USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 55
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 55
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REMUS STANFORD, a retired farmer and one of the oldest and most high_ ly respected citizens of Randolph, Portage county. Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Mar- ietta, August 25. 1814, a son of Oliver 1
and Olin (Mason) Stanford, natives of Mars.a. chusetts, who settled in Ohio in 1812.
Oliver Stanford was a carpenter by trade, but later became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Olin, daughter of Andrew and Pris- cilla (Galop) Mason, were bom nine children, three of whom are still living, viz: Oremus, the subject; Harry, of Nebraska, and Nesslie of Rootstown, Ohio; the deceased were Will- iam; Mary, who was the wife of William Law- rence; Orren, Leroy, Squire, and Jancley ( wife of K. Redfield). The father of this family died in 1866, at the age of eighty years, two months, and seventeen days, and the mother at the age of eighty-four.
Andrew Mason, the maternal grandfather of Oremus Stanford, was a farmer, and also for many years a manufacturer of brick. lle reared a family of ten children, named as fol- lows: Olin, Squire, Lauren, Orrison, Ruby Polly, Adans, Emeline, Noble and Orrin.
Oremus Stanford received a good public- school education, and learned carpentry and joining under his father, with whom he re- mained until 1832, when he came to Ran- dolph and followed his trade twenty-five years, and also worked as a millwright, constructing a large number of water-wheels. April 14, 1836, he married Miss Sallie Chendon, dangh- ter of Almon and Gertrude Chendon, who early came from one of the eastern states and first located in Atwater, Ohio, but later came to Randolph, the father being a farmer; they reared eight children, of whom only one is now living -Susanna, Mary, wife of Dr. Garlic; the deceased were named Victor, Hiram, Al- mon, Sallie (Mrs. Stanford), John, Henry and Chancie. Mr. Chendon died at the age of sixty-six years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Oremus Stanford were born two children-Frak, who resides in Brimfield township, Portage county, and Vic- tor, who was killed in the army by the expky-
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
sion of a gun in 1864. Mrs. Stanford was called to her final home February 14, 1893, at the age of seventy six years, a devont Christian, a loving mother, and a loyal and affectionate wife and helpmate for fifty-six years. Mr. Stanford has always been a strong temperance man, and in politics is a repub- lican. He has served his fellow-citizens in several official capacities, among them that of township trustee for many years. He had been, up to the date of his retirement, an in- dustrious and skillful mechanic and intelligent agriculturist, and is now enjoying in peace and comfort the fruits of his long and useful life, deservedly honored by all his neighbors, and by the community in general, as an up- right man and a conscientious Christian.
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J AMES S. SWEENEY, M. D., who has been in active practice in Kent, Portage county, for more than a quarter of a century, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, August 14, 1831, a son of John and Dolly (Brown) Sweeney, natives, respectively, of Ireland and Vermont (or New Hampshire). but married in Trumbull county, Ohio.
John Sweeney, father of subject, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1793, and before he had reached his majority was impressed into the British army and sent with the troops to America to aid in crushing the dearly-bought liberties of the United States by invading the country from 1812 to 1815. He took part in the battle of Pittsburg, and when the British army went into winter quarters Mr. Sweeney quietly left the army and went to Detroit, where he worked as a laborer. In 1814 or 1815 he came to Ohio, stopped for a while in Cleve- land, and then removed to Painesville, in Lake county, where he purchased land. He was then prepared to take a wife and was married,
in Trumbull county, to Dolly Brown, a native of New England (either of Vermont or New Hampshire), who came to Ohio with her brother, Ephraim Brown, and settled in Trum- bull county. On his marriage Mr. Sweeney removed to Middlefield, Ceauga county, and purchased a farm, and here lost his wife in 1865, his own death following in 1874. To John Sweeney and wife were born three chil- dren, viz: Edward J., born July 4, 1824, was educated for a physician but later became an attorney, and died at Painesville at the age of sixty-three years; Thomas, born in September, 1820, was a physician, and died at Chardon at the age of about sixty years; James S., the youngest, is the subject of this memoir.
James S. Sweeney was educated element- arily in the district and select schools while being trained to the hard labor of his father's farm. When fully prepared, he read medicine with his eldest brother, Edward J., at Nelson, and then with a Dr. Coulter, continuing his studies from 1850 until 1854. He then en- tered upon practice at Parkman, Geauga county, where he remained four years, and thence removed to Chiardon, then to Stowe. in Summit county. In November, 1861, he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until December, 1862, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. On returning he suffered from ill health for two years and then resumed practice, finally settling in Kent, in 1871, where he has since built up one of the most respectable and lu- crative lines of practice in the city.
