USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 21
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 21
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and threw several cars full of soldiers sixty feet, down an embankment; fifteen soldiers were killed and many injured. Mr. Marquitt escaped serious injury. His car went down end- wise and several soldiers inside it were killed. Mr. Marquitt was on top and held on to the break, and his comrade, Hiram B. Floyd, of Mc- dina county, was killed at his side. Mr. Marquitt served two years as color guard, a position of importance and great danger, and was mus- tered out of service with the rank of corporal. At the battle of Resaca, Ga., a piece of shell struck the " U. S" in his belt and knocked him down, but he arose and valiantly took his place in the ranks. This happened while they were making the charge, and while in line of battle in the same action a minie ball struck his blouse sleeve and tore it from wrist to el- bow while he was in the act of capping his Enfield rifle. At Frankfort, Ky., his wife's cousin, James Abbott, of company F, took sick, and Mr. Marquitt attended him till his death, and his remains were sent home to Cleveland.
After the war Mr. Marquitt returned to Hinckley and resumed farming. He married, April 16, 1859, in Hinckley township, Isabella Clyne, who was born at Westfield, Media county, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Norman) Clyne, natives of Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. Marquitt have been born Eliza- beth, Charles J., Jessie J. and John N. In politics Mr. Marquitt is a republican and an ex- member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R. He is an honored citizen, a substantial farmer and straightforward, industrious man.
ARTIN H. MARQUITT, whose post- office address' is West Richfield, Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citi- zen of Hinckley township, Medina county,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
where he was born March 17, 1839, on the old Marquitt homestead, a son of Zachariah and Susan (Seaton) Marquitt. The name was originally spelled Marquette, and is of French origin. He was brought up a farmer and en- listed, April 23, 1861, at Akron, Ohio, and was mustered in April 27, at Camp Jackson, Ohio, to serve in company K, Nineteenth reg- iment, Ohio volunteer infantry, for three months, Capt. A. J. Konkle. He served four months and fifteen days, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, August 31, 1861. His service was in West Virginia, and he took part in the battle of Rich Mountain, and was in many skirmishes after the guerril- las-a dangerous and arduous service. He re- turned home after his term expired, and re-en- listed in Hinckley township as a member of Capt. Charles Cotter's company A, First regi- ment Ohio light artillery, was enrolled on the fourth day of September, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged December 31, 1863, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by reason of re- enlistment as a veteran volunteer. He re-en- listed in the same organization, under Capt. W. F. Goodspeed, and was enrolled January 1, 1864, to serve three years, and was again honorably discharged as corporal of company A, First Ohio light artillery, July 31, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, his captain being Charles W. Scoville-having served his country faithfully four years, three months and eight days-this being the longest service of any soldier from Med na county. He was promoted to cor- poral, for meritorious service, September 13, 1864. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, skirmish at Shelbyville, Lawrenceburg, Ky., Dog Walk, Perryville, Danville, Crab Orchard, Mill Creek, Murfreesboro or Stone River, Chickamauga, and on the famous Atlanta campaign, where the troops were under fire 120 days; at the
battles of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoocheeiver, Peach Tree Creek, battle in front of Atlanta from July 22 to July 28, Lovejoy Station, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Marquitt was always an active soldier, was not wounded nor sick in hospital, but was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part. In the rout of the right wing at the battle of Stone River, his gun was captured, and Mr. Marquitt motioned to the colonel of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, and he made a charge with his company, and they recaptured the gun. At the same battle Mr. Marquitt saved one gun of his battery and six horses, which had been abandoned. His comrades, William Gargett and John Marquitt, came across the gun on the retreat. William Gargett and John Marquitt rode off a team of horses each, and Mr. Marquitt rode the wheel team with the gun under an enfilading fire. He lay on the side of the horse and got away safely. The middle team were down and en- tangled when he came upon them, and he, assisted by his comrades, straightened up the team under fire. Battery A fired, on the At- lanta campaign, 3,680 rounds of ammunition, and lost in killed, captured and abandoned, 119 horses.
