Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 100

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 100
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 100
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Although not a church member, Mr. Graves has always been willing to assist in every good work, and the churches of the town are indebted to him for many acts of kindness and help. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and his every-day life is largely an exemplification of the principles of that order. Mr. and Mrs.

Graves occupy the old Jarvis homestead, and, as Mr. Jarvis passed away in 1883, Mrs. Jarvis makes her home with them. The farm is a fertile one, and is located in the center of the township. The house and grounds are attractive in their every ap- pointment. Indeed, there is not a more de- lightful home in all the country round than this one.

S. ANDERSON, a physician and surgeon of Andover, was born in Weathersfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 11, 1858, a son of George S. and Mary (Lintz) Anderson. The father, a farmer by occupation, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was dis- charged after one year of service on account of disability.

He died at Pierpont, Ohio, August 26, 1889, at the age of sixty-six years, the result of his exposure in the army. He was a val- iant soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of three children: Frank E., a farmer of Pierpont; Kate, at home; and George S., the subject of this sketch.

G. S. Anderson was reared to farm life in this county, and received his literary educa- tion in the high school of Pierpont, Ohio. In 1881 he entered the Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, this State, and graduated at that institution in 1884. For the following five years Dr. Anderson was a resident of Williamsfield, Ohio, but since that time has lived in Andover, enjoying a lucra- tive and extensive medical practice. He was the first local physician to amputate a limb in Andover, and in 1890 was appointed railroad surgeon and medical examiner in this city.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Dr. Anderson was married November 20, 1880, to Miss Lucretia A. Sterling, a native of Cherry Tree, Venango county, Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of C. H. and Catherine Sterling. To this union has been born three children: Darrell C., Clyde C. and Grace L. In his political relations, the Doctor is a stanch Democrat. While a resident of Will- iamsfield he served as chairman of the Board of Education. Socially, he is a member of the Ashtabula Medical Society, and of the I. O. O. F., No. 716, at Simons, and of Ash- tabula Camp. Dr. Anderson is recognized as the leading and most competent man in his profession in Ashtabula county. He was appointed Pension Examiner under the last administration of President Cleveland, the meetings of the Pension Board being held at Ashtabula.

G EORGE W. SMITH, a farmer and stock-raiser of Jefferson township, Ashtabula county, was born in Streets- borough, Ohio, October 21, 1853, a son of Linus Smith, who was born in New York, in 1812. He grew to manhood in his native State, and when a young man located in Streetsborough, Ohio. He was there married in 1842, to Miss Sarah Wait. Eleven years afterward they located on the farm where our subject now resides, one mile northwest of Jefferson City, where the father died in 1880. He was a man of sterling quali- ties, and was identified with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had five children, three now living: George W .; Dewight, who married Miss Sarah Morris, has four chil- dren, and resides in Jefferson; and Edson, now employed on the J. & F. Railroad. The mother now finds a home with the subject of this sketch.

George W. Smith received moderate school advantages, and in early life developed an aptitude for the handling and raising of horses. At the age of sixteen years he en- tered a school where the art of breaking and training horses was taught. His first suc- cessful effort in this direction was the pro- duction, in 1875, of the celebrated trotting horse Raymond, which was entered in the county track at two years old, and took a part of the stakes of every trot entered into after- ward. Mr. Smith sold this horse in 1882, for $2,500, which enabled him to pay off all in- debtedness on the farm and rebuild stables. He now owns the celebrated horse, Oakleaf, and his full brother, both of whom have won almost every race in which they were entered. Mr. Smith has also trained many noted horses, having driven the trotting horse Mink to his record of 2:291, and Mable May, which won the race at Cleveland in 1886, making a record of 2:33. He also drove Idler to her record of 2:32}, and many other horses of note. He owns a stock farm of 120 acres, which is sub- divided into convenient fields and pasture. He contemplates extensive improvements on his place, which will add greatly to the successful furtherance of his vocation. Mr. Smith is truly a self-made man. By his own industry and well directed efforts he now stands at the head of his profession. In political matters, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

A LPHEUS COOK, the pioneer mer- chant of Geauga county, is well known in commercial circles and has the re- spect and confidence of a large patron- age. He was born at Danby, Rutland county, Vermont, May 24, 1820, a son of Benjamin Cook, Jr., a native of Massachusetts, and

