USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 46
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 46
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
891
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
brother to our subject, was a married man, and our subject when twelve years old came with him and his family to America, sailing from Bremen in the good ship St. John. They were forty days on the voyage to Baltimore, where they arrived in the fall of 1852. They went thence to Pittsburg, where Mr. Wolfert was employed as a carpenter. Our subject began to work in the glass works when a small boy of thirteen or fourteen years old, and has supported himself since that time. He con- tinued in the glass works until he enlisted, in April, 1861, at Liberty, near Pittsburg, Pa., for three months, in company I, Third Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry. He served out his term and was honorably discharged at Harris- burg, Pa., in July, 1861. His service was in Hagerstown, Md., guarding a railroad, his company being detailed for that purpose. Mr. Roppel was a good soldier, prompt and cheer- ful in the discharge of his duty. He suffered a good deal from exposure, however, and in- jured his left arm at the elbow by a fall in the evening, after dark, on the railroad, and the arm is still stiff and can be used but little. Mr. Roppel returned, after his service, to Pitts- burg, and again worked in the glass works. He married, in Pittsburg, April 26, 1864, Mary E. Meyer, who was born January 19, 1843, in Alsace, France, a daughter of Chris- tian and Mary E. Meyer. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Roppel lived in Pittsburg eleven years, where he continued to work in the glass works, and in 1874 came to Tallmadge and worked in Kent in a glass house for two years, but since that time has worked on the railroad and for farmers. Mr. Roppel bought a home, before he came to Tallmadge, of eleven and three-fourths acres. The children born to him and wife are Helen, Annic, Henry (died aged twenty-one years, John. Fannie and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Roppel are members of the Catholic church and are sincere Christians.
Mr. Roppel has always been a hardworking. industrious man, straightforward and honest, and has reared an excellent family. Casper Roppel, father of subject, was a large farmer, owning land, and Casper was the only son. To the marriage of Mrs. Roppel, mother of our subject, to Mr. Wollert, the following children were born: Julia, Mary, Maggie, John and George.
PILLIAM B. HOLCOMB, one of the most substantial farmers of Paris township, Portage county, Ohio. was here born October 4, 1828, and is a son of Harvey and Sallie (McArthur) Holcomb, the former of whom died March 16, 1897, at the age of ninety-four years, and the latter February 20, 1892, aged eighty-two years, two months and seventeen days, both in the faith of the Methodist church, in which the father had held all the offices; he had also been for twenty-five years, a constable of Paris township, as well as school director.
William B. Holcomb was educated in the district school, was reared to farming, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-seven years of age. He married, February 1, 1855, Miss Harriet Oviatt, a daughter of Samuel and Laura (Earl) Oviatt, and this union has been blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, viz: Grant, born January 5. 1865: Dwight, July 21, 1872; Lulu, August 8, 1874 (wife of Edward Morris), and Hattie, born October 3, 1878. Miss Hattie is still unmar- ried, and has the reputation of being the best violinist in the county, is at present teaching music, and is the leader of the ladies' orches- tra at Newton Falls. The deceased children born to Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb were John W .. born August 31, 1856, and died February 14. 1883; Lena. born August 14, 1869, and died September 21, 1883; Laura. born May 27,
892
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
1858, died January 9, 1888, the wife of Sydney Hudson.
In 1861 Mr. Holcomb relinquished farm- ing, and for eight years was engaged in the hotel business at Paris. He then exchanged his hotel property for a farm north of Paris, which he conducted until 18;6, when he moved to his present place, which he has under a high state of cultivation, and, in connection with his agricultural pursuits, is largely engaged in the sale of organs and pianos, being himself an excellent musician. In politics he is a republican, and has served as constable, school director and supervisor of Paris township for many years.
Mrs. Harriet (Oviatt) Holcomb was born in Newton Falls, Ohio, October 22, 1835. Her father was a native of Connecticut and was a turner, and her mother of Massachu- setts, and in early life came to Ohio and set- tled in Newton Falls. To the marriage of the parents were born eight children, seven of whom are still living, viz: Electa, widow of Eli ah Johnson; Mrs. Holconio, .mira, widow of Henry Tew; Clarissa, unmarried; Sylvanus, Homer and Clista, wife of Russell McEwin; the deceased was Malinda, who died at the age of sixty-five years, the wife of Alonzo Win- nans, also deceased. Samuel Oviatt, grand- father of Mrs. Holcomb, came to Ohio in 1805, and was one of the heaviest men in Portage county, weighing 425 pounds.
