450 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY fairness and fearlessness, his integrity and dependability. His only boss is his own conscience—his sense of right and justice toward all whom he represents. He is particularly well equipped to fill a position in which direct first-hand knowledge of the requirements and interests of men in different relations to society is essential. He knows what it means to work up by his own efforts. He spent the first 18 years of his life on a Pennsylvania farm with comparatively limited opportunities, but he struggled and studied until he acquired a good education through the exercise of an eager and retentive mind. Today he is known as a student of many of the big questions of local, state and national interests. His analytical mind, quickened by keen perception has given him an unusually clear conception of some of the most intricate problems. While in the Legislature, Mr. Wenner has been particularly interested in legislation affecting public education, Americanization and labor. In the 83rd Session, he was chairman of the Committee on Building Loan and other savings institutions, was a member of the Committee on Universities and Colleges, States and. Economic Betterment, Cities, Common Schools, Federal Relations and Labor. In the 84th Session he was a member of the Committees on Cities, Labor, Taxation and Common Schools. During his first term he introduced among other measures, a bill for the revision of the school code which is now part of the statutes of Ohio. While serving his next term he presented a bill providing for compulsory physical education, and a bill for the Extension of the Benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Act, commonly known as the Occupational Disease Bill. Mr. Wenner is especially interested in revision of the methods of legislation ; changes in the methods of levying taxes ; education, with special emphasis on physical training, and practical Americanization ; and questions affecting labor. For ten summers, Mr. Wenner has been on the Redpath Chautauqua Circuit, lecturing on civic, social and educational themes. During this time he has delivered over 1500 addresses in over a thousand cities in about thirty-five states. On Jan. 8, 1902, Mr. Wenner was married to Miss Margie L. Rugh of Salem, Pa. They have two sons, Thomas and Leland. Mr. Wenner is a member of the Masonic Lodge, holding membership in Garfield Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No. 528, Shreve, Ohio ; the Council at Conneaut, Ohio ; the Chapter and Commandery at Ashtabula, and the Consistory at Cleveland. He is a member of the District, State and Na- HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 451 tional Educational Associations. He is President of the Ashtabula Chamber of Commerce and of the Community Fund Committee, and is a member of the Congregational Church and of the National Council of the Young Men's Christian Association. Barrett B. Seymour, president of the National Bank of Ashtabula, is a member of one of Ashtabula County's prominent pioneer families, and ranks among the successful and influential business men of the county. He was born at East Plymouth, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1856, and is the son of Leverett and Nancy (Gillett) Seymour. The Seymour family originally came from Litchfield, Conn., where Bennett Seymour, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born. In 1809 he came west to Ashtabula County and located on a farm in East Plymouth Township, where he lived until the time of his death in 1866. He became a prosperous citizen and was a large vessel owner. His son, Leverett, was born in 1830. In 1856 he moved to Clayton County, Iowa, and became a prominent farmer of his time. He died there in 1866. Nancy (Gillett) Seymour was also a native of East Plymouth, born in 1834. They were the parents of two children: Barrett B., the subject of this sketch; and Mary E., born in 1864, married George C. Hubbard, of Ashtabula, Ohio. She died in 1917. Barrett B. Seymour was educated in the public schools of Ashtabula County and after having finished his schooling in 1874 he was employed as a clerk in the Ashtabula post office for five years. He then was connected with a lumber company at Manistee, Mich., for a short time. In 1882 Mr. Seymour became associated with the National Bank of Ashtabula as clerk and remained there until 1890, at which time he went to Washington, returning to Ashtabula in 1896. At that time he was appointed cashier of the National Bank of Ashtabula, which office he held until 1908. Mr. Seymour was then appointed first superintendent of the banks of Ohio and organized the banking department of Ohio. In 1911 he became president of the National Bank of Ashtabula, which office he has since held. The National Bank of Ashtabula was organized in 1872. as the Ashtabula National Bank and in 1892 became known as the Ashtabula Banking Company. In 1896 it was reorganized as the National Bank of Ashta- 452 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY bula. It now has a capital stock of $200,000 and a surplus of $190,000, and is among the thriving banking institutions of northern Ohio. In 1890 Mr. Seymour was united in marriage with Miss Mary H. Greer, who died in July, 1906. She was the daughter of William F. and Conelia (Huntington) Greer, natives of Painesville, and now deceased. Mr. Greer died in 1876 and his wife died in 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Seymour one daughter was born, Eleanor P., now the wife of Holland H. Hubbard, and they live in Toledo, Ohio, where he is engaged in the real estate business. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have a son, Thomas H. Hubbard. Mr. Seymour is president and treasurer of the Ashtabula Water Company, treasurer and director of the Ashtabula Telephone Company, vice president and director of the Ashtabula Hide & Leather Company, trustee of the Ashtabula Public Library and trustee of Lake Erie College at Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Seymour has taken a keen interest in the welfare of the. Smith Home for Aged Women, which was founded by James L. Smith, who died in 1919. It was opened in 1922 and at the present time has 27 women living in the home. Mr. James L. Smith left his entire estate to equip and maintain a home for aged women. Mr. Seymour was appointed one of the executors and trustees to build and equip this home. Mr. Seymour is a Republican and a member of the Episcopal Church. He is public spirited and progressive and takes a deep interest in the welfare of Ashtabula, to the advancement of which he has materially contributed. Milo A. Taylor, the well known city auditor of Ashtabula, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Clinton County, near Wilmington, and is the son of Seth and Martha (Gallaher) Taylor. Seth Taylor was a native of Ohio, as was also his wife. He followed general farming and met with success, and in later life engaged in carpenter work. Mr. Taylor died in 1908 and his wife died in 1888. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living. Milo A. Taylor removed to Logan County with his parents when a young boy, and received his education in the district schools of that county. In 1889 he located at LaRue, iu Marion County, Ohio, where he was connected with the LaRue Bank as assistant cashier for 13 years. He then removed to Ashtabula, and became associated with the Ideal Hoop Company as assistant manager until 1916, at which time he was made manager of the Ashtabula Hoop Company. On March 1, 1919, Mr. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 453 Taylor resigned his position to accept the appointment of city auditor of Ashtabula. He has proven to be a trustworthy and capable official of the city and is favorably known throughout the county. Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Louise Konkle, a native of Union County, Ohio, and the daughter of Abraham and Julia (Bigelow) Konkle, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Konkle are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor one son was born, Walter Jay, who married Miss Francis M. Reed, a native of Ashtabula, and they have one child, Margaret Louise. Mr. Taylor is a member of the editorial staff of the Cleveland News. In politics Mr. Taylor is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He is a member of the Exchange Club of Ashtabula of which he is secretary. Norman E. Sheldon, a prominent merchant of Ashtabula, engaged in the wholesale fruit business on Fisk Street, is a native of New York. He was born at Oswego, Sept. 9, 1877, and is the son of C. A. and Frances (McCully) Sheldon. C. A. Sheldon was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1837, and his wife was a native of Fulton, N. Y., bOrn in 1847. When a young man Mr. Sheldon removed to Oswego, N. Y., where he engaged in the fruit business until 1890, at which time he came to Ashtabula. Mr. Sheldon died in 1916 and his wife died in 1919. They had three children: Norman E., the subject of this sketch ; Merwin, died in 1897 ; and Robert, born in 1888, married to Miss Grace Weisel, and he is employed by his brother, Norman E. Sheldon. Norman E. Sheldon spent his boyhood at Oswego, N. Y., and received his education in the public schools there. In 1890 he came to Ashtabula with his parents and engaged in the fruit business with his father on Spring Street. Two years later they moved the business to Center Street, where they remained for 15 years. Mr. Sheldon has occupied his present building for 14 years. He carries a fine line of fruits and ranks among the successful business men of the city. In 1904 Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage with Miss Maude O'Neil, a native of Ashtabula, and the daughter of J. A. and Anna (Schafer) O'Neil. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have no children. Mr. Sheldon is a director of the Commercial Savings & Trust Company of Ashtabula. He is a Re- 454 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY publican, a member of the Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Masonic and Elk lodges. H. H. Louis, president of the H. H. Louis Company, dealers in heavy hardware and mill supplies, is among the successful and enterprising business men of Ashtabula County. He is a native of Russia, born at Yeznow, Nov. 25, 1868, and the son of Abraham and Della Louis. Abraham Louis, deceased, was a leading merchant of Yeznow, Russia, where he spent his entire life. He died in 1904 and his wife died in 1891. They were the parents of 13 children, as follows : Herman H., the subject of this sketch; Bessie, married Frank Good, lives in Cleveland ; Israel, lives in Boston, Mass.; Mary, deceased ; Charles, lives in Cleveland; Victor, deceased; Diana, married Herman Bohn, lives in Cleveland ; Ethel, married Harry Macknin, lives in Cleveland; Arthur, married Bessie Brownstein, lives at Fort Worth, Texas ; Samuel, Ft. Worth, Texas ; and three children died in infancy. H. H. Louis left his native land when he was 13 years of age and came to the United States alone.. He went direct to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he lived a year with an uncle, J. Goodinsky. He worked at various positions and after coming to Cleveland was employed in the junk yard of J. Goldman. Mr. Louis engaged in that business in Cleveland for two years, after which he removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he became a business partner of Dubinsky Brothers. From there he went to Parkersburg, W. Va., where he spent eight years, after which he returned to Cleveland for a short time before locating at Wilmington, Ohio. There he became associated with the Wilmington Fruit & Produce Company, and after a year removed to Ashtabula, where he engaged in the junk business. Mr. Louis organized the Ashtabula Junk Company in 1914, which was incorporated in 1921 as the H. H. Louis Company. This company deals in heavy hardware, mill supplies and waste materials, and has been located in its present location on Fisk Street since 1912. Mr. Louis began business with a small 60 foot lot and his place of business now covers 214 feet front. About 20 people are employed and the company operates five automobile trucks. It is among the leading business enterprises of Ashtabula. The officers of the H. H. Louis Company are : H. H. Louis, president; Arthur Louis, secretary and treasurer; and Della Louis, assistant secretary and secretary to H. H. Louis. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 455 In 1894 Mr. Louis was married to Miss Celia H. Orkin, a native of Russia and the daughter of Isaac H. and Dora Orkin, natives of Regie, Russia, who came to the United States in 1891 and located in Cleveland. Mr. Orkin died in 1902 and his wife died in 1899. They were the parents of the following children : Louis, married Minnie Kohn, lives at Geneva, Ohio ; Fannie, married A. Shapero, lives in Cleveland ; Shirley, married M. Duboy ; Helen, married J. A. Brower; Adolph, married Rose Gimp, deceased; D. L., married Rose Lamden, deceased ; Mary, married Max Shapiro ; Dora, married A. Cohen ; Mrs. Louis ; and Benjamin, married Mary Lamden. To H. H. and Celia (Orkin) Louis three children have been born, as follows : Arthur, born April 4, 1898, a member of his father's firm, lives in Ashtabula ; Della, born Aug. 25, 1903, lives at home ; and Harold, born Feb. 1, 1905, at home. Mr. Louis is a member of the Elks Lodge and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He and his family are widely known and highly respected citizens of Ashtabula County. Gust Anderson, well known building contractor of Ashtabula, and substantial citizen of Ashtabula County, was born in Sweden, May 20, 1871, the son of Andrew J. and Alice (Person) Anderson. Andrew J. Anderson and his wife, now deceased, were natives of Sweden, where they spent their entire lives. He was a carpenter by trade and died in 1909. His wife died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had eight children, as follows : Peter ; Hanna ; Mary ; John ; Christian, married L. Larson ; Gust, the subject of this sketch ; August, deceased ; and Augusta, lives on the home place in Sweden. Gust Anderson was reared and educated in Sweden and came to the United States in 1891 and located at Ashtabula. He later was employed on the farm of H. R. Holman and L. Fargo, and three years later entered the employ of a building contractor, Mr. Drumeller, of Ashtabula. After Mr. Drumeller's death in 1914 Mr. Anderson purchased the business, which he has since conducted with success. The place of business is located at 7-9 Spring Street. Mr. Anderson is a reliable business man and is widely known. In 1898 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Selma Josephine Anderson, also a native of Sweden, born in 1871 and the daughter of August and Anna (Anderson) Anderson. Mr. Anderson died in 456 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY Sweden and his wife and children came to this country in 1893 and located in Ashtabula. There were 14 children in the Anderson family. To Gust and Selma Josephine (Anderson) Anderson the following children have been born : Annie, supervisor of penmanship in a school at Warren, Pa. ; Fritz, engaged in the contracting business with his father, married in 1923 to Miss Florence Davison ; Algot, Alvar, Alice, Signi, Lawrence and Laura, all at home. Mr. Anderson and his family are members of the Lutheran Church and are highly esteemed citizens of their community. Captain Edward Orson