Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 17

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 17
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 17

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).

P ERRY GREENE BECKWITH. Among the pathfinders of Ohio who blazed a way for future generations to follow, none is more worthy of men- tion than the subject of this sketch, who materially assisted in starting her car of progress on the road which has led to her present prosperity.

Perry Greene Beckwith, deceased, a sturdy Ohio pioneer, was a native of Connecticut, and in 1811 joined the westward tide of emi- gration, moving his family by ox team from

Lyme, his native State, to the southern part of Ashtabula county, Ohio, being six weeks on the way. To the small settlement which was started in his vicinity he gave the name of New Lyme, in remembrance of his East- ern home, which name it still retains. At the time of his settling here, Indians were plentiful, and many of these would visit the family and ask for food and clothing. He had six sons and two daughters: Elijah, Perry G., Alvin, Ezra, Edward and Samuel; the daughters being Esther and Joanna. This worthy man passed a truly patriarchal life among his children and friends, and died at an advanced age, sincerely lamented by all who knew him.

Ezra M. Beckwith was six years of age when his parents came to Ohio, where he has since resided, his present home being in Colebrook, Ashtabula county. He was reared on a farm and received the educational ad- vantages afforded by the country in his day. He married Lucinda Phillips, whose father, Halsey Phillips, was the second settler in what is now Colebrook township, Ashtabula county, and they had four children: Halsey P. and three daughters.

Halsey P. Beckwith, for many years a prominent citizen of Jefferson, Ohio, was born in New Lyme, on the old homestead of his paternal grandfather, September 28, 1837. He was reared on a farm and received a com- mon-school education in the pioneer schools of the day. On arriving at maturity he began to farm, which occupation he followed until he was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Ashtabula county in 1879. He served in that capacity for three years, when, in 1882, he was elected County Treasurer, serving one term of two years, at the expiration of which time he was re-elected for another term. When his second term of office expired, he

Respectfully.

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was retained by his successors as Deputy Treasurer, covering in all a service of eleven years and six months, in all of which time he proved himself to be an able and faithful officer, never being absent from his post of duty but thirty days during this entire time. He. has since lived retired from active busi- ness, looking after his landed interests in this county and town.

In politics Mr. Beckwith has affiliated with the Republicans since the organization of that party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. As a citizen and man he is deserving of the high esteem of his fellow-men, which he so universally enjoys.

H ON. ISAAC N. HATHAWAY. Were this volume being compiled for the present generation only it would be unnecessary to give place in it to the record of the life of the worthy citizen whose name is presented above, for he is so well and favorably known, not only to the people of northeastern Ohio, but of the State, that little can be said of him but what is already known. As general history is writ- ten for the future, so to a large degree is bi- ography, and to place in a substantial book form the memoirs of one of Geauga county's most noble and distinguished citizens is the object of this sketch.

Books are permanent chronicles which transmit to future ages the memory of those whose lives are recorded within their sacred pages; and when the subjects treated of are as worthy as the one whose name heads this memoir they become an inspiration for good to the present and future generations.

Isaac Newton Hathaway, of Chardon, Ohio, was born June 8, 1827, and is the oldest attorney in practice in Geauga county, of which he is a native. The first of his an- cestors of whom anything definite is known was William Hathaway, who was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, of Welsh descent. He was a seafaring man and was chiefly engaged in whaling, and would often make voyages of three years' duration. He was an enterprising, thrifty man, and was held in high respect. Heavy depredations were com- mitted upon his marine interests by priva- teers during the war of 1812, and in recom- pense he received in liquidation from the State of Connecticut 6,000 acres of land on the Western Reserve in Ohio. He died at Fall River, at an advanced age. His son, James Hathaway (father of the subject of this biography), accompanied by a cousin, came to Ohio in 1816, making the journey on foot. He was born at Fall River, Massa- chusetts, January 1, 1799. He settled on a grant of 400 acres of land made to him by his father in what is now Geauga county. Upon this he subsequently made extensive improvements. Having established himself in his new home, he returned to Massachu- setts for the companion of his heart's choice, Miss Miranda Ashley, of Springfield, born in 1806, to whom he was united in marriage. With his bride he returned to the West, this time making the journey with a primitive team. While East he had been appointed agent for the Connecticut Land Company for some of the lands in Geauga county. He immediately upon his first arriva! set about the great work of his life, that of develop- ing a new country and recovering it from a wilderness. He became identified with the early pioneer interests of the section of the country in which he located, taking a leading

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part in agriculture, manufacture, commerce and all business enterprises of the county, thereby contributing largely to its develop- ment and progress. Money was scarce there, and through his enterprises and his com- mercial transactions he was enabled to bring money in and distribute it among the people. His operations were as varied as they were extensive, and for many years he was the life of the community. In 1844 all his manu- facturing interests were destroyed by fire, entailing not only a great financial loss to him, but a great set-back to the country.

