USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 52
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 52
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John Mizer, father of Mrs. Mollie A. Van Nostran, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, about 1825, a son of Jacob and Maria (Smith) Mizer, the former of whom was J pioneer from Pennsylvania, owned a farm of 400 acres and lived to be eighty years
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of age. John Mizer now owns Tis acres of the homestead, and is a prosperous tiller of the soil. To his marriage with Miss Morol have been born the following-named children: Malinda J., Sarah A., Mollie A.,. Catherine E., Darid L., Lydia E., Samatha E., John W. and Carrie E. Mr. and Mrs. Mizer are members of the Lutheran church at Evans Creek, Ohio, in which he is a deacon. and in politics Mr. Mizer is a democrat, under the auspices of which party he has for five year: been a justice of this place. David Mizer, a brother of John, was a soldier in the Civil war, was shot on board a gunboat, and his body buried in the Mississippi river.
Samuel R. Van Nostran is one of the most respected citizens of Aurora township, was a brave and faithful soldier, and endured the hardships of war with cheerful fortitude, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is universally held. Mr. and Mrs. Van Nostran's grandfathers were both active participants in the Revolutionary war.
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MITH ELMER WADSWORTH, the genial proprietor of the Wadsworth House. at Garrettsville, has con- ducted this establishment for sixteen years, it being the only hotel in the village. He is a native of Windham township, Portage county, Ohio, was born October 15. 1848, and is a son of Elmer Dwight and Wealthy Eme- line (Smith) Wadsworth, natives, respectively, of Portage county. and Becket, Mass.
Xenophon Wadsworth, grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of Massachusetts and a pio- necr of Windhain township. where he owned a farm, on which he died at the age of forty- five years, his widow surviving him some years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whoni seven reached mature years,
Elmer Dwight, father of subject, being the eldest.
Eliner Dwight Wadsworth was born in 1820, was reared a farmer, and on leaving the farm located in Garrettsville, where he first conducted a meat market, and later engaged in the hotel business. He died in 1888. in the faith of the Congregational church. To his marriage with Miss Smith were born five chil- dren. viz: Smith E., the subject; Arthur D., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Alida and Xenophon, who reside in Garretts- ville, and Treasure Hattie, who was married to Dr. John Dixon, and died in Ashtabula, Ohio, in January, 1896.
Smith E. Wadsworth, the subject of this memoir, was educatad primarily in the district school and then attended Oberlin college two years, after which he taught school in winter and followed agricultural pursuits in summer for three years, when his health became im- paired, and, under the advice of his physicians. he engaged in the ireat business with his father and brother for some time time, but during this period embarked in hotel keeping. Be- side his meat and hotel business Mr. Wads- worth has furnished ice to the residents of Garrettsville for a number of years, and for twenty years has handled nearly all the hides, pelts and tallow of the town -- sometimes at the rate of $5,000 a year.
In 1875 he married Miss Hannah L. Stiles, who was born in Paris township, Portage county, a daughter of James Stiles, and to this union have been born two children -- Arthur J. and Nellie.
Smith E. Wadsworth is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a republican. He is a member of Garretts- ville lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M .. and has passed all the chairs in Portage lodge, No. 456, 1. O. O. F. He has made his own way through the world at all times, now owns his
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hotel property, and through his courteous manners and accommodating disposition has gained hosts of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem.
IRAM DENNIS WALKER, of Man- tua Station, Portage county. Ohio, is a veteran of the Civil war, who lost an arm in the battle of Petersburg, Va., is a son of John and Sarah (Cline) Walker, and was born near Salem, Colum- biana county, Ohio.
Alexander Walker, grandfather of Hiram D., was a farmer of considerable means in Lancaster county, Pa., was a Lutheran in reli- gion, and passed all his life in his native state. His son, John Walker, was born in Lancaster county January 8, 1788, was a fariner and early came to Ohio. He married in Canfield, Mahoning hounty, Miss Sarah Cline, their union resulting in the birth of Mary S., Hettie, Annie, Lovina, Melissa, Rhynear, William, Frederick and Hiram D. On settling in Co- lumbiana county he followed milling as a voca- tion, and there passed the remainder of his life, dying a member of the United Brethren church Angust 31, 1853, having come to the state when about twenty-one years of age, in 1809. Of his four sons, two, Frederick and Hiram D., were in the Civil war-Frederick serving three years in company F, Seventh Ohio vol- unteer infantry.
