200 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD dren born to John and Rebecca (Beyer) Betz were named as follows: Samuel, Susan (wife of Eli Wuchter), Aaron, George W., Mary E., Charles W. and John B. Of these, Charles W. died in Virginia while serving in the Sixth United States cavalry, and his remains received interment at the place where he died. John B. Betz was born October 25, 1844, received a good common-school education, and lived on the home farm until his enlistment, in August, 1864, in company G, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. He was assigned to the western army, and took part in the campaigns through Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, and was in the last campaign against Hood and in the battle of Wilson's Pike. He was finally taken ill and was placed in hospital at Washington, D. C., and was mustered out in June, 1865, having received an honorable discharge. August 13, 1867, he married Miss Catharine Weaver, a native of Coventry township, Summit county, born December 10, 1847. Daniel E. Weaver, father of Mrs. Betz, was born in Pike township, Stark county, Ohio, August 8, 1823, and married, in Coventry township, Summit county, Rebecca Renniger, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 11, 1824, a daughter of John and Maria (Spotts) Renniger. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver came from Coventry township to Norton township in 1866, and here Mr. Weaver died May 22, 1892, a devoted member of Grace Reformed church, and in politics a democrat. Mrs. 'Weaver now resides with her son, Philip, at Loyal Oak, Summit county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were named as follows: Susanna, who is the wife of William Souers; Mary E., who was married to Dr. J. C. Dreher, but is now deceased; Catherine, married to subject; George; Levina, wife of M. Young; Philip and Joseph. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Betz has been blessed with the following children: Franklin S., born May 22, 1868; Minnie R., born January 12, 1870, and now the wife of Perry E. Ware; George H., born March 10, 1872; Nora E., born January 14, 1874, was married to E. E. McNeely, but died March 6, 1896, leaving an infant, Ruth I., then twelve weeks old and being now reared by its grandparents; Daniel 0., born April 4, 1876, and Maud E., who was born April 7, 1879, and died March 4, 1880. Mr. Betz is the owner of a highly cultivated farm of seventy-five acres, improved with excellent buildings, and regarded as one of the best farms of its size in Norton township. He and his wife are leaders in Grace Reformed church, to which all the family also belong, and are active in Sunday-school work. Mr. Betz is a member, likewise, of Buckley post, No. 12, G. A. R., and, although a stanch democrat, voted, at the age of twenty years, while in the army in Tennessee, for Abraham Lincoln for the presidency of the United States. Locally he has always taken an active part in politics and has filled the office of township trustee, and also as county infirmary director for three years from November 8, 1892. Mr. Betz is probably one of the best marksmen in the state of Ohio, being capable of taking off a pigeon's head in a tree-top with a rifle-ball, and was never known to kill a squirrel except by shooting it through the head. So great is his skill in this respect, he is barred out of all ordinary shooting matches. He is very comfortably situated, is at the head of a respected family, and enjoys in every particular the esteem of his fellow-citizens.N NORMAN B. BIDLEMAN, one of the most substantial farmers and live stock raisers in Green township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this township, and was born February 24, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 201 1850, a son of George and Rachel (Grotz) Bidleman. John Bidleman, paternal grandfather of Norman B., was born in Pennsylvania, was a drover, and married Elizabeth Lillie, who was also a native of the Keystone state, was born in 1780, and died March 3, 1867, the mother of four children. It is surmised that her husband met with a death by violence, as he had departed from his home for New Jersey with a drove of ninety-one mules, always carried considerable money about his person, and was never thereafter heard of. Abraham Grotz, maternal grandfather of Norman B. Bidleman, was also a native of Pennsylvania, was a hatter by trade, doing business in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, and in 1831 came to Ohio. To his marriage to Emeline Koon were born eleven children, of whom three still survive, viz: John K., of Bloomsburg, Pa.; Rebecca, widow of Michael B. Myers, and Louisa, wife of John B. Myers, of Green township, Summit county, Ohio. George Bidleman, father of Norman B., was born in Bloomsburg, Pa., October 16, 1804, and learned the tanner's trade. He married, April 3, 1828, Miss Rachel Grotz, who was born February I I, 1809, a daughter of Abraham and Emeline (Koon) Grotz, and to this union were born six children, of whom Rebecca is the wife of Jacob Royer, of Stark county; Norman B.; Abraham passed away in infancy, in 1829; William died March 17, 1851, at the age of seventeen years; Lovinia died in 1830; an infant unnamed is deceased. After George Bidleman settled in Ohio he followed farming until his retirement about twenty years before his death, which occurred January 28, 189o, his wife dying May 18, 1891. Mr. Bidleman had attained considerable prominence in his township, of which he was a trustee for many years, and had accumulated a handsome competency, living retired from active attention to business for fully twenty years. He and wife were both conscientious members of the Reformed church and were greatly esteemed for their many good qualities of heart and mind and the purity of their lives. Norman B. Bidleman resided on his father's farm until fourteen years of age, receiving, in the meantime, a fair education in the district school. For a year he clerked for C. F. Stroman & Co., receiving $5o and his board for his services. The following year he hired to David Grotz for $15 per month, and remained with him two years, and then, at the age of seventeen years, took possession of his father's farm. November 14, 1872, he married Miss Lovinia A. Wise, who was born January 1, 1850, in Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel N. and Anna (Raber) Wise, and to this union have been born four children, of whom two—Carrie E. and Mattie M.—are still living, Elsie A. having died February 16, 1874, aged twenty-one days, and Norman B., Jr., also dying in infancy. Samuel N. Wise, father of Mrs. Bidleman, was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 9, 1823, was reared a farmer, but for many years was engaged in the live stock trade, and now resides in Union Town, Stark county, in retirement, and is still an active member of the Methodist church, in which he has been a class leader for the past thirty years. He married Miss Anna Raber, who was born May 22. 1822, a daughter of John Raber, and to their union were born five children, of whom two are still living, viz: Hiram P., of Union Town, Stark county, and Lovinia A., wife of Mr. Bidleman. The deceased three children were Amelia, John and Amanda—the last named having been married to Frank Myers, and dying April 5, 1887, at the age of thirty-four years. Mrs. Anna (Raber) Wise departed this life January 4, 1892, aged sixty-nine 202 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD years, seven months and twelve days, and was a devout Christian. Since 1872, in addition to farming, Mr. Bidleman has given a great deal of attention to the raising of and dealing in live stock, and for the past ten years to the buying and selling of wheat, and at present is operating the grain elevator at Myersville Station, constantly adding to his already comfortable fortune. Politically he was in early days a democrat, but now affiliates with the prohibitionists, preferring that the grain he handles should go into breadstuffs, rather than into whisky. He cast his first vote for Horace Greeley. He and family are members of the Methodist church at Union Town, in which he holds the office of steward, and of which he was, for a number of years, a trustee, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Bidleman is one of the most progressive business men of his township and county, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens, for he has certainly done much to advance the moral and material progress of both town and county, having begun when a mere lad and continuing the good work in the prime of his manhood. CAPT. GEORGE BILLOW, the veteran funeral director of Akron, Ohio, is a native of Germany; he was born on the 2d day of April, 1833, in Nordheim, near the city of Worms, on the famous river Rhine, Hessen Darmstadt; he is the fourth son of John and Elizabeth (Millius) Billau. The family, consisting of the parents, five sons and two daughters, immigrated to this country in 1844, settling eight miles northwest of Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio, in what was then known as the "Black Swamp." At the age of sixteen, George, our subject, was apprenticed to Ambrose Ochs, a wagonmaker in Fremont, for three years, at the following wages: Fifteen dollars for the first year; twenty dollars for the second, and forty dollars for the third, together with board and his washing. Low wages and long days (twelve to thirteen hours) were then the prevailing custom. After learning his trade he wended his way to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in the carriage factory of Jacob Lowman until he had acquired proficiency as a body-builder, when, in February, 1854, he came to Akron, engaged himself as a body-builder to C. A. Collins in his factory at Middlebury, now the Sixth ward of Akron, and later embarked at the same place in the business for himself until the second year of the war of the southern Rebellion, when, in July, 1862, he assisted in recruiting a company of volunteer infantry for the Union army, enlisting himself as a private, being mustered in with his company, I, One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, as orderly sergeant, at Cleveland, Ohio, on September 6, 1862. On November 30, following, he was commissioned second lieutenant, but the name being spelled Billow instead of Billau—the army being under marching orders to Fredericksburg, Va., in anticipation of meeting the enemy in severe battle, prompted Col. Seraphim Myers, who commanded the regiment, to advise the immediate muster in as second lieutenant under the name given, since which time it has been so retained. Subsequent promotions to first lieutenant and captain followed October I, 1863, and November 3, 1864, respectively. The One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, with which the captain cast his lot, was destined to pass through extraordinary hardships, privations and severe battles. Before being fully equipped, it was rushed to the front to resist the advance of the rebel army in Kentucky, under Gen. Bragg, after which it was forwarded to the army of the Potomac and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 203 assigned to the command of Gen. Franz Sigel, the Eleventh corps, at Fairfax C. H., Va., sharing with it the cruel hardships of Gen. Burnside's December campaign to Fredericksburg, Va., the humiliating defeat of the battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863, and its glorious victory at the famous battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 2 and 3, 1863, losing heavily in killed and wounded because of the prominent part taken, yet, in all, Capt. Billow escaped the rebel missiles. After the battle of Gettysburg, what remained of the One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, was, with Gen. Gordon's division, transferred to Folly Island, S. C., the department South, commanded by Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, where, on the several islands in front of Charleston, they were engaged in assaults upon and the fir al taking of Fort Wagoner, on Morris Island, as also in frequent skirmishes and small battles from August, 1863, to January, 1864, when they were transferred to Jacksonville district of Florida. While on Folly Island, Capt. Billow was taken sick with typhoid fever, and with other hopeless cases, sent to St. Augustine, Fla., returning to his command about four weeks later, not well, but convalescent. He never fully recovered from said sickness; in consequence he was, in February, 1864, detailed on the staff of Col. Noble, of the Seventeenth regiment, Connecticut volunteer infantry, commander of brigade, to act as commissary of subsistence; on May 18, following, he was ordered by Gen. Foster, commanding the department South, to Fernandina, Fla., in charge of the commissary department. December 13, 1864, he was assigned to duty as provost marshal at Jacksonville, Fla., and March 12, 1865, by special request of Commissary Gen. Champlin, at Hilton Head, S. C., he was again returned to his former post at Fernandina, serving until relieved for the purpose of muster-out with his regiment at Charleston, S. C., July 10, 1865, and finally discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 26, 1865, serving his entire term of nearly three years without a single furlough. The captain is a member of the Episcopal Church of our Savior, and is quite prominent as a Freemason, being Past E. C. of Akron commandery, No. 25, K. T., and its present Prelate; King of Washington chapter, No. 25, R. A. M. P. M. of Adoniram lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M., for the establishment of which and the Masonic Temple company he was untiring as a prime mover; he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine; he is a charter member and past commander of Buckley post, No. 12, G. A. R., a member of the Loyal Legion, I. 0. 0. F., and several beneficiary societies; in politics he is a sincere and ardent republican. Springing from families of more than ordinary longevity (his grandfather, father and mother attaining to the age of over eighty-six years), his genealogy is quite interesting and not without its military ancestors, who figure under another government; vet the family characteristics lean toward peaceful pursuits. Capt. George Billow's marriage took place September 19, 1854, to Miss Anna Mary, daughter of Conrad and Charlotte Fink, of Akron, Ohio. His family consists of five sons —George W., Charles F., Albert C., Jacob and Edwin L.—and three daughters—Anna (Mrs. John Sabin, in Vermont), Ida (Mrs. James Rehert, Akron, Ohio), and Clara. Since his discharge from military service the subject of this sketch has been engaged, with various successes and reverses, in the grocery business at Akron, as a partner, also as salesman; invested largely in fanning-mill patent right on the advice of friends, proving a total loss; then moved to Huntsville, Ala., to enrich himself, raising cotton, which proved a dismal failure, whereupon he returned to his old home, Akron, Ohio, and in 1875 engaged 204 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in the undertaking business, and by industry, honesty and skill has succeeded in making it the leading establishment in his city, which is still growing, and, possessing the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, this seems to afford him the contentment so essential to happiness and quite satisfactory at the eventide of a busy life. SYLVESTER J. BOLENDER, a thriving farmer of Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Lake township, Stark county, January 31, 1850. George Bolender, grandfather of subject, was a native of Union county, Pa., was carpenter and cabinetmaker, and a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio. He was also a farmer, and in Union Town, Stark county, was proprietor of an inn and a stage-coach line. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion was a member of the Reformed church. He married, in. Stark county, Margaret Wise, who came from Cumberland county, Pa., in 1815. John Bolender, father of subject, was born in Green township (now in Summit county) March 27, 1819, was reared to farming, also learned cabinetmaking, and for several terms taught school in the old pioneer school-house of his district. In politics he was a democrat, and for a number of years filled the office of justice of ,the peace. He was an elder in the Reformed church and for fifteen years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. He at one time possessed considerable property, but, owing to the failure of others in business, he lost heavily. About 1838, Mr. Bolender married Miss Judith Pontious, daughter of Benjamin and Sophia (Myers) Pontious, and to this union were born Sophia, deceased wife of Manum Rayor; James K., who died when small; Armina L. ; Sylvester J.; Lucretia; Charles; and .Sarah J., wife of Forest Nees. Mr. Bolender remained on his farm until 1866, when he retired to Union Town, where his death took place August 7, 1883, and that of his wife July 7, 1893. Both were honored for their chaste lives and their unswerving adherence to the teachings of their church. Sylvester J. Bolender lived on the home farm until seventeen years of age, and then served an apprenticeship of four years at cabinetmaking and later learned hard-wood finishing. He had received an excellent education in the Greensburg academy and was prepared for teaching school, and duly qualified, also, for teaching music. He passed nine years at his trade, and on May 4, 1876, married Jennie R. Sorrick, daughter of Peter and Mary A. (Kyser) Sorrick, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of Bertha B., who was born May 22, 1877, and died August 7, 1877, and Hazel L., born November 17, 1888. Peter Sorrick, father of Mrs. Bolender, was born in Franklin township September 20, 1822; his wife, Mary A. Kyser, was born in the same township May 29, 1829, and here they were married November 15, 1855. Mr. Sorrick owned a well improved farm of 127 acres in Franklin township, and seven acres in Manchester. He was a democrat in politics, and died December 20, 1893, a member of the Reformed church. His only child, Jennie R. (Mrs. Bolender), was born September 21, 1856. Adam Sorrick, father of Peter Sorrick, was a native of Blair county, Pa., and an early pioneer of Stark county, Ohio. He took up land from the government in Franklin township (then a part of Stark but now in Summit county), and lived to clear it all up. He married, in Franklin township, Mary Raber, also a native of Blair county, Pa., and died in 1875 —his wife dying March 27, 1877. Sylvester J. Bolender, since his marriage has lived upon the 127-acre farm formerly OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 205 owned by his father-in-law, and has materially improved it, rendering it both comfortable and profitable. In politics he is a prohibitionist, has the full confidence of his party, and is moreover widely known and respected throughout the township. HENRY F. BOWERS, a successful and and respected farmer of Green township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Lake township, Stark county, September 15, 1845, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Coxen) Bowers, the former a native of Bedford county, Pa., born in May, 1798, and the latter born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in July, 1816. Frederick Bowers was brought to Ohio in 1808 by his parents, who located, first, about five miles south of the site of the present city of Canton, Stark county, where they remained one year, and then removed to Lake township, where Frederick passed the remainder of his life. He was reared a farmer, and married Mrs. Elizabeth Spotts, a daughter of and Catharine (Fox) Coxen, the marriage resulting in the birth of five children, of whom three still survive, viz: Jacob, in St. Joseph county, Ind. ; Henry F., our subject, and Catherine A., wife of Uriah Stoner, of Canton, Ohio. The two deceased were William, who died at the age of nineteen years, July 4, 1863, in hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, from disease contracted in the Civil war, and Rachel, who died at the age of forty-seven years, the wife of Isaac Shriver, who is also deceased. Mr. Bowers, who was a carpenter as well as farmer, departed this life in June, 188o, at the age of eighty-two years, and his widow followed him to the grave in July, 1884, at the age of sixty-eight years. Jacob Bowers, grandfather of Henry F. Bowers, served seven years in the Revolution ary war and was a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio (settling there in 1808), and to him and wife were born fourteen children, of whom twelve reached maturity. The maternal grandparents were natives of England and the parents of ten children, three of whom are still living, viz: Hannah, wife of George Witsman, of Lake township, Stark county, Ohio; William, of West Virginia, and Emanuel, of Kansas. The deceased Coxen children were Mrs. Lucinda Bogue; Phebe; Mary, wife of Jacob Shively; Sarah, wife of Jonas Ruff; Elizabeth, wife of Henry F. Bowers, our subject; Sophia, wife of Levi Bolander, and John. The Coxen family were all members of the Reformed church, and people of some distinction among their neighbors. Henry F. Bowers was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district school of his native township and at Greensburg seminary. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school, following the vocation for twelve successive terms in district No. 1, Lake township; five, in No. 6; two, in No. 12; two in Union township; all in Stark county, Ohio, and one term in Green township, Summit county, but the summer months were passed on the farm. Mr. Bowers was united in marriage February 23, 1871, with Miss Catherine A. Kreighbaum, daughter of Abraham and Harriet (Reifsnyder) Kreighbaum, of Lake township, and to this union have been born three children, viz: Edith I., wife of Fi-aFrankg, of Akron; Harriet, married to Frank Langs, a leading merchant of Myersville, Green township, and Ralph C., still under the parental roof. Abraham Kreighbaum, father of Mrs. Bowers, was a native of Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, was a tanner by trade, but in later years became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Harriet Reifsnyder, daughter of David and Mary (Grane) Reifsnyder, were born 206 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD seven children, viz: William C.; Catherine A., who was born April 14, 1852, and is now Mrs. Henry F. Bowers; Frank G. ; Daniel R. ; Mary, wife of Isaac Heckman; Charles S., and Ellen, wife of J. Bare, all living in Stark 'county, with the exception of Mrs. Bowers. The mother of this family was called away March 1, 1884, in the faith of the Evangelical church, and at the age of fifty-two years; the father reached the age of sixty-seven years, and died in October, 1895, in the faith of the Lutheran church, although he had formerly been a member of the same church with his wife. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Bowers purchased his present farm, where, in connection with farming, he is extensively engaged in stockraising. For twelve years Mr. Bowers was a member of the school board in Stark county,. and has served as township clerk of Green township, Summit county. He enjoys the confidence of the entire community, and he and family are among the most respected in Green township. JOHN H. BREWSTER, who is well known as one of the most experienced business men and thrifty farmers of Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, was born on his present farm January 11, 1834. His father, James G. Brewster, was a native of Groton, Conn., was born in 1797, and was fourteen years old when brought to Summit county by his parents, and here endured all the hardships of pioneer life, being educated in an old log school-house and inured to the severe toil of frontier farming. In early manhood he married Miss Martha Hasson, who was a native of Carlisle, Pa., and to this union were born six children, viz. : Stephen, deceased; John H., the subject; James G., who died January 1, 1897; Hiram; George W., and William, who died when quite small. The father wrought out from the wilderness the farm now occupied by our subject, was the owner of 32o acres, and in his day was considered a wealthy man. He was a gentleman of great influence in the community in which he lived, took an active part in whig politics and also a great interest in muster day. In religion he was a Universalist, and died in that faith June 27, 1842, more than ordinarily well respected; his widow survived until October 12, 1884, when she died, a Scotch Seceder in religion and venerated as a lady possessing many womanly virtues. John H. Brewster has always resided on his native farm, never having been away from it, with the exception of two months passed in Iowa. The five Brewster brothers who attained manhood's estate never divided their financial interests, but jointly conducted the farm, beginning at the point where their father left it. They now own about a section and a half of fine arable land in Summit counts', beside 400 acres of coal land in Columbiana county, as one mutual possession. John H., however, is president of the Buckeye Sewer Pipe company, of Akron, and president of the United States Stoneware company, of the same city; also is a director in the Barberton Savings bank, and is interested with his brothers in the Brewster flouring-mill, of Coventry township. In politics Mr. Brewster is a republican, and has filled most of the township offices as a matter of duty as a good citizen, has served three terms as county infirmary director, and is at present serving his second term as county commissioner. Hiram Brewster, brother of John H., was born Tune 8, 1835, and has always lived on this, his native farm. Neither brother is married, both living in single blessedness in their beautiful country house, which cost them over $14,000. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 209 The grandfather of Mr. Brewster was Stephen Brewster, born in Groton, Conn., in 1770, came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1811, and died here July 12, 1858. He was a carpenter by trade, and he and the father of Mr. Brewster erected the first flouring-mill on the Tuscarawas river. The mill was commonly known as the Fritts mill. JOHN BOOSINGER, a retired farmer and one of the oldest residents of Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, was born here May 8, 1818, the center village of the township being then known as Thorndyke, and is a son of John and Barbara (Willard) Boosinger. Conrad Boosinger, the grandfather of our subject, came to America from Germany, and took part in the war for American independence: John Boosinger, the father of our subject, was a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1816 came to Portage county, Ohio, and entered a 200-acre farm in Brimfield township, which was then a dense wilderness. Here he built a log cabin, and by untiring industry cleared up his land, which he converted into a fine farm, and which, through the added industry of our subject, is now one of the best farms in the county. To his marriage with Miss Willard were born eight children, of whom John (our subject), Benjamin and Nathan are still living, while Catherine, Sarah, Susan, Philip and George have passed away. The father of these lived to be ninety years of age, when he died in the faith of the Universalist church. John Boosinger, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the Brimfield farm, received such education as could be secured in the pioneer school, and at the age of twenty-two years assumed the management of the home place. He was first married in Novem- - 3 - ber, 1842, to Miss Caroline Naff, daughter of Conrad and Mary Naff, and to this union were born two children—Lafayette V. and Lucy C. —the latter married to George Meacham. Mrs. Caroline Boosinger was called from earth April 11, 1843, at the age of twenty-nine years. November 4, 1845, Mr. Boosinger chose for his second helpmate Miss Julia Naff, a sister of his deceased wife. This union has been blessed with three children, viz.: Edward Conrad; Sadie, wife of William Moulton; and Omer C., who died December 30, 1887, at the age of twenty-nine years. Mr. Boosinger greatly inproved the homestead while it was in his possession. He operated a threshing machine several years in connection with his agricultural pursuits, but the old home place has passed out of the family, and now Mr. Boosinger owns another fine farm of 120 acres. In politics he has always been a democrat, and has filled the office of township trustee, and for six years was a member of the board of school directors. He is a devoted member of the Universalist church, of which he is also a trustee, and no resident of the county of Portage stands higher in the esteem of the public than John Boosinger. BENJAMIN M. BOYER, a highly respected agriculturist of Springfield. township, Summit county, Ohio, and a well-known educator, was born in Juniata county, Pa., February 17, 1841, a son of George and Mary Magdalena (Kepner) Boyer, of whom mention in full will be made further on. Benjamin M. Boyer received a sound public-school education, then attended Airy View and Markelville academies, and when seventeen years of age began teaching school in his own district, continuing the vocation six consecutive years. He assisted his father on the home 210 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD farm when not attending or teaching school, and in 1864 came to Ohio, and in Akron secured a position as clerk in P. D. Hall's dry-goods store, where he remained nearly two years, and while thus employed was married, at Wooster, Ohio, October 3, 1865, to Miss Mary A. Ritter, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Ritzman) Ritter, and of whom further mention will be made before this sketch shall have been brought to a close. This marriage has been blessed with five children, of whom Philander M., Harry J., Emerson E. and Altha Augusta are still living; Effie M. died. when but one year old. Of these children, Philander M. passed through the common schools and the Akron high school; also took a course in Buchtel college, and in the normal department of the Union Town (Stark county) high school; his present business is that of a gardener. Emerson E. graduated from Hammill's business college, is engaged in the dairy business, and is an honored member of lodge No. 50, I. O. O. F., at Akron. Miss Altha A. has passed through the district schools and has been awarded a certificate which permits her entrance to any high school in the county. In 1866 Mr. Boyer began teaching school during the winter months in Portage township, Summit county, and taught for eighteen consecutive terms, but while not teaching found many other occupations to engage his time and attention, for, instance: The first year after leaving the dry-goods business he conducted a meat market in Springfield township, and then bought a small farm, but shortly afterward sold it at a handsome profit and bought another south of Akron, where he engaged in gardening. He then entered the brokerage business, which he still continues, more or less, handling stocks, chattel mortgages. etc. In 1884 he relinquished teaching, and since then, beside his broker's business, has been principally engaged in agriculture, dairying, and in running a fruit and vegetable wagon to Akron. He has also had some experience as a teacher of vocal music in the public schools, and at one time was engaged in the sale of musical instruments. In politics he is a democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Geo. B. McClellan. He has served as township supervisor several terms, has been a member of the school board six years, and township trustee one term, performing his duties faithfully and satisfactorily. He has served, also, as as guardian of three families of children and has settled up their estates to their entire satisfaction. Fraternally Mr. Boyer is a past grand of Summit lodge, No. 5o, I. 0. 0. F., of Akron, and also of the encampment. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the Lutheran church, while Philander M. and Altha are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church at Krumroy. Mrs. Mary A. (Ritter) Boyer. wife of Benjamin M., was born January 22, 1843, in the house in which she and her husband now reside in Springfield township, which house was erected by her father, who, with his wife, came from Snyder county, Pa., and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Boyer. Of the eight children born to John S. and Elizabeth (Rittman) Ritter, Frederick resides near Bedford, Cuyahoga county, and is an agriculturist; Henry lives in Springfield township, Summit county, and is also a farmer; Phebe is the wife of Levi Thornton, of Coventry township; Catherine is at home; Mrs. Boyer and John S. M. are next in order of birth; one child died in infancy, and Matilda, who was the wife of Solomon \Varner, died at the age of forty-nine years. The father of this family died in 1872, at the age of sixty-six years. and the mother in 1884, when seventy-seven years old, both in the faith of the Lutheran church, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 211 and among the most highly respected residents of Springfield township. George Boyer, father of Benjamin M. Boyer, was born on the banks of the Susquehanna river, Cumberland connty, Pa. , January 4, t 819, and his wife, Mary Magdalena Kepner, was born March 19, 1818, in Juniata county, in the Tuscorara valley, of the same state, and they were married December 19, 1839. In Juniata county, of the Keystone state they retain their residence, and are now living in retired ease. In his younger days Mr. Boyer learned tailoring, but followed the trade a short time only, preferring to drive a team attached to a canal-boat, at which work he earned considerable money, and in course of time was able to buy his present farm in Juniata county. To his marriage have been born nine children, of whom Benjamin M., whose name opens this article, is the eldest; Elmira J. is the wife of Alonzo H. Guss, of Akron, Ohio; Lehman 0. resides in Juniata county, Pa. ; Mary is the wife of Jacob Wisehaupt, also of Juniata county; Ida C. was first married to Dr. Hench, and, after his death, was married to Wilson Robinson, who is also deceased, and the daughter herself is the manager of the household of her parents; George W. manages the farm for his father; Elizabeth C. died after reaching maturity; Sarah C. died at the age of eight years, and Albert Luther died in infancy. The father of this family, now eighty years of age, retains in full his mental faculties and keeps a general oversight of his financial interests, being a large stockholder in the Port Royal bank, and having other extensive investments. In fact, he has always been a financier, and, while a canal-boat driver boarded seven canal boatmen, and during the construction of the Pennsylvania Central railroad exercised his energy in driving a team along that road, realizing $3,00o in three years. He and wife are mem bers of the Lutheran church, live fully up to its teachings and are among the most venerated residents of Juniata county. Michael Boyer, paternal grandfather of subject, was born in Lebanon county, Pa., and was a son of a German who settled in Lebanon county, Pa., and to his marriage with Miss Koons were born five children, of whom three are still living, viz: Catherine, widow of James Foose, and a resident of Newport, Pa. ; George, and Jane, wife of David Kilmer, of Juniata county, Pa. One son, John P., with his family, was burned to death in Perry county, Pa., and another son, Philip, is also deceased. The maternal grandfather of B. M. Boyer was twice married, and to his first marriage were born John, Jacob and Catherine, all deceased. His second marriage was to Miss Sarah Dupes, and to this marriage were born eight children, viz: Elizabeth, now eighty-nine years old and married to Samuel Aughey, of Millford, Pa.; Christine, who was first married to Jacob Hertzler, and, after his death, to a Mr. Heikes, who is also deceased; Mary Magdalena, who is the mother of our subject; Benjamin D.; Samuel D. ; Solomon, who died in infancy; Sarah, who was married to Samuel Rice, but, with her husband, is now deceased; Henry, the oldest, has also passed away, and the parents have likewise gone to their rest in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. Boyer is located on a beautiful farm of 154 acres in Springfield township, seven miles from the court house at Akron. He comes from one of the old and respected families of Summit county. He is also owner of valuable real estate in the city of Akron, and is classed as one of the progressive farmers of Summit county. While he was a member of the school board in his township the question was agitated of forming a high school system and Mr. Boyer was appointed as committee on 212 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD that work, which was finally adopted. The system of high school known as the Akron system originated in this county and in Akron. WILHELM J. BRACKLOW, proprietor of the Columbia hotel, Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Berlin, Germany, August I, 1853, and is a son of Johan and Caroline Bracklow, who were the parents of four sons, three of whom are still living—Wilhelm J., Herman and Joseph. The father, Johan, was in early life a soldier, but later became a carpenter, contractor and builder, and was killed by an accident, which occurred in his native city. His widow married Otto Kickow, and both now live in Ravenna, Ohio, with their two children, Lena and Mary. Both grandfathers were also military men. Wilhelm J. Bracklow was a youth of fourteen years when brought to America by his mother. He had received a very good public-school education in his native country, and at the age of fifteen years began clerking in a hardware store in Ravenna, Ohio, where his mother had made her home. Eight years later, tiring of this occupation and seeking for wider fields in which to realize a fortune, he started west, in 1875, for the Black Hills, for the purpose of prospecting, but in 1877 returned to Ravenna, but a trifle better off than when he departed. However, he was prepared to enter the furniture business in partnership with his now step-father, Otto Kickow, which they carried on together about five years; he next clerked in the grocery store of Furry & Williams for seven years, and then, for several years, conducted a restaurant, in which business he was so successful as to induce him to take charge of the Columbia hotel in 1896, where the prospects for a competency are most flattering, as he is a most genial landlord, is well acquainted with the needs of the traveling public, and as his experience in the restaurant business has fitted him for a first-class caterer and qualified him for overseeing the essential of all hotel-keeping—the cuisine. The marriage of Mr. Bracklow took place September 10, 1881 , with Mrs. Cynthia Williams, daughter of Stephen and Eunice .(Chickering) Bissell, but to this union there has been no offspring. Mrs. Bracklow, however, is the mother of one son—Alonzo C.—by her former husband. The parents of Mrs. Bracklow were natives of Massachusetts and were the parents of nine children--three sons and six daughters, of whom five are still living, viz: Maria A., wife of George Clark, of Royalton, Ohio; Cynthia, wife of Mr. Bracklow; Maud I., wife of Charles Coolidge. of Cleveland; Della E. and William S., both, also. of Cleveland. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bracklow was Harvey Bissell, a native of Massachusetts, an early settler of Medina county, Ohio, and the father of six children; the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Bracklow was George Chickering, also a native of the Bay State, was a farmer and was one of the pioneers of Cuyahoga county in the Buckeye state. For several years he kept a country inn, about twelve miles from Cleveland, the only stopping place west of the city on the state road, and in reality in the wilderness. He had a family of seven children, who all grew to maturity, and the last few years of his life were passed in Cleveland, where he died at the age of seventy-seven. The father of Mrs. Bracklow, Stephen Bissell, was a carpenter, came to Ohio in an early day, and settled in Medina county until about 1876, when he moved with his family to Cleveland and followed his trade until his death, in March, 1892, at the age of sixty-six years; his widow is still a resident of that city. Mrs. Bracklow is a faithful member of the Methodist church and is an able assistant to OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 213 her husband in his present business, being a lady of much experience. Mr. Bracklow is a master Mason and a member of the uniform rank, K. of P. In politics he is independent, and during his long residence of thirty years in Ravenna has never made an enemy, but retains the friendship of hundreds of citizens whom he has won by his obliging disposition and unvarying courtesy, and his ability to keep a hotel. GEORGE W. BREWSTER, the fifth son of James G. and Martha (Hasson) Brewster, was born on the home farm March 21. 1837, received a sound common-school education, and in 1857 went to California, via New York city and the isthmus of Panama. He passed nearly seven years on the Pacific coast, two years in the mines, and for one year drove a ten-mule team between Sacramento, Cal., and Virginia City, Nev. He was next. employed to manage or superintend the interests of a syndicate of wealthy men in 7,000 acres of land, and in 1866 returned to Summit county, Ohio, to become bookkeeper and manager for the Brewster Bros.' coal mines, which have now been worked for more than twenty years, employing from twenty-five to 135 men. His present residence, in this interest, is situated about a half-mile north of Thomastown, and cost $14,000, and to which allusion is made in the memoir of John H. Brewster. For five years Mr. Brewster has been treasurer of the Summit County Agricultural society, and a director, for fourteen years; he is a director in the Buckeye Sewer Pipe company, in the United States Stoneware company, both at Akron, and in the Barberton Savings bank. In politics he is a strong republican, and fraternally is a member of lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. Mr. Brewster was joined in matrimony, October 18, 1876, with Miss Marie L. Kent, who was born in Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Josiah and Lucia (Miller) Kent, pioneers of Portage county. Mr. Kent is now deceased, and his widow makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Brewster. The marriage of Mr. Brewster has been blessed with four children, viz: Georgia M., now attending Buchtel college; Hiram Wallace, who died young; Arthur K., who was a very intelligent, but never strong lad, and died April 28, 1895, at the age of fourteen years, and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster are members of the Congregational church, and it is hardly necessary to add that their social standing is with the most respectable people of Summit county. JOSIAH BROWN, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, was born February 28, 1838, in Cuyahoga Falls, received a common education in the public schools and learned the cabinetmaker's trade of his father. He enlisted at the age of twenty-three years, September to, 1861, for three years or during the war, at Cuyahoga Falls, under Capt. A. J. Konkle, in company D, First Ohio light artillery, was promoted sergeant, served until he re-enlisted at Strawberry Plains January 7, 1863, in the same organization, and was promoted to second lieutenant May 13, 1864, and assigned to battery E, First Ohio artillery. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 20, 1865, having served his country three years and eight months. He was in the battles of Ivy Mountain, Ky., Pittsburgh Landing, Corinth, Miss., Nashville, Tenn., Knoxville, Tenn., and a battle near Resaca, La. Mr. Brown was sick im hospital from November, 1862, until May, 1863, with chronic diarrhea—with this excep- 214 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tion he was always an active soldier and prompt and efficient in the discharge of his duty. After the war he returned to Cuyahoga Falls and worked for Turner, Vaughn & Taylor for twenty years, in the wood-working department, and then engaged in the furniture and undertaking business with his father. He married, July 2, 1866, at Lebanon, Pa., Lucy E. Warner, who was born May 5, 1841, in Springfield township, Summit county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Warner. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born Ida A., Charles A. and Birdie B. Mr. Brown is a member of Eadie post, No. 37, G. A. R., Cuyahoga Falls, and is now quartermaster, and also of Howard lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F., and is an honored and respected citizen. Simon Brown, father of our subject, was horn in Pennsylvania February 21, 1811, a son of Jacob Brown, of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. Simon came to Cuyahoga Falls when a young man, about 1833 or 1834, and learned cabinetmaking and undertaking of J. T. Holloway,. and, when he had learned his trade, engaged in business for himself at Cuyahoga Falls, and so continued for more than sixty years, or until his death, October 5, 1895. He was very industrious and reliable, and through his long business career was seldom away from his duties. He married Elizabeth Pontious, born March 25, 1817, in Lake county, near Hartsville, Ohio, a daughter of Solomon Pontious. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born Josiah, April 28, 1838; Harriet E., February 10, 184o, and Ezra, January 18, 1842. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown were members of the Methodist church, in which he took an active interest and to which he contributed liberally. In politics he was a republican and was a strong Union man. His son Ezra served in the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry for about one year, was wounded in the hand badly, and was honorably discharged. This wound caused his health to be totally ruined. Simon Brown, father of our subject, was a well known and highly respected citizen and had the respect of all throughout his long life. AUSTIN K. BREWSTER, one of the most enterprising business men of Akron, was born in Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, November 23, 1845, is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Kinney) Brewster, and paternally is of remote Scottish extraction, William Brewster, the progenitor of the family of that name in America, having been a native born Caledonian who came to America in the Mayflower, in 1620, landing on Plymouth Rock, Mass. From him descended William Brewster, the great-grandfather of our subject, who married a Miss Woodard and lived in Groton. Conn. Stephen Brewster, son of the last-mentioned William, and grandfather of our subject, was born in Groton, New London county, Conn., May 4, 1770, became a carpenter and joiner, and married Lydia Bellis, who was born in Connecticut, May 14, 1771, a daughter of John Bellis., who lost three sons on board men-of-war during the war of the Revolution. To the marriage of Stephen Brewster were born the following children: James G. ; Lucinda, who was married to James Edrington; Charlotte, married to Martin Hansen; Hannah, married to William Clark; Hiram, who died in infancy, and Alexander. In 1800 the family moved from Connecticut to Whitestown, Oneida county, N. Y., and in 1812 came in wagons to Summit county, Ohio, there being at that date only two log cabins in Akron. They cut a road from East Akron through the wilderness to Akron, part of this road being now Bechtel avenue, and here the father bought the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 215 farm of 160 acres on which John Brewster now resides, built on it the first habitation—a log cabin—and cleared up the land. In 1815, Stephen Brewster erected the first frame house in the township, and, being a zealous Presbyterian, the early meetings of this sect in the neighborhood were held in this new dwelling. Stephen and wife later became charter members of, and largely aided in building, the First Tallmadge and Second Springfield township Presbyterian churches. Mrs. Lydia Brewster died in this faith at the age of seventy-one years. and Mr. Brewster died, an equally devout Presbyterian, July 4, 1858, aged eighty years and two months. Alexander Brewster, youngest child of Stephen and Lydia Brewster and father of our subject, was born in Oneida county, N. Y. September 10, 1808, and was consequently four years of age when the family reached Summit county, Ohio, the day on which the war of 1812 was declared against Great Britain. He was educated in the log schoolhouses of.the frontier, and lived on the home farm until his marriage, January 9, 1830, to Margaret A. Kinney, who was born May 14, 1813, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary Kinney. To this marriage were born the following children: Louisa, wife of J. F. Michum; Alfred A.; Ephraim; Mary; Melissa, wife of R. H. Kent, and Austin K. In 1848, Mr. Brewster engaged in coal mining, and before retiring had made it the largest industry in this line in the state, as will be shown in the coming paragraph, but it is here necessary to introduce an episode in the life of Mr. Brewster. March 18, 1850, he, in company with several others, started for the gold fields of California, going by wagon to Saint Louis, Mo., thence by steamboat up the Missouri river to Saint Jo, and then by wagon across the plains, through hordes of hostile Indians, to Sacramento, and while on this trip saw many hundred persons die of cholera. For about one year he engaged in gold digging, and then returned to Ohio and resumed coal mining. While in the coal business, Mr. Brewster, in company with his sons, exhausted about ten mines, and the books of the company, kept in Cleveland, show that he handled from 300,000 to 500,000 tons of coal yearly for twenty-one years, besides other outputs, not recorded in the books mentioned. The company had almost exclusive control of the mines on the Cleveland & Ohio canal, and continued their operations until 1865, when Mr. Brewster retired to ,Akron with a competency, and this city is still his home. December 14, 1854, Mrs. Margaret. A. Brewster was called from earth, and some time afterward Mr. Brewster married Minerva Brown, who died September 6, 1877. Mr. Brewster next married Mrs. Lucy J. Chamberlain, daughter of Justus and Sarah (Hyde) Gale, who came from Brattleboro, Vt., in 1833, to Akron, Ohio, which then contained a population of about 300. Here Mr. Gale became a prosperous merchant, accumulated valuable property, and died in the faith of the Episcopalian church, and in politics was a whig. During the active years of his life, Mr. Brewster was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and has always been most liberal in his contributions toward the support of church and school. At the age of eighty-nine years, he is to-day one of the oldest, most prominent and most respected of the citizens of Summit county. Austin K. Brewster was educated in the district schools of Coventry township, in the Greenburg seminary, and in the public schools of Akron, and began his business life in 1865 by becoming bookkeeper in the office of his father, in Coventry township. The same year, the firm of Brewster & Sons was formed, and 216 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in 1867 the Brewster Coal company was incorporated, since when Austin K. has been its secretary and treasurer. In 1869 he came to Akron, the main office of the company being transferred to this city, and here he has ever since made his home. May 25, 1875, Mr. Brewster married Miss Louise Hitchcock, daughter of Frederick and