USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 119
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 119
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 119
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S TEPHEN CASE is one of the sub- stantial farmers of Montville town- ship, and bears that character which gives solidity to any community. He was born at Simsbury, Hartford county, Connec- ticut, July 20, 1825, a son of Asa L. Case, a native of the same place. The great-grand- father, Captain John Case, emigrated from England in colonial times and participated in the Revolutionary war. The grandfather of Stephen Case was Asa Case, a native of Con- necticut, who served in the war of 1812. Asa L. Case removed to Ohio in the fall of 1833,
and located at Windsor, Ashtabula county, being one of the early settlers. He cleared up a farm before his death, which occurred November 25, 1854, at which time he was in his sixty-fourth year. He married Rosana Buell, a native of Connecticut, who died June 26, 1858, in her sixty-seventh year. Stephen Case is the youngest of a family of four, and is the only surviving child. He was reared to the life of a frontier farmer, and attended school in the rude log-house furnished with slab seats, the mental equipment of the teach- ers being often as meager. He was needed at home as soon as he was old enough to work, and so his opportunities were cut short by the more pressing demands of farm labor. He remained at home a few years after he was of age, assisting his parents. In 1854 he removed to Montville township and located on 100 acres of land, which was densely cov- ered with timber. Here, in the heart of the forest, he cleared a farm.
He was united in marriage, September 23, 1849, to Maria B. Piney, a daughter of Cap- tain Levi and Betty (Hill) Piney, of Connec- ticut. Captain Piney emigrated to Ohio when a young man, and bore the burden that was imposed upon all pioneers. He was fond of hunting, and often supplied his neighbors with meat, while they performed less excit- ing labor for him. He brought the nails for his house on horseback from Pittsburg, and burned the first brick-kiln in_ Trumbull county, Ohio. He died in Kirtland town- ship, Lake county, Ohio, in his sixty-fourth year. His wife, Betty Hill, was a native of Connecticut, and emigrated to Ohio with her parents at the age of sixteen years; she sur- vived to her eightieth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Case have two children: Ma- linda and Hiram P. Hiram is married and lives on the farm. He has held various
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township offices and has served with credit to himself and the satisfaction of the public; he is drum-major of the Montville brass band, in which he takes a lively interest. Mr. Hi- ram Case is a member of the Grange, and is one of the Lecturers of this organization, and also Deputy Master. In politics he supports the principles of Republicanismn, and has been Trustee of his township. The family are members of the Christian Church, and our subject has been Deacon since the organiza- tion of the society in this place; his son Hi- ram is one of the overseers of the church. Mr. Case is now the owner of 190 acres of choice farming land, well improved. He has been a good manager, and has cultivated thrift as one of the chief virtues, the result being that he has amassed a competence for his declin- ing years.
H ENRY HOTCHKISS, a popular and successful member of the farming community of Burton township, Ge- auga county, Ohio, was born at Che- shire, Connecticut, March 10, 1831, a son of William F. Hotchkiss. The father emigrated to Ohio in 1836, making the journey by wagon and accomplishing it in eighteen days. He settled in Burton township, where he cleared a farm and made improvements. He died in Geauga county in 1886, in his eighty- fourth year. He married Haunah Gaylord, a native of Connecticut, and they reared a family of five children. The wife and mother died at the age of seventy-four years. Henry Hotchkiss is the only surviving member of the family; he attended the district schools and was a student at Burton Academy.
Ile was united in marriage, in 1854, to Sarah A. Conant, of Troy township, Geauga
county, her family having removed to Ohio from Massachusetts and located in Troy township. In 1861 Mr. Hotchkiss enlisted in Company B, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years; he was in the engagements at Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and Pickett's Mills. He
was driving a team during the battle at Missionary Ridge, and was on detached duty at brigade headquarters from April 1, 1864, until the fall of Atlanta. He was in the bat- tle of Atlanta and took part in the fight at Lovejoy Station. He was ordered back to Chattanooga, where he was mustered out Sep- tember 8, 1864. He was almost fatally in- jured by being thrown from a wagon just be- fore the battle at Stone River, and was con- fined through a long illness in the winter of 1861-'62 in the hospital at Louisville, Ken- tucky.
