USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 42
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 42
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Mr. Phillips was for a short time sick in hospital at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, of chronic diarrhea, but outside of this he was always an active soldier and performed his full duty promptly and cheerfully. He was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part, and did not miss a day from duty. He was not wounded nor a prisoner, and endured all the hardships of a soldier's life with fortitude.
On a reconnaissance in the valley cam- paign, just before the Winchester fight, Mr. Phillips became separated from his comrades, who were fning at the enemy in a gulch. Mr. Phillips entered the gulch and discovered the rebels. He kept boldy on, and commanded them to surrender, saying, "Surrender, or I will fire." Much to his surprise, the colonel of a South Carolina regiment and the major of the same regiment rose up from the brush and surrendered-they being separated from their commands. They looked very sheepish when they found they had surrendered to but one Union soldier. Mr. Phillips took them to the lines and turned them over to his commander, Col. Purrington, and returned to the same gulch with comrade Milton Abby, of Akron, and captured a squad of rebels. On approach- ing, he told them so surrender, or he would bring up the guns and open fire. They threw down their arms and complied, and were taken to the Union lines. Thus Mr. Phillips cap- tured, almost single handed, two officers and a full squad of Confederates, which is a splendid record for one soldier. After the war Mr. Phillips returned to Summit county and bas been engaged in farming and butchering. He was a good soldier and is an equally good citizen. In politics he is a stanch republican.
Jason Phillips, father of Loring J., was born in New York state, and came as a pioneer to Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, in 1811. He married Alvira E. Gillett, and
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their children were Sylvia, Ida, Inez, Irving C., Loring J. and Bryan F. Mr. Phillips cleared up, a farm, lived to be eighty-three years old, and died a highly-respected citizen.
ELSON W. FENN, of Tallmadge, Ohio, descends from one of the pio- neer families of Tallmadge township, Summit county, and is of sterling English ancestry.
Benjamin Fenn, the first of the family of whom we have any trace, was born in 1612 in the parish of Whitdington, Buckinghamshire, England. He was a Puritan and came to America in 1639, a single man. Ile settled in Milford, New Haven county, Conn., and mar- ried Sarah Baldwin, who was born at Dun- bridge, England, a daughter of Sylvester and Sarah Baldwin, and of noble ancestry, having a coat of arms. Sarah Baldwin Fenn died in Milford, Conn., in April, 1663; Benjamin Fenn, died in 1672. He left a valuable landed estate in England, from which his heirs never re- ceived anything. In his will, admitted to pro- bate court in 1672, he fully describes this property and bequeathed it to his son Benja- min. His children, by his wife Sarah, were Benjamin, Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Martha. After the death of his first wife he married, March 12, 1865, at Milford, Conn., Sarah Wood, and the children by this wife were Sam- uel, Jamesand Susannah. Benjamin Fenn was elected deacon of the Congregational church at Milford in 1650 and held this office with but one interruption until his death. He was magistrate from 1656 to 1668 and again elect- ed in 1671, holding this office also until his death.
His son, Benjamin, was born at Milford, in 1640, and there died in 1693; he had mar- ried, December 21, 1660, Mchitable Gunn, a daughter of Jasper Gunn, one of the first set-
tlers, and they bad seven children, viz: Ben- jamin, Samuel, Samuel (second), born Septem ber 16, 1667, and died young; Susannah; Sam- nel (third), born July 11, 1671 and died 1693, Mehitable and Hannah. Benjamin Fenn, third son of above, was born in 1661 at Mil- ford and died August 29, 1752, aged seventy- one years. He married Sarah Clark, who died May 26, 1727, aged sixty-four, leaving two children, Benjamin and Mehitable. Ben- jamin, third, was elected deacon of his church and made his will in July, 1727.
Benjamin, fourth son of above, was bom at Milford, in 1690; he married Sarah Prince, and died in 1776, aged eighty-six years. The children were Benjamin and Hannah. Ben- jamin, fourth, was a ruling elder of the Pres- byterian church of Milford, and captain of a militia company.
Benjamin Fenn, fifth, born 1720, died February 20, 1778, at Milford. He married Mary Peck, November 4, 1741, at Milford. and she died about ISoo, quite aged. Benja- min Fenn, fifth, was captain of a militia com. pany from 1770 to 1774, and was then elected colonel, holding his commission until his death His children were Benjamin, Nathan, Mary, Sarah and Samuel. Benjamin Fenn, sixth, born at Milford, Conn., died October 27. 1780, in Milford. He married Sarah Treat. great-granddaughter of Gov. Robert Treat. twenty years governor of Connecticut. Sh died in Tallmadge, Ohio, August 12, 1838. aged ninety-three years. They were the par- ents of seven children, viz: Benjamin, Peck. Treat B., William, Sarah B., Clemence and Richard B. Benjamin, sixth, was appointed quartermaster of the Second regiment, Con- nectient cavalry, in October, 1756; in Ma ;. 1759, was appointed lieutenant of a troop of horse, Second regiment; in October. 1776, was made lieutenant-colonel, Ser- ond regiment of militia, and in Novem
RICHARD FENN, DECEASED.
