USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 36
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
S04
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Mill, Tenn., October 11, 1863; Blountville, October 14, 1863, Russellville, Tenn., De- cember 12, 1863; Bean Stations, Decem- ber 13, 1863; Rutledge, Tenn .. Decem- ber 14-15, 1863, and Dundridge, Tenn., December 24. 1863. The regiment stood second best in the cavalry service, the regiment that stood first being the Second United States regulars. After the service in Tennessee and after veteranizing and reorganiz- ation, the Second Ohio cavalry was assigned to the army of the Potomac, under command of Gen. Wilson, and was in the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Chan- cellorsville, Brandy Station, and when on Wil- son's raid assisted in the destruction of the Weldon R. R. and had severe fighting on the return, being obliged to abandon and burn their ambulances, stores, ammunition, wagons, guns and artillery, and at the fight at Ream's Station lost heavily. The regiment joined Sheridan, and, under Custer raided down the Shenandoah Valley, destroying by fire all ma- terial that could feed or shelter the rebels. He was in the battle of Cedar Creek. in the spring of 1865, the closing campaign of the war. Mr. Johnson was furloughed home in February, 1865, rejoined his regiment in May, 1865, at Washington, D. C., and was present in that great military pageant-the grand re- view. He then went with his regiment to Springfield, Mo., where he was mustered out September 12, 1865, having served over four years in one of the most active cavalry regi- ments of the Civil war. He was not wounded, nor a prisoner, nor sick in hospital, or even sick a day while in the service, but was strong, well and sturdy, served out his complete time as an active soldier, and until detached for a short service in the ambulance corps, was in' all the marches, campaigns, raids, battles etc., in which his regiment took part.
' . After the war, Mr. Johnson returned to
Peninsula and engaged in carpenter work. He married July 4, 1866, at Peninsula, Miss Julie E. Cody, who was born in Kilkenny, Ire- land, May 6, 1841, a daughter of Richard and Margaret (O'Brien) Cody.
Richard Cody came from Ireland about 1842, was a farmer, and settled in Boston township, Sommit county, Ohio, where he passed his remaining days, dying a mem- ber of St. Mary's church. His children were Mary, Isabel, Ann, Julia, and Thomas. Mr. Cody was a hard-working and industrious man, respected by all. His son, Thomas, who was in the Civil war --- One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, company C --- was killed by the explosion of the steamer Sultana's boilers. He was in several battles, imprisoned in Andersonville several months, and was on his way home, a paroled prisoner, when he met his death.
Adar H. Johnson settled in Peninsula, aft- er his service to the country, where he has since lived. The children are Georgiana, Lil- lias B., Helen M., and Henry R. who died aged eleven years). In politics, he is a stanch democrat, and has held the office of assessor several terms, and, as a member of the board of education, was its treasurer. He is a met- ber of George L. Waterman post, No. 272, G. A. R., at Peninsula, was one of the charter. members, and is at present its commander. H. is also a member of the K. of P., the Knights of Maccabees, and the Veterans' Union. Mr. Johnson is now a substanial business man and was at one time a manager of the Zanesville (Ohio) Street Electric railway five years.
Henry Johnson, grandfather of Adar H., was born in New York state, was of English colonial stock, was a pioneer of Bedford, Ohio, and a soldier in the war of 1812. His children were named William, Wesley, George. Henry, Nelson, Maria, and Catherine. M. Johnson was a carpenter by trade, and settled
805
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
on a faim near Bedford, and lived to be about sixty-five years old, and was a ic- spected pioneer. His son, Henry Johnson, Jr., father of Adar H., was born in New York state and came to Ohio when a boy, was a carpenter by trade and married Roxy L. Trow- bridge, daughter of John and Lydia L. (Rus- sell) Trowbridge. Mr. Johnson settled in Boston township, Summit county, after mar- riage, and passed his later days in Peninsula. His children were Josephine, Helen, Adar H., and Lydia. Mr. Johnson lived to be fifty- two years old and died a member of the Episcopal church, and in politics a democrat. He served as township trustee and held other offices, and was a greatly honored citizen.
OHN KISSEL, a respected and pros- perous farmer of Randolph township, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-sol- dier of the Civil war, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in April, 1844. a son of Michael and Magdalena (Rice) Kissel, who were the parents of six children, viz: Valentine and John, still living; Margaret, who died in November 30, 1866, the wife of Andrew Cool :; Lizzie, wife of a Mr. Donnes, died in Illinois, in 1878; Kate was the wife of Nicholas Sams, and is also deceased; one child died in infancy. The father of the fam- ily died on shipboard when coming to this country in 1853 with his family, and the inother died here March 16, 1869.
