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NELSON TOWNSHIP.

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ZINA R. BANCROFT, farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, was born in Nelson Township, this county, March 11, 1838, son of Thompson Bancroft, a native of Connecticut, who was brought to this county in infancy, and here he attained his maturity, helping to cut down the forests, and following the occupation of a farmer. Thompson Bancroft was united in marriage with Lucy C. Atwater, also a native of Connecticut, who bore him five children: Sylvester, deceasedi Edwin L., deceased; Zina R.; Augusta P., and an infant, deceased. He died in 1877, and his widow in 1879. Our subject, who has always been a farmer, was married October 6, 1859, to Clara Reed, born September 1, 1837, in Crawford County, Penn., daughter of Henry and Sarah (Moore) Reed, natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Mead Township, Crawford Co., Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft are the parents of three children: Lucy C., Henry T. and Eddie H.

MILTON COLE, farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, was born in Nelson Township, this county, February 23, 1836; son of Jedediah Cole (see sketch of J. Cole), a native of Vermont, who was twice married. In March, 1835, he was married (second occasion) to Parthena (Sanford) Hamlin, born in Harrington, Conn., April 10, 1810, who bore him five children: Milton; Francis, in Lorain County, Ohio; Mrs. Aurilla Thompson, in Garrettsville, Ohio; Mrs. Cordelia Bancroft, in Michigan, and Edwin S., born in 1848, and died in his seventeenth year. Jedediah Cole is deceased; his widow still survives. Our subject received a common school education, and has followed farming all his life, still living upon the old farm originally settled by John Noah, the eighth settler in Nelson Township. On April 22, 1863, our subject was married to Miss Jennie M. Doty, born in New York State April 22, 1840, daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca (Pierce) Doty, natives of Massachusetts, both now deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the parents of one daughter—Lottie M., born March 5, 1864. Our subject is an active member of Portage Lodge, No. 436, I. O. O. F.

JOHN B. COLTON, farmer, P.O. Garrettsville, a native of Connecticut, was born November 27, 1811, son of Theron and Elizabeth (Clark) Colton, natives of Connecticut, who moved to this county in 1815, and who were the parents of eleven children, one deceased in infancy, the remainder attaining maturity, four of whom are now living, whose combined ages aggregate three hundred years. Theron Colton, born in Granby, Conn., established the first blacksmith shop in Nelson Township, this county, and conducted an extensive business for three townships. He died in 1851 at the age of seventy-eight years, his widow surviving him about fourteen years. Our subject was raised on a farm, his education being limited to that obtainable in the log-school-

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house of that early day. He has always followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married in 1847 to Mary L. Tilden, a native of Hiram Township, this county, where she was born in 1829. They are the parents of three children: George H., a Professor in Hiram College; Emily N., wife of G. W. Newcomb, and Sheridan B. Mr. Colton has added. several acres to the old homestead where his parents lived and died, and which he now owns. Mr. Colton has served the people of his township in several offices of trust. He has never been a politician or office seeker, but has ever lived contented with the plain home life of a farmer.

BURT F. COUCH, farmer, P. 0. Garrettsville, was born in Nelson Township, this county. August 22, 1850, son of Ferris and Antoinette (Johnson) Couch, natives of Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass,, and Cornwall, Conn. They were the parents of five children, three of whom attained maturity: Sarah A. (wife of Edward Burk), Emily J. and Burt F. Ferris Couch settled here in 1817, and became very prominent, serving as Sheriff of the county, having been elected in 1854, and in an early day as Captain of the militia. He died August 27, 1881, upon the same farm on which he ate his first meal upon his arrival in town July 25, 1817. His widow died at the same place July 6, 1884. Our subject was married July 25, 1872, to Miss Ella C. McElwain, born in Garrettsville, this county, December 7, 1855. By this union there are two children: Myrtle A., born June 24, 1874, and Lela B., born July 10, 1876. Mr. Couch is an enterprising young man, who has always followed the occupation of a farmer. He is now living on his father's old homestead; is a member of Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. 0. 0. F. In politics he is a RepubliCan.

