USA > Ohio > Erie County > A standard history of Erie County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic, and social development. A chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs > Part 52
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Josiah Tillotson was a successful man in connection with the pro- duetive activities of the world, passed his entire life in Erie County, and his death occurred on the 22d of November. 1888, at Monroeville, his name meriting high place on the roll of the honored pioneer citizens and native sons of Erie County. His political allegiance was originally given to the whig party, but after the organization of the republican party he continued a staunch supporter of its cause until the time of his death, both he and his wife having been members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Sarah ( Maekey) Tillotson was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of November. 1815, and was summoned to eternal rest on the 27th of February, 1880, at her home at Berlin Heights, Erie County, Ohio. The Mackey family was founded in New Jersey in the colonial era of our national history, and there became one of no little prominence and influence. One of its representatives, an ancestor of Mrs. Tillotson, was a gallant soldier and officer of the Con- tinental Line in the war of the Revolution, in which he served as a member of a New Jersey regiment, and his record as a loyal soldier and fervent patriot redounds to the honor of his name.
Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett became the parents of four children, all of whom survive the honored father: Henry, who is a representative farmer of Perkins Township, wedded Miss Lisetta Rau, and their three children
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are Alma, Maybelle A. C. and Lydia. John is a resident of Perkins Township, is married, but has no children. James, who is engaged in the agricultural implement business in Bogart and whose first wife and their only child are deceased, married the second time September 29, 1915, Miss Blanche M. Barnes, of Sandhill, becoming his wife. Cora May, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett, is the wife of Her- bert Harris, and they remain with her widowed mother on the fine old homestead farm, to the general supervision of which Mr. Harris gives his attention. Mrs. Harris was graduated in the high school at Milan in 1900, has availed herself also of the advantages of a leading corre- spondence school, and has given special attention to the study of music, in which field of art she has much talent. She is known alike for her fine intellectuality, her gracious personality and her administrative ability, and she is a leader in the social activities of the representative circles in which she moves and to the other members of which she delights in extending the hospitality of the beautiful old home in which she has resided during virtually her entire life thus far. She is a practical business woman, and has gained no little reputation through her effective interposition in the raising of high-grade live stock and fine poultry. She has been one of the most active and popular members of Perkins Grange No. 637, Patrons of Husbandry, in which she has filled the chair of master and in which she now holds the office of lecturer, many interesting papers having been prepared by her for presentation before the grange. By virtue of descent from the Revo- lutionary soldier in the Mackey family side, as mentioned in a preced- ing paragraph, Mrs. Harris is eligible for and is actively affiliated with the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Harris, who holds precedence as one of the representative agrieulturists and stock growers of Erie County, was born and reared in Huron Town- ship and continued his studies in the publie schools until he had com- pleted the curriculum of the high school. He is a republican in polities and is one of the popular citizens of his native county, his father, Thomas Harris, being a wealthy and influential farmer of Huron Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have one son, Dean Jarrett Harris.
GEORGE A. BOECKLING. A projector of many of the valued improve- ments of eity and county during his residence of nearly a score of years at Sandusky, George A. Boeekling is one of the active and energetie men who have been helpful and influential in developing the material resources of Erie County. Enterprising and far-sighted, he has been quiek to take advantage of every opportunity for advancing the material interests of the community.
During his various travels, Mr. Boeckling had visited Sandusky, and had been greatly impressed while at Cedar Point with the possibilities of that plaee as a grand summer resort. After giving the matter much serious thought, he came, in 1898, to Sandusky to live, and very soon organized the Cedar Point Resort Company, of which he was made presi- dent and general manager. With rare discrimination and judgment, he began laying out the place to the best advantage, and in almost every instance was the designer of the many beautiful buildings subsequently erected by the company. Under his wise directions, the improvements inaugurated have been continued each year, and Cedar Point is now one of the finest and most popular summer resorts in the country.
Mr. Boeckling is also interested financially as a stoekholder in various corporations, and is one of the directors of the Third National Bank of Sandusky. Fraternally he is a member of several organizations.