John Kissel was about ten years of age when he landed in America with his mother and her family, having been 100 days in cross- ing the Atlantic ocean. They settled in Rootstown, Portage county, where the mother purchased a farm, which was diligently culti- vated by her two sons, aided by hired help, until the enlistment of her son John, our sub- ject, in January, 1865, in company H, One
Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served nine months and was honorably discharged September 25, 1865. Returning to Rootstown he worked on the farm for his mother until 1868, when he married. January 7, Miss Barbara Goodyear, a daughter of Peter Goodyear, who was born in Germany, but came to America when a young man, settled in Randolph township. where he engaged in farming and married a Miss Bussel, who bore him five children, of whom three -- John, George and Barbara-are still living; Adam died in July, 1897, aged sixty-six years, and Lizzie died in 1864. Both parents are now deceased, dying in the faith of the Church of Rome. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kissel has been blessed with eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, who was born July 17, 1869, and is the wife of Burt Watters; Barbara, born February 14, 1871, is the wife of Martin Miller; George, born June 6, 1873: Kate, born July 28, 1875, is married to Jacob Luli; Mary, born June 2, 1887; Lewis, March 15, 1879; Adam, February 12, 1881; Joseph, January 10, 1883; Seth, September 10, 1885; Clara. October 29, 1885, and Mina, May 13, 1893.
In the spring of 1875 Mr. Kissel bought his present farm in Randolph township, on which he settled in March of the same year, and in addition to general farming has oper- ated a threshing machine for the past nine years. He is a most excellent farmer, as everything around him fully attests, his fields being well drained, his fences always in good order, and his dwelling and farm structures being neat and tasty in appearance. Mr. Kis- sel has served as township supervisor one term. He and family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, to the support of which they contribute freely and liberally, and they hold the-esteem of all the members of the com- munity in which they live.
806
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD)
ENRY WOLFCOMER, a substantial citizen of Aurora township, Portage county, Ohio, is a son of John and Eliza (Kiercoff) Wolfcomer, the for- mer of whom was born in Prussia in August, 1824, the son of a farmer, whose children were two in number, Henry and John, who both came to America.
Jolin Wolfcomer learned the carpenter's trade in his native land, and was about twen- ty-two years old when he came to the United States, as he reached this country on the eve of the Mexican war. He found employment at his trade in Cincinnati, and there married Eliza Kiercoff, a native of Germany, to which union was born one child-Henry, whose name opens this article. About 1856, Mr. Wolicomer removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until he enlisted in company B, Fifty-eighth Ohio volunteer infan- try, February 5, 1864, to serve three years, unless sooner discharged by reason of the ter- mination of hostilities, this termination occur- ring in April. Mr. Wolfcomer was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 2, 1865. He was one of the guards on the ill-fated steamer Sultana, which exploded her boilers on the Mississippi river when loaded down to her guards with a living freight of volunteers who were on their way home after exchange, and hundreds of whom lost their lives through this dire catastrophe, after having passed through all the perils of war for years. To add to the horror of the explosion, a confla- gration destroyed every remnant of the vessel and consunied many of the unfortunate pas- sengers. MI. Wolfcomer, who could not swim, clung to the burning wreck as long as the intense heat would permit, and then sprang overboard, landing on the back of a mule, which soon sank beneath his weight. He was fortunate, however, in catching a plank, on which he floated down stream sev-
eral miles, and was rescued next morning by a searching party on a raft. He was badly scalded about his head, and was confined in hospital until nearly the date of his discharge.
From Cleveland Mr. Wolfcomer removed to Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, in the fall of 1865, and purchased a farm of fifty acres, which he occupied until 1871, when he came to Aurora township, Portage county, and bought the homestead now owned by his son Henry, which comprises 171 acres and is improved with substantial buildings. This farmn Mr. Wolfcomer continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred Janvary 30, 1889, he being then about sixty-five years of age. He was a member of the G. A. R. post at Hudson, was independent in politics, and was a hard-working. upright and temperate citizen, who commanded, by his virtnous life, the respect of all who knew him.
