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AURORA TOWNSHIP.

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REUBEN N. AVERY, farmer, P. O. Aurora, was born on his present farm in Aurora Township, this county, December 10, 1829, son of Reuben and Corrinna (Lewis) Avery. Reuben Avery, Sr., was born at Horseneck, Conn., March 7, 1772, and removed to this township in 1816 with his first wife, Rachel Baldwin, by whom he had ten children. After her death he was married to

Mrs. Corrinna (Lewis) Faxon, widow of Isaac D. Faxon, by whom she had four children. She was born in Farmington, Hartford Co., Conn., December 23, 1789, came to Mantua Township, this county, in 1813, and in early life taught school. Her union with Mr. Avery resulted in the birth of six children: Amelia M., Minerva C., Augustus, Henry, Reuben N. and Betsey E. The father died May 22, 1873. Our subject was educated in the common school of his native township. He was married January 1, 1854, to Frances Hatch, born in Aurora Township, this county, December 14, 1835, daughter of Dr. John and Harriet (Gordon) Hatch, natives of Otsego County, N. Y., who removed to Aurora Township in 1826 and 429 respectively, and where the former died in 1842- His widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Avery are the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Lawrence G., Willis L., John H. and Lillian F. Our subject is a farmer by occupation, and owns eighty acres of land. He has filled a number of the township offices. In politics he is a Democrat.

HARVEY BALDWIN, farmer, P. 0. Aurora, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, April 14, 1823; son of Harvey and Laura (Kent) Baldwin, who were the parents of four children: Laura Ann (deceased), Harvey, Philander (deceased) and Oscar 0., residing in Minnesota. Harvey Baldwin, Sr., was born in Danbury, Conn., in 1796, and came to Cleveland, Ohio, with• his father and family in 1806, and the following year to Aurora Township, this county. At eighteen years of age he left his home and embarked upon his career in life, first taking a trip South, thence to New York. In 1819 he purchased a quantity of cheese and cranberries, which he conveyed overland to the Ohio River, thence by skiff-boat to Louisville, where he disposed of them. The following year he shipped a cargo to New Orleans, and continued in the cheese business for a period of twenty-five years, making frequent trips down the Ohio River, and as often as once a year to New Orleans. In 1830 he purchased land in Streetsboro, this county, and in connection with farming, engaged extensively in the manufacture and sale of cheese. He died in February, 1882. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Suffield, Conn., March, 1797, came to Aurora Township, this county, in 1807, and is now residing with our subject. Mr. Baldwin, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools. Leaving home when eighteen years of age, he engaged as farm-hand for Charles Harmon, and in 1847 commenced farming for himself in connection with dairying, which he has since continued, excepting three years spent in California. In December, 1847, he married Emily Carver, who has borne him the following children: Ella F., wife of E. R. Merrill; Alice W., wife of F. A. Gould; Carrie E. deceased; Hattie E.; Anna Laura and Minnie C.

REUBEN N. AVERY, farmer, P. 0. Aurora, was born on his present farm in Aurora Township, this county, December 10, 1829, son of Reuben and

