Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 18

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 18
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 18

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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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

sketch, whose birth and long residence here afford them ample opportunity to judge of his worth.

Of hardy New England ancestry, he is well calculated to emulate the example of that progressive race. His father, Jacob Williams, was born in Connecticut about 1773. He was a farmer and millwright by occupation, excelling in wood-chopping and stone-cutting, some of his millstones, which were cut by him seventy-five years ago, being still in existence in Ashtabula. He was a teamster in the battle of Plattsburg in the war of 1812, his mother keeping at that time an inn at Lowville, New York. He had a brother, John, who was a twin of his. In 1814, being incited by the opportunities afforded in the West for a man of energy and perseverance, he joined the tide of emi- gration and came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where by hard work and careful management he secured a competence for himself and family and died greatly lamented by all who knew him. His wife, nee Lydia Wright, came of a prominent family which settled in America in an early day. They were origin- ally from Essex county, England, the first representative of the family in this country being Samuel, who formed one of Governor Winthrop's colonists, settling in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1630. In 1656, he re- moved to North Hampton, that State, where many succeeding generations were born. Solomon Wright, grandson of this early an- cestor, was born in the latter city in 1706, where he was married in 1727 to Hannah Loomis, and reared a number of children. One of these was Solomon, whose birth oc- curred in 1747. He was twice married, first to a Miss Dewey, who had two children, Preserved and Lydia. His second wife was Ruth (Williams) McCall, widow of James

McCall, and they had seven children: Solo- mon, Diocletian, Ralph, Sherman, Betsy, George and Maria. Of all these children, Preserved was the only one who did not come to Ohio and settle near Conneaut. Many members of this historic family have gained national prominence as statesmen, lawyers, doctors, and in various other callings. Among them may be mentioned Governor Silas Wright, the best of the early Governors of New York State, who was a cousin of the mother of the subject of this sketch; also, Dr. Wright, of Rochester, the same State, a famous physician, who was a near relative. Jacob Williams was the father of eleven children: Marshall, born 1798; Diocletian, born in 1800, died in 1889; Ralph, born in 1802, died in 1868; he was a mechanic and millwright; one died in infancy; Lydia, born in 1806, married Alfred Crittendon; Douglas, born in 1808, died in Oregon in 1891; Elvira was born in 1811, was first married to Mr. Clark and afterward to a Mr. Phillips, and died in 1887, aged seventy- seven years; Harvey, born in 1813, died in 1847; Louisa, born in 1815, died in 1871; Mary Ann, born in 1818, married J. W. Haskell; and Edwin R., the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Williams, of this biography, was born February 7, 1821, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he was reared, receiving his prelimin- ary education in that vicinity, but afterward attending a private institution in Buffalo, New York, for four years. He then entered the employ of a merchandising establishment in Conneaut as clerk, in which capacity he served two years. He then, on April 13, 1842, embarked in business at Conneaut, with his brother-in-law, Mr. Haskell. In 1846, at Steamburg, Crawford county, Penn- sylvania, he erected a steam mill for sawing

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lumber, and it is a noteworthy fact that this was the first mill of the sort ever built in this country. The firm removed in 1846 to Conneautville, Pennsylvania, and finally, in 1856, began business in Ashtabula. This they discontinued at the time of the contruc- tion of the Pittsburg, Youngstown and Ash- tabula railroad, to take a contract for the building of a large portion of that road, on the completion of which they again engaged in mercantile business, from which Mr. Williams withdrew in 1874, and has since remained retired from active pursuits.

At the time of " the late unpleasantness," Mr. Williams was offered a Colonelcy of a regiment in the Federal army, but was pre- vented from accepting by the ill health of his wife. In the beginning of 1861, he was ap- pointed by the Federal authorities to a re- sponsible position in Ashtabula county, which he filled with efficiency and honor.

He was married on August 6, 1848, to Miss Olive F. Haskell, a highly estimable lady, born June 12, 1823, daughter of Aretas Has- kell, a native of New Hampshire. Her mother, Annie Folsom, came of the same family as did the father of Mrs. Grover Cleveland. The wedding tour of Mr. Will- iams and wife was made to Buffalo, where they visited the convention of the Free Soil party which nominated Martin Van Buren for the Presidency. They had three children: Esther, who died aged three weeks; Glendora Adaline, born . December 22, 1850; Fred Aretas, born February 11, 1853, was educated at Hillsdale College, Michigan, where he graduated in 1875. He then clerked two years, after which he entered the insurance business in partnership with Mr. Green, which relation continued until the latter's death, since which time he has been associated with Mr. Jaques. November 9, 1887, Mr.