Henry Wolfcomer, whose name opens this article, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Decem- ber 3. 1850, was educated in the common schools at Twinsburg and Cleveland and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. Sep- tember 4, 1870, lie married Miss Laura .1. Fisher, who was born in Boston, Ohio, Janu- ary 14, 1848, a daughter of Dudley and Jane (Fields) Fisher, both families being of Revo- lutionary stock. Dudley Fisher was born in Akron, Ohio, a son of a pioneer from New York state, and by trade a carpenter. He en- listed in Akron, in 1861, in the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, fought at Vieksburg, but died before the close of his term, at his home in Akron, from lung fever. His children were named Laura A., Lucy. James, Maggie, Phebe (deceased) and Phebe, second. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfcomer settled on the old homestead at marriage, and they have been blessed with eight children, viz: Bert J., William D., Frederick J., Jessie L., Bes- sie J., Maggie M., Ethel G. and Hazel R.
Henry Wolfcomes
809
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
The parents and four children are members of the Congregational church at Aurora, and in politics Mr. Wolfcomer is a democrat and is a member of the board of education. He is a substantial, upright and honored citizen, and his family is one of the most respected in Au- rora township.
HRISTJAN KOEHLER, of Streets- boro township, Portage county, Ohio, is a gallant veteran of the Civil war, who is now totally blind from the ef- fects of exposure while with Gen. Sherman on the famous march to the sea from Atlanta, Ga.
Mr. Koehler was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 10, 1839, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Sweet) Kochler, received a good common-school education, and when about twenty years of age embarked at Bremen in a sailing vessel for America, and after a boister- ous voyage of eight weeks, being nearly lost at sea, landed, in 1859, in New York city, whence he came to Ohio. In August, 1861, he enlisted al Akron, in company D, Thirty- seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and at the end of the term was re- leased from duty in order that he might re- enlist, as a veteran, in April, 1864, in his old regiment, under the same conditions as those of his first enlistment. The war having come to a close in April, 1865, he was still retained in the service until July, of the same year, when he was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark.
Among the many battles in which Mr. Koehler took part may be mentioned those of Fayettesville, and several others in what is now West Virginia; Raleigh, N. C., and ( harleston, S. C .; the siege of Vicksburg. Miss. ; Champion Hills and Jackson, in the saine state; Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Re- saca, Dallas, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kenesaw
Mountain. the general assault and battle of Atlanta, Ga., the charge at Stone Mountain Junction, etc., although these are not placed in chronological order. He was also at the capture of Fort McAllister, and of Columbia, having marched "from Atlanta to the Sea," and took part in the grand review, in May, 1865, at Washington, D. C., which is famous as the grandest review ever held in the world. The only wound Mr. Koehler sustained during his long service was a slight one in the right knee at the battle of Missionary Ridge, but he had a serious attack of camp diarrhea, and was confined in the hospital at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1863, for about five weeks. But the greatest misfortune which befell Mr. Koehler was on the march from Atlanta to Savannah, during which he was compelled to wade many rivers. In wading through the Edisto, he was seven hours in crossing, and much of the time was in the water up to his armpits. The con- sequence was a severe cold, which resulted in an inflammation of his eyes, terminating in total blindness in 1887. After the war, Mr. Koehler returned to Akron, Ohio, where he was sick with fever for awhile, but recovered, and for a short time was helper for a stone- mason and was otherwise employed, being for twelve years janitor of the Spicer school build- ing, blind as he was, and was also employed about five years in the Buckeye works at Akron.
Mr. Koehler was united in marriage. in May, 1866, in Stark county, Ohio, with Miss Catherine Klink, and to this union were born five children, named, in order of birth, Emma (wife of Corwin Mooney, of Streetsboro town- ship), Minnie, William, Frank, and Ida, but April 19, 1882. Mr. Kochler was bereft of his helpmate, who died in the faith of the Lil- theran church. In 1885 Mr. Koeliler came to Streetsboro township, bought 116 acres of land, and had built for himself a neat and
810
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
substantial dwelling. He is very happy in his disposition, and his hearty laugh gives no in- dication of his great affliction. He has done much for his adopted country, and, with his children, enjoys the respect and honor which all true Americans should yield to such as he and his offspring are fully entitled to.
OHN LEISURE, a well-known resident of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, and for four years a soldier in the late Civil war, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., November 26, 1837, a son of Joseph and Mary (Michael) Leisure, of French and Irish descent respectively.
