USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 7
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 7
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ILLIAM H. STEIN, a prosperous agriculturist of Green township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Springfield township, this county. November 9, 1851, a son of Henry and Mary (Kramer) Stein, the former now deceased.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
Daniel Stein, grandfather of William H., was a native of Baden, Germany, came to this country in 1835, was a farmer all his life, and was the father of ten children, of whom only one-Catherine, wife of Henry Strohman-is now living: the deceased were Peter and Bar- bara, who died at sea; Daniel; Peter, second; Elizabeth, who was married to John Brown; Henry and Magdalena; two others died in in- fancy. The maternal grandparents were also natives of Germany and came to America early in life: the grandfather was a shoemaker by trade and for many years had been a sailor, and after coming to this country followed his trade in Canton, Ohio, and later became a farmer. He married Anna Brant, who bore him eleven children, of whom five still survive, viz: Jacob, who resides in Indiana; Mary, wife of Henry Stein; Annie, widow of Jacob Kreighbaum; William and Phillip. Of the others, two died in infancy; Christopher was killed in the Civil war; Sarah was the wife of Samuel Warner; Moses died single, and Eliza- beth was married to Samuel Wertz. The parents were consistent members of the Luth- eran church, and the father died at the age of eighty-six years, his wife also living to be well advanced in age.
Henry Stein, father of William H., also a native of Baden, Germany, was born August 12, 1818, and came to America in 1835 with his parents, who first located in Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, but shortly afterward came to Springfield township, Summit county, where they bought and cleared up a farm. Henry Stein was married June 6. 1841, in Green township, to Miss Mary Kramer, who was born in Clearfield township, Dauphin county, Pa., a daughter of Christian and Anna (Brant) Kramer, to which union were born six chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity, but of whom four only are now living, viz: Emeline, wife of Benjamin Holem; William, the subject
of this memoir; Amanda E., wife of E. H. Killinger, of Akron, and Daniel P., who mar- ried Celia Harttong, and is night superintend- ent of the Akron street railroad. The deceased members of this family were Lovina, who was the wife of John T. Sell, and died March 24, 1896, aged fifty-one years, and John F., who died March 1, 1897, at the age of fifty years, one month and one day. The father of the family was greatly respected in the township, held various local offices, was a devout Chris- tian, having been a member of the Reformed church from boyhood, and passed away August I, ISSI, at the age of sixty-three years; his widow is still a resident of Akron, and is highly esteemed by all who know her.
William H. Stein received a good common- school education in youth and lived on his fa- ther's farm until twenty-three years of age, when he married, September 6, 1874, Miss Emma E. Royer, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Bidleman) Royer, and born in Green town- ship, Summit county, October 23, 1857. Jacob Royer was born in Snyder county, Pa., Janu- ary 5, 1832, and his wife was born in Green township, Summit county, Ohio, in 1838, a daughter of George and Rachel (Grotz) Bidle- man. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Royer have been born five children, viz: Emma E., now Mrs. Stein; Ida E., wife of Aaron Myers, of Stark county; John F., married to Jennie Albright, daughter of George Albright and re- siding in Lake, Stark county; William, who died when nine months old, and Mary A., who died March 16, 1882, at the age of twelve years and sixteen days. Mr. and Mrs. Royer are active members of the Reformed church, of which Mr. Royer has been a deacon for many years.
To the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam H. Stein have been born seven children, of whom, however, four only are now living, viz: Cora M., wife of William F. Ritter;
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Gertrude B., Harry A., and Anna R. Those who have been called away were Clifford Leroy, who died April 17, 1882, aged one year and seventeen days; Jessie Almeda died April 16, 1893, at the age of five years and seven months, and Norman F., eight years and two months old, died April 20, 1893.
Mr. Stein, since marriage, has followed agricultural pursuits in Springfield, Green, and Portage townships, and in 1888 permanently settled on his present farm in Green township. He has a very pleasant home as well as a profitable farm, which is one of the finest of its dimensions in the township, everything about it denoting the oversight of a practical and experienced farmer. He is highly es- teemed as a useful, upright citizen, and has served his township as a school director and supervisor, in both capacities giving the ut- most satisfaction to the public, and for the six years in which he has been connected with the school interests of the township evincing so strong and effective an interest in educational advancement as to win the heartfelt thanks of all within the township limits who cherish intellectual progress.
