Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 16

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 16
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 16
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 16

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).

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

country by an efficient service in the war of 1812. His wife, Mary Wilkinson, was the daughter of an Englishman, and was one of thirteen children, of whom eleven at- tained maturity, those besides herself being: Clarissa, Lauren, Isaac, Lewis, Asa and Aria (twins), Fretus, Peleg, Susan and Orphia, the others dying in infancy. John Metcalf and wife had six children: Birdsey S., who was married three times, first to Samantha Cheney, next to Eliza Hall, and lastly to Emily Hall; he died in 1890; E. R., the subject of this sketch; John Q .; Clarissa, who married Rob- ert Johnson; Lauren D .; Mary M., who mar- ried Dennis Dean, who died in New York city while on a visit; her remains were brought to Ashtabula for interment.

E. R. Metcalf, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 17, 1818, and was reared on his father's large farm, attending the schools in his vicinity. At the age of sixteen years he secured employment as a cabin boy on a boat plying the lakes, in which capacity he worked three months, when he was advanced to a position before the mast. He worked in different positions after that, serving for five years on a sail boat and four years on a steamer, severing his connection with the lake trade while holding the position as second mate of a steamboat. On relinquish- ing that position, he invested his small earn- ings in a farm, his first purchase being a tract of twenty-three acres. By industry, careful economy and excellent management, he gradually increased his means, adding to his land from time to time until he now owns 400 acres, all well cultivated and im- proved. The place is contiguous to the city, and is one of the good farins of the county. He also owns a home in Ashtabula, in which he has passed the last few years of his life,

enjoying, in ease and comfort, the accumula- tions of former years of toil and economy, blest in the affection of a worthy family and the universal esteem of his fellow men.

When twenty-five years of age, Mr. Met- calf was married in Ashtabula, by Elder Low to Miss Virginia Sweet, a lady of social cul- ture and domestic accomplishments, daughter of Peleg and Hannah (Stevens) Sweet. She was one of eleven children: Sidney, who married Adaline Easton; Virginia W., born January 25, 1822; Albert, who married Can- dis Sweet; Harmon married Rebecca Wood- bury; Pembroke married Betsy Castle, nee Cheney; Rushbroke married Lucana Sweet; Jesse M .; Letitia married William D. La Zade; Emelia married Truman Shaw ; Emma died young; and Wilson married Alice Forbes. Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Metcalf have four children: Marion, who married James Forsyth; Friend married Lewella Hayward; Chauncey J. married Abbie Foot; Dennis D. married Martha Askew. In politics Mr. Metcalf is a Republican, having cast his first vote for William H. Harrison and his last for his grandson, Benjamin.

Mr. Metcalf is essentially domestic in his tastes, finding his greatest happiness in his home surroundings. Like his honored father before him, he is deeply imbued with the love for his native city and country, whose progress seems a part of himself.

A LVIN C. WHITE, Mayor of Jefferson, Ohio, a worthy citizen and leading lawyer, was born August 9, 1850, in Parkman township, Geauga county, Ohio, where he was mainly reared, although during his childhood his parents resided for fully nine years in Pennsylvania. His par-

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ents were Eben Clark and Emily (Pinney) White; the paternal grandmother having been a Miss Clark before marriage, the son was given her maiden name. The paternal grand- father, also Eben White, was a native of Con- necticut and a lineal descendant of William White, who came from England in the May- flower. He first settled in the Plymouth colony, whence the family afterward removed with others to Connecticut, where they took up their abode. There Grandfather Eben White was born and reared, and thence he moved with his family to Ohio in 1817, set- tling in Farmington, Trumbull county, where he lived four years, when he removed to Parkman, Geauga county, where he started an iron foundry, which he successfully oper- ated for several years. He then removed the foundry to Kirtland, where the establishment was destroyed by fire. He thereupon returned to Parkman. He had two sons and five daughters, of whom Warren, the oldest son, died, unmarried, in 1837; and Eben Clark White, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut November 2, 1816. Eben Clark grew to manhood in Geauga county, Ohio, where he has passed the greater portion of his life, and where he still resides, being engaged in the wagon-making trade. He married Miss Emily Pinney, also de- scended from an old and respected family. The subject of this sketch and two daughters, Sophronia, now deceased, and Cynthia, now the widow of Ethan A. Alderman, were the issue of this marriage. Miss Pinney was a daughter of Captain Levi Pinney, a brave soldier of the war of 1812. The American ancestor of this family was Captain Aaron Pinney, a native of bonny Scotland, who came to the United States prior to 1755, set- tling in Windsor, Connecticut. They estab- lished the first Scotch Episcopal Church in

that State. Aaron Pinney's son, Abrain, was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. . His son, Levi, removed from Connecticut to Ohio abont 1812 and settled in Trumbull county, where he continued to reside until 1827, when he removed to Lake county, the same State, where he died in 1853. He had several sons and daughters.

