Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 117

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 117
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 117
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 117

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).

While not identified with any particular church, Mr. Cole has always been a liberal contributor to church and benevolent pur- poses. Mrs. Cole is a useful member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Few men have done as much for the general wel- fare, and few are more deeply enshrined in the hearts of their fellow-citizens.

H ORACE ALVORD, one of the ablest jurists of northeastern Ohio, a promi- nent and esteemed resident of Paines- ville, was born in Orange, New Jer- sey, November 7, 1850. He is of English descent, although his ancestors have lived for many years in America. His grand- father, Gaines Alvord, was a native of Mas- sachusetts and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Ile afterward held a high position in the New Jersey militia, and died aged about

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ninety years. His son, Gad W. Alvord, a native of Granby, Massachusetts, was reared in his native commonwealth, where he mar- ried Margaret Bush, a representative of a prominent New England family. In 1851, they joined the general movement of emigra- tion setting in toward the West, coming to Lake county, Ohio, and settled on a farm near Madison. He has since been variously engaged and now lives in Flint, Michigan, with his wife, his devoted companion for so many years. Their nine children, five sons and four daughters, all survive, and fill hon- orable positions in business and society.

It will thus be seen that the subject of this sketch was but yet a year old when his parents emigrated to Ohio, in which the greater part of his life has been passed. His earlier years were passed on the farm, and he attended the district schools of his vicinity, later going to the high school in Painesville. One of a large family in limited circum- stances, young Horace was early inured to labor and forced to rely on his own resources, thus learning those lessons of self-reliance and in- dustry which have contributed to his present success. When fourteen years of age, he started in life for himself by becoming a clerk in Painesville, later securing a position through friends as broker in Seneca Falls, New York. He saved his money to aid him in completing his education, and determining on the law as his profession, after reading a short time, he entered the University of Mich- igan, pursuing the studies in both the literary and law departments of that institution for two years, in the meantime teaching school at intervals to secure the means to apply on the expenses of his education. Thus, labo- riously, but none the less surely, he reached the goal of his ambition, being admitted to the bar in 1871, at the age of twenty-one.

He was then in partnership with John L. Brond for a year, after which he was offered an interest in the law business of A. L. Tinker, his old preceptor and one of the foremost attorneys at that time in Painesville, which proposition he gladly accepted, and they con- tinued in partnership for ten years, enjoying a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Alvord then became associated with his own brother, with whom he continued eleven years, until 1871, since which time Mr. Alvord has been alone, gaining by careful and conscientious work the universal confidence of a large cli- entage. In 1881 he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, and now enjoys an extensive practice before the local, State and Federal Courts. He has been attorney for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company since the organization of that corporation, and, for the past ten years has acted in the same ca- pacity for the Lake Shore Railroad Company, which endorsements speak more powerfully in his favor than any amount of encomiums which could be written.

In politics, Mr. Alvord is a supporter of Democratic principles, and takes an active interest in local, State and national affairs, being prominent in the councils of his party. Although he has never sought office, his prac- tice and personal affairs leaving him no time for public duties, yet an admiring constitu- ency has several times nominated him for high positions of trust, but, his vicinity being proverbially Republican, Mr. Alvord has suf- fered defeat with his party. He was nomi- nated without his knowledge for Judge of the Common Pleas Court when he was twenty- six years of age, and had he been returned there is no doubt but he would have reflected credit on his fellow-citizens even at that early age. He was a candidate for Congress against

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the late lamented General Garfield, against whose popularity, perhaps, few could hope to succeed, Mr. Alvord, however, being the one whose chances seemed most favorable. Fra- ternally, Mr. Alvord affiliates with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is State Representative and Past Grand Patriarch.

In 1888 Mr. Alvord was married to Miss Helen Hine, a lady of education and refine- ment, a graduate of the Painesville high school and Smith's College, at Northampton, Massachusetts. Her father, Augustus Hine, is a prominent capitalist and esteemed citizen of Painesville. Thus happily situated, Mr. Alvord may well be congratulated on his at- tainment of true success in life, which is not gauged by public applause or financial ad- vancement, but by the thousand amenities which go to satisfy the human soul.

