USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 15
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
RTHUR L. CONGER, whose identi- fication with the business interests of Ohio and the west has made him one of the distinguished citizens not only of Akron but of the Buckeye state, with a reputation in business circles which extends far beyond the confines of Ohio, was born in Boston, Summit county, in which place his parents had located in 1831, removing from St. Albans, Vt. He is descended from one of the early families of New England. The advantages of wealth or influence did not sur- round him in his boyhood; in fact, at a very early age he started out to make his own way in the world, working at first for the meager sum of ten cents per day. As his business ability was developed with the passing years his wages were proportionately increased. and he received fair wages as a farm hand and as an employee in a brick-yard. Even when a boy he manifested the progressive spirit which
607
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
has been one of his pronounced characteristics, by embarking in business on his own account. With a neighbor boy he purchased a canal boat, which they operated some years. Later he engaged in school-teaching and at the same time he was learning valuable lessons in the school of experience and developing a self- reliance and force of character which have proved of incalculable benefit to him in his contact with the world.
Mr. Conger's service in the Civil war in- terrupted his pedagogic labors. Prompted by patriotic impulses he enlisted among the boys in blue of company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, and upon the organi- zation of the company was elected second lieutenant. Meritorious conduct won him pro- motion to the rank of first lieutenant, and ere the war closed he was made captain, thus serv- ing until July, 1865, when hostilities having ended he was honorably discharged. On the field of battle he was ever brave and fearless, and his caution and unusual foresight often called him to be selected for some special service. He was for some time acting adju- tant of the regiment, served as acting assist- ant adjutant-general on the staff of Brig-Gen. Jacob Ammon; was provost marshal under Gen. J. D. Cox, and was assistant inspector of railroad defenses of the department of the Cumberland, under Gen. George H. Thomas, a position requiring marked executive ability and mental grasp. The details of this impor- tant and responsible position were administered with such skill, intelligence and promptitude as to commend him to the personal attention of Gen. Thomas, whose congratulatory letters, as well as those of many other distinguished officers, he has now in his possession. He thus for some time had charge of the railroad diefenses of the department of the Cumberland, located at Nashville, under the immediate charge of Maj. James R. Willett, of the First
United States veteran volunteer engincers, to whom commissioned officers of that branch of service of the department made their reports. At the close of the war he returned home.
Civic as well as military honors have come to Col. Conger, by reason of his superior ability and worth. Ile was twiceelected treas- urer of Summit county, was city treasurer of Akron, secretary of the board of education, was president of the Business Men's club of that place, and a recognized leader in social, political and commercial life. He might have secured any political office he desired, but he seeks not reward for his active and efficient public service. For more than twenty years he has been an influential member of the re- publican committees of the state, served three times as chairman of the state republican committee of Ohio and for eight years was a member of the national executive committee. He has made a profound study of economic questions of national importance and is con- sidered a just and discriminating critic of many of the most subtle and perplexing branches of the tariff and financial questions, being to-day recognized as one of the ablest and most practical of financiers and politicians belonging to the class of manufacturers of the United States.
In 1870 Col. Conger became a traveling salesman for the Whitman & Miles Manu- facturing company, which had plants at Fitch- burg, Mass., and Akron, Ohio, and was the first company in the world to make a specialty of the manufacture of mower knives, reaper sickles and sections, beginning operations in 1850 and since maintaining the lead in the trade. The colonel was soon made a director of the company, a little later its vice-presi- dent, and later president of the new or con- solidated company, wh ch position he so ably filled until the fall of 1897. In 1877 the com- pany perfected a consolidation with George
608
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD
Barnes & Company, of Syracuse, N. Y., and for some years the business was handled only from the Akron and Syracuse factories, but owing to its great increase a plant was estab- lished at St. Catherines, Ontario, and later at Canton, Ohio. Other specialties for the agri- cultural trade in this country and abroad were also added to their list of manufactures, and branch houses have been established in New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Kan- sas City, San Francisco, London and Paris, thus providing more direct communication with consumers. The trade so rapidly grew that the capacity had to be greatly enlarged, and for this purpose twenty acres of land were purchased at West Pullman, Ill., on which to erect their fifth plant. In all the goods which are manufactured, the com- pany have a reputation for their excellence, the products of their factories being of ac- knowledged superiority.