CYRENUS CRAWFORD, farmer, P. 0. Nelson, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., August 5, 1818; son of Stephen and Rebecca (Carpenter) Crawford, natives of New York, and parents of eight children, all of whom attained maturity, and of whom our subject is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Crawford came to Ohio in 1819, residing at Southington for eight years, thence moved to Farmington for one year, and finally settled in Nelson Township. The father died in 1868; the mother was killed in 1844 by being thrown from a buggy. Our subject has resided in Nelson Township since his parents came here, and engaged in farming, in connection with which he has recently gone into the raising of a superior breed of stock. He was united in marriage, August, 1858, with Miss Mary Brown, a native of New York, and a daughter of Thomas Brown.

BENJAMIN FOWLER, retired farmer, Garrettsville, was born July 25, 1807, in Northumberland County, Penn., and removed when nine years old to Lycoming County, same State, with his parents, James Fowler, born in Northumberland County, Penn., and Ann (Craft) Fowler, born in England, and who came to America at the age of sixteen years. The father was a distiller during early manhood, and later a farmer. He died at the age of seventy-five years, of palsy. He and his wife, who died in 1824, were members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were eight in number, five of whom are now living: Benjamin, Daniel, Deborah, Nancy and Kate. Our subject was educated in the log cabin schoolhouse, and during his short terms in the winters he progressed rapidly. It is a remarkable fact that he mastered every problem in what is now known as " Pike's Arithmetic " in twenty-one days and nights. At seventeen years of age he began labor on a vessel which plied on Baltimore Bay, and there remained five years. In 1829 he rented a large farm along the Susquehanna River, and five years later left there for Trumbull County, Ohio, where he settled among the wolves and other ferocious animals. Here he improved about 114 acres, besides clearing other farms. In 1853 he

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moved to this county; and settled where he now resides. He owns 175 acres, known as the old " Spencer farm," for which he paid $8,000. Since locating here he has made a specialty of stock-raising and dairying; he also continued the cheese-making business, which he had commenced in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1848, but this industry he withdrew from in 1881. While in Trumbull County there were added to his various other duties the operating of a sawmill, and the first threshing machine ever used in that county. At one time he was interested in a banking business at Garrettsville, this county, which proved a loss to him. Our subject married, in 1829, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Abbie (McClow) Shaffer, natives, former of Pennsylvania, latter of New Jersey. To this union were born eleven children, eight of whom are now living: J. Wilson, married to Flora De Lon; Henry M. C., married to Caroline Bristol. born October 5, 1833, daughter of Lot and Lucy (Townley) Bristol, natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Portage County (her father died in 1866, leaving two children: Fred and Caroline); they have two children: Ransom and Virginia; Harriet, married, for her second husband, to Oscar Hoskins; Sarah J., married to Fred Bristol; Lorenda, married to Samuel Craig; Cornelius, married to Hannah Missner; John, married to Rosa Doty; Watson, married to George Collins. Mrs. Fowler died in 1874. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which our subject has been closely attached for over forty years. Mr. Fowler cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, and has since adhered faithfully to the principles of the Democratic party: The Fowler family are descended from three brothers who emigrated from England at an early period, and soon after separated. One, Nathan, was married and lived in New York, and his son Benjamin was on board a vessel which remained out of sight of land for three years and six months. He was with George Washington during the Revolutionary struggle. His father was killed in the French and Indian war. Another of the three brothers, Elithan, married and resided in Connecticut; and the third brother, David, married a French woman and settled in Pennsylvania, and from him the race, of which our subject is a member, sprang. The Fowler family as a rule are long lived. Benjamin, the grandfather of our subject, died at the age of one hundred and six years.

