A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio, Part 5

Author: A.W. Bowen & Co., pub
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : A.W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 938


USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 5
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 5


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In politics the doctor was at first a whig, but is now a prohibitionist. In religion he is of the belief of the Disciples, in whose church he has for many years been an elder. April 6, 1848, the doctor married Miss Aman- da E. Hoy, who was born in February, 1828. a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Troxler) Hoy, natives of Pennsylvania and early pio- neers of Summit county, Ohio. Mr. Hoy ran the first stage line between Wellsville and Cleveland, Ohio, and was also the first inn- keeper in Manchester. He was a leader in the whig party, held office as associate county


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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.


judge, was land appraiser two terms, and for a long time a justice of the peace. He was an elder in the Disciples' church and died in that faith August 6, 1883, having lost his wife June 20, 1866. To the marriage of Dr. Sisler and wife have been born the following chil- dren: Frances E., wife of Lafayette Swigart; Charles E .; Clara A., wife of Frank Rabcr; Caroline B .; Lewis E .; Everett B .; John L .; Jennie L., wife of Prof. Rood, and William H. Dr. Sisler is now probably the oldest as well as the most prominent physician in Summit county, is known far and wide, and has ac- quired a competency in his practice, but is too closely devoted to his profession to abandon it, although he could easily afford to do so, but such a step would prove a matter of re- gret and an irreparable loss to a large portion of the suffering invalids in his community.


EWIS E. SISLER, M. D., and coun- ty auditor of Suminit county, Ohio, was born April 8, 1860, a son of Dr. Adam and Amanda (Hoy) Sisler, the place of his nativity being the village of Man- chester, in the county of which he is now the auditor.


Lewis E. Sisler was primarily educated in the district school of Manchester, graduated from the high school, next attended the.Smith- ville academy, and then entered the North- western Ohio normal university at Ada. Fol- lowing his graduation from the latter institu- tion, he taught school two or more years in Manchester and its environs, and in 1879 be- gan reading medicine. When he had been sufficiently prepared by diligent study for a full comprehension of oral utterances, he at- tended lectures at the medical department of the Western Reserve university at Cleveland, from which he received his diploma in the spring of 1883. He then practiced his pro-


fession, in partnership with his father, for a year or more, in his native village, whence he moved to Clinton, Summit county, where his practice was so remunerative that he re- mained there fourteen years, establishing an imperishable reputation for unusual skill and proficiency.


In politics Dr. Sisler is an uncompromis- ing republican, and for eleven years has been a member of the republican county executive committee, of which he was vice-chairman three years, and chairman in 1890. In 1889 he was appointed, by President Harrison, a member of the Akron board of pension exam- iners, and in 1895 elected auditor of Summit county by the handsome plurality of 1,600, and was qualified for the office September 14, 1896, and up to the present writing no word of disparagement has been uttered against him, but, on the other hand, constant praise has been his, for the able manner in which he has filled the duties of his office.


The first marriage of Dr. Sisler took place in 1884, to Miss Metta B. Miller, of Canal Fulton, and to this union were born two chil- dren-Dreamond Miller and John Rutherford. The doctor was bereaved of his amiable wife May 25, 1891, and in December, 1895, he married Miss Eva Tilton, a highly accom- plished lady, also of Canal Fulton. In relig- ion Mrs. Sisler adheres to the Methodist Epis- copal church, while the doctor worships with the Christian society. The fraternal relations of Dr. Sisler are broad and extended, as he holds membership with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Maccabees, in which last-named order he is medical examiner-in-chief for the state of Ohio. The doctor and his amiable lady hold a very high position in the social circles of Akron, as they also did while residing in Man-


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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


chester, and his professional success has ever been a matter of satisfaction to himself as well as of congratulation by his numerous friends.


PILLIAM G. SMITH. M. D., the well-known physician and surgeon of Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, was born in New Wilmington, Law- rence county, Pa., July 11, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Banks) Smith. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania-the father in Beaver county and the mother in Latrobe, Westmoreland county, and there were born to them nine children -- four sons and five daugh- ters -- of whom the following are still living: Dr. William G. ; Robert A., of New Wilming- ton; Ella, wife of N. A. Philips, of Bedford, Ohio; Edward H., of Cleveland, Ohio, and Edith, who resides with her mother in New Wilmington, Pa. The father of this family was a farmer and died at New Wilmington in May, 1875, at the age of forty-four years, a member of the old-school Presbyterian church; the mother still lives on the home farm, and is a member of the same religious denomina- tion, as are also all the surviving children.


