.,  Bird  (clerk  in 
a  hardware  store  at  Elyria,  Ohio)  and  T.  B. 
(editor  of  the  Lorain  Timeft).  The  father 
of  this  family  followed  sailing  on  the  lakes 
for  some  time;  he  died  in  1868.  His 
widow  is  still  living. 

C.  B.  Chapman  was  born  April  12, 
1845,  in  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio.  Li  1849  he  came  to  Lorain,  where 
he  received  his  education,  and,  in  1857,  at 
the  early  age  of  eleven  years,  commenced 
sailing  on  the  Lakes,  a  vocation  in  which 
he  has  ever  since  continued,  being  now 
captain  of  a  tng-boat  plying  between 
Sandusky  and  Lorain.  Mr.  Chapman  has 
also  dealt  in  real  estate;  he  owns  two 
dwelling  houses  in  Lorain  besides  his  own, 
and  has  also  several  lots  in  the  West  End. 
He  sold  five  acres  in  the  southwesiern  part 
of  the  town. 

In  1806  the  Captain  was  married,  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Snider, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  in  an  early  day 
came  with  her  p'lrents,  Henry  and  Mary 
(Brown)  Snider,  also  natives  of  Germany, 
to    Lorain  county.  Ohio,  where  the  father 


1060 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


died;  her  mother  died  in  June,  1893,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  Socially  onr 
subject  is  a  member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  of 
the  Excelsior  Marine  Benevolent  Associa- 
tion, of  Cleveland,  of  Black  River  Lodge 
No.  680,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Order  of 
Rebekah.  Politically  he  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party,  and  served 
one  term  as  member  of  the  town  council 
his  brother  has  also  served  in  tlie  same 
capacity.  Mr.  Chapman  is  a  member  of 
one  of  the  early  families  of  Lorain,  and 
has  watched  her  growth  and  progress  from 
a  village  of  600  people  to  her  present  pros- 
perous condition. 


L 


F.  CLIFFORD,  a  leading  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  of  Wellington  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  same,  born  April 
18,  1834,  of  German  ancestry  on  the 
paternal  side,  his  great  grandfather  hav- 
ing come  from  Germany  to  America  in 
time  to  serve  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  received  a  regular  discharge  from  the 
army;  his  wife  died  December  9,  1844, 
aged  ninety-three  years. 

John  Clifford,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  1777,  in  Providence,  R.  L 
He  married  Miss  Margaret  Williamson, 
who  bore  him  children  as  follows:  John, 
Jr.,  born  September  8,  1797,  died  Decem- 
ber 25,  1857;  Daniel,  born  February  7, 
1799,  died  January  31,  1886  (he  was  the 
father  of  our  subject);  Luther  L.,  born 
March  8,  1801,  died  March  12,  1864; 
Hannah,  born  July  15,  1803,  died  April 
28,  1857;  Theodocia,  born  May  15,  1805, 
died  May  31,  1880;  George  W.,  born  June 
18,  1807,  died  September  28,1861;  Elijah, 
born  March  13,  1810,  died  in  July,  1880; 
PoUie  M.,  born  June  6,  1813,  died  July 
1,  1849;  Benjamin  F.,  born  January  19, 
1816,  died  December  21,  1885;  Harriet, 
born  May  30,  1819,  died  December  5, 
1869;  and  Adeline  E.,  born  in  Ohio  Sep- 


tember 23,  1821,  died  September  2,  1841. 
The  mother  of  these  was  born  March  15, 
1779,  and  died  May  22,  1845. 

In  1818  Joiin  Clifford,  leaving  his  fam- 
ily  behind,  came  west  to  Ohio  in  company 
with  four  others — Ephraim  Wilcox,  Will- 
iam Welling,  Joseph  Wilson  and  Charles 
Sweet — the  entire  journey  being  made 
with  a  horse  and  cutter.  Having  selected 
a  suitable  location  i'or  a  settlement,  oti  the 
banks  of  Wellington  creek,  about  half  a 
mile  from  where  the  town  of  Wellington 
now  stands,  Mr.  Clifford  returned  east  for 
his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  ten  chil- 
dren, and  they  all  arrived  safely  at  their 
new  home  in  March,  1820.  One  week  after- 
ward they  had  cut  the  timber  and  erected 
alog  house,  covered  it  with  shakes,  chinked 
and  "  mudded  "  it,  and  laid  the  floor,  ul- 
timately finding  themselves  comfortably 
settled.  This  building  also  became  the 
first  schoolhouse,  the  first  meeting  house 
and  the  first  tavern.  It  was  the  first  point 
immigrants  would  reach  as  they  entered 
the  settlement,  and  its  doors  were  always 
open  to  welcome  new  comers.  There  the 
first  sermon  was  preached  by  Presiding 
Elder  McMahon,  a  Methodist,  and  at  that 
meeting  Adam  Poe  received  his  license  to 
preach.  Mr.  Clifford  was  proverbial  for 
his  industry  and  thrift.  In  addition  to  his 
labors  in  clearing  land,  cutting  roads  and 
raising  crops,  he  plied  his  trade  of  shoe- 
maker, for  many  years  supplying  the  wants 
of  his  neighbors  for  many  miles  around, 
being  the  only  shoemaker  in  the  settle- 
ment. One  daughter  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clifford  shortly  after  coming  here, 
making  the  eleventh  in  the  family.  Mr. 
Clifl'ord  died  September  17,  1869,  after  a 
few  weeks'  illness  from  cancer  under  the 
left  arm;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  there 
had  been  of  his  family  of  eleven  children 
seventy-nine  grandchildren,  ninety-seven 
great-grandchildren  and  one  great-great- 
grandciiild — 188  in  all. 

Daniel  C.  Clifford,  father  of  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch,  was  born  February 
7,    1799,    at    Tyringham,   Berkshire    Co., 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1061 


Mass.,  and  was,  as  will  be  seen,  a  young 
man  of  twenty-one  when  he  arrived  with 
tiie  rest  of  the  family  in  Wellington  town- 
ship, where  all  his  life  he  followed  farm- 
ing. On  March  13,  1S25,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  P.  Hall,  of  Brecksville,  Ohio, 
and  twelve  children  were  born  to  them, 
named  as  follows:  Edward,  Henry,  Elvi- 
ra, Jane,  Christopher,  Franklin,  Andrew, 
Charles,  Harriet,  Adeline  and  Ageliiie 
(twins)  and  Fiancis,  all  yet  living  except 
two.  On  March  13,  1875,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  C.  Clifford  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding,  and  there  were  present  at  the  fes- 
tival many  of  those  wlio  had  attended  the 
marriage  half  a  century  before.  On  Jan- 
uary 31,  1886,  within  one  week  of  his 
eigiity-seventh  birthday,  Mr.  Clifford  was 
summoned  to  his  long  home.  He  had  lived 
on  the  same  farm  sixty-six  years,  and  "  was 
a  man  of  a  remarkably  vigorous  frame,  in- 
domitable energy  and  independence  of 
character,  industrious,  thrifty,  provident, 
a  fair  type  of  the  men  who  conquered  the 
diiiioulties  of  pioneer  life."  He  was  a 
member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Society  of  Wellington,  but  did  not  until 
shortly  before  liis  death  syiripathize  with 
or  appreciate  modern  innovations  or  recent 
methods.  His  widow  survived  him  a  little 
less  than  one  year,  dying  January  23, 
1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  She  was 
a  woman  of  remarkable  enei'gy  and  ability, 
and  heroically  braved  tlie  toils,  dangers  and 
privations  of  pioneer  life.  She  possessed 
a  cheerful,  happy  disposition,  and  "  Aunt 
Sarah  "  (as  she  was  familiarly  called)  was 
universally  loved  and  respected. 

L.  F.  Clifford,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  his  education  at  the 
subscription  schools  of  Wellington  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  his  attendance  there 
being  confined  to  a  few  months  in  the 
winter  seasons,  the  balance  of  the  year  be- 
ing devoted  to  farming  operations,  in  which 
he  became  remarkably  successful.  In  1866 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Alice 
Houghton  Drake,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, viz.:   Paul  Carlton,  born  August  18, 


1870,  and  educated  at  the  high  school  of 
Wellington,  and  Robert  Houghton,  born 
December  28,  1872,  who  graduated  at  the 
high  school  of  Wellington,  and  is  now 
taking  a  four  years'  course  in  the  "  Case 
School  of  Applied  Science,"  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  In  his  political  preferences  Mr. 
Clifford  is  a  Republican,  and  in  matters 
of  religion  he  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


DANIEL  TOLHURST,  whose  name 
is    intimately    associated    with    the 
agricultural     interests     of     Lorain 

county,  more  particularly  of  Am- 
herst township,  is  a  native  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county  of  Kent,  England,  born 
March  18,  1836. 

His  father,  John  Tolhurst,  was  born  in 
the  same  county  in  1800,  and  was  there 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Standen;  in  1851 
tliev  emigrated  with  their  family  to  the 
United  States  and  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
farm  in  Amherst  township.  The  father 
died  in  1885;  the  mother  is  yet  living, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  son  Daniel, 
who  is  the  only  survivor  of  her  family  of 
children.  The  voyage  across  the  ocean 
took  five  weeks,  while  now  it  can  be  made 
in  about  that  number  of  days.  Daniel's 
fifteenth  birthday  was  passed  on  the  water. 
A  particularly  sad  event  on  the  trip  was 
the  death  and  burial  at  sea  of  an  only  sis- 
ter, not  quite  two  years  old. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was  a  youth 
of  fifteen  summers  when  he  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  and  has  been  a  resident  ever 
since  of  Amherst  township,  where  he 
owns  a  well-cultivated  farm  of  seventy-two 
acres.  In  1861  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Harriet  Standen,  a  native  of 
England,  and  two  children  were  born  to 
them,  both  of  whom  died  when  young. 
This  wife  departed  this  life  in  18(55,  and 
in  1866  Mr.  Tolhurst  married  Miss  Ame- 
lia Chapman,  who  was  born  in  Michigan, 
and  reared  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.     Four 


1062 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


children  came  to  bless  their  union,  viz.: 
Cora,  deceased;  Ward,  born  in  October, 
1871,  who  received  a  liberal  commercial 
education  at  Oberlin,  and  lives  on  his 
father's  farm ;  Mary,  wife  of  Howard 
Walicer,  of  Amherst  township,  and  Arthur, 
attendincr  school.  In  politics  our  subject 
is  independent,  invariably  voting  for  the 
best  men  and  most  sahitary  measures,  irre- 
spective of  party. 

Mrs.  Amelia  Tolhurst  is  a  daughter  of 
William  Henry  and  Jane  (Sackett)  Chap- 
man, the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
New  York  State  in  1816,  and  died  May 
26,  1891.  He  lived  in  Michigan  for  a 
time,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Jane" 
Sackett,  who  was  a  resident  of  Lorain 
county.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chapman,  as  follows:  Celia, 
wife  of  Captain  S.  Gilmore,  of  Lorain 
county,  Ohio;  Amelia,  wife  of  Daniel  Tol- 
hurst; Arthur,  who  was  lost  on  the 
schooner  "  Clough,"  when  aged  twenty-six 
years;  William,  deceased  in  childhood; 
Ella,  wife  of  Dr.  Smith,  of  Olmsted  Fails, 
Ohio;  Cora  and  Alice,  both  of  whom  died 
young,  and  one  that  lived  not  beyond  the 
days  of  infancy. 


CHARLES  A.  FINLEY.  prominent 
at  one  time  among  the  general  agri- 
culturists, stock  and  dairy  men  of 
Lorain  county,  and  now  a  leading 
capitalist  of  Camden,  was  born  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  December  23,  1847,  a  son  of  Thomas 
A.  Finley,  anativeof  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, whose  father  was  a  sailor. 

Thomas  A.  Finley  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  on  leaving  school  entered  the 
TJ.  S.  Navy,  in  which  he  served  some  time. 
He  was  married,  December  30,  1846,  in 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to  Lucretia  Spooner,  who 
was  born  in  Penoltscot  county,  Maine. 
She  died  August  12,  1849,  leaving  one 
child,  Charles  A.  The  father  then  re- 
turned  to  the   sea,   and   for  a   short  time 


thereafter  wrote  home  occasionally  till  all 
at  once  his  letters  ceased,  and  he  has  never 
been  heard  of  since;  he  may  be  dead,  but 
his  fate  is  enshrouded  in  mystery. 

Charles  A.  Finley,  after  the  death  of  his 
mother,  was  taken  to  be  reared  under  the 
care  of  his  grandmother,  Mrs.  Lewis 
Spooner,  whose  husband  died  of  cholera  in 
1849.  With  her  Charles  continued  to  live 
nntil  he  was  six  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
placed  in  a  boarding  school  at  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  and  there  remained  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  thirteen  years,  at  which  time 
he  was  bound  out  to  Levi  House,  a  farmer 
of  Marilla  township,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
M'ith  him  remained  till  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  part  of  the  time  attending  school. 
After  this  he  obtained  work  on  a  farm,  but 
did  not  remain  long,  as  in  1867  he  came 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  North  Amherst,  Lo- 
rain county,  for  a  couple  of  years,  still  en- 
gaged in  farm  work.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  moved  into  Wellington  township, 
same  county,  working  as  a  farm  hand  for 
S.  D.  Bacon,  whose  daughter,  Eupheniia, 
he  married  January  13,  1874.  One  son, 
Archer  S.,  was  born  to  them,  but  died  in 
infancy,  the  mother  following  to  the  grave 
in  January,  1875;  her  remains  are  interred 
in  Wellington  cemetery.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Finley  married  on  March  8, 
1877,  Miss  Emma  O.  Johnson,  who  was 
born  in  Greenwich  township,  Huron 
county,  December  26,  1853,  daughter  of 
John  and  Betsy  (Snyder)  Johnson,  who 
came  to  Brighton  township,  Lorain  county, 
in  1860.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
two  children:  Mabel  L.  and  ErwiuE.,  both 
living  at  home. 

In  April,  1877,  our  subject  came  to 
Camden  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
bought  121  acres  of  land  at  forty-two  dol- 
lars per  acre,  going  in  debt  over  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  For  nine  years  he  lived  on 
this  farm,  engaged  in  agriculture,  stock 
raising  and  dairying,  and  then  moved  into 
Kipton,  for  two  years  thereafter  retaining 
his  farm,  which  he  then  sold.  In  1887  he 
started  a  broom  factory,  a  new  industry, 


(^^^L^tA^,^^^- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1065 


which  he  successfully  carried  on  two  years, 
and  then  disposed  of  his  interest  in  it.  He 
has  since  been  engaged  in  various  enter- 
prises, meeting  in  all  his  ventures  with 
unqualified  success.  He  is  a  shrewd  dealer 
and  a  good  financier,  and  is  jjossessed  of 
more  than  ordinary  business  qualifications, 
as  his  entire  career  amply  testifies.  He 
controls  a  considerable  amount  of  capital, 
and  much  credit  is  due  him  for  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  has  accumulated  property 
and  wealth,  and  controlled  what  he  has. 
A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  has  held  several 
offices  of  trust  in  his  township,  for  six 
years  being  trustee  thereof.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  Tent  No.  92,  Kip- 
ton.  Mrs.  Finley  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Camden  Center. 


El    H.  NICHOLL,  druggist  and  phar- 
macist, was  born  October  10,  1867, 
1  at  Brownhelm,   Lorain  county,  the 

sixth    child    of    James    and    Jane 
(Lawson')  Nicholl. 

When  our  subject  was  four  years  of  age 
his  parents  moved  to  North  Amherst, 
where  he  attended  school  and  studied 
pharmacy.  They  are  prominent  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  that  place,  and  the 
father,  who  has  always  been  interested  in 
tJie  stone  business,  is  now  general  super- 
intendent of  the  Cleveland  Stone  Co.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  E.  H.  Nicholl  went 

• 

into  partnership,  in  the  drug  business, 
with  J.  F.  Utile,  who  died  two  years  later, 
when  Mr.  Nicholl  continued  alone  in  the 
business.  Shortly  afterward,  owing  to  ill 
healtli,  he  took  a  trip  through  the  south- 
ern States,  returning  greatly  improved. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Ohio 
Pharmaceutical  Association,  and  is  licensed 
by  that  State. 

In  1892  he  married  Miss  Anna  Miller, 
of  North  Amherst,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Alson.     Politically  Mr.  Nicholl  is 


inclined  toward  the  Democratic  party,  but 
does  not  take  much  interest  in  political 
affairs,  as  he  spends  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  in  study  and  in  making  his  business 
a  success.  He  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 
and  K.  O.  T.  M.  Lodges,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading,  progressive  and  enterprising 
young  men  of  North  Amherst.  In  the 
spring  of  1892  he  was  elected  member  of 
the  town  council   for  a  term  of  two  years. 


EL  DURKEE,  Je.,  an  enterprising, 
native-born  farmer  of  Eaton  town- 
ship, was  born  December  2,  1844,  a 
son  of  Oel  and  Betsy  (Terry)  Dur- 
kee,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  1808 
in  New  York  State,  the  latter  in  1809  in 
Vermont. 

Oel  Durkee,  Sr.,  was  reared  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  married  Betsy 
Terry,  and  in  1832  they  came  westward  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  the  woods 
of  Eaton  township,  where  they  yet  reside. 
They  had  a  family  of  nine  children  (five  of 
whom  are  still  living),  viz.:  Mason,  mar- 
ried, residing  in  Henry  county,  Ohio; 
Nancy,  who  was  the  wife  of  Josiah  Lind- 
ley,  of  Henry  county,  Ohio,  died  in  1881; 
Cordelia,  who  married  Nelson  Cornwell, 
of  Henry  county,  died  in  1878;  Hiram, 
who  enlisted  in  1861,  in  Company  D, 
Twenty-third  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  two 
years,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Antie- 
tam;  Pncis,  deceased  when  eight  or  nine 
years  old;  Oel,  Jr.,  mentioned  farther  on; 
Evaline,  Mrs.  Myers,  residing  in  LaPorte, 
Ohio;  Horace,  married,  residing  in  Graf- 
ton, Ohio;  and  Oscar,  ujarried,  residing  in 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  county.  The 
father  of  this  family,  though  now  over 
fourscore  years  of  age,  is  still  a  strong, 
active  man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  takes  considerable  interest 
in  politics,  and  served  for  many  years  as 
trustee  of  Eaton  township. 


1066 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Oel  Durkee,  Jr.,  was  reared  in  Eaton 
township,  received  liis  education  in  the 
common  scliools  of  same,  and  has  devoted 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  to  agriculture, 
engaging  also  in  the  manufacture  of 
cheese.  In  1861  he  enlisted,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  in  Company  E, 
Forty-second  O.  V.  I.,  and  served  with 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagements  in  Kentucky, 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  and  New 
Orleans,  was  through  the  Red  River  cam- 
paign, and  subsequently  at  Brownsville, 
Texas.  In  1865  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  imme- 
diately returned  to  Lorain  county,  where 
he  resumed  farm  life.  In  December, 
1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Eaton 
township,  with  Miss  Emma  Phillips,  a 
native  of  same,  daughter  of  Edwin  and 
Betsy  (Wilmott)  Phillips;  the  father,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  who  was  an  early  set- 
tler in  Eaton  township,  was  drowned  about 
1857,  while  sailing  on  the  "  Henry  Clay." 
His  widow,  who  afterward  remarried,  died 
in  Eaton  township  in  1891. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oel  Durkee  were  born 
eight  children  (si.K  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing), viz.:  May  (deceased  at  the  age  of 
three  years),  Juna  (deceased  at  the  age  of 
seventeen),  Edward,  Leo,  Stella,  Blanche, 
Elza  and  Flossie.  Our  subject  owns  a 
farm  of  eighty-three  acres  of  good  land, 
where  he  carries  on  general  farming.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Repiiblican;  socially  he  is 
a  member  of  Richard  Allen  Post,  G.  A.  E., 
Elyria. 


E.  HOLCOMB,  farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  and  a  popular  citizen  of  La- 
Grange  township,  is  a  native  of 
same,  Vjorn  September  28,  1840. 
He  is  a  son  of  Asal  and  Fannie 
(Hastings)  Holcomb,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Jefferson  county.  N.  Y.,  son  of 
Noah  Holcomb,  Asal  Holcomb  received 
an  education   in   the  common  schools,  and 


learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  having  a 
natural  aptitude  for  mechanical  work. 
When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Fan- 
nie Hastings,  up  to  which  time  he  had 
been  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  labor. 
He  then  bought  land  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship (the  farm  our  subject  now  resides  on), 
and  here  all  their  children  were  born,  as 
follows:  A.  I.,  a  farmer  of  LaGrange; 
R.  E.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Jeanette, 
Mrs.  D.  C.  Nichols,  of  LaGrange;  Wesley, 
who  died  young;  and  Fannie,  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Nichols,  of  Penfield,  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Holcomb  died  at  the  bii'th  of  her  daughter 
Fannie,  and  was  interred  in  East  cemetery, 
and  Mr.  Holcomb  subsequently  married 
Miss  Maria  Hunter,  of  Richland  county, 
Ohio.  There  were  no  children  by  this 
union.  Mr.  Holcomb  was  a  lifelong  agri- 
culturist, and  met  with  considerable  suc- 
cess in  his  vocation,  accumulating  a  com- 
fortable competence.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  in  religion  they  were  Chris- 
tians— though  not  members  of  any  Church. 
He  passed  from  earth  in  1867,  and  he  and 
his  wife  lie  buried  in  East  cemetery. 

R.  E.  Holcomb  was  educated  first  in  the 
common  schools,  and  later  at  select  school, 
being  a  pupil  of  E.  G.  Johnson  at  La- 
Grange Center.  He  was  trained  to  agri- 
cultural life,  and  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  his  enlistment,  September  5, 
1861,  at  LaGrange,  in  Company  B,  First 
Ohio  Artillery,  with  which  he  went  to 
Camp  Dennison,  near  Cincinnati.  His 
first  active  service  was  at  Wild  Cat,  Ky. 
theirs  being  thefirstartillery  discharged  in 
Kentucky  during  the  war),  and  subse- 
quently lie  was  in  the  battles  of  Mill 
Springs,  Stone  River,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Crawfish  Springs,  following  his  command 
through  to  the  close  of  the  war,  during 
which  time  he  was  never  obliged  to  be  in 
hospital.  He  had  studied  while  in  camp, 
sending  home  for  books,  and  thus  prepar- 
ing himself  to  teach,  and  after  coming 
home  to  LaGrange  he  taught  school  three 
terms  in  that  township.  On  December  10, 


t 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1067 


1868,  Mr.  Holcomb  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  Henderside,  who  was  l)orii  in 
Litciifield,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
James  Henderside,  who  catnc  from  Scot- 
land. He  then  bought  out  the  other  heirs 
of  the  home  place,  being  obliged  to  go  into 
debt  therefor,  and  here  he  has  ever  since 
been  engatred  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  is  a  self-made  man  in  every 
respect.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  in  various  local  positions, 
but  is  not  an  active  partisan.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Holcomb  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Belle  F.,  now  Mrs. 
George  Nichols,  of  LaGrange;  and  Bertie 
A.,  who  is  living  at  home. 


I  H.  REMINGTON,  for  over  si.xty 
V.  I  years  a  resident  of  Lorain  county, 
}^j  bavins;  been  born  here  in  1828,  comes 
of  old  Massacliusetts  stock,  his  parents 
— Henry  J.  and  Matilda  (Williams)  Re- 
mington— being  natives  of  that  State. 

In  February,  1822,  the  parents  set  out 
for  Ohio,  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  one 
horse,  and  after  a  journey  of  six  weeks  ar- 
rived in  Lorain  county,  and  made  a,  settle- 
ment in  Pittstield  township.  Ciiauneey 
Remington,  brother  of  Henry  J.,  accom- 
)>anied  them,  and  his  wife, Mary  (Williams), 
was  the  first  white  woman  to  enter  Pitts- 
field  township,  where  she  died  in  1823.  In 
1828  our  subject's  father  moved  to  Am- 
herst township,  where  he  cleared  a  farm, 
but  in  1836  he  migrated  to  Steuben  cnunty, 
Ind.,  returning  thence  in  1839  to  Amherst 
township,  and  passing  the  remainder  of  his 
days  in  the  county,  dying  January  7,  1889. 
He  was  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and  filled 
several  township  offices;  in  church  connec- 
tion he  was  a  Baptist.  His  wife  died  in 
Amherst  township  in  1881.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Faimie,  born  in  Massachusetts,  widow  of 
O.  D.  Worden,  of  Gritmell,  Iowa;  H.  W., 


born  August  9,  1823,  the  first  male  white 
child  born  in  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  (3hio,  who  now  lives  in  Wood  county. 
Wis.;  Amandfi,  wife  of  Horace  Steele, 
living  in  California;  J.  H.,  subject  of 
sketch;  Benedict  Bliss,  who  died  in  Ash- 
tabula county,  Ohio,  in  1885;  Sarah  Ann, 
deceased  in  infancy;  and  Lydia,  who  was 
married  to  William  Kelley,  of  Kelley's 
Island,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 

J.  II.  Remington  was  born  in  Amherst 
township,  where  he  received  his  education 
and  was  reared,  excepting  for  about  three 
years  which  he  passed  in  Steuben  county, 
Ind.  For  his  trade  he  learned  carpentry, 
and  in  early  manhood  worked  at  same  in 
Dane  county,  Wis.  While  there  he  en- 
listed, in  1861,  in  Company  A,  Eleventh 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Madison,  the  regimetit  being 
assigned  to  the  Western  Department. 
During  the  first  winter  they  guarded  pris- 
oners at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  after  which  they 
we(:e  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  the 
engagements  at  Magnolia  Church  and  Port 
Gibson,  whence  they  proceeded  to  Jack- 
son, Miss.,  and  then  returned  to  Vicks- 
burg. Our  subject  then  came  home  on  a 
thirty-days'  furlough,  a,fter  which  he  re- 
joined his  regiment  at  New  Orleans.  In 
their  second  campaign  they  marched  215 
miles,  and  they  served  in  the  campaign  of 
western  Tennessee  and  northern  Missis- 
sippi, thence  going  to  Mobile,  Ft.  Morgan 
and  Ft.  Blakeley,  where  Mr.  Remington 
captured  a  revolver  from  a  Confederate 
oflicer.  After  this  the  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Brownsville,  Texas,  etc.  At 
Mobile,  Ala.,  our  subject  received  his  dis- 
charge in  September,  1865,  and  returned 
to  Madison,  Wis.,  having  seen  over  four 
years'  hard  service. 

In  1852  Mr.  Remington  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Amherst  township,  Lorain 
Co.,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Maria  Spencer,  who 
was  born  in  LaGrange,  Lorain  county, 
daughter  of  E.  C.  and  Angeline  (Rock- 
wood)  Spencer,  natives  of  New  York. 
Grandfather  Asa  Rockwood   came  to    La- 


1068 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Grange  township  in  1826,  being  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  the  place.  Mrs.  Rem- 
ington's lather  came  to  Lorain  county 
in  1832,  was  married  in  1833,  and  after 
some  years  moved  to  Henry  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  died  in  1892;  the  mother  had 
passed  away  in  1885.  To  our  subject  and 
wife  were  born  seven  children,  namely: 
Frank,  married  and  living  in  Pottawat- 
tamie county,  Iowa;  Ella,  deceased  at  the 
age  of  one  year;  Addie,  wife  of  L.  L.  Jack- 
son, of  Ashtabula,  Ohio;  Lydia,  wife  of  A. 
A.  Sharp,  of  Centerville.  Kans.,  Willie  and 
Lillie  (twins),  theformerliving  athome,  the 
latter  married  to  G.  R.  Coleman,  of  Omaha, 
Neb.,  and  Angie,  at  home.  In  politics 
Mr.  Remington  is  an  ardent  Republican, 
and  takes  a  live  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
his  county  and  township  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tiie  Union  Veteran  League,  quarter- 
master of  Post  No.  148  G.  A.  R.,  now 
servins  liis  fifth  term,  and  has  been  com- 
mander  of  the  Post.  Prior  to  coming  to 
North  Amherst,  he  followed  farming  in 
Lorain  county.  [Since  the  above  was  writ- 
ten, we  have  been  informed  of  the  death 
October  1,  1893,  of  Mr.  Remington.— Ed. 


THOMAS  H.  JONES.  The  land  of 
the  Cymri  has  given  to  America 
many  of  her  most  stalwart,  loyal 
and  honorable  citizens,  such  as  was 
the  gentleman  whose  name  here 
appears.  He  was  born  in  Wales  in  1843, 
a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (^Monroe)  Jones, 
also  natives  of  that  country,  whence  they 
came  to  the  United  States  when  our  sub- 
ject was  a  boy,  making  their  new  home  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  the  father  died; 
the  mother  is  now  living  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  same  State. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in 
Cleveland,  and  October  6,  1862,  he  en- 
listed, in  that  city,  in  Company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  O.  V.  I.,  three 
years'    service,   or    during   the  war.     His 


regiment  was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
East,  and  participated  in  many  bloody 
battles,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge, 
Gettysburg,  Wilderness  and  Atlanta.  On 
July  9,  1865,  Mr.  Jones  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  re- 
turned home  to  Cleveland,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1870,  when  he  came 
to  Lorain,  Lorain  county,  with  which 
thriving  town  he  was  closely  identified  i;p 
to  his  death,  which  occurred  April  4,  1891. 
Thomas  H.  Jones  and  Miss  Augusta  M. 
Lampman  were  united  in  marriage  in  1868. 
She  is  a  native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Mark  and  Elizabeth  (Church- 
ill) Lampman,  of  New  York  and  Connect- 
icut, respectively.  Her  father  was  a  sailor, 
then  a  hotel  and  store  keeper,  later  custom- 
house officer  for  over  twenty  years  at  Lorain, 
and  he  is  yet  remembered  as  one  of  the 
early  merchants  of  Lorain  county.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  in 
July,  1885,  his  wife  surviving  him  till 
August,  1892.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
H.  Jones  were  born  two  children:  Mark, 
sketch  of  whom  follows,  and  Gnssie.  Mr. 
Jones  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business,  and  at  tiie  time  of  his 
death  was  collector  for  the  Port  of  Lorain. 
Politically  he  was  a  Republican,  and  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Protected  Llome 
Circle.  His  grandfather,  Stephen  Church- 
ill, was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 


^/ 


t  JI^ARIv  JONES,  who  for  the  past 
^/\  two  years  has  been  in  the  employ 
I]  of  the  Cleveland,  Lorain  &  Wheel- 
ing Railroad,  as  time- keeper,  is  a 
native  of  Lorain,  born  June  10, 
1869,  a  son  of  T.  H.  Jones.  Our  subject 
was  reared  in  his  native  city,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  same. 
He  was  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of 
the  Cleveland  Paper  Company,  and  later 
studied     stenography    in    Chicago,    after 


'LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1069 


which  he  became  bookkeeper  in  a  tbuiidry 
at  Lorain,  and  has  held  iiis  present  posi- 
tion since  March 9, 181)1.  On  July  14,  18'J1, 
Mr.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Rowena  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Lo- 
rain, Lorain  county,  daughter  of  Captain 
Trnman  Moore;  her  parents  reside  in  Lo- 
rain. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  holds 
the  ofBce  of  trustee. 


FII.  BACON.  This  gentleman,  who  for 
many  years  lias  been  recognized  as  a 
_^       leader   among  the  leading  business 
men  of  Lorain  county,  is  a  native  of 
same,  born  in  Brownbelm  township),  March 
13,  1840. 

Benjamin  Bacon,  father  of  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Old 
Stockbridge,  whence  in  1818  he  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Brownhelm  township, 
Lorain  county.  He  made  the entirejourney 
with  a  one-horse  wagon,  and  had  but  four 
dollars  in  money  when  he  arrived  in  Brown- 
helm.  He  made  his  settlement  where 
William  Bacon  now  lives,  having  bought 
wild  land  from  one  William  Brown.  In  1820 
he  erected  a  mill  at  what  is  known  as 
"  Mill  Hollow,"  on  the  Vermillion  river, 
and  about  1835  enlarged  it  from  aone-Vnirr 
to  a  four-burr  capacity.  Ten  years  later  he 
equipped  it  with  modern  improvements. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
(mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch)  be- 
ing Miss  Anna  W.  Wells,  a  native  of  West 
Hartford,  Connecticut. 

F.  H.  Bacon,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  in  tlie  cfis- 
trict  schools  of  Brownhelm  township,  and 
at  Norwalk  High  School,  after  which  he 
commenced  the  milling  business  with  his 
lather.  In  this  he  continued  until  1860, 
when  he  engaged  in  shipping  grain  to  vari- 
ous points.  On  May  13,  1861,  he  joined, 
as  lirst    lieutenant,  Company  K,  Twenty- 


third  O.  V.  I.,  which  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  West,  and  he  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain 
and  Antietam,  after  which  the  regiment 
returned  to  West  Virginia.  In  January, 
1864,  lie  resigned  his  commission,  and  re- 
turned to  Lorain  county,  once  more  en- 
gaging in  the  milling  and  shipping  busi- 
ness. In  1873  he  sold  the  mill;  in  1879 
rebought  it;  in  1882  rebuilt  it,  putting  in 
rollers  and  making  it  a  150-barrel  mill;  in 
1892  again  sold,  but  now  (1893)  once  more 
owns  it.  This  is  the  same  mill,  in  Brown- 
helm township,  which  his  father  had  built 
and  enlarged.  For  some  years  he  has  had 
large  interests  in  southern  Indiana — 800 
acres  of  the  best  coal  and  grain  land. 

In  1860  F.  H.  Bacon  and  Miss  Abbie 
S.  Wells  were  united  in  marriage.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  George  and  Maria  B. 
(Butlei-)  Wells,  who  came  from  Connecti- 
cut to  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain  county, 
about  the  year  1821,  and  here  passed  the 
rest  of  their  lives.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacon 
were  born  eight  children,  as  follows:  Sarah, 
assisting  her  father  in  the  ofKce,  as  amanu- 
ensis, etc.,  and  who  is  considered  one  of 
the  best  all-round  businesswomen  in  Ohio; 
Anna,  who  died  in  1883  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen; De  Wight,  Martha  W.,  Melvin  S., 
Lewis  C,  Charles  and  Julia  W.  The 
mother  was  called  to  her  long  home  in 
1882.  Mr.  Bacon  is  a  member  of  Rice 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  North  Amherst,  and  is 
a  Republican.  In  thoughts  and  acts  he  is 
tlioroughly  metropolitan,  perfectly  famil- 
iar with  Boards  of  Trade  and  other  busi- 
ness interests,  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
He  is  now  managing  two  mills  of  150- 
barrels  capacity  each,  and  is  largely  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  shipping  stock. 


d(   C.   BIGGS.     England   has  given  to 
the  United  States  many  stalwart  and 
1   loyal    citizens,   plodding   and   indus- 
trious in  time   of  peace,    and   cour- 
ageous and  resolute  in  the  fight  for  liberty 


1070 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  riglit.  Such  an  one  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  wlio  is  recognized  as  a  "typical 
tightiiiff  common  soldier."  He  is  of  me- 
dium height,  very  hardy  and  muscular,  the 
dogged  determination  peciiliar  to  the  Brit- 
on, l>eing,  perhaps,  his  strongest  charac- 
teristic. 

Mr.  Biggs  was  born  in  Northampton- 
shire, England,  in  1839,  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Frances  (Paxton)  Biggs,  the  former  of 
whom  carried  on  farming  in  Pittsiield 
township,  this  county,  south  of  Eiyria. 
Here  the  parents  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  days,  the  father  dying  in  1876  at  the 
age  of  Kfty-nine  years,  the  mother  in  18S9, 
aged  sixty-eight  years.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  sons  and  otie  daughter,  our  subject 
being  the  eldest,  and  the  only  one  born  in 
England;  the  youngest  son  now  owns  tlie 
old  homestead. 

J.  C.  Biggs,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
memoir,  was  but  a  boy  when  liis  parents 
brought  him  to  America,  and  to  Pittsfield 
township,  Lorain  county,  at  the  common 
schools  of  which  he  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation. He  also  attended  for  a  tiine  the 
high  school,  and  while  a  student  there  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  which 
turned  his  attention  from  the  schoolroom 
to  the  field  of  Mars.  On  April  18,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Eighth  O.  V.  I., 
Capt.  E.  G.  Johnson,  which  was  tlie  first 
company  to  go  out  from  the  county.  He 
served  four  years,  ten  months,  fifteen  days 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  Hancock's 
corps,  and  participated  in  the  following 
battles:  Winchester,  Antietara,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg, 
hesides  numerous  minor  engagements.  At 
Gettysburg  (his  last  battle)  he  was  severe- 
ly wounded  in  the  arm,  which  necessitated 
his  confinement  to  hospital  for  six  months. 
He  then  reentered  the  service,  enlisting 
xthis  time  in  Company  K,  Ninth  Regiment 
Hancock's  Veteran  Corps,  in  which  he 
served  till  March  3,  1866,  at  which  date  he 
was  niustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
having  served  a  much  longer  period  in  the 
army  than  most  of  his  comrades.     Return- 


ing home  to  the  pursuits  of  peace,  he  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  few  years;  then  em- 
barked in  the  newspaper  agency  business 
in  Eiyria,  and  has  had  the  sale  of  the  lead- 
ing newspapers  for  over  fifteen  years.  He 
now  disposes  of  about  400  papers  per  day, 
and  is  agent  for  twenty-three  dailies.  Mr. 
Biggs  was  married  March  3,  1869,  to 
Emma  Clark,  also  a  native  of  England,  and 
five  children  have  come  to  bless  their  home: 
Clark,  Elsworth,  Norris,  Harry  and  Edith. 
Our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  an  Episco- 
palian. He  is  a  vice-commander  in  the 
G.  A.  R.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Union  Vet- 
eran Legion,  No.  44,  Eiyria,  Oiiio,  of  which 
he  is  colonel  and  presiding  officer,  and  in 
which  he  has  served  as  officer  of  the  day, 
past  commander  and  in  other  prominent 
positions.  He  is  also  a  memher  of  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
was  /the  only  member  of  it  from  the  State 
of  Ohio  to  attend  the  reunion  held  in 
Scranton,  Penn.,  in  June,  1892. 


^/ 


I    l/ENRY  F.  BEESE,  one  of   the  en- 
'sH     terprising    proprietors    of  the  f ar- 
il   famed  "Boston  Store,"  in   Lorain, 
is  a  nativeof  Eiyria,  born  September 
19,  1867. 

His  father,  Frederick  Beese,  was  born 
in  1825,  in  Germany,  where  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Stark,  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, born  in  1827.  In  1856  they  im- 
migrated to  the  United  States,  and,  settling 
in  Elvria  same  year,  iiave  here  since  re- 
sided. They  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, of  \*hom  Henry  F.  is  the  youngest. 
Frederick  Beese  was  a  private  in  Company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Regiment 
O.  V.  L,  serving  three  years. 

Until  the  age  of  fourteen  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  German 
Lutheran  School  at  Eiyria,  afterward  at- 
tending the  public  schools  of  the  same 
place  some  three  and  one-half  years.     On 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1071 


completion  of  his  literary  education  Mr. 
Beese  entered  tlie  employ  of  Straus  & 
Kupfer,  dry-goods  merchants,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  same  store  until  September 
1,  1892,  during  which  time  it  changed 
hands  three  times:  first  to  M.  Straus; 
then  to  Biggs,  Bowen  &  Co.,  and  lastly  to 
Geo.  T.  Biggs  &  Co.  In  the  fall  of  1892, 
in  company  with  Max  Morehouse  and 
"William  E.  Carter,  Mr.  Beese  opened  out 
a  dry  goods  store  in  the  new  "Smith 
Block,"  Lorain,  occupying  the  first  floor 
and  basement,  tiie  dimensions  of'-the  large 
store  room  being  40  x  80  feet,  and  here 
with  characteristic  push  and  energy,  close 
attention  to  business,  they  have  since  con- 
ducted a  thriving  trade.  Politically  Mr. 
Beese  is  a  Democrat;  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  and  Knights 
of  Pythias. 


/ 


MflLAN  CONE  (deceased).  Roger 
Cone,  the  father  of  this  gentleman, 
J  was  born  August  17,  1803,  in 
Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  son  of 
Frederick  Cone,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  learned  the  millwright's  trade. 
He  was  married  to  Emeline  Brown,  who 
was  born  April  21,  1803,  in  Tyringham, 
Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  daughter  of  Lyman 
Brown,  and  while  in  Massachusetts  two 
children  were  born  to  this  union,  namely: 
Marshall,  a  farmer,  who  died  in  1870  in 
Pentield,  Ohio;  and  Mary,  who  resides  in 
Wellington,  Ohio. 

In  1843  Koger  Cone  came  west  to 
Charlestown,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  driving 
the  entire  distance  with  a  covered  one- 
horse  wagon,  and  en  route  stopping  at 
various  places  in  New  York  and  other 
States.  He  remained  in  Portage  county 
one  year,  and  in  18-14  removed  to  Pen  field 
township,  Lorain  county,  locating  oti  the 
farm  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  and  which  he  purchased  at  sheriff's 
sale  at  nine  dollars  per  acre;   it  was  form- 


erly the  property  of  an  early  settler.  Dr. 
Hall,  who  had  met  with  reverses,  losing 
his  sawmill  and  other  property.  Here 
Mr.  Cone  erected  a  residence,  which  is 
still  standing.  After  coming  to  Ohio,  the 
following  members  were  added  to  the  fam- 
ily: Mercy,  now  the  wife  of  David  Peters, 
of  Wellington,  Ohio,  who  has  one  child, 
Lavina;  Merritt,  who  died  in  1853,  and 
Milan,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch. 
The  father  of  these  was  a  systematic  acri- 
cultnrist,  and  took  great  interest  in  the 
neatness  of'  his  farm  and  surroundings. 
He  was  very  successful,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  the  owner  af  252  acres  of 
excellent  land.  In  ^politics  he  was  a 
stanch  Democrat,  thoucrli  not  an  active 
politician,,  and  in  religious  cormection  lie 
and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the 
'M.  E.  Church  at  Penfield.  He  passed 
from  earth  March  11,  1884,  preceded  to 
the  grave  by  his  wife  March  12,  1876,  and 
they  now  lie  buried  in  Penfield  cemetery. 
Milan  Cone,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  April  4,  1848,  on  the 
farm  in  Penfield  township  where  he  passed 
his  entire  life.  He  obtained  his  elemen- 
tary education  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  this  was  afterward 
supplemented  with  a  short  term  of  study 
in  a  school  in  Delaware,  Ohio.  On  De- 
cember 25,  1871.  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, by  Rev.  A.  Pollock,  with  Miss 
Esther  Drake,  who  was  born  November 
20,  1851,  in  the  town  of  Ames,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  David  and 
Julia  (Alger)  Drake,  who  came  to  Ohio  in 
1862,  locating  first  in  Harrisville  town- 
ship, Medina  county,  and  later  in  Penfield 
tov^ship,  Lorain  county.  After  marriage 
our  subject  located  on  the  honie  farm,  liv- 
ing in  a  small  house  near  the  family  resi- 
dence, whither  he  removed  after  the  death 
of  his  father.  To  the  union  of  Milan  and 
Estiier  Cone  were  born  children  as  follows: 
Letha  E.,  bookkeeper  for  a  wholesale 
house  at  Chicago,  111.;  Kate  W.,  attending 
school  at  Penfield;  Mercy  A.,  and  Fred 
M.;  all  living.     Mr.  Cone  engaged  chiefly 


1072 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  the  breeding  of  fine  cattle,  especially 
Jerseys,  and  was  a  most  excellent  judge  of 
stock.  In  politics  he  was  a  leader  in  the 
Democratic  party  in  his  section.  He  died 
Jannary  19,  1892,  of  consumption,  after  a 
lingering  illness,  and  was  buried  in  Pen- 
field  cemetery.  Since  his  decease  his 
widow  has  had  charge  of  the  farm,  in  the 
management  of  which  she  has  shown  con- 
siderable ability.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Penfield  Center,  and 
is  highly  respected  in  the  community. 


AMUEL  NAYLOR,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  landholders  and  wealthiest 
farmers  of  Penfield  township,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1823,  in  Carlisle,  Cumberland 
county. 

He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Naylor,  who  was 
born  in  what  was  then  known  as  Little 
York,  Penn.,  a  son  of  Jacob  Naylor,  who 
was  a  farmer  and  a  distiller.  Our  sub- 
ject's father  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
when  a  young  man  followed  teaming, 
hauling  whiskey  from  his  father's  and 
other  distilleries  to  Baltimoi-e,  Md.,  where 
was  found  the  best  market  for  that  com- 
modity. In  those  days  it  took  six  horses 
to  haul  thirty  ban-els  of  whiskey.  Samuel 
Naylor,  Sr.,  was  married  in  Cumberland 
county  to  Elizabeth  Uhler,  a  native  of  that 
county,  born  of  German  ancestry.  After 
marriage  the  young  couple  located  on  a 
small  farm  in  Cumberland  county,  which 
he  rented.  In  Pennsylvania  children,  as 
follows,  were  born  to  them:  Mary,  now 
the  widow  of  Amos  Fritz,  residing  at  Me- 
dina, Ohio;  Samuel,  our  subject;  Benja- 
min K.,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith,  now  of 
Lucas  county,  Ohio;  Jacob,  a  farmer  of 
Spencer,  Ohio;  and  Rebecca,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Hntchisson,  of  Wood  county,  Ohio.  In 
the  fall  of  1829  the  family  came  to  Ohio 
over  the  Alleghany   Mountains  in   a  cov- 


ered two-horse  wagon,  bringing  with  them 
considerable  household  etfects,  including 
their  bedding,  whicli  they  found  of  the 
greatest  use  on  their  two  weeks'  wearisome 
journey.  Mr.  Naylor.  the  father,  had  pre- 
viously visited  Ohio,  and  in  Guilford  town- 
ship, Medina  county,  had  selected  land 
then  looked  after  by  Judge  Heman  Ely,  of 
Elyria,  Lorain  county.  On  the  occasion 
of  that  visit  Mr.  Naylor  had  hired  a  man 
to  build  a  log  house  for  the  convenience  of 
the  family  when  they  should  arrive,  liut 
they  found  it  in  such  an  unfinished  state 
that  they  had  to  rent  another  cabin  in  the 
neighborhood,  wherein  to  pass  the  winter. 
In  the  meantime  their  own  was  made  habi- 
table, and  in  the  following  spring  they 
moved  into  it.  While  the  family  were  en 
route,  one  child,  named  Eliza,  was  born  at 
Lancaster,  Penn.,  which  interesting  event 
delayed  them  three  days.  In  Medina 
county  the  family  were  further  increased 
by  four,  to  wit:  John,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one;  William,  of  Wood  county, 
Ohio,  who  served  in  the  Civil  war;  Sarah, 
deceased ;  and  Henry,  of  Wood  county. 
On  this  farm  in  Medina  county  the  mother 
of  these  children  passed  from  earth,  and 
the  father  then  moved  into  the  village  of 
Seville,  same  county,  having  purchased  in 
the  vicinity  a  farm  of  thirty  acres,  and  also 
a  residence  in  the  village.  In  Guilford 
township  he  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Miss  Harriet  Sheldon,  and  one  child  w\as 
born  to  this  union,  Harriet,  now  Mrs. 
James  Ross,  at  the  frontier  teaching  In- 
dians. Mr.  Naylor  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years,  and  lies  buried  in  the 
Lutheran  cemetery,  Guilford  township. 
Politically,  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  and 
after  the  formation  of  the  party  was  a 
stanch  Republican.  He  had  traveled  all 
through  the  Southern  States,  and,  from 
observations  he  made  during  his  visit,  pre- 
dicted the  Civil  war  many  years  before  it 
broke  out. 

Samuel  Naylor,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion at  the    common   schools  of  Guilford 


-^^i-or-LA'Ce^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1075 


township,  Medina  county,  as  in  early  boy- 
hood he  was  put  to  work  to  help  clear  his 
father's  farm  of  heavy  timber  and  under- 
growth, and  in  reality  he  was  able  to  do  a 
man's  W(jrk  while  yet  a  boy.  Besides 
working  at  home  he  hired  out  to  different 
parties  to  make  shingles,  at  which  he  be- 
came very  expert,  being  able  to  turn  out 
in  a  single  day  one  thousand  shingles,  28 
inches  long  by  6  wide.  Up  to  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  lived  at  home,  and  turned 
all  his  earnings  over  to  his  father.  In  An- 
gust,  1845,  Mr.  Naylor  was  married  in 
Guilford  township,  Medina  county,  to  Bar- 
bara Long,  who  was  born  in  September, 
1824,  near  Toronto,  Canada,  a  daughter  of 
John  Long,  a  farmer  of  Wadsworth  town- 
ship,  Medina  county,  and  for  a  time  there- 
after the  young  couple  made  their  home 
with  Mr.  Long.  Our  subject  then  rented 
land  in  Litchfield  township,  same  county, 
where  he  lived  for  three  or  four  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  Penfield  townsliip,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  he  bought  107  acres  of 
wild  land  at  six  dollars  per  acre.  At  that 
titne  not  a  road  led  to  the  spot,  and  he  had 
to  cut  his  way  through  as  he  came  along. 
The  first  thing  he  did  was  to  erect  a  cabin, 
and  then  commenced  to  make  a  clearing 
for  purposes  of  cultivation.  This  land  he 
bought  entirely  on  credit,  and  with  but  a 
rude  equipment  of  farming  implements  he 
heroically  set  to  work  to  convert  the  al- 
most impenetrable  forest  into  smiling  fields 
of  grain,  and  the  land  was  soon  all  paid  for. 
The  record  of  the  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  Naylor  is  as  follows:  Jacob, 
who  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  before  he  was 
seventeen  years  old,  died  at  Camp  Dennison 
while  in  the  service;  Henry  died  young; 
Elizabeth  is  Mrs.  Stewart  Long, of  Penfield; 
Rebecca  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Andrew 
Sigourney;  Harriet  A.  lives  at  home;  Lany 
E.  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Emma 
(Mrs.  William  Bradstock)  lives  in  Penfield; 
Mary  died  when  seventeen  years  old;  Har- 
vey G.,  a  farmer,  is  living  in  Spencer, 
Ohio;  and  Dora  (Mrs.  Lemuel  Ilower)  also 
lives  in  Spencer.     The  mother  died  Janu- 


ary 7,  1874,  and  was  buried  at  Spencer, 
Medina  county.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  For  his 
second  wifeMr.  Naylor  wedded  Miss  Nancy 
E.  Yocom,  who  died  in  1882  leaving  no 
issue;  she  is  buried  in  Congress,  Wayne 
Co.,  Ohio.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, but  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
to  office,  his  own  affairs  demanding  and  re- 
ceiving his  undivided  attention.  He  now 
owns  about  400  acres  of  superior  farming 
land,  on  wliich  in  1892  he  erected  a  line 
modern  residence.  He  is  a  leader  in  edu- 
cational matters,  and  in  an  early  day  was  a 
prime  mover  in  the  formation  of  the  school 
district  in  his  section,  he  and  his  brother 
Jacob  contributing  the  land  where  the  first 
school  building  stood  in  their  section.  For 
several  years  Mr.  Naylor  has  been  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 


HARLES  BEAVER,  a  prominent, 
representative  agriculturist  of  Eaton 
township,  was  born  in  Monroe 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  1828,  a  son  of 
William  and  Rebecca  (Matthews)  Bearer, 
natives  of  Long  Island  and  Genesee  county. 
New  York. 

About  the  year  1841  the  parents  of  our 
subject  came  to  Lorain  county,  first  lo- 
cating in  LaGrange  township,  afterward 
moving  to  Eaton  township,  where  they 
continued  in  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
had  been  their  life  work.  The  father  died 
in  Grafton  in  1878,  the  mother  in  Adrian, 
Midi.,  in  1892.  They  reared  a  family  of 
nine,  of  whom  seven  are  yet  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Benjamin,  a  farmer  of  Lenawee 
county,  Mich.;  James,  a  farmer  of  La- 
Grange  township;  Charles;  Edward,  a  car- 
penter, residing  in  LaGrange  township; 
Catherine,  wife  of  S.  C.  M.  Hardy,  of  Mon- 
roe county,  N.  Y.;  Alice,  wife  of  C.  Jen- 
nings, of  Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  Susan,  wife 
of  S.  W.  Sharp,  of  Adrian,  Michigan. 


1076 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Charles  Beaver  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation at  the  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  was  broaght  up  a  farmer's  boy.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county, 
and  from  there  moved  to  Kalamazoo,  Mich., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business. 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Fifth 
Michigan  Cavalry,  for  three  years,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, Second  Bull  Kun  (where  he  received 
a  gunshot  wound  in  the  right  hand)  and 
Strasburg,  after  which  he  was  detailed  as 
wagon  master  on  a  wagon  train.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Detroit,  Mich., 
July  3,  1865,  and  returned  to  the  pursuits 
of  peace  in  Lorain  county.  In  September, 
same  year,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Harriet  Felt,  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Votnan  and 
Julia  (Peck)  Felt,  natives  of  Vermont  and 
early  settlers  of  Lorain  connty;  the  father 
died  in  1872,  the  mother  is  still  living, 
now  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Beaver  were  born 
three  children:  George;  Nora,  wife  of 
Bernard  Worthington,  of  LaPorte  (they 
have  two  children);  and  Natlia.  Politi- 
cally our  subject  is  a  zealous  Republican; 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  Richard  Allen 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Elyria. 


THOMAS  KING,  than  whom  no  one 
is  better  known  as  an  agriculturist 
and  breeder  of  fine  stock  in  Lorain 
county,  is  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, born  November  25,  1828,  in 
Taunton,  where  he  resided  until  twelve 
years  of  age.  He  then  removed  with  his 
parentstoColumbiana  county,  Ohio;  thence 
to  Eaton,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  He  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  Farming  has  been 
his  life  work.     He  has  made  a  specialty  of 


rearing  Cotswold  sheep  and  Holstein 
cattle,  which  have  frequently  taken  prizes 
at  county  fairs. 

On  March  7,  1871,  Mr.  King  was  mar- 
ried at  Niagara  Falls  to  Harriet  Van- 
"Wagnen,  of  Eaton,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  G.  H.  Van  Wagnen.  The 
following  named  seven  children  have  been 
born  to  them:  Eva,  Grace,  Myrtle,  Minnie, 
Clara,  Richard,  and  Nellie. 

Mr.  King  is  owner  of  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two  acres,  all  in  agood 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  interested  in 
politics  and  votes  the  Republican  ticket; 
has  been  township  trustee  three  terms,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  school  board. 

Richard  King,  father  of  the  above,  was 
born  in  Leicestershire,  England,  in  1796, 
and  was  there  married  to  Elizabeth  Ball,  of 
the  same  town.  In  1826  they  moved  to 
Taunton,  Mass.  Mr.  King  was  engaged 
in  the  Taunton  print  works  until  1840, 
and  then  moved  to  East  Liverpool,  Colum- 
biana Co.,  Ohio.  In  1841  he  came  with 
his  family  to  Eaton,  Lorain  county,  at 
that  time  an  uncultivated  forest  tract. 
Here  he  set  to  work  with  a  will,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  his  older  children  soon 
cleared  a  tine  farm.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  in  the  settlement  to  build  a  brick  kiln 
and  sell  brick  to  other  pioneers.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  and  his  wife  at 
eighty-two.  In  his  political  predilections 
he  was  an  anti-slavery  Whig  until  the  for- 
mation of  the  Republican  party,  when  he 
enrolled  himself  under  its  banner.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  this  honored 
couple,  four  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
The  following  is  a  record  of  the  six 
remaining: 

The  first,  George  W.,  was  born  in  1822; 
went  to  Galena,  111.,  thence  to  Clark 
county,  in  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin, 
where  he  married.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  Wisconsin;  was  prosecuting  at- 
torney in  Clark  county,  and  represented 
same  in  the  State  Legislature.  Later  he 
engaged  extensively  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness, but  sustained  serious  reverses  in  tiie 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1077 


panic  of  1873.  Being  in  Idalio  at  the 
time  that  Territory  was  admitted  as  a 
State,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention.  He  now  re- 
sides in  Colorado,  where  he  is  interested 
in    mining,    and    is    widely   known    as    a 

S)litical  speaker  and  writer  on  free  silver, 
e  has  three  children,  one  of  wliom, 
George  R.,  served  for  two  years  in  the 
Fourteenth  A¥isconsin  Regiment. 

The  second,  Myra,  was  born  in  1825, 
and  married  Charles  H.  Merrick  who 
served  for  three  years  in  the  Eighth  O.  V.  I. 
She  studied  medicine,  graduating  in  1852 
from  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  Later  she  adopted 
Homeopathy,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute.  She  was  the  first 
woman  physician  in  Ohio.  From  1S52  to 
1892  she  practiced  in  Cleveland,  having 
an  extensive  and  very  lucrative  business. 
She  was  actively  connected  with  college, 
hospital  and  dispensary  work.  She  has 
now  retired  and  lives  in  Cleveland  with 
her  only  child,  Richard  L.  Merrick,  a  me- 
chanic and  contractor.  He  married  Eliza 
Johnson,  daughter  of  A.  C.  Johnson,  of 
Huron  county,  Ohio.  She  is  a  physician, 
a  graduate  of  Oberlin  and  of  the  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  College  of  Cleveland,  and 
now  a  professor  in  the  Cleveland  Medical 
College. 

The  third,  Thomas,  is  the  subject  of  this 
memoir. 

The  fourth,  John,  born  1830,  married  in 
1860,  and  moved  to  Clark  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  lum- 
bering. He  enlisted  in  1862  for  three 
years,  in  the  I^ourteenth  Wisconsin  In- 
fantry, and  served  with  the  army  of  the 
West  in  Louisiana;  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1865  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  died  in  1886  in  Clark  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, leaving  widow  and  six  children. 

The  fifth,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1836,  was 
married  in  1863  to  Alfred  Fauver  on  his 
return  from  the  war.  He  had  received  a 
very  severe  wound  at  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester.    They  are  now  living  at  Oberlin, 


educating  five  of  their  children.  The 
eldest  son,  Lester,  is  City  Civil  Engineer 
of  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 

The  sixth,  Sara  Ellen,  was  born  in  1840. 
She  became  the  wife  of  Capt.  John  Booth, 
who  was  a  soldier,  serving  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Third  O.  V.  1.  They  now 
live  on  the  Booth  homestead  in  Carlisle 
township.  Mrs.  Booth  is  an  active  church 
worker.  They  have  three  children,  one  of 
whom  is  being  educated  at  Oberlin. 

The  King  family  has  been  intimately 
and  honoral)ly  connected  with  the  history 
of  the  county  in  its  war  record,  its  anti- 
slavery,  temperance,  and  educational  senti- 
ment, and  in  all  that  makes  for  good  citi- 
zenship. 


/George  battle,  who  from  in- 
I  J,  fancy,  with  the  exception  of  five 
\J^  .years,  has  been  a  resident  of  Well- 
^^  ington  township,  is  an  agriculturist 
of  no  small  prominence.  He  is  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Great 
Barrington,  Berkshire-  county,  October  5, 
1823. 

Ithel  Battle,  his  father,  also  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  a  farmer  by  vocation,  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Smith,  and  when  our  sub- 
ject was  some  six  months  old  they  came 
west  to  Ohio,  traveling  with  a  two-horse 
wagon.  They  settled  in  Wellington  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  the  father  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  died  in  May,  1869, 
when  he  was  seventy-seven  years  old;  his 
wife  passed  away  in  October,  same  year, 
aged  seventy-two  years.  They  were  honored 
people  of  the  Old-school  Presbyterian  per- 
suasion, industrious  and  frugal  in  their 
habits;  politically  the  father  was  a  Repub- 
lican at  the  time  of  his  death,  originally  a 
Wliig,  and  he  was  a  very  robust,  erect 
man,  even  in  his  old  age.  Our  subject's 
maternal  grandfather.  Smith,  was  from 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  when  he  was 
twenty  years  old  he  (Mr.  Battle)  visited 
his  grandmother  there. 


1078 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


George  Battle,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  reared  on  the  farm  he  now 
owns  and  resides  on,  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict seliools  during  the  winter  months  for 
a  few  seasons.  For  some  five  years  he  re- 
sided in  Brighton  township,  then  six  years 
in  the  village  of  Wellington,  and  finally 
on  his  present  farm  of  112  acres  of  prime 
land.  He  also  at  one  time  owned  land  in 
Hardin  county,  Ohio.  In  1850  he  married 
Miss  Arvilia  Dyar,  who  was  reared  in 
Hanover,  Ind.,  and  two  children  have  been 
born  to  them:  Viola,  and  Durell,  who 
married  a  Miss  Johnson,  by  whom  he  has 
five  children,  namely:  George  0.,  Darwin 
Blake,  Clyde,  Carl  and  Bernice  L.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Battle  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  was  a  strong  Abolitionist  and  Union 
man  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war. 


ALVIN  SAGE,  insurance  agent, 
Wellington,  is  one  of  the  leadincr, 
pushing  business  men  of  the  town. 
He  is  a  native  of  Lorain  county, 
born  in  Huntington  township,  October  15, 
1837,  and  comes  of  long-lived  ancestry, 
his  grandparents  having  reached  patri- 
archal ages,  the  grandnmther  being  over 
one  hundred  years  old  at  the  time  of  her 
death.    * 

Martin  L.  Sage,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Torrington,  Conn.,  and  came 
as  a  pioneer  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  build- 
ing the  lirst  frame  house  put  up  in  Hunt- 
ington township,  and  becoming  a  success- 
ful farmer.  In  Connecticut  he  had  married 
Miss  Hulda  Sanford,  l)y  whom  he  had  four 
children,  namely:  Luther,  born  in  Con- 
necticut, and  now  about  sixty-live  years  of 
asre,  who  is  living  a  retired  life  with  his 
children  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Orrin, 
who  passed  all  his  life  in  Lorain  county, 
where  he  died ;  Ellen,  w-ife  of  James  A. 
Newton,  of  Brunswick,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio; 
and    Calvin,  our  subject.     The  father  died 


at  Huntington  Center  in  1860,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four;  the  mother,  born  near  Tor- 
rington, Conn.,  died  in  1888,  aged  eighty- 
eight  years. 

Calvin  Sage,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  graded 
schools  of  his  native  township,  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  and  learned  the  trade 
of  harness  maker.  In  1861  he  enlisted, 
in  the  first  call  for  three  years'  volunteers, 
in  Company  H,  Second  Ohio  Cavalry, 
which  was  attached  to  the  army  of  the 
Frontier  during  the  lirst  year;  half  of  the 
following  year  in  the  Western  Depart- 
ment, during  which  it  participated  in  sev- 
eral skirmishes,  including  the  light  at 
Lone  Jack  and  other  points.  In  the  streets 
of  Independence,  Mo..  February  22,  1862, 
it  had  a  short,  sliarp  and  decisive  hght 
with  Quantrell's  Cavalry,  in  which  the  lat- 
ter was  routed  in  fifteen  minutes,  and  for 
several  months  thereafter  they  followed 
him  up.  The  regiment  was  then  ordered 
back  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  recruited  at 
Fort  Smith,  Fort  Leavenworth  and  Fort 
Scott,  after  which  it  took  part  in  Burn- 
side's  campaign,  including  the  siege  of 
Knoxville,  where  they  lay  six  months. 
Mr.  Sage  was  on  detailed  service  a  con- 
sideral)le  part  of  the  time,  and  for  the  last 
six  months  of  his  term  of  enlistment  was 
in  the  quartermaster's  department.  At  the 
close  of  his  service  he  received  an  honora- 
ble discharge,  and  returned  iiome  to  the 
pursuits  of  peace,  which  was  at  the  time  of 
the  assassination  of  Lincoln.  For  fifteen 
years  thereafter  he  was  with  Horr,  War- 
ner &  Co.,  Wellington,  Lorain  county,  and 
on  leaving  this  he  took  up  his  present  in- 
surance business,  in  wiiich  he  has  met 
with  well-merited  success. 

In  1858  Mr.  Sage  married  Miss  Cerrin- 
tha  Chamberlain,  who  was  born  in  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  three  children 
were  the  result  of  this  union,  viz.:  Walter, 
a  partner  with  his  father  in  the  insurance 
business,  and  representing,  as  traveling 
agent  throughout  Ohio,  the  German-Amer- 
ican Insurance  Company  (he  is  owner  of  a 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1079 


ranch  in  California);  Florence,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen;  and  Emily  C, 
stenographer  in  her  father's  office.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Sage  is  a  Republican;  socially  he 
is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Blue  Lodge 
and  Chapter,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at 
Wellington. 


LH.  WADSWORTH,   a  prominent 
young  business  man  of  the  county, 
_^   was     born    in    ISGi    at    Rochester, 
Oiiio,  and  is  descended   from  an  old 
Massachusetts  family. 

He  passed  his  boyhood  at  Wellington, 
Ohio,  received  a  primary  education  there, 
and  then  was  enrolled  as  a  student  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor. 
Subsequently  he  entered  the  Law  Depart- 
ment of  that  University,  graduating  with 
the  law  class  of  1882.  lie  did  not  pursue 
his  law  studies  with  any  intention  of  mak- 
ing it  his  professsion,  but  rather  as  a  mat- 
ter tending  to  mental  discipline.  Some 
short  time  after  completing  this  liberal 
education,  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness at  Wellington,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  carried  on  a  large  and  successful  busi- 
ness until  1885.  In  that  year  he  removed 
to  Greenwich,  established  his  lumber  yard 
and  planing-mill,  and  engaged  in  the 
business  of  contractor  and  builder.  At 
the  death  of  his  father  he  removed  to 
Wellington,  and  during  the  period  of  one 
year  was  manager  of  the  estate.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  purchased  the  lumber 
plant  at  Wellington,  and  is  now  running 
it  for  himself,  having  sold  out  at  Green- 
wich, and  Wellington  will  probably  be  his 
home  in  the  future. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  AVadsworth  ex- 
emplifies the  true  value  of  such  a  college 
training  as  that  which  he  received.  Not 
only  does  he  attend  to  his  own  affairs 
closely,  but  also  to  the  public  affairs  of  his 
town,  which  are  studied  by  him.  He  is 
justly  accepted   as  a  leader  in  all  move- 


ments, the  object  of  which  is  the  improve- 
ment of  the  town  or  the  better  government 
of  the  township  and  county.  His  personal 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  town  cannot 
be  questioned.  A  large  employer  of  labor, 
having  sixty-eight  men  on  his  pay-roll, 
and  transacting  an  extensive  business,  it  is 
but  natural  that  municipal  affairs  should 
claim  a  good  deal  of  his  thought.  The 
yards  are  well  stocked  with  standard  lum- 
ber, shingle  and  lath,  while  the  planing- 
mill  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  modern 
machinery.  The  enterprise  of  this  young 
business  man  is  well  known. 

Mr.  Wadsworth's  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Trinter,  took  place  at  Vermillion, 
Ohio,  October  14,  1885,  and  to  this  union 
one  child,  William  Luther  W.,  was  born. 
Mr.  Wadsworth  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Fraternity,  and  K.  T.;  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  of  the  National  Union,  in  all  of  which 
organizations  he  is  popular. 


CLARENCE  G.WASHBURN,  a  ris- 
ing young  attorney  at  law  of  Lorain, 
is  a  native  o^  Ohio,  born  February 
19,  1867,  in  Huron  county,  a  son  of 
Henry  C.  and  Charlotte  (Griffin)  Wash- 
burn, who  came  to  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
from  the  State  of  New  York. 

Clarence  G.  AVashburn  received  his  lit- 
erary training  at  the  schools  of  Green- 
wich, in  his  native  county,  and  on  complet- 
ing his  studies  became  a  traveling  man,  his 
business  taking  him  over  as  many  as  seven- 
teen States,  besides  Canada  and  the  Indian 
Territory.  In  1887  he  gave  up  traveling, 
and  proceeding  to  Kansas  served  as  deputy 
postmaster  at  Wendell,  a  town  near  Kins- 
ley. Returning  to  Ohio,  he  there  for  a 
year  carried  on  a  boot  and  shoe  store,  in 
both  New  London  and  Plymouth,  for  a 
Cleveland  firm,  conducting  a  safe  and  pro- 
fitable business.  Mr.  Washburn  then 
studied  law  a  year  and  a  half,  in  Green- 


1080 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wich,  Huron  county,  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  T.  K.  Strimple,  after  which  he  took 
a  law  course  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  which 
he  completed  June  30,  1892,  after  having 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession in  Lorain  April  10,  1892.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  real-estate  iirm  of 
Buell,  "Washburn  &Co.,  in  the  same  town. 
In  his  political  predilections  he  is  a  liberal 
Republican ;  socially  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  since  twenty-one  years 
of  age. 


T  OHN  DUNNING,  who  for  many 
w  I  years  has  successfully  conducted  a 
%J)  general  farming  and  grape-growing 
business  in  Avon  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  same  since  October,  1838. 
He  was  born  in  1880  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  and  when  eight  years  of  age  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  Alexander 
and  Margaret  (Smith)  Dunning,  also  na- 
tives of  County  Down. 

Immediately  after  their  arrival  in  the 
United  States  tliey  proceeded  to  Avon 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  in  the 
woods  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our 
subject,  and  here  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  The  father  died  in  1878,  the 
mother  in  1862.  They  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  as  follows:  David,  married, 
who  first  resided  in  Avon  township,  thence 
moving  to  Michigan  and  later  to  Kansas, 
where  he  died;  Catherine,  who  married 
Charles  Ketcham,  of  Avon  township, 
where  she  died  in  1869;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Wolcott  Mitchell,  of  Avon  township;  Jane, 
Mrs.  "William  Lucas,  who  died  January 
25,  1853;  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Alexander,  who  died  November  19, 
1852. 

John  Dunning,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  opening  of  this  sketch,  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Avon 
township,  and  in  his  early  youth  aided  in 
clearing  the  pioneer  farm,   also   learning 


the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which 
he  followed  for  many  years.  In  1855  he 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  Avon  township, 
to  Miss  Mahala  Moore,  who  was  born  in 
Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Ruth  (Sheldon)  Moore,  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  Massachusetts  and  New 
1  ork,  in  which  latter  State  they  were  mar- 
ried. In  1846  thev  came  west  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  locating  on  the  lake  shore  iu 
Avon  township,  thence  removing  in  1864 
to  Wisconsin,  where  they  both  died.  They 
had  the  following  children:  Orlena,  wife 
•  of  Charles  Jarvis,  of  Lorain;  Mahala,  Mrs. 
Dunning;  Ransom,  of  Waupaca  county. 
Wis.;  and  Dwight,  married,  who  resides  in 
Minnesota. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunning  have  been 
born  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
now  living,  namely:  Alfred  and  Ernest, 
both  married,  and  living  in  Avon  town- 
ship; Eva,  wife  of  Frank  Masten,  of  Roch- 
ester township,  Lorain  county;  Edson,  a 
resident  of  Avon  township;  Bertha,  wife 
of  Floyd  Crandall,  of  Huntington,  Ind. ; 
Allen,  also  in  Huntington,  Ind.;  and 
Carl,  residing  at  home.  Those  deceased 
are  Harriet  Augusta,  who  died  when 
eighteen  months  old;  Rose  May,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  years,  four  months;  a 
twin  of  Rose  May,  deceased  in  infancy; 
and  May,  a  twin  sister  of  Ernest,  wlio 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Dunning  is  actively 
engaged  in  general  farming,  and  owns  a 
nice  farm  of  100  acres  in  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  fourteen  acres  of  which  are 
devoted  exclusively  to  the  culture  of 
grapes.  Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  religious  faith  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  French  Creek. 


I 


Co.,  Ohio. 


RNEST  S.  JACKSON,  county  sur- 
veyor for  Lorain  county,  having  his 

J  residence  in  Elyria,  was  born  July 
24,  1861,  in  Avon  township,  Lorain 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1081 


His  f'atlier,  Ezra  S.  Jackson,  born  in 
1816,  in  Js'ew  York  State,  came  to  Ohio  in 
1834,  settling  in  Avon  township,  where 
he  has  since  remained,  with  the  exception 
of  a  tiiree-years'  residence  in  Oberlin, 
where  he  was  educating  his  children.  Ue 
married  Miss  Cordelia  Moon,  who  was 
born  in  Avon  township,  Lorain  county, 
in  1826,  and  children  as  follows  were  born 
to  them:  Lillie.  wife  of  H.  A.  Kinney,  of 
Milwaukee,  Wis.;  Jennie,  wife  of  R.  E. 
LoveJand,  of  Freeport,  111.;  Lena,  at  home; 
and  Ernest  S.  The  parents  are  yet  living, 
hale  and  hearty,  in  Avon  township;  they 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Cbnrch, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

Ernest  S.  Jackson,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  a  libera!  education  at 
tlie  common  scliools  of  the  vicinity  of  his 
place  of  l)irth,  and  he  developed  a  natural 
talent  for  mathematics.  He  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm,  but  in  youth  turned 
his  attention  to  civil  engineering,  making 
a  study  of  the  practical  part  of  tlie  profes- 
sion at  Akron,  Ohio,  and  he  did  his  lirst 
surveying  work  in  Lorain  county.  In 
November,  1892,  he  was  elected,  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  county  surveyor  of 
Lorain  county,  a  position  he  fills  with 
eminent  ability  and  the  utmost  satisfac- 
tion. Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  Miss 
Sylvia  Moon  (in  no  way  related  to  his 
mother's  family),  and  they  have  three 
children,  to  wit:  Roy,  Leon  and  Herbert. 
The  family  are  adherents  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  socially  Mr.  Jackson  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the 
Chapter. 


E'    C.     SCHULER,    manager    of    the 
North     Amherst    Furniture     Co., 
I   which  has  been  in  active   operation 

since  1.S81),  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, horn  in  Fasten,  Northampton 
county,  in  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  George 
and    Aima    Catherine    (Luezler)    Schuler, 


natives  of  Germany,  the  father  of  Baden, 
the  mother  of  Hessia.  George  Schuler 
was  a  locksmith  by  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  this  country  for  a  time,  and  then 
revisiting  Germany,  remained  there  seven 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  returned 
to  the  United  States,  making  his  perma- 
nent residence  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
died ;  his  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Ger- 
many, passed  from  earth  in  1887,  also  in 
Fennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  as  follows:  George  Theodore, 
a  graduate  of  Heidelberg  College,  Ger- 
many, now  in  business  in  Georgia;  Amelia, 
widow,  living  in  Allentown,  Penn.; 
Aurelia,  wife  of  J.  Rohrer,  in  South 
Easton,  Penn.;  Isabella,  widow,  a  resident 
of  Allentown,  Penn.;  Harmon,  living  in 
Arkansas  (he  enlisted  in  the  Nineteenth 
P.  V.  C,  and  served  throughout  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  veteranizing),  and  E.  C, 
subject  of  sketch. 

E.  C.  Schuler  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  schools  of  Heidelberg, 
Germany,  to  which  country  the  family  re- 
turned when  he  was  two  years  old.  After 
staying  seven  years  in  Heidelberg  the 
family  again  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  for  three  years  resided  in  Mauch 
Chunk,  Penn.,  and  then  at  Easton  (where 
E.  C.  was  born),  at  which  place  he  finished 
his  education,  passing  finally  through 
Easton  High  School.  In  1867  he  came  to 
Brownhelm  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  he  worked  for  Rice  &  Co.,  as  molder, 
having  previously  learned  the  trade,  and 
in  1868  came  to  Amherst,  continuing  in 
the  same  line  of  business  for  some  time, 
lie  then  carried  on  a  meat  market  about 
eight  or  ten  years.  In  1889  he  commenced 
in  the  furniture  manufacturing  business, 
in  which  he  has  met  with  much  success. 

In  1869  Mr.  Schuler  was  married,  in 
Erownhelm  township,  Lorain  county,  to 
Mary  E.  Shotton,  a  native  of  that  town- 
ship, daughter  oi  John  and  Irene  (Thrall) 
Shotton,  the  father  a  native  of  France,  both 
now  deceased.  To  this  union  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born,  viz.:  Frances,  wife  of 


1082 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


H.  R.  Hart,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Fred;  and 
Anna  and  George,  twins.  Our  snbject 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Chnrch, 
of  the  Sunday  school  of  which  he  is  super- 
intendent. Politically  lie  is  a  Democrat, 
and  durine:  Cleveland's  first  administration 
served  four  years  as  postmaster  at  North 
Amherst.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
town  council,  and  of  the  school  board  twelve 
years.  Socially  Mr.  Schuler  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.'M.,  Stonington  Lodge,  No. 
503,  of  which  he  was  W.  M.  three  times; 
also  of  the  Marshall  Chapter,  No.  49,  Ely- 
ria,  Ohio;  is  a  member  of  Amherst  Lodge 
No.  47  K.  of  P.,  of  Plato  Lodge  No.  301, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 


EORGE  JACKSON.  This  gentle- 
man, who  enjoys  the  distinction  of 
being  the  most  extensive  and  pros- 
perous agriculturist  of  Penfield 
township,  is  deserving  of  more  than 
a  passing  notice  in  the  pages  of  this  work. 
He  is  a  great-grandson  of  Reuben  Jack- 
son, and  a  grandson  of  Daniel,  who  was 
born  in  1775  in  Pittstield,  Mass.,  where  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  under  his 
father.  Daniel  was  married  in  his  native 
State  to  Patty  Kellogg,  who  was  born  in 
Pittstield  in  1785,  and  while  residing  in 
Massachusetts  three  children  were  boru  to 
them,  as  follows:  Jane,  who  married  Har- 
vey Birdseye,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years  in  Trenton,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.; 
Pliny,  father  of  our  subject;  and  Sally, 
who  married  William  Gillett,  and  died  in 
Penfield,  Ohio,  when  aged  thirty-six  years. 
Between  1812  and  1815  the  family  re- 
moved west  to  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
bought  the  farm  whereon  the  parents 
passed  the  remaining  years  of  their  lives, 
the  father  engaging  chiefly  in  agriculture, 
although  he  also  followed  his  ti-ade  to  some 
extent.  In  New  York  State  were  born  the 
following  named  children:  Susan,  the  wife 


of  William  Chapman,  who  died  in  Chicago 
at  an  advanced  age;  Maria,  who  married 
Ferdinand  Turnicliff,  and  died  in  Pitts- 
field,  Ohio;  Elisha,  a  farmer  of  Penfield 
township,  Lorain  county;  Jason,  a  farmer, 
who  died  in  Champion,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y. ;  Daniel,  who  also  died  in  Champion, 
N.  Y.;  James,  a  farmer  of  Penfield  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Charille,  who 
married  Hiram  Hopkins,  and  died  in  Well- 
ington, Ohio;  Jesse,  late  a  farmer  of  Hum- 
boldt county,  Iowa,  where  he  died  Novem- 
ber 29,  1893;  and  Belah,  who  died  after 
reaching  adult  age.  in  Champion,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Jackson  was  a  very 
successful  farmer.  He  was  a  man  of 
wonderful  vitality,  active  and  capable  of 
performing  a  hard  day's  work  to  the  very 
end  of  his  life;  he  died  suddenly,  while 
chopping  wood,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 
He  frequently  remarked  that  he  did  not 
know  what  it  was  to  feel  tired.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  an  Old-line  Whig,  a  stanch 
member  of  the  party.  His  wife  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  now  lies 
buried  by  his  side  in  Champion  cemetery; 
they  were  devout  members  of  the  Old- 
school  Presbyterian  Chnrch,  and  he  was  a 
man  so  highly  respected,  esteemed  and 
loved  everywhei'e,  that  it  could  almost  be 
said  he  had  not  an  enemy  in  the  world. 