Fred A. Williams was married to Miss Eliza- beth Giddings, a lady of domestic tastes and social accomplishments, daughter of J. A. Giddings and granddaughter of Joshua Gid- dings, an old and prominent settler of this county. They have no children.

Politically, Mr. E. R. Williams is a Re- publican, and, fraternally, affiliates with the Masons, of which order he has been a worthy member for forty years. As a business man and citizen he is widely and favorably known for his uprightness, enterprise and public spirit.

A LFRED LOUIS ARNER, M. D .- Doctor Arner was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 23, 1848, son of George and Nancy J. (Atkinson) Arn- er, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Ger- man and New England origin, respectively. They had left their home in the Keystone State a few years prior to the birth of the subject of this sketch, and, moving westward, settled in Trumbull county, Ohio. Here the father was engaged in farming for a number of years, but later removed to Ashtabula county, where he now resides. This worthy couple have three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom occupy positions of honor in the world.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, where he early acquired those hardy qualities which have gained for him success in his various occupations. He was educated in the district schools of his vicinity and at Kingsville Academy, after which he followed a select course of study in the ancient and modern languages at Wallace German Col- lege, in Berea, Ohio. On the completion of his studies, he accepted, in 1873, the super- intendency of the Jefferson schools, in which

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capacity he continued to labor faithfully for ten years, until 1883. His ambition, how- ever, found itself restricted by the bounds of that occupation, and he thus began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Tut- tle, of Jefferson, while still engaged in teach- ing. After this Mr. Arner took a course at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York, at which he was graduated in 1888. He then pursued a special course in the treatment of the eye and ear, under the cele- brated Dr. Mittendorf. In 1888 he settled in Jefferson, where he has since been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, winning golden opinions for his great skill in the healing art.

In 1877 the Doctor was married to Miss Orissa A., daughter of Harvey and Rachel Udall, a native of Portage county and a graduate of Hiram College, who was for a number of years a successful teacher in the Cleveland schools, after which she taught in Jefferson, in which city she met Dr. Arner, who was at that time engaged in teaching. They have two interesting children, a son and daughter, Lucy and Louis. Mrs. Arner is a useful member of the Congregational Church, to which she renders much valuable aid.

Fraternally, Dr. Arner affiliates with the Royal Arch Masons. As a physician and man he is thorough, conscientious and able, and holds a deservedly high position in the regard of his community.

OHN JUDD, a highly respected citizen now living retired at Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Litchfield county, Connect- icut, in 1807, son of Eli and Sallie (Hendrix) Judd, both natives of that State. Eli Judd

was a manufacturer of bar iron. He died at the age of forty-eight years, and his wife at seventy-four. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the long life of the latter was one that shone with a luster undimmed by age or surrounding circumstances. There were three children in their family, namely: Elijah, who died in Delaware county, New York; John, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Azubah, wife of Garey Stone, a resident of Seneca county, New York, died in 1891, at the age of eighty years.

John Judd received a common-school ed- cation only, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching in Connecticut. For several years he taught there and in Dutchess county, New York, teaching and farming occupying his time until 1837, when he came to Con- neaut, and after coming here he taught for a time. Then he turned his attention to the lumber business, owning and operating a steam mill for ten or fifteen years. He after- ward ran a flour and feed mill, next had a grocery, then was engaged in the real-estate business, and since about 1872 has been re- tired. He was a Town Trustee for several years.

