Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 128

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 128
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 128
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 128

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).

April 5, 1888, Dr. Brayman was married in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, to Miss Lizzie Fitzgerald, a lady of education and refinement, daughter of John Fitzgerald, a prominent and respected citizen of the Keystone State. They have one son, John Harry, born March 5, 1889.

In politics, Dr. Brayman is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, belong- ing to Pierpont Lodge, No. 284, the Chapter of Conneautville, No. 76, Commandery No. 27, and the Mystic Shrine of Cleveland. Few men have contributed so much to the general welfare of the county as the Doctor, and he is justly numbered among its representative citizens.

J. TAYLOR, a well-known resident of Colebrook, Ashtabula county, Ohio, is a son of William and Ann (Reynolds) Taylor, and one of a family of five chil- dren, as follows: George, born in 1840, is now a resident of Akron, Ohio; T. J., born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 29, 1842; Sandy, born in 1844, is a resident of Cole- brook, Ohio; Eliza A., born in 1849, is the wife of J. Hilands; and Louisa M., born in 1853, died in 1856.

T. J. Taylor received a good common-school education and also attended the high school at Greensburgh, Ohio. His early life was spent on a farm. When the war broke out he entered the Union ranks, and as a member of the One Hundred and Seventh-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain W. N. Vesey, remained in the service until his honorable discharge, July 7, 1865. The principal battles in which he participated were those of Murfreesborough, Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Wilmington and Raleigh. Since the war he has been variously employed. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising for a while, and after that was foreman on a railroad. Then he turned his attention to the merchandise business, in which he was engaged six years. He served as Postmaster two terms, and for twelve years has been running a hotel. He is also dealing

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in trotting horses now, having two thorough- bred stallions of that stock. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the G. A. R. and the Junior Order of American Me- chanics, being Treasurer of the last named organization.

He has been twice married. In 1864 he wedded Ella Clark, who was born January 5, 1848, and died May 3, 1880. She had four children, namely: Cora, born in 1865, is the wife of A. Z. Morse; Royal, born in 1870, died in 1874; William, born in 1873, is a member of the home circle; and Burton D., born in 1876, resides at Green, Ohio. In 1882 Mr. Taylor married Nancy J. (Wingle- man) Wilcox, widow of Harry Wilcox. He and his wife are both of Irish extraction, and she, too, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio.

0 RLO L. MAPES, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Orwell, Ohio, and a cultured, popular gentle- man, was born in Kirtland, Lake county, this State, August 9, 1859. His parents, Abram and Jane ( Burke) Mapes, were both natives of the Buckeye State, the former born in Willoughby, Lake county, October 27, 1827, and the latter in Lake county, October 4, 1832. The father was an expert mechanic and a retiring, unassuming man. He was a devoted member of the Christian Church, after the precepts of which his life was fashioned. He was married December 31, 1851, to Miss Jane Burke, a lady of business ability and tastes, and a popular milliner, who now conducts a millinery store in Rock Creek. Her father, E. J. Burke, was an early pioneer of Ohio. The parents of the subject of this sketch had three chil- dren: one died aged eighteen months; Ro-

selba, born November 25, 1852, married Au - gustus Walker, of Chester, Ohio, and they have one son, Harry, born in May, 1878; and Orlo L., whose name heads this sketch, who was the only son.

Dr. Mapes received his primary education in the common schools of Geauga county, Ohio, after which he completed a course at Hiram College, which he attended three years. January 28, 1881, he commenced the study of medicine under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Atwood, of Chardon, Ohio, where he remained three years, after which he attended a course of lectures at the Eclec- tic Institute of Cincinnati, where he con- tinued one year. He then pursued his studies at the American Eclectic College, in the same city, graduating at that institution with distinction and receiving a diploma, with the degree of M. D. He practiced the first year in Chardon, Ohio, and afterward for six months in Painesville, the same State. He then settled in Mesopotamia, where he successfully pursued his practice until April 20, 1891, at which time he came to Orwell, where he has ever since remained. He pur- chased the residence of Dr. Tucker, which he has remodeled until he now has one of the handsomest homes in Orwell. A well appointed and commodious office, containing the Doctor's library and surgical instruments, etc., occupies a part of the premises. By his careful and conscientious work, he has gained the confidence and esteem of the community, and justly stands high in his profession.