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GEN. NELSON EGGLESTON, farmer, was born October 3,1811, in Aurora Township, Portage Co., Ohio ; son of Moses and Sally (Taylor) Eggleston. His father was born in Middlefield, Mass.. in 1784. He came to this township with his brother Joseph in the spring of 1806; after arriving, and looking up the land for which their father's farm in Massachusetts was exchanged, they commenced clearing away the trees, and making preparations for the arrival of the rest of the family the coming year. Among other labors, the ensuing spring, they made maple sugar, fashioning the spouts and buckets, for gathering sap, from basswood, with only their axes, knives and a sap•gouge for tools. During the succeeding summer Joseph revisited Massachusetts, and returned with the Eggleston, Taylor, and Root families, in all, thirty-two in number. They came through Pennsylvania and by way, of Pittsburgh. In 1810 Moses had made quite an opening on his land and erected a cabin having provided it according to, the fashion of those times, he proposed to ibis Sally Taylor to come and join with him in the labors and struggles of a border life. This place was one mile and a quarter northwest of the center of Aurora, on the old Cleveland and Newburg road. In the war of 1812 Moses enlisted in the service, and was sent to Huron with his company immediately after the surrender of Hull. His wife stayed at the cabin, not knowing what hour the British and Indians might defeat her defenders, and repeat again the scenes of the River Raisin. In 1824 he moved to the Center, where he remained until his death, August 6, 1866. He was formerly of the Federal, then of the Whig and Republican party, by which he was honored with repeated elections to the offices of Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. He was an influential member of the Presbyterian Church, and his career that of a man of industry, economy and integrity. The mother of our subject was born in Massachusetts, in 1792, and died in April, 1838. She had three children, two of whom survive her—Nelson and Wealtha. The latter is now living in Tuscola, III., the widow of Simeon D. Kelley, by whom she had seven children, three boys and four girls; the sons, Moses, Hiram, and Randolph, served through the late war of the Rebellion. Moses, settled at El Presidio, Texas, where he in a short time accumulated a handsome property, and became a prominent citizen, but was murdered about 1880. His two brothers still reside there. Our subject passed his early life on his father's farm, received a common school education, and spent some time at Hudson College, whence he graduated in 1831. He taught school in Calloway County, Ky., nearly a year, returned, and commenced to read law wih Mathews & Hitchcock, of Painsville, Ohio; subsequently he studied with Humphrey & Hale, of Hudson, and September 9, 1834, was admitted to the bar upon motion before the Supreme Court sitting at Ravenna. He was married, January 29, 1835, to Miss Caroline Lacy, daughter of Isaac J. Lacy. By this union there are two children, Emmett and Addis. Mr. Eggleston engaged earnestly in the practice of his profession for a time, but submitting to the demands made upon him by his father for help in the working of land, and receiving no pecuniary aid from him in the purchase of books, or in the erection of an office, for which things he was unwilling to run in debt, he flung up the law, and has devoted himself since to farming. In 1834-35 he was Adjutant of the cavalry regiment in the Twentieth Brigade, Ohio Militia, under Col. O. L. Drake, of Freedom; afterward was promoted to the Colonelcy, which office he held two or three years until his resignation. Still later he was elected to the command of the brigade, with the rank of General. Mr. Eggleston has a wide acquaintance with the early settlers of northeastern Ohio, and has been connected in various ways with its progress. He called the first meeting at his own house that was ever held to consider the subject of a railroad from

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Pittsburgh to Cleveland. The report of this meeting made by him and published, resulted immediately in a large convention at the center of Aurora, from all the towns on the route. He has earned a handsome competence, owning 500 acres of improved land in Ohio, and 1,200 in Missouri. He takes a lively interest in literature and politites, but does not permit them to-interfere with his daily labor and the management of his farms. He is a disciple of Thomas Jefferson, and acknowledges no other master.

JOHN GOULD, of Aurora Township Portage County the gentleman here introduced, a well known citizen of Aurora, is now in his forty-second year, having been born in Twinsburg, Olfio, in 1844, of New England parentage. His father, John W. Gould, came from Vermont to Ohio in 1837, and his mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Post, from Saybrook, Conn., removed to

Ohio with her parents in 1821. Mr. Gould and Miss Post were married in 1839, which relation was broken in 1882, when the beloved mother died, leaving besides her husband, three children: John, Aaron, and Ettie. In 1848 the family removed to Aurora, where they resided an unbroken family until 1879. John, the subject of this sketch, led much the life of any farmer's son, going to