J AMES A. STETLER, a well-known farmer and producer of vitrified clay, is one of Springfield township's promi- nent citizens. He was born in Union county, Pa., May 5, 1840, and comes from an old colonial family. His great-great-grand- father, John Stetler, was a native of Germany, and was married and reared a family in that country. He came to America and settled near New York city. His son, Conrad, mar- ried in New Jersey, where he lived a short time, afterward moving to Union county, Pa., where he engaged in farming and became very wealthy, owning 1,000 acres in the rich heart
of Dry Valley. He reared the following family: John, George, Nicholas, Mary and Elizabeth. He was one of the wealthiest and most prominent men in that section. John Stetler (II) was born in 1792. He mar- ried Elizabeth Baughert, daughter of Anthony Banghert, who was a native of Bucks county, Pa. Anthony Baughert removed to Columbia county, Pa., and later located in Illinois, where he died. John Stetler (II) was the father of the following children: William, Daniel, Mary (wife of Thomas Pursel), John, Isaac. Charles and Thomas. He was a whig in politics, a deacon in the Albright church, and took an active interest in public affairs, although he never aspired to office. He died September 9, 1868; his wife in October, 1876. William Stetler, father of our subject, was born in Union county, Pa., October 10, 1816. His schooling was received in the little log school-house common to that time, and re- mained on the farm until he was fifteen years of age. He then worked for three years in a brick yard, and then for five years worked on the construction of the public dams on the Susquehanna river, filling in the winter months at the shoemaker's bench. In 1846 he was promoted to the position of superintendent of wood work on these dams, and in that capacity did valuable service for the state. In 1848 he moved to Summit county, Ohio, set- tling in Green township, where he lived until seven years ago, when he moved to Stark county, where he is living in easy circum- stances, having accumulated a competence in his active life. He was a whig until 1844. when he became a democrat. He has held township offices. He is a pillar in Methodism, and several churches of that denomination have received donations of $500 from him. On November 2, 1838, he was married to Salome Reichley, who was born in Union ! county, Pa., February 10, 1815. daughter of
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
William and Mary (Sausaman) Reichley, who lived and died in that county. William Reich- ley was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Cleveland, withing hearing distance of the great Perry naval battle.
James A. Stetler, the subject of this sketch, was the only child of this union, and he was eight years of age when his parents moved to this county. He was reared on the farm, and received more than the average common- school education, his advantages in this direction being supplemented by attendance at at an excellent select school. On September 2, 1860, he was married to Lovina Koons, who was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa., November 29, 1841, daughter of Henry and Esther (Rooke) Koons, natives of Penn- sylvania, who for many years lived in Norton township, this county, as farmers. Mr. Koons died March 24, 1893; his wife January 23. 1889.
To our subject and wife have been born the following children: William H. married Rose Hagerty, is an agriculturist and resides in Green township; Charles E. married Martha A. Rhodes, is a commercial traveler, and resides in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio; Marvin T. married Maud Morton, and resides on the homestead; Clarence O., unmarried, resides in Akron, and is also a commercial traveler.
Of the above-named children, William H. received, first, a good common-school educa- tion, and then attended the academy at Union Town, Stark county, Ohio. Charles E., after receiving a rudimentary education in the common schools, graduated from the Moga- dore high school, became a student at Buch- tel college, Akron, and then became a practical telegrapher. Marvin T. was educated in the Magadore high school and at the Union Town academy. Clarence O. passed through the common schools, graduated from the academy at Union Town, and then as an accountant i
and bookkeeper from the Business college at Akron. It will thus be seen that Mr. and Mrs. Stetler have spared no pains to properly educate their offspring.
Mrs. James A. Stetler was about ten years of age when brought from Pennsylvania to Ohio by lier parents, whose family comprised nine children, of whom four are still living, viz: Emeline, widow of Solomon Giger, and a resident of Green township: Daniel, a tailor by trade, residing in Cleveland, and married to Miss Sophiina Mowen; Mary A., widow of Allen Haring, and residing in Doylestown, Wayne county; and Mrs. Stetler, who is the youngest living member of the family.
