USA > Ohio > Lorain County > A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the. > Part 13
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"Let me die where the blue heaven bends over me lovingly,
And the soft summer air as it goes by me stirs my thin white hair, And from my forehead drives the death damp as it gathers. And the sky seems waiting to receive my soul to their clear depths. Or let me leave the world when round my bed,
Wife, children, weeping friends are gathered,
And the calm voice of prayer
And holy hymning shall my soul prepare
To go and be at rest with kindred spirits.
Spirits who have blessed the human brotherhood
By labors, cares, and counsels for their good."
CHARLES L. MORSE. The youngest son of the late Levi and Betsy Minerva (Mann) Morse, whose long and worthy lives spent in Lorain County has been previously described, Charles L. Morse has given his career primarily to business pursuits and for a number of years has been in the insurance and real estate business and the handling of surety bonds. His office is in the Ely Block.
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Born at Elyria October 3, 1861, he received his early education in the public schools of that city, and after reaching manhood spent nine years as a local merchant. At 390 Broad Street he established himself in the cigar, tobacco and restaurant business, and that street number has been the location of the restaurant ever since, being now the home of the J. R. Jones restaurant. For the past sixteen years Mr. Morse has been in the fire insurance business, having engaged in that line in 1898. He now represents twelve of the strong and reliable companies doing business at Elyria. His offices were in the old Elyria Block until it burned in 1910. since which time he has had his business headquarters in the Ely Block.
Mr. Morse is a man of quiet, retiring nature, a great lover of home and outside of business has seldom identified himself with public life. He is a member, however, of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. Oc-
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tober 18. 1882, he married Miss Clara M. Bassett of Eaton Township, Lorain County, and a daughter of Henry and Betsey E. (Slauter) Bas- sett. Further particulars concerning the late Henry Bassett will be found in succeeding paragraphs. Mrs. Morse was born in Eaton Town- ship, but was educated in the Elyria public schools, graduating from high school in the class of 1881, about a year before her marriage. Mr. Morse when opportunity offers takes his recreation in hunting and fishing.
HENRY BASSETT. In his lifetime Henry Bassett was one of the best known and most highly respected farmers and citizens of Lorain County, having been a resident of Eaton Township continuously for nearly sixty years. He performed his share in the pioneer labors which transformed the wilderness into a country of homes, farms and institutions, and was a witness to almost every important change which occurred in Lorain County from the time of early settlement until well toward the close of the last century.
His birth occurred at Chili, Seneca County, New York, July 23, 1814, and when he died at his home in Eaton Township of Lorain County, January 21, 1891. he had lived usefully and well for seventy- six years six months. His parents were Daniel and Phebe (Covert) Bassett. who were natives of the same county in New York State. were married there. and in 1834 started west with their family of children, finally arriving in Lorain County and making settlement in Eaton Town- ship. Daniel Bassett died at LaPorte in this county in 1846 and his wife passed away in Eaton Township at the age of eighty-two.
Twenty years of age when the family emigrated to Lorain County, Henry Bassett had in the meantime profited by attendance at the schools of his native town. Arriving in Eaton Township, he applied himself to the heavy task of clearing away the woods and cultivating the land under the primitive conditions that then prevailed. Farming was his life occupation and from it he secured an ample competence for himself and family.
On November 5, 1835, a few months after his twenty-first birthday, he was married in Carlisle Township to Miss Betsey E. Slauter. She was born in 1818 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jared and Sarah (Curtis) Slauter. Her parents were born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, were married there, and soon afterward moved to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and in 1826 allied themselves with the new coun- try of Lorain County, making settlement in Carlisle Township. They came west by wagons and teams, and at that time Mrs. Bassett was eight years of age, and walked the greater part of the distance from Pennsylvania alongside or following the wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Slauter spent the rest of their days in Lorain County, and he passed away about eight years after the death of his wife. There were ten children in the Slauter family : Ephraim, who went to Wisconsin, where he died; Lydia, now deceased, was the wife of Everett Stoddard, one of the early settlers of Eaton Township; Mary Ann, deceased; Sarah, who became the wife of Henry Warner and moved to Whitehall, Wisconsin ; Betsey E., who married Henry Bassett; Henry, who died in Wisconsin; Jared, who died in Carlisle Township; Jane, wife of D. L. Gibbs of Carlisle Town- ship; Olive, wife of R. Gibbs, of Carlisle Township; and Hiram, who spent his active career at LaPorte.