January 10, 1885, Dr. Mapes was married to Miss Lucy Ellen Alderman, a lady of many social accomplishments, born in Painesville, Ohio, February 26, 1863. She was the only child of Bidwell and Mary (Earl) Alderman, both natives of Ohio. July 22, 1865, her

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mother died, after which she went to live with her grandparents, where she resided until her marriage. Her father remarried and had two sons: Earnest M. and William (). He died in Florida, December 25, 1878, after which his widow remarried twice, her second husband being Mr. Platt, and her third being a Mr. Buell. The sons, with their parents, reside in Florida. Dr. and Mrs. Mapes have three sons: Orlo Earl, born May 12, 1886; Horace A., born June 28, 1889; and Lloyd B., born February 15, 1893.

Politically, the Doctor is a Republican, but takes no active part in public affairs. He is, fraternally, State representative of Orwell Lodge, K. P., 510, and District Deputy as well as Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, besides being an active member of the Junior Order United American Mechan- ics; also an active member of the I. O. O. F. He is a useful member of the Diciples' Church, while his worthy wife is an earnest worker in the Congregational denomination. In his profession, the Doctor has established a reputation as a physician and surgeon of note, while as a citizen he ranks with the best and justly enjoys the regard of all right-minded men.

E DWIN A. JOHNSON, special agent of the Ætna Life and Accident Insurance Company, has been a resident of Char- don for eighteen years, and of Geauga county during his entire life. He first saw the light at Montville, in that county, March 17, 1843. His parents, William and Catherine (Austin) Johnson, were natives of Danbury, Connecti- cut, removing to Ohio a few years before the birth of our subject, and purchasing a home in Montville, where they still reside. Ten of

the children born to them still survive, our subject having been the fifth in order of birth. Of the children we make record as follows: Four, Elizabeth Miller, Emeline Cross, Luther Elbert and Millie Legget, re- side in Montville; three, Adaline King, Eva Proctor and our subject, reside in Chardon; John C. resides in Chicago; Hubert, in Cleve- land, and Alice Randolph in Midland, Mich- igan.

The father and mother of our subject are both consistent members of the Disciple Church in Montville. William Johnson, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, is still an active, industrious and energetic man. He is a cabinet maker.

Thrown on his own resources at the early age of thirteen, our subject sought and ob- tained such educational advantages as were within his grasp, and then devoted himself to such occupations as presented till the out- br ak of the Civil war, in 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry and served with that celebrated regiment for several months, participating in several engagements till his discharge, on account of pulmonary trouble. Recovering, to some degree, his health, he again enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that regiment till it was mus- tered out of service. After the close of the war he returned home and engaged in the manufacture of lumber for a time. Later he followed the barber's trade at Chardon, con- tinuing in that occupation for several years. He was then tendered his present position as Special Insurance Agent and has continued in successful service for the Etna Life Insur- ance Company till the present time.

In 1874 our subject was united in mar- riage to Jennie C. Nash, of Chardon. The fruits of their marriage were five children,

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four of whom survive: The eldest, Edith, now attending school in Chardon, is an artist of considerable ability; the second, Mabel, is a fine musician, both vocal and instrumental; the third, Tressie, died when but four years of age; the fourth and fifth, Claudine and Stewart E., are apparently possessed of equal natural gifts.

Mrs. Johnson is a model wife and mother, devoted to her home and its interests. She is a member of the Disciple Church.

Fraternally, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. at Chardon, Ohio. Politically, he votes the Republican ticket but is not ex- tremely partisan, preferring men and princi- ples to party subserviency.

W ILLIAM M. MATHEWS, conductor on the Eastern Division of the Nickel Plate Railroad, and a resident of Conneaut, was born in Pierpont, Ashtabula county, Ohio, November 14, 1853, his par- ents, Benjamin and Olive (Simmons) Mathews, both being natives of this county.

Benjamin Mathews was a carpenter by trade and was well and favorably known all over the county. He died in 1855, aged forty- seven years. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. The mother of our sub- jeet was married three times. Her first hus- band was Benjamin Jones, a native of this county, and her last marriage was to Solomon Tyler, a native of Conneautville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. By Mr. Mathews she had two children, William and Selden, the latter dying at the age of twenty years. Her children by Mr. Tyler were O. B. and Ben- jamin. She died July 20, 1880, in her sev- entieth year.