Harvey Holcomb, father of William B., was a son of Calvin and Eunice Holcomb, and was born February 11, 1803, in Granby, Conn., and when twelve years old was brought to Ohio by his parents, who finally settled in what is now Paris township, in October, 1815. They endured all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, but eventually developed a comfortable home. After the marriage of Harvey Hol- comb to Sallie McArthur, he settled in a cran- ' berry swamp, where he lived three years, and
then moved to a sugar grove, where he lis in a log house twenty-five years, and lat, created a frame dwelling, with suitable .... buildings. His family consisted of two la: and four girls, viz: William B., John C., ( selia, Annette, Eunice C., and an infant ... who died unnamed ----- all now deceased with u. exception of William B. Mr. Holcomb w . a inember of the local rifle company for a lei time, was constable for twenty years, ash .. been mentioned -- an office conferred upon his on account of his well-knownintegrity. Aft ... this venerable pioneer and hunter retired fron. the woods over thirty-five years ago he engagel in farming until about ten years since, when he bought a house and lot in Newton Falls, :. order to secure better school advantages for his grandchildren.
DWIN A. SEASON, a thrifty an ! prominent fariner of Hudson town ship, Summit county, Ohio, and . : old soldier in the Civil war and head of a respected family, was born October 21 1837, in Leigh, Somersetshire, England, as came to America with his father and family .:. 1843, sailing from Bristol, England. He 1. - ceived a connnon-school education in Stoa. township, Summit county, Ohio, where his father, James Season, settled on a farm. (); arriving in this country, while yet a boy, El- win A. went to Minnesota and attended high school one winter. He lived with his uncle. John Season, in Goodhue county, that stat until his enlistment, May 23, 1861, in Cape William Colville's company F, First Mim. . sota volunteer infantry, for three years ": during the war. This was the first regiunea !! mustered into the United States service for three years. Mr. Season was musterod : and honorably discharged January 2, 186; . ' Washington, D. C., on account of disability
893
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
having served faithfully over two years. He was in the following battles: First battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861: Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861; siege of Yorktown, April, 1862; West Point, May 7. 1863; Fair Oaks. May 30, and June 1, 1862; Peach Orchard. June 27, 1862; Savage Station, in January, 1862: Elen- dale, January 30, 1862; White Oak, June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill. July 1, 1862, and again at Malvern Hill, August 5, 1862; Vienna September 2, 1862 -- all in Virginia -- and An- tietam, Md., September 17, 1862. In the winter of 1861-62 he was taken sick in camp, with fever and went home on furlough for a month, but the day after the battle of Antic- tam he was taken severely sick with pneumno- nia, became unconscious, and was taken to i.ospital at Fredericksburg, but was soon after- ward removed to the hospital at the patent office in Washington, D. C., and remained there until discharged, when he returned to Ohio, much disabled. Mr. Season was always an active soldier, and, until disabled, was in all the battles, skirmishes, marches and cam- paigns in which his regiment took part. the battles themselves numbering fourteen. After the war, although suffering from rheumatism, he followed farmning, and worked five years at Hudson, Ohio, in the depot, handling freight and express matter.
Mr. Season married, January 4, 1866, in Stowe township, Miss Emma A. Call, born December 20, 1847, a daughter of Moses D. and Harriet M. (Starr) Call. Moses D. Call, father of Mrs. Season, was born July 12, 1815, near Warner, N. H., a son of Jerry and Lo- vina (Danforth) Call. Jerry Call was a farmer, and his ancestors came from England. His children were Moses D., William, Jerry and (. H. Moses D. Call came when a young man to Ohio, in 1837. He studied medicine with Dr. Towne of Hudson, but did not com- plete his course, although he was a man of
good education and had taught school many years. He was engaged in the cooper business at Darrowville for many years, and until 1860 employed from ten to fifteen hands. He bought in 1860 the Starr homestead in Stowe township, of 200 acres, and for the last fifteen years of his life he carried on a cheese factory. In politics he was first a whig, then a republic- an, and was justice of the peace from 1845 to his death, with the exception of one year. He was a captain in the state militia, was township trustec, a member of the school board, and was county commissioner for the six years end- ing in December, 1863. He died March 24, 1891. His children were Mary L., Emma A., Ellen J and Charles A. He was a Uni- versalist in religion, was a liberal subscriber to the erection of the church at Kent and was one of its most liberal supporters.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Season set- tled on a farm of his father's, where they lived five years; then moved to Hudson, and lived five years, and then lived on a farm in Stowe township one year, and then lived in Darrow- ville three years, and then bought, in 1882. eighty-seven acres of their present farm, which they have greatly improved, and on which they built a beautiful residence in 1892, together with good barn and other buildings. Their children are Leora I., Grace E., Edwin Herbert, Maude E. (killed by lightning at the age of fourteen years), and Archibald B. The eldest child, Leora I., was united in marriage June 27, 1888, with W. C. Ritchie, a native of Summit county, Ohio, and to this union has been born one child, Gertrude L. The second child, Grace E., is a graduate of the Hudson high school. Edwin H., also a graduate of the Hudson high school, attended the Western Re- serve academy some time, then tanght school in Hudson two years, then took a course in Ham- mel's Business college, Akron, filled a position as bookkeeper for some time and is now a
891
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
student at the Western Reserve Medical col- lege at Cleveland. Archibald B. is a student at Cuyahoga Falls, and is making a specialty of the study of electricity. Both Mr. and Mis. Season are members of the United Pres- byterian church at Metz. In politics he is a republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln, an l is one of the old soldiers who have made a success in life and reared an excellent family.
