Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 130

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 130
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 130
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 130

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).

M RS. OLIVER W: BROWN, nee Lodema Switzer, widow of O. W. Brown, deceased, is a representative of a very old and cultured family, which has taken high rank in legal and liter- ary circles. The celebrated Judge Hess of Wabash, Indiana, is an uncle of our subject, while the equally noted Judge Lowry of Can- ton is also a near relative.

Jacob Switzer, our subject's father, came from Berne, Switzerland, to America, in the latter part of the eighteenth century and set- tled in Pennsylvania in 1800, and afterward moved to Richland county, Ohio, where he purchased a large tract of land, in Clear Fork valley, and died in December, 1881. Mrs. Brown's mother was of French extraction, and many of her people were fine scholars and statesmen. The Curry Institute at Pittsburg is under the direction of her relatives. Mrs. Switzer, with her youngest son and daughter, resides in Richland county, Ohio.

Our subject is the eldest of ten children, nine of whom survive. Edmund B., the sec- ond, resides in Belleville, Ohio; Louis, the third, is a resident of Richland county, Ohio; James, the fourth, is also a well-known citi- zen of Belleville, Ohio. The fifth, Flora Pierce, is a resident of Butler, Ohio. The Pierce family is one of the oldest and most prominent of western Ohio. The sixth, Alexander, who was united in marriage to one of New Lyme's daughters, Alice Rath- bone, whose father, Dr. Rathbone, is one of the most prominent citizens of that township, is also a resident of Butler. The seventh, Mre. Ella Cline, resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Delvan, the youngest son, remains with his mother in Butler; the youngest daughter, Birdie, is a very bright and well-known mag- azine writer. Her sketches, which are to be found in many of the best periodicals, are of a very high order of literary merit. All the sisters are elocutionists of considerable ability, and of great literary culture. Miss Switzer is also a very successful instructor in the pub- lic schools of Richland county. Oliver Brown, to whom our subject was united in marriage, was one of New Lyme's foremost and most highly respected citizens. He was previously married to Mary Lee, whose brother, Judge

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Lee, was one of the most prominent citizens of Ashtabula county, and is still well re- membered by the older residents. Since the death of Mr. Brown our subject has been compelled to devote much of her time to the management of the great Brown estate, consisting of 800 acres of highly im- proved land. In spite of this great care, however, she finds time for church and so- cial duties. Our subject is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church of New Lyme and takes an active interest in its spirit- ual and temporal growth. Mrs. Brown has a host of friends and is highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities of mind and heart.

H ENRY ALLEN DE VOE, deceased, during his life-time one of Orwell's most influential citizens and most suc- cessful business men, was born in New York city, January 13, 1829. He was, as his name indicates, of French parentage, his parents having crossed the ocean a few years before his birth. Thrown on his own resources at an early age, he at first learned the printers' trade, following that occupation in connection with the Harpers establishment till twenty years of age.

George B., born July 15, 1853, formerly a prominent factor in business circles in Ash- tabula county, is now a leading merchant of Warren, Ohio; Jason, born July 7, 1856, also passed away in early youth, deeply re- gretted by all, the date of his demise being November 3, 1875; Emma H., born Feb- ruary 20, 1859, is elsewhere spoken of as the wife of Ward B. Stone, whose sketch appears in this work; Charles W., born October 20, 1862; and Fred H., born April 12, 1865, prominent business men of Orwell, are also spoken of elsewhere; the youngest, Henry A., born July 20, 1868, attained only his twelfth year, passing away July 28, 1879.

After his marriage our subject removed to Greenville, Pennsylvania, and embarked in the mercantile business, which he conducted successfully till his removal to Orwell. In that village he began his business career in the Goodrich block, where he remained for some time, when he purchased the building and stock of Hilliard & Reeves on the site now owned by H. B. Saterlee. Here Mr. De Voe did an extensive business till his de- cease from typhoid fever, October 30, 1869. Since his death the business has been con- ducted by his heirs, under the name of De Voe Bros. & Co., who are recognized as among the most successful merchants in Ashtabula county.