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TREAT FENN, DECEASED.
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ber, 1776, was appointed ensign of the Sec- ond battalion, continental service, certified by Kitty F. Mclntyre-clerk in secretary of war's office, Washington, D. C. When the British entered New London, Conn., he was in a fight which occurred near the city, on the west. On the night of this day, a son (Rich- ard), was born (July 4, 1779). and he went from the field of battle to the bedside of his wife, after the birth of his son. He died early in the faith of the Lord, with consumption, during the Revolutionary war.
ITis widow (nee Sarah Treat Fenn), married Maj. Ezra Fellows, October 20, 1797, of Shef- field, Mass., where he died July 7, 1806; she came to Obio in 1817, with Peck and Richard Fenn, her sons, and passed her remaining days at Tallmadge. She was left a goodly property by Maj. Fellows. In Revolutionary times, in Connecticut, her house was sur- founded by tories, and she was kept under surveillance. She recognized one of the tories, and told him that she knew him as a neighbor, though he was masked, and called him by name. She told him that he would be remembered, and after that he was forced to leave the country, and went on board a Brit- ish vessel. Mrs. Fellows was a member of the Congregational church, and assisted in the establishment of the church at Tallmadge. She donated the communion service, which is still in use, and is very handsome. She de- lighted to relate her Revolutionary experi- ences to her grandchildren.
Peck Fenn, son of Benjamin, was born February 28, 1768, at Milford, Conn., and died at Tallmadge, Ohio, March 12, 1824, aged fifty-six years. He was a farmer, re- ceived a common education, and married in Milford, Conn .. January 28, 1794. Urenia Durand, born in Milford. November 23, 1769. « daughter of John and An ( Downs) Durand. John Durand was descended from John Du- 1
rand, a French Huguenot- - exiled from France in 1630, and a settler in Connecticut. Peck Fenn died at Tallmadge, September 15, 1824. lic was appointed deacon of the Congrega- tional church at Milford, near Orange, in 1805, and heid the office until he moved to Tallmadge in 1818. Peck and Richard Fenn came to Ohio and entered land in 1817, making the journey with a horse team. Peek entered 500 acres in different parts of the town- ship, north, northeast, and east. Richard entered 120 acres in the east part of the town- ship, and both returned to Connecticut. On August 9, both men, with their families, and the connections of their families, including Grandmother Sarah Fellows (aged seventy years). Benjamin Fenn, Dr. Philo Wright, son of Deacon Elizur Wright, a resident of Tall- madge, and a large landholder. Twenty-three persons in all, came back to Ohio. The jour- ney was made with vehicles drawn by horses and oxen. A two-horse wagon was used to carry the women and children, and an ox teani for the effects. They came via Buffalo and Cleveland overland, camped out and slept in the wagons. The arrived at Tallmadge, Oc- tober 5, 1818, having been six weeks and six days en route. Peck Fenn settled one mile north of center of Tallmadge, on 105 acres of land-twenty acres partly cleared, and a log cabin built. He cleared up this farm and died in 1824. His children were Miranda, Will- iam, Miranda, second, Harvey, Joseph, Clar- inda, Eliza, Sereno, and Andrew A., all now deceased, except the last. Peck Fenn was a thrifty and substantial pioneer farmer, and left 500 acres of land in Tallmadge township.
Richard Fenn, fifth son of Benjamin (sixth), was born July 4, 1779, at Milford and came to Tallinadge in 1817 or 1818. He had married, in Milford, Mabe! Platt, born March 1, 1781, in Milford, Conn., a daughter of Capt. Platt. She died in Tallinadge Jan-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
1
uary 18, 1855, aged seventy-four years. Rich- ard was a substantial farmer and a hatter by trade. His children were Dennis and Willis (twins). born February 14. 1803. Dennis died November 16, 1827, aged twenty-four years, and Willis died November 11, 1880, aged seventy-eight years; Treat, born Decem- ber 10, 1804, and died November 23, 1886; Mabel, born October 6, 1808, and died Octo- ber 21, 1826; Delia, born June 23, 1812, and died March 5, 1882, aged seventy years; Sallie, born June 3, 1815, and died November 29, 1886, aged seventy-one years; Martha, born May 22, 1817; Julia A., born in June, 1820. Mr. Fenn was superintendent of the Sunday- school and proved an excellent member. He lived to be eighty-nine years of age, and was active up to his last days and a much respected pioneer citizen. The following is a copy of a letter of advice, written by Benjamin Fenn to his infant son, Richard Fenn. .
