USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 3
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 3
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John F. Schnee, father of the professor, was born in Perry township, Union county. Pa., May 17, 1823, received a common-school education and attended the academy at Lewis- ton, Pa., and taught school for a few terms. He learned the tanner's trade, and married Hannah Young, a native of New Berlin, Union county, Pa., a daughter of Frederick and Eva (Spotts) Young. The Youngs were of Scotch descent; the Spotts were of German ancestry. Frederick Young was a carpenter. His children were John, Samuel, Jacob, Bar- bara and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Schnee settled, after marriage, at Freeburg, Pa .. where he carried on the tanning business until 1864, when he came to Summit county. Ohio. and bought a good farm of 149 acres in Springfield township, and here he lived until his death, a Lutheran in religion and a deacon
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
for many years. In politics he was a demo- crat, was a constable in Pennsylvania and a township trustee in Springfield township. He was a substantial farmer and much respected. His children were Frederick, Joseph and Eliza- beth E. Mrs. Schnee died at Freeburg and Mr. Schnee married Lydia Swengel, and to them was born one son, now living- - Charles M. Lydia Swengel was born in Union county, Pa., a daughter of Michael and Esther (Has- singer) Swengel. Mr. Schnee lived to be fifty years of age, and died November 9, 1873.
Prof. Frederick Schnee received his educa- tion in a common school and then in the Freeburg academy until sixteen years old. He came to Ohio in 1864, attended the high school at Akron and Greensburg seminary at Inland, in Summit county, which was a prosperous school of the Evangelical associa- tion. He taught school in Summit county four consecutive winters, and then became principal of the Richfield Central high school and remained one year.
Prof. Schnee married, in Springfield town- ship, December 1, 1870, Caroline M. Gilcrest, who was born August 14, 1848, within the township limits, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Myers) Gilcrest. Robert Gilcrest was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and John Myers, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Schnee, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Robert Gilcrest was born in Washington county,'Pa., a son of William, a pioneer. Robert was a millwright by trade and came when young to Summit, Ohio. He married Rebecca Myers, of Summit county, a daugh- ter of John Myers, of Union county, Pa., but formerly of Berks county, Pa. Robert Gilcrest engaged in the milling business in Springfield township. and owned and operated Gilcrest's mill for many years, and also bought a farm. His children were Caroline M., Thomas J., Matilda E., Mary A., and
Robert Anson. Mr. Gilcrest was an honored citizen and held the office of township trustee and treasurer, was a successful man and died aged eighty-four years. His wife still lives, aged eighty years.
After marriage, Mr. Schnee taught school a few years, and then located in Akron and engaged in the life-insurance and school-fur- niture business until 1877, and then was su- perintendent of schools at Magadore, Ohio, for six years, and in 1883 was superin- tendent of the township schools of Norton, Ohio, and in 1885 came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has been superintendent since, and has charge of all the school buildings and fourteen teachers. He has been successful in building up the schools and improving the tone of scholarship. Prof. Schnee has been a member of the county board of school exani- iners since April, 1883, and in former years did much institute work.
Prof. Schnee and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee; in politics he is a democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. Schnee have been born Robert G. and John T. His son Robert G. is a graduate of the Cleveland college of Physicians & Surgeons, in which institution he teaches bacteriology and practices medicines with Dr. Rogers.
Prof. Schnee gained his education by his own efforts, is a self-made man, and has suc- ceeded through his individual ability. He stands high as a inan and citizen, as well as in the educational profession.
ENRY SCHULTZ, the well-known tinner, roofer and spout and gutter- maker, in Ravenna, was born in Ran- dolph, Portage county, Ohio, March 4, 1845, a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Beisel) Schultz, natives of Germany and parents of seven children, viz: Peter, who died a soldier
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in the Civil war; Eva, wife of Jacob Ginter; Adam; Elizabeth, married to Jacob Laubert; Henry, the subject; Willie and his twin brother, Albert.
The paternal grandfather of Henry Schultz had been a soldier in the German army, was a fariner by vocation and the father of four or five children; he brought his family to America at a comparatively early day, about 1830, set- tled in Portage county and followed his voca- tion until his death, which occurred in 1856, at the age of eighty years. The maternal grandfather of subject died in Germany. Adam Schultz, father of subject, came to America with his father and grew to manhood in Randolph township, where he still lives on his farm, one mile from the old home of his father He and wife are members of the Ger- man Reformed church and are highly respect- ed in their community.
