USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 28
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 28
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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
Morris Burt Cummings was educated in the Parker union school of his native town of Newstead. N. Y., and lived thereafter on his father's farm until his marriage, in 1858, to Miss Brace, a daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Bennett) Brace, natives of York state, when be purchased a farm of sixty acres ad- joining his father's, which also comprised sixty acres, and continued to operate both farms in
conjunction. Mrs. Deborah Rose Cumming- was a highly educated lady and for several years taught in the common schools, as well as the high schools of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were born eight children, viz: George Edmund, now aged thirty-eight year-,, Alsa Millie, thirty-six; Morris Milton, thirty- four; Comfort W. A., thirty-two; Mary Vir- ginia (Mrs. John Edgar), thirty; Josiah New- ton, twenty-six; Everett Darius, twenty-twc, and Helen May (Mrs. O. Owens), twenty. The mother of these children was called away April 7, 1896, a member of the Baptist church, in which she reared her family, who have never ceased to mourn her loss.
Dr. Comfort William Allen Cummings, our subject, received his carlier education in the Parker union school of his native village, later took a short-hand course in Clark & John- son's business college at Erie, N. Y., and a course in Bryant & Stratton's college. He next worked on his parents' farm for about five years, reading medicine, meanwhile, with Dr. J. D. McPherson, of Akion, N. Y. Leav- ing the farm, he was employed a year in the freight-house of the Eric Railroad company at Corning, N. Y., whence he came to Cleve- land, Ohio, and entered the Cleveland Medi- cal college, studying at the same time under Dr. G. J. Jones in private, and at the close of three years was graduated in the spring of 1895. After leaving college, he returned home for a short time, and then came back to Ohio and settled in Atwater, where he eretted an office building and is now enjoying a remuner- ative practice. The first marriage of the doc- took place in June, 1894, to Miss Maggie Terriff, of Canada, who was early called from his side. April 21, 1896, he married, in At- water, Miss Jettie Goodman, daughter of F. S. and Emma Goodman, both natives of th Buckeye state. Mrs. Jettie Cummings was born in Atwater May 24, 1873, and was ed !-
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cated in the village schools, then at the Ra- venna high school, and finished her studies at the Western Reserve college for ladies at Cleve- land, as is thus, as will be seen, a highly ac- complished lady. The doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Atwater, and examining physician of Atwater Tent, Ladies of Maccabees. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church of his former home; his wife is a member of the Con- gregational church. The doctor is well ap- preciated in Atwater as a physician, and in social circles he and wife enjoy the highest position possible.
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ASSIUS MANLEY CRANE, of Gar- rettsville, was born in Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, September 29, 1844; lived on his home farm until fifteen years of age, attending meanwhile the district school and local academy, and one term at Hiram college. As he was then of rather frail physique, it was thought it were better for him not to undertake the hardships of farm life, and in consequence of this deci- sion he entered the store of his uncle, H. M. Streator, at Drakesburg, in 186;, and clerked seven years, and then clerked for a few months in Cleveland. His next step was to embark in business in partnership with his brother, Arthur E., and together they pur- chased the general store of Beecher & King, in Garrettsville, and at that time the firm of Crane Bros. sprang into existence. The old frame building in which the business had here- tofore been conducted was demolished, and the present brick structure erected, and here a flourishing trade was done by the two found- "rs of the firm until the withdrawal of Arthur E. Crane and the entrance of a younger brother, Fred C. Crane, when the business was continued, the firm-style remaining intact.
In 1885, subject also withdrew, selling his in- terest to Elton P. Crane, so that the firm name has not yet been changed. Since with- drawing from trade, our subject has not entered into any other active business pursuit. but, nevertheless, has found ample desultory employment to keep his mind actively at work.
December 29, 1870, Cassius M. Crane married Marcella S. Bennett, daughter.of Dr. P. C. Bennett, of Freedom. Of the three children that are living of the four that have blessed this marriage (one having dicd in in- fancy), Evalyn is under the parental roof, Lucy B. is the wife of C. W. S. Wilgus, and Ralph C. is still with his parents.