At an early day he was appointed by the State, Fund Commissioner of Geauga county for the distribution of her portion of the surplus revenue distributed to the several States from the sales of public lands and rev- enue. For many years he was Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. In 1848, he was elected Sheriff and re-elected for the second term, on the Free Soil ticket. After the expiration of his term as Sheriff he was extensively engaged in the prosecution of pen- sion and bounty land claims. Later he be- came interested in Western enterprises and removed to northern Illinois in 1860, where he died in 1868, his widow following him in 1887.

In person, Mr. Hathaway was large and well built. He early interested himself in the cause of the Christian Church and contri- buted largely to its support and growth. In disposition he was warm-hearted, genial and social, he was generous, charitable and benev- olent, ever ready to help the poor or his friends. To his family he was much devoted, being an affectionate husband and father.

Isaac N. Hathaway, the subject of this bio- graphy, secured his education in the common schools and at the Western Reserve Academy at Kirtland, and a part of the time while

there was a student in the old Mormon Temple. During the time his father was Sheriff, he acted as deputy, gaining thereby valuable ex- perience for future work. While thus en- gaged he began the study of law under the direction of Phelps & Riddle, then a promi- nent law firm of Chardon. He made rapid progress in his studies and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1854. He immedia- tely began his practice, forming a partnership with W. O. Forrest. He rose rapidly in the profession and soon became one of the lead- ing lawyers in northeastern Ohio. Later the firm became Durfey, Forrest & Hathaway, and then Thresher, Durfey & Hathaway. This association later gave place to the firm of Canfield & Hathaway. When Mr. Canfield was elected to the bench, Mr. Hathaway took in as a partner Mr. C. W. Osborne, a young man whom he had taken into his office and whom he had trained for the legal profession. This last partnership was a prosperous one and the firm did a large business, but Mr. Osborne saw a more inviting and a larger field for his abilities at Painesville to which place he went, since which time Mr. Hatha- way has conducted his business alone.

Mr. Hathaway has been in continuous practice and in the same town for nearly forty years, the longest time covered by any attor- ney in Geauga county. During this long period he has had the confidence of his brother attorneys, of the court and the people, and has held the reputation as an honest, earnest and faithful lawyer. His ambition was to be a good lawyer and this desideratum has been eminently realized. While devoted to his profession he has occasionally been drawn into the political arena. Though always inter- ested in politics and taking an active and prominent part in the councils of his party and in the campaigns, he has never sought

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political preferment. Mr. Hathaway has, adjacent to Chardon, three fine farms, the cultivation of which not only affords him much pleasure, but offres him diversion from his professional duties.

In 1872 Mr. Hathaway was elected to the State Senate from the counties of Lake, Geau- ga and Ashtabula, and while a member of that body served on the judiciary and other com- mittees of less importance. He declined a renomination, as the position took too much time from his profession. Prior to this he was Prosecuting Attorney, holding the posi- tion from 1858 to 1862. In 1880 he was solicited again to be a candidate for the Leg- islature; he accepted the candidacy and was elected to the lower house to represent the counties of Lake and Geauga. He was again placed on the judicial committee, and served also on other committees. He was re-elected and during the second term was chosen speaker pro tem., a position which he filled with ability, dignity and impartiality.

At home Mr. Hathaway has served as Mayor and has held various other positions in the municipality. In 1848 he was a dele- gate to the Philadelphia convention which nominated Zachary Taylor for President; and also to the Chicago convention of 1868, which nominated General Grant, and to the Chicago convention of 1888, when Benjamin Harrison was nominated.

Early in life he became connected with the Masonic order, and has been actively and prominently identified with that body ever since. He is a member of the Scottish Rites, having taken the thirty-second degree, and also of the Mystic Shrine. He was one of the first members of the latter order in Ohio. For many years he has been an active mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. He was one of the organizers in Ohio of the Order of the Eastern

Star; was the first Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the order, and aided largely in its development.