September 18, 1850, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Jane Bockover, of New Jersey, Politically, Mr. De Voe was a Republican and took an active interest in the upbuilding of his town, both morally and financially. A member of the Presbyterian Church, an ar- dent temperance man, his influence was ever distinctively felt on the side of reform. His death left, in the social and business inter- ests of the place, a void which it will be dif- ficult to fill. who yet survives. Her father, George Bock- over, although a native of New Jersey, was of pure German ancestry, his parents having removed to that State some years previous to his birth. Mrs. DeVoe was born July 18, 1831. The fruits of this union were seven children, four of whom survive; Willie T., the eldest, born July 8, 1851, did not live to fulfil the bright promise of his youth, but Mrs. De Voe resides in Orwell, surrounded passed away September 6, 1872; the second, I by her children, grandchildren and a host of

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friends. She is descended upon one side from a very old English family, her maternal grandfather, Barrabas Horton, having crossed the ocean in 1660, and settled in Southold, Long Island. For many years Mrs. De Voe has been a faithful member of the Presby- terian Church, ever ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and needy, and beloved by all who know her.

C ORYDON O. WARE, an enterprising farmer of Hampden township, is a na- tive of Geauga county, Ohio, born January 13, 1850, a son of Alfred Ware, a native of Madison, Lake county, Ohio. The grandfather, Asaph Ware, emigrated to Ohio from the East at an early day, and located in Madison, subsequently removing to Hampden township, Geauga county. In 1855 he re- moved to Linn county, Iowa, where he passed the remainder of his life. Alfred Ware is one of a family of four children, and he lived all his life in Hampden township with the excep- tion of two years. He bought the old Ware homestead, where he died in 1862. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Dorman, was born in Charleston, Portage county, Ohio; she died at the age of fifty-seven years. C. O. Ware, is the only child of Alfred and Harriet D. Ware. He attended the district schools, and early became accustomed to the hard labor of the farm. He was a lad of thirteen years when his father died, and at the age of sixteen he took charge of the homestead on which he has ever since lived.

Mr. Ware was married June 22, 1886, to Alma Mapes, who was born at Mayfield, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a daughter of Hiel and Eliza (Field) Mapes, natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. They emi-

grated to Ohio in their youth and were mar- ried at Mayfield. Mr. Mapes followed agri- cultural pursuits through life; he moved to Michigan, and died at Coldwater, at the age of sixty-seven years; his wife is still living, at Winfield, Michigan. They reared a family of five children. Mrs. Ware was educated at Oberlin College, and is a woman of superior attainments. Mr. Ware supports the issues of the Republican party. He carries on a general farming business, and has 123 acres in a high state of cultivation. His maple grove contains 700 trees and is one of the best in the township.

Mr. and Mrs. Ware are the parents of one child, a daughter named Margery.

C HESELTON P. BRAINARD, an old settler of Munson township, Geauga county, Ohio, was born at Chestertield, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, October 20, 1814. His father, Leonard B. Brainard, was a native of Rhode Island, and emigrated to Ohio in 1833, locating in Munson township, Geauga county, when this country was an unbroken forest. He died in September, 1849, aged fifty-nine years; his wife lived to be eighty-seven years old. C. P. Brainard is the eldest of a family of six children, all of whom are living. He was twenty years of age when he came to Geauga county, and re- mained with his parents four years, assisting in clearing the land and making improve- ments. In 1837 he went to Union county, Ohio, where he resided twelve years, being variously employed. In 1850, he returned to Munson township, buying out the heirs of the homstead property and living there two years. He then sold that place and bought | his present farm which comprises 106 acres.

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He was united in marriage January 19, 1851, to Polly Justice, of Chardon, Ohio, a daughter of John R. Justice, one of the first settlers of Chardon village. He built there a tannery, which he operated for years. He died at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife lived to be seventy-four. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard have one son, William L., who is married and lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

An ardent supporter of Whig principles Mr. Brainard became a Republican upon the organization of the party. He has been a Trustee of the township for many terms, giv- ing excellent satisfaction in this position. He and his wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee.

He owns 107 acres of land in his home farm, and another small tract. He does a general farming business, and at one time had a dairy, keeping twenty cows. He owns and operates a cider-mill, which was built in 1861, and still does good service.