In his societary relations Mr. Crane has reached the exalted degree of Thirty-two in Masonry, and for two terms has presided as worshipful master of lodge No. 246, F. & A. M., of Garrettsville. In politics, Mr. Crane is active as a local republican, guarding with jealous care the interests of his party. For fifteen ycars he has been a member of the school board, has also done excellent work as a councilman, and has represented his party in several conventions. He is a gentleman of courteous manners and affability, and is a worthy representative of his ancestors, of whom a history will be found on another page, under the head of the Crane Family.
HARLES DUNCAN, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, and now a respected citizen of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Red Creek, Wayne county, N. Y., August 31, 1844, a son of James and Mahala Duncan.
James Duncan, father of Charles, was born in Scotland in 1799, was taught blacksmithing under the good old thorough Scotch methods, and at the age of twenty-seven years came to
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the United States, located in Troy, N. Y., where he worked at his trade for many years in the Troy Mills, bis specialty being ax-mak- ing, and later moved to Red Creek. He mar- ried a widow, Miss Mahala Withington, who bore the maiden name of Williams, and who was of Puritan stock, and whose father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The children born to this marriage were named Mahala, James, l'hebe, Charles, Francis, Maryette and Henry. The father of this family was called to rest in Red Creek, at about the age of sev- enty-seven years, dying in the faith of the Presbyterian church.
Charles Duncan was taught blacksmithing by his father and worked at his trade until August 12, 1862, when he enlisted, at Red Creek, in company G, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth New York volunteer infantry, but was soon afterward transferred to the Ninth New York heavy artillery, Sixth army corps, Third division, and Third brigade, under Col. William A. Seward, in which he served until honorably discharged in July, 1865, at Syracuse, N. Y., having been mus- tered out of the United States service at Washington, D. C. At the battle of Cedar Creek his battery served as infantry, and also in the same capacity as reserves, on the field at Cold Harbor; also as reserves in front of Petersburg and at Appomattox. He took part in many hard marches, especially in the valley of the Shenandoah, under Gen. Phil. Sheridan. For two months he was confined in camp hospital, for two months in Douglas hospital at Washington, D. C., and for three months on David island, in the East river, N. Y., being ill from typhoid fever, but otherwise he was always to be found at his post, doing his duty cheerfully and faithfully. He was in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and after the war returned to Red Creek and re- sumed his trade.
September 12, 1876, Mr. Duncan married. at Sterling, N. Y., Miss Isabella Van Patten, daughter of Christian C. Van Patten, and in 1877 came to Ohio and settled at Mantua Station, Portage county, where he has ever since successfully followed his trade. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan has been born one child, Ward C., now a youth of great promise. Mr. Duncan is a member of Bent- ley post, No. 294, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Mantua Station, in which he has held the offices of quartermaster and senior vice- commander. He is a straightforward, indus- trions, honest man.
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OIIN DELL, a thriving farmer of Twins- burg township. Summit county, Ohio. and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in England January 3, 1840, probably in Lincolnshire, and was left an orphan at the early age of two years, his father and mother both dying soon after their arrival in America, and leaving the following children: Betsy, Grace, Samuel and John. John was reared until nine years old by his sister, Betsy, who married William Penhale and who settled in Newburg, Ohio. At the age mentioned John went to live with Gilbert Roach, a farmer, of Twinsburg township. where John lived until he enlisted. Ile was reared to farming and gained a limited com- mon-school education.
He enlisted at Twinsburg, Ohio, at the age of twenty-one years, in August, 186!, in con !- pany K, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. to serve three years or during the war, and Iv- enlisted as a veteran in the same organization at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., in January, 1864, served until the close of the war and was hon- orably discharged in 1865, having served faithfully four years and two months. 11. service was in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alaban. 1
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Georgia, Texas and Mississippi. He was in the siege of Corinth, in 1862; at Perryville, October 8, 1862; Chickamauga, Tenn., No- veniber 23, 1862; Missionary Ridge, Novem- ber 25, 1863; Pickett's Mills, May 27, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864; Pine Top, in June, 1864; Peach Trce Creek, July 19, 1864; Atlanta, July 22, 1864; Jonesborough, September 4, 1864; Lovejoy Station, Ga., and Columbia, September 2, 1864; Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864, and many skirmishes too numerous to mention. Mr. Dell was in the famous Atlanta campaign, in which the Union troops were under fire more than four months. He was sick in hospital but about three weeks, but was sick in camp with chronic diarrhea for several months, yet kept with the company. He was always an active soldier and in all the battles, campaigns, marches and skirmishes in which his regiment engaged, except a few, which occurred while he was sick. He was neither a prisoner nor wounded, and was a good soldier, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to be sergeant of company K.