Mr. Hathaway was united in marriage, January 9, 1854, to Sarah J., the accom- plished daughter of Moses Hayden, one of the pioneers of Geauga county. Two chil- dren were born of this union: Charles J., de- ceased, and Katie, who was married to Charles McD. Kile, one child being born to them, Edith, now a bright and most lovable young girl of fifteen summers.

Mrs. Hathaway departed this life July 29, 1882, to the great bereavement of her family and deeply mourned by a large circle of friends. She was a woman of great purity of character, and was distinguished for her sweetness of disposition, her large benevo- lence, and her charity to the poor. Mr. Hathaway has never remarried.

Before closing the biography of one of Chardon's most distinguished citizens, a few words voicing the sentiment of the people may not be out of place. Mr. Hathaway is a man above the medium size, well formed, of courteous manners and pleasing address; he is social and genial by nature, of gener- ous impulses and steadfast in friendship; he is most charitable in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and his band is always open to the poor. He is essentially a home man, and through life his first thought was for his family, to whom he has ever been devoted. As a lawyer he has won the reputation of being a close student, very careful in the preparation of his causes and very successful in their trial. He always commands the re- spect of the court, the confidence of the jury and the good-will of the bar. He is above the petty tricks of the pettifogger, but goes to trial with his cases in fall faith that the law and the evidence are all-sufficient for the

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demands of justice. Upon his long career as a professional man and a citizen there is no blemish. He has lived to see the place of his nativity grow to a beautiful city, in the van of civilization and culture, and as his shadow falls toward the East he can take a retrospective view of the past and contem- plate with pride the growth and development of the community to which he has been a potential factor. He can also rest in the en- joyment of that consciousness, blessed with the thought that he has dealt fairly and squarely with his constituency and with the people, and that he has not been entirely sel- fish; that while he has wrought for himself, he has also wrought for the good of the peo- ple. He has been true to his convictions of right, true in the discharge of every duty which has devolved upon him, true to the community in which he has dwelt, and true to the State.

H ENRY H. POOLE, one of the pro- gressive and enterprising farmers of Ashtabula county, Ohio, and at this writing Trustee of Conneaut town- ship, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1843, son of Calvin and Har- riet (Trowbridge) Poole. His honored father, a resident of Ashtabula county for a number of years, now living retired at Conneaut, is one of the venerable citizens of the place. The facts as gleaned in regard to his life are as follows:

Calvin Poole was born in Canandaigua, New York, April 22, 1811, son of Calvin and Hannah (Perkins) Poole, both natives of the Empire State. The senior Calvin Poole was a carpenter by trade and a school-teacher

by profession. The first school west of the Genesee river was taught by him. However, he never came farther West than New York. He was more than ninety years of age at the time he died. His wife died in 1813. They had three children, of whom Calvin was the youngest, and is the only one now living. The oldest was Archibald, and the second born was Abigail M., who was the wife of Emanuel, C. Henshaw. Calvin was reared on the farm, and has been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits all his life. In 1872 he located in Conneaut, and has remained here ever since. For a time he was a partner in the grocery business with his son-in-law, J. A. Caldwell.

Calvin Poole was married in 1833 to Miss Harriet Trowbridge, daughter of Daniel and Dollie (Shears) Trowbridge, a native of Ithaca, New York. Mrs. Poole's grandfather, Zach- ariah Shears, was a native of Massachusetts, and at one time was a member of the Assem- bly. He was a wealthy land-holder and stock- dealer and reared a large family. Mr. and Mrs. Poole have had seven children, namely : Dollie M., wife of C. R. Beechling, of Erie, Pennsylvania, has two children by him, Har- riet G. and Calvina M., and by her former husband, Pressly Caldwell, had one child, Jennie Bell; Daniel P., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Delia D., wife of J. A. Caldwell; Emma E., wife of B. Bingham, died at about the age of thirty-five, leaving four children, Harriet R., Frank H., Fred D. and John P .; John C., a member of the One Hundredth and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, Company C, was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and died from the effect of wounds, aged about twenty- one; Henry Harrison, whose name heads this article; and Harriet Sophia, wife of Dennis McCarty, died at the age of thirty-three.