In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bassett there were born thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity, and most of them married and established homes of their own, and there were seventeen great-grand- children when Mrs. Henry Bassett died. These children in order of age Vol. II- 6
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are mentioned as follows: Charlotte, now Mrs. Anson Lines of Grafton Township, Lorain County; Caroline, wife of John Hart of Elyria; Sarah, wife of Sylvester Tompkins; Charles, who died in 1879; Daniel, who lives at Defiance, Ohio; Ollie, who died in Lorain County as Mrs. Lemuel Barlow; Frankie, Mrs. Nathaniel Benedict of Michigan; Julia, wife of Marion Sutliff, of Elyria; Edwin, of Eaton Township; George, of Eaton; Serepta, wife of Edwin Welton of Elyria; Clara M., wife of Charles L. Morse, of Elyria; Alice, wife of Frank Jackson, of Eaton Township.
At the beginning of his career Henry Bassett found himself aligned in political opinion with the whig party, and afterwards became an energetic and ardent republican. He enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens and filled a number of offices of trust in his home town- ship. It should be recalled that Mrs. Bassett taught the second school held in Eaton Township. She was a woman of culture, and presided with dignity and charm not only over her own household but, stood high socially all over the township. It is difficult for the younger generation to realize the toil, privations and hardships which such old settlers as Henry Bassett and wife endured while establishing their homes in Lorain County. When he erected his first home in Eaton Township the country was almost a dense forest, and it required not only persevering toil day after day, month after month and year after year, but also a high degree of courage, enthusiasm and sturdy ambition in order to convert the forest surroundings into a well cultivated farm. He succeeded in this and in his later years lived in a substantial house and had around him all the comforts and conveniences he required. About fifteen years be- fore his death he gave up active farming and bought a house and lot on Butternut Ridge. There he by no means spent his time in leisure, but employed it in superintending the cemetery and was almost constant in his care of this attractive city of the dead. As a result of his administra- tion the cemetery in that locality surpassed in neatness and general upkeep any burying ground in the county. Thus these years of his retirement were devoted to a useful service for which he received the gratitude of a great many people. His entire life was upright and honorable and whether as a friend or neighbor or in his business trans- actions he gained the lasting respect of all who knew him.
JAMES T. HORSLEY. Born and reared in England, Mr. Horsley has maintained his home in the United States since 1886, in which year he established his residence at Lorain, Ohio, where he is now living virtually retired, after an active career marked by consecutive industry and worthy achievement.
James Thomas Horsley was born in Worcestershire, England, on the 11th of November, 1851, and is a son of George and Emma Horsley, who passed their entire lives in England, where the father was a pros- perous farmer in Worcestershire. He whose name initiates this article is indebted to the excellent schools of his native land for his early educa- tional discipline, and his boyhood days were compassed by the in- vigorating influences of the home farm. He continued his activities in various occupations in England until 1886, when he came to America and in the same year established his permanent home at Lorain, where he conducted a meat market for some time, after which he had supervision of a corps of stevedores in the service of the C. L. & W. Railroad for a period of six years. Thereafter he was superintendent of the building employed by the Sheffield Land & Improvement Company during the time when this corporation was laying out and developing South Lorain, his service in this capacity continuing about nine years.