GEORGE W. PARKER. In the person of George W. Parker is found a sample of that material which has brought Erie County to the forefront
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in the field of agricultural endeavor. Endowed with more than average ability, backed with shrewd business judgment, he has prospered in the affairs of life and is now enjoying the comforts of one of the attractive farm homes of Groton Township. He has always been a sterling and public spirited citizen, qualities which were also characteristic of his honored father, and both have given their aid to those movements which have made for progress and development.
The Parker family has been identified with Erie County for a great many years. George W. Parker was born on a farm in Margaretta Town- ship April 24, 1871, a son of James C. and Mary (Puekrim) Parker, his father, now deceased, a native of Margaretta Township and the mother a native of England, and now living at Columbus, Ohio. James C. Parker was a son of Elihu Parker, who had given active service as a soldier during the War of 1812, and became one of the pioneers in the develop- ment of the rich agricultural district of Margaretta Township in Erie County. The Parker family is of English origin. The late James C. Parker was reared in Margaretta Township, attended the local schools of his time, and was married there. Of his four children the two now surviving are George W. and Lucretia E., who is living in Columbus. James C. Parker brought his family to Groton Township during the decade of the '70s, and settled on a farm along the Columbus Pike and not far from the Seven Mile lonse. That was his home until his death in December, 1909. He was active as a republican and enjoyed more than ordinary influence and leadership in his community. He served as a trustee of Groton Township several years, also as township treasurer, and for three terms or six years was one of the board of county com- missioners of Erie County, and during a portion of that time was presi- dent of the board. Ilis success was almost entirely due to his own energy and he gained not only sufficient of this world's goods but lived in the continued esteem of his community. He also made a record during the Civil war as a soldier in the ninety days' service toward the close of the struggle. In his death Erie County lost one of its most admirable citi- zens. Ile was a member for many years of the Grand Army Post at Sandusky.
George W. Parker was reared in Groton Township, obtained his edu- cation in the common schools, and beginning life as a farmer has always pursued agriculture as a means of providing for his family. He is like- wise a republican in politics and interested in everything that concerns the community.
In October, 1894, he married Miss Kathryn Galloway. Mrs. Parker was born in Huron Township of Erie County, a daughter of the late James Galloway of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of the Sand Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is now serving as a trustee. They have one of the good farm homes of Groton Township, and Mr. Parker has applied not only an unusual degree of energy but also excellent common sense and intelligence in his farming operations.
JASPER N. DELANY. Noteworthy among the esteemed and prosper- ous citizens of Erie County is Jasper N. Delany, of Sandusky, who is likewise distinguished as a veteran of the Civil war. Born in Virginia, December 25, 1842, he was but an infant when brought to Ohio by his parents, who located in Franklin County, and there died a few years later, leaving two young children, Jasper, the subject of this brief sketeh, and Sarah C., who married II. S. Sneary, of Vaughnsville, Putnam County, Ohio.
After the death of his parents, of whom he has no remembrance, Jasper N. Delany was taken into the home of W. M. Rower, and in 1849 went with the family to Putnam County as pioncer settlers of that part
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of the state, which was then but sparsely settled, while wild game of all kinds was plentiful and the streams thereabout abounded with fish, Mr. Rower bought a traet of heavily timbered land and soon ereeted a log eabin, in which the family lived for a number of years. As soon as old enough to wield an axe Jasper lent able assistance in clearing and improv- ing a farm, in the meantime attending school as opportunity offered.
On April 20, 1861, inspired with patriotic ardor, Mr. Delany enlisted for three months in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with his command went to the front. Being honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he returned home, and in August, 1862, again offered his serviees to his country, enlisting in Com- pany I, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Going South with his command, Mr. Delany took an active part in many engagements, includ- ing the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, where he was so severely wounded as to be incapacitated for active service for one year. On leaving the hospital he was transferred to the Twenty-third Veteran Reserve Corps, made up of crippled soldiers and others unfit for field service, and to which he belonged until receiving his honorable discharge from the service, July 28, 1865, at St. Paul, Minnesota. He served in all three years, three months and fifteen days.
