Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 106

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 106
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 106
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 106

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).

In the district schools and the Madison Seminary J. S. Wilcox received his education. He remained on the farm with his father two years after he reached his majority, teaching school during the winter. For seven years he taught school, first here and then at Geneva, Saybrook and Painesville.

Mr. Wilcox was married, in Madison town- ship, in 1858, to Sarah E. Hubbard, a native of New York State, who came to Ohio at the age of seventeen. Their only child is Sarah Elizabeth.

After his marriage Mr. Wilcox settled on a farm near his present location. He lived on several farms in this vicinity previous to 1869, when he purchased his present prop- erty, seventy-six acres of nicely improved land, eight acres being devoted to an apple orchard. His residence and general sur- roundings indicate thrift and prosperity.

He and his wife are members of the Cen- tral Congregational Church, of which he is Clerk. He is also a member of the Grange, which still maintains a vigorous organiza- tion at Madison. Politically, he votes with the Republican party.

W A. CORLETT, one of the popular and successful merchants of North Madison, Ohio, has for a number of years been identified with the business inter- ests of this place. Of his life we present the following review.

W. A. Corlett was born in Madison town- ship, Lake county, Ohio, May 19, 1844, son of William C. Corlett, a native of the Isle of Man. William C. Corlett came to America in 1830, when a young man of twenty, and settled in Madison township, Lake county, Ohio, making the journey from Buffalo to this place by stage. He worked in the furnace and learned the trade of molder, an occupa- tion which he followed for a number of years, becoming an expert molder. Going to Buf- falo, he was foreman of large molding works in that city for a few years, after which he returned to Ohio and worked in the old Geauga furnace at Painesville for some years. He finally settled in this township on a farm of 100 acres, which he bought in 1835, and on which he spent the remaining years of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

was a man of strong constitution, and was a hard worker all his life. He died at the age of sixty-eight. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Corlett, and who was also a na- tive of the Isle of Man, came to this coun- try with her mother in 1828. Although they were natives of the same isle, Mr. and Mrs. Corlett had no acquaintance previous to their coming to America. They reared four chil- dren, namely: John (deceased), Thomas, William and Edward. The father was a Methodist and the mother an Episcopalian, both being earnest Christians. He was super- intendent of the Methodist Sunday-school here for a number of years, and few men in this community were more highly respected than he. His obituary was published in the Cleveland Leader, and was copied by the Herald on the Isle of Man, his brother, Thomas, seeing it in the latter paper and thus learning for the first time in forty-eight years of the whereabouts of his brother. He immediately wrote to W. A. Corlett, the sub- ject of this sketch, directing his letter in care of the Cleveland Leader. The latter was re- ceived and an interesting correspondence opened.

W. A. Corlett received his education in the district school, the Madison Seminary, and Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Cleveland. At the age of twenty-one he launched out in life on his own responsibility, and until 1876 was engaged in farming. He still owns an interest in the old home farm, which comprises 100 acres. In 1876 he turned his attention to a business life, at that time buying the general merchandise store, which he has since conducted. He carries a full line of groceries, hardware, boots and shoes, and does an extensive business in fertil- izers, his trade extending for miles in every direction. Since the time he engaged in

business here he has also been Postmaster of the town, serving as such most acceptably during all these years. Also, since October, 1876, he has served as Justice of the Peace. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Corlett began life without financial aid and the suc- cess he has attained may be attributed to his own honest efforts.

He was married, in April, 1868, to Nellie. M. Cole, a native of Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and their four children are: Grace, Lucien, Sherman and Nellie.

The family are members of the Congrega- tional Church.

H ON. DARIUS CADWELL .-- Twenty miles from Lake Erie, on the east line of the State of Ohio, is situated the town of Andover. It was settled " by a population entirely from the Eastern States, and solely agricultural in their pur- suits until recently. Now two railroads unite at the center, and a thriving village is grow- ing up around the station. But rural as were the habits of this people, they have contributed largely of their number to the legal profession. Among the present and former members of the bar, we notice the following as having been residents of that township at the time they commenced the study of that profession, viz .: Benjamin F. Wade, Edward Wade, Darius Cadwell, James Cadwell, B. F. Wade (2d) D. S. Wade, E. C. Wade, Matthew Reed, David Strickland, B. B. Pickett, J. W. Brigden, J. N. Wright, Monroe Moore, Homer Moore, C. D. Ainger, Archie P. Laughlin, Clarence S. Darrow, James W. Roberts, Charles H. Sargent, Fred J. Bishop, E. H. Green, Charles Law- I yer, Jr., and James P. Cadwell; most of

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whom have occupied conspicious positions in the county and State, and some of them in the councils of the nation.