OSCAR D. FREEMAN, farmer, P. O. Nelson, was born in Fredonia, N. Y., January 20, 1836, son of Joseph and Phebean (Freeman) Freeman, natives of New York, and to whom six children were born, our subject being the third. Joseph Freeman was a molder by trade, but subsequently adopted the life of a farmer, and is now a resident of Michigan. His wife died in 1843. Oscar D. Freeman was raised in Michigan, where he obtained a common school education and began his career in life as a farmer. In 1862 he removed to this county, and the year following was married to Miss Lavinia Knowlton, a native of Nelson Township, this county. By this union there is one son—Porter C. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Freeman enlisted with the 100-days' men in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National Guards, was wounded at the battle of Kelley's Bridge and discharged on account of disability. He has served one term each as Township Treasurer and Constable.

COLUMBUS C. FULLER, farmer, P. O. Nelson, was born April 23, 1818, on the farm in Nelson Township, this county, which is still his home, and is a son of Jeremiah R. and Hannah B. (Bierce) Fuller, natives of Connecticut, who had a family of five children, two of whom are now living: Chauncey, in Iowa, and Columbus C. Jeremiah R. Fuller came to this county in 1817 and died in 1851; his widow died in February, 1882, aged ninety-two years. Our

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subject was married, in 1848, to Mary A. Bierce, born in Nelson Township, this county, in 1830, and who has borne him the following children: Harry B., who was highly educated, and was a successful teacher, died at the age of twenty-seven years; William J.; Lucius B., a graduate of Oberlin College and a theological student, died in his twenty-sixth year; Marcus B., twin brother of Lucius B., who graduated at the same time and is now a mission. ary in India; Gerald M.; Columbus C., Jr., and George N. Mr. Fuller has always been a farmer, and for fifteen years has been an extensive breeder of Ayrshire cattle. He is a member of the Congregational Church; has held several of the township offices; in politics he is a Republican.

AMOS F. HANNAH, hotel keeper, Nelson,. was born in Nelson Township, this county, January 3, 1836, the second in a family of four children born to John and Clarissa (Foot) Hannah, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. John Hannah came to Ohio in 1813, lost his wife in 1844, and subsequently married Susan Hannah, who now resides with her step-son; John Hannah died in 1872. Our subject was married, in 186], to Maria L. Clark, a native of Nelson, who has borne him five children, only two of whom, Archie and Ruby, are living. Mr. Hannah followed the occupation of a farmer until the spring of 1877, when he purchased the " Cascade House," erected in 1868 by H. L. Bancroft, at Nelson Ledges, one of the most romantic spots in northern Ohio, which has become a very popular summer resort, and under Mr. Hannah's able management the business of this hotel has steadily increased.

GEORGE E. HEDGER, farmer, P. 0. Garrettsville. was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 24, 1837; son of Calvin and Sally (Richards) 'Hedger, natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively, and early settlers of Trumbull County, both now deceased. They were the parents of seven children: Amanda, Alonzo, Joseph, Martha, Mary, John and George E. Our subject was brought up on a farm and has been engaged more or less extensively in raising and dealing in thoroughbred cattle. He came to this county in 1859, and on November 7, 1861, was married to Caroline Curtis, who was born June 11, 1837, on the place which has always been her home, daughter of Julius Curtis, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., December 25, 1797, and who at the age of eighteen removed to Ohio, locating in Geauga County, where he remained five years and then returned to Connecticut. Later Mr. Curtis once more became a resident of Ohio, and in 1822 married RhOda McCall, who is still living, aged seventy-six, and who bore him four children: Catharine, Ebenezer, Barsheba and Caroline. Mr. Curtis soon after his marriage came to this county, where he died March 6, 1883; he was a prominent stock-dealer and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Hedger have two children: Walter J. and Susie A. Our subject has served nine years as Justice of the Peace, and has also been Trustee and Assessor of Nelson Township.