Since 1879 Mr. Stetler has lived on his present well-improved farm of 156 acres. On fifteen acres of this land is a valuable deposit of vitrified clay. This he has developed until an important and profitable industry has been formed by him. He has been excavating this clay in some quantities for the past fifteen years, but within the past two years, particu- lary, has taken out large quantities of it.
Mr. Stetler is a democrat and has taken an active interest in politics, having been elected to the offices of trustee, justice of the peace, treasurer, assessor and clerk of the township. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. MeClellan, but the first presidential candidate he cheered for was James K. Polk. Both he and his wife are earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute largely to the support of that organization, he being one of the trus- tees of the church. He is prominent in the Apollo Odd Fellows' lodge, No. 61, in Akron, and is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. being past state deputy master in that body and a pillar in lodge No. 1323.
Almost one-quarter of a century has this worthy couple been honored and respected citizens of Springfield township, Sunimit coun-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ty, and this biography will be treasured and held sacred by their children when the father and mother have passed away.
MOS W. STOCKER, of the firm of Stocker & Slaughter, proprietors of the Ravenna Marble & Monumental works, was born in East Hampden, Me., February 26, 1851, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Bickford) Stocker.
Daniel Stocker was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1815, and in early man- hood removed to Maine, in which state he married, and in 1853 came west. For one year he lived in Belvidere, Ill., and in 1854 came to Ohio, located at Brecksville, Cuya- hoga county, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1864, when he came to Ravenna township, Portage county, purchased a farm on which he lived until the beginning of 1881, when he sold his land and built a fine resi- dence on West Main street, Ravenna, where he died May 17, 1882, and where his widow still resides. For several years he served as trustee of Ravenna township, and in I880 was real-estate assessor. He had been successful as a farmer, was public spirited, and was es- teemed as one of the best of citizens."
Amos W. Stocker remained on his father's farm until 1872, assisting in its cultivation, at- tending the common schools at intervals, and securing a good education, and then came to Ravenna and followed painting as a trade until 1877, when he engaged in the marble and monument business, which he successfully fol- lowed alone for ten years, and then formed his present partnership. The business is not confined to monumental work alone, as con- tracts are made by the firm for mason and stone work of all descriptions.
Mr. Stocker was united in marriage, in i
November, 1871, with Miss Carrie L. Fox, who was born March 6, 1853, in Ravenna, and is a daughter of Griffith W. and Emily ( Trow- bridge) Fox, both natives of Ohio. One son, Daniel, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stocker in June, 1873, and he is their only child.
In politics Mr. Stocker is a republican, and as such was first elected to the city council of Ravenna in 1885; was thrice re-elected, and thus served four consecutive terms of two years each, or a total of eight years. In 1893 he was elected township trustee; in the spring of 1894 he was elected water-works trustee, and in 1896 was again elected township trustee, and still holds both offices. Mr. Stocker has always been faithful to his party and has worked strenuously in its behalf. During the campaign of 1896 he was active as a member of the Mckinley club of Ravenna, and gave much of his time to the promotion of the cause of sound money and the protection of Ameri- can industries. He is not a member of any religious organization, but is a moral, upright man, with a business reputation untarnished and pure. He affiliates with the National Union of Ravenna, No. 188, is public spirited and ever ready to aid with his means all projects designed for the public good.
ELSON B. STONE (deceased) was born at Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio, September 18, 1816, and was a son of Milo and Sarah (Beardsley) Stone, natives of Connecticut, who came to Ohio, by ox-team conveyance, in 1816, for the purpose of settling in Tallmadge township. Summit county, the subject being born on the way. The father cleared and improved a farm in Tallmadge township, and there the subject was reared; he was educated in the district school, in the Tallmadge academy and
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
in Allegheny college at Meadville, Pa., and then clerked several years at West Bloomfield, N. Y., and in Ravenna and Chardon, Ohio. In December, 1840, he located in Akron, clerked in a store a few months, and was then appointed as deputy under County Clerk Lucian Swift, later under Lucius S. Peck, serving until October, 1851, when he was elected county clerk-the first under the new constitution, the office theretofore having been appointive-and served three years. Although still a resident of Akron, Mr. Stone next served as deputy clerk of Cuyahoga county, and then, after a short engagement with Aultman, Miller & Co., of Akron, he became secretary and treasurer of the Weary, Snyder & Wilcox Manufacturing company, filled the position eighteen years and then retired from active business.