Whitney, superintendent of the Ashtabula & Buffalo Docks, is a citizen who holds the high regard of the entire community. He was born at Henderson, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1872, and is the son of Myron J. and Florence J. (White) Whitney. Myron J. Whitney, a native of Henderson, N. Y., was born Jan. 27, 1843, the son of Truman Orson and Martha (Wood) Whitney. Truman Orson Whitney was a farmer and spent his entire life at Henderson, N. Y. On March 12, 1840, he was married to Miss Martha Wood. From 1862 until 1867 he held the office of revenue assessor and from 1863 until 1872 was supervisor of the town. Mr. Whitney was accidentally shot in the foot and his foot was amputated by Dr. Grafton of Watertown, N. Y. He died March 3, 1876. Mr. Whitney was a prosperous farmer and owned a farm of 450 acres near Henderson, N. Y. His son, Myron J., also farmed during his life and died at Henderson, N. Y., in 1905. His wife, who was born. Dec. 28, 1853, still lives in that city. She is the daughter of Edward White, a native of Henderson, N. Y., who was a pioneer sea captain. To Myron J. and Florence J. (White) Whitney three children were born, as follows : Edward Orson, the subject of this sketch; Lee, born, in 1876, married Matilda McHugh, lives at Henderson, N. Y. ; and Ethel D., the widow of Capt. Ralph Gleason, who died in July, 1911. Capt. Edward Orson Whitney was reared at Henderson, N. Y., and received his education in the public schools there and at Watertown, N. Y. He began his career as a deckhand on the steamer "Missoula" when he was 17 years of age. He was promoted to porter and watchman during the second season and served on the steamer "Spokane" as wheelsman in 1891. In 1892 he served on the steamers "Northern King" and "Pioneer", and in 1894 was second mate on the latter steamer. The following year he was mate and in 1896 was mate on the steamer "Hiawatha" and the HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 457 following year mate on the steamer "Horan A. Tuttle". In 1898 he was mate on the steamer "Joseph L. Colby" and the following year on the same vessel. In 1900 Captain Whitney was mate on the steamer "Thomas Wilson" and the following year on the "Queen City", and later master on the barge "Martha" and the barge "Madsira". In 1902 he was master on the steamer "Bartlett" and the following years on the steamers "Henry Cort", "William H. Gilbert", "John Erickson" and the "F. B. Morse". In 1909 Captain Whitney was promoted to his present position as superintendent of the Ashtabula & Buffalo Docks and removed to Ashtabula from Henderson, N. Y. He lives at 95 Walnut Street. Captain Whitney succeeded Capt. E. S. Henry, deceased. In 1912 the name of the company was changed from the Ashtabula Dock Company to the Ashtabula & Buffalo Dry Docks. On Jan. 21, 1896, Captain Whitney was united in marriage with Miss Bertha M. Howard, a native of Henderson, N. Y., and the daughter of Clarence and Clara (Vorce) Howard. Mr. Howard was born in Henderson, N. Y., in April, 1853, and died May 1, 1912. His wife died at the age of 57 years. They were the parents of the following children : Mrs. Whitney ; Alma, deceased ; Iva, married Phillip Lane ; Ina ; and Earl, married Edith Peters. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney four children have been born, as follows : Zelma H., born Sept. 14, 1897, married Ralph Duff, lives in Ashtabula ; Howard, born Oct. 25, 1900 ; Zaida E., born Nov. 19, 1905 ; and Harry Payne, born April 28, 1915. Politically, Mr. Whitney is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Episcopal- Church. He belongs to the Masonic lodge and Shrine of Cleveland and the Elks, and is a director of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ashtabula County Health League, and chief of the American Protective League of Northeastern Ohio. In January, 1924, he was elected a member of the city council. Captain Whitney is one of Ashtabula's representative citizens and the Whitney family stands high in the community. Tom B. Knox is an enterprising and well known druggist of Ashtabula Harbor and a member of one of Ohio's honored pioneer families. He was born at Minerva, Ohio, May 20, 1888, and is the son of William S. and Nellie M. (Perdue) Knox. William S. Knox is a native of Marietta, Ohio, and the son of M. G. and Martha (Stratton) Knox, natives of Ohio. M. G. Knox was a ship- 458 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY builder of the early days and his father was one of the first shipbuilders on the Ohio River. M. G. Knox is now 93 years of age. His son, William S., was for many years a prominent printer at Canton, Ohio, and is now retired. His wife is the daughter of M. Perdue, a captain of the Civil War, now deceased. To William S. and Nellie M. (Perdue) Knox four children were born, as follows : William Clifton, born in 1886 ; Tom B., the subject of this sketch ; Ray, born in 1893 ; and Louise, born in 1895. Tom B. Knox was educated in the public schools of Canton, Ohio, and was a student of Ohio Northern University, where he studied pharmacy. He then entered the employ of Mr. Schnaffer, a druggist of Ashtabula, where he remained until 1906, at which time he joined the navy at Cleveland. After four years he returned to Ashtabula and worked with Mr. Schnaffer until 1920. He then became a partner of Mr. Helender, and the business is known as Helender & Knox. In 1923 they opened another store. Mr. Helender manages the one on Bridge Street and Mr. Knox the one on Lake Street. They, carry a full line of drugs, stationery and toilet articles and have an extensive trade. In 1913 Mr. Knox was united in marriage with Miss Florence E. Large, a native of Ashtabula, and the daughter of Ed and Monia Large, of Ashtabula. To this union one daughter has been born, Sallie Louise, born in 1914. Mr. Knox is a Republican, a member of the Episcopal Church and belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge and Chapter and Commandery. He and his wife have many friends and stand high in the community. Arthur V. Hillyer, manager and director of the North Eastern Finance Company, is a leading and influential citizen of Ashtabula and Ashtabula County. He was born at Eaton, Wis., Sept. 9, 1869, and is the son of Riley and Angle C. (Case) Hillyer. Riley Hillyer was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, June 9, 1845. He came to Ashtabula in 1870 and was a prominent citizen of his time. Mr. Hillyer served with the Trumbull Guards during the Civil War. He died Feb. 3, 1909. His wife, Angle C. Case, was born at Mecca, in Ashtabula County, June 7, 1847, the daughter of Asa and Nancy (Smith) Case. The latter was born in Connecticut, Dec. 16, 1821, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Smith, of old New England stock. At the age of 11 years, Nancy (Smith) Case went to New York with her parents and located at HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 459 Genoa, three years later removing to Ohio. On April 8, 1846, she was married to Asa L. Case, and to this union three children were born, as follows : Angle C., the mother of the 'subject of this sketch ; Myrtie E., died in 1882 ; and Edith, died Dec. 28, 1907. To Riley and Angle C. (Case) Hillyer two children were born: Arthur V., the subject of this sketch ; and Mabel C., born Jan. 12, 1885, unmarried and she is supervisor of drawing at Salem High School, Salem, Mass. Mrs. Hillyer lives in Salem, Mass. Arthur V. Hillyer was educated in the public schools of Ashtabula and began life as a clerk in a local store. He later entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad and was an engineer with that road for 22 years. After being injured in an accident on March 23, 1907, Mr. Hillyer resigned his position with the railroad and became clerk to the