Peter Cline, father of Mrs. Sarah Walker, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., January II, 1792, was a farmer, and came to Ohio, a young man, about 1809, and liere passed most of his life as a farmer. but lived several years in Ravenna. He was first married to a Miss Haynes, who bore hin five children -- William, John, Ossie. Elizabeth and Susan. By a second marriage, with Miss Catherine Beard,
were born Henry, Nancy and Mary. Mrs. Walker was also born to the last marriage. Mr. Cline died in Newton Falls, Trumbull county, May 21, 1854, a greatly respected citizen, as he had served in the war of 1812, and had suffered many hardships in the lake regions. One of his sons, John Cline, also became a soldier, and served in the Civil war for three years in a battery of Ohio artillery.
Hiram D. Walker, at the age of four years, was placed by his parents in charge of a Quaker, Daniel Bolton, of Salem, who sent him to the district school. taught him his own trade of machinist, and also had him instructed in the trades of blacksmithing and carpenter- ing. In 1847 he went to Newton Falls, Ohio, to work as a blacksmith, and at the age of about twenty-one years, was married, May 9, 1848, at that place, to Miss Nancy Walker, who was born July 1, 1827, at Albany, Colum- biana county, a daughter of Peter and Cather- ine (Beard) Cline, both families being of Penn- sylvania-Dutch stock. Mr. and Mrs. Walker, some years after marriage, removed from New- ton Falls to Paris, Portage county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade from 1856 un- til the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, August 22, 1861, in the Second Ohio cavalry, under Col. Robert Ratcliff and Capt. Henry L. Burnett, for three years, but was honorably discharged, on account of disability. October 2, 1862, having been injured in as- sisting to build a military bridge at Fort Scott, Kans. He then returned to Paris, Ohio, and having recovered from his injuries, re-enlisted as a veteran, May 9, 1864, in company K. One Hundred and Tenth Ohio volunteer infantry, Lieut. Traub having command of the company. During his two enlistments, ending with his second honorable discharge, July 3, 1865. on account of the close of the war, he took part in the batde of Sercoxic, Mo., and in matty shirmishes with bushwhackers in the Saine
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
state --- extra-dangerous there as elsewhere; was through the Shenandoah valley with Sher- idan; fought at Winchester, and at Opequan Creek, Cedar Creek, Berryville, Va., Monoc- acy Creek, Md., and at the siege and fall of Petersburg, Va., where he was shot through the upper part of his left arm by a minie ball March 29, 1865. His arm was amputated the same night at field hospital, whence he was taken to City Point, Va., where he lay ten days. and was then transferred to Baltimore, Md., remaining there in hospital three days, then in hospital at. Washington, D. C., two months; then in Chester Hill hospital, Pa., three weeks, whence he was transferred, via Pittsburg, to Camp Chase hospital, Columbus, Ohio, where he was finally mustered out, with the rank of sergeant, having been promoted for brave and meritorious conduct on the field, in the face of the enemy.
Mr. Walker arrived at his home in Paris, July 3, 1865, but has never been able to do anything in the way of labor, excepting in the superintendence of a few irregular jobs, now and again, as circumstances perinit and his sufferings allow. In 1890 he moved with his family to Mantua Station, where he enjoys the deserved respect which every patriot who has been disabled in the service of his country is entitled to from great or small. He has been blessed with four children-Sarah E., Ella M., Eva A. and Ida A., all of whom are happily married and well settled in life.
Mr. Walker is a republican in politics; is a meniber of Bentley post, No. 294, G. A. R., at Mantua Station, of which he is chaplain, and is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and have fully lived up to its precepts, which, it may well be borne in mind, ever lead to the straight and narrow way that finds its end in eternal rest and bliss.
M. WANAMAKER, a rising young lawyer of Akron, is a native of North Jackson, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born August 2, 1866, and is a son of Daniel and Laura (Schoenberger) Wanamaker. of German descent. The father is now a resi- dent of Akron, but the mother is deceased. and of their four children the subject is the eldest. Of the remaining three, Mamie Was married to John A. Campbell, but is now de- ceased; Charles S. is assistant cashier for the Standard Oil company at Cleveland, and Ger- trude C., a stenographer, resides with her brother, the subject of this review.