James Season, father of Edwin A Season, was born in New York city, October 24, 1812, and was the son of George and Ann (Perkins) Season. George Season was born at Leigh, Somersetshire, England, where he was a land owner, and there married Ann Perkins. She also was born at Leigh, November 25, 1792, and was baptized January 5, 1795. Mr. Season and wife came to America to visit her mother, who, after the death of her husband, Mr. Perkins, had married, in 1810, James Dodderell, of London, England, and had set- tled in New York. George Season returned to Somerset, England, but while he was in America his son James was born. The chil- dren were James, William Henry, George Ann and John. Mr. George Season was in some official position, and traveled extensively with his wife, and was in America during the war of 1812. James Season married in Leigh, England, Hester Coles, and their children were Henry, who died in England, childless; Edwin A. ; Elizabeth; Henry, second, who died childless in Stowe township; James Season, a farmer who came to America in 1843 and set- tled in Stowe township in 1843, and became a substantial farmer. Mrs. Season, mother of our subject, died January 28, 1845, and Mr. Season afterward married Mrs. Lucinda (O'Brien) Stewart, June 5, 1846, and their children were: William, Martha, Ann, John C., Wallace and Mary. This wife died Janu- ary 2, 1872, and he married, November 2.4, 18So, for his third wife, Mrs. Lorinda (Perkins)
Russell. George Seasen, an uncle of Edwhi A .. was a soldier in the English army, and came when young with the family to Americ .. his mother paying $500 for his release. He settled in Minnesota, where he became a site. cessful agriculinrist.
James Season, father of Edwin A., the subject, died in Kent, Ohio. October 15, 189.4. a member of the Methodist church, and in pol itics a republican. He was an honored and greatly respected gentleman and of excellent moral habits.
.............
Q ONRAD SCHOCH, of Northfield township, Summit county, Ohio, an old soldier of the Civil war, was bont. October 12, 1835 in Baden, Ger many, a son of Peter and Ursilla (Detrich) Schoch. Peter Schoch was the owner of : small farm, on which the family had lived fer generations. He was a soldier in the German army and a body guard of the king, and meas- ured six feet two inches in height. His chil- dren were Julius, Anselin, Julia and Conrad Peter Schoch died at forty years of age on his farm, a Catholic in religion. Conrad received a common-school education, and learned shot making of his brother Anselin. When iwenty- two years of age, he sailed from Havre, France, February 18, 1858, and arrived in New York April 6, having been forty-seven days on the ocean, in a sailing vessel. 11. came to Cleveland, Ohio, and to Little York. where his brother Julius was living, and ri- gaged in farm work until he enlisted, at Close . land, October 16, 1861, in Capt. James Il r. ner's company K, Forty-first regiment Oh. volunteer infantry. to serve three years or dlu: ing the war, and was honorably discharged it Mississippi, by reason of re-enlistment in J uary: +8C3, in a marine brigade, company !. at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and was honorai 's
895
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
discharged January 18, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss .. having served his country faithfully over three years. He was in the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862. He was wounded in the marine service near Vicksburg, Miss., in Mar- mnaduke's raid, and was in many minor engage- ments and skirmishes, which were very fre- qment. He was taken sick in May, 1862, while with the Forty-first regiment at Pittsburg Landing, with malarial fever, and was in hos- pital at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and remained until his re-enlistment.
