USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 31
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 31
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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
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
Jonathan and Martha (Thomas) Gaylord. Jonathan was the son of Jonathan and Eliza- beth (Goodhamn) Gaylord.
The Gaylord family descended from the English Puritans who were the founders of Connecticut. Jonathan Gaylord, father of Sylvester, was born in Connecticut, at Upper Middletown, and his wife was born at Had- dam, Conn., and by calling he was a farmer and ship carpenter. His children, born in Connecticut, were Isaac, Eliza, Mary A., Joshua and Sylvester; Eli and Martha were born in Ohio. Jonathan Gaylord moved with his family to the Western Reserve, Ohio, in 1809, starting June 1, and made the trip with oxen, and Capt Stowe (father of Albert Stowe) and family came at the same time. Mr. Gay- lord brought his father and mother with him, and some of his brothers and sisters came at the same time. These were Thomas, William, Betsy, Abiah, and Margaret. They were forty-one days on the way and walked the greater part of it; in fact, Jonathan Gaylord walked almost all the way. The roads were very bad and they were obliged to cut through the woods most of the way, and slept in the wagons. They arrived about the middle of July and settled in the southern part of Stowe township, a part of the homestead being still occupied by our subject. The farm contained about 200 acres, covered with timber, but Jonathan cleared it, assisted by his sons. He built a log cabin, in which he lived some years, but finally built a frame house. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He was accustomed to work in the ship yards at Cleveland, and on his way home from that city was stricken down in middle age, prob- ably with heart disease.
Sylvester Gaylord had the usual common- school education of bis day and was an infant of nine months when he was brought by his parents to the Western Reserve. He learned,
in Cleveland, the carpenter and builder's trade of Mr. Hill, and began work for himself when but twenty years of age. He married, when about twenty-two years of age, Ruth Nicker- son, who was born in Massachusetts, near Cape Cod, of English descent, but whose pa- rents were pioneers of Stowe township, where her father kept a hotel at Stowe Corners. The children by this marriage were Helen and Sylvester. This wife died, and Mr. Gaylord next married, April 29, 1839, in Stowe town- ship, Julia A. North, born May 2, 1817, at Middletown, Conn., a daughter of Selah and Anna (Newell) North. Mr. Gaylord was a farmer as well as a carpenter and settled on a farm in Stowe township, but sold it and bought the present farm-part of his father's original homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord were born Lucy, William, Julia, Charlotte, and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord were members of the Disciples' church, of which he was trus- tee for years. In politics he was a republican and served as township trustee several years. He was a much respected citizen, well known for his sterling worth. He died at the vener- able age of eighty years, June 17, 1889. Mrs. Gaylord, who still survives him, is possessed of an active mind and excellent memory, and is a woman of high character.
Charles Gaylord, son of above, was born March 14, 1852, on the present homestead. He received a common-school education and attended the academy at Tallmadge, and was reared to farming and paper finishing, working at Munroe Falls about fifteen years. He mar- ried June 3, 1874, in Stowe township, Lucy Sothmayd, born May 13, 1855, in Stowe town- ship, daughter of William and Martha (Will- son) Sothmayd, the former of whom was born in May, 1830, the third son of Erastus and Clarissa (Rice) Sothinayd.
Clarissa Rice was a daughter of Capt. Rice, and was the first white child born in
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Stowe township, in which township Albert Stowe, still living, was the second child and the first male child born. Erastus Sothmayd was born in Middletown, Conn., and came to the Western Reserve a single man. He was a farmer, and married, in Stowe township, Annie Wetmore; his children were Charles, Lucy and Leonard. Mis. Sothmayd died, and he married Clarissa Rice, and their children were Walter, William, and the twins, Horace and Henry. Mr. Sothmayd had a good farm one-half mile north of Stowe Centre, which he cleared up from the woods. He also kept a hotel at Stowe's Corners for some years. He and his wife were members of the Disci- ples' church, and in politics he was a republi- can. Mr. Sothmayd lived to be seventy-nine years old and died on his farm.
William Sothmayd was a farmer and school-teacher, educated in the public and high school, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He taught school in Summit county ten years and settled on the home farm, but later in life moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where he died, aged fifty-seven years, December S, in 1887: He was one of the Summit county infirmary directors for many years, was a republican in politics, and served as clerk of Stowe town- ship, and also treasurer for many years. He and wife were members of the Disciples' church, in which he was an elder. He was a highly respected citizen and a well-read man. He married, November 4, 1859, in Medina county, at Brunswick, Martha Wilson, who was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., December 27, 1831, a daughter of Darius and Temperance (Chase) Wilson.