R. M. Wanamaker was born and reared on a farm and received his elementary education in the common schools. Farm work engaged his attention during vacations; work in a flax- mill and baling hay were a source of income with which he defrayed his college expenses during his first term at the Ohio Normal uni- versity, at Ada, Ohio; after this term he began teaching, at the age of sixteen, and alternated his time between teaching and attending school until twenty-one years of age, when he became principal of the high school at Ada; a year later he removed to Lima (1888), where, for three years, he was principal of the public schools on the west side, superintending fifteen rooms; he was then re-elected by the boar 1 the fourth year, but resigned in order to be more fully able to prosecute his study of the law under Ridenour & Halfhill, of Lima, and in the fall of 1891 entered the law department at Ada university, from which he graduated in the spring of 1893, and in March of the same year was admitted to the bar. In September. 1893, he came to Akron, and on October 1 the firm of Young & Wanamaker was established, and which still obtains. He at once entered upon a vigorous campaign to conquer a client- age, and at the same time to do all the work he could for the republican party. He was
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PORTRAIT AND DIOGRAPHICAL FEUORI
5002 recognized as a polo attorney of able. Oled Sipped For
His first case as an attorno. nos the char := of a couler intel and be also conducted the prosecutioni on the Gotell miunder came which attracted a great deal di putMe attention at the time
In 189: Mi Wanacalle was placed - =
ivo contestants f : the dominat ending elective som der abead of his tick an indicating of 's popular.ty" - he is choice in his langage. logical in huis fs- dictious and convincing in ar ment E.s legal kocollage is highbored cable forle sol ely admitted to the bar
For ofthe Stat- Der ass lofge. No.63 K of P .: of Abrin nice. Min. 547 1 0. O. F . Tiptop tent K Of M .
Mr Wanamaker was most kopp is toits d 1. barrage. Aprilr. TAS9. an de Ofs. Mise Fanns Spory, daughter of F. E. and Mar Sana ed the union has been blessed with two children - Mary Lastine and Walrer Blaine. The porcats are members of the First Congregational chorch sad tiand very high socially The - residence is at No for South Main street. and Mr. Wasamakers office is at No. 18: South Main street in the Harter block.
ILLIAM A. WARNER, a highly re- spectable farmer ci Coventry town- silip. is a native of Green township Sumitve county, Chid, was bort October ; rSus, and s of English descent. John Wamer gerat- rather if subiect l'orland and located in Maryland, where he was married and short's afterbord came tell
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have been bone six childosa under. William &. Henry Sam Adam and Mary the list sam For many years the parents of sade in Concetry tom
each of the children a go:2 farm and - -_: wise alding them and betalning for only sufficient to sustain themselves in th. : old age Mr Warner bus of fate espolen the cause of the prohibitinc party. but formerly a democrat and hell many township offices of Comemuy as we eral offices in the Methodist Ep 5: New. Porige. H. bas Veor geres ali to this as mhiell as to all the cac
bearty and is highly respected as an ol : and for bs chuntable dis, .s .:. 20
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
for years been made manifest in the county for miles around.
William A Warner received a good com- mon-school education and was reared to man- hood on his father's farm. He married, Feb- ruary 18, 1866, Miss Sarah Spittler, who was boin in Springfield township, Summit county, April 14, 1843. a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Weyrick) Spittler. Her parents were natives of Union township, Union county, Pa., were there married, and there had born to them four of their ten children, the others having been born in Ohio. They were named, in order of birth, as follows: Jacob, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Sprigler). Catherine (Mrs. Fred Easler), Mary (Mrs. J. A. Van Venner), Sarah (Mrs. Warner), George (de- ceased from effects of army life. Jacob (de- ceased) and Henry ist, and Henry 2nd (both deceased). Mr. Spittler was a carpenter by trade and died in Plymouth, Ind., in 1877; his widow died in Munroe Falls, Ohio, De- cember 31. 1891 -- both members of the En- glish Reforned church. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Warner have been born two chil- dren: William J., born July 22, 1868-died in December, 1868, and Mary E., born De- cen:ber 11, 1869. The latter was married. December 12, 1889, to William J. Farriss, a native of New York, and has had three chil- dien, viz: Lottie M., who died in 1890, in infancy, Sarah E. and Willie A.