Mr. Judd was married August 25, 1829, to Aurilla Stone, daughter of David and Abbie (Fenton) Stone, of Litchfield county, Connecticut. Mrs. Stone was related to Governor Fenton, of New York, and was a widow at the time her daughter Aurilla was married. For sixty-four years Mr. and Mrs. Judd have lived happily together, and for the past twenty years Mrs. Judd has been an in- valid. This worthy couple literally planted the vine and fig tree, beneath the friendly shade of which they now rest, enjoying the sweets that come to those who have lived useful lives. Mrs. Judd has been a member

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of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. By their many estimable qualities both have endeared themselves to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Follow- ing are the names of their children: Char- lotte, wife of R. J. Wells, died in 1863, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving one child, Bertha; Byron, a grocer of Conneant, has been twice married and has one child, George B., by his first wife; Emeline, widow of Aus- tin Harmon, has two children, William and Fred R; next came three children who died young, Ivah Jane, John and one unnamed; Ivah J., wife of Elvington Phillips, has three children, -- Harry, Laura and Bessie; Mary, wife of Charles Reets, East Conneaut, has two children, -- Florence and John; Lelia, wife of Charles Goldsmith, died in 1878, at the age of thirty-three years, leaving three chi !- dren, -- Minnie, Lila and Leverett B .; Willie died at the age of two years.

Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life and lineage of one of Conneaut's venerable citi- zens.

RWIN PEASE, engineer on the Nickel Plate railroad, and a worthy citizen of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, March 17, 1859, son of Russell and Harriet M. (Cruiser) Pease.

Russell Pease, his father, was born in Ben- nington, Vermont, and was for many years a resident of Dunkirk, New York, where he was well known and highly respected. He owned a farm and superintended its cultiva- tion, at the same time being in the employ of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Rail- road. Ilis people were Presbyterians, in which faith he lived and died. Hle was a Jackson Democrat and a politician, and at

various times held minor offices in the town in which he lived. He died February 18, 1870, at the age of forty-one years. Harriet M. (Cruiser) Pease is a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Cruiser, and one of a family of four sons and two daughters, all of whom are liv- ing except one, Edward, who was killed in his first battle in the late war. Her father was accidentally killed on the railroad. The moth- er, now about ninety years of age, is being tenderly cared for at Dunkirk, New York, by her daughter, Mrs. Pease.

Irwin Pease is an only child. He com- pleted a high-school education at Dunkirk, and in 1877 started out in life as fireman on the New York, Lake Erie & Western Rail- road. After firing on that road three years he was employed in the same capacity one year on the Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburg Railroad, then, in 1881, being pro- moted to engineer. He began service with the Nickel Plate and came to Conneaut in 1883. He was fireman on this road a short time before getting a position as engineer, but nearly ever since he entered the employ of this company he has served as engineer on a freight train. His efficient service has gained him a steady position and brought him into favor with his employers. By economy and judicious investment he has acquired a competency, and is not only re- garded as one of the highly esteemed citizens of Conneaut, but also as one who is well-to-do.

He was married May 2, 1880, to Miss Mattie J. Featherston, daughter of John and Mary E. Featherston. She was born in Mil- ton, Canada, where her father was engaged in the harness business for many years. He died when she was quite young at Baltimore, Maryland. Soon after the war the Feather- ston family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and subsequently located in Vermillion, Erie

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county, this State. The mother died in 1885, aged forty-eight years. Of the four children composing this family we make record as follows: Melvin, the oldest, resides in Con- neaut; he married Mary Nuhn of Lorain county, Ohio, and their only child is Freddie; Anna, the second born, wife of Willis New- berry, died at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving three children-Mabel, Bessie and Johnie; Mrs. Pease was next in order of birth; Charles, the youngest, died at the age of four years.

Mr. and Mrs. Pease have two children, Bertram Irwin and Howard Russell.

Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, of which he is a Vestryman. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers. In political matters he affiliates with the Republican party.

W ILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS, America's leading writer of fiction, was born at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, opposite Wheeling, West Virginia, March 1, 1837, of Welsh parentage on his father's side. The Howellses were Quakers, and peo- ple of substance in Wales. The father be- came a Swedenborgian, in which belief the novelist was reared. His ancestors were all, so far as he knows them, in past generations, people of literary taste and cultivation.