MILFORD, CONN. AUG. 5, 1780
My Dear Son: Now an infant at the age of thirteen months, you are not now sensible of the value of earthly parents, and know not the loss you sustain, when they are taken fromn you. You are born into the world in a time of great fear and trembling --- the enemy then having invaded New Haven, to oppose which your now departed father exposed his life in the field of battle, but the weapons of death were not permitted to hurt; my life was spared, and I am left to languish and waste away with a lingering consumption. I leave you these few lines as the choicest gift I can confer upon you By this, you may know you had a father, though you may not remember him. These few lines I leave for your perusal and I entreat you, my dear son, not to forget the instruc- tions here given:
.
Firstly-Let religion be your main study. See that you make your peace with God, that as you increase in years you may increase in -grace, and in knowledge in things heavenly and divine; this will support and comfort you,
under the trials of this militant state, by en abling you to stay your mind on God, and make you appear lovely in the sight of man. and glorious in the sight of God, and cause you to spend a glorious immortality at hi, right hand.
Secondly-As you are deprived of the in- structions of a father, kindly receive the advice of your mother, pay due respect to her, com- fort her in affliction, obey her lawful com- mands, and conduct yourself toward her as becomes a dutiful son.
Thirdly-Love your brothers and sisters, pay proper respect to persons of any denom- ination; shun evil of every kind, remembering that at the great day you must be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ for every thought, word and action; be diligent and zealous in the wor- ship of God, both public and private. Avoid all wicked and profane company, all quarrels and unnecessary disputes. Study the Holy Scriptures and make them the rule of your faith and practice. Strive for knowledge in things temporal and spiritual, that you may be a blessing to yourself, of service to mankind. and be made happy, eternally happy, here- after, with God in glory.
Fourthly -Should God spare your life and make you capable of entering upon any par- ticular calling, be steady in it, remembering that slothfulness and negligence will clothe a man in rags. I advise you to learn some use- ful trade to get a livelihood with. Be kind and faithful to the master with whom you may live, and likewise one of his family. And to conclude, my dear child, prepare for death. and to stand before God, in judgment. Pre- pare to meet your Father in heaven, where I hope to spend my eternity, through my glori- ous Lord and Savior.
Receive my instructions, remembering it is the advice of a dying father. Follow the ex- ample of Jesus Christ, that at last we may meet in heaven. May God grant this for Jesus Christ's sake. This, my dear son, is the prayer of your now departed father,
BENJAMIN FENN.
This relic of parental affection and cont: dence in the covenant of faithfulness of God. written by my father, near the close of his life.
.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
and in the sure prospect of death, to me, Richard Fenn, when a babe of thirteen months, was delivered to me according to the super- scription by his executor. It has been care- fully preserved, not merely as a legacy from a respected father, but as a token of the confi- dence with which he took hold of the Apostolic assurance --- the promise is to you and your children. And now, at the age of seventy- eight years, not knowing how soon I may be called to my last account, I enclose in this form for preservation to my children and chil- dren's children, that they may see and under- stand the solicitude of Christian parents for their children. It exhibits the best desires and instructions that I can express for my posterity. Not riches, nor wordly honors, but sincere piety and devotion to God. Let me meet you at the right hand of Jesus Christ, our covenant head; this is my dying request. RICHARD FENN. TALLMADGE, Summit County, Ohio, July 4, 1857.
Nelson W. Fenn, subject of this sketch, and one of the substantial farmers of Tallmadge township, was born October 23. 1847, in Tall- madge, on the farm where he now lives. He received a common-school education, and at- tended the academy at Tallmadge six years, and has an excellent education. He married November 5, 1885. in Akron, Mary L. Gun- sanlis, who was born in Perrysville, Allegheny county, Pa., August 1, 1851, a daughter of John H. and Mary Ann E. (Eichor) Gunsaulis, and to Mr. and Mrs. Fenn was born Irene M., February 8, 1889. They have also an adopted son --- Oliver Albert Fenn, a son of Mrs. Fenn's sister, Emeline. Mr. Fenn has a good farm of 135 acres, part of the original Richard Fenu farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fenn are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Fenn is a man of marked ability and intelligence, and was one of the original mem- bers of the grange in his township. Hle stands high as a citizen, and has always been an in- dustrious, straightforward man. Ile is a son
of Treat and Harriet (Bierce) Fenn, and Treat Fenn was a son of Richard and Mabel (Platt) Fenn. Treat Fenn and wife were the parents of Curtis T., Philo B., Frederick B., Emily A., Helen A., Harriet F7. and Nelson W.
