USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 4
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 4
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
e VELYN L. SHALL, of West Rich- field, Summit county, Ohio, was one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and is a straightforward man. He was born August 15, 1847, at West Richfield, Ohio, a son of Robert and Abigail (Suley) Shall, the Shalls being of Mohawk, N. Y., German stock, and the Suleys coming from an old Connecticut family. Evelyn L. Shall re- ceived a common-school education and learned the harnessmaker's trade when young. He enlisted at Akron, Ohio, February 13. 1864 in the Ninth Ohio volunteer battery, independ- ent, to serve three years or during the war, and
516
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
was discharged July 25, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, the war having closed. His services were at Tullahoma, Tenn., Bridgeport, Ala., and on garrison duty most of the time. He was in the last battle at Nashville and in sey- eral skirmishes. He was not wounded nor a prisoner, nor sick in hospital, but was always an active soldier, with but one day off duty. After the war Mr. Shall returned to West Richfield, but later was in the government service at Washington, D. C., in the postal department, from April, 1889, to November, 1895. Ile is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R., and has held the office of quartermaster. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant on the occasion of his second nomina- tion. Mr. Shall has never married. He is a respected, industrious citizen, well known for his integrity of character.
Robert Shall, father of our subject, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., a son of Leonard and Catherine (Brummer) Shall. Robert Shall was a merchant tailor by trade, and came when young to West Richfield, worked at his trade many years, and married here Abigail Suley, daughter of Amigo and Mary (Baldwin) Suley. Their children were Eugene, Evelyn L., Mary, Charles, Frank, George, William and Clarence. Mr. Shall was a pioneer citizen and a respected and sub- stantial man, but died when only fifty-two years of age. In politics he was a republican, and had two sons in the Civil war-Eugene, serving in company H, One Hundred and Sey- enty-seventh Ohio infantry.
ERWIN SHAW, one of the most substantial agriculturists of Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, Sep- tember 23, 1826, and is of English descent,
although the family has long been listed among the residents of America, and for the three past generations of the Buckeye state.
Moses Shaw, grandfather of subject, was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y .. where he grew to manhood and was married, and whence he came to Ohio overland by wag- ons and settled in Guilford township, Medina county, but afterward moved to Wadsworth township, where he passed the remainder of his life and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. His children were named, in order of birth, Joshua F., Moses, Hannah, Phebe and James.
Joshua F. Shaw, father of subject, was also a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., was born January 1, 1798, and was reared a farmer, which calling he followed throughout life. He was not yet fully grown when he came to Ohio and settled in Medina county, where he attended school a short time and on attaining his majority married Miss Rhoda Agard, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 23, 1802, To this union were born three children, viz: Merwin, Mary and George. Of these three, Mary, who was married to George Wise, is now deceased. Mrs. Rhoda Shaw died in Wadsworth township, Medina county, and for his second wife Mr. Shaw married Mrs. Betsey Johnson, widow of Thomas John- son. Here, Mr. Shaw died August 5, 1869, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which church his widow was also a member. Mr. Shaw was in his earlier days a whig in politics, had filled various offices, and was a gentleman of standing and respect with his neighbors.
Merwin Shaw, with whose name this biog- raphy is opened, was educated in an old-time log school-house, but nevertheless received a solid education. With the exception of tur years his practical business life has been passed in farming, and these two years were spent in
517
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
a grist-mill at Johnson's Corners, Summit county. From September 2, 1862, until No- vember of the same year, he served with the Twenty-ninth regiment of Ohio volunteer in- fantry in Maryland, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of his term of enlistment. In politics Mr. Shaw is a republican and has served his fellow-citizens as township trustee. In religion he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has contributed most liberally to the support there- of, having at one time donated $3,000 in cash toward the erection of the Methodist church edifice at Johnson's Corners. For forty years he was Sunday-school superintendent, and may justly be called a pillar of the church. Fraternally he is a Freemason, a Patron of Husbandry, and has served as post commander and chaplain of post No. 267, Grand Army of the Republic. His farm comprises 267 acres of excellently improved land, and his dwelling and other buildings are of substantial and mod- ern construction.