Pliny  Jackson,  fatherof  subject,  was  born, 
in  1806,  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  near 
Carthage,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  and  reared  to  farming  pursuits. 
When  a  young  man  he  was  married,  near 
Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Sarah  Rowlin, 
who  bore  hiui  two  children  in  New  York 
State,  viz.:  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Rey- 
nolds, of  LaGrange,  Ohio,  and  Martha, 
wife  of  Eli  Griffith,  also  of  LaGrange.  In 
the  early  spring  of  1835  the  family  set  out 
for  Ohio  with  a  sled,  drawn  by  oxeti,  which, 
the  snow  having  in  the  meantime  melted, 
stuck  in  a  deep  mud  hole,  and  they  had  to 
hire  another  yoke  of  oxen  to  drag  out  the 
sled.  Pliny  Jackson  had  previously  visited 
Ohio,  prospecting  for  laud,  but  made  no 
definite  purchase.  They  landed  in  Penfield 


(^^^^j^^jKM^..^' 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1085 


townebip,  Lorain  county,  after  a  lon^  and 
tedious  journey,  ami  iiere  the  father 
traded  his  oxen,  sle<l  and  the  entire  outlit 
for  120  acres  of  wild  land,  the  same  our 
subject  now  owns  and  lives  oti.  Here  they 
made  a  clearing,  built  a  log  house,  and  set 
to  work  to  make  further  improvements  on 
their  new  home.  The  nearest  neighbor 
was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from 
the  Jacksons,  wliiie  the  next  nearest  was 
three  miles  distant.  Game  was  plentiful, 
and  the  family  larder  was  always  well  pro- 
vided witii  venison,  wild  turkey,  pheasants, 
quail,  rabbits,  etc.  By  and  by  Mr.  Jack- 
son added  to  this  property  121  acres  ad- 
joining. Here  were  born  to  Pliny  Jackson 
and  iiis  wife  children  as  follows:  George, 
our  subject;  Alonzo,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five;  Malissa,  now  Mrs.  William 
Snow,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,;  Harriet,  Mrs. 
Ed.  Rock  wood;  and  Eliza,  who  died  of 
smallpox  when  young.  The  father  in  af- 
ter years  moved  into  Wellington  village, 
thence  to  LaGrange,  where  he  died;  for 
several  years  he  had  been  a  sufferer  from 
rheumatism.  His  wife  survived  him  a  few 
years,  dying  at  the  home  of  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Griffith.  They  were  buried  in  Pitts- 
lield  township  cemetery,  near  the  farm 
whereon  they  had  first  settled.  Mr.  Jack- 
son was  a  hard-working,  industrious  man, 
and  a  leading  farmer  of  his  day,  in  his 
political  proclivities  a  stanch  Democrat. 

George  Jackson,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  July  6,  1835,  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns  and  lives  on  in  Peniield 
township,  Lorain  county.  He  received  a 
liberal  education  at  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood,  which  in  those  early  days 
of  the  county  were  most  primitive  in  their 
furnishino-8  and  educational  facilities.  On 
his  father's  farmhe  wa.s  thoroughly  trained 
to  the  arduous  duties  of  farm  life,  and 
agricultural  pursuits  in  all  phases  have 
been  his  life  work.  In  August,  1861,  he 
married  Miss  Mercy  Hoxley.  of  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  in  184:0. 
and  children  as  follows  were  the  result  of 
this  union:  Arthur,  of  LaGrange;  Alonzo, 

S6 


of  Peniield;  Eliza,  Mrs.  Ford  Gott,  of  La- 
Grange;  William,  of  Penfield  township; 
Frances,  who  is  married  to  Frank  Hrad- 
stock,  of  Pentield,  and  Bei'uice,  who  died 
young.  The  mother  of  these  died  Octo- 
ber 21,  1873,  and  lies  buried  in  Pittsfield 
cemetery.  In  September,  1874,  Mr.  Jack- 
son married,  for  his  second  wife.  Miss 
Frances  E.  Hull,  who  (vas  born  in  Pen- 
tield township,  Lorain  county,  a  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Polly  (Huxley)  Hull,  and 
four  children  have  come  to  this  marriage, 
all  yet  living  and  named  respectively: 
Mabel,  Jay,  Ernest  and  Sylvester. 

Mr.  Jackson  may  truly  be  said  to  be  a 
representative  self-made  man,  as  from 
small  beginnings,  by  dint  of  indefatigable 
energy,  coupled  with  sound  judgment, 
good  management  and  unsurpassed  finan- 
ciering, he  has  attained  a  comfortable 
competence.  He  now  owns  431  acres  of 
prime  farm  land,  well  equipped  with  com- 
modious buildings,  is  a  thoroughly  practi- 
cal as  well  as  theoretical  agriculturist,  and 
is  an  excellent  judge  of  stock.  Demo- 
cratic in  politics,  he  has  held  various  town- 
ship offices  in  a  strongly  Republican  com- 
munity, and  he  has  proven  himself  as 
capable  as  he  is  popular.  For  a  few  years 
the  family  lived  in  the  town  of  Welling- 
ton, in  order  that  the  children  might  there 
be  educated. 


[[   I[ANS    HEINRICH    JULIUS 
hH     KROHN,  city  marshal  of  Elyria, 
I     1[    is  a  native  of  Schleswig-Holstein, 
•fj  Germany,  born  April  24,  1841. 

His  father,  Henry  William 
Krohn,  was  born  in  Flensborg,  Schleswig- 
Holstein,  where  he  married  Miss  Lucy 
Muellerstedt,  a  native  of  the  same  city. 
Here  he  died;  his  widow  is  now  living  in 
Denmark,  with  her  son  Henry  Ernst 
Georg,  who  is  in  the  service  of  the 
Government  as  mail  agent.  Three  mem- 
bers of  this  family,  ineuding  our  subject, 
came  to  America  in  1809,  l)ut  prior  to  that 


1086 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


he  had  served  hia  time  as  florist  and  land- 
scape gardener.  After  his  arrival  in  this 
country  he  first  located  in  North  xVinherst, 
Lorain  county,  and  in  September  immedi- 
ately following  moved  to  Lake  Forest,  111., 
where  he  had  charge  of  the  horticulture 
and  floriculture  at  a  family  residence. 
From  Lake  Forest  he  went  to  Clinton, 
same  State,  where  he  followed  farming,  af- 
ter which  he  came  to  Elyria,  and  has  here 
since  made  his  home.  Mr.  Krohn  from 
the  time  he  came  to  Elyria  has  been  en- 
gaged in  various  capacities,  railroading 
being  one  of  his  experiences,  bnt  findino- 
that  his  age  stood  in  the  way  of  promotion, 
he  abandoned  that,  and  took  a  position  on 
the  night  police  force.  He  made  an 
efficient  oflicer,  gaining  the  confidence  of 
the  people  of  Elyria,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1890,  after  one  year's  service  as  night 
policeman,  he  was  elected  to  his  present 
position  of  city  marshal,  and  is  ex-ofiicio 
chief  of  police.  In  the  spring  of  1891  he 
was  reelected  for  two  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1893,  Elyria  having  been  changed 
from  a  village  to  a  city,  his  term  of  office 
was  nullified,  and  he  was  reelected  for  two 
years  under  the  city  ordinance. 

In  1866  Mr.  Krohn  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elise  C.  Freese,  a  native 
of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Germany,  and 
three  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Henry,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Edith,  wife  of  E.  J.  Moser;  and 
Elizabeth,  recently  married  to  Reno  F. 
Mnssey.  In  his  political  pi-eferences  our 
subject  is  a  Republican;  socially  he  is  a 
meuiber  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  of  the 
K-  of  P.,  Uniform  Rank. 


\ILLIAM  A.  SAYLES.     The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  William  Allen 
Sayles,  was  born  June   11,   1847, 
in   Onondaga  county,  New  York. 
His  father.  Smith  F.  Sayles,  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  in  1822,  but  moved  with  his 


parents  to  the  State  of  New  York  in  his 
early  boyhood.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two 
he  married  Evalyn  Allen,  and  William  A. 
was  the  only  child  of  this  marriage.  Hav- 
ing lost  his  first  wife,  he  married  Clara 
Van  Slyke  in  1853,  and  soon  after  moved 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  For  the  first  five 
years  he  lived  first  in  Ridgeville,  then  in 
Eaton  township,  and  finally  bought  140 
acres  for  his  permanent  home  in  Carlisle 
township,  a  most  beautiful  tract  of  land  on 
the  banks  of  Black  river.  Two  children 
were  the  fruit  of  this  second  marriage, 
neither  of  whom  lived  to  years  of  matur- 
ity. The  father  died  April  22,  1890.  sur- 
vived only  by  his  wife  and  son,  William 
A.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  Then  he 
became  a  Republican  and  remained  such 
until  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  when  he 
gave  his  support  to  the  Prohibition  party. 

William  A.  Sayles  spent  his  boyhood 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Lorain  county.  On 
November  5,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany L,  Twelfth  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  served 
until  April  25,  1865,  when  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged.  He  then  spent  some  time 
in  study  at  Berea  College.  After  leaving 
school  he  remained  with  his  father  upon 
the  home  farm  until  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage, except  a  part  of  three  years  spent  in 
Wisconsin,  near  Kenosha.  In  1872  he  mar- 
ried Lillian  Brush,  daughter  of  William 
Brush,  a  pioneer  of  Lorain  county.  Until 
the  death  of  his  father  he  lived  in  a  home 
upon  the  bank  of  the  river  near  the  home 
of  his  father.  Here  his  three  children — 
Clare,  Lynne  and  Bertrand — were  born. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  moved  with 
his  household  to  the  old  homestead,  where 
he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Sayles  isasuccessful  farmer,  hisfarm 
being  one  of  the  best  kept  and  most  fruitful 
in  the  neighborhood.  An  ardent  lover  and  a 
good  judge  of  horses,  he  has  given  some 
attention  to  horse  raising,  and  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  sold  to  the  Royal  stables 
of  Austria  an  animal  now  pronounced   by 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1087 


competent  authorities  to  be  the  finest  trot- 
ting horse  in  Europe.  Our  subject  takes 
a  prominent  part  in  the  politics  of  tiie 
county,  and  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He 
is  one  of  the  foremost  in  a  community  of 
progressive  and  prosperous  farmers. 


D,    CROWELL,  for  over  sixty  years  a 
resident  of  Eaton  township,  is  a  son 
/   of    Richard    and    Mary  B.    (Little) 

Crowell,  who  were  natives  of  New 
Jersey,  where  they  were  married  in  1824. 
In  1832  they  caine  west  to  Ohio  with  a 
team  owned  by  Alvah  Brooks,  and  settling 
in  the  woods  of  Eaton  township,  Lorain 
county,  set  to  work  to  open  up  a  farm. 
Here  tiiey  made  their  home  several  years, 
then  moved  to  Grafton  township,  same 
county,  where  they  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  pioneer  lives,  dying,  the  father  in 
1875,  the  mother  in  1879.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Re- 
becca, Mnfe  of  Isaac  B.  Ross,  of  Eaton 
township;  Mary  Louisa,  wife  of  Chandler 
Eaton,  died  in  Michigan  in  1873;  D. 
Crowell,  subject  of  this  memoir;  Aaron 
and  Moses  (twins),  the  latter  of  whom  died 
at  the  ajje  of  fourteen  (Aaron  married,  and 
made  his  home  in  Eaton  township,  where 
he  died  in  1882);  one  deceased  in  infancy; 
Silas,  married,  residing  in  Grafton  town- 
ship; and  Phebe,  who  married  David  Phe- 
lan  (a  soldier),  and  died  in  Eaton  township 
in  1863. 

D.  Crowell,  whose  name  appears  at  the 
opening  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  December,  1829,  and  was  two  and 
a  half  years  old  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  Eaton  township,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  ably  assisted  in 
clearing  up  the  home  farm  till  he  came  of 
age,  when  he  bought  156  acres  of  wild 
land  in  the  same  township,  whereon  to 
build  up  a  home  for  himself.  Tin's  he  has 
so  well  improved   and   cultivated  that  it  is 


now  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county, 
and,  by  additions,  at  tliis  time  comprises 
1()5^  broad  acres.  He  has  erected  resi- 
dences thereon,  both  two  stories  high, 
16x28  and  an  L  16x28;  also  a  good 
horse  barn  30  x  44.  In  connection  with 
general  farming  he  pays  considerable  at- 
tention to  dairying,  and  in  all  his  under- 
takings success  has  followed  his  efforts. 

In  1849  Mr.  Crowell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  Eaton  township,  with  Miss  Sarah 
Smith,  a  native  of  England,  daughter  of 
T.  P.  Smith,  who  came  from  that  country 
to  America,  making  his  first  home  in  the 
United  States  at  Olmsted  Falls,  Cuyalioga 
Co.,  Ohio,  afterward  moving  to  Amherst 
towtiship,  Lorain  county,  then  to  Elyria, 
and  finally  to  Henry  county,  same  State; 
he  died  in  1866,  his  last  days  beino-  spent 
at  the  home  of  our  subject.  To  this  union 
has  been  born  one  child.  Smith  Ebenezer, 
who  is  married  and  is  the  father  of  three 
children:  A.  D.,  Bertrand  M.  and  Richard 
Hubert.  Politically  Mr.  Crowell  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church. 


EORGE   MATHEWS,    one  of    the 
,   most     pi-osperou8     of    the    native- 


\Jb,    born   agriculturists  of  Eaton  town 
"^  ship,   was    born  in   1842,  a  son  o{ 
Edward    and     Ellen     (McDermotj 
Mathews,  natives  of  Ireland. 

Edward  Mathews  when  a  young  man 
emigrated  from  his  home  in  Erin  to  Can- 
ada, whence  after  his  marriage  he  came  to 
Lorain  county,  sojourning  for  a  time  in 
Columbia  township,  thence  moving  to 
Eaton  township,  and  making  his  final  home 
on  the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides, 
which  locality  was  then  all  wild  woodland, 
teeming  with  game  of  all  sorts.  He  died 
in  1855;  he  was  a  strong  Democrat  for  a 
time,  butin  later  years  supported  theWhio- 
party.  His  widow  is  yet  living,  making 
her  home  now  with  her  son  George.     The 


1088 


LORAIir  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


record  of  their  children  is  as  follows:  James 
E.  went  to  Michigan  when  a  young  man, 
whfre  he  married,  and  died  in  1890;  Ann 
is  the  widow  of  R.  R.  Steele,  of  Milwaukee, 
Wis.;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  Tyler, 
and  resides  in  St.  Joseph,  Berrien  Co., 
Mich.;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Foster, 
of  Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  George;  William  is 
married,  and  residing  in  Berrien,  Mich,  (he 
enlisted  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  served 
two  years  in  the  Civil  war);  Ellen  is  the 
wife  of  Reuben  Learn,  and  resides  at  Og- 
den,  Ufah;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Martin 
Terry,  of  Elyria,  Ohio. 

George  Mathews,  the  subject  of  our  pres- 
ent writing,  received  a  fair  education  at 
the  schools  of  his  native  townsliip,  which  in 
those  early  days  were  somewhat  primitive 
in  their  character,  both  in  their  furnishings 
and  in  the  quality  of  the  literary  pabulum 
provided  tiierein.  He  was  thoroughly 
trained  to  the  pursuits  of  the  farm,  and  has 
all  his  life  carried  on  general  agriculture 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  he  owns,  and 
which  comprises  some  seventy  acres  of  land, 
all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Li  1869 
he  was  married  in  Eaton  township  to  Miss 
Emma,  daugliter  of  John  and  Harriet 
(Wilson)  Shadford,  sketch  of  whom  follows. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
namely:  Leon,  who  received  his  education 
in  Elyria,  is  tiow  in  tiie  employ  of  Salyer 
&  Allen,  clothiers,  Elyria;  and  Mamie. 
Politically  Mr.  Mathews  is  a  loyal  mennber 
of  the  Republican  party. 

J.  Shadford,  father-in-law  of  Mr. 
Mathews,  was  born  in  1814  in  Lincoln- 
shire. England,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(CoUinson)  Shadford,  of  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, the  latter  of  whom  died  in  her  native 
land. 

John  Shadford,  father  of  subject,  came 
in  1828  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States,  first  locating  in  Grafton  township, 
Lorain  county,  thence  in  1831  moving  to 
Eaton  township,  where  he  cleared  up  a 
farm  out  of  the  woods,  and  which  after- 
ward came  to  be  known  as  the  "  Wilson 
farm."     Here    he   died    some   time  before 


the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion. He  had  two  brothers  who  came 
to  the  United  States,  viz.:  William,  who 
enlisted  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  the  Civil 
war,  serving  as  orderly  sergeant  (he  is  now 
residing  in  the  West,  it  is  thought  in 
Iowa);  and  Major,  who  lived  in  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  nearly  all  his  life,  dying 
about  the  year  1873. 

J.  Shadford,  of  whom  this  writing 
chiefly  relates,  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  after 
coming  to  this  country,  which  he  did  at 
the  age  of  fourteen,  attended  the  schools 
of  Grafton  and  LaPorte,  in  Lorain  county. 
The  main  business  of  his  life  has  been 
farming,  but  he  owned  and  for  some  years 
operated  steam  mills  at  Grafton,  which  l)e 
had  erected  about  the  year  1859.  He  is 
now  owner  of  ninety-one  acres  of  first-class 
land,  all  improved  from  the  woods,  and 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  In 
1886  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet 
Wilson,  a  native  of  England,  and  daugh- 
ter  of  Thomas  Wilson,  who  died  in  that 
country.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
this  marriage,  viz.:  Edward  W.,  and 
Emily,  wife  of  George  Mathews.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Shadford  is  a  Democrat,  and  he 
has  served  on  the  school  board. 


JEREMIAH  MARTIN,  Jr.,  a  well- 
to-do  agriculturist  of  Columbia  town- 
ship, was  born  October  8,  1850,  in 
Devonshire,  England. 
His  parents,  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Sheer) 
Martin,  were  also  natives  of  England,  the 
father  of  Devonshire,  the  mother  of  Corn- 
wall, whence  in  1867  they  came  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin died  in  1868;  Mr.  Martin  now  resides 
in  Jasper  county,  Mo.  They  had  seven 
children,  namely:  Jeremiah,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  William,  married,  residing  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1089 


Columbia  township;  Natlianiel,  married, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Missouri;  John 
Thomas,  married,  also  living  in  Missouri; 
Jane,  wife  of  Clifton  Baker,  in  Missouri; 
Mary,  wife  of  Lafe  House,  of  Hillsbor- 
ough, Oregon ;  and  Charles  Wesley,  mar- 
ried, a  resident  of  Missouri. 

Jeremiah  Martin,  Jr.,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch,  passed  his  early  years 
in  England,  where  he  received  an  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  In  1S67  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  ('o.,  Ohio,  and  in  1869  went 
to  jasper  county.  Mo.,  residing  there  until 
1873,  when  he  returned  to  Columbia 
townsliip.  Here  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  1875,  with  Lucy  R.  Peachey, 
who  was  a  native  of  Columbia  township, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Philomela 
(Smith)  Peachey,  early  pioneers  of  same, 
where  they  both  died.  In  1881  Mr. 
Martin  located  on  his  present  farm,  com- 
prising 14:5i  acres  of  land  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  upon  which  he  has  erected 
a  good  barn,  40  x  72  feet,  with  ten-foot 
basement  and  milk  house  9i  x  16  feet,  two 
stories  high,  with  a  geared  windmill  and 
water  tank  on  top  of  it;  here  he  conducts 
a  general  farming  business.  In  peilitics 
our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  served  on  the  school  board. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  of  Columbia,  in  which  he  is 
trustee  and  treasurer.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  namely:  B.  A., 
Alonzo  B.,  Charles  Wesley  and  Philomela. 


IfSAAC  B.  ROSS,  well-known  in  Eaton 
township  as  a  solid,  practical  farmer, 
J  was  born  in  1826  in  New  Jersey,  a  son 
of  William  R.  and  Hannah  W.  (Du- 
rand)  Ross,  natives  of  the  same  State.  The 
father,  who  was  by  trade  a  surveyor,  died 
in  February,  1877,  in  good  circumstances; 
bis  widow  came  to  Lorain   county,  Ohio, 


and  here  passed  tiie  rest  of  her  days,  dying 
July  5,  1887.  They  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  as  follows:  Isaac  B.,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Harriet,  wife  of  Lucian  Bur- 
rett,  of  Lorain;  Mary,  residing  in  Lorain; 
Juliet,  wife  of  Zadoc  Reeve,  of  New  Jer- 
sey; John,  residing  in  Eaton  township, 
and  George,  who  died  in  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county. 

Isaac  B.  Ross,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  educated  in  New  Jersey, 
and  there  resided  till  1848,  when  he  came 
to  Eaton  township,  Lorain  county.  He 
was  originally  a  shoemaker,  a  trade  he  fol- 
lowed successfully  until  about  the  year 
1855,  when  he  turned  his  attention  ex- 
clusively to  agriculture.  In  that  year  he 
moved  to  his  present  fine  farm  in  Eaton 
township,  comprising  137  acres  of  as  good 
land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county.  In 
1849  Mr.  Ross  was  married,  in  Eaton  town- 
ship, to  Miss  Rebecca  Crowell,  a  native  of 
New  York,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mary 
(Little)  Crowell,  natives  of  New  Jersey, 
who  about  1831  came  from  New  York 
State  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in  Eaton 
township,  where  they  made  their  home  for 
many  years;  they  died  in  Grafton,  the 
father  October  25, 1875.  aged  seventy-three 
years,  the  mother  February  24,  1879,  aged 
seventy-eight.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  as  follows:  Rebecca,  Mrs. 
Ross;  Daniel,  residing  in  Eaton  township; 
Silas,  married,  residing  in  Grafton;  Moses, 
who  died  in  1844;  Phebe,  the  wife  of 
David  Phelan,  died  in  1868;  Mary  L.,  wife 
of  Chandler  Eaton,  died  about  1872;  Aaron, 
deceased  December  1,  1882;  and  one  de- 
ceased in  infancy.  In  1832,  when  Mrs. 
Ross  was  a  little  girl,  she  got  lost  in  the 
woods  of  Eaton  township,  while  on  her 
way  to  visit  a  neighbor — the  only  one  for 
miles  around.  On  lieing  missed  a  search 
party  set  out,  and  after  a  long  and  patient 
hunt  found  her  about  1  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  She  had  waded  in  water  up  to 
her  arm-pits,  and  altliough  she  often  heard 
her  mother  and  others  calling  lier  name, 
she  was  so  frightened  that  she  thought  the 


1090 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


sounds  caine  from  the  howling  wolves,  of 
which  there  were  many  in  those  pioneer 
days.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  B.  Ross  were 
born  three  children,  namely:  Moses  C, 
married,  residing  in  Eaton  township; 
M.  D.,  married,  living  on  the  home  farm; 
and  Perry,  married,  who  died  in  Eaton 
township  in  1880.  In  politics  onr  subject 
is  a  Prohibition-Republicau,  and  he  is 
serving  as  a  njsmber  of  the  school  board. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  Eaton,  of  which  he  is  steward. 


JOHN  LANTSBERY,  who  for  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  been  among 
the  leading  successful  agriculturists 
of  Carlisle  township,  is  a  native  of 
England,  born  in  Little  Creaton,  North- 
amptonshire, July  26,  1842.  His  parents, 
John  and  Aim  (Haddon)  Lantsbery,  na- 
tives of  the  same  county  in  England, 
were  farming  people,  industrious  and 
economical.  The  father  died  there  in 
1846,  the  mother  in  Lubenham,  England, 
November  24,  1873,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
one  years.  They  had  four  children,  our 
subject  being  the  only  survivor. 

He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  place,  and  in  1864  etnigrated  to  the 
United  States,  arriving  in  December  of 
that  year  in  Elyria,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  till  1867,  in  which  year 
he  came  to  Carlisle  township,  agriculture 
having  been  his  occupation  in  both  town- 
ships. Plis  first  land  purchase  was  seventy- 
one  acres  partly  improved,  but  he  now 
owns  ninety-six  acres,  all  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation. 

In  1863  Mr.  Lantsbery  was  married  in 
England  to  Mary  Ann  Eady,  a  native  of 
Cottesbrook,  Northamptonshire,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Susan  (Holt)  Eady,  of  the 
same  county,  where  her  father  died  in  1862, 
her  mother  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  seveuty- 
eight  years  (for  her  second   husband   the 


latter  had  married  a  Mr.  Kilworth).  Of 
their  six  children,  William  now  resides  in 
New  Zealand;  John  died  in  England; 
Francis  lives  in  London,  England;  Thomas 
is  also  in  England,  and  Henry  J.  is  a  drug- 
gist in  Elyria,  Ohio.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lantsbery  were  born  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Jolm  Thomas  died  of  pneumonia  in 
1891,  aged  twenty-six  years;  Henry  W., 
born  in  1867,  is  married,  and  resides  near 
his  parents;  Alice,  born  in  1869;  Anna  S., 
born  May  20,  1874,  is  attending  f-chool  in 
Elyria;  Fannie,  born  in  1877,  died  in  1883; 
Nellie  McE.,  born  May  22,  1880.  The 
parents  are  members  of  the  Disciple 
Church  at  Elyria,  of  which  Mrs.  Lantsbery 
has  been  organist  for  several  years,  and  for 
a  long  time  she  taught  music  throughout 
the  county;  she  is  correspondent  for  the 
Republican,  the  Democrat  and  the  Ol>er- 
lin  jVews.  In  his  political  sympathies 
Mr.  Lantsbery  is  a  Republican. 


Tl  S.  CRAWFORD,  who  for  some  five 
k.  I  years  was  a  prominent  merchant  in 
^J)  Lorain,  South  End,  but  has  been  re- 
tired since  1887,  came  to  the  town  in 
1882  from  Seville,  Medina  county,   Ohio. 

He  was  born  in  Medina  county  January 
15,  1847,  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca 
(Smith)  Crawford,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  father  of  Washington  county,  the 
mother  of  near  Philadelphia.  In  1821 
they  came  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
Medina  county,  which  is  still  in  the  family 
name.  The  father  was  a  sergeant  in  tlie 
Home  Guards.  He  died  in  1877,  the 
mother  in  August,  1888.  Our  subject 
was  educated  in  part  at  the  district  schools 
of  the  vicinity  of  his  birthplace,  and  in 
part  in  the  schools  of  Seville.  On  August 
9,  1882,  he  came  to  Lorain  county  and 
opened  a  grocery  store  at  Lorain,  South 
End.  He  put  up  a  frame  building  which 
was  destroyed  by  fire  February  2,  1883, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1091 


and  lie  afterward  erected  a  double  brick 
store,  two  stories  high,  50x48  feet,  and 
continued  in  business  till  1887 — tive  years. 
Prior  to  this  he  followed  farming  till  1869; 
then  went  west,  remaining  away  sutne 
eight  years,  part  of  the  time  in  Missouri 
(Henry  county),  Mississippi,  Illinois  and 
Michigan. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  married  in  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Chestina 
Hay,  a  native  of  that  county,  and  daughter 
of  Henry  Hay,  and  to  this  union  has  been 
born  one  child,  Mary  R.  Mrs.  Crawford 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Crawford  is  independent,  in- 
variably voting  for  the  best  men  and 
soundest  measures.  He  is  a  member  of 
Woodlawn  Lodge  No.  226,  K.  of  P.,  and 
of  Lorain  Lodge  No.  552,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  which  he  is  treasurer.  His  present  tine 
residence  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Franklin  streets,  Lorain,  he  erected  in 
1891.  Grandfather  James  Crawford  came 
to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  from  Washington 
cou:ity,  Penn.,in  1821,  and  made  his  future 
home  there. 


D' 


^AVID  DRAKE,  a  leading  farmer 
and  dairyman  of  Carlisle  township, 
is  a  native  of  Schoharie  county, 
N.  Y.,  born  April  20.  1820,  a  son 
of  Alexander  and  Lucy  (Benson)  Drake,  of 
Vermont,  who  migrated  to  New'  York 
State  in  an  early  day.  The  Drake  family 
are  of  English  descent,  and  in  early  Colo- 
nial days  three  granduncles  of  Mr.  Drake 
— Benjamin,  Cyrus  and  Alexander — came 
from  England  to  Vermont,  where  they 
settled  as  farmers.  The  father  of  David, 
who  was  by  trade  a  blacksmith,  was  born 
in  the  year  1766,  and  died  in  Montgomery 
county,  N.  Y.,  July  2,  1838,  being  buried 
July  4.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his 
first  wife  had  three  children — Pi'eserve, 
Polly  and  Sally.  The  children  by  the 
second    marriage    were:    Apollos,     Pliny, 


Gilbert,  Abrara,  David,  Dennis  (of  Iowa, 

now  deceased),  and  Caleb  (living  in  Mis- 
souri); of  whom  Apollos,  about  the  year 
1830,  came  from  Delaware  county,  N.  Y., 
to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at 
Hamilton's  Corner  in  1883,  a  lifelong 
Democrat. 

David  Drake,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  his  education  in  Scho- 
harie and  Montgomery  counties,  N.  Y., 
and  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old 
worked  on  farms  by  the  month  or  day, 
two  seasons  for  twenty  shillings  per 
month.  In  1862  he  migrated  from  New 
York  State  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  i-emaiued  one  year,  and  then  moved  to 
Spencer  township,  same  county,  whence 
in  1867  he  came  to  Penfield  township,  Lo- 
rain county.  Here  he  bought  an  improved 
farm  which  he  lived  on  and  conducted 
eighteen  years,  and  then  moved  to  La- 
Grange  township,  same  county,  making 
his  home  there  one  year.  In  1885  he 
finally  settled  in  Carlisle  township,  where 
he  owns  the  old  Golden  farm,  bought  by 
him  from  William  A.  Braman,  and  which 
consists  of  144  acres  of  highly- improved 
land;  he  also  owns  ninety  acres  in  Carlisle 
besides  the  tract  he  resides  on,  making,  in 
the  aggregate,  234  acres. 

On  February  7,  1848,  in  New  York 
State,  Mr.  Drake  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  Alger,  of  New  York,  daughter  of 
William  and  Casadena  Alger,  natives  of 
England,  who  when  young  came  to  New 
York,  where  they  married  and  died.  To 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  viz. r 
William,  married,  and  living  in  Carlisle, 
has  three  children:  Olivia,  Ray  and  Lulu; 
Esther,  widow  of  Milan  Cone,  of  Penfield 
township,  has  four  children:  Letha,  Kate, 
Mercy  and  Fred;  Ilattie,  wife  of  George 
Plase,  in  Carlisle  township,  has  one  child 
— Claude — by  a  former  marriage  with 
Charles  Spicer.  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Drake  died 
October  10,  1875,  and  February  13,  1878, 
Mr.  Dralae  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  with  Miss  Aurelia 
Graham,  a  native  of  that  county,  daughter 


1092 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Andrew  Graham,  an  early  settler  of 
Medina,  who  died  August  18,  1892.  By 
tluit  marriage  there  is  one  child,  Lucy, 
living  at  home.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions our  subject  is  a  Republican.  He  is 
a  representative  self-made  man,  having  ac- 
cumulated all  he  owns  by  his  individual 
perseverance  and  industry. 


than 


D.  STOCKING,  a  prominent  and 
prosperous  agriculturist  of  Brighton 
township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 
November  17,  1840,  a  son  of  Jona- 
S.  Stocking. 
Joseph  Stocking,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  born  in  Ashfield,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass., 
November  1,  1781,  and  in  1815  came  to 
Dover  township,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  with 
his  family,  including  Jonathan  S.  Tbey 
traveled  with  an  ox-team,  the  journey 
occupying  six  weeks,  other  immigrants 
coming  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Stocking 
had  visited  the  locality  twice  before  bring- 
ing his  family — once  in  1811  or  '12,  and 
again  in  1814.  He  built  a  log  house  on 
the  site  where  he  last  resided.  When  h^ 
first  came  to  Dover  township  thei-e  was  but 
one  frame  building  in  Cleveland,  that 
place,  in  fact,  being  a  mere  point,  a  nucleus 
around  which  a  village  afterward  grew  up, 
from  which  was  evolved  the  great  city  of 
Cleveland.  Mr.  Stocking  was  prominent 
and  active  in  the  township,  and  was  equally 
active  in  its  religious  and  educational  in- 
terests.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was 
cast  for  Jefferson,  and  it  is  said  he  voted 
at  every  Presidential  election  afterward, 
his  last  vote  being  cast  for  Hayes.  He 
died  February  23,  1877,  aged  ninety-five 
years,  three  months,  twenty-two  days, 
having  been  a  resident  of  Dover  township, 
Cuyahoga  county,  over  sixty  years.  He 
lived  to  see  the  wilderness  ttansformed 
into  fruitful  fields,  and  towns  and  cities 
rise  up  out  of  the  dense  forest;  he  lived  to 


hear  the  rusli  and  roar  of  the  railroad  train 
where  once  could  be  heard  naught  but  the 
howling  of  wolves,  the  angry  growling  of 
no  less  ferocious  bears,  and  the  war-whoop 
of  the  Indian.  But  to  essay  to  mention 
what  was  consummated  in  those  three- 
score years  would  be  to  attempt  a  history 
of  all  the  Northwest,  with  its  most  won- 
derful growth  and  marvelous  development. 

In  Dover  township,  Cuyahoga  county, 
in  November,  1836,  Jonathan  S.  Stocking 
married  Sabrina  Lilly,  born  in  Ashfield, 
Mass.,  daughter  of  Austin  Lilly,  who 
came  from  New  England  in  pioneer  times. 
Jonathan  S.  Stocking  lived  in  Cuyahoga 
county  till  1836,  in  which  year  he  moved 
to  Brighton  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
in  company  with  Harry  Hawes  bought  222 
acres  of  heavily-timbered  land,  and  they 
felled  the  first  tree  that  ever  felt  the  axe 
on  tliat  farm.  This  land  cost  them  six 
dollars  per  acre,  but  it  proved  a  valuable 
property.  Jonathan  Stocking  died  here  in 
1890,  aged  eighty  years,  two  months,  seven- 
teen days,  liis  wife  in  1887,  aged  seventy- 
two  years,  four  months,  five  days,  and  they 
are  interred  at  Brighton  Center.  He  was 
very  successful,  not  only  in  general  farm- 
ing but  also  in  stock  raising,  and  was  a 
hard-woi'king  man  up  to  within  two  years 
of  his  death.  In  politics  he  was  first  a 
Whig,  and,  after  the  formation  of  the 
party,  a  stanch  Republican.  Mrs.  Stock- 
ing, in  Churcli  relationship,  was  an  Epis- 
copalian. They  were  parents  of  children 
as  folfows:  C.  D.,  subject;  Byron,  de- 
ceased in  infancy;  Elmns  B.,  who  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
eighth  O.  V.  I.,  was  detailed  to  hospital 
work  at  Wilmington,  S.  C,  and  while 
handling  corpses  in  the  dead  house  became 
poisoned  (he  died  at  home  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years);  Abigail,  who  died  in 
1865  when  sixteen  years  old;  Ralph  G., 
deceased  in  infancy;  and  Darwin,  a  farmer 
of  Brighton  township. 

C.  D.  Stocking,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  received  a  good  practical  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 


^    ^iJ    Jo./^^eJz^^^ 


■^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1095 


township,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural 
])tH'suits.  He  Las  always  lived  on  the  old 
homestead  with  the  exception  of  the  few 
months  during  the  Civil  war  he  worked 
for  his  uncle,  Joseph  Stocking,  in  Cuya- 
hoga county.  His  farm,  the  largest  in  the 
township,  now  comprises  331  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  equipped  with  as  tine  resi- 
dence and  outbuildings  as  can  be  seen  in 
the  county. 

On  January  7,  1874,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Fish,  who  was 
bora,  in  1838,  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Fish,  and  two  children 
— Abigail  M.  and  Jane  R.^have  been 
born  to  them.  Mrs.  Stocking  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Brighton. 
Politically  Mr.  Stocking  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  served  as  township  trustee  ten 
consecutive  years;  socially  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 


I(  L.  REED,  widely  known  in  the 
k.  I  county  as  a  thorough  business  man, 
^^  and  an  active  member  of  the  enter- 
prising firm  of  Teasdale  &  Reed, 
proprietors  of  the  People's  Shoe  Store,  and 
of  the  livery  tirm  of  Moysey&  Reed,  Ely ria, 
is  a  native  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
born  February  7, 1846,  in  Strongsville. 

Joseph  Reed,  father  of  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Cornwall,  England,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Reed,  who  was  born  in  the  parish 
of  St.  Agnes,  in  the  same  county,  and  was 
a  farmer  and  landowner  there.  In  an  early 
day  he  (Thomas)  immigrated  to  the  United 
States,  bringing  with  him  his  family  of 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth.  They  settled  in 
Strongsville  (near  Cleveland),  Cuyahoga 
Co.,  Ohio,  where  the  father  of  this  large 
family  followed  farming  to  the  close  of  his 
life,  which  was  a  long  and  active  one,  he 
being  close  on  ninety  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death.     He  was  a  member  of 


the  Congregational  Church.  His  wife, 
Mary  (Hitchens),  was  nearl}'  eighty  years 
old  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and  all  the 
ancestry,  on  both  sides,  seem  to  have  been 
long-lived.  Joseph  Reed,  their  son,  was 
barely  twenty  years  old  when  he  came  to 
America.  He  was  married  in  Strongsville, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Tamar  Lyman,  and  six 
children  were  born  to  them,  J.  L.  being 
the  eldest.  The  father  of  these  was  born 
in  1818,  and  died  August  14,  1880;  the 
mother,  now  in  her  seventy-fourth  year, 
is  living  in  Columbia.  After  marriage 
Joseph  Reed  settled  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming.  By  trade 
he  was  a  shoemaker,  which  he  followed  in 
England,  and  to  a  limited  extent  in  this 
country. 

J.  L.  Reed,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
biographical  memoir,  in  his  boyhood 
worked  about  the  quarries  in  Berea  and 
Columbia,  and  chopped  wood  by  the  cord, 
in  order  to  earn  money  to  pay  for  his 
schooling.  His  elementary  education  he 
received  at  the  commoti  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place,  which  he  supplemented  with 
three  terms  study  at  Oberlin,  and  three 
terms  at  Baldwin  University,  Berea,  Ohio, 
besides  a  course  at  Oberlin  Commercial 
School.  He  then  took  up  farming,  secur- 
ing a  lease  of  his  wife's  father's  farm  in 
Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
lie  now  owns  110  acres  of  well-cultivated 
land.  He  also,  in  connection  with  his 
farming  interests,  deals  in  wagons,  agri- 
cultural implements,  etc.,  and  runs  a  shop 
in  which  repairing  of  wagons  and  imple- 
ments, in  all  of  its  branches,  is  done.  In 
1889  he  became  associated  with  the 
People's  Shoe  Store,  in  Elyria,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Teasdale,  as  successors  to  Stone 
&  Campbell.  In  May,  1891,  he  became 
a  piirtner  with  Mr.  Moysey  in  the  present 
livery  business,  both  of  which  enterprises 
are  in  a  sound  flourishing  condition. 

In  1869  Mr.  Reed  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Healy,  and  two  cliildren  have 
been  born  to  them,  viz.:  Fred,  at  present 
a  student  at  Garfield    School,  in   Portage 


1096 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county,  Ohio,  and  Elsie,  better  known  as 
"  Kittle"  among  her  many  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. In  his  political  affiliations 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  nine  years,  declin- 
ing to  accept  further  election.  He  is  a 
notary  public,  a  member  of  the  Church  of 
Christ  at  North  Eaton,  and  Is  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school  in  said 
church.  He  is  now  vice-president  of  the 
Lorain  County  Agricultural  Society,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  director  four  years. 


0,REN  MOORE,  a  prominent  repre- 
sentative farmer  of  Sheffield  town- 
'  ship,  was  born  February  13,  1848, 
in  Lorain  county,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  son  of  Norman  Moore,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  who  came  to  Ohio  when 
a  young  man.  He  was  married  in  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  to  Honore  Messenger,  and 
later  settled  at  Avon  Point,  Lorain  county. 
He  was  a  sailor  and  farmer,  and  also  con- 
ducted a  saw  and  yrist  mill.  He  built  two 
vessels;  one  of  these,  the  "Rainbow,"  sev- 
enty-live tons  burden,  at  the  time  created 
considerable  excitement,  people  coming  for 
miles  to  see  it  launched.  He  afterward  built 
the  "Young  Leopard,"  125  tons  burden, 
which  he  sold  at  Oswego.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moore  had  live  children,  all  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity,  namely:  Amaneer,  who  be- 
came a  sailor,  and  died  of  cancer  at  the  age 
of  lifty-eight  (he  was  a  custom-house 
officer  at  Put-in-Bay  for  about  three  years 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life);  Oswell, 
who  enlisted  at  Elyria  in  the  Civil  war 
and  was  killed  at  Gettysburg,  being  shot 
through  the  heart;  Oren,  our  subject; 
Charles,  and  Amanda,  widow  of  John 
Nesbitt,  who  died  on  his  return  home 
from  the  army.  During  the  latter  part  of  his 
his  life  Mr.  Moore  was  an  invalid;  he  died 
when  about  seventy-five  years  old. 


Oren  Moore  was  reared  at  Avon  Point, 
Lorain  county,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  comujon  schools.  When  yet  a 
young  man  he  was  married  to  Miss  Abbie 
Jaycocks,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  they 
have  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  Lo- 
renzo, who  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three;  William,  a  farmer  of  Michigan; 
Marietta,  wife  of  L.  Cahoon;  Hattie,  wife 
of  Harry  Haylor;  Horace,  a  farmer  of 
Michigan ;  Sadie,  wife  of  L.  Robinson,  of 
Lorain;  Millie,  married  to  Harry  Groene, 
and  Lennie,  wife  of  John  Faragher.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Moore  lived  in  a  log 
house  in  Avon  township,  on  the  Center 
road,  later  coming  to  Sheffield  township, 
where  he  now  owns  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres.  His  wife  died  of  cancer  at 
the  age  of  sixty  four.  Our  subject  is  a  life- 
long farmer,  progressive  and  enterprising  in 
every  respect.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican; socially  he  is  a  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr. 
Moore  has  eighteen  grandchildren. 


FETER  MEYER,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent, progressive  and  prosperous 
German  agriculturists  of  Lorain 
county,  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  born 
in  1844,  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
Catherine  (Wack)  Meyer,  also  of  Bavaria, 
and  in  1846  they  set  sail  with  their 
family  from  Havre,  France,  for  the  New 
World. 

After  a  voyage  of  forty-eight  days  they 
landed  at  New  York,  from  which  city 
they  proceeded  westward  to  Ohio,  making 
a  settlement  on  a  farm  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  P'or  eleven  years 
the  parents  resided  in  the  town  of  Elyria, 
and  here  the  father  died  in  1882,  the 
mother  in  February,  1892.  By  trade  An- 
drew Meyer  was  a  carpenter,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  his  native  land,  but  in  this 
country  he  carried  on  agriculture  almost 
exclusively.     He  had    a    family    of  eight 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OIIIG. 


1097 


cliildren,  of  whom  we  give  a  record  of 
t-eveii,  as  follows,  the  eldest  two  being  by 
a  former  wife,  and,  consequently,  half- 
brother  and  half-sister  to  the  others:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Henry  Neipfoot,  of  Elyria 
township;  John,  who  enlisted  during  the 
Civil  war  in  Company  G,  One  Hundred 
and  Seventh  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg;  Peter,  subject  of 
tin's  sketch;  Catherine,  wife  of  Adam 
Berres,  of  Ridge ville  township;  Mathias, 
a  resident  of  New  York  City ;  Gertrude,  de- 
ceased; Adam,  married,  a  resident  of 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  the  employ  of  the  Gas 
&  Electric  Light  Company,  near  San- 
Francisco,  Cal. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch 
was  two  years  old  when  he  came  to  Ridge- 
ville  township,  and  he  here  received  a  fair 
English  education,  in  the  meantime  being 
trained  to  the  arduous  duties  of  the  farm. 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventh  O.  V.  I.,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  his  regiment  be- 
ing first  attached  to  the  army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  later  to  the  Department  of  the 
South.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Gettysburg  and  St.  John's  Island  (S.  C); 
was  in  the  charge  on  Fort  Wagner,  and 
then  with  Sherman  in  the  Carolina  cam- 
paigns; was  present  at  the  destruction  of 
the  Columbia  &  Georgetown  Railroad  at 
Sumter,  S.  C,  in  the  campaign  in  which 
State  he  served  over  ten  months.  At 
Gettysburg  he  was  wounded,  but  not  in- 
capacitated. In  June,  1865,  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Charleston,  S.  C,  mustered  out 
at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  same  year,  and  re- 
turned to  the  pursuits  of  peace  in  Ridge- 
ville  township,  Lorain  county,  farming  be- 
ing his  lifework,  although  he  was  engaged 
two  and  one  half  years  at  carpenter  work. 

Mr.  Meyer  was  married  in  Ridgeville 
township,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Stander,  and  twelve  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  all  vet  living,  named  as  fol- 
lows: Barbara,  Emma,  Peter  Jacob,  Mary 
Magdalene,  Bridget,  Rosa.  Henry,  Mary, 
Clai'a,    Lawrence,     Henry,   and    Gregory. 


Politically  our  subject  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat; socially  he  is  a  member  of  Wesley 
Kibby  Post  No.  708,  G.  A.  R.,  Ridgeville. 
His  wife  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Meyer  is 
owner  of  121  acres  of  land,  all  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  and  well  improved. 


EiLDEN  WORTHINGTON  is  one  of 
the  most  substantial   and  well-to-do 
I  of    the    agriculturists    of    Carlisle 

township,  of  which  he  is  a  native. 
He  was  born  March  9,  1833,  a  son  of 
Jonathan  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Orr)  Worth- 
ington,  natives  of  Luzerne  county,  Penn., 
the  father  born  January  16,  1807,  the 
mother  October  23,  1818.  They  were 
married  in  that  county,  and  shortly  after- 
ward came  with  a  one-horse  wagon  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  thence  moving  to 
Lorain  county,  locating  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship^ Here  the  father  opened  up  a  farm, 
then  bought  land  in  Eaton  township,  near 
La  Porte,  and  some  years  later  moved 
thereon.  He  died  in  LaPorte  September 
5,  188-1,  the  mother  in  Carlisle  township 
October  25, 1869.  In  politics  he  was  first  a 
Whig,  and  afterward,  on  the  organization 
of  the  party,  a  Republican;  he  was  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  for  many  years  town- 
ship trustee.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonathan  B.  Worthington, 
as  follows:  Maria,  widow  of  Alfred  Rug- 
gles,  of  Norwalk;  Elden,  subject  of  sketch; 
Benjamin,  born  in  Carlisle  township,  served 
in  the  Civil  '  war,  three-months'  service, 
and  died  in  Cleveland  in  May,  1880;  Eli- 
jah, married,  and  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  in  Cleveland;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
O.  Humphrey,  of  Eaton  township,  Lorain 
county;  Henry,  married,  and  living  in  La- 
Grange  township,  Lorain  county;  Erwin, 
who  served  in  the  Civil  war,  three-months' 
service,  is  married,  and  lives  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio;     Augusta,     who     married     Charles 


109S 


LORAIN  COUNTY  OHIO. 


Warner,  of  Eaton  townsliip,  and  died  June 
16,  1891;  and  Mary,  deceased  in  July, 
1888.  Tiie  Worthington  family  are  of 
English  lineage.  Grandfather  Worthing- 
ton was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  a  school 
teacher  bv  occupation,  and  in  an  early  day 
moved  to  Pennsylvania.  Grandfather  Orr 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  of  German  an- 
cestry, and  became  a  pioneer  of  Luzerne 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

Elden  Wortiiiugton  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  Carlisle  and 
Eaton  townships,  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  and  worked  at  same  witii  his 
lather  some  ten  years  at  LaPorte.  He  then 
commenced  farming  in  Eaton,  and  in 
course  of  time  owned  a  farm  in  that  town- 
ship, and  one  in  Carlisle.  In  his  political 
predilections  he  is  a  Republican,  and  for 
several  terms  was  trustee  of  Eaton  town- 
ship, as  well  as  member  of  the  school 
board.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  of  Elyria.  In  addition 
to  his  regular  agricultural  interests  Mr. 
Worthington  deals  considerably  in  real 
estate — both  buying  and   selling. 

On  September  16,  1857,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Carlisle  township 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Cornell,  a  native  of 
Eaton  township,  daughter  of  James  and 
Betsy  (Dolbee)  Cornell,  of  New  York, 
wiio  came  to  Lorain  county  in  1834,  lo- 
catingin  Eaton  township, but  subsequently, 
in  1838,  removing  to  Carlisle  township, 
where  the  father  passed  from  earth  in 
April,  1860;  the  mother  died  in  June, 
1888.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
six  of  whom  are  yet  living,  viz.:  Louisa, 
wife  Rev.  N.  S.  Worden,  of  Ridcreville, 
Henry  Co.,  Ohio;  Heiro,  married,  and 
living  in  California;  Nelson,  married,  and 
residing  in  Chickasaw  county,  Iowa;  Fan- 
nie, wife  of  Rev  B.  D.  Jones,  of  Coshoc- 
ton county,  Ohio;  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of 
Elden  Worthington;  and  Fidelia,  widow 
of  Walter  Fauver,  of  Ridgeville,  Henry 
Co.,  Ohio.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elden  Worth- 
ington iiave  been  liorn  five  children,  of 
whom    the    following    is    a    brief    record: 


Edith  is  the  wife  of  An.son  E.  Pitmey,  of 
Ithaca,  Mich.,  and  they  have  four  children: 
Clyde,  Lila,  Charles  E.  and  Ruth  Eliza- 
beth; Clara  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Dew- 
hurst,  of  Carlisle  township,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Wilfred.  Mabel  and  James 
E. ;  Frank  A.  resides  in  Michigan;  Nelson 
Orr  is  married,  and  makes  his  home  at 
Avon  Lake,  Lorain  county  (he  has  one 
child,  Carlotta);  Lila  died  in  1888  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years. 


P 

/ 


ENRY  DE  LLOYD,  who  for  the 
past  twenty-live  years  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  Lorain 
county,  and  known  far  and  near  as 
a  successful  fast-horse  trainer  and 
speeder,  is  a  native  of  England,  born  May 
26,  1846,  in  Shropshire.  He  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Capper)  De  Lloyd,  of 
the  same  county,  both  of  whom  died  there. 
The  subject  of  this  menaoir  received  his 
education  at  the  parish  schools  of  his 
native  countv,  and  from  early  boyhood  has 
been  with  and  among  horses;  indeed,  it 
may  truly  be  said  of  him  that  what  he 
does  not  know  about  that  noble  animal  is 
not  worth  knowing.  In  England,  where 
fast  horses  are  run  less  "mechanically," 
probably,  than  in  this  country,  he  followed 
the  business  of  trainer,  and  also  rode  in 
steeplechases  and  other  races,  when  a  boy, 
sitting  the  saddle  with  the  ease  and  confi- 
dence of  a  veteran.  In  1867  he  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States  and  to  Ohio, 
making  a  settlement  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming  in  connection 
with  his  other  business  interests.  He 
owns  a  good  half-mile  track,  laid  out  about 
eight  years  ago.  and  at  the  present  time 
has  some  nine  or  ten  horses,  besides  colts, 
training  on  it.  He  has  some  animals  with 
good  records,  including  a  colt,  "  Dolwood," 
a    "  Standard,"    one    of    the    best-bred    in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1099 


Northern  Ohio.  Mr.  De  Lloyd  has  made 
several  races  in  both  Ohio  and  Michigan. 
His  farm  in  Kidgeville  township  is  all 
well  improved  and  highly  cultivated,  and 
is  devoted  to  cereals  and  root  crops. 

Mr.  De  Lloyd  was  united  in  marriage 
wiih  Miss  Emma  J.  Hudson,  born  in 
RidgevilJe  township,  Lorain  county,  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Mary  (Colly) 
Hudson,  natives  of  England,  the  father  of 
Camhi'idgeshire,  the  mother  of  Yorkshire, 
and  both  early  immigrants  to  Ohio,  their 
first  home  in  the  New  World  being  in 
Cleveland,  their  last  one  in  Ridgeville 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  they  died. 
Four  childien  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  De  Lloyd,  namely:  Leonard  (married 
to  Miss  Esther  Fortune,  and  now  residing 
in  Ridgeville  township),  Hudson,  Martin 
and  Lee.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
prominent  Republican,  active  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  party,  and  served  as  president 
of  the  school  board  nine  consecutive  years. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  Elyria  Lodge, 
No.  103,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Encamp- 
ment; also  of  the  Knights  of  the  Macca- 
bees at  Ridgeville,  being  a  charter  member 
of  both  Societies. 


NDREW  OSBORN,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  prominent  of  the 
agricultural  citizens  of  Columbia 
township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Summit  county  in  1823,  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Phila  (13all)  Osborn,  of 
Connecticut. 

About  the  year  1811  Joseph  Osborn, 
father  of  subject,  came  from  the  "Nut- 
meg State"  to  Ohio,  making  the  journey 
in  four  weeks  on  foot,  and  after  locating 
in  Brimtield  township.  Portage  county,  re- 
turned for  his  wife,  whom  he  had  left  be- 
hind in  Coiniecticut.  From  Portage  they 
moved  to  Summit  county,  Pame  State, 
whence  they  came,  in  1836,  to  Columbia 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  heweil  out  a 


new  home  in  the  wild  woods.  He  was  a 
useful  man  in  his  day,  serving  as  trustee 
and  assessor  of  Columbia  township,  of 
whicli  he  was  a  resident  half  a  century. 
He  was  born  at  Waterbury,  Conn.,  May 
13,  1794,  and  died  August  27,  1887,  a't 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years, 
three  months;  he  had  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  the  recipient  of  a  pension. 
Before  coming  to  Columbia  township  he 
built  the  locks  at  Akron,  Ohio,  and  helped 
to  raise  the  first  building.  Mr.  Osborn 
was  twice  married,  first  time  to  Phila  Ball, 
who  bore  him  three  children:  Andrew^ 
subject  of  sketch;  Phebe  Ann,  deceased  at 
the  age  of  thirteen;  and  Hannah,  wife  of 
Ormal  Smith,  of  Olmsted  township,  Cuya- 
hoga county.  The  mother  of  these  died 
in  1831,  and  in  1832  Mr.  Osborn  married, 
in  Summit  county,  Roba  Harrington,  who 
died  April  17,  1875.  Grandfather  An- 
drew Osborn  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  of  English  ancestry. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  thirteen 
years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Lorain  county,  and  as  a  consequence  he 
received  part  of  his  education  in  Summit 
county,  Ohio,  and  part  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  Since  coming  to  Co- 
lumbia he  has  lived  with  his  father  upon 
the  old  homestead,  iiis  present  ])lace,  com- 
prising 180  acres  of  well-cultivated  land, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  general  agriculture. 
In  September,  1843,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  Ives,  daugh- 
ter of  Albert  and  Betsy  (Russell)  Ives, 
natives,  the  father  of  Connecticut,  the 
mother  of  New  York,  who  became  early 
settlers  of  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  they  passed  the  rest  of  their 
days.  Nine  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osborn:  George,  married  to 
Mrs.  Mary  (Hill)  Harrington;  Joseph, 
married  to  Jessie  Jasper,  and  has  one 
child,  Bertha;  Charley,  who  married  Liz- 
zie Yunnan,  and  has  two  children,  Lilly 
and  Leon;  Phila,  married  to  Warren  Good- 
man, and  has  two  children,  Guy  and  For- 
est;   Mary,  wife   of   George    Howard,    of 


1100 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Columbia  township,  has  three  children, 
Emma,  Vivian  and  Clare;  Frank,  born 
November  6,  1851,  died  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  and  three  that  died  in  infancy. 
In  his  political  predilections  Mr.  Osborn 
was  originally  a  Whig,  and,  since  the 
formation  of  the  party,  has  been  a  straigiit 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife  have  now 
for  half  a  century  traveled  together  the 
highway  of  life;  and  it  is  the  earnest  wish 
of  their  many  friends  that  they  may  be 
spared  to  see  many  more  anniversaries  of 
the  commencement  of  their  married  life. 


J.  SNYDER.  This  gentleman, 
who  for  many  years  was  a  success- 
ful tradesman,  is  now  justly  classed 
among  the  progressive  farmer  citi- 
zens of  Lorain  county. 
He  was  born  November  12,  1828,  in 
Upper  Augusta  township,  Northumber- 
land Co.,  Penn.,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
Snyder,  a  farmer,  who  was  born  in  Lancas- 
ter, Penn.,  July  1,  1791,  and  died  January 
8,  1872.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  twice  married,  the  name 
of  his  first  wife  being  unknown.  For  his 
second  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Millet,  a 
widow,  nee  Noaker,  who  was  born  July  5, 
1792,  and  she  became  the  tnother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  parents  both 
died  in  Schuylkill  county,  Penn.  Grand- 
father Snyder,  whose  name  was  also  Joseph, 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  came  to  Lan- 
caster, Penn.,  immediately  after  marriage. 
A.  J.  Snyder  received  a  good  prac- 
tical common-school  education  in  reading 
and  writing,  mathematics  being  entirely 
omitted.  When  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  was  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  for 
three  and  one-half  years  to  Edward  Finney, 
a  shoemaker  in  Danville,  Columbia  (now 
in  Montour)  Co.,  Penn.,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained from  June  23,  1845,  to  March  1, 
1848,  at    which    time,  having   effected    a 


compromise  with  Finney,  he  purchased  his 
freedom.  With  what  little  money  he  had 
saved  from  his  earnings  he  proceeded  to 
Northumberland,  then  to  Port  Carbon, 
thence  to  Pottsville,  in  all  of  which  places 
he  followed  his  trade,  successfully.  While 
in  Port  Carbon  he  was  married,  August 
21,  1849,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Pluuket, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  Plunket. 
Their  wedding  tour  was  made  with  a  horse 
and  buggy,  and  by  the  time  they  reached 
home  they  found  themselves  absolutely 
^jenniless,  so  poor  was  he  when  he  plunged 
into  the  sea  of  matrimony.  In  the  spring 
of  1850  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  came  to 
Ohio,  being  accompanied  by  her  parents, 
making  among  themselves  quite  a  party  of 
immigrants.  They  had  some  time  pre- 
viously started  for  Ohio,  but  were  detained 
at  Hoilidaysburg,  Penn.,  where  Mr.  Sny- 
der worked  at  his  trade.  On  their  jour- 
ney westward  the  party  passed  through 
Canton,  New  Lisbon,  Massillon,  Wooster 
and  Ashland,  finally  halting  at  Plymouth, 
where  our  subject  found  himself  forty 
dollars  in  debt.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Norwalk  and  New  Haven,  and  again  at 
Plymouth,  in  the  latter  place  for  eleven 
years,  saving  a  little  money  there,  and 
providing  a  home  for  the  family.  Here 
he  lost  his  first  wife,  she  dying  January  1, 
1859,  and  here  she  was  buried;  she  left 
three  children,  viz.:  Lucinda  A.,  now  Mrs. 
Samuel  Markle,  of  Ashland,  Ohio;  Willis, 
a  farm  laborer  of  Miami  county,  Ohio;  and 
Antoinetta,  now  Mrs.  Morris  Risser,  of 
Ashland,  Ohio.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Snyder  married,  October  15,  1859,  Mrs. 
Melinda  Shurter,  a  widow,  and  two  chil- 
dren, both  deceased  in  infancy,  were  born 
to  this  union.  Mrs.  Melinda  Synder  died 
December  18,  1861,  and  our  sul)ject  on 
March  31, 1863,  married  Miss  Mary  Qninn, 
who  bore  him  two  children  (twins):  One 
deceased  in  infancy,  and  William,  now  in 
Bloominggrove  township,  Richland  Co., 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Mary  Snyder  died  January  4, 
1864,  and  January  1,  1865,  the  thrice- 
bereaved    husband    wedded    Miss    Lydia 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1101 


Simonson,  by  whom  there  were  two  chil- 
dren: .Foseph  G.,  a  fanner  of  Richland 
county,  Ohio,  and  Bertha  M.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years.  This  wife  passed 
away  December  21.  1872,  and  for  his  fifth 
and  present  spouse  Mr.  Snyder  married, 
September  4,  1873,  Miss  Victoria  Mc- 
Miilen,  of  Oliversburg,  Richland  Co., 
Ohio.  To  this  last  marriage  five  children 
were  born,  to  wit:  Etta  A.,  deceased  at  the 
age  of  nine  years;  and  Carlos  L.,  Leroy  V., 
Autha  P.  and  Ralph  V.,  all  at  home. 

In  Plymouth  our  subject  made  his  home 
until  1861;  then  lived  on  a  farm  a  short 
time,  after  which  he  moved  to  Shelby, 
Ohio,  where  for  a  brief  period  he  worked 
at  his  trade;  thence  went  to  a  farm  in 
Bloominggrove  township,  Richland  county, 
and  then  again  resided  in  Shelby  a  short 
time.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  came  to 
Lorain  county,  settling  in  Rochester  town- 
ship, where  he  had  purchased  of  Erastus 
Knapp  150  acres  of  ]irime  land  (his  present 
home),  on  which  he  has  made  many  im- 
provements. Mr.  Snyder  is  not  only  a 
good  farmer,  but  a  systematic  business 
man,  keeping  a  regular  set  of  books,  show- 
ing expenditure  and  revenue  in  all  his  deal- 
inijs  ever  since  he  commenced  on  his  pres- 
ent farm.  Politically  he  is  a  zealous  Re- 
publican, taking  a  lively  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  party,  and  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  various  county  conventions.  In 
Church  relationship  he  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  his  wife  being  a  Baptist. 


dl  B.  PARKER,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  North  Amherst,  well-known 
'  in  insurance  circles,  is  a  native  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  born  October  28, 
1830,  in  Lexington,  Greene  county.  He  is 
a  son  of  Abrani  and  Elizabeth  (Buel) 
Parker,  of  the  same  county,  the  former  of 
whom,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  died  in  April,  1852,  the 


latter  dying  in  Williamstown,  Oswego 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  October,  1864,  and  was 
buried  in  Jewett,  Greene  county,  N.  Y. 

J.  B.  Parker  received  his  education  at 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1856 
he  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Penn.,  where 
he  had  charge  of  a  store,  and  was  book- 
keeper for  Morse,  Martin  &  Co.  (later 
Morse,  Cook  &  Co.)  until  1862,  when  he 
proceeded  to  Williamstown,  Oswego  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising, continuing  in  business  there 
until  1869,  the  year  he  came  to  New  Lon- 
don, Ohio.  In  that  town  he  remained  till 
1874,  and  then  moved  to  North  Amherst, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  intimately 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of  the 
place. 

In  1851  Mr.  Parker  was  married,  in 
Greene  county,  N.  Y".,  to  Miss  Louisa  Ben- 
jamin, who  died  without  issue,  and  in  1855 
he  became  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
S.  C.  Pain,  nee  Wolcott,  by  which  union 
there  were  four  children  (two  of  whom  are 
yet  living),  viz.:  (1)  Metta  A.,  widow  of 
J.  B.  Norton,  of  Amherst;  (2)  Lillie  and 
(3)  Willie,  twins  (the  former  of  whom  died 
in  Williamstown,  Oswego  county,  N.  Y., 
the  latter  in  Ledge  Dale,  Wayne  Co., 
Penn.),  and  (4)  Caj-rie  E.,  wife  of  E.  E. 
Kimmel,  residing  at  Cedar  "Valley,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Parker  is  a  Democrat  of  the  first  water, 
and  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
1891;  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
notary  public,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  town  council.  In  his  fire,  life  and 
accident  insurance  business,  in  which  he 
has  been  engaged  the  j)ast  six  years,  he 
represents,  among  other  offices,  the  Glens 
Falls,  Manchester,  North  Western  and 
National  and  Wayne   County    Fire   Com- 

Kanies,  besides  the  New  York  Life  and 
fational  Life  of  Vermont.  In  addition  to 
all  this  he  is  secretary  of  the  North  Am- 
herst Shear  Co.,  incorporated  December 
18,  1890,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected since  its  organization.  He  and  his 
wife  are  membeis  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in 


1102 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  Sunday-scbool  work  of  which,  and  in  the 
choir,  he  has  taken  much  personal  interest. 
Mrs.  Parker  was  born  Septeiriber  4, 
1830,  in  Lexington,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a 
dangliter  of  Reuben  I.  and  Artemesia 
(Buel)  Wolcott,  natives  of  New  York,  who 
in  1831  came  west  to  Huron  county,  Oliio, 
niakina:  their  residence  for  a  time  in  Fitch- 
ville,  tlicnce  moving  to  Ruggles  township 
(now  in  Ashland  county).  The  mother 
departed  this  life  in  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
in  1842,  the  father  in  Ruggles  township 
(then  in  Huron  county)  in  1863  or  '64. 
He  was  a  farmer  of  prominence,  and  in  his 
day  an  active  politician,  first  as  a  Whig, 
afterward  as  a  Republican.  Mrs.  Parker 
was  educated  in  Oberlin,and  has  been  twice 
married,  as  already  recorded.  Mr.  Parker's 
grandfather,  William  Parker,  a  native  of 
<J(jnnecticut,  was  a  drummer  boy  in  the 
Revolutionary  war;  in  after  life  he  settled 
in  Lexington,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.  Her 
grandfather,  Munson  Buel,  also  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  moved  in  an  early  day  to 
Lexington,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two;  he  was  a 
cloth  dresser  by  trade,  and  also  owned  a 
flour  and  grist  mill. 


JIACOB  SCHAIBLE,  in  his  day  a  well- 
known    Lorain    county    pioneer,  was 
_)    born  March  27,  1807,  in  Boulanden, 
Wnrtemberg,     Germany,    and    died 
February  7,  1874. 

When  but  five  or  six  years  old  he  lost 
both  of  his  parents  by  death,  leaving  him  and 
his  only  brother,  Michael,  orphans.  After 
the  death  of  the  parents,  his  grandmother, 
on  the  mother's  side,  undertook  the  care 
of  the  two  little  boys,  and  gave  them  both 
a  common-school  education. 

Jacob  took  up  the  pursuit  of  farming 
(and  it  was  in  this  career  that  he  grew  up 
to  manhood),  in  which  he  was  eminently 
successful.  In  January,  1834,  he  was 
united  in  marriao-e  with  Miss  Catharine  B. 
Ramsaver,  granddaughter  of  the  then  emi- 
nent    physician   and    surgeon,  C.    H.    von 


Ottein,  who  had  engaged  the  best  teachers 
money  could  procure  and  gave  her  a  good 
education.  Mr.  Schaible,  with  his  young 
wife,  settled  on  his  estates,  on  which  he  had 
made  many  improvements  after  his  major- 
ity, and  as  they  both  liked  country  life 
their  home  life  was  attractive  and  pleasant. 
Nothing,  in  fact,  marred  their  every-day 
life  until  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1846,  when 
Mr.  Schaible  was  suddenly  stricken  down 
with  an  illness  so  severe  that  his  life  hung 
in  the  balance  for  many  a  day;  finally, 
however,  his  strong  constitution  prevailed 
over  the  disease,  although  he  did  not  fully 
recover  his  former  health.  Then  his  at- 
tending physician  and  several  other  phy- 
sicians held  a  consultation,  and  their 
unanimous  decision  was  that  Mr.  Schaible 
should  take  a  sea  voyage  for  the  restoration 
of  his  health. 

Accordingly  in  May,  1848,  with  his  wife 
and  five  children,  Mr.  Schaible  wended  his 
way  toward  the  seaport  of  Havre,  took  pas- 
sage there  on  a  sailing  ship,  and  after  a  tem- 
pestuous voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed  at 
New  York.  Their  stay  there  was  of  short 
duration,  for  they  soon  turned  in  the  di- 
rection of  Ohio,  taking  steamer  on  the 
Hudson  river  as  far  a-<  Albany;  from 
there  in  a  canal  boat  to  Buffalo,  thence  to 
Cleveland,  whence  they  came  directly  to 
Elyria,  arriving  there  August  1,  1848. 
The  three  months'  travel  restored  Mr. 
Schaible  to  his  former  health.  Elyria  was 
then  but  a  mere  village,  straggling  out 
over  several  streets  of  mud  and  under- 
brush, and  the  only  approaches  at  that  time 
were  by  the  way  of  lake  and  t^tage  coach. 

Mr.  Schaible  soon  after  his  arrival  pur- 
chased land  one  mile  west  of  Elyria,  built 
a  small  house  and  settled  on  his  farm, 
which  was  nearly  all  covered  with  under- 
brush and  forest.  He  immediately  began 
to  clear  and  improve  his  property  until  he 
had  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county, 
also  buying  more  land  from  time  to  time 
until  he  had  some  three  or  four  hundred 
acres  of  well-improved  land  at  the  time  of 
his    death.      He    was  honest  and    iiuius- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1103 


trious,  kind  and  obliging,  and  his  name  be- 
came tlie  synonym  for  integrity  and  up- 
rightness. Being  temperate  in  his  liabits, 
he  was  a  rare  specimen  of  the  hardy  pio- 
neer. He  was  a  t'aitiifui  member  of  tlie 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  from  early 
youth,  and  for  many  years  was  its  stanchest 
supporter.  In  the  family  he  was  a  loving 
husband,  a  kind  and  indulgent  father.  His 
faithful  wife,  who  had  so  long  shared  his 
joys  and  sorrows,  preceded  him  but  eight 
weeks  in  death.  His  remains  were  placed 
beside  those  of  his  wife  in  Murry  Ridge 
Cemetery,  in  the  bosom  of  mother  earth,  in 
full  iiope  of  a  glorious  I'esurrection. 

Mr.  Schaible  left  four  sons  and  five 
daughters  to  mourn  his  loss,  viz.:  Agnes 
B.  Theiss,  of  Cleveland;  Margaretha  M. 
Limb,  of  Woaster;  J.  Frederich  Schaible, 
who  died  February  12,  1875;  C.  Hen- 
rietta Krieger,  of  Wooster,  Oliio;  Jacob 
E  Schaible,  of  Elyria;  Carrie  Schaible, 
Charles  H.  Schaible,  John  G.  Schaible  and 
Sophia  C.  Schaible,  all  of  Eljria. 


T  ACOB  E.  SCHAIBLE  was  born  in 
w  I  Germany,  and  was  but  two  years  old 
S^j  when  he  came  with  his  father  to  this 
country.  He  now  lives  on  his  farm 
of  140  acres  on  "West  Ridge,  and  is  one  of 
tlie  most  thorougii  farmers  in  Lorain 
county.  Mr.  Schaible  has  over  sixteen 
thousand  tile  under  ground,  and  has  one 
of  the  best- improved  farms.  He  and  his 
two  children  are  members  of  St.  Paul's 
Church. 

In  1886  he  took  a  trip  across  the  ocean, 
and  visited  the  principal  cities  in  England, 
France  and  Germany,  spending  some  time 
in  his  native  country. 


El  LI  AS    BAUMHART,   one    of    the 
leading,  most  prosperous  and  enter- 
1   prising  agriculturists  of  Black  River 

township,  is  a  native  of  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  born  in  1845. 

57 


His  father,  Capt.  Adam  Baumhart,  was 
born  in  Hessia,  Germany,  whence  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  came  to  America 
and  to  Erie  county,  Ohio,  with  his  father, 
Elias  Baumhart.  In  1846  Adam  moved  to 
Black  River  township,  Lorain  county.  He 
was  married  in  Erie  county  to  Christina 
Herwig,  daugher  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
(Blech)  Herwig,  all  of  Hessia,  Germany, 
who  came  to  tho  United  States  when 
Christina  was  eight  years  old.  They  were 
nine  weeks  crossing  the  ocean.  Jacob 
Herwig  was  a  miller  in  the  Fatherland, 
but  in  tills  country  he  followed  fai'ining. 
He  died  in  1873,  his  wife  in  1853.  Capt. 
Adam  and  Christina  Baumhart  are  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  viz.:  Emeline, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Ciaus,  of  Brownhelm 
township;  Elias,  subject  of  sketch;  Jacob, 
deceased  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Henry, 
who  died  when  a^ed  fifteen  years;  Cather- 
ine, wife  of  Charles  Holin,  of  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  county;  Armina,  at  home 
M'itb  her  parents;  Martha,  wife  of  Henry 
Furber,  of  Erie  county,  Ohio;  Adam,  Jr., 
studying  medicine  at  the  University  of 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan;  Edward,  who  died 
when  five  years  old;  Jacob,  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Brownhelm  township,  and  James, 
also  a  farmer  in  that  township.  The  par- 
ents are  yet  residing  in  Brownhelm  town- 
ship, highly  respected  and  honored. 

Elias  Baumhart  received  his  education 
at  the  district  schools  of  Black  River  town- 
ship, whither  he  was  brought  when  an  in- 
fant. He  was  reared  toagricnltural  pursuits, 
and  after  attaining  his  majority  bought 
fifty-six  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared. 
This  he  subsequently  rented,  and  bought 
his  present  fine  farm  of  240  acres,  well 
watered  by  a  good  creek  and  equipped  with 
all  necessary  buildings.  In  December, 
1869,  Mr.  Baumhart  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain 
county,  with  Miss  Amelia  Lutz,  who  died 
March  16,  1873,  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren: Charles  and  Thomas,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  when  eight  months  old.  On 
April  12,   1874,  our   subject   married,  in 


1104 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Black  River  township,  Lorain  county,  for 
his  second  wife,  Miss  Margaret  Jacobs,  a 
native  of  that  township,  and  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Dora  (Smith)  Jacobs.  To  this 
union  have  been  born  six  children,  viz.: 
Delia,  Benwill,  Nelson,  Armina,  Robert, 
and  Edward,  who  died  when  seven  months 
old.  The  parents  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church;  in  politics  Mr.  Eanm- 
hart  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  his 
township  as  trustee. 


\ILLIAM  A.  BATES.  William 
Bates,  the  paternal  grandsire  of 
our  subject,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Connecticut,  but  passed  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  in  Lewis  county, 
N.  Y.,  near  the  town  of  Lowville.  His 
vocation  in  life  was  that  of  a  farmer.  He 
married  Mrs.  Sarah  Woods,  and  the  results 
of  this  union  were  ten  children;  by  a  pre- 
vious marriage  live  were  born. 

In  about  1836,  then  in  his  seventy-fifth 
year,  he  removed  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Ohio,  whither  several  of  his  sons  had  pre- 
ceded him  a  year.  The  journey  was  made 
overland,  the  means  of  locomotion  bein? 
four  strong  horses,  and  the  conveyance  a 
large  covered  wagon,  into  which  were 
crowded  the  family  and  many  personal 
effects.  The  remaining  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  with  his  children,  all  of  whom 
were  located  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio.  He 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
bravely  fought  for  liberty  as  a  trooper, 
and  was  commended  by  his  officer  for 
gallantry  and  bravery  in  the  battle  against 
the  British  at  Sacket's  Harbor.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  1848,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  His  good  wife  sur- 
vived him  some  thirteen  years,  and  was  a 
like  number  of  years  his  junior.  She  also 
lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-four,  and  was 
remarkably  well  preserved  and  hale,  in 
fact,  a  few  months  previous  to  her  demise 
shp  thought   but  little  of  a  walk  of  a  half 


mile.  They  were  formerly  Presbyterians, 
but  after  removing  to  Ohio  they  joined 
the  Methodists,  and  they  were  exemplary 
Christian  people.  The  following  children 
accompanied  and  located  in  Lorain  county, 
with  their  father:  Francis,  Ottis,  Bennett, 
Hannah,  Moses,  Lyman,  Thaxter,  Norton 
and  Charles,  all  now  deceased,  Bennett  be- 
ing the  last  to  pass  away,  dying  in  De- 
cember, 1892.  The  father  of  these  was  a 
Highland  Scotchman,  and  was  a  man  of 
giant-like  dimensions,  being  six  and  one- 
half  feet  in  stature,  and  weighing  over 
three  hundred  pounds.  His  sons  averaged 
six  feet  in  height,  and  were  of  massive 
proportions. 