Mrs. Treat Fenn died, and Mr. Fenn mar- ried Mrs. Rachel Baldwin (nee Fuller), and they had one child, Sarah E. Mrs. Baldwin was the widow of Stephen Baldwin, and they were the parents of Stephen and Ellen.
Treat Fenn was born in Milford, Conn .. December 10, 1804, and came with his par- ents in 1818, and settled on part of the Riclı- ard Fenn homestead, and cleared up the farm where our subject now lives, in 1833. He was a member of the Congregational church, was an honorable citizen, and held the usual township offices. He lived to be eighty-two years old, and died November 23, 1886, on his farm. He was a man of excellent moral character, and a well-known pioneer. The Gunsaulis family is of sterling French ancestry, and came in early colonial times to Alleglieny county, Pa., where they were pioneers. Mr. Gunsaulis, grandfather of subject, was a son of William and Delilah (Lucas) Gunsaulis, who were pioneers in Allegheny county, Pa., while the Indians were yet there. William Gun- saulis was a farmer, and cleared up a farm of 200 acres on Lowrey's Run, Kilbuck town- ship, and was a substatial farmer. His chil- dren were Delilah, John H., Margaret, Mary, William, Philip, Rachel and Sarah (twins). William Gunsaulis lived to be seventy years old, and died in 1862; his mother lived to be ninety-four years old. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and a much respected pioneer.
John H. Gunsaulis was born in Allegheny county, Pa., October 22, 1825. He had a good education for his day, and was a man of marked intelligence, and good mind. He was a wagon- maker by trade, and lived in l'errysville, Pa.,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
for some years, then moved to Beaver county, and settled on a farm, where he died two years later, January 9, 1861, at only thirty- seven years of age. He and wife were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. The Gun- saulis family is of the same stock as the famous minister, Rev. Gunsaulis, of Chicago. The children of John H. are Mary L., Mar- garet T. and John C.
Treat Fenn married, November 5, 1861. for his third wife, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, Angusta F. Wright. born June 21, 1814, who still survives hun, being now aged eighty-three years-she having lived with her husband twenty-five years. She is a daughter of Col. David (of the war of 1812), and Laura (Knowl- ton) Wright. Laura Knowlton was one of a large family, and came with her parents to Ohio, from Winstead, Conn., in 1801-1802, and settled in Morgan township, Ashtabula county. Col. Stephen Knowlton, of Revolu- tionary fame, was of this stock.
David Wright was born in Winstead coun- ty, Conn., and caine to Ohio in 1812, and settled as above. This is the same family as that which settled in Tallmadge. David Wright had three brothers who came out with their father, John Wright, to Ohio. Mrs. Fenn is a venerable lady of remarkable memory and intelligence, and has a fund of valuable facts at command. John, Amos and Alpha, sons of John Wright, settled in Tallmadge township.
O SCAR F. REED, formerly of Boston township, Summit county, Ohio, but now manager of a cheese factory at Peninsula, and one of the ex-soldiers of the Civil war, springs from sturdy German stock. He was born in Wolcott, Wayne county, N. Y .. April 17, 1844. a son of Otis and Harriet A. (Hickey) Reed, and came with his parents, in 1854. to Richfield, Ohio, and was
here reared to farming. He enlisted at kich field, Ohio, August, 29, 1864, as a private o! company H, Capt. Tracy, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer in fantry, to seive one year or during the war. and was honorably discharged at Camp Cleve land July 7, 1865, the war being closed. H. was in the battles of the Cedars, at Murfrees boro, but was taken sick with chronic diarrhea in January, 1865, and was confined in hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio, until January 23 when he was transferred to Cleveland hospital and rejoined his regiment, the latter palt vi April, 1865. at Greensboro, N. C. Mr. Reed was always an active soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. He returned home, however, much debilitated. and for a long time was seriously troubled with his disorder, and to this day is a sufferer.
On returning to Richfield, Mr. Reed worked at any kind of labor until he married, the fils time, July 24, 1871, at Akron, Emma C. De :- terlen, who was born in Germany, near Win- temberg. She lost her father when fourteen years old, and then came to America with her mother, who had married Jacob Spredel Mrs. Reed died without issue, and Mr. Reed married Mary J. Spencer, a widow of Wey- mouth, Medina county, born at Bordman. Ohio, a daughter of William C. and Belinda ( Streeter. She had been previously married to Nathan Spencer, and their children were Eveline, Ella and Jesse. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have no living children.