Mr. Stone was one of the organizers, as well as a trustee, of the First Methodist Epis- copal church of Akron, was a zealous and efficient church worker, and teacher, superin- tendent and secretary of the Sunday-school from the time of its organization until his death, which took place November 9, 1893-a devout and sincere Christian.
Mr. Stone was first married to Miss Mary H. Clarke, daughter of William L. Clarke, of Akron. This lady died April 6, 1853, leaving one son, Nelson C., now cashier of the City National bank of Akron. The second mar- riage of Mr. Stone was with Miss Elizabeth H. Beardsley, daughter of Philo and Eliza (Smith) Beardsley, also of Akron, and this union was blessed with two children-Philip C. (deceased) and Dwight M. Politically Mr. Stone was a stanch republican and was a dele- gate to the first republican state convention held in Ohio, at which the late Salmon P. Chase was nominated for governor of the state. The memory of Mr. Stone is still revered by the citizens of Akron, as his character was
that of a pure, upright man and citizen, filled with a broad charity toward all his fellow-men and devoid of malice toward any human being, high or low.
....
PHRAIM STUMP, a retired farmer of Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this township and was born May 28, 1842, being of re- mote German ancestry, yet still of long-ago American descent, and of the third generation to live in the Buckeye state.
John Stump, grandfather of subject, was a native of Franklin county, Pa., was there married to Elizabeth Grove, and after two children had been born to the marriage, came to Ohio and purchased a tract of 164 acres in Summit county, which tract he succeeded in denuding of the dense growth of trees with which it was encumbered, and eventually con- verted it into a profitable farm. His children were born in the following order: Jacob, Da- vid, Catherine, Mary, Eliza, John, Levi and Sarah, of whom David, Catherine and Mary are the only survivors. In his politics Mr. Stump was a democrat and a leader in local party management. An elder in the German Reformed church, he assisted in forming, in his own house, the first society of that denom- ination in Summit county. He was an indus- trious man and a good manager, and succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competency.
Jacob Stump, father of subject, was also born in Franklin county, Pa., and was a boy when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared to manhood in Summit county, . on his father's farm, and married Catherine Sorrick, daughter of Adam and Mary (Raber) Sorrick, also of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Summit county, Ohio. Jacob Stump entered a tract of government land in Franklin town- ship, developed an excellent farm, and had
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
born to him the following children: Ephraim, Matilda, Amos (deceased) Nathaniel and William.
Ephraim Stump was reared on the home farm and agriculture has been the chief indus- trial pursuit of his life. November 28, 1870, he married Louisa Smith, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Diehl) Smith, the former of whom was likewise a native of Franklin township, and prominent as a democratic politician and township office-holder. In religion Mr. Smith adhered to the teachings of the German Re- formed church, in which faith he died, while his wife, who differed somewhat in religious belief, died in the faith of the Lutheran church. William Smith, father of Daniel, married Rachael Vanderhoff, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Franklin township. .
Ephraim Stump, after his marriage, fol- lowed farming until 1884, when he retired to his present home of twenty acres at Nimisila, in which village he owns and occupies a mod- ern residence and is living in peace and com- fort. The children born to his marriage are Bertha B., wife of William Fisler; Clarence E., who is attending the high school in Ful- ton, and Frederick C. In politics Mr. Stump is a stanch democrat, and cast his first pres- idential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan, and in religion both he and wife adhere to the German Reformed church, to the support of which they liberally contribute financially. Mr. Stump is also a member of the Macca- bees at Clinton, Ohio. The family is well known and respected throughout the county, and certainly Mr. Stump is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is held.
S AMUEL SWINEHART, one of the most respected citizens of Suffield township, Portage county, was born in Springfield township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, August 25, 1837, a son of Benjamin
and Catherine (Garl) Swinehart, of whom fur- ther mention will be shortly made.