Zachariah Marquitt, the father, was born March 28, 1804, in Sodus Point, N. Y., a son of Daniel and Catherine (Tremper) Marquitt- an old New York state family, Daniel Mar- quitt being a farmer. His children were Catlı- erine, Louisa, Maria, Betsey Lucinda and Zachariah. Daniel came to Hinckley town- ship, Medina county, Ohio, about 1835, set- tled in the woods and cleared up a good farm. He took great interest in the Methodist church, his house being the home of the pioneer Meth- odist preachers. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age. He was a man of excellent
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character and of kindly and mild disposition, was never angry and lived up to his profession. Zachariah Marquitt was married in New York state and two of his children were born before he moved to Ohio, in 1835, when he settled on 114 acres of land in Hinckley township, and by thrift and energy he increased this to 300 acres of good land and was a substantial farmer. His children were Mary, Daniel, James, Martin and John. In politics he was an old-line whig and republican and served as township trustee. He lived to be eighty-five years old, and died December 23, 1889, at Wellington, Ohio, where he had retired to pass his days. He was a strong Union man during the war and all his sons were soldiers in the Union army. John A. was a private of battery A, First Ohio light artillery, enlisting in the spring of 1861, and was in all the marches and battles during 1862-1863. At the battle of Stone River he assisted his brother Martin and William Gargett in saving the gun from falling into rebel hands, as men- tioned above. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and while at home on veteran furlough died of consumption, April 12, 1862-having taken a severe cold in Kentucky by fording streams in cold weather on his return home. Daniel J., another son, enlisted in an Chio regiment, but saw no service. Zachariah Marquitt, father of subject, was a man of unblemished character, well known for uprightness and honesty.
Martin H. Marquitt received a common- school education and attended, one year, Baldwin university, and when the war broke "ut he enlisted. After his return from the war, September 12, 1866, he married Maria B. Gargett, of Hinckley township, Medina county. She was born January 11, 1844, in Hinckley township, a daughter of John and Mary (Woodward) Gargett. John Gargett was born in England in 1804, a son of John 1
Gargett, a farmer. John Gargett came from England when a young man and settled in Ilinckley township, Medina county, Ohio. He was a stonemason by trade and farmer. He built the Perkins house in Akron and his stone residence on his homestead in 1840. Ile married, at Sharon, Medina county, Ohio, January 1, 1837, and settled in Hinckley town- ship, on 120 acres with good improvements, paying $4 per acre, although it was almost in the woods. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he was first an old-line whig and then a repub- lican. Their children were Mary, William, Maria, Robert, Laura, Alice, James, Henry and Elizabeth. Two sons were in the Civil war-William and Robert. William J. was in battery A, First Ohio light artillery, and served through the war; Robert was in the Second Ohio cavalry, served one year and was in the battle of Pea Ridge.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Marquitt settled on 160 acres of good land and have made many improvements. Their children are Delno, Clifford and Lura. Mrs. Ma quitt is a member of the Methodist church in Rich- field, and in politics Mr. Marquitt is a repub- lican. He voted for A. Lincoln on his first nomination for the presidency, and was one of the original republicans of Medina county. He is a member of Go'dwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfield, has served as township trustee two times, has been a member of the school board twenty years and reared an excel- lent family.
INOTT L. NEWTON, a well-known farmer and stock raiser, was born and reared on the farm which he still owns and occupies in Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, his birth hav- ing occurred March 6, 1845.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
John Newton, grandfather of subject, was born in Connecticut February 24, 1787, and came to Ohio in 1806, locating in Hudson, where he lived about four years, then returned to his native state, where he married, in 1810, Miss Laura Thompson, and in 1815 came back to Hudson, Ohio, with his wife and two chil- dren-Marcus and Lucius. A few years later he came to Richfield, where he soon rose to prominence as an agriculturist and statesman, becoming a member of the state legislature and an associate judge of the state supreme court. His death occurred in March, 1867, and that of his wife about four years previously, leaving a memory still held in honor through- out the county and state. Beside the two children, Marcus and Lucius, born in Connect- icut, two others were born in Ohio-John T. and Rebecca. Of these, Marcus was a fariner and a local minister of the Methodist church, and died in january, 1874, a pious and ear- nest Christian; Lucius will receive further men- tion in the following paragraph; John T. be- came prominent as a lawyer in Toledo, and Rebecca, now Mrs. Weld, is living in Richfield.