Henry Schultz, the subject of this biography, was reared on his father's farm and received the usual education accorded farmers' lads in the district schools. He rendered his faithful assistance to his parents until he was twenty- two years of age, and then started in the butcher business in Akron, Summit county, where he remained four years and nine months, after which he worked two years at the carpenter's trade. In 1884 he started in the tin roofing and spouting business in Suf- field, Portage county, and did a prosperous business until 1889, when he moved to Ra- venna, where he has been more successful than ever before.
The marriage of Mr. Schultz took place in June, 1880, with Miss Ida Moatz, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Agne) Moatz, and this union has been blessed by the birth of four children, who are named Edith, Nettie. Floyd and Clinton. In their religious affiliations Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are Congregationalists, and fraternally, Mr. Schultz is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the National Union. In politics Mr. Schultz has always been a republican, but has never held positions of emolument or doubtful pub- lic honor, preferring to exercise his franchise, pure and simple, in support of the nominees of his party, provided that they be good and capable men and worthy of support.
Mr. Schultz has always maintained a spot- less reputation as a business man, has been attentive to the needs of his customers, has been thrifty and industrious, owns a good home and place of business, and enjoys, with his family, the respect of a large circle of friends and also that of the general public.
AMES GEER BREWSTER (deceased), who was the twin brother of Jonathan H. Brewster, county commissioner of Summit county, and with whom he was in partnership, and for many years one of the leading business men of Summit county, was born at Thomastown, this county, Janu- ary II, 1834, a son of James G. and Martha (Hasson) Brewster. Receiving a good com- mon-school education, he remained on the farm until gaining his majority, when he went to California, where he was engaged in mining for twelve years, or until 1867, when he re- turned to the county of his nativity and en- gaged in farming, and about this time he, in company with his brother, Jonathan H .. be- gan operating the coal mine which was located upon their farm. This occupation he continued for many years, doing the controlling business of northeastern Ohio. He was also interested for a long period in the Buckeye Sewer Pipe works of Middlebury, and for many years was engaged in the flouring-mill business in Cov- entry township. He wasa man of sound busi- ness ability, and in politics an uncompromis- ing republican, in which party he was a prime
509.510
James & Burista
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
factor, and his counsel along this line was much sought after.
May 25, 1870, James Geer Brewster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Davies, daughter of Rev. David and Rachel (Williams) Davies, natives of Wales, where Mrs. Brew- ster was also born. To Mr. and Mrs. Brew- ster were born nine children, of whom eight are living -Albert James; Martha V., now Mrs. John Shaffer; Mary I., Rose V., Modena R., Lonise M., David Davies, and James Gecr. Of these children, Laura S. is now deccased, and Mr. Brewster, it is sad to add, died January 1, 1897.
To better educate her children Mrs. Brew- ster has removed from the homestead, at Thomastown to Akron, and now resides at No. 119 Johnson street, where she will readily be enabled to secure the means, through the excellent educational institutions of the city, of carrying out the commendable purpose which brought her to Akron.
The Davies family, from which Mrs. Brew- ster descends, came to the United States in 1852 and settled in Portage county. Her father, of whom a sketch is given in full on another page, was born in 1817 and died at Paris (now Wayland) in Portage county, Au- gust 2, 1888. He was prominent as a Con- gregational minister and noted as the Welsh poet and wrote over the nom de plume of Dewi Emlyn. His wife was born in 1815 and died September 19, 1895. Of the nine children born to Rev. and Mrs. Davies three survive: Mary, Rev. David and Rachel, and no family of Portage county was ever more closely en- deared to the population.