Darius Wilson was born of Connecticut of English Puritan stock, and one of his remote ancestors was a signer of the declaration of independence. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of Homer E., Martha, Milton and James D. Darius Wilson moved to the 1
Western Reserve, Ohio, in 1835, and sett !. at Brunswick. He was a farmer and carp. i .- ter and died aged seventy-four years, on In farm, a much respected citizen and a republ can in politics. Charles Gaylord and wife settled on the Gaylord homestead and still t. side there. The children are Howard at; Stanley. In politics he is a republican Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, being .: member of the lodge at Cuyahoga Falls, of which he is past chancellor, and is a K. A. I. O., of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He is an hon- ored citizen and township trustee, and was for several years a justice of the peace. He and wife are members of the Disciples' church of which he has been deacon twenty-om years. Two of his brothers were soldiers in the Civil war, and Sylvester was in the Unite ! States navy, in the three years service, al ! was at the bombardment of Charleston and New Orleans. He married Maria Hahn, and his children are Eugene, Edith, Ruth ar ! Sadie. William was a private of battery D Fourth Ohio artillery, and served four year. he was a veteran, and in 100 engagements -among them Stone River.
AVORUS GRATE, a prominent to-i dent and prosperous farmer of Pal- myra township, Portage county, Ohi ... was born in Deerfield township, mi the same county, July 30, 1839, a son of Lew' and Catharine (Kibler) Grate.
George Grate, the paternal grandfather ... the subject of this memoir, was a native ni Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about tl year 1820, settling in Palmyra township, !'. '! age county, where he passed the remaind fo his days in farming. To his marriage wert: Susan Fatcher were born eight children. » were named, in order of birth, Jeremiah, F! len, Betsy, John, George, Lewis, Beman
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OF. PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
and Isaac. His death took place at the age of eighty-two years, but his wife had been called away some few years previous to his own de- parmare.
Henry Kibler, maternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Virginia, a miller by alling, and was twice married in his native state, prior to coming to Ohio. To his first marriage were born six children, of whom three are still living, viz: Martin, Catherine Henry; the deceased were named Annie, George and Amelia. To the second marriage of Henry Kibler, which was with Barbara Frank, three children were born, viz: An- drew, Elizabeth (wife of Theron Gilbert, of whom further information will be found on another page of this volume) and Alexander.
Lavorus Grate remained on the home farm until twenty-five years of age, acquiring in the meanwhile a sound district-school education, and assisting his father in the cultivation of the farm. ,September 28, 1865, he married Miss Jane Arbuckle, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Caruthers) Arbuckle, and the same year settled in Palmyra township, where he has since been continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Lewis Grate, father of subject, was born in Palestine, Pa., July 15, 1808, and his wife, Catherine Kibler, a native of Virginia, was born in 1814. Both were quite young when they came to Ohio, and located in Palmyra township, Portage county, whence they re- moved to Deerfield township and passed the remainder of their days. To their union were born six children, who are all still living, viz .: Fineline, wife of H. S. Randall, of whom more may be read on another page; Drusilla, un- wirried; Mariette. wife of Daniel Kimmel; Angeline, widow of John Forder; Sarah, wife of Wallace T. Gilbert. and Lavores. . The father of this family was a highly respected farmer, was for many years township trustee,
school director and supervisor, and died June 7, 1893, at the age of eighty-five years; his widow is now eighty-four years old and is in excellent health.
Thomas Arbuckle, father of Mrs. Jane Grate, was a native of Philadelphia, farmied for some years in Washington county, came to Ohio when in middle age, and engaged in farming in Mahoning county. He first mar- ried, in Pennsylvania, Nancy Watson, who bore him one daughter. After the death of his first wife. Mr. Arbuckle married Miss Ca- ruthers, and to this union were born eleven children. of whom Mrs. Jane Grate, who was born in Washington county, Pa., January 8, 1838, is the only survivor. The deceased ten were named Sarah, Ellen, Margaret, Francis, Thomas, John, George, James, William and David .. Mr, Arbuckle passed away in 1861, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife in Maty, 1864, at the age of sixty-two, both mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Grate has always been an industrious and skillful farmer, and no family in Palmyra township is held in higher respect than his.