The marriage of Dr. Sweeney took place June 20, 1854, to Miss Addia Rockwell, a na- tive of and residing in Rome, Ashtabula county, and a daughter of Joseph Rockwell. Three children have blessed this marriage, viz: Dolly, wife of Byron Longcoy, residing near Kent; Edward J., who died April 21, 1886, at
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
the age of twenty-two years, and Alice B., wife of C. W. Bales, of Marion county.
In politics the doctor is a democrat, and has served one term as mayor of Kent, and several terms as a member of the city council and as a member of the school board, and has done much toward promoting the many im- provements that were so much needed a few years since in the way of electric lights, side- walks and water-works. Fraternally, he is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R., of which he is a past commander. The doctor is a whole-souled, genial gentleman, ever ready to aid a friend or to advance a public improve- ment, and the first $500 he ever made went to satisfy a security note. He is thorough in his profession and has maintained his office and residence in the same locality since I871. He has been a soldier, as has been seen; his father was a soldier, and his grandfather lost all his property by confiscation for the patriotic part he took in the Irish " rebellion " of 1798.
HOMAS J. WILLIAMS, the able superintendent for the Hudson Coal company, in Palmyra township, Port- age county, Ohio, and an enterpris- ing business man, was born in Pontrahydfend- digaid, shire of Cardigan, Wales, February 27, 1848. His father was a miner, and came to America about 1848, and for a short time lived in Pittsburg, Pa., but later settled in Youngs- town, Ohio, where he had charge of a blast furnace the remainder of his life. Of his eight- een children, four still survive, viz. : David, Thomas J., Lizzie (wife of John P. Williams) and Griffith. In 1852, while temporarily liv- ing at Crab Creek, Ohio, Mr. Williams, in company with his brother, drove from Palmyra to Paris Center, and while they were crossing the Mahoning river, the water being high, they inissed the road and were both drowned. to-
gether with both horses. The mother of sub- ject still survives and resides in Deerfield, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, and in excellent health.
Thomas J. Williams was but a trifle over a year old when brought to America by his parents, and was four months crossing the ocean. Ile received but little education in boyhood, as he was early set to work in the mines, and it is through his personal attention to his duties, perseverance and indomitable pluck, added to habits of the strictest integrity, that he has reached his present responsible position. After the death of his father, he lived with an aunt, Mrs. Davis, in Paris town- ship, about six months, and then he, with a brother, went to Crab Creek, where he re- mained with his mother until twenty-two years old. being engaged, meanwhile, in different capacities, in the mines.
November 22, 1868, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Will- iams, daughter of Ebenezer and Everina (Howells) Williams, and this union has been blessed with seven children, viz: Lizzie, wife of William R. Williams; Everina, wife of Will- iam James; Catherine, wife of Rachers Lewis; Lavitta, wife of Henry Lewis; Thomas J., Jr. , Myrtle, and Elmira, who died September 27. 1885, at theage of one year and eight months.
Marriage seems to have energized Mr. Will- iams to greater exertion, as in 1872 he was promoted to be foreman of the Church Hill mine, in which he had been working, and hekl the position until 1885, when he went to Jack- son county, Ohio, where he sank a coal-mine shaft, known as the Glenroy, which he worked one year, when he sold it to a syndicate and returned to Church Hill and opened a mine known as the Toddhouse, and remained of year. In 1887 he went to Center Point. I.d. opened a mine for Weaver. Todd & Co., stayed a year, and in 1888 returned to Church Hill.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
and opened a mine for the Vienna Coal com- paay, but a short time afterward was sent to Pennsylvania to open the Royal shaft for the same company. Six months later he returned to Church Hill, where he was superintendent of the Toddhouse until the spring of 1889, then came to Palayia township, where he held the position of " boss " for the Hudson Coal com- pany until 1896. During this period of seven years, he sank a shaft for this company at Deerfield, which is now the best equipped in the district. In 1896 he was appointed super- intendent of the Hudson Coal company, his present position, controlling mines No. 1 to 4, of which No. 3 was finished by Mr. Williams himself.
The proudest event in the life of Mr. Will- iams was probably that which happened when he left Church Hill, when the employees, numbering about 600, presented him with a gold watch that cost $135. as a token of their esteem for him as their foreman.
In politics Mr. Williams is a republican, and has served as township committeeman and school director, and also as a member of the executive board of Portage county. Fra- ternally he is a member of Western Star lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., of Youngstown, of chapter No. 93, R. A. M., and St. John's commandery, No. 20, K. T.
