USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 32
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 32
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
After the war, Mr. Haskins returned to New York, and after a short stay at Friendship went to Wirt, Allegany county, where he was engaged, for three years, in mercantile trade in partnership with his brother-in-law, Albert S. Brainard, who had married Mary L. Has- kins, sister of Morris E. While at Wirt, Mr. Haskins married, January 1, 1866, Miss Sallie M. Hunt, who was born in that town June 8, 1850, a daughter of Christopher A. and Roxana (Harris) Hunt.
Christopher A. Hunt, father of Mrs. Sallie M. Haskins, was born in the state of New York, July 12, 1818. His wife, Roxana, was born July 7, 1820, and bore her husband six children, viz: Austin A., James L., Sallie M .. Susie J., Asia M. and Ai A. For more than thirty years the father, who was a de- scendent of a Mayflower pilgrim, kept a hotel in Champion, Jefferson county, N. Y., but is now living at Mantua Station, Ohio, at the age of seventy-eight, his widow being seventy- seven, and both respected members of the Methodist church.
Moriis E. Haskins, just after marriage, located at Ceres, Pa., where he was engaged in the lumber business for two years, next passed a year or so in Warsaw, Pa., and in 1869 came to Mantua Station, Ohio, thence moved to Auburn, Ohio, where he remained for six years, then returned to Mantua, and here engaged in mercantile trade, but, on ac- count of suffering from his unhealed lung, has been little able to attend to or push his busi- ness for some years past, as otherwise he would have done, being naturally a bright and keen trader. His marriage has been blessed with two children, Mary L. and Nellie M., who still remain under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Haskins is a stanch repub- lican and has held the office of constable of Mantua township seven years. He is a mem- ber of Bentley post, No. 294, G. A. R., of 1
Mantua Station, having been one its charter meinbers, and in this post he has filled all the minor offices, advancing to those of adjutant, junior and senior vice-conunander. He stands high in the esteem of the community as a brave defender of his country's flag and as a straightforward business man and incorruptible citizen.
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J OHN HAAS, a well-to-do farmer of Shalersville township, as well as a prominent and successful merchant of Mantua Station, was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, November 15, 1839, the son of Adam and Catherine (Filins) Haas.
John Haas was reared to manhood in the city of Cleveland, and was educated in the public schools of that city, and in early life learned the trade of saddlery and harness- making with his father. He became quite proficient as a workman, and soon was an able assistant in the shop to his father. He early became a member of the Cleveland Light Guards, then an independent military company, with which he was identified from the age of twenty until twenty-two years, dur- ing which time he became quite proficient in the drill and the duties of the company. Mr. Haas, being of a patriotic spirit, became im- bued with a spirit of protecting his nation and flag, and early in 1861 enlisted in the Twenty- third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in his native city. This was the same regiment in which President William Mckinley served about eighteen months' time as a private soldier. During the first year of Mr. Haas' enlistment he was elected second lieutenant of company A, but was never mustered, as he was afflicted with chronic diarrhea, and compelled to resign and return to his native home.
Mr. Haas soon recuperated and engagei in business with his father, at which he con
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
tinued steadily until May 1, 1864, when he enlisted the second time in defense of his nation's flag. His second enlistment was for three months, and he was appointed orderly ser- geant of Capt. John Nevin's company G, One- Hundred and Fiftieth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry. He served out his enlistment and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, August 15, 186.1. His services were near the city of Washington, D. C., at Fort Lincoln and Fort Slocum, and he was in the engagement at Fort Slocum when Gen. Jubal Early made his famous advance on Washing- ton, and attacked both Forts Lincoln and Slocum, and during this short engagement the Union troops lost 350 men in twenty minutes. Mr. Haas was always an active and willing soldier, and cheerfully obeyed every command from his superior officers. He enlisted from purely patriotic motives, and would have been in the early part of the war had his health not prevented him from doing so; however, hav- ing a knowledge of military drill, he taught many of the officers and soldiers of Cleveland while at home.
Mr. Haas continued in the harness busi- ness with his father for four months after his return from the war, when he was taken with malarial fever, with which he was afflicted for several months, but finally recovered from same, and, soon atter, was married to Miss Sophia Brodbeck, of Cleveland, Ohio, but a native of Medina county. By this marriage they became the parents of four children, John A., Hattie, William and Lottie.