Returning to Ohio, Mr. Delany resided in Putnam County until 1880, when he moved to Allen County, where he lived for sixteen years, being employed at various kinds of work. In 1896 he became a resident of Sandusky, which has since been his home. Here he has acquired title to and improved several pieces of valuable property, mostly on Speneer Street and Beatty Avenue, and in 1912 erected the home which he now occupies, located on Beatty Avenue.
In 1865 Mr. Delany married Miss Louisa Sasse, who died in 1906, leaving three children, Mary, Ellen and William. Mary, the eldest, died at the early age of twenty years. Ellen married Thomas M. Henton, and they have one daughter, Hazel Henton. William married Gladys Beach, and they are the parents of two children, Bessie and Norman Delany. Religiously Mr. Delany is a member of the United Brethren Chureh.
BELDING DELAMATRE. Many of the successful agriculturists of Erie County are carrying on operations on farms upon which they were born and on which they have spent practically all their lives. In this elass is found Belling DeLamatre, one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of Oxford Township, his home being on Rural Route No. 3 out of Monroeville. While most of his career has been devoted to the pur- suits of the soil, his energetic labors have brought him various other interests, and for a number of years he has been an influential factor in local affairs and has long enjoyed a substantial position in the eom- munity.
Born on the old DeLamatre homestead November 15, 1849, he is a son of Belding and Elizabeth (O'Leary) DeLamatre, his father a native of Dutchess County, New York, and his mother of Ireland. She came when three years of age with her parents to America, and they first located in Milan and later moved to Oxford Township, where the O'Learys were early settlers. The senior DeLamatre was a son of Ben- jamin DeLamatre, also a native of New York State, and while the name is French there was also a German admixture in his family. Belding DeLamatre, Sr., came when a young man from New York State to Erie County in 1844. He and his younger brother, James V., made the trip across the country in a covered wagon, and eamped out along the road wherever night overtook them. They finally arrived in Erie County, and
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being young men of capable industry and determined purpose, though with limited capital, they were scon settled on the farm in Oxford Township where the junior Belding DeLamatre now lives. It was a tract of raw prairie and they were the first to plow its soil and cultivate the land to the fruits of civilization. For many years the DeLamatre broth- ers were in partnership as agriculturists and cattle raisers and dealers. They built up a large business as dealers and shippers in cattle, and in the early days, when railroads were little known, they drove their stock the entire distance along the roads between Northern Ohio and New York City as their market. It usually required sixty days of driving, making about ten miles each day. James V. DeLamatre finally sold out his interest in the farm and the business to his brother, and removed to the vicinity of Norwalk, Ohio, in Huron County, where he engaged inde- pendently in farming until his death. Belding DeLamatre, Sr .. died January 23, 1881, while his wife passed away May 15, 1890. Belding DeLamatre was the architect of his own fortunes, was a keen and suc- eessful business man and a man of no little prominence in his community. He and his wife were the parents of six children: Belding, of Oxford Township ; Carrie E., wife of Dr. M. J. Love of Bloomingville ; James C., who died February 28, 1913, aged fifty-nine years; Clayton W., who has gained success and considerable prominence as an attorney at Omaha, Nebraska : Grace .J., wife of Melburn Love of Oberlin; and William, who died when twenty months old.
Mr. Belding DeLamatre grew up on the old farm in Oxford Town- ship, and all his boyhood associations are connected with the farm and the community in which he now lives. He attended the public schools of his native township and for one year was a student in the fine old educa- tional center of Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, and was also a stu- dent in the Buckeye Business College at Sandusky, one of the best institutions of its class. For many years now he has followed his chosen vocation as a farmer and his estate comprises nearly 200 acres, devoted to general agriculture and stock raising. Like his father, he also buys and sells live stock, and this business has brought him a wide acquaintance over Erie and into some of the adjoining counties.