Roger Cadwell removed from Bloomfield, Hartford county, Connecticut, to Andover, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1817. Darius, his second son, was born at Andover, April 13, 1821. His father had a very large farm, and his children were all reared to habits of industry. Darius obtained a good education which was in part acquired at Alleghany College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He commenced the study of law with the law firm of Messrs. Wade & Ranney, at Jeffer- son, Ohio, in February, 1842, and was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1844. In the spring of 1847, he entered into partner- ship in the practice of the law at Jefferson, with Rufus P. Ranney and Charles S. Si- monds. This partnership continued until 1851, when Mr. Ranney was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court, and the partnership of Simonds & Cadwell continued until the fall of 1871.

Mr. Cadwell was a diligent student, had fine literary and legal attainments, was a close reasoner and a good advocate, and soon after he commenced the practice of the law he took rank with the best members of the profession, and few cases of importance were tried in the county in which he did not par- ticipate.

On April 13, 1847, our subject was mar- ried to Ann Eliza Watrous, a daughter of John B. Watrons, of Ashtabula, by whom he had one son and one daughter, now living.

In habits of morals he was correct and ex- emplary. He was very social and always had a large circle of ardent friends and admirers. From the time he became a resident of Jef- · ferson he discharged his full portion of the duties of minor offices, from that of village

Alderman upward. He held the office of Rep- resentative in the State Legislature during the years 1856 and 1857, and during the years 1858 and 1859 he represented his dis- trict, composed of Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties, in the senate of Ohio. Upon the organization of the provost-marshal general's department in 1863, he was ap- pointed Provost Marshal for the nineteenth district of Ohio, which office he held until the close of the war, with his headquarters at Warren, Ohio, until September 1865, when his headquarters were transferred to Cleve- land, where he was placed in charge and closed out the business in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth districts, and was himself mustered out of service December 20, 1865. In the fall of 1871, he opened a law office in Cleveland, and immediately secured a large practice in the courts of Cuyahoga county. At the October election in 1873, he was elected Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for Cuyahoga county for the term of five years, and is now discharging the duties of that office, in which he has acquired an enviable reputation.

M V. DOLE .- Another one of the rep- resentative farmers and highly re- spected citizens of Orwell township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, is found in the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Dole was born in Ellsworth, Ohio, July 4, 1838, son of Richard and Rhoda (Strat- ton) Dole, and one of a family of fourteen children, namely: Samuel, born March 12, 1819; Martha, born August 21, 1820, died February 29, 1825; Stacy S., born January 10, 1822, died October 5, 1856; Priscilla A., born March 29, 1823, died August, 1865;

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Esther, born November 18, 1824, died Sep- tember 5, 1825; James L., born September 19, 1826, died January 8, 1889; Levi A., born April 28, 1829, an inventor of consid- erable note, died September 1, 1866; Aaron, born June 28, 1830; Eliza, born October 10, 1832, died August 11, 1852; Michael, born February 3, 1834, died January 10, 1856; Angeline, born May 26, 1835; John G., born September 13, 1836; Martin V., whose name heads this article: Albert G. born July 16, 1841.

Grandfather Dole, a native of Wales, emi- grated from that country to America, and his son, Richard, the father of M. V., was born in New Jersey, in 1801. The latter, left an orphan at early age, was reared in Ohio from his fifth year, living for some time at Salem with a man by the name of Langstaff. When he grew up he became the owner of an eighty- acre farm, in Ellsworth, Ohio, and in con- nection with his farm and stock-raising was also engaged in work at the carpenter trade. He moved from Ellsworth, Ohio, to Edinburgh, Portage county, this State, in 1853, and in 1865, went to Atwater, where he and his son, M. V., purchased a sawmill, which they ran for three years. After selling the sawmill, he bought a small farm at that place. The mother of our subject was born in Goshen, Ohio, in 1803. She died June 20, 1845, and the fol- lowing year Richard Dole married a widow, Mrs. Stretch, who had four children by her previous marriage. After her death, which occurred in 1877, Mr. Dole lived with his children. He died January 28, 1879. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was generous in his sup- port of all worthy causes, and was a man who had many friends. In politics he was a Republican. He filled the office of Super- visor and School Director.