county commissioner, which office he held for six years. He was elected county treasurer of Ashtabula County in 1914 and was in office four years. In 1919 Mr. Hillyer helped organize the North Eastern Finance Company, of which he is manager and director. The business is located on Spring Street and is among the dependable financial institutions of the county. Mr. Hillyer was married to Miss Charlotte E. Bacchus, a native of New York. To this union four children have been born, as follows : Gertrude, born Oct. 12, 1890, married on Sept. 14, 1914, to Carl Crozier ; William R., born July 4, 1893, married on March 10, 1916, to Mildred Fortune; Lowes, born May 21, 1901, married on June 22, 1921, to James Peck ; and. Freedus, born June 10, 1903, lives at home. Mr. Hillyer and his family hold membership in the Prospect Street Presbyterian Church and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Mr. Hillyer and his family are substantial citizens of their community and have many friends and acquaintances. A. B. C. Palmer, superintendent of the division of electricity for the city of Ashtabula, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of the county. He was born at Fitchville, in Huron County, Ohio, July 14, 1872, and is the son of Edwin and Mary (Chase) Palmer. A. B. C. Palmer was reared and educated at Fitchville, Ohio, and his first business position was with the Western Union Telegraph Company. He later was connected with telephone work and did construction work in 460 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY the long distance division. On Jan. 28, 1900, Mr. Palmer came to Ashtabula and entered the employ of the city. Since his connection with the electric light plant, many improvements have been made in the service, a new power plant being completed in 1921 at a cost of $1,000,000. All power and light in the city of Ashtabula is furnished by the local plant and the city railway street cars are also operated by the city power. Electric power is also furnished to several towns near Ashtabula, including Jefferson and Rock Creek. In 1900 Mr. Palmer was married at Norwalk, Ohio, to Miss Byrd Tucker, a native of Fitchville, Ohio, and the daughter of Edgar and Mary (Clark) Tucker, natives of New York. Mr. Palmer takes an active interest in the Ashtabula Chamber of Commerce. He is a man of integrity and ability and is an excellent citizen. Raymond H. Godley, who ranks among Ashtabula's most substantial and enterprising citizens, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Easton, June 3, 1873, and is the son of Charles R. and Mary Josephine (Brotzman) Godley. Charles R. Godley, who now lives retired, is a veteran of the Civil War. He was born in Northampton County, Pa., and has spent most of his life at Easton, Pa., where he was employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad for 51 years. Mr. Godley was a railroad carpenter, having learned his trade when a boy with the Lehigh Valley Railroad. At the age of 16 years he volunteered for service during the Civil War and served with the 129th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Mr. Godley is the son of William V. Godley, a native of New Jersey who settled in Pennsylvania at an early date. He was superintendent of the Glendon mines for many years. There were 14 children in William V. Godley's family, of whom 12 are now living. To Charles and Mary Josephine (Brotzman) Godley 11 children were born, as follows : Forrest A., died in service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War ; John P., a foreman in the plant of the Westinghouse Electric Company at Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Charles A., postal clerk at Easton, Pa. ; Paul, watchman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Easton, Pa.; Grace, married Frank Coppock, lives at Easton, Pa. ; Cora, married William Walters, deceased, and she lives with her father at Easton, Pa. ; Elva and Hattie, deceased ; Raymond H., the subject of this sketch ; and the remaining children died in infancy. Mrs. Godley is deceased. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 461 Raymond H. Godley attended the public and high schools of Easton, Pa., and began life as a machinist with the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1887. He remained with that company until 1899, at which time he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he spent two years. Mr. Godley has since been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad and has been located at Ashtabula since 1902. He is engine house foreman. In 1896 Mr. Godley was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bittner, a native of Phillipsburg, N. J., and the daughter of Phaon and Alma (Hineline) Bittner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey. Mr. Bittner was a truck farmer and died at the age of 77 years. His wife died when Mrs. Godley was about 10 years old and he was later married again. There were six children in the Bittner family : Amanda, William, Herbert, Mrs. Godley, Emma, and Laura. To Mr. and Mrs. Godley five children have been born, as follows : Kenneth, died in 1899 ; Elizabeth, lives in Cleveland ; Margaret, attends college at Athens, Ohio ; Dorothy, who was graduated from high school in 1923 ; and Ellen, a student. Mr. Godley belongs to the Masonic Lodge and the Ashtabula Chamber of Commerce. He and his family hold membership in the Presbyterian Church and are well and favorably known throughout Ashtabula County. Floyd C. Williams, principal of the Ashtabula Business College, is among the prominent and influential citizens of Ashtabula County. He was born in Jasper County, Ind., June 29, 1887, and is the son of Joseph and Mahala (Adair) Williams. Joseph Williams was a native of Indiana, and his wife was also born in that state. He followed farming and stock raising during his life in Jasper County, Ind., and met with success. Mr. Williams is deceased and his widow now resides on the home place near Rensselaer, Ind. They were the parents of the following children : Laura, deceased, was the wife of Orville Garriott ; William 0., lives at Valparaiso, Ind. ; Bertha, married George Barker, lives on the home place. Floy, twin sister of Floyd, married Russell Kunce, and they live at Cromwell, Ind. ; Floyd, the subject of this sketch ; and Lillie, married Halley Alter, lives at Rossville, N. M. ; and Ray, lives near the home place. Floyd C. Williams was educated in the public schools and after completing a post-graduate course at the Marion Normal College, receiving 462 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY his degree of Bachelor of Accounts in 1909, he was principal of the Commercial Department of the Westfield College (United Brethren College), Westfield, Ill., for one year. He was instructor one year in the Bookkeeping Department of the Chicago Business College, Chicago, Ill., and two years instructor of Shorthand in Metropolitan Business College, Chicago, Ill., after which he was appointed manager of the Huntington Business University, Huntington, Ind. In 1913 Mr. Williams came to Ashtabula and purchased the Ashtabula Business College, which was organized in 1895 by A. E. Reynolds and located on the northwest corner of Center and Main Streets. It was purchased by Mr. Williams and T. F. Juergens, but the following year Mr. Juergen's interest was purchased by Mr. Williams and it has since been conducted by him and his wife, and associate teachers. The Ashtabula Business College was later located in the Fickinger Building and in April, 1920, the college was completely destroyed by fire and in September of the same year was re-established in the Eastman Block, 206 Main Street. The Ashtabula Business College courses of instruction are designated to give to the future business man