900 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ing precedence at the present time as being one of the most venerable of the native daughters still resident in Lake county. CHARLES WALKER.—A skillful and practical agriculturist of Saybrook township, Ashtabula county, Charles Walker has spent his long and useful life on the farm which he now owns and occupies, and in its management has met with marked success. He comes of New England stock, his father, Elisha Walker, having been born and bred in Massachusetts, among the Berkshire hills. His paternal grandfather, Charles Walker, migrated from Western Massachusetts to the Western Reserve in 1822, bringing with him his wife and children, his family including four sons, as follows : Elisha ; Ora A., then a lad of fifteen years, who later married and settled permanently in Illinois ; Smith, thirteen years old when he came here, married Susan McBain, a fair Scotch lassie, and lived in Ohio until his death, in 1884 ; and Alden, a little boy of six years when he came here. Alden Walker was ordained to the ministry, and preached in the Methodist denomination for a number of years, later becoming station agent at Saybrook, He married Cynthia Kelley. Elisha Walker was twenty years old when he came with the family to Ohio. Subsequently buying a tract of wooded land in what is now Saybrook township, he began the arduous task of reclaiming a farm from. the wilderness. Hopeful and courageous, he endured the toils and privations of border life, and in course of time cleared a portion of his land and established his family in a comfortable home. He was twice married. He married first, about 1826, Harriet Sabin, who died a few years later, leaving two children—Charles, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned, and Phebe Harriett. He married second, Julia A. Blackington, and their only child, Harriet M. Walker, became the wife of ex-Senator W. S. Harris, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. Charles Walker was born on the parental homestead, December 21, 1827, and has here been engaged in agricultural pursuits during his entire life. As a general farmer he has met with much success, and very few discouragem.ents, each year raising the crops common to this region, and keeping a fine dairy. He is a man of good financial and executive ability, and since the organization, twelve years ago, of the First National Bank of Ashtabula has served as its president. He is ever interested in advancing the welfare of his community, and, though not an office seeker, was justice of the peace a number of years. Mr. Walker married first, in 1852, Elizabeth Gillette, who died in 1863. She bore him four children, namely : George E., born in 1854, married, in 1882, Mary P. Simonds, and died in 1905 ; Ruth, born in 1856, married, in 1879, Henry S. Kelley, of whom a brief sketch appears on another page of this work ; Helen died at the age of four years ; and Mabel, born in 1861, lives with her sister, Mrs. Kelley. Mr. Walker married second, in 1885, Mary Elizabeth Hubbard, who was born in. Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1834, coming from pioneer stock. . In 1849 Mr. Walker made a trip by water and stage to Illinois. At that time the only railroad between here and Chicago was a railroad running to Toledo and extending thirty miles west of there. On this road many of the passengers got off and walked to keep warm, and all could get off and on' when they pleased. Chicago at that time was only a little hamlet and thirty minutes' walk would cover it all. Illinois was all government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Many of Mr. Walker's neighbors and relations had moved to Illinois on account of the heavy timber of Ohio, and Mr. Walker visited them ; but, finding the ague very prevalent, he did not stay, but staged it back, the journey taking a week. CAPTAIN GEORGE BILLOW is one of the representative business men and highly esteemed citizens of Akron, where he has maintained his home for many years and where he is the head of the undertaking firm of Billow & Sons. He is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he rendered valiant service in defense of the integrity of his adopted country, and his entire life has been characterized by the same loyalty which thus prompted him to go forth in the service of the Union. He is one of the prominent representatives of his line of business in , the state, and is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Akron, where he commands the high regard of all who know him. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, and is at the present time president of the Akron Masonic Temple Company. Captain George Billow was born in the vicinity of the historic old city of Worms, in HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 901 Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 2d of April, 1831, and his earliest recollections touch that beautiful section of the famous Rhine country. In the schools of his native land he received his rudimentary education, and he was about eleven years of age when, in 1844, his parents, John and Elizabeth (Milius) Billow, immigrated to America. The family settled near Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio, where the father secured a tract of land and developed a productive farm. On this homestead the parents passed the remainder of their lives, honored by all who knew them. Both were devout members of the Reformed church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom three are now living. Captain Billow continued to assist in the work of the home farm until he had attained to the age of sixteen years, when he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of carriage and wagon-making in Fremont, and he continued in the work of his trade, at Cleveland, Ohio, and Tallmadge and Akron, Summit county, until July, 1862, when he answered the call of higher duty and tendered his services in defense of the Union. He enlisted as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the command of General Franz Sigel. He manifested true soldierly qualities from the beginning of his active service and eventually rose through the various grades of promotion to the captaincy of his company. He had the respect and confidence of the men in his command and was an efficient and popular officer. He was assigned to duty as brigade and post commissary at Fernandina, Florida, and as local provost marshal at Jacksonville, that state. He continued in service until the close of the war, having participated in many of the important engagements in which the Army of the Potomac and the Department of the South were involved, and he received his honorable discharge at Charleston, South Carolina, on the loth of July, 1865. He was mustered out of the service in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, on the 26th of the same month. After the termination of his long and faithful service as a soldier of the republic, Captain Billow returned to Akron, where he engaged in the grocery business, with which line of enterprise he was here identified about three years, at the expiration of which he became a traveling salesman for a stoneware house. He was thus engaged about eighteen months, and about this time he made investments in Alabama, to which state he removed. His interests there proved unprofitable, and in April, 1875, he returned to Akron, where he shortly afterward engaged in the undertaking business, with which line of enterprise he has since been continuously identified—a period of nearly thirty-five years. He is now one of the oldest business men in point of consecutive record to be found in Akron, and his career has been such as to retain to him the unqualified esteem of all with whom he has come in contact in the various relations of life. He conducted his undertaking business individually for a number of years, and then admitted his sons to partnership, whereupon the present firm name was adopted. The headquarters of the business are located at the corner of Mill and Ash streets, and the establishment is thoroughly modern in appointments, equipment and facilities. In connection with the regular undertaking department an effective ambulance and invalid-carriage service is maintained by the firm. Captain Billow is a charter member of the National Funeral Directors' Association, which was organized in 1880, and is also secretary and treasurer of the Ohio state board of embalming examiners, before which body all applicants for licenses as embalmers are compelled to appear for examination. He was among the first to suggest and assist in the organization of an association of the funeral directors of Ohio, and he is widely known to those engaged in this line of enterprise throughout the state. Captain Billow is essentially progressive and public-spirited, but has never been a seeker of public office. He gives his support to the cause of the Republican party, and he is a member of the Episcopal church. He is a valued and appreciative member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has attained to the thirty-third degree in Scottish Rite Masonry—a distinction which well indicates the high regard in which he is held in this time-honored fraternity. He is identified with the various York Rite bodies in Akron, and his consistory affiliations are maintained in the city of Cleveland. He is also identified with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, 'is president of the Akron Masonic Temple Company, as already noted in this sketch, and is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On the 19th of September, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Billow to Miss Mary Fink, daughter of Conrad and Charlotte 902 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE (Flemisch) Fink, of Akron, and she was summoned to the life eternal on the joth of June, 1905, after a most gracious and happy married life of a half century. The great loss and bereavement in' the life of Captain Billow was that caused when his cherished and devoted companion was thus called from his side, but there remains to him the measure of compensation and reconciliation which memory and appreciation ever bear. Captain and Mrs. Billow became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living—Anna, George W., Charles Fernando, Ida, Albert C., Jacob R., Edwin L. and Claire. The attractive family home is located at H0 Beck avenue, and is notable for its generous hospitality. EDMUND H. TRYON, one of the prominent business men of Willoughby, was born July 21, 1857. He spent his boyhood on a farm, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-two years he began his business career in the employ of I. S. Ellen & Company, of Willoughby, where he remained five years. He spent some time in the grocery trade at Warren, Ohio, and in 1890 established a grocery store at Willoughby, which he carried on thirteen years. In April, 1896, Mr. Tryon entered into partnership with Sidney S. Wilson, and purchased the hotel of which Mr. Tryon has since acted as landlord. The hotel bears the name of the "Kingsley," in honor of the maiden name of Mr. Tryon's wife, and most of the time he has been sole proprietor and manager. He has made many improvements in the building and its arrangements, and has met with success in the undertaking. Mr. Tryon takes a commendable interest in public affairs and progress, and is an adherent of the Republican party. He has the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, and has a large circle of friends. March 30, 1880, Mr. Tryon married Ida C. Kingsley, daughter of Elias and Amelia Kingsley, of Willoughby ; she was born in Kirtland and died January 26, 1908, leaving no children. NATHAN D. KLUMPH.—Familiarly known to the residents of Geneva township as one of the prosperous and practical farmers of this part of ;Ashtabula county, Nathan D. Klumph has here established for himself a reputation as a thoroughly honest man and a good citizen. A son of Jacob Klumph, he was born in September, 184o, in, Ashtabula Harbor, where he was bred and educated. Migrating when young from New York state to Ohio, Jacob Klumph settled in Ashtabula; and there married Harriet Bugbee, who came to Ohio with her parents when a girl. They reared five children, all sons, who all grew to maturity. Leaving school at the age of fifteen years, Nathan D. Klumph began life for himself on the lake, and was for many years engaged in nautical pursuits. He sailed on schooners of all kinds, and served in all capacities, from cook to captain, sailing at the last as mate on a steel freighter. Giving up a sailor's life, Mr. Klumph moved onto his present farm in 1872, which he cleared from the timber. It contains fifty-nine acres of good land, which he devotes to general farming, in its management being exceedingly prosperous. At the age of twenty-five years, in 1865, Mr. Klumph married Lydia D. Boomhower, a young maiden seven years his junior, and into their household three children have been born, namely : Guy A., Almon P. and Perry R., all of whom are in the employ of the Conneaut Dock Company. Fraternally Mr. Klumph is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he also belongs to the local Grange. Both he and his wife are liberal in their religious views, and though not a member of any church contribute toward the support of churches. In politics" Mr. Klumph is a Democrat. JAMES H. FORD, the business manager of Ford Seed Company, of Ravenna, was born in this city on the 30th of April, 1864, a son of Frank and Mary (Torrey) Ford, well remembered residents of Ravenna. The father, born in Rowe, Massachusetts, in 1832, was a son of James Ford, and the mother, born in Northampton, Massachusetts, was a daughter of Ripley and Lucy (Bascomb) Torrey, also from Massachusetts. Frank Ford came to Ravenna as early as the year of 1853, and for some years he conducted the first photographic studio of the town. Selling out his interest in that business to J. H. Oakley, he embarked in the nursery business, and in 1881 he issued his first catalogue. In the spring of 1883 he admitted his son James into the business, and in 1885 they enlarged their interests to include a complete line of seeds, and the mail order department is now one of the principal features of the industry. The business also includes a full and complete line of garden, flower and field seeds. The founder and senior member of this firm died on the 6th of April, 1897, and thus ended the life of one of Ra- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 903 venna's pioneer residents and leading business men. After his death his widow continued on in the business until she joined her husband in the home beyond on the 21st of April, 1907, and since then the son has continued to manage the business. On the 4th of November, 1885, James H. Ford married Edie Simons, who was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a daughter of Gipson V. and Jane W. (Olmstead) Simons, who were from Ohio. As a supporter of Prohibition principles, Mr. Ford was nominated by his party in the fall of 1908 for state treasurer. He is a member of Unity Lodge No. 12, F. and A. M., of Ravenna Grange, No. 32, and of the Portage County Pomona Grange. He is a member of the Church of Christ, and since 1894 has served as an elder. M. Otis HOWER, a native son of Ohio, has marked by distinctive personal accomplishment a place of his own in connection with economic, industrial and civic affairs in the city of Akron, one of the most progressive and attractive cities of the Western Reserve, where he is known as a representative business man and as one with large capacity for the handling of affairs of wide scope and importance. Milton Otis Hower was born at Doylestown, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 25th of November, 1859, and is a son of John H. and, Susan (Younker) Hower, natives of Doylestown, Ohio, and representatives of stanch German families early founded in America. John H. Hower became a successful business man in Akron and was a citizen who ever commanded unqualified esteem in the community, for his life was guided and governed by the highest principles of integrity and honor, and as a citizen he did all in his power to further the general welfare of the city in which he long maintained his home. In 1866, when M. Otis Hower was about nine years of age, his parents removed from Doylestown to Akron, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools and also those of Buchtel College, in which institution he directed his studies with special reference to fortifying himself for a business career. In 1884 he became associated with his father and two brothers in the organization of the Hower Company, of which he became secretary. This company built up a large and successful business in the manufacture of oat meal. Under the original title the enterprise was continued until June, 1891, when the company merged its business into the American Cereal Com- Vol. II-13 pany, of which M. Otis Hower became a director at that time. Later he became vice-president of the great corporation and chairman of the executive committee. He is still a stockholder and officer of this company. His career in the domain of practical business has been conspicuous for the extent and variety of achievement, and his co-operation and executive powers have been enlisted in many important enterprises in Akron and elsewhere. He is president and general manager of the AkronSelle Company and the Akron Wood Working Company ; is vice-president of the Central Savings & Trust Company, of Akron ; president of the Lombard & Replogle Engineering Company ; president of the Jahant Heating Company, and also of the Bannock Coal Company, the Hower Building Company, and the Akron Skating Rink Company. He is also a member of the directorate of each the Akron Gas Company, Commercial Savings Bank and the Home Savings Company, and is ever to be found ready to give his aid and influence in the furtherance of those enterprises and measures which inure to the progress and prosperity of his home city, where both his capitalistic and social interests center. He is essentially loyal and public-spirited, and is fully appreciative of his responsibilities and duties as a citizen. In politics he is a firm advocate of the generic principles of the Republican party, but in local affairs he maintains independence of strict partisan lines and gives his support to the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He is an implacable adversary of graft and corruption in any political organization, and has never failed to manifest the courage of his conviction as to matters of public policy or business contingencies. He is president of the Akron Automobile Club, is identified with various fraternal and social organizations in Akron and elsewhere, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church. On the 16th of November, 1880, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Hower to Miss Blanche Eugenia Bruot, daughter of James P. and Rosalie (Gressard) Bruot, of Akron. The two children of this union are Grace Susan Rosalie and John Bruot. Mr. Hower resides in the beautiful old Hower homestead, at 60 Fir street, and the spacious old mansion is one in which is dispensed a most gracious hospitality, indicative of the unqualified popularity enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. Hower in the city which has represented their home during practically their entire lives. 904 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE , ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.- Among the many beautiful church edifices in Ashtabula that of St. Joseph is one of the finest and most attractive, and is, without doubt, the church home of a larger number of people than any building of the kind in the city. This church was founded by Rev. Charles Coquerelle in the latter part of the fifties as a mission, he coming here as an attendant from Painesville, and in 1860 erecting a small frame church building. In 1861 and 1862 Very Rev. Alexis Carm, V. G., who was in very poor health, visited Rev. Father Coquerelle in Painesville, and while his guest attended this parish, while thus employed greatly advancing its interests. In the fall of 1862 Rev. James Elwood became the first resident pastor, and in July, 1863, was succeeded by Rev. John Tracy, who accomplished a notable work while here, finishing the interior of the church, building a parish residence, and in September, 1865, opening a parochial school. He left the society, in October, 1869, free from debt of any kind. Rev. Edward J. Conway, his successor, added, in 1872, thirty-five feet to the length of the church building, and in 1877 erected, at a cost of $2,30o a brick school building, and converted the original school building into a residence for the Sisters of Humility of Mary, who had charge of the school. In 1880 Father Conway secured five acres of ground for a Catholic cemetery. In August, 1887, Rev. Thomas M. Smyth succeeded Father Conway, and remained in Ashtabula until December, 1893, from October, 1890, attending Ash Harbor as a mission. In December, 1893, Father Tracy returned to Ashtabula, and in 1894 enlarged and remodeled the residence, and the school, which was at first under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, but for many years has been controlled by the Sisters of Humility of Mary, was greatly increased in numbers, and in value, having now 150 pupils who complete the eighth grade studies. Retiring from the pastorate in 1902, Father Tracy was a resident of Ash Harbor until his death, in 1908. Rev. James H. Halligan, the next priest, was succeeded, June 27, 1903, by Rev. Matthew O'Brien, a modest, unassuming man, of middle age, who labors earnestly, and without ostentation, and is very successful in his achievements. On November 11, 1906, the present brick church building was dedicated, and at the same time the present handsome parish residence was completed, the two costing the round sum of $52,000. The church is a very handsome building, with a seating capacity of 600 people. The interior finish is exceptionally fine, with plain' tinted walls, and among the decorations being fourteen pieces of statuary representing scenes in the life of Christ. The magnificent altar of marble is artistic in design, and there are life size statues of Christ and the Virgin, while the beautiful stained glass windows are embellished with biblical scenes, and, with the soft lights, present a classical effect. In the choral loft is a grand pipe organ, the music from which adds to the beauty, solemnity and impressiveness of the services. There is no spire on the exterior of the church, but on each corner is a belfry to accommodate the chimes which will be installed at no very distant day. Rev. Father O'Brien is a man of earnest purpose, a conscientious church worker, and is recognized by the people in general, regardless of religious affiliations, as one of Ashtabula's most esteemed and progressive citizens. HENRY S. KELLEY.-A man of excellent business capacities, provided with a good fund of general information, Henry S. Kelley stands conspicuous among the leading agriculturists of Saybrook township, and is considered an authority on all questions relating to general farming, more especially those connected with stock breeding and raising. A. son of David H. Kelley, an early pioneer of Ashtabula county, he was born in New Hampshire in 1810, coming from substantial New England ancestry. David H. Kelley was born in 1810, in New Hampshire, and in the invigorating climate of his native state grew to be a sturdy and courageous youth. In 1826 he bravely made his way through an almost unbroken pathway to the Western Reserve, and for three years worked in the tannery and shoe shop belonging to his uncle, which he afterwards bought out. Selling out his shop and tannery in 1845, he bought land near by, in Saybrook township, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, January 3, 1897. He was twice married. He married first, in 1832, Lucy Webster, a daughter of Norman Webster, a pioneer of this county. She died in 1847, at a comparatively early age. Seven children were born of their union, three of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Am- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 905 brose E., who settled in Geneva ; Jesse P., a .dentist, who died in 1908 ; Ruth, widow of 0. R. Higley, lives at Battle Creek, Michigan ; and Ellen, wife of George H. Olmstead, of Cleveland. David H. Kelley married second, in 1849, Ellen M. Simonds, by whom he also had seven children, namely : Lucy A., deceased ; Mary P. ; D. Edward, a dentist ; Henry S., the subject of this sketch ; Cynthia M., of Geneva ; Hattie L., of Cleveland ; and Eveline P., of Cleveland. Henry S. Kelley owns a fine farm of 172 acres, and is carrying on his chosen occupation 'in an intelligent and skillful manner, his labors being crowned with success. He pays much attention to stock-raising, breeding Red Polled cattle, pure bred, which thrive well under his care. He is quite prominent throughout the town and county, and for three years lectured before Farmers' Institutes for the State Board .of Agriculture. Mr. Kelley married, September 11, 1879, Ruth Walker, a daughter of Charles Walker, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. LEVI HALL, formerly of Willoughby, now deceased, came to Ohio in 1813, and there purchased 1000 acres of land for his father, Hezekiah Hall, most of it being bog, lying along Euclid avenue, one and a half miles from the village then called Chagrin. Hezekiah Hall was born in 1756, served in the Revolution, and died in 1832, being buried on the Hall homestead. By his wife Susannah he had six sons and four daughters, and divided his property among his children. The eldest son, John Hall, was a dairyman and cheesemaker, in which he was expert. He died in Toledo. Hezekiah Hall, the second son, owned the pres,ent Houliston farm, and in later life removed to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he died in old age. His son Chauncey died in early manhood as the result of an accident. Simeon Hall, the third son, lived to be over seventy years of age. Kezia, the third daughter, mar-Tied Benjamin Woolsey, and lived where J. A. Beidler now lives. Later in life they removed to Willoughby, where Mr. Woolsey was pro-moter of the institute, to which he donated $1o,000, and which was to have been called Woolsey Institute. He died at the age of seventy-five years, and his widow survived him several years. They had no children, and he was ever fond of young people, and happy in .doing something to assist them, and left his money for the education of the young. He delighted in being fatherly, and did a great deal of good with his money. He was an enthusiastic Methodist, with a good voice and convincing manner. Levi Hall lived in the house now occupied by his daughter Almira. He was born April 11, 1791, and died April 18, 1835, in his forty-fifth year, as had been foretold by a fortune teller. He married Nancy Card, daughter of William and Hannah Card ; she was the eleventh of twelve children, born September t0, 1798, and died September 9, 1875. The Card home was in Willoughby, near the Lake Shore Railroad crossing, and both her parents spent their last days with Nancy. One son, Thomas Card, came to Ohio also about 1813, from Dutchess county, New York, buying 3,000 acres, mainly river bottoms, west and north of Willoughby, for his father. The old homestead 'of Thomas Card is the present old Dr. St. John home, in the center of Willoughby village. Thomas Card married Lydia Dewey, of Erie, Pennsylvania. A daughter, Louisa, married Dr. St. John, and lived and died in the old home. Mary married Judge Potter, of Toledo, where she died a few years later. Nancy was married at seventeen, and died September 9, 1875 ; she was left with three children, the eldest a son of fourteen. She remained on the farm and kept it intact, built the present residence and kept up the business, being an excellent manager. Her three children were, namely : William C., Mary C. and Almira C. William, born June 18, 1821, died November 19, 1887; he spent his life at home with his mother, and was very domestic in his tastes and was wholly devoted to his mother. Mary C.,married Samuel W. Phelps, of Painesville, and lived mainly in Painesville. She spent her last years back at the old home, and died in 1903, aged seventy-four years. Almira C. Hall was never in very robust health, and has spent her life in the house where she was born, and was always a Companion to her mother. She graduated from the Female Seminary at Willoughby, being one of the first class of fourteen girls to start the school, and Miss Anna Clark, of Grand Rapids, being another. The Hall home has always been noted for its great hospitality, and always considered the headquarters of the entire family, both the Halls and the Cards. Four of the Card family lived at Willoughby, namely : Dr. George Card, Thomas Card, Platt Card and Varnum Card ; the last named was 906 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE an attorney in Cleveland. Lois Hall, related to the Hall family, married Morris Holmes and had two sons, George and Charles. AMOS ASHLEY SPRING.