Martin V. Dole learned the trade of car- penter and joiner in early life and followed that trade for some time. Later he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising. In 1878, he moved to Colebrook, Ashtabula county, and in 1885 came to Orwell, where he has since resided and where he owns a farm of 100 acres, valued at from $40 to $45 per acre.

During the Civil war he tendered his ser- vices to the Union cause. He enlisted August 7, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served under Captains Wells and Bard, receiving an honorable discharge April 5, 1865. Twice he was wounded, first in the left arm, which was broken and badly shattered, and later received a wound in his left leg. The first ball lodged in a diary he carried in his blouse pocket. He still has the book and the bullet.

Mr. Dole was married in 1861, to Miss Sarah C. Plummer, daughter of Abra- ham and Amy Plummer. Their only child, Charles L., born December 23, 1866, resides in Ashtabula county. He married Anna E. Addicott, daughter of James and Jane Ad- dicott.

Mr. and Mrs. Dole are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having served as Sabbath-school Superintendent for eight years. Mr. Dole is also an enthusiastic member of the G. A. R. Politically, he is a Republican. On the various issues of the day he is well posted, and exerts an influence for good in his community.

M RS. ELIZABETH NETTLETON. Among the prominent characters of Ashtabula county, Ohio, who have contributed by their energy and abil- ity to the material and moral advancement of

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the community may be mentioned Mr. George E. Nettleton, deceased. His birth occurred in what was then the village of Ashtabula, now grown to a populous and beautiful city, on April 24, 1824. He was reared in this place, enjoying the educational advantages afforded by her excellent schools, until he was about nineteen years of age. He was then induced by Major Watrous, at that time Indian Agent at Madlin island in Lake Su- perior, to accompany him to that point, which Mr. Nettleton accordingly did. Securing a Government license, Mr. Nettleton estab- lished himself at that point as a trader with the Indians, in which business he prosper- ously continued for five years. He then transferred his operations to Crow Wing, situated 150 miles north of St. Paul, where he engaged in the same enterprise, which he successfully prosecuted until 1853. In this year he went to Superior City, where he be- came a member of the town site company, and assisted materially in the development of that now thriving town. He also estab- lished a trading station on the upper shore of Lake Superior, on the site where now stands the beautiful city of Duluth, Minnesota. He was also interested in the organization and development of that place, and was one of its leading citizens as long as he operated there personally.

Having prospered abundantly during these years of trading with the Indians, Mr. Nettleton concluded to return to his native county and pass the remaining years of his life in the enjoyment of the means accumu- lated by years of honest industry. Accord- ingly, in 1858, he once more took up his abode in his native city, which had kept pace with him in prosperity. He secured a fine farm near this place and engaged in raising high- grade live stock, being passionately fond of

cattle and horses, in the raising and care of which he took great pride and pleasure. He exerted a marked influence on the live-stock interests of the county, which he greatly pro- moted and sustained, doing much thereby to educate the public to a correct appreciation of its benefits.

This agreeable and remunerative departure did not, however, blind him to the public wel- fare when his country demanded his services. During the historical struggle from 1861 to 1865, he was for three years in the quarter- master's department in St. Louis, Missouri. Besides this he employed a substitute for the ranks, without having been drafted or in any way required to enroll for military duty, which was a rare instance of loyalty to his country, and devotion to what he believed to be a worthy cause.

In 1852, Mr. Nettleton was married to Miss Julia A. Watrous, a lady of domestic and social accomplishments, daughter of John B. and Julia (Montgomery) Watrous, both be- longing to families of historic military achievements. Her father served efficiently in the war of 1812, while his father was a brave soldier in the Continental army, under General Washington's command. Mr. and Mrs. Watrous were the parents of eleven children: Mary, born in 1824, now the wife H. Fossette; Ann Eliza, born in 1826, now Mrs. Judge Cadwell of Cleveland; John, born in 1828, now deceased; Cornelia, de- ceased, was born in 1830, and was the wife of James D. Ray, now of Duluth; Julia A., born in 1832; the subject of this sketch; Catherine, born in 1835, is the wife of James Beckwith, of New Orleans; John H. was born in 1837 and died in 1880; Ellen, born in 1839, married Dr. Fricker; Frances, born in 1842, married S. D. R. Stewart, brother of Senator Stewart, of Ohio: she died in Califor-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