Mr. Warner's farm consists of 100 acres, twenty-five of which were originally part of his father's homestead, and seventy-five of which have been the result of his own industry and frugality. He has improved his place with a modern house and barn, at a cost of $3,000, and has one of the most pleasant homesteads in the township. He and wife are members of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Warner is a trustee. In politics Mr. Warner has chiefly
voted with the democratic party, and by this party was elected township treasurer in 1880, which office he still continues to fill. Ile is respected wherever known. both as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and as a gentleman of strictly moral character.
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ARON E. WARNER, the enterpris- ing young blacksmith of Manchester, was born in East Liberty, Summit connty, Ohio, March 11, 1871, and is of the third generation of the Summit county family bearing his name.
Adam Warner, grandfather of subject and a native of the county, married Elizabeth Reminger, and owned a farm in Coventry township; he was a substantial and highly- respected citizen, in politics was a democrat, and with his wife a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His son, Henry R. Warner, the father of subject, was born on the Coventry township farm, on which he lived until twenty-one years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade. His educa- tional facilities were somewhat limited, but by self- instruction he mastered the common En- glish branches of learning. He married Miss E. Bower, a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth Bower, and this union resulted in the birth of the following children: Aaron E. (subject), Ida E. (wife of William Richard), Homer E., Earl B., Ora B., Lillian M., and Stanley B., all still living to bless the declining years of the parents, who have lived in East Liberty for the past twenty-seven years, where Mr. Warner, by his industry, has secured a comfortable home. In his politics Mr. Warner was a democrat up to the fall of 1896, when he voted for Mckinley for president of the United States, believing the republican party to be sound on the questions of tariff and finance. He has reared his family in respect-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ability, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them.
Aaron F. Warner received a good common- school education, notwithstanding the fact that he began learning his trade with his fa- ther at the early age of twelve years, and that he remained with him until two years ago, when he located in Manchester.
April 10, 1895, Mr. Warner married Miss Ella Warner, daughter of J. J. and Sarah (Kreigham, Warner. J. J. Warner is a citizen of East Liberty and is the owner of a sixty- acre farmi. but is beside a dealer in buggies, to which trade he chiefly devotes his attention; in politics he is a democrat, and he and wife are active members of the Evangelical church, and both are greatly respected by their neigh- bors. The marriage of Aaron E. Warner has been blessed with one child-Grace.A. Aaron E. Warner has a good shop and tools-far bet- ter than the ordinary run -- and is rapidly build- ing up an excellent trade. Beside his shop he owns the lot adjoining, on which he has a neat village cottage, and is altogethera thrifty and prosperous young man. In politics he is a democrat, and during his brief residence in Manchester has gained a host of warm friends.
S IMON B. WEARY, the well-known lumber manufacturer of Akron, Ohio, was born in Marlboronghi township, Stark county, July 29, 1823, a son of Samuel and Mary M. (Smith) Weary, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Ohio, who first located in Canfield, Mahoning county, in 1817, but in 1823 removed to Marlborough township, Stark county, where the father was engaged in farming until his death, in 1840, at the age of forty-eight years, his widow surviv- ing until 1884, when she died at the age of ninety. Samuel Weary came of German stock, and had served in the war of 1812; the
father of Mrs. Weary was a soldier prior to the Revolution, and was at the capture of Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt), now Pittsburg. Pa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weary wul born twelve children, of whom eleven reached the years of maturity, viz: Margaret, now Mrs. Rue; Catherine, wife of Amos Johnses. John, killed by a falling tree, at the age of eighteen years; Sarah, wife of John P. Smith :: Simon B., our subject: Daniel, Jacob, Henry . Mary, married to George Cook; Elizabeth: Benjamin, who was killed while on a scout during the late war, the day after Lee's sur render. The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Weary was George Smith, who was bom in France of German parentage and canie to America in 1764, when the maternal grand- father of Mr. Weary was about eight years of age, and settled in what is now known as Perry county, P'a.