In the spring of 1865, Mr. Haas left the city of his birth and located in Shalesrville township, Portage county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Hlaas being a practi- cal business man, has applied his early edu- cation to his agricultural life, and has been very successful, owning at the present time a
farm of 300 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. He is also proprietor of a hardware store at Mantua Station; also is en- gaged in the manufacture of wire nails, which he has followed for two years, and the pro- ducts of his factory are giving good satisfac- tion, both as to the quality of his goods and the revenues derived therefrom. Mr. Haas bas prospercd year by year and had early learned the secret of gaining wealth, which was, from a practical standpoint, that it was what a man saved from his earnings instead of what he made, that aided him to accumu- late property.
Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., Bentley post, and is the present commander, having held this office three terms, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mantua lodge.
Adam Haas, his father, was born in Ger- many, near Frankfort, and at the age of twenty years came to America and settled in the Mohawk valley, in New York state, where he followed his trade as a harnessmaker for several years, then came west and located in Cleveland, where he continued his trade and reared his family, and becaine a well-to-do citizen. He died at the age of seventy-four years at the home of his son John, in Shalers- ville township. He was a substantial and suc- cessful man in his day, practically self-made.
ENRY HENTZ, a respected farmer of Streetsboro township, Portage county, Ohio, and for over three years a gallant soldier of the Civil war, was born in Massena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., May 16, 1845, a son of Peter and Mary Heutz, the former of whom was of German descent and the latter of French descent.
Peter Hentz, whose birth occurred May
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
12, 1793, was a son of Henry Hentz, who came from Germany and was one of the first settlers of St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Peter was the first white child born in the county, and was taken forty miles. through the. forest to be christened, his parents being rigid Cath- olics. Peter was twice married, but had no children born to his first union. His second marriage, late in life, was to Mary Buissever, the name being ordinarily pronounced Bouvia, and signifying, in English, Greenbush. Two children, Henry and Sarah, were born to this second union. Peter Hentz served against the Indians in one of their insurrections, and in later life became a lumberman and. rafts- inan. Ten years prior to his death, Henry, the son, went from Ohio to New York and brought the old gentleman lither, and herc he died, at his son's home, at the age of ninety- three years.
Henry Hentz attended school in the Em- pire state until eleven years of age, when he came to Ohio, in 1856, with his mother and sister, who located in Ashtabula county, but he found for himself a home on a farm in Summit county, on which he worked four years, attending school the meanwhile, and continued farming as a laborer for different parties until he became a soldier.
Mr. Hentz enlisted, when but sixteen years old, at Ravenna, October 7, 1861, in Capt. H. H. Wiliard's company, Forty-second regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry, of which James A. Garfield, afterward president of the United States, was then lieutenant-colonel. Mr. Hentz served in this regiment three years, one month and twelve days, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, at Camp Tod, November 19, 1864. He fought at Middle Creek, Ky., when he was seized with typhoid fever, and was confined in hospital at Ashland for about six weeks. His next battle was at Tazewell, Tenn., and on the fatiguing retreat
from the rebel raider, John Morgan, marched 240 miles continuously through the mountains of eastern Kentucky, day and night. He was in the Chickasaw raid, in Mississippi, at the capture of Arkansas Post. Ark., and back to Mississippi again, taking part in the battles of Thompson's Hill and Champion's Hill, his eighteenth birthday occurring on the day the last-named battle was fought. He was also at the battle of Black River, and later, in a charge on the rebel works at Vicksburg. March 19, 1863, had the end of his left fore- finger cut off, but he remained with his com- pany throughout the charge. Later, he fought at Jackson, Miss., was in a raid at French Bayou, and another up the Black River, and was always a cheerful and willing man to per- form his duty as a soldier.
On returning to Ohio, Mr. Hentz resumed farm work, and was married at Shalersville. July 5, 1868, to Miss Cornelia E. Kimes, who was born in that town October 9, 1849. a daughter of John and Mary (Doughty) Kimes. John Kimes was a native of Butler county. Pa., and was of German descent. He came with his father to Portage county, Ohio, in 1837, and here married Miss Doughty, of New Jersey colonial ancestry, who bore him five children, viz: Cornelia E., Alma, Amos, Lucy, and Mary. Mr. Kimes was a democrat in politics, was a prosperous farmer, and died at about sixty years of age, leaving 280 acres of good larm land.