nia in 1891; Richard, born in 1848, died in 1890; and Leverett, born in 1850, died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton had four children: Ralph, who died at the age of one month; Edward, who also died young in Superior City; Edward William, born Octo- ber 14, 1862, now a resident of St. Paul, Min- nesota, is interested in mining; and Elizabeth, born February 11, 1871, graduated at the Holman day school, in Detroit, Michigan, in June, 1891, and is an intelligent and accom- plished young lady, highly esteemed by a large circle of friends.

In politics, Mr. Nettleton was a Republi- can, but never held office, his numerous private interests occupying his entire time and attention.

This worthy man died June 18, 1885, while serving as juror in the famous Harrington murder trial, death finding him at his post of duty, in the faithful discharge of which he had passed his entire life, and relinquished only to clasp the responsibilities of the world beyond.

OHN D. GAGER, the popular leading merchant of East Orwell, Ohio, a genial, affable gentleman and public-spirited, progressive citizen, was born in Warren, this State, January 1, 1848. He comes of good old New England stock, his father, Lucian F. Gager, having been born in Connecticut in 1817, of a well-known and respected family. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Harriet D. Brooks, was a native of New York State, born in 1820. This worthy couple followed the general tide of emigra- tion to Ohio in an early day, settling in War- ren, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying in December, 1889, and the mother surviving until March 1893.

Both were industrious, upright and intelli- gent people, greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. They had eleven children, two of whom died in childhood, the remainder attaining maturity. Of those who grew up, Julia E., the eldest daughter, mar- ried a Mr. Hayes and had one daughter, Lizzie. After her husband's death, Mrs. Hayes married E. H. Eggleston, a prominent citizen of Cleveland, Ohio. Lucian F., the oldest son, resides in Salem, the same State; next in order of birth is John D., whose name heads this sketch; after him comes Hattie, now Mrs. Hagaar, of Joliet, Illinois; Carrie B., now Mrs. H. L. Warren, of Cleve- land; Pratt, agent for the American Express Company, at Cleveland; Clara and Edwin H., both unmarried and residing in Cleve- land.

The life of the subject of this sketch has been essentially a business career. He re- ceived his education in the frontier schools of Ohio, and, being one of a large family whose means were limited, was early inured to labor, learning those lessons of industry and self-reliance which have been the secret of his success. At the age of fourteen, he commenced to clerk in a general store in Ravenna, Ohio, later going to Salem, the same State, where he remained for some time. With a sagacity beyond his years, however, he determined to work for mer- chants who could thoroughly teach him the business, that he might eventually enter and successfully remain in the mercantile world. He consequently worked in various places until 1879, in the meantime by economy ac- cumulating sufficient means to justify him in opening a general merchandise store at North Sheffield, Ohio, where he continued successfully until December, 1892, at which time he disposed of his stock advantageously

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and came to East Orwell, where he purchased the property and merchandise stock of Mr. Bissell. Mr. Gager immediately commenced remodeling and rebuilding the premises, until now (1893) he has a handsome double store, well filled with new and high-grade goods. He is entitled to much credit for his enterprise in placing before the people of East Orwell such a complete and excellent line of merchandise, consisting of everything apt to be required by a village resident or farmer. Besides a fine line of dry goods, clothing, furnishing goods, boots, shoes, cloaks, hats, groceries, hardware and queens- ware, he will keep lime, cement, shingles, coal, sand, sewer pipe, pumps, flour, grain and feed of all kinds, and will soon build a roller feed mill for merchant and custom work. He will sell for the lowest possible cash prices and guarantee satisfaction every time.

March 22, 1872, Mr. Gager was married to Miss Della M. Fulton, an estimable lady, daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah Fulton, of Iowa, the mother having died when Mrs. Gager was a child. They have one child: Fay R., born September 27, 1878.

Orwell is to be congratulated on the acqui- sition to its business fraternity of a gentleman of such energy and ability and upright citi- zenship.