Simon B. Weary grew to manhood in Stark county, received a fair common-school education in the frontier log school-house, and in the spring of 1841 began a three-year ap- prenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at the completion of which he worked in Stark county as a journeyman until the fall of 1844 ;. when he came to Akron and worked until the spring of '1848; the next three years he fol- lowed his trade in Sheboygan, Wis., and in 1851 returned to Akron and worked as a jour- neyman until 1853. when he purchased an in- terest in a door, sash and blind factory, which interest he held for three years; he next alter- nated as journeyman and proprietor until January, 1864, when the firm of Wearv. Snyder & Co. was organized, and a successful lumber manufacture, especially in the way of doors, sashes and blinds, was carried on until 1894. when a disastrous fre destroyed th plant, since which time the members of th firm have been engaged in settling up their business affairs.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
In politics Mr. Weary has always been identified with the cause of freedom, having cast his first vote with the liberty party, espousing the abolition cause, and finally be- coming a republican. He is a public-spirited citizen, and has always been industrious, thrifty and enterprising , and well deserves the great respect in which he is held by his fellow- men of all conditions.
In 1847 Mr. Weary was united in marriage, and as a result of this union three children arc living. viz: Frank O., Flora C. (now Mrs. James Moore), and Edwin D., now a resident of Chicago.
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HARLES B. WEBB, proprietor of the Garrettsville Journal, was born in Freedom township. Portage coun- ty, Ohio, May 28, 1848, and is a son of Dr. James Webb, deccased, of whom full mention is made in the biography of Rollin S. Webb, on another page.
Charles Bushnell Webb, our subject, was educated in the common schools of Freedom and at Hiram college, and for two winters taught school. He then chose the trade of printer for his life-work, with a view to jour- nalisin, and began learning the trade in the office of the Journal in Garrettsville, and later worked in the office of the Leader, in Cleve- land, where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Garrettsville and purchased the Journal plant, "out and out."
The Garrettsville Journal was founded July 1, 1865, by Warren Peirce, who conducted it until purchased by Mr. Webb. It is one of the oldest papers in the county, and has never contained objectionable reading matter of any kind, either in its news, literary or advertising columns. It is a six-column eight-page paper, devoted to the interests of Garrettsville and surrounding country, and since Mr. Webb has
been its owner has had the full confidence of the public, and has thus met with contimons success.
Mr. Webb was married, January 6, 1875, to Miss Ella Mellemy, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and a daughter of Reuben and Adaline (Chase) McHenry. The father was a native of Virginia, who came carly to Ohio, became a farmer of more than ordinary ex- tent in Tuscarawas county; later resided in Canton, Stark county, and died at the home of his daughter in Sandyville township, in the county first. named. The mother of Mrs. Webb, was a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Josiah Chase, who was a relative of the Jate Salmom P. Chase, chief justice of the su- preme court of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine reached mature years. viz: Nancy, wife of William Fox, of Charles- ton township, Portage county; Eliza, married to William Minnis, of Tuscarawas county; Al- bert D., a Methodist clergyman, who was a inissionary to India for eight years, and is now a member of the East Ohio conference; Mar- tin, a resident of Colorado Springs and super- intendent of a mine at Cripple Creek, Colo .; Josiah C., a railway conductor, residing in Allegheny City, Pa. ; William, who was a first lieutenant of the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and killed at Atlanta, Ga. ; James A., an attorney of Howard, Kans .; Alden, of Springfield, Ill., and Ella, now Mrs. Webb. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Webb has been blessed with four children, viz: Estella, Ger- trude, Lawrence and Helen, all at home, and all reared, or being reared, in the faith of the Congregational church, of which the parents are consistent members, and of which Mr. Webb is chairman of the board of trustees.
In politics Mr. Webb is of republican pro- clivities, but has never been an office-seeker, nor does he obtrude his personal political views
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
upon the readers of the Journal, although he is a member of the James A. Garfield club, of the old Nineteenth congressional district of Ohio. Fraternaliy, Mr. Webb is an Odd Fel- low, and his wife and one daughter arc mem- bers of the Rebekah degree of that order.
Mr. Webb has been very successful in lis management of the Journal, and not only owns his place of business, but his newly-built dwelling on High street. Like all the other members of this old family, he stands very high in the esteem of the public.
GILLIAM H. WEIR, M. D., of Edin- burg township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Hamilton county November 20, 1838, a son of Dr. Elias W. and Mary G. ( Ufford) Weir.
Dr. Elias W. Weir was a native of Wash- ington county, Pa., was born in January, 1812, and when a boy was brought by his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, where his elementary education was acquired in the district schools.
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