ANIEL H. HARTZELL, of Deer- field township, Portage county, Ohio, and for years recognized as one of the township's best educators, was born here June 27, 1853, a son of Solomon and Clorinda (Loomis) Hartzell. He re- ceived his early education in his district school, and this was supplemented by an at- tendance at Mount Union college and Canfield Business college, and also by a course through the business college at Cleveland, from which he gaduated in 1878. Thus much for the ed- ucational career of Mr. Hartzell, but it is necessary to explain that he assisted on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, and at the age of twenty years began his career as
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
a teacher, which profession he followed for eighteen consecutive terms, one of which, or, perhaps, two, he passed as tutot in the busi- ness college where he had received a portion of his instruction-that of Canfield-a posi- tion seldom accorded a graduate, but always one that fully recognizes the competency and ability of the pupil who has successfully passed through its curriculum.
August 28, 1884, Mr. Hartzell was united in marriage with Miss Lois Shinn, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Woodruff) Shinn, the union being blessed with two children -- Ger- trude H. and Russell S. He had some exper- ience in the drug trade for a year in partner- ship with P. D. Stratton, at Cortland, Ohio, and in general merchandizing at Damascus for three years, and in 1887 came to Deerfield township and bought the farm formerly owned by T. R. Mowen, and here he has since been most successfully engaged in farming.
To revert to the progenitors of Daniel II. Hartzell, it is necessary to state that his father, Solomon Hartzell, was born in Deer- field township, August 13, 1813, was reared a farmer, but in early manhood became a clerk in Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, in which capacity he was engaged several years. In 1840 he engaged in mercantile trade in com- pany with a Mr. Bricker, whom he later bought out and united with Dr. Leonard Hanna, of Cleveland, under the firm name of Hanna & Hartzell, and for several years car- ried on the business on his sole account, then sold a half-interest to C. K. Greiner, of Salem, and under the style of Hartzell & Greiner did a flourishing trade several years longer. Mr. Hartzell eventually sold his interest in this concern to W. H. Reed, cashier of the First National bank :. of Alliance, and thereafter de- voted his attention to real estate and stocks and bonds. He was eminently a man of busi- ness ability, was one of the organizers and 3
stockholder in and director of the First Nat- ional bank of Alliance, and gave sucecss to every undertaking in which he participated.
Solomon Hartzell was united in marriage, November 6, 1844, with Miss Clorinda A. Loomis, a daughter of Chester and Elizabeth (Matoom) Loomis, the union resulting in the birth of five children, viz: Chester W., Strat- ton, Daniel H., Sophia (Mrs. James R. Dick- son), and Emma, the wife of J. E. Detchen, of North Benton. October 20, 1855, Mr. Hartzell was ordained and installed an elder of the Presbyterian church of Deerfield, now Benton, Mahoning county, to the membership of which he had been admitted June 28, 1843. and the duties pertaining to this sacred charge he performed with faithfulness and zeal until death closed his earthly career. November 2, 1897, at the ripe age of eighty-four years, two months and nineteen days.
Daniel H. Hartzell, as a farmer, has met with abundant success, and as a citizen has won the esteem of the entire community in which he lives, having been selected by his fellow-citizens to serve them in various town- ship offices. He is an honored member of Alliance lodge, No. 266, 1. O. O. F., and in all the various stations in life which he has been called upon to fill he has performed his duty faithfully and well.
ALVERT HARDEN, the well-known miller of Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the ex-soldiers of the Civil war, was born at Indi.in- apolis, Ind., January 1, 1846, a son of John and Lucinda (Beatty) Harden.
John Harden was born in county Dow". Ireland, in 1803, and when a boy came to America with his father, who settled in Bil. timore, Md. He received a common educat !! : and married, in Millersburg, Ohio, Lucin la
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
Beatty, who was also born in county Down, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when thirteen years old. Mr. Harden moved to Boone county, Ind., where he was a mer- chant about fourteen years at Zionsville and Lebanon. His wife died at Lebanon, in 1863, and he then moved to Mount Gilead, Ohio. His second marriage took place in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Amanda Merriman, who bore him no children. Mr. Harden died in 1878, in Mount Gilead, aged about seventy-five years, in the faith of the Christian church, of which he had been a member for more than sixty years. In politics he was a republican and held the office of justice of peace. His children were named William, Marilda, George, Sam- uel, Beatty, Martha, Mary, John, Addison, Mi !- ton, Calvert and Harriet. Of these, Marilda married a soldier -- Luther M. Oliphant-and six sons served in the Civil war, viz: George, Samuel, John, Addison, Milton and Calvert. George was in an Indiana regiment in the three months' service, and in the battle of Richmond, Ky. Samuel was in the One Hundred and Twenty- first Indiana volunteer infantry, three years' service, was in several battles and was wounded at the battle of Richmond, Ky .; was seven times shot and taken prisoner, but escaped before the battle was over. His wounds were all flesh wounds. John was ad- jutant of the One Hundred and Tenth Indiana volunteer infantry in the three years' service, and in many battles, including Shiloh and Mill Springs, Ky. Addison was in the three months' service in the Tenth Indiana volunteer infantry, and in the battle of Rich Mountain. Milton was sergeant in company Eleven, In- diana volunteer cavalry, three years' service, and among his battles was that at Nashville.