Since 1890 Mr. DeLamatre has served as real estate assessor of Oxford Township, and more recently has also been personal property assessor. For three years he was justice of the peace, and for two terms was town- ship trustee. He has also served as a member of the local board of education in the township, and takes an interest in every institution and movement which means better living conditions in his township. IIe is in addition to other interests now local representative for Erie County Mutual Insurance Company.
For his first wife Mr. DeLamatre married Annie Wilson of Mont- gomery County, Missonri. At her death she left one son, Maro M., also now deceased. Mrs. DeLamatre, his present wife, before her marriage was Emma James, daughter of the late Crawford James, a well known pioneer settler and farmer in Perkins Township. Mr. and Mrs. DeLa- matre have two children : Hal A. and Mrs. Grace Walker, both living in Oxford Township.
THOMAS HARTLEY. Many of the most progressive agriculturists of Erie County have gone in for fruit growing, and the lake shore is almost a continuous succession of orchards. Thomas Hartley has been identi- fied with this line of industry in Berlin Township for about thirty years. He is an expert horticulturist, having gained much of his early training in England, and brought to Erie County the fruit of experience acquired by many years of practical agricultural work in the old country.
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Thomas Hartley was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 6, 1859. Ilis grandfather was a shoemaker, and he and his wife spent all their lives at Dunham in Lincolnshire, where they passed away when old peo- ple. His grandmother was about eighty years old when she died. There were seven sons in the family. Of these sons Thomas came to America many years ago, spent three years as a soldier in the Civil war, was once wounded in the back, and now for many years has lived as a farmer in Niagara County, New York, where he is a pensioner and has a family of six sons and two daughters. George and Joseph, two other of the sons, spent their lives in Lincolnshire, England, the former as a foreman in a factory and the latter as a local politician and office holder; neither of these brothers left children. William, now deceased, was a shoemaker and dealer, and left four children. Charles served as a sergeant in the English army, and after retiring was employed by his colonel, lived in a small village in his native shire, and at his death left a son. Henry died when young, after his marriage.
John Hartley, father of Thomas Hartley, grew up in Lincolnshire, learned the trade of butcher, but subsequently became a farmer, and died at the age of seventy-five. He married Susanna West, who was born in Lincolnshire a few years later than her husband, and died when in the prime of life. She left two children. One of them, John, Jr., came to the United States about twenty years ago and located in Erie County, Ohio, subsequently bought a farm in Perkins Township and died there in December, 1913, leaving a widow and three children, John, Albert and Frances, the first and the last being now married.
Thomas Hartley grew up in his native shire, and received as good an education as his opportunities would permit. Inclinations and circum- stanees turned him to the business of horticulture, and by the time he had reached manhood he was fairly expert in that profession. In 1880, at the age of twenty-one, he first came to the United States, when still unmarried, and for a time lived with his uncle in Niagara County, New York. In 1882 he removed to Erie County, Ohio, and in 1883 re- turned to England, and was married at the Episcopal Church in a little village in Lincolnshire to Ellen Bilton. Mrs. Hartley was born there in 1858, a daughter of William and Adelaide (Trevor) Bilton, who were natives of the same shire. Her father was a shoemaker and farmer, and died at the age of sixty-five, and her mother subsequently came to Amer- ica and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. IIartley, at the age of eighty-two, having retained her strength and vigor up to within two weeks of her death. The Biltons were members of the Methodist Church.
Mrs. Hartley was next to the youngest in a family of fifteen chil- dren, most of whom grew up and married and seven of them came to the United States. Mr. Hartley brought his young bride to the United States, and their journey hither was in the nature of a honeymoon. For some months they lived in Cleveland and in Huron, and in 1888 he bought his first farm of twenty-nine acres in Berlin Township. He has devoted a quarter of a century to its improvement and cultivation, and has developed it almost entirely to orchard and small crops. Ilis fruit farm is one of the highest class along the lake shore. His fruit erops are peaches, apples, cherries, pears, grapes and small fruits, and he also grows a large quantity of vegetables. In the midst of his orchard he has an attractive nine-room house, nearly new, and fitted out with all con- veniences. It has a splendid view along the lake shore and out over the blue waters, and he has also set off along the shore at an elevation of thirty feet several building lots and has erected four summer homes.