William Mathews worked on a farm until 1872, when he entered upon a railroad career, beginning as a brakeman on the Erie & Pittsburg Railroad. He next served in the same position on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio. While on the last named road he was promoted to conductor. In August, 1883, he came to Conneaut and accepted a position as brakeman on the Nickel Plate. He has remained in the service of this company ever since and the past six years has been conductor. His whole rail- road experience has been characterized by careful attention to business. He has been in three wrecks, but in none of them was he held responsible. One was on the Erie & Pittsburg and one on the New York, Penn- sylvania & Ohio, he being brakeman in both cases. In the other he was conductor on a freight train of six cars when he had a col- lision with an excursion train that was run- ning on his time, and although he did every- thing in his power to avert the catastrophe it was of no avail. This was at Silver Creek, where eighteen persons were killed and six wounded.

Mr. Mathews was married September 6, 1876, to Miss Justina Broughton, daughter of William and Esther (Flowers) Broughton, natives of New York and residents of Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania. Her parents moved to the farm where they now live Feb- ruary 18, 1892. Her father is seventy-five years of age, and her mother seventy. Re- cently they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Of their children we record that Lucy, wife of L. W. Odel, resides in Stone- borough, Pennsylvania; Addie, wife of J. E. Fenner, lives in Lyonsville, Pennsylvania; Ette, wife of M. B. Young, Ashtabula, Ohio; Mary, wife of Frank F. Hicksin, Conneaut;

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Aurilla, at home: Mrs. Mathews; Edith, cashier in Mr. Pelton's store for the past four years. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews have one child, Edith M.

Mr. Mathews is a member of the K. of P. and of the O. R. C., Nickel Plate Division, No. 145, Conneaut. His political affilia- tions are with the Republican party.

W ILLIAM HOFFMAN, locomotive engineer on the Nickel Plate Rail- road, and a resident of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Jefferson county, this State, October 2, 1862.

His parents, Andrew and Anna (George) Hoffman, were born in Germany and were married in Steubenville, Ohio, Andrew Hoff- man having settled in Steubenville upon his arrival in this country in 1858. He learned the trade of stone mason in the old country and has followed that trade all his life. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. Their three chil- dren are Anna, John and William. Anna is the wife of Andrew Rosenbomer, a farmer of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. They have five children : Henry, Albert, Maggie, Law- rence and Christopher C. John, a resident of Little Washington, Pennsylvania, is a lo- comotive engineer. He and his wife, Ella (O'Brien) Hoffman, have three children: William, John and Stella.

William Hoffman, the subject of this ar- ticle, remained on his father's farm until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and en- tered the car-shops of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to learn the painter's trade, working at that a year and a half. The paint not agreeing with him, he sought another line of

work, and for a year was employed as hostler in the Pan Handle engine-house in that city. Then he began firing on the Pan Handle, and ran between Dennison and Pittsburg two years. In 1882 he came to Conneaut and accepted a position as fireman on the Nickel Plate. After serving as fireman two months he was promoted as engineer and has been acting as such ever since. By his care- ful attention to duty and the best interests of his employers, he has never met with any ac- cident and has gained an enviable reputation as an engineer.

Mr. Hoffman was married November 5, 1885, to Miss Mary Sullivan, daughter of Dennis and Ellen Sullivan. Her mother died August 27, 1884, at the age of forty years, and her father is still living, in Conneaut. She is the oldest of three children. Her brother William lives in Conneaut, and her sister Ann in Pittsburg. All three were born in London. The Sullivan family came to America in 1871 and settled in Collingwood, On- tario, and in 1876 came to Astabula county, Ohio. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have one child, William John.

Politically, Mr. Hoffman is a Democrat. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers and of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Like many of the Brotherhood, he owns a comfortable home which his industry and frugality have se- cured.