Mrs. Catherine Williams, wife of our sub- ject, was born in Romney, Wales, December 10, 1849, and was brought to America by her parents when two years of age. Her father was a miner, and to his marriage with Miss Everina Howells were born three children, two of whom are still living, viz: Mr. Williams and Elizabeth, wife of Edward Miller; the de- Ceased child, William, died in 1857, aged one year. The father of Mrs. Williams died August 15, 1868, aged forty-four years, and the mother May 8, 1857, aged thirty-four, and both members of the Welsh Methodist church.
RS. ELIZA BRADFORD (PRICE) WETMORE is a member of one of the most respected of the pioneer families of Cuyahoga Falls and one of the most venerable ladies living in the county.
Henry Wetmore, her husband was the son of Judge William and Anna Wetmore. Judge Wetmore was born in Hartford, Conn., m 1771. His wife, who was Anna Ogden, was boin January 10, 1775, in Connecticut. They both descended from good old Puritan colonial families, and were married November 28, 1795, at Hartford, Coun. Anna Ogden was the daughter of Jacob Ogden, a prominent merchant of Hartford. Judge Wetmore was engaged in business in early life in company with his father-in-law, as a contractor, and built the court house of Hartford. Indge Ogden later moved to New Haven, and moved to Ohio in 1805, as the agent of Judge Joshua Stowe, of Middletown, Conn., the judge being a large owner of land on the Western Reserve. William Wetmore first settled in in the woods three miles from Silver Lake. now in Summit county, being the original pioneer in that part of the township, and the country around Silver Lake being then peopled by the Indians. Here he built a log cabin and lived a short time, and then moved to Raven- na, Ohio, where he was one of the first set- tlers, and held the office of recorder. He resigned this office and settled on a large tract of land which he bought of Judge Stowe, at Silver Lake, the township being named Stowe after Judge Stowe. Judge Wetmore built a residence on the banks of the lake, which was then called Wetmore pond, and cleared up a large farm. At one time he established a store between the lake and Cuyahoga Falls, at what is now called the old village. This first wife, Anna Ogden, died, and on his return to Con- necticut, to bay goods, he married at New
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Haven, her sister, Jerusha Ogden (born at Hartford, Conn., in March, 1777), but no children were born to this marriage. Judge William Wetmore was one of the organizers of Summit county. He was long circuit judge from the county and filled the office until he resigned. He died October 9, 1827, aged fifty- six. He was a man of great force of character and noble presence. His nearest neighbor was at Hudson, Ohio, were he traded. He was very friendly with the Indians and accus- tomed to deal with them, treating them kindly at all times, and was always at peace with them.
Henry Wetmore, son of above, and the husband of our subject, was born February 10, 1801, in Hartford, Conn., and was a child of four years when brought to Ohio by his par- ents. He was brought up in the pioneer wil- derness and gained his education at Tall- madge, Ohio, where a minister from Connec- ticut had a celebrated school in those days. He early engaged in mercantile business with his father, and married Eliza Bradford Price, December 8, 1830, at Kent, then Franklin, Portage county, Ohio. This lady was born October 2, 1810, at Caldwell's Manor, near Lake Champlain, Vt., a daughter of John and Hulda (Stillwell) Price. John Price, her father, was the son of Dr. Price, a surgeon during the Revolutionary war in the British army, and a descendant from a family of En- glish nobility -- the family having a coat of arms. Dr. John Price married, in England, a Miss Mary Brownjohn, of New York city. Their children were John, William, George, Mary and Eliza. Dr. Price settled in New York city after the Revolutionary war, and his sons, William and John, bought property on lake Champlain at Caldwell's Manor. They built warehouses and stores at Platts- burg and Montreal, and did a large business during the war of 1812,
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John Price, the father of the subject, mar ried Hulda Stillwell, and their children were Eliza Bradford, Mary (who died aged twenty - five years) and John (who died young). Mr. Price died while engaged in the mercantil. business on lake Champlain. His wife soon siclened and died, and our subject, Eliza, w. reared by her uncle, William, who moved with his family to Kent, Ohio, probably about 1815, when she was very young, as Mrs. Wet- more, born in 1810, can remember but oile incident of the journey. Mrs. Wetmore was brought up among the pioneers and received . limited education at Warren, Ohio. Her uncle was a merchant and miller at Kent and withal a prosperous farmer. He was killed by an accident in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Wet- more, after marriage, settled in Cuyahoga Falls, where