Calvert Harden received a common edu- cation at Lebanon, Ind., and enlisted in August, 1862, at the age of between sixteen and seven- teen years, in company G, One Hundred and
and Sixteenth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, at Lebanon, Ind., Capt. Robert Harrison, for six months, and was honorably discharged at LaFayette, Ind., in Marchi, 1863. He was in the battles of Walker's Ford, Tazewell, Evans' Ford, and Greenville, Tenn., and Bull's Gap and Blue Springs, Ky. He theu returned to Boone county, and re-enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Thirty-Fiffi regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, Capt. R. W. Williamson, and served until honorably discharged at Indianapolis in 1864. Mr. Harden was never sick in hospital, wounded, nor taken prisoner, and performed all his duties promptly and cheerfully. After the war he returned to Lebanon, Ind., and finished his trade of miller; then came to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and married there, January 28, 1867. Miss Sarah A. Donaldson, who was born April 11, 1851, a daughter of Rev. and Elizabeth (Merriman) Donaldson. Rev. Donaldson was twice married, and by his first wife had two sons-Wesley and Alonzo -- both soldiers in the Civil war, in an Ohio regiment and Rev. Donaldson was also a soldier in an Ohio Regi- ment. There were two children by his second wife-Sarah A. and Ella. Rev. Donaldson died at the close of the war at Cardington, Ohio.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harden settled at Ottawa, Kans., where he worked in a mill eight years; after his return to Ohio he located at Brecksville and ran a flour and feed-mill. In 1893 he built a similar mill at Macedonia. He came to Twinsburg in 1895 and built his present flour and feed-mill, and equipped it with first class machinery and is doing a very prosperous business. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harden are named John F. and Pearl A. Mr. Harden is a member of the Con- gregationalist church and of Logan post, No. 282, G. A. R., at Brecksville, Ohio, and has held the office of commander and other posi-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
tions, . In politics he is a republican, is a strong temperance man, and a member of the Good Templars, Twinsburg lodge. He has always been an industrious, hard-working man, and stands, high for his integrity of character.
....
A ARON MORRISS, deceased, was one of the honored old settlers of Tall- madge township, Summit county, Ohio, and a prominent and respected citizen, and was born at Winstead, Conn., Oc- tober 8. 1797, of remote Scotch descent. He received an academic education, and possess- ing naturally an active mind he became a wide reader, having access to one of the finest libraries in Georgia, and, together with his var- ied experience in life, acquired an excellent (Jucation: He learned the carpenters' and joiners' trade, in the thoroughgoing old-fashi- ioned way, at Milford Center, Conn., under Chauncey Isbell, and when twenty-one years old visited the state of Georgia and soon be- came a contractor and builder, employing sometimes as many as thirty men. He erected buildings at Millersville, Augusta, Sparta and the Savannah Mills on the Ogeechee river. He built Dr. Wm. Torrell's palatial residence, a beautiful and typical southern structure of the olden days befors the war --- this firm structure requiring three years to erect; he also built many churches, including a beautiful Congre- gational church, costing $80,000. He passed thirteen years of a very active life in Georgia and other southern states, and became widely known as an architect and builder.
Mr. Morriss returned to Connecticut, and married, at Milford, in March, 1834, Sarah Isbell, a daughter of Israel and Sarah (Par- die) Isbell. Sarah Pardie was the daughter of Rebecca Beccher, a sister of the famous di- vine, Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, father of Henry Ward Beecher. After marriage and during
the next October Mr. Morriss moved to Ohio in 1834, having been out the previous year and viewed the country, and settled on the present homestead, consisting of 155.42 acres Mr. Morriss gradually improved this lite- stead, making additions and alterations, and attached a fine southern colonnade, very roomy, commodious and elegant. It is Co- lonial in style, and is as well preserved as when first built. The finely carved and fluted col- umas are of solid black walnut, and give an air of strength to the structure. Mr. Morriss. while not reared a farmer, possessed a practi- cal business turn of mind, and when he first gave hisattention to farming soon became an accomplished agriculturist -- succeeded in his farming operations, and developed a really model home and farm. He made his success in life while he was yet a young man, and while in the south laid the foundation of his success.