Francis  Bates,  the  father  of  subject, 
.  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1800, 
and  was  there  reared.  He  was  possessed 
of  skill  in  the  use  of  tools  of  any  sort,  but 
his  attention  chiefly  turned  toward  farm- 
ing, and  the  trade  of  shoemakina.  In 
1835,  at  the  age  of  about  thirty-five  years, 
he  gathered  together  his  savings  and 
started  for  the  then  wilds  of  Ohio,  almost 
immediately  on  his  arrival  locating  upon 
a  tract  of  lifty  acres  in  the  western  portion 
of  Lorain  county.  To  pay  for  the  land  he 
was  employed  at  working  for  others,  his 
leisure  being  used  in  the  clearing  of  his 
own  land.  At  that  period  the  wages  re- 
ceived "at  clearing"  were  fifty  cents  to 
seventy-five  cents  per  day.  At  the  time 
of  his  advent  into  this  then  "wilderness" 
there  were  several  log  houses  in  Camden 
township.  In  1820  he  married  Miss  Maria 
Obits,  a  lady  of  German  parentage,  though 
of  American  birth,  and  a  native  of  the 
same  county  as  her  husband.  To  this 
union  were  born  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, namely:  Nelson,  Sallie  Ann,  Justin, 
Elbirge  and  William  A.  Of  these  the 
last  mentioned  and  Justin,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  the  Hawkeye  State,  are  the  only 
ones  living.  Francis  Bates  was,  politically, 
an  Old-line  Whig,  an  earnest  Abolition- 
ist, and  religiously  a  devout  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  as  was  also  his  faithful 
wife.     Both  were  well  and   kindly  known 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1105 


throughout  a  large  community,  and  their 
deeds  of  charity  are  traditional  in  many  of 
the  pioneer  homes  of  the  county.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1858,  Francis  Bates  departed  this 
life,  his  wife  following  him  to  eternal  rest 
in  1869. 

William  A.  Bates,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  there  reared  to  the  age 
of  fourteen,  when  he  came  west  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio.  Here  he  attended  school 
in  the  old  log  school  building  with  its  slab 
benches  and  other  primitive  furnishings. 
Soon,  however,  he  was  compelled  to  shoul- 
der his  portion  of  the  labor  of  clearing  his 
father's  land,  and  working  for  others  to 
assist  in  the  payment  of  the  indebtedness, 
into  which  his  father  had  gone  in  the  pur- 
chase of  same.  For  such  work  he  received 
twelve  dollars  per  acre  cleared,  and,  for  only 
chopping  or  felling  the  timber,  six  dollars 
per  acre.  Mr.  Bates'  health  was  never  ro- 
bust, and  he  received  many  setbacks  in  his 
progress  even  in  his  youth,  because  of  this 
misfortune.  When  about  twenty-seven  he 
had  about  two  hundred  dollars,  all  saved 
from  his  earnings,  and  he  then  linked  his 
fortunes  with  those  of  Miss  Sarah  Sigs- 
worth,  the  date  of  their  marriage  being 
June  29,  184:8.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  Sigs  worth  (now  deceased),  who 
was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  of 
Camden  township's  citizens.  He  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  by  many  of  the 
older  residents  of  Camden  he  is  remem- 
bered as  an  industrious,  loyal,  thoroughly 
esteemed  citizen.  To  our  subject  and  wife 
were  born  children  as  follows:  S.  Olive, 
William  Duane,  Ella  M.,  Mary  A.,  Fran- 
cis W.,  Elma  R.,  Willnettie  and  L.  Clem- 
ant;  the  first  three  were  born  in  Ohio  and 
died  in  infancy,  the  others  were  born  in 
Iowa.  Of  these  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Floyd  Twining,  of  Henrietta  township; 
Francis  W.  and  Elma  R.  reside  at  home 
with  their  parents;  Willnettie  (Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Bell)  is  a  resident  of  North  Royal- 
ton,  Ohio;  L.  Clemant  is  a  successful  clerk 
in    Lorain,   Lorain    county.     In    October, 


1854,  thinking  a  change  of  climate  would 
benefit  his  health,  he  removed  to  the  then 
new  State  of  Iowa;  accompanied  by  his 
wife  he  made  the  trip  in  a  covered  wagon. 
After  remaining  in  Iowa  thirteen  years,  he 
returned  to  Ohio  in  May,  18G7. 

Mr.  Bates  has  been  a  successful  aori- 
culturist,  and  is  highly  respected  through- 
out his  wide  acquaintance.  He  has  given 
his  children  the  advantage  of  a  good  edn- 
cation,  and  that  they  appreciate  the  efforts 
of  their  parents  in  their  behalf  is  shown 
in  their  devotion  to  them,  in  these  their 
declining  years.  Mr.  Bates  is  a  Republi- 
can, politically,  and  takes  an  active  and  in- 
telligent interest  in  local  and  national 
affairs,  and  has  held  several  local  offices. 
His  farm  displays  the  hand  of  enterprise 
and  thrift,  the  many  improvements  bespeak- 
ing well  his  praise.  Mrs.  Bates  and  other 
members  of  the  family  are  earnest  and  de- 
vout members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


W 


|^|ESLEY  HASTINGS,  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  earli- 
est pioneer  families  of  Pen  field 
township,  is  a  native  of  Wilna, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  December  21, 
1822. 

He  is  a  son  of  Curtice  and  Pattie 
(Groves)  Hastings,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Vermont,  and  when  a  young 
man  removed  to  New  York  State,  where 
he  married  and  had  children  as  follows: 
Ashley,  who  was  accidentally  killed  by  the 
e.xplosion  of  a  signal  gun  in  LaGrange 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Wesley,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  and  Submit,  Mrs.  Ly- 
man Crane,  of  Chatham  Center,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio.  Curtice  Hastings  followed  the 
carpenter's  trade,  for  which  he  had  a  na- 
tural inclination,  and  in  1825  came  west 
to  Ohio,  in  company  with  Henry  Towns- 
end,  walking  the  entire  distance  from 
New  York  State.  He  visited  in  Harris- 
ville  and  Lodi,  and,  after  looking  over  the 


1106 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


land  in  Lorain  and  Medina  counties,  re- 
turned home.  In  June,  1826,  he  set  out 
for  Ohio  witli  his  family,  heing  a  long  time 
on  the  road,  as  they  drove  tlie  entire  dis- 
tance, and  their  team  was  the  first  one  to 
enter  the  township.  They  made  their  home 
at  the  house  of  a  family  named  Holcomb 
until  their  cabin  of  logs  and  bark  was 
erected  on  tlie  tract  which  Mr.  Hastings 
had  bargained  for,  which  at  tliat  tinie  was 
a  dense  wilderness,  abounding  with  wild 
animals;  and  many  were  the  exciting  ad- 
ventures and  narrow  escapes  which  the 
pioneers  had  in  these  forests.  Their  cabin 
was  a  rude  one,  and  for  the  first  year  had 
no  floor,  and  neither  door  nor  window.  At 
first  they  had  to  go  a  long  distance  east  to 
have  their  milling  done,  hauling  the  grist 
on  a  sled  drawn  by  oxen,  the  journey  oc- 
cupying five  days  and  nights,  and  marked 
trees  being  their  only  guide,  as  there  were 
no  roads. 

After  locating  in  LaGrange  township 
the  family  was  increwsed  by  the  following 
members:  E.  H.  and  E.  G.  (twins),  who 
were  the  first  white  male  children  born  in 
the  township;  Sanniel,  a  farmer  of  La- 
Grange  township;  a  daughter  that  died  in 
infancy;  Edson,  now  a  farmer  of  LaGrange 
township;  and  a  son,  who  was  adopted  in 
infancy,  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  by  the 
Dreher  family  of  Gi'afton  township,  who 
moved  to  Utah  and  joined  the  Mormons, 
which  was  the  last  heard  of  tiieni  and  the 
child.  Mrs.  Hastings  was  interred  in  East 
cemetery,  LaGrange  township,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Hastings  married  Asenath 
Amie,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Frank,  wlio 
served  in  the  Civil  war  (he  died  in  La- 
Grange townsliip).  After  coming  west 
Mr.  Hastings  engaged  in  agriculture,  and 
also  continued  to  follow  the  carpenter  trade, 
erecting  many  of  the  first  gristmills  in  his 
section.  He  also  conducted  tlie  sawmill  at 
Eawsonville  for  some  time,  and  he  was  the 
builder  of  the  Jonathan  Rawson  mill  that 
stood  at  Grafton  Stg,tion.  He  began  to 
prosper,  accumulated  property,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  in  very  comfortable 


circumstances.  His  second  wife  preceded 
him  to  the  grave.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

Wesley  Hastings  was  but  a  child  of  four 
years  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  at  whicli  time, 
and  for  several  years  following,  there  were 
no  schQols  of  any  kind  in  his  district.  The 
first  one  opened  was  of  the  subscription 
variety,  but  he  was  unable  to  attend  even 
this  regularly,  as  his  services  were  needed 
at  home.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural 
life  on  the  pioneer  farm,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  under  his  father.  On 
April  2,  1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elinira  Loorais,  a  native  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Justin 
and  Sally  (Sillick)  Loomis,  who  came  to 
LaGrange  township  in  an  early  day,  locat- 
ing on  Vermont  street.  To  this  union 
were  born  children  as  follows:  Charles,  a 
carpenter,  in  the  employ  of  the  D.  L.  Wads- 
worth  Lumber  Co.,  of  Wellington,  Ohio; 
and  Irwin,  who  died  young.  After  his 
marriage  our  subject  located  on  Vermont 
street,  LaGrange  township,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year,  and  then  removed  to  a 
farm  directly  opposite  this  place  and  sepa- 
rated from  it  by  the  Black  river.  Here 
he  lived  four  years,  with  Dorias  Holcomb, 
a  brother-in-law,  in  a  house  which  they 
erected,  thence  moving  to  his  present  farm 
in  Penfield  township,  where  lie  has  now 
had  his  home  for  over  fifty  years.  The 
section  was  then  a  vast  wilderness,  and 
here  Mr.  Hastings  purchased  fifty  acres  at 
six  dollars  per  acre,  to  which  he  has  since 
added,  and  all  of  which  has  been  cleared 
and  improved  by  his  own  labor.  In  con- 
nection with  farming  he  continued  to  fol- 
low his  trade  until  1875,  and  he  has  erected 
more  buildings  in  his  section  than  any 
other  man  living;  he  has  also  worked  in 
other  parts  of  the  county.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  has  given  his  principal  atten- 
tion to  farming,  and,  though  he  has  passed 
his  threescore  and  ten  years,  he  is  yet 
capable  of  doing  a  good  day's  work.  In 
political  matters  Mr.  Hastings  has  always 
sympathized   with   the    Democratic  party. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1107 


although  he  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln; 
in  former  years  he  took  considerable  inter- 
est in  party  affairs,  and  served  in  various 
local  offices.  He  is  a  hicrhly  respected  citi- 
zen of  tiie  community,  and  now,  after  many 
years  of  toil  and  hardship,  enjoys  a  com- 
fortable competence. 


E 


■J    A.  TURNEY,  a  thoroughly  repre- 
sentative farmer  and  influential  citi- 
zen  of  Amherst  townsiiip,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  born   in  Lake  county, 
March  23, 1815. 

Tl)e  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Fair- 
field, Conn.,  October  15,  1759,  and  was 
married  to  Polly  Downes,  who  was  born  in 
Reading,  same  State,  December  2,  1768. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
his  first  enlistment  being  in  1777,  and  his 
first  battle  at  Danbury,  his  second  at  Black 
Rock,  both  in  Connecticut;  later  he  served 
in  the  baggage  train  of  the  army  till  the 
close  of  the  war.  From  the  year  1832  to 
theclo.^eof  his  life  he  was  in  receipt  of  a  pen- 
sion from  the  Govei-ninent  of  eight  dollars 
per  month.  While  a  resident  of  Connecticut 
he  was  for  a  time  a  sailor  on  merchant  ships, 
trading  with  the  West  Indies.  In  1809  he 
came  to  Ohio,  and  bought  100  acres  of  wild 
land  in  Madison  township,  Lake  county, 
which  he  improved;  later  he  purchased  160 
acres  in  Perry  township.  Lake  county,  and 
finally  another  seventy  acres  in  Madison 
township,  aggregating  330  acres,  of  which 
he  crave  to  each  of  three  sons  100  acres. 
In  politics  he  was  an  Old-line  Whig,  his 
first  vote  being  cast  for  George  Washing- 
ton, in  Connecticut;  after  coming  to  Madi- 
son, he  served  as  trustee  of  that  township. 
He  died  April  5,  1833,  aged  seventy- three 
years,  five  months  and  twenty  days;  his 
wife  on  October  9,  1835,  aged  sixty- si.K 
years,  ten  months  and  twenty-three  days; 
they  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
To  this  honored  pioneer  couple  were  born 
children  as  follows:  Daniel  Turney,  a 
farmer,  born  May  11,  1788,  died  March  9, 


1841,  in  Lake  county,  Ohio,  whither  he  had 
come  on  foot  from  Connecticut;  Phebe 
Turney,  born  March  9,  1791,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Erial  Cook,  and  died  in  Lake  county, 
March  4,  1852;  David  Turney,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1794, died  in  Lake  county,  March 
5,  1826,  aged  thirty-one  years,  two  months 
ten  days;  George  Washington  Turney,  born 
March  13,  1797,  died  in  Lake  county, 
February  19,  1830;  Charlany  Turney,  born 
August  20,  1799,  mjirried  James  Gage,  and 
died  in  Lake  county,  in  June,  1829:  Asa 
Squire  Turney,  born  March  20,  1804,  died 
in  Lake  county,  February  16, 1886  (he  was 
a  minister  of  the  Disciple  (Jhurch);  Marvin 
Turney,  born  in  Connecticut,  August  11, 
1807,  who  resided  on  a  farm  in  Dearborn 
township,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  set- 
tled in  1834,  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  28,  1893,  when  he  was  aged  eighty- 
six  years;  and  Eli  A.,  subject  of  sketch. 

Eli  A.  Turney  received  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  Lake  county,  Oiiio, 
which  were  first  held  in  a  blockhouse,  after- 
ward in  a  log  house,  and  he  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed  for 
some  time.  He  then  engaged  in  ship- 
building at  Black  River,  Sandusky,  Ver- 
million, Huron  and  Milan,  lake  port  towns 
of  Lorain  and  Erie  counties,  Ohio.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  the  Freewill  Baptist 
ministry,  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1850, 
and  ordained  in  June,  1856,  ever  since 
which  he  has  been  a  minister  in  that  church 
as  a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  As- 
sociation. In  1833  Mr.  Turney  moved  to 
Lorain  county,  and  to  Amherst  township, 
where  he  bought  118  acres  of  wild  land, 
which  he  improved,  erecting  thereon  the 
first  log  house  he  ever  saw  built,  and,  con- 
trary to  the  prevailing  custom  of  those  days, 
no  whiskey  was  used  during  the  work.  Prior 
to  coming  to  Lorain  county  he  resided  for 
a  time  in  Geauga  county,  same  State. 

On  May  12,  1833,  our  subject  married, 
in  Ridgeville,  Ohio,  Minerva  Seeley,  a  na- 
tive of  Tioga  county,  N.  Y.,  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  1815.  The  result  of  this  union 
was  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following 


1108 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


is  a  brief  record:  Albert  Tnrney,  who  was^ 
educated  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Bowling  Green,  Wood  Co.,  Ohio; 
he  married  Hannah  Harris,  of  Oberlin,  and 
has  two  daughters:  SophiaaudCory.  Cjrena 
R.  Turney  became  the  wife  of  Perry  Belden, 
of  Amherst,  and  died  in  1860.  La  Fayette 
Turney,  born  April  6,  1838,  was  educated 
at  Amherst,  and  lives  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Ohio,  where  he  is  a  salesman;  helms  three 
children,oneofwiiom,E.E.  Turney,  is  study- 
ing for  the  ministry.  David  M.  Turney, 
born  March  20,  1848,  a  railroad  man,  lives 
in  Kansas.  Mary,  born  July  10,  1853,  is 
the  wife  of  P^rank  Bissell,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio.  Henry  Tnrney  died  in  Lorain  county 
October  21,  1858.  Charles  Wesley  Turney, 
born  October  1,  1841,  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  months.  The  mother  of  these 
died  May  29,  1868,  and  September  11, 
1869,  Mr.  Turney  married  Mrs.  Arvilla 
(Crocker)  Branch,  who  was  born  in  North 
Amherst,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Roswell  and 
Perlina  (Barnes)  Crocker,  the  father  a  native 
of  New  York,  the  mother  of  Becket,  Mass. 
They  came  to  Lorain  county.  Ohio,  in  1817, 
locating  near  Amherst,  but  in  1834  moved 
to  Madison,  Lake  county,  where  Mr.  Crocker 
died  in  1868,  his  widow  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years.  They  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  as  follows:  Eliza,  widow  of 
O.  Barney,  of  North  Amherst;  Alonzo  and 
Lorenzo  (twins),  born  in  1819,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight;  Ar- 
villa, wife  of  subject;  Fannie,  whose  hus- 
band. Dr.  Martin  Lnce,  died  of  cholera  on 
Sand  Bar  in  the  Ohio  river;  John  W.,  a 
resident  of  Lake  county,  Ohio;  Hulda, 
wife  of  D.  D.  Fo,\,  of  Doylestown,  Wis.; 
and  Erastus  AV.,  a  resident  of  Hawaii,  Sand- 
wich Islands.  Mrs.  Tnrney  is  the  oldest 
living  lady  born  in  Amherst  township.  In 
1840  she  was  married  to  S.  G.  Branch,  of 
Madison,  Lake  Co.,  Ohio,  and  three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  viz.:  E.  P.,  mar- 
ried and  residing  in  Florida  (he  served  in 
the  Civil  war);  W.  S.,  in  Dakota;  and 
Fannie,  wife  of  C.  M.  Parsons,  uf  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.      Mr.  Branch  died  in  1863. 


In  politics  Mr.  Tnrney  is  a  Republican- 
Prohibitionist,  and  cast  his  vote  for  W.  H. 
Harrison  in  1840;  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church,  Mrs 
Tnrney  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


fjHILIP  SIPPEL,  well-known  in  Lo- 
rain county  and  elsewhere  as  a  prom- 
inent contractor  and  builder,  is  a 
native  of  Hessia,  Germany,  born 
July  20,  1831.  He  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Mary  (Schaffer)  Sippel,  who 
both  died  in  Germany,  the  father  in  1836, 
the  mother  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years;  they  were  members  of  the 
German  Presbyterian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  land,  and  in  1853 
came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New 
York  with  but  three  dollars  left,  which  he 
afterward  gave  to  a  less  fortunate  com- 
rade, who  was  unable  to  secure  work.  Our 
subject,  finding  employment  in  New  York, 
saved  his  earnings,  and  when  he  had  laid 
by  enough  to  carry  him  westward,  set  out 
for  Lorain  county,  Qliio,  and,  in  about 
three  months  after  first  setting  foot  on 
American  soil,  he  found  iiimself  settled  in 
the  then  village  of  North  Amherst,  which 
has  since  been  his  home.  In  the  Father- 
land he  had  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner,  and  for  some  time  followed  it 
in  this  country.  Having  bought  a  farm, 
he  laid  aside  his  trade  for  a  time,  and  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits,  but  selling  the 
property  he  resumed  carpentry,  at  which 
he  made  a  success.  Mr.  Sippel  is  now 
recognized  as  the  leading  contractor  and 
builder  of  North  Amherst,  having  the  full 
confidence  of  the  community,  and  has  been 
tiie  architect  and  builder  of  the  M.  E.  and 
Presbyterian  churches,  besides  various 
business  blocks. 

In  1856  Mr.  Sippel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Catherine  Keller.     Polit- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1109 


ieally  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  for  nine  years 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education, 
was  township  trustee  one  term,  and  served 
his  town  as  treasurer  six  years.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  in  which  latter  he  has  passed  all  the 
Chairs. 


El  BIGLOW,  proprietor  of  the  West 
View  Tile  and  Brick  Works,  is  a 
I   native   of    Lorain    county,    born    in 

Columbia  township  in  1845,  a  sou 
of  Daniel  and  Martha  L.  (Stranahan)  Big- 
low,  also  of  Columbia  township,  where 
both  are  yet  living. 

Ephraim  Biglow,  grandfather  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Massachusetts,  whence 
when  a  boy  he  moved  to  Maine,  from  there 
to  New  York,  and  from  there  migrated  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Colum- 
bia township,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of 
his  days. 

E.  Biglow,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and 
lived  on  a  farm  up  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight,  when  he  embarked  in  mercantile 
business  in  West  View,  Cuyahoga  county, 
continuing  in  same  till  the  spring  of  1893. 
In  1880  he  became  the  proprietor  of  the 
West  View  Tile  and  Brick  Works,  which 
were  built  in  1880  for  the  manufacture  of 
all  kinds  of  brick  and  tile;  they  do  the 
most  extensive  business  and  have  the 
largest  plant  of  any  concern  of  the  kind  in 
the  county.  The  capacity  of  the  works  is 
400,000  brick  each  season,  with  a  corre- 
sponding capacity  for  tile,  and  they  gener- 
ally have  on  hand  a  large  supply  of  both 
products.  The  storage  room  is  three  stories 
high,  40x64,  with  a  wing,  two  stories, 
24x80;  engine-room  20x24;  drying  shed 
18  x  64,  heated  by  steam  pipes  throughout; 
clay  house,  a  brick  building,  26  x  30,  lo- 
cated on  the  "  Big  Foiir"  Bailroad,  with 
side  track  running  to  the  works.  There  is 
also  an  iron  track  for  carrying  clay. 


In  1874  Mr.  Biglow  was  married  in 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  coutity,  to 
Miss  C.  R.  Osborn,  daughter  of  Asahel 
Banner  and  Sophronia  (Scales)  Osborn,  all 
natives  of  that  township;  both  parents  are 
deceased.  To  this  union  there  is  one, 
child,  Ernest  O.,  at  present  attending 
Berea  College.  In  politics  Mr.  Biglow  is 
a  Republican,  and  for  eighteen  years  he 
served  as  postmaster  at  West  View.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  that  town,  and  they  are  held  in 
the  highest  respect  by  all  who  know  them. 


D- 


NIEL  BIGLOW,  a  prominent,  na- 
tive-born agriculturist  of  Columbia 
township,  lirst  saw  the  light  in  the 
year  1820. 
His  parents,  Ephraim  and  Nancy  (Frink) 
Bio-low,  were  natives  of  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut,  respectively,  and  were  mar- 
ried in  New  York  State,  whence,  in  1816, 
they  migrated  westward  to  Ohio,  coming 
with  a  team.  They  located  in  the  woods 
of  Columbia  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives,  the  father  dying  in  1838,  the  mother 
in  1861.  He  was  an  ardent  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  the  Whig  party,  voting 
for  Thonias  Jefferson,  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  politics  of  his  day.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Biglow  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  but  two  of  whom  are  now  living, 
viz.:  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  Amasa,  married,  who  resides  in  Olm- 
sted Falls,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio. 

Daniel  Biglow  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  township,  and  during  his 
early  youth  aided  in  clearing  the  home 
farm.  He  has  made  agriculture  his  life 
vocation.  In  1852  he  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent farm,  then  consisting  of  seventy-eight 
acres,  which  he  has  since  im])roved  and 
from  time  to  time  added  to  until  he  now 
has   137  acres,   110  of  which  are   cleared 


1110 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  In  1844 
Mr.  Biglow  was  married,  in  Columbia 
township,  to  Miss  M.  L.  Stranalian,  daugli- 
ter  of  Joshua  C.  and  Mary  (Mason)  Strana- 
han,  natives  of  Connecticut,  where  the 
mother  died;  in  an  early  day  the  father 
came  to  Columbia  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  passed  away  in  1859.  To 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Ephraim, 
res-iding  in  West  View,  who  is  married 
and  has  one  child,  Ernest;  and  G.  J.,  re- 
siding at  home.  In  political  matters  our 
subject  is  a  Kepublican,  and  has  served 
as  trustee  of  Columbia  township.  He  is 
one  of  the  three  oldest  residents  of  same. 
Mrs.  Biglow  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


P)ETEE  FORTHOFER,  a  prominent 
farmer  citizen  of  Avon  township,  and 
trustee  of  same,  is  a  native  of  Bava- 
ria, Germany,  born  July  14,  1841. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Joanna 
(Schwartz)  Forthofer,  of  the  same  locality, 
who  in  1853  immigrated  with  their  family 
to  the  United  States,  coming  to  Ohio  and 
locating  in  Dover  township,  Cuyahoga 
county,  for  live  years,  and  thence  moving 
to  Avon  township,  Lorain  county.  Here 
the  father,  who  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  died 
in  1880,  the  mother  in  1885.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows: 
Joseph,  who  died  in  Avon  township  in 
1891:  John,  married,  residing  in  Avon 
township;  Mary  Susan,  wife  of  George 
Nagel  (both  deceased  in  1893),  and  Peter. 
The  subject  of  this  commemorative  ar- 
ticle was  twelve  years  old  when  he  came 
from  Bavaria  to  America,  so  that  he  was 
partly  educated  in  his  native  land  and 
partly  in  this  country.  On  coming  to 
Avon  township  he  engaged  in  farm  labor, 
and  was  so  employed  until  1868,  when  he 
settled   in   same   township  on  his  present 


farm,  which  then  consisted  of  fifty-four 
acres  of  partly-improved  land,  which  he 
has  since  improved  and  added  to  until  now 
it  is  a  tine  property  of  193  acres,  all  under 
excellent  cultivation.  In  1865  Mr.  Fortho- 
fer was  married,  in  Sheffield  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  to  Miss  Margaret  Friedman, 
daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Miller) 
Friedman,  all  natives  of  Bavaria,  who  im- 
migrated to  America,  first  locating  in 
Ravenna,  Ohio,  and  thence  in  1852  moving 
to  Sheffield  township.  In  1865  they 
finally  settled  in  Mercer  county,  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  Friedman  died  in  1869,  Mrs. 
Friedman  in  April,  1885.  To  our  subject 
and  wife  were  born  ten  children,  as  follows: 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Bohland,  of  Dover, 
Ohio;  George;  Joseph,  married,  residing 
in  Avon  township;  John;  Anna,  wife  of 
George  Conrod,  of  Avon  township;  Peter; 
Andrew;  Maggie;  Anton,  and  Jacob.  The 
parents  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  Avon,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Forthofer  is  a 
sound  Democrat. 


H.  VAN   WAGNEN,  who  for  the 
past  fifty-five  years  has  been  a  lead- 
ing agriculturist  of  Lorain  county, 
,^  is    a    native    of    the   State  of  New 
York,  born   May  5,  1817,  a  son  of 
Garrett    C.    and    Mary    (Welton)    Van- 
Wagnen,  natives  of  New  Jersey. 

They  were  married  in  New  York  State, 
whence  in  1832  they  moved  to  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  carried  on  farm- 
ing, and  reared  a  family  of  fifteen  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Sally  Ann,  wife  of  Samuel  Voorhees,  of 
Elmira,  N.  Y.;  Mary,  widow  of  Ambrose 
Johnson,  of  Sullivan.  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio; 
G.  H.,  our  subject;  Alonzo,  married,  and 
residing  in  Missouri;  Evaline,  widow  of 
Madison  Johelyn,  late  of  Brownhelm 
townsliip,  Lorain  county;  Agnes,  wife  of 
Edward  Frost,  of  Mantua,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio;  Charles,   married,    residence    Chi- 


"I 

J 

/ 

0^     7/     i/^^*^t  '^^^^xfi'^x. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1118 


cago,  111.;  and  Sabrina,  wife  of  Albert 
Hastings,  of  Kent,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio. 
The  lather  of  thi.s  family  passed  from 
earth  in  1851,  the  mother  surviving  him 
till  1876. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  on 
a  farm  in  New  York  State,  and  received 
his  education  at  the  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood of  his  place  of  birth.  In  1832 
he  came  west  to  Ohio,  making  his  home 
for  a  time  in  Portage  county,  and  in  the 
following  year  proceeded  to  Cleveland, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
at  which  he  worked  thirty  years.  In  1838 
he  came  to  Lorain  county,  plying  his  trade 
in  Grafton  and  Eaton  townships  till  1848, 
in  which  year  he  bought  ninety-six  acres 
totally  unimproved  land  in  the  wild  woods 
of  the  last  nairied  township.  This  he  set 
to  work  to  reduce  to  a  state  of  cultivation, 
subsequently  adding  to  it  thirty-eight 
acres,  now  presenting  in  the  aggregate 
as  tine  a  farm  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county.  Here  he  carries  on  general  agri- 
culture, including  the  rearing  of  Holstein 
cattle. 

In  1840  Mr.  Van  Wagnen  was  married 
in  Grafton  township,  Lorain  county,  to 
Miss  Lucinda  Cornning,  a  native  of  New 
York,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Clarissa 
(Smith)  Cornning,  both  of  Connecticut, 
whence  in  1832  they  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  settling  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, and  here  the  father  followed  his 
trade,  that  of  mechanic,  up  to  the  day  of 
his  death ;  he  passed  away  about  the  year 
1854,  his  wife  surviving  him  some  years, 
and  dying  in  Iowa.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Wagnen  were  born  seven  children,  as 
follows:  (1)  Welton,  married,  and  residing 
in  Michigan.  (2)  Clarissa,  wife  of  C.  G. 
Reynolds,  of  Tuscola  county,  Mich.;  have 
four  children:  Ida  Ettie,  wife  of  George 
Clark,  of  Brighton,  Lorain  county  (have 
two  children:  Tracey  and  an  infant,  un- 
named), Hattie,  Clark  and  Delos.  (3) 
Irving,  married  and  residing  in  Tuscola 
county,  Mich.;  have  children  as  follows: 
Martin,   Plenry    (married,     and    living   in 


Michigan),  Katie,  Lo,  Olive  and  Frederick. 
(4)  Hattie,  the  wife  of  Thomas  King,  of 
Eaton  township;  tbeir  children  are  Eva, 
Grace,  Myrtle,  Clara,  Minnie,  Richard 
and  Nellie.  (5)  Henry,  a  resident  of 
Eaton  township,  a  sketch  of  whom  follows 
this.  (6)  Frank,  married  to  Susan  Cham- 
bers, and  has  three  children,  Lura,  Cora 
and  Gertrude.  (7)  Charles,  twice  mar- 
ried, first  time  to  Elinira  Bingham,  and 
by  her  had  one  child,  Ida;  second  wife 
Martha  Bingham;  he  is  a  painter  by 
trade,  and  they  reside  in  Lorain.  In  poli- 
tics our  subject  is  an  ardent  Republican, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  William  II.  Har- 
rison; he  served  his  township  as  justice  of 
the  peace  and  as  trustee  several  terms. 


f^ 


HfENRY  VAN  WAGNEN,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Eaton  township, 
(  was  born  February  5,  1848,  in  La- 
Porte,  Lorain  county,  son  of  G.  H. 
and  Lucinda  (Cornning)  Van- 
Wagnen,  early  pioneers  of  Lorain  county. 
Henry  Van  Wagnen  was  reared  in 
Eaton  township,  where  he  received  his 
education,  and  he  has  always  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  1884  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  sixty  acres,  which  had 
been  improved  by  John  Allen,  and  here 
engaged  in  general  farming.  He  was 
first  married,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Clara  Ben- 
nington, a  native  of  Eaton  township, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Robson) 
Bennington,  early  pioneers  of  Eaton  town- 
ship, where  they  died.  To  this  union  were 
born  six  children:  Ada.  George,  Jennie 
(who  married  Edward  Johnson,  and  has 
one  child,  Clara),  Minnie,  James  and 
Alonzo.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  Michigan  in  1881,  and  on  July  3, 
1884,  Mr.  Van  Wagnen  married,  in  Hen- 
rietta township,  Miss  Florence  Kelly,  a 
native  of  Henrietta  township,  Lorain 
county,    daughter    of    Richard    and    Jane 


1114 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


(Peabody)  Kelly,  who  reside  in  that  town- 
ship. To  this  union  has  been  born  one 
child,  Dolly.  In  1876  Mr.  Van  Wagnen 
went  to  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  fanning 
in  Tuscola  county,  where  he  remained 
until  1881;  he  was  burned  out  in  1880. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  general  t'arniing 
and  stock  raising,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  Cotswold  sheep.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party. 


TEUMAN  MOORE,  for  about  thirty 
years  a  mariner  on  the  Great  Lakes, 
fifteen  as  captain,  is  a  native  of  Lo- 
rain county,  born  in  Sheffield  town- 
ship December  1,  1844. 
Therou  Moore,  grandfather  of  subject, 
came  to  Lorain  county  in  about  1816,  lo- 
cating in  what  is  now  Avon  township, 
whence  he  afterward  moved  to  Wisconsin, 
where  he  died.  His  son,  Theron,  was 
born  in  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Lorain  county,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  fie  was  mar- 
ried in  Avon  township  to  Miss  Delia  Ann 
Case,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  after  marriage 
they  made  their  liome  at  a  place  called 
Lake  Breeze,  in  Sheffield  township.  He 
was  by  occupation  a  sailor  and  ship  builder 
in  his  younger  days,  but  later  in  life  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  on  a  farm  in 
the  last  mentioned  township.  He  died 
November  28,  1877,  on  board  a  vessel  at 
Detroit.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a 
Methodist;  his  wife  survived  him  till 
1880,  being  called  to  her  long  home  while 
living  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  Eleven 
children — four  sons  and  seven  daughters — 
were  born  to  them,  of  whom  the  follovvinff 
IS  a  brief  record:  Menzies  died  in  Kansas 
November  6,  1881  (he  was  a  sailor); 
Leonard  is  married  and  resides  in  Lorain; 
Elmitia  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Gawn,  of 
Lorain;  Amelia  is  the  widow  of  John  Far- 
agher,  of  Sheffield  township;  Melvina  died 


in  childhood;  Truman  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Charlotte  is  the  wife  of  Bert 
Briggs,  of  New  York;  Maria  is  the  wife  of 
Mair  Poyntou,of  Yellow  Medicine  county, 
Minn.;  Bert  died  in  childhood;  Rowena  is 
the  wife  of  Theron  Merry,  of  Kansas; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Jewett,  of 
Cleveland. 

The  suljject  of  these  lines  received  a  lib- 
eral education  at  the  public  schools  of  his 
township,  and  early  in  life  commenced 
sailing  on  the  lakes,  serving  in  different 
capacities  on  board  ship  till  his  appoint- 
ment as  captain  some  fifteen  years  ago.  He 
is  captain  of  the  "Robert  Rhodes,"  pro- 
peller, and  has  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
"  Alice  B.  Norris  "  and  the  "  Kate  Wins- 
low."  In  1881  the  Ca[)tain  moved  to  Lo- 
rain and  bought  a  residence  lot,  whereon 
he  built  a  two-story^  house,  in  addition  to 
which  he  owns  three  other  houses,  which 
he  rents. 

In  1863  Capt.  Moore  was  married  to 
Miss  Esther  Carron,  a  native  of  the  Isle  of 
Man,  by  which  union  three  children  were 
born,  viz.:  Edward,  married,  and  having 
his  home  in  Green  Bay,  Wis.  (he  is  cap- 
tain of  the  scliooner  "  Kate  Winslow," 
plying  between  Buffalo  and  Green  Bay); 
Rowena,  wife  of  Mark  Jones,  of  Lorain; 
and  Ettie.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
Sheffield  township  in  1880,  and  in  1881 
our  subject  was  mai-ried  to  Mrs.  Rosa 
Rice,  a  native  of  Medina  county,  Ohio.  In 
his  political  sympathies  Capt.  Moore  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  on  the  town 
council.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  and  of  Tent  No.  1, 
K.  O.  T.  M.  He  and  his  wife  are  associated 
with  the  M.  E.  Church. 


Q  LOVER    MILLER,    a    native-born 
f   prosperous  agriculturist  and  grape- 
grower  of  Avon  township,  was  born 
.1  on  his  present  farm   in  1838.     His 
parents,  P.  J.  and  Ruth  ( Houseworth) 
Miller,  natives  of  New  York,  came  in  18 17 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1115 


to  Ohio  and  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
Avon  township  on  the  farm  above  referred 
to,  where  they  died,  the  fatlier  in  1851, 
tiie  mother  in  18iJ3. 

Glover  Miller,  of  whom  this  sketch  is 
written,  received  his  education  at  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  place 
of  birth,  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  has 
followed  general  agriculture  with  rather 
more  than  average  success.  He  is  owner 
of  the  old  homestead  settled  by  his  parents, 
comprising  some  sixty  acres  of  highly  fer- 
tile land,  on  the  lake  shore,  four  of  which 
are  devoted  to  grape  culture.  In  1879  he 
was  married,  in  Avon  township,  to  Miss 
Hannah  Titus,  who  was  born  in  the  town- 
ship, daughter  of  Henry  and  Orrie 
(Gaboon)  Titus,  a  sketch  of  whom  follows. 
Three  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Ruth,  Orrie  and  Minnie.  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views. 


^J 


HfENRY  TITUS,  a  truly  progressive 
and  well-to-do  farmer  and  fruit- 
grower of  Avon  township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  born 
in  1811,  a  son  of  Anson  and  Hannah 
(Moore)  Titus,  natives,  respectively,  of 
Coimecticut  and  Massachusetts. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
in  New  York  State,  and  in  1829,  with  their 
family,  came  to  Ohio  and  to  Lorain  county, 
making  a  settlement  in  the  woods  of  Avon 
township,  where  they  cleared  a  farm,  erect- 
ing a  sturdy  and  comfortable  log  house. 
Here  the  father  died  in  1865,  the  mother 
some  time  later.  Five  childi-en  were  born 
to  this  honored  pioneer  couple,  as  follows: 
Treat,  residing  in  Avon  township;  Henry, 
our  subject;  Mary,  widow  of  Leonard 
Gaboon,  of  Avon  tovrnship;  Sarah,  widow 
of  William  Curtis,  of  Port  Clinton,  Ohio; 
and  Joseph,  married;  who  is  a  resi<lent  of 
Iowa. 

Henry  Titus,  the  subject  of  these  lines, 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Essex  county, 
N.  Y.,  until  the  age  of   eighteen,  wlien  he 


came  with  his  parents  to  Avon  township, 
where  he  assisted  in  clearing  the  home 
farm.  In  1846  he  was  married  in  Avon 
township  to  Miss  Orrie  Gaboon,  also  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  State,  dauirhter  of  Wil- 
bur  and  Priscilla  (Sweet)  Gaboon,  of  the 
same  State,  who  in  1809  came  to  Ohio 
and  to  Avon  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  they  cleared  a  farm  and  passed  the 
rest  of  their  busy  lives.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Titus  were  born  three  children,  namely: 
John,  residing  on  the  farm,  who  is  n)ar- 
ried,  and  hai*  four  children:  Arthur,  Clar- 
ence, Marietta  and  Edith;  Ora,  married, 
who  resides  in  Wisconsin;  and  Hannah, 
wife  of  Glover  Miller,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  above.  Our  subject  is  the  owner 
ot  as  fine  a  farm  as  can  be  found  in  the 
township,  comprising  140  acres  of  highly 
productive  land,  twenty-eight  of  which  are 
devoted  to  the  growing  of  grapes,  eighteen 
at  the  present  writing  being  covered  with 
fruit-bearing  vines. 


L 


UCIUS  R.  MARSH.      Among    the 
many    useful   and   enterprising  citi- 
Lorain    county    is    promi- 


zens    of 

nently  mentioned 


th 


IS 


is 
gentleman. 


He  is  a  well-known  fruit  farmer  in  Brown- 
helm  township,  the  owner  of  thirty- five 
acres  of  fruit-growing  land,  whereon  are  a 
vineyard,  peach,  apple  and  cherry  orchards, 
300  plum  trees  (the  finest  orchard  of  the 
kind  in  the  county),  and  all  kinds  of  small 
fruit  shrubs. 

Mr.  Marsh  is  a  native  of  Erie  county, 
Ohio,  born  in  1848,  a  son  of  O.  H.  P.  and 
Minerva  M.  (Rockwell)  Marsh,  whose  ante- 
cedents are  traced  to  Boston,  Mass.  They 
came  west  to  Ohio,  first  locating  in  Paines- 
ville,  afterward  in  Erie  county,  where  he 
carried  on  farming,  and  also  conducted  a 
general  stoi-e  in  ]\Iilan,  in  the  palmy  days 
of  that  town.  Ho  died  there  in  1860,  and 
his  widow  subsequently  married  C.  D. 
Perry.  To  O.  H.  P.  and  Minerva  M. 
Marsh  were  born  two  children:  Mary  M., 


1116 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


wife  of  A.  D.  Wilder,  of  Ciiaiitauqna,  N.  Y., 
and  Lucius  R.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Lucius  R.  Marsh  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Erie  county,  and  passed  six  years 
of  his  earlier  life  there,  working  at  tlie  car- 
penter's trade.  In  1864  he  came  to  Lorain 
.county,  and  in  1876  bought  his  present 
farm.  In  1870  he  married,  in  Erie  county, 
Miss  Georgiana  Ennis,  a  native  of  that 
county,  and  daughter  of  Alexander  Ennis, 
a  pioneer  of  same.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  three  children:  Willie,  Lulu  and 
Lottie  Belle.  In  his  political  sympathies 
Mr.  Marsh  is  a  Republican. 


^ILLIAM  EDGERTON,  a  leading 
and    prosperous    agriculturist    of 
Columbia  township,  is  a  native  of 
same,  born  in  April,  1832,  son  of 
Austin  Edgerton. 

The  father  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
near  New  Haven,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Brad  way,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1831  they  came  westward  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  via  canal,  etc.,  to  Buffalo, 
thence  by  lake,  and  from  there  proceeding 
by  wagon  to  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  opened  up  a  farm  in  the 
dense  forest.  For  some  thirty  years  he  re- 
sided here,  and  tlien  removed  to  Blooming- 
dale,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  and 
his  wife  passed  the  rest  of  their  days,  he 
dying  in  1874,  a  lifelong  Democrat,  she  in 
1891.  They  reared  four  children,  namely: 
William,  our  subject;  Albert,  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  and  farmer,  of  Michigan;  Eliza, 
wife  of  A.  J.  Broadwell,  of  Berea,  Ohio, 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Andrew  Coy.  of  Van- 
Buren  county,  Michigan. 

William  Edgerton,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  educated  at  tlie 
public  schools  of  Columbia  township,  and 
reared  on  his  father's  farm.  iHe  bought 
his  present  place  in  1855,  and  has  always 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  His  first 
purchase  was  fifty  acres  of  wild  land,  which 
he  improved  and   added   to  until  he  now 


owns  eightj-tive  acres,  all  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  In  February,  1855,  in 
Columbia  township,  Mr.  Edgerton  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Worden,  who  was 
born  in  Liverpool,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Virgil  H.  and  Caroline  (God- 
dard)  Worden,  natives  of  Connecticut,  who 
in  early  times  came  westward  to  Ohio,  locat- 
ing in  Liverpool,  Medina  county,  thence  re- 
moving to  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county.  Mrs.  Caroline  G.  Worden  died  in 
1845,  her  husband  in  1875.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Edgerton  has  been  born  one  child, 
Carrie,  wife  of  Thomas  Healey,  of  Eaton 
township,  Lorain  county,  by  whom  she  has 
one  child,  Melvin.  Politically  our  subject 
is  a  Republican,  and  lias  been  a  delegate 
to  the  party  conventions,  notably  the  one 
held  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  1893.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  ife  A.  M.,  Berea 
Lodge  No.  382,  and  of  Berea  Chapter 
No.  134. 


CHAPMAN  MORGAN  COOK,  a 
well-known  retired  agriculturist  of 
Henrietta  township,  was  born  May 
13, 1818,  in  Hamilton,  Madison  Co., 
N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Nancy  (Morgan) 
Cook,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Jefferson,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy- two  years.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
shoemaker  by  occupation,  and  in  politics  a 
Whig.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Orrin,  Newell,  Jessie,  Nancy, 
William,  Norton,  Judson,Roxie  and  Chap- 
man M.,  the  last  named  being  the  only 
survivor.  Their  mother  passed  from  earth 
when  aged  seventy  years,  after  an  illness 
of  nine  years.  In  Church  connection  she 
was  a  Baptist. 

The  subject  of  th^s  sketch  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Oswego  county,  N.  Y., 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty  came  to  Lorain 
county,  at  that  time  a  complete  wilder- 
ness, with  no  roads  and  little  clearing  of 
any  kind.  His  first  purchase  of  laud  was 
one   hundred   acres   in  what  is  now  Hen- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1117 


rietta  township,  toward  which  he  paid 
forty  dollars,  all  the  money  he  hroiiglit 
with  him,  tlie  balance  being  paid  after- 
ward. On  this  place  he  built  a  log  house, 
and  in  course  of  time  cleared  every  part  of 
it  with  his  own  hands.  By  and  by,  in 
1855,  he  erected  his  present  comfortable 
home,  sun-ouTided  with  commodious  barns 
and  other  outhouses,  and  here  he  now 
lives  in  peaceful  letirement,  liaving  rented 
his  farm.  He  points  with  pride  to  a  cer- 
tain tree  on  Ills  grounds  which  he  planted 
himself  in  1853,  at  that  time  two  inches 
thick,  and  which  is  now  (1893)  two  and 
one-lialf  feet  in  dinmeter.  Lumber  on  his 
farm,  worth  iive  dollars  per  1,000  feet 
fifty  years  ago,  now  readily  fetches  forty 
to  forty-five  dollars  per  1,000  feet. 

In  1842  Mr.  Cook  was  married,  in  New 
York  State,  to  Fidelia  Tinney,  daughter 
of  David  Tinney,  of  Oswego  county,  N.  Y., 
and  three  children  were  born  to  them,  as 
follows:  Theresa  and  Mary  (buth  de- 
ceased), and  Hannah,  wife  of  Mortimer 
Brown,  a  farmer,  living  in  Wakeman, 
Huron  Co.,  Ohio.  In  politics  Mr.  Cook 
was  originally  a  Whig,  and  later,  since  the 
organization  of  the  party,  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Henrietta  and  Camden  Center,  Lorain 
county. 


HAKLES  W.  HILL,  whose  fine 
farm  of  144  acres,  in  an  advanced 
state  of  improvement,  is  one  of  the 
most  productive  in  Eaton  township, 
is  a  native  of  the  locality,  born  in  1851. 
Edward  Hill,  father  ot  subject,  was  born 
in  Enijland,  where  he  married  Miss  Jane 
GuUiford,  and  on  their  wedding  day  they 
set  sail  with  a  fair  wind  for  the  shores  of 
the  New  World — the  loadstar  of  many 
thousands  of  England's  liest  blood.  On 
arrival  at  the  port  of  debarkation,  they 
proceeded  at  once  westward  to  Ohio,  where 
they  made  a  settlement  in  Eaton  township, 
Lorain    county,   opening    out    a    farm    of 


sixty  acres.  To  this  Edward  Hill  from 
time  to  time  added  until  he  was  owner  of 
300  acres  of  good  farming  land  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  September  10,  1889, 
and  where  his  widow  is  yet  living.  In  his 
political  preferences  lie  was  a  Republican. 
Their  children,  five  in  number,  are  all  resi- 
dents of  Lorain  county,  and  a  brief  record 
of  them  is  as  follows:  Charles  W.  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  George  E.,  married, 
is  a  farmer  of  Ridgeville  township;  Mary 
J.  is  the  wife  of  George  Osborne,  Columbia 
township;  Lucy  A.  is  the  wife  of  J.  Z.  Cole, 
of  Eaton  township;  and  Emma  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Dair,  also  of  Eaton  townsiiip. 

C.  W.  Hill,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Eaton  township,  and  was 
early  in  life  inducted  into  the  mysteries 
of  farming.  For  eighteen  months  lie  fol- 
lowed  that  vocation  in  Piatt  county.  III., 
and  since  his  return  to  Eaton  township 
has  been  most  successful  in  general  agri- 
culture.  In  1871  he  mai'ried  Miss  Mary 
M.  Hathaway,  a  native  of  Eaton  township, 
and  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Sarah  M. 
(Clark)  Hathaway,  of  whom  special  men- 
tion will  be  presently  made.  To  this 
union  have  lieen  born  five  children,  viz.: 
Edward  J.,  W.  C,  Ford,  Mildred  and 
Elmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  are  members 
of  the  Disciple  Church  at  North  Eaton ; 
in  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  township  trustee  and  supervisor. 

John  M.  Hathaway,  father  of  Mrs.  C. 
W.  Hiii,  was  born  in  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  in  Septeinl)er,  1822,  a  son  of  Elilni 
and  Aiinette  (Mallory)  Hathaway,  natives 
of  Vermont  and  New  York  State,  respec- 
tively. They  were  married  in  the  last 
named  State,  and  then  moved  to  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  thence  to  Richland  county, 
returning  in  1836  to  Medina  county,  and 
in  1838  locating  in  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  on  a  tract  of  wild  land. 
Selling  this, however,  Mr.  Hathaway  moved 
to  Crawford  county,  same  State,  and  he 
died  in  Wood  county,  March  12, 1875,  his 
wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in 


1118 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  Octo- 
ber 31,  1865.  In  politics  he  was  an  un- 
compromising Democrat  of  the  Jackson 
type.  The  children  born  to  this  pioneer 
couple  were  as  follows:  Phebe,  widow  of 
Charles  Holbrook,  of  Eaton  township; 
John  M.,  of  whom  we  write;  Mary,  a 
widow,  who  died  in  Wood  county ;  Baldwin, 
married,  residing  in  Marion  county,  Ohio; 
Hiram,  married,  residing  in  Kent  county, 
Mich.;  James,  deceased  about  1888,  in 
Wood  county,  Ohio;  Hamner,  deceased  in 
Wood  county;  Lucy  Jane,  wife  of  Chaiiiicy 
Ryal.  of  Ridgeville;  Charles,  married,  re- 
siding in  Ottawa,  Oliio;  William,  residing 
in  California;  Alvira,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  W. 
Hill,  of  Weston,  Wood  county.  Jesse 
Hathaway,  grandfather  of  John  M.,  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  where  he  died.  Grand- 
father John  Mallory  served  as  a  captain  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  while  traveling  on 
horseback  with  some  important  documents 
in  his  possession,  from  Lake  George  to 
New  1l  ork  City,  he  was  lost,  and  not  a 
vestige  of  either  himself,  horse  or  papers 
was  ever  afterward  seen. 

John  M.  Hathaway  was  reared  in  Medina 
county,  and'educated  in  the  old-fashioned 
log  schoolhouse  of  the  period,  and  when 
sixteen  years  old  came  to  Lorain  county, 
where  for  a  time  he  worked  by  the  month. 
He  then  commenced  sailing  on  the  lakes, 
a  vocation  he  followed  seven  years,  as  mate 
one  season,  and  wheelman,  two.  On  aban- 
doning this  somewhat  adventurous  life, 
lie  came  to  his  present  farm  of  hfty  acres 
well-improved  land,  where  he  carries  on 
general  agriculture.  On  March  7,  1852, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Sarah 
M.  Clark,  born  in  Medina  county,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Nancy  (Smith) 
Clark,  natives,  respectively,  of  Berkshire 
county,  Mhss.,  and  Vermont;  tiie  father, 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  traveled  on  foot  from  New 
York  to  Grafton,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
thence  to  Medina  county,  where  he  died  in 
1866,  his  wife  in  1859.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John    M.   Hathaway   have  been    born    six 


children,  to  wit:  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
W.  Hill;  Flora  E.,  wife  of  Frank  Lewis, 
of  Columbia  township,  Lorain  county  (has 
two  children:  Ilaymondand  Ivyj;  Perry  T., 
married,  residing  in  Columbia  township; 
Anna  N.,  in  Columbia  township;  E.  M., 
married,  residing  at  Eaton  Center  (has 
two  children:  Blanche  and  Vira);  and 
Fred  C,  a  successful  teacher  of  Lorain 
county,  residing  at  home.  In  1851  Mrs. 
Hatiiaway  taught  school  in  Columbia  and 
Eaton  townships,  in  an  old  log  cabin, 
"  boarding  around;"  also  taught  in  Strongs- 
ville,  Cuyahoga  county.  Her  great-grand- 
father, Nathan  Turner,  was  one  of  tiie  pil- 
grims wiio  landed  on  "Plymouth  Pock." 


Q 


EOVE  HANCE,  a  popular  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  of  Eaton  township, 
is  a  native  of  same,  born  on  his 
present  farm  in  1839,  a  son  of 
Hiram  and  Rhoda  Ann  (Ames) 
Hance,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
New  York,  the  latter  in  Massachusetts.  In 
an  early  day  they  came  to  Ohio,  where  they 
married,  afterward  settling  on  the  farm  in 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
their  son  Grove  now  resides.  The  father 
died  January  2,  1888,  the  mother  July  2, 
1887. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  hie 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  was  reared  to  farm- 
ing, whicli  has  been  his  life  vocation.  He 
owns  part  of  the  old  homestead  of  his 
father,  as  well  as  other  land,  aggregating 
170  acres,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. In  September,  1861,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Susan  Gregory,  a  native  of 
Medina  county,  and  four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  as  follows:  J.  G.,  who 
i-esides  on  the  farm,  has  one  child,  Lois; 
Minnie,  wife  of  Burt  Carr,  of  Liverpool, 
Medina  county,  has  one  son,  Harlan;  Ger- 
tie, wife  of  Elmer  Tucker,  of  Elyria,  lias 
one  son.  Grove;  Lilly,  wife  of  Charles 
Austin,  of  Elyria,  has  one  son,  Hugh. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1119 


Mrs.  Hance's  father  went  to  California 
in  1849,  one  of  the  many  thonsatuls  of 
gold  seekers  of  that  period.  Her  step- 
father, V.  H.  AVorden,  was  the  first  tnaii 
to  cross  Hance's  swamp  with  a  team,  got 
"mired,"  but  managed  to  pull  through. 
In  politics  our  subject  is  a  useful  and 
zealous  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  served  as  constable  of  Eaton 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  Leonard 
Tent  No.  31,  Knights  of  tlie  Maccabees, 
at  North  Eaton.  Mrs.  Hance  is  a  member 
of    the  Disciple  Church  at  North  Eaton. 


djOB  ALEXANDER,  a  progressive, 
1  wide-awake  agriculturist  of  Eaton 
'  township,  was  born  in  1841,  in 
Grafton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Frank- 
nm)  Alexander,  natives  of  Gloucestershire, 
England,  who  immigrated  to  the  United 
States,  locating  tirst  in  New  York  State, 
whence  in  1840  they  moved  to  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  thence  in 
1844  to  Eaton  township,  where  they  were 
well-known  agriculturists,  and  the  home 
farm  is  still  in  the  family.  The  father 
died  in  1886,  the  mother  in  1883,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  and  seventy-eight  years 
respectively.  They  had  a  family  of  eight 
children. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  a 
liberal  education  at  the  schools  of  Eaton 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  have  been 
his  life  work.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
O.  V.  I.,  which  was  assigned  to  the  army 
of  tiie  West,  Twenty-third  Army  Corps. 
He  was  in  the  battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  and 
the  capture  of  Atlanta,  after  which  event 
the  Twenty-third  and  Fourth  Corps  "took 
care  of  "  Hood's  army.  When  the  latter 
had  been  defeated  and  broken  up,  our  sub- 
ject went  with   his  regiment   to  Washing- 


ton, D.  C,  and  from  there  to  North  Caro- 
lina; finally  reunited  with  Sherman's 
army  there.  Mr.  Alexander  first  started 
in  Kentucky,  and  accompanied  Burnside's 
expedition  across  the  mountains  into  Tenn- 
essee, and  he  was  present  at  the  siege  of 
Knoxville.  In  June,  1865,  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and 
returned  home  to  the  pursuits  of  peace, 
laying  aside  the  rifle  for  the  plough.  He 
owns  a  highly  cultivated  fertile  "farm  of 
105  acres. 

In  1866  Job  Alexander  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Carlisle  township,  with  Miss 
Ann  D.  Pierce,  daughter  of  Philemon  and 
Diantha  (Hovey)  Pierce,  natives  of  New 
York,  who  in  an  early  day  came  to  Lorain 
county;  the  father  died  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, the  •  mother  in  Eaton  township,  at 
the  home  of  her  daughter,  in  1880.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Job  Alexander  were  born 
six  children,  as  follows:  Hattie  (wife  of 
Orlando  Eose),  Albert  (deceased  at  the 
age  of  twenty -five  years),  Ida,  Loren,  Lu- 
ther and  Rosa.  Politically  Mr.  Alexander 
is  a  Republican ;  socially  he  is  a  member 
of  Richard  Allen  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Elyria. 


n 


ORASTUS    WAITE,    one    of    the 
widest    known   pioneer   citizens    of 
1L«^    LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county, 
was  born  June  21,  1810,  in  Cham- 
pion, Jefferson  county.  New  York. 

His  father,  Doi-astus  Waife,  a  farmer, 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  where  he  married 
Miss  Sally  McNitt,  and  later  moved  into 
New  York  State,  where  he  lived  comfort- 
ably and  reared  a  large  family,  all  of  whom 
are  now  dead  but  two — our  subject  and  a 
half  brother,  Guverry  M.,  who  is  a  farmer 
in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  the  second  wife  of  Do- 
rastus  Waite,  Sr.,  and  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  to  him  was  the  widow  of  Rufus 
Blodgett;  her  maiden  name  was  Malinda 
Canfield.      Mr.  Waite  died   in    Champiou, 


1120 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  But  two  of  his  family — James 
and  Dorastns — came  to  Ohio. 

Dorastus  Waite  passed  liis  early  years 
on  his  father's  farm,  assisting  in  the  many 
duties  of  the  agricultural  work,  and  re- 
ceived an  education  in  the  common  schools, 
attending,  however,  only  in  the  winter  sea- 
son, when  he  conld  he  spared  from  home. 
In  October,  1831,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Diantha  Fitts,  who  was 
born  in  1813  in  Massachusetts,  daiicrliter 
of  Daniel  Fitts,  who  moved  to  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  our  subject  met  his 
daughter.  After  marriage  the  youngcouple 
began  housekeeping  on  a  small  farm  owned 
Ijy  his  father,  remaining  there  but  a  few 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1834  he  rode  to 
Ohio  on  horseback,  the  trip 'occupying 
three  weeks,  and  after  looking  over  the 
land  purchased  one  hundred  acres  in  Lot 
86,  LaGrange  township,  Lorain  county, 
for  which  he  paid  four  hundred  dollars. 
He  then  returned  to  Jefferson  county, 
N.  Y.,  in  the  same  manner,  and  remained 
over  winter,  in  the  spring  of  1835  coming 
out  with  a  one-horse  wagon,  and  bringing 
his  wife  and  only  child,  Sarahetta  L.,  who 
is  now  the  widow  of  Ferguson  Zang,  and 
makes  her  home  in  LaGrange  village. 
They  commenced  life  in  Ohio  in  a  log 
cabin  on  the  pioneer  farm,  where  he  at 
once  set  to  work  clearing  the  land,  and  re- 
sided until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  La- 
Grange  village,  where  he  has  since  lived  a 
pemi-retired  life.  The  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waite  in  Ohio  were  as  fol- 
lows: James  E.,  a  farmer  of  LaGrange; 
Mai-yette,  who  became  the  wife  of  Frank 
Beckwith,  and  in  1855  died  on  the  home 
farm,  aged  nineteen  years;  Everett  L., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  and 
Everett  L.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  The  mother  of  these  died  in  1873, 
and  was  buried  at  LaGrange;  in  1874  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  J.  (Pelton)  Belden 
(widow  of  Daniel  Belden),  who  was  born 
in  Middlefield,  Mass.  Mr.  "Waite  has  dur- 
ing his    long  life  accomplished   no  small 


amount  of  hard  work;  when  first  settling 
on  his  place  it  was  all  in  the  woods,  but  by 
constant  labor  and  untiring  energy  he  has 
now  one  of  the  most  productive  farms  in 
the  entire  township.  Politically  he  was 
originally  an  Old-line  Whig,  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  served  in  various  township  offices.  In 
religious  connection  he  was  an  attendant 
of  the  Congregational  Chiirch  until  the 
Society  disbanded,  when  he  united  with 
the  M.  E.  Church.  He  is  remarkably  well 
preserved  for  one  of  his  years,  and  is  a  man 
of  e.'ctremely  temperate  habits,  does  not 
use  tobacco  in  any  form,  and  has  not  even 
tasted  spirituous  or  malt  liquor  for  over 
sixty  years.  He  had  several  great-grand- 
children. [Since  the  above  was  written  we 
have  been  informed  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Dorastus  Waite,  which  occurred  December 
31,  1893. -Ed. 


G.  DAWLEY.  In  the  front  rank 
of  the  prosperous  and  progressive 
farmers  of  Eaton  township,  stands 
prominent  this  gentleman.  He  is  a 
native  of  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
born  in  Ravenna  township  in  1825,  a  son 
of  Daniel  and  Eunice  Dawley,  the  former 
a  native  of  Vermont,  the  latter  of  Massa- 
chusetts. They  were  married  in  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  whither  the  father  had  come 
when  a  young  man,  in  1790,  and  here  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  the  rest  of  iiis 
busy  life.  He  died  in  1871,  his  wife  in 
1863.  Four  children  were  born  to  them, 
a  brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  Cor- 
nelia is  the  widow  of  Miletus  Clark,  of 
Portage  county,  Ohio;  Darius,  married,  is 
a  farmer  in  Ravenna  township,  Portage 
county;  Perry  died  in  Portage  county  in 
1882;  A.  G.  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
A.  G.  Dawley  was  reared  to  farm  life  in 
his  native  township,  receiving  his  elemen- 
tary education  at  the  common  schools,  and 


4     '^    0cu^^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1123 


attending  select  school  one  or  two  terms. 
In  1854  he  came  to  Eaton  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  he  made  a  new  home 
for  himself  and  family.  In  1862  he  lo- 
cated on  his  present  farm,  a  highly  im- 
proved one  of  111  acres,  on  which  he 
carries  oti  general  agriculture  with  much 
success.  In  1847  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  with  Miss 
Sophia  Moulton,  a  native  of  Brimtield 
township,  that  county,  a  daughter  of  Har- 
rison and  Bethsheba  (Coburn)  Moulton, 
very  early  pioneers  of  Portage  county;  the 
father  was  killed  in  1826  by  a  falling  tree 
while  out  chopping,  the  mother  dying  some 
time  later.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawley  four 
children  were  born,  as  follows:  William, 
married,  residing  in  Norristown,  Penn. 
(had  live  children — Frank,  Addie  Sophia, 
Carl  Albert,  one  deceased  in  infancy,  and 
Sumner  E.,  deceased);  Cornelia,  wife  of 
George  Johnson,  residing  in  Eljria.  had 
ten  children:  Floren,  Edwin,  Gertie, 
Albert,  Vernon,  Georgie  (deceased  at  the 
age  of  six  years),  Jennie,  Cassie,  May,  and 
an  infant;  Clifton,  married,  residing  in 
Eaton  township,  had  five  children :  Lena, 
Perry,  Wilton,  Charles  and  Ivy;  Mary 
was  the  wife  of  Williain  Allen,  and  resided 
in  Macomb  county,  Mich,  (she  died  in 
1885).  The  mother  of  these  was  called 
from  eartli  in  February,  1888.  In  politics 
Mr.  Dawley  is  an  active  adherent  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  is  a  member  and 
deacon  of  the  Christian  Church  of  Eaton. 


^J 


Vyjl    B.    JAMESON,     a    well-known 

^/\     successful   agriculturist  of   Avon 

I]    township,    is    a   native    of  same, 

born  in    1837,    son  of  Joseph   B. 

and  Mary  (Horr)  Jameson. 

Tiie    father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 

1787  in    New    Hampshire,    and    in   1824 

came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  in 

the    woods   of  Avon  township,    where   lie 

58 


opened  up  a  farm.  Here  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  years,  dying  in  1867,  in 
politics  a  stanch  Wiiig;  lie  served  for  many 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  mar- 
ried three  times,  first  to  Thankful  Clement, 
who  died  in  1817,  leaving  two  children, 
Thankful  Jane,  born  in  1814.  in  New 
York,  now  the  deceased  wife  of  Ora  B. 
Cahoon;  and  Mary,  born  in  1816.  His 
second  wife  was  Avis  Smith,  and  she  bore 
him  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living — William  (in  Avon  township), 
Joseph  (married,  a  resident  of  Avon  town- 
ship), and  Sarepta  (wife  of  C.  Blackwell, 
of  Avon  township);  those  deceased  are 
David  C,  who  died  in  1833;  Clarissa  A., 
Mrs.  R.  Steele,  who  died  in  1866  in  Cali- 
fornia; and  Mary  E.,  Mrs.  Collin  Ford, 
who  died  in  1870  in  Lebanon,  Ohio.  For 
his  third  wife  Mr.  Jameson  married,  in 
New  York  State,  Miss  Mary  Horr,  a  na- 
tive of  Vermont,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  four  children,  as  follows:  M.  B.,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Daniel,  who  died  in 
Avon  township  at  the  age  of  ten;  Robin- 
son, wlio  died  in  Colorado  in  1873;  and 
Lucina  H.,  who  died  in  Avon  township  in 
1866.  The  mother  of  tliese  died  in  1893, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

M.  B.  Jameson  received  his  elementary 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  in  early  life  was  in- 
ducted into  the  mysteries  of  agriculture, 
which  he  has  continued  to  follow.  He 
subsequently  attended  college  at  Berea 
and  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  for  several  years 
pursued  the  vocation  of  teacher.  He  was 
married,  in  1860,  in  Avon  township,  to 
Miss  Cordelia  S.  Wilder,  also  a  native  of 
same,  daughter  of  Thompson  and  Sabrina 
(Fuller)  Wilder,  who  were  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  in  1836  came  to 
Avon  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  he 
dying  in  1874,  she  in  1876.  Mrs.  Jameson 
tausht  school  with  her  husband  several 
terms.  To  their  union  have  been  born 
five  children,  viz.:  Clifton  E.,  married, 
who  resides  in  Montesano,  Wash.;   Torrey 


1124 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


W.,  living  at  home;  Mary  B.,  wife  of 
H.  H.  Carter,  of  Washington;  Annette, 
and  Plynn  C,  both  living  at  home.  Our 
subject  is  engaged  exclusively  in  aeneral 
agricnlture,  and  he  owns  a  fertile  farm  of 
sixty  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
In  his  political  synijiathies  he  is  a  Kepub- 
lican,  and  in  religious  connection  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
at  French  Creek.  [Since  the  above  was 
written,  we  have  been  informed  of  the 
death,  December  9, 1898,  of  Mr.  Jameson. 


ffjf    D.  STETSON,  a  native-born,  wide- 
1;^     awake  and  enterprising  agriculturist 
I     1|    of  Kidgeville  township,  lirst  saw  the 
^J  light  in  1850. 

Randall  Stetson,  father  of  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  first  married,  and  in  1832  came  with 
his  family  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
Ridgeville  township,  where  he  had  bought 
a  lifty-acre  tract  of  timber  laud,  which  he 
improved,  adding  thereto  until  he  owned 
215  acres  (the  homestead),  besides  other 
laud  in  the  county,  and  about  one  thou- 
sand acres  in  the  West.  He  dealt  largely 
in  real  estate,  and  was  extensively  engaged 
in  stock  dealing — buying  and  selling 
blooded  animals.  By  his  first  marriage 
he  had  four  children,  viz.:  Emily,  widow 
of  Willard  Kemp,  of  Cleveland;  Martha, 
widow  of  William  Nelson,  of  Cleveland; 
Jane,  wife  of  J.  M.  Seelye,  of  Ridgeville 
township;  and  Ellen,  widow  of  Monroe 
Dean,  of  Michigan.  The  mother  of  these 
dying  in  1836,  Mr.  Stetson  married,  in 
1837,  in  Ridgeville  township,  the  widow 
Loorais,  who  bore  him  three  children,  as 
follows:  John,  residing  in  Olmsted  town- 
ship; H.  D.,  subject  of  this  memoir;  and 
Isabelle,  who  lives  in  Oberlin.  The 
mother  of  thesse  was  called  from  earth  in 
1883,  the  father  in  1886.  He  was  a 
straight  Republican,  and  served  his  town- 


ship as  trustee  several  terms.  In  1884  he 
and  his  son,  H.  D.,  bought  a  gristmill  in 
Ridgeville,  which  they  improved  and  re- 
modeled, putting  in  the  new  roller  process, 
and  this  was  operated  by  father  and  son 
until  the  decease  of  the  former,  when  the 
latter  bought  out  the  interest  therein  of 
the  heirs,  and  conducted  same  until  1889, 
in  which  year  he  sold  it. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  memoir  re- 
ceived his  primary  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  township,  which 
was  supplemented  with  a  two  years'  at- 
tendance at  Oberlin  College.  In  addition 
to  the  gristmill  above  referred  to,  he  car- 
ried on  general  farming,  and  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  190  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead, besides  600  acres  in  the  West.  He 
was  married  in  Ridgeville  township,  in 
1871,  to  Miss  Florence  Simonds,  a  native 
of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Simeon  and  Marcia  (Beebe)  Simonds,  of 
Massachusetts  and  Ridgeville  township, 
Lorain  county,  respectively.  They  are 
now  residing  at  Dover,  Cuyahoga  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stetson  were  born  six 
children, to  wit:  Ray, who  graduated  from 
Oberlin  College  with  the  cla>.s  of  1893, 
and  is  now  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  the 
same  college;  Carl,  residing  at  home; 
Marcia,  deceased  at  the  age  of  fifteen ; 
Adaline,  Dora  and  Merritt,  residing  at 
home.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  enjoys  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


d[AY    HART,    who    stands    foremost 
among  Penfield  township's  proniinent 
'    citizens     and      thorough,    successful 
farmers,    was    born    November    10, 
1851,  a  son  of  Lewis  Hart,  Jr.,  who  was  a 
son  of  Lewis  Hart,  Sr. 

When  but  a  lad  of  eleveu  years  our  sub- 
ject lost  his  father  by  death.  Prior  to 
this  he  had  received  such  an  education  as 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1125 


the  common  schools  of  the  period  alloi-ded, 
and  when  a  mere  boy  found  employment 
as  a  farm  hand.  He  worked  at  various 
places,  and  for  different  people,  being  em- 
ployed for  two  years  by  Orrin  Starr,  a  like 
time  by  Lntber  Penlield,  and  also  by  G. 
L.  Starr,  all  of  whom  are  well-known  and 
successful  farmers.  He  also  spent  several 
years  in  the  employ  of  Miles  Leech  and 
Henry  Whitbeck,  of  Litchiield,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  receiving  under  such  competent 
instructors  a  complete  knowledge  of  agri- 
cultural life,  in  which  he  has  been  very 
successful. 

On  November  5,  1876,  Mr.  Hart  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ida  Sheldon, 
who  was  born  November  15,  1854,  in 
Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
Abijah  and  Jane  (Kiff)  Sheldon,  and  from 
the  age  of  seven  years  made  her  home 
with  her  aunt.  Amy  Andrews,  for  whom 
our  subject  had  worked  some  time,  and 
where  he  and  his  young  wife  made  their 
first  home  after  marriage.  They  havethree 
children,  viz.:  Amy,  Ina  and  Rhe.  Mr. 
Hart  is  a  substantial  representative  farmer 
and  leading  citizen  of  Pentield  township, 
and  bis  progressive,  active  spirit  is  recog- 
nized throughout  the  community.  He  has 
prospered  well  in  his  agricultural  opera- 
tions, and  has  succeeded  in  accumulating 
a  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  the  excellent  con- 
dition of  which  is  sufficient  evidence  of  its 
owner's  ability  as  a  systematic  farmer.  In 
his  political  preferences  Mr.  Hart  is  a 
stanch  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
Mrs.  Hart  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 


dj  ACOB  H.  GLAUS,  blacksmith,  North 
Amherst,    descends    from    an    early 
^'   German    family,    and    was    born    in 
Brownhelra     township,    Lorain    Co., 
Ohio,   April  27,   1837.     He  is  a  son   of 
Henry  and    Martha   (Hilderbrand)  Claus, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Hessia, 


Germany,  and  in  1828  came  to  the  United 
States,  making  a  settlement  in  Brownhelm 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  joiner.  He  and  his  wife  both  died 
young,  at  the  ages  of  thirty- three  and 
twenty- three,  respectively.  They  had  three 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 

Jacob  H.  Claus  received  but  a  limited 
public-school  education,  being  left  an 
orphan  when  yet  a  boy.  He  learned  his 
trade  in  the  shop  where  he  is  now  work- 
ing, and  has  been  in  business  for  himself 
more  than  thirty  years.  The  cheerful 
ring  of  his  anvil,  and  the  merry  sparks 
that  burst  from  his  forge,  are  not  more 
welcome  to  the  wayfarer  than  his  own 
honest  greeting;  and  his  shop  is  the  resort 
of  customers  and  others,  who  come  miles 
to  visit  his  well-known  smithy.  In  18(30 
Mr.  Claus  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Marie  Geabauer.  They  have  one 
child,  a  daughter. 

In  politics  our  subject  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  Garfield's  election,  and  he 
has  held  many  municipal  and  township 
offices.  He  has  been  a  member  of  St. 
Peter's  Evangelical  Church  at  North  Am- 
herst for  the  past  forty  years,  and  for 
twenty-five  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Daughtersof  Rebekah,andof  the  K.O.T.M. 


llACOB  SCHWARTZ,  an  old  and 
k.  I  highly  esteemed  resident  of  Russia 
Vyj  township,  was  born  February  20, 
1819,  in  Rhenish  Bavaria,  Germany, 
a  son  of  Jacob  Schwartz,  who  died  in 
Germany  in  1834. 

In  1846  Jacob  Schwartz  was  married, 
in  his  native  country,  to  Catherine  Burg, 
and  they  had  one  child  born  in  Germany, 
Daniel,  who  died  in  infancy.  Our  subject 
was  a  weaver  by  necessity,  and  also  worked 
at  anything  else  he  could  find  to  do.  In 
1848,  in  company  with  his  wife,  his 
widowed  mother,   bis  brother  David,  and 


1126 


LORAIN  COUNTY  OHIO. 


his  sisters  Elizabeth  and  Margaretta,  he 
left  the  Fatherland,  taking  passage  at 
Antwerp,  and  landing  in  jSfew  York  after 
a  voyage  of  forty-two  days.  They  imme- 
diately set  out  for  Cleveland,  Ohio,  travel- 
ing via  the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie,  and 
thence  proceeded  to  Russia  township,  Lo- 
rain connty,  where  Jacob  bonght  land. 
By  gathering  the  funds  of  the  entire  party, 
which  amounted  to  about  three  hundred 
dollars,  he  was  able  to  purchase  a  tract  of 
thirty  acres,  and  then  borrowing  si.x  dol- 
lars from  a  neighbor,  John  Schramm,  pur- 
chased a  cow.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Schwartz 
resided  until  1871,  when  he  bought,  from 
"Bachelor  Bailey,"  his  present  farmland 
sixty-one  additional  acres,  which  latter  he 
has  given  to  his  children.  A  brief  record 
of  his  family  is  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  who 
married  William  Sump,  died  January  6, 
1876,  leaving  four  children,  viz.:  Charles, 
William,  Millie  and  Alva;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Alva  Gibson,  of  Russia  township; 
Carrie  (twin  of  Mary)  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Albright,  of  Russia  township;  Margaret 
resides  at  home;  Emma  is  married  to 
Henry  Bassett,  of  Russia  township.  Mr. 
Schwartz  has  always  been  a  hard-working 
fanner,  and  has  fully  deserved  the  success 
he  has  won.  He  is  an  honest,  upright, 
kind-hearted  citizen,  ever  ready  to  assist 
those  in  need,  and  is  highly  esteemed  and 
respected  by  all  who  know  him.  In  his 
political  preferences  he  is  a  Democrat, 
though  non-partisan  and  but  little  inter- 
ested in  aflfairs  of  State.  In  religious 
connection  he  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church  at  North  Amherst. 


JOHN  A.  MILLER,  prominent  among 
the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  Avon 
township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born  in 
October,  1831. 
Peter    Miller,   father  of  the   subject  of 
this  sketch,  was   born   in   Palmyra.  N.  Y., 
August  10, 1803,  and  in  1819  was  brought 


by  his  parents.  Adam  and  Anna  (Tea- 
mount)  Miller,  natives  of  the  same  State, 
to  Avon  township,  Lorain  county,  they 
settling  in  the  woods  near  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  where  they  opened  out  a  farm. 
Here  Adam  Miller  died  in  1834,  his  wife 
in  1848.  They  reared  a  fanjily  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Peter  was  reared  on  the 
farm;  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  also  worked  at  ship  carpentry  at  Black 
River,  he  having  learned  the  trade  of  Cap- 
tain Jones  before  he  was  twenty  years  old. 
There  was  only  one  honse  betweeti  the 
home  in  Avon  township  and  Black  River, 
and  wild  animals  were  numerous  and  fero- 
cious. In  1821,  as  he  was  returning  home 
from  his  work  one  Saturday  evening,  Peter 
Miller  lost  himself  in  the  woods,  and  was 
treed  by  a  bear  that  tive  times  climbed 
after  him,  finally  catching  him  by  the  feet, 
which  were  badly  lacerated.  The  boy, 
however,  managed  to  get  away  from  Bruin, 
who  was  herself  not  a  little  alarmed,  and 
ran  for  his  life  as  fast  as  his  wounded  feet 
would  permit,  reaching  the  nearest  neigh- 
bor's in  a  sorry  plight.  He  was  married  in 
Black  River  township  in  1828,  to  Miss 
Ruth  Houseworth,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  daughter  of  .lacob  and  Ruth  (Hart) 
Houseworth,  the  father  born  on  the  ocean, 
the  mother  in  Rhode  Island;  they  moved 
to  New  York  State,  and  thence  in  1819  to 
Ohio,  settling  in  Black  River  township, 
the  journey  being  made  by  water  from 
Buffalo.  Here  Mr.  Houseworth  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-nine  years,  his  wife  passing 
away  in  her  eighty-fourth  year,  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Peter  Miller. 
After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Miller 
continned  to  reside  in  Avon  township, 
where  they  successfnlly  conducted  a  highly 
improved  farm.  The  father  died  in  1851 
at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years,  the  mother 
on  August  18,  1893,  in  her  eighty-sixth 
year;  she  had  been  a  resident  of  the  connty 
seventy-four  years,  and  of  Avon  township 
sixty-five  years,  having  lived  on  the  same 
farm  all  her  married  life.  They  had  a 
family  of  five  children,  all  yet  living,  viz.: 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  QUID. 