—An industrious and well-to-do agriculturist of Geneva, Amos A. Spring is carrying on general farming with satisfactory results, year by year adding to his wealth, his farm in regard to its appointments comparing well with any in the neighborhood. A native of New York, he was born February 21, 1842, in Leroy, Genesee county, being a descendant in the ninth generation from John Spring, the emigrant ancestor, who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1634. His lineage is clearly recorded, being as follows : John,1 Henry,2 Thomas,8 Henry,4 Amos,5 Amos,6 Amos,? Amos,8 and Amos Ashley.9 Amos Spring, 8 father of Amos Ashley, was born November 2, 1808. Before the middle of the nineteenth century, probably in 1844, he came with his family from Genesee county, New York, to Ashtabula county, which was first settled by New England people. Buying sixty acres of land in Geneva township, he became identified with the agricultural interests of his community, and here resided until his death, November 28, 1862. He married, September 24, 1827, Clarinda Webb, at Leroy, New York ; she was born March 25, 1810, and died in Geneva, Ohio, July 11, 1877. A small child when brought by his parents to Geneva township, Amos Ashley Spring acquired his elementary education in the district schools, after which he attended Jericho Seminary, continuing his studies under Platt R. Spencer, a noted teacher, and the founder of the Spencerian system of penmanship. He afterwards spent a year or two away from home, remaining however, in the county, and then assisted his father in the care of the home farm until attaining his majority. The death of his father occurring about that time, Mr. Spring subsequently cared for his widowed mother, and on the division of the parental estate came into possession of thirty-eight acres of land, on which the old buildings were located. The house, which replaced the original log cabin, had been built but a few years, and the barns and granaries were in good repair. Mr. Spring afterwards traded that farm for one in Austin-burg. Instead of moving to that place, though, he exchanged his Austinburg property for his present farm, which formerly belonged to John Andrus, one of the original settlers of Geneva, and has here resided since assuming its possession, in 1878. Mr. Spring has since rebuilt and enlarged house and barns, which are now models of convenience and comfort, and has put at least twenty-five acres of his land under culture. The neatness and fine appearance of his estate bespeak the thrift and good judgment of the owner, and show that he has an excellent understanding of general farming in all of its branches. During the Civil war Mr. Spring enlisted, but was rejected on account of physical disability. On December 25, 1862, Mr. Spring married Ellen Perry, who was born in Austinburg, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel B. and Laura Perry, who were born and married in that place, Mr. Spring having been just twenty-one years old at the time of his marriage, and Ellen Perry eighteen. Four children have been porn to Mr. and Mrs. Spring, namely : Bellonia, the only daughter, died in childhood ; Laroy and Larue, twins ; and Benoni. Laroy, of Painesville, is a ticket agent and telegraph operator on the Lake Shore Railroad. Larue, of Ashtabula, is also a telegraph operator on the same road. Benoni, on the farm with his father, married Cora Callaway, and they have one son, Walter Spring. Mr. Spring is a faithful member of the Metnodist Episcopal church, which he has served for many years as class leader and as trustee. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. ROSWELL C. CURTISS.—Not a life of exaltation was that of the late Roswell Chapman Curtiss, but it was one that was pure, constant and noble,—true to itself and to the highest of ideals. He was an able member of the bar of Medina county, where he continued in the practice of his profession until impaired hear ing made it impracticable to continue his labors therein, and thereafter he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business in the village of Medina. He was a man of fine intellectuality and his character was one of the' loftiest integrity, which fact, as coupled with his winning and gracious personality, gained and retained to him the affectionate regard of all with whom he came much in contact. He was summoned to the life eternal on November 13, 1904, and in his death Medina county lost one of its most honored pioneer citizens and native sons. Roswell Chapman Curtiss was born in Lafayette township, Medina county, Ohio, on April 19, 1837, and thus was sixty-four years of age at the time of his demise. He was a son of Samuel Brooks Curtiss and Sarah M. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 907 Curtiss, being the eldest in a family of eight children and being survived by three brothers and three sisters. Samuel Brooks Curtiss was born in Durham, Connecticut, July 13, 1813, and his wife was a native of New Hampshire. He was numbered among the early settlers of Medina county, Ohio, coming at the age of fifteen with his parents, Samuel and Lecretia (Brooks) Curtiss, who settled in Montville township in 1828. There the father purchased a tract of heavily timbered land, from which he developed a productive farm, and he was one of the honored and influential citizens of his section of the township. Samuel, Jr., and wife moved to Lafayette township, where they continued to reside for a time. Later they moved to Medina, where they passed away, the mother dying in May, 1889, and the father October, 189o. The Curtiss family is of stanch English lineage, and was founded in America about 1622, when the original progenitors in the new world took up their abode in Massachusetts Bay colony. With the annals of New England, that cradle of much of our national history, the name has been prominently identified, and direct and collateral representatives of the family are now to be found in the most diverse sections of the Union. Roswell C. Curtiss was reared under the invigorating discipline of the pioneer farm and as a boy he found ample demands upon his time in connection with its work, though he was not denied his due measure of recreation and opportunity for mental development. After attending the schools in Medina, which was then a small village, he was enabled to attend Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan, for one year, and there made good use of his opportunities for studying the higher academic branches. After leaving college he read law under the able preceptorship of J. B. Young, a prominent member of the Medina county bar, and in due course of time, thoroughly fortified in the minutiae of the science of jurisprudence, he was admitted to the bar of his native county. He forthwith engaged in the active practice of his profession in the village of Medina, and soon proved his powers as an able trial lawyer and well equipped counselor. He built up an excellent practice and continued in the active work of his profession, when the affliction of impaired hearing made his presentation of cases before the courts arduous and, at least subjectively, unsatisfactory. Under these conditions he deemed it expedient to withdraw from the work of his profession as an attorney, which he did in the eighties, though his services as counsel were much in requisition thereafter, as his technical knowledge of the law and his mature judgment gained to him a high reputation in this branch of his profession. Thereafter he devoted his attention to the real estate and insurance business until his death, and his personal popularity enabled him to build up a very prosperous enterprise in these lines. He continued an honored member of the bar of his native county until his death, and his entire life was passed in Medina county with the exception of the year during which he was a student in Hillsdale College and one year passed as a clerk in a store conducted by his uncle in Union county. For a number of years he was incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, and it is needless to say that few come to this office with so admirable an equipment as did he. Loyal and public-spirited as a citizen, Mr. Curtiss found pleasure and satisfaction in doing all in his power to further the best interests of the community, both social and material. Well fortified in his opinions as to matters of public polity and also in his political convictions, he was an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, in whose cause he rendered effective service, though never a seeker of official preferment. He was affiliated with Medina Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and was a devout communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, active in the work and support of his parish, of which he was a valued member. Mrs. Curtiss also is a devoted churchwoman. Mr. Curtiss was a man of quick sympathies and was instinct with human kindliness and tolerance. He was ever ready to extend a helping hand to "all those in any ways afflicted in mind, body or estate," and "all sorts and conditions of men" were his friends, as he was theirs. Not upon him rested the "weary and the heavy weight of all this unintelligible world," for he was sustained and comforted by a deep and abiding Christian faith and discerned the element of good in all men and all things. Five years prior to his death he suffered a stroke of apoplexy, which caused him thereafter to walk with more or less difficulty, but under bodily afflictions that would have been a matter of torment and unrest to the average man he continued calm and imperturbed, grateful for the benefices that were vouchsafed to him and secure in the affection- 908 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ate regard of all who knew him. Of one attribute of his character the following words, piublished in a Medina paper at the time of his death, voice appreciation and bear their own significance, so that they are well worthy of reproduction in this memoir : "Mr. Curtiss was passionately fond of music, and since the organization of the Knights of Pythias band he manifested a deep interest in its progress, always attending the practice meetings as an interested listener. The band boys appreciated his interest and they attended his funeral in a body. Six of them, F. F. Ferguson, Paul Dillman, Walter Thorndyke, George West, J. White and Nelson Waltz, acted as pallbearers. At the grave the band played the favorite selection of Mr. Curtiss, and the scene was one of the most pathetic ever witnessed in Spring Grove cemetery." On October 26, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Curtiss to Miss Frances E. Ticknor, who was born at Salisbury, Connecticut, on March 21, 1837, and who was an adopted daughter of Dr. Benajah Ticknor ; her uncle was a surgeon in the United States navy and he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss became the parents of one daughter, Carrie, who died on December 3, 1891, at the age of nineteen years. Her father, wno idolized her, found in her death the supreme loss and bereavement of his life, and he never ceased to mourn for her, though bowing to the will of Providence in this as in all other conditions of life. Mrs. Curtiss still resides in the pleasant old homestead, on East Washington street, where she has spent many years of her life. COLONEL GEORGE MITCHELL WRIGHT, the only son of Clement Wright and Lucy Ayer Whitney, his wife, was born August 8, 1847, in Tallmadge township, Summit county, Ohio, on the farm, one mile south from Tallmadge Center, on which his great-grandfather, Captain John Wright, and his grandfather, Alpha Wright, settled in 1809, and where his father, Clement Wright, was born. Of this branch of the Wright family four generations have lived on this farm, and, including Colonel Wright's children, five generations have lived in Tallmadge. The home of Colonel Wright, however, was on the farm only during his infancy, his father having moved from the farm to Tallmadge Center and there engaged in the .mercantile business when Colonel Wright was less than two years old. The father and, mother of Colonel Wright were both from well known New England families of high standing, which had been transplanted from England to America prior to 1640. His father was a direct descendant of the eleventh generation, in the male line, from John Wright, Esq., of Kelvedon Manor, Kelvedon Hatch, County Essex, England, who acquired Kelvedon Manor by purchase in 1538, the emigrant ancestor to this country being Tnomas Wright, who settled at Wethersfield,. Connecticut, before 1640, probably in 1639. The mother of Colonel Wright was from one of the most ancient and honorable families of Herefordshire, England, the earliest ancestor in England, in the direct male line, having been one of the invaders who came with William I in 1066. Of this branch of the Whitney family the emigrant ancestor to America was John Whitney, who, with his wife Elinor and five children, came from England in 1635 and settled at Watertown, Massachusetts. Colonel Wright's mother was of the seventh. generation from this emigrant ancestor to America; and before such emigrant ancestor this branch of the family is traced in England for eighteen generations in the direct male line. Although for many generations after the Norman conquest this family was one of the most distinguished in Herefordshire, it began gradually to die out in England about the time the American branch was transplanted and established in this country. Colonel Wright was educated in the public schools, Tallmadge Academy and Western Reserve College, but left college early in the course. After studying law at Akron, Ohio, with his uncle, Hon. Sidney Edgerton, and Hon. Jacob A. Kohler (who were then in partnership), he was admitted to the bar in Ohio, June 16, 1873, and began practice at Akron as a partner of Hon. Henry McKinney, who had then recently moved from Akron to Cleveland, Ohio, and desired a partner for his Summit county business. The law partnership of "McKinney & Wright" existed for several years, and Colonel Wright afterwards continued in the active and successful practice of the law until 1882. But his interest in scientific researches in the domain of geology was so great that for several years he devoted much time and attention to scientific studies. Finally, in 1882, having received an appointment as assistant geologist in the United States Geological Survey (without the aid of any political influence whatever, but on the recommendations and indorsements of scientific experts HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 909 only), he left the practice of the law and during the next four years devoted himself wholly to geological field-work and investigations for the government. Assigned at first to the staff of the Division of the Great Basin, his field work was in Nevada, California and Utah. Subsequently transferred to the staff of the division having charge of the geological survey of the Yellowstone National Park, that interesting region was his special field of work for three years, with field-work also in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. While his work and investigation were in structural and dynamical geology in general, his specialty was the study of volcanic and crystalline rocks and the problems of volcanic action and phenomena (which throw so much light on mineral deposits), and he also did some special work in glacial geology. During the winters he was stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah, New York City, New York, and Washington, D. C., engaged in scientific study and research, working out the problems presented by field observations and collections, and writing reports. Having had the valuable experience and education of these four years of scientific study and field investigation, under the most favorable circumstances and in some of the most instructive and interesting regions known, he ed in 1886, although requested and desired to continue in this scientific work for the government, and resumed the practice of the law at Akron, Ohio, where he continued in active practice until the breaking out of the war with Spain in April, 1898. Colonel Wright has always taken great interest in military affairs, and prior to the war with Spain he had been an officer of the Ohio National Guard, having held a commission for more than five years in the First Regiment of Light Artillery—then one of the finest military organizations in the United States. At the beginning of the war he was commissioned in the military service of the United States, May, 13, 1898 (having been enrolled April 26, 1898), as second lieutenant and battalion adjutant in the Eighth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; was detailed as acting ordnance officer of the regiment, May 14, 1898, and accompanied the regiment from Camp Bushnell, Columbus, Ohio, to Camp Alger, Virginia ; was appointed aide-de-camp and brigade ordnance officer on the staff of Brigadier General George A. Garretson, June 13, 1898, and served as such until after the close of the war ; left Camp Alger, Virginia, July 5, with brigade headquarters and two regiments, and proceeded by rail to Charleston, South Carolina—the third regiment of the brigade being transported by rail to New York, there to embark for Cuba ; sailed, July 8, from Charleston, South Carolina, for Cuba, on the U. S. S. "Yale," carrying Major General Nelson A. Miles, commanding the United States army, and staff, and arrived off Santiago harbor July i 1, while the fleet was bombarding the city, six days before the surrender ; and took part in the demonstrations against the Spanish works at the entrance to Santiago Harbor before the surrender of Santiago, being on duty with the troops under command of Generals Henry and Garretson held in readiness for three days under orders to be landed at a given signal, under protection of the fire of the fleet, west of Sacopa Battery—the first plan being to try to connect with the right of General Shafter's line, which plan was changed to one involving an attempt to carry Sacopa by assault. After the surrender of Santiago the troops held on shipboard, being no longer needed at Santiago, were available for the expedition to Porto Rico, the final plans for which were arranged in a conference between General Miles and Admiral Sampson on board the flag-ship "New York," lying off Aguadores, July i6. Colonel (then Lieutenant) Wright was so fortunate as to be one of the staff officers present at this conference. Lieutenant -Wright continued on board the "Yale," which the next day ( July 17) steamed eastward for Guantanamo Bay, still carrying General Miles and staff, and also General Garret-son and staff. The troops for the first expedition to Porto Rico having been concentrated at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the transport squadron, with its naval convoy, sailed for Porto Rico, July 21, carrying an effective force of only about 3,300 troops to invade the island of Porto Rico, where the enemy then had 8,233 Spanish regulars and 9,107 armed volunteers—more than 17,000 troops in all. But, General Miles having outwitted the Spanish commanders by causing the course of the fleet to be changed at the last moment, a landing was effected at Guanica, on the southwestern coast of Porto Rico, July 25, without loss of life. Lieutenant Wright was with the first troops landed here, and was present when General Miles formally planted the flag and took possession of the island for the United States ; and he also took part in the decisive action of the next day ( July 26), under General Garretson, in front of Yauco, Porto Rico, which gave the American troops possession of 910 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the important town of Yauco and the railroad leading thence to Ponce, and resulted in the surrender of Ponce, then the largest town on the island, without resistance. In the corm manding general's official report of this action the name of Lieutenant Wright appears in a list of the names of eight officers "especially commended for gallantry and coolness under fire." Lieutenant Wright accompanied the troops under Generals Henry and Garretson on the march from Guanica, via Yauco, to Ponce ; and, in General Miles' subsequent concerted movement of the four columns of troops from the southern coast northward, Lieutenant Wright accompanied the left-center column, under Generals Henry and Garretson, in its march from Ponce over the mountain trail, via Adjuntas and Utuado, toward Arecibo—which column penetrated farther north than any other American troops before the peace protocol put an end to hostilities. Colonel (then Lieutenant) Wright was recommended for brevets as first lieutenant and captain (recommendation indorsed and approved by General Miles) for meritorious services during the Porto Rican campaign, and for great personal bravery in action with Spanish troops near Yauco, Porto Rico, July 26, 1898 ; and, after the close of the war, he was honorably discharged from the service of the United States, November 21, 1898. In 1899 he resumed the practice of the law, and is still engaged in active practice at Akron, Ohio. In the Ohio National Guard Colonel Wright has held the following commissions and positions : Second lieutenant, First Regiment, Light Artillery ; second lieutenant and battalion adjutant, Eighth Regiment Infantry ; captain and regimental adjutant, Eighth Regiment Infantry; acting adjutant general, Second Brio-ade ; lieutenant-colonel and assistant adjutant general, adjutant general of division ; lieutenant-colonel and chief of staff of division ; and colonel and chief of staff of division. He is now ( June, 1909) chief of staff of division, with the rank of colonel, and also chief of ordnance of the Ohio National Guard ; and he has served as such chief of staff, or as adjutant general and chief of staff, ever since January 29, 1900—for very nearly ten years. Colonel Wright is a member of the Philosophical Society of Washington, D. C. He is also a member of the Alpha Delta Phi college fraternity, and a member of numerous military and patriotic orders and societies, in several of which he has held some of the higher offices. Colonel Wright was married October 18, 1876, at Akron, Ohio, to Lucy Josephine Hale, of Akron, a daughter of James Madison Hale and Sarah Allen, his wife. Their children, all born at Tallmadge, Ohio, are : (1) Clement Hale Wright, born July 4, 1882, who graduated at the United States Military Academy, June 15, 1904, and is now a second lieutenant in the Second United States Infantry, on duty with his regiment ; (2) Allen Whitney Wright, born July 17, 1889 ; and (3) George Maltby Wright, born June 24, 1892. Lieutenant Clement Hale Wright was married at Hartwell (a suburb of Cincinnati), Ohio, January 1, 1906, to Laura Mitchell, a daughter of Rev. Frank Gridley Mitchell, D.- D., and. Mary Electa Davis, his wife. EDWARD WELTON BASSETT was born in Franklin township, Portage county, Ohio. March 19,. 1834, a son of William and Eloise (Welton) Bassett. The parents were married in Connecticut on the 27th of February, 1817, and soon afterward they started on the overland journey with teams and wagons to the Western Reserve of Ohio, and, arriving in Portage county, they established their home in the then dense woods of Franklin township. In time they succeeded in clearing their farm there, and their names are enrolled among the earliest of pioneers of that community. Edward W. Bassett, the third born of their four children, three sons and a daughter, became associated early in life with the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad as a brakeman, and he had previously worked as a driver on the Erie canal. He continued his railroading work with the Atlantic & Great Western Company as a conductor and messenger for twenty-four years, then for eight years was an express agent at Ravenna, and during six months was a United States Express agent at Youngstown. Coming to the city of Kent in 1886, he remained with the American Express Company until his death, two years later, on the 17th of August, 1888. He married at Norton. in Summit county, Ohio, on September 6, 1856, Harriet Brewster, and their two children were: Charles E., who died in infancy, and Georgianna, who became the wife of W. A. Simmons and resides in Rochester, New York. This wife died on the 21 st of September, 1868, and on the 12th of January, 1870, Mr. Bassett was married to Adelia Woodard, who was born in Franklin township, December 20, 1838, a daughter of James and Maria (Hopkins) Woodard, natives respectively of Ravenna and of the state of Vermont. Her grandparents HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 911 on the paternal side, Joshua and Rebecca (Wooden) Woodard, came from the New England states to Ohio in 1806, and her maternal grandparents Rudd and Ann (Scott) Hopkins, were from Vermont. Joshua Woodard worked for a time in a woolen mill in Portage county, and then moved to Illinois, but he later returned and died in Kent. His son James was the first white child born in Ravenna township, and in the early fife he began farm work. During a few years he was the proprietor of a hotel in Kent, and then, returning to the country, he purchased a farm just northwest of Kent and died there on the 2d of September 1882. He served two terms as sheriff of Portage county. His wife survived him but two years, and died on the 23d of March, 1884. Of their family of of ten children, five are now living, namelhy: Adelia, who became the wife of Mr. Bassett;; Stella M., now Mrs. Newton Hall, of Kent; Lucy A., the wife of George Furry, of Kent; Mary E., the wife of Richard Williams, also of this city ; and Charles, who owns the old home farm at Kent. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bassett; Harriet E., who died on the 17th of August, 1878, aged four years and seven months; Bertha, who died in infancy ; and Carrie L., who was born on the 18th of March, 1881, and became the wife of Frank L. Gallaway. They reside with her mother, and he is engaged in the raising of celery. Mrs. Bassett resudes in the home which her husband erected in 1871. He was a member of the Disciple church, and he was a Sir Knight Mason at Akron and a member of the Masonic order at Kent. Carl H. CURTISS.—Engaged in the successful practice of his profession at Kent, Mr. Curtiss is a representative member of the bar of his native county, and is a scion of one of its old and honored pioneer families, as the context of this sketch will presently show. He was born in Charlestown township, Portage county, Ohio, which township was named in honor of his paternal great-grandfather, and the date of his nativity was July 25, 1872. He is a son of Alfred B. and Ellen (Knowlton) Curtiss, both likewise natives of Portage county. The father was born on the farm upon which he now maintains his home, in Charlestown township, and he is one of the successful agriculturists and influential citizens that section of the county, where he has a finely improved landed estate of 135 acres. He is a son of Henry Curtiss, who was born in the state of Massachusetts and who was a youth at the time of the family immigration to the Western Reserve. He was a son of Charles Curtiss, likewise a native of the old Bay state, where the family was founded in the colonial days, and Charles Curtiss came to Portage county about 18o9. He secured a tract of wild land in what is now Charlestown township, and there set to himself the arduous task of reclaiming a farm from the wilderness. The township of Charlestown was named in his honor, as derived from his Christian name, and it is a matter of historical record that a barrel of whiskey was donated to assist in the erection of a new church in the locality, on consideration of the name of Charlestown being applied to the newly organized township. In view of the latter-day attitude in regard to the association of the somewhat incongruous ideas of church promotion and spirituous liquors, it should be recalled that in the pioneer days ardent spirits were handled and used in a far different manner than at the present, and without abuse save in rare instances. The little general store had its liquor for sale, and in the isolation and lack of medical facilities whiskey found a definite place and usefulness in practically every household. In view of these conditions the transaction above noted loses much of its seeming inconsistency and robs later generations of a "good joke," as it would be considered today. Charles Curtiss and his family thus numbered themselves among the pioneers of the historic old Western Reserve, and the name has since been continuously and prominently identified with the annals of the township named in honor of its founder in Portage county. The name has stood for the highest type of citizenship—exponent of sterling character, productive industry, loyalty to civic and moral duties and obligations, and devotion to the elements through which are promoted the best interests of the community. Charles Curtiss passed to his reward in the fulness of years and honors, and the work of development which he instituted in Charlestown township was carried forward by his sons, including Henry, who likewise became one of the prosperous farmers of that section and who was a man who commanded . unqualified esteem in all the relations of life. Alfred B. Curtiss, father of Carl H., was reared to manhood in Charlestown township, to whose common schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline, and in his native township he has been continuously identified with the great basic art of agriculture 912 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE . from his boyhood days to the present time. It is a matter of satisfaction and pride to him that he is the owner of the fine old homestead farm on which he was born and which is endeared to him by the gracious associations of the past. He is influential in public affairs of a local order, independent in politics, and is a member of the Congregational church. His first wife, Ellen (Knowlton) Curtiss, was born in Nelson township, Portage county, and was a daughter of Willard R. Knowlton, a native of Connecticut, and one of the sterling pioneers of Nelson township, where he continued to reside until his death. Mrs. Ellen Curtiss was summoned to the life eternal when but thirty-six years of age, and of her three children two are living, of whom the elder is Carl H., to whom this article is dedicated ; Emma V. is the wife of Professor M. O. Carter, who is principal of Hazel Green College, at Hazel Green, Kentucky, a school maintained under the auspices of the Christian or Disciples' church. For his second wife Alfred B. Curtiss married Miss Mary L. Hinman, and of the three children of this union two are living —Ansel B., who is engaged in the practice of law in the city of Cleveland, and Edward G., who is a student in the Buchtel College, Akron. The earliest recollections of Carl H. Curtiss are those associated with the home farm and he early began to assist in its work, in the meanwhile duly availing himself of the privileges of the district school, after completing the curriculum of which he continued his studies in the graded schools in the city of Ravenna, where he was graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1892. He began reading law in that city, under effective preceptorship, and finally was matriculated in the law department of the University of Ohio, in Columbus, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895, and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar of his native state and located in Ravenna, the judicial center of his native county, where he was associated in the work of his profession with I. T. Siddall for three years, under the firm name of Siddall & Curtiss. He then, in 1898, took up his residence in the thriving little city of Kent, where he has since continued in the active practice of his profession, in which he has been very successful both as an advocate and as a counsellor. In connection with hrs professional work he is also agent for leading fire insurance companies. He has appeared in connection with much important litigation and