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OF, NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

grandson of Benjamin Cook, Sr., who was also born in Massachusetts, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Benjamin Cook, Jr., emigrated to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1834, locating at Windsor. In April, 1835, he removed to Chardon, Geauga county, tak- ing up fifty acres of land, which he cleared and sold in 1840. Later he opened a dry- goods store, and soon after was associated with his son, Alpheus, in the drug business. His wife, whose maiden name was Ruby Kel- ley, was born in Rutland county, Vermont. She was the mother of four children: Pardon O., deceased; Alpheus; Mary A., who was married to D. Barnes; and Martin B. She died at the age of seventy-six years, the father living to be ninety-four years old. They were members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Cook was chairman of the building com- mittee that erected the present structure occupied by this society, and was largely instrumental in its completion. Politically he was first a Whig and afterward a Republi- can.

Alpheus is the second of the family of four children, and was a lad of fourteen years when his parents came to this State, making the journey overland in a covered wagon. He had attended school in Vermont, and, after coming here, he entered the Western Reserve Academy, at Kirtland, Lake county. At the age of twenty-one years he was em- ployed as clerk in a drugstore belonging to John King, and filled the position four years. In 1840 he engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness with his father, which association con- tinued four years, when D. Barnes was taken in as a partner, this partnership continuing for two years, when he retired and the firm became B. & A. Cook. They bought out the drug stock of Mr. King and conducted that business also. In 1854, H. H. Kelly was

taken in as a partner for one year, the firm being A. Cook & Co. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Cook bought out his father's and Mr. Kelly's interests and carried on the business under the name of A. Cook until April, 1857, when he took in as a partner Dr. L. N. Hamilton. This partnership continued for two years, when Dr. Hamilton retired, and Mr. Cook conducted the business alone until January, 1864, when he adinitted A. McGowan as a partner. This partnership continued until 1867, when McGowan retired, since which time Mr. Cook has continued his business alone. For many years he was the only druggist in the city or Geauga county. August 25, 1868, a fire broke out which destroyed nearly all of Chardon, including Mr. Cook's stock. His losses were heavy, as he had only $450 in insurance. He rebuilt, however, put in a new stock and went on with his business, undaunted by his calamity. His strict and honorable business methods secured to him the confidence of the people and a large and constantly increasing patronage, which has brought him financial success.

Mr. Cook was united in marriage, Septem- ber 23, 1851, to Laura A. Sanderson, a native of Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio. Her father, Elisha Sanderson, was born in Woodstock, Vermont, June 17, 1790. Her mother was Sally Grosvenor, who was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, February 17, 1796. They were married in Bridgewater, Vermont, February 8, 1816. In March of that year Mr. Sanderson came, with a pack and on foot, to Ohio and selected a home in the woods of Mesopotamia, where he made a clearing and erected for himself and bride a log cabin. In the fall he returned to Ver- mont to make preparations to move to his new home in the far West. The following

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

spring the long journey was commenced, with ox teams, and was completed at the end of six weeks, when they arrived at their new home in the forests of Ohio, where they began their new life. The children of this union were: Sarah M., now Mrs. McGowan, of Sedalia, Missouri, who was born April 15, 1818; Laura A., who was born May 23, 1823, and was married to Alpheus Cook; Charles R., born May 19, 1826, and now a physician in practice in St. Louis, Missouri; Emory M., born May 20, 1830, now of Garrettsville, Ohio.

Soon after coming to Ohio, the Sandersons, with six others, organized a class, and their home was ever after the headquarters and the home of itinerant Methodist preachers, and the Church always had in them intelligent and able defenders of its faith and willing and cheerful supporters. Their spirits have passed to the home above and their remains lie buried in Mesopotamia. The father died near Buffalo, New York and the mother at Chardon, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children: Albert B. is a prosperous druggist in Ashtabula, Ohio, and married Mary, daughter of John Wagstaff; Emory A. is a clerk in his father's store; he was united in marriage to Lillian E. Warner, daughter of Andrew and Cynthia R. (Bartlett) Warner, and two children bless this union-Warner D. and an infant; Arthur P. is in the real-estate business at Duluth, Minnesota; he married Ella A., daughter of George F. and Harriet (Bosworth) Senter, by whom he has one child, George A.