Col. Conger married Miss Emily Bronson, a lady of high intellectual attainment and cult- ure, and a daughter of H. V. Bronson, of Peninsula, Ohio, whose father, Hiram Bron- son, was one of the partners who purchased the Western Reserve. The colonel and his wife have four sons: Kenyon B., Arthur L., Erastus Irving, deceased, and Latham H. Their beautiful and palatial homc, called Irving Lawn, in memory of their deceased son, is the center of a cultured society circle.
In 1882 Mr. Conger was elected to the command of the Eighth regiment, Ohio na- tional guards, and thus won the title by which he is generally known. He served in that capacity for eight years, during which time he held the position of honor at the public square during the funeral obsequies of President Gar- field. In 1885, in. Ashland, Ohio, he held in check an excited mob of nearly ten thousand at the time of the execution of Horn and Griffin, and, without firing a shot, thus pre-
vented a scene of bloodshed and horror. He has always taken an active part in the work of the Grand Army of the Republic, was depart- ment commander of Ohio in 1886, and is a member of the Ohio commandery of the Loyal Legion. He belongs to the Protestant Epis- copal church and has long been president of the Union Charity association of Akron. His benevolence and charity have made happy many a home, and the extent of his munifi- cence is known only to himself. The life of such a man as Col. Conger needs no eulogistic comment from the biographer. It speaks for itself. Splendid success has crowned his busi- ness efforts, honors have awaited him in civil and military life, but above all he has won the love and respect of the poor by his recognition of the brotherhood of mankind, and his readi- ness to acknowledge worth and merit in the humblest representative of the race.
a ILLIAM H. DEISMAN, a highly respected horticulturist of North- field township. Summit county, Ohio, and a veteran soldier of the Civil war, springs from sterling Pennsylvania- Dutch stock, Henry Lewis Deisman, his grand- father, having come from Germany at the age of seventeen years, about the time of the American Revolution, and settled in Wells- ville, York county, Pa.
William H. Deisman was born February 6, 1841, on the farm where he now lives, a son of Henry L. and Letitia (Coulson) Deisman, was here educated and reared to farmning. He enlisted, in Cleveland, Ohio, when twenty years old, October 11, 1861, in company D, Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war; re-enlisted as a veteran at Chattanooga, Tenn., January I, 1864, and served until honorably discharged,
Mr. H. De isman
لاجاف
١
٠٤٠٠.
009
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
August 12, 1865, after the war had closed. He was in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Cor- inth, Perrysville, Stone River and Chicka- mauga, where he was shot in the right knee and was in hospital until December, 1863, when he rejoined his regiment and was in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, and Pickett's Mills, May 27, 1864, where he was shot through the right side by a minie ball and was taken to field hospital and then to the hospital at Ac- worth, where he remained until June 14, and was then transferred consecutively to Chatta- nooga, Nashville, Jeffersonville, Ind., and Camp Dennison, Ohio. He rejoined his regi- ment in March, 1865, at Huntsville, Ala., and remained until June 16, when he was dis- charged. He has never recovered from the wound in his side, and it is still open about one-half of the time.
After the war Mr. Deisman returned to the home farm, of which he has cleared sixty acres. This farm he purchased in 1870, but at that time it contained none of its present improvements, which have all been made by himself. He now has a beautiful dwelling, substantial out-buildings, lawns, and twenty acres set in fruit, including apples, pears, plums, peaches and cherries, and many vari- eties of small fruits. In 1895-96 he produced about 3,000 bushels of apples, each year, and in 1897 sold over 350 bushels of plums and about fifty bushels of strawberries, and in fruit culture he is considered to be the most suc- cessful of any person in the county, beside which, he has been more than usually success- ful in dairying. He married, in 1866, Miss Mary J. Johnson, who died in March, 1872; he next married Miss Carolina E. Nesbit, daughter of William and Lucinda (Johnson) Nesbit. William Nesbit was a pioneer of Northfield township, and a soldier in the war of 1812, and his son, David G. Nesbit, was a soldier in the Civil war in company G, One
Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, in the three years' service.
William H. Deisman is in politics a re- publican, having cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a member of the Methodist church at Bedford, Ohio. He has held the office of township trustee two years, is one of the most respected citizens of Northfield town- ship and stands high for integrity of character. He has a fine military record and served his country faithfully for more than four years.