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During his residence in Erie county, Penn- sylvania, Calvin Poole was appointed keeper of the infirmary of that county, which po- sition he filled ten years, and while there both he and his wife were highly compli- mented for their efficient service. In politi- cal matters Mr. Poole takes an active interest, being a thorough Republican.

H. H. Poole was early in life engaged in farming. In 1868 he turned his attention to the oil business in Pennsylvania, continuing such connection two years. After that he was employed as fireman on the Lake Shore Railroad, running between Erie and Cleve- land, and since 1870 he has been identified with the farming interests of Ashtabula county. He has served as School Director for more than a dozen years, and for nearly as long was Supervisor of Highways. He was elected Township Trustee in 1887, and has held the office continuously up to the present time, his election to this office being without parallel here, as he had no opposition whatever. He was Captain of the State police for four years, then, after an interim of two years, was again elected, and is now the incumbentof that office. He is an ardent Republican. In Masonic circles he holds prominent rank, having taken the degrees in the blue lodge, chapter, council and com- mandery, and holding official position in each.

Mr. Poole was married February 2, 1871, to Miss Mary U. Brown, daughter of Samuel C. and Eva Brown, of Erie county, Penn- sylvania. Her father died in 1863, aged about fifty-five, and her mother is still living, now about eighty-two years old. Following is a record of Mr. and Mrs. Brown's family: John T., who married Sarah A. Fickenger, resides on a farm in Erie county, Pennsylva- nia; Sarah, widow of John McKee, Girard

township, same county; Samuel C., who mar- ried Clara Stohlman, lives at Mill Creek, Erie county, Pennsylvania; William M., who married Rosanna Love, is also a resident of Mill Creek; Mrs. Poole; George W., who married Henrietta Fehr, is a resident of Mill Creek; Charles F. E., who married Mary Fickenger, is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Poole have had five children: John C. P., Bessie C., Harry S., Charley and Willie G. Bessie C. died March 10, 1892, at the age of six- teen years, and Charlie died in infancy.

Such, in brief, is a sketch of one of the prominent and highly respected families of Ashtabula county.

T IMOTHY R. HAWLEY came to Ohio in the spring of 1801, as surveyor for the Torringford Land Company, and surveyed the township of Morgan, also cut and cleared a road from Austinburg to Gustavus that year and returned to Con- necticut late in the fall.

In 1802, Mr. Hawley, with his family, left Farmington, Hartford county, Connecticut, on the 12th day of April; came on by way of Albany to Buffalo, New York, where he had to wait ten days for Dr. O. K. Hawley, D. M. Curtis and Erastus Allen to come down from Ohio with a small open boat after them. He then left Buffalo, in the boat, with his wife and three children, and all of their goods; Dr. O. K. Hawley, his wife and one child and their goods; Chauncey Hawley in com- pany: They coasted along the shore during the day and landed to pitch their tents at night. In about a week they arrived safely at Ashtabula creek, about nine o'clock at night on the first day of June, 1802. He sent their teams on through the woods to Ashtabula, thence he came to Austinburg,

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and about the first of July he moved with his family into Morgan, then an unbroken wilderness, where they were well accommo- dated with a good log cabin, built by Deacon Nathaniel Gillett, for their rudimentary habitation. It was well covered with elm bark and the floors laid with the same.

His was the first family that moved into Morgan. Mr. Hawley planted two or three acres with potatoes, corn and pumpkins, and his family had to live through the next winter mostly on what he raised. The pumpkins and potatoes were boiled and eaten with milk; the corn was, some of it, ground at Mr. Humphrey's mill in Austinburg; some of it was pounded in a large wooden mortar, made by digging and burning a hollow place in a stump, and some of the cereal was boiled whole.

In January, Mr. Hawley and Deacon Gil- lett went with a one-horse dray to Smithfield, now called Williamsfield, and purchased a barrel of pork at $25 per barrel and drew it home on the dray.

He and his family were subjected to the usual hardships of the early settlers. He cleared up quite a farm in Morgan township.

The Chippewa Indians were numerous and used to supply the inhabitants with bear meat, venison, elk, wild turkeys, etc.

The next summer Captain Wright moved his family into Morgan; and in the fall Dea- con Gillett and Mr. Hosea Wilcox moved in with their families, and the second and third winters the inhabitants lived in about the same style as that of the first.

Timothy R. Hawley continued surveying for the first ten years, most of the time for the Torringford Company.

Ashtabula county was founded June 7, 1807, from Trumbull and Geauga counties, and organized January 22, 1811.