C APTAIN JAMES P. WOODWORTH was born at Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, August 2, 1845, a son of James and Martha (Sackett) Woodworth. The father was a native of New York State and came at an early day with his parents to

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Ohio, being among the early settlers of Ash- tabula county; his paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. James Woodworth is still one of the leading agriculturists of Geneva township, and is well preserved in both mind and body at the age of seventy-seven years; he was for many years manager and part owner of a large furnace at Amboy, Ohio. Captain Wood- worth was reared in Kingsville township, his youth unmarked by special incident until September, 1862, when he answered the call for men to enlist in defense of the nation. He became a member of Company F, Second Ohio Cavalry, and was in active service until peace was declared. He was taken prisoner at Morristown, Tennessee, December 12, 1863, after he had been wounded by a minie ball; he was confined at Belle Isle and at Pemberton, but was paroled and exchanged in October, 1864. Again in active service, he was wounded at Dinwiddie Court House, and is now a pensioner of the United States Government.

After the war was ended he turned his at- tention to photography, and for twenty-three years devoted his time to this art, retiring at the end of this period to his farm. Since 1878 he has been Captain of the State inilitia at Geneva. Politically, he is identi- fied with the Republican party. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is Commander of his Post.

He was married October 11, 1867, to Ruby M. Thorp, who was born May 22, 1853, a daughter of Dennis and Clarissa Thorp. Mr. Thorp was the first Mayor of Geneva, and for twenty-one years was Justice of the Peace; he has been one of the energetic and enthusi- astic workers in the ranks of the Republican party. Mrs. Woodworth is also a photogra- pher, and previous to her marriage and after-

ward devoted much of her time to the pro- fession. Three of her brothers, Jason O., Henry H., and Freeman, were soldiers in the late war; Henry H. is the founder of the Geneva Times, and Freeman was for several terms a member of the State Legislature. Captain and Mrs. Woodworth are the parents of four children: Roy D., born May 22, 1874; Hottie R., born March 22, 1881; Nora P., born August 1, 1883; and Nellie C., born December 22, 1886.

C APTAIN D. P. WRIGHT, well-known among the brotherhood of lake cap- tains, was born at Harpersfield, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, January 17, 1851, a son of Jonathan and Lucretia (Woolsey) Wright, also natives of Ohio; the paternal grand- father was one of the first settlers at Harpers- field. Captain Wright was reared to farm life and attended the common schools of Geneva; he was also a student at Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio, and became a teacher of penmanship; he devoted his time to this profession until he was twenty-four years of age, when he shipped as a common sailor on the Great Lakes; he was steadily promoted until he became Captain, and now commands the steamer P. P. Pratt, owned by James Ash, of Buffalo, New York.

He was married December 25, 1886, to Anna Miner, of Ashtabula county; they are the parents of one son, Harold M., born June 4, 189.1.

Jonathan Wright, father of the Captain, was a soldier in the late Civil war; he en- listed at the age of fifty-five, and at the end of one year was discharged on account of disability. His brother, A. B. Wright, en- listed in 1861, and saw four years of active service.

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In politics, Captain Wright supports the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He is a man of quiet, unassum- ing manners, having the highest regard of a wide circle of acquaintance. Mrs. Captain R. R. Graves is a sister to Captain Wright.

S' EDGWICK M. WADE, a prominent farmer and respected citizen of Ash- tabula county, Ohio, residing near An- dover, and an inventor of wide repute, was born on the old homestead where he now resides. The Wade family was originally of English descent, their ancestors having come over from that "tight little isle" in an carly day and settled in Massachusetts, where many generations were born. James Wade, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Massachusetts, where he mar- ried Mary Upham, also a descendant of an old New England family. In an early day they joined the western tide of emigration, coming overland to Ashtabula county and settling on land in the primeval woods, which his older sons had purchased and where they erected a rude though comfortable log house. The old folks passed the remainder of their lives with their children, surviving to a good old age in the enjoyment of universal esteem. Nine of their children attained maturity, as follows: Martha, Nancy, Mary, James, Sidney, Theo- dore L. (father of the subject of this sketch), Charles, Benjamin F. and Edward.