Henry L. Deisman, father of subject, was born in 1807 and married, in Pennsylvania, Letitia Coulson, of York county. The chil- dren born to this union were James C., Eliza- beth, Isabel, Margaret, Ann, Mary and Will- iam H. Henry L. Deisman settled on the homestead where our subject was born, about 1832, and cleared up a farm from the woods and made good improvements. He was first a whig and then a republican in politics, lived to be sixty years of age, and died in 1867. He was a hard-working, industrions man, respected by all. William H. Deisman is a member of R. L. Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio, and served as com- mander one year. He is also a member of lodge No. 375, F. & A. M., at Bedford, and is one of the most respected residents of North- field township.
ILTON C. DANFORTH, a promi- nent farmer and one of the most respected citizens of Darrowville, Summit county, Ohio, descends from an English family who two centuries ago set- tled in New Hampshire.
William Danforth, the founder of the fam- ily in America, came from England and landed at Boston, Mass., about 1670, but settled in Newbury, in the same state. A brother came with him and settled in Maine. Rev. Nicholas
610
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Danforth, also from England, was the founder of another branch of the Danforth family. William Danforth, with others, received a grant of land from the Massachusetts Bay colony in the town of Boscawen (now Web- ster), N. H., and there lie settled and lived many years.
William Danforth, the great-grandfather of subject, was a farmer of Boscawen, N. H., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Enoch Danforth, son of William, was born in New Hampshire, was a farmer, and married in Vermont, near Saint Albans, Hannah Hains, a native of Vermont, of German ancestry. Of their children, Sabra, Hial, Mary, Louisa, Harrison, Judith and William reached mature years. Enoch Danforth, grandfather of sub- ject, came to Marion county, Ohio, in 1823, and settled on a farm. He was attacked by malaria and died one year later, aged about forty-five. His family then came to Darrow- ville and his children were mostly reared in Summit county.
Hial Danforth, son of Enoch, was born June 8, 1808, at Boscawen, N. H. He came to Ohio with his father in 1823, and married, May 4, 1831, Sophia Darrow (born at Darrow- ville, March 31, 1810), a daughter of Joseph and Sallie (Prior) Darrow. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hial Danforth settled on the farm, then consisting of forty acres, where Milton C., our subject, now lives, improved , the property and added to it until he owned 115 acres, and erected good buildings. He was a member of the Methodist church when young, but imbibed liberal views in later life. In politics he was a whig, but became a republican on the organization of this party. He was an honored citizen, held the office of township trustee, and lived to be eighty-one years, and died May 29, 1889. His children were Mary (who died at the age of thirteen years), Milton C., Helen S. and two others
who died in infancy, viz: Charles E., aged six months, and Edmond E., aged two years and six months.
Milton C. Danforth was born June 13, 1836, on the home farm, received a common-school education and was reared a farmer. IIe married, August 21, 1858, near Darrowville, Miss Chloe B. Marvin, who was born Sep- tember 8, 1837, in Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Ulysses and Elizabeth (Bradley) Marvin. The Marvins and Bradleys descended from Connecticut Puritans. Ulysses, the father of Mrs. Danforth, was born in New England, was a cloth dresser by trade, and married, May 1, 1822, in Middletown, Conn., Elizabeth Bradley, born October 25, 1800, a daughter of Arba and Esther (Chamberlain) Bradley. Ulysses Marvin moved to Ohio in the early 'twenties and settled on a farm in Stowe township, Summit county, which farm he cleared up, but still followed his business of cloth dresser. He was a member of the Disciples' church, of which he was a deacon for many years; in politics he was first a whig, but assisted in organizing the republican party. He was the father of Arba B., Jane E., So- phronia, Asahel, Chloe B., and Ulysses L., of Akron, judge of the state circuit court. Mr. Marvin lived to be eighty-six years of age, and died May 11, 1887, at the residence of our subject; Mrs. Marvin died June 28, 1884.