township schools, and for several winters was under the tutorship of the Rev. Joseph S. Graves; being of a very studious turn of mind, he added to his limited school advantages a general fund of information gleaned from an extended reading of books, magazines and the best papers. In 1870 Mr. Gould became locally connected with the Cleveland Herald, and in 1873 was advanced to the position of traveling agent of the paper. The year following he became a staff correspondent, and in that capacity made extended tours, his travels in one year alone taking him into nearly a score of States. When the temperance movement known as the " Woman's Crusade" began, Mr. Gould was delegated by his paper to report it, and for over three months this was his exclusive duty, his observations taking him to nearly every corner of the State. In 1879 Mr. Gould was married to Miss Helen Ferris, only daughter of Dr. Osman Ferris, of Mantua, Ohio. Giving up journalism, they located at Aurora Station, Ohio, and farming became his occupation, but in 1880, upon the reorganization of the editorial staff of the Herald, he again became connected with the editorial force of that paper, with special assignment to its agricultural department, though his pen furnished many columns to other departments, and many long journeys were taken as a " special correspondent." The same year, by . urgent solicitation, Mr. Gould also became dairy editor of the Ohio Farmer, and for years his writings for that journal over the pseudonym of "Sam," have been widely read. When Secretary Chamberlain, of Columbus, organized the lecture course known as "Farmers' Institutes," Mr. Gould was early assigned to a prominent place as a special lecturer upon dairy and kindred subjects, and during the winters of 1882-83 and 1884, he has visited nearly every part of the State in that capacity. While rarely ever speaking of the extent of his literary work, it is known that he is a frequent contributor to the better class of farm journals, and his writings are sought for, from East to West, by such papers as the New York Tribune, Rural New Yorker, Country Gentleman, Coleman's Rural, Prairie Farmer, etc. With the disappearance of the Herald in 1885, Mr. Gould was promptly offered a position upon the editorial staff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have always resided at Aurora Station, where they assert they shall always continue to reside, and in the future, as in the past, welcome their many friends to the hospitalities of their home.

SAMUEL F. HICKOX, retired farmer, Aurora, was born in Hartford County, Conn., September 9, 1810; son of Josiah and Betsey (Forward) Hickox, who were the parents of four children: Josiah V. ; Betsey, wife of Marcus Taylor; Sam-

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uel. F., and Chauncey, deceased in 1836. Josiah Hickox, a native of Watertown, Conn., was born August 22, 1777, a son of Ebenezer Hickox, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, who was descended from one of three brothers, natives of England, who immigrated to America in the early part of 1700, The father of our subject came with his family to Aurora Township, this county, in 1818, and here engaged in farming until his death, which occurred August 2, 1840. His widow, who survived him until January 15, 1884, was born in Granby, Conn., June 18, 1787, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Holcomb) Forward, also natives of Granby, Conn., who came to Aurora Township, this county, in 1803, and here died, the father in 1821, and the mother in 1830. Samuel F. Hickox was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. In 1840 he was married to Miss Emily Blair, born in Aurora, November 21,1816, and died January 26, 1884, leaving four children: Oliver, Walter G.. Henry M. B. and Olivia, wife of Albert Sheldon. Mr. Hickox is a Democrat in politics; an active member of the order of A. F. & A. M.

CHESTER R. HOWARD, farmer and mechanic, P. O. Aurora Station, was born February 3, 1812, in Hartford, Conn.; son of Freeman and Eunice A. (Risley) Howard, natives of Hartford, Conu., and a descendant of Thomas and Susanna Howard, who emigrated from England to America, and settled in Ipswich, Mass., in the year 1634, Freeman Howard, subject's father, was born in 1789; was a carriage-maker by trade, and in 1828 came to Aurora and erected and controlled a saw-mill and grist-mill. He died in Chardon, Ohio, February 3, 1867. His wife was born June 15, 1788, died June 26, 1866, at Chardon, also. They were the parents of the following children: Freeman, Jr., Chester .Risley, Eliza, Celestia and Julius Field. Our subject remained at home during his minority, assisting his father in farming and in the saw-mill. In 1846 he bought the property his father had first owned in Ohio, and has since continued to occupy it. He has been twice married, on first occasion to Harriet Benjamin, who died July 10, 1864, leaving the following children: Emertt, Emerson, Elmira and Eliza. He subsequently, September 7, 1865, married Harriet, daughter of Robert and Rhoda (Henry) Root. Mr. Howard has always quietly and assiduously devoted himself to his private affairs, except when he has been called by the citizens of his township from time to time to discharge the duties of District Assessor, and other local offices.