After a long and honorable service he re- turned to his old home and took up agricul- tural pursuits. He has lived on his present farm since 1866, and has 297 acres under cultivation. He carries on general farming, and has met with more than ordinary suc- cess.
Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss are the parents of three children: Clarence A., Harry P., and Benjamin E.
Politically, our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and is an ardent supporter of the principles of that organization. He is a member of the Patchin Post, 229, G. A. R., and belongs to the I. O. O. F.
C LINTON MONTGOMERY, proprietor of the Evergreen Dairy farm, of Jeffer- son township, was born in Ashtabula county, in 1841, a son of Robert Montgom-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
mother of Ira P. was by maiden name Miss ery, a pioneer of this county. He was a tauner by trade, followed that occupation in Conneaut township, this county, a number of years, and then pursued the same vocation at Saybrook. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Montgomery died in 1848, having been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Vermont, but came to Ohio with her parents when young, where she was afterward married. After her hus- band's death she found a comfortable home with her son, Clinton, until her death in 1862.
Clinton Montgomery, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood days on the farm, attending school during the winter months. After marriage he rented land and worked at various occupations until he could accumulate sufficient stock to engage in the dairy busi- ness. He steadily advanced in this industry, and in 1882 purchased the farm he now owns, consisting of 160 acres of grazing and farm- ing land. Only sixty acres of the place was cultivated at that time, but he has since cleared the remainder of the farm, erected a portable sawmill, in 1886 built a good barn, 30 x 70 feet, has also a stock barn, 32 x 40 feet, a one-story residence of eight rooms, and all other farm conveniences. In 1888 Mr. Montgomery began the dairy business in con- nection with his farming, and now owns four- , teen Durham and Jersey cows.
January 1, 1863, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Jane Brown, a daughter of Harry Brown, who was born in New York in 1811. He followed farming in his native State until 1835, in that year located in Kirt- land, Lake county, Ohio, one year later went to Jefferson, and in 1850 removed to Iowa, where he died in 1851. Early in life he be- came a convert to the Mormon religion, and
afterward, in connection with farming, filled the pulpit in that church. In his political relations he was formerly a Whig, and later a Republican. The mother of Mrs. Mont- gomery was born in New York, where she grew to years of maturity, and was married at the age of sixteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had eight children, five of whom still survive. The mother died in 1865, having been a member of the Methodist Church from early life. Mrs. Montgomery, wife of our subject, was born in Jefferson township, Ashtabula county, in 1844, enjoyed the ad- vantages of the common schools, and was married at the age of nineteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have three children: Daisy E., a teacher by occupation; L. May, at home; and Earle, attending the J. E. In- stitute. Our subject and wife are members of the township grange, No. 1311, and the family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, in which Mr. Montgomery is Sunday-school Superintendent and Steward .. He has held the position of Township Super- visor and School Director, and is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Ash- tabula county.
RAD P. FELCH, an energetic and pros- perous young business man of Bushnell, Ashtabula county, Ohio, is ranked with the representative men of his county.
Dudley S. Felch, his father, was born in New Hampshire in 1831, and has been a resi- dent of Ohio since 1845, when he settled in Ashtabula county. For a number of years he was engaged in farming. Having a com- petency, he is now retired from active life. His parents, Ezekiel and Judia (Sain) Felch, were both born in New Hampshire. The
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
Angeline A. Ring, she being a native of Con- neant, Ohio, and a daughter of Joshua and Polly (Thayer) Ring, early settlers of Ohio. Her father was a prominent farmer of this county. She was twice married, first to Fow- ler F. Peters, who died, leaving her with three children, as follows: Cora, now de- ceased; Wendell, who died at the age of twenty-five; and Lola, wife of L. H. Means, an attorney of Ashtabula. Her marriage to Mr. Felch occurred in 1859. Their only child is the subject of this sketch. .
Irad P. Felch was born in Monroe town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1860. He remained with his parents till he reached his majority, after which he worked on a farm for wages two years. Then he was for a time employed by the tile company of Ashtabula. Returning to Bushnell, he turned his atten- tion to mercantile pursuits, in which he is still engaged.