After the war, Mr. Dell returned to Twins- burg and married, February 4, 1866, Theresa Dolaishe, who was born in Bohemia, Decem- ber 24, 1844, a daughter of Joseph and Ann Dolaishe. Joseph Dolaishe and wife started for America about 1852, and died on the pas- sage, leaving five children --- Barbara, Anna, Joseph, Francis and Theresa. The children came to Cleveland, and Theresa was reared by Nathaniel Reed and wife, of Twinsburg, re- ceived a common education and married Mr. Dell at the age of twenty-one years. Francis is a fruit grower, near Sandusky, Ohio, is married and has two children.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dell settled In Twinsburg township, and in 1877 bought a farin of 105 acres, which he greatly improved and on which he erected good buildings. The 30
children born to this marriage are Alice, Etta, Lillie, John, Pearl, Roy and Mabel. Mr. Dell is a free-silver democrat in politics, cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a member of the G. A. R. post, Royal Dunham, No. 177, of Bedford, Ohio. Of the children named above, Etta married Ransom Tyson -- a farmer of Twinsburg township, and has two children; Alice, married Nelson Waite, a farmer of Twinsburg township, and has three children; Lillie, married Siegle Schock, a car- penter, of Bedford, and John married Fannie H. Manning, resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and is employed by a large firm as bookkeeper.
LAVIUS JOSEPHUS DANIELS, a prominent business man of Garretts- ville, and one of the principal stock- holders of the First National bank, is a native of Freedon township, Portage county, Ohio, was born April 14, 1835, and is of Scotch descent, the name having been origin- ally spelled Mac Daniels.
The first members of the Daniels family to come to America settled in the New England colonies, and Reuben Daniels, great-grand- father of subject, was a patriot of the Revolu- tionary war. Reuben Daniels, grandfather of subject, was born in Massachusetts, but early came to Ohio, and after passing a short time in Cleveland, settled in the forests of Freedom township, Portage county, where he farmed until well advanced in life, when he retired to Garrettsville, where, at the age of eighty-five years, he met an accidental death on a railroad. He had been made a Freemason in Massachu- setts, and when Garrettsville lodge, No. 246. F. & A. M., was chartered, he was chosen its first worshipful master. He was an earnest Christian and devoted to the Congregational church. In his early days, also, he had been
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captain of a company of militia and was usu- ally addressed as Capt. Daniels. He reared a family of seven sons and two daughters, of whom Franklin S., father of Flavius J., the subject, was the eldest.
Franklin S. Daniels was born in Massachu- setts. He was an adept in carpentry, joining and millwrighting, which trades he followed through life. He married Miss Ann Robinson, a native of Saratoga, N. Y., and in 1846 re- moved from his home place in Freedom township to Garrettsville, and here met his untimely end by a fall from a building on which he was working. There were five chil- dren born to his marriage, of whom four lived to maturity, viz: Flavius J. and Henry F., of Garrettsville, and Reuben O. and Birdsy G., of Bledsoe county, Tenn. Mr. Daniels was a whig in politics and was very active in local affairs; was progressive and enterprising, and accumulated a competency, and his tragic end was a source of deep regret to the commu- nity, in which he was held in high respect.
Flavius J. Daniels, it will have been seen, was eleven years of age when his parents set- tled in Garrettsville. Here he attended school and also learned the blacksmith's trade, and on the day he attained his majority left home with a party bound for California, driving a team in compensation for his expenses, as he had no money. At Council Bluffs, Iowa, however, he came to a halt, while the party proceeded on its way. Shortly afterward he crossed the country to Omaha, Neb., where he erected the fifth building in the place and engaged at his trade, but soon sold out and joined a party headed by Gov. Cummings, and platted a town thirty miles north of Omaha, which town was christened Cummings City, but it never flourished, although Mr. Daniels acted an entire season as an immigration agent. He was next employed by Gov. Cummings, in company with others, to ex-
plore the upper Missouri river for about 500 miles, and to prospect for coal, etc., and, at the farthest point attaincd, platted another town. On their way back the whole parly came near freezing to death, and suf- fered intensely from hunger, the provisions they had "cached" on the way up having been untraceable in the deep snow. At an abandoned Indian village, they were com- pelled to eat the raw-hides used in the con- struction of tepees, otherwise starvation would have been their fate; and the weather was so bitterly cold that it was necessary to use switches on the legs of some of the party to prevent their lying down and freezing to death.