1127 


John  A.;  Amanda,  wife  of  Leonard  Moore, 
of  Lorain;  Glover,  married,  residing  in 
Avon  townsliip,  on  part  of  the  old  farm; 
Julia,  wife  of  M.  H.  Lampman,  of  Lorain, 
and  .feanette,  residing  in  Avon  township. 
John  A.  Miller,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  tlie  neighborhood  of  his 
birthplace,  and  was  brought  up  to  farming 
pursuits,  which  have  been  his  life  work. 
In  18G8  he  was  married,  in  Elyria,  Lorain 
county,  to  Miss  Catherine  Burrell,  a  native 
of  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Harriet  (Hall) 
Burrell,  pioneers  of  that  township,  he  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  she  of  Dover 
township,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio.  Grand- 
father Isaac  Burrell  was  an  early  pioneer 
of  Sheffield  township,  Lorain  county.  By 
tiiis  union  was  born  one  child,  Catiierine, 
at  home,  who  lost  her  mother  March  26, 
1869.  In  politics  Mr.  Miller  is  a  stanch 
Repulilican,  and  has  held  several  township 
offices  of  trust,  such  as  trustee.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  Lodge  at 
Elyiia,  and  of  Marshall  Chapter. 


I(  LEXANDER  PORTER,  ship  cap- 
^\  tain  and  vessel  owner,  well  known 
on  the  lakes  as  a  careful  and  skill- 
ful mariner,  and  respected  on  shore 
as  a  nseful  and  loyal  citizen,  is  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Lorain,  Ohio,  born 
March  16,  1843. 

He  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Clarissa 
(Nelson)  Porter,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  born  in 
1801,  an  Orangeman,  one  of  twelve  liroth- 
ers  who  came  to  this  country  and  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Elyria,  Lorain  county.  In 
1830  Nathaniel  came  to  Lorain,  about  the 
commencement  of  the  "boom,'"  where  he 
opened  a  brickyard,  which  he  carried  on  in 
connection  with  farming  and  teaming.  He 
was  married  in  Massachusetts,  and  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  all  yet  living  ex- 


cept one  drowned  in  the  lake,  in  the  fall  of 
1892,  from  the  steamer  "W.  H.  Gilcher." 
The  father  died  in  1878;  the  mother  passed 
away  in  1857. 

Alexander  Porter,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  part 
at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  in  part  at  Oberlin  College.  At  about 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  commenced 
sailing  on  the  lakes,  and  in  1859  he  was  a 
seaman  on  the  barge  "  Pierson,"  which 
sailed  from  Cleveland  to  Liverpool,  Eng- 
land, touching  at  Bristol,  and  returning 
by  same  route  lay  in  the  Welland  Canal, 
Canada,  all  the  following  winter.  Since 
then  he  has  sailed  the  lakes  every  summer, 
for  the  past  twenty-five  years  as  captain, 
and  the  first  boat  he  was  skipiier  of  was 
the  "  R'jscue."  He  and  two  of  his  broth- 
ers owned  a  vessel,  the  "Three  Brothers," 
which  for  several  years  successfully  traded 
on  the  lakes.  He  is  now  owner  or  part 
owner  of  no  less  than  five  boats  that  turn 
in  a  good  revenue  every  year. 

In  1871  Capt.  Porter  married  Miss  Dor- 
liska  Freeman,  a  native  of  LaGrange,  Lo- 
rain county,  daughter  of  S.  V.  R.  Free- 
man, of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  a  farmer,  who 
came  to  Lorain  county  in  1829,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  at  LaGrange.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  he  had  four  sons  and  three 
daughters;  he  was  born  in  1801,  and  died 
in  1878.  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Porter  have  had 
no  children.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a 
Repul)lican,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and 
Royal  Arcanum. 


JOHN  H.  ECKLER,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Carlisle  township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  born  November  24, 
1835,    a    son   of    Henry    and    Anna 

g5arber)    Eckler,    also    Germans,  born  in 
essia. 

The  father  of  our  subject  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  the  United  States  in 
1838,  making    his  new    home     in      Erie 


1128 


LORAIK  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county,  Ohio,  where  he  first  worked  as  a 
day  laborer  in  Vermillion  township,  clear- 
ing; land  in  the  wintei-s.  In  siuntner  time 
he  worked  on  the  Maumee  Canal  at 
eighteen  dollars  per  month,  out  of  which 
he  had  to  pay  his  board  Sundays,  and  pro- 
vide for  his  family,  then  consisting  of  wife 
and  five  children.  He  was  very  poor, 
and  could  not  speak  English,  but  he  had  a 
willing  heart  and  hands,  and  by  industry 
prospered.  For  some  time  he  lived  in  Ver- 
million township,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio,  as  al- 
ready related,  thence,  in  1852,  coming  to 
Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county.  He 
succeeded  in  accumulating  200  acres  of 
land,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had 
money  in  the  bank,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  I)e  had  given  liberally  to  his 
children.  He  died  July  9,  1890,  in  his 
eighty-sixth  year,  his  wife  in  1866,  aged 
lifty-si.\.  They  were  members,  first  of  the 
Presbyterian  Keformed  Church,  afterward 
of  the  Lutlieran  Church,  and  in  politics  he 
was  always  a  Democrat.  They  had  in  all 
seven  children,  as  follows:  Catherine,  wife 
of  H.  M.  Hempy,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio; 
Margaret,  wife  of  J.  F.  Irish,  both  now 
deceased ;  Ann,  wife  of  Fred  Stroble,  of 
Wood  county,  Ohio;  Mary,  wife  of  J.  6. 
Kinsey,  of  Lorain;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Bickle;  John  H.;  and  Emanuel,  in 
Elyria. 

At  the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years  the 
subject  of  these  lines  came  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
ceived his  English  education  at  the  schools 
in  Vermillion  township,  Erie  county,  and 
at  the  Center  School  in  Carlisle  township, 
Lorain  county.  He  has  been  engaged  all 
his  life  in  farming,  with  the  exception  of 
six  years  he  worked  as  a  carpenter  in 
Cleveland,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  213 
acres,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
Like  his  father  before  him,  he  votes  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  at  one  time 
was  elected  trustee  of  his  township,  serv- 
ing but  a  few  months,  as  he  was  elected 
against  his  wishes. 

In  1862  our  subject  married  Miss  Cor- 
nelia M.  Hart,  who    was  born    in   Carlisle 


township,  Lorain  county,  and  five  children 
have  come  to  them,  as  follows:  Henry, 
married  and  living  in  Elyria  (has  three 
children  —  Hazel,  Georgie  and  Edith); 
Bertha  M.,  wife  of  Harold  Hinkson,  of 
Elyria  (they  have  one  child — RoUin); 
Catherine,  wife  of  Arthur  Champney,  of 
Oberlin  (they  have  one  child — Bertha); 
Frank  R.  and  Charles  R.,  both  at  home. 
[Since  the  above  w^as  written  we  have  been 
informed  that  Mr.  John  IT.  Eckler  died  of 
typhoid  fever  November  23,  1893,  havino- 
been  a  great  sufferer  to  the  last. — Ed. 


i^  J.  FULLER,  proprietor  of  livery 

and  boarding  stable,  in  the  town 

of  Oberlin,    of  which  he  has  been 

a  resident  some  nine   years,   is  a 

native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Portage  county,  in 

1850,    son    of  C.   C.    and   Mary    (Bierce) 

Fuller. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Nelson  township.  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1818,  and  was  there  reared  and  trained  to 
farming,  which  has  been  his  life  vocation. 
He  there  married  Mai-y  Bierce,  a  native  of 
the  same  township,  born  in  1830.  who  died 
there  in  1885,  aged  fifty-five  years. 
Grandfather  Jeremiah  R.  Fuller,  a  native 
of  Cornwall,  Conn.,  came  west  in  about 
the  year  1804  to  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  opened  up  a  farm  in  Nelson 
township,  dying  thereon  in  1853.  Grand- 
father Horatio  Bierce  also  died  in  that 
county;  great-grandfather  AVilliam  Bierce. 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  served  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  died  in  Nelson 
township.  Portage  county. 

W.  J.  Fuller  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
the  milling  business  in  Portage  county; 
he  was  also  three  years  in  tlie  oil  fields  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  1884  he  came  to  Lorain 
county,    and    commenced    in    his    present 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1129 


livery  business,  in  wliicli  he  has  met  with 
gratifying  success,  iieeping  a  fnll  line  of 
vehicles. 

In  1874  Mr.  Fuller  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Mary  (Tinker)  Tracy,  also 
a  native  of  Portage  county,  Ohio,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Hopkins) 
Tinker,  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
respectively,  and  who  in  an  early  day  came 
to  Portage  county,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
passed  from  earth  in  1877;  the  mother  is 
still  living.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fuller  has 
been  born  one  child,  Helen  D.  By  her 
former  marriage  Mrs.  Fuller  had  one 
daughter,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  J.  C.  Ball, 
of  Pompey,  N.  Y.  In  politics  our  subject 
is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served  as  con- 
stable. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church. 


JOHN  SMITH  TOWNSHEND,  a  ris- 
ing young  farmer  of  Sheffield  town- 
ship, was  born  there  in  1860,  a  son 
of  John  and  Ann  (Smith)  Townsliend. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
1809  ill  England,  whence  at  about  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years  he  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  the  entire  family  tirst 
making  their  home  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Later  John  Townshend  moved  to  SliefHeld 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  during  the  rest  of  bis  life.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Hannah  Hurst,  by  whom  he  liad  four  chil- 
dren: Martha  Fox,  living  in  Sheffield 
township;  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Walker; 
Josiah  H.,  married,  and  living  in  Sheffield 
township, and  Alfred, deceased.  His  second 
wHfe,  whom  he  wedded  in  Elyria  township, 
was  Miss  Ann  Smith,  a  native  of  Leicester- 
shire, England,  and  two  children  were  born 
to  this  union;  Mary  E.  and  John  S.,  the 
former  living  with  the  latter.  John  Towns- 
hend died  in  Elyria  April  15,  1875. 


John  S.  Townshend,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  attended  the 
high  school  of  Elyria,  after  which  he  at- 
tended school  one  year  at  Oberlin.  He 
then  commenced  farming,  which  has  been 
his  life  vocation;  he  now  works  eighty 
acres  of  land,  and  is  the  owner  of  fiftv-one 
acres  well  improved,  and  a  sawmill. 

In  1889  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss 
Carrie  M.  Buck,  born  in  Avon  township), 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  and  two  children,  named 
respectively  Ann  E.  and  John,  have  been 
born  to  them.  Mr.  Townshend's  political 
views  are  Republican,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 


G  ON  RAD  WIEGAND,  one  of  the 
wiile-awake  progressive  citizens  of 
'  Lorain,  is  a  native  of  Hessen-Cassel, 
Germany,  born  May  31,  1849.  He 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Christina  (Roth) 
Wiegand,  also  natives  of  Germany,  and 
who  were  the  parents  of  eight  children — 
six  sons  and  two  daughters — two  of  whom 
are  now  living  in  America.  John  Wie- 
gand,  one  of  the  sons,  came  here  in  1857, 
and  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  en- 
listed in  the  Seventh  O.  V.  I.,  at  Cleve- 
land; he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester, and  taken  prisoner,  but  was  re- 
leased, dying  soon  after,  however,  in 
hospital,  in  1862. 

Our  subject  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  in  the  Fatherland,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty  (1869)  came  to  the  United  States,- 
totally  ignorant  of  the  English  language, 
but  of  which  he  soon  made  himself  mas- 
ter. From  the  port  of  landing  he  made 
his  way  direct  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and 
first  located  in  Elyria,  working  at  his  trade 
there  till  1872,  when  he  and  a  brother 
opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in  Lorain. 
This  partnership  continued  until  1883,  in 
which  year  Conrad  Wiegand  bought  out 
his  brother,  and  has  since  continued  in  the 


1130 


LORAIN  aOUNTY,  OHIO. 


business  alone.  He  commenced  with  a 
small  stock,  about  five  iiundred  dollars 
worth,  and  has  now  one  valued  at  as  many 
thousands.  His  present  brick  buildinor  he 
erected  in  1892,  and  moved  therein  No- 
vember 1,  that  year,  and  he  still  owns  his 
old  store  on  North  Broadway.  He  lias  a 
nice  residence  on  Second  avenue. 

In  1871  Mr.  Wiegand  was  married,  in 
Elyria,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Minnie  Beese,  and 
they  have  had  three  sons:  Fred,  Carl  and 
Alvin.  Our  subject  is  a  Eepublican  in 
politics,  and  in  religion  is  associated  with 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion since  1882,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  and  eight  months.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  O.  T.  M. 


\sli\    ^'  P^^LPS.    This  gentleman,  a 
^/\\     member  of  one  ot'  the  earliest  fam- 
II    ilies  to  settle  in  Lorain  county,  as 
■J)  a   man    of    unbounded  popularity 

and  well-known  generosity,  and  as 
one  who  has  done  much  toward  the  progress 
of  Eaton  township  and  the  establishment  of 
the  town  of  North  Eaton,  claims  more  than 
a  passing  notice  in  the  pages  of' this  Biog- 
raphical Record. 

Our  subject  was  born  November  18, 
1821,  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Dollie  (Waite)  Phelps,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  1800,  in  Jef- 
ferson county,  N.  Y.,  the  latter  in  New 
York  about  1801.  They  were  married  in 
Jefferson  county,  and  in  1826  migrated 
westward  to  Ohio,  traveling  by  water  to 
Cleveland,  thence  by  team  to  LaGrange 
township,  Lorain  county,  having  to  cut 
their  way  through  the  timber  and  under- 
brush, Mrs.  Phelps  walking  the  entire  dis- 
tance with  one  child  in  her  arms,  and 
others  toddling  by  her  side.  The  farm 
they  settled  on  contained  160  acres  of  wild 
land,  and  this  by  dint  of  hard  and  assidu- 


ous labor  they  succeeded  in  reducing  to  a 
state  of  culture.  Their  cabin  was  built 
with  the  assistance  of  men  brought  from 
Grafton.  Occasionally  the  Indians,  for  the 
first  two  years,  lived  in  their  wigwams 
alongside  of  the  Phelps  family.  Leaving 
the  farm,  Mr.  Phelps  kept  hotel  twenty- 
five  years  at  LaPorte,  Carlisle  township, 
and  then  moved  to  Butternut  Ridire,  where 
he  died  in  1861;  he  was,  in  politics,  a 
Whig,  later  a  Republican.  His  wife  had 
preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  1857,  the 
mother  of  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
■whom  we  give  a  record  of  ten:  George  W. 
died  in  LaGrange  township  at  the  age  of 
five  years;  Harriet  A.  resides  in  Chicago, 
111.;  Roger  (married)  died  in  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  about  1870;  Erastus  (uiarried)  re- 
sides in  Elyria  (he  is  the  oldest  engineer 
on  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern 
Kailroad,  having  been  on  the  road  for  forty 
years) ;  Clarissa  is  the  wife  of  Edwin 
Beardsley,  and  resides  on  Chestnut  Ridge, 
Eaton  township;  Elvira  resides  in  Min- 
neapolis, Minn.;  Jefferson  (married)  is  an 
attorney  at  law  in  Chicago,  111.;  Elizabeth 
resides  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Joseph  Elston 
(married)  resides  in  Toledo  (he  is  one  of 
the  best  engineers  on  the  Lake  Shore  & 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad);  George 
Washington,  who  was  married  and  resided 
in  Toledo,  and  was  an  engineer  on  the  Lake 
Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  for 
thirty  years,  was  killed  at  Believue,  Ohio, 
in  February,  1891. 

Joseph  Phelps  brought  the  first  yoke  of 
oxen  into  LaGrange  township,  and  they 
did  hard  work  not  only  on  his  own  farm, 
but  also  on  those  of  his  neighbors.  At 
the  time  the  family  settled  in  the  county, 
wolves,  bears  and  otiier  wild  animals 
abounded,  and  the  first  cow  they  owned, 
also  their  first  flock  of  sheep,  eighteen  in 
uTiniber,  were  destroyed  by  wolves  and 
carried  off,  not  the  least  part  of  the  loss 
felt  being  the  wool  on  the  sheep,  on  which 
the  family  depended  for  future  clothing. 
On  another  occasion,  during  the  month  of 
March,  two  or  three  hunger-driven  wolves 


(//7f7)fl^%o6^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1133 


got  into  tlie  sheep  pen,  and  would  have 
made  much  havoc  among  the  sheep  bat  for 
a  povverfnl  mastiff  that  fought  the  wolves 
furiously,  succeeding  in  driving  them 
away,  minus  a  considerable  amount  of  fur 
they  left  behind  in  the  pen.  The  brave 
dog  was  so  sorely  wounded  that  he  lay  as 
dead  on  the  floor, but  with  careful  nursing 
he  recovered  in  the  course  of  a  week.  The 
last  grey  wolf  seen  was  killed  on  Mr. 
Phelps'  farm  in  the  winter  of  1839;  after 
being  pursued  two  days  it  turned  on  its 
pursuers,  and  was  then  shot.  In  the 
summer  of  1852  a  doe  reared  two  fawns, 
which  the  following  winter  were  killed  by 
hunters.  Prior  to  this  all  large  game,  in- 
cluding the  elk,  panther  and  bear,  had  dis- 
appeared. 

Eoger  Phelps,  father  of  Joseph,  and 
grandfather  of  subject,  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  tanner  and  currier.  In  an  early  day  he 
moved  to  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1826  came  to  Lorain  county,  where  he 
died. 

M.  W.  Phelps,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  LaGrange  township,  Lorain 
county  (whither  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  when  a  child  of  five  summers),  and 
finished  his  studies  at  a  select  school  in 
Elyria.  In  his  early  manhood  he  taught 
school  in  Elyria  and  Grafton  townships, 
and  also  at  Olmsted  Falls,  Cuyahoga 
county,  at  which  latter  he  taught  a  num- 
ber of  terms.  On  retiring  from  his  scho- 
lastic duties  he  commenced  farming  opera- 
tions, in  which  he  has  since  continued  with 
well-merited  success  in  Eaton  township, 
where  he  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  275 
acres,  all  well  improved.  In  addition  to 
the  usual  grain  and  root  crops,  he  does  an 
extensive  business  in  dairying,  milking 
from  thirty-seven  to  forty  cows ;  and  he  has 
also  dealt  largely  in  live  stock. 

In  August,  18'44,  Mr.  Phelps  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Dover,  Cuyahoga  Co..  Ohio, 
with  Miss  Harriet  Ann  Grimes,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  daughter  of  Johnson  and  Amy 


(Hamilton)  Grimes,  also  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  who  came,  in  1837,  to 
Dover  township,  Cuyahoga  county,  and 
theuce  moved  to  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich. ; 
the  father  died  in  1809  at  the  residence  of 
his  son-inlaw,  our  subject;  the  mother  in 
1891.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr. and 
Mrs.  Phelps,  viz.:  Vernon  Beresford,  mar- 
ried and  residing  in  Eaton  township  (he 
has  five  children);  and  Frank  Herbert,  who 
is  married  and   resides  in  Elyria. 

Mr.  Phelps  is  not  only  progressive,  but 
also  aggressive,  and  has  proven  to  the 
county  of  his  adoption  a  most  useful,  loyal 
citizen.  To  him  is  due  the  credit  of  hav- 
ing secured  the  Eaton  Station  (situated  on 
his  farm)  for  the  Cleveland,  Cincinnati, 
Chicago  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  toward 
which  he  subscribed  one  thousand  live 
hundred  dollars,  besides  paying  out  of  his 
own  pocket  $600  for  labor  done.  Poli- 
tically he  was  originally  a  Whig,  then  a 
Kepublican,  voting  for  McClellan,  since 
when  he  has  been  a  stanch  Democrat. 


THOMPSON  CLARK,  a  well-known, 
native-born  agriculturist  of  Avon 
township,  first  saw  the  light  April 
7,  1822,  on  the  farm  where  he  yet 
resides. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Polly 
(Seward)  Clark,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  removing  thence  to  Vermont,  where 
he  was  married  in  1816.  In  the  fall  of 
the  last  named  year  he  set  out  with  a  team 
for  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
settled  on  a  farm,  then  entirely  in  the 
woods,  where  he  built  a  log  cabin  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He 
passed  from  earth  in  1867,  preceded  to  the 
grave  by  his  wife  in  1865.  They  had 
born  to    them   eight  children,  as  follows: 


1134 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Samuel,  who  died  here  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two;  Lyman,  wlio  died  September  l-i, 
1876,  in  Stenben  county,  Ind.;  Daniel,  who 
married  and  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
he  died  in  1889;  Thompson,  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch;  Clarissa,  Mrs. 
Amos  Moon,  who  died  in  Avon  township; 
Anna,  who  married  Justus  Butler,  and 
died  in  Indiana  in  1885;  Orilla,  who  mar- 
ried David  H.  Barnard,  of  Kidgeville,  and 
died  in  Olmsted,  Ohio,  in  1885;  and 
Naomi,  who  became  the  wife  of  Wilkes 
Kathbuu,  and  died  in  1885  at  the  home  of 
our  subject.  Grandfather  Gaylord  Clark 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  in  an 
early  day  removed  thence  to  Addison,  Vt., 
where  he  died. 

Thompson  Clark  I'eceived  his  early  edu- 
cational training  in  the  log  cabin  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  that  early  period,  and  was 
reared  from  boyhood  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, which  he  has  made  his  life  vocation. 
In  1841  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Jane 
Young,  a  native  of  Addison  county,  Vt., 
daut^hterof  Alvahand  Lucretia(^Wilkison) 
Young,  also  natives  of  that  State,  and  early 
settlers  of  Medina  county,  Ohio,  where  both 
died.  In  1871  this  wife  died,  leaving  no  liv- 
ing children,  and  in  1873  Mr.  Clark  wedded, 
for  his  second  wife.  Miss  Amelia  Chand- 
ler, daughter  of  Harry  and  Beulah  (Ter- 
rell) Chandler,  all  natives  of  New  York 
State,  whence  in  an  early  day  they  came  to 
Ohio,  locating  lirst  in  Huron  county,  and 
subsequently  taking  up  there  home  in 
Grafton  township,  Lorain  county.  Harry 
Chandler  died  in  1885  at  the  home  of  our 
subject,  preceded  to  the  grave  by  his  wife, 
who  died  in  Huron  county,  Ohio.  By  his 
second  marriage  Mr.  Clark  has  one  child, 
Samuel.  Our  subject  now  owns  the  old 
home  farm,  comprising  forty-eight  acres  of 
fertile  land,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. In  his  party  preferences  he  is  a 
liberal  Republican,  though  in  local  poli- 
tics he  takes  an  independent  stand.  In  re- 
ligious connection  Mrs.  Clark  is  a  member 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Clark 
is  now  the  only  representativeof  one  of  the 


first  six  families  who  settled  in  Avon  town- 
ship. On  the  paternal  side  the  family  is 
of  English  origin,  while  on  the  mother's 
side  they  come  of  Scotch  and  French  ances- 
try, who  located  in  Connecticut  in  Colonial 
days.  William  Seward,  an  uncle  of  our 
subject,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 


FRANK  E.  BON  SO  R,  a  well-known 
contractor  and  builder,  of  Lorain,  is 
_^  a  native  of  Iowa,  born  December  28, 
1860.  Charles  E.  Bonsor,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  England,  where 
he  learned  the  trade  of  brick  mason  and 
contractor.  In  1849  he  came  to  America, 
and  here  followed  his  trade  in  New  York 
City,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  thence  nroving  to  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  and  thence  to  Iowa,  where  he  fol- 
lowed contract  work  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Oberlin,  whence,  after  a  residence  of  eigh- 
teen or  nineteen  years,  he  moved  to  Fred- 
erickstown,  Mo.,  where  he  and  his  wife 
now  reside.  Mr.  Bonsor  married  Anna 
Watts,  who  was  also  a  native  of  England, 
and  they  had  nine  children — seven  sons 
and  two  daughters — eight  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity. 

Frank  E.  Bonsor  was  reared  in  his  na- 
tive State  until  three  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
where  he  received  his  education.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  brick  mason  with  his 
father,  and  in  1871,  then  but  eleven  years 
old,  he  worked  at  same  in  Chicago.  He 
was  connected  with  his  father  in  the  con- 
tracting business  at  Oberlin  for  a  few 
years,  and  when  a  young  man  superin- 
tended work  undertaken  by  him.  Among 
the  many  buildings  erected  in  Oberlin 
under  their  supervision  may  be  mentioned 
the  E.  J.  Goodrich  and  the  Henry  Blocks, 
Carter  Building,  Carpenter  Building, 
Ladies  Society  &  Call    Building,    Morris 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1135 


Building,  Wooster  Block,  the  Town  Hall, 
besides  many  dwelling  lionses.  They 
erected  the  greater  part  of  the  brick  build- 
ings in  Oberlin  until  1880,  when  Mr.  Bon- 
sor  came  to  Lorain,  and  he  has  since 
followed  contracting  and  building  in  vari- 
ous places.  He  and  his  brothers  took  the 
contract  for  the  Home  State  Building,  in 
Knightstown,  Ind.,  and  they  received  the 
highest  recommendations  for  work  done 
on  this  edifice.  Mr.  Bonsor  has  also  done 
contract  work  in  Columbus,  Cleveland,  and 
Vermillion,  Ohio,  and  his  record  duringhis 
entire  career  has  been  second  to  none.  In 
1886  he  and  his  brothers  built  the  Bonsor 
Block,  the  largest  business  block  in  Lo- 
rain, a  fine  building  78  by  80  feet,  and 
three  stories  in  height.  In  1892  he 
erected  the  Opera  House,  a  handsome 
three-story  brick  building,  41  by  101  feet. 
In  18S6  Mr.  Bonsor  was  married  to 
Miss  Flora  B.  Mapes,  and  they  have  two 
children,  namely:  Frank  and  Cleora.  In 
politics  he  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  Bon- 
sor comes  from  a  family  of  brick  masons. 
It  was  the  trade  of  his  father  and  grand- 
father, and  three  uncles  and  three  brothers 
also  follow  same. 


ri(     E.  STIWALD,  a  progressive,  en- 

l[\\     terprising    citizen    of    North    Am- 

ir%^   herst,   was   born   in    August,  1842, 

■fj         at   Cleveland,  Ohio.     His  parents, 

George  Michael    and    Mary   (Fox) 

Stiwald,  were  natives  of  Germany,  whence 

they   emigrated    to   the    United  States    in 

about  1838,    locating  at   Cleveland,  Ohio. 

They   were    the   parents  of  six   children, 

namely:   Catherine,  a  widow,   residing  in 

North  Amherst;  _John,  who  died  in  187B 

in    Amiierst  township;  Conrad,   living  in 

Michigan;     Emma,     who    died    iti    1862; 

Gertrude,  who  died    in    1875;    and    A.   E. 


The  father  of  this  family  died  in  1846,  in 
Cleveland,  and  in  1852  his  widow  came  to 
Avon  to*nship,  Lorain  county,  settling  on 
a  farm,  where  she  resided  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1885,  in  North  Amherst. 
A.  E.  Stiwald,  our  subject,  was  reared 
up  to  the  age  of  ten  years  in  Cleveland, 
where  he  received  his  early  education,  and 
in  1852  came  with  his  mother  to  Avon 
township,' where  he  assisted  in  clearing  the 
farm.  On  August  15,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
and  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Poto- 
mac. He  participated  in  the  battles  in 
Kentucky,  and  was  also  at  Gettysburg, 
Fredericksburg,  and  most  of  the  other  en- 
gagements participated  in  by  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  took  part  in  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
was  honorably  dischai-ged  in  1865.  He 
returned  to  Lorain  county,  and  in  1868 
came  to  Amherst  township,  there  engaging 
in  farming  until  January  1,  1870,  when 
he  came  to  North  Amherst  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cigars,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1880.  He  is  now  ensao-ed 
111  raismg  fruit. 

In  1865  Mr.  Stiw^ald  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  with  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Jaycox,  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  daughter  of  Smith  Jaycox.  She 
died  i'n  1869,  and  in  1878  Mr.  Stiwald  was 
married,  for  his  second  wife,  to  Miss  Maria 
White,  a  native  of  England.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Robert  White,  who  was  also 
born  in  England,  and  came  to  America,  lo- 
cating in  Amherst  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1885.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stiwald  were  born  the  following 
named  children:  Florence  Eva,  Earl  C, 
Maria  G.,  Grace  L.  and  Grover  Allen.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  very 
prominent  in  his  party,  and  has  been 
elected  to  various  offices  of  trust;  lie  filled 
the  position  of  town  clerk  in  North  Am- 
herst for  twelve  consecutive  years,  the 
longest  period  of  time  for  which  that  office 
has  been   held;   he  was  assessor  of  North 


1136 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Amherst  two  years:  served  for  twelve 
years  as  township  trustee,  and  did  much 
toward  the  improvement  of  Amherst;  and 
was  clerk  of  the  joint  board  (township  and 
village)  during  the  building  of  the  Town 
Hall.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Rice  Post 
No.  148,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  served  as 
commander  two  terms,  and  is  now  officer 
of  the  day;  of  Plato  Lodge,  No.  203, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has  been  secretary 
(he  has  passed  all  the  Chairs);  and  of  Am- 
herst Lodge  No.  74,  K.  of  P.,  of  which  he 
is  deputy  grand  chancellor.  Mr.  Stivvald 
is  an  energetic  citizen,  deeply  interested 
in  everything  tending  toward  the  improve- 
ment of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 


\ILLIAM  JAMESON,  a  native- 
born  farmer  citizen  of  Avon  town- 
ship, isasonofJosephB.  and  Avis 
(Smith)  Jameson,  the  father  a  na- 
tive of  New  Hampshire,  the  mother  of 
Massachusetts,  where  they  were  married. 
In  1824  they  came  to  Lorain  county.  Ohio, 
settling  in  the  woods  of  Avon  township, 
wiiere  they  opened  up  a  farm  and  made  a 
permanent  iiome.  Mrs.  Jameson  died  in 
1834,  and  Mr.  Jameson  subsequently  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Horr,  who  died  in  Avon 
township  in  1893;  to  that  union  were  born 
four  children,  of  whom  M.  B.,  the  only 
survivor,  resides  in  Avon  township. 

William  Jameson,  whose  name  opens 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  1824,  in  Avon 
township,  where  he  was  reared,  and  re- 
ceived his  elementary  education  in  the 
common  schools,  supplemented  by  one 
term  at  Norwalk.  He  taught  school  for 
seven  winters  in  Lorain  and  Cuyahoga 
counties,  since  when  he  has  chiefly  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1849  lie  located  on 
a  farm  in  Sheffield  township,  which  is  now 
known  as  Randall's  Grove,  and  first  built 
a  log  cabin  thereon,  which  was  afterward 
supplanted    by  a   frame   house.  '  On   that 


place  he  resided  for  sixteen  years,  improv- 
ing the  land,  and  then,  in  1865,  bought  an 
improved  farm  of  102|^  acres  in  Avon 
township,  to  which  he  himself  has  made 
n)any  new  improvements,  and  where  he 
has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming;  at  one  time  he  worked  on 
this  farm  for  twelve  dollars  per  month.  In 
1852  Mr.  Jameson  was  married,  in  Bir- 
mingham, Erie  county,  to  Miss  Laura  La- 
more,  who  was  a  native  of  LaGrange  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  the  adopted 
daughter  of  Dr.  Beaman,  an  early  settler 
of  French  Creek.  Mrs.  Laura  Jameson 
died  in  1859,  leaving  one  child,  Clyde 
Burton,  who  is  married  and  has  two  chil- 
dren: Everett  E.  and  Norris  Morey;  he 
resides  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In  1859  our  sub- 
ject wedded,  for  his  second  wife.  Miss 
Delia  F.  Stephens,  who  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Lovicia  (Foote)  Stepiiens,  both  natives 
of  Massachusetts  and  early  settlers  of  Avon 
township,  where  they  died.  To  this  union 
was  also  born  one  cliild,  George  Chauncy, 
who  graduated  from  the  Philadelphia 
Medical  University,  class  of  1893,  and  is 
now  located  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  His  mother 
died  in  1887.  In  politics  Mr.  Jameson  is 
a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  assessor 
of  Sheffield  township.  In  religious  faith 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
French  Creek, 


LAYTON  CHAPMAN,  a  rising  and 
brilliant  young  attorney  at  law,  and 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  Elyria,  is  a 
native  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born 
February  5,  1868,  a  son  of  Lucian  H.  and 
DeEtte  (Phelon)  Chapman,  also  natives  of 
the  Buckeye  State,  and  descended  from  old 
Massachusetts  families. 

He  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  place  of  birth,  and  for  a  time  taught 
school.     At  the  age  of  about   twenty  he 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1137 


commenced  the  study  of  law  with  A.  R. 
Webber,  the  prosecuting  attorney  of  Lo- 
rain county,  whose  office  was  in  Elyria. 
On  Marcli  5,  1891,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  at  once  commenced  the  pi-actice 
of  his  chosen  profession  in  Elyria.  In 
November,  1890.  being  then  but  twenty- 
two  years  old,  he  was  elected  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Elyria  township,  and  is  proba- 
bly the  yonngest  justice  in  the  State  of 
Ohio.  He  has  already  proven  himself  a 
jurist  of  considerable  ability,  and  has  the 
reputation  of  interpreting  the  law  in  its 
strictest  sense  and  bearing,  particularly  in 
criminal  cases.  Politically  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican  in  politics,  and  socially  he  is 
a  member  and  Regent  of  tiie  Royal  Ar- 
canum. 

Mr.  Chapman  was  united  in  marriage 
August  31,  1892,  with  Miss  Frances 
Mooers,  of  Elyria,  daughter  of  A.  H.  and 
Arlette  Mooers. 


E.  CAHOON  is  a  native  of  the 
city  of  Elyria,  where  he  resides, 
and  was  born  May  15,  184:6,  a 
son  of  William  0.  and  Melissa 
(Eldred)  Gaboon,  rhe  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in 
1810,  then  two  years  old,  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents. 

Joseph  Gaboon,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  the  first  settler  in  Dover,  Cuyahoga 
county,  and  the  old  home  place  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  members  of  the  family. 
Many  changes  have  taken  place  on  it  in 
the  lapse  of  years,  but  the  old  fireplace 
where  they  cooked  their  meals  is  still  ex- 
tant, also  apple  trees  jilanted  by  Grand- 
father Gaboon,  which  have  borne  fruit 
ever  since.  On  this  place  William  O. 
Cahoon  lived  till  he  was  about  seventeen 
years  old,  when  he  moved  to  the  southern 
part  of  the  State  for  a  time;  then  return- 
ing northward  ho  finally,  in  1835,  settled 
in  Elyria,  where  he  passed   the  remainder 


of  his  days,  dying  in  1878.  His  widow 
passed  away  in  1888.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican  and  Free-soiler,  and  in  church 
connection  he  was  a  Methodist.  His 
family  numbered  five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. The  eldest  son,  E.  A.,  was  a  member 
of  Battery  E,  First  Ohio  Artillery,  in 
which  he  served  two  and  one-half  years, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

W.  E.  Cahoon  received  his  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  home,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  en- 
listed  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Thiity-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  one  hundred  days 
service,  which  regiment  was  sent  to  Vir- 
ginia, Maryland,  Harper's  Ferry,  Martins- 
burg  and  Maryland  Heights,  participating 
in  the  tight  at  John  Brown's  Schoolhouse. 
On  his  return  home  Mr.  Gaboon  learned 
the  trade  of  tinner,  which  he  followed 
about  twelve  years,  but  accidentally  losing 
his  right  arm  while  firincr  off  a  cannon  on 
Decoration  Day,  1874,  he  closed  up  his 
business  in  1878.  In  1875  he  was  elected 
assessor  of  Elyria  township,  filling  the 
office  four  consecutive  years;  in  1882  he 
was  elected  county  recorder,  serving  till 
January  1,  1892,  since  when  he  has  been 
abstracter  of  titles. 

Mr.  Gaboon  was  married,  July  30,  1874, 
to  Mrs.  M.  P.  (Bush)  Tyler,  who  was  born 
in  Fremont,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Enrotus  H.  and  Mary  (Goodsell)  Bush, 
both  of  whom  w^ere  born  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  socially  he  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  Royal  Arcanum, 


%  OBERT  COWLES,  well-known  in 
Eaton  township  as  a  well-to-do 
farmer  and  dairyman,  and  respected 
as  a  loyal  and  useful  citizen,  is  a 
native  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  born 
in  183(5. 

He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Com- 
mode) Cowles,  also  natives  of  the   Isle  of 


1138 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Man,  who  in  1837  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  locating  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  where  the  father  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  liatter.  In  1849  they  came 
to  Eaton  townsliip,  Lorain  county,  and 
here  in  the  wild  woods  the  family  made  a 
clearing  for  a  new  home,  there  residing  till 
about  1861,  when  the  father  moved  to 
Fulton  county,  Ohio,  thence  to  Lake  town- 
ship. Wood  Co.,  same  State.  He  died  in 
1875,  his  wife  in  1854,  while  they  were 
living  in  Eaton  township.  A  brief  record 
of  the  children  born  to  this  couple  is  as 
follows:  John  died  about  1866  in  Fulton 
county,  Ohio  (during  the  Civil  war  he  en- 
listed, in  Fulton  county,  in  the  Sixty- 
seventh  O.  V.  I.,  served  three  years, 
veteranized,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the 
war) ;  Jane  was  married  to  Thomas  Crane, 
and  died  June  14,  1889,  in  Wood  county, 
Ohio;  Robert  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Charles  resides  in  Michigan  (he  enlisted  in 
the  Civil  war  in  Fulton  county,  Ohio); 
Henry  died  in  April,  1891,  in  Wood  county 
(he  enlisted  in  Fulton  county  in  the  Sixty- 
seventh  O.  V.  L,  and  served  till  the  close 
of  the  war);  William  also  enlisted  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Ohio  (he  died  in  Michigan); 
Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of  Peter  Domito, 
died  in  1875  in  Adrian,  Michigan. 

The  snl)ject  proper  of  this  sketch  was, 
as  will  be  seen,  an  infant  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  country.  He  received 
his  education  at  the  schools  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  trained  to  the  arduous 
duties  of  the  farm.  In  1851  he  moved  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  whei-e  he  learned  the  trade 
of  carpenter  and  joiner,  at  wliich  he  worked 
in  that  city  for  some  years.  In  1860  he 
went  to  Pike's  Peak  by  the  overland  route, 
and  tiiere  labored,  and  followed  his  trade; 
thence  proceeded  to  South  Park,  where  he 
worked  two  years,  making  salt.  From 
there,  in  1863,  he  proceeded  by  overland 
route  to  California,  and  engaged  in  team- 
ing at  Sutter. Creek  until  1865,  in  which 
year  he  went  to  Boise  City,  Idaho,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  construction  of  a 
building    to   be  used  as  a  factory  wherein 


to  grind  quartz  rock.  After  one  year  he 
returned  to  Amador  county,  Cal.,  and 
from  there,  in  1873,  came  to  Ohio,  first 
tarrying  in  Wood  county,  and  then  from 
there  coming,  in  1880,  to  Lorain  county, 
finally  settling  in  Eaton  township,  where 
he  has  since  carried  on  farming  operations, 
including  dairying. 

In.  1878  Mr.  Cowles  was  married  to 
Miss  Betsy  Jane  Spaulding,  born  in  Eaton 
township,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Repta 
(Howard)  Spaulding  (both  now  deceased), 
natives  of  New  Hampshire,  who  in  1836 
came  to  Lorain  county,  and  in  1839  moved 
on  a  farm  in  Eaton  township  now  owned  by 
R.  Cowles,  with  their  family  of  six  children 
— four  sons  and  two  daughters.  One 
daughter  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
the  rest  grew  up  on  the  farm.  In  their 
wilderness  home  they  lived  for  some  time, 
the  nearest  neighbors  being  one   mile  dis- 

-»  r 

tatit,  and  the  farm  was  slowly  cleared.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Spaulding  died  on  the  farm, 
June  10,  1863,  and  April  22,  1875,  re- 
spectively. The  remaining  daughter  still 
lives  on  the  farm.  Politically  Mr.  Cowles 
is  a  Republican;  Mrs.  Cowles  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county. 


AMUEL  BEAL,  a  leading  agricul- 
turist of  Elyria  township,  is  a  native 
of  Lorain  county,  born  May  7, 1846, 
^  a  son  of  Philip  and  Eva  (Smith) 
Beal,  who  were  married  in  Germany,  where 
three  of  their  children  were  born.  They 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  on  a  farm  where  the 
father  died  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  as  follows:  Eva  (wife  of  Chris- 
topher Decker),  Maria  (wife  of  John  Kolpe), 
Lewis  (now  in  Michigan),  Susie  (wife  of 
C.  Heeg),  Paul,  Mary,  Moses  and  Samuel. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1139 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1870  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Catherine  Eppley,  and  eight 
children  were  born  to  them,  named  as  fal- 
lows: Frank  (married  to  Mary  Barth), 
Cora  (wife  of  Vernon  Bender,  and  has  one 
child,  Lydia),  Ora,  Samuel,  Charles,  Har- 
vey, Earl  and  Elmer.  Mr.  Beal  owns  144 
acres  of  land,  and  by  industry  and  per- 
serverance  has  accumulated  a  snug  com- 
petence. In  his  political  preferences  he  is 
a  Kepublican,  and  in  matters  of  religion  he 
is  an  adherent  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 


fll   MASA  WEST,   retired   farmer  and 

//l\     blacksmith,   the    cheerful    ring    of 

fr\^   whose    anvil    has    been    heard    for 

■^  miles    around    his    "  smiddj' ''    for 

many  a  day  in  Kussia  township,  is 

a  native  of  Massachusetts,   born  June  9, 

1817,  in  Berkshire  county,  a  son  of  Joshua 

and  Mary  (Newell)  West,  both  also  natives 

of  Berkshire  county,  the  mother  born   in 

the  town  of  Lenox. 

Joshua  West,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  1774,  and  his  father  hailed  from 
the  Cape  Cod  District.  The  family  de- 
scend from  one  of  three  brothers  who  came 
from  England  to  America  many  years  ago, 
one  of  whom  was  entirely  lost  sight  of. 
Joshua  AVest  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  He 
married  Mary  Newell,  and  in  Lee,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  were  born  to  them  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  reached  maturity, 
as  follows:  Washington,  a  farmer,  who 
died  in  Pittsfield  township,  Lorain  county; 
Carlos,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  who  died  in 
Tabor,  Iowa;  Josiah  N.,  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  who  also  died  in  Tabor,  Iowa; 
Oliver,  a  farmer  of  Pittsfield  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  he  died;  Mar}',  who 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  AVoleott,  died 
in  Pittstield;  Aniasa,  subject  of  this  sketch; 


Jesse,  who  died  in  Tabor,  Iowa,  being  the 
first  of  the  family  to  pass  away  (he  was  a 
strong  Abolitionist  and  a  warm  fiiend  of 
the  negro);  and  Jane,  widow  of  Albert 
Root,  of  Pittsfield,  Ohio. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1832  our  subject 
and  his  brother  Oliver  came  to  Ohio  by 
sleigh,  there  still  being  snow  on  the 
ground  as  far  as  nine  miles  west  of 
Buflfalo,  N.Y.,  where,  snow  now  disappear- 
ing, they  traded  their  sleigh  for  a  wagon, 
which  brought  them  on  to  Wellincrton, 
Lorain  county,  where  an  older  brother, 
Josiah  Newell  West,  a  blacksmith,  had 
located,  in  whose  shop  our  subject  com- 
menced an  apprenticeship.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  the  parents,  with  four  of 
the  remaining  children  —  Washington, 
Jesse,  Mary  and  Jane  — -  came  to  Lorain 
county  from  Massachusetts,  making  the 
journey  with  two  wagons — a  two-horse 
and  a  single.  They  made  their  new  home 
in  Wellington  township,  two  and  one- 
half  miles  north  of  the  center,  on  a  totally 
unimproved  farm  then  almost  all  in  the 
woods;  and  after  a  few  years'  residence 
there  the  father  moved  to  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming.  In 
November,  1854,  while  on  his  way  to 
Pittsfield  on  business,  he  stopped  over- 
night at  a  wayside  tavern,  some  ten  miles 
southeast  of  Cleveland,  where  he  acci- 
dentally fell  downstairs  and  was  killed;  he 
was  buried  in  Pittsfield  cemetery.  His 
widow  died  in  1801,  and  was  laid  to  rest 
beside  him.  Mr.  West  in  politics  was  a 
Whig,  and  in  church  relationship  was  a 
Presbyterian  till  coming  to  Ohio,  when  he 
united  with  the  Cougregationalists.  At 
the  time  of  his  decease  he  was  in  comfort- 
able circumstances,  and  in  his  earlier  days 
he  was  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
prosperous  farmers  of  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts. 

Amasa  West,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  home, 
and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  fifteen 
years  of  age,  whon  he  commenced  to  learn 


1140 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  trade  of  blacksmith  at  Wellington, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years. 
He  then  worked  ont,  earning  various 
wages  at  different  places,  at  one  smithy 
receiving  one  hundred  dollars  a  year  and 
his  board,  a  day's  work  often  being  twelve 
or  fourteen  hours.  After  his  marriage  he 
located  at  Windham,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  tliere  followed  his  trade  till  Novem- 
ber, 1843,  when  be  moved  to  Pittsfield, 
Lorain  county.  Here  he  bought  a  farm 
on  which  he  resided  till  1853,  when  he 
sold  out,  moved  back  to  Windham,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  150  acres,  where  he 
lived  till  the  death  cf  his  wife  in  Septem- 
ber, 1854;  in  1855  he  sold  his  farm  and 
traveled  for  two  years.  While  in  Pitts- 
field  Mr.  West  had  lieen  for  one  and  one- 
lialf  years  engaged  in  mercantile  l)usiness, 
but  failing  health  caused  him  to  abandon 
it,  and  in  1859  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Henrietta,  where  he  lived  till  the  spring 
of  1879.  He  then  moved  to  Oberlin  in 
order  to  have  his  children  educated,  and 
while  there  he  sold  the  farm  in  Henrietta 
township,  buying  his  present  one  in  Rus- 
sia township,  on  which  he  has  erected  a 
modern  residence,  where  he  now  lives  in 
retirement. 

On  October  14,  1840,  while  working  at 
bis  trade  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  Mr. 
West  was  married  in  Windham  to  Miss 
Hannah  Lyman,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Lyman,  the  first  settler  in  Windham  town- 
ship. Portage  county,  and  bv  this  union 
there  were  three  children:  Martha,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Mary  L. 
(now  Mrs.  Ira  D.  Bryant,  of  Spencer, 
Medina  Co., Ohio),  and  Hannah  M.,  living 
at  home  with  her  father.  This  wife  died 
in  September,  1854,  and  for  bis  second 
wife  Mr.  West  married,  on  May  28,  1858, 
Nancy  B.  Dudley,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Dudley.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  five  children,  three  of 
■whom  died  in  infancy,  the  remaining  two 
being  Edward  D.,  a  plumber  by  trade, 
and  Harriet  A.,  at  home  with  her  father. 
The  mother  of  these   passed  from   earth 


November  20,  1885,  and  lies  buried  in 
Henrietta  township,  Lorain  county.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  West  was  originally  a  Whig, 
his  first  Presidential  vote  being  cast  for 
William  H.  Harrison,  and  he  is  now  a 
liberal  Republican.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  since  1843,  and 
has  frequently  held   office  in  same. 


If  S.  STRAW.  Prominent  among  the 
thoroughly  representative  agricultnr- 
_[  ists  of  Carlisle  township  is  found  this 
gentleman. 
He  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
April  29,  1830,  a  son  of  Ezra  and  Hannah 
(Colbtath)  Straw,  of  New  Hampshire 
birth.  In  an  early  day  Ezra  Straw  moved 
to  the  northern  part  of  New  York  State, 
and  thence,  in  1833,  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  locating  at  first  in  Huntington 
township,  afterward  in  Sheffield  township, 
and  finally  settling  in  Amherst  township. 
He  died  'in  1854,  his  wife  in  1887.  In 
his  political  sympathies  he  was  originally 
an  Old-line  Whig,  in  later  years  a  Repub- 
lican. Tiie)'  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children  whom  they  reared  to  maturity, 
five  of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely:  I.  S., 
subject  of  this  memoir;  Ezra,  a  farmer  of 
Black  River  township;  Selina,  widow  of 
Sylvester  Potter,  of  North  Amherst; 
Marina,  wife  of  W.  P.  Potter,  of  North 
Amherst;  Sophia,  wife  of  G.  W.  Barns,  of 
Amherst  township.  On  the  father's  side 
the  family  are  'German,  on  the  mother's 
they  are  English. 

As  will  be  seen,  our  subject  was  a  small 
boy  when  his  parents  came  to  Lorain 
county,  and  he  was  here  reared  and  edu- 
cated, receiving  a  thoroughly  practical 
training  to  farming  pursuits  under  his 
fatiier's  tuition.  In  1864  he  purchased 
his  present  farm  in  Carlisle  township,  one 
of  the  most  fertile  and  best  kept  in  the 
county.     Mr.   Straw  has  been  thrice  mar- 


<lX-iC 


Cr/c3^-^>^ 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1143 


ried:  first  time,  in  Norwalic,  Ohio,  in 
1854,  to  Miss  Jane  Murray,  a  native  of 
Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
dauirhter  of  Ahner  and  Betsey  Murray, 
pioneers  of  that  township,  where  the 
mother  died;  the  father  passed  away  in 
JSIorwalk,  Ohio.  To  this  marriage  were 
born  three  children,  viz.:  Murray  A.,  who 
died  in  Colorado;  Charles  (married),  resid- 
ing in  Elyriafhas  three  children:  Isaac  N., 
Earl  and  Nellie);  and  Jennie  M.,  wife  of 
Harvey  Walls,  of  Elyria.  The  mother  of 
these  was  called  from  earth  in  1863,  and 
for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Straw  married, 
January  8,  1864,  Miss  Betsey  Lawrence,  a 
native  of  Vermont,  and  daughter  of  Steven 
Lawrence,  a  pioneer  of  Carlisle  township, 
Lorain  county;  she  died  August  6,  1889. 
In  July,  1892,  Mr.  Straw  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Sarah  Penney  Willson. 
In  his  political  synipatiiies  our  subject  is 
a  straight  Republican,  active  in  the  inter- 
ests of  his  party.  He  has  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  was  a  director  of  the 
County  Infirmary  sixteen  years.  He  is 
highly  respected  and  esteemed  as  a  useful, 
loyal  and  progressive  citizen. 


I[J[ENRY   TOWNSEND.     This  gen- 
\^^     tleman,  who  r^nks  among  the  well- 
I     IJ    known   farmer  citizens  of   Carlisle 
■^  township,    was    borji    in    1831,    ii^ 

Warwickshire,  England.  His  par- 
ents, William  and  Ann  (Darlow)  Town- 
send,  were  natives  of  the  same  connty, 
where  they  passed  their  entire  lives,  the 
father  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  the 
mother  in  about  1863. 

Henry  Townsend  was  reared  in  England, 
receiving  during  his  youth  but  limited 
educational  advantao-es,  and  after  his 
school  days  were  over  followed  farming  in 
his  native  country  until  the  age  of  twenty- 
six.  In  1857  he  immigrated  to  America, 
proceeding  at  once  to  Elyria,  Lorain  Co., 

59 


Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  aoricultural 
work.  He  subse(juently  went  to  Sugar 
Ridge,  Ridgeville  township,  and  in  1862 
came  to  Carlisle  township,  locating  on  the 
farm  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  purchased  twenty-nine  acres,  then  in 
the  woods,  cleared  a  place  to  build  a 
house,  and  has  made  all  the  improvements 
on  the  tract  with  his  own  hands.  He  has 
added  to  the  farm  from  time  to  tune,  and 
now  owns  one  hundred  acres,  all  highly 
improved  and  cultivated,  upon  which  he 
has  erected  a  good  house  and  barn.  A 
sister  of  our  subject,  the  wife  of  John 
Smith,  who  came  to  Lorain  county  in 
1857,  resides  on  an  adjoining  farm  in 
Carlisle  township. 

In  1862  Mr.  Townsend  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Eaton  township,  with  Miss 
Ann  Roach,  who  was  born  in  Northamp- 
tonshire, England,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Eames)  Roach.  Her  parents, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Northampton- 
shire, in  1856  came  from  England  to  the 
United  States,  locating  first  in  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they 
remained  one  year,  thence  moving  to  Ridgp- 
villc,  where  they  resided  for  two  years.  The 
family  next  lived  a  year  at  Plum  Creek,  and 
finally  moved  to  Eaton  township,  where 
they  opened  up  a  farm,  and  made  a  per- 
manent home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roach  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Mattock,  of  De- 
fiance county,  Ohio;  Ann,  Mrs. Townsend; 
Joseph,  married  and  residing  in  Hall 
county,  Neb.;  William,  who  enlisted,  in 
1861,  in  Company  K,  Twenty-third 
O.  V.  I.,  and  was  killed  November  15, 
1861,  at  Camp  Ewing,  W.  Va.  (he  was 
accidentally  shot);  Thomas,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, in  England;  Betsey,  wife  of  Henry 
Montague,  residing  in  New  Chanute, 
Kans. ;  Sophia,  wife  of  Peter  Watts, 
of  Knightstown,  Henry  Co.,  Ind. ;  and 
Thomas,  a  resident  of  Eaton  township. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  Am- 
herst township  in  1856,  the  father  in  1888 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Townsend. 


1144 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  party,  and  has  served  as  trustee  and 
supervisor  of  his  township.  He  has  al- 
ways followed  farming  in  the  township, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  among  the  most 
proTuiiient  and  highly  respected  members 
of  the  community  in  which  they  reside. 
To  their  union  have  come  two  cliildren,  as 
follows:  William,  who  on  April  22,  1886, 
was  united  in  marriao-e  with  Miss  Celia 
Jane  Phil  pott,  of  Elyria  (he  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  the  home  farm);  and  Martha 
Sophia,  at  home. 


E.  SQUIRES,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant at  Turner's  Mills,  is  a  native 
of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  born  Au- 
gust 16,  1837,  in  Carlisle  township. 
His  parents,  Abner  and  Lois 
Squii'es,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and  in 
1831  migrated  westward  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  settling  in  Carlisle,  where  the 
father,  who  was  a  farmer,  died  in  1851, 
his  widow  in  1864.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  political  faith.  These  pioneers  reared 
a  family  of  eight  children  (four  of  whom 
are  yet  living),  namely:  Emily,  widow  of 
Abel  M.  Thorpe,  residing  in  Elyria  town- 
ship; Ida.  who  was  married  to  A.  Pang- 
born,  and  died  in  Elyria  township;  Anson, 
deceased  in  Elyria;  Truman,  married,  and 
residing  in  Story  county,  Iowa;  Susan, 
wife  pf  Charles  B.  Sutliff,  both  now  de- 
ceased; Ezra,  married,  and  residing  in 
Michigan;  Louisa,  Mrs.  Halford,  who  died 
in  Pittslield ;  and  A.  E. 

A.  E.  Squires  was  reared  in  his  native 
township,  receiving  his  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  the  district.  In  1861 
he  enlisted,  for  three  years,  in  Company 
K,  Twenty-third  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  was 
mustered  in  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
served  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
participating  in  the  engagements  at  South 


Mountain  and  Antietam,  besides  many 
skirmishes.  In  1864  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  and  returned  home,  but 
subsequently  re-enlisted,  this  time  in  the 
Eleventh  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  with  Sherman 
on  his  march  to  the  sea,  served  throughout 
the  Carolina  campaign,  and  took  part  in 
the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
Camp  Dennison,  and  immediately  returned 
to  Carlisle  township,  where  he  commenced 
to  follow  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 
builder. 

On  January  81,  1860  Mr.  Squires  was 
married,  in  Carlisle  township,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Cornell,  who  was  born  in  Pitts- 
field,  Lorain  county,  daughter  of  George 
Cornell,  an  early  pioneer  of  the  county, 
where  he  lived  and  died.  To  this  union 
was  born  one  sou,  Orville,  whose  mother 
died  in  1883.  On  August  1,  1892,  Mr. 
Squires  was  married,  in  Carlisle  township, 
to  Mrs.  Emma  Pember,  widow  of  De  Witt 
Pember,  of  Carlisle;  she  is  a  native  of 
Summit  county.  Ohio,  daughter  of  William 
Manning,  who  removed  from  Summit 
county  to  Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  he  died  in  1867.  In  politics  Mr. 
Squires  is  a  Prohibitionist,  and  served  for 
one  year,  1891,  as  postmaster  at  Turner's 
Mills,  when  the  office  was  discontinued. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  Turner's  Mills  since  1890. 


i^ARREN  W.  BLAINE,  owner  of 
as  fertile  and  well-conducted  a 
farm  as  can  be  found  in  Ridge- 
ville  township,  is  a  native  of  same, 
born  in  1837,  a  son  of  Richard  and  Fannie 
(Fuller)  Blaine. 

Richard  Blaine  was  born  in  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Wilson  and  Han- 
nah (Vannatten)  Blaine,  who  were  natives 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  respect- 
ively. In  1819,  when  Richard  was  a  lad 
of  six  summers,  they  came  from  Genesee 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1145 


county,  N.  Y.,  to  Lorain  county,  Oliio, 
and  made  a  settlement  in  Ridj^eville  town- 
ship, at  tiiat  time  all  woodland.  Wilson 
Blaine  lived  also  for  a  time  in  Eaton  town- 
ship, but  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  Ridgeville,  where  he  and  his  wife 
died,  the  latter  in  1861.  Grandfather 
Warren  Fuller  came  to  Olmsted,  Cuyahoga 
Co.,  Ohio,  in  an  early  d&y. 

Richard  Blaine,  lather  of  subject,  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  common  schools 
of  Ridgeville  township,  and  at  La  Porte. 
He  made  agriculture  his  life  work,  and  be- 
came prosperous.  He  was  married,  in 
Olmsted,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Fannie  Fuller,  and  they  then  commenced 
married  life  on  the  homestead  in  Ridge- 
ville township,  Lorain  county,  making 
their  home  in  an  old  log  cabin.  The  chil- 
dren born  to  them  were  four  in  number,  as 
follow.6:  W^arren  W.,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
James,  who  resides  in  Cleveland;  Vesty, 
wife  of  Noah  Peck,  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship;  and  Harlon,  who  died  in  Ridgeville 
township  about  1856.  The  father  of  these 
died  in  1877,  the  mother  in  1886.  He 
was  at  first  a  Whig  in  his  political  views, 
later  a  Republican,  and  served  in  various 
township  otiices. 

Warren  W.  Blaine,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  liis  primary  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  Ridgeville 
township,  which  he  supplemented  with  a 
course  of  study  at  Berea  (^Ohio)  College. 
He  had  a  practical  training  in  agricultural 
pursuits  under  his  father's  tuition,  and  has 
made  farming  his  life  work.  In  1861  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Watson,  a  native  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship,  Lorain  county,  daughter  of  John 
Watson  (deceased),  who  was  an  English- 
man by  birth  and  an  early  settler  of  Ridge- 
ville. Seven  children  were  born  to  this 
union,  as  follows:  Martin,  residing  in 
Ridgeville,  who  is  married,  and  has  two 
children,  Theodore  and  Melvin;  R.  E.,wife 
of  Ed.  Terrell,  residing  in  Elyria,  has  two 
children,  Orville  and  Elfa;  Elfa,  who  was 
the  wife  of  John  Reed,  and  died  in  Cali- 


fornia in  1888,  leaving  one  child,  Olive  E. ; 
Janie,  Harlon,  Fannie  and  Emma.  Mr. 
Blaine  owns  the  old  homestead  in  Ridge- 
ville township,  aggregating  131  acres  of 
well-cultivated  land.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 


[(  DDISON  E.  LORD,  manufacturer 
l\  of  cigars,  Elyria,  is  a  native  of 
1\  Connecticut,  born  at  Warehouse 
Point,  Hartford  county,  October  16, 
1842,  a  son  of  Chester  Adkins  and 
Lucretia  (Moran)  Lord,  also  natives  of  the 
Nutmeg  State,  and  descended  from  old 
New  England  stock.  The  father,  who  was 
for  over  forty  years  a  stationary  engineer, 
lived  to  be  eighty-two  years  of  age.  They 
had  eight  children  (subject  being  the  young- 
est), of  whom  one  son  and  four  daughters 
are  vet  living.  The  parents  died  in  1845, 
on  May  17  and  July  2,  respectively. 

Addison  E.  Lord  received  his  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  yicinity  of 
his  place  of  birth,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen (1857)  went  on  a  whaling  expedition 
to  the  sea  of  Ochotsk,  east  of  Russia  in 
Asia  (eastern  Siberia);  thence  sailed  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  visiting,  among  other  places 
of  importance.  New  Zealand.  In  July, 
1861,  he  returned  to  his  old  home,  to  find 
the  country  about  to  plunge  into  a  terrible 
Civil  war,  and  he  remained  but  one  short 
month  in  peaceful  quietude,  when,  tired 
by  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  joined  the 
U.  S.  navy  as  a  seaman.  He  served  three 
years  and  four  months,  cruising  along  the 
coast  from  the  Mississippi  to  Galveston, 
Te.\as.  In  the  winter  of  1864  he  once 
more  returned  to  the  pursuits  of  peace, 
coming  direct  to  Elyria,  Ohio,  where  he 
had  a  brother  engaged  in  the  cigar-making 
business,  with  whom  he  found  employment, 
learning  the  trade.  AVith  him  he  remained 
until  1874,  when  he  opened  out  in  the 
same  town  for  his  own  account,  doing  an 


1146 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


exclusively  wholesale  business  till  1877, 
in  whicl)  year  he  moved  into  his  present 
building,  and  commenced  the  retail  trade 
in  company  with  F.  H.  Siidro  (abandoning 
the  wholesale);  he  has  since  done  a  flour- 
ishing business,  keeping  a  large  and  choice 
stock,  chiefly  of  his  own  mannfacture. 

Mr.  Lord  was  married  in  January,  1866, 
to  Miss  Louise  Ward,  a  native  of  Elyria, 
and  three  children  came  to  brighten  their 
home,  viz.:  Burton  H.,died  April  17, 1870; 
Ed.  G.  and  Pearl.  Mrs.  Lord's  parents, 
Lyman  and  Calista  Ward,  were  natives  of 
Vermont;  the  father  died  August  6,  1872, 
the  mother  November  8,  1876.  Mr.  Lord 
is  a  Republican  in  politics;  socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  L  O.  O.  F.  and 
G.  A.  R.,  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
K.  of  H.,  L.  of  H.,  and  I.  O.  F.  Of  the 
L  O.  O.  F.  he  has  been  a  member  for 
twenty-three  years,  has  fllled  the  Chairs 
from  warden  to  noble  grand,  and  has  been 
a  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  Mr. 
Lord  is  a  useful  citizen,  popular  and  pro- 
gressive, and  has  done  his  part  toward  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  his  adopted 
county  and  town. 


D 


R.  MOYSEY,  the  leading  veterin- 
ary surgeon  of  Elyria,  was  born 
April  19,  1858,  in  Mansfield,  Rich- 
land Co..  Ohio,  a  son  of  R.  R.  and 
Sallie  (Dennison)  Mojsey,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England.  In 
1852  R.  R.  Moysey  came  from  England  to 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  six- 
teen years,  and  then  moved  to  Kel ley's 
Island,  Ohio,  where  he  has  ever  since  made 
liis  home.  For  twenty-five  years  he  has 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  grape 
culture  and  wine  making,  and  he  is  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  Sweet  Valley  Wine 
Company. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch   received   his 
education    at    the   common   schools  of  the 


vicinity  of  his  place  of  birth,  and  was 
reared  to  his  father's  grape  business  on 
Kelley's  Island  in  Lake  Erie,  until  he 
commenced  the  stxidy  of  veterinary  sur- 
gery. In  1885  he  entered  the  Veterinary 
College  at  Chicago,  graduating  from  same 
in  1887.  He  then  came  to  Elyria,  and 
practiced  his  profession  exclusively  till 
about  two  years  ago,  when  he  opened  a 
livery  stable  in  connection,  having  as  a 
partner  J.  L.  Reed,  and  he  does  an  exten- 
sive business  in  both  iuterests. 

On  April  24,  1883,  D.  R.  Moysey  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sallie  D. 
Carpenter  (who  was  also  reared  on  Kelley's 
Island),  daughter  of  Charles  Carpenter, 
who  was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.;  her 
mother  was  born  at  Rockport,  Ohio,  and 
was  one  of  the  old  Kelley  family.  To  this 
marriage  children  were  born  as  follows: 
Lyiine,  Mildred,  Mabel  and  Florence,  (^ur 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  popular, 
loyal  citizen. 


P)HILIP  RITZENTHALER,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  Breck- 
enridge  &  Ritzenthaler,  merchants, 
Kipton,  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Ger- 
many, born  August  14,  1841,  a  son 
of  Philip  Ritzenthaler. 

In  1851  the  family,  consisting  of  parents, 
three  sons  and  one  dancrhter,  left  the 
Fatherland  for  the  distant  shores  of  Amer- 
ica, sailing  frotn  Havre,  France,  for  New 
York,  where  they  landed  after  a  voyage 
of  thirty  days.  From  there  they  proceeded 
to  Dunkirk,  thence  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and 
in  Milan  township,  Erie  county,  the  father 
bought  land.  Later  he  moved  to  Wake- 
man  township,  Huron  county,  where  he 
sojourned  a  short  time,  and  then,  on  ac- 
count of  impaired  health,  came  toNor- 
walk,  same  county,  where  he  lived  a  retired 
life,  and  died  in  March,  1861.  He  was 
well-to-do,  but  having  financially  assisted 
other  German  families  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica, and   failing  to   be    repaid   by  them  in 


LORAIN  VOUNTY,  OHIO. 


1147 


any  shape,  lie  lost  a  considerable  amount 
of  money.  He  had  a  family  of  eicrht  chil- 
dren, of  whom  are  yet  living:  Barnhart, 
a  farmer  in  Baden,  Germany;  Charles,  a 
farmer  of  Ontario  comity,  N.  Y.;  (Tcorge, 
of  Erie  county,  Ohio;  Philip,  subject  of 
sketch;  Mary,  Mrs.  Anthony  Sieboit,  of 
Erie  county,  Ohio;  and  Emma,  Mrs.  Nahm, 
a  widow,  of  P^remout,  Ohio. 

Philip  Ritzenthaler,  whose  name  opens 
tills  sketch,  received  a  limiteil  education  at 
the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  at  the 
a<je  of  fourteen,  being  now  in  Ohio  with 
his  parents,  left  home  to  do  for  himself. 
In  1857  he  came  to  Kipton,  and  worked 
for  O.  Bowen,  who  then  conducted  a  hotel, 
and  was  also  ticket  agent  for  the  Lake 
Shiire  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  that  place,  and  also  attended  the 
pumping  station  for  the  same  company. 
Here  he  remained  some  four  or  live 
months,  and  then  went  to  the  farm  of 
Hirain  Prentice,  near  Kipton,  with  whom 
he  worked  for  some  years  at  from  four  to 
eight  dollars  per  month,  and  board,  in  the 
summers,  and  in  the  winters  for  his  board 
only,  as  he  attended  school  a  good  part  of 
the  time.  From  Mr.  Prentice  he  went  in 
1861  to  live  with  John  P.  Lee,  but  Octo- 
ber 31,  same  year,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
H,  Forty-third  O.  Y.  L;  he  participated 
in  the  battle  of  New  Madrid  (near  Island 
No.  10),  the  Corinth  campaign,  and  second 
battle  of  Corinth.  After  serving  two  years 
and  three  months,  he  reenlisted,  and  was 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea,  ex- 
periencing all  the  hardships  of  that  mem- 
orable campaign.  He  served  in  all  three 
years  and  nine  months.  In  July,  1865, 
he  was  discharged  from  the  service  at 
Louisville,  Ky..  returning  to  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  for  two  years  fol- 
lowinir  again  worked  for  Hiram  Prentice. 
In  1867  he  went  to  Moore  county,  Minn., 
and  cultivated  a  piece  of  land  he  had  pur- 
chased there,  but  after  a  residence  of  two 
years  and  three  months  he  returned  to 
Kipton.  In  1869,  after  his  marriage,  he 
and  his  young  wife  went  into  housekeep- 


ing in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
managed  a  farm  for  three  years,  and  once 
more  returned  to  Kipton.  In  1880  Mr. 
Ritzenthaler  entered  the  general  store  of 
William  Douglass  at  Kipton,  as  partner, 
and  after  two  years  served  as  postmaster 
under  C.  A.  Arthur,  at  the  same  time 
clerking  in  the  store  of  Doiiglass  &  Rose. 
For  some  time  thereafter  he  was  in  the 
creamery  business  with  E.  Jones,  of  Fos- 
toria,  Ohio;  later  became  clerk  for  B.  F. 
Breckenridge  at  Kipton,  and  in  1890  they 
formed  a  partnership  which  has  since  con- 
tinued. 

In  July,  1869,  our  subject  married  Miss 
Hattie  M.  Allen,  born  in  Henrietta  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Rose- 
well  Allen.  She  died  in  1875  in  Kipton, 
and  was  buried  in  Oberlin,  the  mother  of 
two  children:  Nellie  M..  now  Mrs.  Will- 
iam L.  Moninger,  of  Waynesboro,  Penn., 
and  Laura  M.,  now  Mrs.  L.  C.  Bates,  of 
Lorain,  Ohio.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Ritzenthaler  married,  in  1879,  Miss  Annetta 
Eddy,  who  was  born  in  Camden  township, 
Lorain  county,  a  daughter  of  Squire  Eddy. 
a  pioneer  citizen  of  Camden  township.  To 
this  union  were  born  children,  as  follows: 
Nettie  L. ;  Reuben  E.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  six  months,  and  Flossie  E.,  all  living.  In 
his  political  sympathies  our  subject  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Republican,  hns  held 
various  township  offices,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  clerk  with   fidelity  and   ability. 


IfffENRY   PIFER.     This    representa- 
f!^     tive,    prosperous    agriculturist    of 
I     1     Rochester   township    is    a    son     of 
^J  Christian    and    Catherine  (Garner) 

Pifer,  natives  of  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

In  1836  the  parents  came  to  Ohio,  lo- 
cating on  a  farm  in  Orange  township, 
Ashland  county,  where  the  father  bought 
thirty  acres  of  wild  land,  that  part  of  the 
country  being  entirely  new,  without  a  single 


1148 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


road  in  it,  only  blazed  trees  marking  a  path 
through  the  woods.  A  temporary  log 
house  was  built,  and  in  course  of  time  a 
better  one;  thirty  acres  were  added  to  the 
first  purchase,  and,  later,  still  more,  until 
the  farm  aggregated  114  acres.  Children 
as  follows  were  born  to  this  pioneer 
couple:  Jacob,  who  resides  in  Marion 
county,  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  single,  who  re- 
sides on  the  home  farm;  Martha,  who 
makes  her  home  in  Brighton,  Lorain 
county;  Mary,  who  is  the  widow  of  Isaac 
Lydick,  of  Orange  township,  Ashland 
countj';  Samuel,  a  farmer  of  Orange 
township;  and  Henry,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  in  July,  1881,  aged  seventy-five 
years;  the  mother  on  August  20,  1893,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years, 
one  month,  fourteen  days,  and  they  lie 
side  by  side  in  Orange  cemetery,  Ashland 
county.  They  were  members  of  the  Dunk- 
ard  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Pifer  was 
a  Republican. 

Henry  Pifer,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  September  11,  1841, 
in  Orange  township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio. 
In  1865  he  came  to  Lorain  county,  where 
for  a  year  he  was  employed  on  the  farm  of 
Josephus  Clark,  and  then  rented  land. 
After  his  marriage  he  rented  a  farm  in 
Ruggles  township,  Ashland  county,  for  a 
few  years,  and  in  1873  bought  seventy-five 
acres  in  Rochester  township,  Lorain 
county,  which  is  embodied  in  his  present 
farm.  Hither  he  i-emoved,  and  there  resided 
until  his  purchase  from  Thomas  Knapp 
of  the  piece  of  land  whereon  he  now  has 
his  residence,  and  which  lies  opposite  his 
seventy-five  acre  farm.  He  now.  owns 
118i  acres  of  excellent  land,  all  gi-eatly 
improved  by  him,  and  in  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming  he  is  extensively  engaged  in 
the  dairy  business. 

On  March  24,  1864,  Mr.  Pifer  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Krebs,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1841,  ill  Orange  township, 
Ashland  county,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Catherine     (Rickett)     Krebs,     and      two 


children  were  born  to  this  union:  Jennie 
M.,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Barnes,  of  Rochester, 
Lorain  county,  and  Loran,  at  home  with 
her  parents.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Democrat,  formerly  as  stanch  a  Re- 
publican, his  first  vote  being  cast  for 
Brough  for  governor  of  Ohio.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  consistent  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church  at   Rochester. 


/George  H.  BRADNER,  prominent 
I  w,  in  the  farniing  community  of  Hunt- 
\J^  ington  township,  was  born  in  1833 
^|i  in  Chester,  Mass.,  a  son  of  S.  D. 
Bradner,  who  w-as  born  in  1800  in 
the  State  of  New  York. 

In  1833  S.  D.  Bradner  came  to  Ohio, 
having  secured  by  trade  some  500  acres  of 
wild  land  in  Huntington  township,  Lorain 
county.  In  Massachusetts  he  had  married, 
a  year  or  two  before.  Miss  Louisa  Holland, 
a  native  of  that  State,  and  four  children 
were  born  to  them,  viz. :  Maro-aret,  mar- 
ried  to  S.  S.  AVarner,  of  Wellington,  Lo- 
rain county;  George  H.,  subject  proper  of 
sketch;  Frank,  who  died  at  about  the  age 
of  forty  years;  and  John  H.,  in  the  coal 
business  in  Cleveland.  The  parents  died 
in  Wellington  township,  the  father  in 
1875,  the  mother  in  1870. 

George  H.  Bradner  was,  as  will  be  seen, 
but  an  infant  when  the  family  came  from 
the  East  to  Lorain  county,  the  common 
schools  of  which  he  attended,  also  Oberlin 
College  two  terms.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  a  large,  highly- improved  farm  in 
Huntington  township,  on  which  he  erected 
a  comfortable  brick  residence.  Up  to 
1888  he  lived  continuously  there,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  he  spent  in  Michi- 
gan, and  he  was  a  resident  of  Wellington 
some  four  years.  In  1861  our  subject 
married  Miss  Anna  M.  Benallack,  a  native 
of    Cornwall,    England,    and    six   children 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1149 


have  been  horti  to  tliein,  as  follows:  Sam- 
uel Denton,  residing  in  Wellington,  who 
is  married  and  has  two  children — Vera 
and  Susie;  Mary,  wife  of  B.  Royce,  has 
one  child;  Mflrgaret  and  Orrie,  at  home; 
anil  two  that  died  in  infancy.  Politically 
Mr.  Bradner  is  a  Republican;  his  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


diOSEPH  STORROW,  a  leader  in  the 
atrricultural    interests  of  Wellincrton 
^  .      .  .  ^ 

'    township,  is  a  native  of  Upper  Can- 
ada (now  Province  of  Ontario),   born 
August  7,  1828. 