He was married in 1888, to Laura Ingalls, a native of Vineland, New Jersey, and for several years a teacher in Ohio. She is a sister of Mrs. George L. Felch.
Mr. Felch began life with $50, a present from his father. He is now the owner of a tract of land, a comfortable home, business property and good business. He is Post- master at Bushnell, and has been Township Clerk for seven years. Courteous in manner and honorable and upright in all his dealings, he has the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
J OSEPH N. STRONG, a representative farmer of Thompson township, and a member of the Board of Commissioners of Geauga county, is a native of the Buckeye State, born March 3, 1839. Ilis father, Elias
Strong, was a native of Massachusetts, but emigrated to the frontier when it was a vast, unbroken wilderness. His grandfather, who was also named Elias Strong, came with his family and took up several hundred acres of land which he soon afterward turned over to his three sons, who cleared it and placed it under cultivation.
Elias Strong, Jr., followed agriculture all his life; he witnessed the wonderful changes which have come to this country, and aided in making the way for the progressive move- ments which have brought prosperity and plenty to his descendants. He died in 1888, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet E. Russell, is a native of Massachusetts, but came to the West soon after the Strong family ; she is now living at the age of eighty-seven years. Both were members of the Congregational Church in early life, and have contributed liberally to its support. They reared a family of six children, four of whom still survive. Joseph N. Strong is the eldest son. He received his education in the district schools, and has lived all his life on the old homestead with the ex- ception of one year.
Mr. Strong was married in 1868 to Miss Rose Mathews of Geauga county, Ohio, a daughter of Richard and Lucy (Parks) Math- ews, natives of Maine and Ohio respectively. Mr. Mathews came to Ohio when a lad of nine years, accompanying an uncle; he is a carpenter by trade, and is a resident of Thomp- son, Geauga county. Mr. and Mrs. Strong were the parents of six children: Charles; Willie, deceased; Elias; Julia; Mary and an infant, deceased.
The Republican party of Geanga county elected Mr. Strong a member of the Board of Commissioners in the fall of 1887, and ex- pressed their approbation of his management
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
of affairs by re-electing him in 1890. He has given much attention to agriculture, and owns 215 acres of choice land.
Believing in the equal rights of men, Elias Strong, Jr., was an ardent Abolitionist, and was active in politics during the war, giving liberally of his means to support those move- ments which were inaugurated for the libera- tion of the slave. His son Charles was also a zealous patriot; he was a member of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and fought in the engagements at Perryville aud Stone River. He died of measles at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1863, and was brought home and buried in Thomp- son.
L EVI WAITE, a wide-awake grocer and all-around enterprising business man of Harbor, Ohio, was born in northern Vermont, near Montreal, Canada, September 19, 1852. He comes of New England stock, his grandfather, Simeon Waite, having also been a native of the Green Mountain State and a farmer by occupation. He was the father of seventeen children and three of his daughters had sixteen children each, while three sons were fathers of fourteen and fifteen. Simeon Waite, father of the subject of this sketch, was also born in Vermont, whence he removed to Lockport, Pennsylvania, in 1854, and when not on the move with his family he was engaged in farming. From Lockport he removed to Girard, in the same State, thence to Cranesville and afterward to the Harbor, Ohio. Subsequently he again returned to the Keystone State, stopping at Titusville, at the mouth of Bull run when he again returned to Ashtabula, in 1866. Succeeding this, he decided to try his fortunes in the far West, and accordingly sold out
his farm and drove through to Nebraska, the journey requiring from April 1st to Au- gust of the same year. He first stopped in Butler county, bnt shortly afterward re- moved to Omaha. The western country was a disappointment to him, however, and the same fall he loaded up his effects and once more drove to Ashtabula, this time buying property on Ann street, where he resided un- til his death in 1877, at the age of fifty-four. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was Sarah Eastman, daughter of Levi East- man. The other children were Damreus, Elizabeth, Ezra, Levi, Hannah and Ruby. Simeon Waite and wife had ten children: Martha, single; the subject of this sketch; Eva, wife of Joseph Sullivan; Rachel; Ellen; Ruby; Ella; Willie; Ida and one other de- ceased.