Mr. White, of this sketch, attended the dis- trict schools during his earlier years, after which he went to the Parkman high school for two years. In August, 1869, he entered the freshman class in Hiram College, at which institution he graduated June 19, 1873. He was engaged in teaching for three years, and then in October, 1876, he entered the law department of the Michigan University, where he remained through the term. He then came to Jefferson, Ohio, where he was for a time in the law office of Hon. Stephen North- way, subsequently returning to the Michigan University, from which he graduated in March, 1878. He was admitted to the bar in Geauga county in the following month, and in May opened a law office in Jefferson, where he has ever since resided and success- fully practiced his profession. Soon after establishing himself in that city he entered into a partnership with E. J. Pinney, under the name of l'inney & White, which associa- tion was pleasantly and profitably continued until Mr. Pinney's removal to Cleveland in 1890, since which time Mr. White has prac- ticed alone.

Politically Mr. White has been a life-long Republican, but during the last few years has not fully accepted the tariff policy of his party. Of open, candid disposition, honest in purpose and faithful to trusts, he enjoys the confidence of his community, which is exemplified in his recent election to the Mayoralty of his city. He had frequently

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declined office before this, but on this occa- sion a principle was involved with which he was in thorough touch, which accounted for his acceptance of the proffered honor. Jef- ferson has been a local-option town and free from saloons since 1886, but in the spring of 1892 a strong fight was made between the whisky ring and temperance men for suprem- acy. Mr. White was solicited to become the temperance nominee for Mayor, and as such was elected after a heated contest.

Mr. White was married October 8, 1876, to Amelia C., daughter of Seth and Mary (Russell) Burton, a lady of domestic tastes and social accomplishments.

Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Past Chancellor of that order.

Mr. White is a man of intellectual ability and moral worth, being a worthy descendant of an honorable family, and taking a com- mendable interest in the welfare of his city, State and country.

OHN ANSON CALDWELL, one of the prominent business men and worthy citizens of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1838.

The Caldwells trace their ancestry to Ty- rone and Donegal counties, Ireland, and are of Scotch-Irish extraction. They were Prot- estants; were people of wealth, belonging to the landed nobility, and had a coat of arms.

John A. Caldwell's parents, Robert and Maria (Lowry) Caldwell, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Robert Caldwell was born December 14, 1798, and died in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1842. He was a farmer by occupation, was keenly alive to the best in- terests of the farm, and was well known as an

honest, industrious and worthy citizen. From boyhood he was a devout member of the United Presbyterian Church. He had de- cided views on political matters, and was an ardent Whig. His wife, Maria, was born July 17, 1801, and died November 15, 1838. She, too, was a worthy member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was a woman of many estimable qualities, loved by all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell were married February 1, 1821, and had a family of children as follows: Nancy, wife of Lewis Speer, was born January 16, 1822, and died in 1858; Mary, born March 3, 1824, became the wife of Richard Bran, his death occurring February 11, 1892, and hers February 19, 1892; Elizabeth L., born March 22, 1827, married William Catlin, her death occurring in 1891, and his in January, 1893; Emeline, wife of Elisha Stone, resides in Batavia, Illi- nois; Almira, wife of R. S. Whitney, is a resident of Westfield, Wisconsin; and John and Anson, the youngest of the family. By a second marriage Robert Caldwell had one child, Alfred Augustus, born May 7, 1841 This son, Alfred Augustus, enlisted in the Union army in 1861. He was taken prisoner on the battle-field and was sent to the An- dersonville prison pen, where, after months of suffering from exposure and starvation, death came to his relief, He sleeps his last sleep in the National Cemetery at Anderson- ville.