In the spring of 1859 Mr. Daniels started from Omaha with a party for Pike's Peak, but at Fort Laramie returning prospectois dis- couraged further advance, and the party started for the Pacific coast. On reaching Sublitt's cut-off, about September I, some of the men were inclined to go to Oregon and some to California, and Mr. Daniels decided his destination by tossing up a copper, the re- sult favoring California. He walked the entire distance, with the exception of one day's ride, as far as Honey Lake valley, where he worked two months at anything he could find to do, and then found employment with a quartz mining company, and worked in a tunnel, 600 feet under ground, at $40 per month, for a considerable time, but was later promoted to to be foreman of the quartz mill, at $125 per month. He remained in this position until 1862, and then went to San Francisco, where there had just been erected some sugar refin- eries, and there engaged with a Capt. Johnson to go to Honolulu to purchase a cargo of sugar. But the vessel chartered was an old hulk, be- came water-logged, and was towed into port and there condemned. Mr. Daniels remained on the island until another vessel was dis- patched for him, and on his return to San
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Francisco vowed never to make another ocean voyage.
Mr. Daniels now again went to the mount- ains to engage in mining, and was at Sacra- mento when the first ground was broken for the Central Pacific railroad. He had pre- viously made the acquaintance of Leland Standford and Charles Crocker, who now urged him to join them in this great enter- prise, but he lacked the nerve to invest; in fact, only five men could be induced to take stock, but they all became millionaires. Mr. Daniels, however, agreed to meet his friends in Nevada, when the road should reach that state, and accordingly went to what was called Humboldt City, which had a population of about 500, but the inhabitants soon after nearly all left. Mr. Daniels, however, de- cided to remain and await the coming of the railroad, which was now practically assured, being backed by the United States govern- ment. Ile was commissioned postmaster, and also kept a trading post; he likewise made claim of a fine water privilege, which he thought would be of value to the railroad company. Finally the road reached this point, and Messrs. Standford and Crocker called on Mr. Daniels, and authorized him to buy all the hay he could find in the vicinity, for which they allowed him a profit of $io per ton. Stages were now coming into the city from various directions, bringing in large quantities of mail matter, of which Mr. Dan- iels took charge under his commission as post- master, but for handling these mails he never received any compensation from the govern- ment. Large sums of money were deposited with Mr. Daniels for safe keeping, and as there were no vaults, nor safes in the country, he cut a hole in the floor of his dwelling and se- creted the gold, which frequently amounted to $10,000 at a single deposit. As the railroad company employed 2, 500 hands, and travelers
became numerous, the company induced Mr. Daniels to erect an eating-house, and this he conducted seven years, realizing a competency.
In February, 1870, Mr. Daniels returned to Garrettsville and was united in marriage with Miss Frankie Patterson, daughter of R. E. Patterson, whom he took to his western home. But the health of this lady was frail, and after three years' residence with her in the west, Mr. Daniels returned to Garrettsville, and this has since been his home. He had the misfortune of losing his wife in 1885; she left three children, viz: Maud, wife of P. C. Davis; Zella, a school-teacher, and Gail, a school-teacher. The second marriage of Mr. Daniels took place, in 1887, to Mrs. Carrie E. Ranney, daughter of John T. Hunt.