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Upon becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States Mr. Horsley espoused the cause of the republican party, and as a candidate on its ticket he was elected justice of the peace in 1903. In this office he gave an administration marked by mature judgment and much circumspection, and he continued its incumbent for nine years, after which he served for a time in the office of constable at Lorain. His upright character and genial personality have gained to him in Lorain County a circle of friends that is limited only by that of his acquaintances, and he is a citizen who is well entitled to recognition in this publication. He is affiliated with the local organizations of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
In his native land, on the 8th of October, 1874, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Horsley to Miss Mary Collins Griffin, and thus his family accompanied him on his immigration to the United States, some- what more than a decade later. Mr. and Mrs. Horsley have four children : Edith is the wife of Luceme Hinckley and they reside in the City of Cleveland. They have two children, James L. and Beatrice. George Henry is identified with business activities in the City of Lorain. He married Mrs. Cornelia Steiner, and they have one child, Eleanor. Laura is the wife of Samuel Vokes, of Cleveland. She has one child by a former marriage, named Edward. Miss Beatrice remains at the parental home.
HON. GEORGE H. CHAMBERLAIN. As a lawyer of undoubted ability and a public leader whose influence has helped toward the success of the republican party in a number of campaigns and has himself enjoyed the distinctions of legislative office, George Henry Chamberlain has been an active member of the Elyria bar for more than twenty-five years. He is a native of Lorain County and has earned his advancement by definite purpose, high aims, and the possession of exceptional talent.
The Chamberlain family has been identified with Lorain County since 1848, when his grandfather, John Chamberlain, settled in Grafton Township. John Chamberlain was born in New York State and married Amy Perkins, whose grandfather, John Perkins, was a soldier of the American Revolution. John Chamberlain died in Grafton Township in 1850 at the age of fifty-four and his wife passed away at seventy-five in 1873.
During the middle period of the last century Lorain County num- bered among its industrial and capable farmers and business men George B. Chamberlain, the father of Senator Chamberlain. George B. Chamberlain was born at Brookfield, Cortland County, New York, in 1834, was brought to Lorain County when a boy of fourteen, was trained to farming and made that his vocation during most of his life. In 1880 he retired and for a short time was engaged in the hardware business at LaGrange. He died in 1884. George B. Chamberlain married Elizabeth Cragin, who now lives with her son George H. and was seventy-seven years of age December 27, 1914. She was born in LaGrange Township, Lorain County, a daughter of Benjamin and Mahala (Boynton) Cragin, who were among the early settlers of Lorain County. Her father was born in Weston, Windsor County, Vermont, was married in that state, and his children were named Lorena, Benjamin, Charles C., Adna A., Esther, Horace, Harrison and Elizabeth, the last being the only one born in Ohio. In September, 1835, the Cragin family left Vermont, drove a wagon as far as Buffalo, and thence came up the lake to Cleveland and across country to Lorain County. Settling in Grafton Township, Ben- jamin Cragin paid $4.00 an acre for a tract of woodland consisting of 105 acres. He built himself a log cabin, cleared up, planted and culti- vated a large part of his farm, and lived there until his death on July
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31, 1865. His wife had passed away about ten years before. They were members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Cragin was prominent in the local church during the early days, serving it as trustee, class leader and steward. The four children of George B. Chamberlain and wife were: William P., who is now a rural mail carrier from Grafton; George H .; Charles C., who died at the age of twelve; and Emma Jane, who died in infancy.
On the old homestead in Grafton Township George Henry Chamber- lain was born June 21, 1862. Some of his happiest memories concern themselves with his boyhood in the country, and Mr. Chamberlain then imbibed a love of farming and country life which has never left him and which recently led him to move from his city home to his attractive farm of 142 acres just outside the city limits of Elyria in Ridgeville Town- ship. One of his farm boundaries joins the city limits. The first seven- teen years of his life were spent in Grafton Township, and along with other experiences he received instruction in the district schools and also attended Oberlin College. Among the records of his earlier experience are found several terms spent as a school teacher. Soon after reaching his majority he began the study of law in the office of E. G. Johnson, one of the ablest members of the Lorain County bar for many years, kept up this course of study for three years, and was admitted to the bar by examination on June 9, 1887. He tried his first cases and earned his first fees in Elyria, where he practiced two years, and then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to become general agent for the Home Life Insurance Company. Though a resident of Milwaukee six years. he was in the insurance business only two years, and the rest of the time was spent as one of the interested principals in a manufacturing concern. Returning to Elyria in the spring of 1895, Mr. Chamberlain has since conducted a large general practice as a lawyer, and the character of the patronage entrusted to his care, his frequent appearance in cases of importance, sufficiently testify to his high standing as a local lawyer. On April 1, 1913, Mr. Chamberlain removed from Elyria to his farm just outside the city, and has since been taking life somewhat easily, though visiting his city office daily. He has a fine farm, a splendid orchard which he keeps in condition by spraying and is able to pursue his farming as a recreation as well as profit.