The subject of our sketch was deprived of a mother's loving care in infancy, and, his fa- ther having died a few years later, he remein- bers little of him. He lived at the old farm home until he was fifteen years of age. Then he worked two years at the tinner's trade, and after that went to school two years. In 1859, at the age of twenty, being of a rest- less disposition and having a desire for travel,

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he set out for California, via the Isthmus route, taking passage on the celebrated Star of the West. It will be remembered that this same vessel, while on the way to Fort Sumter with provisions and ammunition for General Robert Anderson in 1861, was fired upon by the rebels.

Mr. Caldwell spent two years in Califor- nia in mining operations, and several years more in mining and prospecting through the territories of Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana. He returned east as far as Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, in 1866, and the following year made a visit to the home of his child- hood. In 1868 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and for several years worked at his trade there. January 6, 1872, he removed to Con- neaut, Ohio, and engaged in the grocery busi- ness, under the firm name of Bosworth & Caldwell. Two years later the firm became Poole & Caldwell, and since 1882, having bought out his partner's interest at that time, he has continued the business under the name of J. A. Caldwell. He carries a full line of groceries, provisions, crockery, queens- ware, notions, etc., and has a large trade, numbering among his customers the best people of the city and surrounding country.

Mr. Caldwell was married in Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 29, 1869, to a daughter of Calvin and Harriet Poole. It was his fa- ther-in-law with whom he was engaged in business, under the name of Poole & Cald- well. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have two chil- dren, viz .: Jessie A., wife of C. B. Stoke, of Conneaut; and Harriet Almira, a pupil in the Conneaut public school. Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the Episcopal Church.

In social as well as business circles ' Mr. Caldwell ranks with the leading citizens of Conneaut. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Cache Com-

mandery, in all of which bodies he holds the office of Treasurer. He is also Treasurer of the, Knights of Honor, National Union and the Elks of Conneaut. He is a charter member of the Knight of Pythias Lodge, at Conneaut; was the first Past Grand Chancellor of said lodge, and has also served five years as Dis- trict Deputy of the same-Maple Lodge, No. 217. He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. Aside from his activity in secret organizations, he has always shown a public spirit worthy of commendation and has been deeply interested in the public enterprises of the city. He holds decided views on politi- cal matters of county, State and Nation, and affiliates with the Democratic party.

R EV. SIMON B. HERSHEY .- Of the many bright stars that form the clus- ter of Ohio's advanced theological thinkers, whose rays illuminate life's .pathway for the happiness and betterment of humanity, there is none more conspicuous than the Rev. Simon B. Hershey, the sub- ject of this memoir, whose benign light has a moral, elevating and religious influence upon all who come within his circle.

There is no calling so sacred as that of a minister of the Gospel; none comes so near the domestic fireside or the heart of man, and there is no calling the members of which have so potent an influence in shaping the conditions of society or the destinies of a nation. Hence church societies should exer- cise the greatest care in securing the pastors that are to preside over their congregations. That the people of the First Congregational Church have exercised this care in the selec- tion of their pastor is evidenced by his efficiency and his long time of service with them.

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Mr. Hershey was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 21, 1847. His parents, Ben- jamin and Susannah (Wellhouse) Hershey, were early settlers in the State, the former carrying on the business of farming. Both of these good people were widely and favor- ably known for their moral and religious qualities. The elder Hershey was a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. He died in Wayne county, Ohio, at the age of fifty- four years. His wife, Susannah, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, where she died at the age of sixty-nine years. The former was of Swiss extraction. The latter's father, Mr. Wellhouse, was a native of Holland, and came to the United States when a boy. He was a man of prominence in his section of the country, and was successful in his busi- ness operations. He was connected with the banks at Wooster and at Akron, and was generally known as Judge Wellhouse. By his wife Susannah he became the father of seven children: Abraham, George W., Simon B., William O., Mary (wife of W. Henne- berger), Edward A., and Ella (who was mar- ried to David Leonard).