Theodore L., father of Mr. Sedwick Wade, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, March 13, 1797, and was reared on a farm, receiv- ing his education in the schools of his vicinity. He was brought up to farming, which he fol- lowed all his life. In an early day, he and

the rest of the family, came overland to Ohio, then on the frontier of civilization, and settled on land in the woods, where he and his brothers bought a tract of land, which they cleared and improved. On this the family resided many years. In 1844, Theo- dore purchased ninety-six acres, which he cleared and built on it a log house, which was the nucleus of the large and valuable place on which his son now resides and which is known as the Wade homestead. He made several additions to his original purchase until he owned some 260 acres. He was a man of energy, intelligence and enterprise, and be- came prosperous and popular. Although not courting public office, he was often elected to fill positions of trust in the county and city. He was an old-line Whig and later a Republican and strong anti- slavery adherent. He possessed broad and liberal views and had a host of friends. He was married three times, first, in 1825, to Clarissa Adams, who died in 1833, aged twenty-nine years. His second wife was Augusta Bettes, daughter of William and Mary (Mills) Bettes, of Sandis- field, Massachusetts, prominent and respectel people. The three children of this marriage were: Ellen M., wife of Schuyler Colfax, a prosperous citizen of South Bend. Indiana; Sedgwick M., whose name heads this sketch, residing on the old 'homestead; and Martha A., living with her brother on the old home place. The devoted wife and mother died January 30, 1841, at the age of thirty-six, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss. Mr. Wade's third wife was Miss Mary L. Bettes, sister of his second wife, who survived him many years, dying in 1888, at the age of seventy-four. Mr. Wade died January 13, 1865, after a life of usefulness to his fellow men. He made his home on the old place where his two youngest children

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still reside. His son, the subject of this sketch, has taken charge of the farm and had managed it for many years previous to his father's death, the sister ably co-operating in the care of the house and management of do- mestic affairs. The old homestead is a fitting subject for the artist's pencil, being beauti- fully situated and surrounded with shade and ornamental trees and all modern improve- ments, and is justly numbered among the most valuable places in the county.

Mr. Sedgwick Wade initiated a new feature in the operating of the farm by introducing a Jersey dairy, he being the first to bring Jer- sey cattle to this part of the country, and the first to manufacture and market factory but- ter. He is also now engaged in breeding fine horses, in which he is very successful, finding it a profitable and desirable business. Al- though much engaged with his farming in- terests, yet in the midst of his manifold du- ties he has found time to invent numerous useful implements of agricultural and com- mercial value. Some of these he has pat- ented, and among the most popular may be mentioned a rotary harrow, which is in ex- tensive use among farmers of all sections. Another ingenious device was a stirrup hinge, which he patented and sold to a large hinge factory in Connecticut. His latest in- vention is calculated to interest all people, it being a curious pocket piece, combining a boot hook, screw driver, wrench, cork screw and punch, one of the most ingenious combi- binations ever invented. He has also in- vented many other articles of value, which he has never secured to himself.

Mr. Wade is a representative citizen of his county, and has done more than any other one man to advance the interests of the com- munity by the introducing of thoroughbred stock and improved methods of farming, etc.,

and as such is entitled to the esteem which he so universally enjoys. His sister is a lady of culture and executive ability, who manages the home and domestic affairs of this large place with ease and dispatch. Their home typifies comfort and refinement, while they make most hospitable hosts. They are useful members of the Congregational Church, and prominent, respected people of their commu- nity, enjoying the good will of all who know them.

T. SUNBURY, a farmer and black- smith of Richmond township, Ashta- bula county, was born in Canada East, January 11, 1821, a son of Jacob Sunbury, a native of Vermont. The latter's father, John Sunbury, was a native of England, and served as aide on the staff of General Burgoyne in the Revolutionary war, and was with him when he surrendered at Saratoga, New York. His death occurred at the age of ninety-four years. He was the father of eight children, six sons and two daughters. The mother of our sub- ject, nee Wealthy Terrill, was one of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. In 1836 Jacob Sunbury came to Trumbull coun- ty, Ohio, where he died at the age of fifty years. He left a widow and five children: Charles T., our subject; Edd S., deceased at the age of sixty-eight years; Daniel B., of Trumbull county, Ohio; Mary A., deceased; Martha J., of Ashtabula county, Ohio, was an army nurse, and afterward received a pen- sion of $12 per month; and J. C. Spencer, her husband, served three years as a soldier, and is a pensioner.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 128

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