Mr. Morriss was a fine tenor singer. and sang in the church choir in New Haven, Com In Connecticut he was also a member of a military company. Mrs. Morriss was of a fine. family -- the Isbells of Connecticut, who for generations was well known in that state She brought with her to Tallmadge some fine specimens of colonial furniture, among them a rare mahogany sideboard; also some fine matched tables, and the fine old homestead i. filled with rare and valued family relics. Mr. and Mrs. Morriss were the parents of two daughters, America and Corene, born in Tall- madge, Ohio. Mrs. Morriss had been pre- viously married to Capt. F. Coggeshall, and they were the parents of George, now deceased, and one child who died. in infancy The sisters, America and Corene, were both well educated at Ravenna and at the Hudson Young Ladies' seminary and finished the" education at the Ontario Female seminary. Canandaigua, N. Y. Their education t.
AARON MORRISS, DECEASED.
---
₣
SARAH MORRISS, DECEASED.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
cluded a thorough course in music, in which they both became proficient. Miss Corene is How deccased: Miss America manages the home farm, and lici other interests, having a goodly property, beside the fine, old home- stead, with a substantial sum on interest. She is an excellent woman, of good judgment and shrewd financial ability. Mr. Morriss was of the highest character and very greatly re- spected and one of the best citizens in Summit county, being of a nature to command the love and esteem of all who know him .. He was an honored citizen of Tallmadge township and held the office of township trustec. Lewis and Robert Morriss, who signed the declara- tion of independence, were relatives of sub- ject's family.
ORRIS E. HASKINS, a well known business man of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex- soldier of the Civil war, is a son of Alman M. and Lucy (Scott) Haskins, and was born in Friendship, Allegany county, N. Y., November 8, 1845.
Alman M. Haskins, also a native of the Empire state, was born in Louisville, St. Law- rence county, and was by trade a hatter. To his marriage with Lucy Scott, daughter of Justus and Annie (White) Scott, were born four children -- George A., Mary L., Morris E. and Arthur, but they were not all born in the same part of the state, as Mr. Haskins worked at his trade, after marriage, in Franklinville, Cat- taraugus county, Friendship, Allegany county, and died in Wirt, Allegany county, at the age vi eighty-seven years, doubtless having pur- sued his trade at other places than those men- tioned, during his long life. In politics he was an ardent republican, and was a strong Union Inan, giving to his country two of his sons- George A. and Morris E .- to save it from
destruction dining the war of the Rebellion. George A. served as a private for three years in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York volunteer infantry, and although he was in many battles, escaped unwounded, but suf- fers still as the result of exposure while in the service. The military record of Morris E. is given in the following paragraph:
Morris E. Haskins, after receiving a good common-school education in Friendship, en- listed in company A, Fifth New York heavy artillery, and served until disabled at Pied- mont, Va., June 5, 1864, where a ball passcd through bis right arm, entered his body just below the heart, and through the lower lobe of the left lang, which is still in bad order. He fell on the field near the breastworks, was picked up and taken to the field hospital, where the Union troops left a small guard and pressed on to Lynchburg. The following day, June 6, Mosely's guerrillas came along, cap- tured the hospital, and carried off the wounded soldiers to Lynchburg, and, a few days later, to Richmond, where he was kept a short time in Libby prison, but, as he was desperately wounded and death imminent, he was trans- ferred to another old tobacco warehouse, where he lay, in durance and distress. fully five months, living on the meanest and scanti- est rations possible, washing and dressing his wounds with his own hands, and being fur- nished with clean bandages by the Sisters of Charity, who paid much more attention than the Confederate surgeons. All this time he was without even a blanket, having been robbed by the rebels, when taken prisoner, of his arms, clothing, and nearly $50 in green- backs. He was finally exchanged, and hon- orably discharged at Annapolis, Md., May 15, 1865, his emaciated anatomy turning the scale at ninety-two and one-half pounds, although he had weighed 1673 pounds when he en- listed.
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