After marriage Mr. Danforth and wife set- tled on the old Danforth homestead and have lived here ever since. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Danforth, Jennie E., Nina R. and Milton H. are those who have lived to mature years. Mr. and Mrs. Danforth are lib- eral in religious belief and in politics he is a stanch republican, and cast his first presiden- tial vote for John C. Fremont and his next for A. Lincoln. Mr. Danforth has served as town- ship trustee and supervisor and as a member of the school board, and has been a notary
611
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
public many years. He is a charter member of Darrowstreet grange, No. 751, and was the master of the grange for years, and he is dep- uty state master, looking after the interest of Summit county granges. He is a man of ex- cellent character and stands high in the town- ship, and his children have all received good educations. Jennie E. is married to Edward O. Shively, and has one child -- Mabel E., and resides at Darrowville, Ohio. Nina R. is married to F. R. Howe, and Mil- ton H., who was married October 20, 1897, to Miss Frances G. Ball, daughter of Dr. W. T. Ball, of Mantua Station, Portage county, is a resident of Darrowville, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Howe are publishers of The Children's World, a journal devoted to rhetorical exercises in the public schools, be- side all grades of school aids. Their business has grown to large pretentions and some mail days their output reaches to fifteen sacks of publications. Their business comprises mail business entirely, and the grade of the work is first-class and is indorsed by all the practical educators.
Mr. Danforth is an ardent advocate of spir- itualism, which is now recognized in many places as one of the important factors in relig- ious belief, and of the truth of which he be- came convinced in 1858, two years after its announcement to the world as a religious doc- trine, but it was not until 1890 that an organ- ization was formed in Portage county, although national in character. The local originator of the movement was Dr. David M. King, of Mantua Station, Ohio, with the aid of the spirits, which were associated with him. The organization, now known as the National Spir- itual and Religious Camp association, is lo- cated at Mantua Station, Ohio, owning a hotel, beautifully located within one-half mile of the Erie railroad depot in Maple Grove, 30x90 feet and three stories high; but there will be an-
other more pretentious building, which will be erected soon. There are about thirty cot- tages erected on the grounds. The audito- rium, 120x60 feet, will accommodate about 2,000 people. Here, in this beautiful grove, God's first temples, is where these happy peo- ple congregate each year, and each year brings new additions to their religious belief. Rev.' Moses Hull, one of the best and most profound Bible scholars in the United States, is the chief exponent of this work.
Dr. Hull, Rev. A. J. Weaver, Milton H. Danforth and D. M. King, also Dr. Schermer- horn, of Akron, Ohio, conduct a school each summer at the camp grounds, which is one of the great aids in spreading the teachings of the Spir- itualists. Mr. Danforth has been president and chairman of the organization since 1890, and his onerous duties have been received by his people with the greatest satisfaction. Some of the most striking seances have been given at Mantua, Ohio, and such prominent mediums as Mrs. Sheets, of Michigan; A. B. French, Clyde, Ohio; Mrs. Anna L. Robin- son, of Port Huron, Mich. ; Mrs. Jennie B. H. Jackson, of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Lyman C. Howe, of Fredonia, N. Y .; Mrs. Cora L. Richmond, of Chicago, and Mrs. Mary C. Lyman, principally platform workers, have been present, which indicates that the work is in a very flourishing stage. Mr. Danforth has been an indefatigable worker in the Lord's vineyard in this religious belief, being a gen- tleman of more than ordinary executive ability and courteous in manner, and has done much to advance the cause.
Mr. Danforth's mother, who had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years and eight months, died December 18, 1897, sin- cere in the spiritualistic belief. Her life was replete with good works or deeds, and her departure was peaceful and contented, and she was beloved by all who knew her. Her remains
612
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
are interred in Maple Grove cemetery, where a beautiful granite monument stands sacred to her memory.
............
RS. EMELINE BLISS, of North- field Center .- In a work of this character the pioneers deserve more than passing mention. To those sturdy men and women of a time now histori- cal the present owes a debt of gratitude which is ouly augmented by the increase of years, a debt of whose significance future genera- tions will be prepared to more adequately esti- mate. To the life work and influence of the venerable lady whose name heads this sketch the community of Northfield Center is in- estimably indebted. Here her whole life has been passed, and the good she has done will live after her. Iler work of love in the com- munity will form an imperishable monument to her memory.