Jacob Smith, the paternal grandfather of subject, was also a native of Pennsylvania, was of German parentage, a butcher by call- ing, and was the father of twelve children, of whom Samuel, father of Dr. William G., was the eleventh in order of birth. Robert Banks, maternal grandfather of the doctor, was like- wise a native of the Keystone state, was a cooper and farmer, was of English descent, and married a Miss Coulter, of Irish extrac- tion. This lady lived to be upward of sev- enty years of age, and her husband reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years.


William G. Smith, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared on the home farm in


Pennsylvania until thirteen or fourteen years old, then went to New Wilmington, where he clerked during the summer months and at- tended the public school in the winter, grad- uating finally from the high school. While still employed as a clerk in a drug store, he commenced the study of medicine about 1874, and in the fall of 1875 entered Miami Medical college, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. In the same year he came to Ohio and began practice in Palmyra, Portage county, where he enjoyed a lucrative patronage for over fourteen years, constantly increasing his knowledge of the profession both by study and experience. The winter of 1890-91 he passed in the city hospital at Cin- cinnati, further enlarging his experience. In the spring of 1891 he brought his family to Ravenna, whither his fame as a practitioner had preceded him, and here has since stood among the foremost physicians of the city and surrounding country.


The marriage of the doctor was solemnized October 26, 1879, with Miss Mary A. Force, daughter of David and Abigail (Merwin) Force, which marriage has been blessed with three children, Charles W., George Merwin and Ada Lillian, but of these the parents have been afflicted with the loss of the second born, George M., who died when one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist church, in which the doctor is a steward, and for two years was superintendent of the Sun- day school while residing in Palmyra. Frater- nally the doctor is a Freetnason, an Odd Fel- low, is examining surgeon in the Royal Ar- canum, and is also a Forester of America, of which order he is the grand chief ranger of Ohio. He is likewise a member of the State Medical society, the Northeastern Ohio Med- ical union, and the Portage county Medical society, and of the last named was one year president. His practice is general in its scope


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and extensive in its dimensions. He is, more- over, a genial and affable gentleman, and he and wife hold distinguished positions in the social world of Ravenna and of the county.


EORGE J. SNOOK, the artistic pho- tographer, of Akron, Ohio, is a native of Brantford, Canada, was born March 9, 1857, and is a son of George and Amy (Hull) Snook, natives of England.


George Snook, father of subject, learned the trade of miller in his native county of Somerset, and came to America while yet a single man and located in Canada, where he met and married Miss Amy Hull, and there operated a mill until 1863, when he brought his family to Akron, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, working at his trade. To his marriage were born seven children, viz: William F., foreman of a spice mill in Chi- cago, Ill .; Thomas B., orange grower, Weirs- dale, Marion county, Fla .; John I., miller of Akron, Ohio; George J., the subject; Henry W., orange grower, Marion county, Fla .; Charles A., foreman in the City Roller mills, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Amos B., plumber, Jacksonville, Fla. The death of the father of this family occurred April 24, 1868, in the faith of the Episcopal church, in which faith his widow still lives.


George J. Snook, from about the age of six years, was reared in Akron and educated in its public schools. When fourteen years old, he entered the studio of G. W. Manley for the purpose of learning photography, and with him remained about three years; later and for one year was in the employ of B. F. Battles, and afterward with Epley, Howard & Co. In April, 1882, he opened a gallery on his own account at No. 186 South Howard street, where he established a high reputation


and remained twelve years, when he removed to his present elegant parlors and studio, which form the only ground-floor gallery in the city, and which he has especially fitted up for his purpose, and where he executes every variety of photography, including portraits, views and commercial work. In connection with his gallery he conducts an art store, in which he carries a complete line of works of art, artists' supplies, picture frames, etc.


Mr. Snook is a member of the State Pho- tographic association; of Nemo lodge, of Akron encampment, 1. O. O. F .; of Adoniram lodge, Washington chapter, and Akron commandery, F. & A. M., and of Akron senate, A. E. O. In politics he is a republican.