At the battle of Vicksburg, Miss., while on the Louisiana side, of the Mississippi river, he was shot in the head by a minie ball, and knocked senseless, but his comrades revived him with brandy and water after twenty-five minutes. This was about 10 A. M., and he was taken by ambulance about twenty miles in Louisiana and laid on the counter in a little store, over night, and then taken to the fleet in the Mississippi river opposite Vicks- burg, and transferred to the hospital at Vicks- burg, where he remained two months, then rejoined his regiment and served until dis- charged. He was promoted for ineritorious service to duty-sergeant, having before been corporal. He endured all the hardships of a soldier's life with fortitude and cheerfulness, and was in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part. He returned to Ohio and engaged in farm worl:, and was married February 11, 1866, at Little York, Ohio, to Miss Lydia Leach, who was born August 22, 1831, at Hudson, Ohio, a daugli- ter of George and Lydia (Wolcott) Leach. George Leach was born in Goshen, Conn., November 26, 1799, a son of William and Sallie (Gaylord) Leach. William Leach was a pioneer of Iludson, settling there in 1799 or 1800, and his son Henry was the first white male child born in that village. William inoved later to Sandusky, Ohio, where he 1
lived when the war of 1812 broke out, in which he was a noted Indian fighter. He died in Sandusky, and was buried, with the British soldiers, where the city now stands. He was the father of George, Henry, Jonas and Elita. Mrs. Leach married after his death and had one son-Marvin.
George Leach was but an infant when brought by his parents from Connecticut and carried the mail in 1814, when peace was pro- claimed, from Sandusky to Cleveland. He married at Boston, Ohio, Lydia Wolcott, who was born at Boston, Ohio, daughter of Alfred and Margaret (Craig) Wolcott-Mr. Wolcott coming from New England. He was the sur- veyor of Boston township and also surveyed much land elsewhere in Summit county. George Leach and wife were the parents of Clarissa, Eliza and Lydia. Mrs. Leach died, and he married Phila Wood, née Cook, a widow. Mr. Leach settled at Little York in 1832, and cleared up a good farm. He owned 500 acres of land and built and ran a saw-mill in Hudson, and this was the first one he ever saw -- which fact was rather remarkable. He was a well-known and prominent citizen, served for some years as township trustee, and was a inan of great industry and energy. Mr. and Mrs. Schoch settled, after marriage. in Little York, where they have since lived. They have one daughter living-Avis Maude. In politics Mr. Schoch is a republican, and is a member of Royal Dunham post. No. 177. G. A. R., at Bedford. Mr. Schoch has always been an industrious and respected citizen and was a brave and gallant soldier.
J ACOB P. SHOEMAKER, a retired farmer of Bath township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, and one of its most respected citizens, was born in Jackson town hip, Stark county, April 3, 1832.
896
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD)
John Shoemaker, father of subject, was a native of Maryland, was born October 20, 1799, and was a son of Henry Shoemaker, a native of the same state, who came to Ohio in 1812 and settled in Stark county. There John Shoemaker was reared to manhood, and No- vember 20, 1823, was married to Ann Brels- ford, who was born in Henrico county, Va., in 1799, a daughter of Barney and Naomi Brelsford. John Shoemaker, after marriage. continued his vocation of farmer in Stark county until 1834, when he sold his farm and came to Bath township, Summit county, and bought the farm on which Jacob P., the sub- ject of this article, now makes his home, and which he owns. John cleared up this land and erected a log cabin, in which he reared his family, advanced his fortunes, and died January 24, 1867, in comfortable circum- stances, a member of the Disciples' church. He was a generous, public-spirited citizen, a democrat in politics, and greatly respected by his neighbors and the community at large. His widow died August 11, 1873, equally re- spected with her husband. The six children constituting the family of John Shoemaker and wife were born and named in the following order: Henry H., December 20, 1824, and now a fariner in Kansas: Mahala, January 16, 1829, who was married to Jacob Peach, of Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, and died December 23, 1863; Rachel J., August 4, 1830, now the wife of George Kunkle, of Will- iams county, Ohio; Jacob P., the subject of this biography; Enoch J., born July 3, 1836, died July 10, 1837; Lavina A., born July I, 1838, is the wife of Benjamin Hartman, of Williams county, Ohio.