H ON. ORRAMEL H. FITCH was the only child of Azel and Fanny Fitch. His father was a farmer and merchant, and for many years engaged in the Southern trade. During the war of 1812 he invested largely in woolen manufacturing. The peace of 1815 threw open our markets to foreign goods, and the English manufac- turers flooded the country with their wool- ens at low prices, for the purpose of destroy- ing the American manufactories, then in their infancy. In the crash which followed he lost nearly all of his property.

The subject of this sketch was born on the 12th of January, 1803, on Goshen Hill, a beautiful spot, surrounded by a farming community, in the town of Lebanon, New London county, Connecticut. He was of English descent and of Puritan stock, being

a lineal descendant of the Rev. James Fitch, the first minister and one of the first com- pany of settlers in Norwich, Connecticut, that township having been granted to him and his father-in-law, Major John Mason, and thirty-three associates, by Uncas, the noted Mohegan chief, for their assistance against their bitter enemies, the Pequods. At a subsequent period Owaneco, the son and successor of Uncas, in acknowledgment of favors received from Mr. Fitch, granted to him a tract of land five miles in length and one mile in breadth, within the present limits of Lebanon, a portion of which, com- prising the homestead, was occupied by the family for several generations.

The subject of this sketch, from his child- hood until his twenty-fourth year, with the exception of four summers, when he worked upon his father's farm was either a student or a teacher,-teaching to raise money to meet in part his expenses. Among other schools taught by him, it may be noted that he was for some months an assistant teacher in Masonic Hall Seminary in Richmond, Virginia; that he was for a short time engaged as teacher of languages in Westfield Academy, Massachusetts, and during one winter as principal of Union Academy in Windsor, Connecticut.

In the spring of 1824 he commenced the study of law, in the office of Augustus Col- lins, Esq., in Westfield, Massachusetts, where he remained two years. He then went to Norwich, Connecticut, and entered the law office of the Hon. Calvin Goddard, who was at that time one of the most distinguished lawyers in the State, and continued under his instruction until March 16, 1827, when, having passed a satisfactory examination, he was admitted to the bar and licensed to practice in the courts of the State. He had

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

decided not to settle in New England, but to seek his fortune in the West, and in May following he bade adieu to his friends, and commenced his journey in search of a future home in Ohio. He reached Cleveland on the 13th day of May; from there he went to Canton, Stark county, where, and in its vicinity, he spent nearly a year. His parents had made arrangements to come West and live with him, and wished him to settle in the northern part of the State, where the manners and customs of the people, who were principally from New England, were similar to their own. In accordance with their wishes he sought a location near Lake Erie, and having received some favorable infor- mation respecting Ashtabula (which, however, proved partially incorrect) he selected it as his future residence. He came to Ashta- bula on the 29th of March, 1828, a stranger, without a single friend or acquaintance, and took up his abode here, where he continued to reside for more than an half century.

His parents came in the fall of 1829, and resided with him during the remainder of their lives. His mother, who was a woman of true piety and exalted worth, died Octo- ber 19, 1831. His father survived her for several years, and closed an active, industri- ous and virtuous life September 10, 1842.

The subject of this sketch was admitted to the bar of Ohio at Cincinnati, on the 19th day of May, 1828, and commenced at Ashta- bula the practice of law, which he continued with fair success for many years. In 1838 he entered into a co-partnership with M. M. Sawtell, continuing two years. In 1860 his son, Edward H. Fitch, having graduated at Williams College, read law, and, having been admitted to the bar, became associated with him in business, a connection which continued until January, 1863, when, by an arrange-

ment with Judge Horace Wilder to take his place in the firm, he retired entirely from the practice of law.

In the fall of 1828 he was engaged by H. Lowry to write the editorials for his paper, the Western Journal, for about two years; but his name was not made public, and his connection with the paper was unknown, even to his friends. He was afterward, for about five years, editor of the Ashtabula Sentinel.

In 1835 he was married to Miss Catharine M. Hubbard, only daughter of William Hubbard, Esq., who had recently removed to Ashtabula from Holland Patent, New York. She died, much lamented, on the 29th of November, 1859.

In 1832 he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office, by successive elections, he held for nine years. Very few of the many decisions rendered by him during this period were reversed by the higher courts.