Lucius Newton, father of subject of this memoir, was born December 19, 1814, and began the battle of life at the age of twenty- two years, locating in Royalton, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he purchased 640 acres of timbered land, 200 of which are cleared and fenced, and devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising for about five years, and then came to Richfield township, Summit county, where he resumed the same calling, of which he made a decided success and followed until his death, which occurred on December 4, 1896. He owned at one time fully 1, 000 acres of fine land, the greater part of which he di- vided among his children. He was married in May, 1838, to Miss Caroline Brockway, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1818, of Connecticut parentage. The children born
were five in number, viz: John T., an influ ential farmer-citizen of Hudson township. Summit county; Homer E., deceased; Minott L., our subject; Laura, wife of J. M. Mckin .. stery, secretary of the Royal Arcanum of Cleveland, Ohio, and Virgil L., deccased.
Minott L. Newton was educated in the district schools of Richfield township and at Oberlin college, and later went through a business course at Hiram college. April 15. 1885, he married Miss Emma Ellas, a native of Summit county, Ohio, born February 21, 1861, a daughter of Louis P. and Amanda (Munday) Ellas, who was born in Tioga county, N. Y., in 1834. Loren Ellas, father of Louis P., was a native of Vermont, was married in that state to Sarah Hardy, a native of Connecticut, and later went to New York state, where he was engaged in farming and lumbering until 1837, when he brought his family to Ohio and settled on a farin in North- ampton township, Summit county, where his death took place in 1867, when his widow removed to Steuben county, Ind., where she expired in 1874.
Louis P. Ellas, when a young man, learned boat-building and carpentering in Boston township, Summit county, Ohio, and followed these trades about thirteen years, and then for two years kept a grocery in the same town- ship. Removing to Bath township, he kept hotel three years, or until April. 1863, when he settled in Richfield township, kept hotel at West Richfield a year, and then removed to the East Center, where he kept a popular and prosperous hotel and also engaged in buying and selling live stock until 1874. He ther sold his hotel and bought a farm, which he cultivated three years, making a specialty of raising stock on his land. Again he engaged in the hotel business, opening up a most favorite resort in Richfield, which he operated until April, 1881, when he retired. To his
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CAWightman
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
marriage, in April, 1856, with Miss Amanda Munday, who was born in Tioga county, N. Y., in 1831, there were born three children, viz: Elmer C., Emma and Ella. Mrs. Ellas is now deceased, but Mr. Ellas still resides in Kichfield, a most respected gentleman. To Mr. and Mrs. Newton was born a bright little daughter, March 15, 1891, now the sunbeamn that shines the brightest in the household.
Mr. Newton's splendid farm of 400 acres is one of the best in the township and is excel- lently well improved. He makes a specialty of raising Durham cattle and as a breeder his fame has spread far and wide. In politics he is a republican, but has never been ambitious to hold public office, but as a citizen he has always been public-spirited, and is greatly esteemed on account of his individual merits and progressive proclivities.
HARLES A. WIGHTMAN, district agent of the John Hancock Life In- surance company of Boston, Mass., with headquarters at rooms Nos. I and 2, Odd Fellows' temple, Akron, Ohio, has had the charge of his company's affairs in this city since the spring of 1893, when he suc- ceeded. Frederick E. Smith, now vice-pres- ident of the Second National bank. . The dis- trict over which Mr. Wightman holds control in the interest of the John Hancock Insurance company covers Summit, Portage, Medina, and parts of Cuyahoga and Wayne counties, and within the short time Mr. Wightman has been its agent, the business of the company has been increased over a half a million dol- lars -- an instance of the wonderful energy and business ability of Mr. Wightman, who had previously been in the insurance business three years only, having before that time been a shoe dealer in Akron.
Mr. Wightman was born August 5, 1852, 27
in Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a son of Horace F. and Mary P. (Burgess) Wightman, of old Connecticut stock, his grandfather, John Wightman, having come from the Nut- meg state and having settled in Cleveland when it was little more than a village. John Wightman kept the first house for public en- tertainment in the embryo city, which house was known as the Old Red hotel. Of his five sons who came with him, one became sheriff of Cuyahoga county; one went south and be- came a planter near Natchez, Miss., one be- came a real estate dealer in Cleveland, and one sought his fortune in the west. The fifth, father of subject, settled down to farming, be- caine very active in local affairs and died, an honored man, about 1869. His children were six in number, and were born in the following order: Anna, the wife of Edward D. Bene- dict, of Bedford, Ohio, and with his filial daughter the venerable mother now makes her home at the age of seventy-eight years; George, a wholesale dealer in oysters on An- tonio street, Cieveland; Permilia, who died at the age of four years; Frank A., in the oyster business with his brother, but residing on Harvard street, Newberg, Ohio; Charles A., the subject, and Minnie, wife of Theodore Lambson, with the Kinsley Paper company, of Newberg, Ohio.