Laura L. (Seekins) Hitchcock, of Cleveland, Ohio, and this union was blessed with one child, Liona L., born May 4, 1882. Mrs. Louisa Brewster, it is painful to add, was called from earth and from her family April 6, 1897. SELAH WARREN BURT, mayor of Kent, Ohio, was born in Franklin township, Portage county, June 15, 1835, the younger of the two children born to Warren and Lydia (Shurtliff) Burt, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Franklin township. Martin Burt, grandfather of subject, was a native of Northhampton, Mass., was a farmer, and in 1821 traded his land in the Bay state for 600 acres in Ohio, and the same year came to Portage county and settled in Franklin township, where he cleared up a farm adjoining Lake Brady, being one of the first settlers of that neighborhood. To him and wife, Philomelia (Robinson) Burt, were born six children, viz: Warren, father of subject; Martin, who resides in Virginia; Philomelia (Mrs. Ormsby), of Vermillion, Ohio; Horace, deceased: Dorcas C., who was married to Rodney Wing and died in Birmingham, Ohio; Electa, wife of Samuel Wales, of River Falls, Wis. Warren Burt, father of Selah W., was born in Northampton, Mass., August 5, 1806, and came to Ohio with his parents, driving a team all the way and arriving in Portage county on his fifteenth birthday. Here he grew to manhood, assisting his father in clearing up the new homestead, and working on the dams and locks of the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal, in the meantime receiving a very fair common-school education. November 30, 1829, he married Miss Lydia, daughter of Selah and Pruanna (Phillips) Shurtliff, and a native of South Hampden, Mass., born in 1810, and also came to Ohio in 1820 with her parents, who settled in Franklin township, Portage county. At his marriage, Warren Burt was presented by his father with a tract of eighty acres of the original 6o0 acres of land, on which he lived until 1863, when he removed to Kent, where his wife died in 1886, since when he has made his home with his son, Selah W. To his marriage there were born two children, viz: Lydia Louisa, wife of T. M. Sawyer, of Cleveland, and Selah Warren, the subject of this memoir. In politics Mr. Burt was first a whip but is now a republican, and in religion he has been a member of the Christian church since almost childhood, and of this church his wife was also a member. Selah Warren Burt was reared on the home farm in Franklin township, received his elementary education in the common schools and then attended Hiram college two terms. In August, 1859, he first married Miss Sarah Stowe, who died in April, 1861, leaving one child, also deceased. In 1862 he married Miss Susan A. Stratton, a native of Franklin township and a daughter of Joseph B. and Ruth (Olin) Stratton, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, Cora M., wife of Frank C. Green, of Kent. Joseph B. Stratton, father of Mrs. Burt, was a native of Vermont, was a farmer, and ended his earthly cares in the city of Kent. Mr. Burt followed agriculture as a calling on his farm of eighty-two acres until 1886, when, on the death of his mother, he retired to Kent. In politics he has always been an active republican and his first public office was OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 217 that of township trustee of Franklin, which he held for over twenty years. In 1893 he was elected infirmary director, which office he still holds. He served as member of the city council of Kent for one term, and in 1896 was elected mayor. He has proven faithful and efficient in every trust reposed in him, and is deservedly popular with his party as well as with the general public. He is a member of Rockton lodge, No. 316, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past worshipful master. His wife and daughter are members of the Universalist church. Socially the family stands very high, and their circle of acquaintance embraces a wide extent of the territory of Franklin township. JOHN F. BYERS, manager of the John F. Byers Machine company, Ravenna, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, November 13, 1844, a son of Frederick and Ann (Reichard) Byers, natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of five children, four of whom are still living, viz: John F., George R., Charles, and Hattie, the wife of A. Trowbridge. Frederick Byers, the paternal grandfather of subject, was born in Germany, lived for many years in Pennsylvania, but died in Mahoning county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-six years, the father of a large family. John Reichard, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of Germany, first settled in the Keystone state, later came to Mahoning county, Ohio, and there died at an advanced age. Frederick Byers, the younger, father of John F. Byers, was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in his early manhood and lived in Mahoning county until within ten years of his death, which occurred in Ravenna, March 4, 1869. His wife died in 1887, a member of the Lutheran church. John F. Byers, the subject of this biography, was educated in the district schools of his native county and reared on the home farm until nearly seventeen years of age. About 1859 he came to Ravenna, learned the stonecutter's trade, and worked on a neighboring farm until twenty-one years old, and then worked for fourteen years for the railroad company as stonecutter. His next step in business was to establish his present machine shop, which employs, when in full running order, about fifty hands. On the 7th day of August, 1890, Mr. Byers was united in marriage with Miss Kate Palm, daughter of Adam Palm, and this happy marriage has been blessed with four children, born in the following order: Fred, Anna, John and Eve. Mr. Byers and family have a pleasant home one mile south of Ravenna, where he owns a farm of 125 acres, which, beside being pleasant -- Mr. Byers having been reared a farmer—is made profitable through his skillful direction. Mr. Byers is a non-affiliating Odd Fellow, although for a number of years he was an active member of that order. In his politics he is independent and votes for the man he thinks to be best qualified to fill the offices necessary to be filled—preferring to devote his time and attention to the needs of his patrons rather than wasting it by dabbling in party feuds. He and wife enjoy a high position socially and are much esteemed by all who know them. FRED I. BEAN, the gentlemanly proprietor of the Etna House, Ravenna, Ohio, is a native of Hammondsville, Ohio, was born January 17, 1869, and is the only survivor of the three children born to James and Eliza (Downer) Bean, the former of whom, also a native of Ohio, was a physician, but died when the subject was in 218 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD his infancy; the mother, now Mrs. H. S. Shannon, is a resident of Ravenna, Ohio. Subject was educated at Ada, Ohio, and graduated from the Northwestern Ohio university; his life has been passed almost entirely in ho, tels, his step-father, Mr. Shannon, having had an extensive experience in this line of business, and to him subject owes much of his instruction in hotel keeping. The Etna House, of which Mr. Bean took charge June 1, 1896, was thoroughly renovated and remodeled and is to-day the most favored of the hotels in Ravenna. The dining-room service is perfect and the employees courteous and polite on all occasions. The tables are supplied with the choicest viands that can be procured, and three complete meals are furnished daily—not with one good dinner and a light breakfast and supper, as is the custom with many hotels--but three substantial repasts. The rooms are neatly furnished and steamheated--the beds are luxurious and inviting to repose, and the Etna is rapidly becoming the choice of resorts by the traveling men of northeastern Ohio, who esteem themselves fortunate if they reach the house in time to pass a Sunday or a holiday. No large city hotel could boast of a more elegant menu than that prepared at the Etna for Thanksgiving day, 1896, and the daily fare is proportionately liberal and choice. In connection with the hotel is a bar, from which all gambling and its devices are strictly excluded. This is presided over by a temperate and polite gentleman, who caters to a legitimate trade, supplying the choicest articles of consumption, but discourages all loungers and disreputable visitants. The two clerks of the hotel are affable and obliging, and use every effort to make the guests feel at home. Mr. Bean is himself a frank, genial and cordial gentleman, whose long experience as manager and proprietor of hotels here and else where has well fitted him for the discharge of his duties in the delicate profession he has chosen to pursue, and all acknowledge him to be able and thorough in all its multifarious departments. Mr. Bean is prominent in Freemasonry, being a member of Rockton lodge, No. 316, A. & F. M., of Kent; of Tyrian chapter, No. 91, R. A. M., of Ravenna, and of Akron commandery, No. 25, K. T., and also of the Order of the Eastern Star, and Crescent lodge, 225, Ravenna. In politics he is a republican. CHRISTIAN CACKLER, one of the most prominent native farmers of Franklin township, Portage county, Ohio, and a representative of one of the oldest families in the county, and the third of his name, was born August 17, 1836, in the house in which he resided until the spring of 1897, when he removed to Kent—a son of Christian and Tharisa (Nighman) Cackler, of whom a biography will be presented further on. The house in which subject was born was erected by his father in 1829, was one of the first brick mansions erected in portage county, is still an elegant residence, and here was organized permanently the Pioneer association of Portage county in 1874. Christian Cackler, the subject, was educated in the common schools of his district, and he also attended the schools of Kent for a few terms. All his life has been passed in the quiet but noble pursuit of agriculture, and he now owns 114 acres of land in one body, this being his portion of the original 400 acres owned by his father. He was married August 10, 1862, to Elizabeth Mary Bendy, daughter of John Bently, of Kent. This lady was born in New York city January 29, 1843, and when fifteen years of age came with her parents to Portage county, Ohio. To her marriage with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 219 Mr. Cackler she has borne two children, viz: John C., who was born January 13, 1872, and who married in December, 1894, Miss Mary Hilderhoof, the result of this union being one son, Donald G., and whose residence is in Kent; Theresa Ella Louisa, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Cackler, resides with her parents and is a music teacher. In politics Mr. Cackler has always been a democrat, is at present a township trustee, and has held several other township offices as a matter of public duty, but not for either emolument or honor. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, and both his wife and daughter are members of the order of the Eastern Star, an auxiliary branch of the Masonic order for the benefit of the wives and daughter's of Masons. To revert to the life of the parents of subject: Christian Cackler, one of the first settlers of Portage county, died at his residence, in Franklin township, on the morning of July 5th, 1878. He was born in Washington county, Pa., June 27, 1791. In the spring of 1804, with his father and eldest brother, he moved to Hudson, Ohio. Three years later he was bound out to remain till he was twenty-one, that he might help support the family. Shortly after he obtained his freedom, he enlisted in the war of 1812, and remained in service one year and twenty days. In August, 1814, by Frederick Canis, Esq., he was married to Miss Tharisa Nighman. This was the first white couple married in Franklin township. On January 1, 1816, he moved to the place where he resided until death. The young couple had to endure the privations and hardships incident to the early settlement of Portage county. The prospect before them would not, to young people of this generation, seem very inviting. Mr. Cackler had an ax, and his wife a bed, and they purchased three white saucers, three knives and forks, and a wooden pail. These articles, with three wooden plates, a kettle and a table that was given them, composed their " set out." They contracted for fifty acres of land for $175, and they had to labor, struggle and economize for seventeen years to obtain a deed. This was a grand triumph over trying difficulties and adverse surroundings, and prepared the way for other victories. From this time they were blessed with material prosperity. By honest work, frugal management, and the rise of real estate, they acquired a valuable property. For nearly fifty years they lived and toiled together. Of twelve children all but one lived to years • of maturity, and three still survive, and reside at, or near, the old home. Of thirty-two grandchildren all but one survive their honored ancestors. Mrs. Tharisa Cackler lived until April 23, 1869, when she expired at her home in Franklin township from a paralytic shock. She was born in Hagerstown, Md., November 23, 1791, and came to Franklin township, Portage county, Ohio, with her parents, in 1808. Herewith is appended in chronological order the complete genealogy of this old and respectable Ohio family, from the original pioneer to the birth of the subject of this memoir: Christian Cackler, Sr., born January 27, 1756; Mrs. Julia Ann (wife of C. Cackler), born October 14, 1759; Peggy Cackler, born December 7, 1780; Elizabeth, born March 12, 1782; Polly, born August 12, 1783; Susan, born September 3, 1785; Catherine, born June 5, 1787; Abraham, born May 5, 1789; Christian Cackler, Jr., born June 27, 1791; John, born October 22, 1793; Julia Ann, born March 22, 1796; Sarah, born May 16, 1798; Peter, born November 13, 1801. C. Cackler, Sr., was married January 27, 1780; died September 28, 1830. Mrs. C. died November 23, 1831. Record of Mrs. Cackler's family: Tharisa Nighman, born November 23, 1791; George, 220 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born August 28, 1793; John, born August 8, 1795; Catherine, born September 15, 1797; Henry, born October 6, 1799; Peggy, born May 6, 1801 ; David, born October 10, 1802; Frederick and Polly, born September 5, 1804; Eliza, born February 13, 1807; William, born November 18, 1810; Emily, born December 23, 1813; Adam Nighman, father of Mrs. Cackler, born June 21, 1764, and Elizabeth (Mrs. N.), born April I, 1772. The former died June 12, 1835, and the latter August 5, 1840; David died April 23, 1826, and George died June 12, 1835. Christian Cackler, Jr., was born June 27, 1791. Tharisa Cackler was born November 23, 1791; died April 23, 1869, aged seventy-eight years. George Cackler was born February 13, 1815; Almon Cackler was born August 21, 1816-died July 2, 1845, aged twenty-nine years. Polly Cackler was born February 26, 1818. Elizabeth Cackler was born March 19, 1820-died February 15, 1872, aged fifty-two years. Harriet Cackler was born November 20, 1822-died April 10, 1849, aged twenty-seven years. Edwin and Edward Cackler were born April 10, 1824. Edward died February 1, 1826, aged two years. Caroline Cackler was born May 31, 1826-died April 23, 1849, aged twenty-three years. Jacob Cackler was born October 3, 1828. Julia Ann Cackler was born August 10, 1830. Delanah Cackler was born July 12, 1834. Christian Cackler III was born August 17, 1836. WILLIAM HENRY CANFIELD, bookkeeper for the Ravenna Shoe company, was born in this city September 6, 1840, and is a son of William Harrison and Lydia Thompson (Frary) Canfield, the former of whom was born in Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio, and the latter in North Becket, Berkshire county, Mass., but came when quite young to Ohio with her father. William Harrison Canfield, father of our subject, was well educated in the district schools of Edinburg, then learned cabinetmaking, which he followed many years, and then engaged in undertaking, removing to Windham, Portage county, in 1841, where he lived until 1858, when he came to Ravenna, remained here one year, and then went to Corry, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. William Henry Canfield, the subject, was educated in the common schools and in the academy of Windham; at the age of fifteen years, came to Ravenna and entered the store of Bostwick & Beatty as clerk, whence he went to Cleveland and took a course of six months in the Spencerian Business college, thoroughly learning bookkeeping and business methods generally. He then clerked for Edwin Holden, at Charleston, Portage county, for a year and a half, and afterward went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he started a grocery, which he later merged into a general store, this being about the time of the opening of the Civil war. In 1865 he sold out his Youngstown establishment and went to Corry, Pa., in 1866, where he entered the freight office of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway company and remained until 1869, when he returned to Youngstown, Ohio; where he was employed in the office of the same company as bookkeeper for fourteen years. About two years of this time, however, he was in charge of the Shenango company's