Joseph  Storrow,  his  father,  born  in 
Enjcland  in  1780,  immigrated  to  America 
wlien  thirty  years  old,  and  his  first  voca- 
tion in  the  New  World  was  in  the  lumber 
business  in  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  He  made 
frequent  visits  to  friends  and  relatives  in 
his  native  land,  having  crossed  the  ocean 
some  tive  times  for  no  otiier  purpose.  He 
married  Miss  Triphena  Freeman,  who  was 
a  native,  it  is  snpposed,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  five  children  were  born  to  them, 
namely:  Thomas,  a  farmer  in  Brighton 
township,  Lorain  county;  Rowena  (de- 
ceased), who  was  married  to  Miren  Merls; 
Louisa,  wife  of  K.  Baird;  May  A.,  wife  of 
Louis  Barge,  and  Joseph.  The  father  died 
in  AVellington,  Ohio,  February  5,  1858, 
the  mother  on  November  27,  1844:. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education,  and  was  reared 
to  farming  pursuits.  On  August  30, 
1854,  he  was  united  in  marriacre  with 
Miss  Emily  Bunce,  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Cornelia  (Vos- 
burgh)  Bunce,  of  Vermont  and  New  York 
birth,  respectively,  who  in  an  early  day 
came  west  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Brighton 
township,  Lorain  county,  where  the  father 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  the 
mother  when  forty-five  years  old;  they  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church;   their  chil- 


dren were  as  follows:  Emily,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Storrow;  Christina,  Mrs.  Leonard,  resid- 
ing in  Huntington;  Susan,  widow  of  A. 
Twaddle;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  George  Gillett, 
living  in  Brighton  township;  and  Mary, 
married  to  Horatio  B.  Beardsly,  of  Roch- 
ester township. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  have  been  born 
two  children:  Hubert,  born  October  20, 
1855,  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools,  and  married  Miss  Eva  Willard; 
they  have  tive  children:  Emily  E.,  Cyti- 
thiana,  Cora  Dell,  Carrie  Bell,  and  Joseph 
Hubert,  an  engineer  on  the  Kansas  Rail- 
road, residing  at  Kansas  City.  (2)  Byron 
A.,  born  January  4,  1860,  attended  the 
neighboring  schools,  and  on  January  1, 
18'J1,  married  Miss  Delia  Walters,  a  native 
of  Spencer,  Ohio.  Mr.  Storrow  came  to 
his  present  farm  in  Wellington  township 
in  April,  1838,  nearly  tifty-si.\  years  ago, 
then  a  boy  of  ten  summers,  and  has  made 
farming  his  life  work.  He  now  owns  150 
acres  of  land.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


IfJlARVEY    M.    PEABODY,   one   of 

p^     the  most  prominent  and  prosperous 

I     4l    agi'i'iiilturists   of  Russia  township, 

■^  is  a  native  of  the  Gi-een  Mountain 

State,   born    October    20,    1837,  in 

Irasburg,  Orleans  county,  a  son  of   David 

and  Sarah  E.  (TuUer)  Peabody. 

David  Peabody,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  July  10,  1812,  in  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
a  son  of  Andrew  Peabody,  born  in  1759, 
who  followed  the  dual  trades  of  tailor  and 
shoemaker.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  three  times 
married;  by  his  first  wife  he  had  no  issue; 
by  his  second  he  had  three  children — Elias, 
Daniel  and  Andrew — and  by  his  third,  who 
was  a  Miss  Hannah  Beadle  (sister  to  his 
second  wife),  born  in  1777,  lie  had  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Susan,  born  in  1797, 
married  Richard  Kelley,  and  died    in   Am- 


1150 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lierst  township,  Lorain  county;  Charlotte, 
born  in  1801,  married  K.  Bailey,  and  died 
in  Henrietta  townsliip,  Lorain  county; 
Clarissa,  born  in  1803,  married  Omar 
Bailey,  and  died  in  Russia  township; 
Mercy,  horn  in  1806,  married  James 
Mitchell,  and  died  in  Michigan;  Nathan, 
born  in  1808,  died  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  in  Virginia;  Harriet,  born  in 
1810,  married  Ciiarles  Mitchell  and  lives 
in  Montcalm  county,  Mich.;  David  and 
Aaron  (twins),  born  in  1812,  of  whom 
David  is  the  father  of  our  subject,  and 
Aaron  resides  in  Eaton  county,  Mich.;  and 
Mary  Maria,  born  in  1814,  married  twice, 
iirst  to  Calvin  Briggs,  and  afterward  to 
Elisha  Aldridge  (she  died  in  Nebraska). 
The  father  of  this  large  family  died  July 
4,  1839,  in  New  Hampshire,  his  last  wife 
on  July  6,  1842,  and  they  are  biiried  at 
the  head  of  Lake  Memphremagog,  in 
Orleans  county,  Vermont. 

David  Peabody  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  place.  On  January  13,  1837,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Eme- 
line  Taller,  who  Avas  born  in  1814  at  St. 
Albans,  Vt.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Tnller, 
and  Mr.  Peabody  then  settled  down  to  agri- 
cultural labor  at  his  home  in  Vermont  till 
September,  1842,  when  he  came  to  Ohio 
with  his  family,  the  journey  being  made 
by  canal  and  lake  to  Cleveland.  Thence 
they  proceeded  by  team  to  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  he  bought 
twelve  acres  of  land,  subsequently  adding 
lifty  acres,  where  he  has  since  had  his  home. 
The  children  born  to  David  and  Sarah  E. 
Peabody  are  Harvey  M.,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch;  Alonzo,  born  March  20, 
1840,  and  Richard  (an  invalid),  born  May 
20,  1845.  In  politics  Mr.  Peabody  is  a 
Republican,  formerly  a  Democrat,  and  he 
(as  was  also  his  wife)  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Congregational  Chui-ch.  His  wife 
was  called  from  earth  September  9,  1880. 

Harvey  M.  Peabody,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  memoir,  was,  as  will  be  seen,  about 
live  years   old    when    the  family   came  to 


Ohip.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Lorain  county,  and  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  his  father'sfarra,  under 
his  tuition.  AYhen  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
commenced  working  for  Squire  Roberts, 
with  whom  he  remained  three  years,  and 
in  part  payment  for  his  services  he  re- 
ceived twenty  acres  of  land,  which  was  his 
first  property.  Later  he  and  his  father  to- 
getlier  bought  a  small  tract  of  land,  and 
still  later  our  subject  traded  with  his  father, 
receiving  a  tract  of  seventy  acres  in  e.x- 
change  for  wliat  he  then  owned,  and  as  a 
result  of  such  trading  and  later  purchases 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  336  acres,  ac- 
cumulated since  he  was  a  young  man  work- 
ing for  two  shillings  a  day. 

On  December  30,  1866,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Martha  Petty,  who 
was  born  February  29,  1844,  in  Henrietta 
townsliip,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  Ann  (Simpson)  Petty, 
and  five  children,  as  follows,  have  been 
born  to  them:  William  H.  and  Clayton  D., 
farmers  in  Russia  township,  Lorain  county; 
and  Otis  E.,  Mattie  B.  and  Ethel  B.,  all  at 
home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Peabody  is 
a  Republican,  but  is  not  an  active  politi- 
cian, as  his  time  is  fully  occupied  with  his 
business;  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee. 


D' 


,AVID     L.    GIBBS,    a    prominent 
farmer    and    stockman    of    Carlisle 
township,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 
March  15,  1828,  a  son  of  Ransom 
and  Julia  (Pritchard)  Gibbs. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Waterbury,  Conn.,  and  was  reared,  edu- 
cated and  married  in  New  Haven  county. 
After  the  birth  of  their  first  child  there, 
he  and  his  wife  came  to  Ohio,  and  made  a 
settlement  in  Carlisle  township,  Lorain 
county,  Mr.  Gibbs  cutting  two  miles  of  the 
Elyria   road,  and    building  a  log  house  at 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1153 


tlie  end  of  the  road,  where  he  made  his 
new  home,  the  family  being  among  the 
first  settlers  on  Murray  Ridge.  Tlie  father 
died  March  17,  1879,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-three,  the  mother  when  tifty- 
eight  years  old.  Grandfather  Obed  Gibbs 
came  to  the  county  at  the  same  time,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife,  Hannah  (Scoville), 
and  they  both  died  in  Carlisle  township. 
To  Ransom  and  Julia  (Pritchard)  Gibbs 
were  boru  four  children,  viz.:  Jane,  who 
was  married  to  George  Boughton,  and 
died  in  Nebraska;  Lewis,  deceased  in 
Washington  City;  Harriet,  wife  of  Alonson 
Wooster,  of  Elyria;  and  David  L. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Carlisle 
township,  and  from  early  boyhood  worked 
on  the  farm.  He  is  now  owner  of  204 
acres  of  highly-cultivated  laud,  where  he 
carries  on  stock  farming.  In  1849  he 
married  Miss  Jane  M.  Slauter,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  two  children  blessed 
their  union:  Carrie,  wife  of  M.  L.  Chap- 
man, of  Denver,  Colo,  (they  have  three 
children — Hattie,  Nellie  and  Henry);  and 
Hattie  V.,  wife  of  F.  M.  Hance,  now  of 
Oberlin.  Politically  Mr.  Gibbs  is  a 
Democrat. 


,RSON  M.  CARVEY.     Among  the 
foremost  of  the  progressive  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Rochester  town- 
ship is  to  be  found  this  gentleman, 
who  is  a  son  of  William  Carvey. 

William  Carvey,  grandfather  of  Orson 
M.,  was  born  in  New  York  State,  near  the 
spot  where  Washington  marshaled  his 
army  in  martial  array,  and  in  which  vicin- 
ity many  other  noted  events  of  the  war  of 
Independence  transpired.  In  1820  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Goshen,  same 
State,  and  after  four  years  residence  there 
made  a  final  settlement  in  the  town  of 
Jerusalem  (also  in  New  York  State),  where 


he  died  March  15, 1832.  His  son  William, 
father  of  onr  subject,  was  born   June    14, 
1809,  in  Little  P.ritain,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents 
took  him  to  Goshen,  and  fifteen  when  they 
removed     to  Jerusalem.     In    New    York 
State,  in   1832,  he  married  Miss    Eunice 
Thomas,  who  was  born  October  4,    1811, 
and  October  15,  1832,  they  set  out  for  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  arriving  after  a  tedious 
journey  of  three  weeks.   He  located  on  the 
"  Dodge    farm,"     adjoining    the     present 
homestead    of    our    subject,    subsequently 
buying  the  latter  (at    that  time  a  tract  of 
seventy    acres),  paying    twenty    shillings 
($2.50)  per  acre  for  same.     To  build  a  log 
house  was  no  easy   task,   but  the  expense 
was  comparatively  light,  as  the  total  cost 
of  hauling  to  the  spot  all  the  logs  required 
was    only    eight     shillings    (11.00).     On 
March  1,  1833,  the  rude  cabin  was  "  com- 
pleted "  and  ready  for  the  family,  though 
it  had  neither   door,    window   nor   hearth. 
For  two  years  after  coming    to  Rochester 
township  he   voted  in    Huntington   town- 
ship, and  at  the  first  election   held   in   the 
former  there  were  but  seventeen  votes  cast,; 
his  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  An- 
drew Jackson.    The  record  of  the  children 
born  to  this  worthy  old  pioneer  is  as  fol- 
lows: Lydia  L.,  now  Mrs.  W.  R.  McCon- 
nell,  of   Rochester    township;  Nancy    L., 
who  married  James  Jennings,  and  died  on 
the  home  farm;  Berton    W,,   who  was  a 
soldier  in  Battery  B,  First  0,  Y.  A.,  and 
died  in    hospital    at   Nashville,   Tenn.,   of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service;  Harriet 
L.,    Mrs.    Frederick    Peet,    of    Rochester 
township;  Ellen  L.,  Mrs.  Frank  Corey,  of 
Quincy,  Mich.;  and  Orson   M.,  subject  of 
sketch.       The  father    died   September  13. 
1886,  the   mother    on    January  24,  same 
year,    and  they  sleep    their    last    sleep  in 
Beckley    Cemetery,    Rochester    township. 
Mr.    Carvey    was    originally  an    Old-line 
Whig,  till  the  organization  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  when  he  enrolled  himself  under 
their  banner,  remaining  true  to  his  colors 
until  the  day  of  his  death. 


1154 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Orson  M.  Carvey,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  April  28, 1852,  inRocli- 
ester  townsliip,  Lorain  county,  on  the  same 
farm  he  yet  owns  and  resides  upon.  lie 
received  a  liijeral  district-school  education, 
his  first  teacher  being  Riioda  Close,  who 
boarded  at  his  father's  house,  and  was  an 
intimate  friend  of  the  family.  Thoroughly 
trained  to  agriculture,  Mr.  Carvey  has 
proven  himself  to  be  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful in  his  vocation  in  the  county. 
After  the  death  of  his  parents  he  bought 
out  the  rest  of  the  heirs,  and' has  since  en- 
joyed the  entire  ownership  of  the  original 
100-acre  farm,  where  he  has  carried  on 
general  agriculture,  including  dairying. 

On  December  30,  1874,  Mr.  Carvey 
married  Miss  Mary  McConnell,  who  was 
born  November  17,  1846,  in  New  London, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Martha 
(Rohrback)  McConnell,  who  several  years 
ago  came  from  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  making  their  home  iu  New 
London.  Mrs.  Carvey  is  a  cultured  lady, 
and  at  Oberlin  University  studied  vocal 
and  instrumental  music.  One  child,  Fred 
W.,  a  bright  little  boy,  born  April  29, 
1881,  completes  the  happy  family  circle. 
The  lad  has  succeeded  in  training  a  couple 
of  sheep  to  pull  him  and  his  little  wagon 
about,  and  they  can  haul  him  a  consider- 
able distance  with  the  greatest  ease.  Po- 
litically our  subject  is  a  Eepublican,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  all  elections. 


GS.  MILLS.    Among  the  well-known 
and  influential  citizens  of  Ridgeville 
^   township,    none    occupies    a     more 
prominent    place     than     this    gen- 
tleman. 

He  was  born  in  Ridgeville  township 
December  7,  1829,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sally  (Varmatten)  Mills,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  county, 
N.  Y.,  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  In  1818 
or  1820   Samuel   Mills  came  westward   to 


Lorain  connty,  Ohio,  locating  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Ridgeville  township,  where  he 
purchased  100  acres  of  land,  subseq^uently 
adding  thereto  until  he  had  a  farm  of  220 
acres.  On  January  2,  1821,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Lorain  county  to  Sally  Vannatten, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Hiram  V.,  born  January  1, 
1822,  who  died  in  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y., 
in  February,  1859;  Alfred  D.,  born  July 
11,  1824,  who  died  in  Chicago,  111.,  in 
August,  1850;  H.  D.;  P.  Amelia,  who 
died  in  1834;  and  C.  S.,  subject  of  this 
biographical  memoir.  The  father  of  this 
family  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  partici- 
pating in  the  battle  of  Sacket's  Harbor. 
In  politics  he  was  an  active  Whig,  and 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  passed 
to  his  long  home  June  24,  1839,  survived 
for  many  years  by  his  wife,  who  died  in 
Ridgeville,   Lorain  county.  May  5,  1873. 

Grandfather  Mills,  who  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  settled  in  an  early  day  in 
northern  New  York,  and  later  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  he  passed  his 
closing  years,  dying  in  Elyria  June  26, 
1858,  when  aged  eigl;ty-nine.  He  was 
married  three  times,  and  had  children  by 
each  union;  the  gratulmother  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  a  Woodruff,  died  in  New 
York. 

C.  S.  Mills  was  reared  in  his  native 
township,  and  there  received  his  primary 
education,  subsequently  attending  school 
at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  Watertown,  N.  Y. 
When  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Ter- 
rell, a  native  of  Ridgeville  township,  and 
their  home  has  been  brightened  by  children 
as  follows:  Two  who  died  when  young; 
Ada,  Mrs.  Brown,  of  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich,;  Jennie,  residing  at  home;  and 
Harry,  residing  on  the  home  farm,  who  is 
married  and  has  one  child,  C.  S.  Mr. 
Mills  is  a  lifelong  farmer,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  eighteen  years  he  resided  in 
Eaton  fownship.  where  he  bought  a  farm, 
has  made  Ridgeville  township  his  home. 
He   now  owns    155  acres   in  Eaton  town- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1155 


sliip,  besides  fifteen  acres  of  the  home 
fann  in  Ilidgeville  township,  where  he 
resides.  Politically  our  subject  is  a  life- 
k>tig  Republican;  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Gen.  Scott,  and  has  ever  since  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  being  a 
wheel-horse  of  the  Republican  party  in 
Ridgeville  township.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  county  commissioner,  and  served 
in'that  office  nine  consecutive  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  appointed  by  the 
board  of  commissioners  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  the  courthouse. 


I  W.  LEASH ER,  a  popular  citizen  of 
w  I  Russia  township,  was  born  August 
%^  12,  1839,  in  BuUskiu  township,  Fay- 
ette Co.,  Penn.,  son  of  John  Leaslier, 
a  native  of  Franklin  county,  Penn.,  who 
was  a  shoemaker  and  farmer.  He  married 
Martha  Doubler,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1800,  and  four  years  later  came  to 
America;  she  died  in  1876,  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Penn.,  at  the  home  of  her  son,  J.  C. 
Leasher.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  chil- 
dren— five  sons  and  five  daughters — of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  fourth  son.  The 
father  died  in  1856,  and  the  children  were 
then  obliged  to  take  care  of  themselves. 

J.  W.  Leasher  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  when  twelve  years  of  age 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand  at  six  dollars  a 
month,  continuing  at  that  occupation  for 
years  in  his  native  county.  He  was  also 
employed  as  a  miner  in  the  Youghiogheny 
river  country,  and  saw  the  first  coke  ovens 
built  in  that  section.  On  May  18,  1865, 
he  married  Miss  Rachel  B.  Strickler,  who 
was  born  January  18,  1839,  in  Tyrone 
township,  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.,  daughter  of 
John  R.  and  Esther  (Cochran)  Strickler. 
The  Stricklers  are  descended  from  one  of 
nine  brothers  who  came  from  Germany  to 
Chester  county,  Penn.,  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.     They  were  "tall,    straight 


and  fair,  blue  eyes  and  sandy  hair,  good 
looking."  The  Cochran  family  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction,  coming  from  the 
North  of  Ireland  and  locating  in  Delaware, 
whence  they  removed  to  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Leasher  rented 
property,  which  he  worked  on  shares,  and 
in  February,  1868,  moved  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Russia  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  had  purchased  the  old 
Carter  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  upon 
which  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  been 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  on 
this  place,  where  he  has  made  a  very  com- 
fortable home.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, though  not  active  in  party  affairs; 
in  religious  connection  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Disciple  Church  at  Kipton,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leasher  have  no  children  of 
their  own,  and  their  home  has  sheltered 
many  young  children.  They  are  most 
agreeable  neighbors,  and  are  highly  es- 
teemed by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of 
their  acquaintance. 


P)ETER  SCHRAMM,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  of  Russia  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, born  September  5,  1836,  to 
George  P.  and  Catherine  (Berg) 
Schramm,  who  came  to  America  in  IS-tS. 
George  P.  Schramm  died  August  8,  1861, 
aged  fifty-seven  years,  four  months,  three 
days;  Mrs.  Catherine  Schramm  died  Sep- 
tember 4,  1890,  aged  eighty-four  years, 
five  months. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  na- 
tive country  until  twelve  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United 
States,  where  they  settled  in  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  He  attended  school 
four  winters  in  Russia  township,  and  then 
commenced  to  work.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  he  and  a  brother  took  charge  of 


1156 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


the  home  place,  and  being  hard-working 
and  industrious  they  succeeded  in  paying 
off  the  other  lieirs,  continuing  to  work  the 
farm  in  partnership  until  1880.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  Peter  Schramm  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  Kane,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  America  when  quite 
young.  To  this  union  have  been  born  five 
children,  namely:  Jacob  A.,  Frederick  J., 
Emma  D.,  Franklin  G.  and  Catherine  S. 
8oon  after  marriage  Mr.  Schramm  settled 
on  his  present  farm,  which  now  comprises 
178  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  has  made 
numerous  improvements.  Pie  is  a  model 
farmer,  and  one  of  the  best  and  most  suc- 
cessful in  Russia  township,  having,  by 
energy,  perseverance  and  strict  attention  to 
business,  risen  from  a  poor  boy  to  his 
present  prosperous  position.  Politically  he 
is  a  Democrat,  in  religious  faith  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Congregational  Church. 


J 


iOHN  SCHEAMM,  a  successful 
farmer  of  Rtissia  township,  was  born 
November  1,  1838,  in  Rhine-Pfalz, 
Bavaria, Germany,  son  of  George  Peter 
and  Catherine  (Berg)  Schramm,  farming 
people  of  Rhine-Pfalz.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  three  daughters — and 
in  June,  1848,  came  to  America  with  six 
of  their  family,  Jacob,  the  remaining  son, 
following  four  years  later.  They  set  sail 
from  Bremen,  and  after  a  voyage  of  thirty- 
eight  days  landed  in  New  York,  whence 
tliey  at  once  proceeded,  by  way  of  the 
Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie,  to  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  The  father  pur- 
chased seventy  acres  of  land  at  ten  dollars  an 
acre,  then  nearly  all  in  the  woods,  and  here 
the  parents  passed  their  remaining  years, 
the  mother  dying  in  1890,  the  father  some 
years  previous;  they  were  buried  in  Car- 
lisle cemetery.  In  religion  they  were  both 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

John    Schramm  attended  school   in   his 
native  country,  and  later  in   Russia  town- 


ship, Lorain  county,  and  was  reared  to  the 
arduous  duties  of  farm  life,  continuing  in 
same  on  the  home  place  until  his  marriage. 
On  January  27,  1870,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Miller,  who  was  born  June  28, 
1850,  in  Rhino-Pfalz,  Bavaria,  Germany, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Miller,  and  came  to  New 
York  August  1,  1868.  For  some  years 
Mr.  Schramm  had  farmed  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  Peter,  but  upon  his  mar- 
riage they  divided  their  interests,  our  sub- 
ject remaining  on  the  home  farm  for  ten 
years,  when,  in  1880,  he  removed  to  the 
place  where  he  yet  resides.  By  hard  work, 
economy  and  perseverance  Mr.  Schramm 
has  increased  his  possessions,  until  he  now 
owns  a  tine  farm  of  170  acres.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious 
faith  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  They  have  five 
children:  George  P.,  Sophia  M.,  Henry 
J.,  Carrie  A.  and  Albert  E. 


D 


J.  PECK,  representing  several  fire, 
life  and  accident  insurance  com- 
panies, in  Elyria,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Olmsted  township,  Cuya- 
hoga county,  December  29,  1825,  a  son  of 
Bueland  Sallie  (Barnum)  Peck,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  January  20,  1794,  in 
Addison  county,  Vt.,  the  latter  born  Oc- 
tober 10,  1793. 

Buel  Peck  was  among  the  many  emi- 
grants who  left  New  England  in  1817,  on 
account  of  the  cold  season  of  1816,  and  the 
consequent  dearth  of  food,  and  he  and  his 
family  passed  through  Ohio  with  ox 
wagons,  reaching  Ridgeville  October  11, 
1817.  He  bought  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  for  five  hundred  dollars  at  Ridge- 
ville, and  for  the  same  price  was  offered  a 
similar  amount  of  land  where  the  city  of 
Cleveland  now  stands.  He  was  a  hard- 
working, honest,  industrious  man.  He 
died    August  11,  1864,  in  Ridgeville,  on 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1157 


the  farm  whereon  he  settled  in  1817.  His 
father,  William  Peck,  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, but  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Vermont.  The  mother  of  subject 
died  September  1,  1857.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Barniim,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
whose  father,  Joseph  Barniim  was  also 
from  that  State.  John  Bariuim,our  sub- 
ject's maternal  grandfather,  was  the  sec- 
ond to  be  buried  in  the  town  of  Ridgeville, 
Ohio;  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  Kevt)lution- 
ary  war.  At  the  time  when  Buel  and 
Sallie  Peck  came  to  Ridgeville,  the  latter's 
parents  were  living 

D.  J.  Peck  received  his  education  at  the 
high  school  in  Elyria,  and  then  returned 
to  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  till 
five  years  after  his  father's  death.  In  1870 
he  visited  Madison,  Wis.,  for  one  year,  and 
on  his  return  to  Lorain  county  lie  took  up 
his  present  line  of  business.  Politically 
lie  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  niember  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  His  wife,  who  is  a 
model  woman,  noted  for  her  deeds  of 
charity,  is  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  She  was  born  March  4, 
1829,  in  Brookfield,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Her  father,  James  S.  Anthony,  was  born 
October  26,  1794,  in  East  Greenwich, 
R.  I.;  her  mother,  Lydia  (Mason),  was 
born  December  16,  1802,  in  Swansea, 
Mass.  They  were  married  in  Brookfield, 
N.  Y.,  February  3,  1823,  and  June  9, 
1832,  removed  to  Rockport,  Cuyalioga 
Co.,  Ohio.  James  S.  Anthony  died  July 
28,  1845,  and  Lydia,  his  wife,  on  July  23, 
1856.  They  were  stanch  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  excellent  representa- 
tives of  New  England  people. 


LE.  HASERODT,  a  prominent  and 
I   progressive  agriculturist  of  Carlisle 
\  township,  was  born  in  Medina  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1841,  a  son  of  Henry  C. 
and  Margaret   (Barz)  Haserodt.  natives  of 
Prussia. 


In  1834  they  immigrated  to  this  conn- 
try  and  to  Ohio,  locating  in  the  woods  of 
Medina  county,  where  they  cleared  a  farm. 
After  several  years  they  came  to  Elyria, 
Lorain  county,  where  the  father  died  in 
1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight,  and  the 
mother  in  October,  1891,  aged  eighty-four 
years.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children, 
six  of  whom  are  yet  living,  viz.:  John  G., 
married,  residing  in  Brooklyn,  Cuyahoga 
Co.,  Ohio;  J.  P.,  married,  a  resident  of 
Elyria;  Caroline,  widow  of  Bernhard  Was- 
sermaun,  of  Cleveland;  L.  P].,  subject; 
Charles  L.,  married,  residing  in  Edison, 
Ohio;  and  Louisa,  wife  of  John  Weidner, 
of  Liverpool,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

L.  E.  Haserodt  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  Medina 
county,  supplemented  with  one  term  at 
school  in  Elyria.  In  1860  he  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  locating  in  Elyria,  where  he 
clerked  for  Baldwin,  Laundon  &  Nelson 
three  years;  then  for  Stan  Bros.  &  Co.,  and 
finally  for  Henry  Brucli.  In  1864  he  en- 
listed in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fifth  O.  V.  I.,  one  hundred  days, 
and  was  stationed  chiefiy  at  Martinslmrg 
and  Maryland  Heights,  on  garrison  duty; 
also  engaged  in  the  attack  on  Gen.  Early, 
which  occupied  an  entire  day.  Mr.  Haserodt 
received  his  discharge  in  1864  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and  returned  home  to  Elyria. 
In  1865  he  went  with  a  brother  to  Ken- 
dallsviile,  Ind.,  and  there  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade,  but  being  burned  out,  our 
subject  returned  to  Elyria,  and  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business,  establishing  one  of 
the  first  groceries  in  the  jilace.  In  1865 
he  bought  out  and  partly  improved  a  farm 
of  eighteen  and  a  quarter  acres  of  wild 
land,  to  which  he  has  added  until  he  now 
owns  thirty-six  and  one-half  acres, all  under 
careful  cultivation. 

In  1867  Mr.  Haserodt  was  married  in 
Elyria  to  Catherine  E.  Fowle,  a  native  of 
Amherst  township,  and  four  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Edward  H.;  Cornelia, 
wife  of  Wilford  Maddock,  of  Elyria;  Ru- 
pert W.,  married  to  Ruth  Cudderbach,  and 


1158 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


residing  in  Vermillion,  Ohio;  and  Cather- 
ine, wife  of  C.  Maddock.  The  mother  of 
these  died  in  March,  1873,  and  in  1874 
Mr.  Haserodt  married  Miss  Anna  Herold, 
uf  Berea,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  by  which 
union  tiiere  is  one  child,  Henry  C.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Haserodt  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
trustees  appointed  to  supervise  the  build- 
ing of  the  first  church,  at  whicii  time  there 
were  only  seven  members  eligible  to  vote. 
Politically  our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


D~ 


AVID  C.  FISHER,  a  prominent 
real-estate  dealer  and  ice  merchant 
Lorain  count}',  is  a  native  uf  West 
Virginia,  born  in  June,  1850,  a  son 
of  Robert  and  Mary  (Fowler)  Fisher,  of 
the  same  State,  where  they  passed  their 
entire  lives. 

Our  subject  when  a  boy  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  and  made  his  home  in  Ober- 
lin,  whei'e  he  was  educated,  attending  the 
college  at  that  place  for  some  time.  In 
1875  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Land 
Company,  in  which  he  has  been  more  or 
less  interested  since,  buying,  improving 
and  selling  real  estate.  Since  1884  he  has 
been  doing  business  in  that  line  for  his 
own  account,  and  in  eight  years  turned 
over  as  much  as  fifty  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  property,  the  amount  in  1892 
alone  having  reached  eighteen  thousand 
dollars.  In  1881  he  embarked  in  the  ice 
business,  the  first  one  in  that  industry 
in  Lorain,  and  practically  the  only  one. 
The  buildings  for  this  purpose  were  located 
on  Black  river,  and  he  made  a  com- 
plete success  out  of  it,  as  he  has  done  in 
the  real-estate  business.  He  at  one  time 
owned  nine  residences  in  Lorain — of  which 
he  sold  two,  lives  in  one,  and  rents  the  rest 
— besides  other  property.  Mr.  Fisher  is 
also  engaged  in  the  commission  business. 
He  is  largely  interested  in  the  improve- 


ment of  the  West  Side  (Lorain),  where  he 
bought  an  addition,  portions  of  which  he 
has  sold  on  land  contracts. 

In  1883  David  C.  Fisher  and  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Dorsej  were  united  in  marriage.  She 
is  a  native  of  Ashland,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
George  and  Margaret  Dorsey,  who  at  one 
time  lived  in  Elyria.  Her  father,  in  1861, 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  enlisted  at 
Ashland,  Ohio,  was  sent  to  the  front,  was 
wounded,  and  died  in  hospital,  all  within 
the  year;  his  widow  is  yet  living.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  David  C.  Fisher  have  been  born 
two  children:  Arthur  Edwin  and  Ruth 
Anna.  Our  subject  is  an  active  Repub- 
lican, and  with  his  wife  is  a  member  of  tiie 
Congregational  Church,  in  which  he  holds 
office,  and  in  the  Sabbath-school  of  which 
he  takes  a  lively  interest.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  health  in  the  village  of  Lorain,  and  is 
also  constable. 


DAVID   KIRKBRIDE,  a  prosperous 
t'armerof  Amherst  township,  comes 
'   on  the  paternal   side  from  Scottish 

ancestry,   as    his    name    clearly  in- 
dicates. 

He  was  born  in  April,  1833,  on  Hud- 
son street,  New  York,  a  son  of  David  and 
Mary  (Phillips)  Kirkbride,  natives  of 
England,  the  former  born  January  13, 
1799,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  the 
latter  in  1800  in  Leicestershire,  of  Eng- 
lish  lineage.  The  father  at  the  age  of  fit- 
teen  moved  from  his  native  place  to  Lon- 
don, where  he  learned  the  lace  and  stock- 
ing weavins:  trade.  Later  he  was  a  sales- 
man  for  the  house  of  I.,  W.  &  J.  Kirk- 
bride. He  married  in  England,  and  in 
1832  the  young  couple  innmgrated  to  the 
United  States,  the  voyage  to  New  York 
being  made  in  the  ship  "  Roscoe."  They 
arrived  at  that  city  December  6  following, 
where  Mr.  Kirkbride  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacturing business  for  a  time;   they  then 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1159 


proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  from  there 
in  1835  came  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
the  woods  of  Amherst  township.  Here 
lie  died  in  1875,  his  wife  in  1889.  In  his 
earlier  days  in  this  country  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, later  a  Free  soiler.  Gratidfather 
Piiillips  was  a  soldier  in  the  Napoleonic 
wars  with  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirk- 
hride  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  as 
follows:  David,  subject  of  sketch;  Mary, 
at  home;  Elizabeth;  Ann;  Margaret;  John 
(married),  deceased  in  January,  1875; 
Maria,  wife  of  W.  S.  Biggs,  of  Elyria;  and 
Isaac,  a  farmer  of  Amherst  township. 

David  Kirkbride,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  memoir,  received  a  fair  com- 
mon-school education  in  Amherst  town- 
ship, whither  he  was  brought  when  a 
small  boy.  and  he  has  been  a  lifelong 
farmer.  Politicallv  he  has  always  been  a 
strong  Kepublican. 


'HARLES  S.  AIKEN,  a  progressive 
native-born  agriculturist  of  Lorain 
county,  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
an  old  pioneer  family.  His  grand- 
fatiier,  George  Aiken,  who  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  served  as  a  minute-man  in 
northern  Ohio,  and  died  in  Brooklyn  town- 
ship, Cuyahoga  county. 

Irad  Aiken,  son  of  George,  was  born'in 
1791,  in  Connecticut,  and  in  1814  came  to 
Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided 
until  1835.  He  took  up  a  farm  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  and  remained  thereon 
until  1863,  when  he  moved  into  North 
Amherst.  Mr.  Aiken  was  married,  in 
Cuyahoga  county,  to  Miss  Indiana  Brain- 
erd,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  whose  parents, 
Ozias  and  Mary  (Strong)  Brainerd,  also 
natives  of  Connecticut,  came  to  Cuyahoga 
county  in  an  early  day.  The  journey  occu- 
pied some  time,  being  made  with  an  ox- 
team  as  far  as  Cattaraugus,  N.  Y.  They 
died  in  Brooklyn  township,  Cuyahoga 
county;  their  farm  is  now  included  in  the 
city  of  Cleveland. 


To  Irad  and  Indiana  (Brainerd)  Aiken 
were  born  eight  children,  two  of  wliom 
died  young.  Of  tlie  remainder,  Charles 
S.  is  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch;  William 
Hanford  lives  in  Black  liiver  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio;  Laura  is  the  wife  of 
Clark  Wheelan,  of  Sliiawassee  county, 
Mich.;  Marietta  is  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Foster, 
of  North  Amherst,  Ohio;  Noah  B.  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Caledonia  township, 
Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.;  Edwin  is  married 
and  resides  in  Amherst  township,  Lorain 
county.  Tlie  father  of  this  family  was  a 
man  who  thought  much  of  his  home;  he 
died  June  9,  1879,  in  North  Amherst,  his 
wife  surviving  him  until  1891,  when  she 
too  passed  away. 

Charles  S.  Aiken  was  born  October  16, 
1819,  in  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  received  his  education  in  the  log-cabin 
schools  of  the  district.  In  1835  he  located 
in  Black  River  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1861 
moved  to  North  Amherst,  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  Aiken  was  married,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1846,  in  Elyria  townsiiip,  Lorain 
county,  to  Miss  Lucy  R.  Holmes,  a  native 
of  the  county.  Her  parents,  George  S.  and 
Mary  (Lester)  Holmes,  were  natives  of 
Connecticut,  and  in  1840  emigrated  to 
Black  River  township,  Lorain  county, 
where  he  followed  farming.  He  afterward 
moved  to  Berea,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in 
1875;  his  widow  is  now  living  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
They  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  viz.: 
Lucy  R.  (Mrs.  Aiken);  Marriett,  who  died 
in  i860,  in  Cuyahoga  county;  Sarah; 
George  Henry,  who  resides  in  Canada;  and 
Ellsworth,  wlio  resides  in  Cleveland. 

In  politics  Mr.  Aiken  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party.  He  served 
three  terms  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Black 
River  township,  and  one  term  in  North 
Anilierst;  has  also  served  as  county  com- 
missioner, one  term,  and  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  various  county  conventions.  Our 
subject  has  been  a  resident  of  Loi-ain  county 
for  fifty-eight  years,  and  during  tliat  time 


1160 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


lias  been  actively  identified  with  her  prog- 
ress and  development.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aiken 
have  two  adopted  children;  she  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Baptist  Clinrch.  [Since  the 
above  was  written,  we  liave  received  in- 
formation of  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  A. 
Ail\en,  which  occurred  on  September  24, 
1893.— Ed. 


V* 


LEWIS    F.    WRIGHT,    than    whom 
tliere   is    no   more  enterprising,  in- 
\  (iustrious     and    tlirifty    farmer    in 

Elyria  township,  is  a  native  of  the 
county,  born  in  the  town  of  Lorain  An- 
gu.'-t  9,  1839. 

He  is  a  son  of  M.  P.  and  Martha 
Miller)  Wright,  the  former  a  native  of 
Vermont,  the  latter  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 
They  were  married  in  tiie  State  of  New 
York,  and  in  1838  came  to  Lorain,  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  Wright  engaged  in  the  stave 
business,  had  charge  of  a  gang  of  men, 
and  part  of  time  was  employed  in  the 
shipyard.  They  afterward  moved  to 
Nortli  Amherst,  and  from  there  to  Elyria, 
where  they  lived  eight  or  ten  years;  then 
removed  to  the  farm,  where  they  lived 
some  thirty  years,  and  they  now  make 
their  home  in  Elyria. 

Lewis  F.  Wright,  subject  of  sketch,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Elyria,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  in  his  business  until 
1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  three 
months'  service,  but  did  not  go  to  the 
front.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Fif- 
teenth Ohio  Battery  of  Artillery,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  army  of  Tennessee.  He  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  and 
then  returned  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  thence 
proceeding  to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  The 
regiment  then  was  with  Sherman  in  his 
march  to  the  sea,  moving  as  far  as  Me- 
ridian, Miss. ;  also  participated  in  the  Caro- 
lina campaisn,  and  took  part  in  the  grand 
review  at  Washington,  D.  C.     In  June, 


1865,  our  subject  was  discharged  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  when  he  returned  home. 
Haviiicr  once  more  settled  down  to  the 
pursuits  of  peace,  he  resumed  farming, 
and,  concluding  that  it  was  "not  a;ood  for 
man  to  be  alone,"  he  in  1879  took  unto 
himself  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Catherine  Elizabeth  Walsh,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Catherine 
(Hoolihan)  Walsh,  wlio  many  years  ago 
left  their  home  in  Erin's  Isle  for  a  new 
one  in  the  Western  World,  which  they 
first  found  in  Vermillion,  Erie  Co.,  Ohio, 
afterward  iti  Elyria,  Lorain  county,  whither 
tliey  came  in  1853.  Here  the  father  died 
January  1,  1880;  the  mother,  who  was 
born  in  December,  1800,  is  now  living 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Wright.  To  our 
subject  and  wife  have  been  born  three 
children,  viz.:  Fannie  Catherine,  George 
F.  and  Lucy  Agnes.  Mr.  Wright  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  sympathies, 
and  has  served  on  the  school  board;  so- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post,  No.  65,  Elyria. 


TfffOMER   E.    BARRETT,  a  resident 
t^^     of  Wellington,  is  a  native  of  Huron 
I     1[    county,  Ohio,  born  April  2,  1847, 
■Jj  a    son   of    Augustus    and    Clarissa 

(Cochran)  Barrett. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  Sep- 
tember 21.  1813,  in  Monroe  county,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1826  came  to  Ohio.  On  Novem- 
ber 5,  1840,  he  married  Miss  Clarissa 
Cochran,  and  they  made  their  home  in 
Erie  county  till  1843,  in  which  year  they 
moved  to  Clarksfield  township,  Huron 
county,  and  there  lived  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  In  connection  with  general  farm- 
intr  lie  was  an  extensive  sheep  breeder, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred June  7, 1886,  he  was  quite  wealthy; 
he  died  in  the  house  he  had  built  in 
Clarksfield  township  forty  years  before.    In 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1161 


politics  lie  was  originally  a  Whig,  in  his 
later  years  a  Republican;  and  he  was  a 
ineiuber  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Ilis  wife 
was  a  native  of  Cambridge,  Vt.,  born 
September  10,  1814,  came  witli  her  par- 
ents to  Ohio,  and  taught  t-chool  in  Erie 
county  np  to  the  time  of  her  marriage; 
she  died  September  5,  1890.  Three  chil- 
dren, as  follows,  were  born  to  tliis  honored 
couple:  Mary  L.  (Mrs.  Beebe),  of  Clarks- 
iield  township,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio;  Caroline 
M.,  married  to  William  Minor,  of  New 
London  township;  and  Honjer  E. 

Philander  Barrett,  paternal  grandfather 
of  subject,  and  his  wife  were  both  natives 
of  Massachusetts,  while  the  maternal 
grandparents  were  of  Vermont  birth;  they 
were  farming  people,  and  after  the  death 
of  the  grandfather,  the  grandmother  made 
her  home  with  our  subject  till  her  re- 
moval to  Grand  Haven,  Mich.,  where  she 
died. 

Homer  E.  Barrett,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  Clarkstield  township 
and  Norwalk,  also  at  Oberlin,  eight  or  nine 
terms,  atter  which  he  attended  for  a  short 
time,  in  1S66,  the  Business  College  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  In  1867  he  married 
Miss  Eliza  E.  Noble,  born  May  24,  1844, 
a  daughter  of  Gustavus  and  Harriet 
(Fancher)  Noble.  Her  father  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  whence  prior  to  his 
marriacre  he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Litchfield,  Medina  county.  He  died  when 
she  was  a  girl  of  four  summers,  and  the 
mother  (who  was  born  September  21, 
1822)  was  afterward  married  to  De- 
Gra'^se  Thomas,  of  Rochester  township, 
Lorain  county,  and  two  children  were  born 
to  them:  Alma,  wife  of  Walter  Hall,  rail- 
road telegraph  operator;  and  Fred,  mar- 
ried to  Fannie  Smith.  The  mother  is  now 
living  in  Rochester,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Noble  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  as 
follows:  Adelaide,  deceased;  AUiina,  wife 
of  George  Chadwick,  residing  in  Welling- 
ton;  Eliza  E.,  wife  of  Homer  E.  Barrett; 
Perry,  residing  in    Sherman,   Texas;  and 

60 


Mary,  deceased  wife  of  Wilbur  Hall.  Mrs. 
Homer  E.  Barrett  lived  for  a  time  with 
her  graiulp;irents  in  New  London,  where 
she  attended  school.  Grandfather  Noble 
and  his  wife  were  lifelong  residents  of 
Litchfield,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

To  our  subject  and  wife  was  born  No- 
vember 15,  1808,  a  son  named  Augustus 
Earl,  who  graduated  at  the  high  school 
and  attended  the  Homeopathic  Hospital 
College  at  Cleveland. graduating  from  there 
in  March,  1893.  He  is  now  practicing 
medicine  in  Detroit,  Michio-an. 


IfSAAC  KIRKBRIDE  is  a  lifelong, 
well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Amherst 
_[  township,  and  on  his  father's  side  of 
the  house  comes  of  Scottish  ancestry. 
He  was  born  in  1888  on  his  present 
farm  in  Amherst  township,  a  son  of  David 
and  Mary  (Phillips)  Kirkbride,  natives 
of  England,  the  father  born  January  13, 
1799,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  the 
mother  in  1800  in  Leicestershire,  of  Eno-. 
lish  lineage.  The  father  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  moved  from  his  native  place  to 
London,  where  he  learned  the  lace  and 
stocking  weaving  trade.  Later  he  was  a 
salesman  for  the  house  of  W.  &  J.  Kirk- 
bride. He  married  in  England,  and  in 
1832  the  young  couple  immigrated  to  the 
United  States,  the  voyage  to  New  York 
being  made  in  the  ship  "  Roscoe."  They 
arrived  at  that  city  December  6  followincp, 
where  Mr.  Kirkbride  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facturing  business  for  a  time;  they  then 
proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  from  there, 
in  1835  came  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
tlie  woods  of  Amherst  township.  Here  he 
died  in  1875,  his  wife  in  1889.  In  his 
early  days  in  this  country  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, later  a  Free-soiler.  Grandfather 
Pliillips  was  a  soldier  in  the  Napoleonic 
wars  with  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirk- 
bride had   a  family  of  eight  children,  as 


1162 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


follows:  David,  a  farmer  in  Amherst  town- 
ship; Mary,  at  home;  Elizabeth;  Ann; 
Margaret;  John  (married),  deceased  in 
January,  1875;  Maria,  wife  of  W.  S. 
Biggs,  of  Elyria;  and  Isaac,  subject  of 
sketeii. 

Isaac  Kirkbride  received  his  education 
at  the  public  fchools  of  his  township,  and 
was  reared  to  farm  life.  He  owns  a  good 
farm  of  107  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  In  politics  he  takes  an  active 
interest,  and  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party.     He  has  never  married. 


'ARL  WANGERIEN.  Germany 
has  given  to  the  United  States  a 
host  of  industrious,  frugal,  honest 
and  loyal  citizens,  and  wherever 
they  make  tlieir  stand,  there  they 
leave  their  impi-ess.  Of  such  an  one  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

He  was  born  Marcli  29,  1814,  in  tlie 
Grand  Duchy  of  Mecklenburg  -  Strelitz, 
Germany,  a  son  of  John  Waiigerien,  a 
shoemaker  by  trade.  Our  subject  was 
educated  from  the  age  of  six  to  fourteen 
at  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  then  commenced  to  learn  his  father's 
trade  under  him,  serving  a  four-years'  ap- 
prenticeship, after  which  he  passed  four 
years  in  tlie  regular  army.  He  then  served 
one  year  as  a  journeyman  workman,  travel- 
ing from  place  to  place,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and 
commenced  business  for  his  own  account. 
At  that  time,  October  18,  1842,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Henrietta  Naherenst,  a  native 
of  the  same  part  of  the  country,  daughter 
of  David  Naherenst,  by  which  union  two 
children  were  born  in  Germany:  Amelia, 
now  Mrs.  John  Lindeman,  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  Augusta,  who  was  married  to 
Frederick  Heist,  and  died  in  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county. 


In  the  summer  of  1852  the  family,  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  Wangerien,  his  wile  and 
two  daughters,  set  sail  from  Hanibi;rg  on 
the  good  ship  "  Howard,"  bound  for  New 
York,  where  after  a  voyage  of  forty-three 
days,  they  landed  in  safety.  From  there 
they  proceeded  by  rail  to  Dunkirk,  N.  Y., 
thence  by  water  to  Cleveland,  where  they 
arrived  in  September  following.  Here 
Mr.  Wangerien  worked  at  his  trade  two 
months,  after  which  the  entire  family 
removed  to  the  German  settlement  in  Rus- 
sia township,  Lorain  county,  where  the 
lather  bought  land  and  lived  thereon 
twenty  years,  employed  in  farming  and  at 
his  trade;  in  1872  he  bought  another  piece 
of  land  containing  247  acres,  in  the  same 
township,  and  as  an  agriculturist  he  has 
been  fairly  successful.  In  the  United 
States  two  more  children  were  born  to  him, 
viz. :  Charles  R.  and  Henry  C,  both  farmers 
in  Russia  township.  The  mother  died 
June  20,  1884,  and  was  buried  in  South 
Amherst  cemetery.  In  politics  Mr. 
Wangerien  is  a  Republican,  though  not  an 
active  worker  in  his  party.  In  the  Father- 
Jand  he  had  united  with  the  Lutheran 
Church,  in  which  he  lias  faithfully  re- 
mained. Since  the  death  of  his  wife  he 
has  been  making  his  home  with  his  sons, 
wiio  are  neighbors,  tarrying  with  them 
alternately. 


HARLES    R.  WANGERIEN,   one 

of  the  most  successful  and  careful 
agriculturists  of  Russia  township, 
Lorain  county,  who  from  the  bottom 
rung  of  the  ladder  has  made  his  way  to 
the  top  entirely  by  his  own  energy,  per- 
severance and  sf)und  judgment,  is  a  native 
of  Russia  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
born  November  10,  1854. 

Mr.  Wano-erien  is  the  eldest  born  in  Lo- 
rain  county  to  Karl  and  Henrietta  (Naher- 
enst) Wangerien.  He  attended  scliool 
eight   seasons   in    Russia   township,  after- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1163 


ward  at  Cleveland  two  seasons,  and  then 
coinnieuced  agricultural  pursuits  on  his 
father's  farm,  wliero  he  has  since  continued 
to  reside.  On  Noveuibt^r  16,  1876,  he 
was  married  to  Augusta  Dehn,  who  was 
born  in  Amiierst  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  June  29,  1855,  a  daughter  of  AVill- 
iain  and  Christina  (Hacker)  Deiin,  natives 
of  Mecklenburg-Strelitz,  Germany,  whence 
tliey  emigrated  to  this  country  manj' 
years  ago.  When  Mr.  Wangerien's  mother 
died  in  1S84,  his  wife  took  charge  of  the 
household  affairs,  and  has  so  continued 
since.  To  our  subject  antl  wife  have  been 
born  three  children:  Harry  A.,  Karl  W. 
and  Alma  H. 

In  politics  Mr.  Wangerien  is  a  Repub- 
lican, but  not  an  active  one,  as  he  wisely 
devotes  all  his  time  to  his  farm  and  family. 
He  is  the  owner  of  225  acres  of  prime  land 
in  Russia  township,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  best  and  most  industrious  farmers 
in  his  locality. 


f[J[ENRY    C.    WANGERIEN,    than 
1?^     whom  there  is  no  more  industrious 
I     1     and     painstaking    agriculturist    in 
■Jj  Russia     township,    is    a    native    of 

same,  born  October  24, 1857, young- 
est in  the  family  of  Karl  and  Henrietta 
(Naherenst)  Wangerien. 

He  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  township  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  old,  when  he  commenced 
work  on  the  farm  under  his  father,  a  voca- 
tion he  has  since  continued  in  with  every 
success.  On  December  7,  1880,  Mr.  Wan- 
gerien was  married  to  Augusta  Dramm, 
who  was  born  in  Russia  township,  Lorain 
county,  January  19,  1859,  a  daughter  of 
Karl  Dramm,  a  native  of  Germany.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Arthur  C,  born  July  10,  1883; 
lona  G.,  born  November  10,  1885;  and 
Nelson  L.,  born  July  1,  1889.  After  mar- 
riage our  subject  built  a  house  near  that  of 


his  father,  where  he  and  his  bride  made 
their  new  home,  and  continued  to  live 
until  1889,  in  which  year  they  removed  to 
their  present  farm,  wliicli  Mr.  Wangerien 
has  substantially  improved,  having  erected 
all  the  buildings  thereon  with  his  own 
hands.  He  now  owns  185  acres  of  excel- 
lent land,  and  stands  second  to  none  in  the 
county  as  an  all-round  agriculturist.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  leading  Republican,  and  is 
now  acceptably  tilling  the  office  of  town- 
shit)  trustee. 


fr^  EORGE  W.  GIBSON.  This  gentle- 
man, proprietor  of  the  leading  livery 
and  hack  business  in  Oberlin,  comes 
of  ancestry  whose  home  was  the 
soil  of  Scott  and  Burns — "  land  of 
the  mountain  and  the  flood." 

Our  subject  was  born  November  19, 
18-1:5,  in  Russia  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  a  son  of  Orin  and  Elizabeth  (Free- 
man) Gibson.  The  parents  were  natives 
of  New  York,  and  in  1833  came  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Browuhelm  township  till  1835, 
when  they  moved  to  Russia  township  on  a 
farm,  which  at  that  time  was  all  in  the  woods, 
but  is  now  one  of  the  best  cultivated  in 
the  township.  The  father  died  May  30, 
1884,  in  Oberlin,  where  the  mother  is  yet 
living.  She  was  born  in  Vermont,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Luther  Freeman,  also  a  native  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  who  in  1824  came 
to  Russia  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  davs.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Orin  Gibson  were  the  parents  of 
three  children,  as  follows:  Louisa,  wife  of 
Nathan  R.  Nash,  residing;  in  Russia  town- 
ship,  Lorain  county;  Anna,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  David  Brobert,  and  died  in  1886 
in  Oberlin;  and  George  W. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  townsliip.  and  as- 
sisted in  the  opening  up  of  the  home  farm, 
working  thereon  till  March,  1881,  when 
he  came  to  Oberlin  and  embarked  in  his 
present  livery  business.    On  December  25, 


1164 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1870,  Mr.  Gibson  was  married,  in  Russia 
township,  Lorain  county,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Plain,  a  native  of  Broome  county,  N.  Y. 
(daughter  of  Henry  Plain),  who  came  to 
Lorain  county  in  1861.  One  of  her  broth- 
ers, during  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  in  tlie 
Federal  army  from  Lorain  county.  Two 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union. 
Electa  and  Raymond.  In  his  political 
sytiipalhies  Mr.  Gibson  identities  himself 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1882  he 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  a  position  lie 
is  yet  iilling.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  owns  the  old 
homestead  in  Russia  township,  and  is  a 
well-to-do,  popular  citizen. 


F.  LANGDON,a  well-to-do  citi- 
zen of  Penfield  township,  was  born 
November  16,  1819,  in   the  town 
of     Cobleskill,    Schoharie      Co., 
N.    Y.,  son   of    Forester  and    grandson  of 
Lewis  Langdon,  who  was  a    manufacturer 
of  cider- mil  Is. 

Forester  Langdon  was  married  in  his  na- 
tive State  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Moses 
Frederick  Delosdernier,  who  came  from 
Nova  Scotia,  and  while  living  in  New 
York  children  were  born  to  this  union  as 
follows:  Clarissa,  who  married  Perry 
Disbro,  and  died  March  9,  1893,  in  Iowa; 
Matilda,  who  married  Samuel  White,  and 
died  Feliruary  7,  1890,  in  Eaton  Rapids, 
Mich.;  William  F.,  our  subject;  Hiram 
A.,  who  was  a  physician  of  Avon,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  died  October  9,  1873; 
Maria,  who  married  Lyman  Webber,  and 
died  April  10,  1886,  in  Van  Wert  county, 
Ohio;  Orilla,  Mrs.  Samuel  Disbro,  of  Cass 
county,  Iowa;  Lucinda,  who  was  the  widow 
of  Horace  Cragin,  of  La  Grange,  Ohio, 
died  December  19,  1898;  Washington  L., 
of  "Van  Wert  county,  Ohio;  and  LionarE., 
also  of  Van  Wert  county,  Ohio.  Early  in 
1834   Mr.     Langdon,    with    his    daughter 


Matilda  and  son  William  F.,  set  out  for 
Ohio,  driving  the  entire  distance,  and  ar- 
riving on  February  16,  after  a  journey  of 
twenty-one  days,  in  La  Grange  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  they  found  a  tem- 
porary home  with  Mr.  Langdon's  brother- 
in-law,  Allen  Sheldon.  The  father  re- 
turned to  New  York  State,  and  in  the 
following  May  brought  the  remainder  of 
the  family  to  Ohio,  our  subject  in  the 
meantime  living  witJi  his  uncle,  Joseph 
Lincoln.  Mrs.  Langdon  died  in  Lorain 
county  April  21,  1835,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
one,  and  some  years  later  Mr.  Langdon  re- 
moved to  Van  Wert  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  is  now  buried,  having  passed  away  there 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Oiir  subject  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  period,  and 
came  to  Ohio  when  fourteen  years  old,  at 
which  time  the  country  was  completely 
wild  and  abounded  with  wolves,  deer,  wild 
hogs,  turkeys,  etc.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  lie  left  home  and  went  to  La  Porte, 
where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
under  a  Mr.  Bassett,  and  also  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  wagon  making,  which  he 
followed  to  some  extent.  In  the  winter 
of  1846  he  went  to  Louisiana  to  work  in 
the  lumber  region.  On  January  22,  1850, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Denham, 
who  was  born  November  9,  1825,  in  Scot- 
land, whence  her  parents,  Peter  and  Mar- 
garet (Lyle)  Denham,  emigrated  in  an 
early  day  to  the  United  States  and  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Penfield  townsliip,  Lorain 
county,  where  both  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lantjdon  located 
on  the  place  where  he  yet  resides,  purchas- 
ing, on  credit,  fifty-seven  and  a  half  acres 
at  ten  dollars  per  acre.  The  country  was 
very  swampy  and  all  in  the  woods,  and 
there  was  not  a  house  in  sight.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  worked  diligently 
at  his  trades,  some  of  the  best  wagons  in 
the  section  coming  from  his  workshop; 
and  after  years  of  industry  and  economy 
has   amassed  a  comfortable    property,    all 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1165 


the  result  of  his  own  untiring  efforts.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Langdon  have  had  one  child, 
Margaret  F.,  now  the  wife  of  M.  L.  Disbro, 
of  Peniield  townsliip;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Disbro 
have  iiad  two  children:  Munson  Langdon 
and  James  Leverne,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  1881  at  the  age  of  ten  niontiis. 
In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican, 
active  in  party  affairs,  and  has  held  various 
local  positions  of  trust,  such  as  township 
trustee,  etc.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  trustee. 


a  SUTLIFF,  one  of  the  best 
known  farmer  citizens  of  Carlisle 
township,  and  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  is  a  native  of  same,  born 
February  28,  1826,  a  son  of  Salmon  and 
Anna  (Beamau)  Sutliff. 

The  Sutliffs  come  of  English  ancestry. 
Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
"Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1786,  and 
was  there  married.  He  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  under  Gen.  Harrison.  In  1820 
he  came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  first 
locating  in  Avon  township,  whence  on 
January  1,  1821,  he  moved  to  Carlisle 
township.  He  died  here  in  1857,  his  wife 
in  1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eigiit  years. 
In  religious  sentiment  they  were  Baptists, 
and  in  politics  he  was  an  Old-line  Whig. 
They  were  the  parents  of  fifteen  children, 
of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief  record: 
Lovicia  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Silas 
B.,  a  wagoumaker,  was  married,  and  died 
at  JoHet,  III.;  William  H.  H.  resides  in 
Wellington,  Lorain  county;  Asa  G.  was 
married,  and  died  in  Minnesota  in  1879; 
O.  H.  P.  is  married,  and  lives  in  Carlisle 
township,  Lorain  county;  Charles  B.  was 
killed  by  the  cars;  Ralph  O.  is  married, 
and  resides  in  Michigan;  Lusetta  is  the 
wife  of  Eli  Wright,  of  Wood  county,  Ohio; 
Warren  C.  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir; 
Lucinda  was   the  wife  of  Frederick   Lee 


(she  died  in  Cleveland,  Ohio);  Jesse  S.,  a 
twin,  has  his  home  in  Saginaw,  Mich,  (his 
twin  brother  died  when  three  weeks  old); 
Theodore  S.  also  lives  in  Michigan;  Miles 
W.  is  married,  and  resides  in  Pentield 
township,  Lorain  county;  Rosetta  is  the 
wife  of  William  Gott,  of  Wellington,  Ohio. 
Grandfather  Gad  Sutliff  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  lived  and  died 
in  New  York  State. 

W.  C.  Sutliff  received  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place,  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
which  have  been  his  life  work,  and  he  now 
owns  a  good  farm  in  Carlisle  township. 
In  February,  1854,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jane  A.  Bennett,  daugh- 
ter  of  David  and  Jane  (Galpin)  Bennett, 
the  former  born  in  Westmoreland,  N.  H., 
the  latter  in  Waterbury,  Cotm.  Two  chil- 
dren— Ada  C.  and  Louis  E. — have  been 
born  to  this  union.  Mr.  Sutliff  is  an 
active  Democrat,  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Franklin  Pierce.  lie  served  his  town- 
ship as  constable  for  about  ten  3'ears,  also 
as  assessor  and  trustee  several  terms,  and 
for  the  past  twenty-five  years  has  been  a 
justice  of  the  peace. 


JOSEPH    B.    FLICKINGER,     than 
whom    no  citizen  of  Lorain    county 
stands  higher  in  the  community,  or  is 
better  esteemed,    comes   of   an     old 
Pennsylvania-German   family. 

He  was  born  December  29,  1827,  in 
Greene  township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  a  son 
of  Peter  Flickinger,  who  was  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  October  13,  1787,  he  a 
son  of  Jacob  Flickinger,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. Peter  was  a  stone  mason  and 
bricklayer  by  trade.  He  was  married  Oc- 
tober 10,  1813,  in  Brothers  Valley  town- 
ship, Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  to  Elizabeth 
Kieffer,  who  was  born  June  12,  1793,  also 
in  Brothers  Valley  township,  daughter  of 


1166 


LORAIN  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


Jacob  Kieffer,  a  well-to-do  capitalist,  who 
came  from  Germany,  and  was  married  to 
a  Miss  Eva  Fritz,  also  of  Germany,  whose 
mother  died  when  crossing  the  ocean,  and 
was  buried  at  sea.  One  child,  Mary  Ann, 
•was  born  to  them  in  Southampton  town- 
ship, Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  August  1, 1814, 
and  died  unmarried  in  Greene  township, 
Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  On  March  10,  1818, 
Peter  Flickinger  and  his  little  family,  ac- 
companied by  his  father-in-law,  Jacob 
Kieffer,  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Greene 
township,  Wayne  county  (he  had  come  out 
the  year  before,  and  entered  land  there). 
The  country  was  very  wild,  and  they  had 
to  cut  their  way  tiirougii  tiie  woods,  in 
which  I'oamed  lierce  animals,  sometimes  so 
emboldened  by  hunger  as  to  enter  the  very 
house.  One  night  Mrs.  Flickinger  had 
some  meat  boiled  in  a  pot,  and  a  bear, 
smelling  it  from  afar,  coolly  walked  into 
the  house,  ate  up  the  beef,  and  then  took 
his  departure  with  considerably  less  cere- 
mony tlian  would  any  average  nineteenth- 
century  tramp.  Mr.  Flickinger  had  bought 
160  acres  of  Government  land,  which  for 
the  most  part  he  cleared  with  his  own 
hand,  receiving  valuable  assistance  from 
his  stalwart  sons.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  owner  of  550  acres  of  land. 
In  addition  to  farming  he  did  considerable 
masonry  work,  among  other  buildings 
erecting  his  own  house.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Whig,  and  served  in  various  town- 
ship ottices  of  trust  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  his  constituents;  in  religion  he 
was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  died  May  20,  1849;  his  wife 
passed  from  earth  August  23,  1843,  and 
they  are  buried  in  Milton  township,  Wayne 
county.  The  children  born  to  them  in  Ohio 
were  as  follows:  Eli,  born  July  22,  1816, 
in  Greene  township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio, 
now  of  Kipton,  Ohio;  Otillia,  born  May 
24,  1818,  widow  of  E.  N.  Fowler,  of  Ben- 
ton county,  Iowa;  Jacob,  born  January  24, 
1821.  who  died  October  21,  1846,  at 
Matamoras,  Mexico,  while  serving  in  the 
Mexican  war;  Jesse,  born   May   22,  1824, 


now  a  mechanic  and  carpenter,  of  Kansas; 
Peter  N.  and  Joseph  B.  (twins),  Ijorn  De- 
cember 29,  1827.  of  whom  Peter  N.  died 
March  23,  1849,  when  aged  twenty-one. 

Joseph  B.  Flickinger,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  did  not  attend  school  till 
he  was  nine  years  old,  the  schoolhouse 
being  at  too  great  a  distance  from  his 
home;  but  he  was  an  apt  scholar,  and 
learned  rapidly.  Up  to  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  reared  on  a  farm,  was  taught 
agriculture,  and  then  commenced  to  learn 
the  trade  of  bricklayer  and  stonemason,  at 
first  under  his  father,  later  under  Reuben 
Tressler.  On  completing  his  trade  he  be- 
gan taking  contracts  for  his  own  account, 
and  worked  at  various  places.  After  his 
marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Greene 
township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  on  the  Port- 
age road,  on  which  he  remained  eighteen 
months,  then  coniing  to  Huntington  town- 
ship, Lorain  connty,  he  bought  126  acres 
of  land,  where  he  made  his  home  two 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  moved 
to  Camden  township  and  purchased  the 
fine  fai'ui  which  he  yet  owns.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1880,  he  came  to  the  town  of  Kipton, 
where  he  lias  since  resided  in  comparative 
retirement.  For  twelve  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  farming  implements. 

On  March  8,  1849,  Mr.  Flickinger  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Marv  Pow- 
ers, born  October  16,  1829.  in  Canaan 
township,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Wiram  and  Maria  (Moulton)  Powers,  who 
were  descendants  of  some  of  the  early  fam- 
ilies of  New  England.  Each  of  the  par- 
ents— Wiram  and  Maria — came  to  Wayne 
count}',  Ohio,  with  llieir  parents.  Thomas 
Powers,  father  of  Wiram,  married  Olive 
Harvey,  who  ran  bullets  for  the  Conti- 
nental army  at  Bunker  Hill,  as  four  of  her 
brothers  were  participants  in  that  engage- 
ment; in  the  same  army  her  father  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  shod  horses  for  the  cavalry. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flickinger  were  born  two 
children,  as  follows:  Claista  C,  born  Oc- 
tober 9,  1850,  in  Greene  township,  Wayne 
Co..  Ohio,  and  Hiram   J.,  born  September 


LORAm  COUNTY.  OHIO. 


1167 


19,  185-4,  ill  Caindeii  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  and  died  September  7, 18(53.  Claista 
C.  married  Otis  Kelsey,  and  three  children 
were  born  to  them:  Carrie  B.  (Mrs.  L.  V. 
Bates),  Cora  L.  and  Nettie  M.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Flickin^er  was  originally  a  Whig, 
later  a  Republican,  and  for  twenty-four 
years  he  has  served  as  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  his  last  reelection  heing  in  the  spring 
of  1893;  lie  has  also  been  trustee,  assessor 
of  real  estate  and  personal  property,  and 
was  enumerator  of  census  in  1880  and  in 
1890.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  dea- 
con, and  of  the  Sabbath-school  of  which  he 
has  been  superintendent  for  twelve  years. 


DR.    TEN  N  ANT,    one    of     Lorain 
county's     leading  farmers,     having 
'   234  acres  of  prime  land  in  Camden 
township,    was     born     August  20, 
1826,  in    Monroe   county,  N.  Y.,  a  son   of 
Selden  and  Lydia  (Allen)  Tennant. 

Seidell  Tennant,  father  of  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  1787,  and 
in  1793  came  to  Otsego  county,  N.  Y., 
with  his  parents.  When  a  young  man  he 
liouglit  land  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  but  not 
lonu  afterward  he  removed  to  Monroe 
county.  Ill  1846  he  came  to  Ohio  and 
bought  wild  land  in  Camden  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  where  he  became  a  well-to-do 
citizen,  farming  being  his  life  vocation. 
In  Otsego  county  he  had  married  Miss 
Lydia,  Allen,  who  bore  him  children  as  fol- 
lows: Moses  S.,  who  died  in  Camden  town- 
ship aged  seventy-eight  years;  Betsy,  who 
married  Charles  Kingsbury,  died  in  Mich- 
igan; Allen,  a  resident  of  Kenton,  Ohio; 
Lydia,  married  to  David  M.  Tennant,  died 
in  Oberlin  in  1892;  David  li.,  our  subje(!t; 
and  Hannah  M.,  married  to  Moses  Hol- 
coinl),  now  of  Cass  county,  Iowa.  The 
mother  died  in  1835  in  New  York  State, 
the    father  ou    his  farm  in  Camden  town- 


ship, Lorain  county,  in  1871.  Politically 
he  was  first  an  ardent  Whig,  afterward,  on 
the  formation  of  the  party,  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. In  religious  connection  lie  and 
iiis  wife  were  zealous  Baptists. 

David  R.  Tennant  attended,  as  circum- 
stances permitted,  the  common  schools  of 
the  locality  of  his  hirtli,  and  early  in  life 
was  inducted  into  the  mysteries  of  farm 
life.  He  continued  to  reside  with  his 
parents,  and  on  November  19,  1846,  was 
married  in  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss 
Melita  Burpee,  who  was  born  July  29, 
1827,  in  Rutland  county,  Vt.,  daughter  of 
Otis  and  Dorinda  (Pearson)  Burpee,  who 
iiioveil  to  Livingston  county,  N.  Y.,  in 
1830,  and  in  1842  came  to  Monroe  county, 

same  State.      After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

... 
Tennant  came  to  Ohio  with  his  father,  on 

whose  farm  in  Camden  township,  Lorain 
county,  he  resided  nine  years  after  coming, 
working  for  the  most  part  on  shares,  his 
father  raakincr  his  home  with  him.  In 
about  1855  he  bought  ninety-one  acres,  a 
portion  of  his  present  farm,  which  he  in- 
creased by  additions  to  234  acres,  and  here 
he  has  successfully  carried  on  farming 
operations.  The  children  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  wife  are  as  follows:  Franklin  R., 
a  farmer  of  Bay  county,  Mich.;  Emily  D., 
married  to  Albert  H.  Kennedy,  residing  in 
Rockport,  Ind.  (they  are  both  graduates  of 
Oberlin  College);  Ella  A.,  Mrs.  H.  H. 
Howe,  of  Medina  county,  Ohio;  Clara  M., 
wife  of  H.  F.  Bronson,  a  farmer  of  Cam- 
den township;  George  W.,  a  farmer  of 
Bay  county,  Mich.;  and  Almina  M.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  All 
these  children  were  well  educated,  and  all 
had  iieeii  school-teachers,  except  one,  who 
had  lost  health.  Mr.  Tennant  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  formerly  a  Whig,  and  a 
Christian  man  in  all  his  thoughts  and  acts, 
though  not  a  member  of  any  church.  He 
is  very  precise  in  his  dealings,  but  never 
"close,"  rather  the  reverse;  and  he  has 
been  most  liberal  to  his  family  in  the  way 
of  educational  advantages  and  all  tbino-s 
necessary  to    their    advancement    in     life. 


1168 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Mrs.  Tennant,  who  has  nobly  acted  her 
part  in  the  rearing  of  her  family,  and  in 
making  the  home  what  it  is — comfortable 
and  home-like — is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 


d[AMES  CONNOLLY,    who   for  over 
I    twenty-two  years  has  been  keeper   of 
'    the  lighthouse  off  Lorain,  is  a  native 
of  Quebec,  Canada,   born  November 
9,  1828. 

His  father,  John  Connolly,  was  a  native 
of  Queen's  County,  Ireland,  and  when  a 
young  man  came  to  Quebec,  where  he  mar- 
ried Cordelia  Bell,  a  native  of  London, 
England.  He  was  a  ship  carpenter, 
caulker  and  sailor,  sailing  on  the  ocean  in 
early  life,  but  after  his  marriage  followed 
the  lakes,  biiilding  vessels  at  different 
ports.  In  the  summer  of  1886  he  settled 
at  Black  Biver  (now  Lorain),  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days, 
dying  in  1864;  his  wife  died  in  Lorain  in 
1853.  They  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren— six  sons  and  two  daughters — 
namely:  Bartholeniew,  who  died  in  Shef- 
field township,  Lorain  county,  Stephen, 
■who  also  died  in  Lorain  county;  Jauies, 
subject  of  this  memoir;  Carrie  A.,  wife  of 
Henry  Volmar,  of  Cleveland;  Elizaljeth, 
widow  of  F.  C.  Thompson;  William,  mar- 
ried and  residino^  in  Lorain  (he  served  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth 
O.  V.  I.);  Edwin,  married  and  residing  in 
Cleveland;  and  John,  who  enlisted,  in 
1862,  in  Company  H,  Eighth  O.  V.  I., 
for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Manchester  (he 
re-enlisted  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred 
and  Third  O.  V.  L,  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  died  in  Andersonville  Prison  in  1865). 
In  November,  1836,  when  about  eight 
years  of  age,  Jatnes  Connolly  came  from 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to  Lorain,  Ohio,  where  he 
received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  ship 
carpenter  and  caulker,  and  for  thirty  years 
■was  a  sailor  on  the  lakes,  being  captain  and 


mate  of  a  vessel  during  the  summer  for 
many  years,  and  during  this  long  life  he 
had  many  thrilling  experiences.  In  1871, 
during  Grant's  administration,  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  Secretary  Boutwell,  keeper  of 
the  lighthouse,  in  which  capacity  he  is 
still  retained.  He  now  has  charge  of  the 
second  lighthouse,  and  the  tower  building, 
for  range  lights  are  erected,  and  are  being 
used. 

On  June  21,  1853,  Mr.  Connolly  was 
united  in  marriage,  at  Lorain,  with  Miss 
Alice  L.  Gillmore,  a  native  of  Lorain 
county,  daughter  of  Quartus  Gillmore, 
both  members  of  a  very  early  family  of 
the  county.  To  this  union  were  born  six 
children,  namely:  Alice,  wife  of  L.  H. 
Eddy,  residing  on  Second  Avenue,  Lorain 
(Mr.  Eddy  is  an  engineer  on  the  C.  L.  »fc 
W.  E.  R.  from  Lorain  to  AVheeling) ; 
James  Q.,  who  was  killed  by  lightning 
when  ten  years  old;  Eugene,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  ;  Frank  Lyotis,  who  died 
when  five  years  old;  and  Clara  and  Carrie 
(twins),  who  died  when  seven  weeks  old. 
The  mother  of  these  children  passed  from 
earth  January  5,  1893.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  for  three 
years,  when  the  public  schools  were  first 
organized  here.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  Lorain  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  a  charter  member;  he  was  also  a 
member  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge  at 
Elyria.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Con- 
gregationalist.  During  his  residence  in 
Lorain  Mr.  Connolly  has  watched  its  de- 
velopment, from  a  village  of  500  people, 
to  a  thriving  little  city  of  6,000. 


OBERT  REDFERN.  Prominent 
and  well-known  in  the  community 
of  Columbia  township,  in  both  pub- 
lic and  private  life,  is  to  be  found 
this  gentleman. 
He  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  in  the 
town  of  White  Church,  County  of  Bruce, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1169 


Ontario,  August  24,  1837,  a  sou  of  Robert 
and  Ellen  Redferii,  natives  of  Ireland,  wiio 
in  an  early  day  immigrated  to  Canada, 
locating  in  the  County  of  Bruce,  Ontario, 
from  there  removing  in  1853  to  Olmsted 
Falls,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  and  later  com- 
ing to  Henrietta  townshij),  Lorain  county. 
Our  subject  received  a  thorough  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place 
lip  to  the  age  of  sixteen,  at  which  time  the 
family  moved  to  Olmsted  Falls,  Ohio,  and 
lie  was  twenty  years  old  when  they  came 
to  Lorain  county.  Here  he  was  engaged 
ill  farming  and  sawinilliiig.  For  one  year 
he  was  employed  in  the  cheese  factory  at 
West  View,  and  he  was  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness in  Cleveland  seven  years.  In  April, 
1857,  he  had  married,  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  Miss  Mary  C.  Hacket, 
a  native  of  that  township,  daughter  of 
Gain  R.  and  Electa  (^Sabin)  Hacket,  pio- 
neers of  Columbia  township,  who  settled  in 
the  wild  woods  where  they  cleared  a  farm. 
Gain  R.  Hacket  was  born  in  Manchester, 
N.  Y.,  August  13,  1810;  his  wife.  Electa 
A.  (Sabin),  in  Ontario,  JM.  Y.,  May  5, 1815. 
They  were  married  September  13,  1832, 
and  same  year  moved  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  on  a 
farm  of  seventy-five  acres,  which  he  cleared 
up.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Zebina,  Mary  C,  Lafrancis 
E.,  Stephen,  Emily,  Sarah  and  Laura,  of 
whom  there  are  yet  living:  Mary  C.  Red- 
fern,  Lafrancis  E.  Hacket  and  Emily  Os- 
born.  The  father  of  these  died  in  March, 
1855;  the  mother  is  now  living  on  the  old 
place  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Redfern. 

After  marriage  our  subject  settled  on  his 
present  fine  farm  of  148  acres,  all  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation  (its  original  size  having 
been  seventy-five  acres),  and  here  carries 
on  general  agriculture  including  dairying, 
of  which  branch  he  makes  a  specialty,  do- 
ing a  large  business.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Redfern:  Lilly 
Ann,  wife  of  John  Richards  (they  have 
fivechildren — Ciiarles.  Robert,  Albert.  May 
and    Lena,    all    residing    in    Stronifsville, 


Ohio);  Ellen  May,  who  married  J.  H. 
Culver,  and  died  in  1884;  Eva  May,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Elmer 
Dewitt,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  In  politics 
our  subject  votes  with  the  Republican 
party;  has  served  as  township  trustee,  be- 
ing now  in  his  fourth  year,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  school  board  several 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church. 


throughout    Amherst 
he    was    born    in 


ARDIS  N.  BARNES,    farmer    and 
dealer  in  horses,  is  well  and  favor- 
ably    known 
township,    where 
March,  1838. 

Ezekiel  Barnes,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1770  in 
Worcester,  whence  in  1817  he  came  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  on  Lot  43, 
Amherst  township,  where  he  died  in  1860. 
His  children  were  as  follows:  Ezekiel  G.; 
Sardis  D.,  who  died  at  Upper  Sandusky 
before  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born; 
Paulina,  who  died  in  Madison,  Lake  Co., 
Ohio  (she  was  the  wife  of  Rawson  Crocker, 
and  their  son  is  now  the  oldest  man  in 
North  Amherst);  Fannie,  who  married 
David  Smith,  and  became  the  mother  of 
Judge  L.  B.  Smith,  of  Elyria;  Amanda, 
who  married  Warren  Smith,  and  went 
with  the  Mormons  (he  was  killed  during 
the  raid  on  Nauvoo,  111.,  and  she  died  re- 
cently in  Salt  Lake  City);  Juliet,  who 
married  Ira  Lelie,  and  still  resides  in  Am- 
herst; and  Charlotte,  who  married  Mon- 
ville  Wintone,  and  died  in  Wood  county. 
Grandfather  Barnes  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  was  well  known  in  political 
circles,  first  as  a  Whig  and  in  later  years 
as  a  Republican.  His  eldest  son,  Ezekiel 
G.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Old 
Becket,  Mass.,  September  1,  179U,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Amherst  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  in  1817.  In  1825  he 
revisited  the  Eiist,  and  was  there  married, 


1170 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Bame  year,  to  Miss  Elvira  Harrington,  who 
was  born  March  5,  1805,  in  New  York 
State.  Eeturning  to  Amherst  township  he 
settled  down  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
became  prosperous.  He  was  a  great  hunter, 
and  as  in  his  day  the  forest  teemed  with 
game  of  all  sorts,  many  a  deer,  pheasant 
and  wild  turkey  fell  to  his  unerring  rifle. 
In  politics  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  a  brief  record  of  them  be- 
ing as  follows:  Gilbert  H.,  born  Novem- 
ber 17,  1826,  still  resides  in  Amherst 
township;  Louisa  E.,  born  August  27, 
1828,  is  the  widow  of  James  Gawn,  and 
she  also  resides  in  Amherst  township; 
G.  Monroe,  born  September  3,  1880,  was 
married,  and  died  in  August,  1891 ;  Henry 
D.,  born  August  12,  1836,  died  April  6, 
1869;  Sardis  N.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
called  from  earth  December  31,  1881,  the 
mother  on  January  29,  1888. 