Charles A. Wightman was educated in the district schools of Bedford, Ohio, and at the age of seventeen years took a position in the Ohio Insane asylum as an attendant, and two years later, quitting the asylum, entered the employ of E. D. Sawyer, shoe dealer of New- berg, Ohio, with whom he remained two years; he next was employed for a year by George Sell, shoe dealer, at Ontario and Prospect streets, Cleveland, and then entered the Newberg wire mills, learned fine wire drawing and two years later was appointed foreman over a force of 300 men, which posi-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
tion he filled for three years; next. was em- ployed by N. O. Stone, of Cleveland, and then, in 1880, came to Akron and was em- ployed for five years by M. T. Cutter. He then opened a shoe store on his own account and conducted this with varying success until 1892. In the spring of 1893 he associated himself with the John Hancock Insurance company, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to the advancement of this company's interests, with the magnificent re- sults noted in the opening paragraph of this article.
Politically, Mr. Wightman is a stanchi re- publican, and in his societary relations is a member of the Akron lodge, No. 547, I. O. O. F., and also of Akron encampment, No. 18, and canton Expeditus, No. 2. For three years he was a first lieutenant in battery F, Ohio national guard, but resigned, through business exigencies.
Mr. Wightman was married February 15, 1884, to Miss Alfretta Miller, daughter of George F. Miller, the result of the felicitous union being one child-Earl D. The residence of Mr. Wightman is at No. 934 East Market street, where, surrounded by many warm friends, they enjoy all the happiness that is vouchsafed to mankind.
LIAS MILLER, one of the most re- spected old-time farmers of Bath township, Summit county, was born in Stark county Ohio, March 12, 1824, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Will- iams) Miller, the former of whom was born October 5, 1796, and was a son of George Miller, who was born November 7, 1763.
Peter Miller married Miss Mary Williams February 13, 1823, and came to Bath town- ship, Summit county, in 1848, and settled on a farm one-half mile east of the center thereof,
where he continued to follow his life-long vo- cation as an agriculturist and attained a con- siderable degree of popularity and influence with his fellow-townsmen, whom he served as township trustce, school director and justice of the peace, having been elected by the democratic party, of which he had been a member until a few years before his death, when he became a republican. In religion he was from boyhood a convert to the Evangel- ical faith and was a consistent member of the church of that name. He lost his wife, Mary, in 1826. She had borne him two children- Elias, the subject of this biography, and Robert S. For his second helpmate he mar- ried Nancy Sprankle, who gave birth to three children -- James, Joseph and Milton. Joseph died February 25, 1843, and the death of Peter Miller occurred March 31, 1870.
Elias Miller was well educated in the dis- trict schools of Stark and Summit counties, and was reared by his father to the honorable and noble pursuit of agriculture. He married, April 16, 1848, Miss Sarah Sprankle, who was born June 16, 1827, a daughter of Jacob Sprankle, who was born in America in 1798. Mrs. Sarah Miller died May 10, 1895, the mother of the following-named children: Jacob S .. who was born November 12, 1849, married Miss Mary E: Ball, of Copley town- ship, January 1, 1874, and died at Canal Fulton, May 7, 1878; Elta Ann, who was born November 28, 1851, was married to Wait Hopkins, and died January 13, 1896; Nancy, born December 18, 1854, now the wife of Daniel Mull, and a resident of Cleve- land; Mary A., who was born February 27, 1857, is married to Newton Hockett and re- sides in Bath township, on the old homestead; Ema A., born February 19, 1859, died Octo- ber 3, 1871; Sarah D., born June 13, 1804. was married to John Rothrick, and died July 18, 1892, and Peter Milton, who was born in
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
Bath township February 6, 1867, and died October 22, 1885. Elias Miller, the subject, married for his second wife, April 11, 1897. a widow, whose maiden name was Margaret A. Drushal, and his residence is at Hornersville, in Medina county. Mr. Miller has led a very active and industrious life, having cleared up nearly all of his 130-acre farm and made all the improvements, the buildings being sub- stantial and meat and tasty in appearance, while the farm itself, which is situated three- quarters of a mile east of Center, of Bath, presents an aspect of thrift and good manage- ment unsurpassed by any farm of its dimen- sions in Bath township.