and woman, in the shortest possible time, the instruction he needs if his work is to be of the right quality and quantity and to be rendered in such a manner as to build business that is profitable and permanent. The school is fully accredited by the National Association of Accredited Commercial Schools. This is the only authoritative accrediting agency among private commercial schools. It is made up of nearly 300 leading business training schools of the country that have pledged themselves to establish and maintain the highest possible ideals and standards in business education. Before a school can be accredited by this association it pledges itself to the maintenance of a set of standards of practice covering its relations with the student and with the public. A school cannot remain a member of this association unless it measures up to these standards. There are a number of excellent reasons why a student should attend a school accredited by the N. A. A. C. S., among them being these: 1. Grades made in one accredited school are good in every other accredited school and will be transferred when the student finds it necessary to move from one community to another. 2. Every graduate is entitled to the free service of the employment departments of all accredited schools throughout the United States and Canada, should he at any time desire help in securing a position. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 463 3. Students in an accredited school have the opportunity to earn the degree, Honor Graduate in Business, which is conferred by the association in co-operation with the individual school. 4. The excellence of accredited schools is so generally recognized that the graduate enjoys an exceptionally favorable introduction to the business public when he leaves his school. 5. There are certain awards of merit for scholarship that can be earned only in accredited schools. While there are many good schools not accredited by this Association the fact that a school is so accredited is one of the very best evidences of its excellence. The courses of study consist of the following: Complete Business Course, Shorthand Course, Bookkeeping Course, Secretarial Course, Civil Service Course, and Public Accounting and Auditing. Mr. Williams is a public accountant and holds membership in the National Association of Cost Accountants and the National Association of Public Accountants. He is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon, and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Chamber of Commerce, the Y. M. C. A. and Secretary of the Ashtabula County Sunday School Association. He is known throughout Ashtabula County as an upright and reliable citizen. In 1913 Mr. Williams was married to Miss Bessie Sheats, a native of Wood County, Ohio, and the daughter of Frank L. and Nettie (Strayer) Sheats, natives of Ohio and residents of Grand Rapids, Ohio, where he is engaged in fruit growing. Mr. and Mrs. Sheats have five children, as follows : Agnes, married Hiram Stocker, lives at McClure, Ohio ; Mrs. Williams; Ruth, married LeRoy McWilliams, and she is postmistress at Grand Rapids, Ohio; Pauline, married Guy A. Nevison, automobile salesman at Ashtabula, and Florence, married Sidney Mawer, lives at Weston, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have no children. Mrs. F. C. Williams is a graduate of the Grand Rapids, Ohio, High School. She then received her teachers' training at the Marion Normal College, Marion, Ind. She taught in the public school at Grand Rapids for three years and two years at Bloomdale, Ohio. Since coming to Ashtabula in 1913, Mrs. Williams has been associated with Mr. Williams in the Ashtabula Business College. She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a teacher in the Junior Department of the Sunday School, and Business Women's Club of the Y. W. C. A. 464 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY Some of the teachers associated with Mr. and Mrs. Williams are : Mrs. Fern Carter and Miss Hazel Lewis. Mrs. Carter is a graduate of the Geneva High School and of the Ashtabula Business College in 1919 and now a bookkeeper in the Machine Department of the American Fork & Hoe, Ashtabula, Ohio. She is an assistant in the Night School. Miss Hazel Lewis a graduate of the Ashtabula High School and of the Ashtabula Business College. She was an honor 'student, receiving a diploma which is granted by the Accredited Schools for superior work. She received her teachers' normal training at the Oberlin Business University, Oberlin, Ohio. Miss Lewis has charge of the Stenographic Department. Mrs. Nevison, a former graduate of the school, was a teacher for three years in Ashtabula Business College and then entered Civil Service work, being a Stenotypist at the Toledo State Hospital for three years. Miss Lelia Holcomb, of Geneva, Ohio, and a graduate of the school, was a successful teacher in the Stenographic Department for four years in the Ashtabula Business College and then two years in the Commercial Department of the Erie Business College. She is now Secretary in the Lutheran Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. Clarence E. Richardson. One of the old and substantial families of Ashtabula, who aided in the upbuilding of a great and prosperous community, was the Richardson family, of whom Clarence E., is a member. He was born in Ashtabula, Dec. 25, 1856, and is a son of Capt. Chauncey and Eliza (Scoville) Richardson. Henry Richardson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a pioneer of the northern Ohio lake shore region, was a merchant at one time and some 70 years ago was. lighthouse keeper at Madison. Dock. It was at Madison Dock that the late Capt. Chauncey Richardson was born in 1832. He was a brother of the late Capt. W. C. Richardson, also prominent in lake shipping circles. Capt. Chauncey Richardson was captain on a vessel many years and for five years, during Grover Cleveland's administration, was collector of customs at Ashtabula Harbor. He died very suddenly while on a pleasure trip up the lakes with his wife and friends in 1900. His wife was born in Ashtabula in 1832, the daughter of Adnah and Persis Scoville. She died in 1901. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 465 Adnah Scoville, one of Ashtabula's oldest pioneers, was a brother of George Scoville. They were blacksmiths and had large families, most of whom are now deceased. Adnah Scoville was a prime mover in the Good Templar's society and a great church worker in the Methodist denomination. He was at one time mayor of Ashtabula. To Chauncey and Eliza (Scoville) Richardson two sons were born : Clarence E., and Charley Henry. The latter resides in Ashtabula and has had an active career as a banker, merchant, and for 26 years was associated with the Richards Bros., Wholesale Grocers, being at the head of the office force and a buyer. For the past two years he has been office manager of the Ashtabula Bow Socket Company, as well as auditor for the Peoples Building & Loan Company. He is married and lives on North Main Street. Clarence E. Richardson was educated in the Ashtabula public schools and spent the following nine years in the Ashtabula offices of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, six years of which he served as cashier. The next five years he was secretary of the Bradley Mfg. Co., of Ashtabula. Mr. Richardson was associated for 22 years with his uncle, the late Capt. W. C. Richardson, in the vessel offices of the W. C. Richardson & Co., who handled 20 steamboats up to three years ago when the various vessel companies were merged into one, now called the Columbia Steamship Company, and managed through the offices of Oglebay, Norton & Co., Hanna Bldg., Cleveland. Clarence E. Richardson retired from the