Sardis  N.  Barnes  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  township.  On  September 
10,  1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Calista  Bemis,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 7,  1840,  and  one  child,  Nellie,  has  come 
to  brighten  their  home.  Mr.  Barnes  is  a 
wideawake,  progressive  fanner,  and  for 
the  past  few  years  has  given  special  atten- 
tion to  trading  in  fast  horses,  selling  in  the 
eastern  markets.  Politically  he  votes  with 
the  Eepublicau  party,  in  M'hich  he  takes 
an  active  interest. 


dl    H.  REED,  a  prominent  and  influen- 
tial  farmer  of  Eaton   township,   was 
_  1    born  July  19,   1847,  in   Strongsville, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Tamar    (Lyman)   Reed,    natives,    the 
father   of   Cornwall,   England,  the  mother 
of  Strongsville,  Ohio. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  Joseph  Reed  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  locating 
first  in  Strongsville,  Ohio,  from  there 
moved     to    Columbia    township,     Lorain 


county,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits during  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died 
in  1882;  his  widow  is  yet  living.  Tiiey 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six 
are  yet  living,  viz.:  J.  L.,  married,  resid- 
ing in  Ridgeville  township  (he  has  two 
children,  Fred  and  Elsie);  J.  H.,  subject 
of  sketch;  Sopliia  L.,  widow  of  Chauncey 
Nichols,  late  of  Berea,  Ohio  (she  has  three 
children — Lena,  Mary  and  William);  Mary 
I.,  wife  of  Otis  B.  Osborne,  of  Eaton  town- 
ship (she  has  three  children  —  Nellie, 
Charlie  and  Bayard);  F.  N.,  married,  in 
the  wholesale  millinery  business  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio  (has  one  daughter — AVinifred); 
and  Charles  T.,  single,  in  business  with 
his  brother  in  Cleveland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  Reed  also  reared  a  niece,  Lydia 
Ratcliife,  now  married  and  living  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

J.  H.  Reed,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  received  his  education  at  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county,  supplemented  with  a  few  months 
attendance  at  Oberlin  College.  For  a 
time  he  worked  at  the  stone  business  in 
Berea,  Ohio,  as  well  as  in  Columbia  town- 
ship, but  farming  has  been  his  chief  life 
vocation.  In  1872  he  came  to  Eaton 
township,  and  bought  a  partly  improved 
farm  of  seventy-nine  acres,  on  which  he 
erected  a  house  and  barn,  subsequently 
adding  thereto  sixty-two  acres,  aggregat- 
incr  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. Just  after  marriage,  and  prior  to 
coming  to  Eaton  township,  Mr.  Reed  and 
his  wife  lived  two  years  in  Ridgeville 
township. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1871,  our  subject 
was  married,  in  Ridgeville  township,  to 
Miss  Jennie  McNelly,  of  that  township, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Cave) 
McNelly,  the  father  a  native  of  Whitehall, 
N.  Y.,  who  settled  in  Ridgeville  township 
some  sixty  years  ago,  the  mother  of  Eng- 
land; both  are  living  in  Elyria,  Ohio. 
Thomas  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Cave,  grand- 
parents of  Mrs.  Reed,  were  natives  of  Eng- 
land, whence  in  an  early  day  they  came  to 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1171 


America,  making  a  settlement  on  Chestnut 
Ridge,  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county. 
To  our  subject  and  wife  have  been  Ixtrn 
two  cliildren — Claude  Thomas  and  Clyde 
Joseph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church  at  Eaton  Center, 
of  which  he  is  clerk  and  deacon.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  an  active  Republican,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  and  has  served  in 
Congressional  conventions.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  local  Agricultural 
Association;  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  has  been 
a  delegate  to  the  County  Conventions. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  and  Irene  (Whitney)  Lyuian, 
natives  of  Vermont,  of  English  ancestry, 
who  in  1814  came  to  Strongsvilie,  Cuya- 
hoga Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  died,  he  in 
1828,  slie  in  1820.  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Hickens)  Reed,  paternal  grandparents  of 
J.  H.  Reed,  were  natives  of  Cornwall, 
England,  whence  about  the  year  1838  they 
came  to  Oliio,  making  their  new  home  in 
Cuyahoga  county.  The  grandfatlier  died 
in  Columbia  township,  Lorain  county,  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years;  the 
grandmother  had  passed  away  in  Strongs- 
vilie, Cuyahoga  county,  in  1871,  when 
seventy -six  years  old. 


AMUEL  ALEXANDER,  a  prom- 
inent and  representative  farmer  of 
Carlisle  township,  was  born  May  9, 
1829,  in  Gloucestershire,  England. 
His  parents,  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Fran- 
cum)  Alexander,  also  natives  of  England, 
came  to  America  when  Samuel  was  but 
four  weeks  old,  and  located  in  Grafton, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  The  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty,  the 
mother  passing  away  in  her  eightieth  year. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children 
who  grew  to  maturity,  viz.:  Martha,  who 
married  Edwin  Martin,  and  died  in  La- 
Porte  in  1886;  Samuel,  subject  of  sketch; 


Ann,  wife  of  William  Lawson,  of  Grafton ; 
Sophia,  wife  of  Cyrus  Wallace,  of  Winne- 
bago county.  111.;  John,  Job  and  Albert, 
all  three  married  and  residing  in  Eaton 
township. 

Samuel  Alexander  was  reared  to  farming 
pursuits  in  Grafton  and  Eaton  townships, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  district.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-five  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Stevens,  and  after  residing  in  Du- 
buque, Iowa,  for  two  years,  he  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  he  married,  for  his  sec- 
ond wife.  Miss  Laura  Tyce.  She  died,  and 
Mr.  Alexander  was  next  married  to  Miss 
Barbara  Slaterline,  to  which  union  have 
been  born  six  children,  namely:  George 
(\vho  died  when  fourteen  months  old), 
Elmer,  Mary,  Cora.  Olie  and  Ciiarley. 
Mr.  Alexander  resided  for  fifteen  years  in 
Bay  City,  Mich.,  but  in  1873  he  returned 
to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Eaton 
township,  whence  he  shortly  afterward 
removed  to  Carlisle  township.  Here  he 
has  since  resided,  engaged  in  general  agri- 
culture and  dairying,  and  he  owns  a  tine 
farm  of  300  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  While  residing  in  Michigan 
he  was  engaged  in  the  butcher  business, 
carrying  on  a  meat  market,  in  which  line 
he  met  with  considerable  success.  lie 
takes  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  voting 
witli  the  Republican  party. 


LFRED  HARRIS,  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  highly  respected 
farmers  of  Russia  township,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Oxfordshire,  England,  born 
February  6,  1831,  a  son  of  John 
Harris,  a  native  of  tlie  same  county,  who 
was  by  trade  a  miller.  He  married  a  Miss 
Lee,  and  to  them  were  born  in  England 
children's  follows:  Thomas  L.,  deceased 
in  Brownhelm  township,  Lorain  county, 
while  working  in  a  stone  quarry;  Henry 
L.,  a  physician,  deceased  in  Bellevue,  Ohio; 


1172 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Caroline,  wife  of  Dr.  James  F.  Grimes, 
of  Mishawaka,  Ind.;  Jolin,  wlio  was  a 
school-teacher,  and  died  in  the  West; 
Robert,  a  physician  of  South  Bend,  Ind.; 
Mary, widow  of  William  Purdy,of  Indiana; 
Kancy,  who  married  Kichard  Longniate, 
and  died  in  Oberiin,  Ohio;  Arthur,  a  car- 
penter of  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Alfred;  and 
Harriet,  who  married  Philander  George, 
and  died  in   Coldwater,  Michigan. 

In  1833  the  family  came  to  the  United 
States,  the  voyage  across  the  ocean  occu- 
pying six  weeks.  Prior  to  this  the  father 
had  come  alone  to  the  country,  and  bought 
for  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  in 
gold  233  acres  of  land,  which  is  now  the 
farm  of  the  subject  of  this  sketcii.  At 
that  time  such  a  sum  of  money  could  have 
bought  a  great  portion  of  the  town  of 
Cleveland,  for  cholera  was  raging  fear- 
fully, and  people  were  using  every  endeavor 
to  leave  the  place.  After  the  arrival  of 
the  family  in  New  York,  it  was  six  weeks 
before  the  husband  and  father  could  be 
found.  They  then  came  on  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  on  their  new  home  in  Russia  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  at  that  time  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness.  In  the  LInited  States 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Harris:  Hannah,  who  married  A.  A.  Tur- 
ney,  and  died  in  Wood  county,  Ohio;  and 
George,  who  was  colonel  of  Sheldon's 
Guards,  under  Gen.  Garfield,  during  the 
Civil  war.  and  was  killed  at  Fort  Gibson. 
After  coming  to  America  the  father  of  our 
subject  worked  at  the  sawmilling  business 
in  connection  with  farming,  which  latter 
was  the  chief  occupation  of  his  life,  but 
his  later  years  were  passed  in  retirement. 
He  died  in  1868,  his  wife  some  time  be- 
fore, and  they  lie  buried  in  Amherst  ceme- 
tery. Politically  he  was  first  a  Whig,  and 
afterward,  on  the  formation  of  the  party,  a 
Republican. 

Alfred  Harris,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  a  liberal  education  at  the 
common  schools,  and  sul)sequent]y  attended 
Oberiin  College,  when  Prof.  Finney  was 
president  of   that   institution.     When    he 


was  about  twenty-six  years  old  he  left  the 
paternal  roof,  and  embarked  in  the  cattle 
business — buying  and  selling — in  which 
he  was  very  successful.  In  1862  he  rented 
the  home  farm  for  five  years;  then  bought 
a  piece  of  improved  land,  which  he  sold 
six  years  later,  and  bought  the  home  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  containing  233  acres 
of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  the 
township. 

In  1861  Mr.  Harris  married  Julia  Du- 
rand,  a  native  of  Henrietta  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  by  which  union  children  as 
follows  have  been  born:  Viola  (now  Mrs. 
Daniel  Shaeffj;  Harriet,  Charles  H.  and 
Garfield,  at  home.  In  his  political  associa- 
tions our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


Ii  OSEPH  J.  RICE  is  proprietor  of  the 
k.  I  old-established  foundry  in  Amherst 
^^  township,  situated  two  and  one-half 
miles  southwest  of  North  Amherst, 
and  known  far  and  wide  as  "Rice's  Foun- 
dry." 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  Septomber  17,  1828, 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Penn.,  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Uhlre)  Rice,  the 
former  of  Westmoreland  county,  the  latter 
of  Fayette  county,  Penn.,  and  who  came 
to  Amherst  township,  Lorain  county,  in 
1829.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Henry,  born  July  18,  1816, 
died  in  1849;  Peter,  born  February  19, 
1818,  died  in  1889;  Samuel,  born  Febru- 
ary 1,  1825,  died  in  1852  in  California, 
and  Joseph  J.,  subject  of  sketch.  The 
father  died  in  1835  in  Amherst  township, 
the  mother  in  1865  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years. 

Joseph  J.  Rice  received  his  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  Amherst  town- 
ship, and  learned  the  trade  of  foundryman 
in  his  present  foiindry,  which  his  brothers, 
Henry  and  Peter,  had  built  in  1843.  They 
themselves  knew  nothing  of  the  business, 
but    employed  men  to  do  the  work,  and 


LORAIN-  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1173 


they  operated  same  for  several  years,  until 
onr  snl)ject,  liaviiio;  thorouglily  made  liim- 
self  master  of  the  trade,  succeeded  to  the 
business,  and  he  has  since  been  running  it 
constantly  every  day.  He  does  an  im- 
mense trade,  antl  since  his  proprietorship 
lias  been  engaged  in  tlie  manufacture  of 
the  "  Rice  Plow,"  well  known  in  northern 
Ohio.  Mr.  Rice  also  owns  a  good  farm  of 
140  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
In  1857  our  subject  wedded  Miss  Emily 
Josephine  Cook,  who  was  born  Feliruary 
4,  1839,  in  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  daugh- 
ter of  Lewis  R.  and  Emeline  Cook,  of  the 
same  county.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  three  children:  Arthur  J.,  who  was 
educated  at  Oberlin  College;  Virgil  E., 
married  and  residing  in  Oberlin,  where  he 
carries  on  a  florist  business;  and  Tracy  J., 
attending  the  Conservatory  of  Music  at 
Oberlin.  in  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


y\  E.  RICE,  the  well-known  florist  of 
Oberlin,  is  proprietor  of  the  most 
extensive  business  of  the  kind  in  Lo- 
rain caunty.  He  has  over  one  fourth 
of  an  acre  under  glass,  no  less  than  seven 
hot-houses  all  connected,  in  the  aggregate 
representing  the  largest  conservatory  for 
floricnltnre  in  his  part  of  the  State.  A 
visit  to  his  grounds,  which  he  owns  and 
which  are  situated  on  Lorain  street,  will 
well  repay  the  lover  of  flowers,  for  here  he 
will  find  them  in  endless  variety,  beautiful 
and  fragrant,  and  in  all  stages  of  growth. 
Summer  and  winter  he  Iihs  flowers  for  sale 
— both  cut  and  uncut — and  he  is  always 
to  be  found  at  liis  post,  courteous  and 
obliging. 

Mr.  Rice  is  a  native  of  Lorain  county, 
horn  in  Amherst  township  in  1865,  a  son 
of  J.  J.  and  Emily  (Cook)  Rice,  the  former 
of  whom  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
latter  of  New  York  State.  The  father 
came  to  Lorain  county,  and  engaged  in  the 
foundry  business  in  Amherst.  He  and  his 
wife  are  now  living  in  Amherst  township. 


Our  subject  received  his  elementary  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
township,  which  was  supplemented  with  a 
one-year's  attendance  at  Oberlin  College, 
after  which  he  took  acoursein  Oberlin  Busi- 
ness College,  where  he  graduated.  He 
then  embarked  in  his  present  line  of  busi- 
ness in  Amherst,  which  he  successfully 
cari-ied  on  there  until  1890,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Oberlin. 

In  April,  1888,  Mr.  Rice  was  married, 
in  North  Amherst,  Lorain  county,  to  Miss 
Lena  Merthe,  a  native  of  Lorain  county, 
and  daughter  of  Henry  Merthe,  a  farmer 
of  Amherst  township.  To  this  union  has 
been  born  one  child,  Earl  V.  In  politics 
our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


nS.  WRIGHT,  dealer  in  stoves   and 
tinware,  Elyria,  is  a   native   of  Co- 
'    shocton  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1830 
He    is   a   son    of   Lewis   and  Eliza. 
(Smith)   Wright,  who  were   both  born  in 
the    Bine   Ridge   Mountain    region.    West 
Virginia. 

They  came  to  Ohio,  and  were  married  in 
Coshocton  county,  where  they  passed  the 
rest  of  their  days,  rearing  a  family  of 
children,  as  follows:  Willis  (who  was  shot), 
William  (died  of  consnmptionj,  Martha 
(deceased  in  childhood),  D.  S.  (subject  of 
sketch),  Charles  (drowned  in  the  Cuyahoga 
river),  John  and  Henry  (twins,  the  latter 
of  whom  was  editor  of  a  Kansas  paper, 
and  committed  suicide  in  1867),  Thomas, 
Robert,  Laura,  Ferdinand  and  Frank.  The 
father  was  a  farmer,  civil  engineer,  school 
teacher,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  to  some 
extent  a  lawyer.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years,  the  inother  when  flfty- 
three  years  old. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  county,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen became  engineer  on  a  canal  boat,  a 
vocation  he  followed  for  some  time.  After- 
ward he  learned  bis  trade  of  tinsmith  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  after  a 
residence   for  a   time  in  Cleveland,  he,  in 


1174 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1852,  located  permanently  in  Elyria,  two 
years  tliereafter  opening  out  a  general 
business  in  stoves,  tinware,  etc.,  in  which 
he  has  been  remarkably  successful.  His 
stock  is  at  all  times  replete  with  every- 
thing in  his  line.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Freer,  and  has  three  children 
living,  as  follows:  Frances,  who  married  a 
Mr.  James  F.  Thompson,  and  has  five 
children:  Ruby,  Alice,  Bessie,  Blossom 
and  Don ;  Josephine,  married  to  E.  P. 
Lord,  and  has  one  child,  Lawrence;  and 
Alice,  who  married  F.  H.  Quayle,  and  has 
three  children:  Mable,  Jonas  and  Milton 
(she  keeps  house  for  her  father,  her 
mother  having  died  January  18,  1891). 


V  T(  ICHOLAS  WILBER,  a  progressive 

Vll    citizen,  and  prominent  in   the  agri- 

l|    cultural  interests  of  Henrietta  town- 

fj  ship,  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 

York,  born    January  19,   1827,  in 

Preble,  Cortland  county. 

Tliomas  Wilber,  father  of  subject,  first 
saw  the  light  in  1793.  in  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  until  he  reached  his 
tliirtieth  year,  when  he  moved  to  Cortland 
county,  N.  Y.  At  that  time  the  section 
where  he  settled  was  for  the  most  part 
wild  land,  but,  commencing  life  a  poor 
man,  he  became  comparatively  opulent 
through  assiduous  industry  and  indefatig- 
able labor,  bought  land  and  lived  the  rest 
of  his  life  a  prominent  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Marion  Filkins,  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  a  family  of 
eleven  children.  He  was  a  Federal  Anti- 
Jackson  man,  afterward  an  etitbusiastic 
Whig,  then  (1844)  a  strong  Abolitionist, 
and,  finally,  an  active  Republican.  He 
died  in  1873  in  the  town  of  Cortland, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  buried  in  Homer,  same 
county. 

Nicholas  Wilber,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  received  superior  educational 


advantages,  attending  school  until  he  waa 
thirteen  years  old,  when  impaired  health 
compelled  liira  to  abandon  study.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  pursuits, 
and  worked  on  the  homestead  until  1864, 
when  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  bought  a  small 
piece  of  land  in  Henrietta  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  on  the  Oherlin  Road.  In 
course  of  time  he  came  into  possession,  by 
purchase,  of  160  acres  prime  land,  whereon 
he  now  lives,  having  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  commodious  barn  and  other  out- 
houses. Mr.  Wilber  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics — first  as  a  Whig, 
then  as  a  Republican,  and  in  later  years  as 
a  Democrat.  He  has  attended  several 
State  conventions,  and  has  tilled  with  abil- 
ity various  township  offices  of  trust.  Mr. 
Wilber  had  five  Itrothers:  John,  Isaac, 
Jonathan,  Daniel  W.  and  George  A.,  two 
of  whom  are  still  living:  Isaac  and 
Daniel  W. 

In  1848  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  E.  J.,  daughter  of  Edmuud  and  Mary 
Miller,  and  one  son.  Miller,  was  born  to 
them.  The  latter  married  Hattie,  daugh- 
ter of  S.  O.  Kellogg,  and  they  had  four 
children,  all  of  whom  died  of  diphtheria 
in  January,  1893,  and  were  buried  within 
five  days  of  each  other. 


FETER  R.  DRAPER,  a  much  re- 
spected and  highly  prosperous  farm- 
er citizen  of  Brighton  township,  is 
a  native  of  Huron  county,  Ohio, 
born  in  Townsend  township.  May 
25,  1839,  a  sou  of  Sheldon  and  Clarissa 
(Cole)  Draper,  the  father  born  in  Dutchess 
county,  the  mother  in  Chenango  county, 
N.  Y.  They  came  from  the  latter  county 
to  Ohio,  first  locating  in  Bionson  town- 
ship, Huron  county,  later  removing  to 
Townsend  township,  where  they  died,  the 
father  in  1869,  the  mother  in  1879,  and 
they  lie  buried  in  Townsend  township. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1175 


The  enhject  pri)per  of  these  lines  re- 
ceived a  fair  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  early  in  lite 
commenced  to  worlc  on  his  fatiier's  farm. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  commenced  to 
learn  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  but  at  the 
end  of  twelve  hours  gave  it  up,  concluding 
that  he  was  better  adapted  to  agriculture. 
After  liis  marriage  he  located  in  Camden 
townsliip,  Lorain  coimty,  on  forty  acres  of 
land  he  had  bought  there,  on  which  he 
lived  two  years,  tlien  in  1870  came  to  iiis 
present  farm  in  Brighton  township,  where 
he  successfully  carries  on  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  Here  he  now  has  127 
acres  of  land,  besides  some  in  Townsend 
township,  Huron  county,  and  he  has 
erected  on  his  Lorain  county  farm  one  of 
the  linest  residences  in  the  locality. 

On  March  29,  1868,  in  Brighton  town- 
sliip, Lorain  county.  Mr.  Draper  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Estella  Sellon, 
born  in  Michigan  December  4,  18i9, 
daughter  of  Major  Seilon,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Alma  Mary, 
Mrs.  Gilbert  McCord,  of  South  Dakota; 
DeWitt  A.,  a  farmer  of  Camden  township, 
Lorain  county;  Delia  L.,  Mrs.  Clarence 
Gibson,  of  Camden  township;  and  Frank 
A.,  Altha  E.,  Fred  E.,  Archie  P.,  Seth  O., 
Rosella  M.,  Jessie  L.,  Clarence  O.  and 
Glenn  S.,  all  at  iiome.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  in 
various  township  othces;  in  church  asso- 
ciation he  and  liis  wife  are  Seventh  Day 
Adveiitists. 


^j  ICHARD  WALKDEN,  a   leading 
^(     wide-awake  agriculturist  of  Colum- 


I    ^  bia  township,  is  a  native  of  Massa- 
//  chusetts,  born  October  14,  1828,  in 

Lowell,  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Blundell)  Walkden. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  natives 
of  Lancasiiire,  England,  whence  in  1826 
tiiey  emigrated  to  tliis  country,  locating 
first  in   Lowell,  Mass.,  where  they  worked 


in  factories,  in  1833  moving  westward  to 
Ohio,  living  in  Newbnrgh  one  year,  and 
then  settling  on  a  farm  in  Cuyahoga 
count}'.  The  father  died  in  Berea,  Ohio, 
in  April,  1873,  aged  eighty  nine  years,  the 
mother  in  September,  1857,  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years.  He 
had  been  twice  married,  and  l:)y  his  first 
wife  had  three  children,  viz.:  John,  who 
remained  in  England;  Jane,  Mrs.  John 
Bainbridge,  who  died  in  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; and  Willialn,  who  came  to  Lorain 
county  in  1843,  died  on  the  ocean  in  1879. 
By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Blundell 
he  had  children  as  follows:  Alice,  who 
died  in  1890  in  Cuyahoga  county;  James, 
who  died  in  1875  in  Lowell,  Mass.; 
Thomas,  residing  in  Cuyahoga  county; 
Ann,  the  widow  of  Eastman  Bradford,  of 
Berea;  Mary,  widow  of  Joseph  Chevalier, 
of  Berea;  Arthur,  residing  in  Columbia 
township;  Peter,  who  died  in  Ridgeville 
township  iti  1880  {he  had  come  to  Lorain 
county  in  an  early  day):  Richard,  our 
subject;  Peggy,  deceased;  and  Margaret, 
widow  of  Henry  Woods,  of  Cuyahoga 
county. 

Richard  Walkden  was  a  small  boy  when 
his  parents  brought  him  from  Massachu- 
setts to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
received  his  education  in  Warrensville 
township,  and  was  reared  to  practical 
farming.  In  1859  he  purchased  his 
present  place  in  Columbia  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  comprising  fifty  acres  which 
he  improved,  erected  a  comfortable  dwell- 
ing and  commodious  barn,  etc.,  and  has 
added  thereto  till  now  he  owns  193  acres 
of  as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  the 
county.  In  1859  Mr.  Walkden  was  mar- 
ried in  Columbia  township  to  Miss  Matilda 
Litchfield,  born  in  Birmingham,  England, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Hol- 
den)  Litchfiekl,  who  came  from  their 
native  England  to  America  in  1847,  land- 
ing in  Prince  Edward  Island,  Canada, 
where  the  father  died ;  the  mother  subse- 
quently came  with  her  family  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  locating  in  Columbia  town- 


1176 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


ship,  where  she  married  a  Mr.  Price;  her 
death  occurred  in  October,  1872.  By  her 
first  husband  she  had  nine  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Mary,  married,  living  in  England; 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Henry  Mitchell,  of 
England;  Eliza,  deceased;  John,  who  en- 
listed in  1861  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fourth  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge;  Thomas, 
residing  in  California;  James,  living  in 
Washington;  Joseph,  who  died  February 
24,  1888.  in  Shiawassefe  county,  Mich.; 
Matilda,  Mrs.  Walkden;  and  William,  who 
died   in  England. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walkden  were  born 
thirteen  children,  as  follows:  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Hawkins,  of  Berrien  county, 
Mich.,  and  has  three  children,  Arthur,  Lula 
and  Leroy;  Cornelia  was  a  teacher  in  Lo- 
rain county  for  a  number  of  years,  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  Robert  Bivan,  of  West 
View;  Fred;  Frank  was  killed  by  light- 
ning at  the  age  of  ten  years;  George,  re- 
siding on  the  farm,  is  married  and  has  one 
son,  Lee  Ebenezer;  Emma  has  been  a 
teacher  in  Columbia  and  Ridgeville  town- 
ships, Lorain  county;  Delilah;  Jennie; 
Clayton  died  at  the  age  of  three  years; 
Henry,  Lena,  Chester  and  Ernest.  In 
politics  Mr.  Walkden  takes  an  active  in- 
terest asainemberof  the  Republican  party; 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board 
for  some  considerable  time.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  they  are  highly  respected  in  the  com- 
munity. 


f)ETER  SIGOURNEY,  retired,  hav- 
ing his  residence  in  Kipton,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  is  much  respected, 
is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born 
in  Fowler,  St.  Lawrence  county. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  also  named 
Peter,  was  born  in  "Vermont,  whence  he 
moved  to  New  York  State,  and  married 
Miss  Wealthy  Bates,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chnsetts.     He  died  in   1832,  the  father  of 


nine  children,  of  whom  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  Louisa  married  Daniel  Rus- 
sell, and  died  in  Livingston  county,  Mich.; 
AVilliam  is  deceased:  Caroline  married 
John  Kemp,  and  died  at  Watertown,  N.  Y. ; 
Andrew  also  died  in  Watertown,  N.  Y., 
after  reaching  maturity;  Peter  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Anth(Miy  is  a  resident 
of  Lincoln,  Neb.;  Orin  is  a  resident  of 
Westerville,  Neb.;  Sarah  is  the  widow  of 
Nicholas  Boshert;  Addison  is  a  carpenter 
of  Norwalk.  After  the  death  of  the 
father,  the  farm,  which  had  only  been  in 
part  paid  for,  was  sold  at  a  sacrifice  and 
the  family  were  scattered.  Our  subject 
went  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  to  make  his 
home  with  his  uncle,  Anthony  Sigourney, 
and  here  remained  four  years,  part  of  the 
time  working  out  on  day  wages.  His 
elder  brother,  William,  had  come  to  Ohio 
in  March,  1838,  locating  in  Camden  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  the  rest  of  the 
family,  including  Peter,  came  to  Ohio  in 
the  following  June.  Thev  lived  in  Hen- 
rietta  township  six  or  eiglit  months,  and 
then,  William  having,  in  February,  1839, 
bought  land  in  Camden  township,  they 
moved  thither  in  March  following. 

Peter  Sigourney,  our  subject,  attended 
school  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  father  had  to  work 
hard  to  assist  in  the  support  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  After  his  marriage 
ho  made  his  first  permanent  location  in 
Camden  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
he  worked  around  at  whatever  he  could 
find  to  do,  chiefly  clearing  land,  at  which 
he  did  more  than  any  one  living  to- 
day in  Camden  township.  In  1847  he 
bought  out  of  his  hard-earned  savincrg 
forty-seven  acres  uf  land  at  six  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  per  acre,  in  Camden  township, 
to  which  four  years  later  he  moved,  his 
first  house  being  a  building  15x24,  ten 
feut  high,  and  there  made  his  home  until 
1878.  In  that  year  he  moved  into  the 
town  of  Kipton,  built  a  residence  which  he 
sold  some  time  after,  and  then  erected  his 
present  comfortable  home.   On  January  7, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1177 


184G,  Mr.  Sigourney  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Johnson,  born  in  Saratoga 
ciinnty,  N.  Y.,  July  15,  1825,  a  daughter 
of  Ezra  and  Polly  (Wood)  Johnson,  who 
came  to  Ohio  in  1831,  and  settled  in  Flor- 
ence. Erie  county.  The  children  of  this 
union  were  Bennett,  born  February  15, 
1847,  died  July  20,  1851,  and  Mary  E., 
born  June  15,  1857,  died  September  22, 
1858.  Our  subject  is  a  loyal  Democrat, 
during  the  Civil  war  voting  the  Union 
ticket,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Free- 
will Baptist  Chui-ch.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive self-made  man,  and  what  he  owns  has 
been  won  by  hard  work  and  judicious 
economy. 


QEOKGE  SCHOTT,  than  whom  there 
,  is  no  more  respected  citizen  in 
Grafton  township,  is  a  representa- 
,1  tive  self-made  man,  and  a  prosper- 
ous agriculturist. 
He  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
born  January  22,  1817,  a  son  of  George 
Scliott,  who  was  a  farmer  in  his  native 
land.  Up  to  the  age  of  fourteen  our  sub- 
ject attended  school  in  Bavaria,  and  then 
served  a  two-years'  apprenticeship  at  the 
baker's  trade,  under  two  masters.  Being 
naturally  of  a  roving  disposition,  and 
learning,  in  1836,  of  two  or  three  families 
about  coming  to  America  from  his  native 
town,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  join  the 
party.  Receiving  sufficient  money  from 
his  father,  hs  set  sail  from  Hamburir  on 
the  good  sliip  "  Lucadona,"  and  after  a 
voyage  of  fifty-eight  days  arrived  in  New 
York,  where  he  soon  secured  work  at  his 
trade.  At  the  end  of  two  years  his  father 
and  the  rest  of  Iiis  family  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  the  port  of  landing  being 
Baltimore,  at  which  time  George  was  ly- 
ing sick  with  malaria  in  a  certain  town  on 
the  Hudson  river.  He  had  written  to  his 
parents  not  to  come  to  America,  which 
letter  never  reached  them,  but  they  found 
the    sick    boy,    and    on    his    recovery    he 

61 


joined  them  while  en  route  to  Logan 
county,  Ohio.  Here,  a  few  years  later,  the 
parents  died.  Our  subject  had  taken  a 
trip  through  that  State,  lint  not  being  sat- 
isfied with  the  country  concluded  to  re- 
turn to  New  York  State;  and  while  on  his 
journey  thither  he  stopped  over  at  Liver- 
pool, Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  met 
Miss  Margaret  Baumann,  also  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  who  had  crossed  the  Atlantic 
with  her  parents  in  1835.  Here  he  was 
married,  and  having  but  little  money 
wheiewith  to  commence  housekeeping,  he 
hired  himself  out  as  a  farm  laborer,  and  by 
hard  work  and  judicious  economy  he  and 
his  wife  ere  long  accumulated  sufficient  to 
buy  a  small  farm  in  Medina  county,  which 
they  lived  on  until  1846.  In  that  year 
they  came  to  Grafton  township,  Lorain 
county,  where  for  two  years  they  rented 
land,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  Sehott 
purchased  from  Charles  Bishop  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  at  that  time  compris- 
ing seventy-five  acres.  To  this  he  from 
time  to  time  added  until  he  had  an  aggre- 
gate of  325  acres,  fifty-five  of  which  he 
gave  away,  leaving  him  n(nv  the  owner  of 
270  acres  of  choice  farming  land. 

The  children  born  to  George  and  Mar- 
garet (Baumann)  Sehott  were  George  W. 
and  Peter,  both  in  Indiana;  John  B.,  in 
Nebraska;  Frank,  in  Grafton,  and  a 
daughter  that  died  in  infancy.  The  mother 
of  these  departed  this  life  in  1861,  and 
for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Sehott  married 
Sarah  Yncali,  now  deceased,  by  which 
union  there  is  no  issue.  Politically  our 
subject  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at 
Liverpool,  Medina  county. 


John    smith    (deceased)  was  born 

w  I    April  12,  1805,  in    Yorkshire,  Eng- 

S^j    land,  whence  when  a  young  man  he 

emigrated,  in  company  with  a  brother, 

William,  to  Canada.     The   brothers  there 


1178 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


purchased  fifty  acres  of  land,  but  John 
afterward  disposed  of  liis  share  and  went 
to  New  York  State.  Some  time  later  he 
returned  to  Canada,  and  on  August  29, 
1836,  was  there  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Braithwaite,  who  was  born  Kovem- 
ber  9,  1815,  also  in  Yorkshire,  England. 
When  three  years  of  age  she  came  with 
her  parents  to  Montreal,  Canada,  in  which 
country  her  father,  Edward  Braithwaite, 
became  an  extensive  farmer;  he  also  fol- 
lowed his  trade,  that  of  carpenter.  Before 
returning  to  Canada  Mr.  Smith  had  made 
a  visit  to  Oberlin,  Oliio,  and  while  there 
became  very  much  impressed  with  the 
country,  consequently  he  moved  thither 
with  his  wife  soon  after  bis  marriage. 
They  drove  a  span  of  horses  part  of  the 
way,  and  then  made  a  part  of  the  journey 
by  water,  landing  at  Cleveland,  whence 
they  again  drove  to  Oberlin,  Lorain  county. 
Mr.  Smith  had  saved  a  few  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  he  soon  invested  in  forty-tour 
acres  of  land;  he  obtained  employment  in 
Oberlin,  running  the  engine  in  the  grist- 
mill at  that  place,  in  which  he  continued 
until  the  mill  was  burned,  when  he  com- 
menced work  on  his  farm.  After  the  mill 
was  rebuilt,  he  was  again  employed  there, 
but  returned  to  his  farm  (where  he  first 
lived  in  a  rude  cabin),  which  by  his  un- 
ceasing industry  and  energy  he  was  con- 
tinually enabled  to  increase.  He  remained 
there  until  1869,  when  he  rented  the  place, 
and  moved  into  Oberlin  to  educate  his 
family.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  came  the 
following  children:  Sarah  Ann,  born  Sep 
tember  27,  1837,  who  married  Lewis 
Breckenridge,  an  attorney  of  Cleveland 
(they  had  one  son,  Edwin  S.,  a  professional 
ball-player);  Mary  S.,  now  widow  of  Lewis 
Breckenridge,  of  Cleveland;  Emma  J.,  of 
Cleveland;  John  Edward,  who  graduated 
from  Aiidover  College,  Massachusetts,  and 
is  now  a  Congregational  minister  in  Cali- 
fornia; Mary  S.  died  in  infancy;  and  Will- 
iam H.  died  in  youth.  They  had  also  an 
adopted  daughter,  Phcsbe  Rollinson,  now 
Mrs.  John  Gunn,  of  Delta,  Colo.     Alex- 


ander Greenwood,  now  a  young  man,  has 
also  shared  their  home,  but  is  at  present 
residing  in  Massachusetts. 

In  1879  Mr.  Smith  returned  to  his 
farm,  and  a  few  years  later  built  a  very 
pleasant  home,  just  outside  of  Oberlin, 
where  he  led  a  retired  life  until  his  death. 
During  his  later  years  his  eyes  caused  him 
considerable  trouble.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican  with  Prohibition  tendencies, 
and  in  religious  faith  was  a  leading  member 
and  supporter  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Oberlin.  He  passed  from  earth 
April  29,  1889,  and  was  buried  at  Oberlin. 

Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful farmers  of  his  day,  and  thongh  enjoy- 
ing in  his  youth  bnt  meager  literary  ad- 
vantages, he  acquired  a  practical  education, 
was  a  close  observer  of  men  and  manners, 
and  possessed  a  good  memory.  He  was 
very  fond  of  Scripture  reading,  was  an  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  Church,  and  was  a  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resided.  Since  his  death,  Mrs. 
Smith,  who  is  a  well-read,  intelligent  lady, 
and  a  most  interesting  conversationalist, 
has  spent  part' of  her  time  in  the  East,  bnt 
resides  generally  at  the  pleasant  family 
home  near  Oberlin,  where  she  is  surrounded 
by  hosts  of  friends. 


LD.  GLYNN,  a  prosperous   agricul- 
I   tiirist  of    Lorain   county,   was  born 
\   October    17,    1819,    in    Berkshire 

county,  Mass.  His  parents  were 
Edward  and  Sylvia  C.  (TuUer)  Glynn,  who 
reared  a  family  of  three  children,  all  sons, 
namely:  Henry,  who  came  westward  to 
Ohio,  where  he  died  in  Clarksfield,  Huron 
county;  Alfred  J.,  who  died  in  Michigan, 
and  Lorenzo  D.,  subject  of  this  memoir. 

The  father  of  this  family  died  when  his 
son  Lorenzo  D.  was  but  six  years  of  age, 
and  for  a  while  the  latter  was  cared  for  by 
others,  in  the  meantime  attending  school. 
When  fourteen  years  old  he  was  bound  out 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1179 


to  Elijah  Hugliings,  a  farnier  of  Great 
Rarriiigton,  Mass.,  and  in  September,  1836, 
came  with  his  foster-parents  to  Lorain 
connt}',  Oliio,  locating  near  the  center  of 
Fittsfield  township.  Some  dissatisfaction 
having  arisen  between  them,  however,  Mr. 
Glynn  left  Hughings,  and  returned  to 
Massachusetts,  making  part  of  the  journey 
by  canal,  and  walking  the  I'emaining  dis- 
tance. In  the  fall  of  1S39  he  returned  to 
Pittsfield  township,  where  he  found  work 
— thresliing  and  chopping  wood,  and  in 
fact  doing  any  honest  labor  he  could 
obtain. 

On  September  22,  1844,  he  was  married 
to  Emeline  Carter,  who  was  born  June  9. 
1825,  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y..  daughter 
of  Calvin  S.  and  Johanna  (Townsend) 
Carter,  who  came  to  Pittsfield  township  in 
1841.  To  this  union  were  born  children 
as  follows:  Sarah  Ann,  who  married 
Horace  G.  Bartlett,  and  died  in  Pittsfield, 
Ohio;  Melvin  li.,  who  served  in  Company 
H,  Second  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  received  a 
wound  at  Stony  Creek,  Va.,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  died:  Lucy  E.,  who 
married  Alexander  MayheW,  and  died  at 
Garrettsville,  Ohio;  Susan  D.,  wife  of 
Harvey  Norton,  of  Pittsfield  township; 
Mary  J.,  who  was  first  married  to  Lewis 
Ives,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Alonzo  Nor- 
ton; Ellen,  Mrs.  Horace  Bartlett,  of  Pitts- 
field; Eva  E.,  Mrs.  Charles  Bryant,  of 
Wood  county,  Ohio;  Marion,  deceased  in 
infancy;  James  T.,  a  farmer  of  Pittsfield 
township;  Viola,  Mrs.  Thomas  HoUiugs- 
worth,  of  Pittsfield;  and  Alice  M.,  Mrs. 
Henry  Colston,  of  Russia  township,  Lo- 
rain county.  After  marriage  Mr.  Glynn 
located  on  a  small  farm  in  Pittsfield  town- 
siiip,  which  he  had  partly  cleared,  and 
wiiich  he  subsequently  sold  to  John  Pres- 
ton. In  1848  he  came  to  his  present  farm, 
purchasing  120  acres,  then  almost  entirely 
woodland,  and  with  no  improvements 
whatever.  He  had  to  erect  a  cabin  him- 
self, and  then  went  industriously  to  work, 
clearing  off  the  land,  and  year  by  year 
adding  thereto,    until   he   now  has  a  fine 


farm  of  about  231  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Glynn  are  both  good  business  managers; 
startinir  in  life  with  nothing,  he  has  met 
with  no  small  degree  of  success  in  his  life 
vocation,  all  due  to  his  own  exertions.  In 
politics  he  was  originally  a  Wiiig,  later  a 
Republicati  until  1872,  when  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  with 
which  he  has  since  affiliated.  Socially  he 
is  a  member  of  Oberlin  Lodge  No.  678, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  and  his  wife  are  both 
fond  of  reading. 


ODMANN  BROTHERS  are  pro- 
prietors of  the  popular  flourishing 
grocery  in  North  Amherst,  which 
they  opened  for  business  November 
9,  1891,  having  bought  out  the  grocery 
department  of  Plato  Bros. 

Henry  J.  Bodmann,  senior  member  of 
the  firm,  was  born  April  6,  1869,  and  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  boyhood 
home.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  com- 
menced to  learn  blacksmithing,  at  which 
he  worked  until  going  into  the  grocery 
business  with  his  brother. 

William  J.  Bodmann,  junior  memlier  of 
the  firm,  was  born  February  4.  1871,  and 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen  he  commenced  working 
at  home,  and  one  year  afterward  entered  a 
grocery  store  as  junior  clerk,  where  he  re- 
mained some  years,  after  which  he  was  on 
a  farm  three  years.  He  was  then  in  the 
employ  of  Plato  Bros.,  about  one  and  one- 
half  years,  at  which  time  he  and  his 
brother  Henry  J.  bought  out  the  grocery 
of  that  firm  as  already  related.  Mr.  Will- 
iam J.  Bodmann  is  a  Catholic,  and  a  char- 
ter member  of  the  C.  M.  B.  A. 

Henry  Bodmann,  father  of  Henry  J. 
and  William  J.  Bodmann,  was  born  June 
11,  1837,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  where  he  received  his  education, 
and    was   taught   the 


tlour-milling  trade. 


]180 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


In  1865  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
after  lialf  a  year's  residence  in  New  York 
moved  westward  to  North  Amherst,  where 
he  iirst  found  employment  in  a  brewery, 
in  which  he  remained  abont  ten  years. 
He  bought  property,  and  for  some  years 
carried  on  a  saloon.  In  1867  he  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  North  Amherst,  Ohio,  with 
Margaret  Frank,  who  was  born  in  Hesse, 
Germany,  December  29,  1842,  and  was 
nineteen  years  old  when  she  came  to  Amer- 
ica. Eight  ciiildren  were  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Henry  J.  and  William  J.  (of  the 
grocery  firm  of  Bodmann  Bros.),  Harman, 
Louis,  Mary,  John,  Carl  and  Joseph.  Mr. 
Bodmann  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 


QEORGE  HOLLSTEIN,   one  of  the 
,   well-to-do    native-born    farmers    of 
Amherst  township,  is  a  son  of  Henry 
,1  and  Elizabeth  (Bechstein)  Hollstein, 
natives  of  Hessen-Cassel,  Germany, 
where  they  were  married. 

In  the  spring  of  1848  they  set  sail  from 
Bremen  for  the  "Western  World,  and  after 
a  voyage  of  fourteen  weeks  landed  at  New 
York,  whence  they  proceeded  by  rail  to 
Buffalo,  theuce  by  water  to  Cleveland,  and 
from  there  by  team  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  settled  on  a  farm  of  fifty  acres 
the  father  had  bought  in  Amherst  town- 
ship, and  on  which  our  subject  now  re- 
sides. Here  Henry  Hollstein  carried  on 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1890,  when  he  was  aged  eighty-tbnr  years; 
the  mother  died  in  1880,  aged  sixty-eight 
yeai-s.  In  his  political  preferences  Henry 
Hollstein  was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  As- 
sociaiion.  They  reared  a  family  of  five 
ciiildren,  as  follows:  Adam  married  Lu- 
cinda  Ray,  a  native  of  Lorain  county,  and 
settled  in  Brownhelm  township,  where  he 
died  in  1890  (his  widow  resides  in  that 
township);      Elizabeth,     widow     of    John 


Dreher,  live*  in  Allegan  county,  Mich.; 
Catherine  is  the  widow  of  John  Hoffner, 
of  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Sophia  is  the  wife  of 
Conrad  Nuhn,  of  Vei-million,  Ohio;  and 
George  is  the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch. 

George  Hollstein  was  born  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  1851,  received  his  education 
at  the  Union  schools  of  North  Amherst, 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on 
his  present  farm.  For  a  time  he  followed 
quarrying  and  taking  out  ship  timber  in 
different  counties  of  Ohio,  but  he  has  given 
most  of  his  attention  to  the  farm. 

In  18S1  Mr.  Hollstein  was  married,  in 
Lorain  county,  to  Miss  Catherine  Kolbe,  a 
native  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Hnessem)  Kolbe,  also  of  the 
Fatherland,  and  who  now  reside  in  Black 
River  township,  Lorain  county.  One  child 
has  come  to  brighten  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hollstein,  named  Walter.  They  are 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  of 
which  he  is  trustee,  and  of  the  Sunday- 
school  of  which  he  was  superintendent 
some  years.    Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 


\ILLIAM  LAPP  was  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1845,  on  his  present  farm 
in  Amherst  township,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Able)  Lapp, 
who  were  natives  of  Hessia,  Germany, 
where  they  were  married. 

In  an  early  day  they  came  to  America, 
and  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  finally 
on  the  farm  whereon  our  subject  now  lives, 
in  Amherst  township.  The  father  was  a 
mei'cliant  tailor,  an  occupation  that  took 
him  away  from  home  a  good  deal,  and 
while  he  was  absent  his  wife  attended  to 
the  farm.  On  first  coming  to  the  county 
he  located  on  the  lake  shore,  wdiere  he 
bought  seventy -five  acres,  on  which  he 
built  a  tailor  shop,  and  here  followed  his 
trade;  he  also  worked  for  a  time  in  Brook- 
lyn, a  village  near  Cleveland.     He  died  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1181 


1890  iit  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years;  his 
wife  ill  1891  wiien  au;ed  eighty-two.  They 
had  cliildreii  as  follows:  John,  who  died 
alioiit  the  year  1838;  Eliza,  who  Tnarried, 
and  died  in  Lorain  county  in  1889;  t!atli- 
eriiie,  wife  of  Jacob  Fowls,  who  lives  in 
Amherst  township;  Mary,  widow  of  Henry 
ileisuer,  who  lives  in  Nortli  Atnherst; 
Henry,  a  resident  of  Lorain;  and  William, 
the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

"William  Lapp,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  hi.s  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  district,  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life.  In  1869  he  married  Miss 
Eliza  Appleman,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children:  John  (attending  the  business 
college  at  Oberlin),  Charles  and  Frank. 
The  mothei-  of  these  died  in  1890,  and  in 
1892  Mr.  Lapp  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Katie  Limbaugli.  Our  subject 
owns  a  tine  farm  of  156  acres  prime  land, 
and  carries  on  general  agriculture.  In 
1884  he  built  his  present  residence  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  In  politics 
he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Democratic 
pai'ty,  and  in  religious  sentiment  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


H.  BRYANT,  proprietor  of  the 
Bryant  Channeler  Machine  Shops, 
North  Amherst,  was  born  on  his 
present  farm  in  Amherst  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  October  10,  1840, 
a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Ann  (Wilkins) 
Bryant,  who  were  born  in  Gloucestershire, 
England,  the  father  in  1799;  they  were 
married  in  their  native  county,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1828. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  township.  On  October  30,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-second  O.  V.  I., 
and  participated  in  many  battles  and  skir- 
mishes, principal  among  wiiich  were  the 
engagements      at    Vicksburg,     Chickasaw 


Bluffs,  Arkansas  Post,  and  Vicksburg  (2), 
where  they  camped  all  winter  on  the  low 
flat  marshy  point  in  front  of  Vicksburg. 
Thence  in  the  following  spring  they  moved 
to  below  Vicksburg,  thence  to  Grand  Gulf, 
tlie  mouth  of  Black  river,  from  which  place 
they  saw  the  terrific  bombardment  of  that 
place  by  U.  S.  gunboats.  The  regiment 
then  participated  in  the  battle  of  Thomp- 
son's Hill,  where  they  sustained  great  loss, 
and  were  afterward  at  Champion  Hill, 
Black  River  Bridge,  as  well  as  in  several 
skirmisiies  around  Vicksburg.  afterward 
taking  part  in  the  siege  thereof,  and  its 
final  surrender  July  4,  1863.  They  then 
marched  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  drove 
Johnson's  army  from  that  place;  also  as- 
sisted in  tearing  up  thirty  miles  of  rail- 
road, after  which  our  subject  came  home 
on  a  thirty-days'  furlough.  Rejoining 
his  regiment  at  Berwick  Bay,  La.,  he  pro- 
ceeded with  it  up  Bayou  Teche,  same  State, 
and  at  Placpiemine  remained  all  winter. 
Next  spring  they  were  ordered  to  Baton 
Rouge,  thence  to  the  Red  river  campaign, 
after  which  they  were  placed  on  detail 
duty,  to  keep  the  river  clear;  were  also  at 
Milliken's  Bend,  Eagles  Point  and  Du- 
Vall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  at  which  latter  place 
Mr.  Bryant's  term  expired.  His  company 
was  one  of  the  best  drilled  companies  in 
the  Western  army.  They  took  part  in  a 
prize  drill  contest  at  Milliken's  Bend,  and 
came  off  victorious.  Mr.  Bryant  remained 
in  the  river  service  from  Baton  Rouge  to 
Eagles  Point,  Ark.,  till  the  close  of  his 
term  of  service,  chiefly  on  the  Mississippi, 
Arkansas  and  White  rivers.  At  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  in  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  orderly 
sergeant.  On  his  return  home  he  attended 
for  a  time  the  commercial  school  at  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  of  Bryant  &  Stratton,  both  of 
whom  are  related  to  him.  He  also  learned 
the  trade  of  stone  cutter.  At  Meadville, 
Penn.,  he  taught  bookkeeping,  and  as- 
sisted in  establishing  a  commercial  college 
there.  From  Meadville  he  proceeded  to 
Michigan,  and  was  two  years  on  a  home- 
stead   in    the   northern  part  of  that  State, 


1182 


LORAIX  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


where  he  experienced  the  hardships  inci- 
dent to  clearing  up  a  farm  in  a  lieavily- 
wooded  country,  wiiere  he  had  but  one 
neighbor  nearer  tlian  one  mile.  While  on 
the  farm  he  received  an  oii'er  of  a  position 
in  a  concern  doing  a  large  business  in  sup- 
plying wood  to  lake  steamers,  and  shipping 
it  to  Chicago.  After  the  second  year  he 
became  general  manager  of  the  business. 
The  company  purchased  and  sold  about 
twenty  thousand  cords  of  wood  annually, 
the  bulk  of  which  was  chopped  by  the  In- 
dians, who  received  nearly  all  of  their  pay 
in  goods  and  provisions  from  the  com- 
pany's store.  After  five  years  spent  in  the 
northern  part  of  Michigan,  Mr.  Bryant 
removed  to  Chicago  to  take  a  position  as 
bookkeeper,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year,  hav- 
ing to  give  up  his  position  on  account  of 
the  climate  proving  unfavorable  to  the 
health  of  Mrs.  Bryant,  he  came  to  Am- 
herst, Ohio,  and  shortly  afterward  went  into 
the  stone  business,  which  at  first  was  far 
from  a  grand  success,  but  finally  proved  to 
be  a  good  venture.  In  1889  he  invented 
a  machine  known  as  "The  Bryant  Chan- 
neler,"  for  cutting  both  limestone  and 
sandstone,  and  for  the  past  four  years  has 
been  engaged  in  manufacturing  them.  He 
also  owns  the  Bryant  Quarries  in  Amherst 
township,  as  well  as  one  in  Elyria. 

On  April  21,  1866,  Mr.  Bryant  was 
married  in  Meadville,  Penn.,  to  Miss  Har- 
riet Adelaide  "Wykoff,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican; 
socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  H. 


FEANKLIN  ARNOLD,  an  upright, 
intelligent  citizen  of  Pittsfield  town- 
_^  ship,  was  born  August  20,  1841,  in 
Caraden  township,  Lorain  county. 
His  father,  James  Arnold,  son  of  An- 
thony Arnold,  was  born  in  1806  in  New 
York,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  received  an  education  in  the  common 
schools.      He   was   married    in    his  native 


State  toMiss  Eliza Carrington,  and  in  about 
1839  came  west  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
purchasing  land  in  Camden  township. 
Here  he  soon  afterward  settled,  and  at  that 
time  the  tract  was  all  woodland,  with  no 
improvements  save  an  old  log  house.  In 
1844  Mrs.  Arnold  died,  leaving  one  child, 
Franklin,  and  was  buried  in  Camden  ceme- 
tery. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Arnold 
married  Jane  Ann  Powell,  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  bore  him  three  children:  An- 
thony; Susan,  Mrs.  Byron  McNeal,  of 
Chicago,  111.;  and  Emma,  married,  now  of 
Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  They  resided  in 
Camden  township  until  1851,  when  they 
moved  to  the  farm  in  Pittsfield  township 
(where  Franklin  Arnold  now  resides),  and 
there  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  took 
considerable  interest  in  the  political  issues 
of  the  day,  keeping  himself  well  informed. 
He  held  various  local  offices,  serving  as 
township  trustee,  assessor,  etc.,  and  was  a 
shrewd  business  man  and  a  good  farmer. 
He  died  January  13,  1864,  and  was  buried 
in  Camden  township  by  the  side  of  his 
wife.  His  widow,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  died  in  1878,  and  was 
interred  in  Pittsfield  cemetery. 

Franklin  Arnold  was  reared  to  farm  life, 
received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  day,  and  when  ten  years  of 
age  moved  with  his  parents  to  Pittsfield 
township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  On  December  21,  1865,  he  was 
married,  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  to  Helen  M. 
Rawson,  who  was  born  December  30, 1844, 
in  Pittsfield.  Her  parents,  Ropha  and 
Betsey  (Fulton)  Rawson,  came  from  New 
York  State  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locat- 
ing in  LaGrange  township;  they  died  in 
Pittsfield  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arnold  have  come  children  as  follows: 
Erwin,  born  January  30, 1868,  who  gradu- 
ated from  Wellington  high  school,  an'l  is 
now  teaching  in  Pittsfield  township;  and 
George  A.,  born  August  30,  1870,  a 
farmer  of  Pittsfield  township.  Soon  after 
marriage  Mr.  Arnold  purchased,  from  Ara 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1183 


Rawson,  fifty  acres  of  land  adjoining  the 
lionie  farm,  and  here  l)egan  wedded  life, 
living  upon  that  tract  until  1892,  when  lie 
moved  to  the  home  farm.  Here  he  has  erected 
a  handsome  new  dwelling-house  and  barn, 
which  are  models  of  their  kind.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1891  was  elected 
township  trustee,  being  the  first  Democrat 
to  hold  that  office  since  his  father  served 
in  the  same  capacity;  he  has  numerous 
friend-s  in  both  parties.  Mr.  Arnold  now 
owns  147  acres  of  excellent  land,  where  he 
carries  on  a  general  farming  and  dairying 
business.  He  has  hosts  of  friends,  and  it 
is  safe  to  say  that  there  is  no  citizen  in 
Pittstield  township  who  holds  a  higher 
place  in  the  esteem  and  regard  of  his 
fellow-citizens.  Mrs.  Arnold  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 


'lILLIAM  PRESTON,  one  of  the 
most  successful  agricnlturists  of 
Pittstield  township,  was  born  July 
31,  1823,  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, son  of  John  Preston.  The  grand- 
father of  subject  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and 
was  in  the  employment  of  the  British 
Government  at  Gibraltar,  where  his  son 
John  was  born. 

John  Preston  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
Lincolnshire,  England,  and  there  married 
Martha  Major,  who  bore  him  four  chil- 
dren, viz.:  William;  Eliza,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  England  to  William  Colson,  died 
in  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  was  buried  in  Pitts- 
field;  Caroline,  who  was  married  in  Eng- 
land, came  to  America,  and  died  in  Phila- 
delphia, Peim.,  where  she  was  buried;  and 
one  son  that  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 
The  mother  of  these  children  passed  away 
in  1831,  and  Mr.  Preston  married  in  Ens- 
land,  for  his  second  wife,  Rebecca  Clark, 
to  which  union  were  born  six  children.  In 
1847  he  sailed  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York,  whence  he  at  once  proceeded  to 
Pittstield    township,    Lorain    Co.,    Ohio, 


where  an  English  family  named  Wills  had 
previously  located.  Here  he  purchased 
fifty-six  acres  of  land  for  six  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  having  a  capital  of  but  eighty 
dollars  was  obliged  to  go  in  debt  for  the 
remainder.  He  lived  in  an  old  log  house 
on  this  tract  for  some  time,  and  later  re- 
moved to  the  west  town  line,  where  he 
died  in  April,  1877,  and  was  buried  in 
East  cemetery,  Pittstield  township;  his 
wife  had  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  He 
was  an  active  Republican,  and  took  great 
interest  in  politics.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  proportions,  and  during  his  active 
life  was  an  indefatigable   worker. 

William  Preston  attended  the  common 
schools  until  ten  years  of  age,  and  from 
early  boyhood  worked  on  the  farm,  his 
firstduty  being  to  scare  thecrows  from  pick- 
ing the  corn  off  the  ground.  When  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  hired  out  at  thirty  dollars 
per  year,  to  care  for  four  horses,  and  was 
later  employed  in  various  places  and  at 
various  occupations.  On  May  15,  1851, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Flatters,  who  was  born  May  29,  1824,  in 
Lincolnshire,  England,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Mary  (Emerson)  Flatters,  and  on 
May  28,  same  year,  the  young  couple  left 
their  early  home  and  friends,  taking  pas- 
sage for  New  York  on  a  *'  Red  Star " 
liner.  They  landed  after  a  voyage  of  five 
weeks,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  on  the  way  thither  they  happened 
to  be  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Fourth  of 
July,  and  witnessed  the  celebration,  but 
did  not  know  the  cause  of  it.  From 
Cleveland  they  came  by  rail  to  Welling- 
ton, Ohio,  from  which  place  they  were 
driven  to  Pittsfield  township,  where  they 
saw  the  log  house  in  which  his  father  had 
first  lived.  There  they  remained  for  two 
m(mth8,  and  then  rented  a  house  and  later 
five  acies  of  land,  where  they  resided  for 
eighteen  months.  Mr.  Preston  next  rented 
land  from  Joseph  Worcester,  of  Pittsfield 
township,  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Wellington,  where  he  rented  a  much 
larger  place.     From  Wellington  he  moved 


1184 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


to  Sullivan  township,  Ashland  Co.,  Ohio, 
wliere  he  resided  for  six  years.  In  1870 
he  purchased  ninety-six  acres  in  Pittsfield 
township,  Lorain  county,  and  resided 
tliereon  until  1891,  when  he  moved  to 
Pittstield  Center,  where  he  now  leads  a 
retired  life. 

Mr.  Preston  now  owns  135  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land.  Coming  to  America  a  poor 
man,  he  has,  by  patient  industry  and  un- 
tirinsr  enercry  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competence,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  members  of  his  community, 
kind-hearted  and  generons  in  every  respect. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  township  trustee,  and  in  relig- 
ions faith  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Metliodist  Church.  To  their  union 
have  come  the  followiTig  named  children: 
Elizabeth,  deceased  at  the  age  of  four 
years;  Martha,  Mrs.  Charles  Avery,  of 
Pittsfield;  Eliza,  deceased  when  fifteen 
months  old ;  Mary  L.,  Mrs.  William  Pick- 
worth,  of  Clarksfield,  Ohio;  Catharine, 
Mrs.  John  Jordan,  of  Brighton,  Ohio; 
Roderick  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years;  and  William,  a  farmer  of  Pittsfield 
township. 


fl(  LBERT    FOSTER,   who   for   many 

l/l\     years  has  been  prominently  identi- 

Ir^  tied   with    the   interests   of    Lorain 

•fj  county,  is  a  native  of   the  "Green 

Mountain  State,"  born  January  30, 

1831.  in  Windsor  county. 

His  father,  Addison  Foster,  a  farmer, 
and  mother,  Lizzie  (Pease),  were  both 
born  in  Weston,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
while  living  in  that  State  had  children  as 
follows:  Lucy  A.,  who  was  married  in 
Ohio  to  David  Clark,  and  died  in  Ne- 
braska; Ira  A.,  of  Eaton  county,  Mich.; 
Albert,  the  subject  of  this  memoir;  and 
Hannah,  Mrs.  Rufus  Ivnowles,  of  La- 
Grange.  In  August,  1836,  the  family 
set  out  for  Ohio,  driving  three  four-year- 
old    horses,   coming    via   Troy,  N.   Y.,  to 


Cleveland,  and  thence  to  LaGrange  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  where  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Foster,  Malinda  Dale,  resided,  at  whose 
home  they  remained  for  a  few  days.  Mr. 
Foster  purchased  eighty-three  acres  in  the 
vicinity,  on  which  some  clearing  had  been 
done,  and  here  the  family  made  their  first 
settlement,  remaining  thereon  until  1862, 
when  Mrs.  Foster's  failing  health  induced 

o 

him  to  change  his  residence  to  the  center 
of  the  township.  Here  they  led  a  retired 
life  until  their  decease,  Mr.  Foster  passing 
away  in  1874,  Mrs.  Foster  in  1875;  both 
are  buried  in  the  Center  cemetery  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  He  was  industrious,  hard- 
working, a  good  business  manager,  and 
one  of  the  most  progressive  men  in  the 
county,  qualities  which  brought  him  suc- 
cess and  enabled  him  from  time  to  time  to 
increase  his  property.  He  always  gave 
liberally  to  church  work,  and  was  the 
largest  contribiitor  toward  the  M.  E. 
Church  building,  also  donating  the  land 
upon  which  it  stood.  Politically  he  was 
a  Republican,  originally  a  Democrat,  hav- 
ing changed  during  Fremont's  administra- 
tion, and  served  as  township  trustee  and 
in  various  other  local  offices.  After  com- 
ing to  Ohio  three  children  were  added  to 
the  domestic  circle,  viz.:  Horatio,  who 
died  in  LaGrange  in  1864,  of  smallpox; 
George,  of  LaGrange,  and  a  son  that  died 
in  infancy  unnamed. 

Albert  Foster  was  five  years  old  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  here 
he  attended  the  common  schools,  which 
were  then  held  in  log  buildings.  He  re- 
ceived a  thorough  training  in  agriculture 
on  the  home  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
his  marriage,  on  February  6,  1852,  to  Miss 
Betsey  Knowles,  who  was  born  in  the 
East,  and  came  when  one  year  old  to  Ohio, 
whither  iier  father,  Horace  Foster,  removed 
in  an  early  day,  settling  in  LaGrange  town- 
ship, Lorain  county.  After  his  marriage 
our  subject  located  on  a  piece  of  the  home 
place,  near  the  homestead,  and  commenced 
farming,  remaining  there  ten  years,  when 
he  exciiansed  with  his  father  for  the  home- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1185 


stead.  Here  he  resitted  fifteen  years,  or 
until  April  2,  1877,  when  he  disposed  of 
108  acres  of  the  home  farm,  and  came  to 
his  present  place,  near  the  center  of  La- 
Grange  township,  where  he  lias  since  lived 
retired.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Foster 
have  come  four  children,  viz. :  Lyman  P.  (of 
Pentield,  Lorain  county),  Merritt  (of  Brown 
county,  Kans.),  Frank  (of  LaGrange)  anil 
Edward  (of  Brown  county,  Kans.),  all  of 
whom  are  engaged  in  farming.  These 
children  have  all  had  the  best  of  educa- 
tional opportunities,  and  their  father  has 
liberally  assisted  each  one  to  make  a  start 
in  life.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Democrat,  but  is  now  a  stanch  member  of 
the  Repui)Iican  party,  and  has  given  uni- 
versal satisfaction  as  trustee  of  LaGrange 
township.  In  the  fall  of  1883  he  was 
elected  a  director  of  the  county  infirmary, 
a  position  in  which  he  has  ever  since  effi- 
ciently served.  Kind-hearted  and  generous, 
he  is  recognized  as  a  public  benefactor,  and 
is  looked  up  to  and  esteemed  as  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  his  community.  He 
has  traveled  considerably,  and  has  paid 
several  visits  to  his  sons  in  Kansas.  Mrs. 
Foster  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
[Since  the  above  was  written  we  have  been 
informed  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Albert  Foster, 
which  occurred  January  20,  1894. — Ed. 


dj    H.    TOWNSHEND,  a    progressive 
and    well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Shef- 
'   field  township,  is  a  native  of  the  same, 
born  in    1839,  a  son   of   John    and 
Hannah  (Hurst)  Townshend,  both  of  whom 
were    natives    of    England,    the  father  of 
Warwickshire. 

When  a  young  man  John  Townshend, 
father  of  subject,  emigrated  from  England 
to  the  LTnited  States,  coming  in  1831  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  settling  on  a  farm 
in  Avon  township.  He  there  married  Han- 
nah Hurst,  and  the  young  couple  then 
moved  to  another  farm,  in  Sheffield  town- 


ship. Mr.  Townshend  was  killed  by  the 
cars  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  in  1875,  and  Mrs. 
Townshend  died  some  years  ago. 

J.  H.  Townshend  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  township, 
and  was  trained  to  farming  pursuits,  which 
have  been  his  life  work.  He  assisted  in 
opening  up  the  home  farm,  now  a  well- 
cultivated  piece  of  land,  on  which  he  yet 
resides.  In  1875  he  visited  Pittsburgh, 
Penn.,  and  was  there  and  then  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Shober,  by  whom  he  has  had 
the  following  named  children:  Lloyd, 
Leola,  Ina  and  Florence.  In  politics  Mr. 
Townshend  is  a  Republican,  stanch  and 
true,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Avon. 


P)ETER  M.  SMITH  is  a  thoroughly 
representative  loyal  German-Ameri- 
can citizen  of  Sheffield  township, 
where  he  successfully  follows  the 
plough. 
Ife  was  born  May  19,  1819,  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  a  son  of  Mathias  and  Barbara 
(Dohn)  Smith,  also  natives  of  Prussia, 
where  the  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  died 
when  his  son  Peter  M.  was  five  years  old. 
The  widowed  mother  and  her  family  sub- 
sequently emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  where  she  died 
in  Sheffield  township  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years,  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  three  grew  to  maturity,  namely: 
Mary,  Peter  M.  and  Ann  Mary. 

Peter  M.  Smith,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical memoir,  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  the  Fatherland,  and  was 
there  married.  In  1846  he  and  his  family 
came  to  America,  and  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  first  locating  in  Ridgeville  township, 
afterward  settling  in  Sheffield  township, 
where  he  bought  his  present  beautiful  farm 
of  166  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land.  A 
brief  record  of  his  children  is  here  pre- 


1186 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


seiited:  Joseph  lias  his  home  in  Wisconsin; 
Peter  is  married,  and  lives  in  Cleveland  (he 
has  six  children  living);  Hubbard  is  mar- 
ried, and  had  ten  children;  Kate,  Mrs. 
Schumacher,  has  had  six  children;  John  is 
married,  and  has  nine  children.  The  mother 
of  the  above  named  family  died  in  1883,  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years.  Mr.  Smith  has 
four  living  grandchildren,  and  three  great- 
grandchildren. In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 


D' 


,  AVID  MILLER,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  North  Amherst,  is  an  early 
settler  of  Lorain  county.  His  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Catherine  (Cook) 
Miller,  were  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
and  in  1847  emigrated  to  America,  locat- 
ing in  North  Amherst,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  they  passed  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children, 
viz.:'  Jacob,  who  lives  in  Brovvnhelm  town- 
ship; Catherine,  in  Mercer  county,  Penn.; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob  Miller,  of  Sheffield 
township;  David;  Julia,  living  in  Michi- 
gan; Margaret,  wife  of  Adam  Baker,  of 
Black  River  township:  and  Amelia,  wife  of 
Barney  Burke,  of  Lorain.  The  father  of 
this  family  followed  farming;  he  died  in 
North  Amherst  in  1889,  having  been  pre- 
ceded by  the  mother  in  1888,  when  aged 
eighty-eight  years. 

David  Miller  was  born  in  1827  in  Bav- 
aria, Germany,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  Germany,  Eng- 
land and  France,  and  in  1847  came  with 
his  parents  to  North  Amherst,  Lorain 
county,  where  he  also  followed  his  trade 
for  many  years.  In  1864  he  enlisted,  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  in  Company  I,  First  Ohio 
Artillery,  for  one  year  or  during  the  war, 
serving  as  blacksmith;  they  were  stationed 
at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  atDalton,  Ga., 
at  which  latter  place  Mr.  Miller  received 
an  honorable  discharge  in  1865,  and  re- 
turned to  Lorain  county. 


In  1851  Mr.  Miller  was  married  in  Lo- 
rain county,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hildebraiid, 
a  native  of  Germany,  daughter  of  David 
and  Gertrude  (Reis)  Hildebrand,  natives 
of  Hessen,  Germany,  whence  they  emi- 
grated in  1835,  settling  in  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  passed  away  in  1858,  and  was  fol- ' 
lowed  to  the  grave  by  the  mother  in  1862. 
They  were  the  second  German  family  to 
settle  in  Lorain  county.  A  brother  of 
Mrs.  Miller  resides  in  North  Carolina. 
Our  subject  and  wife  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  viz.:  Lewis,  a  farmer  of 
Sheffield  township;  Mai-y,  wife  of  George 
Keller,  a  farmer  of  Black  River  township; 
Sophia,  wife  of  Winnie  Gawn,  of  A^nherst 
township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Roy  Leslie, 
of  North  Amherst;  Rowena,  wife  of  Philip 
Klotz,  residing  in  Lorain;  Julia;  and 
Emma,  wife  of  Irving  Chappell,  a  machin- 
ist, of  Cleveland.  Ohio.  In  politics  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious 
faith  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Pi'esbyterian  Church,  at  North  Amherst. 
Mr.  Miller  is  now  ensjaijed  in   fruit  farm- 


inof  and  sardenin 


g- 


dOHN  W.  GROTE,  of  North  Amherst, 
was  born  November  25,  1849,  in 
'  Hanover,  Germany,  a  son  of  George 
and  Nena  (Zieranberg)  Grote,  the 
former  of  whom  was  also  a  native  of  Han- 
over, where  they  both  died.  The  father 
was  killed  by  an  accident  in  1849;  the 
mother  passed  from  earth  when  about  fifty- 
three  years  old.  They  had  four  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  only  one  to 
come  to  America. 

John  W.  Grote  received  a  good  educa- 
tion at  the  school  of  his  native  place,  and 
in  1872  came  to  America,  setting  sail  April 
15  and  arriving  May  15  following.  After 
his  arrival  in  North  Amherst,  Ohio,  he 
commenced   working  in  stone  quarries,  in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1187 


which  he  continued  some  fifteen  years  in 
one  place,  most  of  the  time  in  the  capacity 
of  foreman  in  the  Holdeman  quarry  (now 
owned  by  the  Cleveland  Stone  Company). 
After  a  year's  sickness  he  opened  out  in 
the  retail  liquor  trade  in  North  Amherst, 
and  has  been  very  successful,  being  a  popu- 
lar and  much  respected  citizen.  Mr.  (.Trote 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amelia 
Subears,  and  four  children — one  son  and 
three  daughters — have  been  born  to  them, 
viz.:  Rosa,  Emma.  Lizzie  and  Willie.  The 
entire  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church;  in  politics  Mr.  Grote  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  0.  F.  and  Encampment,  and  the 
K.  O.  T.  M. 


ZARIAH  SMITH  ROOT,  A.  M  , 
Librarian  and  Professor  of  Bibli- 
ography at  Oberlin  College,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  born  in  Mid- 
dlefield  February  3,  1862,  a  son  of 
Francis  and  Anna  (Smith)  Root.  The  father 
of  subject,  also  born  in  Middlelield,  Mass., 
is  now  a  merchant  in  the  town  of  East 
Douglass,  Mass.  He  married  Anna  Smith, 
who  died  Marcli  24,  1874,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years,  eight  months,  the  mother 
of  two  children,  of  whom  Azariali  S.  is  the 
second. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  his 
preparatory  education  at  the  high  school  of 
Middlefield,  and  at  the  Hinsdale  and  Pitts- 
field  schools,  all  in  Massacliusetts.  In  1880 
be  entered  Oberlin  (Ohio)  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  the  classical  course  of  1884, 
after  which,  in  1885-86,  he  studied  law  in 
Boston  University,  and  also  in  Harvard 
University.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  li- 
brarian of  Oberlin  CoUetje.  ami  in  1889 
professor  of  Bibliography,  which  positions 
he  is  at  present  holding.  In  the  year  last 
mentioned  he  took  the  degree  of  A.  M.  at 
Oberlin  College.  He  is  librarian  for  the 
Ohio  Church  Historical  Society. 


On  April  30, 1887.  Prof.  Root  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  A.  M.  Metcalf,  of 
Eiyria,  Ohio,  and  one  child — Francis  Met- 
calf— was  born  to  them  August  24,  1889. 
In  politics  onr  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
Third  Party  Prohibitionists,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Prohibition  Committee. 
He  is  of  the  tenth  generation  of  the  Root 
family  in  the  United  States. 


DAVID  SCHWARTZ,  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  industrious  German 
,'  agriculturists  of    Russia  township, 

is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
born  July  7,  1832. 

His  father,  Jacob  Schwartz,  was  by  vo- 
cation a  farmer  in  the  P^therland,  owning 
a  small  piece  of  land,  and  he  labored  at 
whatever  he  could  find  to  do  when  he  had 
no  work  at  his  own  home.  He  married 
Miss  Catherine  Burg,  and  she  bore  him 
five  children,  one  of  whom,  Catherine  by 
name,  died  in  Germany.  The  father  passed 
from  earth  there  in  Marcli,  1834,  leaving  a 
widow  and  five  children  to  be  provided  for.- 
In  the  meantime  the  eldest  boy  married, 
and  the  family  circle  being  now  broken, 
the  widowed  mother  concluded  to  emigrate 
to  America  with  her  remaining  offspring. 
Consequently  in  June,  1848,  they — she 
and  four  children,  Jacob,  Margaretta,  Eliza- 
beth and  our  subject — set  sail  from  the 
port  of  Antwerp  for  New  York,  where 
they  landed  after  a  passage  of  forty- two 
days.  From  there  they  proceeded  by  Erie 
Canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  by  lake  to  Cleve- 
land, and  then  by  road  to  Russia  township, 
Lorain  county,  where  there  already  was  a 
small  colony  of  their  countrymen.  The 
son  Jacob  acted  as  leader  of  the  party, 
and  having  among  themselves  saved  about 
three  hundred  dollars,  he  (Jacob)  ])ur- 
chased  a  farm  therewith,  afterward  repay- 
ing what  he  had  borrowed. 

At  this  time  David  Schwartz  was  sixteen 
years  old.     He   attended    school  regularly 


1188 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


in  his'iiative  country,  and  but  a  short  time 
in  the  New  AVorkl.  He  had  no  trouble  in 
securing  work,  and  for  his  lirst  year's 
services  received  fifty  dollars.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  bought  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  credit,  and  by  tlie  time  he  was  twenty- 
one  he  had  paid  off  the  entire  sum — five 
hundred  and  eight  dollars — all  accumu- 
lated  by  hard  work  and  rigid  econouiy. 
He  has  now  163  acres  of  land,  all  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation. 

In  September,  1856,  Mr.  Schwartz  was 
united  in  marriage  witli  Christina  Baker, 
who  was  born  March  16,  1834,  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Cook)  Baker,  who  came  west  to  Ohio 
in  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Amherst 
township,  Lorain  county.  After  marriage 
the  young  couple  commenced  housekeep- 
ing in  an  old  log  house  that  stood  on  his 
farm,  which  in  after  years  was  superseded 
by  the  more  substantial  residence,  which 
is  yet  standing.  Children  as  follows  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schwartz: 
Frank  E.,  a  farmer  of  Carlisle  township, 
Lorain  county;  Caroline,  Mrs.  William 
Shubert,  of  Russia  township;  Charles  H., 
of  Elyria,  Ohio;  Eliza  S.,  Mrs.  Eugene 
Waldorf,  of  Muncie,  Ind.;  John  A.,  ot 
Arizona;  Lucy  S.,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Renkie,  of 
Elyria,  Ohio;  and  Mary  F.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  somewhat  suddenly  on 
August  6,  1879,  after  a  brief  illness,  and 
she  now  lies  buried  in  North  Amherst 
cemetery.  Politically  our  subject  is  a 
Democrat,  but  though  true  to  his  colors 
takes  no  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of 
his  party,  having  his  time  fully  occupied 
on  his  farm. 


JOHN     McLaughlin,    a    popular, 
progressive    and    wide-awake   citizen 
of  Oberlin,  where  he  is  proprietor  of 
a  flourishing  bookstore,  is  a  native  of 
Canada,  born  November  6,    1849,  in  Bol- 
ton, Brome  county.   Province  of  Quebec. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Mooney) 


McLaughlin,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  when  a 
child  was  brought  to  Canada  by  his  par- 
ents, who  died  on  their  farm  there.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  after  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Mooney,  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  settled  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Brome  county,  Quebec,  where  he  died 
in  1884,  at  about  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years;  his  wife  lived  to  an  advanced  age. 
The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed 
on  the  farm  in  Canada,  and  his  education 
was  received  at  the  schools  of  St.  Johns- 
bury.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  came 
to  the  LTnited  States,  prior  to  which  he  had 
worked  at  various  vocations,  saving  money 
as  he  plodded  along.  Tliis  enabled  him  to 
come  west,  where  there  were  better  oppor- 
tunities for  a  young  man,  and  locating  in 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  he  attended  school  at 
Oberlin  one  year.  After  this,  February 
26,  1876,  he  opened  his  present  bookstore 
in  Oberlin.  in  which  business  he  has  met 
with  well-merited  success.  In  addition  to 
books  and  stationery  he  carries  a  large 
stock  of  wall-paper,  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  lamps,  particularly  the  "  Oberlin  Lamp," 
for  which  he  has  tiie  exclusive  sale  in  the 
city.  Onr  subject  was  married  in  Oberlin 
to  Miss  Jennie  V.  Bunce,  and  they  have 
two  children:  Helen  Irene  and  Dora  Gene- 
vieve. In  his  political  preferences  he  is  a 
Republican. 