his clientage is of substantial and representative order. In politics Mr. Curtiss is an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he has given effective aid in promotion of the party cause in his native county. He served one term as justice of the peace, but has never been ambitious for public office. He served as chairman of the county executive committee of Portage county local option association and has been loyal and public-spirited in his attitude as a citizen. He and his wife are zealous members of the Congregational• church and h is identified with various civic and social orga izations in his home city. Mr. Curtiss is member of the Masonic fraternity and his wife of the Eastern Star, to which Mr. Curtiss also belongs. On February 1, 1896, was solemnized th marriage of Mr. Curtiss to Miss Bessie A. Copeland, daughter of James W. and Susan (Shelliday) Copeland, of Charlestown township, and they have three children,—Carl Harold, born in 1898; James Alfred, born in 1901 ; and Marjorie Ellen, born in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss are prominent and popular in connection with the social activities of their home city and. in their residence is dispensed a gracious hospitality. AARON B. STUTZMAN, who has devoted nearly his entire life to the work of education, has been identified with the educational interests of Portage county during many years, and his labors have been effective in raising the standard of the schools until the system is one of which every citizen of the community has reason to be proud. In his early life he received a splendid training in the common schools of the vicinity in which he lived, in the mithville high school and in Mt. Union College, where he completed the classical course and graduated in 1871 with the degree of A. B. His college life, however, was interrupted by his enlistment in the war while in his sophomore year, but after all his scholarship was of the highest grade in all his college work, and his relations with the students and the faculty were of the most pleasant. After his graduation from college he entered upon his long and successful career in connection with educational work, and his labors along this line include his principalship of the Smithville schools for one year, of the Dalton schools two years, of the Doylestown public schools two years, of the Wadsworth public schools three years, and it HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 913 was while located at Wadsworth that he was appointed to the office of county school exminer of Medina county. Mr. Stutzman filled that position three years. In 1878 he resigned his connectio with the Wadsworth schools to assume the superintendency of the schools of Kent, and after many years of faithful and efficient service in their behalf he resigned in 1907 and now represents the Canada Life Insurance Company. During fifteen years Mr. Stutzman served Portage county well and earnestly as its school examiner. When he took charge of the schools of Kent there was but one large central building, while now the city can boast of three large and splendid buildings, and the schools under his supervision took rank among the best in the state. He has received many flattering offers in the past to accept school work in larger cities, but he remained loyal to those of his adopted home. During the winter of 1877 bhe passed a rigid examination before the state board of examiners and was granted a life certificate of a high school grade valid in any public school of the commonwealth. In 1888 he pursued a post graduate course in connection with Wooster University, and that institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. finally passed away in October of 1878. Their family numbered six sons and three daughters, and three of their sons served their country well and faithfully in its Civil war, and two were called upon to lay down their lives on the altar of freedom. Aaron B. enlisted while a student in college, entering Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and one of his cherished possessions is a card of thanks conferred upon him for patriotic and valuable service in the valley of the Shenandoah and at Monocacy, and this card bears the signature of Abraham Lincoln and the secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton. Re is a member of A. H. Day Post, G. A. R., No. 185, and is a past post commander, while twice he has represented the order on the national encampment staff. He is also a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kent, and a Republican in politics he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since childhood. Aaron B. Stutzman was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 23, 1842, a son of Henry and Katherine (Miller) Stutzman, of German descent. His great-grandfather on the paternal side came from the fatherland about the time of the Revolutionary war and located at Easton in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and there the grandfather of Aaron was born. When he had attained to manhood's estate he moved to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and it was there that his son Henry was born and it was there also that the latter became acquainted with his future wife. After their marriage they moved to Ohio, this being in the spring of 1826, and they located in Wayne county. They made the journey hither with ox team, and on their arrival they preempted a quarter section of land and in time converted their land from a wilderness to a splendidly improved farm. There they lived and labored for twenty-five years and more, and there their children were born and reared to lives of usefulness and honor, but in preparing their home and raising their large family of children the parents underwent many hardships and suffered much self denial. The faithful wife and bother died in May of 1848, but the father lived to see his children Well- settled in life and Mr. Stutzman married on August Is, 1872, Jennie Clippinger, a daughter of Israel Clippinger, for many years a dry goods merchant at Dalton, Ohio. The children born of this union are Edwin, who died at the age of seven years ; Grace E. ; William G.,and Charles A. NANCY W. SQUIRE.—Prominent among the pioneer families of the Western Reserve were the Squires and the Wolcotts, and descendants of both are now numbered among the honored citizens of Oberlin and of Lorain county. The Squire family was established in the Western Reserve by Samuel Squire, who came from Massachusetts to Geauga county with an ox team soon after his first marriage, some time in the year of 1820. He was twice married, wedding first Sophia Hurd, a member of a Maryland family, and his second wife was Mrs. 'Nancy (Hastings) Paine. This Samuel Squire was by trade a tanner, and he established a tannery at Chardon. Samuel Squire, the second, and a son of the emigrant Samuel by his first marriage, was born at Chardon on November 11, 1828, and in the fall of 1851 he married Nancy W. Wolcott, born in Trumbull county, July 12, 1834. Her father was Josiah Wolcott, who came with his brother Theodore from Connecticut to Trumbull county, Ohio, during the last years of the seventeenth century. Josiah Wolcott was a grandson of Captain Samuel Wol- 914 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE cott, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, born on November 13, 1720. He was a graduate of Yale, and he married Lois Goodrich. He was in direct line from Henry Wolcott, who came over from England in 1630 and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. In this same family were Roger and Oliver Wolcott, governors of Connecticut and own cousins of Josiah Wolcott. This Josiah Wolcott, father of Mrs. Squire, was born on September 17, 1755, and he was a Revolutionary soldier. He married first. Lydia Russell, born at Wethersfield, Connecticut, May 13, 1779. She died in 1805, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Nancy (Williams) Higgins, widow of Dr. Higgins, of Wethersfield. She died in 1824, and Mr. Wolcott married for his third wife Elizabeth, daughter of. Fithian Brown, from Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, this third marriage occurring in May of 1829, and Mrs. Squire was their only child. Josiah Wolcott died on the 18th of January, 1838. He purchased i,000 acres of land in Trumbull county, moving to that property in the fall of 1806 and building a log house thereon, and in the following spring he returned for his family. Samuel Squire, second, was a merchant in Chardon with his father for a number of years, and he continued in that line of business in Oberlin, where he moved in 1871. He became one of the leading men of affairs in Oberlin, and was prominent in its business life for n.any years. He was one of the original stockholders in the Oberlin National Bank and in the Citizens' National Bank, and he was one of the organizers of the Oberlin Building and Loan Association, which institution had a long and prosperous career. He sold his old home place to Oberlin College, and upon its site stands the magnificent college library of today. He possessed a quiet and unassuming disposition, shrinking from notoriety of all kinds, yet he was a force in the upbuilding of Oberlin and was withal a shrewd and successful business man. He died in Oberlin September 26, 1903, but he is yet survived by his widow, still residing there, and she enjoys the honorable distinction of being one of the very few living daughters of a Revolutionary soldier. She is a member of Western Reserve Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Cleveland, and is the only real daughter in the chapter. Milford Herbert Squire is the eldest of the children born to Samuel and Nancy Squire. He was born at Chardon in 1852, and he is now one of the prominent merchants of Ober- lin. He was formerly in the mercantile business with his father, they conducting the firm of Squire and Son. He married Mary E. Price, from Missouri, for his first wife. Her father was United States treasurer under President Buchanan. For his second wife Mr. Squire married Hada.ssa Torrey, from Ohio. Cecil Price was born of his first union, and Mary Wolcott is the child of his second marriage. Merton M., the second son of Samuel and Nancy Squire, was born in Chardon in 1854. He married Gussie Baker, of Bellevue, Ohio, and their union has been without issue. He is president of the State Savings Bank Company at Oberlin. Cora Squire, the only daughter and youngest child of Daniel and Nancy W. Squire, married J. William Anthony and is living in Evansville, Indiana. Their tw0 children are Elizabeth Price and Thelma Wolcott. ANDREW D. BRADEN.—The Kent Bulletin, a weekly paper issued from a well equipped office in Kent, Portage county, is recognized as one of the representative country newspapers of the Western Reserve, and of the same Captain Andrew D. Braden is the able and popular editor and publisher. His career has been varied and interesting and he is a native son of the historic old Western Reserve. It was his to render gallant service as a loyal soldier of the Union during the Civil war, in which he attained his rank of captain. Captain Braden was born in Greene township, Trumbull county, Ohio, on September 2, 1835, and is a son of George and Sarah (McCartney) Braden, both natives of Ireland and representatives of old and sterling families of the Emerald Isle, which has contributed so valuable an element to our complex social fabric in America. George Braden gained his rudimentary education in his native land and was about twelve years of age when his parents, Andrew and Mary Braden, immigrated to the United States. The family first located in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he maintained his home about twelve years and where he learned the trade of brick and stonemason. His parents passed the closing years of their lives in Trumbull county. They were worthy folk of sterling character and alert mentality, and in America they gained for themselves a secure place in the esteem of those with whom they came in contact. George Braden assisted in the construction of the old Ohio and Beaver canal, in connection with which he worked at his trade of HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 915 stone mason, and about 1832 he became a resident of the Western Reserve, by locating in Greene township, Trumbull county, where he purchased a tract of land and developed a productive farm and where he passed the remainder of his life, which was terminated in the very prime of his useful manhood. He died in the year 1852, when forty-five years of age. Though not educated in the purely academic sense he was a man of fine intellectual powers and kept himself well informed upon matters of public import, while he was well fortified in his opinions. He gave his political allegiance to the Whig party and both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, who was his devoted companion and helpmeet, was a daughter of James and Elizabeth McCartney, who came from Ireland to America when she was about one year old and located in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, which was then a part of Trumbull county. Her father was a shoemaker. By trade and followed the same in Youngstown for a number of years, within which he purchased a residence in that place. He finally traded his town property for a farm three miles east of Youngstown, where he devoted the remainder of his active career to agricultural pursuits and where he died when about seventy-six years of age and where his wife also died, when well advanced in years. Mrs. Sarah (McCartney) Braden was reared and educated in what is now Mahoning county and there her marriage was solemnized. She survived her honored husband by about forty years and was seventy-seven years of age at the time of her demise. George and Sarah Braden became the parents of eight children, of whom Andrew D. is the eldest and all of whom are living except the third son, who died in childhood. Captsin Andrew D. Braden passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, to whose work and management he early began to contribute his quota, and his fundamental education was secured in the district schools of what may be termed the middle-pioneer period in the history of the Western Reserve. After duly availing himself of the advantages of the common schooIs he was enabled to continue his studies in a well ordered academy in Ashtabula county, and for nine years he devoted his attention to teaching in the district schools during the winter terms, while in the summer seasons he attended school and employed himself in farm work, bending his every energy to the satisfying of his ambition for a broader education. In the year 1859 he was a student in the Farmers' College, in the city of Cincinnati, and thereafter he began reading law under the able preceptorship of Charles A. Arrington, of Warren, Trumbull county, where he also held the office of deputy clerk of the courts. Soon, however, the ardent young disciple of Blackstone and Kent felt himself impelled to lay aside his law studies to respond to the call of higher duty, as his intrinsic patriotism was quickened to responsive protest when the rebel guns thundered against the walls of historic old Fort Sumter. He responded to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers for the three months' service, and in April, 1861, he enlistea as a private in Company C, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of West Virginia and with which he was in active service until the close of his term of enlistment in 1861, after which he re-enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was in active service during the entire period of the great internecine conflict except for a furlough of twenty days. He was promoted first lieutenant of Company B, and on January 19, 1863, was commissioned captain of this company, upon the death of Captain Ephraim Kee. He continued in command of his company during the remainder of the war and proved a valiant and faithful officer and one who held the confidence and regard of the members of his company as well as the officers of his gallant regiment. The One Hundred and Fifth Ohio was with the Army of the Cumberland in its various campaigns, and its record is that of the history of that sterling army, in all of whose important engagements it took an active part. Thus Captain Braden lived up to the full tension of the great fratricidal conflict through which the integrity of the nation was perpetuated, and after the final victory of the Union arms he participated in the grand review in the city of Washington. He was there mustered out and he received his honorable discharge after his return to his home in Ohio. He was with Sherman on the ever memorable march from Atlanta to the sea, and while Sherman's forces were in Atlanta Captain Braden served as acting judge advocate of the Thirty-ninth Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. In 1866, after having been duly admitted to the bar of his native state, Captain Braden engaged in the active practice of his profession at Mt. Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, where he 916 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE remained until 1871, when he removed to the city of Canton, Stark county; where he continued in the active practice of law until 1890. In the year last mentioned he received the appointment and commission of postmaster at Canton, in which office he served for four years, during the administration of President Harrison. While a resident of Canton, the home of President McKinley, he became a warm personal friend of the martyred president, and this friendship continued inviolable until the death of the president. In politics Captain Braden has long been recognized as one of the wheel horses of the Republican party in Ohio, and in its cause he has rendered yeoman service in the various campaigns. After his service as postmaster of Canton he gave his attention to various lines of business enterprise, together with professional work, until 1902, when he removed from Caton to Kent, where he effected the purchase of the plant and business of the Kent Bulletin, of which he has since continued editor and publisher and which is one of the model country papers of the Western Reserve. In the year 1872 Captain Braden was united in marriage to Miss Clementine Byrd, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and they became the parents of one son, John, who died in 1901, at the age of twenty-five years. Captain and Mrs. Braden enjoy unalloyed popularity in their home city and are identified with its representative social activities. HIRAM S. BEMAN, deceased, was during many years one of the prominent and well known agriculturists in Ravenna township. He was born in Charlestown township, Portage county, in October, 1816, a son of Anson and Lydia (Chamberlin) Beman, who were from Connecticut. The father learned the shoemaker's trade in his native state, but in 1800 he left there and came, with a family named Fuller to Ravenna township, Portage county, Ohio, where they located in the dense woods which then covered this part of the state. He was reared in this family, and remained with them until his marriage, when he located on a farm of his own in Ravenna township and lived in this vicinity during the remainder of his life. Hiram S. Beman remained at home with his parents until after the death of his mother, receiving meanwhile his education in the common schools and a select school at Ravenna, and then starting out in life for himself when but a boy of sixteen he bought a small farm. On May 2, 1848, he was married to Sally A. King, who was born in Charlestown, Ohio, June 3, 1825, a daughter of Elisha and Hanna (Clark) King, the father born in Blanford, Massachusetts, and the mother in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Mr. King came to Portage county, Ohio, some years before the war of 1812, in which he was drafted for service, but he only got as far as Cleveland and was discharged. He came to this county before the advent of the railroads, and he was obliged to journey on horseback to and from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for all his supplies and to have his grain ground into flour. The little log shanty which he first erected served as his home for many years, but in 1824 he left there and came to Ravenna township, where both he and his wife subsequently died. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beman moved to their little farm of seventy-eight acres in Ravenna township, and there he in time cleared and improved his land and made of it a splendid homestead. Farming continued as his life occupation, although in his early years he had learned both the tailor and shoemaker's trades from his father, and his life's labors were ended in death in October of 1874. He affiliated with the Disciple church, and in politics was a Republican. Since his death his widow has maintained her residence on the farm, and although she sold sixty acres of the land she has since added sixteen acres more near her home, making thirty-three acres in all. JOHN C. BEATTY.—In offering. record concerning the careers of those who have been prominently identified with the civic and business development of the historic 0ld Western Reserve, there is eminent propriety in accordins, particular recognition to him whose name introduces this, for he is not only one of the honored pioneer citizens of the city of Ravenna, where he has been continuously engaged in business for more than half a century, but he has also played a large part in public affairs of a local nature, in which connection he has been called upon to serve in many offices of distinctive trust and responsibility. The high regard in which he is held in his home city and county offers most effective voucher for the integrity of purpose and worthy attributes of character which truly denote the man as he is known and honored. John C. Beatty was born at Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on February 4, 1833, and is a son of Robert C. and Catherine A. Beatty, both of whom continued to reside in HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 917 Bristol until their death. Robert C. Beatty was a native either of New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and was a son of Robert Beatty, who took up his abode in the old Keystone state in 1803, in whhich year he located on a farm in the vicinity of Middletown, Bucks county, where he passed the residue of his life. Robert C. Beatty was there reared to manhood and was afforded such educational advantages as the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period could offer. He eventually became one of the representative business men and influential citizens of the village of Bristol, where he became cashier of a banking institution. Of this position he continued incumbent for about half a century and up to the time of his death, in the fullness of years and well earned honors. His wife died in 1861, and of their six children the subject of this review is the eldest son. John C. Beatty passed his boyhood and youth in the village of Bristol, Pennsylvania, in whose common schools he secured his early educational discipline, which was supplemented by a course of study in a well ordered school at Norristown, Pennsylvania. When about sixteen years of age he assumed a position as clerk in a general merchandise store in his native town of Bristol, and after being thus engaged about six years he came to the Western Reserve, where it has been his good fortune to attain to marked success and distinctive prestige as a business man and loyal and public-spirited citizen. He came to this section of the old Buckeye state in the year 1855 and forthwith took up his residence in Ravenna, where he became associated with his brother-in-law, John H. Bostwick, in the general merchandise business, under the firm name of Bostwick & Beatty. This alliance continued until 1859 when Mr. Beatty purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise, and he thereafter continued in business as a drygoods merchant until 1869. In 1871 he established himself in the clothing and men's furnishing business, in which he has since continued with due success, and he has the distinction of being the oldest merchant in the city of Ravenna, not only in age but also in number of years of continuous dentification with local business interests. He has ever kept in touch with the spirit of progress and has thus made his business conform to the highest modern standard. This fact, together with his honorable methods and personal popularity has been the basis of his success in his chosen field of endeavor, and his finely equipped establishment today draws its trade from all sections of the territory normally tributary to Ravenna, the while he is known and honored throughout this entire section. Ever maintaining a deep interest in all that has tended to conserve the civic and material advancement of his home city and county, Mr. Beatty has long been a potent factor in public affairs of a local nature. He has been a stalwart in the camp of the Republican party from virtually the time of its organization, and he has rendered efficient service in the party cause. he served four years in the office of county treasurer, was postmaster at Ravenna for a term of four years, during the administration of President Harrison,—from 1890 to 1894, inclusive,—and has been a member of the Ravenna board of education for a full quarter of a century, during practically all of which period he has held the office of clerk of that body. For two years he served as a trustee of the state hospital for the insane, at Cleveland, having been appointed to this position by Governor Foraker and having resigned the office at the time of his appointment to that of postmaster. From Governor Bushnell he received the appointment to the position of trustee of Ohio Industrial Home for Girls, at Delaware, and was reappointed by the governor elected after Bushnell, thus remaining in tenure of the office for ten years. He has also served as township trustee and as a member of the city council of Ravenna. In none of these various offices has he been content to be a mere figurehead, for he has endeavored in each position to prove of value and to foster and protect the interests committed to his charge. His course has been that of the loyal, upright and progressive citizen, and no citizen of Ravenna is held in more unqualified confidence and regard than this veteran business man. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he is identified With the. local lodge and chapter, as well as the commandery of Knights Templar. The year 1860 bore record of the marriage of Mr. Beatty to Miss Henrietta G. Day, of Ravenna, and they became the parents of three children,—Robert G., who is now a resident of Ravenna ; Harry L., who maintains his home in Ravenna ; and Mary, who died in 1891. The death of Mrs. Beatty occurred in 1869, and in 1871 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beatty to Mrs. Mary L. Beatty, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated. They have one daughter, Jane, who is the wife of Rev. William L. Torrance, a clergyman of the Episcopal church, now incumbent of a pastoral charge in the city of De- 918 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE troit, Michigan. The fine old homestead of Mr. Beatty has long been a recognized center of gracious hospitality and is a favorite rendezvous for a wide circle of loyal and valued friends. CLARENCE B. GREEN.—Numbered among the thriving and successful merchants of Atwater, Portage county, is Clarence B. Green, a worthy representative of the native-born citizens of this part of Ohio. He comes of substantial English stock, and of pioneer ancestry, his birth having occurred January 12, 1858, in Deerfield, this county, where his father, James Green, was an early settler. Born, October 6, 1826, in Gloucestershire, England, a son of Thomas Green, James Green emigrated to this country when a young man, locating in Portage county, Ohio, in 1842. Taking up a tract of wild land in Deerfield, he labored with enthusiastic zeal, in the course of time reclaiming a valuable farm from the wilderness. He married Sarah Cleverly, who was born in Connecticut, in 1834, a daughter of John and Minerva (Mattoon) Cleverly, natives of the same state. She survived him, and with her son Clarence now resides on the old homestead, having an attractive home. HON. WILLIAM GRAVES SHARP, of Elyria, member of Congress from the Fourteenth Ohio district, is a man who is remarkable for the versatility and the thoroughness of his attainments. Lawyer, writer, astronomer, and a power in one of the leading industries of the world—he is one of the men of balanced and broad attainments whom the state of Ohio is proud to claim as a native, and the Western Reserve to number among its most distinguished citizens and national legislators. Mr. Sharp's paternal ancestors were prominent in the earlier public affairs of Maryland, his grandfather, George Sharp, serving as state senator when quite a young man, and afterward becoming a leading figure in politics and journalism. George W. Sharp, the father, was well educated and enterprising, and migrated from Maryland to Ohio about 1830 as a pioneer newspaper man, attaining decided prominence in that field. He married Mahala Graves, whose first American forefathers were Revolutionary patriots of Connecticut and whose later ancestors resided in New York. William G. Sharp was born at Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, on the 14th of March, 1859, and acquired his first knowledge of books in the public schools of Elyria, graduating from the city high school in 1877. He then entered the law school of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1881 ; but after his admission to the bar he traveled for some time in the northwest, in Minnesota and Dakota, during which period he was largely engaged in journalistic work, being located for a time at Fargo, North Dakota. Returning to Ohio in 1882, he Commenced the active practice of the law at Elyria, later forming a partnership with Lester McLean, and that city has since been his home. His large interests in the iron industries of the Lake Superior region, with his masterly development of iron and chemical industries, as well as his congressional duties at Washington, have taken him much abroad. In 1884 he became the Democratic nominee for prosecuting attorney of Lorain county, and was elected by overcoming a normal Republican majority of 2,500. After creditably filling one term of three years, he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and in 1887 was nominated by his party for state senator. He led his ticket in the coming election, but was defeated with the balance of the Democratic nominees. In 1892 he was a Cleveland presidential elector. In 1908, entirely unsolicited and despite even his protest, Mr. Sharp was nominated by the Democrats as congressman for the Fourteenth district, his intellectual and practical abilities and his remarkable industrial success making him an especially fitting representative of that cultured and prosperous section of the state. In connection with this honor it is known that Mr. Sharp regards the Fourteenth district as one of the most progressive and ideal in its industrial, commercial and agricultural interests in the United States, and he values the confidence reposed in him as evidenced by the vote of his home city, as the most cherished tribute ever paid to him. The judgment of his party and personal friends proved sound, for he was elected to the Sixty-first congress in the face of a former Re-publican majority of 3,500 in his home county. His strong and engaging personality and his thorough knowledge of every political detail of the situation in Lorain county added to the strength of his candidacy. Although abundantly equipped for the legal profession, which he practiced successfully for ten years, it is in the business and industrial world that Mr. Sharp has the broadest standing. At the expiration of his term as prose- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 919 cuting attorney of Lorain county, in 1887, he became the legal adviser to a southern manufacturing corporation. This business connection indirectly furnished the beginning of the future success which he attained in industrial lines. From that work grew a number of large companies manufacturing pig iron and chemicals in Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada. He disposed of his Canadian interests, however, and in 1907 he was chiefly instrumental in consolidating the various companies in which he was interested, and forming the Lake Superior Iron and Chemical Company. This is now the largest manufacturer of charcoal pig iron in the world, owning numerous furnaces, mines, timber lands and chemical plants in Michigan and Wisconsin. The corporation has its headquarters in Detroit, and Mr. Sharp is one of its leading officers. He is also financially interested in Elyria and Lorain improved real estate, having valuable holdings in each city, some of the finest business structures in both places having been built by him. In 1895 Mr. Sharp was married at Elyria to Miss Hallie M. Clough, daughter of Henry H. and Margaret (Barney) Clough, of Elyria, and their five children are Margaret, George, William, Effie Graves and Baxter Sharp. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F., Elks, Woodmen and several city clubs, besides being an active member of the city school board, to which position he was elected by nearly a unanimous vote of all parties. He is sociable and an interesting conversationalist, aside from his fine education and his broad and varied experience in professional, public and business life, he has traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, Mexico and South America. His scientific knowledge is also broad and exact, and if the subject of astronomy is touched it is found to be one which he has studied from his boyhood one in which his interest has never and upon which he has often lectured for the pleasure and instruction of his friends. Among professional astronomers he is warmly received, and those who know of the far broader scope of his life work acknowledge him as one of the most remarkable men of the middle west. GEORGE W. WELDY.—Occupying an assured position among the respected and valued citizens of Portage county is George W. Weldy, who has spent a large part of his life in Atwater township, and has performed his full Vol. II-14 share in developing and promoting its agricultural and industrial resources. A son of Peter Weldy, he was born January 3, 1839, in Mahoning county. A native of Mahoning county, Peter Weldy was born, in 1818, in Berlin township, and was there brought up and educated. In January, 1838, he married Julia Hollister, a daughter of Horris Hollister, who was born and bred in Wallingford, Connecticut, coming from excellent New England ancestry. The Hollisters were early pioneers of Palmyra, Portage county, settling in the midst of a dense forest, where they cleared and improved one of the first homes of the Western Reserve, and were for many years actively identified with its agricultural prosperity. After his marriage, Peter Weldy resided for a number of year in Deerfield, from there removing with his family to Atwater township, where he was engaged in general farming until his death. Brought up on a farm, George W. Weldy has spent much of his life as an agriculturist, although he has devoted his attention to mechanical pursuits a part of the time, working as bridge carpenter on a railroad. He has been twice married. He married first, January 24, 1866, Mary L. Whittlesey, who died in early life. Mr. Weldy married for his second wife, December 25, 1871, Sarah Baldwin, and the one child born of the first union died in infancy. Mr. Weldy is well acquainted with our cour.trv, having traveled extensively throughout the Union. He is influential in local affairs, and has served with ability and fidelity in the various offices within the gift of his townsmen, and for seven weeks, in the fall of 1898, served as juryman in Cleveland. Religiously he is a valued member of the Congregational church. HIRAM A. HALLOCK.—Identified with the Manufacturing and mercantile interests of Portage county as a miller, and a dealer in flour and feed, Hiram A. Hallock, with his brother, A. H. Hallock, is carrying on an extensive business in both Atwater and New Milford. He was born in Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, March 4, 1867, the place in which the birth of his father, Gibbs Hallock, occurred, in 1830. Gibbs Hallock married Malissa McKelvey, who was born, in 1832, in Motttown, Ohi0, and into the household thus established, ten children were born, (eight of whom are now living), namely : Alice, Julia, Alphonso H., Lawrence, Bertha, Eva, William, Hiram A., Blanche and Irene. Brought up on a farm, and educated in the 920 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE common schools, Hiram A. Hallock learned the stone cutter's trade, beginning as a boy of fifteen years. For a number of years he was superintendent for Paige & Carry Company and also for Hallock Brothers, but in 'goo took up contract work for himself. In 1905, forming a partnership with his brother, A. H., with whom he has lived since the death of his parents, Mr. Hallock embarked in the milling business, and has built up a thriving trade in flour and feed, being established in both New Milford and Atwater, as stated above. WORTHY A. MYERS.—Among the enterprising and self-reliant men who are so ably conducting the agricultural interests of Portage county, Worthy A. Myers, of Atwater township, occupies no unimportant place. Here he was born, December 14, 1874, and here he has spent his life, being classed with its more progressive citizens. His father, John Myers, was born in Berlin township, Mahoning county, and after his marriage with Sophia Betts purchased land in Atwater township, Portage county, where he has since been busily employed in tilling the soil. Choosing the occupation to which he was born and bred, Worthy A. Myers, when ready to establisi0gimself as a householder, bought iog acres of land in Atwater township, and has since been extensively and satisfactorily employed in general farming, each season reaping rich harvests. He is interested in stock of all kinds, making a specialty of breeding and raising cattle, horses and hogs, and in addition to this has a maple orchard of 500 trees, from which he makes about 200 gallons of syrup every year, it being a good paying industry. On October 2, 1901, Mr. Myers married Elsie Luke, who was born November 15, 1885, in Atwater, a daughter of Henry and Laura (Elliott) Luke, being one of a family of twd children. Henry Luke was born in Edinburg township, and thereafter for a period of fifty-seven years resided in that township. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are the parents of two children, namely : Claude, born July 7, 1902, and Blanche, born May 5, 1905. Politically Mr. Myers is a stanch Democrat, and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. CAPT. JOSEPH C. BABCOCK.—In connection with the marine service on the Great Lakes Captain Joseph C. Babcock is well known and held in high esteem. He is superintendent of the government lighthouse station, at Fairport Harbor, Lake county, and is a representative of one of the old and honored families of this county. He was born in a house that stood within sixty feet of his present residence, and the date of his nativity was February 19, 1843. In 1812, less than a decade after the admission of Ohio to the Union, the captain's paternal grandfather, Henry Babcock, settled at Painesville, Lake county, which city was then an obscure and straggling little village. Henry Babcock was a native of Connecticut and a scion of a family founded in New England in the early colonial days. Upon coming to Ohio he nrst settled at Sandusky, but, anticipating trouble with the Indians, he removed from that place just prior to the historic. Indian massacre in that locality. Upon coming to Painesville he secured large tracts of land bordering along Lake Erie, and while clearing land he was killed by a falling tree. He left .five sons and two daughters, and the sons . were Daniel, Henry, Joseph, George and Edward. Henry died before attaining to the age of sixty, and of the children of these brothers very few are now left, though two of the sons of Edward are now residents of Painesville. All of the five sons of the honored pioneer founder of the family in Ohio died in Lake county, with whose development and progress the name has been prominently identified. Captain Babcock is a son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Allen) Babcock, both of whom were natives of the east, as the father was born in Connecticut and the mother was a daughter of Mr. Allen, who was a farmer in Pennsylvania and who had formerly been engaged in the lumber business on the St. Lawrence river. Joseph Babcock maintained his home in Fairport Harbor after his marriage. and was for so0f time employed in the warehouse of Johnson Card, after which he was engaged in the mercantile business in this place. Finally he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of a well improved farm in Painesville township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-seven years of age. His wife survived him by many years and was seventy-nine years of age at the time of her demise. Both were folk of sterling character. The father as influential in local affairs of a public nature and ever commanded the confidence and esteem of the community in which he long made his home. Concerning the six children the following brief record is entered: Harriet ; Maria is the wife of Frank Hunger-ford, of Fairport Harbor ; Sarah, who became HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 921 the wife of Henry Carter, died in March, 1907, at the age of sixty-seven years ; Joseph C., subject of this review, was the next in order of ; Carrie is the widow of Frank Simmons and resides in Fairport Harbor ; Frank was associated with his brother, Capt. Joseph C.. in the care of the Fairport lighthouse for eight years, and for twenty-three years thereafter was the captain in charge of the government life-saving station at the mouth of the Grand river, Fairport Harbor, retaining this incumbency until his death. His wife preceded him to the life eternal by four years and they are survived by two sons, David and Frank, who are still residents of Fairport Harbor. Captain Joseph C. Babcock passed his boyhood days in his native town, in whose common schools he secured his early educational training. At the age of seventeen years he became a sailor on the lakes, and the major portion of his life has been one of close identification with marine affairs on the great inland seas. For some time he followed the fishing industry and he finally turned from the lakes only to respond to the call of higher duty, when the integrity of the nation was jeopardized by armed rebellion. On August 11, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his term of eighteen months he was transferred to the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. His original command was a part of the corps commanded by General Slocum, and later he went with his regiment to western Tennessee, after the defeat of General Rosecrans. He was a participant in the entire Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman's army on the ever memorable march from Atlanta to the sea, proceeding into North Carolina and the Confederate capital, Richmond, and finally taking part in the grand review of the victorious troops in the city of Washington. He was thence sent with his command to Louisville, Kentucky, where he received his honorable discharge. He was made corporal of his company in the Fifth Ohio, and during his protracted military career he saw his full quota of hard service, ever showing true soldierly qualities and making an admirable record. In the engagement at Ringgold, Georgia, thirteen of the fourteen officers in his regiment were killed or wounded, and he took part in many other engagements in which the loss to his command was large. After the close of the war Captain Babcock again identified himself with lake marine navigation and he became mate of a vessel which he assisted in building. He also became interested in the rebuilding of a second boat, which was lost off the shore at Ashtabula, and this crippleu him seriously in a financial way. In the spring of 1869 he was married, and he then engaged in the fishing business, in which he was successful. On April 8, 1871, he assumed charge of the lighthouse at Fairport Harbor, and in the meanwhile he continued in the fishing trade for some twenty years. The fishing was mainly done through the use of pound nets, and while prices were low the fish were so plentiful that good profits were realized. The captain recalls selling for one cent apiece sturgeon weighing from forty to one hundred pounds. The Fairport light station was erected in 1825 and Captain Babcock took charge in 1871 and ignited the present light therein in August of that year. Prior to that time there had been two brick light houses with lights of inferior order to the present one, which is a fixed white light. He has been in active service at this important government light station for nearly forty years, and has received the highest of commendations from official sources as well as born those "who go down to the sea in ships" and have availed themselves of this friendly. beacon. His care and fidelity have been unremitting, and he now has as his assistant his son, who was born in this same station, thirty-seven years ago, and who gives his attention to the two beacon lights at the entrance of the harbor. In a generic sense Captain Babcock is a Republican, but he is not strongly partisan, since lie believes in giving his support to the men and measures which meet the approval of his judgment, without regard to party dictation. He is a great admirer of our former President Roosevelt, in whose independent and able administration as chief executive he took much interest. He has an equal dislike for the free silver heresy and other doctrines for which the Democratic party has stood sponsor in later years. In a fraternal way he is a valued and appreciative member of Dyer Post No. 17, Grand Army of the Republic, at Painesville. On April 8, 1869, Captain Babcock was united in marriage to Miss Mary Chapman, who was born in Fairport Harbor, and whose mother, whose only child she was, died when she was three weeks of age. She was reared to the age of fourteen years in the home of her maternal grandfather, and then returned to the home of her father, James Chapman, in Fairport Harbor, where she has continued to reside 922 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE since that time. Captain and Mrs. Babcock became the parents of three children, of whom two are living : Hattie is the wife of E. D. Warren, of Fairport Harbor ; Daniel, who is his father's assistant, married Miss Elizabeth Stange and is likewise popular in marine circles ; and Robert died at the age of fourteen years. EDWIN A. COBURN, an Atwater township agriculturist, was born in Suffield township, Portage county, July I, 1875, a son of Wilbur and Lunetta (Sabin) Coburn, both of whom were also natives of this county, the father born in its township of Brimfield in April, 1841, and the mother in Suffield township in May, 1842. She was a daughter of Alonzo Sabin, one of the early pioneers of this community. The paternal grandfather was Joel Coburn, who was born in Brimfield township. Wilbur received a splendid education in his early life, attending nrst the district schools, then the Randolph graded school and finally the Oberlin College, of which he is a graduate. After his marriage he farmed his father's land for about twenty years, and then moved to Mogadore, Ohio, and retired from an active business life. Mrs. Coburn was a prominent and successful teacher for a number of years before her marriage, having taught in Portage county and in the New Baltimore schools, and then moving to Iowa was engaged in the same work there for three years. Edwin A. Coburn began life for himself as a farmer on rented land in Rootstown township, and after the death of his first wife he moved to Randolph township. Later he purchased his present homestead farm of ninety-six acres in Atwater township, where he carries on general farming and is also quite extensively engaged in the making of maple sugar, generally manufacturing about 250 gallons from his 850 trees. During his residence in P andolph township he held the office of trustee for four years, and after coming to Atwater township was elected to the same office during the first year of his residence here. Mr. Coburn married on January 22, 1896, Rosa Bissler, who died on June 15, 1898, leaving two children, Sylvan and Urana. He married for his second wife January 20, 1900, Miss Ida Austin. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also of the Knights of the Maccabees, and he is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church at Atwater. TIMOTHY GREENLY LOOMIS, who died November 8, 1899, in Lodi, was long a leading merchant of that place and one of the most influential citizens of Harrisville township. Most of his life was mainly devoted to commercial pursuits, although his inclinations were decidedly toward agriculture. He was the first to introduce short-horn cattle into the township, and at his death his farm of 375 acres was considered one of the finest and most skilfully managed in Medina county. Mr. Loomis was a man not only of great practical force in the forwarding of his private interests, but conscientiously strove to benefit the community by promoting its educational and religious institutions. His special religious faith was that of Congregationalism, but he was generous in his support of moral and charitable movements outside of his own church. Mr. Loomis was a native of LaFayette township, Medina county, born January 28, 1834, and was the son of Milo and Lucy Ann (Greenly) Loomis. The father, born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in November, 1802, came to LaFayette township with his family in 1833, soon afterward locating at Harrisville, now Lodi. At the age of thirteen years Timothy G. Loomis was indentured to the village store-keeper, and after serving three years hired out to others, quite early showing business tact, and by the time he was twenty-one having gained a thorough mercantile experience. Having attained his majority, he formed a partnership at Homer with H. Ainsworth, the association being of a special nature. After one and a half years he returned to Lodi and became one of the regular partners in the house controlled by Mr. Ainsworth, but in the fall of 1856 commenced an independent mercantile career at that place which continued for a number of years. This busy and successful period of his life was broken, in the fall of 1861, by his enlistment in Company G, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel James A. Garfield. He was soon elected first lieutenant and served as such until July, 1862, when, on account of failing health, he returned to his home in Lodi. Two of his brothers, Aaron M. and Finney R., served in the Union armies throughout the war another brother, Mason B. Loomis, was judge of the court of common pleas of Cook county, Illinois. As stated, Mr. Loomis seemed to be held by circumstances to a mercantile career as the main business of his life,. although his real enthusiasm was expended on agriculture and the raising of live stock. His activity in moral and religious movements was both natural and HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 923 the result of ancestral influence and tradition, as his forefathers were among the Mayflower Pilgrims and among the early Congregationalists of New England. He was also a member of the Masonic order, Harrisville Lodge, No. 137,, F. & A. M. He was for many years one of the directors of the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Company, and was elected from this district to the state senate in the eighties, and served one term with distinction. On March 27, 1855, Mr. Loomis married Miss Susan Richards, who was born in Connecticut, March 25, 1836, and is a daughter of Chauncey and Susan (Root) Richards, among the settlers of Whiteside county, Illinois. Of this union were the following : May C., now Mrs J. W. Harris, wife of a leading Lodi dentist; and Milo R., who died at the age of thirteen. They also raised an adopted son, Pinney B. Loomis, of Akron, a nephew of Mr. 4Loomis. The venerable and honored widow Is an old-time supporter of the Congregational church, and through the affectionate forethought and business ability of her late husband enjoys a comfortable income, as well as the constant love of her kindred and associates. She makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Harris, of Lodi. ROLLIN C. NORTON has for many years been prominently identified with the agricultural life of Portage county, and he now owns a splendid and well improved estate of 125 acres in Atwater township. He was born October 9, 1852, in Freedom township, the only child of Chauncie and Elizabeth (Hawley) Norton, the father being a native of Massachusetts. After the death of his father Rollin C. Norton lived with his grandparents until he bought the farm which he now owns. He married December 31, 1873, Miss Ellen Hughes. They have three children living,—Plimon E., Grace H. and Gertrude R. Mr. Norton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of its trustees, and he has served as trustee of his school district. A. A. WYBEL, who has since 1901 been proprietor of the Akron Polishing & Plating Company, on Broadway, was born in Lowellville, Ohio, in December, 1870. He is a son of Andrew and Mary Wybel, who emigrated from Germany. A. A. Wybel attended St. Vincent's school for a time, and left school at the early age of twelve years to begin work. He spent two years in the employ of Root & Dean, and then accepted a position as plater for George W. Smith which he held four years and then became manager of the concern. He left them and started with the old Akron Hardware & Stamping Company, and spent eighteen months in charge of the plating and polishing department, after which he spent the next eighteen months for Schumacher Gymnasium Company, where he had charge of plating and enameling. Mr. Wybel next entered the employ of Taplin, Rice & Co., as manager, and in 1901 purchased the plant, since then owning the enterprise. Besides this, he is proprietor of the Wybel Stove & Range Company, of Akron, and is nresident of W. and W. Supply Company. Mr. Wybel has been in business since boyhood, and is well qualified by ability and experience to take care of the different enterprises in which he is interested, and in all of which he has met with flattering success. Mr. Wybel married in Akron in September, 1896, Margaret M. Guerin, and they live in their own comfortable residence on South Maple street. Besides this property, he owns considerable real estate in the vicinity. Mr. Wyoel is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and fraternally is a member of the Order of Eagles and Knights of Columbus. Politically he is a supporter of the Republican party. CLARK MARTIN.—Occupying a foremost position among the worthy and respected citizens of Ashtabula county. is Clark Martin, who has spent the larger part of his active life within tne boundaries of this county, and has been conspicuously identified with the development of its agricultural interests, being owner of one of the most valuable farms in Harpersfield township. A son of Cyrus Martin, he was born June 20, 1827, in the village 0f Unionville, Ohio, coming from excellent New England ancestry. Thomas Martin, grandfather of Clark Martin, came to the Western Reserve at an early period of its settlement, driving across the country from Fowlerville, Massachusetts (100 miles from New York City and 100 miles from Boston), with ox teams, finding his way mainly by means of blazed trees. He located in what is now Unionville, taking up a tract of timbered land, from which he improved the homestead now owned and occupied by his grandson, Franklin C. Martin, brother of Clark. He married Hepsibah Willard, a native of Massachusetts, and they became the parents of four sons and four daughters, some of whom came to Ohio with them, the older ones, however, 924 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE remaining in the East. Thomas Martin served in the Revolution, and subsequently drew a government pension of four dollars a month. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-five years and six months, his wife dying at the age of sixty-five years. Cyrus Martin was a lad of ten years when he came with his parents from Massachusetts to Lake county, Ohio. He grew to manhood on the home farm, which he assisted in clearing, and in the later years of their lives cared for his parents. In addition to looking after the homestead, he worked at the carpenter's trade, and for thirty years had a general store on his farm, selling goods to the Unionville people. He made frequent trades, his last one being the buying, in company with his son Clark, of a farm, paying five dollars down to bind the bargain. He lived but a short time after that, dying at the age of sixty-five years. ' Cyrus Martin married Cynthia Moseley, who was born in Massachusetts, in the same town that he was, and came here with her parents, Noah and Cynthia Moseley. Her father cleared and improved a large farm in Thompson township, and there lived until his death, at the age of ninety-five years. Six children were born to Cyrus and Cynthia Martin, namely : Cornelia, who married Elijah Hanks, died in Minnesota ; Mary Louisa married George Roberts, and remained on a portion of the old homestead ; Helen, wife of Edwin Pixley, of Geneva township ; Willard, who became a large property owner in Cleveland, died at Newburg, leaving a son, Willard, of Cleveland, served thirty-five years with United States Steel Company office ; Clark, the special subject of this sketch ; and Franklin C., living on the old Martin homestead. Cyrus Martin was a Whig in politics in his early life, but in his later years was a Free Soil Abolitionist. While living at home Clark Martin assisted on the farm, and was employed as a clerk in his father's store. Prudent and thrifty, he saved his earnings, and when he married had a few hundred dollars of the $3,000 required to pay for the 100 acres of land that he bought at that time. This farm, located on the South Ridge road, in Harpersfield township, one mile east of Unionville, he has lived on since 1853, the year in which the Lake Shore Railroad was completed. He has made most excellent improvements, and has added to it by purchase, having now 200 acres of fine land in his estate. For a number of years he made a specialty of grape culture, raising about fifty acres each year, but when the rot made its appearance he abandoned that branch of industry, and has devoted his attention to general farming, and has met with noteworthy success in his undertakings. Mr. Martin married, at the age of twelltyfive years, Martha Wells, who was born in. Norwich, New York, and came here to visit an uncle. He formed her acquaintance at that time, wooed her, and went to Norwich to marry her. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, namely : George W., of Geneva, having the leading livery stable of Geneva ; and Cyrus, a telegraph operator, who served six years with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and the last twenty-five years with McCormick Machine Company, and is now residing in Geneva township. BYRON W. ROBINSON.