JOHN S. HOBART, farmer, P. 0. Parkman, Geauga County, was born in New Hampshire, November 25, 1806; son of Benjamin and Mary (Wheeler) Hobart, natives of Massachusetts. Our subject came to Ohio in 1814, and has always been a farmer. He was twice married, on the first occasion, in 1834, to Margaret Moore, who died October 29, 1856, the mother of nine children, as follows: Thomas M., Benjamin E., Mary E., Jefferson R., William W., Marsena, Freedom, Hannah and Marceline. His second marriage occurred March 1, 1858, with Aurilla C. Alton, born at Warren, Ohio, December 16, 1823, daughter of William and Nancy (Budd) Netterfield, natives of southwestern Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio. Three children were born to this union: Addison, Allison and John S. Mr. Hobart has been a member of the Congregational Church at Nelson for forty years.

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LUMAN C. HOPKINS, farmer, P. 0. Nelson, was born in Cornwall, Conn., May 8, 1820; son of Luman and Anna (Clark) Hopkins, natives of that State, who had a family of six children: Harriet (deceased), Catharine (deceased), Ann, Luman C., Palmer (deceased) and Charlotte. Luman Hopkins came in 1824 to the farm where Luman C. now lives and has always lived, when the latter was four years old. Our subject received a common school education, and chose the occupation of a farmer, which he has always followed, and for several years has conducted a large dairy. He has been twice married, on the first occasion, in 1844, to Miss Janette L. Sackett, who died in 1847. His second marriage, in April, 1848, was with Eliza Stilson, born in Palmyra Township, this county, June 16, 1828. By this union there were six children: Philo, George, Ernest, Nettie, Herbert (deceased) and Arthur. Mr. Hopkins has held the office of Township Trustee several times, also that of Township Treasurer. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fourteen years.

WILLIAM W. McCALL, farmer, P. O. Nelson, was born in Nelson Township, this county, January 13, 1834, son of Joseph and Mary P. (Sherwood) McCall, natives of Connecticut, and parents of five children, who attained maturity. Joseph McCall was born in 1804, came to Ohio in 1820, and for fifty-three years resided on the homestead where he died June 26, 1884. His widow, who survives him, was born September 6, 1812, daughter of Joshua B. and Anna (Bonny) Sherwood, who brought her to Ohio in infancy. Mr. McCall was married October 21, 1856, to Miss Mary A. Knowlton, born in Nelson Township, this county, September la, 1836. . Mrs. McCall was the daughter of James and Isabel Knowlton. James Knowlton, a native of Bland- ford, Mass., came to Charlestown in this county in 1809, and to Nelson in 1810. Isabel (Nicholson) Knowlton was a native of Canaan, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. McCall were born five children: Jonathan N. (Superintendent of Schools at Ithaca, Mich.), Ella, Almon W. (a graduate of Garrettsville High School, and was engaged as Principal of the Girard schools, to assume the duties of this position on Monday, September 8, 1884, but the evening previous was drowned while bathing), Rosa M. and Ernest J. In early life our subject taught school, but subsequently identified himself with agricultural pursuits, and has since continued this occupation. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church about twenty-five years.

THOMAS MERWIN, Tocal minister, Nelson, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., July 16, 1816, son of Jesse and Lydia (Ewers) Merwin, natives of New England, and who came to Ohio in 1822, settling in Nelson Township, this county, where the former was the first physician to practice. Our subject received a common school education and began life as a farmer. In 1853 he was ordained a minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in Stark County, Ohio, October 17, and appointed to preach at Nelson, McClintocksburg, Southington and Middlefield. He was obliged to retire, however, on account of his wife's precarious health. He was also called to the pulpit at Pierpont, Ohio, but declined, and at the following annual conference he withdrew from the itinerancy, and since then has held a local membership. He has since given his attention somewhat to his farming interests. Mr. Merwin was twice married. His first wife was Lucy M. Messenger, a native of Windham Township, this county, who died November 17, 1854, aged thirty- four years and four months, leaving two children to his care: Matthew A. and Wealtha Almina. His second wife was Mary A. Palm, born in Austintown, Mahoning Co., Ohio, by whom he has one son—John P.