Mr. Reed moved to South Akron in 1893. and has been engaged in the cheese factory since 1872, and has become a skillful chee- and butter maker. He is now managing the cheese factory at Peninsula and is a straight forward and skillful man, and has always Stort high for his integrity of character. Hel. . member of A. N. Goldwood post, No. 10.4. (. A. R., West Richfield, and has held the offer
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
of chaplain and quartermaster five years. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln's second term as president of the United States.
Otis Reed, father of O. F. Reed, was born in Massachusetts, was a shoemaker and inar- ried in Wolcott, Wayne county, N. Y., Har- riet A. Hickey. The Hickeys were of English descent, and to them were born Margaret, Col- delia, Charles N., Edward B., Charlotte A., Oscar F. and Minerva M. Mr. Reed came to Ohio and settled at Richfield in the fall of 1854 and followed his trade until his death. In politics he was an original republican, but for- merly an old-line whig, and lived to be seventy years old. He had two sous in the Civil war -- Edward B. was in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in the three years' service, and was on guard duty at Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, and was in many skirmishes with bush-whack- ers. Mr. Reed has always been a sober, in- dustrious and moral man, and is highly es- teemed wherever known.
ARRISON H. RICE, one of the re- spected citizens of Mantua township, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in this township January 22, 1841, a son of Cyrus and Sarah (Nooney) Rice. He received a common education in the district schools and then for two years at- tended Hiram Eclectic institute, when James A. Garfield was its president. He next en- gaged in school-teaching in Portage. Franklin and Geauga countics, Ohio, meeting with much success. Mr. Rice enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States navy, August 30. 1864, and was assigned to service on the Mis- sissippi river, under Admiral Lee, of the gun- boat Argosy, for one year, but was honorably discharged June 30, 1865, at Carmi, Ill., on
account of the closing of the war, having been promoted for meritorious conduct to be quar- ter-gunner. September 12, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenant of company C. Second regiment, O. M., in Geauga county, by Gov. David Tod.
After the war Mr. Rice returned to Ohio, and taught school in Geauga county, at Au- burn, and then in Cass county, and in Jackson county, Mo. He married on October 1, 1868, in Auburn, Geauga county, Ohio, Julia Mes- senger, who was born September 6, 1842, at Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, a daughter of Clement and Pleades (Skinner) Messenger. Clement Messenger was born in Massachusetts of old colonial stock. Major Messenger, father of Clement, came to Mantua township as a pioneer, and at first bought about 500 acres, but this land he sold, and bought a large farm near the line of Hiram township. Mr. Messenger married, in Massachusetts, Ruth Miller, and died in his 'sixties, a prominent and respected citizen.
Clement Messenger, the father of Mrs. Rice, married, in Mantua, Pleades L. Skinner. He was a prosperous farmer, owning a good farm of 250 acres. In politics he was a dem- ocrat, but voted for A. Lincoln on his second nomination, and was a strong Union man. He was a respected citizen, was township trustee, and a man of great industry and integrity. le died, aged eighty-three years, in 1891. After marriage, Harrison H. Rice settled near Ray- inore, Cass county, Mo., where he bought 100 acres of land, and where Mr. and Mrs. Rice both taught school for a time, Mrs. Rice hav- ing received her education in the district schools at Auburn and at Burton, Ohio.
The first school taught by Mr. Rice in Missouri was in 1867, in Jackson county. It was the first school taught under the new sys- temu of public taxation -- the old method in Missouri and throughout the south, when they
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
had any schools, being by subscription. When he settled there it was directly after the Civil war, and the country was in a very unsettled condition. He settled about twelve miles from Harrisonville, Cass county, near the home of the famous guerrillas and border outlaws, the notorious Younger brothers, now confined in the penitentiary at Stillwater. Wis. The native Missourians nearly all went armed, carrying their revolvers in their belts; there were many fights growing out of the Civil war, as they were very bitter against the Yankees, yet Mr. Rice had no trouble, and was not molested in any way. Mr. and Mrs. Rice remained in Missouri twelve years, and then returned to Ohio, and settled at Burton in 1881. Here Mr. Rice bought a farm of 100 acres and remained until 1887, when he moved to Hiram, where he resided two years, and then moved to Garrettsville, where he lived three years, and in the spring of 1893 bought his present farm near Mantua Station, which he has improved with a pleasant residence. In politics he was first a republican, but is now a bi-metalist, and voted for W. J. Bryan. Mr. Rice held the office of township clerk in Au- burn, and is a well-read man, of much practice and experience in life, and stands high among the people.
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