Emeline Palmer was born at Windsor, Conn., April 5, 1815, daughter of Hezekiah H. and Abagail (Taylor) Palmer, who were the original pioneers of Northfield Center, building the first log cabin there in 1832. Hezekiah Palmer was born in Windsor, Hait- ford county, Conn., January 19, 1781, was married May 29, 1811, to Abigail Taylor, who was born in Buckland, Mass., January 12, 1792. To them were born eight children, viz: Julia A., Emeline, Abigail T., William L., Horace H., Henry T., and two who died in in- fancy. The Palmers are of old Connecticut stock, who came over in the Mayflower, some were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Paliner first came to Ohio in 1822, locating at Willoughby. They were six weeks in making the journey in a large covered wagon drawn by two yoke of cattle and a horse. After a few years the family returned to their native
town and state. In 1831 Mr. Palmer came again to Ohio, purchasing 160 acres at the center of Northfield. Returning, he brought out his family in June, 1832. He built the first log house at the center of Northfield, in the woods, which in a few years was replaced by the frame house. Here the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Palmer was a most exemplary woman, patiently enduring the labors and privations of pioneer life. She was truly a helpmeet for her husband. At sixteen years of age she united with the Bap- tist church, and for sixty-eight years was true to the church of her early choice. Mr. Palmer lived and died an honored and worthy citizen, upright in all his dealings, obliging and courteous to all.
Miss Emeline Palmer, the second child and daughter, was married in a log house at Northfield May 9, 1839, to Ambrose Williams Bliss, who was born December 6, 1806, at Jericho, Vt., a son of Timothy and Anne (Campbell) Bliss. Ambrose W. Bliss received a common-school education in his native state and learned the trades of millwright and car- penter. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1833 and for some years he worked at these trades in Cleveland, being engaged for some time as a foreman on the public works in Cleveland harbor and Black river. Previous to his mar- riage in 1839 he bought thirty acres of par- tially cleared land a half mile south of North- field Center, where he resided for a few years. He and his brother, Lucien, had previously bought 150 acres a mile west of the Center, which Lucien improved. In 1837 Ambrose W. bought 165 acres at what is now North- field Center. Of this tract but a few acres had been cleared. He completed the task of clearing, and, about 1843, erected the present substantial homestead. This was the first large two-story frame house in Northfield and is still standing, a commodious and pleasant
ماء
AWBliz
615
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
residence. Mr. Bliss was largely engaged in contracting and mechanical pursuits. He built many of the acqueducts and locks on the Ohio canal, also trestles and bridges, beside many buildings of a substantial character, having been engaged in nearly all the works of importance in his vicinity. In the true sense of the term, Ambrose W. Bliss was a self-made man. Through his own sturdy efforts and the assistance of his faithful wife, prosperity came, and at the time of his death he owned 240 acres of finely improved farm- ing lands. In his political faith Mr. Bliss was an old-line whig, and a warm Union man, and was one of the original republicans of his county. By his upright manner of living he received the honors of his community and held, in his township, the offices of justice of the peace and township trustee. He also served the county six years as commissioner -- from 1854 to 1860-and was one of the directors of the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (now C., A. & C. road). Mr. Bliss was an ardent friend of religion, and was a life member of the American Bible society. He was a well- read man, taking a lively interest in the affairs of the day. His excellent judgment in men's affairs, coupled with his unquestioned integ- rity, gave him a high place in the community of which he was so valued a member. The children of this family were Ellen, Lorin, Horace and George. Horace was a soldier in the Civil war, a private in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, and died February 20, 1863, of disease contracted in the service. Though quite young at the time of his enlistment, and of frail physique, his high patriotism impelled him to offer his services to his country, and against the wishes of his parents he heroically went to meet an untimely death. The daugh- ter, Ellen Bliss, remains at home to care for her mother in her declining years. Miss Bliss !
is a lady of marked intelligence, refinement and grace, and is possessed of fine literary tastes. She acted as historian for the West- ern Reserve Historical society in the prepara- tion of the work on "Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve." The family is very prop- erly one of the most respected in the county. Mrs. Bliss, the venerable subject of this mem- oir, although now past the allotted three score and ten, possesses even excellent memory and vision; her mental faculties are unimpaired. She is one of the few remaining pioneers of the Western Reserve who have seen all this wonderful advance in the condition of the wilderness of her childhood, and her reminis- cences of former times are interesting and valuable.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.