positions of secretary and treasurer of the various companies, and in 1923 engaged in the real estate business, with offices in the National Bank Building in Ashtabula. He was also associated with the Crabbe-Carrell Company, real estate dealers of Cleveland, where he has resided for the past 24 years. His home is at 1860 Alvason Road, East Cleveland. In March, 1885, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Caroline King, the daughter of Wallace B. and Eliza (McHugh) King, both now deceased. Mrs. Richardson was born at Racine, Wis., and educated in the public schools of Youngstown, Ohio, and at Hiram College. She is a member of the Hiram Club of Cleveland and several other organizations. Mr. Richardson is a past master of Rising Sun Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., a member of Western Reserve Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Columbian Commandery No. 52, Knights Templars, Cleveland Council, Lake Erie Consistory, Scottish Rite, Al Koran Shrine, Al Sirrat Grotto, Masonic (28) 466 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY Lodge, the Lions Club and the Union Club of Cleveland. He is a life member of the Ashtabula Lodge No. 208, B. P. 0. E., of which lodge he was a prime mover in its organization in 1890, and its second exalted ruler. He is also past president of the Cleveland Society of Ashtabula County. He served as mayor of Ashtabula during the years 1888 and 1889 and has seen the city grow from a small town to one now assuming metropolitan airs, and "Clarence" says "Ashtabula is surely on the map". Some 50 years ago Mr. Richardson was quite musically and theatrically inclined and in 1873 organized the once famous Commonwealth Minstrel Company, which organization was kept up for several years. Later he was treasurer for the then famous Walter L. Main Circus and Menageries, but he says now as time passes on he is content to let the younger fellows take a hand. John Carlson, who now lives in Kingsville Township, is a leading farmer of Ashtabula County. He was born in Sweden, Feb. 15, 1869, the son of Carl and Elizabeth Isaacson. Carl Isaacson was born in Sweden, where he died in 1924. He came to this country, but after five years returned to his native land. His wife died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Isaacson were the parents of the following children: John, the subject of this sketch ; Ed, lives in Sweden ; Theodore, Ashtabula ; Louie, Ashtabula Township ; Anna, Sweden ; and Hilda, married Abbie Dickerson, lives in Cleveland. John Carlson spent his boyhood in Sweden and was educated there. Thirty-six years ago he came to the United States and located at Altoona, Pa., where he was employed in the mines four years. He then came to Ashtabula Harbor and worked at the docks for 15 years. In 1902 Mr. Carlson purchased his first farm of 50 acres, which he sold in 1920. The Carlson farm is located on the south ridge east of Ashtabula and is among the fine dairy farms of the community. Mr. Carlson resided in Ashtabula for a few years at 32 Fargo Avenue. In 1924 he moved to his present farm of 80 acres. He has owned several farms in the county. On Jan. 29, 1892, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage with Miss Tilda Jepson, a native of Sweden, who came to this country with her parents when a child. Elsie Jepson, the mother, lives in Ashtabula. Her husband died in 1921. On April 23, 1923, Mrs. Carlson died very suddenly, leaving 12 children, as follows : Carrie, lives at home; Mabel, cashier of the Ward HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 467 Baking Company, Cleveland; Agnes, teaches school in Ashtabula ; Lillie, died in 1902; Edith, teaches school; Mildred, an instructor in penmanship in the Saybrook Township School; Martha H., at home ; Elizabeth, died at the age of 17 years ; Alice, at home; Della, Arlene and Jane, all at home. Mr. Carlson is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church. He is a substantial citizen and deservedly stands high in the estimation of his friends and acquaintances. Fern Regal, proprietor of the Regal Sales Agency, is a prominent and successful business man of Ashtabula. He is the agent for the Royal Vacuum Cleaner and the Easy Vacuum Electric Washer in Ashtabula, Lake, and Trumbull counties. Mr. Regal was born on a farm in Fowler Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1885, and is the son of Edgar and Leota (Oatley) Regal. Edgar Regal was born in Ohio and during his life lived at Lennox, where he owned a cheese factory. He died in 1890 and his wife now lives in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Regal had one son, Fern, the subject of this sketch. Fern Regal received his education in the public schools at Mecca, Ohio, and in early youth manifested a great interest in salesmanship. After selling various articles he became the agent in Ashtabula County for the Royal Electric Vacuum Cleaner in 1916. Mr. Regal's place of business, which is known as the Regal Sales Agency, is located at 74 Main Street. He also deals in electric irons and other electrical necessities. On Dec. 5, 1914, Mr. Regal was united in marriage with Miss Frances Goe, who is a member of one of Ohio's oldest families. She is the daughter of John H. and Adelle M. (Smith) Goe. Mr. Goe was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, and was born Sept. 17, 1841, the son fo John and Mary (Meek) Goe. John Goe was born in Ireland, Aug. 3, 1798, and came to this country in 1819 and settled in Beaver County, Pa., where he remained until 1873, at which time he moved his family to Trumbull County, Ohio. He became a prominent farmer and died a number of years ago. His wife was the daughter of M. Meek, pioneer farmer of Washington County, Ohio. John H. Goe, father of Mrs. Regal, was reared and educated in Ohio and at the age of 20 years went to California by steamship. After five 468 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY years he returned to Ohio and engaged in farming until 1875, at which time he engaged in the dry goods business at Cortland, Ohio. He was married on Jan. 21, 1868, to Miss Mary L. Brooks, who was born in 1846 and died Oct. 20, 1874, leaving two children : Arthur M., deceased ; and Ray, deceased. In 1875 Mr. Goe was married to Miss Adelle M. Smith, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1853, and the daughter of Rev. Calvin and Marie Smith. To this union two children were born : Alice, married C. W. Kennedy ; and Frances A. Regal, born Aug. 24, 1889. Mr. Goe died in May, 1923, and his wife resides in Ashtabula. To Mr. and Mrs. Regal one daughter has been born, Miriam, born June 6, 1918. Mr. Regal is a member of the Church of Christ. He is a man esteemed in his community for his integrity, and spirit of co-operation in all civic affairs. James D. Bonnar, manager of the Ashtabula Telephone Company, is a progressive business man and prominent citizen of Ashtabula County. He was born there, June 11, 1884, and is the son of John S. and Libbie (Zeile) Bonnar. John S. Bonnar was a native of Ashtabula and the son of Reverend James Bonnar, for many years rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Ashtabula. John S. Bonnar was ticket agent at Ashtabula for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad for a number of years and later freight agent. He died in 1895 and his wife died two years later. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnar were the parents of the following children: James D., the subject of this sketch ; Mary E., married Robert Richards, lives in Ashtabula ; Effie C., married Claud Shannon, lives at Little Rock, Ark.; Lucy C., married G. B. Arrington, lives in Montgomery, Ala. ; and John Douglas, born in 1893, died in 1894. James D. Bonnar received his education in the public and high schools of Ashtabula and in 1901 entered the employ of the local telephone company as an office boy. The following year he went to Cleveland, where he was associated with the North Electric Company, manufacturers of telephones and switchboards. Mr. Bonnar returned to Ashtabula and again entered the employ of the telephone company, but later returned to Cleveland with the North Electric Company. He went to Chicago in December, 1912, and in May, 1915, returned to the Ashtabula Telephone Company as wire chief. Since 1919 Mr. Bonnar has been manager of the company. HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 469 On Oct. 16, 1909, Mr. Bonnar was united in marriage with Miss Susie Gerald, a native of Saybrook, Ohio, and the daughter of Fred C. and Jennie (Garner) Gerald, natives of Saybrook. Mr. Gerald is a leading meat dealer of Saybrook and vicinity and his business is known as the F. C. Gerald and Sons. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald are the parents of four children, as follows : Persie, married Ray P. Cook, lives at Geneva, Ohio ; Anson S., married Lillian Callow, lives in Saybrook, Ohio ; Mrs. Bonnar; and Ralph. To Mr. and Mrs. Bonnar three children have been born: James Gerald, born Dec. 1, 1911; Mary Elizabeth, born Jan. 18, 1918, died May 5, 1919 ; and Robert Douglas, born Sept. 25, 1920. Mr. Bonnar is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. He is a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and takes an active interest in the affairs of his community. L. M. Robinson, well known passenger conductor on the New York Central Railroad and highly esteemed citizen of Ashtabula, was born at Fredonia, N. Y., April 21, 1856. He is the son of Samuel B. and Eleanor (Ellis) Robinson. Samuel B. Robinson, deceased, was a veteran of the Civil War. He was born near Fredonia, N. Y., in June, 1833, and died in 1902. During the Civil War he served with the 129th New York Volunteers and had four brothers in service during the war. Mr. Robinson was employed by the Lake Shore, Grand Trunk and Michigan Central Railroad at Jackson, Mich., for 20 years as transfer agent, and at the time of his death was living there retired. His wife, who was born Jan. 29, 1836, at Fredonia, N. Y., died May 19, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson had six children, as follows : Addie, born in 1853, married John Cook, deceased, and she lives at Jackson, Mich., and has five children, George, Ella, Grace, Samuel and Winifred ; L. M., the subject of this sketch ; Emma, born in 1861, married E. E. Rowley, lives at Jackson, Mich., and they have three children, Arthur, Ruth, and Harriet ; Hattie, born in 1866, died in 1900 ; Minnie, born in 1880, died at the age of seven years ; and Levi, born in 1859 and died at the age of six years. L. M. Robinson received his education in the schools of Jackson, Mich., and when a young man entered the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad as checking clerk. He was later yardmaster at Jackson, Mich., for 17 months, after which he worked as freight brakeman for nine months-. 470 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY Mr. Robinson was promoted to freight conductor in 1884 and was later made passenger conductor, in which capacity he has served since 1900. His present run is on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Limited. Mr. Robinson has other interests and is engaged in real estate as a side issue. He has lived in Ashtabula since 1891. On Oct. 24, 1912, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with Miss Harrietta Hardy, a native of Murray, Iowa, born April 10, 1877, and the daughter of E. G. and Elizabeth (Tenney) Hardy, natives of Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Hardy was born in 1844 and died in June, 1921. He served throughout the Civil War, as did also two of his brothers. Mrs. Hardy lives at Painesville. There were two children in the Hardy family: Edith, born in 1868, died in 1922 ; and Mrs. Robinson. To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson three children have been born, as follows : Wayne Ellis, born May 5, 1914 ; Edith Elizabeth, born Aug. 24, 1915 ; and Helen Grace, born May 14, 1918. Mrs. Robinson was educated in the public schools of Painesville, Ohio, and after completing a course at Lake Erie College she attended the Miami Normal College for a time. She taught school for 20 years in Ashtabula, Painesville and Cleveland and from 1902 until 1910 was principal of the Station Street School in Ashtabula. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Women's Club of Ashtabula and is prominent in the affairs of her city. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Order of Railroad Conductors and has held all offices in the order and was a delegate to the national convention at Detroit, Mich., and first general chairman and committeeman for 12 years. Politically he is a Republican, and he and his family are members of the Congregational Church. He is a man of excellent character, industrious and competent. Carl M. Peck is a progressive and enterprising merchant of Ashtabula. He is a native of Ohio, born in Portage County, March 29, 1884, and the son of Charles M. and May E. (Morris) Peck. Charles M. Peck was born at Charlestown, Ohio, as was also his wife. He was a merchant for many years and owned a grocery store at Kingsville, Ohio, which he later sold to his son, Carl M. Peck. Mr. Peck is now a rural mail carrier out of Kingsville. There were five children in the Peck family, as follows: Nora E., lives at Columbus, Ohio ; Carl M., the subject of this sketch ; Lucile, married J. E. Davis, postmaster of HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 471 Kingsville, Ohio ; Zaida R., married Homer Porter, lives at Kingsville, Ohio; and Raymond, married Frances Karnes, lives at Garrettsville, Ohio. Carl M. Peck was reared at Kingsville and attended the public and high schools there. After conducting his father's business at Kingsville for seven years, Mr. Peck removed to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was in business for three years. He then traveled for the H. J. Heinz Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., and in 1921 engaged in his present business at Ashtabula. Mr. Peck carries a fine line of groceries and is located at 191 Prospect Street. In 1906 Mr. Peck was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Sheldon, a native of Kellogsville, Ohio, and the daughter of L. B. and Effie (Keith) Sheldon, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Sheldon died in November, 1923. Mr. Sheldon served as sheriff of Ashtabula County for four years and now resides in Ashtabula. There were six children in the Sheldon family, as follows : Dora, married Charles Mayberry, Ashtabula, Ohio ; Lottie, deceased ; Mrs. Peck; Frank, married Hazel Wilson, lives at Jefferson, Ohio ; Walter, married Edna Scoville, lives at Ashtabula; and Ruth, married J. Brayman, lives at Pierpont, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck one child has been born, Sheldon, born at Kingsville in 1910. Mr. Peck is a Republican and a member of the Prospect Presbyterian Church. He is a substantial citizen of Ashtabula County and has many friends and acquaintances. Charles B. Downs, building and electric wiring inspector of Ashtabula, is widely and favorably known throughout Ashtabula County. He was born at Geneva, Ohio, Jan. 22, 1882, and is the son of William H. and Margaret (Griswold) Downs. William H. Downs was born at Westfield, Vt., March 17, 1840, and his wife was born in Green County, Ohio, June 29, 1841. Mr. Downs was the son of Rev. N. H. Downs, who settled in Trumbull County at an early date and became a prominent physician and preacher. Reverend Downs was