The marriage of Mr. Snook took place September 19, 1882, with Miss Mary I. Bart- lett, daughter of A. A. Bartlett, but after four- teen years of wedded life Mrs. Snook was called from earth November 13, 1896.


ETER I. SNYDER, an enterprising young farmer of Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, was born on the farm which he still occupies, in the original log cabin erected by his parents in 1852, and in which his birth occurred on the 4th day of July, 1863.


Jost Snyder, grandfather of subject, was a native of Sweden, but while still a young man came to America, and was married in Penn- sylvania to a Miss Baughman, who bore him the following-named children: Abraham, Joel, Paul, Jonas, Joshua, George, Daniel, Isaiah, Nathan, Sophia, Elizabeth and Peter. Some time after his marriage Jost Snyder came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Springfield town- ship, Summit county, became a substantial citizen, and died highly esteemed March 27, 1876.


Isaiah Snyder, father of subject, was born


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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


in Springfield township May 7, 1821, and was reared on his father's farm. Although he learned the stonemason's trade after having acquired as good an education as could be ob- tained in the pioneer log school-house of his early youth, farming was the chief occupation of his active life. He married Elizabeth Grube, who was born November 2, 1829, in Lehigh township, Lancaster county, Pa., but who was six years of age only when brought by her parents, Peter and Nancy (Landis) Grube, to Norton township, Summit county, Ohio. The Grube children were four in num- ber and were named in order of birth David, Peter, Margaret and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Snyder resided for some years after marriage in Springfield township and then came to Norton township, where Isaiah bought the farm on which subject now lives in 1852. Isaiah was a democrat in politics, was an elder of the German Reformed church, wasrespected as an honest and substantial citizen, and died February 9, 1876. His widow afterward mar- ried Tillman Koons, and her death took place in Doylestown, Ohio, January 25, 1895.


Peter I. Snyder received all the advantages in the way of education that the common schools of his district afforded, and has been identified all his life with the farming interests of Norton township. November 4, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice V. Miller, who was born in Sharon township, Me- dina county, Ohio, April 4, 1869, a daughter of Joseph B. and Rebecca J. (Lower) Miller, of whom further mention will be found in the biography of M. L. Miller, on another page. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder has been blessed with six children, who are named, in order of birth, as follows: Ollie L., William E., Elsie M., Charles L., Harry R. and Ira P. The farm of Mr. Snyder comprises fifty acres, and, although comparatively small, is extremely fertile and well kept, comparing


favorably with many of greater dimensions both in tillage and yield. In politics Mr. Sny- der is a democrat. He is a deacon in the Waltz German Reformed church, and is well known as well as respected throughout the en- tire township of Norton and the townships adjoining.


J OHN L. REID, the popular proprietor of Reid's livery establishment, at the corner of Mill and High streets, Akron, Ohio, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scot-


land, June 11, 1854, a son of John and Jane L. (Lowe) Reid, and came to Akron in 1868.


John Reid was a carpenter and contractor and also came to America in 1868, first located on a farm near Lodi, Medina county, Ohio, but later came to Akron, where he followed his trade until his death, in 1873. His widow has now reached her seventy-fifth year. They were the parents of seventeen children, of whom six died in Scotland in early childhood.


.


MRS. JANE L REED.


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and eleven came to the United States with their parents. Of these, George resides in Cleveland; Mary is the wife of Gad Wheeler, of Akron; John L. is the subject of this notice; Charles and Duncan, twins, are shoe dealers in Akron; Frank, also a shoe dealer in Akron, is the twin of Jennie, the wife of William Dunham, of Berea; Helen, wife of Edward Mitchell, of Akron; James R., a cabinetmaker of the same city; Fannie, wife of C. Wells, of Cleveland, and Willie, deceased.