he and his brothers had built the first houses and where he engaged in the mer- cantile business and owned the first stone house in this place, and, in company with hi : brother, Ogden, Mr. Wetmore cut the first trees and marked out the town. They built the first bridge and dam and dug the first well, and built the first flouring-mill, paper-mill, saw-mill and grist-mill, and engaged in the manufacturing of tools, and did an extensive business. They were well known and ener- getic pioneers, and the real founders of the town. Mr. Wetmore always refused to hell office, although it was frequently offered hitn, but in politics was a whig and later a repub- lican. He was a stanch temperance man, and !. in company with Dr. Wilcox and E. N. Sill. organized the first temperance society in the state of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs Wetmore were
both liberal in religions views and assisted to build, and aided with their means, all the dif. ferent churches in Cuyahoga Falls, and a». sisted all other good causes. Mr. Wetini lived to the great age of over ninety years and died January 10, 1892, He erected many
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
buildings, among them the old part of the present hotel, which he used as a store, and in the back part his brother lived with his family. He accumulated a handsome prop- erty, but was always a public-spirited and lib- eral man, and was much respected for his honorable character. The children that blessed his marriage were Henry W., born November 16, 1834, and George Prentiss, born September 19, 1836. George Prentiss Wetmore married Harriet Tanner Hanford, September 1, 1862, and they had three sons --- all now deceased- - who were named William H., born June 7, 1863: Henry Price, born July 21, 1866, and George Sackett, born Feb- ruary 1, 1868.
Mrs. Eliza B. Wetmore is now a venerable lady of eighty-seven years of age, but retains her faculties wonderfully. She made a trip, for pleasure, to California in 1896, and trav- eled six months with friends, enjoying the trip remarkably. In 1897 she made a trip to Flor- ida. Mrs. Wetmore's reminiscences of pio- neer days are of great interest, running over the entire settlement of the country.
The following genealogical record, found among Mr. Wetmore's private papers, in his own handwriting, is well worth the space it occupies in this volume:
Thomas Wetmore, born in England, 1615, came to America in 1635, when twenty years old, married Sarah Willock in December, 1645. Their children were John, Elizabeth, Azariah, Beriah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Sarah and Judith. His wife died, and he married Mary Platt, and their children were Mehitable M., Scth, Katherine, Benjamin, Abigail and Han- nah. Seth Wetmore, Sr., married Mary Wright, November 14, 1768. Births: Seth Wetmore, Jr., September 10, 1769; William, September 16, 1771; Hannah, May -, 1773; Samuel, October 5, 1775; Mary. September 14, 1777; Willard Wright, October 14, 1779; Titus, July 16, 1781, J ---- --- , July 21, 1783;
Lucy, April 6, 1786; Nathaniel, October 30, 1790.
Seth Wetmore, Sr., married Lucy Scott, March 27, 1791. Children: Julia, born June 21, 1792; Harrict, born September 23, 1794. William Wetmore married Anna Ogden, No- vember 28, 1795. Children: William, Jr .. born September 5, 1796, and died June 12, 1852; Edwin, born September 25, 1798; December 25, 1782; Henry, born February 10, ISot; Clarissa, born March 18, 1804, died April 26, 1864; Jacob Ogden, born June 29, 1807; Harriet, born February 17, 1816. Deaths: Daughter, Harriet, Sep- tember 16, 1823; mother, June 10, 1825; fa- ther, October 5, 1827; son, Ogden, June 8, 18.41; son, William, June 12, 1852; daughter. Clarissa, May 9, 1864. Jerusha Ogden Wet- more, second wife and sister of first wife of William, died in August, 1854; son, Edward, December 25, 1872.
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ORMAN M. WEYRICK, a rising young attorney at law, is a native of Springfield township, Summit county, Ohio, but has his business office in room: No. 4, Abbey block, No. 126 Main street, in the city of Akron.
John W. Weyrick, father of Norman M., was also a native of Summit county, Ohio, and was a son of David Weyrick, who came from Pennsylvania, and was one of the earli- est settlers of Springfield township, Summit county, Ohio. John W. was reared on his father's farm, married Miss Susannah Snyder, daughter of Joshua Snyder, and became the father of seven children, viz: William F., Milton B., Henry D., Ira S., Ellen E., Nor- man M. and Loverta M., now the wife of John Smith. The father, John W., became heir to the old homestead, was an excellent and pros- perous farmer, served many years as township trustee, was greatly respected by his fellow. townsmen, and died July 4, 1891, a pious and consistent member of the Reformed church.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
His widow still resides on the homestead, is also a member of the Reformed church, and is most highly esteemed by the entire community.