To Mr. Shaw four children were born by his first marriage, viz: Frank J., George A., Ella E. and Hattie. Mr. Shaw was next married, in 1879, to Mrs. Clara Nichols, of Medina county, Ohio.
Frank J. Shaw was born in Norton town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, June 7, 1850. He lived on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he married Ruth Wilder, daugh- ter of Wells Wilder, and to this union have been born four children, named Frank M., Daisey A., Dora E. and Earnest W. Mr. Shaw owns a farm of 100 acres and also oper- ated a portable saw-mill for about thirty years, and also now runs a threshing machine. He is a republican in politics and in religion is a devoted Methodist, being a Bible-class teacher and church chorister and a liberal contributor to the support of his denomination. His daughter, Daisey A., is wedded to Ward Ware,
who was born June 24, 1871, in Norton town- ship, and is a son of Josiah and Lovina (Bark- hammer) Ware. Ward Ware is a farmer and carpenter and is a steady-going young man who enjoys the respect of all who know him. Mr. Shaw and his son-in-law, Ward Ware, are now engaged in general merchandizing at Johnson's, and are doing a good trade.
EORGE A. SHAW, of Barberton, Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of the township, was born in September, 1853, and is a son of Merwin Shaw, whose biography pre- cedes this mention, and in which will be found full details concerning this honored family.
George A. Shaw was graduated from the high school of Doylestown and later from the Wadsworth college, both of Ohio, after which he lived on his father's farm for a few years, when he sold his interest in the home estate and went to Mitchell, Dak., where he was employed by the C., M. & St. P. Railway company as yardmaster for about eighteen months, and six months as conductor on a train running between Mitchell and Woon- socket. He then returned to Ohio and en- gaged in general mercantile business in New Portage, where he was also postmaster during the last Harrison administration; later he lo- cated in Barberton, where he has since done a prosperous trade. He is an ardent repub- lican in politics and organized the first Mc- Kinley club in Barberton, of which he was the president, and in the spring of 1896 was elected by a majority of seventy-two votes mayor of Barberton, at that time considered to be a democratic stronghold.
The societary connection of Mr. Shaw is very extensive, he being a charter member of K. of P. lodge, No. 486, of Barberton, in
518
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
which he has passed all the chairs, and which he has represented in the grand lodge; he is a member of the G. A. R., also of Daniel Webster lodge, No. 90. O. U. A. M., of which he was also a charter member; of this body he bas likewise acted in every official capacity, was once elected representative to the grand lodge, but was prevented by business engage- ments from attending, and is now deputy of the local lodge. He has also passed all the chairs iu the U. R. K. P., Akron division. In religion he is a Methodist, and is a charter member of and elder in the Barberton congre- gation. He is exceedingly popular, and is un- tiring in his efforts to promote the prosperity of his township.
WIGHT SHUMWAY, an old soldier of the Civil war and a respected citi- zen of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Peru, Berkshire county, Mass., April 3, 1838, and is a son of Stewart and Mary (Leland) Shumway. Dwight received the usual education of the common schools, came to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, March, 1860, at twenty-two years of age, and worked at farming. He enlisted at Cuyahoga Falls, August 28, 1861, in Captain Joseph A. Agard's company K, Nineteenth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. December 31, 1863, he veteranized in the same regiment, in Capt. Joseph Venney's company, at Flat Creek, Tenn., and served until honorably dis- charged, October 24, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio, on account of the closing of the war. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge; and in the Atlanta campaign at Dallas, Dal- ton, Resaca, Pumpkinvine Creek and Kene- saw Mountain. He was shot through the right arm by a minie-ball, which completely disabled it, the bone being shot out for two
inches, and shattered from three to four inches. He was taken to hospital on the field, and a few days later to Chattanooga, where he was confined in hospital one month, and then at Nashville, Tenn., two months, and at Jef- fersonville, Ind., and at Cleveland, Ohio, for about six months, and then at Cincinnati, then Camp Dennison, and then taken to Columbus, where he was mustered out. During this time he suffered greatly and many pieces of bone worked out of his arm. It became finally healed, yet the bone is entirely lacking for the space of two inches, but he can use it to some extent. On returning from the war, Mr. Shumway engaged in the drug business, in 1866, in Cuyahoga Falls, remaining in this for fifteen years, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He married, in 1866, in Cuyahoga Falls, Miss Eunice James, of this city, a daughter of Orin and Betsey James.