Mr. Daniels is one of the most substantial men of Portage county, and, as a director of the First National bank, is a member of the discount committee. In politics he is a stanch republican, and was very active in advancing the interests of his party while in the west, and has also filled a number of local offices in Garrettsville, Ohio. Fraternally, he is a Knight Templar. He owns one of the most pleasant residences in Garrettsville, where he extends a most gracious hospitality to his large circle of social acquaintances.
e RWIN S. DAVIS, one of the old sol- diers of the Civil war and a respected citizen of Northfield township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, was born February 26, 1845, in Steuben county, N. Y., at Great Bend, a son of Stephen A. and Amanda (Kel- logg) Davis. Erwin S. received a common education and enlisted. at the early age of nineteen years. He ran away from home at Andover, N. Y., with his cousin, Albert Davis, having enlisted in the Sixteenth heavy ar- tillery for three years, or during the war, but
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was transferred, at City Point, Va., to the New York mounted rifles. His uncle, Hale Davis, followed them to City Point, but was unable to secure their release. Mr. Davis was then enrolled in company K, Capt. D. C. Ellis, provisional New York cavalry, First regiment dragoons, and was honorably discharged November 29, 1865, at City Point, Va. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, ten days' fight, battles in front of Petersburg, and was in the raid on the Weldon R. R. He was shot in the left arm and in the upper part of the right arın at the battle of the Wilderness, and the bullet is still imbeded in the flesh. He also received a slight flesh wound in the face, but was not in hospital, except for a few hours, after receiving this wound. Mr. Davis was in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part and was always active and cheerful in the discharge of his duties.
After the war Mr. Davis returned to New York, but came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1868, and married, at Boston, July 5, 1870, Miss Elizabeth J. Odekirk, who was born in Boston, Ohio, May 17, 1854, a daughter of Daniel and Jane Odekirk. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davis settled at Macedonia, Ohio, where he still resides. Mr. Davis learned, when young, the blacksmith's trade, but since he came to Ohio has been engaged in farming; for the past seventeen years has been handling farm machinery, and has traveled extensively in this business. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two children, Lailah B., and Montville C. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Congregational church, and in politics Mr. Davis is a republican, and has been constable for several years as well as a notary public. He is a meniber of Royal Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio, and is a straightforward and respected business man.
Ebenezer Davis, grandfather of subject, was a farmer of Vermont, and his son, Stephen
A., father of subject, was born in that state. The latter enlisted, in 1863, aged fifty-five years, in a New York regiment, for the three year's service. He was in several battles, and at a battle in Chickahominy Swamp he carried his wounded comrade, Matt Colmer, from the field, and injured himself so much that he died from the effects eleven weeks after, in 1864. He was a strong, rugged man, and owned a good farm. His children were Erwin S., Lemuel, Sophronia, Clarissa, Martha and Ida. Lemuel was also a soldier in the Civil war, going out on the last call.
Daniel Odekirk was born August 3, 1832, in Rensselaer county, N. Y., was a boat buil- der, was married in Syracuse, N. Y., July 2, 1845, to Jane Kellogg, daughter of George Kellogg, and on coming west first settled at Boston, Ohio, where he lived many years. His children were Adelbert, Clara, Alveretta and Elizabeth. Mr. Odekirk died in March, 1896, in Michigan, whither he had removed and settled on a farm of eighty acres. He was a well-to-do man, respected by all; a member of the Methodist church, and of the I. O. O. F. In politics he was a republican. George Kellogg was a pioneer farmer of Boston town- ship and had three sons in the Civil war --- Josiah, William (killed in battle) and Fred.
RANK J. DAVIS, the leading mer- chant of Diamond, Palmyra town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, and post- master, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 12, 1857, a son of James and Susan (Jones) Davis, both natives of Wales.
Jamies Davis came to America in 1832 and located in Palmyra township, then almost a wilderness, where he lived about twenty years. when he removed to Mahoning county, an ! there resided until 1868, purchasing a farmi of
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ninety-six acres, thence removed to Palmyra township, Portage county, where he bought 200 acres, known as the John D. Jones farm, where he passed the remainder of his life. To his marriage to Susan Jones, daughter of the owner of this farm- John D. Jones-were born nine children, the surviving five of whom are John, who resides in Deerfield. Ohio; Mar- garet, wife of Samuel Jones, of Palmyra; Rachael, unmarried: Susan, wife of James Medley, of Mahoning county, and Frank J., the subject of this bingraphical notice The deceased four were Elizabeth, wife of John G. Carson; Mary, wife of John D. Jones, and two who died in infancy The parents of this family were sincere members of the Baptist church, in which the father held all the lay offices and in the faith of which he died July 23, 1876, at the age of seventy-six years, the mother passing away January 1, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven.
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