Rev. S. B. Hershey was reared at home, where he received his preliminary education. At an early age he was sent to the Otterbein University, Ohio, which institution he left in his sophomore year, and for a year sub- sequently taught school. At the expiration of that time he entered Oberlin College, at which institution he graduated in 1870 with the degree of Master of Arts. Leaving col- lege, he taught school for a year in Ohio, and then entered Oberlin Theological Sem- inary for a two-year's theological course. This student of divinity was not yet satisfied with his theological researches, and later he is found at Yale delving deeper into biblical lore. He graduated in May, 1874, with the

degree of Bachelor of Divinity. Leaving college, he served his first pastorate in the Second Congregational Church of Danbury, Connecticut, where he remained until the spring of 1881, when he visited Europe, re- turning in the fall. Soon after his return from abroad he received from the Congrega- tional Church of Ashtabula a call which he accepted, taking charge as pastor January 1, 1882. So eminently qualified was he to preside over this congregation, so able and satisfactory his ministry, that he has been retained ever since, to the full gratification of all. So able and zealous have been his labors that the church has grown stronger year by year, until now it is one of the strongest and most prosperous religious societies in the State.

Mr. Hershey was united in marriage, August 18, 1874, to Thirza E., the accom- plished daughter of Dr. Homer and Mrs. Anne (Pierce) Johnson, of Oberlin, Ohio. Mrs. Hershey was a graduate of Oberlin Col- lege, and a classmate of her husband. Dr. Johnson was the leading physician of Ober- lin, where he practiced for upward of half a century. He was a man of high standing as a physician and as a citizen. He departed this life about three years ago. His widow still resides at Oberlin.

Mr. Hershey paid his own expenses from his sophomore period through the different educational institutions by teaching. He was ordained at Danbury, Connecticut, in 1874.

A few thoughts touching some special features of Mr. Hershey's ministry and per- sonal traits of character will close this biog- raphy. Ile is a man a little above the medium stature, well formed and of pleasing personality. His features, which are genial, open and reassuring, are indicative of a broad

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intellectuality, while at the same time they impress the beholder with the fact that he is by nature a man of warm impulses, chari- table, benevolent, and in full sympathy with humanity. As a minister he stands for lib- eral and progressive theology; he is not a stickler for creeds, but preaches Christ and his great love for mortal man, reaching out for the hearts of his hearers, laboring to impress upon them the great and priceless value of a Christian life. He is a close stu- dent, a deep thinker, and a logical reasoner. He is happily endowed with a clear, rich voice, superior oratorical powers and personal magnetism. Thus possessed, it is but natural that his influence for good, for Christianity, is potential; that he has the love and confi- dence of his congregation, both the old and the young, and that he is a bright ornament in that noble profession to which he has de- voted his life.

EVI RITTER, of Dorset township, Ashtabula county, was born December 7, 1829, a son of Christian Ritter, a native of Pennsylvania. The latter's father, Jacob Ritter, was of German parentage, and one of the first settlers of Canfield, Maho- ning county, Ohio, Christian Ritter was mar- ried in Mahoning county, to Mary Dustman, a native of that county, and of German de- scent. They afterward spent four years in Wood county, Ohio, returned to Mahoning county; later went to Champion, Trumbull county, Ohio, and in 1857 removed to Lenox township. Ashtabula county. Mr. Ritter, a farmer by occupation, died at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife departed this life at the age of eighty-three years. They had nine children, viz .: Rebecca, Jacob,

Adaline, Levi, Barbara, Elias, Sarah, Christo- pher, Washington, and one deceased in in- fancy.

Levi Ritter, the subject of this notice, was early inured to farm labor. He has followed carpentering most of his life, and also owns a well improved farm of forty-eight acres. He has a good one-and-a-half story residence, 16 x 24 feet, with an " L " of the same dimen- sions, and a barn 30 x 40 feet.

Mr. Ritter was married at the age of twenty-three years, to Eveline C. Kibler, a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Brandon) Kibler, natives of Virginia, members of old and prominent families in that State. The father died at the age of sixty years, and the mother at the age of seventy-two years. They had cleven children, namely: Sarah, Julia, Martha, Polly, William, Eveline, George, Zachariah, Eliza, James and Nancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have four children: George, at home; William, married, resides in Windham, Portage county, Ohio; Emma, wife of Com- fort Struck, of Canfield, Mahoning county; and Floyd, at home.

M. DOW, editor of the Andover Citi- zen, of Andover, Ohio, was born in Chicago, in 1859, a son of John and Aurelia (Marshall) Dow. The father, one of the publishers of the Northwestern Home Journal, died when our subject was one year old. The mother was from the same stock as the late Chief Justice Marshall.