coal mines, under the general manager, R. J. Wick. About this time Mr. Canfield's health began to fail, and for a time he withdrew from his too confining vocation, and found desultory employment with the board of elections, also served as juror and as assessor until Feb- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 221 ruary 1, 1893, when he returned to Ravenna and assumed the duties of his present position, which he has since filled in a most satisfactory manner. September 2, 1862, Mr. Canfield married, in Youngstown, Miss Elizabeth Burnet, deughter of Stephen F. and Harriet (Drake) Burnet, the union resulting in the birth of nine children, viz. : Emma Lydia, Mary Elizabeth, Fordham Harrison, Frederick Wesley (deceased), Cyrus Burnet and Harriet Iva (deceased), Clara Louise, William Jay and Charles Henry. The father of Mrs. Canfield, Stephen F. Burnet, was born in New Jersey and his wife in Rochedale, Lancashire, England. Mr. Canfield had three children, viz. : William H., Charles Wesley, who died in February, 1876, and Iva G., now Mrs. J. P. Dawley, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Canfield was formerly a member of lodge No. 365, F. & A. M., of Corry, Pa., but is now an unaffiliating Mason. In religion he is a Methodist, and at Youngstown was recording steward and trustee of his congregation; with his family he is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Ravenna, of which he is also a steward. In politics he is a strong republican and a believer in a protective tariff and sound money. WILLIAM I. CARIS, D. D. S., one of the most scientific dentists of the state of Ohio, and now a resident of Kent, was born on his father's farm in Portage county, September 4, 1852. He is the inventor of the Caris Electro-anstherizer, and is at the head of a company in Kent organized for the manufacture of the same. John Canis, grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and while yet a single man came to Ohio and was one of the first settlers in Rootstown, Portage county, of which township, also, he was the first justice of the peace. He was a millwright by trade and a general wood worker, was very ingenious, and invented a wheel for spinning flax and wool, and also invented a turning lathe. He here married Elizabeth Hartle, by whom he became the father of nine children, viz: George, a shoemaker; Michael, a farmer; Frederick, a blacksmith; Samuel, a farmer; Lycurgus, a stone and brick mason; Henry, a farmer: Mary, married to James Likings; Susan, wife of Nelson Fuller, and one other. These children all made their homes in Portage county excepting Lycurgus, who settled in LaGrange, Ind. Frederick Caris, a brother of John, came with the latter to Portage county and engaged in farming. Samuel Caris, father of Dr. William I. Caris, was born in Rootstown township December 27, 1823, a son of John and Elizabeth Caris. He was reared a farmer and married Rachel Ward, who was born in Rootstown June 20, 1824, a daughter of William and Betsey (Eatinger) Ward. William Ward, while serving in the army during the Revolutionary war, was badly injured and was carried from the field to camp by his comrade, John Caris, and this incident made them lasting friends—three sons of John Caris subsequently marrying three of the daughters of William Ward. John Caris lived to reach the age of eighty-two years, but his friend, William Ward, died when seventy-three or seventy-four years old. To the marriage of Samuel Caris and wife were born three children, viz: Belle, wife of Ira L. Herriff, of Kent; Dr. William I. ; and Frank D., who died at the age of seven years. The mother of these children passed away in June, 1895; the father is living in Kent, but still owns the home farm. He has always been a democrat, but has taken 222 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD very little interest in politics, excepting the depositing of his ballot. Dr. William I. Caris lived on the home farm, attending school the meanwhile at Rootstown, until seventeen years old; he then passed a year at Ravenna in business, and at the age of eighteen commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. G. A. Case, under whose preceptorship he remained two years, and then opened an office in Huntington, W. Va., where he was in active practice until 1874, when he returned to Kent, Ohio, being now one of the oldest dentists in this city and standing in the front rank of the profession. He is an active worker in the Ohio State Dental society, in the Northern Ohio Dental society, the Odontological society, the West Penn Dental society, of Pittsburg, and of the Lake Erie Dental society, and is a constant attendant at their meetings as well as a valuable contributor to their professional literature. He is the inventor of the most wonderful and effective cataphoric instrument ever discovered, which is denominated the Caris electro-amæstherizer, and is unequivocally endorsed by hundreds of professional dentists of the highest reputation who have used the little instrument or machine, and a company has been formed in Kent for its manufacture. Dr. Caris has been also instrumental in advancing other local enterprises in Kent, and is a stockholder in the Royal Machine company, which manufactures refrigerators, steam engines, etc. ; he is also a stockholder in the Kent opera house, of which he was the first manager, holding that position two years. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and has passed all the chairs in his lodge; is a member of Akron encampment, No. 18, and of grand canton, No. 2, being brigade surgeon of the Ohio division and holding the rank of major; he is also a Knight of Pythias, being a past chancellor commander, and now a member of McPherson lodge, No. 65, at Akron; likewise, he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. March 25, 1876, Dr. Caris married Miss Roxie S. Parmelee, and this union has resulted in the birth of two bright children—Carl P. and Mabel D. In politics the doctor was a democrat until the formation of the greenback party, with which he identified himself and was elected city clerk; he was then appointed to fill an unexpired term as mayor of Kent, and after the expiration of his term was elected to succeed himself and served one full term. While mayor he succeeded in introducing the present waterworks system in Kent, the contract for the construction of the plant being let under his administration. He is now serving his second term in the city council. The doctor has made every dollar he owns, although his father once went his security for $400, which has long since been paid by the doctor. The father could have done better, but had full confidence in his son's ability to succeed with this little aid, and he was not disappointed. NEWTON CHALKER, one of the most sagacious and experienced attorneys-at-law of Akron, Ohio, with his office at No. 130 South Howard street, has been a resident of this city since 1874. He is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Southington, Trumbull county, September 12, 1842, a son of James, Jr.. and Eliza J. (Hyde) Chalker; both; also natives of Trumbull county. The families on both sides were from Connecticut and were of-English descent, the paternal branch having come to America about the year 1640. James Chalker, Jr., father of Newton Chalker. the subject. was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Eliza J. Hyde, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 223 who bore him four children, viz: Benson, who died in childhood; Byron, a farmer of Southington, Trumbull county, who died. at the age of fifty-two years; Newton was the third born; Columbus, also a farmer, who died at the. age of twenty-seven years. The mother of this family died December 24, 1849, and Mr. Chalker then married Adaline Timmerman, of York state, who bore two daughters-Mary J., deceased wife of A. J. Morris, of Southington, and Bertha, wife of Thomas McConnell, of Warren, Ohio. The father, James Chalker, Jr., lived to reach the age of eighty-two years, and died September 23, 1893. Newton Chalker was reared in his native township and attended the district school until he was fourteen years of age, and then attended the Western Reserve seminary, at Farmington, Trumbull county, at intervals, until he reached his twenty-first year, when he entered Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., from which he graduated in the class of 1866 with the degree of A. B., and later received the degree of A. M. The year of 1866-67 he was principal of the Dixon (Ill.) seminary, and in 1867-68 was superintendent of the public schools at Darlington, Wis.; in 1868-69 he attended the law school of Albany, N. Y., graduated in 1869, receiving the degree of LL. B., and was at once admitted to the bar of New York, but soon afterward Went to Cameron, Mo., was admitted to the bar of that state, and for five years was there en,. gaged in active practice. In 1874, as before stated, he came to Akron, Ohio, where he has since been occupied in general practice, and in handling real estate. He has made two allotments in the city of Akron, the first being known as Chalker's sub-division of a part of the original plat, and the second as Chalker's North Hill addition, and which. comprises twenty-one acres. Mr. Chalker has also been a stockholder and a director in the People's Savings bank of Akron. In 1893 Mr. Chalker practically retired from business and passed much time in travel. He visited Canada, most of the states of the Union, and Mexico. In 1895-96, he made a tour around the world, visiting the leading nations of the earth. In politics Mr. Chalker is a republican, in religion a rationalist; he is also a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., having enlisted in the Civil war, in company B, Eighty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and having been engaged in the three days' battle at Harper's Ferry, Va., in September, 1862, under Gen. Miles, who was defeated by the larger army of Stonewall Jackson. After a service of four months, he was honorably mustered out at Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Chalker is unmarried, but has a pleasant home at No. 907 North Howard street. He is truly a self-made man, having acquired his success through his astuteness as an attorney, his financiering abilities, and, above all, his unswerving integrity and diligence in caring for the interests of his patrons. ORIN D. CHILDS, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Broadway and Market streets, Akron, Ohio, is native of Washington county, Vt., was born in February, 1840, and is a son of Dennis and Angeline (Straw) Childs, of English descent. Dennis Childs, father of the doctor, was a farmer and civil engineer and quite distinguished in his native state of Vermont in public affairs, having been twice elected to the legislature and having, filled several minor offices. In the fall of 1855 he removed to Wisconsin, where he quietly followed agriculture until his death. His children, who all grew to maturity, were six in number, and were named, in 224 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD order of birth, Ruth, who is married; O. D., the subject; A. S., a homeopathic physician of Chicago, Ill. ; A. A., a dentist of Akron, Ohio; Eunice, wife of Charles Remington, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Mary, wife of Myron Samphere. Dr. O. D. Childs was educated in the common and high schools of Vermont and Wisconsin, having been fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the latter state. He was reared to farming, and in February, 1865, enlisted for the war in company D, Forty-ninth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Madison, Wis., in October, 1865, long after the war had closed. In the fall of the same year he came to Ohio and entered the office of Prof. T. P. Wilson, in Cleveland, where he read medicine until prepared to enter the Cleveland Homeopathic college, where he attended lectures until his graduation in February, 1867. In the fall of 1868 he assisted in organizing the Woman's Homeopathic college of Cleveland, in which he filled the chair of anatomy until this college was merged into the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical college. During the interval, however, he had opened an office for practice in Akron, in 1867, and alternated his professional with his college duties. The doctor has made nervous disorders a special study, and his practice has been very lucrative and successful. For twenty years the doctor has been a member of the state Homeopathic Medical society, was one of the organizers of the Northeastern Ohio Medical society, and also of the Summit county Homeopathic Clinical Medical society, as well as of the Cleveland Medical college, of which he is still one of the trustees. In 1871 he became a member of Akron lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M. He is public spirited to a marked degree, and eager to advance the prosperity of his adopted city. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Savings & Loan association in 1871, and is still a stockholder and director; also an organizer of and director in the Akron Belting company; also a director in the Akron Abstract & Title Guarantee company, and is active in other enterprises. In 1870 he was one of the organizers of the Y. M. C. A., of which he was president for the years 1874, 5 and 6. Dr. Childs is emphatically a self-made man in the business sense of the expression, having begun life with little or no pecuniary assistance, and now standing in the front rank among the members of his profession, as well as among the solid business men of the city of Akron. The doctor was united in marriage in June, 1890, with Miss Lillian R. Robertson, daughter of Capt. Robertson, now of Kansas City, Mo., but formerly for many years a steamboat captain on the lower Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The marriage of the doctor has been blessed with one child—Celeste Angeline. BENJAMIN F. CLARK, recorder of Summit county, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 24, 1841, a son of George Calhoun and Susan A. (Lee) Clark. George Calhoun Clark was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., of Scotch and German parentage. While an infant he was deprived by death of his father and was being reared in the Catholic faith by his mother, which, being obnoxious to him, caused him to desert his home at a tender age and seek a refuge in Virginia. There he spent his youthful days and managed to secure a good common-school education, and later learned the carpenter's trade; he next began the study of the Scriptures, with a view to entering the ministry. While engaged in these studies he married Miss Susan A. Lee, a first cousin of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 227 Gen. Robert E. Lee, and daughter of William Lee, who married a Miss Atchison and resided Albemarle county, Va. After marriage Mr. Clark came to Ohio and located in New Lisbon. Having united himself with the Disciples' church and entered the ministry, he devoted his life to that service, chiefly preaching in Columbiana, Trumbull, Stark, Wayne and Summit counties, Ohio, from the age of thirty years until his death, at the age of fifty-nine years, in Wooster, Wayne county, August 12, 1860, while he was there in charge of the Disciples' church. His widow survived him until March 4, 1865, when she died also in Wooster. Their family comprised eight children, viz: William H., who died at Nashville, Tenn., at the age of thirty years; Mary A., widow of Lieut. George W. Pomeroy, of Akron; Sarah, who died in infancy; Nancy Lee, who died in Wooster in 1870, the wife of A. J. Harvey, a soldier of the Civil war; Sylvanus, who died in Millersburg, Holmes county, in 1872, from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Pea Ridge, while serving as sergeant in Capt. Hickenloope's battery; Elizabeth F., who was first married to Stephen A. Goodrich, a soldier of company I, One Hundred and Second Ohio volunteer infantry, captured at Birmingham, Ala., and murdered by guerrillas, and whose second husband was Ezra Tryon, a veteran of the Mexican war, and later was wounded while serving in the Sixth Ohio battery in the Civil war, but who died on his farm at Nelson Center, Portage county, in 1893; George W., a machinist of Kansas City, Mo., and a member for three years of company H, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry; and Benjamin F., the subject. Benjamin F. Clark was reared in northeastern Ohio, was educated in the public schools—principally of Massillon—and at the age of sixteen years entered the office of Dr. A. Metz, the noted oculist and surgeon of Massillon, studied under him for three years, and was prepared for his first course of lectures when the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted, August 13, 1861, in company H, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was wounded in the knee by a piece of shell at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., late in 1862, was sent home, and, after careful nursing, recovered and re-enlisted March 20, 1864, entering company B, McLoughlin's squad of cavalry, and participated in the engagements at Resaca, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, around Atlanta and the raid on Macon, where he was taken by the enemy and sent to