EiDWIN  A.  BIVINS,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Amherst   township,  is  a 
I  descendant   of  one   of    the    earliest 

pioneer  families  of  Lorain  county. 
Benjamin  Bivins,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  was 
reared  in  Erie  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  the 
district.  In  an  early  day  he  came  to  Lo- 
rain county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
farming,  afterward  returning  to  Erie 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Asenath  Adams.     In  1835  they  came 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1189 


to  Lorain  county,  ami  settled  on  a  farm, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  tlieir 
lives.  The  grandfatlier  served  for  many 
years  as  confutable  and  justice  of  the  peace 
in  liis  township.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at 
Elyria  when  ajjed  eighty-nine  years  and 
nine  months.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of   1812. 

Lyman  Bivins,  son  of  this  old  pioneer, 
w^as  born  January  17,  1808,  in  Otsego 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1835  came  with  his 
father  from  Clarence,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
married  Lydia  Greene,  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  they  became  the  parents  of 
six  cliildren,  as  follows:  Edwin  A.; 
Maria,  wife  of  Morris  Hecock,  of  Sheffield 
township,  Lorain  county;  George  L.,  in 
the  livery  business  in  Elyria;  Eliza,  de- 
ceased wife  of  L.  D.  Stout;  Josephine, 
who  mai'ried  Leonard  Steele,  and  died  in 
Amherst;  and  Albert,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1864; 
the  father  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years. 

Edwin  A.  Bivins  was  born  in  1837  in 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  county,  and 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  He  learned 
tlie  carpenter's  trade  of  his  grandfather, 
and  for  lifteen  years  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Lake  Shore  Eailroad,  at  Norwalk,  on 
car  and  cab  work.  He  was  afterward  en- 
gaged for  five  years  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness at  Amherst,  and  then  returned  to  the 
farm.  In  1863  Mr.  Bivins  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  I.  Winton,  who  was  born  in 
Amherst  townsiiip,  daughter  of  Orrin  and 
Mariett  (Smith)  Winton,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont, wlio  came  to  Amherst  township 
about  1834.  where  he  was  e-\tensively  en- 
gaged in  farming.  They  were  the  parents 
of  children  as  follows:  Eli,  who  resides  in 
Arkansas;  Ann,  widow  of  Edward  Aikens, 
of  Amherst  township;  Mariett;  C.  F., 
living  in  Kansas;  O.  P.,  who  died  in  East 
St.  Louis,  III.;  Alferetta,  wife  of  George 
Morgan,  of  Elyria;  Hattie,  wife  of  "Will- 
iam Barnes,  of  Cleveland;  William  W.,  a 


stationary  engineer  at  Sandusky,  Ohio 
(his  twin  sister  died  in  infancy);  Nellie, 
who  lives  in  Elyria,  and  Mary  I.,  Mrs. 
Bivins.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
killed  by  a  falling  tree;  iiis  widow  is  now 
residing  with  our  subject.  Mrs.  Bivins' 
maternal  grandfather  Smith  came  to  Lo- 
rain  county  in  1834. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bivins  was  born  one 
child,  Frank  B.,  who  became  a  sailor,  em- 
barking first  at  Erie,  Penn.;  after  sailing 
for  three  years  on  the  lakes,  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  fi-om  there  sailing  to  Ger- 
many, and  thence  to  Australia,  whence, 
after  a  stay  of  nine  months,  he  went  to 
London,  England.  From  there  he  went  to 
San  Francisco,  and  then  cruised  alono- the 
coast  to  British  Columbia.  He  was  killed 
on  board  the  ship  "  Kennebec,"  while  some 
days  out  from  San  Pedro,  Cal.,  and  was 
buried  at  sea.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a 
meml)er  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
has  filled  numerous  political  offices;  for 
two  years  he  was  marshal  of  North  Am- 
herst, and  he  has  also  served  as  constable, 
as  member  of  the  town  council,  and  as  as- 
sessor of  Nortli  Amherst.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  Stonington  Lodge  No.  503, 
and  in  religion  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church  at  North 
Amlierst. 


J.  GAREETT.  In  the  front  rank 
of  the  representative  agriculturists 
of  Carlisle  township  is  found  this 
gentleman,  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
finest  200  acre  farms  in  the  county,  de- 
voted to  general  agriculture,  in  a  great 
measure  to  dairying,  liaving  thereon  an 
average  of  twenty  cows. 

Mr.  Garrett  is  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  in  Saratoga  county,  August  10, 
1830,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Charlotte 
(Rowell)  Garrett,  the  father  a  native  of 
New  York  State,  the  mother  of  Vermont. 
Thev  were  married  in  New  York  State, 
and   in   1834  migrated   to  Lorain  county, 


1190 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ohio,  locating  first  in  Penfield  township, 
afterward,  in  1836,  settling  in  Carlisle 
township,  where  they  bought  a  partly-im- 
proved farm  of  265  acres.  In  politics  the 
father  was  first  a  Democrat,  then  a  Kepub- 
lican,  and  he  served  as  trustee  of  his  town- 
ship. He  died  in  Carlisle  township,  June 
29,  1866,  the  mother  in  May,  1886,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  subject,  Joseph  Garrett, 
lived  all  his  life  in  New  York  State,  and 
his  wife  lived  to  be  ninety  years  old.  To 
Benjamin  and  Charlotte  Garrett  were  born 
three  children,  viz.:  John,  who  married, 
and  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Mich.,  where 
he  died  about  the  year  1884;  Jane  Eliza, 
wife  of  George  Noble,  residing  iu  Elyria, 
and  S.  J. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  almost 
five  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Lorain  county,  and  in  Carlisle 
township  received  his  education,  at  the 
same  time  giving  his  assistance  toward  the 
opening  up  and  improving  of  the  home 
farm.  In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss 
M.  Noble,  who  was  born  in  Lorain  county, 
and  reared  in  LaGrange  township,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Herveyand  Phcjebe  (Wilkinson)  No- 
ble, who  settled  in  an  early  day  in  that 
township,  where  they  carried  on  farming 
the  rest  of  their  lives.  Af  the  time  of  their 
settlement  in  LaGrange,  in  June,  1827, 
there  were  only  two  or  three  families  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Noble  died  June  16, 
1871,  aged  seventy-six,  his  w'ife  having 
preceded  him  to  the  grave  April  23,  1870, 
aged  sixty-nine  years.  They  had  a  family 
of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Betsy,  de- 
ceased at  the  age  of  eighteen  months; 
Esther,  wife  of  David  Parsons,  of  Akron, 
Oliio;  George  W.,  residing  in  Elyria; 
Amanda,  deceased  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years;  Emily  Annette,  wife  of  C.  C.  Man- 
ville,  of  LaGrange  township,  TiOrain  coun- 
ty; Mrs.  S.  J.  Garrett;  Henry  D.,  who 
was  married,  and  died  iti  Lorain  county  in 
1861;  and  Melissa,  deceased  at  the  age  of 
four  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  J.  Garrett 
were  born  three  children:  Frank,  who  was 


married  in  1878  to  Miss  Mary  Martin,  and 
has  one  cliild — Essie  Bell;  Cora,  wife  of 
Charles  Fuller,  who  has  one  child — Carrie 
(they  live  in  Cleveland);  and  Charles,  who 
was  married  in  February,  1887,  to  Minnie 
Lehman,  and  has  three  sons — Leroy,  Mark 
Elmer  and  Roy.  In  his  political  associa- 
tions Mr.  Garrett  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  township  trustee  three  or  four 
terms. 


ffJflRAM  WACK,  one  of  the  promi- 
IsH     nent  representative  agriculturists  of 
I     4.    Carlisle    township,    is    a    "  Green 
■JJ  Mountain    Laddie."    born    in    Ver- 

mont September  9,  1809,  a  son  of 
Frederick  and  Hannah  (Loomis)  Wack, 
natives  of  Connecticut. 

They  were  married  in  their  native  State, 
and  afterward  moved  to  Manchester,  Vt., 
thence  to  Dorset,  Vt.,  when  our  subject 
was  al)out  two  years  old.  In  1837  they 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  settling  on 
afarni  near  the  Black  river,  in  Carlisle  town- 
ship, where  Mr.  Wack  died,  when  over 
eighty  years  of  age;  Mrs.  Wack  passed 
away  in  Michigan  also  aged  over  eighty 
years.  They  had  a  family  of  children,  si.t 
of  wiiom  are  yet  living,  named  as  follows: 
Eliza  (wife  of  John  Wyman),  William 
Albert,  Iliram,  Charles  Chauncey,  Caro- 
line Laura,  and  Clarissa;  Erastus  died  in 
infancy.  In  politics  Mr.  Wack  was  a 
member  of  the  Whig  party. 

Hiram  Wack,  of  whom  this  sketch 
chiefly  relates,  may  bo  justly  classified 
among  the  pioneers  of  Carlisle  township, 
as  he  came  here  in  1837,  at  a  time  when 
wild  animals  were  yet  plentiful.  On  Sep- 
tember 19,  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Rickey,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
they  had  three  children, as  follows:  George, 
who  married  Miss  Diantha  Vibber,  and  has 
one  child — Herbert  (they  live  in  Russia 
township);  Alfred,  who  married  Miss  Caro- 
line Bender,  and  has  six  children — Ellen, 
Charles,  Frank,  Cassie,  Mary  and    Mabel; 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1191 


and  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Cliarles  II.  Heigh- 
ton,  who  has  three  children — Harry,  John 
and  Robert  (the  family  reside  in  La  Porte, 
Carlisle  township).  Our  subject  learned 
the  trade  of  cai'penter  in  New  York,  and 
Worked  at  same  in  Oberlin  some  years,  at 
intervals,  before  his  marriage;  he  was  also 
a  workman  one  winter  on  the  steamship 
"  Bunker  Hill,"  which  lay  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Black  river.  After  marriage  he  did 
carpenter  work  only  in  his  neighborhood, 
and  also  operated  his  farm,  which  is  well 
improved  and  now  comprises  some  179 
acres.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party 
ever  since  its  organization,  though  his  first 
vote  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson.  The 
paternal  grand  lather  of  subject,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  German,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Anierican  Revolution,  and 
died  while  on  his  way  home  at  the  close  of 
his  service. 


^ARREN  EARL,  assessor  and  treas- 
urer of  Eaton  township,  who  has 
been  a  lesident  of  Lorain  county 
since  December,  1853,  is  a  native 
of  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1834. 
His  parents,  Moses  and  Elizabeth  (Fauver) 
Earl,  were  also  natives  of  New  York,  and 
there  passed  their  entire  lives.  The  father 
died  in  New  York  in  1836.  They  had 
but  one  child,  AVarren.  Some  time  pre- 
vious to  liis  death  Moses  Earl  had  located 
land  in  Ohio. 

Warren  Earl  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1853 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  locating  in 
Eaton  township,  and  working  in  Elyria, 
where  he  learned  the  bricklayer's  and 
plasterer's  trades.  In  1864  he  enlisted,  at 
Wooster,  Ohio,  foroneyear,  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  O.  V.  I., 
and  served  with  the  army  of  the  West. 
He  participated  in  the  engagement  at 
Murfreesborough,  served  till  the  close  of 


the  war,  and  1865  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Philadelphia.  He  returned  to 
Lorain  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1868  settled 
in  Eaton  township,  where  in  1877  he 
bought  twenty  acres  of  improved  land.  Mr. 
Earl  has  taken  considerable  interest  in 
politics,  voting  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  served  two  terms  as  township  as- 
sessor and  for  twelve  years  as  treasurer. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married, 
first  in  1859,  in  Eaton  township,  to  Miss 
Adelaide  Fauver,  a  native  of  New  York, 
who  died  in  1871.  In  February,  1874,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sally 
Earl,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  to  this 
union  have  come  two  children,  namely: 
Minnie  A.  and  Anna  B.  Socially  Mr. 
Earl  is  a  member  of  Richard  Allen  Post 
No.  65,  G.  A.  R.,  Elyria. 


T(   O.  HUMPHREY,  a  lifelong  farmer 

k.  I    of  Eaton  township,  comes  of  a  family 

\^i    who   have   been   identified   with   the 

county  over  threescore  and  ten  years. 

He  was  born  in  1832  on  his  present 
farm  on  Butternut  Ridge,  a  son  of  Orson 
J.  and  Lucinda  (Sutliffj  Humphrey,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
where  they  were  married.  Fi-om  there 
they  came  with  a  one-horse  wagon  to 
Lorain  county.  Ohio,  the  trip  occupying 
six  weeks,  and  in  1822  located  in  Ridge- 
ville  township,  whence  in  1832  they 
moved  to  Eaton  township,  to  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  the  subject  of  tiiis  sketch. 
Orson  J.  Hum])hrey  was  a  taiiner  and 
currier  by  trade,  which  he  carried  on  till 
he  commenced  farming.  He  took  a  con- 
siderable interest  in  politics,  first  as  a 
Whig,  later  as  a  Republican,  and  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace  fifteen  years,  and 
county  commissioner  three  terms.  He 
died  December  5,  1867,  his  wife  in  No- 
vember, 1869.  They  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
as  follows:  Amelia,  deceased  wife  of  Joiner 


1192 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Race,  of  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain 
County;  Fidelia,  wife  of  Lewis  M.  Pounds, 
of  Topeka,  Kans.;  Orelia,  now  in  Kansas; 
Facelia  (widow  of  William  Brust),  a  resi- 
dent of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  J.  O. 

The  snbject  of  our  sketch  had  a  thor- 
oughly practical  school  training  in  his 
native  township,  and  afterward  attended 
select  school  at  LaPorte,  Lorain  county, 
and  college  at  Berea.  On  his  return 
home  he  applied  himself  assiduously  to 
agriculture,  at  which  he  has  since  contin- 
ued with  well-merited  success.  He  now 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  125  acres,  all  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation. 

In  1856  Mr.  Humphrey  was  married, 
in  Carlisle  township,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Worthington,  and  eight  children  have 
been  born  to  tiiem,  of  whom  the  following 
is  a  brief  record:  Helena  is  residing  at 
home;  Elmer  E.  married  Miss  Aizina 
Hamlin,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Hamlin  and  Blanche;  and  Mary,  Orson, 
Clarence,  Mildred,  Edwin  and  Herbert,  all 
at  home.  Mr.  Humphrey  in  his  political 
sympathies  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Mrs.  Humphrey  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Cliurch  at  LaPorte.  Joseph  and  Betsy 
Humphrey,  grandparents  of  subject,  were 
Connecticut  people,  born  of  Welsh  an- 
cestry, and  in  an  early  day  came  to  Kidge- 
ville  township,  Lorain  county,  where  they 
passed  tiie  rest  of  their  busy  lives. 


\ICHAED  MARSH,  a  farmer  of 
^  Eaton  township,  was  born  in  1816 
^  in  tiie  eastern  part  of  the  county  of 
Kent,  England,  son  of  John  and 
Eiizabetli  (Dean)  Marsh.  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  were  also  natives  of 
England,  where  they  died,  the  father  at 
the  age  of  seventy,  the  mother  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one.  They  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, namely:  Jane,  wife  of  Thomas  Spicer, 
residing  in  England;  and  Richard,  subject 


of  this  memoir.  John,  who  came  to  Eaton 
township  in  1850,  married  Louisa  Sutton, 
and  died  in  October,  1890;  his  widow  re- 
sides in  Eaton  township. 

Richard  Marsh  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  England,  and  there  engaged 
in  farming  pursuits  until  1852,  when  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Eaton  township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  In 
1864  he  was  married,  in  Eaton  township, 
to  Mrs.  Harriet  Cassell,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, widow  of  Edward  Cassell,  by  whom 
she  had  two  children:  Henry,  a  resident 
of  Missouri,  and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Silk. 
Mr.  Marsh  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to 
agriculture,  and  he  now  owns  a  good  farm 
of  forty-two  acres,  all  ir)  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  In  his  j^olitical'  preferences 
he  is  a  Republican;  in  religion  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  Church. 


J 


OHN  BERRES,  for  over  a  third  of  a 
century  a  valuable  farmer  citizen  of 
Ridgeville  township,  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  near  Berlin  in  1835, 
a  son  of  Adam  and  Mary  Berres,  of  the 
same  country.  In  1856  the  family  came 
to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Ridgeville 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  the 
parents  passed  the  i-est  of  their  lives,  the 
father  dying  in  1892,  the  mother  in  1879. 
As  will  be  seen,  our  subject  was  about 
twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
America,  so  that  his  school  days  were  all 
passed  in  his  native  land,  where  he  also 
learned  farming  (a  vocation  lie  has  ever 
since  followed),  besides,  according  to  the 
customs  of  the  countrj',  a  trade,  his  choice 
being  carpentry,  at  which  he  worked  two 
years  before  crossing  the  ocean.  In  1865 
he  bought  forty-two  acres  of  partly-im- 
proved land,  subsequently  adding  thereto 
the  Taylor  farm,  and  he  now  owns  103 
acres,  all  well-cultivated,  on  which  he  has 
erected   a  comfortable   modern   one-and-a- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1193 


half-story  residence  22x28,  with  an  L, 
also  one  and  a  half  stories,  18. x  24;  kitchen 
14x16;  vvoodsiied  12x14;  horse  l)aru 
22x28.  He  has  also  put  up  a  commodi- 
ons  barn  40  x60,  and  a  second  one  30x40. 
Mr.  Berres  confines  himself  to  general 
farming,  and  by  untiring  energy,  sound 
judgment  and  judicious  economy  has  made 
a7i  enviable  Success. 

In  1861  our  subject  was  married,  in 
Eidgeville  township,  to  Miss  Anna  Stouber, 
a  native  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Barbara  (Conrad)  Stouber,  also  of 
Germany,  who  in  an  early  day  immigrated 
to  tlie  United  States,  making  tlieir  final 
home  in  Avon  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Berres  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  as 
follows:  Emma,  married  to  George  Often, 
of  Ridgeville  township  (they  have  two 
children,  Mathias  and  Katie);  Katie,  wife 
of  Mathias  Diedrick,  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship; Mary  and  Caspar.  They  have  also 
adopted  a  boy  named  Tony  Stouber.  Some 
time  ago  our  subject  spent  seven  years  in 
the  Lake  Superior  country  among  the 
copper  mines.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  has  served  his 
township  as  supervisor  and  member  of  the 
school  board.  He  and  his  wife  were  born 
and  brought  up  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 


H.  JACKSON.  Among  the  pros- 
perous and  most  respected  of  the 
representative,  native-born  agricul- 
turists of  Eaton  township,  is  to  be 
found  this  gentleman.  He  is  a  son  of  Bar- 
nabas and  Martha  (Farni)am)  Jackson,  and 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  1851. 

Barnabas  Jackson,  fatiier  of  subject,  was 
born  in  Maine,  whence  when  young  he 
came  to  Liverpool,  Medina  Co.,  ()hio,  with 
his  parents,  Abel  and  Sarah  Jackson,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Maine.  He  married 
in   Portage    county,    Ohio,    Miss    Martha 

63 


Farnham,  who  was  born  in  that  county, 
near  Ravenna,  and  for  some  time  there- 
after they  lived  in  Medina  connty,  where 
he  conducted  a  sawmill.  Later  lie  followed 
building  and  contracting  in  Grafton  town- 
ship, Lorain  county,  and  among  the  build- 
ings he  put  up  may  be  mentioned  the 
roundhouse  and  two  hotels.  In  1853  he 
moved  to  Eaton  township,  same  county, 
and  bought  an  improved  farm  from.  Ira  B. 
Morgan,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his 
days  in  agricultural  pursuits,  dying  Au- 
gust 8,  1889.  He  was  a  Republican, 
originally  a  Whig,  and  served  his  town- 
ship as  trustee;  during  the  dark  days  of 
the  war  of  tlie  Rebellion  he  gave  all  tiie 
assistance  in  his  power  to  preserve  the 
Union.  His  own  parents  died,  the  father 
in  Iowa,  the  mother  in  Eaton  township, 
Lorain  county,  aged  eighty-nine  years.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnabas  Jackson  were  born 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
viz.:  Ellen,  wife  of  Albert  Bingham,  of 
Eaton  township;  C.  H.,  our  subject; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  Kettner,  of  Cleve- 
land: Frederick  Henry,  married  to  Celia 
Nichols,  and  residing  in  Cleveland;  An- 
drew, married,  and  living  in  Eaton  town- 
ship; Byron  W.,  married  to  Blanche  Nich- 
ols, and  living  in  Cleveland;  and  James 
E.,  married  to  Sarah  Aubrey,  also  in  Cleve- 
land. The  mother  of  this  family  is  yet 
living  on  the  old  homestead. 

C.  H.  Jackson,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  elementary  education 
at  the  schools  of  Eaton  township,  which 
was  supplemented  with  a  two-years'  at- 
tendarce  at  Oberlin  College.  He  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  but  in  early 
life  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  cheese,  which  industry  he  carried 
on  in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  county, 
some  thirteen  years;  he  was  also  interested 
in  a  cheese  factory  in  Eaton  township.  In 
1881  he  purchased  an  improved  farm  of 
125  acres  in  Eaton  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  carrying  on  general  farming. 

In  1877  Mr.  Jackson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in   Berea,  Ohio,  with   Miss  Eva  E. 


1194 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Emmons,  a  native  of  Columbia  township, 
Lorain  county,  daughter  of  Francis  and 
Cordelia  (Smith)  Emmons,  of  Connecticut, 
and  pioneers  of  Columbia  township,  Lo- 
rain county;  the  mother  is  deceased,  the 
father  yet  living.  To  this  union  has  been 
born  one  child — Grace  G.  In  his  political 
associations  Mr.  Jackson  is  a  Republican, 
and  for  five  years  served  as  township  trus- 
tee; in  1888  he  was  elected  a  justice  of 
the  peace. 


A.    BAINBRIDGE,  one    of  the 
wideawake,  go-ahead,  native-born 
agriculturists  of  Ridgeville  town- 
ship, is  owner  of  140  acres  of  as 
good  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county, 
being    mostly    the  old    homestead    of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Bainbridge  was  born  in  1837,  a  son 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Ford)  Bain- 
bridge, natives  of  England,  the  father  of 
near  Hull,  Yorkshii-e.  They  were  married 
in  their  native  country,  and  subsequently 
immigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  in 
1832  they  made  for  themselves  a  new 
home  in  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain 
county,  the  locality  at  that  time  being  all 
woodland.  William  Bainbridge  first 
bought  twenty-five  acres,  to  which  he 
added  sixty  acres,  and,  later,  fifty  acres,  ag- 
gregating 185  acres  of  fine  farm  land,  where 
he  successfully  carried  on  general  agricul- 
ture till  his  death;  his  widows  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  Mr.  Bain- 
bridge in  his  political  views  was  first  a 
Whig,  in  later  years  a  stalwart  Republican, 
casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  J.  C. 
Fremont,  and  ho  held  many  township 
ofiices  of  trust.  To  this  honored  couple 
was  born  a  family  of  children,  the  follow- 
ing being  a  brief  record  of  them:  George 
died  in  Ridgeville  township  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three;  Mary  Jane  died  young;  Jabez, 
married,  resides  in  Olmsted  township, 
Cuyahoga  county;  W.  A.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Hester  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 


Hollister,  of  California;  Rachel  is  the  wife 
of  Augustus  Tilliurg,  of  Ridcreville  town- 
ship;  Pletcherdied  in  Ridgeville  township; 
William  B.,  who  was  married,  died  in 
Ridgeville  township. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  received  such 
education  as  was  afforded  in  his  early  boy- 
hood by  the  primitive  schools,'  held  in 
some  old  log  shanty,  whose  '  furnishings 
and  "dominie,"  alike,  smacked  of  "the 
sere  and  yellow  leaf."  In  politics  he  is  a 
straight  Republican,  and  has  served  his 
township  as  road  commissioner.  In  1891 
he  visited  California,  spending  six  months 
in  the  southern  portion  of  the  State,  part 
of  the  time  in  San  Jose.  Mr.  Bainbrido-e 
has  not  yet  enlisted  in  the  courageous  army 
of  "  Benedicts,"  preferring  an  Arcadian  lite 
of  single  bliss. 


CHARLES  W.    BOMMER,  a    repre- 
sentative,    progressive     citizen     of 
Avon  township,    where    he   has   re- 
sided since  child  hood,  was  born  August 
30,  1861,  in  Olmsted  township,  Cuyahoo-a 
Co.,  Ohio. 

Joseph  Bommer,  father  of  Charles  W., 
was  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  whence 
in  an  early  day  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  to  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  by  the  month.  He  mar- 
ried Sophia  Muche,  who  was  born  in 
Hesse,  Germany,  and  in  1867  they  came 
to  Avon  township,  and  opened  np  a  farm 
on  which  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1881;  his  widow  passed 
away  in  Avon  township  in  1885.  They 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Louisa,  wife  of  P.  Nagle,  of  Avon 
township;  Ed.,  married,  residing  in  West 
View,  Cuyahoga  county;  Frank,  a  resident 
of  Ridgeville  township,  Lorain  count}'; 
Eva,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years;  Gertie,  living  in  Lorain  county; 
Willie,  who  died  when  three  years  old;  and 
Charles  W.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1195 


Charles  W.  Bommer  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Avon  townsliip  when  six  years 
old,  and  here  obtained  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  was 
trained  from  early  boyhood  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  in  which  he  has  always  been  en- 
gaged, and  he  now  owns  a  half  interest  in 
the  homestead  and  a  farm  in  Ilidtreville 
township.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1886,  in  Avon  township,  with  Miss  Anna 
Engels,  a  native  of  the  township,  daughter  of 
Peter  Engels,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  four  children,  viz.:  Frank,  Clara, 
Willie  and  Anna  Bertha.  In  his  political 
preferences  Mr.  Bommer  is  an  ardent 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic 
party;  in  tlie  spring  of  1893  he  was 
elected  trustee  of  Avon  township,  where 
he  has  also  served  as  supervisor  and  school 
director.  In  religious  connection  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church  at  French  Creek. 


rEEDERICK  DAGUE,  a  self-made, 
representative  agriculturist  of  Pen- 
^       field  township,  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Catherine   (Harsh)    Dague,  and 
was  the  second   child   born  to  them  after 
their  removal  to  Ohio. 

Our  subject  first  saw  the  light  January 
23,  1822,  and  received  a  limited  education 
in  the  subscription  schools,  the  only  ones 
then  afforded  at  that  time  and  place.  From 
early  boyhood  he  was  inured  to  the  arduous 
duties  of  pioneer  farm  life,  and  he  remained 
at  home  until  several  years  after  his  mar- 
riage. On  August  29, 1844,  he  was  wedded 
to  Miss  Maria  Smith,  born  December 
9,  1824,  in  Berks  county,  Penn.,  daughter 
of  Jeremiah  and  Rowena  (Arnold)  Smith, 
who  came  to  Ohio  in  1826,  settling  in 
Stark  county,  where  Mr.  Smith  died,  the 
family  subsequently  removing  to  Tticliland 
county,  where  Mrs.  Dague  resided  until 
her  marriage.  The  young  couple  took  up 
their  residence  on   the  farm  of  his  father 


until  1851,  when  they  removed  to  their 
present  farm  in  Pentield  township,  then 
comprising  100  acres,  all  in  the  woods, 
which  he  purchased  at  five  dollars  and  a 
half  per  acre.  The  cabin  in  which  they 
lived  was  built  of  logs,  had  a  white 
ash  floor,  and  was  a  very  comfortable, 
though  rudely-furnished,  home.  Soon 
after  coming  here  Mr.  Dague  built  a 
barn,  which  is  still  standing,  he  and  his 
brother  John,  who  were  neighbors,  assist- 
ing each  other  in  their  work.  To  Frede- 
rick  and  Maria  Dague  were  born  children 
as  follows:  John,  of  Litchfield,  Ohio; 
Levi,  of  Harrisville,  Ohio;  Maretus,  of 
Chatham,  Ohio;  Frederick,  of  Spencer, 
Ohio;  Sarah  M.,  the  widow  of  Robert 
Everhart;  Homer,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years;  Jeremiah,  of  Spencer; 
Jonathan,  a  farmer  of  Litchfield,  Ohio; 
Mary  Jane,  Mrs.  Orrin  Meade,  of  Michi- 
gan; Emerson,  a  farmer,  at  home;  Charles, 
a  farmer  of  Spencer;  Ella,  Mrs.  Grant 
Hull,  of  Litchfield,  Ohio;  and  Anna,  who 
married  Grant  Hull,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Dague  has  been 
a  lifelong  farmer,  and  for  a  short  while 
carried  on  a  dairy  in  connection  with 
his  agricultural  work.  He  now  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  190  acres,  all  accumulated  by 
his  own  energy  and  unceasing  industry, 
for  he  began  life  with  comparatively  noth- 
ing. In  his  political  predilections  he  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  in 
religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  are  meo^- 
bers  of  the  German  Baptist  Church  at 
Chatham,  Ohio. 


/GEORGE  T.  DEEG,  a  highly  success- 
(     _    ful    farmer    and    grape-grower    of 
\J     Avon  township,  is  a  native  Wurtem- 
^^  berg,  Germany,  born  in  1826. 

He  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and 
Elizabeth  (^Lautenschlager)  Deeg,  of  the 
same  locality,  who  were  married  in  Ger- 
many, and  in   1842  set  sail  from  the  port 


1196 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


of  Le  Havre-de-Graee,  France,  for  the  New 
World,  their  family  accompanying  them. 
After  a  voyage  of  thirty-three  days  they 
landed  in  JSew  York  City,  whence  they 
came  direct  to  Cleveland,  ()hio,  arriving  in 
Avon  township,  Lorain  county,  in  October, 
same  year.  Here  they  settled  on  a  farm 
near  the  lake  shore,  and  here  the  'father 
died  in  1847,  tlje  mother  in  1846.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows: 
Catherine,  who  married  John  Upwright, 
and  died  in  1859  in  Eaton  county,  Mich.; 
Margaret,  first  married  to  Christian  Seifred, 
who  was  killed  in  Cleveland,  and  now  the 
widow  of  Christian  Brandt  (she  resides  in 
Covington);  Dorothea,  who  married  Treat 
Titus,  and  died  in  1874;  George  T.,  onr 
subject;  Mary,  widow  of  Christian  Schorn- 
hurst,  of  Chicago,  111.;  and  Caroline,  wife 
of  Daniel  S.  Green,  of  Avon  township. 

George  T.  Deeg  was  sixteen  years  old 
when  the  family  came  to  America  from 
Germany,  and  a  portion  of  his  education 
was  received  in  each  country.  After 
leaving  scliool  he,  in  1852,  shipped  before 
the  mast  on  a  vessel  sailing;  the  lakes,  and 
for  fourteen  years  followed  that  vocation 
in  various  capacities,  such  as  common 
sailor,  cook,  mate,  etc.;  in  1858  he  bongbt 
a  vessel  which  he  sailed  for  his  own  account 
till  the  fall  of  1862,  when  be  sold  her  and 
in  1863  navigrated  her  for  others.  In  1861 
he  had  bought  his  present  tine  farm  of 
sixty-eiglit  acres,  and  has  since  erected  a 
commodious  and  comfortable  residence 
thereon.  In  1849  Mr.  Deeg  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Avon  township,  with  Miss 
Maria  Diederich,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Gertrude  Diederich,  who  came  to  Lorain 
county  in  1847,  and  are  now  both  deceased. 
To  this  union  were  born  four  children, 
to  wit:  William  G.,  a  resident  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  who  is  married  and  has  three  chil- 
dren: Sailor,  Bell  and  Anna;  Joel  T.,  mar- 
ried and  residing  in  Elyria  (has  three  chil- 
dren: Nellie,  Nina  and  Josephine);  Au- 
gusta, widow  of  William  Moon,  of  Avon 
township  (has  three  children:  Stella,  Guy 
and  William);  and  Julia,  in  Detroit,  Mich. 


The  mother  of  these  died  in  1879,  and  in 
1882  Mr.  Deeg  married  Miss  Elnora  Corn- 
well,  a  native  of  Columbia  township,  Lo- 
rain county,  a  daughter  of  Elson  Cornwell, 
an  early  pioneer  of  the  county.  Politically 
our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  scliool  board.  He  and 
his  wife  are  associated  witii  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Avon  township. 


TF^LISHA    JACKSON,    one    of    the 

1^      earliest     and     best-known     pioneer 
IL^i  citizens  of  Penfield  township,   was 
born  October  8, 1818,  in  Champion, 
Jefferson  Co.,  New  York. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  period,  attend- 
ing whenever  possible,  as  he  took  more 
pleasure  in  study  than  in  play,  and  was  a 
very  apt  scholar.  When  but  a  young  man 
he  entered  the  employ  of  a  man  named 
Poole,  who  made  fanning  mills,  while 
engaged  in  this  displaying  considerable 
liking  and  natural  ability  for  carpentry, 
and  later  working  at  tiie  business  in  Phila- 
delphia, Jefierson  county,  N.  Y.  He 
remained  in  his  native  county  until  1841, 
when  he  started  for  the  then  Far  West,  pro- 
ceeding tirst  to  SHcket's  Harbor,  where  he 
took  the  boat  for  Lewiston,  thence  travel- 
ing by  stage-coach  to  Niagara  Falls. 
From  the  latter  place  he  came  to  Buffalo 
on  the  tirst  railroad  he  had  ever  seen,  and 
there  took  the  lake  l)oat  for  Cleveland,  his 
destination  being  Pentield,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  his  eldest  brother,  Pliny,  re- 
sided. Having  missed  the  stage-coach  to 
Elyria,  and  having  but  a  few  dollars  with 
him,  not  suthcienl  to  hire  a  private  convey- 
ance, he  walked  from  Cleveland  to  Pen- 
tield, arriving  there  June  3.  Here  he 
worked  at  his  old  occupation,  the  manufac- 
ture of  fanning  mills,  meantime  making 
his  home  with  his  brother  until  July  4, 
1843,  when  he  married  Miss  Eleanor  A. 
Rowland.      She   was   born  November  22, 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1197 


1820,  in  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Lucy  (Wood)  Rowland,  fanning 
people,  and  was  in  Pentield  townsliij)  on  a 
visit  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Pliny  Jackson, 
when  she  met  our  subject.  For  a  sliort 
time  after  iiis  marriage  Mr.  Jackson  lived 
in  Pentield  township,  then  removed  to 
Pittstield  township,  where  he  bought  land, 
and  later  took  up  his  residence  in  Monroe, 
Mich.,  wliere  he  was  employed  as  pattern- 
maker in  a  foundry,  his  knowledge  of  car- 
pentry being  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
perform  such  work.  After  four  years  he 
returned  to  Penfield  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  locating  on  his  present  farm,  for 
which  he  had  previously  negotiated.  At 
that  time  a  dense  forest  covered  the  land, 
on  which  no  improvements  whatever  had 
been  made,  and  all  the  clearing  on  the 
tract,  137  acres  in  extent,  has  been  done 
either  by  hiui  or  under  his  direction. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  been 
born  children  as  follows:  Joel  R.,  a  farmer 
of  Pentield  township,  who  was  first  married 
to  Mary  Bradstock,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons — Harley  (now  deceased)  and  Judson 
C  (the  mother  of  these  died  and  he  was 
married,  for  his  second  wife,  to  her  sister 
Lydia);  Charles  E.,  farmer  of  Pentield; 
Charille  H.,  deceased  wife  of  John  Brad- 
stock;  Lucy,  wife  of  Horace  Palmer,  now 
of  Pe:itield;  Milo  T.,  a  farmer  of  Pentield, 
wiio  has  four  children — Oga  Eveline, 
Altha  Leona,  Margaret  Irene  and  Carl; 
and  Sally  E.,  residing  with  her  parents. 
"With  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in 
working  at  his  trade,  Mr.  Jackson  has 
given  his  attention  to  farming.  He  and 
his  wife  have  seen  great  changes  in  this 
section  of  the  country ;  panthers,  bears, deer, 
wolves,  turkeys,  and  other  wild  animals 
which    once    abounded     have    now  disap- 

f)eared  from  the  region ;  the  dense  forest 
las  given  place  to  smiling  farms;  and  tiie 
rude  hut  which  first  sheltered  the  family 
is  now  supplanted  by  a  substantial  brick 
residence.  Mr.  Jackson  has  performed 
much  arduous  labor  in  his  day,  and  by  his 
untiring  energy  and  industry  has  amassed 


a  very  comfortable  competency.  On  July 
4,  1893,  he  and  his  wdfe  celebrated  their 
"golden  wedding,"  an  occasion  which  will 
ever  be  remembered  by  those  present.  In 
his  political  preferences  our  subject  has 
been  a  Republican  since  1856.  prior  to 
which  time  he  was  an  ardent  Whig,  cast- 
ing liis  first  Presidential  vote  for  William 
H.  Harrison.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
the  success  of  his  party,  and,  while  not  an 
office-seeker,  has  served  several  terms  as 
township  trustee,  with  credit  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 


ri(     II.    WITBECK,    who    during  his 

l/V     lifetime  was  a  well-known  and  uni- 

Ifl^    versally   respected   member   of  the 

^J  farming    community    of    Pentield 

township,  was  born  May  20,  1827, 

in  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  son  of  Henry 

G.  and  Freelove  (Welton)  Witbeck. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  and  received  his  literary  educa- 
tion at  the  common  schools  of  those,  early 
days,  which  he  attended  a  few  weeks  in  the 
winter  season;  and  the  only  year  he  spent 
the  entire  winter  at  school  was  while  work- 
ing for  his  board  for  William  L.  Hayes. 
When  he  was  four  years  old,  in  the  fall  of 
1831,  he  had  been  brought  by  his  parents 
from  New  York  State  to  Pentield  town- 
ship, Lorain  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  being  the  eldest  of  six  sons, 
the  bulk  of  the  duties  on  the  home  farm 
fell  on  his  shoulders.  As  soon  as  he  was 
old  enough  he  worked  principally  away 
from  home,  doing  various  kinds  of  farm 
labor  in  various  districts,  and  receiving  for 
his  services  from  six  to  eight  dollars  per 
month,  all  his  earnings  going  to  assist  his 
father  to  pay  for  some  land  which  the 
latter  had  purchased.  For  one  year  he 
was  in  the  employ  of  Talcott  Starr,  of 
Elyi'ia  township,  and  he  also  spent  one 
winter  in  Michigan,  in  the  pineries,  cutting 


1198 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


timber  and  working  in  one  of  the  lumber 
camps  so  numerous  in  those  days.  He 
received  thirty  acres  as  his  portion  of  the 
tract  of  one  hundred  acres  he  had  helped 
his  father  to  pay  for,  and  this  formed  the 
nucleus  of  the  fitje  property  he  accumulated 
before  his  decease. 

On  November  27,  1851,  Mr.  Witbeck 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Damon,  of  Litchfield,  Ohio,  who  died  less 
than  one  year  afterward,  and  on  March  20, 
1855,  he  wedded,  for  his  second  wife,  Miss 
Jane  A.  Goodyear,  who  was  born  March 
27,  1838,  in  New  Haven  county.  Conn., 
daughter  of  Street  and  Susan  (Jones)  Good- 
year, who  came  to  Penfield,  Lorain  county, 
in  1846,  locating  on  the  place  where  Mrs. 
Goodyear  yet  resides;  Mr.  Goodyear  died 
in  1884.  After  marriage  Mr.  Witbeck 
took  up  his  residence  on  the  farm  where 
he  passed  his  entire  wedded  life,  and  which 
at  that  time,  with  the  exception  of  one 
small  clearing,  was  all  in  tlie  woods.  The 
young  people  first  lived  in  a  log  house, 
which  was  some  time  afterward  supplanted 
by  a  frame  one,  and  in  1875  the  latter 
gave  place  to  a  commodious  brick  resi- 
dence, one  of  the  most  expensive  and  un- 
doubtedly one  of  the  most  substantial  in 
the  township.  By  purchases  made  from 
time  to  time  the  extent  of  the  original 
farm  of  thirty  acres  was  gradually  in- 
creased until  there  was  a  fine  tract,  com- 
prising 250  acres  of  excellent  land.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Witbeck  had  children  as  follows: 
Mary  Jane;  E.  F.,  who  married  Anna 
Walker,  of  Ellsworth,  Kans.,  and  now  has 
charge  of  the  home  farm;  Ansil,  a  farmer 
of  Penfield  township;  Susan  A.,  a  school- 
teacher of  Elyria;  Sarah  H.,  deceased  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  Leon  G.,  a  fanner 
of  Penfield  township;  and  Lucinda  May, 
who  resides  at  home,  and  attends  school 
in  Wellington.  Mr.  Witbeck  was  a 
thoroughly  self-made  man,  for  from  a  start 
of  almost  nothing  he  accumulated  his  fine 
property  and  earned  for  himself  a  com- 
fortable competence.  During  his  active 
life   he  was  one  of   the    foremost   agricul- 


turists of  Penfield  township.  He  died 
February  26,  1893,  after  a  short  illness 
from  heart  disease,  and  was  buried  in  Pen- 
field  cemetery.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and,  while  not  an  active  poli- 
tician, took  aTi  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  party  and  was  a  regular  attendant  at 
the  polls.  For  a  great  many  years  he  was 
an  ardent  member  of  the  Penfield  M.  E. 
Church,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
class-leader;  he  had  served  in  various  other 
positions  with  credit  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  all.  Mrs.  Witbeck  is  also  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  having  made 
a  cotifession  when  eighteen  years  old. 
Since  her  husband's  death  she  has  man- 
aged the  affairs  of  the  home  farm,  where 
she  resides  with  her  son,  Erving  F. 


P)ETER  OSTEANDER,  a  typical  self- 
made  man,  a  representative  success- 
ful agriculturist,  and  a  respected, 
honored  citizen  of  Pochester  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
born  August  17,  1826,  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley. 

Peter  Ostrander,  father  of  subject,  was 
married  to  a  Miss  Wolcott,  who  bore  him 
children  as  follows:  John,  Amos,  Mary 
J.  and  Peter.  The  father  of  these,  when 
the  youngest  was  five  years  old,  died  of 
yellow  fever,  which  he  had  contracted 
while  attending  a  horse  race  at  Long  Island  ; 
the  widowed  mother  subsequently  married 
a  Mr.  Winchell,  and  died  in  New  York  at 
an  advanced  age. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  was  "bound  out"  to 
one  Anson  Pierce,  whose  wife,  Jane,  had 
partly  reared  Peter's  fatiier,  and  a  strong 
attachment  had  sprung  up  between  her  and 
our  subject.  After  a  time  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pierce,  bringing  young  Peter  Ostrander, 
came  to  Ohio,  via  canal  to  Buffalo,  thence 
by  lake  to  the  month  of  Black  river,  from 
where  to  Rochester  township,  Lorain  coun- 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1199 


ty,  the  rest  of  the  journey  was  made  on 
foot  tlirough  an  unbroken  forest.  There 
were  but  few  roads  in  the  county  in  those 
early  days,  and  land  was  worth,  on  the 
average,  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  acre. 
In  Rochester  township  Mr.  Pierce  made  a 
settlement  on  a  piece  of  wild  land  that  is 
now  a  part  of  Mr.  Ostrander's  farm.  Their 
first  dwelling  was  the  traditional  log  cabin, 
and  the  nearest  mill  where  they  had  their 
gristing  done  was  Wooster,  a  week's  trip 
with  on  oxsled  in  sleighing  time.  Here 
onr  subject  when  old  enough  assisted  in 
the  clearing  up  of  the  dense  timber  anil 
undergrowth,  and  in  whatever  else  on  the 
farm  he  was  able  to  put  his  youthful  hand 
to.  During  the  winter  months  for  a  sea- 
son or  two  he  attended  school  at  Meach's 
Corners,  one  mile  south  of  his  home,  his 
path  lying  through  the  forest,  and  many  a 
wild  animal  did  he  see  as  he  plodded  his 
way  onward.  His  first  teacher  was  Squire 
Conaut,  and  he  has  lived  to  see  some 
wonderful  changes  in  the  county,  not  the 
least  being  the  educational  system  gener- 
ally, particularly  the  establishment  of  the 
common  schools.  He  was  thoroughly  in- 
ducted into  the  mysteries  of  farm  life,  and 
has  made  agricultural  pui-suits  an  unquali- 
fied success.  After  his  marriage  he  located 
on  fifty  acres  of  land  he  had  bought  near 
where  his  foster-parents  resided,  but  later 
sold  this,  purchasing  elsewhere  in  Roches- 
ter township.  Subsequently  he  moved  to 
Huntington  township,  whence  after  a  resi- 
dence of  some  years  he  came,  in  1(S60,  to 
where  he  now  lives  in  Rochester  township, 
having  bought  the  Pierce  homestead. 

In  1852,  during  the  "gold  fever,"  Mr. 
Ostrander  set  out  for  California  along  with 
a  party  of  five  other  fortune  hunters  from 
his  neighborhood.  They  proceeded  by  rail 
to  Cincinnati,  thence  by  river  to  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  where  they  equipped  themselves  for 
their  long  journey,  and  then  set  out  via 
the  Plains,  at  the  end  of  three  months 
reaching  Placerville,  Cal.  Mr.  Ostrander 
remained  at  the  "  gold  diggings "  two 
years,  and   then   returned  to  his  home  via 


Aspinwall  and  Isthmus  of  Panama,  thence 
by  steamer  to  New  York  City,  and  from 
there  to  Ohio  by  rail. 

On  May  4, 18-48,  Mr.  Ostrander  married 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Gilmore,  who  was  born 
August  17,  1833,  in  P.ecket,  Mass.,  a 
daughter  of  Darius  Gilmore,  an  early  set- 
tler of  Rochester  township,  who  at  one 
time  owned  a  farm  near  Rochester  Sta- 
tion. Two  children  were  the  result  of 
this  union,  to  wit:  William  L.,  born 
February  1,  1849,  now  a  resident  of  Co- 
lusa county,  Cal.,  and  Mary  J.,  born 
September  28,  1851,  now  the  wife  of 
Darius  Segar,  of  Rochester  township. 
This  wife  died  and  was  buried  in  Roches- 
ter, and  on  April  26,  1856,  our  subject, 
for  his  second  wife,  married  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine St.  Peter,  widow  of  Joseph  St.  Peter; 
she  is  a  native  of  near  Harrisburg,  Penn., 
born  November  10,  1832,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Goodman)  Long, 
who,  when  Mrs.  Ostrander  was  an  infant 
came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Wayne  county 
for  a  time,  thence  moving  to  Illinois;  and 
finally  returning  to  Huntington  township, 
Lorain  county.  Mr.  Ostrander  is  the 
owner  of  seventy-five  acres  excellent  land, 
one  of  the  best  tracts  in  Rochester  town- 
ship, and  for  over  thirty-seven  years  his 
faithful  wife  has  assisted  him  in  the  eco- 
norTiical  management  of  the  farm.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Rochester  Station.  He  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, though  not  a  strict  partisan,  and,  be- 
yond recording  his  vote  regularly  at  the 
polls,  takes  little  active  interest  in  politics. 


\^{    H.  FELTON,  merchant,  Rochester 
Vj     Station,  has  the  reputation  of  con- 
l|    ducting  one  of  the  best- kept  coun- 
fj  try  stores   in    the   county,  which   is 

enjoying    an    ever-increasing    pat- 
ronage. 

Mr.  Felton  was  born   April  18,  1820,  in 
Prescott,  Hampshii'e  Co.,  Mass.,  a  grand- 


1200 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


son  of  Samuel  Felton,  and  a  son  of  Nathan 
Felton,  who  was  by  occupation  a  mer- 
chant and  hotel-keeper.  He,  Nathan,  mar- 
ried Mary  Hiues,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Ne- 
hemiah  Hines  (a  very  prominent  physician 
of  more  than  local  reputation),  and  the 
.children  born  to  this  union  were:  N.  H. 
(subject  of  sketch);  Nathan,  who  died  in 
Worcester  county,  Mass.;  and  Harrison,  a 
farmer  and  raercliaat,  who  died  in  North- 
ampton, Mass.  The  parents  both  passed 
to  their  rest  in  the  last  named  place,  and 
were  buried  there. 

N.  H.  Felton,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  received  his  elementary  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place, 
which  was  supplemented  with  two  terms 
at  Amherst  College.  "When  fifteen  years 
old  he  entered  the  general  store  of  Clark 
Bros,  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  at  a  salary 
of  forty  dollars  per  annum  and  his  board. 
At  the  end  of  two  years  he  left  this  posi- 
tion to  accept  another  as  salesman  in  the 
hardware  store  of  W.  A.  Arnold,  of  the 
same  county,  and  here  remained  eight 
years.  Some  time  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Felton  commenced  a  hardware  business 
for  his  own  account  in  Northampton,  suc- 
cessfully conducting  same  three  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time,  in  August,  1856, 
he  moved  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he 
■feecured  a  position  as  traveling  salesman 
for  Webster,  Spencer  &  Mellen,  wholesale 
boot  and  shoe  dealers,  his  route  being 
along  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad,  between  Cliicago  and 
Cleveland.  After  five  years  experience 
at  this  Mr.  Felton  embarked,  in  part- 
nership with  George  W.  Cady,  in  the 
shoe  business  on  Water  street,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  the  style  of  the  firm  being  Fel- 
ton &  Cady,  which  continued  three  years, 
our  subject  disposing  of  his  interests  at  the 
end  of  that  time.  Later  he  was  in  the 
same  business  in  Cleveland  as  manufact- 
urers' agent,  afterward,  until  moving  to 
Lorain  county,  handling  the  bulk  of  the 
product  of  the  Auburn  (N.Y.)  State  Prison 
shoe  factories.     In  1892  he  came  to  Roch- 


ester Station,  Lorain  county,  and  in 
August,  same  year,  purcha.sed  the  general 
store  of  Philip  Kessler,  which  he  has  since 
successfully  conducted;  and  during  his 
brief  residence  here  he  has,  by  his  courtes}', 
fair  and  honorable  dealing,  surrounded 
himself  with  hosts  of  friends. 

In  July,  1844,  Mr.  Felton  married  Miss 
Eliza  J.  Hooker,  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
born  in  March,  1820,  at  Watertown,  a  few 
miles  west  of  Boston,  daughter  of  Denny 
P.  Hooker,  at  one  time  a  hotel-keeper,  in 
later  life  a  stone  mason  and  contractor. 
Two  children  were  born  to  this  union  be- 
fore the  removal  of  the  family  to  Cleveland, 
viz.:  Clarence  H.,  of  Rochester  Station, 
Ohio,  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  H.  B.  Cham- 
berlain, of  Chicago,  111.  On  November 
23, 1891,  Mrs.  Felton  was  called  from  earth, 
and  her  remains  were  interred  at  Cleve- 
land. In  his  political  associations  our  sub- 
ject, as  was  his  father  before  him,  is  a 
stanch  Democrat. 


^'EORGE  M.  BILLINGS,  a  lifelong 
agriculturist  of  LaGrange  township, 
of  which  he  is  a  native,  was  born  in 


h 


1845,  a  son  of  Orson  Billings. 
John  Billings,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  but 
lived  on  a  farm  and  was  principally  en- 
craged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  son 
Orson  was  born  May  10, 1809,  in  Smyrna, 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  received  a  meager 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
then  attended  select  school  a  couple  of 
terms.  He  learned  the  trade  of  wagon 
maker,  but  being  a  natural  mechanical 
genius,  also  manufactured  musical  instru- 
ments. On  September  4,  1831,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sophronia  Buell,  who  was  born 
March  20,  1810,  in  Chenango  county, 
N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Darias  (a  farmer)  and 
Sally  (Craw)  Buell.  Having  received  five 
hundred  dollars  from  his  father's  estate, 
Mr.  Billinss  was  able,  with  what  he  had 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1201 


saved,  to  buy  a  farm  in  the  Black  River 
country,  and  be  resided  thereon  for  two 
years,  and  then  traded  it  for  a  farno  in 
Ohio,  wliither  he  migrated  in  the  fall  of 
1834.  When  he  traded  the  farm  he  owed 
about  one  hundred  dollars,  and  this  fact 
delayed  his  migration  to  Ohio  about  a  year 
after  leaving  tlie  Black  River  country,  but 
he  paid  it  off  by  carpenter  work,  and  left 
New  York  free  from  debt.  He  came  to 
Ohio  with  a  brother,  John,  who  returned 
to  New  York  after  assisting  his  brother  to 
look  up  the  land,  and  in  September,  1834, 
the  family,  then  consisting  of  the  wife  and 
two  children — Mary  Jane  (now  Mrs. 
George  Staples,  of  Pittsfield)  and  William 
M.  (a  farmer  of  Pittstield  township) — 
arrived  here.  They  came  by  way  of  the 
Ei-ie  Canal  to  Conestoga,  and  thence  to 
Buffalo,  down  Lake  Erie,  where  they  en- 
countered a  storm  which  lasted  five  hours, 
during  which  their  household  goods  were 
all  thrown  overboard.  After  the  storm 
al)ated  they  proceeded  to  Erie,  Penn.,  and 
not  caring  to  continue  their  journey  on 
the  boat  hired  a  conveyance,  in  which  they 
were  brought  to  Elyria,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio, 
from  which  place  Orson  Billings  came  on 
foot  to  LaGrange  township,  and  hired  a  man 
named  Kelner  to  bring  the  family  to  their 
new  home.  Thev  remained  over  night  at 
the  Kelner  home,  and  the  following  day 
Orson  Billings  attended  a  town  meeting, 
and  found  work,  moving  his  family  for  a 
few  weeks  to  the  center  of  the  township. 
They  next  lived  in  a  schoolhonse  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  farm,  and  later  moved 
to  a  private  schoolhonse,  owned  by  a  Mr. 
Kellog,  where  they  passed  the  winter  of 
1834-35.  Mr.  Billings  had  traded  for 
300  acres,  which,  with  the  exception  of  a 
small  clearing,  was  a  dense  forest,  through 
'which  roamed  numerous  wild  animals — 
deer,  wolves,  turkeys,  etc.  The  following 
year  a  cabin  was  erected  (which  still  stands 
near  the  present  home  of  the  family),  and 
although  the  floor  of  this  house  was  but 
rudely  constructed,  Mrs.  Billings  took  as 
much  pride  in  its  neatness  as  she  did  later 


in  her  more  modern  home.  The  table- 
cloth was  hung  before  the  window  to  keep 
out  the  wind,  and  the  only  ornaments  were 
a  pair  of  brass  candlesticks.  This  place 
they  occupied  for  ten  years,  when  Mr. 
Billings  himself  erected  the  present  resi- 
dence. 

While  living  on  the  farm  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Billings  had  children  as  follows:  Thomas 
J.,  now  of  Kansas;  Sophronia,  who  married 
George  Baldwin,  of  Monroe  county,  N.  Y., 
where  she  died;  Orson  B.,  who  died  when 
nearly  thirty  years  old,  in  Elyria,  where  he 
is  buried ;  George  M.,  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
and  Channcey  T.,  who  died  in  Elyria, 
and  was  buried  there.  Mr.  Billings  was 
engaged  in  various  kinds  of  labor,  making 
musical  instruments,  among  these  an 
organ;  he  invented  a  corn  planter,  the  first 
one  to  work  successfully,  and  a  new  mowing 
machine  was  also  the  result  of  his  genius. 
He  had  acted  as  sales  agent  ior  a  mower, 
and  seeing  a  chance  for  an  improvement 
he  made  it,  and  also  many  others  fur  the 
same  class  of  machinery.  Most  of  his 
farm  work  was  done  by  hired  hands,  as  his 
love  for  invention  and  mechanics  would 
not  permit  him  to  be  contented  with  the 
life  of  a  farmer;  his  workshop  still  stands. 
Like  most  geniuses  of  his  class  he  did  not 
realize  much  from  his  inventions,  which 
are  now  being  successfully  and  profitably 
utilized  on  various  kinds  of  labor-saving 
machinery.  His  death  occurred  March 
12,  1875,  the  result  of  a  lingering  illness; 
he  had  never  been  robust,  and  the  inces- 
sant activity  of  his  brain  undermined  his 
health;  he  was  buried  in  Elyria,  whither 
he  had  removed  some  time  before.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  being  a 
constant  reader  was  well  posted  on  the 
issues  of  the  day.  After  his  death  his 
widow  made  her  home  in  Elyria  till  1891, 
and  then  came  to  the  home  farm,  where 
she  resided  until  her  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  10,  1894.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  Elyria. 

George  M.  Billings,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  his  primary  educa- 


1202 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


tion  in  the  common  school;',  and  later  at- 
tended two  terms  at  Oberlia.  He  has 
always  been  engaged  in  agriculture,  and 
remained  on  the  home  farm  till  his  mar- 
riage, April  24,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Ingersoll,  who  was  born  September  28, 
1851,  in  Grafton  township,  daughter  of 
Edwin  and  Amelia  (Kingsley)  Ingersoll. 
He  then  came  to  his  present  farm,  where, 
with  the  exception  of  a  year  spent  on  an- 
other farm  in  LaGrange  township,  he  has 
ever  since  made  his  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Billings  have  two  children:  Pearl  A.  and 
Frank  C.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  he  has  served  as  clerk  and  director  of 
the  school  board. 


B.  ADAMS,  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Columbia  township,  now  serving 
his  si.xth  term,  his  first  election  to 
the  office  taking  place  in  1872,  is  a 
native  of  the  township,  born  in  1846,  a  son 
of  B.  B.  and  Uranis  (Hoadley)  Adams. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Columbia  township,  and  his  par- 
ents— Benoni  and  Sally  (Twichell)  Adams 
— came  to  that  township  in  about  1810 
from  Connecticut,  Mrs.  Adams  being  the 
first  white  woman  to  cross  the  Cuyahoga 
river.  They  died  here,  heon  August  1, 1876, 
she  on  July  5, 1865.  B.  B.  Adams,  Sr.,  was 
a  farmer  all  his  life,  and  accumulated  a  snug 
competence;  politically  he  was  a  Whig,  and  . 
for  years  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  died  in  September,  1848,  his  wife  sur- 
viving him  till  1874.  Tiiey  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  as  follows:  Sarah, 
widow  of  A.  S.  Slade,  an  attorney  of  Cleve- 
land; Mary,  wife  of  "W".  B.  Follansbee,  of 
Wellington;  Nellie,  wife  of  C.  E.  Parmc- 
lee,  of  Lodi;  and  B.  B. 

B.  B.  Adams,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  received  his  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  place,  and 
also    attended    Oberlin  College  six  years, 


after  which  he  commenced  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  he  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
fifty- two  acres  (the  old  homestead),  all 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1884 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Nichols,  a 
native  of  Columbia  township,  Lorain 
county,  and  daughter  of  William  and 
Amanda  (Watson)  Nichols,  of  Vermont 
and  Connecticut  birth,  respectively,  who 
came  many  years  ago  to  Columbia  town- 
ship, where  the  father  died  in  May,  1869, 
and  the  mother  is  still  living.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Adams  have  been  born  two  children: 
Lou  and  Chauncey.  Politically  our  sub- 
ject votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  County,  Congressional, 
Senatorial  and  StateConventions.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  he 
has  served  his  township  as  clerk  thirteen 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  Lemuel  and 
Chloe  (Tyler)  Hoadley.  maternal  grand- 
parents of  our  subject,  were  natives  of 
Connecticut,  whence  about  the  year  1810 
they  came  to  Lorain  county,  settling  in 
Ridgeville  township,  where  they  passed 
the  rest  of  their  pioneer  lives. 


lILLIAM  HAWKE,  a  well-known 
and  prosperous  citizen  of  Colum- 
bia  township,  of    which    he    has 
been   a   resident  since   1864,  was 
born  in  1839,  in  Cornwall,  England. 

He  is  a  son  of  Richard  and  Grace 
(Hugglow)  Hawke,  also  natives  of  Eng- 
land, the  former  of  whom  died  in  his 
native  country,  and  in  1856  his  widow 
came  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  subsequently 
removing  to  Jefferson  county.  Wis.,  where 
she  passed  away  in  1884.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children  (all  of  whom 
came  to  Lorain  county),  as  follows:  John, 
married,  living  in  Eaton;  Richard,  mar- 
ried, a  farmer  in  Jefferson  county,  Wis. ; 
Lavinia,  wife  of  Abram  Cornish,  of  Eaton 
township;  William,  subject  proper  of  this 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1203 


sketch;  Harriet,  who  died  in  Missouri; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Tlichard  Pivoclc,  of 
Wisconsin;  and  Amelia,  who  died  in  Wis- 
consin. 

William  Ha%vke  was  reared  in  his  native 
country,  and  there  received  an  education 
in  tlie  common  schools.  In  1861  he  mar- 
ried, in  England,  Miss  Margaret  Curry, 
also  a  native  of  Cornwall,  and  in  1804  they 
left  England  for  the  United  States,  coming 
at  once  to  Columbia  township,  Lorain  Co., 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farm  work. 
He  at  first  purchased  thirty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  improved,  and  in  1873  bought 
another  tract,  adding  to  iiis  possessions 
from  time  to  time  until  he  was  owner  of 
161  acres  in  Columbia  and  Eaton  town- 
ships. At  one  time  our  subject  and  his 
brother  were  joint  owners  of  a  farm  in  Co- 
lumbia township,  which  they  sold.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Hawke  were  born 
six  children,  namely:  John,  residing  in 
Columbia  townsliip,  who  is  married  and 
has  one  child,  Floyd;  Mary,  who  is  mar- 
ried to  A.  Peck,  of  Ridgeville,  and  has 
three  daughters;  William,  married,  living 
in  Eaton;  Annie,  who  is  married  to  K.  Perry 
Bainbridge,  of  Ridgeville,  and  has  two 
daughters;  Frank  and  Fred.  The  mother 
of  these  children  passed  from  earth  in 
1882.  In  his  political  connections  Mr. 
Hawke  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  school  board. 


JOHN  LAHIFF,  a  well-known  enter- 
prising  and    influential    farmer  and 
contractor  of  Carlisle   township,  is  a 
native  of  Ireland,  born   in   Limerick 
April  13,  1839. 

Lawrence  Lahiff,  father  of  subject,  born 
in  Limerick  April  14,  1811,  was  there 
married  to  Mary  Cahill,  and  in  1845  they 
came  to  the  United  States  with  their 
family,  having  their  residence  in  Con- 
necticut   till    1849,    in    which    year    they 


moved  to  Kockport,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio. 
There  the  father  continued  to  live  till  the 
summer  of  1898,  when,  being  old  and 
feeble,  our  subject  took  him  to  his  home 
in  Lorain  county,  in  order  the  better  to 
care  for  him  in  his  declining  years.  He 
still  owns  a  farm  near  Rockport.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  at  or 
near  Rockport,  Ohio,  in  1877,  aged  sixty- 
four  years,  after  which  he  wedded  Mrs. 
Shea,  a  widow  lady,  now  deceased. 

Thomas  Lahiff,  grandfather  of  John 
Lahiff,  was  also  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland, 
near  which  city  he  followed  farming.  In 
1844  he  came  to  the  United  States,  mak- 
ing his  first  home  in  the  New  World  in 
Connecticut.  When  eighty-five  years  old 
he  went  to  California  to  see  his  four  sot)s 
and  four  daughters  living  there.  He  was 
thrice  married,  and  was  the  father  of 
twenty-eight  children — thirteen  by  each 
of  his  first  two  wives,  and  two  by  his  last 
— and  they  nearly  all  lived  to  be  forty  or 
fifty  years  old.  Of  these  children  Law- 
rence Lahiff"  is  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth.  Thomas  Lahiff  owned  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Ireland,  and  hardly  knew  what 
manual  labor  was  till  coming  to  America. 
He  was  a  remarkably  robust,  healthy 
man,  a  prevailing  characteristic  in  the 
entire  family,  and  at  tlie  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  four  years  he  built  a  stack  of 
hay,  from  bottom  to  top,  the  weight  of 
same  being  twelve  tons,  our  subject  pitch- 
ing the  hay  to  him.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Irish  brigade  that  served  with  the 
French  under  Napoleon.  He  died  July 
16,  1882,  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventh 
year  of  his  age,  wonderfully  well  preserved 
for  his  years,  being  able  almost  to  the  day 
of  his  death  to  ride  horseback,  and  he 
never  wore  glasses.  There  were  three 
children  in  his  father's  family,  he  being 
the  only  son.  One  of  his  sisters,  Hannah 
by  name,  was  married,  in  Schaghticoke, 
N.  T.,  to  a  Mr.  Witherick,  and  she  is  now 
one  hundred  and  sixteen  years  old,  but  this 
great  age  did  not  prevent  her  walking 
three   miles  in  the  fall  of  1892.     One  of 


1204 


LORAIJSr  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


our  subject's  uncles  was  a  pioneer  of  Pitts- 
Held  township,  Lorain  county,  but  most  of 
the  uncles  settled  in  Nevada  City,  Cal., 
and  a  daughter  of  one  of  them  was  the 
first  woman  to  live  in  the  place. 

John  LahifE,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  came  with  liis  lather  to  America, 
and  remained  in  Connecticut  while  the 
latter  was  visiting  in  California.  On  his 
return  the  entire  family  moved  to  Rock- 
port,  Ohio,  as  already  related,  and  here 
our  subject  remained  till  he  was  eighteen 
years  old,  receiving  a  liberal  education. 
At  this  time  he  proceeded  to  California, 
where  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  his 
numerous  uncles  and  aunts.  Here  he 
mined  three  years,  and  then  went  to  Rus- 
sian America,  where  he  mined  for  about 
six  months,  after  which  he  returned  south 
to  Nevada  Territory,  via  San  Francisco, 
making  a  stay  in  Virginia  City.  For  ten 
months  he  worked  in  one  shaft  in  the 
Utah  mine,  from  the  top  down  1,800  feet. 
Leaving  there,  he  set  out  for  Utah  Terri- 
tory, where  he  wintered  about  thirty  miles 
from  Salt  Lake  City;  then  went  back  to 
the  mountains,  thence  to  British  America, 
to  the  Courtney  mines,  in  the  Courtney 
Mountains.  P>om  there  he  moved  soutli- 
ward  to  Idaho,  tarrying  there  till  the  fol- 
lowing September,  when  he  went  to  East 
Lannack,  where  thirty-six  men  were  hung 
in  one  day,  including  Judge  Hines  and 
Sheriff  Pluinmer,  for  being  concerned  in 
alleged  robberies  of  gold  from  the  miners, 
who  did  the  hanging.  From  there  Mr. 
LahifE  proceeded  to  north  of  the  Salmon 
river,  where  he  remained  about  four 
months,  and  then  started  for  the  United 
States  on  horseback  with  three  companions, 
their  route  being  right  across  the  plains 
to  near  Fort  Benton.  Here  they  camped, 
but  in  the  morning  they  were  attacked  by 
some  Indians,  who  had  been  camping 
over  night  near  them,  and  two  out  of  the 
party  of  four  were  slain,  our  subject's 
horse  being  also  killed.  Mr.  Lahiff  and 
the  remaining  member  of  the  original 
four,  by  name  McQuade,  now  employed  in 


the  Union  Depot,  Chicago,  111.,  succeeded 
in  effecting  their  escape,  reaching  the 
woods,  and  were  two  days  in  reaching 
Fort  Benton,  having  nothing  to  eat  in  the 
meantime.  Here  they  procured  fresh 
horses,  and  at  once  resumed  their  journey, 
going  home  via  Chicago. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Welch,  of  North  Amherst,  Lorain  county, 
who  was  born  January  8,  1847,  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  then  made  their  home  on 
the  Braman  farm,  in  Carlisle  township, 
five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
sold  that  property,  buying  the  Vincent 
farm  of  280  acres  prime  land,  which  he 
still  owns.  Mr.  Lahiff  has  been  farming 
since  his  marriage,  also  engaging  in  con- 
tracting, butchering  (first  five  years),  and 
trading  in  horses  (next  twelve  years)  — 
having  one  team  that  twice  took  the  pre- 
mium at  the  county  fair.  For  the  past 
few  years  he  has  done  an  extensive  dairy- 
ing business,  keeping  from  eighteen  to 
forty  cows.  He  has  done  contracting  on 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  and  other  corporations, 
including  the  grading  of  the  road  from 
North  Amherst.  He  has  served  as  trustee 
for  Elyria  township  twelve  years,  and  was 
a  candidate  for  the  position  of  infirmary 
director,  but  was  defeated  by  a  majority  of 
only  sixteen  votes  in  a  constituency  over- 
whelmingly Republican.  The  names  of 
the  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lahiff  are  as  follows:  Thomas  Francis, 
Mary  Annie,  John  Edward,  Lawrence, 
Emmet,  and  Emma  M.  In  religion  the 
entire  family  are  Catholics,  and  in  politics 
our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  as  his  father 
was  before  him. 


dACOB  SWARTZ,an  upright,  highly- 
esteemed  citizen  of  LaGrange  town- 
'    ship,  is  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, born   March   15,    1827."     His 
father,    Frederick   Swartz,    came    to    the 
United    States   in    TSSO,    and    settled    in 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1205 


Liverpool  township,  Medina  Co..  Ohio,  on 
Rocky  river.  Three  years,  later,  however, 
ho  died  of  typhoid  fever,  as  did  also  his 
eldest  dan>>;hter,  and  both  are  buried  in 
Liverpool  township. 

Jacol)  Svvartz  was  but  a  young  boy 
when  hie  father  died,  and  he  tlien  found  a 
home  with  Justice  Warner,  who  died  after 
Jacob  had  lived  there  five  years,  and  the 
latter  then  remained  for  years  with  Mrs. 
Warner.  He  received  but  a  common- 
school  education,  attending  school  only  a 
few  weeks  in  the  winter  season,  as  he 
was  "put  into  the  harness "  young,  and 
always  had  plenty  of  work  to  occupy  his 
time.  He  received  a  small  start  in  life, 
and  took  charge  of  a  farm  at  the  juvenile 
age  of  ten  years.  On  January  30,  1864, 
our  subject  married  Miss  Hannah  Purdy, 
who  was  born  October  8,  1837,  in  West- 
chester county,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam W.  and  Olivia  (Dean)  Purdy,  and 
came  to  Medina  county,  Ohio,  in  1845, 
settling  in  Liverpool  township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Swarfz  pur- 
chased iifty-five  acres  of  land  in  Grafton 
township,  Lorain  county,  going  into  debt 
therefor,  and  on  November  15,  1864,  came 
to  his  present  farm,  which  he  bought  of 
James  Brown,  contracting  a  debt  of  si.x 
hundred  dollars.  This  place  comprises 
112A  acres  of  excellent  land,  upon  which 
he  has  erected  a  number  of  good  out- 
buildings and  made  many  other  substan- 
tial improvements.  Though  his  property 
and  buildings  have  been  several  times 
damaged  by  tire,  he  has  never  allowed  this 
to  discourage  him,  invariably  rebuilding 
better  than  he  had  before.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swartz  have  children  as  follows:  Don  A., 
a  farmer  of  LaGrange;  Jane  A.,  wife  of 
Levi  Johnson,  of  LaGrange;  Cora  I.  and 
Sarah  L.  Mr.  Swartz  has  had  much  suc- 
cess in  agriculture,  and  for  seventeen  years 
carried  on  in  connection  therewith  the 
manufacture  of  cheese  for  parties  in  Wel- 
lington, Ohio,  milking  from  eighteen  to 
twenty  cows.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swartz  have 
accumulated  a    handsome   competence,  he 


by  hard  work  and  systematic  management 
on  the  farm,  she  doing  her  sliare  in  the 
supervision  of  the  household  affairs.  He 
has  acquired  among  his  fellow  citizens  an 
enviable  reputation  for  square,  honest  deal- 
ing, which  he  fully  deserves.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  thougli  not  active. 
While  not  a  member  of  any  church,  he 
believes  in  doing  unto  others  as  he  would 
have  them  do  unto  him. 


(ELLINGTON  VARNEY,  a  well- 
known   prosperous  farmer  of  Co- 
lumbia township,   is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born    in    1843,    in   Geauga 
county. 

His  father,  William  Varney,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  a  wagon  maker  by 
trade,  came  in  an  early  day  to  Geauga 
coutity,  Ohio,  and  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Reed ;  he  was  killed  in  a  mill  in  1850,  and 
his  widow  subsequently  married  Pardon 
Wells,  and  removed  to  Wisconsin,  where 
she  died  in  1889.  Mr.  Varney  had  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  viz.: 
Wellington,  subject  of  sketch,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Reuben  Wescott,  residing  in  Black 
River  Falls,  AVisconsin. 

Wellington  Varney  was  eight  years  old 
when  he  came  to  Lorain  county,  making 
his  tirst  home  here  in  Henrietta  towtiship, 
where  he  I'eceived  his  education.  He  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  and  has  always  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  1862  he  enlisted 
at  Oberlin  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred 
and  Third  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years  or 
dui'ing  the  war,  and  was  mustered  into  the 
service  at  Frankfort-,  Ky.  His  regiment 
was  attached  to  the  army  of  the  West,  and 
he  participated  in  the  battles  of  Atlanta, 
Buzzard's  Roost,  Armstrong  Hill  and 
Nashville  under  Gcti.  Thomas;  he  was 
also  in  the  Carolina  catnpaign,  and  in 
1865  he  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and    returned    to   Lorain 


1206 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


county,  after  seeing  three  years'  active 
service.  After  about  three  years'  stay  in 
Henrietta  townsliip,  lie  moved  to  Colum- 
bia township,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
In  1869  Mr.  Varney  was  united  in  mar- 
riage witli  Miss  Caroline  Heaiey,  who  was 
born  in  Columbia  township,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Ruple)  Heaiey,  early  set- 
tlers of  same,  where  the  former  died  in 
1S89;  the  mother,  who  is  still  living  in 
the  township,  was  born  there,  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Boltis  and  Clara  (Osborne)  Ruple, 
the  former  of  whom  came  from  the  East, 
being  among  the  first  settlers  of  Columbia 
township;  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
one  years;  his  widow  is  yet  living,  now 
aged  ninety-two  years.  Four  children 
have  bten  born  to  our  subject  and  wife, 
viz.:  Sarah,  wife  of  Clayton  Cooley,  of 
Cohiinbia  township;  Fannie,  residing  at 
home;  Frank,  and  Elbert,  married,  living 
in  Copopa.  Mr.  Varney  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  has  served  on  the  school 
board;  he  is  a  member  of  Richard  Allen 
Post  No.  65,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Elyria.  He  is 
the  owner  of  a  neat  and  fertile  farm  of 
thirty-three  acres. 


fr^  EORGE  GILLMORE,  a  representa- 
I  y,  tive  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Black 
Vol     River   township,    was    born   on    his 

^|i  present  farm  February  28,  1837,  a 
son  of  Truman  and  Levina  (Mes- 
senger) Gillmore. 

The  father  of  subject  was  born  in  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  whence  when  aged 
about  thirteen  years  he  came  to  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  with  his  father,  Edmund 
Gillmore,  of  whom  mention  is  made  else- 
where. Truman  was  married  in  Lorain 
county  to  Miss  Levina  Messenger,  also  a 
native  of  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  born  in 
1810,  and  she  is  still  living  in  Lorain 
county.  Truman  Gillmore  before  mar- 
riage was  a  sailor,  and  afterward  a  ship 
caulker.      Politically  he  was    originally  a 


Whig,  and  then,  on  the  formation  of  the 
party,  a  stanch  Republican.  He  died  De- 
cember 25,  188s,  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren— Angel ine  (now  Mrs.  David  Wallace, 
of  Black  River  township)  and  George. 

The  subject  of  these  lines  received  his 
education  at  the  common  schools  of  Black 
River  township,  and  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  his  father's  farm,  the 
same  one  he  now  owns  and  lives  on,  and 
which  is  situated  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
town  of  Lorain.  Mr.  Gillmore  is  a  strong 
adherent  of  the  principles  embodied  in  the 
platform  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
always  identified  himself  with  the  pro- 
gressive interests  of  Lorain  county.  He 
has  never  married,  but  with  true  filial 
piety  is  caring  for  his  mother  in  her  de- 
clining years. 


dOLINSON   OGILVIE,  a  resident  of 
Lorain,     comes  of    ancient     Scottish 
'    stock,   the   clan  Ogilvie,  from  which 
he  descends,  being  one  of  the  oldest 
in  history. 

Tliomas  Ogilvie,  grandfather  of  subject, 
was  born  in  London,  England,  of  Scotch 
parents,  and  in  boyhood  was  apprenticed 
to  a  London  tradesman,  but  in  company 
with  another  boy  he  ran  away  and  gut  on 
board  a  vessel  sailing  in  a  few  days  for 
America.  About  the  third  day  after  they 
had  effected  their  escape  tliey  saw  an  adver- 
tisement calling  for  their  arrest.  On  their 
arrival  in  the  New  World  young  Ogilvie 
settled  in  Hampshire  county,  Ya.  (now  W. 
Va.),  where  lie  worked  at  his  trade  as  long 
as  health  and  strength  permitted  him,  and 
then  came  to  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life  with 
his  children,  dying  in  1841  at  the  patri- 
archal age  of  one  hundred  and  two  years. 
He  married  a  Miss  Jane  Taylor,  and  nine 
children  were  born  to  them — eight  sons 
and  one  daughter — all  of  whom  lived  to  be 
over  fifty  years  of  age.  The  mother  died 
at  the  birth  of  her  youngest. 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1207 


James  Ogilvie,  father  of  subject,  was 
born  in  1788  in  Virginia,  on  the  south 
brancli  of  tlie  Potomac  river,  and  in  1810 
came  to  Ohio,  settling  on  a  farm  in  Co- 
shocton county,  becoming  one  of  the 
wealthiest  agriculturist  of  tliose  parts.  lie 
died  in  1883,  his  death  being  the  result  of 
an  accident.  Politically  he  was  first  a 
Whig,  afterward  a  Republican  and  one  of 
the  old  Abolitionist  school.  He  had  mar- 
rieil  a  Miss  Justina  Johnson,  born  at  Pat- 
terson's Creek,  Hampshire  Co.,  Va.,  and 
they  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  three 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz. :  Johnson; 
Thomas,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  and  dit'd  in  the  spring  of 
1883,  and  Eliza,  wife  of  William  Court- 
wright,  of  Lorain.  The  mother  of  these 
passed  from  earth  at  about  the  age  of  si.xty 
years. 