Mr. Cook is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as Coroner for the county and made an efficient officer. He has retired from active business, and, with

his life's partner, in his elegant home is quietly enjoying that repose and comfort that come of a well-spent life. He is a man of large construction, physically and mentally, and his heart is in keeping with his form. He is essentially a domestic man and has been a kind and devoted husband and father. He has not been unmindful of other duties, but has been a charitable and generous neigh- bor and a patriotic citizen. During his hab- itation among the people with whom he now dwells, he has ever held their esteem and confidence, which have not lessened but increased as the years have rolled along.

OHN O. TEED, the popular landlord of the Chardon House, is a native of Char- don, where he was born January 28, 1832, and is the son of John B. and Sarah C. (Mastick) Teed, who were natives of New York and Vermont, respectively, the former born May 11, 1792, and the latter March 6, 1798. They came at an early day to Geauga county, where they were married.

Mr. Teed came alone, but his wife, Sarah, came with her family, who located at East Claridon. By trade he was a cabinet-maker, and as there was not much of this work to do here at that day, he gave his attention to car- pentering and building. He died at Chardon, November 15, 1877; his wife died February 22, 1864. They were the parents of six chil- dren, four of whom are now living. Julian C., born March 7, 1827; Sarah A., born Feb- ruary 29, 1830; the subject of this sketch; and Ellen J., born March 22, 1835, now the wife of George E. Day, of Baldwinville, Massachusetts.

Young John Teed's early life was spent in about the same way as that of most of the

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

boys of that day in a new country; when old enough he made himself useful at home and attended the common schools. At the age of sixteen years he left the parental roof and going to Painesville, Ohio, secured a position as a clerk in a hotel, which position he held for one year, when he made a change, becom- ing a clerk for the owner of a livery stable. At the age of nineteen he returned to Char- don and began with Calvin Knowles an ap- prenticeship at the harness trade, which he completed at the end of two years. He then was made foreman of the business, which po- sition he held for eleven years, when he bought out the proprietor. He carried on the business with success until December, 1892, when he sold out and leased the Char- don House, which he is now conducting.

Mr. Teed was united in marriage at Paines- ville, Ohio, January 4, 1857, to Eliza, the fair daughter of Norman J., and Chloe (Muore) Fitch, who were New York people. They died at Concord, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Teed had one child, Robbie J., who was born March 21, 1867, and died March 11, 1868. Mrs. Teed is a woman of fine social qualities, generous and open- hearted and very popular among acquaint- ances. Mr. Teed is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is a stalwart Republican. In 1885, he was elected as a member of the Council, and upon the expiration of his term was re-elected, serving continuously for six years. Ile is also a member of the park committee, a position which he has held for four years. He is a man of a genial, social nature, a natural-born landlord, and under his skillful management the Chardon House has become a noted hostelry and one of the most popular places in northeastern Ohio. He looks constantly to the wants of his guests, and every attention is given them that they

may feel at home. It is with pleasure that they come beneath his roof and with regret that they depart. Mr. Teed has spent nearly his whole life in Chardon, and is known as an upright, honest, public-spirited aud worthy citizen.

R EUBEN BATES, a farmer of Andover township, Ashtabula county, was born February 3, 1834, a son of Merrick Bates, who was born at Chester, Mas- sachusetts, in 1794. The latter's father, Reuben Bates, was a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and of English descent. He came to this county in 1813, and located in the woods near Fitts' Mill. At that time there were but three families residing in Andover township. He made the journey with ox teams, and was obliged to cut his way through the woods. Both he and his wife are buried at West Andover. Merrick Bates came to this county with his father, and assisted in the clearing of the farm. He was married at the age of thirty-two years, to Abigail Houghton, a native of Keene, New Hampshire, and they had three chil- dren: Abbie King, of Westport, Connec- ticut; Betsy, wife of D. G. Slater, of Dorset, Ohio; and Renben. The father died at the age of eighty-three years, and his widow still resides on the old farm in this county, aged eighty-eight years.