When the boy was three years old his father removed to Hamilton, Ohio, and bought the Hamilton Intelligencer, a weekly journal, in the office of which the embryo author learned to set type at a very early age. His father remained in Hamilton until after the inauguration of President Taylor, in 1849, when, having had conscientious scruples about supporting a slave-holding president, he sold the Intelligencer and the family re-

moved to Dayton, Ohio, the elder Howells purchasing the Dayton Transcript, a semi- weekly paper, which he changed into a daily, the enterprise proving a disastrous failure. The elder Mr. Howells found it necessary to husband all his resources, and these resources were forcibly augmented by his sons, every one of whom, as rapidly as might be, was taught to be a producer rather than a con- sumer, by taking up the " art preservative." During the two years of struggle for exist- ence, which the daily paper had, it often fell to the subject of this sketch to set type till eleven o'clock at night and then to get up at four o'clock the next morning to carry a news- paper route. From Dayton the family re- moved to Greene county.

In 1851 the now eminent author secured a situation as compositor on the Ohio State Journal, at a salary of four dollars a week, his father being clerk of the House at the same time. This was the first money Mr. W. D. Howells ever earned and received as his own. But it was all turned into the family exchequer and helped to keep the wolf from the door of his father's home. Here he formed the acquaintance of John J. Piatt, who was a compositor on the Journal at that time, and conjointly with whom he published his first volume of verse.

In 1852 the family removed to Ashtabula, Ohio, the elder Mr. Howells purchasing the Ashtabula Sentinel, and the whole family of boys working on the mechanical department of the paper. The Sentinel was afterward removed to Jefferson, Ohio, where its publi- cation was continued under the same manage- ment as at Ashtabula. Almost from the time he could read it was a pastime of Mr. Howells' to write verses, put them in type, print them on slips for the amusement of himself and some of his companions. This

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was the first round on the ladder of author- ship which has since become so prominent a way-mark in the arena of American litera- ture.

At the age of nineteen Mr. Howells received the appointment of Columbus cor- respondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, and at twenty-two he was given the position of news editor of the Columbus (Ohio) State Journal, and while there he wrote a life of Abraham Lincoln, for a Columbus publishing house, and this piece of literary work was doubtless the stepping-stone to his promotion, a few years later, to a Consulship at Venice, where was gathered the material for some of his most interesting and popular books, written in after years.

His first appearance in a strictly literary character was also made while residing at Columbus. Mr. A. T. Fullerton of that place sent the first contribution from the West to the Atlantic Monthly. It was a poem entitled " By the Dead," and attracted considerable attention. Mr. Howells, who had in a measure kept up his habit of writing and printing verses, began to cherish the idea of trying his hand on the crank handle of the organ of the muses before the foot- lights and audience of a critical world. In this he was, as he has been ever since in his literary efforts, eminently successful. Five of his poems were published in the Atlantic Monthly in one year: "The Poet's Friends," " The Pilot's Story," "Pleasure Pain," " Lost Beliefs," and " Andenken." His life of Lincoln netted him $199, and with this money he made a trip to Canada, and to Boston, where he first made the personal acquaintance of Mr. James Russell Lowell, then the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and by him was introduced to James T. Fields and Oliver Wendell IIolmes.

From Boston he returned to Columbus, where he remained until he received his ap- pointment as Consul to Venice, where he took up his residence and remained from 1861 to 1865. On his return from abroad he did some writing for the New York Tri- bune and the New York Times, and was a salaried contributor to The Nation until 1866, when Mr. Fields tendered him the position of assistant editor of the Atlantic Monthly. This he accepted and held until 1872, when he was made the responsible editor, and re- mained as such until 1881, when he resigned.

A list of Mr. Howells' writings may be catalogaed as follows: Venetian Life, Italian Journeys, Suburban Sketches, Their Wedding Journey, A Chance Acquaintance, A Fore- gone Conclusion, Out of the Question, A Counterfeit Presentment, The Lady of the Aroostook, The Undiscovered Country, A Fearful Responsibility and Other Tales, Dr. Breen's Practice, A Modern Instance, A Wo- man's Reason, Three Villages, The Rise of Silas Lapham, Indian Summer, Life of President Hayes, Life of President Lincoln, The Parlor Car, The Sleeping Car, The Register, The Elevator, The World of Chance, The Quality of Mercy, An Imperative Duty, The Shadow of a Dream, A Hazard of New Fortunes, Annie Kilburn, April Hopes, Mod- ern Italian Poets, Criticism and Fiction, A Boy's Town, The Mousetrap and other Farces, Christmas Every Day and Other Stories, A Little Swiss Sojourn, A Letter of Introduction, The Albany Depot and The Garroters.