In 1837, and again in 1838, he was elected to represent the county in the State Legisla- ture, and at the close of his second teri he declined a re-election.

During the years 1841 and 1842 he was Prosecuting Attorney for the county.

He was never an office-seeker. Residing during his youth in a community where it was neither popular nor respectable for a candidate to flaunt his claims or his fitness for office before the people, he never elec- tioneered for himself, nor was he ever present at a political nominating convention when he was a candidate for office.

Always feeling a deep interest in the prosperity of the town, he was for many years one of the most active and efficient supporters of every measure which in his opinion was calculated to benefit its people. In 1848 he aided in the organization of

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

the Farmers' Bank of Ashtabula. He was elected a member of its first board of direc- tors, and the following year was elected its president, which office he held in that and its successor, the Farmers' National Bank, until his demise.

In 1861 he was appointed by Mr. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, agent of the Gov- ernment for obtaining subscriptions to the national loan authorized by Congress in that year.

Mr. Fitch was prominent in securing the establishment of the Lake Erie Female Seminary at Painesville, and was a member of its first Board of Trustees, an office which he continued to hold until the time of his death.

Fond of natural history and scientific re- search, in 1854 he became a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, usually attended its annual meet- ings, and was a Fellow of that society. Devo- ting a portion of his leisure hours to scientific pursuits, he collected (mainly, however, by the aid of a scientific friend) a small but valuable cabinet of minerals, fossils, shells and corals, which furnished him many hours of quiet enjoyment.

In politics he was an old-line Whig, and after the dissolution of that party was an ad- herent of the Republican party, although for some years he had not taken an active part in politics.

Mr. Fitch was greatly interested in the history and welfare of Ashtabula county. He rendered timely and effective aid in the perfecting of those two important public highways of the county, the plank road and the Erie road. He collected the data and wrote much of the general history of Ash- tabula county, being assisted by G. Williams. At the time of his death he was president of

the Ashtabula County Pioneer Association.

Taught in early childhood, by a pious mother, the great truths of divine revelation, those teachings were never forgotten, and no doubt had an important influence upon his whole future life. In 1836 he united with the Presbyterian Church in Ashtabula, and for many years was a ruling Elder in that church. He died September 17, 1882.

H ON. E. H. FITCH, son of the above, was born at Ashtabula, Ohio, May 27, 1837. He received his education in his native town, and at St. Catherines, Canada, and was also a student at Williams College, Massachusetts, where he received the degree of B. A. in 1858, and that of A. M. in 1861. During his college days and during the life-time of James A. Garfield they were close friends. Mr. Fitch studied law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He was a partner of his father, and subsequently with Judge Horace Wilder, Judge L. S. Sherman, and Hon. S. A. Northway. Since this last partnership was dissolved, Mr. Fitch has practiced at Jeffer- son. He served as Justice of the Peace and as Prosecuting Attorney, and in 1869 was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives of Ohio, discharging his duties with unusual ability and rare fidelity. On the 17th of October, 1870, Mr. Fitch was appointed by Governor R. B. Hayes, a dele- gate to the National Capital Convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, from the Nineteenth Con- gressional District. In 1892 Mr. Fitch read an exhaustive paper before the Ohio State Bar Association on the Torrens System of Registration of Land Titles, which was pub- lished, In May, 1893, Governor MeKinley

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

appointed a commission to formulate a law for Ohio in accordance with this system. Mr. Fitch was made chairman of this commission. He has devoted considerable time to scientific research, and since 1857 has been a member, and is now a Fellow, of the American Associ- ation for the Advancement of Science.

From General Garfield's first entrance into politics, Mr. Fitch was one of his stanchest supporters, having known him at college. When in 1865 General Garfield faced a frowning convention at Warren, Ohio, the excitement of the Wade-Davis manifesto being at its height, Mr. Fitch rendered him incalculable service in securing his re nomin- ation to Congress. This incident is referred to in Riddle's Life of Garfield, pages 77 and 108.

He was married, October 27, 1863, to Alta D. Winchester, daughter of Philander and Elizabeth (Gilman) Winchester, of Columbus, Ohio, and granddaughter of Mrs. Joseph Cowles, of Austinburg. Eight chil- dren have been born of this union, five of whom survive.