Mr. Brainard has always taken an interest in military tactics, and has been both Second and First Lieutenant of the militia compa- nies. He received his commission as First Lieutenant from Governor Corwin. In his younger days he was quite fond of hunting, and one was one of the best marksmen in the country. He has been industrious, frugal and persevering, and has accumulated a com- petence.

S AMUEL WARD PHELPS, a promi- nent and wealthy horticulturist of Willoughby township, Lake county, Ohio, is a native of Painesville, this county, born November 29, 1825.

Hon. Samuel Ward Phelps, his father, and one of the pioneers of the Western Reserve,

was a native of Connecticut. He died in Ohio, in the prime of life, July 4, 1826, aged forty-five years. A graduate of Yale College, a lawyer by profession, and a man of marked business ability, he was in every way fitted to become a leader in the pioneer district where he settled, and few men in northern Ohio were better known or more highly re- spected than he. He came to the frontier as agent for a Connecticut land company, which owned a large tract of land along the lake shore. His arrival in Ohio dates in 1801. That was before there had been any settle- ment in that part of the country. In 1803, he married Lydia Paine, daughter of General Edward Paine. During the war of 1812, Mr. Phelps served as aid to General Har- rison. He was a member of the Legislature when it met at Circleville; was also a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention and helped to frame the Constitution of the State of Ohio. Judge Spaulding, now of Cleve- land, Ohio, was at one time a student in Mr. Phelps' law office at Painesville. Mrs. Phelps died in 1857, leaving five daughters and one son, the latter the subject of our sketch, be- ing one of the three children who are still living.

Young Phelps attended the public schools at Painesville until he was twelve years old, after which he spent five years at Kenyon College. After leaving college, he became connected with the Geauga Iron Company, at Painesville, in which he was a stockholder and with which he was associated seven years. The following seven years he was agent for the Lake Shore Railroad at Painesville. Then he located at Oil City, Pennsylvania, and spent two years in buying oil and ship- ping to Pittsburgh. Next we find him at Brazil, Indiana, where he was interested in coal-mining seven years, and following that

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he was for thirteen years in the Fountain county mines of Indiana. He owned and developed a number of mines.

In 1883, Mr. Phelps came to Willoughby and purchased a farm on the Cleveland and Painesville road-the farm on which his wife was born, and on which since 1883 they have made their home. Here he has 238 acres, and he also has under his management a hundred acres near by. 100 acres of this land he has devoted to fruit culture, having twenty-five acres in peaches, twenty-seven in a vineyard and a pear orchard comprising 1,600 trees. Mr. Phelps also owns 280 acres of land in Clay county, Indiana.

He was married in 1849, to Miss Mary C. Hall, daughter of Levi and Nancy (Cord) Hall. Her father came to Ohio in 1813, and her mother's people were also among the pioneers of Lake county. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have three children: Samuel H., Mary E., and William C.

Mr. Phelps is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he was first a Whig and is now a Republican.

A MASA I. ALLEN, who is engaged in farming in Willoughby township, Lake county, Ohio, was born in War- ren, Worcester county, Massachusetts, April 4, 1818, a descendant of an old Massa- chusetts family, both his father and grand- father, Pardon and Abner Allen, being na- tives of that State. Abner Allen was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was engaged in farming all his life and died at a ripe old age. Pardon Allen, also a farmer by occupa- tion, died at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, and the mother of our subject, was also a native of Massachusetts, her maiden

name being Ruth Tyler. She died in 1889, at the age of ninety-six years, her mother having reached the advanced age of ninety- seven. Her father, Abner . Tyler, was a wealthy and influential farmer and at one time a slave owner.

Amasa I. Allen was the fourth born in a family of seven children, four of whom are still living. He was reared on his father's farm, attending the district schools in his youth, and at the age of twenty-one started out in life on his own responsibility, beginning as a farm hand, working by the month. In the fall of 1839, concluding that the oppor- tunities for a young man to prosper were better in the West than East, he directed his course toward Ohio. He rode from Warren to Springfield, Massachusetts, on the first train that ran over the Boston & Albany Railroad, from Springfield to Albany traveled by stage, thence to Buffalo by canal-boat, and from there to Cleveland by lake steamer. Upon his arrival here, he selected Chagrin Falls as a place of settlement and bought land and engaged in farming; but before he could cultivate the soil he had to clear the land. For some time he lived in a log house, the forest all around him abounding in deer and other game. In 1847, Mr. Allen went to Michigan and erected a sawmill in the northern part of the State on the lake shore, and after being engaged in business there eighteen months sold out and came back to Ohio. He purchased his present farm, 100 acres in extent, in the fall of 1872, and on it he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has a five-acre vineyard among other improvements on his farın.