In 1811, Timothy R. Hawley was ap pointed County Clerk (the judges of the court appointed the clerks at that time), and he then removed to Jefferson and held the office until 1828.

Mr. Freithy put up a frame on the spot where the late Dr. Hawley's house now stands. Timothy R. Hawley bought the frame, en- closed but did not finish it, and kept a hotel there.

In 1822 he built the present front of Dr. Hawley's late residence and lived there until his death, July 24, 1828, at the age of fifty- eight.

He had a family of ten children, of whom only five arrived at the age of maturity. These were three sons: Thales Hawley, who died in 1831; Dr. Almore Hawley, and John Kent Hawley, who moved with his family to Brownholm, Ohio, where he resided many years and until his death; and two daughters, -Mrs. Sophia Stone, of Geneva, Ohio, and Mrs. Celia Dunn, of Quincy, Illinois, both deceased.

Almore Hawley, M. D., was born August 11, 1801, at Avon, near Hartford, Connecti- cut, and died November 3, 1876, at Keokuk, Iowa, while visiting relatives. He studied medicine under Dr. (). K. Hawley, his uncle, and graduated from the medical depart- ment of Yale College, in 1828, and became the first settled physician in Jefferson, Ohio, where he practiced during the remainder of his life.

In 1802, before he was a year old, his parents removed from Connecticut to Morgan township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, settling about a mile from the present village of Rock Creek, and in 1811, his father having been appointed County Clerk, he removed to Jefferson, where he resided until his death.

He was married to Miss Susan A. Dunn, of

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New Haven, Connecticut, who died in 1839; and afterward, in 1841, he married Miss Sophronia March, who survived him one year.

Dr. Hawley was a leading member of the Episcopal Church; he led an active, busy life, always public-spirited and interested in the welfare and growth of the village.

Five children survived him: Adiliza H., who married A. D. Olds, now deceased; Adelbert K. Hawley; Cornelia S., now Mrs. Milo A. Loomis; Theodore E. Hawley, of Jefferson, Ohio; and Laura S., the wife of C. E. Udell, of St. Louis, Missouri.

was elected Justice of the Peace for Jefferson township, which office he has held ever since, discharging his duties with ability and impartiality. He was a member of the Board of Councilmen of Jefferson in 1890, and lent his best efforts to aid the city's ad- vancement. He has also been a member of the Board of Education of his native city, in which capacity he has sought to further the interests of the schools. He is pre-eminently the friend of the husbandman, having held some official position in the Agricultural Society for fifteen years or more. He has also held other positions of honor and trust, being ever active in advancing the interests of his community. He has for nine years been Cemetery Trustee, in which capacity he has done much toward beautifying the final resting place of many of Jefferson's distin- guished citizens.

UDGE THEODORE E. HAWLEY, a shining light of the legal fraternity of Jefferson, Ohio, was born in this city, October 4, 1848, and with the exception of a few years at college has passed his entire In 1876, Judge Hawley was married to Miss Ida M. Bushnel, an accomplished lady, youngest daughter of J. C. A. Bushnel, cashier of the First National Bank of Jeffer - son. Three children have been born to them, one son and two daughters: Earl C., Ruth A. and Anna E. life in his birthplace, which is hallowed by all the memories of childhood and mature age. His father, Almore Hawley, M. D. (of whom mention is made elsewhere in these pages), is well and favorably known in this vicinity, where he has been a practicing physician for many years. The subject of In politics, the Judge has always been a representative Republican and an active worker for his party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Liberal-minded and progressive, he has always taken a deep interest in everything pertaining to the wel- fare of Jefferson and is to be noted as a representative citizen in the highest sense of the term. this sketch grew to manhood in Jefferson, where he attended the common and high schools, afterward going for two years to the Grand River Institute, in Austinburg, this State. In 1870 he began the study of law in the office of Messrs. Wade & Betts, prom- inent attorneys of Jefferson, and May 8, 1872, he was admitted to the bar. He at once commenced the practice of law and by in- dustry and perseverance, coupled with a good knowledge of law, he soon attained E DWIN R. WILLIAMS .- Few men in Ashtabula county, Ohio, more fully enjoy the confidence and esteem of prominence in his profession. In 1881 he became Deputy Probate Judge of Ashtabula county, and three years later, in 1884, he | their fellow citizens than the subject of this

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 17

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