Joseph Leisure attended school until about fourteen years of age, when he shipped as cabin boy on board a sea-going vessel at New London, Conn., and for fifteen years led a sailor's life, making his last voyage on the ocean as second mate, but later sailed one season on the great lakes of the west. In April, 1861, he enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in Capt. Lovejoy's company D, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, but May 10, 1862, was captured by the rebels at Giles Court House, (now West) Va., and with his fellow-captives was sent to Libby prison. 1 Richmond, and about two weeks later was transferred to Salisbury, N. C., where he was held until June 15, 1862, when he was paroled, being among the first of the Union prisoners of war to receive that favor. He reported at Camp Chase, Ohio, and was given transporta- tion, by Gov. Tod, to his regiment at Flat Top mountain. West Va., but his colonel (afterward president), Rutherford B. Hayes, refused to permit him to rejoin the regiment, which was in active service, as he was on parole and not yet exchanged. Returning to Columbus, Ohio, Gov. Tod issued hini an un- limited furlough, and advised him to enlist in , politics, cast his first vote for Abrahan Lon
another regiment. Mr. Leisure then went to New York city, where he enlisted in October, 1.862, in company K, Fourth New York cav- alry, Capt. Burga, and served until the close of the war, making a total service of over four years.
Mr. Leisure fought at Carnifax Ferty. Cotton Hill, Fayette Court House, Raleigh Court House, Princeton and Giles Count House, while with the infantry; with the cay- alry he fought at Kelley Ford, Va., the Wil- derness, Chancellorsville, Winchester. Ceder Creek, Mine Run, and with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and also at Mill Springs, and in skirmishes innumerable. At the battle of Cedar Creek he was shot through the left hand, and was in the hospital at Chestn !! Hill, Philadelphia, Pa., for four months, but beside this, his only other confinement w" > with typhoid fever for three weeks. He w. a brave, active and willing soldier, and cheer- fully endured the many hardships of a soldier's hazardous life.
After his military service, Mr. Leisa :. shipped, at New York, for three years Jan- ary 6, 1866, on board the United States trans port, Massachusetts, and was honorably di -- charged April 29, 1869, having contracte ! yellow fever in one of the West India ports. and his term of service having also expire i March 15, 1873, he came to Ohio, and for some time worked in Northfield township Summit county, as a farm hand. July 15 1874, he married, at Sharon, Pa .. Mrs. Etti'd Alford, a widow, whose maiden name " . Michael, and this marriage was blessed wrb four children. viz: George (deceased), Zehi .. (deceased), Ella and William R. Mrs. I. ! sure was a daughter of Benjamin and May (Hagett) Michael. She died in April. ISSE member of the Disciple's church, ani : .! . good woman. Mr. Leisure is a republican ...
-
SIF
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
coln, has been constable of Aurora sixteen years, and deputy sheriff of the county four years, during which time the Blinkey-Morgan trial was hield.
Joseph Leisure, father of Jolin, was also a soldier in the Civil war, served three years in the One Hundred and Sixth New York volun- leer infantry, and among the many battles in which he participated was that of the Wilder- ness. His three sons, John, Joseph, Jr., and Oliver, all served in New York regiments dur- ing the same struggle. Mr. Leisure came to Aurora, Ohio, October 13, 1874, and worked until .1881 for Frank Hurd, a capitalist, and for the past three years has been employed by W. J. Eldridge. The Leisure family are up- right, straightforward in all their dealings, and enjoy the respect of the entire community.
B EES R. JONES, a prosperous farmer of Paris township, Portage county. Ohio, was born in southern Wales Feb- ruary 26, 1826, a son of Evan R. and Jane (Davis) Jones, and came to America with his father in 1838, his mother having died in her native country.
Evan R. Jones was a carpenter by trade ind was three times married. By his first wife, Jane Davis, daughter of Rothera and Mary Davis, he became the father of five chil- dren, of whom Rees R. is the only one liv- ing. Of the deceased, Mary died in October, 1831, aged eight years; Margaret died at the same date, aged three years, and one died in afancy. The mother passed away in 1832, at the age of thirty-five. Mr. Jones next mar- Med, in April, 1838, Miss Mary Morgan, daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth ( Jones) Morgan, and to this onion was born one fighter, Jane, who died in 1875, aged thirty- We yers-the mother having died in 1845, also at the age of thirty-five. The third mar-
riage of Mr. Jones was to Jane Evans. Mr. Jones departed this life in April, 1863, aged seventy-five, and his third wife in 1881, when sixty-three years old, members, respectively, of the Methodist church and Baptist church.
