900 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD William Howenstine. The grandfather died in 1857, at the age of ninety-one years, in the faith of the Methodist church. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Silver were natives of Alsace, Germany, and were also early settlers in Stark county, Ohio. The grandfather had been a merchant until twenty-two years of age, and then began farming, a vocation he followed as long as he was able to work. To his marriage were born five children, three of whom still survive, viz: Caroline, Lewis and William; John died in the army, and Samuel died in civil life, at the age of forty-two years, and his wife in 1885, at seventy-five years of age, both in Stark county, and both in the faith of the Lutheran church. John B. Silver followed farming in Stark county until 1884, when he came to Deerfield, Portage county, and purchased one of the finest farms in the township. He has served as supervisor and school director, and he and wife are devoted members of the Reformed Lutheran church, of which Mr. Silver has long been a trustee, and, for one year, superintendent of the Sunday-school. The family are all highly esteemed in the community, and Mr. Silver has won many warm friends through his personal merits. HARVEY D. SMALLEY, justice of the peace and retired school-teacher of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Monroe county, N. Y., December 25, 1825, a son of Donald and Betsey (Frost) Smalley. Donald Smalley was born April 3, 1782, in Randolph, Vt., went to New York state when a young man, and in 1813 married, in Monroe county, Betsey Frost, who was born in Berkshire, Mass., in 1792. In 1836 Mr. Smalley came to Ohio, and bought a farm of 130 acres one and one-half miles south of Randolph Center, Portage county. There were born to him three children, viz: J. F., who died in 1853; E. J., who is president of the Smalley Manufacturing company, of Manitowoc, Mich., and H. D., our subject. The mother of these children died in March, 1846, and the father returned to New York state, where he re-married, but died on his Ohio farm in December, 1859, an honored man. Harvey D. Smalley was eleven years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was educated in the common schools of Portage county, and for two terms attended Linnean academy. In 1843, at the age of eighteen years, he taught his first school, known as the Marshall district school, in Randolph—at $12 per month of twenty-four days; in 1850 he went to Sheboygan, Wis., taught during the summer terms, then returned to Ohio and taught in Stark county—including the public schools of Alliance for three years—and in 1860 opened a private school in Randolph; in 1862 he was appointed superintendent of the Marlboro union school, which position he held until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, served in Kentucky until the expiration of his term of enlistment—100 days—and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, with the rank of orderly sergeant. On his return to Randolph, Mr. Smalley opened his second private school; in 1866 he passed six months in Youngstown as editor of Mahoning Register, the editor proper, E. V. Smalley, being then in Washington, D. C. In 1876, the subject, H. D. Smalley, relinquished his vocation of teacher and purchased a farm of twenty-eight acres, on which he resided until the spring of 1893, when he removed to Atwater, where he purchased his present dwelling. As a republican, Mr. Smalley filled the offices of township trustee and township clerk while in Randolph, and after OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 901 settling in Atwater was elected, in the spring of 1894, justice of the peace—an office he still conscientiously and satisfactorily exercises. March 26, 1846, Mr. Smalley was joined in wedlock with Miss Sophronia Cleverly, daughter of John and Minerva (Matton) Cleverly, of Atwater, where Mrs. Smalley was born December 26, 1825. Her father, John Cleverly, was a native of Connecticut, born February 14, 1800, and died in Atwater, Ohio, in 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Smalley no children have been born. They are members of the Disciples' church of Randolph, of which Mr. Smalley is an elder, and has been secretary and treasurer for a year, and superintendent of Sunday-school five or six years. Mr. Smalley is a member of Hanford post, No. 647, G. A. R., of Randolph, and his social relations are elevated, refined and enjoyable, he and wife mingling in the best circles of Atwater township. ENOS CARLOMAN SMITH, president of the First National bank and the oldest merchant in Garrettsville, Portage county, Ohio, and one of the substantial and most highly respected citizens of the county, was born in Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county, October 19, 1829, and is a son of Norman and Sallie M. (Hickok) Smith. The father, who was of Scotch extraction, was born in Sherburne, Vt., in 1801, and came to Ohio in 1818; the mother was born in New York state, and came to Ohio in 1820, and were married in Ashtabula county. Soon after the birth of subject, the family removed to Parkman township, Geauga county, where Enos C. passed his boyhood and youth, receiving such school advantages as were afforded by the district school and township academy; when not attending school, he assisted in tilling the home farm. At the age of twenty he tried teaching school, for which he received $17 per month, and boarded with patrons of the school. His father died about this time (1849), and, Enos being the eldest of the children, the care of the family, to a certain extent, devolved upon him. For a time he worked on the farm, then clerked in a drug store. Gold having been discovered in California, he, like many others, concluded to go there and seek a fortune. He was without money, but he borrowed $350 and in December, 1851, left home. The journey was made via New York city and the isthmus of Panama, and on May 25, 1852, he reached San Francisco, having had a quick voyage. He soon was engaged in mining, but when winter came on, the snow was too deep to follow that pursuit, and so returned to San Francisco, and through the exercise of considerable pluck secured the position of steward on the steamer Golden Gate, which plied between San Francisco and Panama. He subsequently filed a claim, paying $1,450, and one year later sold out for $2,700. The same tract now furnishes the water supply for the city of Oakland. Mr. Smith remained in California about five years, and on his return to Ohio, in August, 1857, he formed a partnership with A. A. Barber, and under the firm name of Barber & Smith succeeded Dr. 0. Manley in the hardware trade in Garrettsville. This firm continued until 1886, when C. C. Payne assumed Mr. Barber's interests, and the firm became Smith & Payne, which style continued six years, when Mr. Smith became sole proprietor. Mr. Smith early became identified with the financial interests of Portage county, and as far back as 1870 subscribed to the stock of the Farmer's Savings & Loan association, which was incorporated under the state law in 1871, with R. M. Hauk as president, Mr. Smith as vice-president, and James Norton as cashier. In 1872 this association was merged into the First National bank, No. 2034, at Garrettsville, 902 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD with a capital stock of $60,000, which was increased to $100,000 in 1874, and in 1880 reduced to $80,000, its present capital. Of this bank Mr. Smith has been president since 1893, and still holds that honorable position. To the parents of Mr. Smith were born seven children, viz: Enos C., our subject; Marsh H., a physician of Manchester, Ill. ; Marie Louise, who was first married to Edwin Moore and next to Harrison C. Crawford, and died in Garrettsville; Ellen J., wife of C. S. Bates, cabinet-maker at Clinton, Iowa; Mary Ann, widow of a Mr. Guthrie, of Raymond, Ill., George D., of Garrettsville, and Sarah, married to Jeffrey McConnell, of Manchester, Ohio. August 27, 1857, Enos C. Smith married Marion B. McClintock, who was born July 4; 1829, in Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Chloe (Ferry) McClintock, the former of whom was born in Whitehall, N. Y., in 1793, and the latter in Brookfield, Orange county, Vt., in 1798. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock came to Ohio in 1832 and settled in Garrettsville, where Mr. McClintock died August 7, 1873, and his wife June 17, 1878, both in the faith of the Baptist church. No children have blessed the marriage of Mr. Smith and his wife. In politics Mr. Smith has always been a free-soiler or republican, and cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont. He assisted in organizing the first election board at Hesse's Crossing, Cal., and later seven times assisted in nominating James A. Garfield for congress, and was once himself candidate for the state legislature before the republican convention. He has served as mayor of Garrettsville and as councilman, and has filled every trust with fidelity and ability. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star branch, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He en joys the unbounded confidence of his fellow- citizens, and no one is more highly esteemed. George D. Smith, younger brother of Enos C. Smith, was born in Wooster, Ohio, January 28, 1843. He was educated in a common school and lived on the home farm until fourteen years old, then went to Manchester, Ill., and further attended school until the outbreak of the late Civil war. In May, 1861, he enlisted in company F, Fourteenth Illinois volunteer infantry, and saw his first service in Missouri, under Gen. John C. Fremont; he later participated at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Farmington, Hatchie, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, in many skirmishes, receiving at different times wounds in the hands and head, which, though not serious, were rather " close calls." For nine months during his service he had charge of the body guard of Gen. Crocker, and was finally discharged at Springfield, Ill., in July, 1864, as a non-commissioned officer. After returning from the war, Mr. Smith married, in 1866, in Garrettsville, Ohio, Miss Emma A. Daniels, a native of Freedom township, and a daughter of Norton J. and Mary A. (Wight) Daniels, the father a carpenter by trade. For three years after marriage Mr. Smith lived in Manchester, Ill., engaged in the stove and tinware trade, then returned to Garrettsville, where, since 1872, he has been engaged with his brother, Enos C., in the hardware trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born one daughter, Ethel, wife of C. O. Judd, of Garrettsville. In politics Mr. Smith is a strong republican, and under Harrison's administration was postmaster of Garrettsville; he has also served as councilman and as treasurer of the board of education. Fraternally he was made a Mason in 1865, is past master of Garrettsville lodge, No. 246, and is high priest of Silver Creek chapter, No. 144, R. A. M. He is also a member of the G. A. R. In religion, he and wife OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 903 are members of the Congregational church, of which he is a deacon. He has built a pleasant dwelling on Smith street, were he and wife enjoy every social refinement and the esteem and respect of their neighbors. HON. IRA P. SPERRY, of Tallmadge, Ohio, and one of its representative and prominent citizens, descends from a long line of English Puritan ancestry, who were among the founders of the Connecticut colony. Richard Sperry, who settled in New Haven, Conn., about 1640, was the sturdy Puritan who furnished aid, comfort and lodging to the judges who condemmed King Charles to death, during the reign of Cromwell. His children were John, Mary, Richard, Jr., Hester, Nathaniel, Thomas, Ebenezer, Daniel and Joseph. Richard Sperry was a Welshman, but his wife was an English lady. President Stiles, in his History of the Regicides, gives a very glowing account of the character, ability and shrewdness of Richard Sperry, and his descendants have good cause to congratulate themselves on being members of the Sperry family. Ira P. Sperry the subject of this biography, is a son of Lyman and Lydia (Peck) Sperry. Lyman Sperry was born in Connecticut at Woodbury, and married there, the first time, Deborah Newton, also born in Connecticut, and by her he was the father of Asmodeus N., Mary Amonds,Phebe and Adna. Delorah died, and he married Lydia Peck, and their children were Lyman, Lydia, Elizabeth, Levinus, Lewis, Ira P., Samuel, Ebenezer and Dr. Willis. Lyman Sperry moved with his family to Ohio in 1819, making the journey with horses and ox-teams—quite a party coming together. Mr. Sperry settled on the north line of Tall- madge township, a little east of Monroe Falls, and here bought a lot of 160 acres, which he cleared from the woods, aided by his sons. He and wife were both members of the Congregational church. His first wife died in Connecticut and he came to Ohio with his second wife and six of her children; three others were born in Ohio—Samuel, Ebenezer and Willis. He was a straightforward and respected pioneer of Tallmadge township, was well known for his integrity of character, and in politics was a whig. Ira P. Sperry was born November 24, 1817, at Waterbury, Conn., and was brought when an infant by his parents, in 1819, to Tallmadge. He received a common-school education, and attended an academy a Cuyahoga Falls, learned when young the blacksmith trade and carriage business, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, under the firm name of Oviatt & Sperry, and carried on an extensive business, the firm keeping a depository of carriages in Cincinnati for fourteen years. After this, Mr. Sperry engaged in the sewer pipe business for twenty years, the firm being changed several times, and doing a successful business. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Colorado, being ninety days on the way, and remained one year in the gold mines, meeting with gratifying success. Mr. Sperry has, throughout his career, been one of the most enterprising business men of Summit county. His carriage manufactory for many years was the most extensive in the western country, and added greatly to the prosperity of the county—the firm of Oviatt & Sperry continuing for nearly a quarter of a century. In addition to supplying a considerable portion of northern Ohio with fine carriages, from $20,000 to $25,000 worth of fine carriages were yearly sold at their depository in Cincinnati. In 1850, with his brother, Dr. Willis Sperry, and Samuel J. Ritchie, he es- 904 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tablished extensive sewer-pipe works in Tallmadge, which in connection with his son, George P. Sperry, was successfully conducted for about twenty years, or until the death of George P. Sperry, November 17, 1892, at which time the father retired from business on a competence. Mr. Sperry was one of the original abolitionists of Tallmadge township and liberally assisted this cause with his means; he was also one of the original republicans of Summit county in the state legislature, having been elected in 1858 on the republican ticket and serving only two years. September 27, 1841, Mr. Sperry married Miss Clarissa Carlton, of Portage county, a daughter of Peter and Clarissa (Ladd) Carlton. Their children were Willis C., born December 12, 1847, now a practicing physician; Charles O., who died in infancy; Mary A., who was born July 30, 1853, and died in Oberlin, Ohio, October 17, 187o, aged seventeen years; George P., born September 30, 1858, was a sewer pipe manufacturer of Tallmadge; Francis L., born October 22, 1861, is a chemist, and Henry B., who was formerly secretary and treasurer for the Sewer Pipe company at Huntington, Pa. Mrs. Sperry was a devout member of the Congregational church and died May 31, 1897, aged nearly seventy-seven years, a woman of many virtues and highly esteemed in the community. It is related of this branch of the Sperry family that when the regicides, Gough and Whaley, were in hiding on the Sperry farm, that a maternal grandmother, who was also a Miss Sperry, carried food to them when she was a young girl. It is also stated that the Sperry family came from England with the Deavenport colony. Ira P. Sperry is a member of the Congregational church, a man of great energy and integrity of character and a practical and successful business man. He is a fine specimen of the pioneer and splendidly preserved at the age of eighty years. Dr. Willis Sperry, brother of Ira P. Sperry, is one of the prominent physicians and honored citizens of Summit county, Ohio. The doctor was born July 14, 1823, on the Sperry homestead near the north line of Tallmadge township. He received his early education at Twinsburg, Ohio, and attended the Cleveland medical college during the winter of 1850— 1851, and immediately thereafter began the practice of medicine at Peoria, Ill. ; the next year, 1852, he went to California via the isthmus of Panama, practiced medicine ten years in Tuolumne county, and witnessed the early scenes in the palmy days of gold mining. In 1862 he returned to Tallmadge, and here has very successfully practiced medicine since. He has accumulated a valuable library during his long medical practice and is a patron of the leading medical reviews, both foreign and American. Fraternally, the doctor is a member of the Northeastern Ohio Medical association, and also of lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., Akron, Ohio. In politics he has been a republican ever since the organization of the party, and in religion a member of the Congregational church. The doctor was married May 27, 1855, in Sonora county, Cal., by the Rev. John Henry Brodt, to Hulda E. Carlton, who was born November 23, 1833, in Mantua township, Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Clarissa (Ladd) Carlton. Peter Carlton was of English ancestry and came from Connecticut. His wife was from Massachusetts and both families were of old colonial stock. Dr. Sperry and wife were the parents of Willis P., born September 23, 1856, and Emily Carlton, born October 25, 1859, both in California; Erasmus Darwin, born January 5, 1864; Rosaline Ladd, born February to, 1867; Mary Amelia, born OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 905 July 27, 1871, all three in Tallmadge, the last named dying May 27, 1882. Mrs. Willis Sperry died April 18, 1896, and he next married, November 3, of the same year, Mrs. H. A. Sackett, nee Mabel Fenn, daughter of Willis Fenn. Dr. Sperry has one of the most attractive homes in Tallmadge. He is a gentleman of wide culture and is most favorably known throughout the county both as a scholar and a physician. JAMES B. STAUFFER, the enterprising dairyman of Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Salem, Columbiana county, October 9, 1847, a son of Abraham and Mary (Estry) Stauffer. The former was also a native of Columbiana county, born September 12, 1815, of German descent, married June 7, 1838, and died April 30, 1878. Mrs. Mary (Estry) Stauffer, also of German extraction, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., October 16, 1820, and died in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 27, 1894. The children of these parents were all born in Columbiana county, in the order here given : William H., March 9, 1840; Elizabeth M., June 22, 1844; James B., the subject; Celestia A., July 7, 1851; Sophia, December 23, 1853-died in California June 29, 1891; Cary H., October 8, 1856; Laura F., April 25, 1859; and Mary A., December 7, 1861. James B. Stauffer remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, and then began business for himself by renting a coal bank, from which he mined and sold the mineral, making a success of his undertaking. January I, 1867, he married Miss Sarah A. Buzby, who was born January 27, 1848, a daughter of Eleazer and Nancy (Grimes) Buzby, natives, respectfully, of New Jersey and Ohio. Mr. Buzby was a Quaker and school-teacher, and to his marriage with Miss Grimes were born three children, viz : Daniel (deceased), William E. and Sarah A. (Mrs. Stauffer). Mr. Buzby died, and his widow married, for her second husband, J. B. English, a school-teacher of Mount Union, Stark county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. English are Methodists, and fraternally Mr. English is a Freemason. Mr. Stauffer continued his coal operations for two years and then bought a saw-mill, which, in conjunction with the lumber trade, he operated until 1884, when he went to Campbellsville, Ky., and was there engaged in the lumber business until 1892, when he returned to Ohio and bought a farm of 168 acres in Richfield township, Summit county, on which he erected new buildings; he next bought seventy-two additional acres, and, later, 266 acres in the same township, and engaged in farming until April 1, 1897, when he rented out his land and engaged in the creamery business at Peninsula and West Richfield, Summit county. The Peninsula plant will be the largest of its kind in the state, with a daily capacity of 20,000 pounds of milk, and will be equipped with the latest improved machinery. Mr. Stauffer is a capable business man, has been very suscessful in his undertakings, and it is plain that his creameries are destined to take rank among the leading industries of Summit county. He is generous of disposition and public spirited, being always ready to promote all worthy public enterprises. He is prominent as a Mason, and is an active member of Pitman lodge, No. 224, in that order. To his happy marriage there have been born six children, viz : Delorma, Effie, Abraham, Josephine, Mary and Luster, each of whom has received an excellent education. The family stand high socially, and the people of Richfield may be congratulated upon the fact that Mr. Stauffer has made his permanent home in the township. 906 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OMAR C. STOCKING, of Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, was born October 14, 1828, in Waterbury, Conn., and is a son of Anson and Flora (Coe) Stocking. When five years old his parents settled on a farm in Litchfield county, Conn., and he here remained until he was about seventeen years of age. He early learned the trade of a painter, and when he was twenty he became a worker in brass, and in the manufacture of locks, in the works of the Russell & Irwin manufacturing company, of New Britain, Conn. He married, in Torrington, Litchfield county, Conn., Louisa M. Pierce, returned to New Britain and then to Torrington, about 1855, and worked on trunk locks, and afterward worked in a melodeon manufactory for some years. He then went to Ansonia, Conn., and worked at brass work on kerosene lamps. To Mr. and Mrs. Stocking were born Edwin C. and Albert P. Mr. Stocking enlisted at Ansonia, Conn., August 4, 1862, in Capt. Sanford H. Chaffie's company B, Twentieth regiment, Connecticut volunteer infantry, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged near Washington, D. C., at the end of his service, June 3, 1865, and was mustered out at New Haven, Conn. He was promoted, for meritorious conduct, to be corporal, from May 5, 1864, having previously acted as corporal for nearly one year. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Tracy City, Tenn. , and Boyd's Trail, and was on the famous Atlanta campaign. He was in the battles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Faced Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Peach Tree Creek, Turner Ferry, siege and general assault on Atlanta, and was one of the first men to enter that city after its fall, he being on a reconnoitering expedition, and fired at one of Wheeler's cavalrymen, engaged, with others, in the destruction of a drug store, and slightly injured him, as he rode off. The Confederate cavalrymen broke and destroyed everything they could find, but fled mostly on the entrance of the Union troops. He was then on Sherman's celebrated march to the sea, and was in the battles of Savannah, Charleston, Silver Run, Averysborough and Bentonville, and was in many skirmishes, too numerous to mention, especially in the Kenesaw mountains. Mr. Stocking also was present and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He thinks that he saw the hardest service in the Gettysburg campaign, when he marched with his company from Dumfries, Va., thirty-five miles south of Fairfax Court House, making this march during a hot dry day in June, from 3 A. M. to 9 P. M., and thence to the battle field—twenty-four days on this forced march, and suffering greatly from rain, mud and hot weather. At night the tired soldier slept on his arms, with no shelter except a rubber blanket. He was in the battle of Gettysburg forty-eight hours, and kept his knapsack on his back all the time. He had nothing to eat except a little raw pork and hard tack. Mr. Stocking was not wounded but was struck with several spent balls, and at Chancellorsville one ball struck his knapsack and passed through the folds of his blanket, which saved his life. He was a good soldier and served his country faithfully. He is now much disabled from the exposure of sleeping on the ground, and is a sufferer from rheumatism. Mr. Stocking returned to Ansonia, Conn., and to his family. He had left his wife with two small boys, and during his long service he had received no furlough home. In August, 1865, Mr. Stocking came to Hiram, Ohio, where his wife's father, Rodney Pierce, Sr., was then living. Here Mr. Stocking engaged in the small fruit business for twelve years and prospered, having now a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 907 pleasant home and a few acres of land. He then started a hack and express line from Hiram to Garrettsville, which he ran for fourteen years, and two years ago retired from active business. In politics Mr. Stocking was first a whig and then a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Scott and then for John C. Fremont, and was one of the original republicans. Mr. Stocking has held the office of township trustee, and is a respected citizen. He is an honored member of the G. A. R., Mark Horton post, Garrettsville, and is an unaffiliating Odd Fellow. Mrs. Stocking is a member of the Congregational church. Edwin Stocking, son of Omar C., married Bell Crawford, and is a machinist in Chicago. They have two children, viz: Edwin B. and Leroy. Albert P. Stocking, the younger son, married Mary Jones. He is a railroad man and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. The Stocking family is of old English Puritan stock, the founders of the family in America settling in Connecticut on the foundation of the colony, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Anson Stocking, the father of Omar C. Stocking, was a cabinetmaker and painter, and also a farmer of Torrington, Conn. He was a respected citizen and one of the board of selectmen of his town and a justice of the peace. His children by his marriage to Miss Coe were Flora, Omar C., Fannie, Phila and Eber. To his first marriage, to Phila Miles, were born John, Samuel, Marcia and Anson. All of these children by the first wife are now deceased, and Mr. Stocking died at the age of seventy-four years. He had two sons in the Civil war. Eber served in the first call of 1861 and was discharged on account of disability. Rodney Pierce, the father of Mrs. Stocking, was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Green) Pierce, was from an old colonial Connecticut family, of the same original stock as President Pierce. Mr. Pierce was three times married; the first time to Harriet Kelsey, and their children were Louise, Elizabeth, Charles, George and Henry; the second wife was Jane Dutton, and their children were Henry, John, Harriet, Jane and Rodney. There were no children by his third wife, Elizabeth Mulholland. Two of the sons were in the Civil war—Henry and George, both in the Nineteenth regiment Connecticut volunteer infantry three years' service. Henry served out his time and was in several battles, his regiment having been formed into a battery of heavy artillery. George was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. Mr. Pierce was a carpenter and joiner, and owned a farm of 200 acres in Torrington township, Conn. He came, in 1864, to Hiram, Ohio, and bought a farm and here passed his remaining days. He was a member of the Congregational church, in which he was a deacon many years, and was an honored and industrious man of sterling worth. FRANK HALL SPIRES, druggist and storekeeper, in Atwater township, Portage county, Ohio, was born here January 1, 1866, a son of Thomas and Josephine (Hiddleson) Spires, both natives of the Buckeye state. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and later for many years was his father's assistant in the lumber business and in stock raising, and also for some years clerked for him in a dry-goods and notion store. In February, 1890, he purchased from Walter McConnery the drug store which he now owns, in which he carries a full and well-selected line of drugs and chemicals, as well as an assortment of groceries, tobacco, etc., and, being polite and affable, is doing an excellent trade. Mr. Spires was united in marriage Novem- 908 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ber 19, 1891, with Miss Addie Benjamin, who was born in Atwater township, January 12, 1868, a daughter of Platt and Ellen Benjamin, the former of whom is a native of New York state and the latter of Rootstown, Ohio. Mrs. Spires was educated in the schools of Atwater and Ravenna, and after finishing her education, at the age of fifteen years, taught school herself for several years at various places throughout the county. Mr. Spires is a member of Atwater lodge, No. 649, Knights of Pythias, and also of the Portage county Gun club, in which he has several times won the championship medal, and has made a record, at trap-shooting, of forty-seven out of fifty birds. He is likewise an enthusiastic sportsman, owning two of the best bird-dogs in the county, and never misses a season to indulge in the hunt. He is very attentive to business, however; it is only on an occasion of a shoot going on that he takes a vacation. He and wife are great favorites in the social circles of the township and both are held in high estimation by all their neighbors and friends. ALBERT C. STOW is one of the most venerable and respected citizens of Summit county, Ohio, and the oldest native-born person living in Stowe township. He is from sterling English ancestry. The founders of the family came to New England in old colonial times and were among the founders of Connecticut. The grandfather of subject was a sea captain in the West India trade in early times, and it is believed that his name was William. Lord Thomas Stow, who recently died, leaving a large estate but no will, was of the same family. Rev. Dr. Stowe, husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the famous author, was of the same stock. William Stow was the father of Albert C., was born January 26, 1776, at Middleton, Conn., and of his brothers and sisters were Annie, Russell, Zebulon, Thomas are remembered. William Stow was a sea captain, following the same vocation as his father. He married in Middletown, Conn., Peggie Gaylord, who was born February 8, 1774, a daughter of Jonathan. They were married at Middletown, Conn., April 10, 1795, by Rev. Gushom Buckley, and their children were William, born November 15, 1795; Thomas, October 31, 1797; Joseph, December 12, 1799; Zebulon, April 8, 1802; Maria, April 18, 1804; Abiah, May 3, 1808—all born in Middletown, Conn. Albert C., born July 5, 18 1 0; James, June 22, 1812; Margaret, February 22, 1814; Russell M. , March 13, 1816—all born in Stowe township, Portage (now Summit county) Ohio. William Stow, the father, came to Ohio in June, 1809, making the journey with a yoke of oxen and one horse, and was over forty-one days on the journey. Jonathan and Thomas Gaylord also came with their families--all relations. They cut their way through the wilderness of western New York state and Pennsylvania to Portage county, the families sleeping in their wagons at night. William Stow settled on 300 acres of land at Monroe Falls, Stowe township. in the woods —the land was covered with heavy timber. He bought his land of Judge Joshua Stowe—one of the original members of the Connecticut company, who owned the land on the Western Reserve. William Stow traded a vessel and house and lot in Middletown and other property, with Judge Stowe for his 300 acres. William Stow was a well-to-do man for his time, and left a well-settled country to become a pioneer in the Ohio wilderness. He built a log house on his land and cleared up a good farm. He sold 100 acres for $3 per acre to Squire Samuel Cheney, and retained 200 acres. Being a sailor, he was employed to rig the first vessel built at Cleveland in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 909 1812, sailed this schooner a year and carried provisions to Sackett's Harbor. He was not accustomed to the hard work of a pioneer, but he learned fast and did a large amount of clearing. He finally sold his land, or what remained after he had given much to his sons, and moved to Brimfield, Portage county, and bought several small farms. He sold out and returned to Stowe township three years later, in 1839, and here passed his remaining days on his farm. He was early a member of the Congregational church and in later life a member of the Christian church, and in politics a whig. He died September 20, 1853, aged seventy-seven years and eight months. Mr. Stow was a man of sterling worth and the head of one of the most respected families. He was a constable several years and a man of strong and determined character. Albert C. Stow was born July 5, 1810, near Monroe Falls in the log house near the present site of the paper-mill on the original Stow farm, and is the only living member of his father's family. He received the limited common-school education of the district, was brought up a farmer, and at sixteen years went to work in a woolen-mill for one year, and then resumed farming on his father's farm. He married, at the age of twenty-four years, in Michigan, November 22, 1835, Almira Barret, who was born January 23, 1818, at Woodstock, Conn., a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Masscraft) Barret. The founder of the family in America came from England in old Puritan times. The family was mentioned in " Doomsday Book " and located in 1086. Another mention is made in London " Knights," 1381, and after this many knights and county families are named, down to the present, as scattered all over England and the colonies. Perhaps the "Baret," as it is spelled in " Doomsday Book," was Saxon, and probably the first Barretts were Normans and kin to the Barretts or Barrets of France and Italy, and came to England with the conqueror. Several Barretts located in Virginia and Massachusetts from 1620 to 1640—one or more in Boston, and one on the Concord. One Thomas Barrett, aged sixteen years, sailed from London in the ship Increase in 1635; a Thomas B. Barrett, with his wife, Frances, in 1635. A Thomas Barrett with his wife, Frances, were settled in Chelmsford in 1630. It has been, so far, impossible to trace them to any other family or locality in either old or New England. Thomas and Frances Barrett of Chelmsford had three children--Margaret, Moses B., and Mehitable. Moses Barrett married a Miss Smith of Dorchester, September 10, 1684 and had a son, Moses. Moses Barrett, Jr., married and had born in Chelmsford the following children: Daniel, Hannah, Oliver, Smith, Moses and Benjamin (twins). Moses Barrett moved to Woodstock, Conn., about 1722. Smith Barrett married Mary Spalding. His children, born in Woodstock, were Samuel, Hannah, Daniel, Priscilla, Thomas, Ephraim, Martha, Priscilla (second), Ephraim (second) and Mary. Daniel Barrett married, the first time, Hulda Elothrop, March 14, 1765, and for his second wife, Mary Manly, in 1774 or 1775, and for third wife a widow, Mrs. Mary Miles Dodge in 1778, and his fourth wife, Jemima (Inman) Benson, November 16, 1780. His children, born on the Woodstock homestead, were, Smith, Anna, Daniel, Thomas Manly, Aldrich, Wiley, Edward Inman, Mary (Mrs. Nathan Barret), Simon and Andrew. Mrs. Jemima Benson, was a daughter of Edward Inman, born December 14, 1748; she had four children, by her former marriage: Isaac, Joseph, John and Inman. She died February 7, 1827, Daniel Barret died July 22, 1887. Simon Barret, father of Mrs. Stow, was 910 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born February 21 , 1784, in Woodstock, Conn., received his education at the academy at Woodstock, and taught school twenty-one seasons in Connecticut, Canada and New York state. He married, in Woodstock, Conn., October 12, 1809, Lydia, Masscraft, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Austin) Masscraft, both of New England ancestry. Lydia was born in Woodstock, Conn., November 11, 1787. Jacob Masscraft, her father, was a farmer of Connecticut stock and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died in Woodstock from consumption contracted by exposure in that war. The Austins were a Massachusetts family and seafaring people, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Stow was captured by Algerine pirates and never returned. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Barret had the following children: Newton, Milton, Almira, Martha E., Simon G., William P., Sarah and Frances L. Simon Barret came to Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio, May 20, 1835, and remained three months, and September 20 went to Michigan and settled at Spring Port, where he died in 1837. He was a man of high character, much respected by all. Mr. Stow's father was a second cousin to Judge Stowe, the owner of this township. Albert C. Stow, when he was a boy, lived in almost a wilderness, and after marriage, Mr. Stow, with his wife, lived in Brimfield about three years and worked on his father's land, and in 1839 settled on fifty acres which his father gave him in Stowe township; in 1856 he sold this land, which he had improved, and came to his present farm. Mr. Stow has always been a hardworking and industrious man and prospered by his sterling thrift. When young he cleared a great deal of land and worked hard to make his home, assisted by his faithful wife. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stow have been members of the Christian church since 1846, and aided in founding and build ing the Christian church at Stowe Corners. Mr. Stow has been a deacon many years. In politics he was first a whig and then a republican. He has always been a man of undeniable integrity of character and had the respect of all who knew him. To Mr. and Mrs. Stow two daughters have been born--Ellen E. and Emma A., the latter having died at the age of forty years. Ellen E. married Rev. Francis M. Green, a minister of the Christian church in active ministry, and also a member of the state legislature two years. They have five children, viz: Lura A., who married Edwin Wetmore; Fannie M., who married William Cox; Mary T., who died, aged fourteen; Frank A. and Daisy. HENRY P. STRAIGHT, a veteran of the Civil war, and a greatly respected citizen of Hudson township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Erie county, N. Y., March 8, 1828, a son of Royal A. and Nancy (Dolph) Straight, and was brought to Ohio in 1835, by his parents, who settled in Rome, Ashtabula county. Henry Straight, paternal grandfather of Henry P., was born in Rhode Island, of English descent, ran off from home when sixteen years old, enlisted, served all through the Revolutionary war, and also through the war of 1812, in which he was quartermaster of his regiment. He married Anna Powell, in Massachusetts, and located at Charlotte, Chittenden county, Vt., and there were born to him three children, viz: Henry P., Royal A. , and Anna Elizabeth. He came to Ohio, with his son, Royal A., and here died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Royal A. Straight, son of Henry, was born in Charlotte, Vt., and when young, went to Newstead, Erie county, N. Y., where he bought a farm, and married Miss Nancy Dolph, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 911 who was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., a daughter of Aaron and Catherine (Delong) Dolph, and to this union were born six children—Henry P., Allen M., George H., Elizabeth, Ruth, and Anna. In the spring of 1835, Mr. Straight came from Erie county, N. Y., to Ashtubula county, Ohio, and purchased 125 acres of partially cleared land, on which was a log house; this land he thoroughly cleared up, and converted into a comfortable home, and profitable farm. In 1857 he removed to White county, Tenn., and purchased an old plantation of 1,700 acres, but in 1861, being persecuted for not taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederate government, he was glad to sell it for $1,000—not a tithe of its value. He then went to Marion county, Ill., bought, and lived on eighty acres for a few years, and then moved to Kent county, Mich., where he passed the remainder of his life, dying March 2, 1876, at about seventy-six years of age, a member of the Baptist church. He was first a whig in politics, but became one of the original republicans, voted for John C. Fremont, its first candidate for the presidency, and was an ardent Union man, but too old, although he volunteered, to be accepted as a soldier; but he sent three sons—Henry P., Allen M. and George H.—to the defense of the Union, and also sent two sons-in-law—Edmond R. Allen and Charles Newman. Of these, Allen M. was in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois infantry, in the three-year service, was in the Atlanta campaign, and many battles beside, was captured at Peach Tree Creek, and was fifteen months in the Andersonville and Florence prison pens, but finally reached home alive; Charles Newman, who served in the same regiment, died in prison at Florence, where he had been transferred from Andersonville. Edmond R. Allen was in the same regiment for three years; George H. Straight was in the three-year service, in the Fortieth Illinois volunteer infantry, was severely wounded, and died at his home in Illinois a few months later. Henry P. Straight received a good commonschool education and has always been a farmer. He married, September 25, 1849, at Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county, Ohio, Miss Mary J. Stevens, who was born April 20, 1831, at Detroit, Mich., a daughter of Weston and Elizabeth (Snedekor) Stevens, the former of whom was born in Rochester, N. Y., a son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Whaley) Stevens—the Stevenses being of English and the Whaleys of Scotch descent. The mother of Hannah. Whaley was a daughter of Samuel Whaley, a Scotch peer, but she ran away from home, when young, to accompany a married sister to Rochester, N. Y., and thus her prOperty became alienated. Weston Stevens was a brick-mason by trade and died in Cleveland, Ohio, the father of the following children—Samuel W., Mary J., Caroline and Harriet. After marriage, Mr. Straight settled in Rome, Ashtabula county, Ohio, bought fifty acres of land, partly cleared, and the remainder he cleared himself. In 1857, he removed to White county, Tenn., with his father, settled about eighty miles east of Nashville, remained there about a year, but owing to troublous times returned to Ohio, and enlisted at Chardon, Geauga county, December 4, 1861, in battery G, First Ohio light artillery, for three years, veteranized for three years longer and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, August 31, 1863. Mr. Straight took an active part in the following battles: Pittsburg Landing, April 6-7, 1862; Corinth, May I to 30, 1862; Franklin Pike, September 7, 1862; Stone River, December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863; Tullahoma campaign, June 23 to 30, 1863; Dug Gap, September II, 1863; Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863; Missionary Ridge, November 912 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 25, 1863; LaVergne, September 1, 1864.; Franklin, September 2, 1864; Cambellsville, September 5, 1864, Pulaski; September 27, 1864; Spring Hill, November 29, 1864; Franklin, November 30, 1864; and Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864. At Pittsburg Landing, he sustained a flesh wound in the neck, but did not go to the hospital; he was also injured by being thrown from his horse, the gun on its carriage being discharged without being unlimbered; at Stone River he received a slight bullet wound in his right knee, and at a review at Murfreesboro was thrown from his horse and knocked senseless, and for a short time was in hospital. At New Orleans he served as corporal of his company, and as such his name is inscribed on the soldiers' monument at Cleveland. He made a splendid military record, although his health was permanently wrecked by his exposure in the service. After the war, Mr. Straight returned to Portage county and rejoined his wife and five children. This number has now reached nine, viz: Mary E., Martha E., Earnest R., Carrie A., Charles H., Wills J., Lillian A., Estella May (who died at sixteen years), and Eva J. In 1867, Mr. Straight moved to Streetsboro township, Portage county, where he located on fifty-seven and one-half acres of land, where he lived until 1892, when he came to Hudson, where he now lives in retirement. He and wife are members of the Congregational church at Hudson and are consistent observers of its teachings. Mr. Straight was one of the original members of the republican party, and voted for its first nominee for the presidency of the United States—John C. Fremont; he was a guard at the state penitentiary of Ohio three years, and for many years was a member of his board of school directors in Streetsboro township, Portage county; he is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is past commander of William T. Sherman post, No. 68, of Hudson. He comes from a martial family, reaching down from the days of the Revolution to the present time—Col. A. D. Straight, celebrated for his daring escape from Libby prison, being from the original stock with himself. He is an upright, straightforward man, and he and family are among the most respected of the residents of Hudson township. GEORGE G. STRIKER, a highly respected citizen of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Cleveland, March 23, 1840, a son of Cornelius and Nancy (Eddy) Striker, who were of sturdy Mohawk-Dutch descent. Cornelius Striker was born in Mohawk county, N. Y., and was a son of a well-to-do farmer, who had three sons in the Mexican war, of whom one was killed and two died of yellow-fever in New Orleans. Cornelius was a shoemaker by trade, and married Nancy Eddy, who was born in Connecticut, the daughter of a life-long sea-captain, and to this union were born four sons and two daughters—George G., Edgar, Alfred D., Eugene L., Eleanor and Amelia. After marriage, Cornelius came to Ohio, and settled in Cleveland. Although past military age, he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years. All the sons likewise became soldiers, Edgar enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio infantry for ninety days and taking part in the chase after the raider John Morgan; he died after the close of the war from the effects of army life. Eugene L. was a boy-fifer in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Ohio infantry, served three years and was promoted to fife major, having taken part in all his regiment's marches and engagements. Alfred L. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 913 served three years in company G, Forty-second Ohio infantry. The army record of George G. will be given further on. Of the daughters, Eleanor, is married to Benjamin Lilly, of Cleveland, and Amelia is the wife of John Perry, who was a soldier in the Forty-second Ohio infantry. The parents passed their remaining days in Cleveland, Mr. Striker being respected as a hard-working and useful citizen, and Mrs. Striker as an active member of the Disciples' church. George G. Striker was reared to farming when young, and at the age of twenty-one enlisted, October 22, 1861, at Cleveland, in company G, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, if not sooner discharged on account of the war closing, but was honorably discharged October 15, 1863, at St. Louis, Mo., on account of wounds received in battle. He was an active participant in many engagements and skirmishes, the more important of which were the following: Middle Creek, Ky., January 1, 1862; Chickasaw Bluffs, Miss., December 9, 1862; Arkansas Post, Ark., January 11, 1863; Grand Gulf, Miss., April 29, 1863, and Port Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863, and here his gallant career as a soldier met with a final check. A minie ball passed through the elbow of his left arm, and immediately afterward a one-and-one quarter ounce ball, called a Memphis yeager, passed through the middle of the same member. For a time he was held in field hospital, his arm having been amputated in the field, but as soon as transportation became available he was taken to Grand Gulf, and thence to St. Louis, Mo., where he was placed in the improvised hospital at the new house of refuge, a Catholic reformatory building, where he was confined from July until October 15, 1863, his arm having been very badly shattered. Until wounded, he had taken part in all the engagements and skirmishes in which - 39 - his regiment had participated, with the exception of the engagement at Cumberland Gap, when he was detailed on provost duty at Cincinnati, having charge of a company of men. On returning to Cleveland, Mr. Striker entered a commercial college, learned bookkeeping and telegraphy, and was then employed in the general ticket office of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad company at Cleveland, as clerk, and also traveled for the company as advertising agent. Later he became telegrapher for the same company (now the New York, Lake Erie & Western), at Newburg, Solon, Youngstown, Girard, Leavittsburg, and finally at Mantua Station, having been an operator for this company seventeen years and for more than twenty years in its employ—a fact. that speaks well for his efficiency, capability and integrity. Mr. Striker was united in marriage, in Mantua Station, April 14, 1870, with Miss Melissa A. Keyes, who was born here October 21, 1844, a daughter of B. F. and Nancy (Booth) Keyes—both families of English origin, but of American birth. B. F. Keyes was born in Mantua, of an old Ohio pioneer family, was a carpenter by trade, and married in Mantua; Nancy Booth was born in Vermont, a daughter of Israel Booth. Besides Mrs. Striker they were the parents of four other children, viz: Marcellus A., Alice M., Elva and Hettie R. Mr. Keyes lived to be sixty-seven years of age, and was a temperate, industrious and much respected citizen. In politics Mr. Striker is a republican, and voted for Abraham Lincoln for president at each of his two nominations. He is a member of Bentley post, G. A. R., No. 294, in which he held the offices of commander, vice-commander, secretary, etc., and is a member of Mantua lodge, No. 752, I. O. O. F., in which he has served as noble grand and filled the intermediate chairs. Mrs. Striker is a 914 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD member of the Disciples' church, and both are highly esteemed in Mantua, which has been their permanent home ever since marriage. CURTIS TAYLOR, one of the most prosperous native-born farmers of Deerfield township, Portage county, Ohio, and of the third generation of the family to occupy the present homestead, was born May 3, 1854, a son of Hiram and Jane (McConney) Taylor. George Taylor, paternal grandfather of Curtis Taylor, was a native of Washington county, Pa., born October 19, 1764, came to Ohio in 1799, and bought the farm in the southeast part of Deerfield township, Portage county, which has ever since been occupied by his descendants. April 14, 1800, Mr. Taylor settled on the new homestead and at once began the task of clearing—the work of improving and cultivating being carried on by his children until the present day, and it being now the most productive farm in the district. The marriage of George Taylor took place in Pennsylvania to Miss Elizabeth McConney, who was born October 9, 1762, the union resulting in the birth of the following children : Nancy, January 3, 1793; Matilda, December 10, 1794; John, November 27, 1796; Nellie, November 24, 1798; George, January 26, 1801 (the last named being the first white male child to be born in Deerfield township); Leoranda, May 9, 1803, and Hiram, September 18, 1805. George Taylor, the father of this family, attained considerable prominence in the township, was a justice of the peace for many years, and died on his farm, greatly respected. David McConney, maternal grandfather of Curtis Taylor, was also a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish parentage, came to Ohio in 1817, and settled in Deerfield township, where for many years he followed his vocation of miller, but later became a farmer. He reared a family of five children, of whom John resides in Alliance, Ohio; William, who was killed by a horse; Matilda, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Seth Tunkery, and Jane, deceased wife of Hiram Taylor and the mother of Curtis Taylor, the subject of this biography. Both grandparents were members of the Methodist church. Hiram Taylor was born on the homestead in Deerfield township September 18, 1805, and was reared a pioneer farmer. To his marriage, in 1835, with Jane McConney, were born nine children, five of whom survive, viz : Solomon, who lives in Indiana; Mary, wife of Addison Ferney; Samantha J., unmarried; Curtis, and Laura, wife of George Bundy. Of the deceased children, two died in infancy; Newton died November 3, 1864, at the age of twenty-four years, and Eliza, who was married to William Dramer, died May 3, 1879, when twenty-nine years old. Hiram Taylor, the father of these children, was greatly relied upon by his fellow-citizens, whom he served in various township offices, including those of school director and supervisor, for many years. He passed all his life on his native farm, and died September 18, 1883, aged seventy-seven years and seven months; his wife followed him to the grave May 4, 1891, in her seventy-seventh year, and both were consistent members of the Disciples' church. Curtis Taylor, the present honored occupant of the old homestead, remains a bachelor, his household being managed by his sister, Samantha J. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, and fully keeps up the reputation of the farm as being one of the best cultivated in the county; and here, in the enjoyment of the high esteem of their neighbors, as well as of the entire community, he and sister are peacefully passing the happy years away. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 915 JEFFERSON THOMAS, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, and an honored citizen of Streetsboro township, Portage county, Ohio, where he was born July 4, 1843, descends from a colonial New York family of Welsh extraction. John Thomas, grandfather of Jefferson, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812, and, among his other services in that struggle, hauled the cannons that were used in the defense of Sackett's Harbor. After this war he came by ox-team to Portage county, Ohio, and cleared up a farm in Streetsboro township from the wild forest, and later, with the assistance of his son, Osman, hewed a road through the forest from embryo Streetsboro to embryo Hudson, these now populous towns being then nonentities. He succeeded in wringing from the bosom of the dense forest a farm that afforded his family a good and comfortable home, but in his old age went to Connecticut to pass his declining years with his son, William, and there passed away at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Osman Thomas, father of Jefferson Thomas, was also born in Adams, N. Y., and when twenty-one years old followed his father to Ohio, a year after the latter had settled here. He married, in Hiram township, Portage county, Lois J. Mathews, a school-teacher from Connecticut, and who came to Ohio with a foster brother. Osman Thomas, after marriage, settled on fifty acres of land in the woods of his township, but by hard work and good management increased his possessions to 343 acres, and at his death gave to each of his sons a farm of no diminutive dimensions. He was a deacon in the Baptist church for forty-five years, and as a whig and republican served twenty years as a justice of the peace, and filled, beside, other offices, such as member of the school board, township trustee, etc., and died, at the venerable age of eighty-two years, in Streetsboro, honored by all who knew him. Jefferson Thomas, with whose name this biographical notice is opened, is a son of Osman and Lois J. (Mathews) Thomas, of whom mention has already been made. He received a good common-school education, was reared a farmer, and at the early age of eighteen years enlisted, at Streetsboro, November 1, 1861, in company K, Capt. C. R. Bow, Sixth Ohio cavalry, to serve throughout the war, or, at most, three years, but was honorably discharged, at Windmill Point, Va., February 6, 1863, on annount of disability. He was a brave and unflinching soldier and fought at New Franklin, Tenn., at Strawberry Plains, and with Sheridan in his raid through the Shenandoah valley in Virginia; was also at Cross Keys and at Stoughton Mountain. and Centerville, Va., and in the second battle of Bull Run. He has suffered much from diarrhea, which seized him at Camp Chase, Ohio, and afterward with typhoid fever, which confined him in regimental hospital near Fall's church, in Virginia, whence he was sent to Windmill Point, where he received his final discharge, weighing, at the time, but seventy-four pounds, having been reduced by chronic diarrhea from 194 pounds at the time of his enlistment, and it was a full year after his return to his father's house in Streetsboro township before he was able to perform any manual labor. The marriage of Mr. Thomas took place November 4, 1866, at Warren, Ohio, to Miss Martha E. Joy, daughter of Eben and Mary H. (Green) Joy, and a native of Southington, Trumbull county, Ohio, born February 8, 1864. Eben Joy is a native of Vermont, and is a farmer by calling, and owns a good farm of 120 acres in Trumbull county, of which he was an early settler. To his marriage with 916 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Mary Green were born Martha E., Daniel and Mary E., and he and family are among the most respected residents of Trumbull county. To Osman Thomas and wife were born Willard, Juliette, Jefferson, Millicent M. and Delos —the last named being now deceased. Daniel Joy, brother of Mrs. Martha E. Thomas, is a farmer at Southington, Ohio, and is married; Mary E. Joy, sister, was the wife of David Blackburn, and died at about thirty-eight years of age. Jefferson Thomas and wife, on marrying, settled on their present farm, then consisting of forty acres, which was given to him by his father, but which, by industry, thrift and sagacious management, he has increased to ninety-three acres, all nicely improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. Their marriage has been blessed with three children, born in the following order: Garrison, Mary J. (a graduate of the high school at Hudson), and Joy J. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics Mr. Thomas is a republican and cast his first presidental vote in the ranks for Lincoln. He is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R., at Kent, and is an honorable, straightforward, industrious citizen. WILLIAM THOMAS, of Palmyra township, Portage county, Ohio, was born November 1, 1851, in the house still occupied by him. His father, David Thomas, was born November 12, 1802, in Chester county, Pa., a son of David Thomas, who moved back to Wales, whence he came when he was but a small child, and lived in a place called Llandyssul, until in the early thirties he came to America, and worked at his trade of carpenter in Pennsylvania, and later near and at Youngstown, Ohio. David, father of subject, was married at Ravenna, Ohio, by Squire David John, to Miss Margaret Jones, a native of Tregaron, Wales, and lived for a short time at Newport, now Wayland, Ohio, then moved to the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where they reared a family of four children: Hannah (Mrs. Lloyd); Elizabeth (Mrs. J. E. Griffith, deceased); Sarah (Mrs. William D. Williams) and William Thomas. David Thomas, the father, traced his ancestry back to a landowner of Wales. William Thomas, the subject of this sketch, received his early education in the district school until fourteen years of age, when he attended a select school taught by Dr. Cyrus Turnbull, of Edinburg, and later attended Mount Union College, the winter he was sixteen. At seventeen he taught school at Edinburg, two miles north of Center, attending Alliance college in the intervals of teaching, and when that institution closed, prepared to attend and take a course at Michigan university at Ann Arbor, Mich., which he entered in September, 1871, graduating June 23, 1875, with the degree of B. S. The year following, 1875 -6, he taught as principal of the high school at Bucyrus, Ohio. The following year, after a short period at the university, he accepted the position of superintendent of schools at Holly, Mich., and remained there until the summer after his father died in 1878. The next position secured was that of principal of the high school at Kent, Ohio, which position he held for two years. The winter of 1881-2 he taught at Randolph, and the following winter was spent at home, where he devoted some time to vocal music. The next two years he taught at Mantua station. Mr. Thomas married, in July, 1884, Miss Ada E. Farnsworth, of Oakdale, Wis., the youngest daughter of Henry Holden and Elmina (Cooley) Farnsworth. He was elected township trustee in Palmyra in the early 'eighties, also held the office of school director under the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 917 first term of Workman law, acting as president of the school board during his term of office. In 1896 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which office he still holds. In the spring of 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas moved to Center of Palmyra, where they lived until March 1, 1893, when they moved to the farm now occupied by him. While living at Palmyra two sons were born to them: Vincent Cooley, August 4, 1886, and Carl Farnsworth, August 1, 189o. Mrs. Thomas's birthday was July 4, 1859, and his own birthday was November 1, making a coincidence with the birthdays of the children. The first year after moving to Palmyra, Mr. Thomas taught as principal of schools of the special district—this being the last school work done by him. He was quite extensively engaged in buying and shipping wheat, and later potatoes, etc. While at Palmyra Center, in the spring of 1892, their house was entered on the night of May 3o, entrance being gained through the pantry window, one slat being broken in the shutter, and the thieves came into the bedroom where they were sleeping, taking the purse out of the pocket of his pantaloons, which were on a chair at the foot of the bed, a light being left on the stand in the room, as was customary when the children were small. On the night of December 17, 1893, about two o'clock Sunday morning, eight masked men, having walked all the way from Leavittsburg, Ohio, a distance of twelve miles, broke in the door with a bar post, and at the point of drawn revolvers demanded their money. After ransacking the house for an hour or more and securing all the money (about $18) and his clothing—one whole suit—boots and shoes, razor and watch, they left, leaving a guard until they returned from the other houses in the vicinity, which was about five o'clock in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Vincent were bound hand and foot, and left in that condition, but they soon extricated themselves, Mrs. Thomas being the first to get loose and Vincent the next. Neighbors were soon aroused and a party started in pursuit, but the trail was lost at Leavittsburg. This affected Mrs. Thomas' health, and within a month she became seriously prostrated and was in feeble health all summer. In the fall of 1894 the barn took fire, and all adjoining buildings were burned on October 19. This, adding to the shock already received, unbalanced Mrs. Thomas' mind, and the following January 22, 1895, she started west to visit her father, taking with her the youngest son, Carl. While there, about the latter part of February, she became violently insane and was taken to Mendota. In the course of a week or ten days she rallied and was brought home by her husband, who had sought her side on first hearing of her condition. She had not been home a month before her condition became serious again, and she was taken to the state hospital at Cleveland, where she died August 26, 1895, and was buried August 28, at Palmyra, Ohio. The November following, his sister, Mrs. Lloyd, having lost her husband the 6th of August previous, came to keep house for him. The past two winters he has been teaching vocal music in the schools and lays claim to the honor of being the first to secure the adoption of the study of vocal music in the country schools in his immediate section, having secured its adoption in Newton, the first township in Trumbull county, in June, 1897, and in Paris township, Portage county, in January, 1898, the second township in Portage county. Mrs. Thomas was born at Black Creek, Allegany county, N. Y., July 4, 1859. Her father, Henry H., and his father, Holden, served in the war of 1812, and were of English descent, tracing back to Sir Holden 918 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Farnsworth. Her mother was Elmina Cooley, a sister of Judge Thomas M. Cooley, of Michigan. Her mother was named Rachel, and she was the daughter of Major Hubbard of Revolutionary fame. She married, at eighteen, Thomas Cooley, a widower with two children, and became the mother of thirteen children, among whom are the two above named. The grandmother of David Thomas was the daughter of a landowner named Jones and was disinherited for marrying contrary to her father's will. Her name was Mary, and she lived to be 105 years old. ROBERT W. THOMPSON, one of the substantial and reliable citizens of Hudson, Ohio, descends from the pioneers of the Western Reserve and from the old colonial Massachusetts family of that name. Isaac Thompson, grandfather of our subject, was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, December 10, 1774. He was a farmer and married in Berkshire county, Mass., Polly Campbell, of Scotch ancestry. She was a sister of Ely Campbell, a pioneer banker of Ravenna. Another brother was Gen. Campbell, of Campbellsport, Portage county, Ohio—the founder of that town; a sister, Sarah Campbell, married Col. Frazier of Ravenna. The Thompsons were of sterling English ancestry and descended from the old Puritan family of colonial times in Massachusetts. In pioneer times murders were almost unknown on the Western Reserve. The first murder at Ravenna was that of a peddler by a man named Unks, who fled. The citizens were horrorstruck and a meeting was immediately called, and as a result Gen. Campbell and another citizen of Ravenna, started horseback after the murderer in hot haste. Unks had a good start, but they followed him patiently and crossed the Alleghany mountains, where they caught the murderer, tied him to a horse and brought him back to Ravenna. They were gone so long that their friends believed them to have been killed. Upon reaching Ravenna Unks made his escape, but being tied to his horse and handcuffed, he could not well guide the animal, and was stopped by Isaac Thompson and finally executed. This was the first white man ever executed in Portage county. Isaac Thompson and wife were the parents of the following children, viz: Eliza, who married Dr. Swift, of Ravenna, a prominent pioneer physician; Harry C. ; and Rev. Oren C., who married Alice Thompson of Hudson. Rev. Thompson was a graduate of the Western Reserve college—a missionary to Detroit at an early day, where he preached many years, and the church in which he preached in Detroit, bears his name. The daughter, Mary, married Dr. Sabine, of Michigan; Richard and Robert were twins; then there were Charles, and Charlotte who married Timothy Carnahan, of Ravenna. Isaac Thompson was a farmer of Berkshire township, Berkshire county, Mass., and in the spring of 1808 he moved with his family to Ohio, making the journey with an oxteam with a horse in the lead, which was ridden by Harry C. Thompson, then a boy of seven years of age. When the pioneer family neared the town of Campbellsport, Ohio, they met Gen. Campbell, the founder of the town. Mr. Thompson had just taken his son, Harry C., into the bushes for some boyish misdemeanor, and applied a hickory sprout in the vigorous manner of the olden days, and was much abashed that Gen. Campbell should witness the loud effects. Mr. Thompson bought 200 acres of land on which a little had been cleared and a large two-story frame house had been built, and in which was held the first court in Portage county, which house OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 919 is still standing in Ravenna. Mr. Thompson lived in this house until his death. This property is still in the hands of one of his descendants—Mrs. Julia Hall, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Thompson cleared up this farm from the wilderness, and here made a good home; the Mahoning river runs directly through the land. Mr. Thompson was a substantial farmer and one of the earliest settlers of Ravenna and a member of the old-school Presbyterian church. Politically he was a whig and one of the founders of the republican party. He lived to be a venerable man of over eighty years, and was noted for his straightforward and honest character and for his hospitality. He was a fine example of the early pioneers of the Western Reserve. Harry C. Thompson, son of above, was the father of our subject. He was born in Berkshire county, Mass., November 24, 1801, and came with his father to Ohio, in 1808. He received the usual common-school education of his day in Ravenna, Ohio, and, when he was young, learned the tailor's trade in Ravenna, which he perfected in New York city. He was one of the earliest and at one time the only tailor in Portage county, and was in this business twenty years. He married, in Hudson, Ohio, January 7, 1830, Harriet A. Ellsworth, born in Hudson, Ohio, November 23, 1809, daughter of Capt. Elisha and Betsey (Oviatt) Ellsworth. Betsey Oviatt was born April 23, 1786. Elisha Ellsworth was born at Torrington, Conn., November 22, 1785. Mr. Ellsworth was a pioneer of Hudson township. He cleared up his farm and made a good home one and a half miles north of Hudson on the old Cleveland road. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and well known as Capt. Ellsworth, being a member of the old Ohio State militia. He was an honored citizen and a prominent man and died September 3, 1859. Harry C. Thompson and wife settled in Ravenna, Ohio, where he followed his trade. In 1839 he settled on a farm of 118 acres in Hudson township, now owned by his son—Robert W. Mr. Thompson lived on his farm until 1853, and then moved to the home where our subject now lives and here passed his remaining days. He was an excellent business man, clear headed, of sound judgment and of strictest honesty of character. He was an honored citizen, acted as justice of the peace for a long time and was also assessor. He was consulted by the people in transacting legal business—the administrator of many estates and the trusted guardian of children, and in the transaction of all his legal business in settling estates out of which lawsuits frequently sprang, he acted as his own lawyer. Among the estates which he settled was that of Owen Brown, father of the famous abolitionist. For many years he made a business of loaning money and his charges were always fair and reasonable. He had one rule, which he always followed, and that was six per cent. per annum and the taxes, as he usually loaned on real-estate security. He and wife were both members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he was an old-line whig and later a republican. He stood very high throughout the county as one of the most honorable business men of his day. He reached the age of seventy-six years, and died December 19, 1877, very suddenly, at his residence in Hudson. His children are Robert W., and Elisha, born March 3o, 1842, and died September 6, 1853, aged about thirteen years. Robert W. Thompson was born in Ravenna, Ohio, August 1o, 1833, received a district-school education and came with his father to Summit county, Ohio, when he was six years old, in 1829, and learned farming when young, and when about sixteen years old engaged in 920 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the business of furnishing steamships at Detroit, Mich., for several years. He married at Twinsburg, Ohio, November r 8, 1852, Eunice Turner, born at Blandford, Mass. , February 28, 1830, daughter of Rev. Charles A. and Mary (Bailey) Turner. Rev. Charles A. Turner was born at Groton, Conn., May 20, 1796, son of Stephen and Lucretia (Wight-man) Turner. Both the Turners and Baileys were of old colonial Puritan ancestry from England. To this marriage were born the following children: Hattie A., wife of Leonard C. Wallace, of Northfield, Summit county; he is a prosperous farmer. They have two children--Arthur W. and Mable E. Beside receiving a good common-school education she was educated in music. Oren H., a practical farmer, who married Miss Mary Cady, a native of Portage county. They have only one child, Bertha B. Mary E. is the wife of Horace A. Chamberlain, of Northfield, Ohio. He is a farmer by occupation. They have only one son, Walter, who is a student of the Macedonia school. Charles R. is married to Miss Mathilda Whapham, a native of England. They reside on the old homestead and have two daughters—Florence and Irene. He is one of the most prosperous farmers in Hudson township. The youngest is Edwin B., who resides with his parents at Hudson, Ohio. In Rev. Turner's times one of the Bailey women, a great-aunt of Mrs. Thompson's, when Benedict Arnold and the British made the attack on New London, Conn., the colonial troops becoming short of cartridges, tore up her red flannel petticoat for material with which to make cartridges. The Baileys were sea-faring men, and in the whaling business from New London. They were captains of whalers for generations. Capt. Giles Bailey, while pursuing a whale, had his leg smashed by the whale, which struck the boat with its tail. His leg was afterward amputated. Mrs. Thompson's father was the eldest of a family of children born unto Stephen and Lucretia ( Wightman ) Turner. Lucretia Wightman was a daughter of Isaac and Lucretia (Parker) Wightman. Isaac Wightman was a grandson of Valentine Wightman, the founder of the first Baptist church in Groton, Conn., it being also the first in the state. Lucretia Parker's mother was Hannah Avery, a descendant of the Avery who was one of the first settlers of Groton. Stephen Turner's father's name was Amos Turner, who married Prudence Allyn, June 1, 1770. Humphrey Turner, a farmer, was born in England in 1593, and, with his wife, Lydia Garner, and eldest son, John (and perhaps other children), came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1628. A few years afterward he moved to Scituate, Mass., and was one of the founders of a church there in 1635. His eldest son, John, born in England, married, November 12, 1645, Mary Brewster, a granddaughter of Elder William Brewster, who crossed the Atlantic in the the historic Mayflower. They had several children; among them was Ezekiel, born January 7, 1651. He married, in New London, Conn., December 26, 1678, Susannah, daughter of John Keeney. He died January 16, 1703 or 1704, and left one son, Ezekiel, and ten daughters. This son, Ezekiel, married Boradil Denison, and settled in Groton. Boradil Denison, daughter of Joseph and Prudence (Minor) Denison, was born February 14, 1712, and was married to Young Brewster May 12, 1729. They lived in Groton, Conn., and had the following children, viz: Theodore, born August 14, 1730; Prudence, born March 8, 1732 (and married Moses Palmer); Ezekiel, born January 27, 1734; Eunice, born July 22, 1740; Amos, born September 1, 1744 Amos Turner was the great-grandfather, who married Prudence Allyn in 1770. The children of Stephen and Lucretia (Wight- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 921 man) Turner were: Charles A., born May 20, 1796; Alfred, June 4, 1798; Melinda, October 24, 1801; Isaac Wightman, June 13, 1805; Jane Emeline, October 21, 1810, and James Monroe, December 23, 1816. The children of Amos and Prudence (Allyn) Turner were: Stephen, Rufus, Betsey, David, Eunice and Young. The Wightmans claim descent from Edward Wightman, the last of the martyrs by fire in England. Rev. Charles A. Turner was married to Mary Bailey, in Groton, Conn., March 8, 1818, by Ralph Hurlbuth, J. P., the Turners being of English descent. Rev. Turner was a Baptist minister. He lived for some time at Groton, Conn., and at Blanford, Mass. Rev. Turner later bought land in Twinsburg township, and cleared his farm from the woods, and here he remained until his death. Services were held in the school-houses and at their homes throughout the surrounding townships of Twinsburg, Aurora, Streetsboro, Hudson, Northampton, Stowe, and Boston. The pioneer Baptists were poor, and Rev. Turner never had a salary for his work. He supported his large family by his labor on the farm and gave all his children an excellent education at the famous pioneer academy of Rev. Bissell, of Twinsburg. Rev. Turner was one of the faithful pioneer ministers who preached the gospel in the wilderness without money and without price. His children were Mary A., who married Rev. Williams, a Baptist minister; Joel, who died in California; Lucy; Charles, attorney-at-law, who served throughout the Civil war, entering as captain and coming out as brigadier-general, afterward judge of court of common pleas at Pekin, Ills., where he died. Then there were Emeline, Eunice, Jerusha, whe died young, Elisha, attorney-at-law, and Alcalde, of Jackson, Cal., who was shot in the court house while making• a political speech. Then Reuben, who died aged sixteen years; Cordelia, and Daniel, who served in the Civil war. Rev. Turner reared a remarkable and excellent family, his sons becoming prominent men. He died at Twinsburg, October 5, 1874, aged seventy-eight years. He was early a democrat, a strong anti-slavery man, and became a republican on the outbreak of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, our subjects, settled on the Thompson homestead and lived there until they moved to Hudson in 1884. Their son, Charles, lives on the old homestead, and is a practical, prosperous farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born Rosa, who died aged two years; Hattie A., Oren H., Mary E., Charles R., and Edwin B —all married except the last, who lives at home. Politically he is a republican. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Baptist church at Twinsburg. Mr. Thompson is a well-known citizen and has prospered by his thrift and practical business ability. He owns about 500 acres of land and is engaged in loaning money and looking after his farms. He is a straightforward man. Mrs. Thompson's mother lived to be ninety-three years old. J. M. THORP, D. D. S., of Bath, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., November 25, 1833, and is a son of Manville B. and Fanny W. (Clark) Thorp, early settlers of Summit county. Manville B. Thorp was a son of Jeremiah Thorp, a soldier of the war of 1812, and a son of Nathan Thorp, who served in the war of the Revolution. Jeremiah had a family of nine children, viz: Manville B., born February 7, 1808; Lucien R., born in 1810 died in 1863, a fife-major in the Sixty-seventh Ohio, at Hilton Head, S. C.; Maria L., born December 6, 1812—died July 29, 1871; Junius 922 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD F. , born May 19, 1816 - died September 19, 1882; Emily E., born April 14, 1819; Eunice H., born December 8, 1821 - died May' 18, 1886; Manda G., born January 1, 1828, and Mary J., born April 7, 1832 - died in October, 1896. The father, Jeremiah, died October 12, 1869, aged eighty-three years, four months and seventeen days. November 3, 1832, Manville B. Thorp married in Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y., Miss Fanny W. Clark, a native of Massachusetts, born March 7, 1811. Two years after marriage, Manville and wife and child came to Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, settled on an unimproved farm, became the parents of five children, and here died-the mother, March 16, 1886, and the father, March 9, 1891. J. M. Thorp, whose name opens this record, was reared a farmer, and during his youthful days was educated in the common schools. May 24, 1857, he married Miss Vashti M. Shaw, who was born in Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, August 30, 1834, a daughter of Sylvester and Harriet (Parsons) Shaw. Her father, Sylvester Shaw, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y., March 5, 1806, and her mother, Harriet (Parsons) Shaw, was born in the same county August 11, 1809. They were married in their native state, October 16, 1828, and in 1832 left New York and came to Ohio, making the trip in large wagons drawn by oxen and reaching Bath township., Summit county, November 18, of the same year. They built a small log cabin, and in this they lived several years; but Mr. Shaw was energetic and industrious, and at his death, which occurred November 17, 1875, was in very comfortable circumstances, as far as this world's goods are concerned, and was a greatly respected citizen. His widow, who was a very intelligent lady, survived him several years. Their children were eight in number and were named Harriet C., Sylvester P., Vashti M., Samuel, Marietta, William, Sibyl B. and Constant. To J. M. Thorp and wife have been born the following-named children: Clarence E., May 8, 1866, a farmer and saw-mill owner, of Bath township; Warren S., April 29, 1869; Ayers C., January 8, 1872, both farmers of Bath township, and Maynard B., born October 15, 1874. In 1863, Mr. Thorp began the study of dental surgery, and after due preparation began practice in Akron, to which city, and to Richfield and Bath townships, his professional duties have been confined, his dexterity and skill having secured him a patronage that keeps him constantly employed. Although unassuming in manner, he possesses the confidence of all the inhabitants of the district to which he confines his practice, and is as much esteemed as a gentleman as he is for his professional ability. CHARLES P. TOWNSEND, of West Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen, springs from sterling English ancestry of old Puritan, Massachusetts stock. William Townsend, founder of the family in America, came to Boston, Mass., in 1630 or 1640, and was of the same family as the councillor, Charles Townshend, as the name was then spelled. James, son of the founder, was the second in descent. Capt. William Townsend, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier, and commanded a company at Bunker Hill. He lived many years at either Bolton or Lancaster, Mass. Levi Townsend, grandfather of subject, was born at Lancaster, Mass., and was called out in Shay's rebellion with the militia. He was married to Mehitable Chandler, daughter OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 923 of 'Squire Joel Chandler, of Alstead, Cheshire county, N. H., and of English descent. She was born in Connecticut. Levi was a farmer and died in Alstead, aged eighty-five years. His children were Joel, James, Charles and Abel. Levi Townsend was a much respected citizen and well-to-do. His son, Lieut. Joel Townsend, was a graduate of West Point and died at twenty-one years of age. James settled in Lowell, Mass., where he was a prominent man and superintendent of the Merrimac Cotton works for many years. He was commander of the Lowell guards and served in the Civil war three months. Charles Townsend, father of subject, was born in Alstead, N. H., and married in Lowell, Mass. , where he went when a young man. His children were Charles P., Edwin J. and Emma E. His wife died and he married Lucinda M. Messer, and the children were Eliza and James. Mr. Townsend was a farmer of Alstead, N. H., where he had been one of the first settlers. The homestead consisted of about 600 acres and was cleared up from the woods by Joel Chandler. It originally consisted of 1,000 acres. When a young man Mr. Townsend had been an overseer in one of the large cotton mills of Lowell, Mass. He became a prosperous farmer and lived to be seventy-eight years old and died on his farm a member and firm supporter of the Universalist church. In politics he was a democrat and held the office of selectman, or trustee, in his town. Charles P. Townsend received an academic education at the Alstead Normal school, and was reared to farming when a young man; he had earned an excellent reputation as a schoolteacher at Alstead, N. H., where he taught three years, and after coming to Ohio taught three years in West Richfield, Summit county; and in Medina county, four years--a total of fifteen years. He married at Westmoreland, N. H., November 20, 1856, Roena M. Wilber, who was born January I, 1836, at Westmoreland, N. H., a daughter of Nelson and Mary J. (Burt) Wilber. In 1858 Mr. Townsend came to West Richfield, and engaged in farming until his enlistment, July, 1864, in company H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve one year or during the war, and was honorably discharged July 6, 1865, the war having closed. He was in the battles of Franklin, Tenn., at the Cedars, on the old Stone River battle ground, and at Shelbyville Pike, Tenn. ; he was then transferred to Fort Fisher, N. C. , and was in the storming of Fort Anderson, at the capture of Wilmington, N. C., and the battle of Kingston; at the capture of Goldsboro, and the capture of Raleigh, N. C., and afterward did garrison duty at Greensboro, N. C., to the end of the war. Mr. Townsend was sick in hospital with typhoid fever and rheumatism at Raleigh, N. C., and came near death, partially recovered and was sent home on a furlough of thirty days; he rejoined his regiment at Cleveland, Ohio, but at that time the war had closed. Mr. Townsend was always an active soldier and was in all the battles, campaigns, skirmishes and marches in which his regiment was engaged, and was always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. He was promoted for meritorious service to be duty sergeant, and afterward to be orderly sergeant. Mr. Townsend, in one of his engagements, was slightly struck with spent buckshot, and a minie ball grazed his right temple in the action of Shelbyville Pike, Tenn. Mr. Townsend, on returning to West Richfield, engaged in carriage painting and wagon-making and formed a partnership with Levi Carr, under the firm name of Carr & Townsend. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend's children are Cora, Mary and Emma. In politics he is a re- 924 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD publican and is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, No. 104., G. A. R., in which he has held the offices of adjutant and senior vice-commander. He has been a township trustee six years, clerk of election board twenty-five years, a justice of the peace nine years, and is a notary public. He is a non-affiliating member of Meridian Sun lodge, F. & A. M., at West Richfield, and has been senior warden. Mr. Townsend is a well-known citizen and has always stood high in the esteem of his immediate community. W. R. TOWNSEND, a highly-respected citizen of Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, is a son of Eli and Sarah (Kenyon) Townsend, and was born in West Richfield May 15, 1839. Eli Townsend was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., was taught shoemaking, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was married in his native state. In 1833 or 1834 he brought his family to Summit county, Ohio, and for some years lived in Richfield township; he then moved to Columbus, and later to Putnam county, Ohio, where he was murdered about 1846. W. R. Townsend received a good common-school education and was cast hither and you until about seventeen years of age, when he went to Iowa, where he worked on a farm, and then engaged in rafting and steamboating on the Mississippi river two years, then in other lines of business, and, while in Illinois, had his hip dislocated. This was never properly set, but while young and strong it did not discommode him, but he now feels some inconvenience from the injury. Returning to Ohio, he enlisted, May 17, 1861, at Warren, Trumbull county, as wagoner in company F, Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, June 17, 1864. He was in the battles of Lewisburg and Cheat Mountain, W. Va., Shiloh, first siege of Corinth and Stone River. His right foot and ankle were crushed by a wagon during a stampede at Stone River, and he was confined in hospital from January, 1863, until September, when he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps. To Mr. Townsend is given the credit of saving Stewart's Creek bridge, at Stone River, on an occasion when a Union ammunition wagon was stalled. The rebels, aware of the difficulty, made an effort to fire the bridge, but Mr. Townsend shot three dead from a pile of stones; but the fire from the rebels became very rapid, yet he was protected from the severe fire, being across a gorge; nevertheless, he saved the bridge and the ammunition. Among his other experiences, although he enlisted as a wagoner, Mr. Townsend frequently served in the ranks; at one time, in 1861, he was detailed as team-master in Virginia; was detailed in charge of ambulances and medical wagons in his regiment at another, of which he had charge when mustered, and while confined with his wound in hospital served a portion of the time as cook, and was always a true and faithful soldier. After his return to Richfield, Mr. Townsend was variously employed, and May 18, 1865, married Miss Frances E. Chapman, a native of Richfield, and a daughter of Francis E. and Eleanor (Farnam) Chapman, the union resulting in the birth of four children, viz: Eleanor R., Walter P., Perry W. and Percy F. Mrs. Frances E. Townsend was called from earth March 13, 1873, and Mr. Townsend's second marriage took place June 10, 1876, to Mrs. Mary E. McBride, and to this marriage has been born one daughter, Grace E. Mrs. Mary E. Townsend was born July 6, 1833, in Wyoming county, N. Y., a daughter OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES- 925 of William and Sarah (Rudgers) Barr. William Barr was a native of Vermont, born April 12, 1805, was a farmer, and married, in the state of New York, Sarah Rudgers, who was born in the Empire state, a daughter of John and Nancy (Purdy) Rudgers, and to this union were born nine children, viz: Nancy L., Sarah, Mary E. (Mrs. Townsend), Daniel, Henry T. ; Jane E., Maria A., James A. and Julia H. In 1834, Mr. Barr came to Ohio, and settled on 160 acres of wild land in Brecksville, Cuyahoga county, and cleared up a comfortable home. Two of his sons, Henry and James A., enlisted for three years, in the Civil war, in battery A, First Ohio light artillery. James A., who was but seventeen years old when he entered the service, afterward veteranized and was promoted corporal. He took part at Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, and in the Atlanta campaign, and served through the entire struggle. Mr. Barr died at the age of sixty-four years, in 1871, a respected and substantial farmer, a member of the Methodist church, and in politics a republican. His daughter, Mary E., was first married to Francis McBride, a gold miner. The wedding took place in California, whither she had gone with her brother Daniel and sister Sarah, and the latter's husband, John Aram. To her marriage with Mr. McBride, who died in California, Mrs. Mary E. McBride bore four children—Melissa A., Judson W., Mary E. and Francis G.