Mr. Howells writes methodically, systematic- ally and conscientiously. Hedevotes the morn- ing hours to writing, and generally completes at one sitting what would till an ordinary page of a small paper. He erases, re-writes and re arranges his manuscript with great care

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and much elaboration, and his proof-sheets are a terror to printers. Of late years he prefers, when circumstaces will admit, to re-write his work in full. He gives his afternoons and evenings to reading, con- versation, driving, walking or any of the or- dinary duties of every-day life, and is always chatty, sensible, unassuming and delightful in conversation. He says that he has never written a book yet simply for the sake of writing something for somebody to read, but always with the purpose of giving his readers something to think about, that should be useful and profitable to them and to the world as well. He has no hobbies of politics or religion, and no mastering affiliations other than those which his profession as a writer bring him in the world of business and his pleasant domestic relations hold for him.

USTUS C. A. BUSHNELL .- Jeffer- son, Ohio, is fortunate in her citizens, all of whom are the salt of the earth of very strong savor. That particular one who now claims attention is no exception to the rule, but is rather a conspicuous illustra- tion of the foregoing statement.

Gideon Bushnell, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Massachusetts and descended from New England ancestors, who came from Wales in the seventeenth century, settling in Saybrook, Connecticut. He was married in Vermont to Eunice Bur- dick, also a native of New England, and they removed, in 1817, to Ohio, at that time on the western frontier of civilization. They settled in Kingsville township, Ashtabula county, where the father followed farming for many years, but in later life became a

millright. Here the father died about 1854, aged sixty-five years, the devoted wife and mother surviving him until 1874, dying at at the age of eighty-four years.

J. C. A. Bushnell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Kingsville, Ohio, April 30, 1819, and was reared on the home farm. He received a fair education, finishing with two years at the Kingsville Academy, and at the age of eighteen became a clerk in the coun- ty auditor's office, where he was employed during the summer for five or six years. In 1848 he was elected Auditor of Ashtabula county, to which position he was re-elected in 1850 and 1852, holding that office for three terms of two years each. He was out of office two years, when, in 1856, he was again elected Auditor, which office he con- tinued to fill for the ensuing ten years, until the spring of 1867. At the expiration of that time he became a clerk in the First Na- tional Bank, and afterward cashier, which position he still retains, to the eminent sat- isfaction of all concerned.

In 1842 Mr. Bushnell was married to Miss Laura A. Gage, daughter of John R. and Ruth (Woodbury) Gage, an estimable lady and a native of the Buckeye State. They had four children, two sons and two daughters: Frances M., now Mrs. A. C. Loomis; Ida M., now the wife of Theo. E. Hawley; Albert G. and Clarence E. In November, 1891, Mr. Bushnell was called upon to mourn the loss of his faithful wife, the companion of his sorrows and joys for so many years, who died at the age of seventy years.

In politics, Mr. Bushnell has followed the varying changes of fortune, always casting the weight of his inflence in the scale of jus- tice and the best interests of humanity. His first presidential vote was cast in 1840 for

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the eminent soldier and statesman, General William H. Harrison. After this he voted with the Free Soil party, and since 1852 has been a stanch and unchanging Republican.

Thus all too briefly are given the most prominent events of an eminently useful and honorable life, a minute account of which would make a volume of most interesting reminiscences.

REDERICK HARRINGTON .- Among the many worthy citizens of Ashtabula county, Ohio, none is more deserving of mention in this history than the subject of this sketch, who enjoys the un- limited confidence and esteem of all who know him.

Mr. Harrington was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, December 20, 1832, a son of William and Helena (Bascom) Harrington, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, re- spectively. His father, Dr. John Harrington, was the son of a prominent physician of the Green Mountain State, where William re- ceived the advantages afforded by the common schools of that early date. When a young man, he joined the westward tide of emigra- tion, then setting in and which has never since ceased, moved to Ohio, at that time the frontier of civilization, where he settled in Trumbull county about 1817. He there took up 160 acres of land which he indus- triously cleared and cultivated, making for himself a modest home in the wilderness. He was married March 6, 1821, his wife having emigrated to that county with her parents when she was a child. This worthy couple spent their lives on the home farm, contributing by their honest efforts to the · advancement of their county. They were

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 18

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