His first important participation in politics came in 1896, when he stumped Lorain County for the election of William Mckinley, and was also a speaker in various other parts of the state. He has since par- ticipated in every campaign in that section of Ohio. In 1900 he pre- sented the name of E. G. Johnson to the congressional convention, and in 1901 his own name was placed on the republican ticket for the State Senate. ' He was elected and served in the Seventy-fifth and Seventy- sixth assemblies. In the latter session he was chosen president pro tem by acclamation, and had the united support of both parties. In the Sev- enty-fifth Assembly he was chairman of the Committee on Federal Rela- tions, and a member of the committees on Labor, Taxation, Benevolent Institutions, Judiciary, Insurance, Universities and Colleges, and Mu- nicipal Corporations. In the Seventy-sixth session he was a member of the committees on Public Works, Judiciary, Common Schools, County Affairs, Taxation, and Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Homes. A unique feature of his record while in the Senate was that every bill introduced or actively supported by him was passed. Since his service in the Senate Mr. Chamberlain has been looked upon as one of the ablest and most influential public men in Lorain County and this was well demonstrated in the congressional convention of 1906, when he retained throughout the long deadlock the united support of Lorain County as nominee
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from the Fourteenth District and came within four votes of the neces- sary number for nomination. He finally withdrew, and gave his support to the nominee who was subsequently elected. In May, `1910, he was nominated by the republicans for Congress, but in that year the tide of political favors was flowing in another direction, and his party was defeated.
Of his service in his own precincts there should be noted his mem- bership on the Board of Education of Elyria for twelve years up to January 1, 1912. He was president of the board five years until 1910. He has also served as president of the Board of Elections, and is one of the live members of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he is a member and trustee, and for twelve years served as superintendent of the Sunday school.
While he may well be satisfied with his individual accomplishments, Mr. Chamberlain takes his greatest pride in his fine family. In June, 1883, he married Miss Etta K. Mynderse, who was born in LaGrange, Ohio, daughter of Andrew C. and Louise (Hart) Mynderse, both now deceased. To their union were born nine children: Charles B., the oldest, is now assistant manager of the service station at Detroit, Michi- gan, for the Wheeler & Schebler Carburetor Company; Geneva E., the oldest daughter, was graduated from the Elyria High School, pursued her higher education at Rochester, New York, and for the past eight years has been instructor of domestic science in the Elyria public schools; the daughter Vera died at the age of fourteen; George H., Jr., who after graduating from the high school was employed for a time by the National Tube Company at Lorain, is now the man in charge of the Safety Sani- tation and Welfare Department Exhibit at the Panama Exhibition in San Francisco (1915) of the United States Steel Corporation; Gertrude A., now living home, at the time of her graduation from 'high school in 1909 was accorded the honor of having made the highest general average throughout her course in the records of the school. The daugh- ter Ruth since graduating from high school has spent one year of train- ing at the Elyria Memorial Hospital and is now continuing her work of preparation for trained nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland. The sons William and Robert are now in their last year in the local high school, while the youngest, John, is attending the grammar schools.
GEORGE B. KELLY. One of the most active business men of Oberlin is George B. Kelly, who starting his career in early youth and without money or influence has gradually accumulated about him much that repre- sents solid accomplishment and also much of the esteem paid an honorable and hard-working citizen.