REDERICK W. SCHUMACHER, one of the best known, most pros- perous and most highly respected farmers of Bath township, is a na- tive of Germany, and is a descendant of an 19
old and honored family in that country. His great-grandfather, Henry C. Schumacher, born June 12, 1749, in Wiensen, county of Usler, province of Hanover, was in the seven-year war with Frederick the Great, joining the mil- itary in November, 1767, and serving for six years and a half. Following this service he went to Hanover and turned his attention to letters, thoroughly equipping himself for the profession of teaching. In 1775 he was ten- dered a position as teacher in the village of Marienhagen, in the county of Lauenstein, which he occupied with honor for forty years. The next in line was George Henry Ludwig, born September 13, 1780, in Neuhaus, prov- ince of Hanover. He was a merchant, an extensive landowner and speculator, and had amassed a large fortune, which by unfortunate investments he lost. His son, Albert, the father of our subject, was born at Bevern, in the dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, July 30, 1827. He began the active duties of life as a merchant, and later as a traveling salesman, after several years of which experience he en- tered the military service, in 1848, serving two years in the artillery. After this duty to his country he established a cutlery factory and store, which he conducted and is still con- ducting with much success. He married Louisa Buse, who was born September 14. 1835, a daughter of William Buse, and to them were born three sons: Frederick William, our subject, born April 15, 1858; Theodore, born in 1860, now a leading jew- eler in Germany; and Hermann, born in 1868, a prosperous merchant in his native country, whose army services were performed in the in- fantry between the years 1894-1896.
Frederick William Schumacher received his education in the public schools of his na- tive town of Bevern and at the normal school at Holzminden. After a brief experience in the mercantile way he entered the army when
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
he was sixteen years of age, serving in the cavalry until 1879. He then had charge of his father's business for a year. Determining that there were wider possibilities in this country, he decided to come to America, and in 1880 landed in New York city. He came directly to this county, and has managed the farm on which he now resides in Bath town- ship, and also owns a residence in Akron. This farm consists of 200 finely-kept acres of rich river bottom land, well improved, and possesses good buildings and excellent apple and peach orchards. Mr. Schumacher stocked the farm well with full-blooded Holstein cattle and fine horses. He is a special lover of a fine horse, and has a number of which he may well be proud.
On April 14, 1880, Mr. Schumacher was united in marriage to Miss Frances, daughter of William and Mary Cranz. To them were born two children: Katie, born August 1, 1881, and Ferdinand, born September 26, 1882. A sad bereavement to this household was the death of the wife and mother. Mr. Schumacher afterward married Miss Clara Emig, daughter of Martin and Sophia (Wehrly) Emig, who were the parents of the following chidren: Clara, born November 19, 1868; Edward, January 11, 1870; Charles, December 1, 1872; Mary, July 11, 1879; and Albert, March 5, .1881. Martin Emig was a veteran in the late war, serving with company C, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. To our subject, by his second marriage, four children ' have been given: Herbert O., born July 8, 1890; Helen S., March 12, 1892; Hermine E., March 19, 1894; and Louisa, February 9, 1896.
Mr. Schumacher and his family are de- lightfully situated in their pleasant home, and he is well liked by all who know him. In ad- dition to the superior education he received in his native tongue, he has acquired a compe-
tent knowledge of English and keeps well in- formed on current affairs. Incidentally, he is a nephew of Ferdinand Schumacher, the oat- meal magnate.
In politics Mr. Schumacher is an ardent supporter of the principles of the republican party. He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees. lodge No. 281, and a member of the German military organization at Akron, Ohio. Both he and Mrs. Schumacher are members and earnest supporters of the Ger- man Lutheran church at Akron, Ohio.
I OUIS G. SCHWEITZER, a well- known business man of Ravenna, Portage county, was born in Cleve- land, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Janu- ary 4, 1856, and is a son of Frederick and Catherine (Engelhorn) Schweitzer, natives of Bavaria, Germany, born, respectively, June 18, 1829, and January 3, 1829.
Frederick Schweitzer received a good edu- cation in his native land, and in 1847 came to the United States with his parents, who set- tled on a farm near Parma, about nine miles from Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and there he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Cleveland and for three years served an apprenticeship at the black- smith's trade in the shop of Mr. Burrows. For the seventeen years following he was em- ployed as foreman in the John Drum Carriage works, and then moved to Marquette, Mich., where for three years he was employed by a brother, and in 1867 returned to Cleveland, where he took charge of Goodfellow's hall and conducted a wine, liquor and restaurant business until September 25, 1871, when he moved into his own building. known as Schweitzer's hall, at the corner of Pearl and Bridge streets, and here conducted a large billiard room, in conjunction with a sample
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
room, until his death, which occurred July 24, 1893. To the marriage of Frederick Schweit- zer with Miss Engelhorn were born five chil- dren, viz: George, now deceased; Louis G., the subject; Lizzie, now Mrs. Metzger; Fred- erick, Jr., and Catherine, now Mrs. Lang.