-It was within the province of the late Byron W. Robinson to have wielded a large and beneficent influence in the industrial, commercial and civic affairs of his native city of Akron, Summit county, and he stood exponent of that high type of manhood which is ever indicatory of usefulness and subjective honor. He was essen tially one of the representative business men of Akron and as a citizen was animated by the utmost loyalty and public spirit. He held a secure place in the confidence and esteem of the people of Akron, and his death, which occurred December 30, 1908, signified a definite loss to the community with whose interests he had been so prominently identified. At the time of his demise he was president of the Robinson Clay Product Company and also of the Second National Bank of Akron. Mr. Robinson was born in Akron, on the 28th of April, 1860, and was a son of William Robinson, who was a native of Staffordshire, England, whence he came to America when a young man. William Robinson settled in East Liverpool, Ohio, soon after his arrival in the United States, and in 1856 he removed to Akron, where he became a pioneer in the manufacturing of pottery and seweipipe. He became one of the leading business men of the community and aided materially in laying the foundations for the industrial superstructure which places Akron among the principal manufacturing cities of the same relative population in the entire Union. The maiden name of his wife was Eloise, and both continued to reside in Akron until their death. Byron W. Robinson duly availed himself of the advantages of the excellent public schools of his native city, and after his graduation in HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 925 the high school he continued his studies for a time in Oberlin College. He initiated his practical business career by assuming the position of bookkeeper for the firm of \Vhittmore, Robinson & Company. of which his father was a member, and thereafter. with the exception of two years, 1884-6, during which he was in the employ of the Akron Milling Company, he was continuously identified with the manufacturing of pottery, sewer pipe and other clay products, until he was summoned from the scene of life's activities in the very prime of his noble and useful manhood. Through his force of character and acknowledged ability as a business man he rose from a subordinate position to the presidency of the Robinson Clay Product Company, whose extensive business is virtually the outgrowth of that established by his honored father more than half a century ago. More emphasis and significance is given to this statement when we revert to the fact that this company is the largest of its kind in the United States, if not in the world. The corporation now controls and is sole owner of nine factories, six of which are located in Akron, one at Canal Dover, one at Midvale, and one at Malvern, Ohio. The corporation also controls a number of incorporated companies engaged in the same line of enterprises in other states, and among the more important of these may be noted the Eastern Slav Goods Company, with offices in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Robinson was interested in other industrial enterprises of an important order and was one of the principal stockholders of the Second National Bank of Akron, of which he was president at the time of his demise. Loyal, progressive and public-spirited as a citizen, the subject of this memoir gave to his home city the generous benefits of his counsel and his earnest co-operation in every worthy movement. Though never permitting the use of his name in connection with candidacy for public office, he was a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. He was a valued member of the Portage Country Club and other social and fraternal organizations, and was a devoted and zealous member of the First Presbyterian church, of which he was a trustee for many years. He was an elder of the church at the time of his death. His life was guided and governed by the highest principles of integrity and honor and his name merits an enduring place on the roll of the representative citizens and business men of Akron. On the 18th of October, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Robinson to Miss Zeletta M. Smith, daughter of the late Daniel J. Smith, a prominent citizen of East Liverpool, Ohio. Sik children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, namely : Helen, Paul, William, Stuart, Ruth and Zelletta. The family home, one of the most beautiful mansions in Akron, is located at 715 East Market street, and has ever been a center of gracious and refined hospitality. Mrs. Robinson is prominently identified with the First Presbyterian church and has been a popular leader in the social activities of her home city. HENRY PAINE was born in Painesville, Ohio, February 4, 1810, and was a son of Hendrick Ellsworth and Harriet (Phelps) Paine, originally from Windsor, Connecticut. The grandfather, Eleazer Paine, came to Painesville in June, 1803 ; his wife was Aurel Ellsworth. Edward Paine, the founder of Painesville, was an uncle of Eleazer Paine, and came to Ohio in 1799. Eleazer Paine was a merchant in Connecticut, and brought a wagon load of merchandise to be sold in Ohio. He died February 10, 1804, in his fortieth year. Hendrick E. Paine was but fifteen years of age at his father's death, when he took charge of a family of five beside himself. He was born February 14, 1789, and his brothers and sisters were as follows : Franklin, Eleazer, Charles C., Mary Trumbell and Aurel. Aurel died in 1805 at the age of seven years, and Mary T. died in 1825, at the age of twenty-three. Franklin and Eleazer went to Chardon, Geauga county, and Eleazer became a rich merchant and died in the prime of life. He left three sons and one daughter, namely ; Halbert E., George E. and James H. General Halbert E. removed to Wisconsin and was a member of Congress from Milwaukee ; he introduced the first bill to establish signal service along the lakes. He became General Paine, going into the Civil war from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as colonel and came out as general. George E. was a captain in the Civil war ; he died at Painesville and his family live in Ashtabula, one of his sons being Tracy Paine. James H. Paine, now old and feeble, lives in Painesville. Franklin Paine was associated with Eleazer in the store at Chardon. He was Lake county recorder during and after the war, and died in Painesville at the age of ninety-three years. Charles ,C. Paine was a merchant in Painesville. He was first president of the Lake 926 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE County Bank, but lost his property and died in middle life. Hendrick Paine married Harriet Phelps on his twentieth birthday, February 14, 1809, and removed to Parkman, Geauga county, where he spent four or five years. Samuel W. Phelps, who was not a relative, but from the same stock originally, employed Mr. Paine to erect a saw mill ; he also erected a forge and furnace, in 1827, and the Paine furnace made both cast and bar iron, using scrap iron. He worked twenty years at the furnace, and later kept a government lighthouse at Fairport, his son, Henry Paine taking the iron works. Hendrick Paine removed to Monmouth, Illinois, where he died in 1881, at the age of ninety-one. His wife was born in Windsor, Connecticut, March 15, 1789, and came in 1808 to Painesville, where she taught school one year. They had children as follows : Henry, Eleazer A., Barton Friend, Hendrick Ellsworth, Jr., and Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Janam Smith, removed to Monmouth, Illinois, and returned to Leroy, where she died in 1881. Eleazer graduated from West Point, and was brigadier general in the Civil war. He removed to Monmouth, Illinois, became a lawyer, was an intimate friend of Lincoln, and spent his life in Illinois, where he married Charlotte Phelps, daughter of Samuel Phelps. Barton F. Paine removed to a farm near Monmouth, Illinois, and died in Nebraska. He married Hannah Proctor, of Thompson township, Lake county, Ohio. Hendrick E. Paine, Jr., also went to Illinois ; he was captain of the Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry. He was afterward employed by the Union Pacific Railway at Omaha, Nebraska, where he died. Henry Paine continued the iron industry after his father left it, using charcoal, but abandoned the business about 1859. He continued to live at Paines Hollow until his death, October 31, 1868, being killed by falling accidentally from a wagon. He was county commissioner twelve years before his death, and justice of the peace for years. From the time he was eighteen he had held a commission of one kind or another from the governor of Ohio, and was a major in the old militia. He was familiarly known as Squire Paine. He had the respect and confidence of the entire community, and took considerable interest in public affairs. He married, December 12, 1833, Harriet Newell Tuttle, named in honor of Harriet Newell, missionary to India. and daughter of Ira and Cherry (Mills) Tuttle. She was born in Austinburg, Ashtabula county, Ohio, November 30, 1814, her parents having come from Connecticut to Ohio in 1811. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Kewish, has an old hair trunk they brought from Connecticut in 1811. Ira Tuttle was a successful pioneer farmer. near Austinburg, where he died in January, 1861. Mrs. Paine died January 17, 1880. Henry Paine and wife had ten children, namely : Elizabeth Ellsworth, who died in 1903 ; Aurel ; Mary Direxa ; Charlotte Irene ; Hendrick Ellsworth, a general insurance man of Scranton, Pennsylvania ; Ira Tuttle, of Grand Island, Nebraska, of the Paine Granite and Marble Works ; Charrie Maria ; Harriet Newell ; Stella A., and Henry. All but the eldest survive, the oldest of those living being seventy and the youngest fifty-four years of age. One daughter of Henry Paine, Mrs. L. L. Kewish, takes great interest in the early history of the community and of her progenitors, and keeps with care a large number of relics, diaries, heirlooms, etc. She is a well read and remarkably intelligent woman, and takes pleasure in learning the deeds of her ancestors. Three of her great-grandfathers, namely: Eleazer Paine, Clement Tuttle and Constantine Mills, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Job Ellsworth, father of Aurel Ellsworth, who married Eleazer Paine, was killed at Ticonderoga, in the French and Indian war. LEWIS BENTON BROCKETT.-A public-spirited and influential citizen of Saybrook township, Lewis B. Brockett is a man of talent and education, and has devoted his time and energies toward proinoting and advancing the agricultural and mercantile prosperity of this part of Ashtabula county, at the present time being one of the foremost general merchants of his community. A son of the late Hambrose Brockett, he was born May 7, 1828, in Greene county, New York, but was brought up in the Western Reserve. Hambrose Brockett, born in 1800, spent his earlier years in the Empire state. Coming to Ohio with his family from Greene county, New York, in 1831, he settled in Ashtabula county, and from the tract of wild land that he purchased redeemed a comfortable homestead, on which he was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1882. He married Cloe Fuller, who was born in 1804, and died on the home farm, in Ashtabula county, in 1890. Six children were born to them, as follows : Addison, T. Clark, Lewis Benton, A. Fletcher, Henry A., and Julia. Addison Brockett, born in 1825, HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 927 was six years old when he came to Ohio. He married Mahala Miller, and in 1884 moved to Michigan, where he followed farming until his death, in 1907. T. Clark Brockett, born in 1827, was brought up from the age of four years in Ohio. In 185o he married Belle Wilkinson, and in 1879 moved to Kansas. A. Fletcher Brockett, born in Greene county, New York, in 1830, married Mary Walker, and was engaged in farming until his death, in 1855. Henry A. Brockett, born in Ashtabula county, married Mary Kellogg, and in 1879 removed with his family to Kansas. Julia Brockett, born in 1837, is the wife of Newton Webster, of Michigan. Brought up on the parental homestead, Lewis B. Brockett received good educational advantages for his day, and for a number of years taught school during the winter terms, being very successful both as an instructor and as a disciplinarian. Beginning life for himself, worked by the month on the farm for three years, and was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits at Saybrook Corners for fifteen years, dealing in groceries and dry goods. Returning then to the old home farm, Mr. Brockett managed it successfully for a quarter of a century, keeping a dairy of 300 cows and making cheese for the neighborhood. Retiring from agricultural pursuits, he sold his farm, and opened his present general store in Saybrook township, where he has built up a large and remunerative business, handling groceries, coal and feed. He is a sound Democrat in politics, and for twelve years served as postmaster, while for two years he was township clerk. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On November 10. 1852, Mr. Brockett married Lucy Fisk, who was born in 1824, a daughter of Zedekiah and Sarah Fisk. She raised five children, namely : Benton L., born in 1854, resides in Kansas ; James, born in 1857, lives in Lincoln, Kansas ; Odessa, born in 1860, married Charles Parker, and formerly in Trenton, Missouri, but is now residing in Portland, Oregon ; Amy, born in 1870, married, in 1892, Charles Simonds, and lives on the South Ridge road ; and Ellen, born in 1873, who lives at home with her parents. Benton L. Brockett married first Daisy Denton, who died in 1891. He married second Margaret Shriver. ALANSON WORK.—He who serves humanity is royal, and thus we cannot afford to hold in light esteem those who have lived nobly in the past, nor fail to accord honor to those who have given an heritage of worthy thoughts and worthy deeds. Among those who have stood. as distinguished types of the world's noble army of workers, the subject of this memoir well merits a place of honor. He wrote his name large upon the pages of definite accomplishment and productive activities, and his life was characterized by signal nobility of purpose and a high sense of his stewardship. He made the most of his opportunities and worked his way upward to success and to all that is desirable and ennobling in life. He was numbered among the representative citizens of Akron, where his death occurred on the 29th of October, 1881. He was at the time vice-president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, owning and operating the Akron Rubber Works. Mr. Work was born at Quincy, Illinois, on the 1st of March, 1842, and was a son of Alanson Work Sr., who was a native of Connecticut and a representative of a family founded in New England in the colonial era ; he removed from his native state to Illinois, but later returned to Connecticut, where both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives. Alanson Work 8r. was a stanch advocate of the abolition of slavery long before the time of the Civil war, and his activities in aiding slaves to escape captivity led to his arrest and imprisonment in 1841. He was sentenced for a period of twelve years, but after being held about three years was granted a pardon. When Alanson Work was three years 0f age his parents removed from Illinois to Middletown, Connecticut, whence they later removed to Hartford, that state, in which city he attended the common schools until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, after which he was for one year a student in Trinity College. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of A. T. Stewart, the great merchant prince of New York City, and later he became an employe in the Metropolitan Bank of New York, with which institution he was identified for a period of seven years. In 1869 he removed to Vineland, New Jersey, and a year later he removed thence to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became one of the interested principals in the firm of Chamberlain, Gibbs & Company, contractors. As a member of this firm he devoted two years to contracting for railroad construction and the building of railroad bridges, and he then went to Rhode Island, where he secured and completed the contract for the rebuilding of 928 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the bridges on the line of the Providence & Worcester Railroad. On this contract he erected fourteen double-track bridges in about one year. Thereafter he was superintendent of the Allen Fire Department Supply Company, at Providence, Rhode Island, for five years, and within this period he took out several patents on fire-engine supplies, one of which is known as Work's patent coupling and which is in use by the United States government, which adopted the device many years ago. On tne 1st of January, 1879, Mr. Work removed from Rhode Island to Akron, Ohio, where he became superintendent of the Akron Rubber Works. In the following years the business was incorporated under the title of the B. F. Goodrich Company, and he thereafter held the office of vice-president of the corporation until his death, which occurred in the ensuing year. Though he was not long permitted to be identified with the industrial and civic activities of Akron, he made a definite impress upon the business interests of the city and was one of its honored business men during the period of his residence. He contributed to the development of the enterprise with which he identified himself, as his executive and administrative ability enabled him to suggest and bring into effective, operation the proper policies and system. It is interesting to note that his eldest son is now president of the company, to whose upbuilding he devoted his splendid energies until he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors. In politics Mr. Work was a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and, as a broad-minded and loyal citizen, he took much interest in the questions and issues of the hour. He was a member of the Congregational church and was identified with various fraternal and civic organizations of representative character. June 27, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Work to Miss Henrietta Lane, of Brooklyn, New York, and she still maintains her home in Akron, with whose social life she has been prominently concerned. Mr. and Mrs. Work became the parents of seven children, all of whom are living except Clarence, who met his death by drowning, when thirteen years of age. Alice is the wife of Professor Walter F. Willcox, member of the faculty of Cornell University, New York; Bertram G. is president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, of Akron ; Dorothy W. is at home ; Effie A. is the wife of W. C. Geer, chief chemist of the Goodrich Company ; Frederick W. is the senior partner of the Akron Auto Supply Company; and Gerald S., department manager of the Goodrich Company. The last two are also with their mother in the family homestead on Perkins Hill, Akron. CLARK W. HAINES.—During many years Clark W. Haines has been identified with the farming interests of Portage county, and he was born here on the 7th of January, 1855. Stacy L. Haines, his father, for many years one of the agriculturists of this community, will be remembered by the older residents as one of the pioneers of the Western Reserve of Ohio. He was born in New Jersey in 1800, and he married for his first wife Eliza Potts, while his second wife and the mother of his son Clark, bore the maiden name of Rebecca Armstrong and was a native of Goshen, born in 1802. Clark W. Haines remained with his parents until his marriage, and by purchasing the interests of the other heirs to the homestead farm he has become the sole owner and has lived there these many years. The estate contains 140 acres of rich and well improved land, and he is extensively engaged in general farming and stock raising, while from his maple orchard of about 325 trees he generally produces about eighty gallons of syrup annually. On the 26th of February, 1884, Mr. Haines was married to Emaline Kibler, a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Kimmel) Kibler, natives of Virginia and Mahoning county respectively, but residents of Portage county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Haines have three children, Nana, Erma and Hazel. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Joel Gause, and they have a son Russell. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Haines is an independent political voter. MRS. OLIVE CRAIG is a member of a family whose name is associated with the history of Portage county and the Western Reserve of Ohio from the period of its earliest. development to latter day progress and prosperity, and the members of this family have been especially prominent in its agricultural life. She was born on the 9th of May, 1848, to George and Nancy (McNutt) Webber, the father from Germany and the mother from Virginia, and together they came to Portage county during its early and formative period. On the 2d of January, 1877, Olive Webber gave her hand in marriage to Chauncey Craig, HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 929 and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, Bertha, George, Erwin and Clyde, all at home with their parents with the exception of the daughter Bertha, who is married. Mrs. Craig resides on the old homestead in Deerfield township, the farm on which she spent the early years of her life and which is hers now through inheritance. CHARLES W. SEARLS.—Standing as one of the representative citizens of Lake county, Charles W. Searls is the popular and efficient postmaster of the village of Madison, an office, of which he has been incumbent for more than a decade. Mr. Searls was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, about twelve miles distant from Niagara Falls, on the 24th of April, 1855, and is a son of George T. and Harriet E. (Thornton) Downer, of Salamanca, New York, who were visiting in Ontario at the time of his birth. Harriet E. Thornton was born in England of a noted family who were distinguished by holding a coat of arms, of which fact Mr. Searls is very proud, as well as of his English blood. His parents came to Ohio when he was an infant, and when he was but four years of age his father died, in Painesville, the county seat of Lake county. Charles W. was then taken into the home of Grandison Searls, of Concord township, this county, and a few years later was formally adopted by Mr. SearIs, whose family name he has since borne. Grandison Searls and his wife bestowed upon their adopted son all the solicitude and care that could have been accorded by the most devoted parents, and he holds their memories in reverent regard, appreciative of their kindliness and beneficence. Grandison Searls was born at Martinsburg, New York, on the loth of March, 1820, and died in the village of Madison, Ohio, on the 18th of August, 1902. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Brown. was born in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1818, and was about nineteen months older than himself. She was a daughter of Hosea Brown, who came from that place about 1821 and settled at Concord hills, in Concord township, Lake county, where his was one of the first families to take up permanent abode. He and his wife there passed the residue of their lives, honored pioneers of this section of the Western Reserve. The marriage of Grandison Searls and Abigail Brown was solemnized in Concord township, in 1842, and she preceded him to eternal rest by more than ten years, as her death occurred on the i8th of February, 1881. Grandison Searls was a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Salmans) Searls, the latter of whom died in the state of New York. After his second marriage Stephen Searls came to Ohio, in 1834, at which time Grandison was about fourteen years of age, and he settled in Hampden township, Geauga county, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. He was seventy-four years of age at the time of his death. He not only developed a good farm in that township, but also erected and operated a grist mill and saw mill, besides which he erected a mill in Big Creek Hollow, Concord township, Lake county. Grandison Searls was reared to manhood in Geauga county, where his early educational privileges were confined to the pioneer schools. He assisted his father in his various business operations, and finally became the owner of the Levens mill, in Concord township, Lake county—the mill which had been erected by his father, as previously noted. This mill was owned and operated by Grandison Searls for more than forty years and was finally abandoned by him after competition and improved facilities rendered the enterprise no longer profitable. There his devoted wife died, in 1881, and in the following year he removed to Madison township, where he purchased a farm, near Lake Erie. He gave his attention to the supervision of this place for the ensuing eight years, at the expiration of which he sold the property and took up his residence in the village of Madison, where he became associated with his foster-son, the subject of this review, in the purchase of a general merchandise store, which was thereafter conducted under the firm name of G. & C. W. Searls until about two years prior to his death, when the firm sold the business. Grandison Searls was a man of superior mentality and strong individuality, and he was an influential factor in public affairs during the many years of his residence in Concord township. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he served for a number of years as township trustee. He was a member of the Baptist church from his boyhood, and was most zealous in the various departments of church work. He and his wife had no children of their own, but in their generosity and kindliness of heart they found it their pleasure to rear in their home seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the only one formally adopted. Concerning the other children the following is given by Charles W. 930 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Searls : Bradley Ayres, the first child taken, died at the age of eight years ; Sophia Stock-ham, who entered the Searls home when fourteen years of age, became the wife of George Winchell and is now deceased ; John Green was taken when twelve years of age and remained with the family about five years ; Eva King, a niece, was nine years of age when she became a member of the family circle, and she is now the wife of Alfred Brown, a farmer of Concord township ; and George W. Downer, brother 0f Charles W., of this sketch, was taken when a lad of ten years, remaining until he was fifteen ; he is now engaged in the real estate business in the city of Cleveland. Charles W. Searls was reared to manhood in Concord township, Lake county, and his educational training was secured in the public schools of that locality. He assisted his foster-father in the operation of the mill and farm until 1877, when, at the age of twenty-two years, he went to Burton, Geauga county, where he engaged in the retail lumber business in company with E. P. Branch and under the firm name of Branch & Searls. This alliance Continued two years and in the meanwhile, on the 2I st of November, 1878, Mr. Searls was united in marriage to Miss Alta C. Abbey, who was born and reared in Leroy township, Lake county, a daughter of George and Colinda C. (Blair) Abbey, both of whom continued to reside in that township until their death. After disposing of his interest in the lumber business Mr. Searls returned to Concord township, where he engaged in buying hardwood lumber for the firm of S. P. Gage & Company, of Cleveland. In 1882 he took up his residence in Madison township, being on the farm with his foster-father for the ensuing eight years, and then removing with the latter to the village of Madison, where they were engaged in the general merchandise business for two years, as already noted in this context. In 1898, during the administration of President McKinley, Mr. Searls was appointed postmaster at Madison, and he has since held this office continuously, thus serving under Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft. In 1895 he was appointed county commissioner, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Raymond Freeman. During his tenure of this office the franchise was granted for the construction of the electric interurban road from Cleveland to Painesville. After the death of Mr. Freeman the other two members of the board of county commissioners represented the opposing sides in the matter of granting the franchise, an thus it devolved upon Mr. Searls to cast th deciding vote, which he did, after a careful and conscientious study of the question. In 1893 the Madison postoffice was destroyed by fire, and under the direction of Mr. Searls the new office received an excellent modern equipment, through means of which the handling of the business has been greatly facilitated. Since he assumed office three rural mail routes have been established with the Madison office as headquarters, and within the decade of his incumbency the-receipts of the office have been doubled. At a local farmers' institute, in 1899, Mr. Searls read a carefully prepared paper upon the subject of the rural free delivery system, and within two years thereafter this service was instituted in this locality. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Republican party, and has rendered efficient service in the promotion of its cause. Mr. Searls was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, of which he became a member when eleven years of age, and he is an influential figure in the affairs of this denomination in Ohio. Active in all departments of the church work, he has served for more than sixteen years as a member of the Board of Managers of the Ohio Baptist Convention, the official board of the church in the state. In this body he has been a member of various important committees, including the Sunday school committee, the district missionary committee, and the evangelistic committee, of which last he is a member at the present time (1909). For twelve years he was moderator of the Ashtabula Baptist Association, the oldest in northern Ohio, and he has assisted in publishing a most interesting and valuable work entitled "Ninety Years of the Ashtabula Association : 1817-1907." As a citizen Mr. Searls is essentially loyal and public-spirited, and his influence is always given in support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the civic and material welfare of the community. He has been a mem- ber of the Madison board of education for eleven years and is at the present time its president. He served two years as treasurer of Madison township, and was for an equal length of time a member of the village. council. Mr. and Mrs. Searls have two children. Ralph E., who was born in Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, in August, 1879, was graduated in the Madison high school, after which he entered the celebrated Case School of Applied Science, in the city of Cleveland, where he completed a course in civil and mechanical HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 931 engineering, leaving to accept a position before graduating. He is now chief engineer of the Attics. Bridge Company, at Attica, Indiana, and is president of the Indiana Correspondence School of Engineering, for the use of which he has prepared and published a number of valuable text-books of a technical order. He is recognized as one of the representative members of his profession and has been very successful in its practical work. Harriet C., who is assistant postmaster under her father, was graduated in the local high school, in 1902, and at Denison University, at Granville, where she was a member of the Class of 1905. SAMUEL STRATTON.