Mr. and Mrs. Hartley have two fine and vigorous young sons. J. William, now twenty-eight, is manager of the James Anderson farm adjoining the homestead of his father. IIe married Ida M. Klaholtz, of
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Iluron Township, and their children are Fay Geraldine, Ellen Twyla and Catherine Vivian. Kyle T., the second son, who is twenty-five years of age, owns a fine modern eight-room house adjoining that of his father, and is active assistant in the management of the fruit industry for his father. He married Miss JJulia C. Beatty, who was born and reared in Huron Township, and they have a son, Thomas W. Mr. Hartley and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and for a number of years he was active in the Patrons of Ilusbandry. Ile and his sons are republicans.
T. ROY GILLMORE. For nearly a score of years Mr. Gillmore lias given efficient service in the office of superintendent of the docks of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad in the fine little lake port City of Huron, Erie County, and under his administration the docks have been rebuilt and brought up to the best modern standard, the while the most approved mechanical equipment has been installed for the handling of the large ore traffic which comes to this port, in addition to other important trans- portation business in connection with navigation interests on the Great Lakes. At these doeks are handled annually from 700,000 to 1,000,000- 000 tons of iron ore taken principally from the inines of the Lake Su- perior regions, and the product is largely manufactured at the Labell Iron Works, at Steuben, Ohio, and the Carnegie Iron Works at Mingo Junction, this state. The Iluron docks of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad handle annually about 2,000,000 tons of coal also, and these brief statements indicate significantly the exacting and important official duties devolving upon Mr. Gillmore. Facilities are such that a vessel of 10,000 tons burden can be unloaded at the Huron docks in six hours, and the same relative period is demanded in reloading the material on to the railroad ears. Prior to assuming his present position Mr. Gill- more had been assistant superintendent of docks at the port of Con- neaut Harbor, Ashtabula County, where he assisted in the construction of the first docks of the railway company with which he is still identi- fied, his services at that place having continued from 1891 until 1897, in which latter year he assumed the office of which he has since been the efficient and valued incumbent.
Mr. Gilhore was born at Lorain, Ohio, in the county of the same name, and the date of his nativity was March 21, 1869. Hle there con- tinued his studies in the public schools until he had completed the cur- riculum of the high school, and at the age of sixteen years he became assistant to his father, who was engaged in business as a dredging con- tractor and whose work was largely that of assuming Government con- tracts. When he was twenty years of age Mr. Gillmore was to be found operating a dredge in an independent way, and in the meanwhile he was admirably fortifying himself in intimate and practical knowledge of machinery as well as in executive experience. His advancement has been achieved through ability and effective service and he is not only a recognized expert in the mechanical lines along which he has directed his energies but is also known for his fidelity and mature judgment as an executive, so that he is admirably equipped for the important office of which he is now in tenure. At the Huron doeks he has as his able assistants Edward B. Day, who has practical supervision of the ore shipments; Henry P. Klasen, who is assigned to the charge of the coal in transportation ; Albert P. Beckloff, who is chief clerk; and Sherman Entzenheiser, who is master mechanic. At Huron these efficient opera- tives have control of the entire dock system maintained by the Cleveland Stevedore Company, of which company Mr. Gillmore himself is presi- dent, his entire active career having been one of close identification with navigation affairs and lake-marine service.
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The lineage of the Gillmore family traces back to stanch Scottish origin, and the paternal grandparents of the subject of this review were natives of the State of Vermont, the family having been founded in New England in an early day. Mr. Gillmore is a nephew of Quincy Adams Gillmore, who attained to marked distinction through his serv- ices as a military engineer for the United States Government, and who in this capacity did a large amount of important engineering work on the Mississippi River and along the Pacific Coast.
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