KETCHEL B. PAYNE, farmer, P. 0. Parkrnan, Geauga County, was born in New York, August 18, 1812, son of Solomon J. and Lucretia (Bierce) Payne,

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natives of Connecticut, who came to Ohio in 1816 and located in this county and township. They were the parents of six children. Solomon J. Payne died at the age of forty-six years; his widow at the age of fifty-eight. Afforded but little opportunity to attend school, the education of our subject has been largely obtained in his intercourse with the world, and through business and social relations. He was married, April 18, 1844, to Mary Jane Chaffee, born in Vermont, February 7, 1826. They have four children living: Robert K., Benjamin F., Melinda E., wife of Robert Everett, and Solomon. Our subject has always been a farmer, and his ax has helped cut down the forests and to prepare the way for the many pleasant homes that now adorn the county. He has filled the -offices of Treasurer and Constable; for many years he has been a consistent member of the Congregational Church.

BENJAMIN F. PAYNE, farmer, P. O, Nelson, was born May 20, 1851, in Nelson, son of Ketchel B. and Mary Jane (Chaffee) Payne, natives of New York and Vermont respectively. (See sketch of K. B. Payne.) Our subject availed himself of the advantages of a common school education, and has devoted his life to farming, in which he has been pronouncedly successful. He was married September 20, 1871, to Miss Belle Brown, born December 30, 1854, in. Parkmau, daughter of James and Susan (Hannah) Brown. By this union there is one son—Algernon, born June 8, 1872. Mr. Payne purchased his present farm in 1872, and has a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle. During the spring he engages quite extensively in the manufacture of maple sugar, having an orchard of 800 maple trees. He is regarded as one of the promising young men of the county. He is now serving Nelson Township as Constable.

EBENEZER T. PRENTICE, farmer, P. O. Nelson, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., November 29, 1811, son of Salmon and Edna (Sweet) Prentice, also natives of the above county and State, and who were the parents of eight children, of whom Ebenezer T. is the sixth. Our subject was mar ried in Chautauqua County, N. Y., June 15, 1836, to Sarah Vallance, born October 9, 1817, in Dutchess County, N. Y. By this union there-are five children: Samuel, Byron, Charies, Cyrus and Eri (latter deceased). Mr. Prentice has always followed agricultural pursuits, clearing in all three farms. He came to Nelson Township, this county, in 1849, and located the farm on which he now lives. He has served the people as Trustee, and for nearly twenty years has been a F. & A. M.

DUANE E. SHERWOOD, farmer, P. O. Nelson, was born on the place where he now resides, November 16, 1854, son of Ebenezer B. and Joanna (McCall) Sherwood, who were the parents of three children: Duane, Laura (now Mrs. Hedden) and Carrie (now Mrs. Mattison). Ebenezer B. Sherwood was a native of Connecticut, and came to Nelson Township, this county, in 1813. He was an energetic, enterprising man, and cleared a large tract of land. He died in 1882, aged seventy-two years. His widow still resides on the old homestead, at the advanced age of sixty-seven years. Our subject, who has been a farmer all his life, was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of the district and at Hiram College.

FRANKLIN SMITH, retired farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, was born in Bennington County, Vt., October 26, 1804. He was married to Alvira White, a native of Connecticut, who bore him two sons and two daughters: Harriet (deceased), Warren, Albert J. and Eleanor, wife of George Combs. Mr. Smith immigrated, to Geauga County, Ohio, in 1818., and is one of the oldest pioneers now living of that county. In 1825 he removed to Michigan for four years, and then returned to Geauga County, Ohio, purchased a large farm, upon which he resided for seventeen years, and then came to this county. His

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wife died, in September, 1880, and he has disposed of his farm and retired from the labors of an active life. He has been an energetic, enterprising man, and was ever considered one of the substantial, practical farmers of Nelson Township. At an early day Mr. Smith became a F. & A. M.