Andersonville, where he was confined nine months. He was one of the first 100 selected to be sent to Annapolis, Md., for parole, and, like the others, was a mere skeleton, unable to walk, from starvation. As soon as able to be transported he was returned to his home at Wooster, Ohio, but here collapsed, and for three months was on the verge of the grave. His good mother nursed him to life again, but at the sacrifice of her own; for, on the third day after he was was able to sit up, she lay down and three days later yielded up her faithful spirit. Mr. Clark then joined his regiment at Charlotte, N. C., and was placed on guard duty; shortly after his squadron was merged into company C, Ohio cavalry, and was finally mustered out at Charlotte, N. C., October 28, 1865. After returning from the war, Mr. Clark learned the printer's trade at Wooster, and about this time was married, of which event further mention will be made. At the same time, in partnership with his brother, George, he established a bakery and confectionery, which was continued for about one year. He then took his young wife to Canton, Ohio, entered the Repository office, Josiah Hartzell and Thomas Saxton proprietors, and was connected with this journal eight years, and, beside setting type, did much of the local - 4 - 228 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD reporting and editorial work. In 1874 he came to Akron and ten years was a compositor on the Beacon and eleven years on the editorial staff—having charge, during the three years of the latter period, of the local force. He gave some attention to politics while on the Beacon, but was not a seeker of office; nevertheless, being a stanch republican, he was solicited, in the fall of 1890, to become the candidate of his party for the office of recorder of Summit county—was elected, and re-elected in 1893. His term of office expired in January, 1897, and then he was appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy in the office, occasioned by the change in time of the year when the recorder assumed the duties of the office. Beside wielding a trenchant and facile pen, Mr. Clark is a first-class business man. He was one of the founders of the Van Wart company and is its vice-president; he is also proprietor of a novelty store in Youngstown, which he has placed in charge of a son, and which he established in the spring of 1892; he is president of the board of trustees of the First church of Christ in Akron, and for seven years was secretary of the board of charities in this city. Fraternally, he is a member of Akron lodge, No. 547. I. O. O. F., and of Akron encampment, No. 18; of grand canton Akron, No. 2, patriarchs militant, and past chief patriarch of Akron encampment; also assistant surgeon-general of the First brigade, patriarchs militant of Ohio, with the rank of major; is a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., and McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P. The marriage of Mr. Clark took place May 1, 1866, with Miss Carrie, Foltz, daughter of Moses and Sarah Foltz, the union resulting in the birth of four children, viz. : Harry W., who died at the age of six months; Cora Alice, wife of H. S. Brandon, picture-framer of Akron; George Kean, manager of his father's store in Youngstown, and married to Miss Ona B. Waite, of Akron; and William Kean Foltz, at home with his parents. BYRON CHAPMAN, M. D., of Copley township, Summit county, Ohio, was born near Skaneateles, N. Y., January 8, 1822, a son of Ashbel and Polly (Lane) Chapman, natives of Massachusetts and the parents of the following-named children: Orson C., Selina, ,Orlin C., Lovin a, Melissa, Lucius, Cynthia (whose husband, H. D. Patch, was killed at Shiloh in the late Civil war), Percinda, Almeron, Philinda, William J., Byron and John H. The Chapman family came overland from New York by teams to Copley township, Summit county, in the fall of 1835, and settled on a farm of 154 acres, one-half mile south of Center. Here Ashbel Chapman, who had fought at Lundy's Lane in the war of 1812, cleared up a comfortable home, and on this farm Byron was reared to manhood, attending in the meanwhile the common and more advanced school, until twenty-two years of age. Having now decided to adopt the medical profession as his life-pursuit, he commended the study of the science under his brother, William J., then a practitioner of some note in Copley. Later he attended lectures at Cleveland (Ohio) Medical college, from which he was graduated in March, 1847. But, just about this time, his elder brother and preceptor, William J., was suddenly called from earth and his field of usefulness, yet Byron felt no hesitancy in taking charge of the deceased physician's patients, whom he so skillfully treated that his reputation was at once established, and an increased and lucrative practice has been his ever since. Dr. Byron Chapman was united in marriage, December 23, 1847, with Miss Matilda OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 229 Dils, then of New Hudson, Oakland county, Mich., but a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., born April 11, 1830, a daughter of Abram and Mary (Polhamus) Dils. To this union have been born two children, Willis D. and Fannie P. Willis D. Chapman was born October 3, 1848, and was educated in Copley and the Pennsylvania Polytechnic college of Philadelphia. He then became locating engineer on the Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley railway, held the position until 1871, and then filled a similar position on the Canada Southern railway from 1872 to 1876; was then engaged in general civil engineering, with headquarters at Toledo, Ohio, for two years; then was for two years mining engineer and United States deputy surveyor in Montana, and in Akron, Ohio, served as city engineer from 1886 until 1889, since which time he has been engaged in electric street railway construction in Akron, Canton and Zanesville, Ohio. At present Mr. Chapman is general manager of the Akron Street Railway & Illuminating company. He has been a member of the American society of Civil Engineers since 1883, and also of the Ohio society of Civil Engineers. His marriage took place February 26, 1873, to Miss Ella A. Marriner, who was born in Akron May 5, 1849, and to this union have been born six children, viz: Charles A., Etha M., Willis D., Jr.. Ella A., George B. and Fred. Fanny P. Chapman was born August 3, 1852, and is now the widow of Albert E. Hiestand, who, was a prominent attorney of Akron. Mrs. Hiestand has her present residence with her parents in Copley, and is a lady of many estimable qualities. Dr. Chapman has been a member of the republican party since its organization, assisting as a delegate to Columbus, Ohio, when the party was founded in this state. He has served as postmaster seventeen years, as township clerk ten years, and as treasurer twenty-seven years. Fraternally, he is a member of Copley tent, No. 204, K. O. T. M., and has ever been a prominent man, professionally and socially, and has always held an advanced position in promoting the moral and educational interests of his county and state. The doctor has acceptably filled a position on the school board for about twenty-two years, which speaks volumes for him as far as the esteem in which he is held by the general public is concerned, but his professional eminence is the crowning glory of his life. FRANKLIN P. CHAPMAN, the enterprising boot and shoe merchant of Ravenna, Ohio, and probably the most extensive dealer in fashionable footwear in the city, was born in Rootstown, Portage county, August I, 1852, a son of Edward E. and Melissa (Reed) Chapman, also natives of the Buckeye state and parents of five children, of whom four are still living, viz: Rose, wife of Nelson Loveland; William B., Franklin P., and Carrie, now Mrs. Charles Bogue. Edward E. Chapman, in his earlier business life, was an itinerant merchant, and drove a notion wagon through the country, profitably disposing of his wares to the good housewives and others who were debarred ready access to the markets of the town merchants. He later engaged in the cigar and tobacco trade, and ceased his peregrinations. Horace Reed, the maternal grandfather of Franklin P. Chapman, had the proud distinction of being the first white male child born in Rootstown township, Portage county, and further concerning his ancestry may be found in the memoir of judge C. A. Reed, on another page of this volume. Franklin P. Chapman was reared and educated in Rootstown until thirteen years of age, 236 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD interested in other business enterprises of minor note. Always a stanch democrat, Mr. Coolman has represented his congressional district in three national democratic conventions--in New York in 1868, in Cincinnati in 1880, and in Saint Louis, in 1892, when Grover Cleveland was nominated for his second race for the presidency; he ran against James A. Garfield for congress in this, the Nineteenth district of Ohio, and was also his party's nominee for lieutenant-governor of Ohio on the ticket with Thomas E. Powell. February 16, 1894, he was commissioned postmaster of Ravenna, an office he is still administering with his accustomed ability. The marriage of Mr. Coolman was solemnized in December, 1849, with Miss Elizabeth Coleman, the accomplished daughter of James and Sarah (Bell) Coleman, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and this happy union has been blessed with six children, viz: James and Horace (twins), Clinton H., Mary, and Blanche and Bertha (twins). Of these, however, Clinton H. and Blanche only survive. Clinton H. married Miss Anna Hall, and to their union have been born four children—Frederick William, DeWitt Clinton, Catherine Multon and Alexander Curtis; Blanche still resides with her parents and is an assistant in the Ravenna post-office. Mrs. Coolman is a devoted member of the Episcopal church, while Mr. Cool-man is an exalted member of several secret societies--being a thirty-second degree Mason, of which order he has been a member for thirty-nine years, during which time he has served as master of Unity lodge, No. 12, for several terms; as high priest for a number of years, and is a veteran member of Oriental commandery of Cleveland, being now exempt from all dues; he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. For forty-seven years he has been an Odd Fellow, and has filled all the chairs of his home lodge—Ravenna, No. 65. He is likewise a charter member of the home lodge of the Royal Arcanum. He has had his home in Ravenna now for sixty-eight years and done much to aid the development of the city and the prosperity of Portage county, and but few men have won so deservedly high a standing in the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens as DeWitt Clinton Coolman. HON. ELI CONN, M. D., and state representative for Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Butler county, Pa., was born June 10, 1840, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Conn, also natives of the Keystone state, of combined Scotch and Irish extraction. The father died in his native state in 1854; and the mother in 1889, at the unusually great age of ninety-two years. Dr. Conn, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the family homestead, and after receiving a due course of instruction in the district school, became himself a teacher and conducted a school in his native township in the winter of 1860-61, and was thus employed at the time of his enlistment, in 1861, in the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, which was assigned to the Sixth corps of the army of the Potomac, and with which he remained until the close of the Rebellion, taking part in thirty-two regular battles and as many, or even more, skirmishes. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his home and in the fall of the same year entered Baldwin university at Berea, Ohio, from which institution he graduated, in 1868, with distinction. He next attended the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical school for two terms, and then located for practice in his native county. Being a stanch republican at that time, he was elected by his fellow-citizens pro- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 237 bate judge of Butler county, Pa., and filled the office for four years to the utmost satisfaction of his constituents. In 1880, the doctor came to Akron, where his professional abilities were at once recognized, and he was equally successful in securing a long list of patrons. Naturally, he attracted the attention of the local members of the republican party, and was elected health officer of the city of Akron, which position he held from 1882 until 1884. In 1895, he was elected to represent Summit county in the Ohio general assembly, but has modified his political views to some extent, and is now a silver republican. In 1869, Dr. Conn was united in marriage with Miss Helen Kingsbury, of Medina, Ohio, the result of the union being four children, viz: Ellwood K., Maud J., Mary A., and Helen E. The family stand very high socially, and professionally the doctor holds a most prominent place before the public and in the esteem of his fellow-practitioners. He is connected with various medical associations, for whom he has prepared numerous essays on medical subjects, and has also contributed numerous similar articles to the journals published in the interest of the medical profession. CYRUS L. COX, a substantial farmer and citizen of Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Green township, in the same county, July 5, 1850. Christopher Cox, great-grandfather of subject, came from England prior to the Revolutionary war, bought an extensive tract of land in the wilderness of Washington county, Pa., and there and in Greene county, followed farming the remainder of his life. He married a Miss Rush, and by her became the father of the following-named children: Jacob, John, William, Moses, Ann, Lucinda and Matilda. Jacob Cox, grandfather of subject, was born in Greene county, Pa., was reared a farmer, and there married Elizabeth Hardsock, who was born in Washington county, a daughter of ante-Revolutionary parents. To this union the following children were born, Nancy, wife of John Hann; Susan, wife of Joseph Grayble; Henry; Annie, wife of Isaac Horn; Noah; Christopher; Hiram; Kittie A., wife of Thelas Wheeler; Jacob; Andrew, and Mary A., wife of Joshua Martin. After marriage the parents settled in Washington county, where they passed the remainder of their days. In politics the father was a Whig and filled several township offices, and in religion, although not a member of the church, affiliated with and worshiped with the Baptists, and was free with his purse in contributing to the support of church and school. He died in August, 1861, honored alike in Greene and Washington counties, Pa., where all his active life passed away. Christopher Cox, father of Cyrus L., the subject, was born in Greene county, Pa., November 30, 1820, and, like his ancestors, was reared to farming. After receiving a good common-school education he taught school for some months. In 1842 he walked from Pennsylvania to Summit county, Ohio, 130 miles, and settled in Green township. Here he married, April 4, 1844, Mary Chisnell, a native of Lancaster county, Pa., born in 1824, and a daughter of George and Mary Chisnell, and to this union have been born the following children: Cornelius (deceased), Hiram, Harriet, Henry Potters, Cyrus, John, Albert, Elizabeth (wife of Oliver Overholt), Edward, George, Harvey, Frank, and Clara (wife of Edward Huena, editor of the Barberton Leader). In 1859 the parents moved from Green township. Here, at one time, Mr. Cox owned over 1,000 acres of good farm land, all of which he paid for with money earned through his personal exertions, with the exception, perhaps, of a 238 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD few hundred dollars bequeathed him by his father. The greater part of this land Mr. Cox has divided among his children, but still retains a sufficient quantity to well provide for his own needs. In politics Mr. Cox was originally a whig, but became a member of the republican party on the formation of the latter, but simply gives voice to his political opinions at the polls, being by no means desirous of public office. He is closely identified with the Brethren church, in the faith of which his beloved wife died August 18, 1889, after a wedded life of over forty-five years. Cyrus L. Cox, the subject of this sketch, took to himself a wife in Stark county, Ohio, on the 19th day of December, 1875. The lady whom he married bore the maiden name of Lavina N. Smith, and was born in Stark county, May 15, 1855, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Ruch) Smith, the former of whom is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829, and the latter was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in Stark county, where the death of Mrs. Smith took place August 18, 1889, in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. Smith resides near Canal Fulton, Stark county, where he owns 900 acres of land and is largely engaged in stock dealing. He also attends the Lutheran church and is liberal in his contributions to its support. In politics he is a republican, but his time and attention are mostly devoted to his business affairs. His children were born in the following order: Levi, Lavina N., Caroline, Ellen, Amanda, John, Charles and Mary. The marriage of Cyrus L. Cox has been blessed with four children, viz: Della May (who died September 7, 1885), Mary E., Perry E. and Clarence S. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are doing all they can toward the education of their children. Miss Mary has attained that place in school work which entitles her to admission to the high school. Perry is desirous of entering a school of a more extended course of study, and, as his parents are people of abundant means, the wishes of the children will be observed. Mr. Cox has been identified with Franklin township, Summit county, all his life, with the exception of about four years in Green township, Summit county. He owns a good farm of 125 acres, which he has improved with a modern farm house and barn. He also owns a sawmill and threshing machine, which occupy most of his time, while his farm work is done by hired help. In politics Mr. Cox is a strong republican, and cast his first presidential vote for the soldier president, Gen. U. S. Grant. In religion he and wife adhere to the Methodist Episcopal faith, the children are attendants at the Sunday school, and in the local church he has filled the office of steward. He is highly respected among his neighbors for his sobriety, industry and upright life, and his wife enjoys with himself the warm regard of the entire community. F. E. COURTNEY, the accomplished photographic artist, of the Arcade building, Akron, Ohio, is a native of the city and was born March 15, 1858, a son of Robert A. and Lucy A. (Hannan) Courtney, natives respectively of Maryland and Ashland county, Ohio. The father, a mechanic of great skill, first came to Akron in 1842, and is still a resident of the city; the mother passed away some years since. F. E. Courtney, the subject of this memoir, was reared and educated in Akron, and some time after quitting school went to Canton, Ohio, and there took lessons in his present art under his brother, Sherwin B. Courtney, who is one of the leading photographers of the state of Ohio. After passing nearly five years unner his able instruction and thoroughly OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 239 learning the art in all its branches, F. E. Courtney went to South Carolina and for a year was in the employ of Mr. Anderson, a well-known photographer, and then returned to Ohio and spent another year with his brother at Canton. He then went to Medina, Ohio, and to Chester and Allentown, Pa., passing one year each in the latter two places, and then once more returned to Ohio and followed his vocation until 1888, when he came to Akron and succeeded to the business of Mr. Chandler, up to that time Akron's favorite artist. Mr. Courtney has now one of the finest studios in the northeast part of the state and executes every variety of work known to the photographic art, including portraiture, view and commercial and mechanical delineations, in all of which he is unexcelled. He keeps fully abreast of all the modern advances made in photography, being a member of both the State and the National Photographic associations, which are constantly making known to their members every new feature or improvement as fast as it is developed. DANIEL E. CRANZ, M. D., one of the eminent physicians and surgeons of Akron, Ohio, occupies the rooms Nos. 3, 4 and 5, Odd Fellows' temple, where he has been in the active practice of medicine since July, 1893, but is now giving special attention to rectal and gynaecological surgery. The doctor was born in Middletown, Holmes county, Ohio, October 31, 1854, to William and Mary (Drushel) Cranz, of German descent. The family settled in Summit county in 1863, and here the father died in 1895. The latter in early life was a merchant,. and his later years were passed in farming; in politics he was a democrat, and in religion was a Lutheran. His children were born and named in the following order: Sophia, deceased; Pauline, wife of Hon. C. 0. Hale, of Bath township; Frederick, an engineer, residing in Akron; Cornelia, of Bath township; Daniel E., the subject; Frances Lena, deceased; Kate, a teacher of German and French in the Athens (Ohio) State university; Lewis, a farmer of Bath township; Eugene F., also a farmer of the same place; Herbert, foreman of a brass foundry at Wadsworth, Ohio; Estella, wife of Amos Walters, of Bath township, and two children who died in early childhood. Dr. Daniel E. Cranz passed his early days on his father's farm, received his elementary education in the district school, and then attended Buchtel college, at Akron. At the age of seventeen years he began the study of medicine under Dr. 0. D. Childs, of Akron, and then for three years attended the Hahnemann Medical college, of Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1877, and at once settled down to the active practice of his profession in Wadsworth, Ohio, where for sixteen years his ability and professional knowledge won recognition; but this field was not sufficiently extensive for the exercise of his energy and varied attainments as a surgeon, as well as physician, and in 1893, as already stated, he found a wider scope for his profession in Akron, where he has met with the most flattering success. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical society, of the Northeastern Ohio Medical society, and of the Summit county Clinical society; he is also one of the visiting surgeons of the Akron city hospital. Fraternally he is a member of Adoniram lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M., of Akron, Ohio. Dr. Cranz was married at Wadsworth, Ohio, February 26, 1880, to Miss May E. Butts, to which union have been born two children—Pauline and Cornelia. The doctor and his wife are members of the Reformed 240 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD church, although the Cranz family of former days were identified with the Lutheran church from its establishment—each first-born male child of the family becoming a minister in that church from the time of Martin Luther to the time of Daniel Cranz, grandfather of subject of this review, who was a pioneer minister of Holmes county, Ohio; and it may also be stated that one church of this faith in Germany had for over a hundred years a member of this family as its minister. The family is a very ancient one, and in the Black Forest of Germany hangs to-day an oil painting of one of the doctor's ancestors, who was a minister in the Lutheran church, and who lived in the tenth century. CHARLES H. CULVER, the well-known blacksmith and master mechanic of South Akron, Ohio, is a native of Seneca county, N. Y., was born March 16, 1848, and is a son of Charles H. and Harriet Culver, now residents of the city of Buffalo. Charles H. Culver, the elder, was born in the Empire state in 1825, and was there married to Mrs. Harriet Smith, whose maiden name was Newberry, she being a niece of Lord Newberry, of England. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Culver the following children were born in the order named: Sarah, Clarissa, Charles H., Solon K., George H., Clarence B., Emmeline and Ida. The parents lived for many years in Seneca county, N. Y., but finally settled in Buffalo, where they are highly esteemed for their many excellent qualities, and worship at the Presbyterian church. Charles H. Culver, the subject, passed his earlier years in Geneva, Ontario county, N. Y., and has always been an industrious student, being mostly self-educated. At Phelps, N. Y., in 1874, he built the first Monitor engine ever placed on wheels, and, in 1879, came to Ohio and for ten years was master mechanic of the Diebold Safe & Lock company in Canton, and later was master mechanic of the Canton Car company; he then lived in Cleveland two years, and in 1890 came to Akron, and was here employed as foreman of the D. F. Morgan Boiler company; he also, for a time, filled the position of master mechanic for Aultman, Miller & Co. For the past five years, however, he has been in business on his own account in South Akron, and, being extraordinarily skilled in his art, is meeting with the success his knowledge and industry deserve. In politics Mr. Culver is a democrat and is a strong advocate of free silver. He is very popular with his party, and in the fall of 1896 was honored by an election to the office of justice of the peace, which position he fills with ability. Fraternally, he is a member of Adoniram lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M. Mr. Culver was united in marriage, in September, 1886. with Mrs. Elmira Snyder, whose maiden name was Bancroft, and both enjoy the esteem of a constantly widening circle of sincere friends. In 1864 Mr. Culver made an effort to enlist in the Union army, but, owing to his youthful years, his application was refused. March 31, 1865, however, he succeeded in enlisting in company K, Eighth regiment, New York mounted volunteers, for three years, or during the war, was honorably discharged from the service June 27, 1865, and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., the war having been brought to a successful close. SHERLOCK B. CUTHBERT, one of the most highly respected citizens of Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier and a very successful farmer, is a native of this coun- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 241 ty, and was born March 24, 1843, a son of James and Anna (Graham) Cuthbert. James Cuthbert was born in Perth, Scotland, came to America when a mere boy, lived in New York a few years, where he was married to Miss Graham, a native of New York, and then came to Kent, Ohio. The result of this marriage was nine children, seven of whom are still living, viz. : William, of Long Branch, Cal. ; James A., of Kent, Ohio; Harriet, widow of John Newham; Sarah, wife of G. W. Rouse; Sherlock B., the subject; Charles J., and Mary A., wife of M. M. Parkerson, of Corning, Iowa. Mr. Cuthbert lost his life partner in 1850, and his own death occurred in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the state at the time of his death, had been a faithful member of the Congregational church for many years, and was an elder for some years prior to his demise. Sherlock B. Cuthbert attended the schools of Kent until twelve years old, and then, until sixteen, worked out among the farmers of the neighborhood; he next apprenticed himself to a blacksmith, with the intention of learning the trade, but the outbreak of the Civil war made a change in his plan, and August 27, [861, he enlisted in company A, First Ohio light artillery, and served within a few days of four years, being twice wounded--the first time at Shiloh, where he was struck on a finger (and he still preserves the bullet), and the second time at Stone River, where he was shot in the left thigh, December 31, 1863. No attempt will here be made to enumerate the many battles in which Mr. Cuthbert participated, and it will suffice to say that for meritorious conduct he was promoted to be corporal September 2 I , 1863; also that, on receiving his second wound, a few months later, he lay four days on the battle field without food or drink, and was then hauled thirty-one miles to hospital, where he lay four weeks; was then transported to Cincinnati, where he was confined in hospital four months, and then confined in hospital at Cleveland four months longer; finally, having recovered from his severe wound, he returned to the front and re-enlisted in his same company as a veteran, received the usual thirty-day furlough, and served until receiving an honorable discharge, at Cleveland, July 31, 1865. After returning from the war, Mr. Cuthbert served a year at Kent as baggage-master, and for two years afterward was employed by the railroad company. April 4, 1870, he married Miss Minerva Needham, daughter of Valorus and Mary L. (Smith) Needham, to which marriage have been born five children, viz: Charles H., Ellen J., Grace N., Mary and Perry E. Since 1870, Mr. Cuthbert has devoted his attention to farming, and is now one of the most prosperous agriculturists of his township. In politics a republican, Mr. Cuthbert his served his fellow-citizens as supervisor of Brimfield township one term, giving complete satisfaction to his constituents. He is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R., at Kent, and is one of the most highly honored and esteemed residents of Brimfield township and Portage county. Valorous Needham, father of Mrs. Sherlock B. Cuthbert, was born in Hampshire county, Mass., March 29, 1806, and was reared a carpenter. In 1833, he came to Ohio, located in Brimfield township, Portage county, worked at his trade a number of years and then bought the farm now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Cuthbert. There he resided until 1865, when he retired to Kent. His marriage took place, in 1843, to Miss Mary L. Smith, daughter of Henry and Chloe (Chapman) Smith, and to this marriage were born six children, of whom two only are still living —Mrs. Cuthbert, who was born March 27, 242 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1849, in Brimfield township, and Mrs. L. M. Tracy. The deceased four were named Henry, who died in July, 1862, at the age of eighteen years; Chloe, who died in July, 1862, aged two and a half years; Harmer, who died at the age of eighteen years in May, 1865, and Ellen, who died in April, 1869, also aged eighteen years. The mother of this family died September 7, 1860, at the age of forty-five years; the father, June 13, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, the wife in the faith of the Baptist church. Alvin Needham, father of Valorous, and grandfather of Mrs. Cuthbert, was also a native of Massachusetts, married Miss Abigail Wallbridge, and came to Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, in 1835, and here passed the remainder of his life in the noble pursuit of agriculture. LAFAYETTE DARROW, a prominent farmer of Stowe township, is a grandson of George Darrow, who was one of the original pioneers of Summit county, Ohio, and came with 'Squire Hudson on his second trip to Summit county in 1800. George Darrow married, October 17, 1801, Olive Gaylord. This was the first marriage in Summit county and was solemnized by 'Squire Hudson. They settled in what is now the southern part of Hudson, on Darrow street, and cleared up a good farm from the wilderness, where John Morris, who married a Darrow, now lives. George Darrow and wife were the parents of George, William, Daniel, David, Charlotte, Olive and Amanda. Mr. Darrow died at the venerable age of eighty-two years, a much respected pioneer. He was an Indian figher, and after the shooting of Daniel Diver in Deerfield in the winter of 1806-7, George Darrow and Jonathan Williams joined in the pursuit of the slayer, the latter shooting and killing the Indian Nickshaw in the township of Richfield. In the war of 1812, a military company was formed in Hudson township, and George Darrow, as major of the battalion, was assigned the work of opening a road through to Camp Huron, near Sandusky, but before its completion, learning of the trouble which the American troops were meeting with at the hands of red skins in the vicinity of Detroit, he hurried forward to reinforce the garrison at Fort Huron, afterward being ordered to assist in the building of Fort Meigs. He was afterward colonel in the state militia, and was always called Col. Darrow. William Darrow, son of above, and the father of Lafayette Darrow, was born on Darrow street, on his father's farm, received a common education and was reared a farmer. He married, December 15, 1841, Harriet Deacon, who was born in Hudson township. a daughter of Henry Deacon. Henry Deacon was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent: his wife was of Irish descent. Mr. Deacon was an early settler of Hudson township, became a substantial farmer, cleared up a large farm and was at one time the largest landowner in Hudson township. His children were Mary, Harriet, William (who went to Colorado and never returned), Betsey and Henry. Mr. Deacon was a good business man and lived to a ripe old age. William Darrow settled on the old Darrow homestead and there passed all his remaining days and was successful, owning 400 acres of land. His children were George, Lafayette, William and Mary. Mr. Darrow lived to be sixty-eight years old and died on his farm. He was a much respected, honorable and upright gentleman. Lafayette Darrow was born on his grandfather's old homestead, July 21, 1851, received a common-school education, and has always been a farmer. He married, September 30, 1875, in Stowe township, Ellen J. Call, who was born September 6, 1852, in Darrowville, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 245 a daughter of Moses and Maria (Starr) Call. Mr. Darrow owns a good farm of 160 acres, which he has placed under first-class cultivation. He is independent in politics, a,nd in religion is a member of the Congressional church. He is a gentleman of undoubted integrity of character, and stands deservedly high for his sterling worth. HON. LEONIDAS S. EBRIGHT, M. D., of Akron, an ex-soldier of the late war, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Royalton, September 25, 1844, and is a son of George and Rachael (Hathaway) Ebright. He is paternally