Norinan M. Weyrick was born April 26, 1874, and was reared on the home farm, which he assisted in cultivating during the summer months. Tle was educated in the district school, which he attended during the winter months until eighteen years of age, and then taught school one term. In 1893, however, he had begun the study of law under the well- known lawyer, ex-Mayor Watters, and was ad- mitied to the bar in June, 1895. He at once opened his office at the address mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, and has already secured a very fair share of current patronage. He is still unmarried, and his leisure hours are passed on the old homestead, with his mother, in Springfield township. He is a member of the Reformed church, in poli- tics is a democrat, and is highly respected for his individual merits, and there is beyond a doubi a bright career awaiting him in the near future.
Q H. WHIPPLE, M. D., of Barberton, Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Mansfield, Tioga connty, August 18, 1859. His great-great- grandfather, Benjamin Whipple was long a captain in the war for American independ- ence, and a brother of Abraham Whipple, who was an admiral in the United States navy. Joseph Whipple, grandfather of the doctor, was born and reared, and farmed until his death, in Rutland county, Vt., and was a strong abolitionist in his politics.
Joseph Whipple, father of the subject, was born in the city of Fair Haven, Rutland county, Vt., August 22. 1813, and always followed the vocation of farming. He married, in Pultney,
Rutland county, June 7, 1839, Miss Eliza A Culver, a native of Vermont, born December 19, 1815. Some considerable time after mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Whipple removed to Earl . ville, N. Y., and later to Mansfield, Pa., where Mrs. Whipple ended her days February 1, 1885, and Mr. Whipple April 26, 1894.
C. H. Whipple, the subject, passed hi early days on his father's farm in the Keystone state, and was preliminarily educated in the district schools. He also attended the Pennsyl- vania state Normal school and prepared him- self for teaching, a vocation he followed for nine successive winters-farming in the sum- mers. During this period he industriousts devoted himself to the study of medicine under proper preceptors, and in the fall of 1887 en- tered the Hahnemann (Homeopathic) colle;c. Chicago, and immediately on graduating, eight years ago, chose his present field for prac . tice, and that he has been successful is proven by his long stay. The doctor has for fourt-on years been a member of the Methodist Ipiw . . pal church; and in this he has filled the after of steward; in his politics he is a prohibitionis :. and fraternally he is a member of Knight. of Pythias lodge, No. 486, in which he has fill ) all the chairs. He is ex-examining physician of Ben Hur. tribe, but his private practice 11: w requires all his available time and attention The doctor is an affable gentleman, and is . much respected for his genial and pleasant disposition as for his professional skill.
Mrs. K. W. Cory, M. D., the accomplish !! lady physician of Barberton, Ohio, was bon. in Mansfield, Pa., November 9, 1849, and :: June, 1868, graduated from the Mansich: Normal college. For the ten following yeal she was engaged in school-teaching -- studyas medicine the meanwhile. In 1880 sh . gn !! ated from the Cleveland Homeopathic ho pod and college and at once began pract. . . Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, meeting wills
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phenomenal success. In June, 1882, she was nnited in marriage with N. S. Cory, a me- chanic of Barberton, Ohio, to whom she has borne one son-Jay W. In 1889, Dr. Cory located in Akron, where she controlled a lib- eral share of patronage until 1894, when she settled in Br -herten, occupying the same office with her brother, Dr. C. H. Whipple. She has been physician to the Ben Hur tribe and I. P. A., and the Ladies' Maccabees society, but her private practice now absorbs all her attention. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a teacher in the Sunday-school, and has gained hosts of friends since she has taken up her residence in the city of Barberton.
RANK H. WHEELER, secretary of the Van Wart Liquor & Opium Cure company of Akron, Ohio, is a native of this city and was born March 2, 1860, and here his parents, Henry F. and Ella (McMasters) Wheeler, still maintain their resi- dence. The son, Frank H., received his pre- liminary education in the public schools of the city, and this education was supplemented by an attendance at Buchtel college until he had attained his eighteenth year, when he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Jacobs; being prepared for advanced in- struction, he entered the Rush Medical college of Chicago. Ill., and attended the usual course of lectures. In 1884 he went to New York city, having accepted the position of secretary of the Fabric Fire Hose company, in which capacity he proved to be so usefully compe- teut that he was retained until 1893, when, as more congenial to his medical education, he associated himself with the Van Wart company. of which buthet mention will be made, and in 1894, returned to Akron to assume the duties of nis present responsible position. 42
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