Rees R. Jones lived on the farm in Pal- myra township, Portage county, where his father settled in 1838, and faithfully aided in tilling the land until after the death of the lat- ter. In 1867 he came to Paris township and purchased the farm on which he still lives, and which is one of the finest in the township. May 29. 1882, he married Miss Jane Davis. daughter of Evan T. and Sarab (Williamns; Davis, and this union has been blessed with two children-Evan R. and J. C. Mrs. Jane Jones was born in Paris township March 22. 1845. her parents having come from Wales in. 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had six children, of whom four still survive, viz: Mary, wife of William Thomas, Jane (Mrs. Jones), William and Thomas. Benjamin and Thomas were the names of the two deceased. Mr. Davis died in January, 1894, at the age of seventy- three, and Mrs. Davis is still a resident of Paris township, having reached the advanced age of eighty-six years.
Mr. Jones has served his township as treas- urer, school director and supervisor, and he and family are members of the Welsh Meth- odist church at Palmyra, ot which he has been a deacon many years. The family are all highly respected, and Mr. Jones is recognized as one of the most upright citizens of Paris township.
PI1.LIAM T. LEWIS, one of the most successful farmers of Palmyra town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, was born in the southern part of Wales. May 5, 1834, a son of Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lewis, who came to Ohio in 1838, and
--
812
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
settled in Palmyra township, where the father engaged in farming.
Thomas Lewis was born in Arding. Wales, in 1805, a son of David Lewis, and his wife, Mary, was born in the same place in 1803, a daughter of William Jones. To the marriage of Thomas and Mary Lewis were born eight chil- dren, viz: David, Issac, William T., John, Eliza- beth (Mrs. Evan Jones), Mary (Mrs. Elisha Lord), John, who died in 1838, at the age of two years, and Thomas, who died in 1840, also at two years of age. The father of this family passed away August 6, 1889, and the mother's death took place February 2, 1896, both devoted members of the Methodist cherh, in which Mr. Lewis had for many years been a deacon.
William T. Lewis attended public school until eighteen years old and remained on his father's farin until twenty-three. March 22, 1858, he married Miss Ann George, who was born June 25, 1839, in Palmyra township, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Rees) George, natives of Wales, who settled in Pal- myra township in 1832. Thomas George was a miller by trade and also a farmer. To his marriage with Margaret Rees, daughter of John Rees, there were born eight children, six of whom are still living, viz: Mary, widow of Thomas Lewis; John C .; Ann, now Mrs. William T. Lewis; Margaret, wife of William Richards; Sarah, unmarried, and Thomas Jr., who is married to Maggie Williams. The de- ceased children were David, who died in in- fancy, and Evan, who died in April, 1857, at the age of twenty-one years. Mrs. George passed away February 1, 1892, at the age of eighty-four years; Mr. George, at the great age of ninety-two years, is now a resident of Paris township.
Thomas George, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, came from Wales to America in 1833, and settled in Palmyra township. To
his marriage with Miss Rees were born seven children, viz: Ann, Margaret, Thomas, Sarah. Rachel, Mary and Evan, all of whom are nes deceased. The maternal grandfather of Mr Lewis was killed by a falling tree in 1836 His wife's name was Mary.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Lewis has been blessed with eleven children nine of whom still survive, viz: Margaret, wife of Felix Barger, of Diamond, Ohio; Isaac. who is married to Electa Gilbert; Thomas married to Belle Thomas; Evan, married to Jane Spencer; Elezer, married to Dollie Man- ley; Mary Ann, wife of Charles D. Kistler. Arthur, Sarah and Edna, unmarried. The two children who have passed away were named David, who died in infancy, and Alfred. who died December 6, 1884, aged four year. and nine months. In 1862, Mr. Lewis settled on his present farin, which he has placed un der the best possible tillage and improved with modern structures, and everywhere about the premises are evidences of the care and good management of a master agriculturist. Mr Lewis is greatly honored by his fellow-towns- men, whom he has served many years 3. school director and supervisor, and the entire family is held in the highest possible esteen:
Mr. Lewis cast his first presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont, at the birth of the republican party, and has ever upheld th ... principles of republicanism.
I SAAC LEWIS, a prominent citizen of Palmyra township, Portage county Ohio, is a native of Wales, was born !!! March, 1832, and has been a resideri of Palmyra township since 1838, having been brought hither by his parents. Thomas an ! Mary (Jones) Lewis.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.