—all grown to maturity. Three brothers of Mr. McBride served in the Civil war, of whom one was killed, and Mr. Townsend had three nephews in the same strife—Robert, Richard and Charles—children of William and Cynthia (Townsend) Tunwell. Robert and Richard were in company G, Eighteenth United States regulars, and Richard died in hospital; Charles was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed by bushwhackers near Murfreesboro, Tenn. E. B. Reed, a brother-in-law, who married Mary Townsend, served in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, was in prison at Andersonville fourteen months, and died from the effects June 27, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Townsend are members of the Christian church, in which he is a trustee; in politics he is a republican, and has filled the offices of township trustee and supervisor. He was one of the organizers of the Goldwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfield, was its first junior vice-commander, and has held the office of commander. He and family stand in the best social circles of Richfield, and are highly respected wherever known. Mr. Townsend is a member of Meridian Sun, F. & A. M., No. 266, at West Richfield, and was made a member in 1865. He has served as deacon, junior and senior warden, and is now the present incumbent of the office of senior warden. CHARLES T. TRUESDALL, proprietor of the first livery barn established in Garrettsville, was born in Nelson township, Portage county, Ohio, October 20, 1837, a son of Charles Merritt and Betsey (Smith) Truesdall, also natives of the Buckeye state. Asa Truesdall, grandfather of the subject, was a native of New York state, came to Ohio when a young man, settled in Nelson township, Portage county, and here married Miss Katie Stowe. He served through the war of 1812 as a substitute, and passed the remainder of his life in farming. He and wife both died in Nelson township, the parents of the following children : Mary, who married Alanson Morris, a carpenter, and died in Geauga county; Betsey became Mrs. Bell, and died in Iowa; Jane was married to a Mr. Wannemaker, and died at Albert Lea, Minn.; Charles M. , father 926 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of subject; Jeremiah died in Walworth county, Wis.; Alexander died at some point unknown, and Sherburn sought a home in the west. Charles M. Truesdall, father of -subject, was born in Nelson township in February, about the year 1810, was here married, farmed all his life, and died, at the early age of forty-four years, May 8, 1854, an honored man and a substantial citizen. To him and wife were born five children, viz : Catherine, who died in infancy; Lydia Jane, who met with the same fate; William; Charles T., the subject of this notice, and Mason, who died at the age of six years. After the death of Mr. Truesdall his widow was married to J. H. Kelsey, removed to Austinburg, Ohio, and there died without further issue, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Charles T. Truesdall was educated in a country school and remained on his father's farm until the death of the latter, when he went to the home of his maternal uncle, Timothy Smith, with whom he lived until he reached his majority. He then began dealing in live stock, and during the Civil war was largely engaged in purchasing horses for government use. Later he took a thorough course at Eastman's Business college, after which he engaged in the livery business; although prices at that time were exceedingly high, his first buggy costing him $285, and the value of an ordinary livery rig being estimated at $500. From that time until the present, with the exception of a few short intervals, devoted to live-stock speculation, his livery business has been his chief care, and, as he is fully posted in this particular line, success has naturally attended his efforts. September 13, 1870, Mr. Truesdall married Miss Elma E. Dunn, daughter of James Dunn, and their only child, Carl, died at the age of fifteen years. In politics Mr. Truesdall is a republican, and has served as assessor for Garrettsville many years, and also has filled the office of United States deputy marshal. With his wife, he is a member of the Baptist church, and has his home on his own property in Garretts- ville. He is polite and accommodating with his patrons, and is strictly upright in all his transactions. AURELIUS TUCKER, a native of Twinsburg, Ohio, and one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, was born June I, 1842, on his father's farm. His grandfather was born in Connecticut, and Orrin Tucker, father of Aurelius, was born November I I, 1796, at Saybrook, in the same state. The name was originally spelled Tooker, and the old deeds in the possession of the family are made out with that spelling. He married, in Connecticut, September 2, 1820, Deborah Post, who was born April 24, 1800, a daughter of Joshua Post, both families being of English stock. Orrin Tucker moved to Ohio, and settled in Twinsburg township, as a pioneer, and cleared up a farm from the woods, on the Tinker's creek. Joshua Post settled, in 1820, in Northfield township, and partly cleared up a farm, but died in 1822, leaving thirteen children, two sons and eleven daughters. Mrs. Post lived to be eighty-nine years old. Orrin Tucker disposed of his original farm, moved to and cleared up another, consisting of fifty-six acres, but his title was worthless, and he paid for his land twice. He died August 4, 1866, a member of the Congregationalist church, and in politics a republican. His children were Joshua W., Erastus M., Ann P., Chloe A., LaFayette H., Pliny, Aurelia F. and Aurelius. Mr. Tucker was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was one of our respected pioneers, and had two sons in the Civil war, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 927 Aurelius and Pliny H. Pliny H. enlisted in the First Iowa cavalry for three years, and served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was promoted to orderly sergeant, and was in many battles. Aurelius Tucker was reared a farmer, and enlisted, August 6, 1864, in company H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Samuel Tracy, for one year, and served until honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., June 3, 1865, the war having come to a close, and he having taken part in the following battles: Powers Creek, Murfreesboro, the Cedars, Shelbyville Pike, all in Tennessee; Sugar Loaf Battery, Federal Point, the night expedition above Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Wilmington, Kingston, Goldsboro, all in North Carolina, and was at Johnston's surrender. At one time he was detailed to the ordnance department by command of Maj.Gen. Milroy. He was taken sick in 1864, and was in hospital in Washington, D. C., for about one month, and from there discharged. He was always an active soldier and except his small hospital record, he was always on active duty. His hardest battle was at MurMurfreesboro and the worst march was one of ten days from Nashville to Clifton, Tenn. After the war he returned to Twinsburg and married, December 27, 1866, Miss Amanda M. Crawford, whowas born in Twinsburg township, February 22, 1848, a daughter of Alexander and Sophronia (Wallace) Crawford. Alexander Crawford was born August 14, 1801, was a pioneer of Aurora, Ohio, having come when a young man, and married in Kent, Ohio, May 6, 1829, Sophronia Wallace. The children born to this union were Wallace, Cadwallader, Laura, Alanson, Almira, Betsy, Amanda M. and Robb. Alexander Crawford became a prosperous farmer, owning at one time 500 acres of land. He was a well educated man and many years a school-teacher on -the Western Reserve, and a man of great intelligence, and died August 27, 1870. Solomon Crawford, father of Alexander Crawford, was born February 14, 1772, and married Ann Crawford March 13, 1800. Although both bore the same surname they were in no manner related to each other. Their children were Alexander, Cadwallader and Isabel. Joseph Wallace, the maternal grandfather, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker settled, at their marriage, on their present farm of fifty-six acres. Their children are Bert G. and Ora M. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Twinsburg, and Mr. Tucker is a member of Royal Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., of Bedford, Ohio. In politics he is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He is an honored citizen, and is at present assessor of his township, and has held the office of trustee and constable. FRANK M. UDALL, a native of Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, which is still his place of residence, was born December 20, 1838, a son of George and Malinda (Hutchings) Udall, whose genealogy will be traced backward to the grandparents of Frank M. in lines which will follow this paragraph. Frank M. Udall received a very good education in his youthful days, it being commenced in the district schools and concluded in the Western Reserve Eclectic institute at Hiram. September 20, 1861, he enlisted in company A, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, which had been organized by Col. (afterward President) James A. Garfield, and was appointed drummer-boy of the regimental band. 928 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD The company was principally made up from students of Hiram college and took part in numerous battles, Mr. Udall being present at that of Middle Creek, Ky., but was shortly afterward seized with fever and was confined in a hospital at Louisville, Ky., a month or more, and at Camp Dennison, Ohio, nearly four months, and received an honorable discharge, November 8, 1862. On his return from the war to the old homestead, Mr. Udall rested awhile, and then was united in marriage, December 12, 1864, at Cleveland, to Miss Clara Adelia Bishop, who was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, January 2, 1847, a daughter of Elijah and Olivia (Webster) Bishop. The father of Miss Bishop was of French ancestry and came to America in 1847, landing in Nova Scotia, and coming thence to Ohio in the same year, but died in Cleveland a few days after his arrival. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop were born the following children: Nancy, Dawson, Elizabeth, Andrew, Albert, Irene, Clara and Louvisa, and, of these, Andrew served four years in the Civil war, in the. Second Ohio cavalry, and was wounded, and Albert served three years in the Nineteenth Ohio battery. After marriage Mr. Udall settled on the old homestead, of which he inherited a portion, and later purchased the interests of the other heirs thereto. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Udall were Morton, who died at, six and a half years of age; George F. ; Jessie, who died at the age of ten years; Alevia; and Don B., who died in infancy. George Udall, father of Frank M., was born in Vermont, a son of Samuel and Anna (Bruce) Udall, and shortly after his marriage to Malinda Hutchings came to Ohio, in 1818, with his parents and his own wife. He settled in the southwestern part of Hiram township, Portage county, but four years later moved to the homestead of 146 acres now occupied by his son, Frank M., and became a substantial and prominent citizen. His children were Eveline, Amanda, Roselle, George P., Louisa M. and DeLos A. He lived to be sixty-two years of age, and died one of the most respected residents of the township. Samuel Udall, grandfather of Frank M., built the first dwelling—a log cabin—on the present homestead, but some years later moved to the northeastern part of the township. He cleared up several farms in the early days, became very wealthy, and, at his death, a venerable man, bequeathed to each of his children a farm of fair proportions. His children were named George, James, Samuel, Rufus, John, Alvah, Sarah, Nancy, Mary and Lucinda. Frank M. Udall is a most substantial citizen and in politics is a republican, and has filled the offices of township clerk and trustee; he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being commander of Mark Horton post at Garrettsville, in which he has also filled the position of officer of the day. He is a member of the Soldiers' Relief County commission, and in religion is a member of the Disciples' or Christian church. His success in life has been unvarying and he deserves the credit of having made it almost entirely through his own personal efforts. RUFUS P. UPSON, one of the prominent citizens of Tallmadge township, descends from Thomas Upson, who came from England and settled at an early day at Hartford, Conn., where he had the right to get wood and keep his cows on the common. He was also an original proprietor and settler of Farmington about 1638, and married Elizabeth Fuller in 1646. He died July 19, 1655, and his widow married Edmund Scott. The children were Thomas, who OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 929 moved to Saybrook and died there; Stephen; Mary; Hannah and Eliza-both of whom died July 20, 1655. Stephen, the second son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fuller) Upson, married December 29, 1682, Mary, daughter. of John Lee, Sr., of Famington, Conn., and died in 1735, aged eighty-five years. His wife died February 15, 1715-16. He removed to Waterbury before his marriage and became proprietor December 29, 1679, to the amount of fifty pounds. He signed sixty pounds agreement with Mr. Peck, and was one of the committee to settle bonds with Woodbury in April, 1702. He was surveyor, school committeeman, grand juror, often " townsman," and three times deputy to the general court-in May 1710, October, 1712, and October, 1729. He was a sergeant in 1715, and in 1829 he had a seat with the veterans in the new meeting house. His children were Mary, born November 5, 1683, and married Richard. Welton, son of John; Stephen, born September 30, 1686; Elizabeth, born February 14, 1689; Hannah, born about March 16, 1695, and married, the first time, to Thomas Richards, and the second time to John Bronson, and was living, a widow, in 1751; Tabetha, born March 16, 1698, and married to John Scoville, second; John, born December 13, 1702; Thankful, born March 14, 1706 or 1707, and married to James Blakesley. Thomas Upson, of the third American generation, was a son of Stephen and Mary (Lee) Upson; he married Rachael, daughter of Thomas Judd. They lived on Cole street near East Main, Waterbury, but he sold this home and removed in 1732-33 to Farmington and afterward to Southington, where he died, respected and esteemed, leaving a numerous family name. His wife, Rachael, died July 13, 1750, aged fifty-six years, and he died September 29, 1769, aged sixty-eight years. Their children were Thomas, born December 20, 1719; Mary and John - 40 - (twins), born January 21, 1721-Mary married Josiah Newell, of Southington; John died in 1741; Josiah, born January 28, 1724, died in 1725; Asa, born November 30, 1728; T. W., born October 8, 1731; Amos, born March 17, 1734; Samuel, born n March, 1737; Freeman, born July 24, 1739-died in 1750. Thomas Upson, son of Thomas and Rachael (Judd) Upson, married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Timothy Hopkins of Waterbury, May 28, 1749, and he settled one mile north of Wolcott Center, where his son, 'Squire Charles, afterward lived. He died in 1798, aged seventy-nine years. His wife, Hannah, died June 6, 1757. Their children were Benoni, born February 14, 1750; Charles, born March 8, 1752; Sylvia, born June 7, 1756, and died in 1764. 'Squire Charles Upson, son of Thomas and Hannah (Hopkins) Upson, married Wealthy Hopkins May 26, 1773. She died December 28, 1783, and he married a widow, Mary Moulthrop, November 24, 1784. He resided on the homestead and was a man of large influence in the community, and in 1805 had the largest tax list of any man in the society and subscribed the largest sum for the settlement of Rev. Mr. Woodward in 1792. He was a justice of the peace many years and was spoken of mostly as 'Squire Charles Upson. He was accidentally killled in New Haven, by hitting his head against a beam while riding in a barn on a load of hay, April 29, 1809, aged fifty-seven years. His widow died March 30, 1826, aged seventy-six years. His children, by his first wife, were Washington, born September 2, 1775; -Lee, born May 7, 1778, and Gates, born July 18, 1780. By his second wife were born Thomas, September 23, 1785; Charles Hopkins, July 17, 1788, Mark, October 24, 1790; Wealthy H., April 18, 1794, and married March 30, .1817. Dr. Lee Upson, son of Charles and Wealthy (Hopkins) Upson, married Roxana Lewis, and their 930 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD children were Anson, Sarah, Israel and Olivia. Lee Upson was a farmer of Wolcott, Conn., was a member of the Congregational church and died in Connecticut. All of his children remained in Connecticut except Anson, father of subject, who came to Ohio. He died June II, 1823. Anson Upson, was born December 21, 1801, at Wolcott, Conn., became a farmer and came to Tallmadge township, Summit county, Ohio, in 1825, a single man, and remained two years, when he returned to Connecticut and worked in a cotton factory for Seth Thomas, the famous clockmaker. In 1832 he returned to Ohio, and married, in 1833, in Tallmadge, Polly Upson, who was born June 9, 1800, in Waterbury, Conn., a daughter of Reuben and Hannah (Richardson) Upson. Reubeu Upson was descended from a very distant branch of the same stock—so far back the relationship has never been traced. Anson Upson settled in Tallmadge township, buying a farm of seventy-two acres in the northwest corner, all in the woods, and cleared up the farm and lived here until his death on February 7, 1851, at forty-nine years of age. His children were Rufus P., born November 23, 1834; Maria P., born September 30, 1838; Helen L. and Harriet H. (twins), born October 18, 1842. Anson Upson was a member of the Congregational church and a trustee thereof at the time of his death. In politics he was first a whig and later an abolitionist. He was a very hardworking man and respected for his honesty of character. Rufus P. Upson, the subject of this memoir, received a common-school education and became a farmer. He married, October 22, I 861, Mary Upson, of Tallmadge, daughter of Edwin and Betsy (Blakesley) Upson. Mary Upson was born May 20, 1 8 36, in Tallmadge. Edwin Upson, father of Mrs. Upson, was born May 21, 1804, in Waterbury, Conn., a son of Horatio and Hannah (Cook) Upson. Horatio was a son of John, the grandfather of Julius Upson, a distant relative. After marriage Mrs. Upson settled on the homestead of his father. He prospered by his steady thrift and industry and now owns two good farms. He moved, in 1891, to his present excellent farm, which consists of 100 acres well improved with good buildings. Mrs. Upson is a member of the Congregational church, and Mr. Upson, in politics, was one of the original republicans, voting for Abraham Lincoln on his first nomination for the presidency of the United States, and has served as township trustee for nine years. He has always been a straightforward citizen, well known for integrity of character. He and wife are the parents of Addie M., Amelia A., Edward A., Henry S., George L., and Bessie L. Edwin Upson, father of Mrs. Upson, came to Tallmadge township, a single man, aged eighteen years, in 1822. He came with his uncle Reuben, Calvin Treat and Abraham Hine. This party footed it from Connecticut, arriving in Buffalo, N. Y., in eighteen days. Edwin returned to Connecticut and married, and moved with his family to Tallmadge in 1833 and settled in the north part of the township, on land partly improved with a log house, and with fifteen acres cleared of a total of 107 acres. The remainder he cleared up and improved with good dwellings and had a good home. His parents, Horatio and Hannah (Cook) Upson, came with him and lived with him until their deaths. Edwin Upson and wife were members of the Congregational church, in which faith he lived to be eighty-one years old and died May 1, 1885. His widow is now aged eighty-four years and reads without glasses and does fine sewing and embroidery and is very active mentally and physically. The children were Mary M., Jacob E., who died at five years of age, and Joseph E. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 931 CHARILAUS VAIL, one of the de-deceased soldiers of the Civil war, who died many years after its close from his wounds, was born December 9, 1833, at Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, a son of Homer G. and Ann (Post) Vail, the former of whom was a pioneer of Twinsburg, was born in New York state, of English descent, and was the father of Julia, Julius and Charilaus. Charilaus Vail received a good common education, was a painter by trade and married, November 25, 1855, in Peninsula, Ohio, Maria Carpenter, born January 30, 1841, at Twinsburg, Ohio, daughter of Aaron and Tirsa (Drake) Carpenter. Aaron Carpenter was born and reared in New York state and came when a young man to Ohio. His children were Malinda, Luna, Elijah, Mattie, Mary, Cynthia, Dorcas, Dorothea, Maria, Benajer, George and Comfort. Aaron Carpenter lived in Twinsburg for some years, then moved to Northfield township and bought a farm of 160 acres, where he lived until his death, at about forty-nine years of age, a member of the Methodist church. One son, Benajer, was in the Second Ohio cavalry, and re-enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry. He was in the battle of Mt. Sterling and one other battle, and was taken prisoner at Lexington, Ky., but escaped. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Charilaus Vail settled in Twinsburg, where he enlisted, October I I , 1863, as a private of company E, Twelfth regiment Ohio cavalry, and was promoted to corporal for meritorious services. He served until honorably discharged, October I 1, 1864, an account of wounds received in battle. He was in the battle of Mt. Sterling, Ky., June 19, 1864, and while in pursuit of the raider, John Morgan, was shot, the ball entering the right side, just above the hip, and coming out on the left side, taking off the ear of his comrade's horse. Mr. Vail laid on the battle field from nine o'clock A. M. to five o'clock P. M., three attempts being made to carry him off the field, but failing, his comrades being frightened by false alarms that the rebels were coming. He lay behind a stump and once the rebels took him prisoner, but were driven off. He was finally laid in a fence corner and covered with a blanket, a Union man, who lived on the place, giving him some milk. Being out of sight, the amublances missed him, and he was not taken to field hospital until five P. M. This was but one-half mile distant. The surgeon drew a silk handkerchief through his wound to cleanse it, and he was taken three weeks later to Lexington, Ky., hospital. It was expected he would die on the way. He was sent home October 11, where he arrived October 13, 1864. From this nearly fatal wound he was lame the remainder of his life, and it finally caused his death, October 3, 1895. After partial recovery he followed his trade as a painter as best he could, but was always disabled. In politics he was a republican, and served as constable of Northfield two terms; he was an honored member of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R., at Peninsula, in which he held several offices. To Mr. and Mrs. Vail were born Mary, Allen, Clarence, Harry, Frankie and Cora. Mr. Vail was always an industrious, straightforward man, much respected for his honest character and sterling worth, and his widow and children share the high regard in which he was held. SAMUEL R. VAN NOSTRAN, a well-known carpenter and dairyman of Aurora township, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Jefferson township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on his father's farm, December 6, 1843, a son of John and Charity (Ridgway) Van Nostran, of whom mention 932 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD will be further made toward the close of this memoir. Samuel R. Van Nostran received the usual farmer-lad education, and learned all he could of agriculture until his enlistment, August 25, 1862, at New Philadelphia, Ohio, in Capt. John Robinson's company C, Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, provided the war should not sooner come to a close, which so happened, and he was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., May 25, 1865, under Capt. Christian Dies. He took an active part in the battles of Raymond, Jackson, Miss. ; siege of Vicksburg; engagements at Missionary Ridge, Resaca, and marched through to North Carolina, where he fought at Wise's Cross Roads. At Beaver Dam, Ala., while he and a comrade were engaged in repairing a trestle of a bridge some twenty-five feet high, the rebels burned out two other trestles, which weakened the bridge and caused its fall, precipitating Mr. Van Nostran and a comrade into the debris beneath. For several days Mr. Van Nostran lay senseless, and during this time was robbed of all his money—$30. On being rescued from the wreck, it was discovered that his collar-bone was broken, his left arm broken, his left ankle fractured and that his left hip had also suffered a fracture. He was placed in a hospital at Huntsville, Ala., where he remained five months. But this serious mishap did not prevent his sharing in the battles of Resaca and Wise's Cross Road, which were subsequent events. The consequence of his injuries, however, will attend him to the grave. After the war, Mr. Van Nostran returned to his home in Tuscarawas county, and there learned the carpenter's trade. In that county, also, he was married, November 23, 1871, to Miss Mollie A. Mizer, who was born in the county, June 8, 1850, in Buck township, a daughter of John and Rachel (Morol) Mizer, of whom, also, further mention will be made. At marriage, the young couple located in Bakersville, Coshocton county, where Mr. Van Nostran worked at his trade until 1891, which year was passed in Canton, Ohio, and he then settled, in 1892, on his present place, where he still follows contracting and carpenter work, and conducts, beside, a dairy of thirty cows. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Van Nostran have been born five children, viz.: Albert, John Edwin (who died in infancy), Charles R., Lulu E. D. and Beatrice D. The parents are members of the Disciples' church, at Aurora, and Mr. Van Nostran is a non-affiliating Knight of Pythias. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln, while in the ranks. John Van Nostran, father of Samuel R., was a son of John, a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio, who descended from a Dutch settler of Pennsylvania. John, father of subject, on settling in Tuscarawas county, cleared up a farm of 152 acres, and became a substantial farmer. To his marriage with Miss Charity Ridgway were born the following children: Sarah A., Samuel R., Benjamin F., George H., Eliza A., Mary, Annetta, John H., Hattie, David, Martha, Eva, and an infant that died unnamed, and of these Samuel R., Benjamin F. and George H. served in the Civil war, the last two named in the one year service, with the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. John Van Nostran lived to be sixty-five years old, when he was suddenly stricken with death while cradling oats. He was a member of the Methodist church, a pious Christian and a hardworking farmer. John Mizer, father of Mrs. Mollie A. Van Nostran, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, about 1825, a son of Jacob and Maria (Smith) Mizer, the former of whom was a pioneer from Pennsylvania, owned a farm of 400 acres and lived to be eighty years OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 933 of age. John Mizer now owns 118 acres of the homestead, and is a prosperous tiller of the soil. To his marriage with Miss Morol have been born the following-named children: Malinda J., Sarah A., Mollie A., Catherine E., David L., Lydia E., Samatha E., John W. and Carrie E. Mr. and Mrs. Mizer are members of the Lutheran church at Evans Creek, Ohio, in which he is a deacon, and in politics Mr. Mizer is a democrat, under the auspices of which party he has for five years been a justice of this place. David Mizer, a brother of John, was a soldier in the Civil war, was shot on board a gunboat, and his body buried in the Mississippi river. Samuel R. Van Nostran is one of the most respected citizens of Aurora township, was a brave and faithful soldier, and endured the hardships of war with cheerful fortitude, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is universally held. Mr. and Mrs. Van Nostran's grandfathers were both active participants in the Revolutionary war. SMITH ELMER WADSWORTH, the genial proprietor of the Wadsworth House, at Garrettsville, has conducted this establishment for sixteen years, it being the only hotel in the village. He is a native of Windham township, Portage county, Ohio, was born October 15, 1848, and is a son of Elmer Dwight and Wealthy Emeline (Smith) Wadsworth, natives, respectively, of Portage county, and Becket, Mass. Xenophon Wadsworth, grandfather of subject, was a native of Massachusetts and a pioneer of Windham township, where he owned a farm, on which he died at the age of forty-five years, his widow surviving him some years. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven reached mature years, Elmer Dwight, father of subject, being the eldest. Elmer Dwight Wadsworth was born in 1820, was reared a farmer, and on leaving. the farm located in Garrettsville, where he first conducted a meat market, and later engaged in the hotel business. He died in 1888, in the faith of the Congregational church. To his marriage with Miss Smith were born five children, viz: Smith E., the subject; Arthur D., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Alida and Xenophon, who reside in Garrettsville, and Treasure Hattie, who was married to Dr. John Dixon, and died in Ashtabula, Ohio, in January, 1896. Smith E. Wadsworth, the subject of this memoir, was educatad primarily in the district school and then attended Oberlin college two years, after which he taught school in winter and followed agricultural pursuits in summer for three years, when his health became impaired, and, under the advice of his physicians, he engaged in the meat business with his father and brother for some time time, but during this period embarked in hotel keeping. Beside his meat and hotel business Mr. Wadsworth has furnished ice to the residents of Garrettsville for a number of years, and for twenty years has handled nearly all the hides, pelts and tallow of the .town—sometimes at the rate of $5,000 a year. In 1875 he married Miss Hannah L. Stiles, who was born in Paris township, Portage county, a daughter of James Stiles, and to this union have been born two children--Arthur J. and Nellie. Smith E. Wadsworth is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a republican. He is a member of Garrettsville lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M., and has passed all the chairs in Portage lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F. He has made his own way through the world at all times, now owns his 934 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD hotel property, and through his courteous manners and accommodating disposition has gained hosts of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem. HIRAM DENNIS WALKER, of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, is a veteran of the Civil war, who lost an arm in the battle of Petersburg, Va., is a son of John and Sarah (Cline) 'Walker, and was born near Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio. Alexander Walker, grandfather of Hiram D., was a farmer of considerable means in Lancaster county, Pa., was a Lutheran in religion, and passed all his life in his native state. His son, John Walker, was born in Lancaster county January 8, 1788, was a farmer and early came to Ohio. He married in Canfield, Mahoning hounty, Miss Sarah Cline, their union resulting in the birth of Mary S., Hettie, Annie, Lovina, Melissa, Rhynear, William, Frederick and Hiram D. On settling in Co-lumbiana county he followed milling as a vocation, and there passed the remainder of his life, dying a member of the United Brethren church August 31, 1853, having come to the state when about twenty-one years of age, in 1809. Of his four sons, two, Frederick and Hiram D., were in the Civil war—Frederick serving three years in company F, Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. Peter Cline, father of Mrs. Sarah Walker, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., January 11, 1792, was a farmer, and came to Ohio, a young man, about 1809, and here passed most of his life as a farmer, but lived several years in Ravenna. He was first married to a Miss Haynes, who bore him five children—William, John, Ossie, Elizabeth and Susan. By a second marriage, with Miss Catherine Beard, were born Henry, Nancy and Mary. Mrs. Walker was also born to the last marriage. Mr. Cline died in Newton Falls, Trumbull county, May 21, 1854, a greatly respected citizen, as he had served in the war of 1812, and had suffered many hardships in the lake regions. One of his sons, John Cline, also became a soldier, and served in the Civil war for three years in a battery of Ohio artillery. Hiram D. Walker, at the age of four years, was placed by his parents in charge of a Quaker, Daniel Bolton, of Salem, who sent him to the district school, taught him his own trade of machinist, and also had him instructed in the trades of blacksmith ing and carpentering. In 1847 he went to Newton Falls, Ohio, to work as a blacksmith, and at the age of about twenty-one years, was married, May 9, 1848, at that place, to Miss Nancy Walker, who was born July 1, 1827, at Albany, Columbiana county, a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Beard) Cline, both families being of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. Mr. and Mrs. Walker, some years after marriage, removed from Newton Falls to Paris, Portage county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade from 1856 until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, August 22, 1861, in the Second Ohio cavalry, under Col. Robert Ratcliff and Capt. Henry L. Burnett, for three years, but was honorably discharged, on account of disability, October 2, 1862, having been injured in assisting to build a military bridge at Fort Scott, Kans. He then returned to Paris, Ohio, and having recovered from his injuries, re-enlisted as a veteran, May 9, 1864, in company K, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio volunteer infantry, Lieut. Traub having command of the company. During his two enlistments, ending with his second honorable discharge, July 3, 1865, on account of the close of the war, he took part ,in the battle of Sarcoxie, Mo., and in many shirmishes with bushwhackers in the same OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 935 state—extra-dangerous there as elsewhere; was through the Shenandoah valley with Sheridan; fought at Winchester, and at Opequan Creek, Cedar Creek, Berryville, Va., Monocacy Creek, Md., and at the siege and fall of Petersburg, Va., where he was shot through the upper part of his left arm by a minie ball March 29, 1865. His arm was amputated the same night at field hospital, whence he was taken to City Point, Va., where he lay ten days, and was then transferred to Baltimore, Md., remaining there in hospital three days, then in hospital at Washington, D. C., two months; then in Chester Hill hospital, Pa., three weeks, whence he was transferred, via Pittsburg, to Camp Chase hospital, Columbus, Ohio, where he was finally mustered out, with the rank of sergeant, having been promoted for brave and meritorious conduct on the field, in the face of the enemy. Mr. Walker arrived at his home in Paris, July 3, 1865, but has never been able to do anything in the way of labor, excepting in the superintendence of a few irregular jobs, now and again, as circumstances permit and his sufferings allow. In 1890 he moved with his family to Mantua Station, where he enjoys the deserved respect which every patriot who has been disabled in the service of his country is entitled to from great or small. He has been blessed with four children—Sarah E., Ella M., Eva A. and Ida A., all of whom are happily married and well settled in life. Mr. Walker is a republican in politics; is a member of Bentley post, No. 294, G. A. R., at Mantua Station, of which he is chaplain, and is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and have fully lived up to its precepts, which, it may well be borne in mind, ever lead to the straight and narrow way that finds its end in eternal rest and bliss. R. M. WANAMAKER, a rising young lawyer of Akron, is a native of North Jackson, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born August 2, 1866, and is a son of Daniel and Laura (Schoenberger) Wanamaker, of German descent. The father is now a resident of Akron, but the mother is deceased, and of their four children the subject is the eldest. Of the remaining three, Mamie was married to John A. Campbell, but is now deceased; Charles S. is assistant cashier for the Standard Oil company at Cleveland, and Gertrude C., a stenographer, resides with her brother, the subject of this review. R. M. Wanamaker was born and reared on a farm and received his elementary education in the common schools. Farm work engaged his attention during vacations; work in a flax-mill and baling hay were a source of income with which he defrayed his college expenses during his first term at the Ohio Normal university, at Ada, Ohio; after this term he began teaching, at the age of sixteen, and alternated his time between teaching and attending school until twenty-one years of age, when he became principal of the high school at Ada; a year later he removed to Lima (1888), where, for three years, he was principal of the public schools on the west side, superintending fifteen rooms; he was then re-elected by the board the fourth year, but resigned in order to be more fully able to prosecute his study of the law under Ridenour & Halfhill, of Lima, and in the fall of 1891 entered the law department at Ada university, from which he graduated in the spring of 1893, and in March of the same year was admitted to the bar. In September, 1893, he came to Akron, and on October 1 the firm of Young & Wanamaker was established, and which still obtains. He at once entered upon a vigorous campaign to conquer a client-age, and at the same time to do all the work he could for the republican party. He was 936 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD soon recognized as a young attorney of ability, both by the general public and his party. His first case as an attorney was the charge of a murder trial and he also conducted the prosecution in the Cote11 murder case, which attracted a great deal of public attention at the time. In 1895 Mr. Wanamaker was placed in nomination by his party for the office of prosecuting attorney of Summit county ( having two contestants for the nomination) and at the ensuing election ran far ahead of his ticket—an indication of his popularity. As an orator he is choice in his language, logical in his deductions and convincing in argument, while his legal knowledge is highly creditable for one so lately admitted to the bar. He is a member of the State Bar association; of McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P. ; of Akron lodge, No. 547, I. O. O. F. ; Tiptop tent, K. of M. ; also of the tribe of Ben Hur, and of the Akron club. Mr. Wanamaker was most happily united in marriage, April 7, 1889, at Ada, Ohio, with Miss Fannie Snow, daughter of F. E. and Mary Snow, and this union has been blessed with two children — Mary Laurine and Walter Blaine. The parents are members of the First Congregational church and stand very high socially. Their residence is at No. 1078 South Main street, and Mr. Wanamaker's office is at No. 182 South Main street, in the Harter block. WILLIAM A. WARNER, a highly respectable farmer of Coventry township, is a native of Green township, Summit county, Ohio, was born October 5, 1845, and is of English descent. John Warner, great-grandfather of subject, while still a young man, came from his native England and located in Maryland, where he Was married and shortly afterward came to Ohio, lived for a short time in Stark county, and then permanently settled on a tract of land in Coventry township, Summit county, among the Indians of the primeval forest, being one of the county's earliest pioneers. His son, Henry Warner, grandfather of subject, was born in Maryland, married Catherine Kepler, and had a family of eight children, viz : John, Adam (deceased), Jacob, William, Ann, Abraham, Solomon, and Daniel—the last named also deceased. Henry Warner was also a pioneer of Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, where he cleared up from the forest a farm of 105 acres, and became thoroughly identified with the development of the township, becoming a charter member of the East Liberty church, and a leader in local politics, being, himself, a Jackson democrat. John Warner, son of Henry and father of subject, was born in Coventry township in March, 1821, on the farm on which subject still resides, and in 1844 married Elizabeth Weaver, who was born in 1824, a daughter of James P. Weaver. To Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been born six children, in the following order : William A., Henry, Samuel, John J. , Adam, and Mary (the last named deceased). For many years the parents continued to reside in Coventry township, but finally removed to Norton township, generously presenting to each of the children a good farm and otherwise aiding them, and retaining for themselves only sufficient to sustain themselves in their old age. Mr. Warner has of late espoused the cause of the prohibition party, but was formerly a democrat and held many of the township offices of Coventry, as well as several offices in the Methodist Episcopal church of New Portage. He has been generous in his aid to this as well as to all the other churches of the neighborhood. He is still hale and hearty and is highly respected as an old settler, and for his charitable disposition, which has OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 937 for years been made manifest in the county for miles around. William A. Warner received a good common-school education and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. He married, February 18, 1866, Miss Sarah Spittler, who was born in Springfield township, Summit county, April 14, 1843, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Weyrick) Spittler. Her parents were natives of Union township, Union county, Pa., were there married, and there had born to them four of their ten children, the others having been born in Ohio. They were named, in order of birth, as follows: Jacob, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. -Jacob Sprigler), Catherine (Mrs. Fred Easler), Mary (Mrs. J. A. Van Vermer), Sarah (Mrs. Warner), George (deceased from effects of army life), Jacob (deceased) and Henry 1st, and Henry 2nd (both deceased). Mr. Spittler was a carpenter by trade and died in Plymouth, Ind., in 1877; his widow died in Munroe Falls, Ohio, December 31, 1891—both members of the English Reformed church. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Warner have been born two children: William J., born July 22, 1868—died in December, 1868, and Mary E., born December 1 1, 1869. The latter was married, December 12, 1889, to William J. Farriss, a native of New York, and has had three children, viz: Lottie M., who died in 1890, in infancy, Sarah E. and Willie A. Mr. Warner's farm consists of 100 acres, twenty-five of which were originally part of his father's homestead, and seventy-five of which have been the result of his own industry and frugality. He has improved his place with a modern house and barn, at a cost of $3,000, and has one of the most pleasant homesteads in the township. He and wife are members of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Warner is a trustee. In politics Mr. Warner has chiefly voted with the democratic party, and by this party was elected township treasurer in 1880, which office he still continues to fill. He is respected wherever known, both as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and as a gentleman of strictly moral character. AARON E. WARNER, the enterprising young blacksmith of Manchester, was born in East Liberty, Summit county, Ohio, March II, 1871, and is of the third generation of the Summit county family bearing his name. Adam Warner, grandfather of subject and a native of the county, married Elizabeth Reminger, and owned a farm in Coventry township; he was a substantial and highly-respected citizen, in politics was a democrat, and with his wife a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His son, Henry R. Warner, the father of subject, was born on the Coventry township farm, on which he lived until twenty-one years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade. His educational facilities were somewhat limited, but by self- instruction he mastered the common English branches of learning. He married Miss E. Bower, a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Bower, and this union resulted in the birth of the following children: Aaron E. (subject), Ida E. (wife of William Richard), Homer E., Earl B., Ora B., Lillian M., and Stanley B., all still living to bless the declining years of the parents, who have lived in East Liberty for the past twenty-seven years, where Mr. Warner, by his industry, has secured a comfortable home. In his politics Mr. Warner was a democrat up to the fall of 1896, when he voted for McKinley for president of the United States, believing the republican party to be sound on the questions of tariff and finance. He has reared his family in respect- 938 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ability, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them. Aaron E. Warner received a good common-school education, notwithstanding the fact that he began learning his trade with his father at the early age of twelve years, and that he remained with him until two years ago, when he located in Manchester. April 10, 1895, Mr. Warner married Miss Ella Warner, daughter of J. J. and Sarah (Kreigham) Warner. J. J. Warner is a citizen of East Liberty and is the owner of a sixty-acre farm, but is beside a dealer in buggies, to which trade he chiefly devotes his attention; in politics he is a democrat, and he and wife are active members of the Evangelical church, and both are greatly respected by their neighbors. The marriage of Aaron E. Warner has been blessed with one child—Grace A. Aaron E. Warner has a good shop and tools—far better than the ordinary run—and is rapidly building up an excellent trade. Beside his shop he owns the lot adjoining, on which he has a neat village cottage, and is altogether a thrifty and prosperous young man. In politics he is a democrat, and during his brief residence in Manchester has gained a host of warm friends. SIMON B. WEARY, the well-known lumber manufacturer of Akron, Ohio, was born in Marlborough township, Stark county, July 29, 1823, a son of Samuel and Mary M. (Smith) Weary, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Ohio, who first located in Canfield, Mahoning county, in 1817, but in 1823 removed to Marlborough township, Stark county, where the father was engaged in farming until his death, in 1840, at the age of forty-eight years, his widow surviving until 1884, when she died at the age of ninety. Samuel Weary came of German stock, and had served in the war of 1812; the father of Mrs. Weary was a soldier prior to the Revolution, and was at the capture of Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt), now Pittsburg, Pa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weary were born twelve children, of whom eleven reached the years of maturity, viz: Margaret, now Mrs. Rue; Catherine, wife of Amos Johnson; John,_. killed by a falling tree, at the age of eighteen years; Sarah, wife of John P. Smith; Simon B., our subject; Daniel, Jacob, Henry; Mary, married to George Cook; Elizabeth; Benjamin, who was killed while on a scout during the late war, the day after Lee's surrender. The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Weary was George Smith, who was born in France of German parentage and came to America in 1764, when the maternal grandfather of Mr. Weary was about eight years of age, and settled in what is now known as Perry county, Pa. Simon B. Weary grew to manhood in Stark county, received a fair common-school education in the frontier log school-house, and in the spring of 1841 began a three-year apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at the completion of which he worked in Stark county as a journeyman until the fall of 1847, when he came to Akron and worked until the spring of 1848; the next three years he followed his trade in Sheboygan, Wis., and in 1851 returned to Akron and worked as a journeyman until 1853, when he purchased an interest in a door, sash and blind factory, which interest he held for three years; he next alternated as journeyman and proprietor until January, 1864, when the firm of Weary, Snyder & Co. was organized, and a successful lumber manufacture, especially in the way of doors, sashes and blinds, was carried on until 1894, when a disastrous fire destroyed the plant, since which time the members of the firm have been engaged in settling up their business affairs. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 939 In politics Mr. Weary has always been identified with the cause of freedom, having cast his first vote with the liberty party, espousing the abolition cause, and finally becoming a republican. He is a public-spirited citizen, and has always been industrious, thrifty and enterprising, and well deserves the great respect in which he is held by his fellowmen of all conditions. In 1847 Mr. Weary was united in marriage, and as a result of this union three children are living, viz: Frank O., Flora C. (now Mrs. James Moore), and Edwin D., now a resident of Chicago. CHARLES B. WEBB, proprietor of the Garrettsville Journal, was born in Freedom township, Portage county, Ohio, May 28, 1848, and is a son of Dr. James Webb, deceased, of whom full .mention is made in the biography of Rollin S. Webb, on another page. Charles Bushnell Webb, our subject, was educated in the common schools of Freedom and at Hiram college, and for two winters taught school. He then chose the trade of printer for his life-work, with a view to journalism, and began learning the trade in the office of the Journal in Garrettsville, and later worked in the office of the Leader, in Cleveland, where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Garrettsville and purchased the Journal plant, " out and out... The Garrettsville Journal was founded July 1, 1865, by Warren Peirce, who conducted it until purchased by Mr. Webb. It is one of the oldest papers in the county, and has never contained objectionable reading matter of any kind, either in its news, literary or advertising columns. It is a six-column eight-page paper, devoted to the interests of Garrettsville and surrounding country, and since Mr. Webb has been its owner has had the full confidence of the public, and has thus met with continuous success. Mr. Webb was married, January 6, 1875, to Miss Ella McHenry, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and a daughter of Reuben and Adaline (Chase) McHenry. The father was a native of Virginia, who came early to Ohio, became a farmer of more than ordinary extent in Tuscarawas county; later resided in Canton, Stark county, and died at the home of his daughter in Sandyville township, in the county first named. The mother of Mrs. Webb was a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Josiah Chase, who was a relative of the late Salmorn P. Chase, chief justice of the supreme court of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine reached mature years, viz: Nancy, wife of William Fox, of Charleston township, Portage county; Eliza, married to William Minnis, of Tuscarawas county; Albert D., a Methodist clergyman, who was a missionary to India for eight years, and is now a member of the East Ohio conference; Martin, a resident of Colorado Springs and superintendent of a mine at Cripple Creek, Colo. ; Josiah C., a railway conductor, residing in Allegheny City, Pa. ; William, who was a first lieutenant of the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and killed at Atlanta, Ga. ; James A., an attorney of Howard, Kans.; Alden, of Springfield, Ill., and Ella, now Mrs. Webb. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Webb has been blessed with four children, viz: Estella, Gertrude, Lawrence and Helen, all at home, and all reared, or being reared, in the faith of the Congregational church, of which the parents are consistent members, and of which Mr. Webb is chairman of the board of trustees. In politics Mr. Webb is of republican proclivities, but has never been an office-seeker, nor does he obtrude his personal political views 940 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD upon the readers of the Journal, although he is a member of the James A. Garfield club, of the old Nineteenth congressional district of Ohio. Fraternally, Mr. 'Webb is an Odd Fellow, and his wife and one daughter are members of the Rebekah degree of that order. Mr. Webb has been very successful in his management of the Journal, and not only owns his place of business, but his newly-built dwelling on High street. Like all the other members of this old family, he stands very high in the esteem of the public. WILLIAM H. WEIR, M. D., of Edinburg township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Hamilton county November 20, 1838, a son of Dr. Elias W. and Mary G. ( Ufford) Weir. Dr. Elias W. Weir was a native of Washington county, Pa., was born in January, 1812, and when a boy was brought by his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, where his elementary education was acquired in the district schools. After due preparation he began the study of medicine, and after graduation began practice in southern Illinois, where he followed his profession until his death. In 1830 he married Miss Mary G. Ufford, who was born in Middletown, Conn., and who died in November, 1863. Dr. E. W. Weir served throughout the war of the Rebellion in the Eleventh Missouri volunteer infantry, and three of his sons also served through the same war, in the Forty-eighth Illinois, Seventh Ohio and Sixth Indiana regiments. At the time of his death, in 1880, the doctor was one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the United States, being a charter member of lodge No. 1, of Cincinnati, and also charter member of Mahoning lodge, No. 29, at Warren, Ohio, and few men were more generally and highly esteemed, both professionally and fraternally. Dr. William H. Weir was educated primarily in the public schools of Warren, Ohio, and later attended one term of school at West Farmington, where he was a classmate of Lieut.-Gov. Jones. In 1855 he read medicine with Profs. William Paine and Judson Davis, at Warren, and then attended the Eclectic Medical college, at Philadelphia, Pa. After graduating, he practiced one year in New Wilmington, Pa., and in 1859 removed to Xenia, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1861, when he went to Elizabethtown, Bartholomew county, Ind., meeting with success in his profession in both places. He entered the Union army in September, 1861, went to the front with company G, Sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and served three years and one month as surgeon's steward and acting-assistant surgeon, and was with his regiment from the battle of Shiloh to the fall of Atlanta. After the battle of Chickamauga, he received, in recognition of his meritorious services, a recommendation from the officers of his regiment, to the governor of the state, a copy of which document concludes this article, After his return from the army, the doctor came direct to Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio, in November, 1864, where he held a lucrative practice until the fall of 1876, when he removed to Stark county, Ind., where he remained until the spring of 1886, when he finally returned to Edinburg, Ohio, where his success has induced him to remain ever since. The marriage of Dr. Weir took place September 23, 1860, to Miss Mary J. Force, daughter of Isaac and Mary Force, and to this union have been born two children—Elton G. (deceased) and 'William W. The father of Mrs. Weir, Isaac Force, was a native of Newton, N. J., and died in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 23, 1865, having lived in the county over seventy-seven years; his wife, Mary (Mains) Force, of Sparta, N. J., died April 17, 1867. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 941 Dr. Weir is a member of Douthitt post, No. 177, G. A. R., of Edinburg, of which he was commander one year; of the National Union, Ravenna council, No. 188; of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, No. 198, of Edinburg; of Atwater lodge, No. 649, Knights of Pythias, at Atwater; of Buckeye division, No. 97, uniform rank, Knights of Pythias, of Ravenna. He is a republican in politics and has served his party and his fellow-citizens as coroner of Portage county two years, and is now trustee of his township. He stands very high in the esteem of the community both as a physician and citizen, and the following credentials or recommendations, alluded to in a former paragraph, will show that this esteem is well deserved: To his Excellency, Oliver P. Morton, Governor of the State of Indiana: Governor—We, the officers of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, take great pleasure in recommending to your favorable notice Dr. W. H. Weir, as a man in every way worthy of your confidence. The doctor desires an appointment as assistant surgeon in one of the new regiments now being raised in the state, and should your excellency think proper to give him an appointment, we feel satisfied that the doctor will fill the position with credit to himself and government. Silas D. Huckleberry, captain of company I; Daniel W. Conner, lieutenant of company I; Oscar F. Rodamel, captain of company E; Henry E. Van Tress, lieutenant of company E; Chas. C. Briant, lieutenant of company K; James F. Simpson, lieutenant of company H; Chas. Neal, captain of company H; S. T. Finney, captain of company G; A. F. Conner, first lieutenant of company D; W. P. Dillon, second lieutenant of company D; D. Kavanaugh, captain of company A; W. N. Williams, first lieutenant of company G; A. W. Prather, captain of company C; Chas. A. May, lieutenant of company C; Geo. B. Green, first lieutenant of company K; Jos. J. Siddall, adjutant; C. D. Campbell, major commanding. It is but a duty to me to add my recommendation to those of the principal officers of the Sixth, our regiment, of Dr. W. H. Weir, for promotion. He has in reality, during my absence from the regiment on detailed duty, more then any other person, attended to the wants of the sick in the regiment. He was present and with the regiment in all the battles in which it was engaged, constantly active, energetic and efficient. Of temperate habits, and well versed in his profession, he deserves a preferment, although I consider it as a loss to the regiment. CHAS. SCHUSSLER, Surgeon Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, at present acting medical director. Second division, Twentieth army corps. ROLLIN S. WEBB, an eminent attorney of Garrettsville, was born in Freedom township, Portage county, Ohio, January 4, 1844, and is a son of James and Eliza (Landfear) Webb, natives respectively of Corfu, Genesee county, N. Y., and Hartford, Conn. John Webb, grandfather of Rollin S., was the founder of the family in the United States, having early settled in Genesee county, N. Y., where he owned one of the largest and most valuable farms in the county. He had a family of eleven children and lived to reach the great age of ninety-four years. James Webb, father of subject, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1799. His early youth was passed on the farm, but, not being favored with robust health, he later gave more attention to study than to farm labor. His preparatory education was secured at Batavia, N. Y. ; later he studied and graduated in medicine, practiced for some years in Holley, N. Y., and about 1840 came to Ohio, and settled in Freedom township, Portage county, where he bought a small farm and also owned a drug store, but his medical practice was very exten- 942 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD sive and claimed almost his exclusive attention until his death, which occurred in 1852. His widow subsequently removed to Garrettsville, where her death took place. To these parents were born ten children, viz: Cornelia, who is married to James Scott Reilley, of Bay City, Mich.; Warren J. was a member of the law firm of Davis, Wingate & Webb, of St. Louis, Mo. , and died in 1858; Eliza J. is the wife of Dr. A. H. Tidball, of Garrettsville, Ohio; Caroline is married to W. S. Wight, also of Garrettsville; Sarah M. died in Freedom and was unmarried; Mervin F., a member of the Fifteenth Ohio battery, died at Natchez, Miss. ; Rollin Samuel is the subject of this biography; Helen M. was married to Warren Peirce and died in Garretsville; Charles B. resides in Garrettsville, and Mary is the wife of Charles Roberts, of Trumbull county, Ohio. The parents of this family were members of the Congregational church, and in politics the father was a democrat. Rollin Samuel Webb received a common-school and academical education, and at the age of eighteen years went to Youngstown, where he clerked a year, and next taught school one year in Ravenna; he then clerked a year in Garrettsville, after which he went to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he studied dentistry, and for a few years practiced that profession in Garrettsville. He next studied law, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Columbus, in 1880, and was also admitted to the Portage county bar in the same year, since when he has been in active practice, and has steadily risen to prominence. He has an office in Garrettsville and one in Ravenna; is attorney for the Western Union Telegraph company; for the R. G. Dun company, and for many years has been attorney for the First National bank of Garrettsville, and has a large general practice in the state and United States courts, having also been admitted to the bar of the latter—his practice being about equally divided between the two. Mr. Webb was united in marriage, in 1871, with Miss Vine F. Gilson, a native of Middlefield, Ohio, and a daughter of William H. Gilson. This union has been blessed with one child—Roscoe J., who is a student at Hiram college. In politics Mr. Webb is a republican and has served as city solicitor many years under the auspices of his party. He is a member of the Garfield club and is an ardent worker for the success of republicanism at each and every campaign. Fraternally, he is a royal arch Mason, and is a past member of Garrettsville lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. ADAM WENKLER, a thriving farmer, and respected citizen of Rootstown township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, July 4, 1829, a son of John and Catherine (Yountzer) Wenkler, the former of whom was a musician, and died August, 1839, at the age thirty-nine years, the latter having passed away in 1834—both in the Catholic faith, and the parents of three children, viz: Adam, George, and one who died in infancy, unnamed. In 1840, Adam Wenkler came to Ohio with an uncle. Being a poor boy of eleven years of age, and left to his own resources, he sought employment on the canal, where he worked a short time, then secured a position on the railroad, and also worked in different capacities among the farmers until he had saved sufficient means to buy a place for himself. He was first married, October 6, 1850, to Miss Catherine Gauer, daughter of John and Margaret (Rice) Gauer, and to this union were born seven children, viz: John; Valentine W. ; Catherine, wife of Joseph Husler; Frank; Elizabeth, wife of Orlando Bosserman; Mar- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 943 garet, wife of John Jordan, and Charles. The mother of these children died February 6, 1870, at the age of forty years, and on the 12th day of November, 1873, Mr. Wenkler was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Zermer, and to this union was born one child—Kate, the wife of Henry E. Frank. Mrs. Mary A. Wenkler was called from earth April 14, 1878, aged thirty-two years, and for the third time Mr. Wenkler was joined in matrimony, October 7, 1882, marrying Mrs. Reidinger, a daughter of Michael and Barbara (Flowers) Rose, but to this marriage no children have born, although Mrs. Wenkler was the mother, by her former husband, Henry Reidinger, of three children, two of whom still survive, viz: Barbara, wife of William Wenkler, the son of our subject, and John; Margaret died December 6, 1895, at the age of thirty years, the wife of Daniel Morgan. The parents of Mrs. Wenkler were natives of Lobenstein, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where Mrs. Wenkler was herself born, September 28, 1838. The father was a farmer, and died in Germany in 1867, at the age of fifty-three years, and the mother in 1881, aged sixty-seven, both members of the Catholic church, and the parents of nine children, viz: Mrs. Wenkler; Michael; Barbara, the wife of Charles Carl, and Jacob, all still living, and John Adam, Philip, Christine and Valentine, all deceased. In 1882, Mrs. Wenkler (then Mrs. Reidinger), brought her two children to America, coming to Rootstown township, where she met and married our subject, as related above. In 1879, Adam Wenkler made a trip to Germany, where he remained four months, and on his return engaged in farming in Rootstown township, of which he has made a complete success. In politics he is a democrat, and has filled various township offices, including that of school director, in which latter capacity he has served the past nine years, He has been a steward in the Catholic church for twenty years, and is greatly respected as one of the most industrious and useful citizens of Rootstown, and is regarded as among its most prosperous and substantial farmers. FRANCIS SALMON WESTON, one of the most prosperous farmers of Springfield township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this county and was born January 11, 1857, and is a son of Salmon N. and Mary J. (Force) Weston. He received his education in the district school and was reared on his father's farm until seventeen years of age, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. May 27, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Cora J. Elliott, daughter of James and Lucinda (Norton) Elliott, and this union has been blessed with six children, viz: Nellie V., who was born December 11, 1882, and died in September, 1883; Cynthia B., born March 10, 1885; Howard S., December 17, 1886; Leora A., June 6, 1889; Mary L., June 26, 1892; and King, September 21, 1896. Mrs. Cora J. (Elliott) Weston was born in Springfield township, May 27, 1859, her parents being also natives of this place. King J. Elliott was an extensive farmer, in connection with which vocation he was for many years engaged in threshing, and was likewise a breeder of throughbred horses, owning, among others, the well-known trotting stallion, North Light, which he purchased in Kentucky. To his marriage with Miss Lucinda Norton were born three children, two of whom are still living—Mrs. Weston and Frederick K. ; a daughter, who was married to Mr. White, was called from earth December 7, 1891, at the age of thirty-four years. In politics, Mr. Elliott was very prominent as a republican, 944 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and served for a number of years as county commissioner, for over twenty years as a member of the school board, and for a long time was township treasurer. Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Knights of Honor, and died, a greatly honored citizen, November 22, 1896, having been preceded to the grave by his wife, who died September 4 of the same year. Francis S. Weston, our subject, in connection with general farming, was for about eleven years engaged in dairying, and also in raising live-stock, breeding from North Light, mentioned above, and which was eventually sold for $4,000. In politics, Mr. Weston is an active and influential democrat, and has served his fellow-citizens as township supervisor, a§ school director for ten years, and in 1897 was elected township treasurer, an office he still retains. He is prominent as a citizen, and his reputation as a farmer and live-stock breeder is not confined to his immediate locality, hi§ name being most favorably known throughout Summit and adjacent counties. His integrity has never been impugned, and he and alluded are honored and respectfully allud6d to wherever the name of Weston is known; JACOB WERSTLER, a prosperous farmer and, highly-respected citizen of Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, was born January 21, 1839, in Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Harley) Werstler, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Stark county, Ohio. The father was but six years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Stark county, where he was reared on a farm. He was twice married, his last wife being Miss Harley, daughter of John Harley, and to this union were born nine children, of whom six are still living, viz: John, Jacob, Benjamin, Sarah (wife of Jonas Heiser), William and Allen. The deceased were named Daniel, Christine (wife of John Eicholtz) and Lewis. In politics the father was a democrat, and served as school director and supervisor; in religion he was a Lutheran, and died in this faith in July, 1866, at the age of sixty-five years, a highly-respected citizen. The Harley family is of German origin, the grandfather of Mrs. Sarah Werstler being the first of this immediate branch to come to America. Jacob Werstler, the subject of this biography, was reared on his father's farm in Stark county, and was educated in the district school. At the age of twenty-two years he left the home place and engaged in farming on his own account, and, March 5, 1865, formed his first matrimonial alliance, which was with Miss Rebecca Gingerich, daughter of Christian and Mary (Bernheisel) Gingerich, and to this union were born three children, viz: Mary E. (wife of Jacob Bear), Zachariah and Harvey. Mrs. Rebecca Werstler was called from earth August 3o, 1878, at thirty-four years of age, and Mr. Werstler chose for his second helpmate Miss Hannah Shafer, to whom he was united January 30, 1879, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Richard Earl, Thomas F. and Salvia Ruth. Mrs. Hannah Werstler was born in Marlborough town1851, Stark county, Ohio, Jauuary 9, 185i, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Snyder) Shafer. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio in early life and here married Miss Snyder, the result of the union being eight children, three of whom died in infancy, the survivors being Christe Ann, wife of Joseph Bitterman; George; Mrs. Werstler, and Ann, wife of Wesley Wise; Gadilia, who was married to Solomon Snyder, and died in 189 i . The father was a tailor by trade, but his later years OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 945 were passed in farming. He was a member of the United Brethren church and passed away in this faith at the age of sixty-six years, his wife dying in March, 1878, aged seventy-two, also in the same faith. Jacob Werstler, the subject of this memoir, first followed agricultural pursuits in Portage county after marrying, but shortly afterward returned to Lake township, Stark county, where he followed the same calling until 1875, when he came back to Portage county and purchased his present place in Suffield township, which has since been his permanent home. He is industrious and thoroughly practical and well knows how to make his farm profitable. In politics he is a democrat, and has served as school director three years. He and family are consistent members, of the Lutheran church, arid are greatly respected by the entire community in which they live. OSCAR BOSLEY, an old soldier, and for many years engaged in the lumber business and saw-milling in Garrettsville, was born in Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, June is, 1846, a son of Elisha and Elvira (Griffith) Bosley, of an old New York state family, and early settlers in Ohio. Elisha, the father of Oscar, was born in Ohio, and was a carpenter. He married, in Trumbull county, Elvira Griffith, and the family moved to Illinois about 1848, and located first at Poplar Grove, and shortly afterward settled in Whiteside county and worked at his trade in Morrison and Portland. His children were Oscar, Annie, George, Carrie, Mary (who died aged about twenty-eight or thirty years) and Flora, who died a married woman aged about thirty-two years. Elisha Bosley enlisted, in 1861, in company K, Thirty-fourth regiment Illinois volunteer infantry, for three - 41 - years or during the war, served three years and three months, and was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ills. He was in many battles, and in the great Atlanta campaign. In his last battle his company suffered fearfully and had but few men left. He was sick with rheumatism in hospital and was greatly disabled by his services, and died about 1883, from the effects of his army life, at Garrettsville, Ohio, aged about sixty-one years. He and wife were both members of the Disciples' church and later in life became members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bosley was a very straight and active man and a respected citizen. Oscar Bosley received a common education in Illinois, where he was taken by his parents when but a child. He enlisted, at the age of about seventeen years, at Eaglesville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 9, 1865, in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, the same regiment in which President McKinley served as a private ten months before he was promoted to be second lieutenant. Mr. Bosley enlisted for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1865, on account of the closing of the war. He was an active soldier and on duty with his regiment at Strasburg, and Staunton, Va. He returned to Eaglesville, Ohio, but later engaged in saw-milling at Cory, Pa. He worked at the transfer station, near Sharon, Pa., and then came to Warren, Ohio, where he worked in a rolling mill for about eighteen years, as weighmaster and shearer—a good position. He next engaged in the hotel business for two years in Warren, and came to Garrettsville in March, 1880, and engaged in teaming. He then entered the employ of O. Collings in his saw-mill and rake factory, and worked until the death of Mr. Collings, and then, in company with Nelson Steele, bought the mill property and has since done a good business, and is well known as a 946 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD straightforward business man. .Mr. Bosley married, October 7, 1866, in Warren county, Ohio, Catherine Meesmer, of Champion, Ohio. She was born in Mercer county, Pa., daughter of Jacob and Cassie Meesmer, of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Bosley have been born Frank, Nellie I. and Gertrude. In politics Mr. Bosley is a republican, is a member of Mark Horton post, G. A. R., at Garrettsville, and has held the offices of junior vice-commander and chaplain. Mr. Bosley is an excellent citizen and stands high for his integrity of character. Mrs. Bosley had two brothers in the Civil war—Jacob in the Sixth Ohio cavalry, who veteranized; David was in the Ohio infantry, enlisting in the three years' service. ISAAC CORNELL, of Garrettsville, Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and an honored citizen. He was born in Orleans county, N. Y., August 6, 1844. He enlisted, September 6, 1862, at Barre, N. Y., as a sharpshooter in Bowen's independent rifles, when he was but eighteen years old, but the company was mustered as company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York volunteer infantry, Capt. H. Bowen, for three years or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., June 26, 1865. He was in the following battles: Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, secMonocacyd Harbor, third, Petersburg, MOnocacy, Charlestown, Winchester, Opequon, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, and Sailor's Creek, the last battle of any consequence of the war, and was also in many skirmishes. Mr. Cornell was always an active soldier, except three months, when he was in hospital with typhoid pneumonia at Washington and Central Park, N. J. He was in all the campaigns, marches, battles and skirmishes, except the battle at Locust Grove, Va., while he was sick in hospital. He considers the battle of the Wilderness to be the hardest in which he was engaged, lasting thirty days. His hardest march was on July 4, from Frederick City, Md., to South Mountain Gap, eighteen miles, through a very heavy thunder storm. At one time he marched twenty-five miles in six hours, and carried his knapsack and accouterments, weighing sixty pounds, and was one of five comrades of his company who came into camp. This march the boys made with light hearts, as the war was over and they were on the return home in 1865. He had received, when young, a common-school education, and attended the academy at Albion, N. Y., one term, and one week on the second term, when he enlisted from purely patriotic motives. On his return to Orleans county, N. Y., he engaged in farming on his father's farm, and remained until 1873. He married, in Orleans county, October 2, 1867, Sarah Axtell, daughter of Charles and Phebe (House) Axtell. Mr. Cornell moved to Garrettsville in 1873, and here he has since lived, and for nearly twenty-five years has been employed in the Pail factory, in which he owned a one-quarter interest when he came to Garrettsville, but since has sold out. His first wife died November 12, 1874, at Garrettsville, and he next married, September 2, 1875, near Garrettsville, Sarah Linton, who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, May 23, 1854, a daughter of Charles and Charity Linton. Mr. Linton and wife were from Somersetshire, England. He was a farmer, and settled in Ashtabula county, Ohio, early in the 'forties, and was a respected citizen. His children were Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Jennie and Urich. He lived to be seventy-four years old, and died in Ashtabula county, a member of the Methodist OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 947 church, and an industrious and straightforward citizen. The Cornell family is of sturdy Holland-Dutch ancestry, and early settlers of the old Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Peter Cornell, the father of Isaac, was born on the Hudson river, and became a substantial farmer. His father, Cornelius Cornell, was a large landowner of Dutchess county, N. Y. and owned 600 acres of land. Peter Cornell, the father of subject, owned a farm of 300 acres in Orleans county, N. Y. His first wife, the mother of subject, was Amanda Hall. The maternal grandfather was impressed in England, and forced into the British army, and came to America to fight for the cause of his king in the war of the Revolution, but deserted and joined the cause of the colonies. His father, Gen. S. G. Hall, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Peter Cornell and wife had three children who lived to maturity, viz: Cornelius A., Amanda J., and Isaac. Mr. Cornell lived to be about sixty years old, and died on his farm a much respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cornell are the parents of Charles E. and William G. In politics he is a republican. Fraternally he is a member of Portage lodge, No 456, I. O. O. F., at Garrettsville, and of James A. Garfield court, No. 684. Mr. Cornell was a good soldier, has been an industrious citizen and is much respected in the community in which he has passed so many years of his useful life. JOHN M. BISSELL, a well-known business man of Garrettsville, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, Ohio, November 3, 1844, a son of Rowland F. and Betsy (Marsh) Bissell. He received a limited common-school education, and enlisted in January, 1864, in Capt. Jonas Schoonover's company H, Twenty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and served until he was honorably discharged, in July, 1865, on account of the closing of the war, with the rank of corporal. He was in the battles of Mill Creek Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Knob, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. He was then on the march to the sea and in the battle at Savannah, Ga.; North Edisto River, S. C., and Goldsboro, N. C., March 23, 1863. He marched in the grand review, at Washington, D. C., and then returned to Ohio. After the war Mr. Bissell settled in Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, where he married Addie M. Conkling January 7, 1869— daughter of Rial and Hannah (Sweet) Conk-ling, and in 1873 moved to Garrettsville, and, with the exception of two years when he lived in Akron, has since resided here. For some time he was engaged in draying and expressing; he has also been in the grocery and coal business, and on July 21, 1896, he bought his present property, which consists of a residence and twenty acres. He also owns another residence and lot in Garrettsville, and is now engaged in the ice business. Mrs. Bissell is an invalid, and for twenty-three years has not walked a step, but uses a wheeled chair skillfully and does much work. She bears her great affliction with rare patience and fortitude, and is a lady of much refinement. In politics Mr. Bissell is a stanch republican. , He is a member of the G. A. R., Mark Horton post, Garrettsville, and has held the office of quartermaster. He is also a member of the Blue lodge, F. & A. M., at Garrettsville, and of Portage lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F. Mr. Bissell has always been a straightforward, industrious and reliable man. He was a good soldier, and is an excellent citizen. John Bissell, the grandfather of subject, 948 - PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was born in New England. He married Miss Fish, and settled in Ontario county, N. Y., where he died. His children were Rowland, Lorenzo, Carlos and Almira. Rowland Bissell, the father of subject, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., April 14, 1810. He was a farmer and lumberman, and married Betsey Marsh, of Ontario county, N. Y., a daughter of Marcius Marsh. Mr. Bissell moved to Ohio, and settled in Westfield, Morrow county, about 1837, and bought land and cleared a farm. His children were Dilana, Mandona, Lorenzo, Louisa and John M. Mr. Bissell moved to Bath township in 1861, bought a farm and saw-mill, and here passed h is remaining days. He was an industrious and substantial man, respected by all. He lived to be seventy-eight years old and died in 1889. Rial Conkling was a second cousin to Roscoe Conkling, the famous statesman. Rial was the son of Augustus and Rhodah (Denton) Conkling. Angustus Conkling was a citizen of Cayuga county, N. Y. Rial Conk-ling was born July 10, 1820, in Cayuga county, N. Y., and came to Ohio in 1840 and settled in Bath, Summit county, Ohio, on land and here passed his remaining days. His children were Augustus, Addie, Austin, Selwyn, Frank and George. In politics he was a republican. He lived to be seventy-three years old and died in 1892. He was an upright, industrious and respected man—carpenter and stone mason was his trade. John Bissell, the founder of the family, and with a brother came over from England to the Plymouth colony, Mass., in 1628. One brother was drowned in Plymouth harbor. John Bissell came with the colony to Windsor, Conn., and was soon sent back to England for cattle. For faithful services he was rewarded with the Windsor Ferry, called to this day the Bissell Ferry. It is believed that all of the name in this country descended from him. Benjamin Bissell was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and died of camp dysentery in middle life. He had three sons, viz: Israel; Justice, who settled in Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, where he died, aged seventy years, and Robert; also four daughters: Eunice, Roxanna, Prudence and Anna. Benjamin Bissell died in Massachusetts. Prof. Samuel Bissell, founder of Twinsburg academy, was born in Middlefield, Hampshire county, Mass., April 28, 1797, and died in Twinsburg, Ohio, August 26, 1895. WILLIAM M. HANSEL, an eminent educator of Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the late Civil war, was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 6, 1848, and is a son of Thomas M. and Mary Ann (Nees) Hansel. He spent his boyhood days in his native county until his eighth year, when he came to Portage county, receiving his elementary education in the public schools, later attending the Marlboro high school for one year, and then entering Mount Union college, where he remained two years. He next entered the Normal university for two years, and then spent a year of study at Hiram college, finishing his education at the Ohio State university at Columbus. He began teaching, in 1868, in Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, and also taught in Portage and Summit counties. In 1880, he began teaching in the city schools of Kent, and taught there until 1890, since when he has been teaching in the Uniontown high school, and ranks as one of the most progressive instructors of youth in this section. Mr. Hansel, at the early age of sixteen years, manifested his patriotism by enlisting, May 2, 1864, and serving until the following February, when he was honorably discharged, and immediately re-enlisted in company H, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES - 949 One Hundred and Eighty-fourth O. V. I., and served until October, when he was again honorably discharged, owing to the close of the war. William M. Hansel was first married, December 25, 1887, to Miss Emma Myer, who had been his pupil when but seven years old and was a daughter of E. Y. and Matilda (Darner) Dyer. To this union was born one son, Clay Devailt, September 7, 1888. Mrs. Hansel died March 10, 1889, aged twenty-five years, and Mr. Hansel next married, November 20, 1891, Miss Laura Adams, daughter of Charles and Rachel (Reidenbach) Adams, who were natives of Lancaster, Pa. The parents of our subject were natives of Stark county, Ohio. The father was born in August, 1818, and was engaged in farming all his life. He married Miss Mary Ann Nees, daughter of Jacob Nees, and to this marriage were born a family of eight children, six of whom still survive, viz: Peter, residing in Missouri; William M., our subject; Catherine E., wife of Frank Hoover; Joseph, residing in Thendon, Mich. ; James Murrey, of Summit county, Ohio, and Ransom. Those passed away were John Wesley and Warren. The mother was a member of the Reformed church, and passed away in 1886, aged sixty-six years. The father still survives, and resides at Uniontown, Stark county, with his daughter. He has passed the allotted three score and ten," by nine years, and is still a hale and hearty old gentleman. Anthony Hansel, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Maryland, the son of a large slave holder there. Anthony came to Stark county, Ohio, about 1812, and bought the old homestead of about 280 acres, where he lived and died. He was married three times—the first time to a Miss Murrey, to which marriage were born nine children; his second marriage was to a Miss Hooven, and to this union was born ten children; his third marriage was with Miss Mary Carr, but to this union there was no issue. Mr. Hansel passed away in 1868, and his third wife died in 1864. Jacob Nees, the maternal grandfather of William M. Hansel, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to this state and settled in Stark county, where he engaged in farming. He held the office of justice of the peace of his township for thirty years. He also was married three times, his third wife having been a Mrs. Crestleaf. Mr. Nees died in 1866, aged sixty-eight years; his widow then married a William Myers, and still survives. Jacob Nees, great-grandfather on the maternal side, was a native of Pennsylvania and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The family of our subject's first wife were natives of Summit county. Her father, E. Y. Myer, had been a manufacturer and was also the inventor of eighty different patterns for potter's ware. He was married to Miss Matilda Crame, daughter of John Crame, and their union was blessed with seven children, four of whom are still living, viz: Ida, Mary, Carilla (wife of Charles Gibe, secretary of the A B C street railway, and residing at Cuyahoga Falls) and Bertha, residing at Mansfield ; those passed away were Emma (wife of our subject), Elmer and Salvina. The parents of the second wife of our subject were natives of Lancaster county, Pa. William M. Hansel, when a young man, learned the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years under Henry Miller, of Stark county, after which he followed the trade for two years. Beside his duties in teaching, Mr. Hansel is engaged in farming and breeding fine stock, owning some of the finest horses in the county, such as Eva Wilkes, by Robert Wilkes; Alba Hyle, bred by Hyle; also Hyle's Maid, by Hyle; also Bounding Boy, by Almatuna; Kitty Almatuna,