Mrs. Shumway is a member of the Method- ist church. In politics Mr. Shumway is a re- publican, and has served as postmaster of Cuy- ahoga Falls for eight years. He is a member of the G. A. R., Eadie post, No. 37, in which he has held the offices of senior vice-commander and quartermaster. Until disabled, Mr. Shum- way was an active and efficient soldier, prompt to do his duty, and was in some of the hardest- fought battles of the war and in many skir- mishes, and well deserves the esteem in which he is universally held.
ON. AARON MORGAN SHERMAM, M. D., of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Brimfield, Mass., March 24, 1826, and descends from one of the very old English families of New England. Of two brothers and a cousin of the name who came to America in 1634. one brother settled in Massachusetts, the other in Connecticut, and the cousin in Providence,
519
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
R. I. From the settler in Massachusetts the doctor is descended, while Gen. W. T. Sher- man and Senator John Sherman descend from the settler in Connecticut. The great-great- grandfather of subject, Dr. John Sherman, was one of the two brothers who came from Eng- land; the great-grandfather of subject was named Thomas; and the grandfather, also named Thomas, lived and died on his farm in Brimfield, which farm is still owned by the family of the late Elijah Sherman.
Capt. Harris Sherman, father of the doc- tor, was born February 22, 1790, was reared on the home farm, and married Sally Morgan, a native of Brimfield, Mass., born June 30, 1790, a daughter of Aaron Morgan. After marriage he purchased a farm near the old homestead and continued in the pursuit of agriculture. In early life he had been a member of a mili- tary organization, in which he held the rank of captain, and during the war of IS12 was twice commissioned to recruit a company of soldiers, in which he was successful, but did not enter into the war himself, owing to the severe illness of his father. In 1831 Capt. Sherman disposed of his home farm and took in exchange, as part payment, a tract of 250 acres in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, of which he took immediate possession, and brought hither his wife and six children. This farm is now one of the best improved and best cultivated of any in its immediate vicinity. He was always active in politics, being first a whig and later a republican, and held several local offices. He was one of the founders of the Pioneer association of Portage and Summit counties, and he and his wife were pioneer members of the Universalist church, in the faith of which his wife died Au- gust 3, 1870, and he. February 14, 1878, the parents of eight children, viz: Lewis M., a resident of Kent, Ohio; Caleb, who was a farm- er and died in Kent, Portage county, in 1856; 1
Caroline, who died unmarried; Sarah, who is married to William R. Matthews, and resides in Lynnville, Jasper county, Iowa; Dr. Aaron M., the subject; Thomas, a farmer of Jasper county, Iowa; John Warren, who was a farm- er and died in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, and Otis S., who died at eight years of age.
Dr. Sherman was but five years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio. The trip was made from their farm to Albany, N. Y., by wagon, and by canal and lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio (that city containing a population at that time of only 1,000), and from Cleveland to Akron by the Ohio canal. He was reared on his father's farm, and re- ceived such education as the district schools of the day afforded. He then taught school four winters, and at night taught singing school-all the family being excellent vocal- ists. At the age of twenty years he com- menced reading medicine under Dr. John A. Knowlton at Garrettsville, Portage county, and in 1851 was graduated from the Cleveland Medical college, which was then the medical department of the Western Reserve univer- sity. He at once entered upon his practice in Garrettsville, and there remained until 1857, when he removed to Kent, being now the old- est physician in the city. From 1857 until 1860 he was also engaged in the drug trade and met with much success both as a practi- tioner and as a pharmacist. In 1864-65 he was assistant surgeon in the Lincoln general hospital at Washington, D. C., but with that exception his practice has been confined to Kent and vicinity since 1857, having been sur- geon for several railroad companies for many years while pursuing his general practice. The doctor is a member of the Union Medical asso- ciation of northeastern Ohio, and was its sec- ond president; the State Medical society and the Portage county Medical society, before all of which he has made many interesting ad-
520
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
dresses, and has, beside, contributed many valuable articles to the better class of medical journals of the day.