In politics Mr. Miller affiliates with the republican party, but has persistently declined to accept public office. He has long been a member of and class leader in the Evangel- ical church, and fraternally is a member of Richfield lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M., in which he has held the chair of senior deacon. He is now living in comparative retirement, having done no practical work for the past ten years, his ample means affording him the privilege of enjoying in ease the fruits of his early industry, although he keeps a general oversight in the management of his estate. He is an honorable and upright gentleman in every sense of these words, and holds with a lasting tenure the respect of his neighbors.
L. MILLER, a prominent young farmer of Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, January 29, 1860, and is of German descent.
Joseph Miller, father of subject, was born en Lehigh county, Pa., June 3, 1823, and was Lere reared to manhood and married to Caro- . ne Steckle, who bore the following-named children: Alvin D., Amos W., Ellen E. (de-
ceased wife of James Mohei). Joseph H., Mary M. (wife of Charles Leiby, a farmer of Medina county), Sarah I. (widow of Samuel Hoaglin), and Martin L., the subject of this mnemoir. The mother of this family died January 28, 1867, and the father chose for his second wife Rebecca J. Lower, daughter of Samuel Lower, and to this marriage have been born Alice V., wife of Peter Snyder; Cora A., wife of William Disher; Charles and Oliver. Joseph Miller, after his first marriage, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located in Norton Center, Summit county, in 1846, and in 1848 removed to Sharon township, Medina county, where he became a prosperous farmer, owning 100 acres of well-cultivated land, im- proved with substantial buildings. He filled all the township offices, including that of trustee, and has always been prominent as a member of the Lutheran church.
Martin L. Miller has been identified with agricultural interests since his childhood, and has also been a successful educator. After a proper preparation in the conimon schools. he attended Ada Normal college, and for seven- teen years after graduation met with unwonted success as a school-teacher. As a republican in politics, he served as township clerk of Norton township in 1885, and served as dea- con and elder in the Reformed church, in which he was for eleven years also superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school.
The marriage of Mr. Miller took place on the 21st day of March, 1883, to Miss Alice L. Strobl, who was born in Norton township Jan- uary 13, 1861, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Reamsnyder) Strobl. The father of Mrs. Miller, Jacob Strobl, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., born in 1818, and while yet a single man catne to Ohio and located in Stark county, where he married Miss Reamsnyder, who was born June 7, 1325. In 1848 Mr. Strobl came to Norton township, Summit
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
county, bought sixty-five actes of land and made a good home for himself and family, which consisted of the following-named chil- dren: Saralı, wife of Jacob Smith; Lucy A., wife of J. W. Hall; Hattie, married to Henry Everhart; Melinda, now Mrs. Silas Strotter; Mary E., wife of William Fendenheim; Ma- halia A., wife of George Shook; Alice L. (Mrs. Miller); George A .; Wellington, and Effie G., wife of Richard Lee. George A. died May 13, 1894. The family were all reared in the faith of the Reformed church, of which the father was a deacon and pillar. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Miller were seven in number and named as follows: Lu- cretia M. (deceased, Wadie E., Gracie M., Maud A. (deceased), Ruth A. Guy E. and Fern A.
Mr. Miller has an excellently improved farm of eighty-three acres, on which he has lived ever since he has been a resident of Norton township. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge, No. 382. of Doyleston, Ohio, in which he has filled all the offices, and which he has twice represented in the state lodge. In politics he is popular not only with his party, but with the community at large, and is recognized as a worthy and public- spirited citizen.
S ILAS PAYNE, a thriving and re- spected farmer of Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, and an old soldier of the Civil war, was born July 9, 1839, in Copley township, Summit county, Olio, a son of William and Frances (Carey) Payne, and springs from sterling English ancestry of Virginia colonial stock.
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