After marriage, Mr. Hentz located in Shalersville township, on his father-in-law's farm and cultivated it several years: he then worked in the Cleveland Wire mills at New - burg as a wire-drawer lor a few years, and then settled on his present place of 100 acres. on which he has erected a comfortable resi- dence and which he has converted into a profitable farm and a pleasant home.
The marriage of Mi. and Mrs. Ifentz ha-
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
been blessed with three children, named, in order of birth, John, Birdie, and Emerson K. In politics, Mr. Hentz is a republican, and as a citizen is regarded as one of the most useful in his township, and as a man is respected for his integrity and straightforward course of life.
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OSWELL B. CUTTS, of Garretts- ville, Ohio, was one of the old sol- diers of the Civil war and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in Paris township, Portage county, Ohio, Octo- ber 3, 1840, a son of Daniel B. and Lucy R. (Smith) Cutts, received a common education and attended several terms at Hiran Eclectic institute. He enlisted at the age of about twenty-one years, October 8, 1861, at Paris, Ohio, and was mustered in, same day, at Ra- venna, in Capt. H. H. Willard's company F, Forty-second regiment, Ohio volunteer infan- try, Col. James A. Garfield, to serve three years or during the war, but served three years and nearly two months, owing to an error in date of muster, and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, November 19, 1864. He was in the battles of Middle Creek, Ky., Cumberland Gap, Taze- well, Tenn., Kanawha valley campaign, Vicks- burg campaign for about three months, Chick- asaw Bluff, Miss., Fort Hindman, Ark., Port Gibson, and Raymond, Miss. He was sick in hospital at Raymond, Miss., with chronic diarrhea, and was captured by the Confed- erates while he lay in hospital; and sent to Jackson, Miss., thence to Mobile, Ala., thence to Augusta, Ga., and thence to Richmond. Va .. where he was confined in the infamous Libby prison. He was a prisoner four and a half months -- the latter part of this time being spent in Libby prison He was exchanged in October, 1863, and sent to Camp Chase, and rejoined his regiment at New Orleans, and
was then'on the Red River campaign, and in' the battles of Atchafalaya Bayou, under Gen. Banks; then to Morganza Bend. La. Then they were ordered to the mouth of White River, thence to St. Charles, Ark .. io fortify that place, and then went with his regiment to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., to build fortifications there, where he remained until sent home for muster out.
At the battle of Chickasaw Bayou he was struck on the left shin by a spent ball. He was on the Cumberland Gap campaign three months and marched about 400 miles. The troops were short of rations, the supplies being cut off by the rebels, and they lived on green corn for about twenty days. They were in skirmishes every day and drove the rebels every morning from their breakfasts for some time, driving them from two to twenty miles daily, and removing the blockade of trees filled by the rebels to impede their progress in their march. The Union soldiers suffered greatly from hunger on the march, and sub- sisted on roasted and grated corn from the fields on the greater part of this march to the Ohio river, where they received supplies, and were on one-fourth rations before leaving Cumberland Gap. During the war his regi- ment traveled about 3,700 miles; of this, 1, 500 miles were by steamboat, 1,000 miles by rail and 1, 700 in marching order. This was ex- clusive of drills and picket duty. They par- ticipated in ten general engagements, sieges and in many skirmishes. Mr. Cutts considered his hardest battle to have been at Port Gil)- son, when the regiment lost seventy-five killed, and many wounded, in a few hours. Mr. Cutts was sick with diphtheria during the first part of his enlistment at Camp Chase, Ohio, fol- lowed by chronic diarrhea through his whole service, and did not recover for twenty years after the war, and still has some trouble. He was always an active soldier, served through-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
out as a private and was in all the campaigns, marches, battles, and skirmishes in which liis regiment took part, except while a prisoner. He considers his worst experience as a prisoner just after his capture. From this time until the arrival at Mobile, four and a half days later, the captives had nothing to eat what- ever, and drank water from the swamps pumped into tanks for use of engines. He and his comrades were robbed of everything of value -- their good clothing being stripped off of them, and filthy, ragged, rebel clothing given in exchange. At Mobile they received rations of a small piece of bacon and some hard tack, and had to drink swamp water. They were talen to Libby prison by boat and rail, and there they were searched, and those that had money were robbed of it. Wirtz was the ex- amining officer. He was afterward the brute who persecuted the prisoners to death at An- dersonville, and was after the war hanged, at Washington, D. C., for his crimes. Mr. Cutts had $45 in new greenbacks concealed in the bottom of his pants, which were too poor to be taken, and he rolled these up at the bottom. His pocketbook was taken, and in this he had $28 in Confederate money and a comrade's note foi $18. This was thrown on the table, and Mr. Cutts protested to Wirtz that the note could do them no good, and if he lived to get out would be of value to him, and that they could have the Confederate money in welcome. Wirtz said. "How do you know you will ever live to get out? Here, take your d-d pocket- book; we don't want it." Mr. Cutts had just bought the Confederate money for $5 from a Richmond business man. The rebels had no confidence in their own money.