Reuben Bates, the subject of this sketch, now owns one of the finest and best improved farms in Andover township. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and his place contains all the conveniences necessary for a well regulated farm. Mr. Bates was married at the age of thirty-two years, to Mary L. Merrill, a daughter of Henry Mer- rill, a resident of Kansas. To this union

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

were born two children: Howard and Fred. The great loss of Mr. Bates' life was in the death of his wife, which occurred January 6, 1893. Mr. Bates affiliates with the Republi- can party.

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M YRON L. ATWATER, proprietor of an excellent hoop mill at Sentinel, Ohio, is probably the oldest mill man in continuous service in Ashtabula county. He is a native of Sentinel and first saw the light December 8, 1845. His par- ents, Ulysses and Elizabeth (Nichols) At- water, were New Englanders, and removed about 1840 from Connecticut to Saybrook, Ohio, where the father still resides, the mother having died in 1880, greatly regretted by all who knew her. They had five chil- dren: Sylvester, born October 1, 1841, died in Saybrook when but thirty-one years of age, leaving a wife, who was before marriage Miss Martha Allen, a native of that township; Sarah, born May 11, 1843, is the wife of Thomas Fay, formerly of Hart's Grove, Ohio, but now a resident of Minnesota; Myron L., the third in order of birth, is the subject of this sketch; Mary Lucinda was born amid the tumult and rejoicing of Independence Day, in 1850, and is the wife of Owen Cunningham, an engineer of Ashtabula, Ohio; Samuel, born July 15, 1855, married Nina Glysby and lives in Saybrook.

When but seventeen years of age, the sub- ject of this sketch took charge of the opera- tion of his father's mill, and continued to be thus employed until he attained his twenty- second year, when he bought his first saw- mill in Saybrook. He has followed this line of enterprise unremittently ever since.

mark, then to Dorset, thence in turn to Ash- tabula, New Lyme, Lenox, and again to New Lyme township, where, at the little village of Sentinel, he still resides.

In Denmark he erected his mill in the heart of a great forest in the northern part of the township. In Saybrook, his mill was in constant operation both day and night, and did the heaviest business ever done in that township. He was working at this place on a large Government contract for delivery to Fairport Harbor. About 1,000,000 feet of lumber a year was cnt in these places. After six years in Denmark, he removed his mill to a point three-quarters of a mile north of the station at Dorset. Here, as in the former case, he was situated in the midst of a dense primeval forest, and no supplies could be ob- tained except from North Kingsville. He cut and shipped from this point about 10,000 feet a day. He then conducted for two years a sawing and planing mill in Ashtabula for Joseph Bugby, at the end of which time he removed to New Lyme township, near the present seat of his operations. In the mem- orable dry summer of 1881 the forests in the township of New Lyme were swept by de- structive fires, and Mr. Atwater's mill was completely wiped out, though the neighbors all turned out and made a determined effort to save the property. Not disheartened by this misfortune, Mr. Atwater at once set to work to rebuild the mill, and in the fall he once more had it in full running order. He has ever since remained in this vicinity, with the single exception of a year in Lenox, at which point he manufactured about $3,000 worth of hoops a year. His mill is easily transported and is kept near to the timber to be consumed. Mr. Atwater has the very best of milling machinery and his hoops find

From Saybrook he removed first to Den- a ready sale in market. The average daily

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

production of his mill is about 4,000 hoops, but its capacity will easily reach 30,000 a week, the weekly expense while in operation being about $100.

The milling business, of course, is an ex- ceedingly dangerous one, and Mr. Atwater has by no means escaped without accident. In fact, few men have sustained the injuries which he has received and lived to give an account of them. He has survived the burst- ing of a boiler, a rifle and an e nery wheel. By the boiler explosion his injuries were so severe as to require a bandage to keep the entrails from protruding. By the gun explo- sion, a fracture of the skull was received, permitting the brain to protrude. He was reported dead and had the satisfaction, given to few, of reading his own obituary and thereby learning what his neighbors thought of him. His last accident, the bursting of an emery wheel, has rendered his right arm nearly useless, and may yet necessitate am- putation of the member. His thumb was sawed off at Saybrook, besides which he has met with numerous other minor accidents. All this, however, does not in the least dampen his ardor for the milling business, and he says he has never regretted choosing that occupa- tion.