A native of Lorain County, he was born May 2, 1864, a son of Nathan and Jane (Davis) Kelly. His father was born in Rutland, Vermont, in 1830, and died in September, 1914, while the mother was born in Michigan in 1835, and died several years ago. The parents were married in Lorain County, and the father followed farming all his active career. He was a democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Davis, was a native of Michigan and spent his life there as a farmer. George B. Kelly is the second in a family of four living children, out of six born to his parents. His brother, James, is a farmer at Oberlin. His sister, Louisa, married Seth Bailey, of South Amherst, while Belle is the wife of Clarence Kellmer, a machinist at Amherst.
George B. Kelly as a boy attended the common schools at Amherst, and was still in his teens when he took his first regular occupation as driver of a milk wagon. For fourteen years he earned a living and gained
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business experience by that line of work at Amherst. He also spent five years as a worker in a quarry. The foundation of his present prosperity was largely laid as a farmer in Russia Township, and Mr. Kelly now owns two farms in Lorain County. In 1901 he moved to Oberlin and has since been engaged in the livery business, under the firm of Kelly & Jones, his partner being H. H. Jones, as the largest establishment of its kind in the town. Mr. Kelly in association with G. H. Bailey also con- ducts a delivery business, and has the contract for delivering goods for all the merchants.
In 1890 he married Elizabeth Bailey, who was born in England and came to America with her parents when five years of age. Her father, John Bailey, located in Lorain County forty-five years ago. To their marriage have been born two children: Blanche, now in high school; and Lois, also a student of the public schools. Mr. Kelly and family attend the First Congregational Church and in politics he is a republican.
F. E. BRADLEY. Of the third generation of the Bradley family in Lorain County, F. E. Bradley represents a name that has been closely identified with this county since pioneer times. The work by which he has commended himself to the esteem of the community has been chiefly as a farmer, though he has also performed with credit a share of public duty. He owns a fine farm in Wellington Township, and his prosperity has been well earned.
He was born in Wellington Township of Lorain County, February 28, 1865, a son of William and Hannah. A. (Pritchard) Bradley. His paternal grandfather, William Bradley, came to Wellington Township as a pioneer, and he and his family for a time occupied an old log house. He spent most of his time on the farm, but died in the Village of Wel- lington. His maternal grandfather was Joseph Pritchard, who made settlement in Medina County, where he spent his years. William Brad- ley, who was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, in 1819, and' died September 21, 1892, had an early experience as a "bound boy" in Massachusetts. He came to Lorain County in 1836, when a vigorous youth of seventeen, went into the woods, and in the course of a few years had cleared up 100 acres of land for his father. Later he bought that farm, and made it the scene of his prosperous activities. He was very active in the Methodist Church and a, devout Christian, and exer- cised a wholesome influence in the community. At the time of his death he left an estate of 150 acres. His wife was born in Connecticut in 1823 and died in 1899. They were married in Lorain County. Of their nine children the six now living are: Albert Oscar, who is a grape grower in California; Burton P., who has an orange grove at Arlington Place, California; Sarah, wife of W. F. Starr, of Penfield Township; Joseph Henry, who lives in California ; Mary A., in California; and F. E.
Mr. Bradley grew up on the home farm in Wellington Township, attended the district schools, and has never sought any better or more attractive occupation than that of farming. In his earlier years he worked very hard to get a start, and in 1908 was able to buy out the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead. Besides the general crops, he raises some thoroughbred cattle and hogs, and does some dairying.
On December 24, 1891, Mr. Bradley married Kate Bachtell, who was born in Brooke County, Virginia, and moved from there to Medina County, where she met her future husband. They have four children : Merle, now twenty-one years of age and at home; Katherine, Neal and Scott, all still at home. The family are all members of the Methodist Church at Wellington, and Mr. Bradley is a republican. In the way of
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public service he was for seven years a trustee of Wellington Township, and proved as able and conscientious in the performance of public duties as he has in the management of his private affairs.
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