Johnson  Ogilvie,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  February  7,  1813,  and  re- 
ceived such  education  as  was  then  obtain- 
able at  the  subscription  schools.  He  has 
been  twice  married:  first  time,  in  Coshoc- 
ton county,  to  Margaret  Norman,  also  a 
native  of  that  county,  to  which  union  chil- 
dren as  follows  were  born:  William  is  a 
farmer  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  west  of 
Columbus  (he  has  three  children:  Charles, 
Frank  and  Daisy);  John  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  months;  Melond  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  H.  Clover,  a  grain  merchant  at 
Jeflersonville,  Fayette  Co.,  Ohio;  James  is 
in  Los  Angeles.  Cal.  (he  has  one  son,  Paul, 
in  the  real-estate  business);  Benjamin 
Hairison  went  to  California,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty  years;  Anna,  un- 
married, lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Albert 
is  a  resident  of  Alhambra,  Cal.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  August, 
1857,  and  April  12, 1860,  Mr.  Ogilvie  was 
again  married,  and  by  this  union  has  one 
child,  Oscar.  Up  to  1883  our  subject 
carried  on  a  o-rain  and  stock  farm  in  Co- 
shocton  county, and  then  retired  from  active 
life.  In  1884  he  came  to  Lorain  county, 
and  has  since  made   his   home   in    Lorain. 


In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republi- 
can, his  first  Presidential  vote  being  cast 
in  183G  for  W.  II.  Harrison,  and  his  last 
one  in  1892  for  Benjamin  Harrison.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


EiZRA  STRAW,  Jr.,  one  of  the  most 
successful    and     progressive    agri- 
I  culturists  of  Black  River  township, 

is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  born  in  1831,  at  the  four  corners  of 
Chadagee,  twenty-five  miles  from  Lake 
Champlain. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Ezra  and  Han- 
nah (Colbath)  Straw,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  New  Hampshire,  and  moved  to 
New  York  State  early  in  life.  Ezra 
Straw's  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Clough,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  Hannah  Colbath.  In 
1833  the  family  came  west  to  Ohio,  and 
after  a  residence  in  Dover  moved  to  Hunt- 
ington township,  Lorain  county,  whence 
after  a  time  they  proceeded  to  Vermillion 
township,  Erie  county,  finally  settling  in 
Amherst  township,  Lorain  county,  where 
they  died.  The  father  was  born  October 
11,  1788,  and  died  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
1855:  the  mother  was  born  April  21, 
1798,  and  died  in  1887.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  and  the  following  is  a  brief 
record  of  them:  Charles  A.  died  when 
about  seven  years  old;  Isaac  S.  is  in 
Carlisle  township,  Lorain  county;  Emily 
died  February  20,  18-48;  Ezra,  Jr.,  is  the 
subject  proi)er  of  this  sketch;  Selina  was 
born  March  17,  1833,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Sylvester  Potter,  of  North  Amherst,  Ohio; 
Maria  was  born  July  2,  1834,  and  is  mar- 
ried to  W.  P.  Potter;  Hannah  S.  was  born 
April  13,  1836.  The  father  was  a  very 
active  man,  progressive  and  successful  in 
his  life  vocation — farming.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in 
politics  was  a  Republican. 


1208 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


Ezra  Straw,  Jr.,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  reared  from  boyhood  to  man- 
hood in  Vermillion  township,  Erie  Co., 
Ohio,  and  in  Amherst  township,  Lorain 
comity.  After  leaving  school  he  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  worked  in  a 
stone  quarry,  but  for  the  past  seventeen 
years  he  has  been  operating  iiis  farm  of 
135  acres  of  choice  land.  In  1855  Mr. 
Straw  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  M.  Foster,  who  was  born  in  1836,  a 
daughter  of  Elisha  and  Maria  (Mason) 
Foster,  the  latter  of  whom  is  now  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  in  Amherst  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Straw  have  two  sons;  Ed- 
win (married  to  Lizzie  Newsbury,  and  has 
one  child.  May)  and  Parks  (farming  with 
his  father). 


[(  H.  BABCOCK,  a  prominent  rep- 
resentative citizen  of  Lorain,  who 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  city  for 
the  past  twenty  years,  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  A.  and  Harriet  (Dubois) 
Babcock,  natives  of  New  York,  who  in  an 
early  day  removed  to  Dundee,  Mich.  The 
mother  died  in  1886.  in  Nebraska;  the 
father,  who  was  a  Baptist  minister,  is  now 
living  in  the  West. 

A.  H.  Babcock  was  born  September  15, 
1843,  in  Dundee,  Monroe  Co.,  Mich., 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In 
1861  he  enlisted,  in  Monroe  county,  Mich., 
in  Company  F,  First  Regiment  Engineers 
and  Mechanics  Corps,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  being  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  West,  and  was  tirst  engaged 
in  Ijuilding  blockhouses,  repairing  bridges, 
etc.  He  was  on  the  march  to  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Mill  Springs  (Ky.),  Champion  Hills, 
and  Murfreesboro.  In  1864  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  return- 
ing to  his  home  in  Monroe  county,  Mich. 
He  then  took  a  business  course  in  Oberlin 
College,  and  subsequently  embarked  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  in  Lena- 


wee county,  Mich.,  continuing  in  same 
until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Lorain, 
Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  Here  he  engaged  in  a 
grocery  business,  which  he  carried  on 
until  elected  mayor  of  Lorain,  in  which 
position  he  served  during  the  years  1889 
and  1890. 

In  1868  Mr.  Babcock  was  married,  in 
Oberlin,  Lorain  county,  to  Mary  S.  Hill, 
a  native  of  the  county,  daughter  of  Uriah 
and  Sarah  Hill  (both  now  deceased),  who 
were  born  in  the  East,  and  came  westward 
in  an  early  day.  settling  near  Oberlin, 
Lorain  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock 
have  been  born  two  children:  Sadie,  wife 
of  Alexander  Hodgins,  of  Conneaut,  Ohio, 
and  A.  H.,  who  carries  on  a  tobacco  and 
confectionery  business  in  Lorain,  in  con- 
nection with  which  he  also  owns  a  news 
depot.  Socially  Mr.  Babcock  is  a  member 
of  the  K.  O.  T.  M.,  in  which  he  is  treas- 
urer, and  he  is  past  chancellor  of  Wood- 
land Lodge,  No.  226.  He  is  a  progress- 
ive, enterprising  citizen,  and  has  ever 
taken  an  active  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of 
his  community.  Mrs.  Babcock  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church. 


DR.  C.  H.  FREDERICK,  a  rising 
young  physician  and  surgeon  of 
^  Lorain,  was  born  in  1868  in  Am- 
herst, Lorain  county.  His  father, 
Peter  Frederick,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  to 
America,  settling  in  North  Amherst,  Lo- 
rain Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Cassie 
M.  Jacobs,  a  native  of  Lorain  county.  Mr. 
Frederick,  who  was  a  foreman  in  the 
stone  quarries,  at  this  writing  is  residing 
in  Michigan;  his  wife  makes  her  home  in 
Amherst. 

C.  H.  Frederick  was  reared  in  North 
Amherst,  and  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion at  the  union  schools  of  that  place.    In 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


rjo<j 


1888  he  entered  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  Western  Reserve  University,  Cleve- 
land, iiradiiating  therefrom  with  tiie  class 
of  1891,  and  after  graduation  received  the 
appointment  of  house  physician  and  sur- 
geon in  the  Lakeside  Hospital,  Cleveland, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  for  nearly  two 
years.  In  Novem1)er,  1892,  he  came  to 
Lorain,  and  since  his  location  here  has 
built  up  quite  an  extensive  practice.  Before 
practicing  medicine  the  Doctor  was  en- 
gaged for  eight  years  as  a  pharmaceutist, 
in  North  Amherst,  Cleveland  and  Lorain, 
Ohio,  and  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  interests  of  Lorain  county.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  faith 
has  for  the  past  ten  years  been  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  North  Amherst. 


dlOIIN  COGHLAN,  one  of  the  pro- 
gressive, representative  agriculturists 
I    of   Carlisle  township,   is  a  native  of 

King's  County,  Ireland. 
James  C'oghlan,  father  of  subject,  and  a 
native  of  the  same  county,  was  married  in 
Ireland  to  Miss  Mary  Hector,  also  born  in 
King's  County,  and  about  the  year  183.j 
they  came  to  America  with  their  family, 
making  their  first  settlement  in  Sheffield 
township,  Lorain  Co.,  Ohio.  From  there 
they  moved  to  Elyria  townsiiip,  and  after 
a  residence  of  some  years  came  in  1867  to 
Carlisle  township,  where  tiiey  opened  up 
a  farm  and  made  tiieir  final  home.  Eight 
children  came  to  them,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  brief  record:  Dora  is  the  wife 
of  John  Kenedy;  Nora  is  the  wife  of 
William  Freeman,  of  (Cleveland;  John  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Dan,  who  was 
married  in  1874-  to  Miss  Anna  Howen,  re- 
sides in  Carlisle  township  (they  have  four 
children:  May  S.,  Etta  Rose,  Mary  and 
Anna.  He  enlisted  in  August.  lsn2,  in 
Company  II,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 


and  receivedan  honorable  dischargein  1865. 
He  has  been  townsiiip  assessor  for  twelve 
or  thirteen  years);  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Swift,  of  Marquette,  Mich.;  Eliza- 
betli  is  unmarried;  Sarah  is  deceased; 
James,  who  married  Margaret  Dowd,  re- 
sides in  Carlisle  township.  The  parents 
are  yet  living  on  the  homestead  in  Carlisle 
township  with  their  son  John.  They  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  in 
politics  Mr.  Coghlan  is  a  Democrat. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived his  education  partly  in  his  native 
land,  and  partly  in  the  schools  of  Elyria, 
Lorain  county,  where  he  arrived  when  he 
was  yet  a  youth.  After  leaving  school  he 
went  on  the  lakes  as  a  sailor,  a  vocation  he 
followed  several  years,  and  then  returned 
to  Carlisle  township  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, in  which  he  has  met  with  well-merited 
success.  He  now  owns  the  old  homestead 
of  121  acres.  Mr.  Coghlan  follows  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father  in  both  politics  and 
Church  association.    He  has  never  married. 


f)ETER  JACOBS.  No  one  of  the 
honest,  industrious  agricnlturists  of 
Black  River  township  deserves  bet- 
ter place  in  the  pages  of  this  book 
than  the  honored  old  pioneer  whose 
name  here  appears. 

He  is  a  native  of  Sa.xony,  Germany, 
born  February  22,  1822.  Having  heard 
and  read  much  of  the  vast  Western  Hem- 
isphere, with  its  unlimited  advantages  to 
the  man  willing  to  work,  he  concluded  to 
bid  adieu  to  the  Fatherland  and  seek  a 
new  home  on  the  boundless  prairies  of 
America.  Accordingly  in  1845  he  set  out 
with  a  light  heart  but  an  empty  pocket  for 
the  land  of  promise.  After  landing  he 
came  direct  to  Ohio,  and  to  Black  River 
township,  Lorain  county,  being  among  the 
very  first  German  settlers  of  that  section. 
With  naught  in  the  world  save  a  clear 
head  and  a  willing  imir  of  hands,  he  n'>«- 


1210 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


looked  about  hiin  for  work,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  he  secured  the  friendship  of 
Heman  Ely,  Sr.,  vvlio  gave  liini  twenty 
acres  of  wild  land  to  clear.  Ilei'e  he  pnt 
up  a  log  honse.  and  by  liard  labor  suc- 
ceeded in  converting  the  forest  wild  into  a 
pretty  good  farm.  This  he  soon  succeeded 
in  paying  for.  Nut  long  afterward  lie 
bought  one  hundred  acres  more  at  ten  dol- 
lars  per  acre,  which  he  paid  for  in  four  in- 
stallments. Tlio  many  and  varied  difficul- 
ties Mr.  Jacobs  iiad  to  encounter  cannot 
be  appreciated  by  the  present  generation, 
but  in  spite  of  all  obstacles,  and  they  were 
not  a  few,  he  succeeded  by  industry  and 
perseverance  in  becoming  a  comparatively 
wealthy  and  prosperous  fanner,  having 
now  150  acres  of  prime  laud. 

Mr.  Jacobs  was  married  in  July,  1S42, 
to  Miss  Dora  Smith,  also  a  native  of 
Saxony,  and  six  children  were  born  to 
them,  of  five  of  whom  the  following  is  a 
brief  record:  (1)  "William  lives  in  Lorain, 
Ohio,  and  has  one  child,  Ermie;  (2)  Mag- 
gie is  the  wife  of  Elias  Baumhart,  and 
they  had  six  children:  Delia,  Ben  will, 
Nelson.  Arniiua,  Kobert,  and  Edward,  who 
died  when  seven  months  old;  (^3)  Rosa  is 
the  wife  of  George  Roth,  and  has  four 
daughters;  (4)  Emma  is  yet  living  at 
home;  (5)  Hattie  was  killed  by  lightning 
July  27.  1887. 

Mr.  Jacobs  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church.  They  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  in  July,  1892.  [Since  the 
above  was  written  we  have  received  notice 
of  the  death  of  Mr.  Jacobs,  which  occurred 
October  28,  1898,  when  he  was  aged 
seventy-one  years,  eight  months  and  six 
days. — Ed. 


E'    II.  ALTEN,  junior  member  of  the 
wideawake  business  firm  of  M.   J. 
!;   (fe   E.   H.     Alten,   merchant    tailors 

and  dealers  in  full  lines  of  gents' 
furnishings,  was  born  in  Avon  township, 
Lorain  Co.,  Oliio,  July  10,  1870. 


Mr.  .VI ten  received  his  education  at  the 
parochial  and  high  school,  working  at 
times  on  his  father's  farm,  after  which  he 
taught  for  eighteen  months.  lie  then  at- 
tended the  Jesuit  College  at  Buftalo,  N.  Y., 
takinor  a  scientitic  and  business  course,  and 
graduating  June  21,  1890.  He  next  pro- 
ceeded to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  where  he  was  book- 
keeper for  the  Belgian  Glass  Works,  six 
months,  or  till  the  assignmetit  of  the  firm, 
at  which  time  he  went  to  Cleveland  and 
took  lessons  in  merchant  tailoring  at  the 
Cleveland  Cutting  School,  and  graduated 
therefrom.  Then  returnincr  to  Lorain  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother 
M.  J.  in  their  present  business.  Mr.  Alten 
is  a  man  of  superior  education,  and  pos- 
sessed of  good  business  qualifications.  He 
has  an  advantage  in  being  able  to  speak 
German  equally  as  well  as  he  does  English. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


J\ILLIAM  HONECKER,  proprie- 
tor of  one  of  tlie  leading  drug 
lf|'  stores  in  Lorain,  is  a  son  of  Rev. 
John  Honecker,  a  retired  minis- 
ter of  the  German  Evangelical  Church, 
and  a  native  of  Germany.  He  married 
Miss  Christina  Jordan,  and  twelve 
children  were  the  result  of  their  union,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  one  of  twins,  the 
other  (Abraham)  being  a  druggist  in 
Cleveland.  It  is  said  the  twin  brothers 
resemble  each  other  very  strongly. 

AVilliam  Honecker,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  in  1862,  and  received  his  literary 
education  in  the  public  schools.  In  1887 
he  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  (Ohio) 
College  of  Pharmacy,  after  which  he  at 
once  located  in  Cleveland,  in  company 
with  his  twin  brother,  they  having  estab- 
lished a  drug  store  there,  which  they  car- 
ried on  till  1888,  when  William  sold  out 
liis  interest  therein  to  his  brother,  and  re- 
moved to  Lorain,  where  he  opened  Jiis  pres- 
ent drugestablish)nent, in  theconductingof 


LORAiy  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


1211 


which  he  has  met  with  more  tliaii  average 
success.  To  some  extent  he  is  interested 
in  real  estate. 

Mr.  Honecker  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Stone,  and  he  and  liis 
wife  are  members  of  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church.  In  his  political  predilec- 
tions our  subject  is  a  Republican. 


^J 


tjjf  ES.  SARA  E.  GIBSON,  a  highly 

\^     respected  lady  of  Ridgevilie  town- 

1]    ship,    was     born     in    Louisville, 

.     X.    Y.,  daughter   of  Wright  and 

Betty  (^Holmes)  Lewis,  who  were 

married  iu  New   York  State,  where  they 

passed  the  rest  of  their  lives.     The  Lewis 

family  are  of  Scottish  ancestry. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in 
her  native  State,  and  attended  school  at 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  mar- 
ried, in  1865,  to  Henry  B.  Gibson,  a  na- 
tive of  Meadville,  Penn.,  where  he  was 
educated.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gibson  moved  to  Pittsburgh,  Penn.,  thence 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  a 
number  of  years,  during  which  period  he 
was  engaged  in  the  sewing  machine  busi- 
ness. Later  he  became  manager  of  the 
Hall  Safe  and  Lock  Co.,  and  he  was  also 
connected  with  the  Chicago  Safe  and  Lock 
Co.  for  some  time.  He  was  maiiacrer  of 
several  different  companies,  being  a  shi'cwd 
business  man,  and  commanded  a  salary  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  a  year.  He  died 
March  16,  1891.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican. A  few  years  ago  Mrs.  Gibson, 
while  on  a  visit  to  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 
purchased  an  improved  farm  of  thirty-si.\ 
acres,  where  she  now  makes  her  home. 


W 


A  tiLLIAM  KRESS.     The  beautiful 
YJI   Fatherland,  the  country  of  mag- 
llj     niticent  mountains,     rivers,    for- 
ests and  plains,  has  given  to  the 
United  States  a  vast  population  of  honest, 


toiling,  frugal  citizens,  now  the  loyal  sons 
and  daughters  of  the  greatest  Republic  on 
earth.  In  the  state  of  Ohio  there  are 
many  thousands,  in  Lorain  county  not  a 
few,  and  prominent  among  them  is  num- 
bered the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

William  Kress  was  born  July  17,  1826, 
in  Hessia,  Germany,  where  he  received  a 
liberal  education.  In  1855  he  set  sail  for 
the  shores  of  America,  and  after  arrival  at 
the  port  of  destination  proceeded  west- 
ward at  once  to  Ohio,  and  to  Lorain 
county,  where  he  commenced  farm  life  in 
Black  River  township.  In  1875  he 
bought  his  present  farm  of  ninety-eight 
acres,  one  of  the  finest  to  be  found  in 
Amherst  township,  and  he  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinguished reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
wealthiest  and  most  successful  German 
agriculturists  in  his  section  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Kress  has  been  tv/ice  married: 
First  time,  in  1855,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Voegler,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. She  died  in  1889,  and  Mr.  Kress 
subse(|uently  married  his  present  wife.  He 
has  no  children,  but  he  has  a  step- 
daughter. His  political  sympathies  are 
with  the  Democratic  party. 


DAVID  CITRTK 
the  past  si.xty  y 
dent  of  Lorain 


iTICE,  who   for  almost 
years  has  l)eon  a  resi- 
county,  is  a  native 
of  the  "Empire  State,"  born  May  4, 
1812,  in  Cayuga  county. 

His  father,  Hosea  Curtice,  was  born 
February  13,  1774,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
was  married,  in  1794,  in  his  native  State 
to  Catherine  Moore,  who  was  born  May  7, 
1770.  Shortly  afterward  they  moved  to 
New  York,  locating  near  Syracu-se,  where 
four  children  -all  sons — were  born  to 
them,  and  from  there  moved  to  Cayuga 
county,  where  they  remained  forty-two 
years  on  one  farm.  Here  they  had  eight 
more  children — five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters— making  twelve  in  all,  eleven  of  whom 
lived   to  rear  families,  and   of  whom  o\ir 


1212 


LORAm  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


subject  is  the  oldest  one  now  living.  The 
father  migrated  to  Ohio  in  ISiS,  the 
mother  shortly  afterward,  and  here  tiiey 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days  at  the 
home  of  their  son  David,  where  she  died 
in  1850,  he  in  1863;  they  lie  buried  in 
Center  cemetery.  The  first  of  the  family 
to  locate  in  Ohio  was  a  son  Joel,  who  came 
in  May,  1833,  and  settled  in  LaGrange 
township,  Lorain  county.  On  July  14, 
1839,  Joel  Curtice  was  married,  in  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y.,  to  Malissa  Allen,  who  died 
in  LaGrange  township  in  1871,  leaving 
four  children,  viz.:  Catherine,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  Hastings,  of  LaGrange;  David  A., 
a  farmer  of  LaGrange;  Morton  B.,  of 
Florida;  and  Barton  E.,  a  farmer  of  La- 
Grange. 

David  Curtice  came  to  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  in  October,  1834,  and  hired  out  as 
a  farm  hand,  after  working  at  coal  burning 
near  Elyria.  Some  time  later  he  returned 
to  New  York  State,  where  he  was  married, 
and  in  1839  he  and  his  wife  came  in  a 
buggy  to  the   home  he   had   prepared  in 


Ohio,  where  his  parents  also  passed  their 
declining  years.  On  their  arrival  in  Ohio 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtice  had  just  seventy-tive 
cents  \vith  which  to  begin  housekeeping, 
lie  had  purchased  one  hundred  acres,  for 
which  he  was  obliged  to  go  in  debt,  but 
he  bravely  set  to  work,  and  from  a  start  of 
nothing  prospered;  lie  cultivated  and  im- 
pi'oved  his  land,  and  his  hard  labor  and 
unceasing  industry  l)rought  their  reward, 
for  he  has  added  to  his  property  until  he 
now  has  3()5  acres  of  excellent  land,  be- 
sides a  pleasant  home  in  the  village  of 
LaGrange. 

On  March  16,  1873,  Mr.  Curtice  was 
married  in  Kendall  county,  111.,  for  his 
second  wife,  to  Mrs.  Annie  Pooler,  widow 
of  Otis  Pooler,  who  had  moved  to  Ken- 
dall county.  111.  Mr.  Curtice  is  one  of  the 
best-known  citizens  of  LaGrange,  well-pre- 
served and  active  for  a  man  of  his  years. 
Since  1883  he  has  lived  retired.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
township  trustee,  but  is  not  particularly 
active  in  party  affairs. 


iriDEX. 


HlJf^OH    COUHTV, 


PAGE. 

Adams,  Henry 261 

Allen,  Nelson  0 147 

Anderson,  Alviu 108 

Andrews,  W.  S 510 

Arnert,  Henry  S 230 

Arnert,  Uriah  T 330 

Arnold,  Charles  W.,  M.  D..  91 

Arnold,  D.  J.  C 358 

Arnold,  James 91 

Arthur  Family 148 

Arthur,  Robert 148 

Arthur,  William  H 149 

Ashley,  Allen  T 305 

Ashley,  Dennis 426 

Ashley,  Leonard 305 

Ashley,  Lyman 426 

Atherton,  George  W 414 

Atherton,  Samuel 414 

Austin,  Lyman  486 

Baker,  Hon.  Timothy 482 

Bargus,  Lieut.  George 338 

Barker,  L.  E 110 

Barnhart,  Edgar 377 

Barnharl,  Steven 377 

Barre,  Dwight  M 484 

Beamer,  ilathias 399 

Beattie,  A.  iM 135 

Beattie,  J.  H 467 

Beebe,  Martin,  M.  D 191 

Beechy,  Prof.  A.  D 132 

Beelman,  J.  F 53 

Beers,  Nathan 381 

Bell,  David  S 402 

Bell,  John 402 

Bell,  Walter  E 307 

Bellamy,  James 174 

Benedict  Family  129 

Benedict,  Piatt 129 

Berry,  Stephen   473 

Bishop,  Mrs.  Mary  A 389 

Bishop,  William  A 389 

Blackman,  Joel 70 

Blaser,  Kev.  Joseph 137 

Bogardus,  Hon   Evert 283 

Bogardus.  Mrs.  Louisa.  ..  .  283 

Boise,  S.  W 383 

Boise  Family 383 

Bores,  David 470 

Boughton,  Elon  G 321 

Bramley.  William  E 225 

Brooke,  William 61 

Brooks,  Irving  J 60 

Brown,  Henry  F 147 


PAGB. 

Brown,  J  acoh 500 

Brown,  William 425 

Burdue,  George 241 

Burdue,  Moses  W 243 

Burdue,  William 241 

Burton,  Leroy 398 

Cahoon,  James  M. . . .    203 

Calhighan,  C.  U 220 

Campbell,  Frank 4')y 

Campbell,  Lorenzo  Q 459 

Carothers,  John 314 

Carothers,  Mathias 420 

Carpenter,  D.  N Ill 

Chandler,  Isaac  H 93 

Chapman,  Judge 67 

Chase,  Frank 489 

Chevraux,  Rev.  Charles  V.  298 

Childs,  Mrs.  Ann  M 271 

Childs,  George  L 371 

Clark,  Charles  S 507 

Clark,  D.  Stiles 507 

Clarke,  Stephen  F 107 

Clary,  Daniel 380 

Clary,  Homer  C 380 

Cleveland,  D.  Pitt 34 

Cleveland,  G.  M 33 

Coe,  Almon  B 41 

Coe,  Bela 42 

Cole  Family 440 

Cole,  Asher  M 444 

Cole,  Levi  L 444 

Coleman,  M.  R 200 

Conger,  Elijah 386 

Conger,  Lewis 386 

(!orwin,  Rev.  Ira 483 

Corwin,  Mrs.  M.  A 481 

Coullrip,  James 176 

Crawford,  David 379 

Crawford,  John  H 379 

Crawford,  Hon.  S.  E 232 

Creech,  William  S 304 

Crosby,  Mrs.  Adeline 261 

Crosby,  Francis  B 200 

Culp,  Sherman 429 

Curtiss,  Joseph  C 454 

Curtiss,  Samuel  W 454 

Curtiss,  W.  P  183 

C;ushman,  Austin 483 

Cuykeudall,  W.  B 479 

Uangeleisen,  Joseph 362 

Dangeleisen,  William  A... .  363 

Davis  Family 485 

Davis,  Bartlelt 465 


PAGE. 

Davis,  John  S 513 

Day,EdwardM 156 

Day,  Ephraim 156 

Dean,  Jacob 306 

Denman,  Edward 203 

Denman,  John 158 

Denman,  William 158 

DeWitt,  Isaac 206 

DeWolf,  Samuel  P 79 

DeWolf,  Airs.  Sarah 79 

DeWolf,  Whitman  79 

Dillon,  George  M 208 

Dole,  Edwin  L 337 

Doud,  Leander  L 30 

Doud,  Samuel 31 

Drake,  Hiram  D 240 

Drennan,  James 336 

Drennan,  William  W 236 

Drury,  John 227 

Drury,  Jonathan  M 327 

Dunmore,  Thomas 256 

Easter,  Archibald 154 

Easter,  Ellas 154 

Eastman.  E.  G.  E 437 

Easton,  J.  D 499 

Eggert,  J.  George 401 

Ehrman,  G.  A 332 

Ellis,  Eli  0 435 

Ellis,  John 428 

Ellis,  John  R 428 

Ellis,  Lyman 435 

Emerson,  R.  H 168 

Erdricb,  William  H 463 

Erf,  Gustavus 52 

Erf,  J.  Eduard 51 

Erf,  Philip 324 

Fancher,  Thaddeus 285 

Fancher,  Thaddeus  S 285 

Fanning,  Benjamin  G 212 

Fanning,  H.  S 211 

Fast,  Christian 400 

Fast,  Ephraim  W 400 

Felton,  Asa  G 391 

Felton,  Ephraim 391 

Ferver,  Wilber  G.,  M.  D.. .  218 

Fewson,  Michael  E ,.  336 

Fiesinger,  Louis ;  357 

Filkins,  John  S 281 

Fish,  Charles  Homer 303 

Fish,  Sydney  D 364 

Foster,  J.  Whitbeck 257 

Fox,  David 152 

Francis,  W.  T 338 


1214 


HURON  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


PAGE. 

Franklin,  Edmund 419 

Friend,  A.  C,  M.  D 503 

Fuller,  George  D 196 

Gage,  Albert 174 

Gallup,  Caleb  H 124 

Gallup  Family 124 

Gamble.  William 366 

Gardiner  Family 7 

Gardiner,  John 7 

Geiger,  Rudolph 452 

Geyer,  Edward 381 

Gibbs,  James  G 214 

Gieseck,  David  L 499 

Gieseck,  Mrs.  David  L 499 

Gill,  William  E,  M.  D 266 

Gilson,  Arza  B.,  Sr 281 

Gilson,  Naum 284 

Godden,  William  H 189 

Gove,  C.  H 53 

Grabill,  J.  F.,  M.  D 464 

Graham,  William 417 

Graham,  W.  W 136 

Greenleaf.  Israel 193 

Gregory,  George 224 

Gregory,  Matthew 224 

Grieve,  David 457 

Griffin,  Hialmer 337 

Griffin,  Riley 431 

Gross,  Martin  364 

Gurney,  John  F 471 

Hachenberg,  Frank 371 

Haensler,  R 203 

Hagaman,  John 422 

Hagaman,  Thomas  422 

Hales,  Levi 157 

Haller,  J.  H 491 

Harkness,  J.  M 171 

Haskell,  George   397 

Haskell,  George  E 397 

Hauxhurst,  Philip 293 

Hauxhurst,  Samson 293 

Hawkins,  John  W 376 

Hawkins,  Sheldon  J 376 

Hawley,  Charles  L 311 

Hayes,  Bradley 151 

Hayes,  Sturgis 151 

Head,  Mrs.  Annie  M 456 

Head,  Orren  W 456 

Heal,  Enoch 469 

Hedrick,  C.  W.,  M.  D 389 

Helfriuh,  Rev.  N.  C 136 

Heller,  J.  L 282 

Heller,  Leroy  S 312 

Herman,  F.  J 71 

Herman,  Peter     71 

Hershiser,  A.  E.,  M.  D 503 

Hester,  John  S 335 

Hester,  Martin .336 

Hettel,  John  A.  472 

Heyman,  William  A 363 

Heymann,  W.  C 453 

Hevmann,  William  F 347 

Hibbard,  J    L 267 

Hibbard,  Marvin 266 

Hildreth   Rev.  T.  F.,  D.  D.  104 

Hill.H.E 89 

Hillman,  Mrs.  Jane 376 

Himberger,  William 258 


PAGE. 

Hoffman,  H.  W 235 

Hofman,  G.  W 485 

Hohler.  Peter  228 

Hood,  Ilosea  M 355 

Horn,  Philip 476 

Hoeruer,  Vitus 487 

Houfstater,  George 302 

Houfstater,  Jacob  P 302 

Houle,  William  H 483 

House,  Hon.  H.  K 495 

Howe,  Chester  8 430 

Hoyt,  Elmon 48 

Hoyt,  LeRoy 48 

Hoyt,  William  B 255 

Humphrey,  William 341 

Hurst,  John 185 

Hurst,  Thomas 245 

Husted,  Edward  E 93 

Husted,  William  M 93 

Ingler,  H.  M 2.59 

Jacobs,  G.  P 478 

Jacobs,  W.  H 260 

Jenney,  Abraham  D 496 

Jenney,  Charles  A 497 

Jennings,  Ezra  S 188 

Jennings,  Walter 188 

Jetter,  Jacob 384 

Johnson,  Gilbert  L 170 

Johnson,  Ralph  C 4i6 

Johnson,  William 416 

Johnston,  Hon.  AVatson  D...  120 
Johnston,William  H.,  M.  D.  120 

Joiner,  George 226 

Joiner,  Ralph 226 

Jones,  F.  H 239 

Jones,  Lucian 466 

Joslin,  Augustus 492 

Justice,  D.  L 212 

Justice,  Peter 212 

Keefer,  W.  B 102 

Keesy,  John 447 

Keesy,  Rev.  W.  A 447 

Kendeigh,  Hugh 475 

Kimmel,  Henry 456 

King,  Cyrus  T.,  D.  D.  S.. . .  276 

Knapp,  W.  A 368 

Knoll,  John  P aOS 

Knoll,  Philip  J 306 

Kohlmyer,  H.  P 265 

Krieder,  C.  L.,  M.  D 497 

Eiais,  Anthony 308 

Lais,  Henry 308 

Lamoreux,  Hendrick  W...  208 

Laning,  Jay  F 268 

Lanterman,  G.  S.,  M.  D..  ..   4.53 

Latham,  Alexander  W 462 

Latham,  Hiram 462 

Latham,  Thomas  W 229 

Lawrence,  George 514 

Lawrence,  Josiah 514 

Lawrence,  Timothy 515 

Laylin,  John 77 

Laylin,  Hon.  Lewis  C.  ..    .     74 

Laylin,  Theodore  C 372 

Lazell,  Joseph  T 506 

Lee,  John  P 166 

Lewis,  Alexander 332 

Lewis,  Philip 332 


PAGE. 

Leydorf,  Capt.  F.  J 322 

Linder,  George 367 

Loney,  Daniel  W.,  M.  D 484 

Loomis,  Hon.  F.  R 59 

Love,  Andrew,  Sr 334 

Love,  Andrew,  Jr 334 

Lovell,  Ethan  C  292 

Lutts,  Conrad 274 

Lutts,  Frank  M 274 

McCague,  Eugene  L 182 

McCammon,  Mrs.  Phileua.  313 
McCammon,  Samuel,  M.  D..  313 

McCullow,  C.A 1(19 

McDonald,  Angus 353 

McDonald,  John 165 

McDonald,  Roger 353 

McElHinney,  J.  H.,  M.  D  ..  177 

McGlone,  John  James 192 

McKesson,  Elmer  E 470 

McKesson,  Isaac  504 

McKnight,  Joseph  R 138 

JIcLane,  James 445 

McLane,  John. 382 

McLane,  Robert 382 

McLane,  Thomas  A 307 

McMahon,  James 297 

Manaban,  Charles  W 196 

Manahan,  Thomas 196 

Martin,  Edgar,  M.  D 83 

Mead,  Calvert  A 433 

Mead,  J.  L 301 

Mead,  Luther 325 

Mead,  Thomas  L 325 

Meade,  William  Gail 408 

Menges,JohnE 220 

Menties,  Mrs.  Lydia  F 220 

Mesnard,  Eri 112 

Mesnard.  Maj.  L.  B 112 

Meyer,  John  George 305 

Meyer,  John  P 365 

Miles,  Daniel 449 

Miles,  Rufus  S 449 

Miller,  Samuel  (Richmond)  479 
Miller,  Samuel  (Bellevue).  378 

Miller,  Thomas 494 

Minard,  Hon.  O.T 72 

Mitchell,  William  Henry..     80 

Monteith,  William 323 

Moore,  Benjamin 444 

Moore,  Mrs.  Benjamin.   . . .  444 

Moore,  Hartwell  R 72 

Moore,  H.  L 413 

Morehead,  Andrew  J 217 

Morehead,  George 218 

Morrill,  E.  C,  M.  D 265 

Morse,  Daniel 3.i4 

Morse,  Samuel  D 254 

Myers,  Mark 167 

STicolls,  J.  A 143 

Niver,  Charles  M 144 

Niver.John  B 494 

Noble,  Harvey 427 

Noble,  William  P 427 

Norton,  De  Witt  C -'87 

O'Dell,  Daniel 512 

O'Dell,  N.  W  511 

Ordway,  Martin 458 

Osborn,  W.  W 324 


INDEX. 


1215 


PAGE. 

Ott,  Lawrence 394 

I'almer,  John  C 476 

Palmer,  Preston 433 

Palmer,  Samuel 433 

Park,  James 508 

Park,  Joseph 508 

Parker,  George  C 486 

Parker,  Nelson 487 

Parrott,  Frederick 462 

Parrott,  Mrs.  Uosa  M 463 

Patrick,  James  J   303 

Patrick,  Jarman 303 

Paul,  Charles  A 333 

Pease,  VV.  H 184 

Peat,E.  J 264 

Peck,  Adelbert  E 466 

Peck,  Warren  M 185 

PenfieUl,  Samuel 249 

PenfieUl,  William  C 249 

Perrin,  William 296 

Perry,  C.  O.  H 110 

Perry,  Edwin  L 192 

Perry,  Joseph 192 

Peters,  Eli 82 

Peters,  Willis  H 82 

Ptriinklin,  Paul  W 184 

Pierce,  Lemuel  B 446 

Pierce,  Harvey 393 

Pierce,  William  H 446 

Pinney,  Henry  C 244 

Pinney,  Hollibert 244 

Pittsford,  John  A 134 

Post,  C.  C 257 

Pray,  Ethan  A.,  Esq 32 

Price,  Elijah  497 

Price,  William  H 84 

Prosser,  Edwin  S 159 

Ransom,  Miss  Eunice  A.  ..     23 

Kansora,  Oliver 23 

Head,  Albert  N.,  M.  D 44 

Read,  Ira 44 

Reed,  David  H.,  M.  D.  . . .  418 

Reed,  Shadrach  H 418 

Remele,  Joseph 404 

Reynolds,  Theodore  M 409 

Reynolds,  Warren 409 

Richard.  Frederick 256 

Riggs,  E.  C 356 

Riggs,  Simeon  0 356 

Robinson,  Aaron 316 

Robinson,  Wesley 348 

Robinson,  William 316 

Roe,  A.  G 352 

Roe,  Barnett         210 

Roe,  Joseph  B 352 

Roorback,  John  W 146 

Roscoe,  Gilbert  L 343 

Roscoe,  Jeremiah 344 

Ross,  Joel 169 

Rounds,  George  F 273 

Rounds,  George  X 272 

Rowland,  Daniel 190 

Rowland,  Elmer  E 190 

Rowley,  Charles 250 

Rowley,  E.  F 254 

Ruffing,  Anthony 411 

Ruffing,  Frank  J 176 

Ruffing,  Joseph 421 


PAGE. 

Ruggles  Family 492 

Ruggles,  Alonzo  J 493 

Ruggles,  Daniel  VV 493 

Ruggles,  Henry 417 

Rupert,  Rev.  Frederick 373 

Ruse,  A 273 

Ryerson,  George  M 287 

Rynn,  ,Iohn  A 63 

Sage,  John  W 395 

Sage,  Roswell 395 

Salisbury,  B.  W 122 

Salisbury,  Percival  B 123 

Sanborn^  G.  M.  S 304 

Sandmeister,  Dr.  Charles.  .     88 
Sandmeister,William,  M.D.    88 

Sanger,  Washington 151 

Sawyer,  Charles 488 

Sawyer,  Charles  A 390 

Sawyer,  Gen.  Franklin 63 

Schneerer,  F.  W.,  M.   D...   235 

Schulz,  Rev.  Frederick 163 

Schuster,  George 490 

Schuyler,  P.  H 488 

Seel,  Philip 239 

Severance,  Elisha 318 

Severance,  R.  A,,  M.  D 351 

Severance,  Warren 318 

Seymour,  Rev.  J.  M 113 

Shedd,  William  H 480 

Sheffield,  George 248 

Sheffield,  G.  W 248 

Shelton  Family 460 

Shelton,  Charles  R 461 

Shelton,  Henry  S 461 

Shepherd,  F.  M 119 

Shepherd,  John 119 

Shepherd,  M.  W 120 

Sherck,  Joseph 473 

Sherman,  John  G 103 

Silliman,  Horace  B 227 

Silliman,  Solomon 377 

Simmons,  Alonzo  L 18 

Simmons,  ('harles  B 101 

Simmons,  Eliphalet  B 101 

Simmons,  George  N 69 

Simmons,  Harlon  E 18 

Simmons,  John  N 103 

Simmons,  L.  0 109 

Simmons,  S.  E.,  M.  D 207 

Sisson,  L.  P 436 

Sisson,  San  ford   436 

Skilton,  Alvah  S 231 

Skilton,  Mrs.  Amanda  J...  331 

Skinner,  Edward  I{ 375 

Slagle,  J.  L 295 

Sly,  Robert 1S6 

Smith,  A.  B 364 

Smith,  Charles  S 403 

Smith,  Frank  J 3:^8 

Smith,  Hiram 178 

Smith,  H.  A 1.54 

Smith,  John 38 

Smith,  Joseph 38 

Smith,  Joseph  F 438 

Smith,  Major 153 

Smith,  William  T.. 363 

Smith,  Willis  K 262 

Smilhla,  Joseph 396 


PAGE. 

Snook,  Norman 407 

Snyder,  Jesse 317 

Spear,  Sol 491 

Sprague,  Col.  James  H 68 

Sprague,  Thaddeus 489 

Stapf,  M.J 474 

Starbird,  B.  F 178 

Steiber,Michael,Jr 501 

Stentz,  Henry  P 94 

Stewart,  C.  F 133 

Stewart,  Charles  Hill 98 

Stewart,  George  Swayne.. .  29 
Stewart,  Hon.  Gideon  T. . .  34 
Stewart,  Hon.  Harlon  L. . .  .   100 

Slickuey,  Charles  B 21 

Stimson,  Garner 407 

Stoner,  Charles  D 234 

Slotts,  A.  D 195 

Strimple,  Aaron 392 

Strimple,John 392 

Strong,  Timothy  R 13 

Stultz,  J.  M 187 

Sturges,  Maj.  William  B.. .     50 

SullitT,  George 309 

Sutter,  Rev.  Henry  G 438 

Sutton ,  Aranson 222 

Sutton,  Charle.s  A 333 

Sykes,  Daniel 408 

Sy kes,  Otis 468 

Taylor,  Cephas 73 

Terry,  A.,  D.  D.  S 329 

Terwilliger,  W.  E 375 

Thomas,  Uri  B 388 

Thompson,  Thomas 500 

Tillson,  Perry 141 

Tillson,  Rufus 141 

Todd,  Ed  win  D 508 

Todd.  George 508 

Tough,  Samuel  C  181 

Townsend,  Hosea 345 

Townsend,  Ira  S..., 415 

Townsend,  Justice 467 

Townsend,  John  T 345 

Tudor,  C.  B 354 

Tuitle.  E.  S 495 

Twaddle,  Ale.\ander,  Sr...  204 

Twaddle,  Alexander 205 

Twaddle,  Dorr 1,50 

Twaddle,  John  J J,50 

Twaddle,  William  W 149 

Vail,  D.  W.,  M.  D 114 

Van  Dusen,  Frank  W 1(!3 

Van  Dusen,  James  L 160 

Van  Gorder,  William  Wells  474 

Van  Horn,  George 435 

Van  Liew,  William  C 412 

Vickery  Bros 373 

Vickery,  Jesse 373 

Vickery,  Willis 372 

Waddell,  Robert  F 503 

Walter.  Joseph 344 

Ward,  J.  Cal 477 

Ward,  Samuel 381 

Ward,  Samuel  A  281 

Washburn,  D.  S 164 

Washburn,  Elijah 315 

Washburn,  Joseph 315 

Weber,  J.  II 342 


1216 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


PAGE. 

"Wheaton,  Daniel 375 

Wheeler,  Calvin 451 

Wheeler,  Jason  A 450 

Wheeler,  Jesse   E 219 

Wheeler,  Kev.  John 31!) 

White,  David  A 481 

White,  J.  S 37ti 

White,  Hon.  O.  A 122 

Whitney,  Calvin 144 

Whiton,  John  M 194 

Wickham,  Hon.  C.  P 54 

Wicliham,  Judge  Frederick     14 


PAGE. 

Wilcox,  F.  E 261 

Wildman,  F.  E 172 

Wildman,  William  H 173 

Wilhelm,  Andrew 385 

Wilhelm.  Christopher 885 

Willey,  K.  M 294 

Williams,  Captain  John 485 

Williams,  J.  S 486 

Williams,  Louis 478 

Williams,  Oliver  W 117 

Williams,  Theodore 34 

Williamson,  Hon.  John  A...    40 


PAGE. 

Willoughby,  Arthur 439 

Willoughby,  Charles  L. . . .  440 

Wilson,  John 43 

Wood,  D.  A.,  M.  D 498 

Wood,  George  E 91 

Woodward,  Dr.  Amos 64 

Woodworth,  Chauncy 231 

Woodworth,  Jonathan  P... .  231 

Young,  Gardner 142 

Young,  Josiah. ...   142 

Young,  Downing  H 247 

Young,  Stephen  M 347 


Portraits. 


PAGE. 

Arnold,  D.  J.  C  359 

Bargus,  Lieut.  George 339 

Chevraux,  Rev.  Charles  V. .   299 

Cole,  Asher  M 441 

Conger,  Lewis 387 

Davis,  John  S 513 

Crawford,  Hon.  S.  E 233 

Francis,  W.  T 329 

Gallup,  Caleb  H 125 

Gardiner,  John 6 

Gibbs,  James  G 215 

Hagaman,  John 423 


PAGE. 

Hildreth,  Rev.  T.  F.,  D.  D.  105 

Knapp,  P 369 

Lais,  Henry 309 

Laning,  J.  F 269 

Laylin,  Hon.  Lewis  C 75 

McKnight,  Joseph  R 139 

Manahan,  Charles  W 197 

Price,  William  II 85 

Read,  Albert  N.,  M.  D 45 

Remele,  Josepli 405 

Robinson,  Wesley 349 

Rowley,  Charles 251 


PAGE. 

Severance,  Warren 319 

Smith,  Hiram 179 

Stentz,  Henry  P 95 

Stewart,  Hon.  Gideon  T....     25 

Thomas,  Uri  B 289 

Van  Dusen,  James  L 161 

Vail,  D.  W.,  M.  D 115 

White,  J.  S 279 

Wickham,  Judge  Frederick     15 

Williams,  Theodore 35 

Woodward,  Dr.  Amos 65 


liOHfllfl    COUl^TY 


PAGE. 

Abbe,  Eleazer 878 

Abbe,  Norman 881 

Adams,  B.  B 1203 

Adams,  D.  M 821 

Adams,  Rowell  C 899 

Aiken,  Charles  S 1159 

Alexander,  Jol) 1119 

Alexander,  John 833 

Alexander.  Samuel 1171 

Alteu,  B.  H 1210 

Andress,  Carlo 709 

Andress,  George  H 709 

Andress,  H.  M 877 

Arnet,  G.  H 931 

Arnet,  James  S 931 

Arnold,  Franklin Ilb2 

Auble,  Daniel 935 

Avery,  F.  A 728 

Babcock,  A.  H 1208 

Bacon,  Edwin  H 10.50 

Bacon,  F.  H lOOH 

Bacon,  William 885 

Bainbridge,  W.  A 1194 

Baker,  A 9.58 

Baker,  Edgar  D 1030 

Baker,  Gordon  W 746 

Baker,  Orrin  T 1029 

Baker,  Richard 564 


PAGE. 

Baldauf,  Joseph 881 

Baldwin,  Charles  C 560 

Baldwin,  David  C 562 

Baldwin,  James  S 1039 

Baldwin,  Joseph  H 749 

Baldwin,  Seymour  VV 554 

Ballantine,  W.  G.,  D.  D....  587 

Bardwell,  Mrs.  C.  C  855 

Bardwell,  Rev.  J.  P  855 

Barnes,  Henry  A 1024 

Barnes,  L.  A.,  M.  D 1041 

Barnes,  Moses 1024 

Barnes,  Sardis  N 1169 

Bariett,  H omer  E 1 160 

Barrows,  Adnah 826 

Barrows,  Heman 826 

Barrows,  Henry  J 739 

Barrows,  J.  R 876 

Barth,  Jacob 693 

Bassett,  Henry 603 

Bates,  Francis 1104 

Battle,  George 1077 

Baumhart,  Elias 1103 

Beal,  Samuel 1138 

Beaver,  CUiarles 1073 

Beckley,  H.  O 611 

Beckley,  Lyman  610 

Bedortha,  W.  B 909 


PAGE. 

Beebe,  Artemas  993 

Beese,  Henry  F 1070 

Belden,  R.  B 963 

Bell,  Clayton  J 797 

Bell,  John 797 

Bemis,  Uriel  M 1012 

Bennett,  CD 544 

Bennett,  David 543 

Bennett,  Frank  W 670 

Bennett,  Isaac 670 

Bennett,  Lewis 671 

Bennett,  M.  R 544 

Berg,  John 869 

Berres,  Adam,  Jr 977 

Berres,  John 1193 

Bickel,  Henry 990 

Biggs,  J.  C 1069 

Biglow,  Daniel 1109 

Biglow,  E 1109 

Billings,  Geo.  M 1200 

Billings,  Orson 1300 

Billings,  Sophronia 1200 

Bivins,  E.  A 1188 

Blaine,  Warren  W 1144 

Blantern,  Joseph 819 

Bodmann  Brothers  1179 

Bommer.  C.  W 1194 

Bonsor,  Frank  E 1134 


TXDEX. 


1217 


PAGE. 

Booth,  Capt.  John 854 

Bowen,  Obediah 571 

Bowen,  Mrs.  Obediah 573 

Bowers,  Charles 1011 

Bowers,  Sylvester (113 

Bradford,  Henry 1002 

Bradford,  Hiram  N 1002 

Bradley,  Kraslus 825 

Bradley,  Mrs.  Orpha  1 825 

Braduer,  George  H 1 148 

Branian,  Anson 594 

Braman,  G.  J 925 

Branian,  R.  E G61 

Braman,  William  A 594 

Brand,  Rev.  James,  D.  D..  551 

Breckenridge,  A.  L 1044 

Breckenridge,  B.  F 1045 

Breckenridge,  Jacob  P....  884 

Breckenridge,  Justin  884 

Breckenridge,  Norman. . .  .1044 

Bricknell,  David S)51 

Brooks,  W.  E (i87 

Brown,  Liva 886 

Bryant,  George 787 

Bryant,  H.  B 787 

Bryant,  John 787 

Bryant,  W.  H 1181 

Bunt,  D.  C 959 

Bunt,  George 959 

Burge,  E.  C 1055 

Burge,  E.  L 898 

Burge,  John  Y 1056 

Burke,  David 932 

Burlingame,  Thomas  C. . .  .1012 

Busby,  Samuel 861 

Bush,  Benjamin  T 688 

Bush,  Daniel  T 688 

Byrd,  J.  P 848 

Cahoon,  H.J 622 

Cahoon,  O.  B 622 

Cahoon,  W.  E 1137 

Carter,  O.  F 926 

Carvey,  Orson  M 1153 

Carvey,  William 1153 

Case,  Deacon  John  S 894 

Chamberlain,  Rev.  W.  B. . .  573 

Chapin,  Herbert  885 

Chapin,  John 903 

Chapman,  Abner 678 

Chapman,  C.  B 1059 

(;hapman,  Clayton 1 136 

Chapman,  Harlan  P  795 

Chapman,  Mrs.  Isabel  L. . .  730 

Chapman,  James  W 592 

Chapman,  John  Austin. . . .  729 

Chapman,  J.  B 1046 

Chapman,  Thomas  G 621 

Chapman  Family 790 

Chester,  R 745 

Chope,  Thomas 783 

Churchill,  Rev.  Charles  H..  599 

Clark,  H.  E 925 

Clark,  Horace  J 8.59 

Clark,  Thompson 1133 

Claus,  Jacob  H 1125 

Clifford,  Daniel  C 1000 

Clifford,  John 1060 

Clifford,  L.  F 1060 


PAGE. 

Clifton,   George 888 

Clifton,  S.  Q 888 

Close,  Benjamin 569 

Clough,   Baxter 865 

Clough,  Henry  H 8i)5 

Coates,  Frank  A S40 

Coates,  Stephen 840 

Coghlan,  John  1209 

Cole,  C.  J 1011 

Cole,  S.  G 943 

Cole,  W.A 043 

Comings,  A.  G 661 

Cone,  Milan 1071 

Cone,  Mrs.  M 1071 

Connolly,  James 1168 

Cook,  Chapman  M 1116 

Cooley,  Charles.. . .    679 

Corn  well.  Dr.  N.  H 653 

Cotton,  Charles  W 815 

Cotton,  George  W 815 

Cotton,  N.  L 1031 

Couch,  George  L 803 

Cowles,  Rev.  Henry 690 

Cowles,  Robert 1137 

Cowley,  Robert  J 1048 

Cox,  Thomas 1019 

Cragin,  Benjamin 804 

Cragin,  C.  C 804 

Cragin,  Harrison  A 1047 

Crawford,  J.  S 1090 

Crowell,  D 1087 

Cummings,  D.  S 568 

Cummings,  Mrs.  E.  C 569 

Currey,  John 731 

Curtice,  David 1311 

Cuyler,  E.  A 717 

Dague,  Frederick 1195 

Dague,  John 937 

Daniels,  Theodore  F .549 

Dawley,  A.  G  1120 

Day,  James 641 

Day  Family 641 

Deeg,  George  T 1195 

De  Lloyd,  Henry 1098 

Deming,  H.  A 915 

Diederich,  Nicholas 1039 

Disbro,  Ernest  L 618 

Doane.J.  W 766 

Douglass,  Robert 771 

Douglass,  William 771 

Drake,  David 1091 

Draper,  Peter  R 1174 

Dunning.  John 1080 

Durkee,  Oel 1065 

Eady,  HenryJ 800 

Earl,  Warren 1191 

Eckler,  John  H 1127 

Edgerion,  William 1116 

Edison,  F.  W 826 

Eldred,  Francis  N 899 

Ellis,  Rev.  John  M 588 

Ely  Family 524 

Ely,  George  H 679 

Ely,  Hon.  Heman 524 

Ely,  Heman,  Jr 524 

Emmons,  Lorrin 971 

Ensign,  Charles  C 621 

Eppley,  Michael 997 


PAGE. 

Eskert,  William  F 913 

Everitt,  A.  B.,  M.  D 590 

Everitt  Family 590 

Fairchild,  Grandison 634 

Faircbild,  Prof.  James  H. .  634 

Fancher.Thaddeus  W 732 

Farr,  .Airs.  Phebe  L 988 

Fauver,  Alfred 929 

Faxon  Family 614 

Faxon,  Isaac  D 618 

Faxon,  John  Hall   617 

Faxon,  Theodore  S 618 

Fay,  W.  L 872 

Fav  Family 872 

Feiton.N.  H 1199 

Ferguson,  Charles  S 941 

Finley,  Charles  A 1062 

Finney,  Rev.  Charles  G 691 

Fisher,  David  C 1 158 

Fisher,  O.  L   1048 

Fitch,  Edwards 978 

Flickinger,  Josejih  B 1105 

Folger,"Thomas 723 

Follansbee,  Herbert  S 866 

Follansbee,  W.  B 630 

Foot,  Amos 753 

Foot,  G.  D 753 

Forthofer,  Peter 1110 

Foster,  Albert 1184 

Foster,  E.  C 1041 

Foster,  F.  H 778 

Foster,  LB 778 

Foster,  Parks 544 

Fowl,  Henry 973 

Fowler,  C.  A 928 

Fowler,  Mrs.  C.  A 928 

Fox,  Thomas 987 

Frederick,  Dr.  C.  H 1208 

French.  AVilliam  M 811 

Fuller,  W.J 1128 

Oannelt,  Joseph 1043 

Garfield,  Halsey 871 

Garfield,  Milton   871 

Garford,  Arthur  L 756 

Garford,  George 756 

Garrett,  S.  J 1189 

Garver,  A.  N.,  M.  D 798 

Gates,  Col.  Nahum  B 519 

Gawn,  Henry  J 951 

Gawn,  James 951 

Gawn,  Mrs.  Louisa  E 951 

Gawn,  Thomas 040 

Gibbs,  David  L 1150 

Gibbs,  Ransom 1150 

Gibson,  George  W 1163 

Gibson,  Mrs.  Sara  E 1211 

Gillmore,  Alanson 532 

Gillmore,  Edmund 710 

Gillmore,  George 1206 

Gillmore,  Quartus 702 

Gillmore,  Quincv  A 711 

Glenn,  Charles  H 993 

Glynn,  L.  D 1178 

Goodman,  Charles 750 

Goodman,  Jacob 750 

Goodwin,  Robert  N 1000 

Goss,  David 1007 

Goss,  Maurice 1007 


1218 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


I 


PAGE.       I 

Grabenstetler,  Nicholas. .  ..1022     ' 

Green,  William 838     [ 

Greeoe,  F.  A 949 

Griffin,  Frederick  A 1014 

Griffin,  Frederick  E 1014 

Griswold,  E.  C 834 

Griswold  Family 834 

Grote,  J.  W 118U 

Hagemann,  Conrad 583 

Hale,  Alfred  E 998 

Hall,  Avery 538 

Hall,  Edwin.... 1038 

Hall,  Dr.  H.  L 745 

Hall,  Orrin 537 

Hamilton,  Leonard  G 828 

Hamillon  Family 828 

Hance,  Ed 938 

Hance,  Grove 1118 

Hance,  Hiram 938 

Harmon,  .1.  Francis 750 

Harrington,  C.  W 919 

Harris,  Alfred 1171 

Harris,  George  M.,  M.  D. .   731 

Harris,  .Tosiah 738 

Harris,  Mile 738 

Harris,  Royal 1031 

Hart,  Flavius  A 839 

Hart,  Hawley 1001 

Hart,  Jay 1124 

Hart,  L.  J 819 

Hart,  Willard 1001 

Harvit.John 713 

Haserodt,  J.  F 1040 

Haserodt,  L.  E 1157 

Hastings,  Curtis  H 1034 

Hastings,  Elizer  G 833 

Hastings,  E.  H 1034 

Hastings,  Wesley 1105 

Hathaway.  John  M 1117 

Haven,  Raymond 953 

Hawke,  John 1045 

Hawke,  William 1202 

Hawkins,  Charles  E 554 

Hawkins,  William 553 

Hecock,  H.  L 877 

Heldmyer,  William tt67 

Henderson,  J.  T 964 

Herrick,  Hon.  Lucius 714 

Herrick,  Oscar G12 

Hildebrand,  Edward 870 

Hill,  Charles  W 1117 

Hill,  George  E ...  957 

Hill,  J.  C 584 

Hinman,  Judge  Edgar  H. .  762 

Hitchcock,  Henry 999 

Hitchcock,  Henry  H 853 

Hitchcock,  Samuel 999 

Holcomb,  R.  E 1066 

Holiday,  E.  R.,  M.  D 528 

Holiday  Family 528 

Holladay,  D.  0 961 

Hollstein,  George IISO 

Honecker,  William 1210 

Hopkins,  C.  F 1003 

Horn,  Lorenz, 937 

Horr,  C.  W 050 

Horr  Family G47 

Horton,  Charles  H 916 


PAGE. 

Howard,  S.  V.  R 954 

Howk,   David   630 

Howk,  Hiram  H 630 

Howk,  John 922 

Hulberl,  John  W 537 

Humphrey,  J.  0 1191 

Husted,  D.  S 933 

Husted,  H.  G  931 

Ives,  Cyrus 703 

Jackson,  C.  H 1193 

Jackson,  Daniel 796 

Jackson,  Elisha 1196 

Jackson,  Ernest  S 1080 

Jackson,  Ezra  S 767 

Jackson,  George 1083 

Jackson,  James 796 

Jackson,  Pliny 1082 

Jacobs,  Peter 1209 

Jameson,  Joseph  B 1123 

Jameson,  M.  B 1123 

Jameson,  William 1136 

Jaycox,  George 983 

Jaycox,  James  M 983 

Jefferies,  George  C 713 

Jenue,  Ansel 905 

Jewell,  James 809 

Johnson,  Adelbert  C o81 

Johnson,  David  D 579 

Johnson,  Hon.  E.  G 574 

Johnson,  Frank  D 1009 

Johnson,  John  H 579 

Johnson,  Mrs.  Mary  E 579 

Johnson,  Hon.  Nathan  P..  962 

Johnson,  William  H 962 

Johnston,  Charles  W 638 

Johnston  Family 638 

Jones,  Mark 1068 

Jones,  Thomas  H 1068 

Joy,  A.  D 981 

Jump,  Mrs.  Julia  C,  M.  D.  900 

Jump,  R.  E 900 

Juugbluth,  Anton 875 

Keep,  Rev.  John 689 

Kelling,N 783 

Kelner,  S.  W 1017 

Kelner,  William 1017 

King,  Thomas 1076 

King  Family 1076 

Kirkbride,  David   1158 

Kirkbride,  Isaac 1161 

Knellmer,  Jacob. ! 788 

Kolbe,  Adam 897 

Krebs,  W.J 817 

Kress,  William  121 1 

Krohn,  H.H.J 1085 

JLahiff,  .John 1203 

Lampman,  M.  II 978 

Lampman,  M.  Z 978 

Lang,  J.H 631 

Lang  Family 631 

Langdon,  William  F 1164 

Lantsbery,  John 1090 

Lapp,  William 1180 

Law,  Jacob 843 

Law,  Mathias .   842 

Leasher,  J.  W 1155 

Lee,  C.  F  6SS 

Lee,  George 688 


PAGE. 

Lehman,  J.  C  863 

Lersch,  John 740 

Levagood,  Moses  H 768 

Lincoln,  Mrs.  Hannah  N..   702 

Lincoln,  Joseph  H 701 

Line,  Thomas 1009 

Loomis,  E.  F 862 

Loomis,  Richard  N 862 

Lord,  Addison  E 1145 

Lord,  Dr.  Asa  D 599 

Lord,  Mrs.  E.  W.  R 598 

Loveland,  Leonard  H 755 

Lyon,  George 1046 

McCollum,  Alexander 601 

McConnell,  James 960 

McConnell,  AV.  R 960 

McLaughlin,  John 1188 

McPhail,  Capt.  Alexander.  941 

McRoberts,  Henry 720 

McRoberts,  Peter 719 

McRoberts,  Pitt 788 

McRoberts,  Volney 721 

Mahan,  Rev.  Asa 691 

Manley,  Fredrick  B 694 

Manley,  Josiah  B 694 

Manville,  Jerome 883 

Marsh,  Lucius  R 1115 

Marsh,  Richard 1192 

Martin,  F.  W 1055 

Martin,  Jeremiah,  Jr 10S8 

Martin,  Nathaniel 774 

Martindale,  H.   B 992 

Masten,  Mrs.  John  1 571 

Jlasten,  John  1 570 

Mathews,  George 1087 

Maynard,  O.  T.,  M.  D 671 

Meredith,  J.  A 1020 

Meredith,  William 1021 

Merriam,  Robert 699 

Merriam,  William  A 699 

Metcalf,  L  S 805 

Meyer,  Peter 1096 

Miller,  David 1186 

Miller,  Glover 1114 

Miller,  John  A 1126 

Miller,  J.  R 973 

Miller,  Peter 1126 

Mills,  C.  S 1154 

jNIills,  Samuel 1154 

Mole,  Henry 798 

Monroe,  James 644 

Monteith,  Rev.  John 521 

Mooers,  Alton  H   856 

Mooers,  Phineas 856 

Moore,  A.  C,  M.  D 638 

Moore,  Oreu 1096 

]\loore,  Theron 1114 

Moore,  Truman 1114 

Morehouse,  Max 799 

Morgan,  Rev.  John 698 

Morse,  Levi 533 

Mountain,  John 633 

Moysey,  D.  R 1146 

Mull,  Joseph  H 774 

Mumford,  T.  H 842 

M  ussey ,  Henry  E 663 

Myers,  Jacob 977 

Myers,  Mathias, 982 


IXDEX. 


1219 


PAGE. 

JFaylor,  Samuel 1072 

Nelson,  Mrs.  Frances  H...  o37 

Nelson,  'I'liomas  L. .    534 

Nicholl,  E.  H   1065 

■•  Nichols,  A.  W '"IS 

Nichols,  Arthur  W 803 

,  Nichols,  D.  C 781 

Nichols,  George  E 581 

Nichols,  .Tames 761 

Nichols,  Nathaniel 743 

Nichols,  Mrs.  Nettie 805 

Nichols,  O.  S 820 

Nichols,  Ueuben .581 

Noble,  George  AV 1037 

Norton,  E 982 

Norton,  George  H 613 

Norton,  Hiram 613 

Nuhn,  Malhias 907 

Nuhn,   Peter 907 

Nye,  .Judge  David  J 004 

Ogilvie,  Johnson 1206 

Oi'msby,  Rev.  Caleb 673 

Osboru,  Andrew 1099 

Osborn,  Joseph 1099 

Osborne,  Henry  A  1010 

Osborne,  Mr."".  L.  A 1010 

Ostrander,  Peter 1198 

Parker,  H.  E.,  M.  D 1033 

Parker,  H.  M.,  A.  M 664 

Parker,  J.  B 1101 

Peabody,  Andrew 810 

Peabody,  Elnathan 8:0 

Peabody,  Harvey  M 1149 

Peck,  D.  J 1156 

Peck,    Harmon 980 

Peck,  Noah  H 980 

Pelton,  Alvin 597 

Pelton,  David  C 775 

Pelton,  Floyd  M 775 

Perry,  Richard  DeWitt 822 

Pfeil,  Rev.  Nicholas 968 

Phelon,  Tasso  D 1028 

Phelps,  Joseph 1130 

Phelps,  M.  W 1130 

Phillips,  AVilliam   H 752 

Pierce,  F.  W 893 

Pifer,  Henry 1147 

Pitts,  E.  W 717 

Pitts,  William 717 

Plato,  Henry  A 974 

Plato,  John  E  984 

Pomrov,  Richard  W 891 

Pond,  Martin  W 629 

Pond  Family 624  ' 

Porter,  Alexander 1137 

Porter,  John 944 

Porter,  William 944 

Pounds,  M.  A 683 

Powell,  Calvin 847 

Powell, William  S 847 

Pratt.  L.  B 818 

Prentice,  Hiram 1050 

Prentice,  William 105] 

Preston,  Chester  A 988 

Preston,  William 1183 

Rawsoii,  David  A 942 

Rawson,  Grindall 942 

Reamer,  C.  A 989 


PAGE. 

Redfern,  Benjamin 1004 

Redfern,  James  H 788 

Redfern,  Robert 1168 

Redington,  H.  G  994 

Reed,  J.  H- 1170 

Reed,  J.  L 1095 

Reefy,  Frederick  S  806 

Reefy,  P.  D..  M.  D 784 

Remington,  J.  H 1007 

Rice,  Abram 711 

Rice,  Fenelon  B 080 

Rice,  George  W 711 

Rice,  J.  J 1173 

Rice,  V.  E 1173 

Richmond,  A.  J 1020 

Richmond,  Lester  J 950 

Riley,  John,  Jr 999 

Rimbach,  Henry 701 

Rininger.  William 910 

Riizenthaler,  Philip 1146 

Roach,  John 936 

Roach,  Thomas 936 

Bobbins,  G.  H 663 

Robson,  Edwin 906 

Rockwood,  David 841 

Rockwood,  F.  W 841 

Rockwood,  Henry  S 728 

Rockwood,  Samuel  S 727 

Root,  Azariah  S.,  A.  M 1187 

Root,  H.  D 816 

Root,  Legrand 953 

Root,  Oresten 816 

Ross,  Isaac  B 1089 

Rowland,  Aaron 572 

Rowland,  S.  W 572 

Rowley,  F.  A 690 

Sage,  Calvin 1078 

Salisbury,  Joseph 921 

Salisbury,  Robert 921 

Sampsell,  Mrs.  E.  C 657 

Sampsell,  J.  V.,  M.  D 642 

Sampsell,  Paul  W.,  M.  D. .  6.54 

Sanders,  Allen 1049 

Sawver,  D.  L 992 

Saxton,  Elisha 929 

Saxton,  Williiim  H 929 

Saye,  John 970 

Sayles.  William  A 1086 

Schaible,  Jacob 1102 

Schaible,  Jacob  E  1103 

Schmidt.  Rev.  J.  A 781 

Scholt,  George 1177 

Schramm,  John 1156 

Schramm,  Peter 11.55 

Schuler,  E.  C 1081 

Schuller,   Peter 843 

Schwartz,  David 1187 

Schwartz,  Jacob 1135 

Schwarz,  Christian 948 

Scott,  John 598 

Scott,  Walter .593 

Sears,  George  L 904 

Sears,  L.  L 1043 

Seely,  Cornelius 7.54 

Seelv,  Humphrey  S 754 

Seely,  Morell  E  7.53 

Seelye,  Cornelius 1024 

Seelye,  J.  M 1023 


PAGE. 

Semple,  H.  W  1033 

Shadford.  J 1088 

Sharp,  William  G 669 

Shaw,  .S.  H 971 

Sheahan,  J.  B  980 

Sherbondy.  A.  W 860 

Shipherd,  Rev.  John  J 539 

Shoop,  William   N 782 

Sigourney,  Peter 1176 

Sippel,  Philip 1108 

Slater,  ("laience  H 804 

Smith,  Allien  H 1008 

Smith,  Dr.  Cliailes  619 

Smith,  Chiliab .530 

Smith,  E.  A  979 

Smith,  F.  C  81! 

Smith,  Fred   Norton 812 

Smith,  Geor^'e  E  ,  M.  D 019 

Smith,  Ira  W 1010 

Smith,  Joel   B 1058 

Smith,  John   1177 

Smith,  J.  B 608 

Smith,  J.  C 1058 

Siniih,  Judge  Laertes  B 530 

Smith,  Levi 1057 

Smith,  Mrs.  M.  B 1178 

Smith,  Peler  M 1185 

Smith,  Walt-r 10.57 

Smith,  \\  illiaui .548 

Snow.  C.  H 919 

Snyder,  A.  J 1100 

Spicer,  Henry 920 

Spicer,  Richard 920 

Sprague.  E.  G WIS 

Sprague,  William  G 1013 

Squires,  A.  E 1144 

Squires, T.  J 987 

Stang,  John 936 

Slarr,  Gideon  L 653 

Starr,  Heman  E 608 

Starr,  Rev.  Matthew  L 531 

Starr,  Orrin 668 

Starr,  O.  K 728 

Starr,  Talcott 653 

Starr,  William 728 

Steele,  H    N 673 

Steele,  Col.  J.  W 8.54 

Steele,  John 673 

Steele,  Smith 072 

Stetson,  II.  D 1124 

Stetson,  Randall 1124 

Stewart,  Philo  P ,543 

Stiwald,  A.  E 1135 

Stocking,  CD 1092 

Stocking,  Jonathau  S 1093 

Stone,  Charles 789 

Stone,  Reuben 789 

Storrow,  Joseph 1149 

Straw,  Ezra 1207 

Straw,  I.  S 1140 

Sturlevant,  C.  A 886 

Slurtevant  Family 886 

Sumner.  Charles  W 892 

Sntlill",  Charles  E 603 

Siilliir,   Salmon 657 

Sntliir,  W.  C 1165 

Sutliti;  William  U.  H 657 

Swartz,  Jacob .1204 


1220 


LORAIN  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


PAGE. 

Tennant,  D.  K  1167 

Ten n ant,  Mrs.  Mary  J 624 

Tennaiit,  Moses  S (>2:i 

Tennanl,  Selden ^i'6 

Teny,  Eleazer 837 

Terry,  Walker  S 827 

Thew,  E 892 

Thomas,  Ue  Grasse 849 

Thomas,  Fred  F 850 

Thomas,  Harriet 849 

Thompson,  J.  B 870 

Thompson,  Hon.  H.  B..       .  .551 
Tiffany,  Hod.  Joel.    .    ...  522 

Tillcitson,  Hiram 64S 

Tillotson,  Thomas 0-13 

Tinis,Henry 1115 

Tolhurst,  Mrs.  Amelia 1062 

Tolhurst,  Daniel 1061 

Tompkins,  Nathaniel 891 

Tompkins,  S 914 

Townsend,  Henry 1143 

Townshend,  J.  H 1185 

Townshend,  John  S 1129 

Tucker,  Charles  E 697 

Tucker,  William  H 697 

Turley,  Joseph 1018 

Turney,  E.  A 1107 

Twining,  Charles  A 773 

Van  Wagnen,  G.  H 1110 

Van  Wagnen,  Henry 1113 

Vantilburg,J.  M.,  M.D....  969 

Varney,  Wellington 1205 

■Wack,  Hiram 1180 

Wadsworth  Family 704 

Wadsworth,  Benjamin 887 

Wadsworth,  David  L 704 

Wadsworth,  Francis  S 651 


PAG  E. 

Wadsworth,  Horace 682 

Wadswortli,    Lawton   051 

Wadsworth,  L.  U 1079 

Waite,  Dorastus 1119 

Walkden,  Arthur 958 

Walkden,  Richard 1 175 

Wallace,  Henry 789 

Wangerien,  C.  K 1102 

Wangerien,  H.  C 1163 

Wangerien,  Karl 1162 

Warburtou,  Charles  H 998 

Warner,  Henry 973 

Warner,  Sidney  S 724 

Warren  Family 733 

Warren,  H.  E.',  M.  D 734 

Washburn,  Clarence  G  ...1079 
Washburn,  Hon.  George  G.  523 

Waugh,  C.  M 609 

Waugh,  Gideon 609 

Webber,  A.  K 844 

Webster,  Russel  B 582 

Weeks,  G.  C 733 

Weeks,  Henry  H 723 

Weeks,  Thomas  T 722 

Weller,  George  L 602 

Weller,  John  (deceased).    .   601 

Weller,  Wesley <101 

Wesbecher,  Joseph 913 

West,  Amasa ...1139 

West,   Edward 677 

West,  Roger 677 

Whipple,  James 703 

Whitney,  Joseph  777 

Whitney,  Joseph  S 777 

Whitney,   Milton 552 

Whitney,  Silas  D 5.J2 

Whiton,  Joseph  L 674 


PAnK. 

Whiton,  Joseph  L.,  Jr 674 

Whittlesey,  Cyrus  L IHil 

Whittlesey.  Solomon 991 

Wickens,  George 989 

Wiegand,  Conrad 1 139 

Wight,  H 906 

Wight,  Reuben 900 

Wilber,   Nicholas 1174 

AVilber,  J.  W 765 

Wilber,  John  Walson 765 

Wilder,  D.  G.,  M.  D 603 

Wilford,  John 795 

Willbrd,  Thoma"* 795 

Wilford,  Capt.  Thomas  ...  914 

Willard,  J.  E 623 

Williams,  Everett  E 737 

Williams,  Henry  H 734 

Williams,  John 734 

Wilson,  Charles  E 673 

Wire,  W.  A 1031 

Wise,  Fred 983 

Wise,  Henry 770 

Wise,  Lewis 882 

Wise,  Peter 883 

Witbeck,  A.  H 1197 

Witbeck,  Mrs.  Jane  A 1198 

Wolf,  John 1053 

Woodworth,  Mrs.  C.  L 084 

Woodworth,  Hiram 684 

Worthington,  Elden 1097 

Worthington, Jonathan  B..10ii7 

Wright,  AloDzo 908 

Wright,  D.  S 1173 

Wright,  George  F.,  D.  D. ..  589 

AVright,  Lewis  F 1160 

Wurst,  Henry 6S(I 

Wyatt,  James 1030 


Portraits. 


PA«E. 

Baker,  Gordon  W 747 

Baker,  Richard   565 

Baldwin,  Seymour  W 555 

Barnes,  Henry  A 10^5 

Braman,  William  A .595 

Burke,  David 933 

Case,  Deacon  John  S 895 

Chapman,  H.  P 791 

Clifton,  George S89 

Dawlev,  A.  G 1121 

Eady,  Henry  J 801 

Ely,  Heman 525 

Fairchild,  Prof.  James  H.  635 

Faxon,  J.   H   615 

Fay,  W.  L 873 

Finley,  Charles  A 1063 

Follansbee,  Herbert  S. .    ..  867 

Foster,  Frank  H 779 

Foster,  Parks 545 

Garford,  Arthur  L 757 

Gates,  Col.  Nahum  B 518 

Gibbs,  David  L 1151 

Griffin,  F.E 1015 


Griswold,  E.  C 

Hamilton,  Leonard  G 

Hance,  Ed 

Hastings,  E.  H 

Henderson,  J.  T 

Herrick,  Hon.  Lucius 

Hill,  J.  C 

Hinman,  Judge  Edgar  H. . 

Horton,  Charles  H 

Howard,  S.  V.  R 

Howk,  John 

Jackson,  George 

Johnson,  Hon.  EG 

Jump,  Mrs.  Julia  C,  M.  D 

Lersch,  John 

Levagood.   Moses  H 

Manley,  Fredrick  B 

Monroe,  James 

Mooers,  Alton  H 

Naylor,  Samuel 

Nelson,  Thomas   \j 

Nye,  .Judge  David  J 

Parker,  H.  M.,  A.M 


AOE. 

835 


939 

1035 

905 

715 

585 

763 

917 

955 

923 

1083 

575 

,  901 

741 

769 

(i95 

(i45 

.  857 

1073 

535 

.   005 

(i(;5 


Perry,  Richard  De  Witt. . . 

Phelps.   M.   W 

Plato,  Henry  A ■. 

Plato,  John  E  . 

Pond,  yi.  W  

Porter,  John 

Redfern,  Benjamin 

Redington,  H.  G 

Reefy,  Fredericks 

Reefy,  P.  D,  M.  D 

Rininger,  William 

Sampsell.  Paul  W.,  M.  D. 

Smith,  Fred  N 

Stocking,  CD 

Straw,  Isaac  S 

Thomas,  Fred  F 

Van  Wagnen,  G.  H 

Wadsworth,  David  L 

Warner,  Sidney  S 

Webber,  A.  R  

Whiton,  Joseph  L. 

Williams,  Henry  H 

Wolf,  John 


'\GE. 

823 

1131 

,   975 

985 

625 

945 

,1005 

,   995 

,   807 

,  785 

911 

,   055 

,  813 

.1093 

.1141 

.   851 

.1111 

,  705 

.   735 

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075 

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Woodworth,  Hlrara 685 


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