Mr. Atwater has also an excellent farm of fifty-five acres, with a fine, well-equipped sugar camp of 1,500 trees. His house, with all its contents, was burned about three years ago, but has been replaced by a new and at- tractive residence, the neat and thrifty sur- roundings of which evince the industry and taste of the occupants.

October 26, 1867, Mr. Atwater was mar- ried to Miss Ella Starkweather, an intelligent and capable lady, daughter of Isaac and Jeanette Starkweather, old and respected residents of Saybrook. Mr. and Mrs. At-

water have had six children, five of whom survive: Nettie, born December 28, 1868, is the wife of John Gilbert, a prosperous resi- dent of Denmark; Nellie, born May 24, 1872, is the wife of George Howland, of Cherry Valley; Vernie, born March 24, 1874, died in infancy; Ralph, born May 6, 1875, mar- ried Lena Hoyt, of Rock Creek, and is fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father, being already well informed in the sawmill busi- ness; Dora B., born March 19, 1879, lives at home. She is an excellent musician and in- tends pursuing a course in that art at the New Lyme Institute. Jay, the " baby," was born July 30, 1889, and is a sprightly, prom- ising boy. Mr. and Mrs. Atwater are genial, hospitable people, and enjoy the highest es- teem of their community, whose best wishes they have for their prosperity and happiness.

C HARLES N. MOSS, who is well known in agricultural circles in Geauga county, has lived here since his birth, which occurred in Burton township, May 28, 1841. His father, W. C. Moss, was a native of Massa- chusetts, as was also his grandfather, Cap- tain Simeon Moss; the latter emigrated to the county in 1808, making the journey overland by teams. His was the eighth family to locate in Huntsburg township, where he bought 200 acres of land and built a log cabin in the forest. There were many Indians in the country at the time, and they often called at his cabin in a most friendly spirit; wild game was abundant, and he supplied his table by hunting and trapping. He was a stonemason by trade, and did most of the stone work in this section in early times. He also cleared a considerable amount of land. He died at the age of sixty-six years, at

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Beardstown, Illinois, where he had gone to work at his trade. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. W. C. Moss was a young child when his father, Captain Moss, emigrated to the West. He received his education in the pioneer schools, making the most of the meager advantages. He married Maria J. Robison, a native of New York State, and they reared a family of seven children, all of whom survive. Mr. Moss was a man of much energy and vigor, and at the time of his death owned 400 acres of land, much of which he had improved. He lived to the age of sixty- two years; the mother survives at the age of seventy-five years. Charles N. Moss is the oldest of the family. He passed an unevent- ful youth until the beginning of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company G, Forty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, September 10, 1861. He was mustered in at Cleveland, Ohio, and sent to Camp Dennison, Ohio, thence to Gallipolis and on to Louisville, spend- ing the winter in Hardin county, Kentucky. He was in the battle of Shiloh under General Nelson, and participated in the engage- ment at Stone River, where was he wounded by a piece of shell, the explosion of which had killed eleven persons; he was in the field hos- pital for three weeks. The next battle in which he took part was Chickamauga, where he was slightly wounded by a spent ball, but not disabled; he was in the battle at Missionary Ridge, and was twice shot, once in the left knee, and once through the right side; he was then in the field hospital one month, after which he had a furlough and came home, re- maining until the next March. He rejoined his regiment, but as his wounds had not healed he was excused from guard duty. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea, and was in the battle of Resaca. For eight- een successive days he was under fire, the

battle of New Hope Church following. He followed Hood into Tennessee, and was mus- tered out at Pulaski, Tennesseee, November 3, 1864, coming home soon thereafter.

Mr. Moss was married December 20, 1865, to Harriet Lew, who was born at Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio; they have had a fam- ily of five children: Cora B., Bessie L., Susie. Calla and Harry L., deceased. Mrs. Moss departed this life August 1, 1893. Mr. Moss owns 110} acres of choice land and does a general farming business. He, as was also his wife, is a member of the Christian Church. Politically, he supports the issues of the Re- publican party, and has served his township at Trustee. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post. No. 226, at Burton.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 100

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1094