The subject of this notice accompanied his parents on their various journeys, his educa- tional advantages being much limited, as he received but nine months' schooling, which, however, has been supplemented by extensive reading and a wide experience until he is now a well informed and capable man. He rode a horse for his father on the farm, and when the family moved to the oil country, young Levi drove a team for five years. On his father's return to Ashtabula, young Waite remained on the farm until he was seventeen and then went to Pennsylvania in search of employment, where he at first made a contract with a circus, but after three weeks' time aban- doned this to accept employment on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, in which occupation he continued a year. He then, when eighteen, learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, after completing which he secured employment as brakeman on the Ashtabula Division of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railroad, where he continued seven
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
years. He then quit the road and began con- tracting and building, working five or six men for two years, meeting with very fair success. At the end of this time, he opened a cigar and tobacco store at the Harbor, which he conducted nine months. The attraction of the road then proving too strong for him, he again went to pulling pins, this time for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern road, where he was employed fourteen months, after which he returned to the Ashtabula Divi- sion of the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne railroad, where he continued five years. At the end of this time he opened a grocery on Lake street in Harbor, where he is now engaged in a lucrative business, being prospered as mnuch as could be desired, having accumulated a fair income and owning three houses, from which he derives a good profit.
Mr. Waite was married when twenty years of age, on December 9, 1872, to Miss Ella Bratton, an attractive lady, daughter of Harry Bratton, one of the first settlers of Ashtabula county. Mr. Waite's faith in himself and hope in the future exceeded his capital at that time, as he possessed only $25; but his present prosperity proves what brave hearts and willing hands can accom- plish. They had three children: Millie, born 1875; Nellie, born February, 1877; and Inez, born in 1881; besides an adopted daughter, Clara Lydia Bratton, a cousin of Mrs. Waite. In 1882, the family were called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother, whose life had been one of unselfish devotion to their welfare and happiness. June 12, 1886, Mr. Waite was again mar- ried, his union taking place in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Sarah Rannan, an estimable lady, daughter of Alonzo and Mary (Bowden) Potter. She was one of ten chil- dren, those surviving besides herself being:
John; Mary, wife of James Lyle; Maggie, wife of E. E. Gurney; Sam and Sadie A. Mrs. Waite had three children by her first marriage: Edna, deceased, who would have been nineteen years old now (1893); Jennie, aged eighteen; and Frank, fifteen years old. By her present marriage there are three chil- dren: Agnes, aged six; Levi, four years of age; and Katherine, aged two.
Socially, Mr. and Mrs. Waite are members of the Mystic Circle, while he is a worthy representative of other orders. In business he is upright, attentive and enterprising, and as a citizen progressive and public-spirited, and is held in high esteem by his community.
W F. FAIRBANKS, M. D., is one of the rising physicians of the State of Ohio and promises to take a front rank in the medical fraternity. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, October 18, 1860, a son of George Fairbanks of Geauga county, Ohio. The grandfather, James Fairbanks, emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and fol- lowed agriculture all his life. George Fair- banks was reared to the life of a farmer, but turned his attention to the ministry, and for more than twenty years has been prominently identified with the work of the Congrega- tional Church. He married Elizabeth Moore, and they had two children, Ernest, a resident of Chicago, and Dr. W. F. Fairbanks. The Doctor passed his boyhood on the farm, but at the early age of eleven years he entered Hiram College, beginning the four-year course; be began teaching at the age of six- teon years, and in 1881 was graduated in the Latin and scientific course. The year fol- lowing he spent in New Mexico and Arizona, returning at the end of twelve months to
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
commence his professional studies. His first reading was done under the advice of Dr. Fenton, of Troy; he then entered the West- ern Reserve University, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in March, 1886.
In the May following he located at Mont- Ivile, Geauga county, and has since built up a profitable practice. He is well equipped from both a mental and material standpoint, and has met with gratifying success in his professional labors. He is a member of the Geauga County Medical Society, and is highly esteemed by his medical brothers.
In politics Dr. Fairbanks is identified with the Republican party, stanchly supporting the principles of that body. He is an hon- ored member of the Masonic fraternity.