Louis G. Schweitzer attended the public schools of Cleveland until thirteen years old, and then worked for his father until his mar- riage, November 30, 1887, with Miss Lena Gretzinger, of Ravenna, a daughter of Martin and Lena Gretzinger, old and respected resi- dents of Portage county. Martin Gretzinger was the owner of the oldest tannery in the state of Ohio, it having been started in 1810 by Jared Mason, who came from Beaver coun- ty, Pa., and did a lucrative business for three years, dying in 1813. In 1815 J. T. Wells married the widow of Mr. Mason, and thus be- came possessor of the tannery, which, in part- nership with Jesse R. Grant, father of Gen. U. S. Grant, he conducted for several years, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Gret- zinger, who ran it for many years, or until 1867, when it was disposed of to C. F. Goeppinger. This old tannery was located southeast of the court-house grounds, and some of the vats are still to be seen in the cellar of the original building on Jefferson street, Ravenna. To the marriage of Mr. Schweitzer with Miss Gretzinger have been born two children-Karl Frederick, June 20, 1892, and Fritz Lewis, October 5, 1894.
Mr. Schweitzer is engaged in the wine and liquor business at No. 117 Chestnut street, the building having once been occupied by a school taught by Mrs. President Garfield in her younger days, but now owned by the parents of Mrs. Schweitzer, and here he is doing a prosperous trade. He is a member of Lake Shore lodge, No. 6. K. of P., of Cleveland; of lodge No. 295, B. & P. O. E., of Warren, and of the Ravenna Gun club --- being an en-
thusiastic sportsman. In politics he is a re- publican, and is a useful and popular citizen. Mrs. Schweitzer is a consistent member of the Congregational church and is a most estimable lady in every respect.
AMES HENRY SEYMOUR, ex-treas- urer of Summit county and a member of the firm of J. H. Seymour & Co., proprietors of the Excelsior laundry of Akron, Ohio, was born in Colebrook, Litch- field county, Conn., July 16, 1842, a son of Henry R. and Ann P. (Gross) Seymour.
Rufus Seymour, the paternal grandfather of subject, was also a native of Colebrook, Conn., and of Puritan stock, being of the same family from which the Govs. Seymour of Con- necticut and New York descended. He was a farmer and lumberman by vocation, and passed his entire life in Colebrook. His son, Henry R., and wife came to Hudson, Ohio, in 1850, the son being at that time a traveling sales- man for the American Whip company, of Chicago, which he represented in Ohio and other western states until about 1856, and then engaged with another wholesale Chicago house as salesman of cigars and tobacco, re- taining the position two years, and during these two years made his home in Chicago. He then returned to Hudson and purchased a bakery, which he conducted up to the breaking out of the Civil war, and next carried on a grocery until his death, which occurred in 1864. He had been twice married, his first wife having been Ann P., daughter of Israel and Sarah (Ellsworth) Gross, of Torringford, Conn., to which union were born two chil- dren-James H., the subject, and Anna M. (Mrs. Z. P. Allee), now deceased. His second wife was Sarah Bush, of Westfield, Mass., who bore him one son-Ernest W.
James Henry Seymour was reared in New England and in Ohio, and received an academ-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ical education in Hudson, Summit county. During the Civil war he was a member of the Second Ohio cavalry, going out as a musician in 1862, and being honorably discharged after one year's service. In the spring of 1864 he was appointed clerk in the quartermaster's department at DuVall's Bluff, Ark., but re- signed in December and returned home, on account of his father's death. He then suc- ceeded to the latter's grocery and provision business, which he conducted until 1886, when he was elected treasurer of Summit county, and was re-elected in 1888-thus serving two full terms of two years each. In 1891 he became identified with the Akron Queensware company, of which he was secretary and treas- urer about two years. In May, 1895, as a member of the firm of Badger & Seymour, he became a purchaser of the Excelsior laundry; Mr. Badger sold his interest in May, 1897, and the firm became J. H. Seymour & Co., which has since been doing a most thriving business.
Mr. Seymour has been twice married, his first wife having been Louise Case, of Hud- son; his second marriage was to Martha L., daughter of Joel and Marion (Anderson) Webb, of Mogadore, Summit county, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with two chil- dren-Marion and Ruth. Mr. Seymour is a member of the First Congregational church, of which he is a trustee, and Mrs. Seymour is a member of the Universalist church. In pol- itics Mr. Seymour is a stanch republican; fra- ternally he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of this great army he was department commander of Ohio in 1878, and for several years was commander of Gen. Sheridan post, at Hudson, Ohio. As a busi- ness man, Mr. Seymour is universally re- spected, and as a citizen he is held in great esteem for his public spirit and untiring use- fulness.