R EV. GEORGE TAYLOR NORRIS, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor, Ohio, was born December 12, 1857, in the town of Green, Monroe county, this State. His grand- parents were among the earliest pioneers of Monroe county, having effected a settlement there when the county was nearly all a wil- derness, and when wild animals and Indians

were its chief inhabitants. There his father, Edward Norris, was born in 1823. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Jane Jackson, was also a native of that place. They had six children: William Leonard, Martha Ann, John Wesley, Isaac Harvey, George Taylor, and Mary Ellen. Death has not entered this family circle.

During his minority, George T. worked on his father's farm, obtaining the usual educa- tion of a farmer boy, but no sooner did he attain his majority than he set about his long cherished project, that of getting a college education. He entered Scio College in the autumn of 1879, where he graduated in 1882. As illustrative of his determination to let nothing interfere with his purpose of obtain- ing an education, it may be said that for several terms he by careful management was enabled to live upon less than $1 per week of average expenditure. During the last year of his college course he filled the place of junior preacher on an adjoining circuit. After his graduation he entered the East Ohio Annual Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at its annual session in the fall of 1882, and was appointed to Pleasant Val- ley charge, where he remained two years. His services at that place brought about a substantial church growth, and through his efforts both the house of worship and par- sonage were repaired. At the conclusion of this pastorate he was sent to Hudson, Ohio, where he remained one year, and from thence he was sent to Mantua. At the latter place he served the full term of three years, ac- complishing that which seemed an impossi- bility ere he attempted it, namely, the erection of a beautiful brick church, at a cost of $4,200. Desiring to take a theological course of study, in 1888 he retired from the conference and entered the Boston Theologi-

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cal University, also entering certain classes at Harvard, remaining there two years. During this time he preached on the Sabbath in a church at Hull, on Boston bay. Returning to Ohio in 1891, he was appointed to his pres- ent charge at Windsor, where his pastorate has already been signalized by the erection of a beautiful new church in Windsor Mills, at a cost of $3,000. It is a gem of a building, an ornament to the community, and a monu- ment to the untiring zeal and energy of the pastor, for under a leadership less devoted than his it must have been a failure. The corner stone of the structure was laid in May, 1892, and.the dedication services were held February 5, 1893.

Mr. Norris was reared a Democrat, but left that party to join the Republican ranks and subsequently became an ardent Prohibi- tionist. His position on the temperance question is well known. Thus far he has eschewed all secret societies and orders.

August 28, 1889, Mr. Norris married Miss Alice Hale, of Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Nor- ris is the older of two children, her brother, Fred Hale, residing with their parents at Springfield. She is a woman of culture and refinement, takes an active and enthusiastic interest in her husband's work, and is in every way fitted for the position she occupies as pastor's wife. Mr. and Mrs. Norris are the parents of a little daughter, born May 20, 1893.

W ILBUR GRAVES, a well-to-do farmer and respected citizen of Wind- sor township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Hart's Grove, this State, August 28, 1846. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Higley) Graves, were early settlers of Ohio. They had three sons: Wallace,

born in 1844, is a prominent resident of California; Wilbur, whose name heads this notice; and Edgar J., born July 30, 1849, is a prosperous and influential citizen of Hart's Grove, Ohio.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native county, and owing to the lack of educational facilities in his com- munity had but slight opportunity to attend school. He has sinee, however, by self- culture mastered the necessary branches of a common-school education, while his natural judgment and experience have been excellent teachers, until he is now a well-informed and capable business man. He was reared to farm pursuits, which he has followed through life. He was married when twenty-four and subsequently resided a year in Hart's Grove, whence he and his wife removed to the vicinity of Windsor, settling on a farm ad- joining their present one. This they sold in 1880 and bought their present home of 114 acres, which is part of the old Higley farm. They have a comfortable house, pleasantly situated, surrounded by fine shrub- bery and fruit trees, with clean yards, good buildings, etc. The farm is under a good state of cultivation and produces excellent crops. He also has a dairy of eighteen or twenty cows, and raises draught horses, all of which have proved very profitable. Mr. Graves became afflicted with a painful spinal disease in 1887, since which time he has been confined to his room, but so great is his energy and unflagging his determination, that he directs his farm, and with the assist- ance of his eldest son, Ernest, a promising young man, realizes a profitable income from its products, sufficiently ample to support the family in comfort. All this prosperity is due to hard work and perseverance, together with careful and intelligent management, and the

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 106

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