R OSWELL WEBSTER, a farmer and stock-raiser of Lenox township, Ash- tabula county, Ohio, resides a mile north and a mile and a quarter east of the center of Lenox, his farm being one of the most attractive and desirable in this vicinity. He comes of good old New Eng- land stock, his parents, Herman and Annie (Bailey) Webster, being both natives of Con- nectient, the former born in Litchfield county, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of shoemaker. In 1815, Herman Webster, accompanied by his wife and five children, left Connecticut for Ohio, making the journey overland by ox cart, and being six weeks on the way. He had exchanged his property in Connecticut for a farm in Morgan township, Ashtabula county; and, taking possession of the latter, which was in the midst of a forest, he made a clearing, built a cabin and began the life of a pioneer.
Many were the hardships and privations of that period, all of which he manfully met and overcame. He here passed the remainder of his life, building for himself and family a beautiful home and laying away an ample competency for old age. His death occurred in 1847, in his seventy-sixth year. This worthy couple were the parents of ten chil- dren, 'five of whom were born in Morgan township.
The subject of this sketch was born in Morgan township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, February 5, 1824, and his early life was passed on his father's farm, where his chief occupa- tion was chopping wood. His educational advantages were such as the country schools afforded in that early pioneer time. When twenty-four years of age, he was married and shortly afterward settled on his present farm, comprising 158 acres, which he purchased in company with his brother. Here the brothers set to work clearing a small place, on which they built a log cabin. Roswell some time later exchanged his interest in the homestead of his father for that of his brother in this new farm, and he still retains the entire tract. He continued the work of clearing until the timber disappeared from all save eighteen acres, which he kept for wood purposes. A good dwelling soon took the place of the cabin home, which, in turn, was superseded by a commodious residence of eleven rooms, built in 1861. This latter structure was de- stroyed by fire in 1881, after which Mr. Webster built his present elegant home. He also erected barns and other farm buildings, planted orchards, etc., and to-day has one of the finest farms in the vicinity.
Mr. Webster was one of the boys in blue, who fought for the old flag during the troub- lous days of the Civil war. He enlisted, in 1862, as a private in Company H, One
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the service eleven months, five of which were spent in the hos- pital, where he was compelled to go from the effects of a dislocated ankle, having been kicked by a mule, and from which injury he has never recovered.
In 1847, Mr. Webster was married to Miss Emily P. Harvey, an estimable lady, who was born and reared in Morgan township. She was well versed in all the useful details of the pioneer home and proved a helpmate in every sense of the word. They had five chil- dren: Elma A., born in 1848, married P. P. Church, and resides on a farm in Saunders county, Nebraska; Spencer A., born in 1850, is engaged in the lumber business at Black Ash, Pennsylvania; Melvin H., born in 1853, is a resident of Dorset township, this county ; Cornie D., born in 1855, is in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road, living in Ashtabula; and Katie E., born in 1867, was married to Byron Bullfinch, and died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1890. Mr. Web- ster was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted wife October 5, 1867, who lett many friends to lament her loss. She was a Baptist and was active in both church and Sunday-school work. In December, 1869, Mr. Webster was again married, his second wife being Miss Flyvia Waters, who was born and reared in Lenox township, Ashtabula county, and is a daughter of Timothy Waters, an old pioneer of northeastern Ohio. She was a successful teacher before marriage, and is a woman of culture and refinement. They have one child, Fred A., born April 19, 1871. Mrs. Webster is a member of the Congrega- tional Church and of the Women's Relief Corps.
Personally, Mr. Webster is a genial, well- informed gentleman. In his home are found
the leading newspapers and periodicals of the day and few men are better posted on current events and markets than he. He contributes by his energy and enterprise to the prosperity of the community, of which he is a promi- nent and influential citizen.
R ICHARD KING, a successful mer- chant of Chester, Geauga county, Ohio, was born in Hamilton, Canada West, August 17, 1843. His parents, Thomas and Sarah King, natives of England, emigrated to Canada, where the father was engaged in the butcher business. They had a family of ten children, Richard being the youngest and one of the three who are still living. When he was six months old his mother died, and three months later he was bereft of a father's care.
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