John L. Reid drove a team -- a horse and cart-for his father in the highlands of Scot- land until coming to the United States, at- tending school in the meantime, and on com- ing to Akron found employment in the Stone cereal mill as engineer and remained in that employ about ten years. He then engaged in the livery business on North High street for several years, then removed to the rear of the Buchtel hotel and conducted the livery at that place until 1892, when he removed to his present location, where he has fitted up one of the largest and best equipped livery estab- lishments in the city, having erected a building to suit his own ideas of conveniences and facilities for transacting his business. His barns are well stocked with rigs for general livery purposes, for the transfer trade and for funeral purposes, as well as for picnic parties, weddings or other festivities. He at first started in business with two horses and two buggies; he now owns twenty-nine horses, six fine coaches costing $1, 200 each, surreys, bug- gies, phaetons, traps and other vehicles of the laintiest as well as of the most substantial description. He keeps a full corps of assist- ants, who clean, clip and otherwise care for his own and his " boarding " stock, and sharpen arvì cork shoes according to the season. The !.. this are well ventilated, and lighted by elec- tricity, and by this power he grinds his iecd. In fact, he is up to date in everything. 20


Mr. Reid was married, March 7, 1876, to Miss Anna Flowers who has borne him four children: William, Robert, Jennie and one deceased. In politics Mr. Reid is a repub- lican, and as a citizen he is wide-awake, public spirited and law abiding; his integrity is marked in his every act, and he is well worthy of the high esteem in which he is universally held.


DAM G. SPANGLER, general mer- chant of Manchester, was born in Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, June 18, 1853, and is a son of Joseph and Caroline (Smith) Spangler, who were the parents of three younger children, viz: John (deceased), Charles, a resident of Clinton, Ohio, and Jennie, wife of O. W. Baum.


David Spangler, grandfather of subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, but was one of the pioneers of Summit county, Ohio, where he entered a tract of land from the government, and until his death was identified with the agricultural development of the county.


Joseph Spangler, son of David and the father of the subject. was born in Summit county November 1, 1820, and is now the oldest man in Franklin township, who has since that date been a continuous resident thereof. He was educated in a pioneer log school-house, has always been a farmer, and now owns a farm of 1 54 acres in this township, and another of 160 acres in Kansas. He first married Caroline Smith, daughter of John and Jane Smith. This lady was born in 1828, and gave birth to the children named at the opening of this article. The second marriage of Mr. Spangler took place March 12. 1868, to Adeline Hoy, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 2, 1838, a daughter of David and Jane (Hutchinson) Hoy, and to this union have been born David E., July 22, 1869;


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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD


Irwin H., August 4, 1870, and Josephi G., Jan- uary 30, 1873. David Hoy, father of Mrs. Spangler, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Adams county April 25, 1805, and his wife, a native of the same state, was born March 19, 1809. They were married in Adams county, and soon afterward moved to Waylie county, Ohio; but their declining years were passed in Hocking county, where Mr. Hoy died October 22, 1883, and Mrs. Hoy, October 19, 1881. Mr. Spangler is a member of the Reformed church, to the support of which he has always contributed freely of his means, and in politics is a democrat.


Adam G. Spangler was reared on his father's farin and was well educated in the common schools. For eighteen years he fol- lowed plastering as a trade, and in 1889 opened his general merchandizing establishment in Manchester, designed especially for the supply- ing of the needs of farmers and miners. He is a first-class business man and possesses the tact of so treating a patron that when he once makes him a sale he ever after holds him as a customer. In politics Mr. Spangler is a stanch democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, but has never had any overweening desire for public office. In religion his faith rests with the Reformed church, in which he is very active, having been for several years a Sabbath-school teacher, and which he aids with a liberal hand. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Gen. Joe. Hooker council No. 173, of Clinton, Ohio, and a Ma- son. being a member of Elliott lodge, of Canal Fulton, Ohio.


Mr. Spangler was united in marriage Jan- uary 13. 1874, with Miss Mary A. Serfass, who was born in Franklin township in 1856, a daughter of James and Julia (Shoup) Serfass, who came from Cumberland, Pa., to Franklin township in a very early day, and here passed


the remainder of their lives, the father dying March 9, 1896, and the mother February 2, of the same year. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born two chil- dren, viz: Charles E., born November 10, 1875, but who died May 9, 1896, and Claude C., born July 10, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler stand high in the social circles of Manchester and Franklin township, and as a business man the name of Mr. Spangler is without a blemish.


I RVIN H. SPANGLER, a leading young farmer of Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, is a son of Joseph aud Adeline (Hoy) Spangler, of whoin full mention is made in the biography of Adam G. Spangler, given above.