Mr. Allen was married in 1851, to Wealthy H. Holmes, a native of Kirtland, this county, and a daughter of Leroy and Betsey Holmes, who emigrated from Herkimer county, New

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York, to Kirtland, Ohio, in 1815. Some years after their settlement here, ber father sold his farm to the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, but subsequently had to take it back. Her parents are both deceased, her father having passed away in his sixty-third year. Seven of their twelve children are still living.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen have three children: Charles S., George and Lucy. Miss Lucy has taught one term of school.

Mr. Allen affiliates with the Republican party. He was personnally acquainted with James A. Garfield, and on one occasion bought two yoke of steers from the general.

J HOMAS WIBIRT, a well-known and pioneer physician of Andover, was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, July 22, 1809, a son of Ben Wibirt, a native also of Saratoga county. The latter is a son of John Wibirt, a native of the same county, and his father, Thomas Wibirt, was born in England. The mother of our subject was formerly Sylvia Kelly, a native of Vermont. Her parents died in Madison county, New York.

Thomas Wibirt, our subject, was reared in De Ruyter, Madison county, New York, and afterward went to Chenango county, same State. At the age of twenty-three years he began the study of medicine, under the preceptorship of Dr. Birdsley, a promin- ent and well-known physician of the latter county. In 1851 Mr. Wilbirt came to And- over, Ohio, where he conducted one of the first drug stores of the city, continuing that occupation many years. He has a good resi- dence and other property in this county, and is one of the eminent physicians in his com- munity.

The Doctor was married in Chemung county, New York, at the age of twenty-four years, to Mary Ann Sanford, a native of Con- necticut, and a daughter of Levi and Eliza- beth (Terrill) Sanford. Mr. and Mrs. Wibirt have had ten children, viz .: Ben L., a car- penter and contractor by profession; John, who was a soldier in the late war, serving first in the Second Ohio Cavalry, and later in the One hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry; Lydia Smith; Jerome; Ludentia Cook; Eliza- beth Sperry, deceased April 18, 1865; Amanda, deceased in infancy; Levi, who was drowned at the age of three years; and Sylvia, deceased at the age of six years. Dr. Wibirt affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although he was raised in the Quaker faith. He is a man of progressive views, is an active worker for education, re- ligion and every moral cause, and is a favorite with all who know him.

D L. HUNTLEY, a well-known business man of Pierpont township, Ashtabula county, was born in this city, October 25, 1832, a son of James Huntley, a native of Massachusetts, and a soldier in the war of 1812. The latter's father, Amos Huntley, was also a native of Massachusetts, and of Scotch parentage. James Huntley came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, early in life, and was married at Denmark, this State, to Lydia Hart, a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, and a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Huntley was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in his political relations, and a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church. His wife came from Connecticut to Ashtabula county, on horseback. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt-

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ley had five children : William, Milo (de- ceased), Harriette, Phoebe Wright and D. L.

D. L. Huntley, the subject of this notice, received his education in the Kingsville Academy, and was a successful school-teacher for a number of years. He was engaged in trade at Pierpont for a time before the war, and was also engaged in farming at the old home place. In his political relations he votes with the Republican party, and has held the positions of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee.

In 1871 Mr. Huntley was united in mar- riage with Susan Carver, a native of Pennsyl- vania. They had one daughter, Ethel E. The great loss of our subject's life was in the death of his beloved wife, which oc- curred August 29, 1890. She wasan affection- ate wife and mother, a kind neighbor, and lived a consistent Christian life. Mr. Hunt- ley is frank and cordial with all whom he meets, and is one of the popular citizens of Ashtabula county.