—During many years Samuel Stratton was closely associated with the life and interests of Portage county, and his death took from this community a representative citizen, widely and favorably known in agricultural circles. He was born in Atwater, June 21, 1843, a son of Jared and Damras (Perkins) Stratton, from Connecticut. Jared Stratton came in an early day to Portage county, Ohio, and from out the vast wilderness which then constituted this part of the country made a good home for himself and family. l le was the father of four sons, Eli, Almond, Jared and Samuel. Samuel Stratton continued at home with his parents until their death, receiving his education in the Atwater schools, and during fifteen years of his early life he worked at the carpenter's trade. Purchasing then the old Stratton homestead in Atwater township, the farm where his parents had lived and labored for so many years, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and there he too passed away in death, July 29, 1903, leaving behind him many friends to cherish his memory. He had married on the 1st of January, 1887, Josephine Austin, who was born in Randolph township, Portage county, April 25, 1855, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Henline) Austin, natives respectively of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. A daughter, Eunice, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stratton, and she is now teaching in the Atwater schools. Mrs. Stratton resides with her daughter on the farm left her by her husband, and she superintends its work with splendid ability. Mr. Stratton had fraternal relations with the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he held most of the offices, and he was a member of and an officer in the Congregational church. THE BALDWIN FAMILY.—Among the leading families of the Western Reserve none occupies a higher local standing than that of the Baldwin family of Elyria and Cleveland. For nearly three-quarters of a century the family has been represented in northern Ohio and numbered among its representatives men prominent in mercantile, banking and judicial circles. Reference is especially made to the late Seymour Wesley Baldwin, the Western philanthr0pist, merchant, banker, philanthropist, highly esteemed and useful citizen; his sons, the late Judge Charles C. Baldwin, of Cleveland, for years presiding judge of the Court of Appeals of Northern Ohio, and an author of high standing; Hon. David Candee Baldwin, successful merchant, officer in the Civil war, banker, two terms representative to the general assembly; and valued citizen; another son of Seymour W. Baldwin, John Hall Baldwin, a manufacturer of New York, and still another, Wilbur R. Baldwin, of Elmira, New York. Samuel Prentice Baldwin, son of Judge Baldwin, is a successful attorney in Cleveland. The family is one of long standing in New England, tracing their ancestry to Richard Baldwin, who settled in Milford, Connecticut, in 1639. Charles Baldwin, the father of Seymour W., was a farmer and resided at Meriden, Connecticut, where he died in 1818. He married Susannah Hine, who with seven children survived him. The parents were devout members of the Methodist church, and their home was the headquarters for the preachers of that church traveling through that country. Seymour Wesley Baldwin was the youngest son of his parents and was born in Meriden, Connecticut, June 29, 1807. He went to district school winters, working on the farm summers, and was thought to have considerable education when he attended the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire for one winter. When seventeen, Seymour commenced his business life as a peddler. This mode of life was the common and almost only one open to enterprising and respectable young men, and many prominent citizens in after days commenced as "Connecticut peddlers." When all goods had to be carted overland, this was quite the natural mode of trade. The carriage of goods by railroad has nearly abolished this mode of trade and vastly lowered its dignity. The field was on foot, or with horse and wagon in the New England states and Long Island, or with wagon in the south, and with regular routes and customers. Seymour soon entered into partnership with his brother Jesse, under the 932 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE firm of J. & .S. Baldwin, as a country merchant, in Oxford, Connecticut, then a more thriving village than at present. The business was general ; while at first one of the brothers peddled, they also employed agents and manufactured silver spoons. Soon outgrowing Oxford, J. & S. Baldwin removed to Middletown, Connecticut. The energy, ability and high character of the brothers had already become recognized in New York. That celebrated New York merchant and philanthropist, Mr. William E. Dodge, in his little book on "Old New York," published by Dodd, Mead & Co., in 188o, selected the two brothers and a comrade, who, together, entered his store with trunks, as typical samples of Connecticut merit and success. They all became prominent and valued customers and friends of Mr. Dodge. Mr. Dodge mentioned that Mr. Jesse Baldwin had then been a bank president for twenty years, and the third a large manufacturer. Mr. Dodge then spoke of the subject of this sketch at greater length and with much respect. Both brothers became, in Georgia, strong anti-slavery men—Jesse a leading Abolitionist, while Seymour was a Whig, becoming an early Free-soiler. Possibly his wagons at Elyria may sometimes have traveled on the Underground Railroad, for his works were always with his faith. In May, 1835, though the south was a more alluring field for money, Mr. Baldwin, with his young wife and an infant son, removed to Elyria. Here, with a magnificent physical constitution, he displayed great energy. At that time there was a general barter trade, and but very little money. The heavy timber was burned into ashes ; ashes, pot and pearl, were considered "cash," being sent to Pittsburg for glass manufacture and also to New York. Dry goods and groceries were bought in New York ; came by canal to Buffalo ; thence by boat to Cleveland, or more commonly Black River. No goods came through in the winter, and such replenishing as took place came by Pittsburg, to Cleveland, being hauled from Baltimore and Philadelphia to the first named city. Hauling was a large business, and one spring Mr. Baldwin met, east of Pittsburg, within ten miles, as many as fifty wagons. After a while some goods were bought of the firm of Hillard & Hayes, in Cleveland. In the early spring, goods were hauled from Buffalo west, before that harbor was opened, to Silver Creek or elsewhere, to meet the boats ; and D. B. Andrews, formerly partner of Mr. Baldwin, going down on a steamer, was compelled to land in Canada, caught cold, and died in Buffalo. The cheapest goods were then in demand. There were even no ingrain carpets in Elyria until about 1845. Mr. Baldwin was at first in company with Orrin Cowles, of Meriden. They separated, and he bought out (for the sake of the corner stand) Wilcox & Beebe, successors of the Lorain Iron Company. That store long remained with Mr. Baldwin's sign, "Old New York Store." Then commenced the very energetic competition which made Elyria noted for trade. H. K. Kendall, a merchant of great ability, then had the leading trade. He was first on the ground, and there had been great falls in prices, of which he had the credit. A merchant's life was then laborious. Mr. Baldwin used to go by stage before navigation opened in the lake—sometimes by Buffalo and sometimes by Pittsburg—to New York and Philadelphia. It was a great thing to get the first goods in the spring, and he studied the matter carefully, spending several days in Albany. He loaded the canal-boats in New York, being careful to have the boats filled with his own goods only, and early went to Albany before the canal was opened. There boats had a right to go in order of registry. For several years he offered prizes for being among the first ten boats at Buffalo. But there was danger of being too early ; as, if unloaded at Buffalo in warehouse, the lake-boats would take fresh canal-boats rather than from the warehouse, thereby saving one loading ; and at the first decided triumph, when his rival had advertised the first goods, Mr. Baldwin passed those first goods safely stored at Buffalo, saw his own loaded in boat, got the boat to land at Black River, and accompanied the goods to Elyria long before his rival arrived. Such single incidents seem small, but it was the many such struggles that made Elyria the center of trade for from fifteen to twenty miles east and west and twenty-five miles south. The chief competitors for this large trade went safely through the hard times of 1837 to 1840. In 1836 there was a general suspension of banks, and there was no resumption until 1840. There was "Michigan Wild Cat," the worst currency imaginable. Mr. Baldwin once having flour to sell on commission, the farmers seemed very glad to get anything for such currency ; and when he announced that he would charge a dollar more for currency than for barter, the money came in only the faster. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 933 Produce was generally taken as cash, and sold again at home without profit. It was very difficult for the farmers to get enough money to pay taxes, and Mr. Baldwin earned the lasting gratitude of one farmer by giving him two dollars hard money at the current price for butter. The business afterward increased so that the firm of Elyria sold at times $150,000 to $200,000, and a branch at Wellington .( Baldwin, Laundon & Co.) two-thirds as much. A large share was paid in produce, the firm at Elyria handling $50,000 to $60,000 worth of butter in a year. The firms ,employed at one time about forty clerks. The rivalry at Elyria was famous, and a retired New York merchant once remarked that, as a country store, Mr. Baldwin's was as remarkable in its way as that of Mr. Stewart's in New York City. Railroads largely revolutionized the trade. Mr. Baldwin never tried to make large profits, and never lost money but one year—about 1840-- the year the banks were required to resume in Ohio. He paid a Cleveland bank, which announced its intention to resume, thirteen per cent premium in its own bills for a draft on New York ten days before the appointed time. The draft was paid ; the bank did not resume. At that time merchants refused to sell at any price for the currency of the country. Mr. Baldwin was a man of very unusual poise of character. With such a business, which, by its economy of labor and low profits, did the farmers of Lorain county a very large amount of saving, he himself cared not for wealth. Always fairly economical, never ostentatious, when he came to Elyria he resolved that when he had acquired a moderate competency he would retire. In 1847, in accord with that resolve, he returned to Meriden, though it is doubtful if he would have been willing to quit unless he had become the leader. He started there a ready-pay store, and became the president of the Home—now Home National—Bank, which post he resigned on his return to Elyria. He was also a member of the banking firm of Wick, Otis & Brownell, of Cleveland. He became acquainted with the senior member of the firm, William A. Otis, while waiting at Albany to see his goods through. In 1856 he returned to Elyria, and losses invited his return ; but he had no ambition for business in large places, in 1847 having declined an invitation to become a partner in the leading house in Cleveland, and at other times received favorable invitations to New York. His energy and business judgment would have gained him wealth and standing in large places, but Mr. Baldwin had such mastery of life that he had no such ambition. In 1870 Mr. Baldwin went abroad for travel, and afterward virtually retired from business. In 1874 he had so severe an attack of pneumonia that his death was reported ; but a vigorous constitution and pure life carried him through, and he lived until the fourth day of February, 1891. He continued active in his care of an invalid wife until her death in 1886 cared for his garden, gave slight attention to the business of the bank, of which he was many years director ; and engaged to some extent in other private business. He was always an intelligent reader, having a strong historical taste. Mr. Baldwin was also much interested in the building of a new Methodist church, donating the lot on the public square and in other ways assisting the enterprise, giving the plans and the erection of the building much thought and time. He was a man of sturdy independence of character, with a frank toleration of the opinions of others, which steadily increased with his advancing years. An interchange of thought became a pleasure, for his interviewer was sure of a fair hearing, however diverse might be his views. Few men were wiser than Mr. Baldwin in the education of his children, for he took much pains to instruct them in general business and care of property, by conversation and early experience. He always took a deep interest in the success of the many young men with whom he was associated, and was their practical and wise assistant. Said Dr. Hoyt at his funeral : "Coming as Mr. Baldwin did from Puritan stock, he early inherited some of its marked peculiarities. He had an intense antipathy at all times to whatever he regarded as meanness, to ingratitude and to every form and manifestation of injustice. He prized personal,' political and religious freedom, and he sought in every way, as he had opportunity, to protect the helpless and the oppressed and to guard against the encroachment of power." Mr. Baldwin was always much interested in what he regarded as the best interests of Elyria in political or business matters, and in early days when railroading was a problem, was a director in the Junction Railroad—built through Elyria and now a part of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. On November 15, 1831, Mr. Baldwin was married (first) to Mary E. Candee, born in Oxford, Connecticut, August 2, 1813, daugh- 934 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ter of David and Hannah (Catlin) Candee. She was a bright, active and intelligent young woman of French Huguenot family, early settled in Connecticut, and descended through her mother from such worthies as William Pynchon, first treasurer of Massachusetts Colony and the founder of Springfield ; Captain Wadsworth, who hid the famous Connecticut charter, and John Allyn, secretary of that colony in Andros' time. Mrs. Baldwin died at Elyria September 23, 1836, at the age of twenty-three years. Two children were born to this union : Charles Candee, who was born December 2, 1834, and died February 2, 1895, and David Candee, born September 18, 1836. Mr. Baldwin was again married on September 2, 1837, to Fidelia, daughter of Dr. Theophilus and Bertha (Merriam) Hall, of Meriden, Connecticut. She was born April 20, 1810, and died October 5, 1886. The Baldwin genealogy, by one of her step-sons, testifies "to the sterling worth and great kindness of as good a step-mother as ever lived." To this union two sons were born : John Hall, born August 16, 1838, who is a manufacturer in New York, and Wilbur Rice; born September 12, 1841, resides in Elmira, New York. Hon. David C. Baldwin, second son of Seymour W., and the only surviving member of the family in Elyria, was born in that place September 18, 1836, and was out five days old when his mother died. His father was left with the care of two infants, the older son not yet being two years of age. David was at first cared for by Mrs. Sarah Goodwin, who had a son of the same age. Seymour W. Baldwin's second wife, Fidelia Hall, as gentle and conscientious as any mother could be, came into the care of these two small children. She was for many years in ill health, a feeble, tender woman, strong in her past life, and in her character. Her own children were far away, in distant states of the Union, and no own son could have been more attentive, thoughtful, and kind than was the step-son who lost his own mother when five days old. She should certainly have jonied him as tenderly as if he were her own ; and she did. When David C. was ten years old his father returned to Connecticut where he remained about ten years. David was educated at the best schools to be found, first in Meriden with Hon. David N. Camp, distinguished in Connecticut, and Hon. H. D. Smith, also a leader ; next with Daniel H. Chase, LL. D., who was one of the best known instructors in Connecticut in his day, and who. died a few years ago at an advanced age, being at the time of his death the oldest alumnus of Wesleyan University. David Baldwin closed his education at Wilbraham Academy under Dr. Paul B. Raymond, late president of Wesleyan. His father had high hopes of his practical business qualities, and he went at once into a store at Meriden in which his father was partner. On the return to Elyria he went into the store then of Baldwin, Laundon and Nelson. Through his father he had an interest in the business, and he contributed in a large degree to the eminent success of the firm. His excellent sense and judgment, his easy tact, graceful manners- and strict and high integrity made him an excellent salesman and an early favorite with the public. On the reorganization of that firm in 1872, it became D. C. Baldwin & Co., composed of his father, himself and Mr: John Lersch, he having principal charge of the very large business of the firm. The leading wholesale merchant of Cleveland once remarked that no better merchant entered his store than Mr. Baldwin. In time the firm became Baldwin, Lersch & Co., composed of the same partners, and later, by the death of S. W. Baldwin, Mr. Lersch took gradually a more responsible part in accordance with his own wishes and those of David C. Mr. Baldwin has a fine skill and judgment in mechanics, and it is easy. to see that, with his business ability, if he had remained in Meriden, he would probably have engaged in manufacturing as was indeed his first taste, and he would have become eminent. He has an excellent library, which is especially rich in archaeology, and .his opinions are much respected. He gave some months and considerable expense to the exhibit of "Man and the Glacial Period" under the name of Professor G. F. Wright and himself in the anthropological building at the Columbian Expogition. He has been very generous to the Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, of which his brother, Charles C., was president, having aided handsomely in the acquiring of its building and still more handsomely in the objects of the society. The D. C. Baldwin Collection was the first extensive collection of archaeology donated to the society, and it is probably unexcelled by any of the same size in the United States. On the reorganization of that very successful society, in 1892, Mr. Baldwin was one of its incorporators ; he is also a patron and an honored advisor. With no wish for wealth for its own sake, and with more than HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 935 means to gratify his wants, no one person has known his generosity. Whether as lieutenant in the Civil war, or bank director or holding other office, he has simply taken what was in the plane line of duty with no shrinking from care, but with no desire for place besides. Deep in his heart is the idea of the Moravian prayer, "Preserve us from the unhappy desire of becoming great." A staunch Republican in his political faith, Mr. Baldwin has ever been much interested in the success of the party, but never cared much for public office. However, in 1894, he was nominated by acclamation and elected representative from Lorain county to the Ohio general assembly, and again was renominated by acclamation, and re-elected for the second term, serving his constituents faithfully and well. He is vice president of the National Bank of Elyria, succeeding his father. He is a companion in the Military Order of the Loya1 Legion of the United States, member of Elijah Hayden Post, G. A. R., member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Congregational Society, serving a number of years as presideht of the same. Mr. Baldwin was married on May 1, 1878, to Miss Josephine Staub, born in Circleville, Ohio, October 19, 1852. daughter of Rev. Henry and Margaret ( Guildner) Staub, the former a clergyman of the Baptist church. Mrs. Baldwin is a lady of fine education, with a very active mind and much intellectual strength. They are both addicted to reading and to travel, having journeyed abroad thrice, as well as extensively toured this country. Mr. Baldwin's life has been quite without such incident as is usually mentioned in a biography. He did not adventure himself as a pioneer in a new country, or start business in a new place. To those who know him it is evident he would have been successful in any line of life he chose, as he has been in what he has chosen. He has been a prominent citizen, and especially a leader in such good deeds as need sympathy, active work and a benevolent contribution. Few men have that even poise of character that saves them from being carried away by the world, by the desire of wealth, of power or of political position. Mr. Baldwin's distinction is, as was his father's before him, his character. He is successful ; of ample fortune, but not desiring large wealth ; well educated by schooling, reading, by travel, and by experience; well married ; happy in society, and his own home and abroad hospitable, Vol. II-15 thoroughly appreciated by all who know him ; intelligent, with tact and generosity ; having a most charming home, with such reasonable hobbies as occupy his mind ; happily contented, independent in his own pursuits, and able to gratify every wish of himself or his appreciative wife. Altogether Mr. Baldwin has lived a life that is to be envied, and he stands today as one of Lorain county's first citizens, and a credit to the excellent New England ancestry from which he descends. GUY CLYDE Corn NGH.\Jr, prominently identified with the agricultural life of Sharon township, was born two miles west of his present home, January 7, 1868, a son of Christopher and Ellen (Chatfield) Cottingham, the father from England and the mother from the state of Michigan. Christopher Cottingham is enrolled among the honored early pioneers of Medina county, during many years one of its most prominent and progressive agriculturists, and he left the impress of his forceful individuality upon much of the early history of this community. In the early days of the history of Sharon township he assisted in the planting of the pine trees which now form a magnificent avenue for a mile or more in length and which are among the valued landmarks of Medina county. He was also a veteran of the Civil war, in the recruiting service of the United States army. After a good educational training in the graded and high schools and a course in Buchtel College, in Akron, Guy C. Cottingham entered upon his first business pursuit as an assistant to his father, an accomplished agriculturist. Later learning the- carpenter's trade he worked at that occupation in Medina and in Cleveland until the death of his father, when he resumed agricultural work in Sharon township, and he has become very successful in this calling. By his marriage to May Hazen, a daughter of Henry Hazen, he has two children, Fern H. and Burke. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and a Republican. MILTON LUTHER RUDESILL.—Sharon Center was the birthplace of Milton L. Rudesill, on the 13th of November, 1844, and it has also been the scene of much of his subsequent successful business operations. From the public schools he passed to Hiram College, and as a boy of fourteen he began assisting in the store established by his father and older brother, John C, at Sharon Center, in 1856, 936 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE and this store has ever since been operated under the Rudesill name. During three years he was also a clerk in the city of Medina, and then, with his brothers John and Columbus, bought a stock of goods and embarked in the mercantile trade at Ashland, this state, but returning to Sharon in 1878 Milton L. Rudesill has since been identified with the life and interests of this city, one of its most prominent merchants. Always on the alert for investigation and speculation he a short time ago began experimenting in the raising of ginseng, and has now a quarter of an acre of ground devoted to this plant and is very successful in its cultivation. In addition to these and other interests in Sharon Center, he is also quite extensively engaged in the commission business in Akron, and devotes considerable of his time to that line of work. During eight years he served Sharon Center as its postmaster, this being under Cleveland's administration, and he is one of the community's most progressive and substantial residents. Milton L. Rudesill is a son of Jacob and Jemima (Reed) Rudesill. The father, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, came .to Lisbon, Ohio, when but four years of age, and his grandfather on the paternal side was from Germany. Jemima Rudesill was born at Berlin, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and her father was from Ireland. Milton L. was the youngest of the seven children born to Jemima and Jacob Rudesill, and they are : George W., John C. Margaret, Columbus, Sallie Ann, Jonas and Milton. The first born, George W. Rudesill, now resides at Charlotte, Michigan. Mr. Rudesill of this review married first, Miss Hester McDougal, and they had one son, Bert J. The wife and mother died eleven years ago, and he married for his second wife, Mrs. Amelia Brown, from Norwalk, Ohio. ROGER W. GRISWOLD, prominently identified. with the hothouse business in Ashtabula county, descends from English ancestors near Kenilworth Castle, and the first American ancestors settled at the mouth of the Connecticut river, at what is now known as Black Hall. One of these early ancestors was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and others became governors of Connecticut. The first home of the family was on the west side of the river, but Indians drove them across to the east side, and from a friendly Indian who lived with them in their cabin it derived the name of Black Hall. Roger W. Griswold, the grandfather of the Roger W. of this review, was born March 15, 1797, and was sent to Ohio by the Connecticut Land Company and had control of this part of the country. Coming from Black Hall, Connecticut, he located in Ashtabula prior to the year of 1823, and was the first mayor of that city. He was also a representative to the legislature for one term prior to the advent of Josh Giddings, and resigned from the office on account of bribery. He was a graduate of Yale, was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was identified with the Underground Railroad movement. He died on the 15th of November, 1879, and his first wife, nee Juliet E. Griswold. born May 19, 1802, died April 4, 1855. They had the following children : Fannie, who was born March io, 1834, lives in Ashtabula ; Maria M., born February 19, 1826, is deceased ; Matthew, born March 27, 1824, is deceased ; Augustus H., born February 15, 1828, is deceased ; Juliet E.,. born March 23, 183o, aied March 7, 1908; Roger, born September 14, 1837, died April 19, 1909 ; Mary Ann, born November 9, 1839, died November 30, 1853 ; Thomas, born February 3, 1842, lives in Cleveland ; and Charles, born March 13, 1843, died December 26, 1874. Roger W. Griswold married for his second wife Mrs. Caroline (Champlin) Chester, whom he had raised, and their union was without issue. He married the third time, in 1867, wedding Mrs. Harriet Walker, and they had two children, Helen M. and Hattie. The elder daughter, born in June, 1871, married Charles Gallop and lives in Ashtabula, and the younger, born in 1873, married Charles Vanderlip and lives in Washington, D. C. Roger Griswold, a son of Roger W., was a market gardener throughout life, and was probably the pioneer in that line of business here. It was his desire in early life to be-come a lawyer, his father's profession, but the latter denied him this privilege because he though all lawyers dishonest. The son Roger lectured at farmers' institutes in Ashtabula county on market gardening, and was quite prominent in the life of his community. With his wife he spent the winters in Florida. He married Ellen F. Adams, who was born at Medway, Massachusetts, March 12, 1842, a daughter of Alfred and Anna M. (Smith) Adams. The father, born in 1816, died on July 19, 1909, and the mother was born March 28, 1822, and died March 6, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold became the parents of the following children : Prudence, born March 28, 1869, married Francis J. Hall, of Chicago a HISTORY OF THE WESTERN'RESERVE - 937 minister and a teacher in the .Western Theological Seminary ; Fannie, born June 25, 1872, married R. W. Rogers, a market gardener in Ashtabula ; Ploomia, born July 3, 1870, married Frank W. Syler, a piano tuner in Ashtabula; and Roger, born August 26, 1876. Mr. Griswold, the father, was a member of St. Peters church at Ashtabula, an active church worker and a vestryman. Roger W. Griswold, the third of the name, attended school at Ashtabula, and in his early life became identified with the hothouse business, and he now has thirty men in his employ and has seven acres under glass, raising principally tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. He ships his produce over every part of the United States, and has become very prominent and successful in the business. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Bank at Ashtabula, and is a property owner there. Mr. Griswold married, on September 16, 1899, Blanche Creighton, who was born on the 15th of October, 1879. He is a Master Mason, a member of Lodge No. 22 at Ashtabula, and is also a member of the Lake Shore Club in that city. GEORGE G. GREENE, a passenger engineer in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, was born at Altoona, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1865 ; he is the son of G. D. Greene, in early life a conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad. George G. Greene left school to become fireman on a railroad engine, and began in 1880, when less than seventeen.years of age. He was first employed on the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Ellerslie, Maryland, to Mount Dallas, Pennsylvania, and later on the Shenandoah Valley from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Roanoke, Virginia. In 1883 he was given an engine on the Shenandoah Valley Division, and has had charge of an engine ever since that time. He became employed on the Pittsburg & Western in 1888, soon after the road became broad gauge, and when that road became part of the Baltimore & Ohio he continued in their employ. He runs a passenger engine from Painesville to Pittsburg ; he formerly took the through freight. During his service he has met with several serious accidents, among them three head-on collisions. Mr. Greene is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; and for twelve years, with the exception of one year, he has been-chairman of the grievance committee. Mr. Greene takes an active interest in public affairs and improvements, and has been a member of the Council of Painesville since it became a city. He is a Republican in his views. He is a member of the Order of Foresters, besides being a thirty-second degree member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; he is affiliated with blue lodge, chapter and commandery at Painesville, and the consistory and Al Koran Shrine at Cleveland. Mr. Greene married, in 1886, at Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, Anna Baer, by whom he had no children:, she died October i 1, 1906. Mrs. Greene was an active worker in the cause of the Independent Order of Good Templars. SAMUEL BELA RAWSON.—The late Samuel Bela Rawson, of Elyria, was one of those rare characters in the practical world of American business who combined the genius of the inventor with the care and expertness of the trained mechanic, and the broad sweep of the typical promoter of large enterprises. To these diverse and unusual gifts of a practical nature he added a spirit of public enterprise which largely found its outlet in the founding and support of worthy and widely beneficial charities. His memory will therefore be securely fixed in his home community, and his fame as a business man is national. Mr. Rawson was born in Elyria, Ohio, on October 19, 1848, and passed away at his home on Chestnut street in that city on April 9, 1908. Between those dates there was passed a life of unusual activity and earnest endeavor, and he rose unaided to a foremost place in the telephone business in the United States. Mr. Rawson descended from an old New England family, his earliest American ancestor being one of the grantees of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and second town clerk and registrar of Boston. The parents of Mr. Rawson, Bela and Harriet (Nichols) Rawson, were born near Watertown, New York, within eight miles of each other. They were not acquainted, however, until after they came to Lorain county, where they were subsequently married. Bela Rawson was a well known and successful farmer of Pittsfield township. He became the father of seven children, all of whom reached maturity and became heads of families ; and of this number Samuel B. was the second in order of birth and the first to depart this life. His elder brother, Arthur B., passed away in Elyria, in December, 1909. The two remaining sons, Bird and Ora, and a sister, Mrs. Frankie Bath, are residents of Elyria, and the other two, Mrs. Alice Root and Mrs. Ella Gleason, are residents respectively of 938 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Pittsfield, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan. When Samuel B. was six years old his parents, seeking a home in the country, moved to Pittsfield, and there his youth was passed on a farm. Attending public schools until he was fourteen, he then took up the study of medicine, but the death of his preceptor soon afterward changed the young man's plans, and he learned the tinner's trade and assumed other lines of work. He was by nature an inventor and a trader, and was universally successful in all his undertakings. When he was nineteen he returned to his native town, and here he lived for over forty years, during the last fifteen of which he attained to a position of prominence among the leading men of Elyria—a strong factor in the telephone business. Previously to engaging in this business, he was for a time a nickler in the Garford works, and later was the head of a prosperous laundry business in Elyria. About this time he had become interested in the telephone business, and had made some improvements of a practical nature, on which he took out patents. Capital was enlisted and the Rawson Manufacturing Company began the manufacture of phones in a small way. The business grew substantially from the start, and the establishment of independent telephone companies began to occupy the attention of Mr. Rawson and his business associates. The plan to merge into one company the manufacture of the component parts of a telephone system resulted in the building of the Dean Electric Company's plant in Elyria. In this undertaking Mr. Rawson engaged with W. W. Dean, of Chicago, and others, and was honored with the position of president of the new organization. The telephone interests with which he became identified were wide and important, for besides being president of the Dean Electric Company, he filled a similar position with the Rawson Electric Company, the American Construction & Trading Company, of Elyria, and the Independent Union Telephone Company, recently transferred from Elyria to Albany, New York. He was also director in the following telephone companies : Niagara County Home Telephone Company, Niagara Falls, New York; Interstate Telephone Company, of Little Falls, New York ; Seneca County Home Telephone Company, Seneca Falls, New York ; Schenectady Home Telephone Company, Schenectady, New York ; Albany Home Telephone Company, Albany, New York ; Cohoes-Waterford Home Telephone Company, Cohoes, New York ; Watervliet-Green Island Home Telephone Company, Watervliet, New York ; West Shore Home. Telephone Company, Catskill, New York ; and Citizens' Standard Telephone Company, Kingston, New York. Fraternally Mr. Rawson was a member of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., and was a charter member of Elyria Commandery No. 6o, Knights Templar. He was a charter member of Elyria Lodge, No. 456, B. P. 0. E., and was past exalted ruler of that order. He was also a member of Elyria Chapter, No. 165, Order of the Eistern Star. He took a very deep interest in the establishment of the Memorial Hospital at Elyria, being one of its projectors and prime movers, and it was he who chose the splendid site it now occupies. While a member of no church, he attended the Congregational church and was a liberal contributor to religious institutions. He was, however, a member of the Men's Club of the Congregational church. While various business interests took Mr. Rawson away froth home, he always found time to serve his home city and was earnest and active in promoting its welfare. His hand was never stayed in the cause of charity and whenever he could help by a timely work the cause of the needy, he did so. In his family he was the most domestic of men—a devoted husband and father. Mr. Rawson was married (first) in 1870, to Miss Mary A., daughter of William Roe, of Elyria. Her death occurred a few months after their marriage. In June, 1872, he wedded Miss Faustina Biggers, a native of Girard, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Helen M. (Payson) Biggers (the latter residing with Mrs. Rawson), and granddaughter of Samuel and Betsey (Colt) Biggers. One daughter, Helen Doris, was born to the second marriage. Mrs. Rawson is a member of Elyria Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, in which she has been through all the chairs and is now serving the second term as secretary. She has been Grand Martha of the State Grand Chapter, and now represents the state of Wyoming in the State Grand Chapter. She is one of the seven incorporators of the Old Ladies' Home at Elyria ; has been a trustee since its organization and very active in its affairs. She has been since its organization a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Memorial Hospital Board, and recently furnished a room at the hospital in memory of Mr. Rawson. In 1909 HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 939 she completed a magnificent mausoleum in Ridge Lawn cemetery. She is a member of St. Andrews Episcopal church, and a lady of sweet dignity and broad charity, honored and beloved by the entire community. SPENCER B. MORRIS.—Prominent among the residence of Portage county is numbered Spencer B. Morris, a well known agriculturist in Charlestownship, and a former justice. of the peace. He was born in Shalersville township of Portage county, July 26, 1839, a son of Ed and Mary Morris and a grandson on the paternal side of Isaac Morris, from Connecticut. As a boy of twelve years Ed Morris came west with his parents to Portage county, Ohio, their first home here being in Geneva township, and coming from there to Shalersville township he bought a farm in 1835. He early in life learned the shoemaker's trade, but after his marriage in 1837 to Mary Benson he began agricultural pursuits and spent the remainder of his life as a tiller of the soil. He was also an extensive dairyman, and usually kept for the purpose about sixty cows. In 1840 Mr. Morris started on a westward trip to Wisconsin, and en route stopped for six months at Elgin, Illinois, thence continuing on to his destination, and later returning to his home county of Portage. Spencer B. Morris remained on the farm with his parents and assisted in the work of the fields until his marriage. He is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Charlestown township. He served his community nine years as a justice of the peace, and was nominated during the fall of 1908 as a probate judge on the Prohibition ticket. On the 29th of April, 1860, when twentyone years of age, Spencer B. Morris married Sophia Brown, and their two children are May E. and Rose. Their elder daughter is the wife of Charles Peck, and they have five children, the family home being at Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio. Rose is now Mrs. Ritchie, of Emporia. Kansas, and has two children. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have their religious home with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and he has held many of the church offices. BENJAMIN BROWN FAMILY.—Benjamin Brown and his wife, Mary Millimon Brown, with their family of five sons and one daughter, came from Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, to Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, in the year 1817. They located on a tract of new land, 200 acres or more, in the northwestern part of the township, lot 6. Mr. l3rown was a quiet, industrious man, possessing only good habits, and a natural faculty for accumulation. He was a shoemaker by trade and knew little of farm life and labor. He continued his occupation while the clearing of land and the farm work was carried on mainly by the boys and hired help, the eldest son, Luther L., a stalwart youth in his teens, bearing the main burden. Mary Millimon Brown was of Scotch descent, a woman of great force of character, planning well for her family and capable in the execution of her plans, well calculated to meet the exigencies of pioneer life. These pioneer women cannot be given a more fitting memorial than King Solomon has given to the "Virtuous Woman" in the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs. After coming to Ohio, two sons and a daughter were added to the family. A few months old granddaughter, being left motherless, was promptly adopted into the family. Like many of the early settlers, Mr. and Mrs. Brown were Christian people and brought their family altar from their New England home and established it in their rude home in the forest. They united with the Congregational church at the Center. When we consider what the sturdy pioneers 0f the Western Reserve accomplished during the first twenty-five years after entering the unbroken forest, it seems like the working of miracles. The woodsman's ax had laid low the giant trees that had so long held occupancy of the soil, cultivated fenced fields appeared on every hand, with good commodious farm buildings, orchards of the choicest fruits, roads, churches, school houses, mills, towns near at hand, county seats with court houses, stores with all kinds of merchandise, etc. The writer can well remember visiting at the farm home of the Browns, twenty-five years after their arrival from the East. The older children had gone out from the parent home to form new homes and take their active part as citizens in various communities. Several of the younger members of the family yet remained to make it a typical farm home. The buildings were of ample dimensions, filled with comfort and abundance everywhere. A general air of activity, thrift and neatness prevailed. At break of day there was a grand open-air concert by the orchestra of domestic fowls. The crowing of chanticleers, quacking of geese, gobbling of turkeys, with Old Nero, 940 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE the house dog, putting in his deep baying, created such a din, all were made aware a new day had come, and the stir of farm life began anew. There was a large apple orchard of fruit not excelled in later days, peaches in abundance and of good quality, and large cherry and pear trees. In the front yard grew striped red and white roses and "sweet clover." On a trellis over one door was a Lady Washington vine, and near the front kitchen door was the well and a sassafras tree. At one side of the back door, under the eaves, was an immense rain trough that did service as a cistern. Around the woodhouse were the four o'clocks, whose peculiar fragrance always brings to mind the whole scene. Winter evenings the family gathered in. the dining room because there was the open fireplace, around which they made a wide half circle, with Nero stretched before the fire in their midst. At one corner of the fireplace stood a pan of beautiful rosy-cheeked pippins and a small brown pitcher of cider, which were duly disposed of while the cheerful converse passed around. The sketch of this farm and family would not seem complete without some mention of "The Old Mare." It may be in her youthful days she was known by a more euphonious name. For instance, Ladybird would have been appropriate, or Fleetfoot, as she was not to be passed in her palmy days, and even in old age for a short test of speed she would come out ahead. But her many years of faithful service and 'habit of bringing up a beautiful, high-mettled colt every year, had given her the family name of "The Old Mare," not from disrespect, but rather as a distinction. When the farm passed to the son, L. D. Brown, she was given a life lease of such part as she would need during her lifetime. Being released from all duties, her mind turned to inventing all manner of ways for opening barn doors, letting down bars, etc. Not feeling interested in closing doors and putting up bars, she often set the rest of the stock at liberty as well as herself, for which cause she had to leave her long-time comfortable home, being sold to go West, at the age of thirty-five. What suffering and indignities she may have passed through in her last years poor"Old Mare." For many years Thanksgiving was kept in this family in true New England style. When the older sons were married there was a homecoming with their wives and children, to strengthen family ties and sit together as of yore at their parents' table, laden with the bounteous products of the farm brought into perfection by the skillful hands of mother. Who will say the parents were not proud of those stalwart sons. A great sorrow came into their home when the youngest, Theodore Hale, who it was expected would remain on the farm, relieving the parents of its care and be their stay in old age, when in the full vigor and joyousness of young manhood and within a few days of his anticipated marriage, was suddenly stricken by a passing epidemic, and after a few days of conflict the young life went out from the home to return no more. Like many others who have raised large families, the parents came to be alone in the home, and one day, September 27, 1853, when the father was away, mother stepped over into the New Country. Her age was seventy-one years, ten mouths and twelve days. Their Children.—Julia Ann married William Wright, of Parkmari, and after a short married life died, leaving a young babe, which was adopted by her grandparents Brown. Elisha B. learned the carpenter's trade, married Asenath Watrous,. of Charlestown, and spent his life in that town. He died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a quiet, in dustrious citizen, and justice of the peace for many years. L. Clark studied medicine and located in West Farmington, afterwards removing to Painesville. He had a wide reputation as a skillful physician, and was at one time a member of the state legislature. He died at the age of seventy-one years, five months and sixteen days. John Millimon was a farmer and died at the home while yet quite a young man. L. Dudley was a farmer and cattle dealer, living on the old homestead after the death of the mother. He died at the age of seventy-two years. George Franklin was educated at Meadville, Pennsylvania, studied law and located at Warren, Ohio. He was the first probate judge in Trumbull county. He moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he was made circuit judge. Caroline A. married John Mowbray and moved to Tennessee, where they endured pioneer life on the mountains. Late in life Benjamin Brown married Miss Maria King, of Charlestown, and lived in Edinboro until her death in 1863, when he returned to the old homestead and was cared for HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 941 by his son L. Dudley Brown. He died in 1864, at the age of eighty-three years and six months. Mary Wright, this adopted granddaughter, married Austin Follett, of Granville, Ohio. They moved to New York, where Mr. Follett was in business for many years, their residence being in Brooklyn. There were thirty grandchildren in the Brown family, not one being left in Nelson. They are scattered from ocean to ocean. The farm has passed into the hands of strangers, who have no thought or association with the scenes of its past history, but till its fertile acres, without sentiment, for what they will give in return and because it is now their home. LUTHER L. BROWN, eldest son of Benjamin and Mary M. Brown, was born August 7, 1804, in Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Nelson, Ohio. He had received a thorough education in the common branches of study. He was very proficient in penmanship and an adept in making quill pens, used in those days. During the summer he worked on the farm and winters taught school, having sixty or seventy scholars between the ages of four and twenty-one. These were packed as closely together as they could sit on the rough benches. Teachers were expected to take at least part barter for pay—cattle, homemade cheese, sugar, etc. The family owning property on the lake shore, Luther was sent to investigate its value and if possible exchange for something nearer home. He found a tract of swampy, undesirable land, with a few cabins near the lake, and thought himself fortunate in trading it off for a horse and perhaps some other barter. The ground is now occupied by a main part of the city of Cleveland. Minerva E. Hall was born in Tolland, Massachusetts, June 4. 18o9, and came with her parents, Joel and Elizabeth Hall, to Charlestown, Ohio, in 1815. In 1828 both parents died, the mother in April and the father in August, leaving a family of twelve children, the youngest four years old. The three eldest were married. After the father's death the younger children were scattered, the oldest son living at the home place. Minerva, a maiden of nineteen years, went to Nelson to stay with her sister, Mrs. Harvey Sperry, and attend school. It was here that she became acquainted with Luther L. Brown. After her return home for a short stay, Mr. Brown took a trip to Charlestown to visit Miss Minerva. He found her very ill with typhoid fever and no one to give her the needed care. He at once assumed the responsibility of care-taker, and remained with the family until she was convalescent. October 25, 1829, a pretty bride, gowned in lavender silk crepe and lace, stood by this young man's side before the Reverend Lyman Coe in Charlestown, and exchanged marriage vows, and it was recorded that Luther L. Brown and Minerva E. Hall were married. They took up their abode in Nelson, on a farm he had purchased, adjoining the home farm on the east. In 1832 they came to Charlestown, locating one-half mile south of the Center. In the home they established free-handed hospitality reigned. They were Methodists and in those early days the "Circuit Rider" found at their house a home. When the minister came on his rounds, Mr. Brown would take his ox team and cart, spread straw in the cart and take a load of people to meeting, at some other appointment a good distance away. Then came the lumber wagon which was considered quite a stylish equipage. During the "forties" buggies and carriages began to be in use. Now palatial coaches occupied by travelers from the East, to what was the unknown West, or vice versa, and heavily loaded freight trains drawn by their noisy, powerful, fiery steed, pass almost hourly through what was the door-yard of Mr. and Mrs. Brown. In 1840 they moved to the southwest corner of the Center and built the house where they spent the remainder of their days. He was a hard working, active business man. He was justice of the peace for many years, county associate judge, and when the probate office was created was its first incumbent. He was a leading politician of the county, of the Democratic faith, ever ready to lash his opponent, and just as ready to befriend him if • in need. He was often appealed to for assistance by the poor or wronged or in any trouble, and never in vain. Mrs. Brown was a notable house wife, a true Christian woman and one in whom "the heart of her husband could safely trust," and all other friends. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown—Julia Ann, July 8, 1831. She married J. A. Holden, February 27, 1856, and their home was in Charlestown. She suffered much from ill health and died April 8, 1876. Sophia M., born May 29, 1836, was married to Spencer B. Morris, April 29, 1860. Arthur A., born October 8, 1848, died December 29, 1848. Mrs. Minerva E. Brown died Novem- 942 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ber 14, 1867, and in 1868 Mr. Brown married Mrs. Lucy Carter, of Edinboro. Luther L. Brown died June 8, 1876. Since his death Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Morris have occupied the home place at Charlestown Center, Mrs. Morris and her descendants being their only living descendants. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have been workers in its various departments for nearly fifty years. They have also been much interested in temperance work, being connected with the W. C. T. U., Prohibition party and Anti-Sa- loon work. They were both teachers in the public schools in their youthful days. Mrs. Morris was a student at the "Old Eclectic" at Hiram when James A. Garfield was its president, and esteemed him very highly as teacher and friend. One of the cherished memories of these school days is of a perfect day in May, 1859, when Garfield led his geology class through the fissures and caves of Nelson Ledges, discoursing of the causes of their formation. While partaking of the picnic 'dinner spread on the ground on top of the ledge, inspiring music came up over the rocks and through the groves, blending most pleasingly with joyousness of the students. Another memory is of a student six o'clock social meeting, held in the chapel and led by President Garfield. Near its close a young lady expressed a desire to become a Christian. The company went to "Buckingham Pond," a little spring lake, and, while the students gathered on its smooth, grassy banks and sang songs of consecration, Garfield performed the rite of baptism in a most impressive manner, just as the bright May day sun was setting. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have two daughters—May E. married Charles M. Peck, of Kingsville, Ohio, and they have five children, all graduates of the Kingsville high school, except the youngest son, Raymond, who is still in school. The eldest daughter, Miss Nora E., has taken a course in Bliss Business College, Columbus, Ohio, and is at present employed as stenographer in one of the departments of the Ohio State University. The eldest son, Carl M., married Miss Jessie Sheldon, of Kingsville, and is in the rural delivery mail service. Miss Lucile is president of the Christian Endeavor Society in their church and Miss Zaida is organist. The whole family are members of the Presbyterian church, most of them occupying positions of responsibility. Miss Althea Rose Morris is a graduate of the N. W. 0. University, of Ada, Ohio, and of the Cumnock School of Oratory at Evans ton, Illinois. She gave several years to teaching in Ohio and Illinois, making a specialty of oratory and public reading. She married Rowland H. Ritchie, of Evanston, Illinois, a graduate o f the Chicago University, October 12, 1898. They are now in Emporia, Kansas, Mr. Ritchie being the professor of oratory in the Kansas State Normal at that place. They are members of the Baptist church and very active workers in church and society. They have two children, Rowland Morris, aged nine years, and Evanella Rose, aged four years. A. A. PATTON.—Numbered among the popular representatives of railroad interests in the city of Painesville is A. A. Patton, who is incumbent of the responsible position of general foreman of the car, shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In February, 1902, the Baltimore & Ohio Company assumed control of the Pittsburg & Western Railroad, and at once instituted the increasing of the capacity of the shops established by the latter in Painesville. The shops up to that time had been conducted upon a comparatively small scale, and the plant as at present constituted covers about thirty acres. Here employment is given to more than m0 men, and during busy seasons from 250 to 300 employes are here in service. These are the only general car and engine shops on the Lake branch of the Newcastle division of the Baltimore & Ohio system, and a large amount of work is handled each year. The institution is thoroughly systematized, and each of the several necessary departments is amply equipped to meet the demands- placed upon it. The shops have facilities for the repairing of engines and freight cars and for the complete building of caboose cars. The mechanical appliances and machinery are of the most approved modern type, and special encouragement is given to employes to suggest labor-saving devices that will facilitate operations. The plant has its own electric-light system and also has an admirable system of water supply, with adequate fire-fighting apparatus. In the use of the latter the employes are regularly drilled, so that the danger of loss from fire is reduced t0 the minimum. The car shops represent one of Painesville's most important industrial enterprises, and the incidental value of the same to the city may be understood when it is stated that the monthly pay roll has reached an average of fully $10,000. As general foreman Mr. Patton has shown marked e)tecutive and technical ability, and while he is a strict disciplinarian the employes understand fully that he HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 943 asks only legitimate service and he gains their ready co-operation, the while commanding their confidence and esteem. Mr. Patton justly takes pride in referring to bonnie old Scotland as the place of his nativity, and he fully exemplifies the canny traits of the stanch race from which he is sprung. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on January 29, 1862, and is a son of Alexander and Helen (Scott) Patton, both of whom passed their entire lives in historic and picturesque old Ayrshire. Mr. Patton was reared to manhood in his native land, where he received good educational advantages in his youth and where he learned the trade of stationary engineer, to which he there devoted his attention until 1881, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he severed the home ties and came to America. He took up his residence in the state of Maryland, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, to which his natural mechanical skill readily enabled him to adapt himself, and he was thus engaged until 1889, when he secured employment in the car shops of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where he remained three years, in the meanwhile gaining thorough experience in the various details of the work. At the expiration of the period noted, in 1891, he was sent to Painesville, Ohio, as assistant to the foreman in the shops of the old Pittsburg & Western railroad, and he won his way through the various grades of promotion until he was appointed to his present responsible position, in which his service has been so efficient as to gain to him unqualified approval. He has held this incumbency since March, 1908. In politics Mr. Patton gives his support to the cause of the Republican party, and he is affliated with the Painesville lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in each of which he enjoys marked popularity. In the state of Maryland, in 1884, Mr. Patton was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cook, who died in Painesville in 1892, leaving no children. In 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Patton to Miss Elizabeth R. Lawless, of Painesville, and they became the parents of three children, of whom two are living, —Helen Mary and Robert Joseph ; Andrew died at the age of two years. THE OAKES FAMILY, of which Dr. I. N. Oakes, of Ridgeville, is a member, has been established in America since an early date. Calvin Oakes. the paternal great-grandfather of the doctor, was a native of Worcester Massachusetts, where his parents resided until their death. When Calvin Oak& was a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old he took his father's place, the latter being a cripple, when volunteers were called for for General Gates' army during his campaign against General Burgoyne, and the lad served with General Gates until after Burgoyne's surrender. He married a member of the noted Cary family, and in 1816, with four of his five sons, he came to the Western Reserve, stopping first at Brecksville, near Cleveland, and from there, with two of his sons, David and Jonathan, he came to Dover in Cuyahoga county, buying land on Center Ridge, near the Lorain county line. Both he and his wife lie buried at Dover. The two remaining sons, Cary and William, remained at Brecksville. Cary Oakes was born at Hawley, in Franklin county, Massachusetts, and he married there Tamar Easton, of a prominent family of that section, several members of which took part. in the Revolutionary struggle. Two children were born to Cary Oakes and wife before coming to Ohio. He and his wife lived at Brecksville, in Cuyahoga county, during the remainder of their lives, the former dying in June, 1871, and the latter on January 1, 1881. Their children were : Mary, Francis, Isaac, Henry, Tamar, Cary, Martha and Caleb. Caleb is the only member of this family living, and he resides at Brecksville, having reached the age of eighty-seven years. Isaac Oakes, born at Brecksville, December 6, 1818, was a lifelong farmer, a successful business man, and a good citizen, taking his full share of obligations incumbent upon all good citizens, but he was in no sense a politician and never sought public honors. He was a determined man, strong in his honest convictions, but his path was ever upward and his friends were many. He married Clarinda Edgerton, who was born at Hawley, in Franklin county, Massachusetts, January 28, 1815, a daughter of Ezekiel Edgerton, also from that commonwealth. Mrs. Oakes came to the Western Reserve in 1837 to teach school, and she taught in Cuyahoga county until her marriage, her first school having been at Royalton. Isaac Oakes died on the 15th of December, 1893, and his wife survived until the 5th of October, 1900. Their children were : Josephine, born September 15, 1843, attended Oberlin College, married George A. Wood, of Carlisle township, and died on the 23d of 944 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE March, 1873 ; Celia, born September 15, 1845, attended collage at Berea, Ohio, married P. P. Smith, and Tesides at Richfield, in Summit county ; Florence, born November 7, 1848, resides in Brecksville, having never married ; and I. N. Dr. I. N. Oakes was born at Brecksville, November 30, 1850, and his early education was received at Brecksville Academy and in the Brooklyn High School in Cuyahoga county. He began reading medicine in Oberlin under the preceptorship of Dr. William Bunce in 1872, and during the time also studied chemistry under Dr. Dascomb, professor of chemistry at Oberlin College, but Dr. Oakes was his private pupil. He received his first course of medical lectures in the medical department of the University of Wooster in Cleveland in the fall of 1873, and in 1876 he graduated from the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. In the fall of 1876 he began practice with Dr. M. L. Brooks, Jr., in South Cleveland, and he also served as a city physician there. In October of 1878 he came to Ridgeville Center and succeeded Dr. D. C. Bryant, a classmate at college, who was compelled to give up his practice here on account of the ill health of his wife. Dr. Oakes has prospered in Ridgeville, and his large practice is indicative of his. skill and ability. In 1882 he pursued a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic, and he spent the summer of 1883 in the hospitals of London, England, returning to New York City for further study and then to his practice at Ridgeville. He is a member of the Lorain County and of the Ohio State Medical Societies and of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., at Elyria, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Dr. Oakes married Luie M. Hurst, who was born in Avon township, Lorain county, in 1845, a daughter of William and Lucina (Moon) Hurst, pioneers of both Avon and Sheffield townships, Lorain county, Ohio. JOEL MILLER.—The late Joel Miller, of Willoughby, had been a resident of that village or its vicinity for more than forty years, and was able to recall events as far back as the visit of Lafayette to America. The Miller family came to Ohio in 1825, soon after the completion of the Erie canal. Joel Miller was born in Peekskill, New York, December 26, 1814. and died Tune 3. ioo8. His parents were Melancthon and Hannah Miller ; the parents of the former. were from New Jersey and the family of the latter from Sing Sing, New York. In 1825 Melancthon and Hannah Miller came to Ohio, settling in the wild woods in the southern part of Willoughby township. Her brother, Lewis Miller, late of Painesville, an old justice of the peace, had already settled in the neighborhood. At this time there was no-harbor at Cleveland, and the boat drifted from the harbor 'at Fairport, and had to be landed. Melancthon Miller soon afterward settled in. Willoughby Village, where he worked at his trade of shoemaker, his home being the present site of the new public library. He died in middle life, in 1839, and is buried in the cemetery at Willoughby ; his wife survived him more than forty-five years, and died in 1885 at an advanced age. Of their ten children, but five reached maturity, namely : Elizabeth, died unmarried, when past seventy ; Daniel, went to Illinois in middle life and died there ; Joel ; DeWitt, lived in Willoughby, became a merchant tailor, and died when past sixty ; and Lewis was a partner with his brother Daniel in hardware trade at Kirkwood, Illinois, where, both died. Joel was the last of the children of Melancthon and Hannah Miller. He recalled the trip to Ohio in 1825, and clearly recalled many events of his boyhood, which included many interesting experiences. He took up farming, and lived fifteen years on a farm in Mayfield, Cuyahoga county, which he cleared up and improved. He was married, in 1839, to Polly Van Gorder, daughter of Peter and Martha (Allen) Van Gorder. Martha Allen's father, Benjamin Allen, was a charter member of the Presbyterian church at Willoughby. Peter Van Gorder came from Genessee county, New York, and lived in Euclid tonwship. Polly was born in New York, and her father died in the latter state while returning from a visit there. After living fifteen years in the Mayfield farm, Joel Miller and his wife removed to a farm in Chester, Geauga county, and in 1864 the family settled in the village of Willoughby, Mrs. Miller having died in Chester. Joel Miller was a good mechanic and worked some years at the trade of mason. He retired from active life many years before his death, and retained his faculties to the last. He was a Republican, and was always willing to discuss the issues of political affairs and enjoyed such debate. He was a lover of history, and familiar with the chief events of the country's settlement and development. He was able to HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 945 relate mamy incidents of the early history of the region around his home, and had a clear recollection of the chief events of his own life and the happings of the community. He never cared for public office, preferring the quiet of private life. Mr. Miller lived in a simple, primitive manner, having few of the luxuries of modern life. He was greatly esteemed and respected by his townsmen, and his sterling worth was widely appreciated. Joel Miller and his wife had five children, namely: Delia, married M. Higgins, and died on her fifty-first birthday ; Quincy, formerly superintendent of the boiler department of the American Shipbuilding Company, now a mechanical engineer at Cleveland; Caroline, a dressmaker, lived with her father ; Mary, married Albert King, an accountant and bookkeeper at Willoughby ; and Frank, an engineer living in Cleveland. HON. THOMAS WADLEIGH HARVEY, educator and author, who died at his old home in Painesville, January 20, 1892, was one of the most eminent among Ohio's prominent school men. As a teacher he came into close sympathy with thousands of individual pupils, and later as school administrator was instrumental in advancing the general educational system of the state. By the text books of which he was author and editor the practical efficiency of instruction was increased in thousands of schools, and these books are still regarded among the valuable assets of the educational system of the country. At Painesville the work of Dr. Harvey as teacher and superintendent of the public schools is regarded as the foundation and the main structure of the present excellent school system of that city. The schools, which he found lacking system and definite form, and which are now among the finest of the state, are a monument to his zeal and labor. The late Dr. Harvey was born in New London, New Hampshire, December 18, 1821. At the age of twelve he came to Lake county in the Western Reserve with the family of his father, Judge Moses C. Harvey, locating on a farm in Concord. He attended the common schools until he was fifteen, and then learned the printer's trade in the office of the Painesville Republican, published by Horace Steele, Sr. Ever a lover of books, he was during these years a diligent student, and had the assistance of a private tutor. A fter six years as a printer he secured a teacher's certificate and was employed by the directors of a sub-district in Leroy, the original contract for which, bearing the date of 1841 and signed by Edward Clague, is still preserved. In 1845 he was a student in the Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary, where, under the instruction of Dr. A. D. Lord, he laid the foundation of a broad and liberal education. From there he went to Chardon and organized the Geauga county high school. In 1848 he became a teacher in the schools of Republic, Seneca county, and in 1851 was called to the superintendency of the Massillon Union schools. He was identified with the latter schools many years and became recognized as a leader in his profession. He was at Massillon during the war, and as his duties permitted he threw himself into that struggle with all the force of an ardent nature, speaking in schoolhouses, rallying recruits, and keeping alive a spirit of patriotism and loyalty at home. Impaired eyesight alone kept him from going into active service at the front. Dr. Harvey became superintendent of the Painesville public schools in 1865 and continued to hold that office from September of that year until October, 1871, and from September, 1877, to January, 1881. During the six years' interval he held the office of state commissioner of common schools. Governor Hayes appointed him to a vacancy in this office, and he was afterwards elected. As commissioner he exercised a wide influence upon the common school system of the state, and rendered opinions of the law which are still quoted. He was an earnest worker in the institutes of Ohio and adjoining states and was much sought as a lecturer. He was one of the founders of the Northeastern Ohio Teachers' Association, its first and for several successive years its president, and his earnest membership ceased only with his life. The relations existing between Mr. Harvey and the school men of Ohio were very close and intimate. He belonged to that stalwart group of Ohio educators who gave power and dignity to the profession during the last century. He was probably the most beloved of them all. "The good gray head that all men knew" was everywhere revered. His genial, affable nature won all hearts, while his true manhood and intelligence commanded their respect. Outside of his own state Dr. Harvey is chiefly known through his contributions to text book literature. He was author of a series of English grammars, which is still extensively used and well adapted to the needs of 946 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE public schools. Thousands of persons in other states would recognize Harvey's grammar as one of the familiar books of their school days. The grammars were carefully revised in 1878, and again in 1901. He was also author of a series of readers and assisted in the preparation of the Eclectic Geographies and in the revision of the McGuffey's readers. Dr. Harvey retired from the active duties of the school room in 1881, but his heart did not go out with him. It lingered there to help, strengthen and inspire those wh0 came after. During all these years he was a faithful friend of Lake Erie Seminary, serving from 1879 as one of its trustees. Many of his admirable lectures upon scientific subjeCts have been given to its students, and his interest in Memorial Hall, in which he placed an organ as a memorial to the beautiful life of his daughter, Annie, endeared him to all who gather there. His home life was beautiful. He found the companion of his life while teaching in the Chardon high school and was married to Miss Louise Beebe on February 6, 1849. He was an affectionate husband and father, and in his home exemplified all the Christian graces. In his library, containing nearly four thousand volumes of his own collecting, he found a solace for his leisure hours in the riches of learning and literature. A teacher sows, but must wait long years for the harvest. It was Mr. Harvey's special privilege to live to see much of the fruitage of his toil. He has left the imprint of his integrity, earnestness and scholarship upon the lives of his pupils, "his boys and girls," as he fondly called them ; upon the educational thought and sentiment of this community and the state. No man better served his generation in the great field of education. FRANKLIN H. KENDALL, superintendent of schools at Painesville, is one of the leading educators of the Western Reserve. Education has been his life work, the field in which his ambition has sought fulfilment, and his career is a record of progress and usefulness. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, January 15, 1862. His elementary education was received in the schools of that town and he was graduated at the age of fifteen. He then began work in a newspaper office, but after five years again entered school to prepare for a larger career. He was a student through his college life in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he received the degree of A. B. in 1887. In September of that year he became a member of the faculty of the Marionville Collegiate Institute at Marionville, Missouri, and at the close of the year was elected principal of the institute. This position he resigned the same year to accept the principalship of the Second ward school of his native city, and remained in that position three years, being principal of the night schools one year in addition to his regular work. He was then elected teacher of one of the departments in the Steubenville high school, but soon resigned in order to identify himself with the Painesville schools. . He had been elected principal of the Painesville high school and continued in that position eleven years. In this time the high school enrollment was doubled, and the school itself advanced in every department, while his reputation as an executive and administrator became thoroughly established. In 1902 he was advanced to the superintendency of the Painesville public schools, which position he now holds. In 1893 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah N. Harvey, daughter of Dr. Thomas W. Harvey, of Painesville. For a number of years Professor Kendall has been a member of the Lake county board of school examiners and of the Painesville city board of examiners, and is an active member of the National Education Association and of the Ohio State Teachers' Association. For the past eight years he has been president of the Painesville City Library Association. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Painesville. CHARLES HENRY BUTTENBENDER, secretary of the Hinkson-Buttenbender Company, Incorporated, contractors and builders, real estate and insurance agents, Elyria, Ohio, dates his birth in New York City, October 7, 1854. Mr. Buttenbender is a son of Henry and Caroline (Bowers) Buttenbender, the father a native of the Mines, and the mother of Alsace, Germany. They were married in this country, and the father was in business in New York City until 1860, when he came west and settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana ; he died in Fort Wayne at the age of sixty-six years ; his wife surviving him until January 6, 1910, dying in her eighty-third year, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S. A. Wikel. Charles H. was a small child when the fam- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 947 ily went to Indiana, and he was reared in Fort Wayne. Leaving school at the age of twelve years, he went to work for a grocer, at $2 per week, and from this small beginning worked his way up. He soon got a better' job in an uptown store. But the grocery business was not to his liking, and at the age of sixteen he left it and went to work for J. B. Harper, a silk hat manufacturer who had gone from Philadelphia to Fort Wayne. This trade the young man soon mastered, and for a time worked as a journeyman hatter. Silk hats, however, went out of style to the extent that the business was no longer profitable for Mr. Buttenbender, and he turned his attention to the moulder's trade, at which he worked in Fort Wayne until about 1886. That year he engaged in the flour and feed business, on his own account, and while thus occupied, in 1887, he was elected a member of the city council from the Eighth ward, the famous Democratic ward of the city. As showing his popularity there at this time, we record that the Eighth ward gave to Cleveland majority of 500, while Mr. Buttenbender, on the Republican ticket, carried his ward by a majority of 15o votes. He served on the council two years. Also he was deputy county assessor of Allen county, having charge of the office after leaving the council. In the meantime he sold his flour and feed store, and bought and shipped hay, doing a wholesale business in this line. In 1889 he entered the postal service, as railway postal clerk on the line between Cleveland, Ohio, and Syracuse, New York, and a short time after this he moved to Elyria. He continued in the mail service until 1906, when he resigned his position in order to organize the Hinkson-Buttenbender Company, of which he has since been secretary. In November, 1909, Mr. Buttenbender was elected councilman-at-large in Elyria, and on the organization of the council January 3, 1910, he was elected president pro. tern. of the council. For many years Mr. Buttenbender has been prominent and active in lodge work. In 1879, he joined Fort Wayne Lodge No. 14, I. O. O. F., and at the time of the building of the Odd Fellows temple in that city he was one of the trustees of the lodge ; he passed all its chairs and served as representative to the Grand Lodge ; was captain of Canton Fort Wayne Patriarchs Militant, for a number of years, and was elected and served as major of the Second Battalion, First Regiment. He joined the Knights of Pythias at Fort Wayne, in 1883, and after removing to Elyria lie transferred his membership to Chevallier Lodge No. 316. In this lodge he passed all the chairs, was chancellor commander twice, and served as representative to the Grand Lodge. He assisted in organizing Uniform Rank, Company No. 117, Knights of Pythias ; was elected captain, and held the position fifteen years. In Elyria, in 1907, he joined King Solomon's Lodge No. 56, F. & A. M. He was raised a Master Mason November 21, 1907, and November 6, 1908, received the thirty-second degree Scottish Rite. At this writing he is captain general of Elyria Commandery. Also he is a member of the Mystic Shrine. For years Mr. Buttenbender has belonged to the Volunteer Firemen's Association, of which for six years he has been president. Both he and his wife are identified with the Congregational church of Elyria. Mrs. Buttenbender before her marriage was Miss Estella C. Grout. She is a native of Franklin county, New York, and a daughter of William Groat. JAMES C. SMITH, vice president and manager of the Elyria Machine Parts Company, Elyria, Ohio, is a native of. the Empire State. He was born at New Hartford, Oneida county,. New York, November 16, 1861, and is descended from English and Scotch ancestry: His father, Edward B. Smith, was born in England, son of Jonathan Smith. 1 he latter lived and died in England. Mr.. Smith's mother, Helen (Cunningham) Smith, was a native of New Hartford, New York, and of Scotch descent. Her grandfather, James Cunningham, was born in Edinburg. Being a Radical and expressing his views too freely, he was thrown into prison. Influential friends, however, secured his release and he was sent. to Canada, from whence he came across the border into the United States, where he lived for many years. His wife was a native of Glasgow. Edward B. Smith was by trade a tool maker, and during the Civil war he was in the employ of the Remington Arms Company, at Ilion, New York. From there he came west to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he was in the service of the Atlantic & Great Western (now the Erie) railroad, and from whence, in the fall of 1867, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After living in the last named city for about twelve years, he came to Elyria, but he remained here only a year and a half, at the.end of that time returning to Cleveland, where he died in 1884.. His wife died in 1880. 948 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE In the public schools of Cleveland James C. Smith received his education. He left his studies when he had reached the second year in high school and became an apprentice to the machinist's trade. His first work was for the White Sewing Machine Company in Cleveland. He accompanied his parents to Elyria, and during their residence here he was in the employ of Topliff & Ely. When they returned to Cleveland, he worked for I. N. Topliff. Afterward he was with the Cleveland Telegraph .supply Company, (now the Brush Electric Light Company), and still later with the Chapin Nut Bolt Company. Then he came back to Elyria. Here he worked for Mead & Wallace, carriage hardware manufacturers, and subsequently for James Hollis, who had a machine shop on the site now occupied by the Elyria Machine Parts Company. Next we find him at Lorain, in the employ of the brass works, where for three and a half years he had charge of the iron valve department. Again returning to Elyria, he went to work for H. K. Day, who had bought out Mr. Hollis, and a year or so later he again entered the employ of the Topliff & Ely Company, which was then making the Garford saddles. December I, 1892, he took charge of the manufacture of the Garford saddles for the Garford Company, and was thus occupied until May, 1905. And in this connection, it is worthy of note here, that when Mr. Smith severed his connection with this company he was the recipient of a handsome gold watch and chain and Masonic charm, from the men in the factory, a token of their high regard for him. Mr. Smith then took the management of what at that time was known as the Rochester Valve Company, owned by Rochester people, and which a year later became the Elyria Machine Parts Company, an Ohio corporation, of which Mr. Smith was made vice president. Mr. Smith has for years been active in public affairs, especially taking a deep interest in municipal matters, and for nearly five years, up to January, 1908, was a member of the Board of Public Service, the last term being president of the board. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and in the Masonic order he has received the degrees up to and including that of Knight Templar. Mr. Smith has a wife and three children : Brenton Arthur, Helen Elizabeth, and Theodore Howells. Mrs. Smith was before her marriage Miss Vlizabeth Howells. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Howells, natives of Wales, who came to the United States in their childhood. MYRON VALPAU LONGSWORTH.—One of the large landholders of Leroy township, and one of its most progressive and practical agriculturists, Myron V. Longsworth displays excellent judgment in his operations, everything about the premises indicating the care and supervision of a good manager, and a thoroughgoing farmer. He was born June 6, 1849, in Oberlin, Ohio, a son of the late Dr. William N. and Rebecca Ann (Doolin) Longsworth. William N. Longsworth was born in M land, February 13, 1818, and about 1848 cated as a physician in Lorain, Ohio, then a small hamlet with a dozen or so h0uses. In 1854 Dr. Longsworth moved to Van Wert, Ohio, where he built up an extensive practice, which he continued until 1875. Opening then a drug store, he managed it successfully until his retirement from active pursuits. He died May 12, 1903, inConvoy, Van Wert county, Ohio. After completing his earjy education, Myron V. Long.sworth learned the harness maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship beginning with F. B. Shoope and finishing with a Mr. Strandler. Subsequently forming a partnership with J. D. Lloyd, he located at Delphos, Allen county, where for ten years he was busily engaged in the manufacture of a patent harness back pad, the pad, which proved very popular, being sold throughout the east and the middle west. This was patented by Mr. Longsworth and known as the Sensible Harness Pad. On December 8, 1906, Mr. Longsworth, who had become sole 0wner of the manufacturing business, exchanged it for the old Garrett farm, in Leroy township, where he has since lived. His farm contains 216 acres of choice land, and is well improved, having two sets of substantial buildings. Mr. Longsworth married, in 1870, Mary Ellen Mauk, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, a daughter of Michael Mauk, and to them six children have been born, namely: William Alden, with the Standard Oil Company, in Marion, Indiana ; Harry M., living in Delphos, Ohio ; Emery died in infancy; Otis, living on the home farm ; Mabel died at the age of nineteen years ; and Effie, a vocal and instrumental music teacher, lives at home. Po litically Mr. Longsworth is a Republican, HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 949 fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is fond of out-door life, and takes especial pleasure in fishing. OREN FRANKLIN CARTER.-No citizen of Lorain county is held in higher popular esteem or has served with more efficiency in offices of public trust than Oren F. Carter, the well-known citizen and representative business man of the thriving little college city of Oberlin, which owes to him much of its civic and material progress and prosperity. Mr. Carter was born at Napoli, Cattaraugus county, New York, on June 3, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Abbi (Hotchkiss) Carter, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, in October, 1798, and the latter of whom was born in the state of New York, March 111804. Berry Carter, the paternal grandfather of Oren F., was born in Connecticut July 28, 1773, and died on September 2, 1854. He married Lydia Hackley, who was born November 25, 1776, and whose death occurred on May 10, 1817. Thomas Carter was a tanner and currier by trade and in 1854 he came with his family to Lorain county, Ohio, settling on a farm in Russia township, where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits during the residue of his active career. His life was prolonged to a patriarchal age, as he was nearly ninety-seven years old at the time of his death, which occurred at Riceville, Pennsylvania, in June, 1895. His wife, Abbi ( Hotchkiss) Carter, died at Oberlin, Ohio, on December 31, 1864. Of their six children two are now living, the other being William L. Carter, of Los Angeles, California. Oren F. Carter received his early educational training in the common schools of New York and Ohio, and after the removal of the family to Lorain county he attended Oberlin Coliege for three terms. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until the death of his mother, and he then, in 1865, purchased the farm from his father. He continued to devote his attention to this homestead until 1867, when he sold the property and removed to Randolph, New York, where he was for a short interval engaged in the hardware business. He then returned to Lorain county, Ohio, and located in Oberlin, where he opened a hardware and agricultural-plement store. Here he continued to be successfully identified with this line of business enterprise for the long period of thirty years, the while maintaining an inviolable hold upon the confidence and esteem of the people of this section. For one year also he operated a coal mine in Coshocton county, this state. In 1897 Mr. Carter was elected county treasurer of Lorain county, in which position he served two consecutive terms, the first two years of which he resided in Elyria, the judicial center of the county. Upon his return to Oberlin he became a member of the village council, of which he was chosen president bro ternpore, and upon the death of Mayor Fauver he succeeded the latter as chief executive of the municipal government. At the ensuing election, in November, 1905, he was formally chosen mayor of the city by popular vote, serving two years. He cast' his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has voted for every presidential candidate of the Republican party since that time, taking a lively interest in the cause of the party and in all matters of public concern, both local and general. In 1908 he was chosen chairman of the Republican executive committee of Lorain county, of which office he continues incumbent at the present time. In November, 1909, he was again elected mayor of Oberlin. He has served as village and township treasurer, was a member of the Oberlin board of education for six years, and for a number of years was a valued member of the city council. Upon the death of Judge Steele he succeeded the latter as a member of the board of trustees of the Lorain county children's' home, a position of which 'he is still incumbent, and he is also a member of the Lorain county commission for the care of the blind. He is a member of the board of park commissioners of Oberlin and his activities and valuable co-operation touch all that conserves the material and social well being of the community. He was a member of the directorate of the old Citizens' National Bank of Oberlin until the organization of the State Savings Bank, when he became one of the leading stockholders of the latter, of which he is now a director and a member of the finance committee. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, of which both he and his wife are members, and they are held in affectionate regard in the attractive little city that has so long been their home and the center of their interests. On February 29, 1860, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carter to Miss Emily M. Brown, who was born at Port Sterling, Minnesota, a daughter of Rev. William and Mary J. (Little) Brown, who were at the time acting as missionaries among the Indians in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have one daugh-