Jacob P. Shoemaker, the subject, married, October 7. 1858, Miss Eleanor J. Harris, who was born in Wayne county, March 23, 1837, where her marriage took place. This lady is a daughter of Aaron and Eleanor ( White)
Harris, of whom a detailed record is made in the biography of Vincent G. Harris, on another page. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shoe- maker has been blessed with one child, Eben, who was born February 8, 1874, and married. October 29, 1895, Miss Lillian Miller, a lo- tive of Bath township and a daughter of Mil- ton and Abbie (Hackett) Miller- Mi. Miller being a prominent and successful farmer of the township. Eben Shoemaker is now managing the old homestead, which his father had set- tled on years ago, and occupies the original dwelling. Jacob P. Shoemaker and wife re- side in a fine new house, built for their own use, and are passing away the later years of their well-spent life in ease and comfort. The farm comprises 123 acres of well-cultivated land, and presents as fine an appearance as any farm of its size in Bath township. In politics Mr. Shoemaker is a democrat and has ever been forward in aiding the progress of his township and county, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. Mrs. Shoemaker is a pious member of the Evangelical church and is by all her neighbors esteemed as a good, charitable and christian member of society. while Eben and his wife also come in for a full share of public esteem.
HARLES SKINNER, a respected farmer of Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, de- seends from colonial families of Mas- sachusetts and Vermont, and was born in Northfield, Ohio, September 3, 1842, a son of William and Diana (Lilly) Skinner.
William Skinner was born near Boston, Mass., and was first married there, to which marriage were born one son and two dangh- ters. Mrs. Skinner died in the old Bay stilte and subsequently Mir. Skinner came to Chi . but lelt his children behind. He purchased ..
807
OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
farm in Northfield township, Summit county, and here married Miss Diana Lilly, and to this union were born Charles and John. Mr. Skinner lived to be sixty-seven years old, and died on his farm, fully possessed of the respect of all his neighbors.
Charles Skinner received a good common- school education in his native village, and was reared on his father's farm. August 2, 1862, he enlisted, at Northfield, in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infan- try, to serve three years, if not sooner dis- charged on account of the cessation of hostil- ities, and for this reason was honorably dis- charged at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in July, 1865. and was mustered at Cleveland, Ohio, with the rank of corporal, having been promoted for meritorious conduct, and having served to within a few days of three years.
The military service rendered by Mr. Skin- ner was in Kentucky, Tennessce, Georgia and Mississippi, and at one time was detailed for one year, with others of his regiment, to hunt guerrillas. He was in many severe skirmishes with Wheeler's famous cavalry at Murfrees- boro, Lavergn and elsewhere, and with For- rest, in Tennessee, and in pursuit of the pursuit of the notorious John Morgan and his raiders through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, capturing some of his men almost daily, and on the morning of Morgan's surrender cap- tured 300. Within nine months Mr. Skinner's detachment captured about 1.300 of these guerrillas --- very dangerous and fatiguing work. He was himself once captured, but escaped the same night, which was very fortunate for him, as capture by these irregular troops meant, almost to a certainty, sure death. One of the most important events that happened to this detachment was the capture of Guerrilla Job, who had for years been a terror to the country, and who never gave quarter to his captives. A squad of twenty men, of whom 38
Mr. Skinner was one, had pursued him several days, and finally caught him asleep in the woods, his hiding place being pointed out by an old negro. When given his choice as to whether he should be hanged or shot, he was perfectly indifferent, and he was finally shot in the back by two soldiers, as the most mer- ciful way of ending his existence. The Con- federate general, Joe Wheeler, the cavalry- man, offered a reward of $10,000 for the executors of Job, and swore that he would remain in Tennessee until they were cap- tured, but the diminutive general was forced out of the state at a more rapid gait than he had entered it. Mr. Skinner was in all the marches and engagements in which his regi- ment took part, and was a brave and efficient soldier, who was never wounded nor a pris- oner for more than one day, as has already been mentioned, but suffered, at one time. from a severe attack of chronic diarrhea, and was given a sick furlough home for thirty days, but was confined to his bed for four months.
After the war Mr. Skinner returned to Northfield and married Miss Martha Irwin. who was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, in August, 1847, a daughter of William and Hermie ( Wil- cox) Irwin. Mr. Irwin was the first marshal of the city of Cleveland, but removed to Per- rysburg, where he died of cholera in middle life, with two of his children, and leaving two, who yet survive -- Julia and Martha. After marriage. Mr. Skinner engaged in farin work in several townships until 1889, when he pur- chased his present farm of thirty-six acres in Boston township, which he has converted into a most pleasant home, and he also rents 100 acres adjoining, being a practical farmer and an energetic and honest man. There have been born to his marriage three children-Jo- sephine, died aged eleven years, Sumner and Hulda. In politics Mr. Skinner is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham
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.