In Libby prison Mr. Cutts received as ra- tion a pint of cow-pea soup and a small piece of bacon, twice each day; it was horrible stuff and could hardly be eaten. He was sergeant of the mess, and, being too liberal in portioning
it out, had none for himself. He was sick all the time he was in prison with chrome diarrhea, and the miserable food kept hini so. Mr. Cutts was very independent and out- spoken, but learned to win the respect of the rebel officers and the doctors in charge. Every morning at roll call an offer was made that any one of the prisoners who would take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate govern- ment and again not to take up arms against it, would be allowed to go free and be given plenty of food. Although starving slowly and in a vile prison, not a man was ever known to step from the ranks and accept this offer. The experience in this prison was too brutal to describe. Mr. Cutts saw Wirtz kick a sol- dier in the mouth and break his teeth because he was too weak to stand up at roll call. Mfr. Cutts and another comrade assisted this pour fellow to stand during roll call, with his face covered with blood from the kick of the inhu- man Wirtz. Mr. Cutts was finally taken to Annapolis, Md., with other prisoners, and there paroled in the camp. The prisoners pre- sented a most pitiable sight. They were cov- ered with vermin, and many of them had hard- ly a spot on their person not bitten or sore. They were stripped of their ragged and filthy clothing, given soap, and allowed to take a bath in the waters of the Chesapeake bay. The old clothing was burned and they were furnished with a suit of Uncle Sam's blue. It is right to state here that the physician in charge at the hospital at Libby prison was a kind-hearted man, and did the best he could with the resources and medicine at his com. mand.
After the war Mr. Cutts settled in Portage county. He married, the first time, in Wind- ham township, December 16, 1864, Celia Yale, who was born in Windham, Ohio. a daughter of Edmund and Nancy (Russe.) Yale. Mrs. Cutts died four years after mi-
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
riage, leaving no children. She was a mem- ber of the Congregational church and a woman of many virtues. Mr. Cutts' second marriage took place January 4, 1871, in Hiram town- ship, to Ellen S. Leach, who was born Octo- ber 28, in Champion township, Trumbull county, Olio, a daughter of Daniel and Mary A. (Shiveley) Leach.
Mr. Cutts has since the war been a farm- cr. He first settled in Windham township on a farm, but after his second marriage set- t'ed at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and was there en- gaged for a time in the nursery business. He then returned to Ohio and settled, in 1873, on the present homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Cutts have been blessed with two children --- Lucy L. and Willis R. Mr. Cutts is a member of Mark Horton post, G. A. R., at Garrettsville, Ohio, and has held the office of adjutant for many years. Politically he is a stanch re- publican. Mr. and Mrs. Cutts and their daughter, Lucy L., are members of the Con- gregational churchi, at Garrettsville, Ohio, in which Mr. Cutts was a deacon four years. Mr. Cutts is a public-spirited man and takes an active interest in public improvements. He was among the most active promoters of the pike between Hiram and Garrettsville, and held the office of pike superintendent during the grading and building, and is now holding the office for the third time. He was the first master of Garrettsville grange, No. 1436, and is at present chaplain. He is well known for his straightforward character and is a respected citizen.