ELISHA HURD (deceased) was born March 10, 1822, in Aurora Township, Portage Co., Ohio, son of Hopson and Betsey (Lacy) Hurd, who had a family of seven children: Maria, wife of P. H. Babcock, of Cleveland, Ohio; Elisha; Hopson; Eliza, wife of S. C. Greene; Frank; Cornelia, wife of J. E. Williams, and a daughter deceased. About 1815 Hopson Hurd, accompanied by Roman Humphrey, came over the mountains with a stock of goods and embarked in business in Aurora. Mr. Humphrey in a short time withdrew from the firm, and the business was then carried on for many years by Mr. Hurd alone. He accumulated a large fortune and died in Aurora in 1869. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Aurora Township, and here married, October 13, 1852, Louisa Williams, born in Newark Valley, N. Y., May 13, 1830, daughter of Stephen Williams, of Tioga County, N. Y. Four children were born to this union: Eliza, wife of Frank Aldrich, in Cleveland, Ohio; C. Williams; Fred S.; and McClellan, also in Cleveland. Mr. Hurd remained at home assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty- nine years of age, when he engaged in cattle dealing on his own account, and about 1857, in company with his brother Frank, embarked in mercantile trade. and at the same time attended to his dairy, live stock and farming interests, This firm continued until the death of Elisha, when Frank carried on the bus-

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iness until 1879, and then sold out to Fred and William S., sons of Elisha Hurd. Mr. Hurd was a Republican in politics. By industry, tact and perseverance he accumulated considerable property, and owned over 700 acres of land at the time of his death, June 17, 1868.

ZENO KENT, farmer, P. 0. Aurora, was born on his present farm in Aurora Township, this county, February 20, 1821, son of Zeno and Emily (Granger) Kent, natives of Connecticut, who made a permanent settlement in Aurora Township, this county, in 1810. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living: Julius, a farmer in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Zeno, and Delight, wife of Mr. Gillman, of Iowa. Mr. Kent died March 27, 1837, and his widow, February, 1865. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received such an education as could be obtained at the schools of Aurora and Ravenna in those early days. In 1848 he was married to Miss Almira, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Gould, who were natives of Vermont. Mrs. Kent died November 27, 1867, leaving six children: Helen H.; Leroy Zeno; Charles E.; Emily D., wife of Arthur Stanton; Dora and Nora. Keno Kent is one of the oldest living residents and natives of this township. He has followed the occupation of a farmer during his life, and is now owner of 340

acres of good land, besides having given each of his sons a farm to start them in life.

SOLOMON LITTLE, farmer, P. 0. Aurora, was born on the farm where he now resides in Aurora Township, Portage Co., Ohio, December 27, 1825, son of Warren and Susanna (Spencer) Little. Warren Little was born April 16, 1780, in Middlefield, Mass. He was thrice married, on the second occasion to the mother of our subject, also a native of Middlefield, where she was born September 12, 1781, and who bore him seven children, hree of whom are now living: Harmony, wife of Seth Sawyer; Nancy, widow of Oliver Smith, and Solomon. Our subject's father and mother both died in Aurora Township, this county, the former November 8, 1868, the latter July 30, 1838. Our subject was reared on the farm upon which he now resides, and in 1864 he married Myra Ward, born at Middlefield, Mass., January 13, 1840, daughter of John and Phcebe (Church) Ward, also natives and residents of Middlefield, Mass, To this union have been born three children, two of whom are now living: Elma and Harry. Mr. Little, who is a farmer by occupation, owns one of the best farms in the township, comprising 330 acres of fine land. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