Christian Swinehart, paternal grandfather of Samuel, was a native of Hesse, Germany, was a school-teacher by profession, but was still a young man when he came to the United States and first located in Pennsylvania, where he taught school a number of years, and where he was married. Late in life he came to Ohio, lived a short time in Summit county. and then removed to Elkhart county, Ind., where he passed the remainder of his life. He was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of eight children; to his sec- ond marriage, with Mary Schuck, there were also born eight children, but of the sixteen there is only one now living-Moses, of New Berlin, Stark county, Ohio.
Benjamin Swinehart, father of Samuel, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and while yet a single man came on foot to Ohio and settled in Union Town, Stark county. By trade he was a shoemaker, but followed his trade in Stark county for a short time only, when he bought land and cleared up a fine farm. There he married Miss Garl, daughter of Reuben Garl, and to this union were born seven children, four of whom are still living. viz: Samuel, our subject; Sarah, wife of Isaac Dausman; Henrietta, married to Franklin Ewell, and Daniel. Those who have passe ] away were Elizabeth, who died in her youth- ful days; Lavina, who was married to Jacob Brumbaugh and died at the age of thirty- two years, and Levi, who died April 24. 1896. aged sixty-one. About 1834, Benjamin Swine- hart brought his family to Suffield township. Portage county, and purchased the homestead on which our subject now resides. He became very prominent in local politics, and served h !: fellow-townsmen many years as township tit.s- tee, supervisor and school director. He was.t deacon in the Reforined church, and died in
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Lucy & seymour
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
this faith at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife having died at the age of sixty-one-both deaths having occurred at the present home of our subject.
Samuel Swinehart was but three and a half years old when brought to Suffield town- ship by his parents, and, the farm being in the wilderness, his boyhood days were passed in a log cabin with neither doors nor windows. His preliminary education was acquired in the district school, and later he attended school at Kent and Greensburg until twenty-one years of age; then, in 1859, he entered the academy of which the late James A. Garfield was the principal. At the age of twenty-two years he himself began teaching, his first term being in Suffield. He also taught in Ran- dolph township, and for eight winters he fol- lowed this vocation, assisting his father on the home place during the summer months. While thus engaged, he married, October 26, 1862, Miss Elizabeth Brumbaugh, who was born June 15, 1841, in Randolph, Portage county, and who is one of the thirteen children born to Henry and Catherine (Stiffler) Brumbaugh -all still living within fifteen miles of their birthplace. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Swinehart has been blessed with three chil- dren, viz: Marion, who married Emma Schumacher and has three children-Ledos, Esther and Inez; Perry, who married Alice Marsh, daughter of J. J. and Rebecca Marsh, and became the father of two children-Clyde and Leon-Mrs. Alice Swinehart dying at the age of thirty-two years; Lenora, who resides at home with her parents, and is a dress- maker.
In 1863, Mr. Swinehart bought from his father the old homestead, which consisted of thirty-eight acres, but he has added to this, from time to time, until he now owns a splen- did farm of 100 acres. In addition to farm- ing he has given considerable attention to live 21
stock, especially to sheep, and has been very successful.
In politics Mr. Swinehart is a sound demo- crat, and has filled most of the township offices, including those of clerk, supervisor and school director-filling the last-named office eighteen years. He is a deacon in the Reformed church, and maintains a very high position in the esteem of the community. The Swinehart family hold an annual reunion, over which the subject invariably presides, and there is no more respected family in the township than this.
J UDGE GIDEON SEYMOUR, of Bon- niebrook Farm, of Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, descends from one of the oldest families in the United States, but, before entering into the details of his own eventful life, it were better to narrate his an- tecedents to a remote priority and to follow them up, in detail, as far as the limited scope of this volume will permit.
The Seymour family originated in Nor- mandy (now a province of France), and the name was in that country spelled Saint Maur, and the town of the same name, in Normandy, was derived from the family name of the an- cestors of subject, who held sway there in the early part of the christian era. The name of the family has by easy stages been modified and anglicized through the spellings, Saint Maurre, Saymaur and Seymour-as the street in London, England, now called Rotten Row, derives its name from Route en Roi-the route of the king. Early in the thirteenth century the present name was adopted, several of the Seymour family having gone over to England. and the student of English history will remem ber the prominence which the Seymour family obtained in Kent and Monmouthshire.
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