Daniel B. Cutts, father of Roswell B. Cutts, was born at Orwell, Addison county, Vt., and a son of Thomas Cutts. Daniel B. married, in Vermont, Miss Lucy R. Smith, a descendant of an old colonial Vermont family of English descent. The Cuttses were also of English stock and soldiers in the war of the Revolution. Two brothers of the name settled
in Vermont, and one of these finally settled in Virginia. Daniel B. Cutts was a shoemaker and tanner and currier. He came to Ohio in 1829 and located in Windham township, Port- age county, but a few years later removed to Paris, Ohio, where he followed his trades of tanning and shoemaking. He sold out in 1864 and removed to Minnesota; subsequent- ly, however, he returned to Garrettsville, where he died in 1873. His children by his first wife were Mary, Ira, Sarah A., Henry D., Roswell B., Emily J. and Fanny M. Mrs. Cutts died in 1864, while he was in the army, a member of the Methodist church, and Mr. Cutts next married in Garrettsville, Ohio, in 1871, Mrs. Eliza A. Frisby, who is still living. Mr. Cuits was also a member of the Method- ist church and in politics was first a whig and then a republican, and was an honorable and upright man. He died in February, 1873.
'RVIN O. HAYMAKER, one of the prominent farmers of Franklin town- ship, Portage county, son of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker, was born April 5, 1844, on the old homestead of his father, and received a common-school education, afterward attending a term at Mount Union. He was early taught to work on the farm, his father being a thrifty farmer and a very industrious man. He married, April 5, 1866, in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, Miss Harriet E. Norton, who was born September 3, 1846, in Edinburg township, same county, a daughter of Joseph and Jeannette (Graham) Norton -- Joseph Norton being of New Eng- land ancestry, born in 1813, in Litchfield county, Conn., and a pioneer of Portage county. He lived to be an aged man, and died in 1895. a member of the Methodist church. In politics he was a democrat and an i honored citizen. llis children were Willian,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
who died young; McKendree D., deceased; Charles, Angie, Hattie E. and Maxwell S. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker settled on their pres- ent farm of 134 acres, and by his thrift and industry improved it. His first wife died April 7, 1869. The children were Charles Anson and Hattie Eliza.
Mr. Haymaker married the second time in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 26, 1870, Harriet Powell, daughter of William and Catherine (Burger) Powell. William Powell was a native of Maryland, born in 1803, of English ancestry, a son of Thomas Powell, who was a well-to-do farmer. His children were Samuel, Michael, Levi, Eli, Thomas, Rebecca, Betsey, Nancy and Mary. Thomas Powell moved to Ohio and settled in Stark county at an early day, and was a member of the Baptist church. He lived to be an aged man and died in Stark county, Ohio.
William Powell moved to Ohio with his father when but eight years old, in 1811, to Stark county, and then settled in Columbiana county, he being a good farmer, and had a good home of 140 acres well improved. He married, October 5, 1836, Catherine Burger, of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, born near Gettysburg, Adams county, Pa., Septem- ber 26, 1804, and when a child came to Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, with her parents, Michael and Catherine Burger. William Pow- ell and wife lived together over fifty-eight years. The children were Sarah, John, Si- mon, Jonas, Mary, Daniel, Lydia, Anthony, Harriet, Luther and Franklin B. Mr. and Mr. Powell were devout members of the Lu- theran church, and he was nearly all his life elder in his church. He was always a genu- ine republican in politics. He lived to be eighty-one years old and died in his home January 7, 1885. He was a man of upright character and highly respected by all who knew him.
Arvin O. Haymaker, our subject, has now a farm of 140 acres, well improved, on the borders of Twin Lakes, and it is beautifully situated, with a delightful prospect. The chil- dron are Homer A., Deborah J., Franklin P. and Abbie R. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and is church trustee. Politically he is a republican and has held the office of township trustee four years. Mr. Haymaker is a man of excellent character and well educated. Ile taught school in his neigh- borhood for twenty-five winters, and was a successful teacher and well-known educator. His children are also well educated; Homer A. is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan university and Franklin P. and Deborah J. will graduate from the same institution the present year. At one time Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker had five children together at this excellent institution. The Haymaker family is one of the best- known and intelligent in Portage county.
J AMES NORTON, a prominent citizen of Garrettsville, was born in Hiram township. Portage county, Ohio, Sep tember 9, 1833, a son of Thuel and Harriet R. (Harrington) Norton, who were the parents of ten children, viz: Anna, bom October 21. 1823; Seth D., a lawyer, born August 19, 1825-died in Ravenna: Edwin, born July 16, 1827 (deceased): Amelia ( .. born January 4, 1829; Julia M., born April 24. 1831; James, our subject; Lois E., born No. vember 28, 1835-died in Trenton, Mo . Emily E., born May 6, 1838; Richard C .. president of the Southeast State Normal schou! at Cape Girardeau, Mo., born June 15, 1840. and Harriet R., born January 28, 1846.
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