HERBERT T. SHELDON, Sheriff and farmer, P.O. Aurora, was born April 17, 1842, in Aurora Township, Portage Co., Ohio; son of Ebenezer and Sarah K. (Sizer) Sheldon, who 'were the parents of six children: Horace S.; Herbert T.; Arthur E.; Sarah A. (Mrs. C. W. Hammond), in Hubbard, Ohio; Ruby E. (Mrs. Seymour Higley), in Windham, Ohio; Charles S., in Yellow Springs, Greene County, Ohio. The father of our subject was a native of Aurora Township, this county, born April 30, 1811, and was reared, educated and married here; he engaged in farming and merchandising, was a Republican in politics, Clerk of the township for a number of years; he died February 7,1876. His widow, who was born in Massachusetts, March 13, 1818, came to Mantua with her parents in 1831, and died in Aurora in August, 1881. Our subject passed his early life at home, and was educated in the common schools of the township. When twenty years of age he engaged in farming for a year on his own account; February 20, 1862, he was married to Ella G., daughter of Roswell and Dorothy L. (Ellsworth) Bissell, who has borne him two children: Maud, wife of William Reed, of Bainbridge, and Claude E. In 1853 Mr. Sheldon entered the store of G. L. Hoor & Co., remaining with them four

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years, after which he canvassed for the sale of fruit trees in West Virginia. In 1868 he purchased a farm one mile east of Aurora Center, where he remained nine years, but in the spring of 1877 removed to a farm of C. R. Harmon's and engaged in farming. He is a Republican in politics, has served as Trustee of the township several times, and for years has been Township Clerk. In August, 1884, he was nominated Sheriff by his party, and in October, 1884, was elected Sheriff, and took his seat, January 5, 1885.

OLIVER SPENCER, retired farmer, P. O. Aurora, was born in Middlefield, Mass., August 25, 1801; son of Samuel W. and Lucy (Fisk) Spencer,who settled in Aurora Township, this county, in 1812, but after living here one year went back to Massachusetts. After the death of his wife, Samuel W. Spencer returned to Aurora Township, where he remained the balance of his life. He was the father of twelve children, four of whom are now living: Oliver, Selden, Thompson and Nelson. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Spencer, of Middlefield, Mass., settled here in 1812, and lived with his son Brainerd until his death. In 1829 Oliver Spencer settled in Aurora Township on the farm where he now resides, all of which he cleared and improved. He has been twice married, first, in 1823, to Sally Little; on the second occasion, September 3, 1829, he was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of Sylvanus Eldridge, of Aurora Township, this county. They have had three children: Melinda (deceased), Matilda (Mrs. O. J. Payne) and Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are members of the Congregational Church, with which he has been connected for upward of forty years, and for thirty-five years has been a Deacon in same.

WORTHY TAYLOR, retired farmer, Aurora, was born in Hampshiie County, Mass., January 10, 1797; son of Samuel and Sarah (Jaggers) Taylor. The father of our subject was a native of Springfield, Mass., a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and came to Aurora Township, this county, with his family, in 1807, and died in 1813. His mother was a native of Hebron, Mass., and died, in 1853, leaving eleven children, of whom are now living, Worthy, Col. Royl and Marcus. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in Aurora Township, this county, and upon attaining his majority engaged in farming, which occupation he has since continued. On February 17, 1817, he was married to Miss Harriet Kent. In 1872 Mr. Taylor removed to Aurora Center. where he is now residing. He is a member of the Disciples Church; has served the people of his township as Justice of the Peace for twenty. seven years. In politics he is a Republican.

MARCUS TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Aurora, was born in Middlefield, Mass., September 22, 1805; son of Samuel and Sarah (Jaggers) Taylor (see biography of Worthy Taylor). In 1807 he accompanied his parents to Aurora Township, this county, locating on the farm which he now occupies, and which has since been in the name of the Taylor family. In 1828 he purchased the homestead of his elder brother, Samuel, who had become its owner after the death of their father. Our subject was married, September 22, 1833, to Betsey IL, daughter of Josiah and Betsey (Forward) Hickox (see biography of Samuel F. Hickox), by whom he has had two children: Sally M. (deceased) and Chaunoy M., who married Emma Stanton, of Streetsboro, and resides on the home farm, having three children. Mr. Taylor is one of the oldest settlers and cit. izens of Aurora Township, and has served in several positions of trust.