Catherine Hubbard, born in Ashtabula, February 15, 1865, died in 1872; Winches- ter, born at Ashtabula, November 21, 1867; Annette, born January 31, 1870, was gradu- ated at Lake Erie Seminary in 1890, and was married, January 31, 1893, to I. C. Brewer, Jr., Esq., of Sandusky, Ohio, who graduated at Cornell University in 1889, and is a civil engineer, engaged in the West on large contracts; Elizabeth Gilman, born January, 1872, died 1880; Edward Hubbard, Jr., was born in Ashtabula, March 31, 1873; he graduated at Western Reserve Academy, in 1892, and entered Oberlin College the following term; Alta was born in Ashtabula, July 25, 1876, and attended Huntsville College at Huntsville, Alabama; Flora C.

was born in Ashtabula, August 6, 1879; Charles Gilman, born in Jefferson, 1881, died March, 1886.

Winchester Fitch, son of E. H. and Alta D. (Winchester) Fitch, was born in Ashta- bula, Ohio, November 21, 1867. He was graduated from Cornell University in 1888, and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, to which his father had belonged at Williams. After finishing his college course he went to Chicago, and while there contributed to newspapers and maga- zines. He was a member of the Twentieth Century Club. In 1891 he was vice-presi- dent of the Northwestern Cornell Alumni Association. In 1892 he purchased an inter- est in the Geneva Times, .and became editor of this publication, which was established in 1866 by the late Warren Spencer, and which had always been popular and influential throughout the district. He was appointed on the Board of School Examiners of Ashta- bula county, in 1892.

D ANIEL B. HART, whose beautiful home is in Mentor, Ohio, and who is one of the prominent citizens of the town, was born in Winsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, January 6, 1812. He is of English descent, but for several generations the family has resided in America. His father, Stephen Hart, was born in Southing- ton, Hartford county, Connecticut, and his grandfather, Hawkins Hart, was also a native of Connecticut. They were farmers.

Stephen Hart emigrated with his family to Ohio in October, 1826, and upon his ar- rival here located near Wilson's Corners in Concord township, Lake county, from whence

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the following year he moved to Mentor. Here he passed the rest of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died about 1860, in his ninety-first year. Of his wife we record that her maiden name was Sadie Munson; that she was born in Middlebury, Connecticut, and that she died several years before her husband passed away. Daniel B. is the only one now living of their large fam- ily of children. His oldest brother, Chester Hart, emigrated to Ohio in 1819, and settled in South Mentor, where he cleared and im- proved a farm. He was a-sociated with Mr. Grandison Newell at an early day in the manufacture of cast-iron plows, their plows probably being the first cast-iron ones made in the Western Reserve.

Daniel B. Hart, upon reaching his major- ity, became associated with his brother Stephen in the growing of wormseed and peppermint, from which they manufactured oil. They cleared thirty-five acres, and for the clearing had the use of the land for five years. They did an extensive business, had a ready sale for their product, and with their accumulated proceeds they in time purchased a tract of land. Daniel B. had the care of his parents in their old age. He has been a hard worker all his life, and to his untiring energy may be attributed his present pros- perity. At one time he was the owner of several hundred acres of land, much of which, however, he sold about 1870. At this writ- ing he owns 200 acres. He built his ele- gant brick residence in Mentor in 1872.

Mr. Hart was married January 3, 1836, to Laura E. Manly, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of Russell and Rebecca (Wood- ruff) Manly, both natives of that same State. Her parents emigrated to Ohio at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have an only child. Addie L., at home.

Mr. Hart was originally a Whig, after- ward a Republican, and for several years past a Greenbacker. He has served as Trustee of his township for several years.

Z ERA PARKER. - Pleasant Valley Stock Farm, owned and conducted by the subject of this sketch, is situated on section 12, three-quarters of a mile west of Orwell, Ohio, and comprises 222 acres of ex- cellent land, well adapted to the uses to which it is devoted, that is, general farming, stock- raising and dairying. With a fine residence, substantial barns and all modern improve- ments, the farm is recognized as one of the show places of Ashtabula county.