J. M. Dow, our subject, moved to Frank- lin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, and when seven years of age removed to Orwell, Ohio, receiving his education in the Orwell Nor- mal Institute. He began the printing busi- ness at about the age of eighteen years, il

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the office of the Orwell Welcome. His pres- ent paper was established in 1883, by E. M. Dewey, and was purchased by Mr. Dow in 1886. It has a circulation of about 800 copies, at a yearly subscription price of $1.

Mr. Dow was married in 1886, to Fred- erika E. Bond, a native of Rock Creek, Ohio, and a daughter of Frederick N. and Mary K. (Barr) Bond. The father died in 1877, in Rock Creek, where he had been engaged in the harness trade for a number of years. The mother is a sister of Hon. Matthew Barr, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Dow. Mrs. Dow is of Eng- lish and Scotch-Irish descent. She has a fine musical talent, and a number of musical scores of her composition have been pub- lished.

E DGAR L. HILLS .- Ohio is peculiarly fortunate in her public officers, who are universally men of worth and ability. Conspicuous among these is the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch.

Edgar L. Hills, the efficient and popular Recorder of Ashtabula county, worthy citi- zen and successful business man, was born in Albion, Erie county, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 4, 1852, and is a son of Humphrey A. Hills, a widely known and highly respected resident of that State. Humphrey Hills was born in Goshen, Connecticut, August 10, 1811, and was married at Cranesville, Penn- sylvania, September 11, 1834, to Antha, daughter of Georde and Eunice (Green) Reed, by whom he had nine children: Charles W., Marcus A., Alice P., Henry II., Mary A., W. Scott, Lucy E., Humphrey A. and Edgar L. Of these all are living except Alice. His second marriage occurred at Albion,

Pennsylvania, December 11, 1853, when he wedded Louise Adelia, daughter of Hiram and Susan (Powers) Williams, by whom he had four children: Willis P., James L., Vic- tor F. and Jessie May. Four of the sons responded to their country's call and took arms in the great civil conflict. The four were Charles, Marcus, Henry and Scott. Charles was Captain of the Seventh Iowa In- fantry, and afterward in command of Com- pany B, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Infantry; Marcus was First Lieutenant of the Third Iowa Infantry; Henry served in the First Colorado Regiment; Scott served in the Navy, on the United States man-of-war " New Ironsides." In early years Mr. Hills secured various official preferments in Erie county, Pennsylvania, having served as Constable, Justice of the Peace, School Director, and in 1847 County Commissioner. In 1850 he was Surveyor in charge of the work of establish- ing the county line between Erie and Craw- ford counties. Later on he was the incumbent as United States Marshal for his district, and in 1852 and 1853 was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature. He died March 14, 1887, at Springfield, Penn- sylvania.

Edgar L. Hills, concerning whose life this sketch has mainly to do, was reared in his native county, receiving a common-school education. He then took a position in a dry- goods establishment at Springfield, Pennsyl- vania, and after a time took a course in the- Spencerian Business College at Cleveland, Ohio. Upon the completion of his studies in this institution he entered a dry-goods es- tablishment at Cleveland, as salesman, re- taining the position for about three years. He then returned to the Keystone State, where he clerked for four years longer. He was then married, and shortly afterward re-

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moved to Conneaut, Ohio, where he entered the mercantile field upon his own responsi- bility, continuing in business until his elec- tion, in 1886, to his present office as Recorder of Ashtabula county. In December, 1886, he removed to Jefferson, the county seat, where he has since resided. He has twice been elected as his own successor,-at the expiration of his term, in 1889, and again in 1892, his election for the third term being the first instance of the kind in many years, and serving to show the high regard in which he is held, both as an officer and a man.

Mr. Hills was united in marriage June 28, 1877, to Miss S. Louise Doty, an estimable lady of Springfield, Pennsylvania, who was born in Eagleville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, June 28, 1855, and they have two daughters, Maude L., who was born at Conneaut, Ohio, February 19, 1879, and Margaret, who was born at Jefferson, Ohio, December 24, 1887.

Politically, Mr. Hills sympathizes with the Republican party, and socially, is a member of Columbian Lodge, No. 491, Knights of Pythias, at Jefferson, and the Royal Arcanum, at Conneaut, while, as a citizen and business man, he enjoys pre-eminence in his commnu- nity.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 16

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