E MERY A. BROWN, who was born at Hiram, Ohio, February 6, 1845, is the son of Thomas Brown, one of the hon- ored pioneers of Ohio, and grandson of Reu- ben Brown, a native of New York, who emi- grated to Ohio in very early times and settled in Geauga county. The grandfather cleared and improved, in Auburn township, a farm, which he sold before removing to Hillsdale county, Michigan. There he cleared and im- proved another tract of land. His wife died in their new home, and he returned to Geauga county. where he passed the remainder of his life. Thomas Brown was the second of a large family, and was a small boy when his father came to Ohio from New York, his

native State. When a youth of eighteen years his father gave him his time, and he started out to seek his own fortune. His first work was on the farm of David Brown, which was being cleared and put under culti- vation. At the end of three years he had saved sufficient means to make an investment, so he bought sixty acres adjoining David Brown's tract in Hiram township, Portage county.

His marriage to Esther St. John occurred soon after he had provided this little home, and they lived on this place ten years. At the end of this period he exchanged his sixty acres for 160 acres in Troy township, Geauga county. Seven years later he sold out and moved to Burton township, where he bought 225 acres, to which he added as his means increased until he finally owned 740 acres. He died in 1892, at the age of seventy years. He was Trustee of Burton township during the last twenty years of his life, and transacted the business of this office with the same fidelity and good judgment that had always characterized his dealing. He was purely a self-made man, starting without capital in early life to make a place for him- self in the world. How well he fulfilled this purpose is attested by the handsome estate he left and the character he bore, as a man above reproach. Esther St. John, his wife, was a native of New York, and came with her parents to Ohio. They settled in New- bury township, where they were among the pioneers. She died in 1854. Mr. Brown was married a second time, being united to Martha Osmer. They had a family of five children, all of whom are living. After her death Mr. Brown was married to Jane An- geley, who survives him.

Emery A. Brown is the only child of the first marriage. He attended the pioneer

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school until he was twelve years old, and then began to help his father, remaining at home until he was of age. He then spent a few years in the oil regions of Pennsyl- vania, but later returned to the vocation of his youth. He has a fine farm of 232 acres, and makes a specialty of the dairy business. In politics he follows the line pursued by his father and casts his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party.

Mr. Brown was married in 1881 to Lizzie Homer, a native of Olean, New York. They had no children.

E DWIN BETTS .- Among the success- ful farmers of Geauga county none is more deserving of mention than Edwin Betts, and it is fitting that his biography be recorded upon the pages of this history. He was born in Niagara county, New York, October 19, 1835, a son of Samuel Betts, a native of Vermont. The grandfather, Eben- ezer Betts, was a New Englander by birth, of German descent. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving through that con- flict. He carried mail and messages, and was accompanied by an Indian scout. He also participated in the war of 1812. He reared a family of four sons and one daughter. Samuel Betts was the youngest son; was a carpenter by trade, and followed this voca- tion through life. He emigrated to the West and located in the State of Michigan, where he died in 1846. His wife's maiden name was Mary Hall. She was a native of Vermont, and emigrated with her family first to New York and thence to Michigan; she died in 1846, five weeks before her hus- band passed away. Of their five children Edwin and his twin brother, Edgar, survive.

They were young children when their parents died, and went back East to live with their grandparents. Edwin had very few oppor- tunities to gain an education, as he was obliged to work for his board and could not alwaysattend the short term regularly. At the tender age of eleven years he began to work out at $4 a month, and when fifteen he and his brother came to Ohio, and were employed in Summit county for a number of years in farm work. At the age of nineteen they entered Hiram College, where they were students two terms during the time that President Garfield was one of the faculty.

It was in the spring of 1869 that Mr. Betts purchased his present farm in Hampden township, Geanga county. He was married in 1858 to Clarissa Clark, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, her parents being early settlers. Her father was three times married, and had a family of seven children. After his marriage Mr. Betts was engaged in farming in Summit county for four years. His only child, Wendell P., was given better educational advantages than those enjoyed by his father, having attended the college at Meadville, Pennsylvania. At the age of fifteen years he began teaching, and followed this vocation for some time. He is now a clerk in the treasury depart- ment, Washington, District of Columbia, and is a graduate of the law school of Wash- ington, and a well-read lawyer. He was married to Libbie Harrison, who died in 1883. He afterward married her sister, who is also deceased. He had by his first wife one son, Howard G., who is living with his grandfather.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 130

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