This has been the family homestead for many years, having first been owned by the father of the subject of this sketch, Nehe. miah Parker, a pioneer of the county. He was born in Connecticut, whence he accom- panied his parents to Windsor, Ohio, when he was but five years of age. They made the journey overland with an ox team, their road trending over mountains and through marshy valleys and dense forests. Nehemiah was trained to pioneer life and farming, receiving the educational advantages of the early schools. When young, he manifested consid- erable financial ability, which, together with industry and economy, enabled him to accu- malate a valuable estate. At the time of his death he was the most extensive landowner in his county, besides having much personal property and other financial interests and re- sources. To his own indefatigable industry and persistent effort was this marked pros- perity entirely due. Up to the present date this estate stands on record as the only one in the county that has been satisfactorily set- tled without the services of an administrator.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Nehemiah Parker was twice married, his first wife being Samantha Cook, of Windsor, Ohio. She became the mother of five sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. Next in order was Oren N., born September 12, 1838; Allen L., born August 12, 1840; Daniel H., born December 11, 1844; and Henry E., February 28, 1847. The devoted wife and mother died in 1847, leav- ing these children to the care of the father. He afterward married Miss Zilpha Fenton, and they had one daughter Ellinor, who mar- ried Mr. Bugby and died, without children, at the early age of twenty-four years. Nehe- miah Parker died March 13, 1871, greatly lamented by all who knew him. His widow married Ichabod Clapp, of Windsor, and he died in 1890. Mrs. Clapp is still living and makes her home with Daniel H., a brother of the subject of this sketch.

Zera Parker was born in Windsor town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, November 9 1836. He attended the common schools, and, when seventeen years of age, commenced work at the blacksmith's trade, at which occupation he was successfully employed for sixteen years, securing, by care and economy, consistent financial returns. At the end of the time noted he bought the interest of the other heirs in the paternal homestead, to which he moved his family and where he has resided continuously ever since. He has made many valuable improvements conspir- ing to the facilitation of his operations in general farming, stock-raising and dairying, in connection with which composite enter- prise he manufactures annually a large quan- tity of maple sugar and syrup, which product finds a ready and profitable market, by reason of its superior quality, insured by the scrupu- lous care that is given to the varied details of its manufacture. He is widely known as

a breeder of fine horses, the list of standard- bred trotters on his farm being headed by Aaron, the famous little black stallion, which was raised by Mr. Parker. This finely bred individual became celebrated in the campaign of 1892, when, after but a few weeks' train- ing, he entered the trotting list with others whose records were 2:35 or under, and won either first or second money in nearly every race, trotting fifteen races within seven weeks. His registered number in the American stud book is 5,266. He was sired by Binderton, 3,003, by Belmont, 64, by Alexander Abdal- lah, 15, by Hambletonian, 10. His dam was by Atlantic, 1,003, a son of Almont, 33, son of Alexander Abdallah, 15, son of Hamble- tonian, 10; second dam by George Wilkes, Jr., by Robert Fillingham, Jr., by George Wilkes, 519; Binderton dam, Primrose, by Alexander Abdallah, 15. Next comes Mr. Parker's famous pacing mare, Cornet, regis- tered as sired by Conway, whose record is 2:188, by Wedgewood, with a record of 2:19, son of Belmont, 64, son of Alexander Ab- dallah, 15, by Hambletonian, 10. This ex- cellent pacer will make her debut next season (1894). Following Cornet comes Lady May, a standard-bred tilly, sired by Aaron, dam Belle Herrington, by Conway; second dam by Atlantic, 1,003. Among his standard-bred yearlings is Atlantic Bell, foaled October 22, 1892, and registered under the highest rules of breeding. This horse is sired by Golden Bell, son of St. Bell, with a record of 2:24} at four years old, a full brother of Bell Boy, by Electioneer. His dam is Atlantic; second dam by Redwood, by Blue Bull. Mr. Parker also bred the celebrated pacing stallion, Lloyd, with a record of 2:27, which is now owned by J. C. Hogue, of Mount Pleasant, Ohio. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Parker sold Bell Herrington, a pacer and a full sister of

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 117

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