twice married and had 19 children. His son, William H. Downs, settled in Geneva in 1876, where he followed his trade as a butcher. Later he became a teaming contractor there. Mr. Downs served as constable and street commissioner of Geneva and died there March 6, 1919. His wife died in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Downs were the parents of the following children: Curtis J., lives at Geneva, Ohio ; Elva, osteopath, married Julius Cooper, deceased, and she resides at Bradford, Pa. ; William H., Jr., 472 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY married Ziel Real, and he is now deceased ; Jessie, married R. S. Sheldon, lives at Jefferson; 'Fred N. ; Earl H., married Clara Cofer, lives at ,Fort Worth, Texas ; and Charles B., the subject of this sketch. Charles B. Downs spent his boyhood at Geneva and attended the schools there. He was one of the first rural mail carriers in Ashtabula County, engaging in that work on Aug. 15, 1898. Charles Cadle was the first carrier of the county. After 12 years of service in the mail department, Mr. Downs engaged in carpenter and contracting work and later entered the electrical field. He went to Cleveland, where he remained until 1917, at which time he located in Ashtabula and entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad, doing electrical work. Later he was employed at the shipyards by the government and in December, 1920, he was appointed building and electric wiring inspector of Ashtabula. In 1903 Mr. Downs was married to Miss Etta Hoskins, a native of Geneva, Ohio. Mr. Downs belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is esteemed as one of the progressive citizens of Ashtabula. Charles Herbert Gallup, 57, of 334 Prospect Street, Ashtabula, Ohio, has been successively farmer boy, leather splitter, newspaper .man and greenhouse proprietor. He has been a member of the city council and the board of education and served on the charter commission which instituted the present city-manager form of government for Ashtabula. During the World War, he was active in all civic work for the welfare of the government, subscribing beyond his means for all government securities when the government was very much in need of funds. Mr. Gallup was born at Marcellus, near Syracuse, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1867, where a pioneer family of Gallups from Sommersetshire, England, founded a large fortune by raising tobacco and teasles, the latter being then used for scratching the surplus "nap" from cloth in textile mills. His parents are John V. Gallup and Lucinda D. Gallup, now 78 years old and enjoying the very best of health, refusing rides in automobiles to take long walks about the city and surrounding country. They took him to Kansas when he was eight months old, settling in Irving, a small town 100 miles west of Atchison on the Missouri River. His father was successively teamster, plasterer and farmer. The new HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY - 473 country suffered from hard times, drought, grasshoppers and then on Decoration Day, 1879, the home and farm buildings and family of six went up in the most disastrous tornado on record in the United States up to that time. All were injured, though none fatally. Terribly uneasy because of fear, the family tried living in another Kansas county, then in Rock Creek, Ohio, and Norfolk, Va., returning to Ashtabula County in 1881. Messrs. McKay, McDonald and Phillips had recently moved their tannery from Rock Creek to Ashtabula and here John V. Gallup and the subject of this sketch found employment. Gallup's last term of school was at the age of 13 in a country school house, since torn down, located between Rock Creek and Lenox. So far as he knows, all the boys in that school at that time are still alive. Two are prominent business men in Ashtabula. At the tannery, Gallup, Sr., began as night watchman but soon learned the art of coloring leather and was given charge of the coloring room and tacking room. Charles H. Gallup was first a tacker boy and later helper to J. R. MacDonald, an owner in the business. He taught young Gallup to be a splitter, one of the highest grade positions in a tannery. Having inherited some literary desires, if not talent, from parents far above average in intelligence, young Gallup set out to learn the newspaper business. He worked for nothing on the Daily Times, a very small daily, edited by Miss Rose Gifford and printed by her nephew, W. V. Newberry. Later, he served a brief apprenticeship on the Democratic Standard and considered himself competent to embark in the newspaper business: With the help of a group of progressive business men, which included the late W. D. Richards, wholesale grocer, F. W. Blakeslee, veteran photographer, and Morrison I. Swift, widely known "radical" of that day, he and his father established "The Evening Journal", in a little store room on Center Street which they rented for $10 a month. This was December 1, 1890. Mr. Gallup, Sr., soon sold out to W. A. Robertson, Jr., a practical printer, and then they consolidated with the News, a successful weekly conducted by Mr. E. J. Griffin. Griffin, Gallup and Robertson published the daily and weekly for a time, after which Gallup bought out Robertson's interests. Griffin & Gallup were partners until about the time of 474 - HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY the Spanish-American war, when they leased the papers to Arthur Sperry, and Gallupwent to Cleveland to work as reporter on the Recorder. That paper never set the world afire, but Gallup was very proud to work on it. A fellow-workman on the job was Peter Witt, now world famous as a street railway expert and Progressive politician. The paper was "backed" by Tom L. Johnson, a reformer and famous mayor of Cleveland. Louis F. Post, famous Single Taxer, was editor. Later Mr. Post was a member of President Wilson's official family during the World War. Mr. Post has been ever after a warm personal friend of his former employe. When Johnson ceased to support the paper, it went into the hands of a receiver and Gallup went to Louisville, Ky., to be commercial editor of the Louisville Commercial. After two very happy years in Louisville, the hoo-doo in the form of a receiver reached that city and Gallup had to choose between a cut in wages or two men's work for one wage. He decided to travel. At Cincinnati, he secured employment on The Post, a real newspaper. It is a Scripps paper, which plays no favorites and Gallup made wonderful progress and enjoyed the work, being Labor Editor the entire six years and city hall reporter and assistant political editor a part of the time. During 1905, Mr. Harper, chief attorney for the Scripps-McRae League, offered Gallup an editorship in a paper the League was starting; and also a substantial block of the stock, Mr. Harper himself having subscribed for a large block of stock. Gallup declined this offer, as he felt that he should have had more education in order to be the successful editor of a metropolitan daily. On June 1, 1906, Gallup resigned his position on the Cincinnati Post, to return to Ashtabula to embark in the greenhouse business with his brother Edward, ten years his junior, who helped to start the "Evening Journal". The business of Gallup Brothers has been wonderfully successful, now standing second only to the big Dunbar-Hopkins corporation in the powerful and successful Ashtabula Lettuce Growers' Association, of which Charles H. Gallup is president. On Christmas Eve, 1890, Gallup was married to Miss Helen Griswold, daughter of "Squire" R. W. Griswold, a lawyer from Connecticut and an influential pioneer resident of Ashtabula, who served in the Ohio Legislature. His father and grandfather, both Griswolds, were governors of