descended from Pennsylvania Germans, and maternally, through his grandfather, from Scotch ancestry. George Ebright, father of the subject of this review, was a carriagemaker by trade and minister of the Methodist church for many years. He had a family of nine children and died in 1864, at the age of fifty-three years; his widow is now seventy-six years old. Dr. L. S. Ebright was educated in the public schools of Fairfield county, and May 7, 1862, enlisted in company K, Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, for the three months' service, and was honorably discharged in September, 1862. In the winter of 1863-64 he taught school, and in April, 1864, he enlisted in the Eighthy-seventh Ohio infantry, but was soon transferred to company G, Eighty-eighth regiment, and served on detached duty until July 3, 1865, when he was mustered out, by special order, at Camp Chase, Ohio. After returning from the army he was employed for six months as clerk in a drug store in Wooster, Ohio, and in February, 1866, came to Akron entered the office of Drs. Bowen & Ebright (Dr. Ebright being an uncle), and with them read medicine until prepared to enter the Charity Hospital Medical college at Cleveland, from which he graduated in February, 1869, when he returned to Akron, where he practiced until the winter of 1871, and then took a course in the medical department of the college of Physicians & Surgeons of New York. He then resumed practice in Akron, which he continued until October, 1872, when he went to Germany and passed ten months in the hospitals of that country. After an absence of thirteen months abroad, Dr. Ebright again took up the active practice of medicine in Akron, but for many years devoted all the time he could spare from his professional duties to fraternal and benevolent matters, being a member of the F. & A. M. and K. of P. For four years he was grand treasurer and one year grand regent of the grand council of Ohio, R. A., and was three times representative to the supreme council from this body; was grand commander of the grand council of A. L. of H., and for eight years was a member of the supreme body of of that order; he was surgeon of battery B, 0. N. G., for five years, and for five years, also, was surgeon of the German Guards. He was also appointed by Gov. McKinley surgeon-general on the governor's staff, with the rank of brigadier-general, and held the office four years. As a republican he has been very popular, and in the fall of 1879 was elected to represent Summit county tin the lower house of the state legislature. For twenty years he has been a member of the county central republican committee, and during that time has made more speeches in the cause of the republican party than any man in the county. He was the first secretary of the Northeastern Medical society, and in 1896 retired from the presidency of the same; he served a long time as health officer of Akron, and for ten years has been physician to the Children's home. He is president of the county Agricultural society and also a director in the Hill Sewer Pipe 246 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD company. He is a member of Buckley post, No. 12, G. A. R., and has likewise been a member of the board of physicians of the Akron city hospital for many years. He has a good knowledge of the German language as well as of the English, and in his political canvasses has made many speeches in the former tongue, and has been the associate and compeer of such able orators as McKinley, Tom Reed, Judge West, Ben Butterworth, Boutelle, and others, and is, in fact, one of the representative leaders of the republican party. In the memorable campaign of 1896 Dr. Ebright did effective work for the party in Ohio, Kentucky, city of Chicago, and Michigan, and as a mark of confidence and the esteem with which he is held by the leaders of the party he was appointed, by President McKinley, postmaster of Akron, Ohio, his commission bearing date of July 27, 1897. Dr. Ebright was united in marriage, in 1883, to Miss Julia Bissell, of Sharon, Medina county, Ohio, which union has been blessed with two children—Ruth B. and Mary R. The doctor is a frank, outspoken gentleman, is witty, apt and genial. He is quick at repartee on the stump and in the social circle, and, as may well be inferred from the above record, has host of friends in Akron and Summit county. GEORGE L. DARROW, one of the substantial farmers of Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio, is now living on the old Darrow homestead, where he was born August 19, 1856. His remote ancestors came from Scotland, and settled in Connecticut some time in 1600, at New London. Nathaniel Darrow, great-great-grandfather of George L., was born in New London, Conn., and married Rachael Wilcox, of English descent. Their children were Nathaniel, Isaac, James, George and David, whose descendants are scattered throughout the United States. George Darrow, son of above and great-grandfather of subject, was born September 8, 1747, and settled when a young man in Lebanon, New York state, married Eunice Meacham, and reared a family of six children (all of whom lived and had families of their own), viz: Celia, born March 12, 1774: Joseph, March 27, 1775; George, October 7, 1778; David, March 13, 1782; James, May 18, 1784, and Sallie, June 19, 1787. In 1806, George Darrow came with his family to Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio, then all in the woods. He was one of the original pioneers, but died, five years after settling, in 1811. Joseph Darrow, son of above, and grandfather of subject, born March 27, 1775, came to Ohio, when a single man with 'Squire Hudson as a surveyor, was one of the party who landed at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, river 1799, and he was the surveyor who laid out the land for 'Squire Hudson. Mr. Darrow married, in Northampton township, April 18, 1803, Sallie Prior, who was born October 28, 1781, a daughter of Simeon and Catherine 'right) Prior, and they settled on the farm where our subject now lives. The Priors were of English descent, and of New England ancestry. and were pioneers of Summit county. Simeon Prior married, January 1, 1781, in New England, and settled in Northampton township. Joseph Darrow's name appears with that of his brother George in the list of voters of the first election of town officers held at Hudson, Ohio, April 5, 1802, in the first log house built in Summit county. This was built by 'Squire David Hudson, in 1799, in the fall, 'Squire Hudson being one of the original proprietors of Hudson township, which was the land of the Connecticut company. 'Squire Hudson came out from Goshen, Conn., OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 247 to Cleveland, and from there up the Cuyahoga river to Boston, near the southwest corner of Hudson township. He had with him a company of men, and Joseph Darrow, the surveyor, and they cleared ten acres of land when he surveyed the township. The Darrows were no doubt among the earliest pioneers of this county. Joseph Darrow settled in the woods and cleared up the farm where our subject now lives, and he surveyed much of the land in this county, including the first road from Hudson to Canton. Joseph Darrow and wife were the parents of the following children, all born in Stowe township: Polly, born February 3, 1805; Lyman, September 3, 1806; Abbie, November 24, 1808; Stephen, March 31, 1810; Julia, December J0, 1811; Sarah A., July 19, 1813; Caroline, January 1, 1815, Charles, September, 19, 1816; Seth, November 30, 1818; Catherine, January 22, 1821; Norman, October 14, 1822; Newry C., October 27, 1824; Clarissa, February 15, 1827. Joseph Darrow was a democrat in politics, and died November 13, 1856, a venerable man of eighty-one years. He was a justice of the peace many years and much respected. He was a hunter and trapper in early days, for his own pleasure and the benefit of his family. He was one of the early members of the Masonic lodge, at Hudson, Ohio, and was liberal in religion, holding to the Universalists' belief. He was a man of sterling worth and high character. Charles Darrow, son of above and father of George L. Darrow, was born September 19, 1816, on the farm where the latter now lives, and the first child born in the frame house still occupied by our subject and built in 1815-1816. He received a good education for his lay in the old pioneer school-house and was always a farmer. He married, January 27, 1841, Sabra Wilcox, who was born July 2, 1818, a daughter of Nathan Wilcox. After marriage Mr. Darrow and wife settled on the old Darrow homestead, and here they passed all their remaining days. Both were members of the Methodist church, and in politics he was a republican. He was a strong Union man and had a son in the Civil war—Norman, a private in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, who died of sickness at Camp Chase, Ohio, October 20, [862. Mr. Darrow owned a good farm of 160 acres and was a substantial and respected man. George L. Darrow received a good education in the public schools and became a farmer, and also learned the carpenter's trade. He married, September 3, 1876, in Darrowville, Emma R. Appleton, who was born July 28, 1858, in Northfield, Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Wesley and Amanda (Norton) Appleton. Wesley Appleton was a soldier in the Civil war and was among the missing. Mr. and Mrs. Darrow have five children: Lottie M., Charles, Fred, Dorotha H. and Celia. Mr. Darrow is a substantial farmer and dealer in agricultural implements. In politics he has been a republican, a free silverite and a populist. He is a member of the Knights of Macabees at Hudson, Ohio, and a member of the Darrow Street grange. He stands high as a business man, is an excellent citizen, and his family is one of the most respected in the county. Lottie M. Darrow is now married to William H. Peck, a farmer of Stowe township. HERMAN B. DICKINSON, prominent as an attorney at law, was born in Randolph township, Portage county, Ohio, August 11, 1858, and is a son of William P. and Harriet (Watkins) Dickinson, both natives of the Buckeye state, and 248 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the parents of six children, viz: Herman B., Grace, Harriet (wife of H. A. Cail), Percie, and Fannie and Maie, deceased. Alpheus Dickinson, paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, was a farmer and lumberman, and a patriot of the war of 1812. He was an early settler of Portage county, Ohio, reared a large family, and died in Randolph township at the advanced age of over ninety years. Joseph Watkins, the maternal grandfather of Herman B. Dickinson, was born in Wales, and was a boy when brought to America by his parents, who lived for some years in Connecticut, and then came to Ohio and settled in Steubenville. Mr. Watkins became a merchant in Evansburg, Coshocton county, whence he shipped large quantities of grain, and was also a potent factor in the business, political and religious affairs of the town, being especially interested in the famous underground railroad of that day. His death took place in Knox county, at the age of about sixty years. William P. Dickinson, father of subject, was reared in Portage county to farming, and was first married to Mariette Gillette, who bore him one child, Arthur, who is now living in Randolph township. His second marriage resulted, as already stated, in the birth of six children. Mrs. Harriet Dickinson died in r 889, a member of the Congregational church, of which her husband is also a member. She had two brothers who served through the Civil war, and one who served through the greater portion of it. Mr. Dickinson now resides on his farm near the east corporation line of Ravenna. H. B. Dickinson, the gentleman whose name opens this memoir, when a year old was taken by his parents to New Jersey, where they lived until he was five years of age. The family then returned to Ohio, and for two years lived in Oberlin, whence they moved to Knox county, and, in 1869, returned to Randolph, Portage county, and finally settled on the farm east of Ravenna in 1876. Here Mr. Dickinson received his education in the district school, and in 1883 graduated from the Ravenna high school. Immediately thereafter he began the study of law under Judge P. B. Conant, arid was admitted to the bar June I. 1886, from which date until February 1, 1888, he served as deputy in the office of C. A. Reed, judge of the probate court. May r, 1888, he opened his present office, and February 1, 1897, he formed a partnership in the practice of law at Ravenna with G. R. Percival. In politics he is a republican and has served two terms as justice of the peace. Mr. Dickinson was united in wedlock May 10, 1889, with Miss Ida E. Hitchcock, daughter of Dr. Hitchcock, the marriage being blessed with three children—Ethel, Ruth and Howells. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are conscientious members of the Congregational church. Mr. Dickinson is a young man of pleasant manners and is rapidly building up a lucrative practice. His legal ability is universally recognized, and he holds the confidence and esteem of the citizens of Ravenna and surrounding territory. CLAUDE M. DAVIS, assistant cashier of the City Bank of Kent, Ohio, and agent in this city for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance company of Boston, was born in Kent, April 20, 1868, and is a son of Dr. Joel D. and Mary (Smith) Davis. Joel D. Davis, M. D., the leading physician of Kent and Franklin township, was born in Randolph township, Portage county, Ohio, July 8, 1844, his parents being Darius and Louisa (Merrell) Davis, natives, respectively, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 249 of the states of Ohio and New York, but whose lives were principally passed in Kent, where the father, Darius, died at about sixty-two years of age, and the mother at about seventy. Joel D. was primarily educated in the common schools of his native township, where he continued to reside until twenty years old, or thereabout, when he came to Kent, which city has since been his home. He began the study of medicine, in 1875, under the preceptorship of Dr. E. W. Price, quite an eminent professional of Kent, was thoroughly prepared for and entered the Western Reserve university, from the medical department of which he graduated in 1878, and at once opened his office in Kent, securing a large and lucrative practice. In 1884 the doctor opened a drug store, which he conducts in conjunction with his practice, and finds to be a very convenient and profitable accessory. By his marriage, in 1867, to Miss Mary Smith, there have been born seven children, viz: Claude M., Ethelbert Jay D., Louise M., Edna P., Bessie and Jeannette. Fraternally, Dr. Davis is a Freemason; politically he is a republican; socially he mingles in the select circles of Kent, and professionally he stands in the front rank of the medical men of Portage county. Claude M. Davis, after attending the common schools of Kent until he had absorbed all that their curriculum afforded, took a course at the Spencerian Commercial college at Cleveland, and then, from 1888 until the spring of 1893, clerked in his father's drug store. In the last-named year he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and July I, 1894, having manifested unusual business qualifications, was tendered his present position in the City Bank of Kent, which he accepted and has since filled in a most satisfactory manner. October 20, 1888, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Lorinda M. Card, who was born in Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, December 12, 1867, a daughter of Silas and Margaret H. (Ellett) Card, the latter of whom came here from New Jersey, with her parents, about sixty years ago. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been blessed with two sons —Ray C., born November 18, 1889, and Joel M., born March 8, 1892. In politics Mr. Davis is a stalwart republican, and fraternally is a member of Achilles lodge, No. 378, Knights of Pythias, at Kent. He is one of the leading young business men of northeastern Ohio, is very popular and prominent in Kent, and his social standing, as is that of his accomplished lady, is with the elite of Kent and surrounding territory. WILLIAN DANNER, an experienced agriculturist and 'formerly cabinetmaker, and a highly respected citizen of Green township, Summit county, Ohio, and a son of Philip and Mary Ann (Benzel) Danner, was born in Canton, Stark county, February 15, 1833. Philip Danner, grandfather of William, was a native of Pennsylvania, was a shoemaker by trade, and was a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio, coming here in 1818, and locating one mile east of Canal Fulton, where he followed farming. He married Miss Margaret Millheim, the union resulting in the birth of nine children, viz: John, Samuel, Catherine (wife of George Stover), Jacob, Philip, Margaret, Michael, George and David. The father of this family died at the age of eighty-one years, seven months and nine days, and his wife also attained great longevity. Philip Danner, father of subject, was born in Center county, Pa., was a weaver by trade, but on coming to Ohio settled at what is now known as Canal Fulton, Stark county, and carried on weaving and also carpenter work. He married Miss Mary Ann Benzel, daughter