I. H. Spangler is a native of Franklin township, born August 4, 1870, received a good common-school education, and has been a farmer since his boyhood days, having been reared on his father's farm. December 18. 1890, he married Miss Laura E. Bender, who was born in Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, June 14, 1872, a daughter of Harvey and Mary (Miller) Bender. Mrs. Spangler, when quite young, was bereft of her mother, but her father, who now resides in Kalamazoo, Mich., is a prosperous farmer, is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a dent- ocrat. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born four children, who, in order of birth, were named Florence L., Robert R., Lydia (deceased) and Charles B.


Mr. Spangler owns and resides on a snug farm of forty-two and a half acres, which he keeps in an excellent state of cultivation, and has improved with modern accessories. He and wife are members of the Reformed church and its teachings constitute the rule of their daily walk through life. In politics Mr.


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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.


Spangler is a stanch democrat and he cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, but he has never yet sought official honors. lle is recognized as one of the most indus- trious and capable young agriculturists of the township, is liberal in his support of church and school, as well as all commendable en- terprises, and socially he and wife enjoy in a marked degree the esteem of their neighbors.


HARLES OLIVER SPRENKEL, a prosperous farmer of Springfield town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, was born October 14, 1859, in Snyder county, Pa., a son of Charles and Charlotte (Hoff) Sprenkel, who still reside in Snyder county.


Charles Sprenkel, father of Charles Oliver, is a native of the Buckeye state and was reared a shoemaker, but on relinquishing his trade engaged in farming and in dealing in live stock, and on removing to Snyder county, Pa., fol- lowed farming and saw-milling. He there married Miss Hoff, a native of that county and a daughter of Josiah and Magdalena (Bickel) Hoff, the fruit of the union being nine children, viz: Cordelia, wife of Christopher Regle, of Selin's Grove, Pa .; John F .; Matilda, widow of Moses Fisher; Charles Oliver; Zeno W., of Kantz, Pa .; Ida S .. wife of Henry Shum- bach, of Snyder county; William H., Isaac C., and Mary O., deceased wife of John A. Straub. Mr. Sprenkel and wife are members of the Reformed church, are greatly respected in their community, and Mr. Sprenkel has served his fellow-citizens in various official capacities.


Charles Sprenkel, paternal grandfather of Charles Oliver, was born in Germany, came to Ohio in early life, was twice married, reared two large families, and died at the advanced age of eighty-six years. The maternal grand- parents of Charles Oliver were natives of En-


gland, and early settlers of Pennsylvania; they had born to them ten children, of whom Mary Ann, wife of William Crist, Charlotte, wife of Charles Sprenkel, and Margaret, widow of Henry Kessler, are still living; the deceased were Matilda, Sadie, John, George, Samuel, Martha and Maria. The father of this family died in 1881, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife in 1887, aged eighty-one years, and both sincere Methodists.


Charles Oliver Sprenkel was reared on his father's farm in Pennsylvania until eigliteen years of age and then worked about nineteen months in a grist-mill, intending to thoroughly learn the trade, but relinquished it on account of the dust, and worked in the ore banks about eighteen months, then resumed milling for nineteen months, when, early in 1883, he drifted westward to Erie, Pa., where he worked in a saw-mill until July of the same year, when he came to Summit county, Ohio, and engaged in farming until December, 1887, when he went to Akron, where he was em- ployed as a carpenter (having partly learned the trade in Pennsylvania) about five years, and later engaged in the jewelry business, car- rying on a store until 1897, when he came to Springfield township and engaged in farming.


Mr. Sprenkel was united in marriage, in Springfield township, November 16, 1882, with Miss Catherine Stein, who was born Au- gust 1, 1860, in Green township, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Peters) Stein, and this union has been blessed with two children, Mary C. and Maud R.


Daniel Stein, grandfather of Mrs. Sprenkel, was born in Baden, Germany, was a farmer, and came to America in 1831. Of his eight children the only one living is Catherine, wife of Henry Strohinan; the deceased seven were named Daniel, Peter, Elizabeth (wife of John Brown, also deceased), Henry, Magdalen, Mary (Mrs. Daniel Winkelman) and John. The




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