USTAVUS SEIBERLING, a repre- sentative farmer of Norton township. Summit county, Ohio, was born on the farm he now owns and occupies June 19, 1854, and is of remote German all- cestry, being the descendant of one of two brothers, Jonas and Michael Seiberling, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America in 1745. Of these two Michael died without issue and Jonas became a substantial fariner of Lehigh county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. Christian Seiberling, only son of Jonas, was a noted hunter and Indian fighter, and died in Lehigh county, Pa., at the age of eighty-four years. His son, Frederick Seiberling, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and in the early Indian wars. He was a farmer of Lehigh county, and his nearest courthouse was at Philadelphia, whither he went once a year to pay his taxes, making the trip on horseback. He died on his farm at the age of seventy- seven years, the father of the following chil- dren: Christian, John F., Peter and Jonas.
John F. Seiberling, grandfather of subject, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., in 1783, was postmaster at Linville, Pa., fifty-five years, and it is said he was the oldest postmaster in the United States. He married Catherine Bear, by whom he had a family of six sons and four daughters, the second son being Nathan, the father of our subject. In his old age John F. Seiberling came to Summit coun- ty, Ohio, and here died December 25, 1876.
Nathan Seiberling was born in Linville, Pa., April 14, 1810, was reared to farming and on December 6, 1829, married Catherine Peter, who was born June 27, 1811, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Margaret (Moser) Peter, of Northampton county, Pa., the marriage re- sulting in the birth of the following children: Kittie A., deceased wife of Paul Wall; Jolin F .; James H. ; Sarah, wife of Jacob M. Harter;
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
Monroe; Mary (deceased), wife, first, of John Biery, and, secondly, of Joseph Kemmerer; Frank, deceased; Eliza, deceased, wife of Sherman Baughman; Charles; Septimus, de- ceased; Columbus; Milton and Gustavus, all, with the exception of the first named, born in Ohio. In April, 1831, Nathan Seiberling brought his wife and first-born child to Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, and bought ninety acres of timber-land, cleared it up, built a log cabin, and erected the first saw- mill in the township, which was operated by water power, and this farin constitutes part of that on which our subject now resides. Mr. Seiberling was strictly a temperance man, was zealous in the Lutheran faith, was an elder in the Walsh Lutheran church, of which he was a pillar, and, although he never sought official preferment, consented to serve for a short time as justice of the peace. He was modest and unassuming in his deportment, yet was a wide-awake business man and was worth over $100,000 at his death, which occurred No- vember 4, 1889, his widow surviving until February 27, 1894.
Gustavus Seiberling received a very good common-school education, and from early manhood has been closely identified with the | agricultural interests of his township and county. November 18, 1875, he married Miss Julia Kulp, who was born September 8, 1856, a daughter of John M. and Sallie A. (Bechtel) Kulp, of Medina county. John M. Kulp is a son of Isaac Kulp, of Pennsylvania, who mar- ried a Miss Miller, and was one of the pioneers of Medina county, Ohio. John M. Kulp was born in Centre county, Pa., in 1821, and was married in Medina county, Ohio --- his wife being also a native of the Keystone state. His family consists of Mary A., wife of Rus- sell Griswold; Sarah J., wife of Frederick Williams; Fietta C., wife of Samuel Richards; William H., and Julia A., now Mrs. Seiber-
ling. Mr. Kulp is now a prominent farmer of Guilford township, Medina county, is a repub- lican in politics, and is a Lutheran in religion, while his wife affiliates with the Reformed church. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling have been born five children, viz: Wilson F., Cloyd, Sarah C., Pauline and Raymond G.
Mr. Seiberling owns a fine farm of 233 acres, which he has placed under a higli state of cultivation and improved with two sets of buildings, making it one of the best farms in the county. His residence is situated within the corporate limits of Western Star, of which village he has filled all the offices and has ma- terially assisted in developing, and of which he is now mayor. An ardent republican in politics, he has been active in the service of the party in county, state and national affairs, but has never sought public office, although he has consented to serve in the positions mentioned above in order to promote local progress. He has been liberal in his aid to the Lutheran church, of which he and wife are members, and he and family are esteemed as among the most refined and respectable residents of Nor- ton township.
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