In politics the doctor was originally a whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He united with the repub- licans on the formation of that party, and his first public office was that of coroner of Port- age county, and was acting in that capacity when the distressing railroad accident hap- pened at Ravenna, July 3, 1891, through which twenty-three lives were lost -- nineteen of the victims being burned beyond recogni- tion. In 1884 he was elected a member of the Ohio general assembly, and served on sev- eral highly important committees, and he has, beside, held many local offices.
The doctor is now the president of the Pioneer association of Portage and Summit counties, which he assisted to organize in 1874, and of which he drew up the constitution and by-laws, having been the first secretary of the association-a position he filled twenty consecutive years. Since the association was formed there have been over 600 deaths of its members, the average longevity of whom was over eighty years, and of whom the doctor has written the biographical sketches of over 500. Dr. Sherman was made a Mason at Garretts- ville, Ohio, in 1856, is one of the charter members of Rockton lodge, No. 316, of Kent, which was organized in 1858, and of which he was the first master, serving ten years. He is also a member of Washington chapter, R. A. M., at Akron.
The first marriage of Dr. Sherman was solemnized in 1851, with Miss Henrietta Ta- bor, in Garretsville. This lady was a daugh- ter of John Tabor, and died in 1854, without issue. The second marriage was celebrated in October, 1854, with Miss Harriet A. Gray, a native of Ravenna township, Portage county, and a daughter of Watson I. Gray. This
happy union has been blessed with one son, Harris G., now a celebrated oculist of Cleve- land. The doctor has been an extensive traveler throughout the United States, visiting forty states and territories, and the winters of 1893-94 and 1895-96 were passed by himself and wife in Pasadena, Los Angeles county, Cal. They are members of the Universalist church and have a pleasant home, but the doctor has never had any inordinate desire for wealth, and his ambition is gratified by the fact that he stands at the head of his profession and he and his wife are deservedly esteemed by all who know them.
J OHN SISLER, retired merchant and farmer of Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, and now a resident of Manchester, was born in Lycoming county, Pa., December 16, 1817, and is a grandson of Lewis Sisler, who was a native of Germany and was there married, but about 1775 came to America, before any of his chil- dren were born, and first located in Boston, Mass., where, for a short time, he taught school; later he moved to Lancaster county, Pa., thence to Lycoming county, and, being a highly educated man, followed the profession of educator until his death, which occurred in Lycoming county about 1820. His chil- dren were born in the following order: George, Nicholas, Lewis, Houston, Betsey, and Mary.
Lewis Sisler, son of Lewis, the immigrant, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., about 1790, was a farmer from childhood, and about the year 1812 married Margaret Marsh, dauglı- ter of George Marsh, a German, and to this marriage were born eleven children, viz: George W., Houston, John, William, Thomas, Adam, Charles, Mary A., Lewis, James and Marga- ret. In 1824 the family moved to Erie coun- ty, N. Y., where the father engaged in farm :-
521
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
ing until his death, in August, 1855, and in 1856 the mother came to Summit county, Ohio, and passed the remainder of her life with her daughter Margaret, dying on the 28th day of March, 1872.
John Sisler was reared on a farm, received a good academic education, taught school one term in York state, and on September 10, 1839, came to Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, and here taught several years. He was married in this county, June 1, 1853, to Miss Mary C. Justes, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of Michael J. and Margaret (Hoy) Justes, and this union has been blessed with the following children: Ida, wife of Hiram Allen; William W., Cassius C., John M., deceased; Abbie, now Mrs. Price; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Prout: Mary, mar- ried to Isaac Myers; Arthur, Bertha and Earnest. When Mr. Sisler first came to Franklin township the country was quite new to civilization, although log cabins were nu- merous and all the school-houses were built of logs, as were many of the churches, and he has been an eye-witness of hundreds of changes for the better, and in these changes he has himself been a prime factor. His present homestead comprises twenty acres, to which he has retired to pass in peace the remaining years of his long and useful life. In politics he is a republican; he has filled the office of justice of the peace many years, and has served in minor offices when called upon to do so. He and wife are members of the Disciples' church, of which he has been an elder for a number of years, and they have reared a fam- ily which is a credit to the township.
A. G. Sisler, of the firm of Sisler & Co., general merchants of Manchester, and a son of John and Mary C. Sisler, was born in Franklin township September 19, 1867, and passed his earlier days on his father's farm. He received a good common-school education,
which was supplemented by an attendance of three years at the Valparaiso (Indiana) normal college. For the past four years, in partner- ship with his brother, William W., he has been doing a very successful retail business in general merchandise, their stock in trade being well asorted and equally well adapted to the wants of the community, while their affable treatment of their patrons make them uni- versal favorites with the buying public. May 9, 1896, A. G. Sisler was happily united in marriage with Miss Cora Reifsynder, daughter of Edward Reifsnyder, a resident of Green township, Summit county. In politics Mr Sisler is a strong republican, and in religion he adheres to the faith of his forefathers and is very liberal in his financial aid to the church.
William W. Sisler, an elder brother of A. G. and his partner in business, was born in Franklin township January 16, 1855, and is still unmarried. In politics he is also a repub- lican, and fraternally is a member of lodge No. 173, Junior Order American Mechanics, of Clinton, Ohio. Like his brother, he is very popular both as a merchant and citizen, and the entire Sisler family stand among the fore- most of the residents of Franklin township and Summit county.
Mrs. Sisler was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and was educated in the common schools. There were nine children in the Justes family, four sons and five daughters, only five now living, of whom Elizabeth is the wife of Elijah Troxel, of Defiance, Ohio, a plasterer by trade; Ellen, wife of Lewis Farris, of Garretts- ville, Ohio; Nancy, wife of a Mr. Brown, a miller of Evansport, Ohio; Samuel, of Striker, Ohio, and a plasterer by trade; and Mrs. Sis- ler, of this biography. Those deceased are William, Susan, James and David. For almost one-half century have Mr. and Mrs. Sisler traveled life's journey hand in hand, sharing the joys and sorrows of life, and
522
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
now in the declining years of their lives are living in peace and contentment, surrounded by their loving children and dear friends, who will be glad to read this excellent life sketch of this worthy couple.
J. M. Sisler, M. D., son of Mr. and Mrs. Sisler, was a young man of brilliant promise. He graduated from the Cincinnati Medical college March 1, 1882, and located in Man- chester, Ohio, and three years after his grad- vation his life labors ended, he dying at twenty-seven years of age. He married Miss Ella Kaufman, a native of Manchester, Ohio. During his short but useful life he had also engaged in teaching, and was successful to a marked degree.
A DAM SISLER, M. D., of Manches- ter, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Lycoming county, Pa., and was born December 30, 1823. He traces his ancestry to Germany, whence his paternal grandfather came to America after marriage. and bought a farm in Lycoming county, Pa., where, after taking part in the war of 1812, he died in the faith of the Presbyterian church and in politics a whig.
Lewis Sisler, son of the immigrant men- tioned above, was born in Lycoming county, Pa., in 1790, there grew to manhood and married Margaret Marsh, who was born in 1795. a daughter of George Marsh, who came from Germany, and to this marriage were born the following children: George W., Houston, John, William, Thomas, Adam, Mary A., Charles, Lewis, Margaret and James. In 1827 Lewis Sisler moved his family to Erie county, N. Y., where he purchased a farm with a log cabin on it, but with no other im- provement. This farm Mr. Sisler cleared from the wilderness and erected on it good, substantial buildings, and made it one of the
best homesteads in the county. He became a man of wealth and influence, and gave all his sons academic educations, and, as a whig, was elected to several township offices. He died on his farm in August, 1855, in the Presby- terian faith; his widow subsequently came to Summit county, Ohio, and died March 28, 1872, in Manchester.'
Dr. Adamı Sisler was but four years of age when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to New York, and in the latter state attended the academy at Aurora, where he later taught school a year and then came to Manchester, Ohio, where he taught four years, in the meantime reading medicine with his brother, William. In the fall of 1847 he entered Cleve- land Medical college, studied one year. then practiced three years, after which he re-entered college and graduated therefrom in 1853. He immediately returned to Manchester, and for twenty years was associated with his brother, who finally removed to Akron, and there passed the remainder of his life. In the early years of the doctor's practice here the country was new and the roads little better than trails. and he was forced to travel a radius of thirty or forty miles on horseback in order to attend to his patients; but he has been very successful, and his reputation, hard earned as it is, is as high as that of any physician in the county.
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.